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Doha Bank closer to takeover of bank unit in India Business | 17

Monday 1 December 2014 • 9 Safar 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6266 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Emir meets GCC chief Qatar will Inspections at host 2022, eateries being says Blatter MANILA: FIFA President Sepp Blatter said there would be no moving the 2022 World Cup from Qatar. intensified “2022, it is Qatar, and ladies and gentleman, believe me, with all that has been said around Erring restaurants face closure the world by whom? Those not involved with what happens in DOHA: A recurrence of food a similar incident in which more football. The World Cup in 2022 poisoning incidents in the coun- than 20 people had been infected. will be played in Qatar,” the try associated with restaurants The SCH said that it had 78-year-old Swiss told Asian has prompted the health authori- launched an intensive inspection Football Confederation members ties to launch an intensive cam- campaign and is collecting food in Manila yesterday. paign against erring outlets. samples from all restaurants and The remarks, cheered and Last week, the Supreme food outlets in the country includ- applauded loudly by Asian del- Council of Health (SCH) closed ing suppliers. Medical tests have egates, come as FIFA faces criti- down a famous eatery in the Old been conducted on people working The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met with GCC Secretary-General Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al cism for not publishing a report Airport street after four mem- with restaurants as part of the Zayani at the Emiri Diwan. During the meeting, the GCC Secretary-General briefed the Emir on the preparations by ethics investigator Michael bers of a family who ate from the campaign. for the 35th session of the GCC Summit, to be held in Doha on December 9-10. Garcia into the awarding of the restaurant suffered from food The SCH is also planning to 2018 and 2022 World Cups. poisoning. conduct a public awareness cam- Blatter took the opportunity The SCH said yesterday that paign based on results of the to throw his weight behind the a medical report prepared by its laboratory tests in food poison- capabilities of the Middle East environmental health section has ing cases. This will include work- nations. confirmed that the outlet served shops for traders and meetings Opec inaction hits Qatar stocks “It is the second time we will contaminated food and violated with restaurant owners to raise go to organise the World Cup in health regulations. their awareness about health BY SATISH KANADY Company yesterday, tumbled 7.74 economies in the GCC, this drop Asia. The first was a lovely com- Tests conducted in the Central requirements and the impor- percent. will naturally have an impact on bination, a co-hosting, between Food Laboratory at SCH found tance of adhering to the rules and DOHA: Qatari bourse bench- Qatar Exchange’s monthly data GDP and corporate profits,” Afa Japan and Korea Republic. It was three types of bacteria caus- regulations. mark index plunged 4.28 percent suggests the market was down by Boran, head of asset management a great success, a big success,” ing diseases in food served by As per Law No 4 of 2014 the to a five-month low yesterday as 5.47 percent compared to October, at Amwal, said. Blatter said. the restaurant. Medical tests erring outlets will be held respon- investors responded in panic to when it closed the month yester- “At a lower oil price, the future “For the first time....we are on the victims also showed that sible for rectifying their mistakes. Opec’s decision not to cut oil pro- day. A whopping QR30bn was earnings of oil and petrochemical- coming with Women’s World Cup they were infected by the same If they fail do it, they will not be duction to boost sagging prices. swept away from the market related companies will be directly in 2016 to the kingdom of Jordan. bacteria, as well as one of the allowed to continue their busi- Shares in all major sectors ended in November, as market capi- impacted, whereas others may It is the trust and confidence of workers of the eatery. ness, said the SCH. red. Energy and petrochemi- talisation fell by 4.14 percent to suffer a knock on effect as gov- FIFA towards the Arab world The SCH said that it had inten- The inspection teams include cal-related stocks were among QR698bn yesterday. ernment spending will be more that they can organise all the sified inspections at all eateries specialised doctors from the the worst-hit and banking and Analysts told The Peninsula tightly managed”. competitions.” and food outlets in the country communicable diseases depart- industries majors also got ham- that the steady fall in oil prices Property-related stocks were Following the announcement, in collaboration with other moni- ment and the environmental mered before the market settled will have a direct impact on cor- the worst hit. The realty sector the Qatar Football Association toring departments following the health inspection department. at 12,760 to end the month. porate earnings and is likely to plunged by 5.91 percent with Barwa were named winners of the AFC’s closure of a “famous restaurant” The SCH has set up a hotline QNB and Industries Qatar, have a knock-on effect on local tumbling 7.14 percent. Ezdan lost Dream Asia Award, a prize given in Old Airport street, “after a — 66740951/66740948 — for the which have the highest weighting economy. “Compared with an 5.72 percent, while the UDC fell by to a body who use football as a group of people suffered from food public to lodge complaints about in the index, tumbled 5.02 percent average price per barrel of around 4.25 percent. Of the 40 traded com- tool for social change, enlighten poisoning”. food poisoning cases. This hotline and 4.41 percent, respectively. $100 in the last five years, brent panies, just two advanced yester- the importance of social respon- Last month, the munici- is linked with the communicable Mobile provider Vodafone Qatar, has fallen to $70 over last three day. About 14 million shares worth sibility and promote the culture pal authorities closed down the diseases section at SCH. which announced its decision to months, and may slide further. As QR802m exchanged hands. of giving. Marmara Istanbul Restaurant in THE PENINSULA scrap its bid to acquire Qatar hydrocarbon revenues drive the THE PENINSULA REUTERS Frij Klaib for 60 days following Continued on page 6 National Broadband Network bulk of government revenues and Continued on page 2 See also page 28

Expat sentenced to death by firing squad US couple acquitted

DOHA: A criminal court yes- he said she insulted him so he the convict attacked her. been handing out death penalty terday convicted a young Asian was waiting for an opportunity He said he hit her on the head but the last death sentence was over daughter’s death of killing an elderly Qatari to sneak into her home and seek and when she fell down he used carried out more than 11 years woman in her home some revenge. an undershirt to strangulate her. ago, in March 2003, by a firing months ago and sentenced him On the eve of the incident, the The woman used her fingernails squad. DOHA: An appeals court yes- malnutrition-related diseases to death by a firing squad. convict jumped the boundary in self-defence. Both the convict and the vic- terday overturned the convic- since they adopted her from The convict had confessed in wall of the victim’s home after DNA tests confirmed the blood tim were Indians. Arun Abraham tions of a Los Angeles couple who Ghana at the age of four, and the court that he had killed the late evening (isha) prayers and in the victim’s fingernails was had killed lija Abraham, a fam- were sentenced to three years in that the authorities had failed to woman in the garden of her home lurked in the shadows until the that of the convict. ily friend, on April 26, 2001 in Al jail for the death of their adopted acknowledge this. The US State in revenge for humiliating him. wee hours of the morning. He had scratches on his face Mansoura and tried to burn her African-born daughter. Department has been working The convict was working with The woman came out very caused by fingernails, earlier body to remove evidence. He was Matthew and Grace Huang tried on the couple’s behalf to appeal the victim’s brother and used to early in the morning as usual to media reports suggested. tried by the Shariah Court and to return to the United States after against the convictions. It had said visit his sister’s home occasionally open the tap outside to water her The criminal court’s decision faced the death squad in March the tribunal found the lower court that “cultural misunderstandings to help her with her gardening. garden. At that moment, accord- will most likely go in appeal. 2003 for the crime. had made numerous errors, family may have led to an unfair trial.” Some months ago, in summer, ing to local Arabic daily Al Arab, Criminal courts in Qatar have THE PENINSULA spokesman Eric Volz told Reuters. A website created to publicise The Huangs were arrested in the case (http://freemattand- January 2013 after their 8-year- grace.com) said Matthew old daughter, Gloria, died unex- Huanghad moved to Qatar with Five killed in French floods pectedly. An autopsy found that his wife and their three young the girl had died of “cachexia and children in 2012. Gloria died on Protests rock Egypt dehydration”, and a prosecutor January 15, 2013, and Qatari police charged the couple with “murder charged the couple the next day. with intent by forced starvation”. The Huangs spent nearly a year CAIRO: Protests erupted at universities across Egypt They were convicted in April. in prison before being released on yesterday, condemning a court decision to drop crimi- The couple argued that their own recognisance, awaiting nal charges against Hosni Mubarak, the president Gloria had been suffering from appeal. REUTERS whose ouster in the 2011 uprising raised hopes of a new era of political openness. Hundreds of demonstra- tors gathered at Cairo University, waving pictures of Mubarak behind bars and demanding the “fall of the regime”. Police stood ready at the gates to bar students that sought to take their demonstration into the streets. An Egyptian court on Saturday dropped its case against Mubarak over the killing of protesters in the 2011 uprising that ended his rule. The ruling was seen by activists as the latest sign that the rights won during the revolt are being eroded. Two people were killed on Saturday, when security forces fired tear gas and birdshot to disperse People walk on a bridge near damaged cars after the river Massane flooded the 1,000 protesters who attempted to enter Tahrir Square. city of Argeles-sur-Mer, southern France, due to heavy rains yesterday. The worst Security forces closed a Cairo metro station. Clashes also erupted at Zagazig University in the Nile Delta, and the Al flooding in southern France has claimed five lives and forced almost 3,000 people Ahram newspaper said 11 students were detained after set- to evacuate their homes, officials said. See also page 9 Matthew (left) and Grace Huang talk to journalists after being acquitted by ting fire to a building. REUTERS appeals court in Doha yesterday. See also page 8 MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Second Ajyal Youth Film Festival opens tonight A total of 90 films from 43 countries will be screened during the six-day festival

DOHA: The second edition of ceremony and the film screening they challenge social expecta- festival organised by the DFI. The presented as public screening). films made by Doha-based Qatari the Ajyal Youth Film Festival will be held at the Katara Opera tions, community politics and films will be shown in five screen- The jury will select a total and expatriate filmmakers. opens tonight with the screen- House tonight. family dynamics while facing ing venues including the Katara of five best filmmaker awards, There will also be a range of ing of the film Speed Sisters, a Speed Sisters takes viewers restrictions of movement by the Drama Theatre, the Katara Opera one short film each from Bader, activities organised on the side- documentary on the Middle inside the West Bank’s street- Israeli military occupation. House and two cinemas in Building Hilal and Mohaq categories and lines of the screenings such as East’s first all-woman motor car motor racing scene, following The film was developed with 12 as well as the Sony Pop-Up two feature films from Hilal and the Family Weekend comprising racing team. The film’s director up a group of young Palestinian the support of Sundance Institute Cinema in Katara Esplanade. Bader categories. creative and cultural activities, Amber Fares along with the cast women. The debut feature by and Doha Film Institute’s (DFI) The programme is categorized Winners from the short catego- The Sandbox digital play space, a will walk the red carpet prior to Lebanese-Canadian director grants programme, along with into four age groups namely ries will receive QR18,000 while photo expo, In Conversation with the screening which marks the takes an intimate look at the international funds. Bader category for ages 18 to 21, QR55,000 will be given to winners Roger Allers and Mohammed world premiere of the film. lives of its five subjects and what A total of 90 films from 43 coun- Hilal (13 to 17), Mohaq (8 to 12) in the feature film section. Saeed Harib and Sony Pop-up The red carpet, the opening motivates them to compete as tries will be screened at the six-day and Bariq (from age 4 up to be The festival will also screen 20 cinema. THE PENINSULA

MediaOne felicitates Qatari officials, journalists

DOHA: MediaOne, a promi- nent TV channel based in the southern Indian state of Kerala, recently organised a mega show, Pravasoltavam Qatar, at the West End Park Amphitheatre, which drew over ten thousand audience. Al Jazeera Media Network Director General Dr Mustafa Sawaq inaugurated the pro- gramme in the presence of government officials and eminent Arab and English journalists. Prominent media establish- ments and journalists in Qatar were felicitated at the event. Gulf Journalist Union Secretary- MediaOne General Nasser Muhammad Prominent journalists and officials with channel officials during the felicitation held at the West End Park Amphitheatre. Al Usman, former adviser to Minister of Culture, Musa popular environmentalist and was officially declared as the head Ibrahim Muhammad Al the Public Relations Director of the Gulf Cup football tournamnet Zainal, Editor-in-Chief of Qatar Secretary-General of Arab first Indian television channel Obaidely. the ministry, Colonel Abdullah held in Riyadh. A galaxy of forty- News Agency (QNA) Khaled Volunteer Union Dr Yusuf Al approved by the Qatari gov- A letter of appreciation for Khalifa Al Muftah. plus celebrated artists, film stars Al Siyara, Editor-in-chief of Khadim, Mani’a Al Mania, and ernment. Channel’s Managing MediaOne for its role in propa- Popular Qatari singer Ali and singers from Kerala graced Al Sharq Jaber Al Harami, Luay Al Khadoomi have received Director Dr Abdussalam Ahmad gating social and welfare activi- Abdussattar enthralled the the show with their non-stop and Acting Managing Editor of mementos. received the letter of approval ties undertaken by the Interior crowd with a song he had com- enchanting performance. the Peninsula Hussain Ahmad, During the event MediaOne from QNA Media Establishment Ministry was handed over by posed praising Qatar’s victory in THE PENINSULA

ISL Qatar students take Qatar to top at the World Scholar’s Cup

DOHA: The World Scholar’s Cup is an international team academic tournament bring- ing together students from over forty different coun- tries, allowing them to dis- cuss issues and ideas relevant to today and the future. The Tournament of Champions, held from November 21 to 24 at Yale University, Connecticut, USA, is the culmination of the year-long World Scholar’s Cup competi- tion, which this year saw over 400 teams competing for places. Following their successful par- ticipation in rounds in Abu Dhabi, Doha and Singapore, winning 45 medals and 5 trophies in total,two ISL Qatar students, Rhea Arora and Saidatul Zahidah Zairin, performed exceptionally well last week in Yate and came first in the Scholar’s Bowl team competi- tion and third in the overall team competition. Their outstanding performance is yet another successful story for the International School of ISL Qatar students Rhea Arora and Saidatul Zahidah Zairin with trophies. London Qatar and the country as a whole, as these two girls’ excep- further enhance the international academic environment. tional achievement contributes to image of Qatar and its vibrant THE PENINSULA

Panic sell-off could be an GCC parliament speakers’ meeting

overreaction, says expert DOHA: The eighth meeting of speakers of the GCC par- Continued from page 1 Oil’s plunge has become the main liaments and Shura Councils QE’s monthly data showed only concern of Gulf investors in the began yesterday, chaired by 12 companies of the 43 listed com- last few weeks because they fear the Speaker of Qatari Advisory panies ended higher in November, cheaper crude will force regional Council H E Mohammed bin while 30 fell and one remained governments to cut spending and Mubarak Al Khulaifi. unchanged. Meanwhile, Reuters’ stifle the growth of local econo- The Speaker thanked the Emir survey on regional fund asset mies and corporate profits. H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al managers showed Middle East “I think that by the end of the Thani for supporting the meet- fund expect to put money back day there will be buying opportuni- ings. Al Khulaifi wished the Emir into Gulf stock markets in com- ties and long-only institutions will and leaders of the GCC success in ing months once the shock of the increase their positions,” he said. their efforts. plunge in oil prices fades. Elsewhere, Dubai index fell 4.7 The speaker expressed hope “They (Opec members) won’t percent, while Abu Dhabi’s bench- that the meeting will support meet again until June 2015…that mark dropped 2.6 percent. Saudi joint GCC parliamentary work. means they want to see prices Index was down by 4.8 percent as The Speaker added that the slide”, Reuters quoted an analyst Oman’s bourse tumbled 6.2 percent meeting has become an important as saying. However, he added yes- and Kuwait fell 3.4 percent. method of enhancing cooperation terday’s panic sell-off could be an THE PENINSULA between GCC legislative bodies. overreaction. See also page 20 QNA MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Three winter markets Emir with Ghana President to open on Thursday Markets to sell local vegetables, fish three days a week

DOHA: Fresh vegetables from has been adopted to guarantee the This season, there will be major local farms and a variety of fish and quality of Qatari products. This will changes in Almazrooah yard, said poultry products will be on offer create an increased demand for these the ministry. The livestock yard will at low prices at three exclusive products and serve as an incentive have a dedicated space for slaughter- winter markets that will open on for the country to increase invest- ing animals and a store selling animal Thursday. A new market will open ment in agriculture. feed. It has the huge display of fresh in Al Wakra this year, besides the The Al Wakrah yard located oppo- vegetables from 34 of the largest Al Mazrooah yard in Umm Salal site the Wakra Hospital roundabout farms in the country and a special Ali and the Al Khor and Al Dahkira will open at 9am on Thursday featur- offer for fruit from Naffco company. yard in Al Khor, the Ministry of ing fresh vegetables, fruits, ornamen- It also includes a display of flowers Environment said yesterday. tal plants and other products related and agricultural equipment by Qatfa The markets provide an opportu- to agriculture. Qatar’s 20 leading veg- company, besides fresh fish, sheep, nity to Qatari farmers and fisher- etable farms will bring their products goats, cows and camels and a wide men to sell fresh fish and vegetables to this open market. range of poultry. to the public without intermediar- A variety of locally produced poul- Alkhor and AlDhakhira yard is ies. Customers benefit from the low try including chicken, ducks, geese, located opposite the Alkhor indus- prices offered by the producers. turkeys, pigeons, rabbits besides eggs trial roundabout, Last year it sold The Ministry of Environment will also be on offer. Naffco company about 650 tons of fresh vegetables, launched the initiative in 2002 with will bring fresh fruit to the market at 238 tons of fruit and some 1,200 the Al Mazrooah yard, while the Al relatively low prices and Qatfa com- domestic bird. Fresh fish and poultry Khor and Dakhira yard was added pany will offer a good selection and will be included this year. Naffco and last year. The three markets will be ornamental plants and other agricul- Qatfa companies will also offer their open three days a week (Thursday- ture related products. Almzrooah yard, products at the market. The minis- The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama dur- Friday-Saturday) from 7 am to 5 pm. located in Umm Salal Ali opposite to try said it had conducted workshops ing a welcome ceremony at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. The first session of bilateral talks co-chaired The Ministry said that the market Veterinary Centre sold approximately and training sessions to raise the effi- by the Emir and visiting Ghana leader was attended by the Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin ensures that both producer and con- 1,340 tons of vegetables, and about 725 ciency of the participating farms, and Hamad Al Thani and a number of ministers. The Emir hosted a luncheon banquet in honour of the sumer get a fair price for the goods, tons of fruit, 32 tons of fish, 700 ani- help them adopt modern marketing visiting leader and the accompanying delegation. and a distinct marketing approach mals and about 3,000 domestic birds. methods. THE PENINSULA 21 percent get infection after cardiac surgery in Qatar DOHA: An average of 21 per- Research Conference 2014. who underwent a cardiac surgery or months in a person. not infected. The average pre- Abdulaziz M Alkhulaifi at the cent people develops some form The research has assessed between December 1, 2012 and A total of 252 patients including operative haemoglobin for the Heart Hospital. The research- of wound infection after a car- the risk factors involved in the November 30, 2013 at the Heart 24 females and 228 males under- patients who developed post- ers have raised the question if diac surgery in Qatar, accord- development of wound infec- Hospital. They were followed and went cardiac surgery within the operative wound infection was the haemoglobin a marker of ing to a recent study. tions following cardiac surgery all wound infections were noted. study period. They were between 13.5, and for the non-infected overall poor nutrition and poor Although there is high rate in Qatar. With Qatar is one of the Patients’ pre-operative hae- the age of 15 years and 74 years. were 15.0. health or a specific risk factor of wound infection among such highest rates of diabetes in the moglobin, glycated haemoglobin Among them 54 (21 percent) The infection group had an with decreased oxygen carrying people, the majority are superfi- world (20 percent of the general —(HbA1C), body mass index — of patients have developed some average glycated haemoglobin capacity leading to the develop- cial and in the leg, according to population), where many patients (BMI) , and ethnicity were also form of wound infection after the of 7.8 and the non-infection ment of wound infections? the findings of the ‘Risk Factors having poor control, 68 percent of noted. By measuring glycated cardiac surgery. group 7.0. The research has not With Qatar having a high rate For Wound Infection Following the isolated persons who undergo haemoglobin, clinicians are able The research has also found a found any differences in BMI of of poorly controlled diabetes, Cardiac Surgery In Qatar,’ Coronary Artery Bypass Graft to get an overall picture of what difference in haemoglobin levels the effected patients. The study researchers are also presently was presented at the recently Surgery has diabetes. the average blood sugar levels in patients who developed wound was conducted by Dr Cornelia S doing a multivariate analysis on held Qatar Foundation Annual The study analysed all patients have been over a period of weeks infections compared to who were Carr, Dr Nasir Mughal and Dr the data. THE PENINSULA

Malaz Elgemiabby, a student in the Masters of Fine Arts program at VCUQatar, with the prize money. VCUQatar announces winner of entrepreneurship event

DOHA: As part of the young people everywhere through success of last year’s competition worldwide initiative, local, national and global activities and create further awareness for Global Entrepreneurship that are designed to help explore GEW by creating this wonderful Week (GEW), Virginia their potential as self-starters platform for students to share Commonwealth University in and innovators. their entrepreneurial ideas and Qatar (VCUQatar) along with To celebrate GEW, VCUQatar inspire each other. The compe- sponsor q.media, hosted its sec- hosted their second student com- tition with q.media aims to help ond annual student competition petition where students and grad- aspiring young design entrepre- for creative business ideas as uates were encouraged to think of neurs develop a business idea part of the program. an innovative business idea and and be part of a home-grown The winner, Malaz Elgemiabby, create a profitable business plans. design sector that will diversify a student in the Masters of Fine Finalists of the competition and boost the Qatar economy” Arts program at VCUQatar, was presented their business plans to explains Roger Griffiths, Director, thrilled and stated that the prize a panel of judges, which included Centre of Research, Design and money would be invested into Maha Al Obaidan, Marketing Entrepreneurship at VCUQatar. expanding the business. and Corporate Communications Jaber Al Ansari, q.media Group GEW is a global initiative that Director and Lucy Urwin, CEO, said: “We were delighted to celebrates and encourages entre- Marketing and Corporate sponsor this important project. preneurial ideas amongst young Communications Manager from The competition encourages stu- people. Established in 2006 and sponsor q.media and also spon- dents to be innovative, an idea we supported by some of the world’s sors from Hamad Bin Khalifa very much support at q.media and biggest names in business such University and the Social believe it is important to the future as Bill Clinton and Richard Development Centre. growth of Qatar, especially with Branson, GEW aims to inspire “We want to build on the our youth.” THE PENINSULA

Ooredoo announces Hala promotion to Bangladesh

DOHA: Ooredoo yesterday for just QR2 per week. subscription fee on their mobile announced a new promotion with Previously, customers sub- credit balance. To cancel the serv- its Hala Bangladesh Key offering scribed the service were eligible ice customers can SMS ‘STOP 15 dirhams (Dhs) per minute/ to take advantage of the reduced BAN’ to 121. message for calls and SMS to the rate of just 20Dhs per minute. The Hala Bangladesh Key was country for one month. To subscribe, Hala custom- launched early this year following The promotion, which will run ers simply need to SMS ‘BAN’ high demand from the approxi- until 26 December 2014, will ena- to 121. The subscription will be mated 130,000 Bangladeshi ble subscribers to benefit from the automatically renewed weekly, as migrant workers in the country. price discount on calls and SMS long as customers have the QR 2 THE PENINSULA

MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Qatar 2022 organising body joins diabetes drive Over 600 employees tested for diabetes

DOHA: The Supreme Committee with a variety of screening tests. for Delivery & Legacy, the body Following assessments that included tasked with organising the 2022 blood pressure testing, body mass FIFA World Cup, recently joined a index testing and cholesterol test- campaign by Action on Diabetes to ing, patients were given a personal screen employees where they work. health file which they completed Over five days, more than 600 during the screening. employees were tested for dia- The results were then analysed betes in the Action on Diabetes through one-on-one consulta- screening bus stationed outside Al tions, where diabetes educators Bidda Tower in Doha, where the SC gave advice to patients on lifestyle is based. changes that will help to lower the Launched earlier this year, the risk of developing Type 2 diabe- workplace screening campaign ben- tes. The screening was also open to efits both individuals and companies other businesses occupying Al Bidda, looking to ensure the well-being of including Qatar Football Association their staff, with all of those screened and Qatar Stars League. receiving a personalised analysis of In the past two weeks the screen- results as well as recommendations ing bus, funded by Maersk Oil Qatar, on how to reduce the risk of develop- has travelled from a successful World ing diabetes in the future. Diabetes Day event at Katara, where The Action on Diabetes bespoke 650 people were tested for the condi- Some of the officials and employees during the campaign. screening bus was positioned outside tion, to Qatari Diar in Lusail where Al Bidda Tower in West Bay, with staff 400 employees were tested. The of random blood glucose, HBA1C, cholesterol, Committee for Delivery & Legacy, said: At the Supreme Committee for Delivery & from Hamad Medical Corporation bespoke vehicle is the only one of its BMI and blood pressure. “Over the last week, the Action on Diabetes Legacy, ensuring the best quality of health of and Qatar Diabetes Association on kind in Qatar and is fitted with a range Mohammed Al Marzouqi, Administration bus has screened more than 600 of our our employees is of great importance to us.” board to check visitors for diabetes of testing equipment to allow analysis Executive Director of the Supreme employees, which is a great achievement. THE PENINSULA Qatar Airways honours journalist in UK event

DOHA: Qatar Airways Richard Oliver, presented the once again supported the Journalist of the Year Award UK-based Foreign Press on behalf of the airline to Ed Association’s prestigious Caesar, author and feature annual awards function, in writer. which the airline sponsored Caesar has contributed the main award of the night to The New York Times – Journalist of the Year. Magazine, The Atlantic, UK and international Outside, The Smithsonian journalists were awarded Magazine, The Sunday Times across multiple categories at Magazine and British GQ, the event which took place and has reported from a wide at the Park Lane Hotel in range of countries including central London and was the Democratic Republic of Ed Caesar receiving the award from Qatar Airways Country Manager UK compered by Hugh Dennis, Congo and Kosovo. and Ireland, Richard Oliver. English comedian, actor and Qatar Airways hosted a writer. wide range of guests during including Ambassadors, politi- television, print, broadcast and Qatar Airways Country the evening, which attracted cians and business leaders to cel- web-based journalism. Manager UK and Ireland, more than 340 people, ebrate excellence in international THE PENINSULA Qatar Airways, Zurich Tourism Board hold workshop

DOHA: Qatar Airways and the Zurich Tourism Board recently hosted a workshop for key travel agents and tour operators in the region, to present Zurich as a top tourist destination. More than 80 travel agents and tour operators attended the event held at the Oryx Rotana Hotel. Ehab Amin, Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Commercial – Qatar said “Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland, followed by Geneva, and Qatar Airways is proud to serve both of these desti- nations with daily services direct from Doha. Both cities offer numerous opportunities for visitors to explore and learn about Swiss life and culture, while being surrounded by some of the most stunning scenery in the world.” Paolo Lunardi, Area Manager said: “We are determined to increase our presence in the Middle East, and to achieve this we will carry out sev- eral promotional actions throughout 2014-15. We will increase our ties with professionals from the industry by strengthening our cooperation with air- lines and tour operators. THE PENINSULA SCH team to probe all complaints Continued from page 1 After receiving a com- plaint, the SCH team will immediately start investigation, and collect food samples for testing at the central laboratory. The authorities have also intensified monitoring on imports and supply of food at various levels including suppliers, storage, packag- ing, display and food outlets. THE PENINSULA MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 HOME / MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07

Attorney General with French official Prime Minister to Emir sends condolences to meet businessmen on Wednesday Saudi King and Kuwait Emir DOHA: The sixth consulta- DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has sent tive meeting between the Prime a cable of condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Minister and Interior Minister King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia on the death H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser of Prince Saad bin Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al Saud. bin Khalifa and businessmen The Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani and will be held on Wednesday to the Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin discuss issues related to private Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani have also sent cables of condolences to sector, Mohamed bin Ahmed the Saudi King. Tawar Al Kuwari, Deputy The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent a cable of Chairman of Qatar Chamber condolences to the Emir of Kuwait H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber told Al Sharq. Al Sabah on the death of Sheikha Fatima Al Athbi Al Mohamed Al Sabah. Poor capacity of ports, delay in The Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani and the payments to contractors and the Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin details about the plans related to Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani have also sent cables of condolences to FIFA World Cup are among the Kuwait Emir. major issues that will be discussed in the meeting. Entrepreneurs will seek to FM receives call from John Kerry either repeal or amend Article 68 which regulates the working DOHA: The Foreign Minister H E Khalid bin Mohammed Al of public sector companies in the Attiyah held a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State private sector. John Kerry. They exchanged views on a number of issues of joint The Attorney General Dr Ali bin Fetais Al Marri with the visiting member of the French senate Christian Kirman QNA interest. QNA and her accompanying delegation. Don’t equate Islam with violence: Pope ‘IS committing grave sin against God’ ABOARD THE PAPAL “enraged” against Islam. committing a “profoundly grave PLANE: Pope Francis said yes- “You just can’t say that, just as sin against God” and called for terday that equating Islam with you can’t say that all Christians inter-religious dialogue and violence was wrong and called on are fundamentalists. We have our action against poverty to help end Muslim leaders to issue a global share of them (fundamentalists). the conflicts in the region. condemnation of terrorism to All religions have these little He added that ending poverty help dispel the stereotype. groups,” he said. was crucial, partly because it gave Francis, the leader of 1.2 billion Francis said he had made the rise to “the recruitment of ter- Roman Catholics, told reporters suggestion of a global condem- rorists”. Francis has in the past aboard his plane returning from nation of terrorism by Islamic said that, while it is lawful for the a visit to Turkey that he under- leaders in talks on Friday with international community to use stood why Muslims were offended Turkish President Recep Tayyip force to stop an “unjust aggres- by many in the West who auto- Erdogan. sor”, lasting solutions must be matically equated their religion “I told the president that it found that tackle the root causes with terrorism. would be beautiful if all Islamic of violence. Francis’ predecessor, Benedict leaders, whether they are politi- Pope yesterday joined forces XVI, caused storms of protest cal, religious or academic lead- with Orthodox Ecumenical throughout the Islamic world in ers, would speak out clearly and Patriarch Batholomew I to make 2006, when he made a speech that condemn this because this would a rare joint pledge of support for suggested to many Muslims that help the majority of Muslim peo- the embattled Christians of the he believed Islam espoused vio- ple,” he said. Middle East. lence. Benedict said he had been Francis several times con- On the final day of his first visit misunderstood and apologised. demned Islamic State’s insurgents to Turkey, Francis also urged The Argentine pope, who has during his three-day trip. On the an end to the millennium-old been trying to foster cooperation plane, he said some Christians schism between the Orthodox with moderate Islam in order had been forced to abandon eve- and Catholic churches and said to work for peace and protect rything: “They are driving us out this was all the more urgent due Christians in the Middle East, of the Middle East.” to the violence against Christians said it was wrong for anyone In an address at a Mass yes- by Islamic State (IS) extremists. Pope Francis speaking to journalists aboard his flight home from Turkey to Italy yesterday. to react to terrorism by being terday, he said Islamic State were REUTERS

Graft probe found 50,000 ‘ghost soldiers’: Iraq PM Malabar Gold & Diamonds

BAGHDAD: Iraqi Prime to keep his job as a brigade com- festival starts today Minister Haidar Al Abadi mander, has to bribe his own yesterday announced that an hierarchical superiors with huge DOHA: Malabar Gold & buy diamond jewellery worth investigation had uncovered the amounts of money,” he said. Diamonds, the prominent jewel- QR2,000 or above are eligible to existence of 50,000 “ghost sol- The officer explained that, for lery retailer unfurled details of get both the coupons. diers”, and promised a widening those reasons, the thousands of the fourth edition of ‘Malabar To add customer’s delight, the crackdown on corruption. soldiers who defected or were Gold & Diamonds Festival’ in group also offers ‘Zero Deduction “The prime minister revealed killed this year across Iraq were GCC and Singapore. The fes- Exchange’ scheme through which the existence of 50,000 fictitious rarely declared as such. tival runs from today until customers can update their old names” in the military, said a The United States, which occu- January 31, 2015 in Qatar will ornaments to the latest collec- statement from Abadi’s office pied the country for eight years, display distinctive pieces of jew- tionof Malabar Gold & Diamonds issued after a session of parlia- has spent billions of dollars train- ellery from across the worldand without any loss. ment. A parliament statement ing and equipping Iraq’s military. offers massive gifts and irre- Any 22 ct old gold ornaments said the premier scrapped the Yet the army collapsed when sistible offers. can be exchanged with the lat- 50,000 jobs, equivalent to almost fighters from the Islamic State The festival stands apart from est Malabar Gold & Diamonds four full army divisions. jihadist group launched a sweep- the usual jewellery exhibitions designs by paying only making “Over the past few weeks, the ing offensive in June. and promotions and as the tag charges ensuring they don’t lose PM has been cracking down to Since taking office in line indicates- ‘Everyone Wins’, any value on the rate of gold. expose the ghost soldiers and September, Abadi has sacked i.e. every customer gets a chance Furthermore, 8gm gold coins get to the root of the problem,” or retired several top military to be a winner through this can be bought from their outlets Abadi’s spokesman Rafid Jaboori commanders, and yesterday’s festival. with absolutely no making charge said. He said that the investi- announcement suggests he wants For every purchase of gold jew- during this period. gation started with a thorough Iraqi soldiers and volunteers from a Shia militia stand guard next to a military to tackle the graft and patronage ellery above QR2,000, the custom- Keeping up with customer headcount during the latest sal- trench near Amerli town, northern Iraq, yesterday. that prevailed under his predeces- ers get a ‘Scratch& Win’ coupon demands, the jewellery chain ary payment process. sor Nuri Al Maliki. through which they can win a offers a fabulous collection of Soldiers confirmed that sala- “Haidar Al Abadi is setting guaranteed gold coin or up to 100 gold, diamond and platinum ries were paid only recently after means “space men”, and refers to agreed percentage,” he said. integrity, efficiency and courage gold coins instantly. jewellery to suit the tastes of a two-month delay about which the fictitious soldiers crowding “Then the second and bigger as the criteria to appoint a new With every diamond jewel- both resident and international they were given no explanation. the payroll. group is at the brigade level. A military leadership,” Jaboori said. lery purchase, the customers get customers, skillfully crafted by “There are two kinds of ‘fad- “The first kind: each officer is brigade commander usually has “This weeding out process will a ‘Scratch & Win’ coupon for a jewellery specialists from Italy, haiyin’,” one experienced officer allowed, for example, five guards. 30, 40 or more soldiers who stay extend beyond the military to all guaranteed cash refund and get Singapore, Turkey, Bahrain and in the security forces said, using He’ll keep two, send three home at home or don’t exist,” the officer state institutions,” he said. a chance to winup to 100 percent India. a word which, literally translated, and pocket their salary or an said. “The problem is that he too, AFP cash back. The customers who THE PENINSULA

Police shoot dead Saudi Arabia probes motive behind attack on Canadian S Yemeni protester

RIYADH: Investigators in object” against the Canadian include a workplace-related inci- this means” after the shooting said. Riyadh police said the inte- ADEN: Yemeni police shot dead Saudi Arabia were probing while he shopped at a mall in the dent, political motives, or perhaps of the Dane on November 22 rior ministry was now handling a protester and wounded four the possible motives behind an Gulf coast community of Dhahran it was the work of a “crazy” per- and a previous fatal attack on enquiries about the Dane’s case, others as southern separatists attack on a Canadian citizen, on Saturday. son, the source said. an American. “Is there a trend but the department’s spokesman marched yesterday towards the which came one week after the Police arrested a Saudi national, A video posted on YouTube line?” asked the source, request- said there was no new informa- governorate building in the south’s shooting of a Dane. SPA reported, without giving a purported to show a trail of blood ing anonymity. tion available. main city of Aden, activists said. “We’re still trying to figure possible motive. on the shopping centre floor, and The Dane was shot in the shoul- In October, a Saudi-American The clash came as tens of thou- out what the motive is,” a source The Canadian, whose name has the victim later sitting on a chair der “from an unknown source” as former employee of a US defence sands of people rallied to demand familiar with the situation said. not been released, was in hospital with his pants bloodstained. he drove away from his workplace contractor shot dead one independence at a time when The official Saudi Press Agency, after what the source described as The video was later “removed in Riyadh last weekend, SPA said American colleague and wounded Shiite militiamen from the north citing police in Eastern Province, a stabbing. by the user,” a notice said. at the time. another in Riyadh. are expanding their control over said the attacker used “a sharp Reasons for the attack could “Everybody’s wondering what He is still in hospital, the source AFP the impoverished country. AFP MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Khamenei asks Egypt’s justice armed forces to increase system comes combat power

DUBAI: Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said under fire yesterday the armed forces should increase their combat capability regardless of political Mubarak ruling triggers criticism considerations, in an apparent allusion to continuing nuclear CAIRO: Critics yesterday which includes many judges talks with the West aimed at accused Egypt’s courts of tak- hostile to Mursi’s Muslim easing tension in the Middle ing sides after the dropping of Brotherhood, has become one of East. a murder charge against ex- the government’s main instru- “Given our vast maritime president Hosni Mubarak, with ments of quashing dissent. borders and the enemy’s huge experts and activists saying the A court on Wednesday sen- investments in this area, our country’s hopes for democracy tenced 78 teenage boys to between armed forces should continuously were being dashed. two and five years in prison for improve their (combat) readiness, A Cairo court on Saturday joining the blacklisted Muslim irrespective of political calcula- dismissed the charge against Brotherhood’s rallies demanding tions,” Khamenei told a gather- 86-year-old Mubarak over Mursi’s return. ing of senior navy officials during the deaths of protesters dur- “All of this proves that the jus- a ceremony to mark the “Navy ing Egypt’s 2011 Arab Spring tice system is in need of reform,” Week” in Iran. uprising. human rights lawyer Gamal Khamenei, who commands all Mubarak, who ruled Egypt for Eid said. branches of the armed forces in three decades until being driven Yesterday, a court sentenced addition to other key centres from office, remains imprisoned 21 Islamists standing trial with A woman inspects the damage after an arson attack that targeted first-grade classrooms at a Jewish-Arab school of power in the Islamic repub- in a military hospital in a separate Mursi over alleged violence dur- near the Arab neighbourhood of Beit Safafa in southern Jerusalem yesterday. lic, did not mention any coun- graft case, but his lawyer Farid ing the 2011 revolt to three years tries by name but he normally Al Deeb told AFP he could see in prison for chanting during a uses “enemy” to refer mainly to early release after serving two- session. Mursi himself was spared. the United States and Britain thirds of a three-year sentence. Since the army ousted Mursi Jewish extremists attack school — both of which have inter- The ruling came amid a crack- in July 2013, the government has vened in Iran over the past down by President Abdel Fattah launched a bloody crackdown JERUSALEM: An arson And Justice Minister Tzipi which have a lot of meaning,” she century. Al Sisi against both Islamist and against his supporters, leaving at attack targetting first-grade Livni pledged a “zero tolerance” told army radio. “Peacetime offers great oppor- secular opponents, with hun- least 1,400 dead and more than classrooms at a Jewish-Arab approach to anyone behind such Meir Kahana was a virulently tunities for our armed forces to dreds sentenced to prison after 15,000 jailed. school sparked a wave of con- acts. “I will work determinedly anti-Arab rabbi whose Kach party ... build up on preemptive capaci- mass trials. “The verdict fur- For Paris-based Middle East demnation yesterday, as months against everyone who acts against was banned over incitement to ties,” said Khamenei, with state ther reinforces concerns about expert Karim Bitar, the Mubarak of racial tensions in Jerusalem the law and expresses through racial hatred but whose ideology television playing excerpts of his the alarmingly selective justice ruling was a “judicial farce” showed little sign of abating. violence the racist demon which still inspires loyalty among Jewish speech. system in Egypt, which appears that shows the regime “is not The attack, apparently by has emerged in Israeli society extremists. The United States and its key more intent on settling politi- even bothering to worry about Jewish extremists, occurred — whether it is through hateful “The school had been targeted regional ally Israel have both cal scores and punishing dissent appearances”. Saturday evening at the Hand-in- graffiti, arson or other forms of several times in recent months hinted they might bomb Iran than establishing justice,” said the The ruling enraged Mubarak’s Hand bilingual school, a rare sym- violence,” she told reporters at but every other time was outside to prevent it developing nuclear Egyptian Initiative for Personal opponents, with about 1,000 people bol of coexistence in a city fraught the school. the school. This is the first time weapons. Iran denies any such Rights (EIPR), a leading rights taking to a central Cairo square by growing friction between Jews Headmistress Nadia Knane it was inside,” the headmistress ambition and insists its atomic group. to denounce the government. and Palestinians from annexed said one of the first-grade class- said. programme is designed for civil- Sisi, who led the overthrow of Police used tear gas to disperse east Jerusalem. rooms had been badly damaged Inside the classroom, blackened ian projects. the elected Islamist president the protesters, prompting clashes Scrawled on the walls were slo- by the fire, and that the attack- and charred books were piled on With Khamenei’s blessing, Mohamed Mursi in July 2013, that left two people dead and 14 gans in Hebrew reading “Death to ers had tried to set alight another the floor and the walls and ceil- Iran’s moderate President Hassan has been accused of instituting a wounded. Arabs” and “There’s no coexist- classroom. ing were badly burned. On the Rowhani launched a diplomatic regime even more authoritarian But the decision was largely ence with cancer,” police said. The assailants had piled up balcony outside were the words initiative to resolve a 12-year than Mubarak’s — stifling dissent greeted with indifference in Israeli Prime Minister textbooks and set them on fire. “Death to Arabs”. nuclear dispute, hoping to save and counting on the support of Egypt, where only a few years Benjamin Netanyahu condemned “After I saw what was writ- Yesterday, scores of people his country from punishing global a public exhausted by years of ago hundreds of thousands ral- the attack and pledged to act ten, I realised it was not just a gathered in support of the school sanctions. Tehran and six world instability. lied daily to demand Mubarak “forcefully” to return “the rule of fire. They wrote ‘Death to Arabs’ and its pupils and teachers. powers missed a self-imposed Experts said the judiciary, step down. AFP law” across all parts of the city. and ‘Kahana was right’ — words AFP deadline on November 24 for a deal, but gave themselves seven more months to overcome their many differences. Despite his reserved support for the negotiations, Khamenei remains distrustful of Western At least 50 Islamic State terrorists killed in Kobane intentions in the region and insists that Iran’s defence capa- BEIRUT: Islamic State group said yesterday. The Britain-based southern Daraa province, regime a claim dismissed by the Turkish Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga forces, bility, including its controversial jihadists battling for control of monitor also reported that the strikes killed at least 19 civil- army as “lies”. IS began advanc- have held back the group. missile programme, must not the Syrian town of Kobane have US-led coalition battling the IS ians, among them seven women ing on Kobane on September In Raqa province, the coali- be part of any broad diplomatic suffered some of their heaviest group hit at least 30 targets in and two children. The deaths in 16, hoping to quickly seize the tion carried out strikes against at deal. losses yet in 24 hours of clashes and around Raqa, the jihadists’ Kobane came on Saturday after small border town and secure least 30 IS targets on the northern In tandem with Rowhani’s and US-led air strikes. de facto capital. IS jihadists launched an unprec- its grip on a large stretch of the outskirts of Raqa city and struck diplomatic overture, gener- At least 50 jihadists were killed There were no immediate edented attack against the border Syrian-Turkish border, following Division 17, a Syrian army base als appointed by Khamenei are in the embattled border town in details of a toll in the Raqa strikes, crossing separating the Syrian advances it made in Iraq. jihadists captured earlier this year. maintaining a relentless war suicide bombings, clashes with which the Observatory called one Kurdish town from Turkey. At one point it looked set to Observatory director Rami rhetoric and unveil on an almost Kobane’s Kurdish defenders of the larger waves of raids by the Kurdish officials and the overrun the town, but Kurdish Abdel Rahman said the strikes daily basis what they say are new and the air strikes, the Syrian coalition since it began its cam- Observatory alleged the attack Syrian fighters, backed by coali- had caused casualties, but details innovations in weaponry. Observatory for Human Rights paign in Syria in September. In was launched from Turkish soil, tion air strikes and an influx of were not available. AFP REUTERS Pro-govt Sunnis win most seats in Bahrain parliamentary vote DUBAI: Pro-government Sunni candidates including Islamists have won the most seats in parliamentary elections in Bahrain boycotted by the main opposition Shia majority, officials said yesterday. The vote was the first in the Gulf state — a key US ally — since authorities crushed pro-democracy protests in 2011. Results from Saturday’s second and final round of voting showed 27 of the parliament’s 40 seats won by Sunnis, with the remaining 13 taken by Shias including three women. Among the new Sunni parliamentarians are two mem- bers of the Muslim Brotherhood Islamist group. The vote was tainted by claims of irregularities from both sides, but officials hailed it as democratic. Justice Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ali Al Khalifa said on Saturday the election was “a great success”, adding: “The people have made their choice.” He also warned that “those who doubt the election results will be held accountable”. The main Shia opposition Al-Wefaq group — which withdrew its 18 lawmakers from parliament in protest in 2011 — denounced the vote as a “farce” and called for a boycott. It claimed the boycott was a success, saying that only 30 percent of voters had cast their ballots, despite the electoral commission putting turnout at 52.6 percent. The opposition said tens of thousands of people were pressured to vote, while the authorities accused Shias of preventing voters from reaching polling stations. Since the uprising began in February 2011, at least 89 people are estimated to have been killed in clashes with security forces, and hundreds arrested and tried. The opposition has warned that a lack of democratic reforms could lead to instability in Bahrain, which is home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet and a partner in the US-led campaign against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq. AFP MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09

Uruguay polls Floods in France Cop who shot kill five, nearly 3,000 evacuated

PORTEL-DES-CORBIERES: dead Ferguson The worst flooding in southern France has claimed five lives and forced almost 3,000 people to evacuate their homes, offi- cials said yesterday. teenager quits The latest victim was a 73-year- old man who died of heart failure in Rivesaltes, in the Pyrenees- Protesters demand police reforms Orientales region, when trying to force his car through a big dip in FERGUSON: The white outside a bar between demonstra- the road that was flooded. policeman who shot dead an tors and riot police before organ- Along the banks of the Agly unarmed black teenager in the izers moved protesters along. river in the same region, some St Louis suburb of Ferguson has Earlier, a core group of about 2,000 people had been evacu- resigned, but it failed to deter 100 marchers, many from other ated. Another 560 people had angry protesters demanding US states, set out on a 192km already left their homes in Canet, justice and reform. “Journey for Justice,” heading Argeles-sur-Mer and Barcares. Darren Wilson left the force from Ferguson — a mainly black About 250 people fled Sigean, citing fears for the safety of local suburb — to the Missouri state located in low-lying land and residents and fellow police offic- capital Jefferson City. lagoons just south of Narbonne. ers, according to a letter pub- The marchers, organised by A woman casts her vote at a poll station in Montevideo yesterday. Uruguayans began voting for a new presi- Four people died and an eight- lished by local media on Saturday. the National Association for the dent, with former leader Tabare Vazquez looking set to win comfortably, securing the ruling leftist coalition a year-old girl remained missing in Wilson wrote in his letter that “it Advancement of Coloured People third consecutive term and allowing it to roll out its pioneering marijuana law. Opinion polls give Vazquez, 74, southeastern France after violent is my hope that my resignation (NAACP), are demanding the storms on Thursday and Friday who was president from 2005 to 2010, a 14 percentage point lead over Luis Lacalle Pou, 41, of the centre- will allow the community to heal”. sacking of the Ferguson police triggered flash floods. AFP right National Party. A grand jury decision on Monday chief, nationwide police reforms not to charge Wilson in connection and an end to racial profiling. with the August 9 shooting death “We will fight until hell freezes of 18-year-old Michael Brown over, and then we will fight on the touched off days of sporadic vio- ice,” NAACP president Cornell lence in Ferguson as well as dem- William Brooks told supporters at onstrations in several major cities Washington Metropolitan AME Swiss reject eco-linked immigration cap across the United States. Zion Church before setting out. The decision revived long- “When you have a 12-year-old GENEVA: The Swiss yesterday and 76,8 percent turned down the win. That happened less than a annually to the Swiss population, standing questions about how child who is killed with a toy gun flatly rejected a call for dramatic bid to force the country’s central year ago, when voters in February putting the country on track to police, especially white officers, in his hand, there is something immigration cuts in the name of bank to boost its gold reserves to caught many off guard by voting house up to 12 million people by interact with African Americans fundamentally wrong.” saving the environment, along at least 20 percent of its holdings. to impose quotas for immigration 2050. The campaign wanted to — questions raised again after last Outside Ferguson, others ral- with bids to scrap tax breaks While the final results were not from European Union, throwing cap immigration’s contribution to week’s shooting in Cleveland of lied in Brown’s memory and called for rich foreigners and hike the yet in, the fact that a majority of non-member Switzerland’s rela- population growth at 0.2 percent, 12-year-old Tamir Rice. for change. Hundreds of people country’s gold reserves. cantons had clearly dismissed the tions with the bloc into turmoil. which after some 93,000 emigrants “It was my hope to continue demonstrated in and around the Results from a majority of the three initiatives meant they were But voters clearly were not were deducted would mean an in police work, but the safety of US capital Washington, including country’s 26 cantons showed vot- doomed. swayed by the Ecopop argument addition of 16,000 people each year other police officers and the com- some who laid on the ground for ers spurning the so-called Ecopop Most voters in Switzerland cast that immigrants are swelling the and a population of 8.5 million by munity are of paramount impor- several minutes in a “die-in” at a initiative, which called for slash- their ballots by mail in advance, so country’s population and thus the middle of the century. tance to me,” the letter from the shopping mall near the Pentagon. ing immigration to reduce urban counting votes can often be done threatening its environment. “What I’m worried about is a 28-year-old Wilson said. The NAACP wants police to pressure on the Alpine nation’s quickly after polls close at noon As it became clear that voters collapse,” Philippe Roch of the Dozens of demonstrators again use body cameras, changes to the idyllic landscape. (1100 GMT) on frequent voting had massively rejected the initia- Ecopop committee told RTS after gathered outside Ferguson police system of equipping police with Initial results nationwide days in the country renowned for tive, sarcastic tweets flourished the results became clear. Indeed, station despite his decision to quit, military hardware, a promotion of showed 73 percent of voters said its direct democratic system. carrying the hashtag #Ecoflop. most voters heeded the call of the with protesters setting fire to a US diversity on the force and an end ‘no’ to Ecopop — far above the 56 Although opinion polls had Foreign nationals already government, all political parties, flag and jeering at police officers. to the use of major force in cases percent seen in the latest opinion hinted the Swiss would vote ‘no’ make up nearly a quarter of employers and unions to reject the One man, who gave his name as involving minor offenses. poll. According to initial results, across the board, supporters of Switzerland’s eight million inhab- initiative, slammed as xenopho- “Kenny,” said: “I’m mad as hell. A federal probe into whether 61.6 percent had also rejected the Ecopop initiative had voiced itants, official statistics show. bic and a threat to Switzerland’s Every night we’re going to be here.” Wilson violated Brown’s civil the call to ditch tax breaks for hope silent support from the According to Ecopop, immi- economy which depends heavily There was also a brief standoff rights is ongoing. AFP wealthy foreign residents, while masses would lead to a surprise gration is adding 1.1-1.4 percent on immigrant labour. AFP

Unique championship New bird flu Moldovans go to the polls outbreak in CHISINAU: Moldova went to the Moldovans should vote for a future in polls yesterday in a closely fought Europe. “Our train is already on the Netherlands parliamentary election that will move but has not reached the point of help determine whether the impov- no return. If we stop on this European THE HAGUE: Dutch erished ex-Soviet republic pursues path, I can’t even imagine when we authorities reported a integration with Europe or returns will get another chance. Moldova can’t new outbreak of bird flu to Russia’s fold. develop without Europe, we must move yesterday on a western Voters at polling stations across together,” Leanca said. poultry farm, but could the country of 3.6 million faced a Voters are electing a parliament to not say if it was the wor- choice between political parties aim- serve a four-year term, with parties rying new strain detected ing for membership in the European needing to win at least six percent to elsewhere in the country. Union and those that back joining get seats under proportional represen- “Avian influenza has Russia in a customs union. tation rules. Votes would be counted been detected on a poul- Prime Minister Iurie Leanca said by 6am local time today. AFP try farm at Zoeterwoude, where some 28,000 birds are affected,” the economy ministry said. “The birds are infected with the H5 variant of the flu but it’s A competitor throws a tree during the UK Christmas Tree Throwing Championships in Keele, central England, not yet known whether of yesterday. Participants taking part in the charity event must throw a 6 feet tree, weighing about 10kg, as far the highly pathogenic vari- as possible and get the tree as high over a bar as they can. ety or not,” it added. The highly-infectious H5N8 strain of bird flu was discovered in the Netherlands two weeks ago, where authorities Nigeria vows to Osborne pledges £2bn suspect it might have been brought in by birds migrat- hunt mosque ing from Asia. Some strains of avian extra per year for NHS influenza are fatal for attackers chickens, and pose a health LONDON: British finance cuts, focused in large part on threat to humans, who can KANO: Nigerian President minister George Osborne welfare payments, is more cred- fall sick after handling Goodluck Jonathan vowed to announced a £2bn annual rise ible than Labour’s less aggressive infected poultry. hunt down those behind “hei- in healthcare spending yester- austerity proposals. Dutch authorities have nous” attacks that killed at least day, seeking to counter attacks The NHS in England costs over said human infection 120 at the mosque of an Islamic on his Conservative party’s £100bn annually, or a third of all can only occur following leader who issued a call to arms handling of the health service government departmental spend- “intense and direct con- against Boko Haram. six months before an election. ing. It faces increasing financial tact” with infected birds. At least 270 others were also Prime Minister David Cameron’s strain as the population rises and The latest outbreak lies wounded when two suicide bomb- centre-right party lags the main ages. The spending pledge is set about 35km northwest of ers blew themselves up and gun- opposition Labour party on the to be delivered alongside mixed Hekendorp, where the first men opened fire during weekly question of who is most trusted economic forecasts from the outbreak was detected in prayers on Friday at the Grand to protect the publicly funded independent Office for Budget mid-November, leading to Mosque in Kano. National Health Service (NHS). Responsibility (OBR) that, around 150,000 birds being Jonathan “directed the secu- With opinion polls showing beyond some investment in road- destroyed. rity agencies to launch a full- Labour narrowly in the lead building, will leave little room for Bird flu has been detected scale investigation and to leave on voting intentions, Osborne other spending commitments. in at least three other loca- no stone unturned until all agents sought to win back ground on the When Osborne took office in tions in the Netherlands of terror... are tracked down and NHS by promising a permanent 2010, he promised to protect the and Germany, and Britain brought to justice,” said a state- increase in the service’s funding. NHS as he set about cutting a has also reported simi- ment from his office. “This is a down payment on the budget deficit that had reached lar strains of the virus. The mosque is attached to NHS’s own long-term plan, and it 11 percent of gross domestic Authorities were destroy- the palace of Kano’s Emir, shows you can have a strong NHS product. The head of the NHS ing the birds at the latest Muhammad Sanusi II, Nigeria’s if you have a strong economy,” in England has said the serv- outbreak at Zoeterwoude second most senior Muslim cleric, Osborne told the BBC. ice faces a £30bn shortfall by and have thrown a 10km who last week made a call at the He will seek to use a half- 2020/21 and that even with cost cordon around the farm. same mosque urging civilians to yearly budget update on cutting, at least £8bn of extra Four other poultry farms take up arms against Islamist Wednesday to convince voters funding was needed. in the area are being inves- extremists Boko Haram. AFP that his plan for more spending REUTERS tigated for bird flu. AFP MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 10 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Ferguson fallout Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

HE raging debate in the United States after a St. Louis County grand jury decided not to bring criminal charges against Darren Wilson, a white Tpolice officer who fatally shot Michael Brown, an unarmed African-American teenager, proves one point: on How income inequality the issue of race, much has changed in the US, and nothing much has changed. Six days after the jury decision, the issue still dominates headlines in the US. A contentious national debate on race and law enforcement has reopened, with blacks undermines US power vociferously complaining that the white-dominated police BY KURT M CAMPBELL sense of overarching optimism that at an airport homecoming, the vast unfairly target them. Wilson is white and Brown was reinforced a post-World War II period majority of the population has been black. Every aspect of race relations is being discussed and UCH has been writ- of unprecedented American activism largely unaffected by these conflicts. dissected in minutiae and everybody who is somebody is ten about the domestic on the global scene. It is likely that as They neither paid for nor fought these wading in with his or her views in the media. Riots broke consequences of grow- a growing segment of the population wars. out after the verdict, nationwide demonstrations are Ming income inequality in strains just to get by, it will increas- The next phase of intense global the United States — how inequality ingly view foreign policy — foreign engagement is likely to demand much continuing to be held and long-term action is planned by depresses growth, puts downward assistance and military spending alike more from a larger share of the popu- blacks and support groups to bring in true race equality pressure on the middle class, accen- — as a kind of luxury ripe for cuts and lation. The lion’s share of 21st-century and bridge the divide. Yesterday, Wilson, now an object of tuates wage stagnation and creates a reduction in ambition. It is possible history will play out in Asia, with its hate for many, announced his resignation after the police added difficulty paying for a college to see early indicators of these senti- thriving and acquisitive middle classes department told him it received threats of violence if he education and buying a home — but ments on the right and left, in the driving innovation, nationalist compe- remained an employee. much less has been said about how form of both tea party isolationism titions, military ambitions, struggles inequality will affect America’s role and Occupy Wall Street suspicion that over history and identity, and simple The Ferguson case has shaken the US and is posing in the world. How will the social sci- corporate interests drive America’s pursuit of power. The United States a huge challenge to President Barack Obama. But there ence experiment of allowing wealth to foreign entanglements. is in the midst of a major reorienta- is another fallout of this unfortunate incident that settle so unequally between the top 1 It is also the case that other coun- tion of its foreign policy and commer- hasn’t received much attention: percent and rest of the United States tries have long emulated aspects of the cial priorities that will draw it more the damage it’s doing to US impact the foundations and contours American Way in designing their own closely to Asia in the decades ahead. reputation all over the world. of U.S. foreign development models. Having access to The competition for power and pres- policy? higher education, creating conditions tige there rests on comprehensive The race America has always projected In fact, there that support innovation and allow- aspects of national power — as much issue is itself as a role model, proclaiming are likely to be ing for greater upward mobility have to our product and service offerings, that its constitution is built on How will the subtle and direct all been deeply attractive qualities to the strength of our educational sys- damaging the foundation of principles of consequences of many nations. But it is the construc- tem and the health and vitality of our equality, justice and rule of law. social science growing inequal- tion of a durable U.S. middle class that national infrastructure as to the qual- ity both for the has been perhaps most compelling ity of U.S. military capabilities. Each It’s the strict adherence to these America’s experiment United States’ to highly stratified societies across of these efforts require substantial principles that has enabled it don international Latin America, Asia and Africa. Now, and sustained longer-term invest- global the role of a global cop, and a very of allowing standing and its however, the United States is mov- ments; all face funding shortfalls due reputation. active cop, intervening in regions wealth to settle activism. ing in the other direction, toward to myriad challenges. A corresponding where injustice reigns, where In most criti- an unstable society divided between consequence of growing inequality has human rights are trampled on so unequally cal respects, the astronomically rich elites and every- been a reduction in support for these United States has one else. This undermines a critical building blocks for comprehensive and and the innocent are persecuted. between the top helped to create component of U.S. soft power and is sustained international engagement. The Ferguson episode has shaken and underwrite a model for societal engineering that The worrisome dimensions of these assumptions, and it’s not the anti-US global media one percent and the global oper- few would choose to emulate. income inequality on the quality of and anti-US columnists who are shouting loud, but true rest of the United ating system It is also the case that the most domestic American life should be Americans who are just worried about the inequities in since the end of recent era of U.S. exertion on the enough to cause us to consider enact- their country. It’s also embarrassing that the unsavoury States impact the World War II. global stage has involved nearly 15 ing remedies. However, the potential This required a years of conflict in the Middle East negative implications on U.S. perform- episode has happened when a black president occupies foundations and citizen’s sense of and South Asia. The most important ance internationally can only add to the White House. The election of Barack Obama was external respon- features of these largely military the case. Ultimately, a sustained and trumpeted as a historic development, an eloquent proof contours of US sibility and belief engagements have involved refine- purposeful American international- of racial equality in the US. Obama himself acknowledges foreign policy? that the United ments in counterinsurgency tech- ism is inextricably linked to the health that there are still miles to go on the race issue, but his States had some- nique and adaptations in military of our domestic life, to which gaping thing unique technology. A different 1 percent of inequality is the biggest threat. observations had to be tempered due to his position. If the and valuable to confer to the world. the U.S. population has been prima- The writer, chairman and chief US is facing competition from China to its superpower Americans over these generations rily involved in this struggle: the U.S. executive of the Asia Group invest- status, the race issue is more damaging. Race is about have regularly demonstrated in word military and others associated with ment and consulting firm, was assist- humanity, equality and justice. Washington needs to regain and deed that they were prepared the defense establishment. Aside from ant secretary of state for East Asian its lost ground to continue performing its great role on the to bear burdens and advance ideas. clapping when a uniformed military and Pacific Affairs from 2009 to 2013. global stage. Coinciding with this era was a general member greets an emotional family WP-BLOOMBERG The other side Quote of India needs to focus on multilateral side of climate change the day

LIMATE change is back on more attention to this development: field, especially with its ambitious solar using climate change agreements to the international agenda. The manner in which the environ- and energy plans coming to fruition, so carve in stone structural reforms that The announcement of a ment ministry was blind-sided by the why bother with international agree- he wants his country to undertake. Cgreenhouse gas emissions US-China agreement was a striking ments? The answer is multiple. One, When countries like the US and agreement between the United States example of how out of touch Indian a renewable energy future comes with China sign bilateral agreements that and China had been preceded by a officialdom is with global develop- costs and is made easier with technol- change their energy profiles, they will European Union commitment to further ments. New Delhi should focus on ogy. Sensibly negotiated agreements seek to ensure that other countries do unilaterally cut carbon emissions. The where climate change diplomacy will would open access to both. not get an economic edge from these The World Cup G-20 summit called on its members be going in the coming years. Given Two, green bills afflict all countries. actions. They will seek to multilateralise to get their own climate change plans the growing problems of air pollution Much of international climate change these actions in a manner that favours in 2022 will be ready for the Paris summit next year. and rising fossil fuel imports, there is diplomacy is about trying to shift these them. Prime Minister Narendra Modi The specifics of these agreements a strong case for India to invest more costs to the wallets of other countries. has often said he takes climate change played in Qatar. are less important than the momen- in a renewable energy future. Three, international agreements “seriously”. He now needs to take the tum they impart to multilateral climate There is a case for saying India is are a good way to lock in long-term multilateral side of climate change seri- change diplomacy. India needs to pay already doing quite a lot at home in this policies at home. China’s Xi Jinping is ously as well. Hindustan Times Sepp Blatter FIFA President MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Assad regime struggles to fund war

of items like oil and wheat. But Many of the government’s revenue sources the Syrian pound has lost three- quarters of its value in the past have vanished. Opposition groups control four years, making those goods increasingly expensive to bring in. nearly half of the country and most of its Once the imports arrive, it can be difficult to get them to market. oil installations, and industries such as Rebels regularly ambush supply routes, contributing to periodic shortages of flour for bread and tourism have been decimated. natural gas for electricity. In both rebel- and regime-held areas, BY HUGH NAYLOR power outages now last as long Damascus has had to shift pri- as 23 hours a day. orities in order to pay for the war The difficulties have forced the yria’s economy is in a tail- effort. two sides to work together. Rebels spin, and the regime of It has slashed spending on control the main water supply for President Bashar Assad is social welfare, including cutting Damascus, but the government Sincreasingly struggling to subsidies for water and electricity secures its flow into the capital find resources to quash the four- over the summer. with concessions on such issues year-old rebellion, analysts say. Last month, the government as prisoner releases. The government has had to did the same with diesel and heat- The Assad government is also scale back subsidies for citizens ing oil. That cutback was partly being squeezed by Western eco- for goods ranging from water a reaction to airstrikes by the nomic sanctions. It has relied to heating oil over the last six US-led coalition that damaged increasingly on Russia and Iran months. oil installations in eastern Syria for help. That has angered Syrians, who that had fallen under the control Since the rebellion started, already face crippling inflation, of Islamic State. Iranian aid to Damascus may 50-percent unemployment and Although they are enemies, the total as much as $10 billion, wide-scale damage to industry Islamic State gave the regime an said Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran caused by the civil war. In addi- unlikely boost, selling its own oil expert and senior associate at Men walk in the ancient Grand Mosque in Maaret Al Naaman town in Syria’s Idlib province. The mosque was partially tion, power outages have wors- back to the government at cheap the Carnegie Endowment for damaged by what activists said were barrel bombs dropped by forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar Al Assad. ened recently and food shortages rates, according to analysts and International Peace. “Assad would loom. UN officials. But the coalition not be financially solvent today With the opposition weakened, airstrikes that began targeting Last month’s subsidy cuts Syrians have been so angered the south, the armed opposition is without Iranian aid,” he said. the Syrian military should be able the militant group in September reportedly sent the price of by the rising fuel costs that there making advances. But the capture of parts of to deal knockout blows to the have slowed those transactions, heating oil from 73 to 85 cents have been protests in regime-held “The Syrian army is overex- Iraq by the Islamic State over the rebels. But Assad’s forces are too they say. a liter — the equivalent of going areas, a rare event. tended,” said Fawaz Gerges, a pro- summer severed important supply short on funds, analysts say. The cumulative effect has been from $2.76 to $3.22 a gallon — That has added to the pres- fessor of international relations at lines that had been used by Iran, “You’re seeing the continued not only a strain on the govern- while diesel went up by 12 cents sure on the government, which the London School of Economics a close ally of the Shia-dominated splintering with these opposi- ment but more hardship for a liter, to 48 cents, or about $1.82 already is facing discontent over and Political Science. government in Baghdad. tion groups, their weakness and many Syrians like Abdul Aziz, a gallon. the huge war casualties suffered Many of the government’s “The Baghdad road was criti- vulnerability, but the regime is a 29-year-old graphic designer This has caused prices of a wide by Alawites, the minority religious revenue sources have vanished. cal for Assad. It brought in not failing to capitalize on the short- who lives with his parents and variety of goods to jump. Even group that dominates the regime’s Opposition groups control nearly just goods and services from Iran, comings of its adversaries,” said two siblings. clothes are becoming unaffordable military forces. Some 200,000 half of the country and most of but also oil, cash and arms,” said Riad Kahwaji, an analyst and Like scores of his neighbors, for many Syrians, with residents people have been killed since the its oil installations, and indus- Gerges. chief executive of the Dubai-based he and his family were forced in the capital saying blue jeans are start of the uprising. tries such as tourism have been Back in Damascus, residents Institute for Near East and Gulf six months ago to start taking sold for as much as eight times A year ago, the regime decimated. suspect the influx of international Military Analysis. international food handouts dis- their pre-war price. appeared to be turning the tide Jihad Yazigi, editor-in-chief food aid has freed up resources for Other economic problems like tributed by local charities. “Instead of eating meat or of the war, inflicting setbacks on of the Syria Report, an economic the regime to put toward the war. falling tax revenues, a collapse “People can hardly afford to chicken every day like we used to, rebels in strategic locations like news website, said Syrian gross Nonetheless, the food donations in the currency and rising bills live anymore,” Abdul Aziz said we eat it once or twice a week,” the Qalamoun area near the bor- domestic product has fallen to are vital, they say. for imports have also pushed via Skype from his home in cen- said Amjad, 24, a software engi- der with Lebanon. half of its pre-war level of roughly “People wouldn’t receive the the regime deeper into “survival tral Damascus, which is control- neer who lives with his sister in But Assad’s forces now appear $60bn. necessary nutrition without mode,” he added. Although the led by the government. Fearing Damascus. He also asked that his bogged down on a number of With local industry battered by this aid, and things would be far government’s budget figures are retribution, he asked that his full full name not be published, citing fronts. Rebels still cling to parts the fighting, the Syrian govern- worse,” Abdul Aziz said. not made public, analysts say name not be published. safety concerns. of Aleppo and the capital, while in ment must rely more on imports WP-BLOOMBERG Cameron sold Scotland down the river Rajoy renews vow not

BY KEVIN MCKENNA is a stark absence of anything to hold talks with Mas significant that would allow any n the Scottish higher mod- Scottish government the essen- ern studies exam paper for tials to set its own policies in areas BY ESTEBAN DUARTE the class of 2025, I would not where radical and remedial action Ibe surprised to read the fol- is required. In their response to panish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy says he won’t engage lowing question: to what extent the Report, Nicola Sturgeon and in negotiations with Catalonia’s regional president Artur Mas do you think the Smith commis- John Swinney were choosing their that would put the country’s integrity at risk. sion played a role in bringing for- words carefully: “Welcome any S “I have never negotiated, and neither will I, about Spaniards’ ward the second referendum on new powers”; “pay tribute to Lord equality, neither on their right to decide what their country should Scottish independence? Indeed, Smith”; “bit disappointed”. But be,” Rajoy said at a People’s Party conference in Barcelona, his first there would be a persuasive case there is widespread astonishment visit to Catalonia in six months. “We have always supported dialogue for saying that it may even have and genuine anger among several within the law.” hastened indyref2. others close to the commission at The prime minister is trying to repel a surge in support for inde- Whatever occurred between Labour’s conduct during the delib- pendence in Spain’s largest regional economy as Mas rides a wave of 10 politicians and a Tory lord in erations. “Seeing all welfare powers popularity after delivering Catalans an illegal November 9 ballot on Edinburgh over the past six weeks being taken away at the last minute independence in defiance of the government and the Constitutional or so was not about delivering and seeing Labour argue against Court. The extent of Rajoy’s agenda has disappointed some Spanish further devolved powers to the the devolution of the minimum unionist supporters. Scottish parliament. This was a wage are things I don’t think I’ll “It would be good if he really took a ride across Catalonia and talked sophisticated and multilayered ever forget,” I was told. “In the last to people, especially those people who have stopped feeling Spanish,” deception made merely to legiti- hours of the Smith deliberations, said Jose Ramon Bosch, chairman of Societat Civil Catalana, a civil mise the cartoon “vow” carried on the Tories were getting direct input society group campaigning to stay with Spain. “He is the prime minister the front page of 16 September’s from Westminster government of all Spaniards, including those who voted on November 9.” Daily Record. departments and cutting deals Rajoy’s People’s Party has slipped to third place in recent national Last week, the Spectator he was wandering around the the information about its rules with Labour to avoid anything polls. Some of Rajoy’s critics say he’s used legal arguments to avoid a was patting the heads of Alex television and radio stations on and parameters that many peo- that might affect English votes political debate on the situation in Catalonia, while others accuse him Salmond and Jim Murphy at its Thursday promoting the sanctity ple in Scotland thought that what for English laws.” of neglecting his duty by not shutting down the illegal vote. annual awards bash. The former of the Smith agreement on extra they agreed would be set in stone. Those who believe that the “During all these years we have ensured that Catalonia was financed first minister of Scotland was powers. Of course it is binding, In fact, Smith, inadvertently, Smith recommendations — and and that’s very positive,” said Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz voted politician of the year by he said; it would be unthink- has revealed what Scotland still they are only recommendations de Santamaria said in a press conference yesterday, referring to the the brayers and snorters, while able that Westminster wouldn’t isn’t permitted to do on its own. — even slightly resemble devo- central-government-sponsored regional rescue fund, of which Catalonia Murphy was accorded the acco- respect what we have proposed. Even if Westminster allows the max are deluding themselves. is its largest user. “We are talking about education, health, medicines, lade campaigner of the year. From And there was Alistair Carmichael Smith proposals to proceed, Only a few hours had elapsed fol- social services and even salaries.” the perspective of the magazine, saying that this wasn’t government Scotland will be unable to exert lowing the result of the Scottish Mas said this week he aims to win a mandate for independence each of these Scots had contrib- policy. And there too were the usual much control over its finances. Its referendum and David Cameron by calling an early regional election and then entering an 18-month uted to the gaiety of the nation by camp followers and fluffers eager to spending status is about equal to was moving swiftly through the transition period ending with a final referendum. Pro-secession parties providing it with an old-fashioned, proclaim that Smith was delivering a that of a child saving up for the gears to the one marked “easy should field a single list of candidates to increase the chance of winning colourful and dramatic political blueprint that would make Scotland new Xbox (you’re not getting it all cynicism”. an outright majority, Mas said in a November 25 speech in Barcelona campaign. True, there were some more powerful and accountable. at once because you’ll just spend “Just as Scotland will vote sepa- in front thousands of supporters including his separatist rival Oriol hairy moments but, by Jove, it was Letting the nation out to play with it on sweeties). Scotland will be rately in a Scottish parliament on Junqueras. “It’s not normal that a country’s population can’t express a splendid campaign and Blighty one full tax-raising power, and let- allowed just 30 percent of taxes their issues of tax, spending and its opinion about the future of its own country,” said Mas, who is facing is still standing. ting it have air passenger duty too, raised and be given the capac- welfare, so too England,” he said. a possible criminal investigation for holding the independence vote on The real politician of the year, of without any adult supervision, does ity to control about 15 percent Yesterday, he saw the main part of November 9. “We are not under normal conditions.” course, has been David Cameron not make it stronger and more of welfare spending within its his masterplan come to fruition. While 81 percent of voters on November 9 backed independence, (pictured). The Tory leader has accountable. It is merely an exer- borders. Indeed, on employment A green light for Evel, the result- Rajoy has argued the turnout of 37 percent showed most Catalans delivered a quite stunning display cise in giving the country the least and welfare, the Smith report is ant neutering of Scottish Labour were opposed to a split. Support for independence was 45 percent last of political legerdemain. That he possible and not scaring the horses light to the point of being gos- MPs at Westminster, a vow that month compared with 28 percent when Rajoy took office, according has used the hapless Murphy and south of the border. samer thin when stressing that existed only inside the head of the to a survey by the Catalan government pollster. poor, deluded old Gordon Brown Point by point, the Smith income tax will remain a shared editor of the Daily Record and a “The real fact is that the big international propaganda operation that and Alistair Darling to carry out commission must still be given UK tax. Everywhere you look in commission that recommends some people had ready for November 9 collapsed without much noise,” the plan simply makes it sweeter. approval by the mother of all this report there are qualifica- continuing Westminster control Rajoy said Saturday. “It’s not proper that in Catalonia the society was “Right, Darling, I want you to go parliaments before this exercise tions. There are more caveats in over the lion’s share of Scotland’s divided, or its plurality was denied.” up there and tell those Caledonian in political condescension can it than the dowry agreement of a finances and then get the suckers The Catalan government has asked the region’s media watchdog to fuzzy-wuzzies that we’ll give them ever come to fruition. Why don’t Tuscan princess, including the bit to swallow it. examine whether radio stations Onda Cero, SER and Cope should face devo max after the referendum. we all just go outside with Nanny that says that the assignment of Ladies and gentlemen, I give penalties for refusing to air free advertisements promoting the Nov. Can’t you get that Daily Record while Mummy decides what must tax receipts should be accompa- you David Cameron, politician of 9 vote, a spokesman for the regulator Xavier Margarit said by phone. to cobble up some sort of pledge, be done next? Such was the haste nied by a concomitant reduction the year and first ever leader of The regulator was already investigating after receiving complaints what?” with which this commission was in the Westminster block grant. the joint Conservative and Labour against the broadcasters from 60 individuals, he said. Poor old Lord Smith, too. There convened and so meagre has been In its overall character, there party. GUARDIAN NEWS WP-BLOOMBERG MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES Xi vows to be firm on island controversies No reference to US in speech

BEIJING: Chinese President States, Australia and Japan ear- Xi Jinping said in a key foreign lier this month called for peaceful policy speech that the rising resolutions of maritime disputes, Asian nation would protect its after US President Barack Obama sovereign territory, the Xinhua warned of the dangers of outright news agency reported, as it conflict in Asia as China contests faces maritime disputes with disputed territory. several neighbours. China views the US foreign “We should firmly uphold policy “pivot” to the Asia-Pacific China’s territorial sovereignty, region as an attempt to contain it. maritime rights and interests The Chinese leader made no and national unity,” Xi told a direct reference to the United Communist Party meeting on for- States in the portions of his eign affairs held on Friday and speech released by Xinhua, other Saturday, according to excerpts than saying Beijing should “man- of his speech released by Xinhua age well” relations with other yesterday. major countries. Ties between China and Japan “We should fully recognise the have been strained over the past uncertainty in China’s neighbour- two years after Tokyo national- ing environment, but we should ised the Senkaku islands — which also realise that the general it already administered — in the trend of prosperity and stability East China Sea. Beijing also in the Asia-Pacific region will not A policeman uses pepper spray on a pro-democracy protester after a rally close to the office of the chief executive officer in Hong Kong yesterday. claims the chain, which it calls change,” Xi said. the Diaoyu islands. Meanwhile, a group of British China and Southeast Asian lawmakers investigating Britain’s countries — including Vietnam, relations with Hong Kong have Hong Kong clashes resume in finance hub Malaysia, the Philippines and been told China will not allow Brunei — also have competing them into the former colony, the claims for the Spratly islands in MPs said yesterday. HONG KONG: Thousands T-shirt shouted into a loud hailer. helmets and umbrellas at police actions at the main protest site the South China Sea. The Foreign Affairs Committee, of Hong Kong pro-democracy Scores of protesters with as tensions escalated. in the Admiralty neighbourhood. Taiwan, which China considers a panel of lawmakers who scru- activists clashed with police wooden shields and metal barri- Police used pepper spray in The flare-up comes after four part of its sovereign territory, also tinise the Foreign Office’s work, in the early hours of yesterday cades charged police as officers an attempt to disperse the pro- nights of clashes in the working- has a claim to part of the Spratlys. is looking into Britain’s relations as they tried to encircle gov- warned them to retreat. Police, testers, dragging several to the class district of Mong Kok, across Xi, both China’s president with the Chinese special admin- ernment headquarters, defying who have been accused of using ground before cuffing them with the harbour from Admiralty. and Communist Party secretary, istrative region 30 years on from orders for protesters to retreat excessive force, struck demon- plastic ties and taking them away. Police on Wednesday had cleared added his country would “prop- the 1984 Joint Declaration, which after more than two months of strators with batons in a bid to Scores of demonstrators held up the area — one of the city’s larg- erly handle territorial and island set out the terms of the 1997 demonstrations. push them back. umbrellas, which have become est and most volatile protest disputes” but did not name them. handover of Hong Kong. The crowds, chanting Hong Kong’s pro-democracy a symbol of the pro-democracy sites. Relations between China and Richard Ottaway, who chairs “Surround government head- protesters are demanding free movement, to protect themselves The latest clashes underscore Japan have improved after Xi and the cross-party panel, said he quarters!” and “Open the road!”, elections for the city’s next leader from the spray. the challenges authorities face as Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo would today call for an emergency made their way to the buildings in 2017, not the vote between pre- The activists tried to reclaim a restive younger generation con- Abe met on November 10, but debate in parliament on the situ- in Admiralty, next to Hong Kong’s screened candidates that Beijing Lung Wo Road, a key thorough- tests Beijing’s grip on the finan- Chinese coastguard ships have ation. The 11-member commit- central business district and some has said it will allow. fare in Admiralty district that cial hub and demands greater continued to patrol waters around tee, which reports to the lower of the world’s most expensive The democracy movement rep- police cleared more than a month democracy. the disputed islands. House of Commons, planned to real estate. resents one of the biggest threats ago during some of the most vio- Twenty-eight people were On a more conciliatory note, Xi visit Hong Kong before the end “I urge everyone to stay here for China’s Communist Party lent scenes since the demonstra- arrested in the unrest on Friday told officials at the meeting that of the year as part of its inquiry. until the morning to keep sur- leadership since its bloody 1989 tions began in late September. night and early Saturday in Mong China sought “peaceful develop- “The Chinese government have, rounding the government crackdown on pro-democracy Two student groups who have Kok, which is packed with shops, ment” and opposed the “wilful use in past weeks and months, reg- headquarters. Let’s stop the gov- student protests in and around led the two-month long civil dis- street stalls, jewellery shops and or threat of force”. istered their opposition to the ernment from functioning tomor- Tiananmen Square in Beijing. obedience campaign had urged restaurants. The leaders of the United inquiry,” the committee said. AFP row,” a protester clad in a black Demonstrators threw bottles, supporters to escalate their REUTERS

Thailand crown prince strips Taiwan’s ruling party may recalibrate ties with China TAIPEI: Taiwan’s warmer is traditionally Beijing-sceptic. of cross-strait relations, and trade links. But there is public wife of royal relations with China were called “The KMT are not likely to jointly safeguard and continue to anxiety at the closer relationship. into question yesterday after push the ties (with China) for- push forward peaceful develop- A proposed services trade pact the island’s Beijing-friendly rul- ward if they hope not to suffer ment of cross-strait relations,” with the mainland sparked mass family name ing party suffered its worst-ever another huge setback in the 2016 said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman student-led protests and a three- polls defeat in local elections, presidential race,” Ding Shuh-fan, for the State Council’s Taiwan week occupation of Taiwan’s par- BANGKOK: Thailand’s crown sparking the resignation of a professor at National Chengchi Affairs Office. liament earlier this year. prince has revoked the royally- Premier Jiang Yi-huah. University in Taipei, told AFP. Taiwan and China split in “The Ma administration has assigned family name of his The rout came as the rul- “At the same time China is also 1949 at the end of a civil war, been too reliant on China eco- wife, following the arrest of sev- ing Kuomintang (KMT) party unlikely to make concessions and but Beijing still claims the island nomically,” said 32-year-old eral of her relatives in a high- struggles to combat public fears offer substantial economic benefits as part of its territory awaiting designer Tom Shen in Taipei. profile corruption case. of China’s growing influence, as in talks” given the prospect of the reunification — by force if neces- “Many people fear that Taiwan News about the monarchy is well as a slowing economy and a DPP taking power in 2016, Ding sary. Tensions rose markedly dur- will have to do as Beijing orders heavily filtered by the palace, string of food scandals. added. “It would be hard for cross- ing the presidency of the DPP’s in the future.” and under the lèse-majesté laws, Seen as a barometer before strait ties to move forward in the Chen Shui-bian from 2000-2008. Two months of democracy the world’s harshest, anything presidential elections in 2016, year ahead.” Since KMT President Ma Ying- rallies in Hong Kong could also deemed an insult or a threat to the poll results may now force Beijing called for “continued jeou came to power in 2008 on a have strengthened anti-Beijing the monarchy is punishable by up the KMT to re-examine its efforts for peaceful cross-strait China-friendly platform, frosty sentiment, said Chang Wu-ueh, to 15 years in prison. China policy — and encour- relations” in the wake of the vote. ties have warmed, leading to a director of Tamkang University’s Newly-elected independent Taipei The office of Crown Prince age the opposition Democratic “We hope compatriots across the tourist boom of Chinese visitors Graduate Institute of China Mayor Ko Wen-je speaks next to his Maha Vajiralongkorn, 62, issued Progressive Party (DPP), which strait will cherish hard-won fruits to Taiwan as well as expanded Studies in Taipei. AFP wife in Taipei. a statement on Friday ordering the Interior Ministry to strip the family of Princess Srirasmi, 42, of the royal-appointed surname Drumming it up Akharaphongpreecha. “Individuals using the royal- appointed last name must change Philippine volcano back to their old family name,” the office said in the statement. Crown Prince Maha may erupt soon Vajiralongkorn is the first in line for the Thai throne. His father, MANILA: Albay’s Mt Mayon months, this magma can erupt King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is continued to show signs of agi- quietly as lava flow or explosively widely revered by Thais, is 86. tation as more earthquakes as vertical eruption columns The Thai monarchy can were recorded in the past 24 and pyroclastic flow or both,” bestow honorary names to fami- hours, the Philippine Institute Phivolcs said. lies in return for service under a of Volcanology and Seismology More than 12,000 families were 1915 law. Three people with the (Phivolcs) reported yesterday. evacuated from Mayon’s danger Akharaphongpreecha name were Nineteen volcanic earthquakes, zone since Phivolcs raised alert among 19 arrested in a crackdown from zero last Saturday, were level 3 in September. on alleged police corruption this detected around Mayon during Many living within the month. the past 24-hour observation extended danger zone were tem- Among those arrested was period, Phivolcs said. porarily allowed to return home Police Lieutenant General The agency recorded two rock after the agency recorded a drop Pongpat Chayaphan, a former fall events and moderate emis- in the volcanic activity. head of Thailand’s Central sion of white steam plumes that Phivolcs continued to warn the Investigation Bureau. Pongpat drifted west-northwest. public against entering the six- and several others were also Phivolcs maintained the volca- kilometre radius permanent dan- charged for allegedly citing the no’s status at alert level 3, which ger zone around the volcano and monarchy for personal benefit. means that “potentially eruptible in the 7km extended danger zone Thailand has increasingly magma has been intruded and on the southeastern flank due to applied its lese-majeste laws South Korean traditional dancers performing the ‘Nongak’ on a main Seoul street yesterday. The event was continues to be intruded beneath rock falls, landslides and explo- since a military coup in May. organised to celebrate ‘Nongak’ being added to Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. the edifice.” sions or dome collapse. REUTERS “In the following weeks to THE PHILIPPINE STAR MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

25 countries take Police chief quits after Taliban raid part in Asian Army ousts rebels from Camp Bastion Parliamentary

KABUL: The Kabul police chief finally ousted a group of Taliban Assembly resigned yesterday after three from the former Camp Bastion. Taliban attacks in 10 days on By yeterday, fighting at the base LAHORE: As many as 150 del- foreign guest houses in the cap- had ended and troops were clear- egates from 25 countries, minus ital, while officials said Afghan ing the area that had been seized India, are attending the three- forces had ousted insurgents by a few dozen insurgents, said day 7th Plenary Session of the who tried to seize former US Omar Zwak, a spokesman for the Asian Parliamentary Assembly and British base Camp Bastion Helmand governor. (APA) which is starting here in the south. Further north in Helmand’s from today and is being con- Taliban fighters breached the Sangin district, a smaller army sidered the biggest ever event perimeter of Camp Bastion in post was attacked and 12 soldiers in the city after the Islamic the southern Afghan province of killed in fighting on Friday and Summit Conference held 40 Helmand three days ago, just one Saturday, Zwak said. years ago. month after the base was handed President Ashraf Ghani, who The APA was founded by over to the Afghan army. came to power in September, Pakistan in Islamabad in The attacks of recent days have has vowed to bring peace to November 2004. Senate Chairman renewed fears that Afghanistan after decades of Syed Nayyar Husain Bukhari is Afghanistan’s army and police conflict, saying he is open to talks its president. Its membership is are unable to secure the country. with the Taliban who ruled Kabul open to national parliaments of The charity whose Kabul guest from 1996 to 2001. Asia. house was targeted in the lat- Ghani finally emerged as Forty-one parliaments are est such assault on Saturday, president after signing a power- APA’s regular members, 17 hold the US-based Partnership in sharing deal with his poll rival observer status and there are nine Academics and Development Abdullah Abdullah. observers. The slogan for the moot (PAD, said on its website that three The two men claimed to have is “Quest for Asian Parliament in people were killed by insurgents won fraud-tainted elections in Asian Century (21st Century).” who used guns and explosives. a stand-off that caused political Briefing the media on the aims Kabul’s police spokesman paralysis in Kabul and fanned and objectives of the historic event declined to comment on the reason worsening violence nationwide. here yesterday, APA Organising for the chief’s resignation. “We can AGENCIES A security official stands guard at the office of a charity a day after an attack by Taliban militants in Kabul yesterday. Committee Chairman Senator only confirm... he will not continue Mushahid Husain said India had his job as police chief anymore,” not confirmed its participation as Hashmat Stanekzai said. yet, hoping a positive response in Violence across Afghanistan South African family killed in Kabul attack view of the handshake between the has surged this year as the Pakistani and Indian prime minis- Taliban and their allies have KABUL: The latest Taliban gunmen included one who deto- Friends in Pretoria and Kabul the Afghan army and police, who ters in Kathmandu the other day. stepped up their activities ahead strike in Kabul killed a South nated a personal explosive device said the family were deeply have taken over responsibility for He said delegates from China, of the scheduled withdrawal of African father running an edu- killing three and injuring other Christian but were not mission- thwarting the Taliban. Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, most international troops by the cation charity and his two teen- staff members,” the website said. aries, and that the children’s In Saturday’s attack, a neigh- Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cyprus, end of next month. age children, officials and the “In the midst of this unpro- mother was returning home bouring building was engulfed Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Nepal, Over the past 10 days, three group said yesterday, as the voked attack, Partnership in from a clinic where she worked in flames as security forces took Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, compounds used by foreign organ- city police chief resigned after a Academics and Development in the city when the attack three hours to hunt down the Tajikistan and Turkey were isations have been hit by armed spate of attacks. remains committed to providing happened. militants. attending the moot. The inau- attackers. In separate attacks in With the US-led Nato war educational resources for Afghan Many international aid work- On Thursday, the Taliban gural session would be held on Kabul, two American soldiers, two against the Taliban nearing its citizens.” ers, diplomats and consultants struck at another foreign guest- December 2 during which the del- British embassy workers and doz- end, the insurgents have targeted Taliban spokesman Zabiullah work in Kabul, but very few are house, wounding a guard, and a egates would discuss core issues of ens of Afghan civilians have died. foreign guest houses, embassy Mujahid claimed on Twitter that accompanied by their families. suicide bomber targeted a British the region, as well the world, in The Taliban said on Saturday vehicles, US troops and a female the compound was that of a secret Nato troop numbers in embassy vehicle in a blast that three different plenary sessions. they had attacked the foreign member of parliament in recent Christian missionary group. Afghanistan peaked at 130,000 in killed six people. On the third day the APA com- guesthouse because they believed weeks. “The attackers first shot dead 2010 but have fallen rapidly since Kabul police spokesman mittees on political, social and it to be a Christian centre. This Partnership in Academics and the director as they entered the then. Their combat mission ends Hashmat Stanakzai told AFP that cultural affairs, and economic and was the second time this year the Development (PAD), a small building,” Zahir said at a press altogether on December 31. Zahir had resigned on Sunday. sustainable development would meet. Taliban targeted a group that it California-based education group, conference. Fears are growing that the “General Zahir Zahir told the Ad hoc committee on financial and said had links to Christianity. posted a message on its website A family website set up in declining international presence interior ministry he no longer staff regulations and the drafting PAD, which supports educa- saying three people had been South Africa in 2003 gave per- is already fuelling the Islamist wanted to continue his job. The committee of the plenary would meet tion in Afghanistan, could not be killed in Saturday’s attack on its sonal details, with birth dates insurgency. minister has accepted his resigna- to discuss theirs and secretariat reached immediately for comment. compound. suggesting that the son was 17 The mission will be replaced by tion,” Stanakzai said. reports, and the Lahore Declaration. Meanwhile, Afghan soldiers “The attack... by multiple and daughter was 15. a 12,500-strong force supporting AFP INTERNEWS

SC larger bench to hear PM’s Govt not serious about local body elections in Punjab ISLAMABAD: It seems that the local body elections would Cantonment Act 1924 to pave the asked the Election Commission of submitted their nomination disqualification devolution of power at grass- be suicidal for the PML-N, Arif way for holding elections in 53 can- Pakistan (ECP) to redo the delimi- papers for two municipal corpora- roots level is not on the agenda Abbasi, said the PTI member of tonment boards across the country. tation of union councils for local tions and five municipal commit- of Pakistan Muslim League- provincial assembly. At present, In December 2013, the provincial government elections and also tees in Rawalpindi district. case on Dec 8 Nawaz (PML-N) government in the city district governments are government announced schedule asked provincial governments to In each union council, more Punjab as it keeps postponing being run by civil bureaucracy for local body elections which were make amendments to the legisla- than four panels filed their ISLAMABAD: A seven-judge local government election for while cantonment boards by civil to be held on January 30, 2014. tion in this regard. nominations with security fees. larger bench of the apex court one reason or the other. and military bureaucracy. The provincial government But the ECP sought time as it Chairman and vice chairman headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Despite the Supreme Court’s In most of the developed coun- had completed the process of was facing shortage of staff for car- being one group in each union Mulk will meet on December 8 orders, the provincial government tries, local governments take care delimitation of union councils rying out the delimitation exercise council submitted Rs5,000 secu- to hear pleas seeking the dis- has been dilly-dallying the elec- of civic affairs. Mayors and local and started receiving nomination again. Later, it linked the delimita- rity fee, general councillor and qualification of Prime Minister tions for the last one year. councillors are answerable to peo- papers but the opposition parties tion with census. Again the ball was youth, labour, minority and Nawaz Sharif, official sources Political parties in general ple directly and they work for the raised objections over the manner in the court of the government. It woman members Rs2,000 each. said. and Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf in improvement of civic facilities. in which the delimitation carried has to hold census in the country, According to Punjab Local The larger bench — consti- particular have constantly been In Pakistan local governments out by the government as it con- but it was dragging its feet. Government Act 2013, each union tuted by the CJP a couple of days criticising the government for not only exist in dictatorial regimes ducted the whole exercise without The ECP collected a handsome council in Rawalpindi and Murree back — will adjudicate the ques- fulfilling its election promises to and in democracies rulers try to consulting the opposition. amount under the head of secu- tehsils had been divided into six tions, which were raised by a overcome energy crisis and pro- avoid local body elections for one Some political parties chal- rity fee and so far it has failed to wards for direct election of (six) three-judge bench while hearing vide relief to the poverty stricken reason or the other. lenged the exercise in the Supreme refund to the candidates. members to the union council on an appeal filed by Insaf Lawyers people. The PML-N government could Court which put the local bodies In Rawalpindi district alone, the basis of adult franchise. Forum’s senior Vice-President In such a situation, going for not make amendments to the elections on hold in January and more than 8,323 candidates INTERNEWS Gohar Nawaz Sindhu. The petitioner contended that the prime minister had lied on the floor of the house, disgraced the Peshawar protest army and therefore should be dis- qualified. Two other similar peti- International defence tions were also filed in the apex court. The SC bench — in its four- page written order issued on exhibition opens today November 10 — had ordered the SC’s office to place the case file KARACHI: In what is focusing on terrorism related chal- before the CJP and suggested expected to be one of the most lenges faced by many countries. that a larger bench might be anticipated and sought-after “We are more than satisfied by the formed “if the CJP considers it events in Pakistan this year, response from every participating appropriate”. the International Defence region,” Commodore Javed said. The bench had also suggested Exhibition and Seminar Pakistan will feature its to appoint Pakistan Tehreek- (IDEAS) 2014 is set to kick off usual heavy weaponry including e-Insaf’s (PTI) counsel Hamid today. First-time participant Al-Khalid tank, JF Thunder fighter Khan, Pakistan Peoples Party’s Russia will also be contributing aircraft and a broad range of assault (PPP) Senator Raza Rabbani to the fair. and communication equipment. and senior counsel Khawaja Haris Around 333 defence equipment DEPO Director Coordination as amicus curiae (friends of the makers are coming to the eighth Brigadier Mazhar Mumtaz said court) to assist the court. edition of IDEAS, including 77 the success of the exhibition The bench had noted that the Pakistani firms, said Defence should not be judged from the case raised important constitu- Export Promotion Organisation variety and kind of weapons and tional questions “involving conti- (DEPO) Media Director equipment put on sale by Pakistan. nuity and health of the country’s Commodore Tahir Javed. “Our purpose was to engage system of elections, governance “Eighty eight delegations, different countries and we have and adherence to the will of the including 30 headed by high level succeeded in doing that. As far as people.” officials including defence min- the equipment is concerned, the The bench had put emphasis on isters, joint chiefs and services question remains who can com- laying down a law suggesting what chiefs, have confirmed participa- pete on both quality and cost.” should be the minimum threshold tion,” he said in a news briefing While Pakistan already exports for attracting Articles 62(1 f) and ahead of the formal inauguration. guns, ammunition, artillery and 63(1 g) of the Constitution requir- The four-day exhibition will communication and surveillance ing a conviction by a court against Pakistani activists from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) religious political party protest against the take place side by side a semi- devices, its heavy equipment includ- a member of parliament. killing of party leader Khalid Mehmood Soomro in Peshawar yesterday. nar where military and civilian ing JF17 jets are also in demand. INTERNEWS security experts will read papers INTERNEWS MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA Sisters fight Still suffering due to the leak molesters in Haryana bus Police arrest three suspects ROHTAK: The Haryana the youth. Other passengers in Police, finally acting in the inci- the bus, including the bus driver dent in which two sisters from and conductor, did not come to Haryana’s Rohtak town took their rescue. on three molesters in a mov- The bus kept moving as the ing bus as the other passengers girls were being assaulted. remained mute spectators, yes- The sisters claimed that the terday arrested all three youths. bus stopped after some distance Police arrested the alleged and the youth, and his accom- molesters, Deepak, Mohit and plices, pushed them out of the Kuldeep, after the incident was moving bus and started hitting highlighted in the media. They them. While one girl fell on the have been booked for molestation road, the other one fell in a field. and assault. One of the sisters then attacked The state police had drawn the youth with a brick after which flak for not being able to take any he fled the spot. action after an incident came to The bus crew and other pas- light in Rohtak town. sengers neither helped the girls The brave girls, Aarti and nor inform the police. Children with congenital disabilities from the exposure of their parents to gas leak from the Union Carbide disaster in 1984 take part in a candle Pooja, thrashed the youths even as The girls called up the police light vigil on the 30th anniversary of the tragedy in Bhopal yesterday. they were themselves assaulted by and the women helpline but failed them. The girls hit one particular to get any response. youth with a belt and their hands “The helpline attendant told and legs in the incident that took us that they will call up in two place Friday. minutes. But we got no call and The matter came to light after no help,” Aarti said. Land swap to benefit Assam, says Modi a woman travelling in the same Their father Rajesh Kumar said bus recorded the incident on a that police was trying to pressure GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra said. He said the Bharatiya Janata Party has mobile phone, police officials said him and his daughters to strike a Modi yesterday said his government was CBI chief caught napping always been involved in “politics of develop- Sunday. compromise on the issue and not committed to the development of the ment”, and it was the BJP that forced other Police, following a complaint by to pursue the matter. northeast region, and assured the peo- NEW DELHI: India’s police brass was parties to discuss developmental issues. the girls, registered a case against The girls alleged that when the ple of Assam that the land swap deal with left red faced yesterday after a senior “People must realise that the government the youth. youth, who harassed them, were Bangladesh will stop illegal infiltration and sleuth was caught on national televi- in New Delhi has changed and we are here to “We fought the assaulters all taken to the police station, the not compromise their security. sion nodding off during Prime Minister serve the nation. We have already initiated alone. No one came forward to police official on duty told them The prime minister, who Saturday began a Narendra Modi’s speech on the need for efforts to develop the northeast region, and all help us as the youth hit us and (the girls) that nothing would three-day visit to the northeast, was speaking smart policing. During Modi’s address on the states in the region will get a new engine even pushed us out of the moving come of a complaint against them. at a public rally at the Sarusajai Stadium here. the need for alert, accountable and relia- of development soon,” he said. bus,” said Aarti and Pooja. The youth were allowed to go Modi said he will use the land swap deal to ble and responsive police, footage showed Modi, who also spoke at a police conference The father of the girls alleged despite the complaint, the girls stop infiltration from Bangladesh and for the Central Bureau of Investigation director in the Assam capital, said the image of the that police officials were mount- alleged. benefit of Assam. Ranjit Sinha nodding off several times. police has to change and called for SMART ing pressure on them to strike a Police officials claimed that the “I know the sentiments of the people of AFP policing that would encompass sensitivity, reli- compromise in the matter. matter was being investigated. Assam. I assure you that I am going to use ability and modernity. The girls alleged that the boys Two teenaged girl students in the proposed land swap deal for the benefit of said while seeking the consent of the people. “I have a concept of SMART Police in my were blowing kisses at them and Rohtak town, Madhu and Nikita, Assam. I am going to make such arrangements “It may seem a loss for Assam now, but I will mind,” Modi said at the 49th conference of throwing paper chits with their had committed suicide in August that the land swap deal with Bangladesh ben- make arrangements so that it benefits Assam directors and inspectors general of police from mobile numbers on them. When this year by consuming poison- efits Assam,” he said. in the long run,” he said. all states and union territories. “S stands for the girls objected, the youth laced juice after being harassed “I am going to use the land swap deal to stop Modi said his government was committed strict and sensitivity, M for modern and mobil- made lewd gestures and passed by boys. They were fed up of con- illegal infiltration from Bangladesh, which has to fulfilling all the commitments made earlier. ity, A for alert and accountable, R for reli- comments. stant stalking by the boys when been a perennial problem for the state. I am “There will be no compromise on the secu- able and responsive, and T for tech-savvy and A fellow woman passenger also they used to go for their tuitions. also going to use the land swap deal to ensure rity of the people of Assam and I will ensure trained,” he said, explaining his vision. objected but she was harassed by IANS security along the border in Assam,” Modi that the people of Assam get their rights,” he IANS AIDS Day BJP leader halts speech Give back to society after for Muslim prayer call KOLKATA: BJP President ruling Trinamool Congress usu- education, Amit Shah yesterday took a jibe ally organises its annual martyrs’ at West Bengal Chief Minister day rally. Mamata Banerjee yesterday, An intervention by the Calcutta says president and stopped his speech during High Court saw the BJP getting the prayer call from a nearby the nod only at the eleventh hour. BHUBANESWAR: President mosque. Sounding the battle cry for Pranab Mukherjee yesterday “Let us stop. We don’t want the 2015 municipal polls and the said people enjoying the privi- to give Mamata any excuse,” 2016 assembly elections, Shah lege of education must pro- Shah said, halting his speech for unleashed an all-round attack vide dividend to the society as nearly five minutes after the azan on Banerjee and her party and their obligation for the society’s was sounded. declared he was in the state to uplift. With many supporters shout- “uproot” the Trinamool from “Whatever we are today, we ing slogans during the azan, Shah Bengal. are after all the products of the raised his hands signalling them “BJP has been celebrating Nov social investment. The society has to stop, and reiterated: “Please let 30 as ‘Uththan Diwas’ (Day of invested in us to become lawyers, us not give Mamata any excuse.” Rising). But from next year, we teachers, doctors etc. Therefore, The Bharatiya Janata Party will be celebrating the day as the the society must expect a dividend chief was addressing a rally, per- day of Trinamool’s demise,” Shah from us and we should fulfill the mission for which was given by said, asserting that the count- expectation of society by paying the Banerjee administration only down for Trinamool’s departure the dividend in making up our Saturday. had begun. contribution to the uplift of the The city police, West Bengal Calling for a change in favour society,” Mukherjee said in his Fire Department and the Kolkata of the BJP, Shah urged people to keynote address during the golden Municipal Corporation had begin Trinamool’s end with the jubilee celebration of Ramadevi denied permission for the event municipal polls. Social activists release a symbolic hot air balloon during a meeting to create awareness about AIDS on the Mahavidyalaya here. at the Victoria House, where the IANS He said people enjoying the eve of World AIDS Day in Kolkata yesterday. World AIDS Day is marked on December 1 every year. privilege of education must teach uneducated people in society. Mukherjee rued that India was lagging in providing quality higher education even though Kerala avian flu outbreak about 20m students were enrolled IPS officers questioned over scam every year and the education sec- tor was expanding. under control: Official BHUBANESWAR: The Police Service (IPS) officers were superintendent in Dhenkanal He said that while India has CBI yesterday interrogated questioned for their alleged links before taking over as the com- 723 universities and thousands two IPS officers in Odisha for with Subhankar Nayak, who is mandant of the Orissa Special of institutions, not one found a KOCHI: The avian flu out- positive for this virus and imme- their alleged links with a man believed to have close relations Armed Police (OSAP) and then place in the list of the world’s top break, confirmed as the H5N1 diately 35 culling teams were sent arrested by the investigating with top bureaucrats and is said as police superintendent in 200 institutes. virus, in three districts of there. Things are under control agency in connection with the to have brokered deals on behalf Kendrapara. Citing examples of the ancient Kerala is under control as two and there is no reason to panic,” multi-million-rupee chit fund of chit fund company Seashore Earlier yesterday, DIG Rajesh Nalanda and Taxila universities human samples have now been he said. Brahmanandan said the scam in the state. Group. Kumar was interrogated by which produced great scholars, found negative, said an official biggest reason for cheer was that After quizzing Rajesh Kumar, “I knew Nayak since 2008. He the investigating agency for his the president emphasised on yesterday. two human samples have now deputy inspector general (DIG) introduced himself as a journal- alleged link with Nayak. the need to check brain drain of Speaking to IANS, animal been found negative. of Odisha’s north-central range, ist. In public life, one keeps meet- “I have told the CBI what- Indian researchers. husbandry department direc- “Starting Monday, we will go for over three hours yesterday ing all kinds of people and he was ever I had to tell them,” Rajesh Mukherjee said he has tor B Brahmanandan said the into the second phase of the oper- morning, the Central Bureau one of the many people I knew. Kumar told the media after his expressed his disappointment culling operations were end- ation where surveillance of the of Investigation (CBI) later in However, I had no special rela- interrogation. on several occasions at almost ing and around 200,000 poultry poultry birds in a three square km the day questioned Kendrapara tionship with him,” Gajbhiye later Rajesh Kumar was DIG of the every academic programme he birds would have been culled radius of these 13 villages would Superintendent of Police Satish told the media. Economic Offences Wing of the has attended over the past few in 12 affected villages. “Today, be undertaken. At the same time, Gajbhiye for over two and a half He could not explain how his Crime Branch before he assumed years that no Indian educational there was a new village council those outside this area but inside hours for his alleged links with name appeared in the diaries the charge as DIG of north-cen- institution has been recognised — Chennithala (in Alappuzha a 10 square km radius will also be a broker. seized by the CBI. tral range. internationally. IANS district) — where ducks tested observed.” IANS CBI sources said the Indian Gajbhiye was police IANS

MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

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Today Tuesday Wednesday Weather Conditions: Partly cloudy Partly cloudy Clear Partly cloudy to cloudy with chance of High: 22° High: 24° High: 24° Low: 18° Low: 20° Low: 20° scattered rain may be thundery at places.

DOHA - SUN & SEA SUN TIDE SEA SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 06:02 16:44 01:00 11:45 05:00 19:15 06-16/25 KT

THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW Miss Fashion 2014 and Miss Supranational USA 2014, Allyn Rose (second left); second placed Miss Supranational Belarus, Kristina Martsinkevich HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER (right), third placed Miss Supranational Poland 2014 and Miss Fashion Photogenic, Kasia Krzeszowska (left) and Miss Supranational Slovenia 2014, Tjasa Zver at the end of Miss Fashion World 2014 ceremony in Lodz, Poland. The competition was attended by 83 contestants from around the world. MUSCAT 28/22 Clear 28/22 Clear MAKKAH 30/23 Partly cloudy 33/23 Partly cloudy KUWAIT 19/07 Clear 21/09 Clear BAHRAIN 21/16 Partly cloudy 22/15 Clear SANAA 21/07 Thunderstorm 21/07 Partly cloudy RIYADH 18/13 Rain 20/12 Partly cloudy Ancient coins found in Greece’s mystery tomb DUBAI 25/20 Partly cloudy 25/20 Partly cloudy BAGHDAD 17/09 Partly cloudy 19/08 Partly cloudy ATHENS: Coins featuring the the dig, Katerina Peristeri, said including some showing the face hill,” said Peristeri. THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW face of Alexander the Great they still did not know the iden- of Alexander the Great and some Since the unearthing of the have been found at the largest tity of the skeleton but it was dating back to the third and sec- site, deemed to be of huge his- HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER tomb ever unearthed in Greece, likely the tomb was built for a ond century BC. torical importance and visited by where archaeologists are hunt- high-ranking individual. Archaeologists had to dig Prime Minister Antonis Samaras ATHENS 18/15 Partly cloudy 19/15 Chance of showers ing for clues to solve the mys- Giving the first complete pres- their way past huge decapi- in August, there has been wide- WASHINGTON 20/04 Chance of rain 06/06 Partly cloudy tery of who lies buried there. entation of the excavation results tated sphinxes, break through spread speculation over who SYDNEY 32/20 Chance of storm 31/21 Partly cloudy The enormous tomb at at the Ministry of Culture in a wall guarded by two caryat- was buried there: From Roxana, Amphipolis in northern Greece Athens, Peristeri said the qual- ids — sculpted female figures — Alexander’s Persian wife, to LONDON 09/07 Cloudy 08/06 Chance of rain dates back to the fourth century ity of the statues and the sheer and empty out an antechamber Olympias, the king’s mother, to PARIS 05/01 Mostly cloudy 04/02 Chance of rain BC and contains near-intact scale of the tomb — it measures decorated with lavish mosaics to one of his generals. ISTANBUL 08/07 Chance of rain 11/09 Chance of showers sculptures and intricate mosaics. some 1,640 feet in circumference— finally find the tomb’s occupant. But historians say it is highly MANILA 30/24 Mostly cloudy 30/23 Mostly cloudy The discovery earlier this month “show that a general could have Experts have known about the unlikely to have been Alexander of a skeleton inside the structure been buried there”. burial mound, which is 30 metres himself, who conquered the DHAKA 29/18 Partly cloudy 29/17 Clear has added to the excitement over The tomb was repeatedly plun- high, since the 1960s but work Persian empire and much of the DELHI 28/12 Clear 27/12 Clear the site, which has enthralled the dered before being sealed off but only began in earnest there in known world before his death at ISLAMABAD 21/09 Clear 21/09 Clear Greek public. Peristeri said the team still found 2012. “We knew we had to return the age of 32. The archaeologist in charge of several coins around the tomb, there and solve the mystery of the AFP Monday 1 December 2014 9 Safar 1436 Volume 19 Number 6266 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Doha Bank closer to takeover of bank unit in India Shareholders’ nod for RBI formality

BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB With the acquisition of these assets, Doha Bank is set to start DOHA: Doha Bank share- operations of a full-fledged branch holders yesterday unani- in India. The group is also inclined mously approved the “Scheme to establishing a wholly-owned of Amalgamation” of Reserve subsidiary (WOS), a route that Bank of India, an official for- India’s central bank has been mality required to take over the pushing for. business operations of HSBC “We had a soft opening in July. Bank Oman in India by Doha Now we are in the process of hav- Bank, India. ing an integrated full scale opera- The Extraordinary General tion with the completion of the Assembly meeting of the share- technology interface very soon,” holders was chaired by Sheikh Dr R Seetharaman, Group CEO Fahad bin Mohammad bin Jabor of Doha Bank, told this daily on The Chairman of Doha Bank, Sheikh Fahad bin Mohammad bin Jabor Al Thani (third left); Managing Director Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Jabor Al Thani Al Thani, Chairman of Doha the sidelines of the meeting. (fourth left), and Group CEO Dr R Seetharaman (left) with other directors at the Extraordinary AGM of the bank at the headquarters in Doha yesterday. Bank. Asked about the time frame for (SALIM MATRAMKOT) The India business of HSBC a WOS in India, he said: “That’s Bank Oman has gross assets a long-term plan, which would other emerging markets and eval- Moreover, we are not only in companies such as Tatas, Voltas, the bank will be in a position to of Rs3.41bn (about QR200m) largely depend on the growth uating opportunities, according to Qatar, our operations are also in Shapoorji Pallonji (SP Group) add more value to small and mid- (as on March 31, 2014), with a model. We do not have any capac- the CEO. Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait. and many other corporate houses sized enterprises. “So this deal is total deposit of Rs1.17bn (about ity constrain, if there are oppor- Replying to a question on why There are bilateral synergistic operating in these countries, only a tip of the iceberg.” QR64m). The bank has two tunities we will scale it up.” Doha Bank is expanding overseas opportunities between the India including Qatar. So we intend to Citing recent IMF estimates, branches located in Mumbai and He said that the company is at a time when Qatar has become and the Gulf states. The Gulf- facilitate them.” he stressed that India is on the Kochi that serve approximately set to announce the names of the favourite destination of global India bilateral trade has grown He added: “Similarly, there are right direction to achieve over 2,900 customers. Under the deal, team of the senior management investors, he said: “Banking to $170bn. We have 7.2 million many Arab corporations that are 6.5 to seven percent growth next Doha Bank has agreed to pay that will be taking care of the business is global in nature. You Non-resident Indians (NRIs) also interested to invest in India, year as it has been able to consoli- a single lump sum amount of bank’s India operations. have to go to a market which working in these countries who and we want to be an intermedi- date financial stability with lower about Rs1.28bn (about QR75m) Moreover, Doha Bank, one of is driven by growth. India still are remitting money. ary to promote that.” inflation and narrowing current to the seller, payable outside Qatar’s leading lenders, is also is registering a commendable “When it comes to bank- On the bank’s India operation, account deficit. India. open to acquisitions in many more than five percent growth. ing, there are a lot of Indian he said that by getting a license THE PENINSULA CSR Qatar conference begins today Oil firms to borrow DOHA: Qatar’s ongoing efforts to required to enhance stakeholder growth and social reputation, and Qatar 2014, Dr. Mohammed Yousef align CSR best practices with the collaboration and drive adop- many businesses today view CSR Al Mulla, Vice Chairman and CEO to protect dividend National Vision 2030 will receive tion of CSR, and ensuring the as an intangible asset in the bal- of Qatar Petrochemical Company, a boost as the 2nd CSR Qatar, safety and protecting the rights ance sheet,” said Reemi Rohani, said, “At Qapco, we draw strength LONDON: With oil company to maintain dividends. “While oil the country’s flagship conference of workers. Director General of QCCI. “CSR from the alignment of our strat- revenues set to drop on the back prices are below $80 the majors for sustainability and corporate Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Qatar 2014 aims to further advance egy with the Qatar National of a rout in prices, boards will will be paying dividends out of debt. social responsibility (CSR), opens Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar the dialogue on sustainability by Vision 2030. Every day, our focus have to cut investments and They can live with higher gearing today at the Marriott Marquis Chamber of Commerce and providing a platform where stake- is on ensuring we participate in increase borrowing to main- but they will not cut dividends,” City Center Doha Hotel. Industry, will deliver the opening holders can come together to share translating the vision into a real- tain their cherished dividend said Iain Reid, analyst at BMO Supported by the Qatar address at the conference. best practices, and hopefully trig- ity. Sustainable development is payouts. Capital Markets investment bank. Chamber of Commerce and “Qatar is entering the next stage ger new ideas and insights that will fully embedded in our strategy Opec’s decision on Thursday “Majors could easily live with Industry (QCCI), the three-day of its CSR movement, as businesses help in uplifting the overall CSR and drives value and progress not to cut production in order gearing of up to 40 percent (of conference will gather corporate move beyond philanthropic and environment in Qatar and aligning throughout the entire company. As to prop up oil prices sent mar- equity) and the market won’t and community leaders from promotional CSR to transforma- it more closely with the National a responsible corporate citizen, we kets reeling. Oil company shares punish them so much because Qatar and across the region who tive CSR that brings lasting ben- Vision 2030.” believe that contributing to Qatari slumped, wiping billions off firms’ they are resilient.” will discuss the role of CSR in efits to the society and economy. Commenting on the importance society and serving our nation is market value and leaving dividend At the end of the third quar- supporting the National Vision There is greater understanding of of sustainable development and part of our license to operate.” payouts as the only solace for ter, Shell, BP, Chevron and Exxon 2030, the strategies and actions the role of CSR in driving company Qapco’s Gold sponsorship of CSR THE PENINSULA shareholders. all had debt-to-equity ratios well The world’s top oil companies below 20 percent, while Total’s ratio including BP, Royal Dutch Shell, was higher at 29 percent, according Total, ExxonMobil and Chevron to the companies’ results. Sbarro Event Royale are already in the midst of a pain- As they come to terms with the ful belt-tightening process. new oil regime, companies will cut Vodafone Qatar They have hacked back spend- spending by up to 10 percent in ing and sold assets worth around 2015 from a this year and delay scraps bid $150bn (£96bn) over the past four new project approvals. years, increasingly relying on that “Projects that are under con- for Qnbn income to reward shareholders. struction will move forward, but The idea that companies can- new project will be delayed. I DOHA: Vodafone Qatar yes- not turn a profit by simply pump- don’t think we will see many final terday announced its decision ing oil from the ground will be investment decisions (FIDs) in to scrap its bid to buy wholesale strange to anyone who has not the first half of 2015,” said Jason Internet provider Qatar National kept up with the industry’s trans- Gammel, analyst at Jefferies.. Broadband Network (Qnbn). formation in recent decades. Investors will move to safe On 2 October 2014, Vodafone Oil majors are employing more havens such as Shell, which Qatar had entered into a non- complex technology to open up has a very sound balance sheet, binding Heads of Agreement more marginal prospects and Gammel said. with Information Communication keep oil and gas output growing, A number of analysts expect Technology Holdings QSC (“ICTH”) sending their operating costs oil and gas exploration to feel the with a view to acquiring the entire soaring in recent years. brunt of the cuts with up to 20 issued and paid up share capital of The realisation that oil prices percent declines in 2015 budgets. Qatar National Broadband Network could remain in the $70-$80 “This (lower oil prices) will add Company, subject to regulatory and a barrel range for a prolonged further pressure to exploration other approvals. The intention was period, after averaging around budgets, as upstream players bat- to complete the transaction by $110 a barrel between 2011 and ten down the hatches and reduce December 31, 2014, if all conditions 2013, is putting renewed strain on their exposure to high-risk pros- precedent were met. already lean balance sheets. pects,” Anthony Lobo, UK Head of “Following a due diligence and And as their boards prepare to Oil & Gas at KPMG, said. negotiation process, the parties have present their 2015 budgets at the Goldman Sachs analysts esti- determined not to proceed with beginning of the year, they face mate that European integrated the transaction”, a press note form some tough choices. oil companies require oil at $122 Vodafone Qatar said yesterday. The With a dwindling number of a barrel to maintain their budg- company also added that it does not The front of a ‘Sbarro Event Royale’ car during a preview of the motor show in Essen, Germany. The car is available assets for sale, companies ets at current capital expenditure presently own any shares in Qnbn. based on the body of the luxury Bugatti Royale 41. The Essen Motor Show runs until December 7. are now expected to benefit from budgets. THE PENINSULA their low gearing levels in order REUTERS MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Kellogg raises China sets draft stakes in bidding war rules for bank over Bisco Misr

CAIRO: Kellogg Co raised its bid yesterday for Egyptian cake deposit insurance and biscuit maker Bisco Misr, intensifying a bidding war with the UAE’s Abraaj Investment Management that has pushed Deposit Insurance Act early next year up the offer price by more than 12 percent. BEIJING: China yesterday All banks under the system will The world’s biggest breakfast issued draft regulations to be required to set aside capital, cereal maker upped its bid to introduce a bank deposit insur- to be collected by China’s cen- 82.2 Egyptian pounds ($11.50) ance system for the first time, tral bank and administered by a per share yesterday, trumping the latest in a series of steps deposit insurance fund, to pay for Abraaj’s previous offer of 80.58 to fully liberalise interest rates the scheme. pounds ($11.27). Abraaj initially and allow banks to compete on China’s cabinet will approve offered 73 pounds per share ear- a wholly commercial basis. standard rates for the insurance lier this month, which Kellogg The draft rules, issued by the program, along with additional countered last week with 79 Legislative Affairs Office of the risk rates, the draft regulations pounds. State Council, China’s cabinet, said. No details were provided. The bidding war is part of directly cover deposits of up to The deposit fund will be per- Officials during the crisis management exercise. a flurry of mergers and rights 500,000 yuan ($81,395), according mitted to invest in government issues boosting activity on the to a notice published on the web- bonds, central bank notes, and Cairo bourse, an exchange site of the People’s Bank of China. highly-rated financial bonds. which has struggled to revive The Deposit Insurance Act “From a long-term perspec- RasGas, QP hold safety drill investor confidence during the (DIA), which state media reports tive, the impact on smaller banks political and economic turmoil have said could start in early 2015, will be bigger,” said Chen Xingyu, DOHA: RasGas Company companies at RLIC and mutual The successful completion of this that followed popular uprisings will cover the entire bank savings banks analyst at Phillip Securities Limited (RasGas) and Qatar aid agencies, to this scale. It exercise was further enhanced in 2011. of 99.63 percent of all depositors, (Hong Kong) Ltd, before the Petroleum (QP) recently con- included the General Directorate by a RasGas-led workshop where Egypt’s government this year China’s cabinet said in a separate announcement. ducted a large-scale crisis man- of Civil Defence and Hamad participants were debriefed and launched a raft of long-delayed explanation. Banks have been given “Depositors may prefer to put agement exercise within Ras Medical Corporation’s Emergency feedback was obtained from inde- reforms aimed at luring back until December 30 to comment. their deposits in the larger banks, Laffan Industrial City (RLIC) to Medical Services. pendent observers. foreign investors and shoring up China has considered insur- so the risk of capital outflows test their respective multi-level The QP-led exercise, hosted by All agencies were commended growth while cutting a ballooning ing savers’ deposits for around from smaller banks will increase.” emergency response capabilities. RasGas, allowed for a comprehen- for their cooperation and proac- deficit. two decades, but the plans took Control of deposit rates is a The joint exercise was the first sive evaluation of existing proce- tive efforts to continually improve The competing bids from on new urgency in the past year legacy of China’s state planning time that an oil and gas sec- dures and communication protocols and develop the robust mecha- Kellogg and Abraaj are the latest as the country sought to deepen and its financial troubles in the tor company has integrated its as well as major-event disaster man- nisms in place for crisis manage- sign foreign investors are return- economic reforms that included early 2000s, when its biggest response with State-level govern- agement involving heightened secu- ment within the industry. ing to the market. removing state controls on inter- banks were technically insolvent ment agencies, major operating rity and mass casualty handling. THE PENINSULA REUTERS est rates. and bailed out by the government. Chinese rules allow banks to Authorities have since kept a pay savers no more than 1.2 times close eye on financial institutions, a benchmark deposit rate fixed by and have in the past dictated a the central bank. minimum level for lending rates “Establishment of a deposit that banks had to comply with. GSK to axe US jobs as part of $1.6bn cost cuts insurance system will help to The floor was scrapped in July better protect the interests of 2013. depositors and maintain public The restrictions have been LONDON: GlaxoSmithKline announced at third-quarter will be briefed on the changes on smaller, more focused and lower- confidence in the financial mar- criticised by economists, who say will this week inform US staff results on October 22 that the new Wednesday by the company’s head cost organisation. kets and the banking system,” the they distort credit costs by arti- of hundreds of job cuts in its restructuring scheme would save of North American pharmaceuticals “Each business unit is currently State Council said. ficially depressing deposit rates biggest market as the drug- £1bn ($1.56bn) in annual costs over Deirdre Connelly, the sources said. deciding how to respond to this Foreign bank branches operat- and fuelling wasteful investment. maker starts implementing a three years, but it has yet to tell A GSK spokesman declined to challenge. When we do have pro- ing in China, along with the over- China, they say, should instead major cost-saving programme, employees where the axe will fall. go into details but said the aim of posals, we will first share those seas branches of Chinese banks, allow markets to set the costs of sources familiar with the mat- Staff in the United States, where the restructuring programme was with our employees,” he said in will not be covered by the scheme, lending and borrowing. ter said on Sunday. GSK has been struggling with fall- to improve performance by reduc- an e-mailed statement. the draft document said. REUTERS Britain’s top drugmaker ing sales of respiratory drugs, ing complexity and establishing a REUTERS MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19

Merkel behind Startups slowly Air Berlin in Etihad control emerge from dispute: Report

BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel is backing loss- Greek gloom making Air Berlin in a dispute over whether its Abu Dhabi- based partner Etihad is exer- cising too much control, Focus Youth turn to innovation, foreign funding magazine reported. Etihad, which owns a 29 ATHENS: A taxi-tracking Enter the innovation incubator. percent stake in Air Berlin, is tool, a head-hunting engine and In the last five years, at least under investigation by German a vertical gardening company — eight such initiatives — offering and European authorities over all business startups that have advice to budding entrepreneurs its partnership with Germany’s paradoxically emerged from with bankable ideas—have opened second largest airline after a Greek economy long in the in Athens. Lufthansa. doldrums. “We know that the Greek For Air Berlin to maintain its Faced with the worst unem- economy in its current form European operating licence, it ployment wave in living memory, has no future,” states Giorgos must be majority controlled by Greece’s youth are turning away Vrachnis, manager of Egg, a busi- European investors. from the traditional pursuit of ness startup incubator backed by Without citing its sources, civil service or family-centred Eurobank, one of the main Greek Focus said Merkel told Transport jobs, and towards innovation and lenders. Minister Alexander Dobrindt at a foreign funding. “But it will take time to invent cabinet meeting that she did not “If I can make it here, I can a new, outward-looking model. want to “dig the grave” of Air make it anywhere,” muses Petros The domestic market is too Berlin and that Germany needed Boskos, a 35-year-old architect. small,” says Vrachnis. An aerial view of Lufthansa planes parked on the tarmac of Frankfurt’s airport. competition between two strong Alongside two of his friends, Part of the challenge lies in the national carriers. The German Boskos created Verdical, a com- established mindset in Greek uni- government declined to comment pany designing “vertical” gardens versities, where corporations and Lufthansa pilots’ union calls strike on the report. for the sides of buildings. non-state funding are viewed with Dobrindt will only make a decision “It was basically my last chance suspicion. “I grew up learning that on Etihad’s involvement in Air Berlin to stay in Greece,” he said on the businessmen are not good people,” BERLIN: German pilots’ union Tuesday. Flights of budget arm to better compete with budget early next year, the Wirtschaftswoche sidelines of a business innovation says Boskos, the young architect. VC is calling a strike at carrier Germanwings are not affected. carriers and Gulf rivals and to weekly reported on Saturday, cit- fair in Athens earlier this month. Egg has a stable of 25 start- Deutsche Lufthansa for today Lufthansa said the strike was outflank the pilots’ union. ing sources at the transport min- Until recently, most Greeks ups receiving one-year mentoring and tomorrow after talks broke completely disproportionate and Lufthansa plans to use other istry. It cited an unnamed source at fresh out of university contem- from industry experts in vari- down over retirement benefits. called for an immediate resump- pilots from within the group who Lufthansa as criticising the delay in plated life-long job security in a ous sectors. Verdical, the garden The dispute, over proposed tion of talks. are not on expensive collective reaching a decision. civil service post, or guaranteed designers, have won the right to changes to an early retirement It said it made concessions in labour agreements to staff tour- Last month, the German fed- employment in their family- stay for a second year. scheme for pilots that was devel- recent talks, including a 5 per- ist routes, where the brand, which eral aviation authority (LBA) sus- owned business. The campaign is assisted by oped decades ago, has resulted in cent pay rise, but reiterated that usually focuses on business travel- pended a decision to block Etihad But that’s no longer an option. European Union funds—some 70 repeated strikes this year, affect- it would not accept a demand lers, is trying to reduce costs. from selling tickets for some The four-year Greek economic million euros earmarked under ing thousands of passengers of that new pilots, as well as those Passenger transport in flights operated by Air Berlin. crisis killed off thousands of small the Jeremie programme that helps Germany’s largest airline. already with the company, should Germany has also been dis- The LBA checks codeshare and middle-sized companies, small and medium-sized compa- The VC union said the be able to retire at 55. rupted by train drivers’ strikes deals every time airlines submit and staff cuts and hiring freezes nies. A number of nascent Greek Germany-wide strike would last Eight walkouts by staff this this year. The latest walkout winter and summer schedules for imposed by the cash-strapped funds like Openfund have been from midday (1100 GMT) today year wiped ¤160m ($200m) off earlier this month thwarted flights to and from Germany. state has made new public sector assigned to distribute the money. to 2359 CET (2259 GMT) tomor- the carrier’s operating profit, add- many Germans’ plans to travel Deutsche Lufthansa has said it hirings all but impossible. According to Endeavor, a global row for short- and medium-haul ing to pressure from a stutter- by rail to celebrations mark- would not fly between Abu Dhabi One in two youths under 25 is non-profit organisation support- flights, as well as from 0300 CET ing global economy and increased ing the 25th anniversary of the and Frankfurt in the summer of 2015 currently out of work. ing entrepreneurship that opened (0200 GMT) to 2359 CET tomor- competition. Berlin Wall’s fall. because it had become uneconomi- “The public sector and daddy’s a Greek branch in 2012, the sector row for long-haul flights. Lufthansa, which last month Like the pilots, train drivers cal due to overcapacity it blamed on store have lost their sheen,” says has grown exponentially in the Pilots flying for Lufthansa lowered its profit guidance for have yet to reach a deal with their Etihad and Air Berlin, calling their Aristos Doxiadis of Openfund, a last four years. Cargo will also strike from 2015 for the second time this year, employers. code shares “unjustified.” venture capital fund. AFP 0300 CET to 2359 CET on is expanding low-cost operations REUTERS REUTERS Oman Raysut Cement says EU insurance stress costs to rise 3pc test results today DUBAI: Muscat-listed Raysut Cement’s costs will increase FRANKFURT: Europe’s top of companies whose buffers would by 3 percent next year due to insurance regulator EIOPA will fall short of minimum require- Oman state plans to introduce announce details today of its ments if faced with big swings higher gas prices from January latest check on how prepared in interest rates or the value of 1, the firm said yesterday. the insurance sector is to with- bonds, equities and real estate, for Raysut will try offset the stand shocks like the recent example. impact of higher gas prices by financial market crisis. EIOPA is paying special atten- making other cost reductions, The European Insurance and tion to the effect a prolonged bout improving efficiency and restruc- Occupational Pensions Authority of low interest rates would have turing its own prices, according to (EIOPA) has spent the last seven on insurers’ finances and has a bourse filing. months testing how well insur- also probed specific insurance Last week, an advisory body ers’ capital safety buffers hold up risks such as changes in mortal- to Oman’s government sug- against hypothetical challenges to ity, longevity, reserves and natural gested sweeping spending cuts determine whether policy hold- catastrophes. and tax rises, including a levy ers could be at risk in a financial Regulators have sharpened on liquefied natural gas exports, meltdown. EIOPA is not expected their scrutiny of insurers after to cope with the hit to state to name individual companies American International Group revenues from the plunge in oil that fall short, in contrast to Inc suffered massive losses when prices. the European Central Bank’s derivatives bets went sour in the Rival Oman Cement also review of lenders that prompted a financial crisis. Big diversified warned on Sunday that the price number of banks to raise capital. insurers like Allianz, Axa and hikes, which will increase by an “This is not a pass/fail test,” Generali are seen as well pre- unspecified amount every year EIOPA Chairman Gabriel pared for new EU capital rules for both companies, would add Bernardino said earlier this year. called Solvency II due to take RO2.1m ($5.45m) to its own costs Instead, the watchdog will focus effect in 2016, which form the in 2015. on the sector’s vulnerabilities, giv- basis for the tests. REUTERS ing aggregate data on the number REUTERS

London auction

Employee Sarah Gubbins with a 1969-70 Porsche 908.02 ‘Flunder’ Langheck Group 6 Racing Sports Prototype at Bonhams auction house in London. The vehicle is expected to achieve up to $4.5m when it comes to auction. MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Gulf stocks hit hard after Opec move Experts expect sell-offs to continue in Gulf markets

KUWAIT CITY: Gulf Arab percent lower at 4,281.43 points, The Organisation of Petroleum stocks plunged yesterday on the lowest level since June. Exporting Countries on Thursday their first trading day since All but one of the DFM’s stocks opted to keep its collective daily Opec decided to maintain oil were in the red, but the bench- oil output target unchanged at output in a move that sent mark index is still 27 percent up 30 million barrels despite sliding crude prices crashing to five- on last year’s close. crude prices. year lows, analysts said. The Abu Dhabi Securities Sunday’s stock market fall was The Saudi Tadawul All-Shares Exchange lost 2.56 percent to “a direct impact of the Opec deci- Index, the largest in the Arab finish the day at 4,675.00 points. sion and the fear from the low oil world, slumped more than 6 per- Kuwait Stock Exchange price price consequences” on Gulf econ- cent to below the 9,000-point index dipped 3.3 percent to close omies, said Ziad Chehab, vice- mark immediately after opening. at 6,754.60 points, the lowest level president of investment research All shares and all sectors were since March 2013. The weighted at Kuwait’s KAMCO investments. trading lower. index shed 5.9 percent. “I think Gulf stock markets are It recovered slightly in mid- Qatar Exchange lost 4.3 per- expected to continue to bleed for session but was still down 5.1 cent to end at 12,760.46 points, some time to come,” he said. Traders follow the stock market activity at the Kuwait Stock Exchange in Kuwait City yesterday. percent at 8,598.0 points, the low- in the first fall below the 13,000- The Opec move has been seen est since January. Almost all of mark in five months. as positive for global economies Intermediate for delivery in September 2009. Brent oil for The six-nation GCC states, the market’s gains this year have Oman’s main bourse tumbled but negative in the Gulf where January closed at $66.15 a bar- January delivery sank below $70 which pump around 17.5 million evaporated. 6.2 percent to end at 6,505.99 oil revenues account for an aver- rel on the New York Mercantile for the first time in four and a half barrels per day, are expected Dubai Financial Market, which points, while Bahrain’s remained age of 90 percent of government Exchange, down $7.54 from the years, to $69.78 a barrel. Brent to lose over one-third of their at one stage was trading down almost unaffected, closing down budgets. closing price Wednesday. It settled at $70.15 a barrel, down mammoth oil revenues of $729bn 6.5 percent, closed the day 4.74 0.46 percent. US benchmark West Texas was the lowest WTI close since $2.43 from Thursday’s close. posted last year. AFP

Russia hopes to Foreign carmakers test the waters at Iran show seal oil-for-goods TEHRAN: Foreign automak- European bans on Iranian bank Iran Khodro, which has a 54 per- previous 51-49 ratio in the visi- claims a preliminary agreement ers seeking a return to the transactions abroad. But the auto cent market share in the Islamic tor’s favour, encompassing pro- with Volkswagen’s Skoda has agreements potentially huge Iranian market sanctions were lifted earlier this republic, plans to return this duction, sales, technology transfer already been made. Hyundai and with the lifting of international year after an interim nuclear year to its 2011 production level and access to Peugeot-Citroen’s Fiat are also reportedly looking sanctions will find the busi- agreement was reached between — 600,000 cars. foreign network. for deals. with Iran soon ness environment has changed: Iran and world powers and a final Previously, it had agreements The partnership stretches back Even so, as long as the banking former joint venture partners accord is still on the horizon, rais- with Peugeot, Renault and Suzuki, to 1990, but that won’t secure sanctions are still in place, mar- MOSCOW: Russia hopes a now want to play the game by ing the prospect of better times but current production is done preferential treatment this time ket conditions will not return to deal to supply grain and indus- their own rules. for the industry. That will draw without foreign tie-ups, Hashem around. normal. And ahead of the auto trial equipment to Iran can be Iran’s auto industry has been international suitors to Tehran Yekezareh, Iran Khodro’s chief “We know what Iran Khodro’s show some carmakers cite other reached soon, Russia’s Economy a major casualty of penalties today for the second consecutive executive, said. interests are and we will go to the problems. The Tehran govern- Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said imposed over the Islamic repub- Iran Auto Show. “We expect our former part- company that best protects those ment’s granting of an exclusivity yesterday, Russian news agen- lic’s nuclear programme, with Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, ners back in Iran but on the interests,” said Yekezareh. deal on urban crossovers and city cies reported. production plummeting and Renault, Peugeot, Kia and Toyota terms that we offer,” he said, In early October, Iran Khodro compact models to Iran Khodro “It (the deal) will affect not workers laid off because of the have confirmed. US carmakers with particularly tough words unveiled two new models in col- and Saipa, the country’s second- only grain, there are broad lists ensuing economic slowdown. General Motors and Ford were for Peugeot-Citroen, noting that laboration with Renault at a plant biggest manufacturer, raises of goods ... We expect that (a France’s PSA Peugeot-Citroen invited but it is unclear if they “they quit Iran” when the situ- in the northern city of Tabriz — a questions about anti-competitive deal) could be reached in the near and South Korea’s Hyundai left will attend. ation deteriorated, adding that Captur urban crossover vehicle practices. future,” Ulyukayev told reporters the country altogether, while The organisers want to attract they will have “to pay the price and the Clio 4. Mostafa Jafari, the commercial in Tehran, according to the RIA Renault continues to import parts foreign investment — with a pop- for such acts”. Eventual production of those director of Kerman Motor, which news agency. and assemble cars in Tehran but ulation of 77 million the Iranian Representatives from the vehicles could raise Iran Khodro’s assembles Chinese brands Lifan In January, it was reported that at a fraction of former output. market is seen as untapped — but French carmaker, for whom Iran market share to 60 percent, but and JAC, said his company has the Moscow and Tehran were discuss- Total car production was 1.6 the conditions of a partnership was its second-largest market, for a major boost to the auto sec- capacity to make those cars and ing a barter deal that would see million in 2011, but it had halved are likely to change. Under new met Iranian officials in Paris in tor a full and final nuclear deal is could triple its market share to 15 Moscow buy up to 500,000 barrels two years later. joint deals, the industry ministry early October to discuss a possible necessary. percent by doing so. a day of Iranian oil in exchange US sanctions on the auto wants 40 percent of production return. “The day the nuclear deal is This week’s auto show should for Russian equipment and goods. industry in 2013 were the main done in Iran to begin with, ris- Iran Khodro now wants a 50-50 signed... business will pick up,” test foreign and local companies’ Ulyukayev did not give a date cause, on top of American and ing to 85 percent after five years. joint venture rather than the said a foreign auto expert who expectations alike. AFP for when the deliveries to Iran could start but said that discus- sions were ongoing. He said Russia was discussing supplying Iran with equipment for the oil and gas industry, agricul- Beijing plans tural machinery, cars, planes and China home prices fall despite rate cut electric generators, among other deposit insurance equipment. SHANGHAI: China’s housing The fall was a slight improve- deposit rates just over a week ago, academy said. But for China’s ten Sources have said the oil-for- in long-awaited prices fell on a monthly basis ment from the 0.40 percent month- and analysts said home mortgage biggest cities — which tend to have goods deal could be worth up to for the seventh straight month on-month drop in October, previous buyers would be among the big- the most active property markets $20bn. The White House has said in November, a survey showed figures showed. “We expect the gest beneficiaries. “The rate cut — new home prices rose 0.07 per- such a deal would raise “serious economic reform yesterday, with the market yet interest rate cut to kick in next sends a strong signal that the cent in November from October, concerns” and would be incon- to feel the full impact of an year,” Bai Yanjun, research director property market will likely bot- marking the first gain after six sistent with the nuclear talks SHANGHAI: China yesterday interest rate cut. for the China Index Academy, said. tom out soon,” China economist months of declines, it said. between world powers and Iran. moved closer to introducing The average price of a new “We still believe the market is for Merrill Lynch Hong Kong, Lu Shanghai was the best per- Iran and the six powers on deposit insurance, a long- home in China’s 100 major cit- under downward pressure for the Ting, said in a research note. forming with housing prices ris- Monday gave themselves seven awaited economic reform seen ies was 10,589 yuan ($1,736) rest of 2014 because the current On a year-on-year basis, China’s ing 1.18 percent in November more months to resolve a stand- as a way to impose greater mar- per square metre in November, home inventory levels in first-tier new home prices fell 1.57 percent from October to 32,140 yuan per off on Iran’s nuclear programme ket discipline on the country’s down 0.38 percent from October, and major second-tier cities are from the same month last year, square metre, making it the sec- that has seen crippling economic banks. the independent China Index still high,” he said. far sharper that the annual fall ond most expensive city behind sanctions imposed on Tehran. The People’s Bank of China Academy said in a statement. China cut both lending and of 0.52 percent in October, the the capital Beijing. AFP REUTERS (PBoC), the central bank, pub- lished draft rules for deposit insurance but did not say when they would be implemented. Anti-austerity march in Spain The State Council, or cabinet, has set a one-month period to UAE to keep currency seek public comment on the rules, the official Xinhua news agency said. Other state media said the scheme could be implemented peg to dollar: Mansouri early next year. Deposit insurance was aimed at “protecting the legal DUBAI: The United Arab “fixing and safeguarding the official rights and interests of depositors, Emirates will keep its cur- exchange rate of the dirham falls promptly preventing and resolv- rency peg to the US dollar and by law within the purview of the ing financial risk and protecting media reports that the currency Central Bank’s Board of Directors.” financial stability,” according to regime is under study are not “The policy of the fixed peg of the the draft rules posted on the web- true, the central bank governor dirham against the US dollar will site of the PBoC. was quoted as saying by state remain in place,” he said. Analysts said the move would news agency WAM. Mansouri also said economic force China’s banks, the vast The UAE dirham, which has indicators of the UAE, one of the majority of them state-owned, to been fixed at a rate of 3.6725 to $1 world’s top oil exporters, strongly operate more in line with mar- since 1997, edged down to its low- supported the continuation of the ket principles and to be more est level against the dollar in over fixed peg regime. “This exchange competitive. a year in the one-year forwards rate policy has contributed to “The deposit insurance plan market last week as the price of maintaining economic stability will require banks to shoulder oil, on which the economy depends and bolstering investors’ confi- their own operational risks and heavily, fell to new four-year lows. dence over the long period it has depositors will probably choose An economic committee of the been in effect,” he said. to put their money in banks with Federal National Council, an advi- The peg came under pressure in greater safety for deposits,” Liu sory body to the UAE government, 2008 as the global financial crisis Dongliang, a senior analyst for the has suggested the central bank slashed oil prices and disrupted financial markets department of review the peg, a committee mem- fund flows. Private economists China Merchants Bank, said. ber said on Thursday, although he believe the UAE economy is much The plan raises the possibility stressed that the recommendation better placed to withstand the that China might even allow a was not related to the oil price slide. current oil price volatility, having bank to collapse, a prospect long Anti-austerity demonstrators shout slogans as they take part in a demonstration which organisers have But central bank chief Mubarak built up large fiscal reserves and ruled out by analysts on expecta- labelled the “Marches of Dignity” in Madrid, Spain. Al Mansouri said in a statement strengthened its non-oil sector. tions of a government rescue. AFP sent to WAM late on Saturday that REUTERS MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

Inside Takata, no sense QE or not QE? Spotlight of crisis over air bags BY NORIHIKO SHIROUZU on ECB as inflation dips higehisa Takada, the third-generation head of Takata Corp, shows little sense of the crisis engulfing the Japanese air bag Smaker at the centre of one of the auto industry’s biggest safety recalls, according to three people who have met him recently. BY INGRID MELANDER data at his monthly news con- payrolls are expected to show an more than a year. The US flash Just days before a November 21 US congressional hearing on ference on Thursday, after his increase of 228,000 in November, PMI showed a fifth consecutive defective Takata air bags that have been linked to at least five he European Central pledge to act to lift “excessively according to a poll. monthly slowing in growth in deaths, Takada told business associates he was personally dealing Bank’s (ECB) low” inflation. The unemployment rate fell to services, although the pace of with the quality issues, and his company had identified and fixed monthly rate meet- The ECB is expected to leave a six-year low in October, under- expansion remained robust by the main cause of the defect — which he said was mainly a flawed ing will focus minds key rates unchanged and wait scoring the economy’s resilience historical standards. manufacturing process, the people said. He told them that Takata this week on the for next year to decide whether in the face of slowing global In China, the official manu- had significantly improved its air bag propellant chemistry for bags Tdebate over quantitative easing to take the leap to government demand. Wage growth remained facturing purchasing managers’ it is using to replace defective ones, and the company now just has in the eurozone, as a series of bond-buying. tepid, though, suggesting little index is likely to show today that to step up and replace all suspect air bags as quickly as possible. data releases on both sides of A decision on quantitative need for the Federal Reserve to manufacturing slowed slightly in “He acts like this recall is going to blow by in due time and har- the Atlantic sheds more light on easing may come as early as hurry to start lifting interest November as demand remained bours little sense of crisis,” said one of the associates, none of whom European woes and US strength. the first quarter, Vice President rates. sluggish. wanted to be named given the sensitive nature of their comments. Final purchasing manager Vitor Constancio said last week. On Thursday, the Bank of However China’s central bank More than 16 million vehicles have been recalled worldwide since indices for Europe and the But arch-hawk German ECB England looks set to keep inter- will wait until fourth-quarter 2008 over Takata’s air bag inflators, which can explode with too United States, US monthly jobs policymaker Jens Weidmann est rates on hold at a record low economic data is out and moni- much force and spray metal fragments into the car. data and the European Central responded that there were “legal 0.5 percent — that’s the unani- tor US and Japanese mon- Takata’s handling of the massive safety recall has frustrated US Bank’s updated forecasts will all limits” on printing money to buy mous expectation of analysts etary policy before considering politicians and regulators and has confused drivers as to whether provide clues to assessing the government bonds. polled. any more rate cuts or easing, their cars need fixing or not. Takada, the Tokyo-based company’s relative health of both regions. “The ECB’s communication The day before that, British a central bank adviser said on 48-year-old chairman and CEO, apologised at the annual sharehold- The European Central Bank has not always been crystal Finance Minister George Tuesday. ers’ meeting in late-June, which was closed to the media, but has staff inflation and growth esti- clear this year, but overall it has Osborne will deliver his Autumn Falling oil prices will be otherwise not been seen in public. “He’s a nice man, very sincere mates for the 18-nation sin- moved steadily towards a more budget update to parliament. another point of focus, after pro- and seemingly capable, but he doesn’t view this as a crisis spiralling gle currency union are much dovish stance despite internal The first hike in British inter- ducer group Organisation of the out of control,” said another of the business associates. awaited after data showed on tensions within the Governing est rates is expected to come in Petroleum Exporting Countries The scale of the recalls looks certain to escalate after US safety Friday that inflation in the bloc Council,” French bank Credit the third quarter of 2015, six (Opec) decided not to cut crude regulators ordered Takata last Wednesday to expand piecemeal was back to a five-year low, Agricole wrote in a note. months later than previously production last week despite glo- regional recalls of driver-side air bags to cover the entire United putting more pressure on the “We expect no sovereign QE thought, owing to low inflation, bal oversupply. States, not just hot and humid areas where the inflators are thought bank to take action. announcement at the December sluggish pay growth and a weak Besides adding to Draghi’s to become more volatile. Particular attention will be 4 meeting but a more formal, eurozone economy, a poll showed. headaches as it pushes inflation Takada did not explain to the business associates exactly what paid to internal debate within albeit conditional commitment Final purchasing managers in Europe even lower, the fall Takata had done to improve the propellant chemistry and manu- the European Central Bank to broader asset purchases.” indices are published after flash in oil prices is also hurting the facturing process, and they said he should be explaining these over quantitative easing and to Friday’s monthly US job fig- estimates came in lower than economies, currencies and finan- changes publicly. They said his reluctance or inability to do so may European Central Bank chief ures will be the key data in expected for the eurozone. New cial markets of many producer in part be due to the influence his 74-year-old mother retains at Mario Draghi’s comments on the the United States. Non-farm orders fell for the first time in countries. REUTERS Takata, which was founded by his grandfather more than 80 years ago as a textile mill. Shigehisa joined the family firm straight from university, became president in 2007, aged 41, and moved to the top executive post after the death in 2011 of his father, Juichiro, who built Takata into Japan’s leading auto safety manufacturer. Juichiro, known in the US as “Jim Takada”, was a rolled-up sleeves executive who donned a hard hat on site visits and once was spotted down on his hands and knees checking a faulty machine in a noisy textile plant in South Carolina, recalled a former colleague of the current CEO. His son, he added, is very different — “pain- fully shy, bookish and into computers ... very good with statistics.” His mother Akiko, a former Takata executive, now heads the non-profit Takata Foundation, but remains vocal as a special adviser to the company. Some managers call her “O-okusan”, or “big wife”, underscoring her influence, while Shigehisa is referred to as “the son”, or “Shige-chan” — a familiar, short form of his name with a suffix normally reserved for children. “In a business situation, she could be very forceful and tries to impose her way in just about every way possible,” said one of Shigehisa’s business associates who has worked with Akiko on a project. Two of the three associates recalled how she once engaged in a tit-for-tat negative campaign with a rival. “Imagine being her son and trying to exercise leadership with her buzzing around you,” the person said. “He’s paralysed to make decisions on his own.” Takada is also under pressure from big automaker clients such as Honda Motor and Toyota Motor which try to control and influ- ence how Takata deals with the recalls, two of the business associ- ates said. Also, external legal advisers hired in the United States have focused on minimising potential court damage rather than on repairing a battered public image. The business associates said the lawyers restrict what Takada and other executives say and do publicly. “Takata management’s ability is not hindered by any forces from within the company or from outside,” spokesman Toyohiro Hishikawa said. In response to criticism that Takata’s leadership has not been more visible, Hishikawa said: “That doesn’t rule out the possibility of our top management team explaining our stance on and response to the recalls more publicly in the future.” Takata, which has around 43,000 employees globally, has seen its market value slump almost 60 percent this year to just above $900m. In one recent incident, Shigehisa went “missing for a few hours” from Takata’s Tokyo headquarters after a row with his mother, said one person familiar with the matter. “He was yelled at by his mother and went missing. Nobody knows where he went. He came back after a few hours,” the person said. REUTERS Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Funds ready to return when oil shock fades

BY AZZA AL ARABI “The sharp drop of oil prices and managers intending to raise Middle Emirates will probably start post- down large savings. Moreover, oil less exposed to petrochemical earn- the uncertainty over future prices East equity allocations, and 20 per- ing state budget deficits, but they prices would have to fall further ings, would see a weaker effect. The iddle East fund in the medium term mean buy-side cent intending to decrease them. can keep spending at high levels before the region’s aggregate cur- survey also showed interest among managers expect liquidity has continued to stay out The most recent survey showed if they dig into their huge fiscal rent account position swung from Middle East fund managers in to put money back until it’s clearer...” said Mohammed 53 percent of funds expecting to reserves or finance themselves with surplus to deficit.” He added, “The stock markets that could benefit into Gulf stock Ali Yasin, managing director of raise Saudi Arabian equity alloca- debt issues. upshot is that a period of lower oil from lower oil prices. markets in com- NBAD Securities in Abu Dhabi. tions over the next three months, Most fund managers and ana- prices is unlikely to cause growth Cheaper global energy costs Ming months once the shock of the “In the absence of catalyst events despite the heavy dependence of the lysts expect governments to do across the region to collapse.” could give a boost to Egypt, shrink- plunge in oil prices fades, the lat- in December, and without any com- Saudi economy on oil and the large exactly that; state spending growth Earnings of petrochemical pro- ing its external deficit, reducing est Reuters survey of regional asset pany news, markets are expected to weightings of petrochemical firms in the big Gulf economies may ducers would be hardest hit by oil pressure on state finances from managers shows. continue their current trends, or — roughly one-third — in its stock slow but looks unlikely to go into at $70; Gulf producers would lose energy subsidies, and making it The slide of Brent crude to $70 a maybe go slightly lower, as they will market. Twenty percent expect to reverse. Bahrain and Oman have the competitive advantage they easier to address the power short- barrel last week, from around $115 be weak to any sell-offs or profit- reduce Saudi equity allocations. weaker finances and may be forced enjoy over foreign rivals from low ages that have plagued industry. in June, has shifted the outlook for taking activities before year-end.” In the United Arab Emirates, to cut back much more sharply, feedstock prices, and would face A third of fund managers expect the oil-exporting Gulf economies. However, he and others said the where bourses feature few stocks but their economies are tiny. In valuation losses on their invento- to raise their Egyptian equity allo- This has caused Gulf equities to longer-term outlook for Gulf equi- directly related to oil and are the worst case, next year’s growth ries. Analysts have already slashed cations over the next three months, underperform after a couple of ties was not bearish, and that valu- instead focused on banks and real in the big Gulf economies may not their average forecast for the Saudi while 13 percent expect to reduce years of strong outperformance. ations might now have come down estate firms, 47 percent anticipate reach the levels of above 4 per- petrochemical sector’s earnings them. The biggest boost may be The main Saudi stock index far enough to permit substantial raising equity allocations and 20 cent that analysts were predicting growth this year to 13 percent from to investor perceptions of Turkey, has tumbled 19 percent from its flows of funds back into the mar- percent see themselves reducing a few months ago, but it is likely 25 percent, according to Thomson which has struggled over the September peak, giving up almost kets early next year. them. to stay robust by the standards Reuters data. past year with currency volatility all of this year’s gains; Dubai’s index The survey found 53 percent of A year of $70 oil would slash of much of the rest of the world. With the Saudi private sector in and capital flight related to a big is down 17 percent from this year’s fund managers expecting to raise the tens of billions of dollars in “The key point is that the region good health, the impact on other external deficit that is swollen by high. By contrast, the MSCI emerg- their allocations to Middle East oil income pouring into the Gulf is in a strong position to absorb industries would be significant but energy imports. The latest survey ing markets index is down just 9 stocks over the next three months, states. But it would not necessarily the hit to its income,” said Jason less dramatic. showed 20 percent of fund manag- percent. In the survey of 15 leading and 27 percent expecting to reduce force sharp slowdowns in economic Tuvey, Middle East economist Earnings across the entire Saudi ers expecting to raise their Turkish Middle East investment managers, them. growth or corporate profits. at Capital Economics in London. stock market are now expected equity allocations and 7 expecting conducted over the past 10 days, That was little changed from That is because the oil wealth “Admittedly, budget positions in a to grow 12 percent this year, percent to reduce them — the most many said Gulf stock markets could last month’s survey, which was goes into the coffers of Gulf gov- number of countries may now be instead of 17 percent forecast in bullish balance since the survey was drop further in the short term if oil conducted when Brent crude was ernments. With oil at $70, Saudi in deficit. But these can be easily mid-September. launched in September 2013. remained weak. around $85 and found 47 percent of Arabia and the United Arab financed by issuing debt or drawing Other big Gulf stock markets, REUTERS MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary QE Index 12,760.46 4.28 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 19,032.1 4.28 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 4,271.6 4.70 % RATE QE All Share Index 3,251.76 4.04 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 3,275.37 4.01 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5381.355 1.084 0.02 5672.3 5072.7 QE All Share Industrials 4,220.78 3.89 % QR140.4018 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE All Share Transportation 2,347.05 1.88 % Cac 40 Index/D 0 0 0 4598.65 3789.11 QE All Share Real Estate 2,484.85 5.91 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.6640 QR 5.7469 QE All Share Insurance 3,769.01 2.91 % Dj Indu Average 17827.75 12.81 0.07 17894.8 15340.69 QR 1.9259 Euro ...... QR 4.4951 QR 4.5861 QE All Share Telecoms 1,392.99 3.66 % CA$ ...... QR 3.1594 QR 3.2314 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 7,189.47 3.23 % Hang Seng Inde/D 24004.28 -107.7 -0.45 25362.98 21137.61 Services Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.7328 QR 3.8274 QE Market Summary Comparison Iseq Overall/D 5021.38 21.38 0.43 5195.97 4275.26 Yen ...... QR 0.0307 QR 0.0313 Aus$ ...... QR 3.0611 QR 3.1388 Today Previous day Karachi 100 In/D 31264.79 -189.68 -0.6 32224.79 25273.11 CRUDE OIL 30-11-2014 27-11-2014 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0578 QR 0.0591 Index 12,760.46 13,330.93 Nikkei 225 Index 17248.5 -135.08 -0.78 17520.54 13885.11 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0354 QR 0.0362 Change 570.47 187.42 BRENT Peso ...... QR 0.0797 QR 0.0822 S&P 500 Index/D 2072.83 5.8 0.28 2074.21 1737.92 % 4.28 1.39 $ 76.14 SL Re ...... QR 0.0275 QR 0.0281 YTD% 22.94 28.43 Straits Times/D 3340.96 -8.7 -0.26 3387.84 2953.01 Taka ...... QR 0.0466 QR 0.0477 Volume 14,411,898 14,687,604 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0365 QR 0.0372 Value (QAR) 802,612,312.24 828,461,104.68 Straits Times/D 3290.99 -1.82 -0.06 3387.84 2953.01 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3292 QR 0.3358 Trades 8,316 7,262 $ 71.79 Straits Times/D 3274.06 -8.82 -0.27 3291.83 2953.01 Up 02 | Down 38 | Unchanged 00

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 30-11-2014

Biofuels burn billionaire investor Khosla again

BY STEVEN MUFSON by December 2015. During its short start-up issues, whereas the facil- ideas and the energy of America’s “amazingly adept” at energy issues. half of an $80m loan from the life, KiOR lost money on every gal- ity had design and systemic issues.” entrepreneurs, are best equipped The money went to the Democratic Agriculture Department, accord- ust over a year ago, bil- lon it produced; costs ran $5 to $10 The Securities and Exchange to solve this problem.” Senatorial Campaign Committee; ing to a Bloomberg News report. lionaire venture capi- a gallon even without counting the Commission issued subpoenas to Many Silicon Valley technology Khosla, his wife and their four He later said he abandoned the talist Vinod Khosla was cost of building the plant, accord- KiOR in January and July seek- successes were built on “Moore’s children (two of them students) venture after deciding that KiOR bubbling with optimism ing to biofuel industry analysts. ing information about progress law,” named for Intel co-founder each gave $32,400, according to the possessed a superior process. about one of his latest According to court papers, KiOR’s at the Columbus plant, accord- Gordon Moore, who noted that the Center for Responsive Politics. “One thing about technology is Jinvestments: KiOR, a biofuel outfit revenue totalled just $2.25m; ing to KiOR filings. The demise of number of transistors on an inte- As a generous donor to that there’s always a win, place he said would turn wood chips into losses amounted to $629.3m. Even KiOR isn’t just another bust in the grated circuit doubles every two Democrats, Khosla relished the and show, and everyone else goes hydrocarbons that could be poured injections of money from Khosla energy landscape. years — driving up capabilities at political irony that the company under,” Khosla said in an email straight into a refinery, pipeline or ($85m) and Bill Gates ($15m) in Khosla is one of the gods of high- stable or lower prices. Could that had former Secretary of State late last year. He said his firm vehicle. October 2013 could not stave off tech venture capital. He was a co- dynamic apply to biofuels? Condoleezza Rice on its board and had invested in a half-dozen bio- The KiOR refinery in Columbus, bankruptcy. founder of Sun Microsystems. And Swept up by that sort of opti- Republican Haley Barbour, then fuel technologies and had been Mississippi was “an amazing facil- Shareholders — including like many other venture capital mism, Congress passed a law man- Mississippi’s governor, in its cheer- approached about funding many ity,” Khosla gushed. “It is exactly Khosla Ventures, which had a 28 entrepreneurs who struck it rich dating refiners to mix 16 billion ing section. But like many other more. the same as what nature does, but percent stake — absorbed the blow. in technology, Khosla has set about gallons a year of advanced cellu- high-tech venture capitalists who Some oil industry veterans nature takes a million years and The stock peaked at more than $20 applying his insight and financial losic biofuels into the motor fuel have tried to master clean energy, think Khosla was overconfident. we take a few minutes,” Khosla a share in September 2011, giving skills to foster clean technol- pool by 2022, even though no one Khosla has had his share of defeats. Producing motor fuel cheap and said in a November 2013 email it a market value of $1.7bn. At ogy that could help slow climate was producing commercial quanti- He backed Coskata, which said it plentiful enough to have a mean- to The Washington Post. In a “60 the time of the bankruptcy, KiOR change. He came to Washington ties yet. could produce ethanol from corn ingful impact on the nation’s fuel Minutes” interview broadcast in stock closed at 2.5 cents a share, to preach about the virtues of Khosla also dabbled in politics, husks, municipal trash or other mix has proven intractable. January, Khosla boasted of the essentially worthless. American ingenuity and technol- emerging in the nexus of Silicon biomass. The company, which had Khosla “felt that with the Silicon company’s “magic catalyst.” Separate class-action lawsuits ogy. “The combination of brilliant Valley and the energy and political a $250m loan guarantee from the Valley can-do attitude he could Now, however, the spell has been brought by shareholders accuse ideas and entrepreneurial spirit worlds. A supporter of Democrats, Agriculture Department, never come in and show the oil indus- broken. On November 10, KiOR KiOR executives of misleading should lead us to a safer and more Khosla in 2012 gave $1m to made commercial volumes and in try how to do this,” said Robert filed for bankruptcy, leaving behind investors. “Our case is that the secure future,” he said in pre- Priorities USA Action, a super 2012 switched to burning natural Rapier, a chemical engineer who 2,067 creditors, including the state company was not being truthful pared testimony on September 25, PAC that backed President Barack gas, which was cheaper than wood. has worked for ConocoPhillips of Mississippi, which had given about the realities at the Columbus 2007, at the Senate Committee on Obama’s re-election campaign. In Khosla also backed Range Fuels, and is now head of the alternative KiOR a $75m, 20-year, no-inter- facility,” said Phillip Kim, an Environment and Public Works. June 2013, Khosla hosted Obama which closed its Georgia wood- fuels division of Advanced Green est loan after the company assured attorney at the Rosen law firm Talking about climate change, he at a $32,400-a-plate fundrais- chip-to-ethanol plant in late 2011, Innovations. “He cites Moore’s law. officials that it would invest $500m representing the plaintiffs. “It said that “America’s scientists and ing dinner at his palatial Portola after getting $46.3m of a $76m That’s his bible.” in the plant and create 1,000 jobs was characterizing problems as technologists, powered by new Valley home; Khosla called Obama Energy Department grant and WP-BLOOMBERG MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

Australian Open Wiratchant Final Round Scores wins King’s Spieth sizzles to seal SYDNEY: Leading scores after the final round of the Australian Open at the Cup title Australian Course (par-71) in Sydney yesterday (Australia BANGKOK: Thai veteran unless stated): Thaworn Wiratchant recorded 271 Jordan Spieth (USA) 67-72-69-63 a five-under-par 67 to win the Australian Open title 277 Rod Pampling 73-67-69-68 King’s Cup in Khon Kaen yes- 278 Brett Rumford 70-69-69-70 terday, securing his 18th Asian 279 Greg Chalmers 71-66-71-71 Tour title. His sizzling final round pushed Rising star cards 63 in final round; Mcllroy, Scott fail 280 Adam Scott 74-66-69-71 India’s Anirban Lahiri, who had 281 Jake Higginbottom 71-69-72-69 led from the opening day, into set- SYDNEY: Rising American 283 Robert Allenby 71-69-73-70, Ryan tling for a share of second place star Jordan Spieth dominated Fox (NZL) 72-72-69-70 with Andrew Dodt of Australia in the final round to win the 284 Daniel Nisbet 74-72-67-71 the 72-par $500,000 event. Australian Open by six shots Northern Ireland’s 285 Nathan Holman 73-72-73-67, Sung- Thaworn – a comparative vet- and leave world number one Rory McIlroy Hoon Kang (KOR) 73-70-72-70, eran at the age of 47 who now Rory McIlroy and third-ranked reacts after Aaron Townsend 73-70-71-71, Josh holds an unprecedented 18 titles Adam Scott floundering in his on the Asian Tour – secured an missing his putt Younger 71-72-70-72, Aron Price 68- wake yesterday. advantage with a birdie on 10 on the 18th 75-69-73 Spieth carded a sizzling new 286 Stephen Dartnall 72-71-74-69, before dropping only one shot in course record of eight-under hole during the the round on the par-four 12 to final round of Stephen Allan 75-71-70-70, Steven par 63 to finish the Aus$1.25m Bowditch 70-74-71-71, Rory McIlroy win. the Australian ($1.06m) OneAsia co-sanctioned (NIR) 69-69-76-72, Richard Green “It was not easy out there as Open Golf tournament at 13-under 271. 69-71-74-72, Boo Weekley (USA) 72- Anirban and Andrew were piling It was 21-year-old Texan’s Championship 71-71-72, Alistair Presnell 74-72-68- the pressure on me. It got a little second tournament win after at the Australian 72, David Bransdon 72-70-71-73 shaky on 12 when I bogeyed for Golf Club last year’s John Deere Classic in Selected scores the first time today. But I main- Illinois. in Sydney, tained my composure and man- 287 Conrad Shindler (USA) 70-68-81-68 Spieth was runner-up at the yesterday. RIGHT: aged to see it through,” said the Masters last April behind fellow Jordan Spieth 289 Patrick Rodgers (USA) 70-74-77-68, local hero. Jin-ho Choi (KOR) 74-68-75-72 American Bubba Watson, just of the US holds Lahiri, 27, was disappointed to missing out on being the first the trophy after 290 Joon-woo Choi (KOR) 72-71-73-74 miss out on the title after tak- Masters rookie to win since Fuzzy winning the 291 Brendon De Jonge (ZIM) 69-75-73-74 ing the lead since the tournament Zoeller in 1979. Australian Open . 293 Garrett Sapp (USA) 73-72-72-76 began on Thursday. “There’s been a lot of close calls 294 Jin Jeong (KOR) 71-75-77-71, Kyle “I had my chances and I just from the last time I won until Stanley (USA) 74-72-76-72 didn’t take them. I don’t think I now. It would be a lie if I didn’t played poorly but it was just not 296 Jamie Lovemark (USA) 77-65-79-75 say that it was eating at me a lit- good enough to close it out,” he tle bit,” Spieth said. said, according to a statement “It’s tough when you get so closing five holes. With his com- Rod Pampling finished second opening but was unable to get designed course. Spieth joins released by organisers. AFP close so many times in big events manding victory, Spieth’s world at seven-under 277 with Brett up and down, the double-bogey past winners of the Stonehaven against world-class fields and ranking is expected to climb from Rumford third on six-under 278 leaving Scott five behind Spieth Cup such as greats Jack Nicklaus, you’re not able to pull it off. 14 to 11. and Greg Chalmers in fourth on at that stage. Gary Player, Greg Norman, Tom King’s Cup Scores “I decided to take care of busi- “I certainly have not played five-under 279. Defending champion McIlroy, Watson and Peter Thomson. 268 Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 68-67-66-67 ness today. It was just one of those better than today. I felt it coming Scott lost momentum with a who beat Scott with a birdie at |He is the first American to win 270 Andrew Dodt (AUS) 69-65-69-67, rounds where I was in the zone on last week (in Japan), striking double-bogey seven at the fifth the final hole at Royal Sydney the Australian Open since Brad Anirban Lahiri (IND) 65-67-68-70 and just focusing on each shot. the ball very well and my putter hole to drop back to two under last year, wrestled with the course Faxon in 1993. “At no point was I upset, it was was close,” he said. and could make little headway on and the windy conditions and fin- Spieth won the John Deere 273 Kalem Richardson (AUS) a66-72-68-67, Danthai Boonma (THA) 66-70-68-69, very stress-free.” “I came into here with a lot of the tearaway leader to finish fifth ished joint 15th at two-over 286, Classic aged 19, becoming the first Paul Peterton (USA) 69-68-67-69 Spieth took a grip on the final confidence and I had my coach with four-under 280. 15 strokes behind Spieth. teenaged winner of a US PGA round with three consecutive here and so I knew that having The world number three had to It was a torrid week for Tour event since 1931. 274 Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA) 71-68- birdies from the fifth to the sev- him to cope with the little things take a penalty drop for an unplay- McIlroy, who carded 15 birdies, an The Australian trio of Rumford, 67-68, Panuphol Pittayarat (THA) enth holes to go nine under and that this could be a really good able lie after blocking his tee shot eagle, 14 bogeys, one double bogey Pampling and the two-time win- 68-69-66-71 led by three strokes at the turn. week.” into rough and then hooked his and a disastrous triple bogey. ner Chalmers qualified for next 275 Phachara Khongwatmai (THA) 71-71- He had few problems holding on Spieth finished the 72 holes of next shot back into the trees on Only eight players finished year’s British Open at St Andrews 65-68, Prom Meesawat (THA) 68-69- to his advantage in the homeward the tournament with 22 birdies the left. under par over the 72 holes at as the top three non-exempt play- 67-71, Jakraphan Premsirigorn (THA) nine with four more birdies in his and just nine bogeys. Australian He speared through a narrow the demanding Jack-Nicklaus ers. AFP 69-65-69-72 Love spurs Cavs to another win

NEW YORK: Forward Kevin Guard Bradley Beal scored Teague handed out 10 assists and won their fourth straight Love scored a season-high 28 12 points for the Wizards and as Atlanta sent Charlotte to its while concluding a 6-1 road trip. points and added 10 rebounds forward Paul Pierce added 10, ninth straight loss. Atlanta has The only loss for Los Angeles was as Cleveland Cavs won its third including a three-pointer for an won four of its past five games in Memphis. straight game with a 109-97 vic- 81-77 lead with 2:12 remaining and is 7-2 at home, while the Rockets 117, Bucks 103 tory over Indiana. shortly after the Pelicans jumped Hornets are 1-11 since guard Guard James Harden scored Point guard Kyrie Irving had in front for the first time. Lance Stephenson hit the buzzer- 34 points as the Rockets rolled 24 points, 10 rebounds and five Guard Jrue Holiday scored 17 beating three-pointer in a double- to a 117-103 victory over the assists and forward LeBron James points for the Pelicans, who shot overtime victory over the Hawks Milwaukee Bucks. Harden made had 19 points and seven assists for 37 percent from the field. in Charlotte on November 17. nine shots – including four three- the Cavs, who moved above .500 Mavericks 110, 76ers 103 Rookie guard PJ Hairston led pointers – and was 12-for-13 from for the second time in the ongo- Centre Tyson Chandler had a the Hornets with 15 points and the line. He scored 19 of his points ing season. double-double of 20 points and 13 forward Gerald Henderson scored in third quarter as the Rockets Forward David West had 14 rebounds to lift Dallas. 14. led by as many as 18. REUTERS points and six rebounds in his The Mavericks, who also got 18 Clippers 112, Jazz 96 second game back from an ankle points from guard Monta Ellis, Forward Blake Griffin scored injury and Solomon Hill scored 13 have won three straight. The visi- 28 points and point guard Chris NBA Results points for the Pacers. tors survived a handful of second- Paul had a double-double of 17 Dallas 110 Philadelphia 103 Wizards, 83, Pelicans 80 half spurts from the winless 76ers points and 10 assists as the Los Washington 83 New Orleans 80 Centre Marcin Gortat had (0-16), who drew to within four Angeles concluded one of the Atlanta 105 Charlotte 75 David West (left) of the Indiana Pacers tries to block Kevin Love of the a season-high 24 points and 13 points in the fourth quarter. most successful road trips in fran- Cleveland 109 Indiana 97 Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half of their NBA game at Quicken rebounds and Washington sur- Hawks 105, Hornets 75 chise history with a 112-96 victory LA Clippers 112 Utah 96 Loans Arena yesterday in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the vived Anthony Davis’ 30 points, Forward Paul Millsap scored over the Jazz. Pacers 109-97 after a good show by Love. in other game. 18 points and point guard Jeff The Clippers shot 55 percent Houston 117 Milwaukee 103 NY Islanders overpower Devils 3-1 NFL: Injured Foles likely to miss more action NEW YORK: Right winger NHL Results Cal Clutterbuck scored in the NY Rangers 5 Philadelphia 2 second period as New York NEW YORK: Philadelphia to doubtful for Monday night’s Islanders concluded one of the Toronto 6 Washington 2 Eagles’ quarterback Nick Foles game against the New York Jets best Novembers in franchise Buffalo 4 Montreal 3 is expected to miss another two but wide receiver Mike Wallace history with a 3-1 win over New Tampa Bay 4 Ottawa 1 to four weeks due to a broken is probable. Calgary Jersey in front of a sellout crowd NY Islanders 3 New Jersey 1 collarbone. Cleveland Browns tight end at Nassau Coliseum. According to a Philadelphia Jordan Cameron will miss his fifth Flames’ Pittsburgh 3 Carolina 2 Left winger Nikolai Kulemin Daily News report, a follow-up straight game with a concussion. players Nashville 2 Columbus 1 also scored for the Islanders, CT scan on the injured left col- Cameron was downgraded St Louis 3 Minnesota 2 celebrate who went 11-3-0 in November to larbone revealed that it is healing yesterday from questionable to their third surge into a tie for first place in Colorado 5 Dallas 2 normally. out for game at the Buffalo Bills. period goal the Metropolitan Division with Calgary 3 Arizona 0 However, replacement Mark He did not make the trip with against the the Pittsburgh Penguins. Chicago 4 Los Angeles 1 Sanchez will reportedly hold on the team, according to multiple Arizona Only the 1980-81 Islanders San Jose 6 Anaheim 4 to the starting job if he continues reports. Coyotes at team that won the second of the to play well. He led the Eagles Meanwhile, the New England Gila River franchise’s four successive Stanley November, getting goals from to a blowout win over the Dallas Patriots signed linebacker Darius Arena. Cups, recorded more wins in left winger Chris Kunitz and Cowboys on Thursday. Fleming from the practice squad Calgary November (12-1-2). defenseman Robert Bortuzzo The St Louis Rams activated to the 53-man roster. defeated the Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak less than two minutes apart in defensive end Chris Long. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coyotes 3-0. made 34 saves and was particu- the first period in their victory Long was on the injured promoted centre Josh Allen from larly brilliant in the third period, over Carolina. reserve-designated to return list the practice squad and waived when the Devils did not score Lightning 4, Senators 1 after having ankle surgery. He cornerback CJ Wilson. despite outshooting the Islanders Tampa Bay pulled away in the was injured in the season opener. Washington Redskins corner- 16-2. final period to a win over Ottawa, The Rams take on the Oakland back EJ Biggers was ruled out Penguins 3, Hurricanes 2 while getting strong play in goal Raiders. of yesterday’s game against the Pittsburgh tied a franchise from Ben Bishop giving up the Miami Dolphins tight end Indianapolis Colts due to a con- record with their 10th win in game’s first goal. AGENCIES Charles Clay was downgraded cussion. REUTERS MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

School Olympic Program fencing competition

School students compete during a fencing competition, held under the Schools Olympic Program (SOP) in Doha yesterday. The Qatar Olympic Committee in partnership with the Supreme Education Council hosts the SOP. The SOP develops and promotes fitness and a healthy lifestyle by organising multisport competitions among the schools of Qatar with students ranging from 5 to 18 years of age. The sport competitions culminate in a celebration during the Girls and Boys Finals at Aspire Dome on March 19 and 20, 2015. This year’s theme is ‘Sport and Peace’ while ‘Sport and Integrity’ was the theme of last year’s SOP, which is now into its eighth edition.

Spanish League Results MADRID: Spanish league results yesterday: Atletico Madrid 2 (Saul 42, Turan 55) Ibra penalty helps Deportivo La Coruna 0 Playing today Almeria vs Rayo Vallecano (1945) Played on Saturday Getafe 1 (Lafita 90+1) Athletic Bilbao 2 (San PSG to close win Jose 36, Benat 90) Espanyol 2 (Caicedo 19, Sergio Garcia 35) Levante 1 (Morales 12) Leaders Marseille’s lead cut to one point Malaga 1 (Santa Cruz 90+2) Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 18, Bale 83) Celta Vigo 0 Eibar 1 (Del Moral 30) PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain seven minutes when Alassane Nice maintained hope of kept the pressure on Marseille Plea tested Salvatore Sirigu with snatching something from the Ligue 1 Results at the top of Ligue 1 with a a low shot, the home side came encounter and Plea should have Result from the Ligue 1 match yesterday 1-0 win against Nice at the flying out of the blocks. done better with a header from Parc des Princes on Saturday Edinson Cavani, who had scored Amavi’s cross before the latter Girondins Bordeaux 1 Lille 0 night thanks to an early Zlatan seven goals in his last seven club himself glanced a header wide On Saturday Ibrahimovic penalty. appearances, sent a dipping volley from a free-kick 12 minutes from Caen 1 Montpellier HSC 1 The Swede’s second goal in as from outside the area narrowly time.However, PSG held out and Paris St Germain 1 Nice 0 many games and sixth in Ligue wide before Ibrahimovic showed have now been beaten just once in Racing Lens 2 Metz 0 1 this season may have been the sublime skill to take down a long their last 38 home league games. Atletico Madrid’s Turkish midfielder Arda Turan (right) vies with Stade Rennes 2 Monaco 0 only goal of the match, but the Javier Pastore ball, turn and lash Marseille continue to set the Deportivo’s Polish midfielder Cezary Wilk during the Spanish League defending champions could, and a shot against the post. pace after Florian Thauvin scored match at the Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid yesterday. Stade de Reims 2 Bastia 1 should, have won by a greater The breakthrough duly arrived one goal and set up another on Toulouse 2 FC Lorient 3 margin against limited mid-table on the quarter-hour when a pen- Friday to end Nantes’ sequence of Friday, November 28 opponents. alty was awarded after Lucas nine matches without defeat that Olympique Marseille 2 Nantes 0 Nevertheless, Laurent Blanc’s was cleaned out in the box by two had seen the resurgent Canaries side remain unbeaten this sea- Nice defenders, Jordan Amavi and climb into the top four. Atletico win marred Serie A Result son and have now recorded nine Romain Genevois. Thauvin deftly converted a Results from the Serie A match on consecutive victories in all com- And Ibrahimovic, who scored a Dimitri Payet cross and then Saturday petitions, with this latest triumph hat-trick in this fixture last sea- saw his free-kick headed in by allowing them to close the gap on son, stepped up to score from the Rod Fanni before half-time for by fan violence Chievo Verona 0 Lazio 0 Marseille back to one point fol- spot despite goalkeeper Mouez Marcelo Bielsa’s side. lowing OM’s 2-0 defeat of Nantes Hassen diving the right way. In the other games, Monaco MADRID: Champions Atletico possible. On the field, Atletico Madrid, but Barca can reclaim on Friday night. Cavani then forced a good save followed their Champions League Madrid leapfrogged Barcelona once again relied on their exper- second spot when they visit “The third match in a week out of Hassen after exchanging win at Bayer Leverkusen in mid- into second place in La Liga tise from set-pieces to claim Valencia. is always a difficult match. We passes with Ibrahimovic but, week with a 2-0 defeat at Rennes, with 2-0 win over Deportivo all three points as Saul Niguez Atletico started much the changed half the side from the perhaps with one eye on next as the Brittany outfit climbed to la Coruna yesterday, which headed in from Koke’s free-kick brighter despite the understand- one that beat Ajax on Tuesday,” Wednesday’s trip to Lille, Paris fourth. Three rapid-fire goals was overshadowed by clashes just before half-time. ably subdued atmosphere at the said PSG coach Blanc. were unable to keep up their in five second-half minutes saw between rival fans before And Arda Turan’s deflected Vicente Calderon and could have “We’d like to be better, but excellent start to the game. Lorient climb out of the relegation kick-off. effort doubled their advantage been in front twice in the opening we’re working on it and the best “My team learned a great deal zone with a 3-2 win at Toulouse. At least one supporter is 10 minutes after the break as 10 minutes. is still to come for this team.” tonight, we were overwhelmed in Caen and Motpellier drew believed to have been seriously Deportivo could only clear a cor- Mario Mandzukic scored his PSG welcomed back captain the first half hour,” said Nice han- 1-1, Lens beat Metz 2-0 in the injured in the incidents that took ner to the edge of the area where first hat-trick for Atletico in the Thiago Silva and Thiago Motta dler Claude Puel. northern derby and Bastia’s new place close to the ground. the Turkish international was 4-0 mauling of Olympiakos in after both had missed the mid- “We were so tense in the first- interim coach Ghislain Printant The Spanish football league lurking. midweek and was inches away week Champions League game half we could hardly clear the ball. saw his side slump back into the said in a statement it had tried Victory takes Atletico a point from finding the net again when against Ajax, and while Nice might But we survived the storm with relegation zone with a 2-1 defeat to postpone the game at the ahead of Barcelona and back to he headed Koke’s fine cross on to have opened the scoring inside great team-work and generosity.” at Reims. AFP last minute, but it hadn’t been within four points of leaders Real the post. AFP Maguire and Fish emerge on top at Megarme Summer League Specialist to assess De Villiers’ Cup chances

CAPE TOWN: Jean de Villiers national side again for almost two has “significant” knee ligament years. The Wales defeat marked damage and will likely find out a disappointing end to what has later this week if he has a realis- been a mixed year for coach tic chance of recovering in time Heyneke Meyer, who insisted he to captain South Africa at next was pleased to have at least grown year’s World Cup. the depth of the squad in 2014. The centre dislocated his knee South Africa’s win percentage cap in the Springboks’ 12-6 loss to of 71 (10 out of 14 tests) stacks Wales in Cardiff on Saturday and up very favourably to their per- scans have revealed the damage is formances in the years prior to extensive, with no time frame yet the last three World Cup tourna- put on his recovery. ments, when they hovered around “The scans revealed significant the 50 percent mark. “Statistics ligament damage to the inside of showed us the year before a World his knee and the supporting mus- Cup is always tough and our aim cles,” team doctor Craig Roberts was to work hard and ensure we said in a news release yesterday. still perform well,” Meyer said. “Jean will return to South Africa “We learnt valuable lessons from and see an orthopaedic specialist in the defeats in Cardiff and Dublin Cape Town early in the week. He (against Ireland), while we came has had previous surgery on this very close in Perth (Australia) knee and the further management and Auckland (New Zealand). of the injury is dependent upon the Although the season wasn’t per- specialist’s recommendations.” fect, I think we’ve still done well. The loss of De Villiers, both as “With all the injuries to key a captain and key decision-maker players, and our overseas-based in the backline, would be a sig- players not available at stages Rachada Fish, winner of the Megarme Summer League Order of Merit, receiving the prize from Alex Lee, the General Manager of Megarme at Doha nificant blow to South Africa’s during the season, we were also Golf Club (DGC) on Thursday night. Luke Maguire won the men’s division. Fish and Maguire were presented with QR10,000 travel vouchers for chances at the September 18 forced to build our depth, which winning their respective divisions. The order of merit is calculated over 10 events which were played throughout the summer months of June, July, to October 31 tournament in can be seen as a positive. August and September. Competitors are allocated a number of points based on their finishing position in each individual event so consistent play is England.The 33-year-old injured “We have nine months of very rewarded with higher points. Lee, the General Manager of Megarme announced during the awards giving ceremony that Megarme would be renew- his knee five minutes into his hard work ahead before we head Springboks debut against France out to England for the World ing their sponsorship of the event for 2015. in 2002 and did not play for the Cup.” AFP MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 FIA General Assembly Mercedes celebrates F1 success kicks off in Doha today Six meetings scheduled on first day of annual gathering

DOHA: Six meetings are sched- uled on the first day of the FIA General Assembly today — it was announced yesterday. The five-day annual meeting will begin today with the Region III meeting in the morning ses- sion and today’s proceedings will conclude with deliberations in the FIA Programmes Committee meeting. The hugely popular FIA Prize-giving Ceremony will be held on December 5. Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) said the meetings will be hosted at the St German Formula One driver Nico Rosberg of Mercedes AMG GP (right) Regis Hotel. and his wife Vivian Sibold attend the Stars & Cars event in Stuttgart This event is considered one of on Saturday night: INSET: Mercedes’ British Formula One driver Lewis the most important occasions on Hamilton at the same event. One week on from Hamilton’s sensational the international motor sports Formula One world championship victory in Abu Dhabi, Mercedes calendar. Last March, Qatar celebrated its incredible success across the course of the 2014 season fended off competition from at its Stars & Cars homecoming event in Germany. Brazil, Mexico, Australia and Cyprus to win the rights to host the annual meeting. Representatives from more than 163 member clubs and fed- Marussia equipment erations from 116 countries and around 800 guests will attend the event. This special event will be open This year, the FIA week of cel- to the public but as the seating QMMF President and FIA Vice- put up for auction ebrations has added a new event capacity is limited. There will be president Nasser bin Khalifa — the FIA Prize-giving Challenge, a raffle to win a double VIP ticket Al Attiyah (right) greets FIA LONDON: The physical Marussia missed the last three presented by the QMMF. for this special event. President Jean Todt at Hamad assets of the failed Marussia races of the 2014 season after The thrilling Prize-giving QMMF President and FIA International Airport in Doha Formula One team, including ceasing trading and making all Challenge will be held at the Vice-president Nasser bin Khalifa yesterday. RIGHT: Red Bull cars and factory equipment, of their 200 staff redundant. Prize-giving Village’s karting Al Attiyah said: “Thanks to the Racing’s Australian Formula One have been put up for auction by The team had British driver track here on Thursday from 6pm support of the Emir, His Highness driver Daniel Ricciardo will take administrators. Max Chilton and Frenchman to 9.30pm. FIA Champions and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al part in the new FIA Prize-giving Auctioneers CA Global Jules Bianchi as their lineup guests will take part in the com- Thani, Qatar will be the centre of Challenge that will be held at Partners, acting for administra- this season, with the latter scor- petition, which has been divided attention on a variety of fronts.” the Prize-giving Village’s karting tors FRP advisory, posted details ing their first and only points into four activities. Al Attiyah, who was re-elected on their website (cal.cagp.com/ before suffering brain injuries in track in Doha on Thursday. A VIP Hospitality Suite will FIM Vice-president last week, event/marussia) of an auction a Japanese Grand Prix crash. welcome the FIA delegates and also thanked H E Sheikh Abdullah expressed his gratitude towards scheduled for December 16 and 17 Bianchi remains in hospital champions’ supporters. Fans bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, the management of the Hamad following the closure of the team’s in France in a stable but critical will be at the heart of the action Prime Minister and Minister of International Airport and Banbury headquarters. condition. thanks to live screens and a TV Interior, H E Salah bin Ghanem Customs Authority, Hamad The sale includes race cars, Rivals Caterham also went into interview platform. bin Nasser Al Ali, Minister of Hospital, Qatar National Bank without the engines which have administration at the same time More than 30 drivers are con- Youth and Sport, Dr Hamad bin and Qatar Airways. Al Attiyah gone back to Ferrari, the team’s as Marussia but competed in the firmed for this race, directed by Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, Minister of also thanked Omar Al Fardan trucks and race equipment, spare final Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Charlie Whiting, including Daniel Culture, Arts and Heritage, for “for his continuous support ahead parts as well as corporate offices, are still hoping to find a buyer to Ricciardo, Sebastien Loeb and their support. of the preparations at St Regis machine shop and computer continue in the sport. Petter Solberg. The QMMF President also Hotel”. THE PENINSULA servers. REUTERS Just two days to go! FINA worlds kick off on Wednesday DOHA: It’s almost time! More expected to race in six individual She finished atop the points Cup meet in Singapore earlier than 1,100 athletes from 171 events (200m freestyle, 200m table overall with Gyurta finishing this month when he posted countries begin their battle in backstroke, 50m and 100m but- second overall in the men’s com- 1:48.88, the South African will the 12th FINA World Swimming terfly, 100m and 200m IM). petition. With five-time Olympic surely be looking to go one better Championships (25m) at the With the likes of Olympic medallist Laszlo Cseh also com- in Doha. Hamad Aquatic Centre here champions Breeja Larson and peting for Hungary, they will be a His countryman, Cameron Van from Wednesday. Conor Dwyer joining Lochte in force to be reckoned with. De Burgh, who holds the short- Millions of people around the Team USA, the Americans will Joining the Hungarians in the course world records in 50m and world are expected to tune in to be looking to top the medal table spotlight in the men’s competi- 100m breaststroke, will also be see the biggest names in swim- at the FINA World Swimming tion will be South Africa’s Chad hoping to add to South Africa’s ming, including 11-time Olympic Championships (25m) for the Le Clos and Cameron Van Der medal tally in Doha. medallist Ryan Lochte of America, fourth championships running. Burgh. Lithuanian sensation Ruta fight for pool supremacy. The USA will surely have some Le Clos started his 2014 short- Meilutyte, who broke onto the With seven individual Olympic stiff competition for the top spot course season in Doha with three scene by winning a gold at the medals, Lochte is the current from Hungary, who have con- golds at the first meet of the 2012 Olympic Games in London world-record holder in the 100m, firmed that their leading duo, World Cup and went on to win at just age 15, will also compete in 200m and 400m individual med- Katinka Hosszu and Daniel the overall title of the series. Doha as will three-time Olympic leys (short course). Gyurta, will compete in Doha. Reigning short-course world medallist and regional hero, At the 2012 FINA World Hosszu broke three world and Olympic champion in the Oussama Mellouli of Tunisia. Swimming Championships in records at the Doha leg of the 200m butterfly, Le Clos has been Double world record holder Eleven-time Olympic medallist Ryan Lochte is one to watch out for in the Istanbul, he was the man of the FINA/MASTBANK Swimming chasing his own short-course Mireia Belmonte of Spain and 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), which kick off at the hour with eight medals. There’s World Cup 2014 in August, amass- world record (1:48.56) all sea- Olympian Lotte Friis of Denmark Hamad Aquatic Centre in Doha on Wednesday. a strong chance he may repeat ing an astonishing 69 medals, 52 son. Coming within a whisker will also make the trip to Doha. those achievements as he is of them gold, through this year. of breaking it at the final World THE PENINSULA Clinical Man City crush Southampton, Spurs beat Everton

LONDON: Champions goals from Yaya Toure, Frank so often City’s go-to man on their into Southampton’s coffin when Manchester City galvanised Lampard and Gael Clichy con- way to the title last season, put he turned the ball home in the their pursuit of Premier League demned Ronald Koeman’s high- his side in front after 51 minutes 88th minute. leaders Chelsea yesterday with flying side to a when his low “The difference was the qual- an emphatic 3-0 victory over first home defeat shot from the ity,” Koeman said after his side a Southampton side who have of the season. English Premier edge of the area dropped to third surprisingly come between the “We beat a very flicked off Saints Everton’s Kevin Mirallas pro- leading title protagonists. good team,” City League Results defender Toby duced a stunning strike from 20 With table-topping Chelsea manager Manuel Burnley 1 (Ings 87-pen) Aston Villa 1 (Cole 38) Alderweireld metres to open the scoring at held to a 0-0 draw against Pellegrini, speak- and past Fraser White Hart Lane in yesterday’s Liverpool 1 (Johnson 85) Stoke 0 Sunderland on Saturday, victory ing to Sky Sports, Forster. clash between the two Europa for City at fortress St Mary’s said. “We contin- Manchester United 3 (Smalling 16, Rooney When French League representatives. took them above Southampton ued working as a 42, Van Persie 66) Hull 0 defender Tottenham equalised six min- into second place with 27 points team in defence QPR 3 (Morgan 37-og, Fer 45, Austin 73) Eliaquim utes later when Everton goal- from 13 matches, six behind Jose and attack until Leicester 2 (Cambiasso 4, Schlupp 67) Mangala keeper Tim Howard palmed Mourinho’s pace setters. we scored.” Sunderland 0 Chelsea 0 received a sec- Harry Kane’s shot into the path Tottenham Hotspur came from City screamed Swansea 1 (Bony 15) Crystal Palace 1 ond yellow for of Eriksen, who kept his compo- a goal down to beat Everton 2-1 for a penalty for (Jedinak 25-pen) a foul on Shane sure to score. with goals from Christian Eriksen a foul on Aguero West Bromwich 0 Arsenal 1 (Welbeck 60) Long it seemed In first-half stoppage time, and Roberto Soldado moving in a goalless first West Ham 1 (Cresswell 56) Newcastle 0 Southampton Soldado scored his first league Spurs up to seventh with 20 -half when Jose had a lifeline but goal since March when he raced points. Fonte’s hefty that was snatched on to Aaron Lennon’s astute pass After a less than convincing challenge wiped the Argentine away when Lampard ghosted and powered a shot past Howard. start to the attempted defence of out in the box. Incredibly Aguero, through into space and buried Everton applied pressure late Manchester City’s Frank Lampard (right) reacts after an English Premier their title, City’s display against making his 100th Premier League his shot low into the corner after on but Spurs stayed strong to League match against Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton Southampton saw them back appearance, was booked for div- being picked out by James Milner. avoid their third consecutive yesterday. to their free-flowing best as ing. But Ivorian midfielder Toure, Clichy hammered the final nail league defeat at home. REUTERS MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

17th Asian Club League Championship Results Group A: Al Gharafa Club (QAT) bt Al Salt Club (JOR) 34-22 Group B: El Jaish Club (QAT) bt. Manyazom Janob (IRI) 38-27 Group A: Lekhwiya Club (QAT) bt Thamen Al Hojaj (IRI) 23-22 Group B: Al Kuwait Club (KUW) Al Khalij Club (KSA) 23-22 Today’s Fixtures Group A: Al Gharafa Club (QAT) vs. Al Qurain Sporting Club (KUW) at 1.00pm Group B: Al Kuwait Club (KUW) vs Ahli Sidab Club (OMA) at 3.00pm Group A: Samenalhojaj (IRI) vs Al Salt Club (JOR) at 5.00pm Group B: Manyazium Ferdows Club (IRI) vs Al Khalij Club (KSA) at 7.00pm Venue: Ali Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah Sports Hall Al Sadd Group A Lekhwiya Club (QAT) Al Gharafa Club (QAT) Al Salt Club (JOR) Samenalhojaj (IRI) Al Qurain Sporting Club (KUW) Group B El Jaish Club (QAT) Al Kuwait Club (KUW) A beautiful view of illuminated of the newly-built Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena Al Sadd on Saturday night. Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena, one of the two venues which is hosting the 17th Al Khalij Club (KSA) Asian Club League Championship, was inaugurated on Saturday. During the inaugural ceremony visitors and handball fans from across the region were treated to a laser light display and Manyazium Ferdows Club (IRI) a traditional Ardha dance. INSET: A day time picture of the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena. RIGHT: A laser light display during the opening ceremony. Ahli Sidab Club (OMA) Qatari clubs storm to victory in Doha Asian Club League Championship: El Jaish, Lekhwiya and Al Gharafa gain full points

DOHA: Qatari clubs El Jaish, Lekhwiya and Al Gharafa domi- nated on the second day of the 17th Asian Handball Clubs’ League Championship to reg- ister contrasting wins at the newly-built Ali Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah Arena Al Sadd yesterday. Defending champions El Jaish stormed to a 38-27 win over Iran’s Manyazium Ferdows Club in the Group B match, while Lekhwiya pipped another Iranian club Samenalhojaj 23-22 in a cliff hanger Group A encounter. Another Qatari club Al Gharafa joined the party by defeating Al Salt of Jordan 34-22 in Group A, to make it a perfect record for the three clubs from the hosts’ coun- try taking part in the continental championship. The event is contested by ten top clubs from Asia, who are divided into two groups. Two top teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals on Amine Khedher (left) of El Jaish SC Qatar and Aleksandr of Iranian club Manyazium Ferdows tussle for ball possession during the 17th Asian Club League Championship at the Ali Bin December 6, while the final will Hamad Al Attiyah Sports Hall Al Sadd yesterday. El Jaish won 38-27. RIGHT: Al Gharafa’s Abdelhak Hamed tries to score during a match against Al Salt Club of Jordan. Al Gharafa won 34-22. be held on December 8. PICTURES BY: SALIM MATRAMKOT For the third consecutive year, Doha is hosting the Asian Clubs League, a qualification event for Luis Jorge Pavan, proved to be a “We knew that they would be Boisedu said. The Frenchman goals, respectively. Thereafter, goals. Nayif Hassan and Jassim Al the IHF Super Globe 2015. savior for the winning team. strong opponents sporting sev- praised the newly-built Ali Bin Al Gharafa netted a go-ahead Maqbi had 4 and 3, respectively. In 2012 and 2013, two Qatar The Cuban scored with one eral Iranian national team play- Hamad Al Attiya Arena which goal by Fahad al-Bishi. The local Meanwhile, El Jaish defeated based teams Al Rayyan and El minute and 32 seconds from time ers plus two helping players with was inaugurated on Saturday. side then kept charging ahead as Manyazium Ferdows Club to edge Jaish won the Asian Club League to increase the victory chances European merits. So it was very “This hall is amazing, not only the scoring was shared mainly by close to a semi-final spot. The crown. of Lekhwiya later on Youssef important to show what we are for the spectators but also for the top-scorer Ahmed Abdelhak (8), match was played in a frantic The record winner of the com- Almalem brought off a brilliant capable of doing. In our attack professional players. Everything Bishi (7) and Saied (6). The trio pace, especially in the first half petition also comes from Doha as save, his 16th save of the match play we work together quite has been thought of – it is a also pushed Gharafa from 10-9 to when the Qatari team showed Al Sadd has won the event five to put the issue beyond doubt and nicely but I believe that we still pleasure. It is a feeling compara- 18-14 before the interval in just great efficiency in scoring, which times in between 2000 to 2005. quell the late comeback of the can improve. So we will use the ble to a driver who gets to drive a seven minutes. helped them built a five-goal lead Overall, Qatari teams have won Iranian club. rest day wisely and talk about Formula One car.” After that, Al Gharafa were in (19-14). In the last match of the 13 medals in the tournament: For Lekhwiya yesterday’s win some areas and find solutions. El Gharafa, who finished run- just cruise mode and wrapped up day Kuwait Club defeated Al seven gold, three silver and three was the second win of the group Also we can find some rest, the ners-up to El Jaish in the Qatar the easy victory, with Mohammed Khalij Club of Saudi Arabia 23:22. bronze. stage. preparation period for this tour- League, came back from 2-5 down Al Maidama and Gulzani Chadli Today Al Gharafa Club will Yesterday the match between Lekhwiya’s middle back Johan nament has been long. But after to equalise at six through Hany striking four of the last five goals. take on Al Qurain Sporting Club Lekhwiya and Samenalhojaj went Boisedu said the team ihas hit two victories I can say that we are Elfakharany and Sobhi Saied, Mohammad Sayd Mustafa Kuwait at 1.00pm. to the wire. peak form in the tournament. content so far, we are on track,” who slammed three and two was Al Salt’s best striker with 5 THE PENINSULA

Qatar Basketball League: Al Gharafa win against Al Wakra Top seed Giri extends perfect record in Qatar

Grandmaster Anish Giri of Holland, who is also the top seed of the Qatar Masters Open 2014, in action at Hotel Crowne Plaza in Doha yesterday. At the end of the fifth round, Giri is leading with a perfect record having won all his matches. Yesterday, Giri defeated Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan. Today, Giri will take on Nils Grandelius of Sweden, who has 4.5 points, in the sixth round. The tournament is being conducted according to the Swiss System of nine rounds and if necessary a play-off. The event will end on December 4. Some of the high profile players are tak- ing part in the event including 92 grandmasters, of the 154 players taking part. The total prize money is $110,000. The first place winner will get $25,000. First place for ladies is $5,000. Al Wakra’s Saaka Adamu is challenged by Al Gharafa player during the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) League match at Al PICTURE BY: MARIA EMELIANOVA Gharafa Stadium in Doha yesterday. Al Gharafa won 92-86. RIGHT: Al Arabi’s Pigram Courtney leaps high to score against Al Shamal at Al Gharafa Stadium. Al Arabi won 81-73. PICTURES BY: BAHER AMIN MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 Al Sadd rally to beat Al Gharafa Leaders overcome double deficit in 3-2 win; Lekhwiya hammer Al Shahaniya 5-0

DOHA: Leaders Al Sadd over- came a double deficit to edge out Al Gharafa 3-2 and retained their three-point lead at the Qatar Stars League (QSL) fol- lowing a thrilling match at the Al Gharafa Stadium. In what was a marathon day of the event that saw flurry of goals from the five matches yesterday, defending champions Lekhwiya registered the biggest win, thrash- ing Al Shahaniya 5-0 to continue Al Sadd’s close pursuit in the race to top QSL standings. Al Ahli, El Jaish and Umm Salal also earned full points with victories over their respective counterparts. Meanwhile, Al Sadd were stunned by Al Gharafa when they took a double lead, follow- ing a brace by Brazilian Anderson Luis Carvalho who scored in 23rd and 56th minute to take the title- favourites under pressure. But the Hussain Amute’s side rejuvenated well and scored three consecutive goals within a span of 24 minutes to secure winning points and retain their top posi- tion on the table with 29 points, three points clear of second- placed Lekhwiya. Abdelkerem Hassan led the fightback with a goal in 56th minute while Hasan Khalid Haydos netted the leveler in 78th minute. Five minutes later, captain Talal Ali Albloushi scored the decisive goal in hard-fought win for his side. Lekhwiya’s Vadimir Weiss (left) successfully tackles Al Shahaniya’s captain Meanwhile, Michael Laudrup’s QSL Results Pascua Ulises during their QSL match at the Al Gharafa Stadium in Doha, Lekhwiya ripped apart Al Al Sadd bt Al Gharafa 3-2; Lekhwiya bt Al yesterday. RIGHT: Al Ahli’s player (top) in action against Al Arabi’s during Shahaniya’s fences to register a Shahaniya 5-0; El Jaish bt Shamal 2-1; Umm their QSL match, yesterday. PICTURES BY: KAMMUTTY VP big victory. Salal bt Al Sailiya 1-0; Al Ahli bt Al Arabi 4-2. Khalid Mufta was the star or the side, scoring a goal each in through, Youssef Msakani. The Sebastian Quintana (42) were stoppage time and sealing a 5-0 defeated Al Shamal 2-1 in other Said Boutahar scored the con- both halves. defending champions never the other scorers in the first half. rout. Meanwhile, Al Ahli showed match at the Al Shamal Stadium. solation goal in the 90th minute. Al Shahaniya managed to hold looked back and score goal after Vadimir Weis (49) scored the no signs of rustiness after a long Mohammed Muntari (6) and Elsewhere, Umm Salal sailed past back Lekhwiya’s strikers until goal to demolish the opposition. fourth of Lekhwiya’s goal with break, overcoming Al Arabi 4-2 Mohamed Abdulla (77) were scor- Al Sailiya 1-0, with Tamir Gamal their first in the 21st minute Mufta (37) and Andres Muftah completing his brace in at the Al Arabi Stadium. El Jaish ers for the winning side while the scorer. THE PENINSULA

Scoreboard Kiwis trounce Pakistan in Pakistan (I innings): ...... 351 Pakistan (II innings): New Zealand (I innings): M Hafeez c&b Craig ...... 24 T Latham c S Ahmed b R Ali ...... 13 S Masood c Southee b Boult ...... 4 B McCullum b Shah ...... 202 Az Ali b Boult ...... 6 K Williamson c Y Khan b R Ali ...... 192 Y Khan lbw Boult ...... 0 Sharjah to level Test series R Taylor c Y Khan b Shah ...... 50 Misbah-ul-Haq c Watling b Craig ...... 12 C Anderson c Shah b R Ali ...... 50 A Shafiq c Craig b Boult ...... 137 D Vettori lbw R Ali ...... 15 S Ahmed c Taylor b Sodhi ...... 37 SHARJAH: Emotional New B Watling lbw Hafeez ...... 8 Y Shah lbw Sodhi ...... 10 Zealand completed an innings Younis recalled M Craig c&b Hafeez...... 65 M Talha lbw Vettori ...... 19 and 80 run win over Pakistan T Southee c Talha b Shah...... 50 R Ali c B McCullum b Craig ...... 6 in the third and final Test in in ODI squad, I Sodhi c Y Khan b Shah ...... 22 Z Babar (not out) ...... 0 Sharjah yesterday, to level the T Boult (not out) ...... 0 Extras (LB-2, NB-1, W-1) ...... 4 three-match series 1-1. Extras (B-2, LB-7, NB-6, W-8) ...... 23 Total (all out) ...... 259 Seamer Trent Boult took 4-38 Gul returns Total (all out) ...... 690 Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-20, 3-24, 4-36, 5-63, and Mark Craig 3-109 which Fall of wickets: 1-51, 2-348, 3-464, 4-488, 6-136, 7-146, 8-180, 9-258, 10-259. overshadowed Asad Shafiq’s SHARJAH: Paceman Umar 5-528, 6-537, 7-546, 8-637, 9-682, 10-690. Bowling: T Boult 15-6-38-4; T Southee 11-3- career best 137 as Pakistan were Gul and batsman Younis Khan Bowling: M Talha 22-2-136-0(nb-6 w-1); R Ali 20-0(w-1); M Craig 20.3-2-109-3; D Vettori dismissed for 259 in their sec- returned to Pakistan’s squads 29-2-99-4(w-2); Z Babar 23-1-135-0; Y Shah 5-2-8-1(nb-1); I Sodhi 12-0-82-2. ond innings in the fading light at for next month’s Twenty20 and 44.1-4-193-4; M Hafeez 23-2-110-2(w-1); Az Result: New Zealand won by an innings and 80 Sharjah Stadium. ODI series against New Zealand Ali 2-0-8-0. runs. The win was more praisewor- in United Arab Emirates, offi- thy in a week when New Zealand cials said yesterday. were left grieved by Australian The 30-year-old Gul had his batsman Phillip Hughes’s tragic career derailed by a knee opera- ICC ‘unlikely’ to take death on Thursday, the day when tion last year and in his return both teams abandoned second early this year he failed to day’s play. impresss. Boult ended Shafiq’s fighting Pakistan’s chief selector Moin action on bouncers 183-minute knock of 18 fours and Khan said Gul and Wahab Riaz’s six sixes – his fifth Test century New Zealand bowler Trent Boult makes a successful appeal for a leg return will bolster the squad for LONDON: A clampdown down struck on the heart before. I don’t – with a short delivery. before wicket decision against Pakistani batsman Younis Khan during the two Twenty20 matches in on bouncers is unlikely despite think cricket needs to over-react, Craig wrapped up the innings the fourth day of their third and final Test match in Sharjah, yesterday. Dubai on December 4 and 5. the death of Australian Phillip but do what we can.” by dismissing Rahat Ali for six to The Twenty20 will be followed Hughes this week, International Current regulations permit two end with match figures of 10-203. by five ODIs. Also returning to Cricket Council (ICC) chief bouncers per over in Test matches He took 7-94 in the first couldn’t save the Pakistan skipper. New Zealand had added a fur- the one-day team is 37-year-old executive David Richardson and ODIs and one per over in innings. Earlier, Boult had shaken ther 53 earlier in the morning Younis who amassed 468 runs in said yesterday. Twenty20 cricket. Boult struck thrice in the space Pakistan at the start of the after resuming on 637-8, with the 2-0 win over Australia last The cricket world was in shock Hughes was wearing a helmet of 18 balls to leave Pakistan strug- innings, dismissing Shan Masood Craig (65) becoming the sixth month. this week after Hughes died on when he was struck, but the ball gling at 24-3 before Craig and (four) in his second over, bowled batsmen to reach a half-century – That came on the back of Thursday, two days after being delivered by Sean Abbott hit him Sodhi (2-82) chipped in. Azhar Ali (six) in his fourth and a record number of 50-plus scores his controversial axing from struck on the neck by a short- on back of the neck, just under- Pakistan won the first Test in trapped Younis Khan for a first in one innings by Kiwis. the three-match one-day series pitched ball in a domestic fixture. neath the headguard. Abu Dhabi by 248 runs while the ball duck in his fifth in a destruc- New Zealand’s innings included against Australia in which “We need to try and keep our Former Australia wicketkeeper second ended in a draw in Dubai. tive spell. a world record 22 sixes, beating Pakistan were white-washed last perspective,” Richardson, speak- Adam Gilchrist said that bounc- Pakistan’s batting failure was Boult’s devastating spell came the 17 struck by Australia against month. ing to BBC Radio, said when asked ers were all part of the game but miserable on a pitch where New after New Zealand extended their Zimbabwe at Perth in 2003. Opener Ahmed Shehzad if the ICC would move to further that modifications could be made Zealand plundered 690. first innings to 690 in the morn- In all 35 sixes were hit in the returns after suffering a head restrict the use of the bouncer. to helmets. Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed ing – their highest-ever total in match, beating the 27 shared by injury in the first Test against “It’s a bit early to determine, “I guess we could extend the (37) tried to take the attack to all Test cricket. Pakistan and India in Faisalabad New Zealand. AFP but my initial reaction is that helmet a little bit further down the New Zealand bowlers with a That gave New Zealand a huge in 2006. that’s unlikely. the back of the neck,” said the 73-run stand for the sixth wicket 339-run lead over Pakistan’s Pakistan’s much vaunted “People have died by being former Aussie player. REUTERS before Sodhi removed Ahmed and first innings total of 351 and they bowling attack suffered badly, Pakistan Squads Yasir Shah (ten) in the same over pressed home their advantage with paceman Rahat Ali taking T20: Shahid Afridi (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, A giant screen before tea. quickly with Boult’s strikes. 4-99 and leg-spinner Yasir Shah Anwar Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, shows an image of Shafiq hit Craig for a six and Masood drove uppishly to be conceding 193 runs for his four Mohammad Irfan, Owais Zia, Raza Hasan, Australian cricketer four to reach his hundred off 123 caught in the slips while Ali mis- wickets. Saad Nasim, Sarfraz Ahmed, Sohail Tanvir, Phillip Hughes balls to delay the defeat after judged a sharp incoming delivery New Zealand’s previous highest Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz prior to Autumn Pakistan lost Mohammad Hafeez which hit the off stump as he Test total of 680-8 came against International rugby (24) and Misbah-ul Haq (12) in tried to leave the ball. India in Wellington in February ODI: Misbah-ul Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Bilawal union Test match the post lunch session. Boult again used the angle well this year. Both teams now play between England Hafeez gave a return catch to from round the wicket to trap two Twenty20 internationals in Bhatti, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Irfan, Nasir and Australia Craig while Misbah was adjudged the in-form Younis leg-before. Dubai on December 4 and 5 which Jamshed, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Sohail in London on caught behind off the glove on the A review could not save the will be followed by five one-day Tanvir, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, same bowler and even a referral batsman. matches. AFP Younis Khan, Zulfiqar Babar. Saturday. Monday 1 December 2014 9 Safar 1436 Volume 19 Number 6266 Sport Price: QR2

FIA General QSL: Al Sadd Assembly kicks rally to beat off today Al Gharafa

Sport | 25 Sport | 27

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The best Asia had to offer in 2014

FROM LEFT: Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Player of the Year, Nassir Al Shamrani of Saudi Arabia, holds up his trophy during the AFC Awards 2014 in Manila yesterday. AFC Women’s Player of the Year, Katrina Lee Gory of Australia, holds up her trophy yesterday. AFC Women’s Coach of the Year, Asako Takemoto of Japan, smiles after receiving her trophy yesterday. AFC Men’s Coach of the Year, Tony Popovic of Australia, looks on after receiving his trophy yesterday. Asia will benefit from Q22: Al Thawadi Qatar’s victory at Gulf Cup is proof of positive impact of World Cup, says top official

MANILA: The head of the also attended by FIFA President time must not be overlooked, but those building much of the World Qatar 2022 World Cup com- Sepp Blatter, that the success of we recognise that this event is Cup infrastructure. ‘2022 will be mittee yesterday said that the the Qatari national team in win- also a showcase for Asian football Al Thawadi said a report gulf nation was already feel- ning the Gulf Cup of Nations last on the international stage. would be published next week on ing the benefits of staging the week was evidence of the positive “Our responsibility is to ensure the implementation of “rigorous a success for tournament. impact of the World Cup. that the potential of 2022 is fully standards for the welfare of all” Hassan Al Thawadi also assured “The inspiration that 2022 realised and leaves a positive leg- workers. Asian Football Confederation provides is evident already with acy for the region and the Asian “These reports will serve as Middle East members they too would also feel the achievements this year of continent as a whole.” a basis for ensuring that our the positive effects of a first World our national teams at the AFC The awarding of the tourna- commitments to the welfare of Cup in the Middle East. Under-19 Championships and the ment has been shrouded in nega- those working on our projects and Asia’ He said five stadiums were Gulf Cup,” he said. tivity, with the bidding process for are upheld, maintained and sian Football under construction and prepa- “We hope and believe that the 2018 and 2022 tournaments improved,” he said. Confederation (AFC) rations were at an advanced these are the first steps toward criticised amid accusations of cor- “The health, safety, security APlayer of the Year, stage for the event, but offered attaining the vision that 2022 can ruption by individuals on FIFA’s and dignity of every individual Nassir Al Shamrani of Saudi no insight into when the tourna- inspire in West Asia, in a simi- executive committee, who opted that contributes to building our Arabia, spoke about the signifi- ment will be staged, simply say- lar manner that 2002 (in South for Russia and Qatar. event is of the utmost impor- Hassan Al Thawadi, head of the cance of the 2022 FIFA World ing they continued to prepare for Korea and Japan) inspired and Both nations deny any tance to us and we will continue Qatar 2022 World Cup committee, Cup Qatar on the sidelines of June and July. invigorated football in East Asia. wrongdoing. to strive every day to ensure that speaks during the AFC Awards the AFC Awards 2014 in Makati He told AFC members at “The significance of the event Qatar has also come under these principles are upheld.” 2014 in Manila yesterday. City, Manila’s financial district, their awards night in Manila, coming to our region for the first fire for the working conditions of REUTERS yesterday. Excerpts: Q: The FIFA World Cup has been held in almost every region QFA claims AFC’s Dream Asia Award in Manila in the world except the Middle East. What will the tournament MANILA: The Asian Football Khalid Al Kuwari, COO of mean for the region? Confederation (AFC) yester- QFA, said: “I congratulate the A: The reason that Qatar is day named the Qatar Football QFA leadership on this award.” hosting the FIFA World Cup Association as winners of the “This award is the result of is to show the world that our Dream Asia Award. hard work we have put in over region and its inhabitants are According to the AFC, the the years. We are thrilled at this peaceful. And of course the prize is given to a body which achievement and at the same World Cup will attract the “uses football as a tool for social time, we pledge to work harder attention of the world, the change, enlightening the impor- in the coming years,” he said. entire world, to this region. This tance of social responsibility and When asked about the prepa- region, which is usually known promoting the culture of giving”. rations for the 2022 FIFA World for its problems, instead will QFA President Sheikh Hamad Cup in Qatar, Al Kuwari said: “We see a special and unique World bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani sport, and in particular football,” have plenty of goals to achieve and Cup. We will convey the mes- said the award was the result of he said. we will continue to deliver on our sage, that our region is a region hard work put in by the game’s “I want to thank the QFA fam- promises.” of peace and one passionate for ruling body in Qatar. ily for their efforts to raise the QFA Vice-president Saoud Al football. Hopefully, Qatar will “This award shows that football profile of the sport in Qatar and Mohannadi, who received the host a successful World Cup not is moving in the right direction elsewhere in the region,” the QFA award in Manila yesterday, said: only for the Middle East but for in Qatar,” Sheikh Hamad said president said. “This is an honour as we have all of Asia. yesterday. “We want to develop The QFA chief thanked spon- worked very hard. We are work- Q: After winning the Gulf Cup, football in Qatar and the region sors and supporters “for their ing very hard with the community Qatar is now ranked 88th in in the best way possible. We will backing over the years”. to get football to them. the world and 10th in Asia. keep working hard.” Last week, Qatar won the 22nd “We are going all the way to the Also, Qatar’s under-19 team “Qatar’s leadership is the rea- Gulf Cup with an astonishing win kids and the elderly to get them has won the AFC Championship son for all our sporting glory. over hosts Saudi Arabia in the involved in football.” in Myanmar last month. Does We get every support to develop final in Riyadh. THE PENINSULA this mean Qatar’s investment in sport is paying off? A: Surely, these results prove Al Shamrani gets eight-match ban Qatar’s hard work. Winning the Gulf Cup for the first time outside Qatar was special…This MANILA: AFC Player of the League, meaning he will be free The AFC said the Saudi proves that Qatari football is Year Nasser Al Shamrani has to represent his country at the Arabian Football Association had a force to be reckoned with. been banned for eight matches Asian Cup in January and his not been informed of the decision, And even the under-19 side at for spitting and head butting an club Al Hilal in domestic refusing to confirm or deny the the AFC Championship played opponent after the final of the competition. report. tough matches against strong AFC Champions League earlier Yemen’s Hamid Al Shaibani, AFC statutes say six matches opponents...Hopefully, we this month. deputy chairman of the Asian is the minimum punishment for a will see Qatar playing good FIFA Vice-president Prince Ali bin Al Hussein (left) of Jordan presents the The Saudi striker’s ban, the Football Confederation’s discipli- player found guilty of spitting at football at the 2015 Asian Cup Dream Asia Award to QFA Vice-president Saoud Al Mohannadi during least he could have received after nary committee, revealed the ban an opponent, with two matches in Australia. the AFC Awards 2014 in Manila yesterday. being found guilty, is only for to the waslnews media portal after the least a player can expect for THE PENINSULA matches in the AFC Champions a meeting in Manila. assaulting. REUTERS