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Thursday 8 January 2015 • 17 Rabial I 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6304 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780

Doha International Book Fair opens Palestinians Flying Qatar join ICC despite US opposition

UNITED NATIONS: The Palestinians formally joined the Airways to International Criminal Court yesterday in a move that would allow them to lodge war crimes complaints against Israel as of April, the United Nations and get cheaper the ICC said. The decision drew fresh oppo- sition from the United States, Fuel surcharge to be reduced which argued that the state of Palestine should not be allowed BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB aircraft, which is scheduled to to join the ICC as it is not “a sov- begin commercial operations ereign state”. : Flying with Qatar from February 15 on the Doha- UN Secretary-General Ban Airways (QA) may become Frankfurt route. The press con- Ki-moon accepted the request relatively cheaper soon as the ference was held at the Premium from the state of Palestine to join national carrier yesterday Terminal of Doha International the ICC and said the court will announced plans to reduce Airport, which was attended by be able as of April 1 to investi- fuel surcharge keeping in view over 150 local and international gate serious crimes committed on the significant fall in crude oil journalists. THE PENINSULA the Palestinian territories. Sidiki prices in global market. Continued on page 5 Kaba, the president of the assem- This was announced by the bly of state-parties to the ICC, QA Group Chief Executive The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al welcomed Palestine as the 123rd Akbar Al Baker in response to Black box-like Mahmoud and the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari touring the signatory of the Rome Statute, a question at a press conference 25th Doha International Book Fair which opened at QNCC yesterday. Report on page 4 ABDUL BASIT which governs the ICC. AFP held for the global launch of the system on trial QA’s world’s first Airbus A350 XWB. “As far as reduction in fuel DOHA: As part of efforts to prices is concerned there will be improving safety of passengers, no reduction in ticket fare (base is looking for- fare), but there will be a reduc- ward to install a Black box-like tion in the fuel surcharge that we automatic electronic system Firm uncovers health insurance fraud charge on every passenger,” said that will help record the flight Al Baker. data on the ground without the DOHA: In a rare incident, a The fraud was unveiled during being taken in a car to a health medical tests for their patients. However, he did not announce interference of the pilot. company has reportedly zeroed investigations conducted by the service provider to complete their However, this is the first time a any figure and other details when “Qatar Airways (QA) is in on a secret network involv- company in collaboration with the transactions apparently for treat- secret network of this sort has the decision will be implemented. already making an experi- ing its staff misusing the health authorities concerned. ment and examinations that they reportedly been found misus- He further explained that ment (on a technology) with insurance system for their The company officials grew sus- have never undergone. The work- ing the health insurance scheme ticket prices will not come down a supplier, which will enable financial gains. picious of the foul play when they ers were also being given a share through fake medical tests and by the same percentage as the us to record flight data, from The network included repre- noticed an unusual increase in the of the dividends from the deal. surgeries. oil-price decline for the simple take-off to landing,” said QA sentative of a big company who monthly health insurance cost The company representative as The authorities concerned have reason because fuel costs account Group Chief Executive Akbar reportedly tied up with the agent of the labourers and other staff well as the workers in the net- taken action against the people for only a certain percentage of Al Baker. “We are working of a private health service pro- employed by the company. He also work were Asians, said the daily. involved in the fraud, said the the airline’s operating costs. closely with them to testing the vider and a group of expatriate discovered that a big number of The health service provider daily. According to industry stand- system whereby all the flight employees of the company. The workers had undergone expensive was found making huge profits The National Health Insurance ards, the fuel surcharge repre- data that are being recorded in modus operandi was to conduct surgeries and medical tests within by misusing the health insur- Company (NHIC) managing sents nearly one fifth of the total the Black-Box’s data recorder fake medical tests and surgeries a short period. ance system within the budget the National Health Insurance fare of a one-way ticket. is also received continuously on the company’s employees, Al The manager soon started a allocated for each employee, said Scheme (Seha) is currently pro- QA, being the global launch on the ground in our operation Sharq reports. secret investigation with the help the daily. viding insurance cover to the customer of the Airbus’ ultra centre during the flight.” All the three parties involved of the authorities concerned to There have been frequent com- citizens while the expatriates modern and fuel-efficient A350, THE PENINSULA in the fraud were found making find out the reasons. They found plaints about doctors and health are covered by private insurance has become the first carrier to Continued on page 5 financial gains out of the secret that at the end of every working facilities exploiting health insur- providers. receive the extra-wide-bodied deal, said the daily. day groups of employees were ance cover to conduct unnecessary THE PENINSULA

Dense fog causes traffic jams Paris terror attack kills 12 PARIS: Hooded gunmen A police union official said the Muhammad (PBUH). Jihadists stormed the Paris offices of assailants, three in total, remained online repeatedly warned that the a satirical magazine known at liberty and there were fears magazine would pay for its ridicule. for lampooning Islam and of further attacks. The official There was no claim of respon- other religions yesterday, kill- described the scene in the offices sibility. However a witness quoted ing at least 12 people in the as carnage, with a further four by 20 Minutes daily newspaper most deadly militant attack on wounded fighting for their lives. said one of the assailants cried out French soil in decades. Tens of thousands joined before getting into his car: “Tell Police staged a huge manhunt impromptu rallies across France the media that it is Al Qaeda in for the attackers who escaped in memory of the victims and Yemen!” Supporters of Islamic after shooting dead some of support for freedom of expres- State and other jihadist groups France’s top cartoonists at the sion. The government declared hailed the attack on Internet sites. Charlie Hebdo weekly, as well the highest state of alert, tight- Governments throughout as two police officers. One of the ening security at transport hubs, Europe have expressed fear that Vehicles use fog lights at a busy Industrial Area street early yesterday. People woke up to another day of misty assailants was captured on video religious sites, media offices and fighters returning from Iraq or morning as various parts of Qatar were engulfed by dense fog. Low visibility caused traffic jams creating outside the building shouting department stores as the search Syria could launch attacks in problem for students and office-goers, who reached their destinations late. ABDUL BASIT “Allahu Akbar!” (God is Greatest) for the assailants got under way. their home countries and may as shots rang out. Another walked Charlie Hebdo (Charlie Weekly) now review their own security. over to a police officer lying is well known for courting con- “Today the French Republic as wounded on the street and shot troversy with satirical attacks on a whole was the target,” President him point-blank with an assault political and religious leaders of all Francois Hollande said in a prime- rifle, before the two calmly climbed faiths and has published numer- time evening TV address, declar- into a black car and drove off. ous cartoons ridiculing the Prophet ing a national day of mourning Customers to sue car dealers today. An amateur video broad- cast by French television stations DOHA: Some car owners who replace the old car with new ones settle the issue amicably. shows two hooded men all in black were sold repaired cars as new or provide any other kind of com- The customers said some of the outside the building. are planning to sue dealers and pensation agreed upon by both car dealers have refused to replace Paris prosecutor Francois their parent companies even as parties. The Ministry, in a press their old cars with new ones and Molins said the assailants killed the dealers are trying to set- release, said it has forced the vio- even didn’t agree to return their a man at the entrance of the tle the issue through suitable lating companies to find solutions money. They said they have building to force entry. They compensation. for the customers through the received the full support of the then headed to the second floor The Ministry of Economy and forced closure of the showrooms. Consumer Protection Department, and opened fire on an editorial Commerce, last month, had closed The Ministry is keeping a close which took strict action against the meeting attended by eight jour- the showrooms of several popu- watch on the compensation process car companies and supported the nalists, a policeman tasked with lar brands of cars for trying to for the customers who are affected demands of the customers. protecting the magazine’s edi- cheat buyers by passing off some by the closure of these showrooms. The Consumer Protection torial director and a guest. The repaired vehicles as brand new. Affected customers said that they Department is expected to con- dead included co-founder Jean The Ministry said that compa- are planning to approach the court tinue and widen its campaign “Cabu” Cabut and editor-in-chief nies have begun to find satisfac- because of the financial loss caused which will force dealers to desist Firefighters carry a victim on a stretcher at the scene after a shooting at Stephane “Charb” Charbonnier. tory solutions for the customers. to them. According to the custom- from indulging in illegal and the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo yesterday. REUTERS They are working on several ers, taking the legal route was a unethical practices. See also page 11 options like return the money, good option if car dealers failed to THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME ICC launches environment campaign, contest Minister to flag off Environment March Past on February 26 DOHA: Abdulla Al Kuwari, and thanked the community for Director, Environment its initiative. Education and Awareness Girish Kumar, President, ICC, Department, and Eiman urged support from all Indians for Al Marzouqi, Civil and the campaign. He proposed a sim- Environment Engineer from ilar campaign and competition for Qatar, inaugurated a six-week Indian companies in Qatar and campaign and a competition said such programmes will be held for affiliated organisations every year. He said winners of the of Indian Cultural Centre campaign will be honoured with (ICC) for Global Environment the Ambassador’s Rolling Trophy. Challenges. He said ICC plans to invite Prof The grand finale will be hosted Rajasekharan Pillai, Executive with an ‘Environment March Vice-President, ex-officio Past’ along the Corniche to be Principal Secretary, Kerala State flagged off by the Minister of Council for Science, Technology Environment H E Ahmed Amer and Environment, former Mohamed Al Humaidi on Qatar chairman, University Grants National Environment Day on Commission, and former vice- February 26. chancellor, IGNOU, New Delhi, Sunil Thapliyal, Coordinating for the grand finale. Officer, ICC, and Second Secretary Seenu Pillai, Vice-President, at Indian embassy attended the ICC, gave a presentation on the launch, along with heads of affili- campaign and said ICC will try ated organisations, representa- to reach out to about 100,000 peo- tives from Indian schools, Indian ple, 30,000 students and corporate companies as well as Indian com- houses through the campaign. munity leaders and members. He said three programmes, Al Kuwari praised the Indian awareness and competition on community for their contribution environment challenges, Project to the development of Qatar and 5S (School Students Struggle pledged support of the ministry. for Sustainability and to Save Al Marzouqi, Ambassador to Environment) and Al Wakra Qatari-UK Graduates Forum, beach cleanup will be held. Officials and Indian community members at the launch. highlighted environmental issues THE PENINSULA Bloomsbury unveils first Young Adult Golden Guide in Middle East

DOHA: Bloomsbury classroom. The launch and a workshop comprehensive, including an amazing col- and teenagers with their literary choices to fit in, to supermom whose superpowers Publishing (BQFP), a member of were attended by librarians from pre- lection of books available in from as they start reading more complex and enable her to hide in her son’s pocket as Qatar Foundation (QF), has launched paratory and secondary Independent a diversity of publishers. thought-provoking materials. he goes to school to face his bullies. a new volume of its Golden Guide for schools across Qatar, who will be able to “The workshop helped guide me The Young Adult Golden Guide The guide is edited by Amira Abed Children’s Books and the first Young stock their library shelves with top qual- through many publishers that are show- includes over 200 titles from about 50 and features essays by leading Arab Adult Golden Guide in the Middle East. ity Arabic books in terms of content and casing their books at Doha International publishers, and listing novels, mysteries authors Abdul Aziz Al Seoud and Fatima Offering a handpicked selection of production. Book Fair.” and sci-fi, biographies, poetry, self-devel- Sharafeddine. the best young adult titles in the Arabic Sara Saeed Al Naimi, Librarian, Omar Filling a gap in the market, BQFP opment, art and the world around us. They will be handed out free at the market, the guides are a critical resource Al Qurra Independent School, said, “The is launching the first guide focused on Topics cover anything from Amal in book fair being held at Qatar National for librarians, parents and educators guides are essential for my students and young adult fiction for Arabic books, cov- Australia who decides to wear the hijab Convention Center until January 17. when choosing books for the home or their parents as they are varied and ering the age group 9-18 to help pre-teens in high school although she is desperate THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Ministerial group to monitor major projects Cabinet approves Premier’s draft decision

DOHA: The Prime Minister It approved the Premier’s draft The census also aims to iden- and Interior Minister H E decision on forming a ministerial tify changes in housing conditions, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser group for encouraging and part- buildings, and business estab- bin Khalifa Al Thani yester- nering with the private sector in lishments and their economic day chaired the weekly Cabinet economic development projects. activities. meeting at the Emiri Diwan. The session ratified the draft It aims to build modern statisti- The Deputy Prime Minister decision of the Central Municipal cal frameworks for sample family and Minister of State for Cabinet Council on issuing its regulations surveys related to the workforce, FROM LEFT: Didier Evrard, Executive Vice-President and Head of Programmes of Airbus, Akbar Al Baker, Group Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah and rules, covering provisions economic activities, health and Chief Executive, Qatar Airways, Eric Schulz, President, Civil Large Engines from Rolls-Royce, at the press conference bin Zaid Al Mahmoud said the relating to its divisions, includ- education among others. for QA global launch of A350 XWB at Doha International Airport yesterday. BAHER AMIN session approved a draft law ing its presidency, bureau, com- The Cabinet ratified a draft amending some provisions of mittees and general secretariat decision by the director-general of Decree Law No. 29 of 1966 on as well as its powers, meetings, Qatar News Agency on establish- regulating the ports, and referred requests and proposals on public ing divisions in its administrative it to the Advisory Council. issues under its jurisdiction. units and assigning tasks. QA won’t be privatised at least Under the amendment, goods The regulations also cover vot- The meeting ratified a draft and containers that remain in ing on issues on the agenda and memorandum of understand- stores and yards of the ports the council’s budget. They stipu- ing (MoU) on implementation of for two months from the date of late that statements of the council initiatives between the Supreme for next 10 years: Al Baker arrival without being withdrawn are secret and can’t be published Committee of and Legacy or for one month from the date without the permission of its and Qatar Tourism Authority. DOHA: Qatar Airways (QA), India. without the existence of QA of entry into the ports without chairman. It approved the hosting of the one of the fastest growing Expressing his interest in “The airline is making signifi- being exported will be auctioned The Cabinet approved a fourth meeting of the Qatar-Italy airlines in the world, earned investment plans and growth cant contribution to the country’s in accordance with regulations proposal by the Ministry of Joint Committee on January 28 “handsome profit” during the prospects in India, he said the GDP. established by a decision of the Development Planning and and 29. financial year 2013-14 and is country is a “sleeping super- “I think all this should convince Minister of Transport. Statistics on carrying out the gen- The Cabinet took measures to looking forward to investment power” but its potential is not Indian politicians so that they The Cabinet also approved a eral census of population, houses ratify a MoU on training diplo- opportunities overseas, includ- being fully utilised. keep the interest of the country draft Emiri decision annulling and establishments for 2015. mats between the Diplomatic ing in India, QA’s Group Chief “QA is very keen to invest in ahead of their political interests, the deputy ruler’s decision No. 5 The census aims to meas- Institute at Qatari Foreign Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said India. Opening up of the skies to and do not block (foreign) airlines of 1969 on organising auctions for ure demographic changes of Ministry and Saud Al Nasser Al yesterday. Indian and foreign carriers will coming to (invest) in India,” Al unclaimed goods. the population based on gender, Sabah Diplomatic Institute at “We made handsome profit increase more opportunities of Baker said. It endorsed the Premier’s draft age and families, identify highly Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry. during our previous financial business and tourism which will Asked about the airline’s pro- decisions on the formation of a populated areas based on nation- It ratified an agreement year (ended March 31, 2014). Our create additional jobs in several posed Al Maha Airways, a domes- ministerial group for coordina- ality, gender, age and other vari- between Qatar and Kuwait on current financial year will end in other sectors, including the avia- tic subsidiary in , tion and follow-up of projects ables, and learn how these areas providing facilities for the resi- about three months time (March tion industry. he said: “We are in the process of strategic importance and the are linked by location based on dency of diplomatic missions 31, 2015) so I would not be able to “But, unfortunately, politicians of obtaining licences required to formation of a ministerial group municipalities, regions and other and a protocol on amending the give results of QA for the current put their personal interests above start operations.” for regulating allocation and rec- geographic, functional or planning agreement. financial year,” he said in reply the nation,” he quipped. On the possibility of privatisa- lamation of new lands. classifications. QNA to a question at a press confer- However, he praised Prime tion of QA, he added: “In 2008, ence, held for the global launch Minister Narendra Modi. during global economic recession, of its newly inducted world’s first “I have absolute confidence in we were looking to privatise the Airbus A350 XWB. the government of PM Modi. He carrier, but now the company has However, Al Baker did not is a very forward looking individ- decided (at the board level) not to provide any figures related to the ual, who has big plans for India. go for privatisation at least for the Qatar slams attack on office of French daily company’s performance during “And I am sure that only in next 10 years.” the previous financial year. time people will realise the poten- He said the company is moving DOHA: Qatar expressed strong condemnation Ministry stressed that such acts against defenceless On QA’s expansion and invest- tial the aviation industry brings to ahead with its aggressive expan- and denunciation of Wednesday’s attack by gun- civilians contradict all moral principles and human ment plans, he said the carrier is a country,” he said, citing Qatar. sion plan, and will roll out new men on the premises of Charlie Hebdo newspaper values. committed to introducing more Al Baker said Qatar’s airport in destinations as it starts receiving in Paris, which killed and injured several people, The ministry extended condolences and sympathy fuel-efficient aircraft in its fleet, 2014 received a footfall of around more deliveries of aircraft from mostly journalists. to the French government and the families of the and working to increase capac- 30 million passengers, which Airbus and Boeing. In a statement issued yesterday, the Foreign victims, wishing them a speedy recovery. QNA ity to several countries, including would not have been possible THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Deputy PM opens 25th international book fair Over 12,000 Arabic and 2,500 foreign titles on display

DOHA: The Deputy Prime Thirty publishing houses are prominent artist and Guest of Minister and Minister of participating for the first time Honour Faraj Daham. State for Cabinet Affairs H E in the fair which features more Daham, who started his career Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid than 12,000 Arabic and over in art in 1972, is exhibiting paint- Al Mahmoud opened the 25th 2,500 foreign titles. ings he created in 2010. Doha International Book Fair Marking its silver jubilee, the He thanked the organisers of yesterday at Qatar National fair runs alongside the Doha the fair and the expo, saying the Convention Centre (QNCC). Cultural Festival, with events 10-day fair is a suitable venue for The Minister of Culture, Arts and activities, including an art the exhibition being held along and Heritage H E Dr Hamad bin exhibition, cultural and children with the fair for the first time. Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, senior offi- activities and a play entitled Saqr The US, South Korean and cials and heads of missions were Quraish. several other embassies are also present. The art exhibition features 45 taking part in the fair which also A record 432 publishing paintings by some leading Arab features seminars. houses from 29 countries and artists, from the collection of the One of the first-time exhibi- Visitors at the book fair at Qatar National Convention Centre. 72 authorised companies rep- ministry. tors is resenting publishers are taking “This exhibition is called (QNL) introducing its online part in the fair organised by the Panorama of Arab Artists which resources and providing infor- Qatar Digital Library and its storytelling activities are also the first time at QNCC and is Ministry of Culture, Arts and showcases pieces from the col- mation on its world-class data- resources and services. being held at the QNL stand. open to the public until January Heritage. lection of the ministry,” said bases and the recently launched Interactive children’s The book fair is being held for 17. THE PENINSULA Ooredoo marathon tomorrow

DOHA: Ooredoo yesterday the best and largest Ooredoo spreading the message of the announced that 3,250 par- Marathon to date, with a fully importance of a living healthy ticipants have registered for revamped route and exciting and active lifestyle to our com- Ooredoo Marathon 2015 — more activities for spectators and sup- munity and engage more people than double the number last porters. There are races for run- with sport,” said Ali Abdullah year. ners of all levels of ability, so we Al Khater, Executive Director, The marathon tomorrow begins hope that everyone gets the most Corporate Communications, at 6.40am from Katara and take out of this event,” said Fatima Hamad Medical Corporation full marathon runners along the Sultan Al Kuwari, Director, (HMC). Corniche to Museum of Islamic Community and Public Relations, The marathon is sponsored by Art Park in Doha and back again Ooredoo. Qatar Airways, HMC, Kulluna, twice, in a two-lap course. “I would like to thank all our Sports Corner, It will see participation of some sponsors, who have made contri- (ROTA), Katara and Baraem TV. Officials providing details of the marathon at a press conference yesterday. of the world’s top professional bution to ensure that the event Maryam Al Beshri, Director, marathon runners for the first reaches out to the whole commu- Events, Marketing and community.” Wael Al Maghraby, “Further to our commitment stand by the Corniche walkway time. nity,” she added. Fundraising, ROTA, said: “ROTA Retail Operations Manager, to encourage a better lifestyle at Museum of Islamic Art or at The professionals, including To ensure the safety of all run- is pleased to collaborate with Sports Corner, said: “Sports through sports, Sports Corner checkpoints lining the Corniche Ethiopia’s Ruit Aga Sora and ners and spectators, the Corniche partners committed to commu- Corner is committed to develop- is proud to sponsor of the and Katara. Kenya’s George Kipruto Sirma, as well as several areas of down- nity empowerment and social ing skills and potential of our cus- marathon.” People interested in watching will run alongside competitors as town Doha will be closed from inclusion, especially through edu- tomers by engaging them through Ooredoo has begun setting up the race can visit http://mara- they train for the marathon sea- 6.30am to noon. cation and sport. Such activities regular sports activities and water stalls and venues for visi- thon.ooredoo.qa/en# and click on son and aim to win part of a prize “We are pleased that Qatar’s add a deeper dimension to the events that will challenge them tors and competitors for the fun- the ‘map’ to see the full marathon purse worth QR1,000,000. major corporate entities like long-term relationships between to enhance their fitness skills and filled day. course. “We are excited to be hosting Ooredoo are committed to ROTA and our partners in the lead a better lifestyle. Spectators are requested to THE PENINSULA Qatar Career Fair to hold camp for Qatari preparatory students DOHA: Qatar Career Fair’s entertaining manner. added. The camp will give stu- (QCF) first Winter Career Abdulla Al Mansoori, Director, dents the opportunity to visit Camp for Qataris will be held QCF, said: “The launch of the leading organisations, allowing at Qatar National Convention first camp for Qatari preparatory them to gain first-hand insights Centre (QNCC) from January school students follows on from into what they can expect in the 24 to 29 between 9am and 2pm. QCF’s endeavours to prepare world of employment and plan It is open to Qatari prepara- career-oriented Qatari youth, their academic endeavours at an tory students — boys and girls and builds on the Summer Career early stage. — with separate classes for each Camp for high schools students All students who success- group. which started two years ago. fully complete the programme It aims to provide them with “The camp is part of the will be awarded participation practical skills and knowledge to new approach of QCF to target certificates. help choose the right academic younger age groups starting from To ensure participation, stu- path that better suits their and 13-years-old. dents are advised to register capabilities. “This is due to the importance online by January 20. To be eligi- During the one-week pro- of creating a strong career cul- ble, Qatari students have to be in gramme, students will take part ture at an early age. the preparatory stage of educa- in career-oriented workshops tai- “We encourage preparatory tion (7th to 9th grades) and not lored to instil in them the basics school students to benefit from above 15 years. of a strong career culture and the workshops and programmes, Registration fee for the camp help them discover their skills which will allow them to dis- is QR500 and participants will and talents. cover their talents and help them have to obtain a no objection let- The camp will provide students choose the appropriate academic ter from parents or guardians. with multiple skills in an easy and path for their desired career,” he THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Qatar Airways launches world’s first Airbus A350 XWB

Qatar Airways’ first Airbus A350 XWB at Doha International Airport.

Continued from page 1 delivery of the aircraft from introduce another level of service A vehicle parked at a slot allocated for people with special needs. BAHER AMIN Also in attendance at the meet- Airbus to QA at a ceremony with our expanded fleet. ing were Didier Evrard, Airbus held in December at the Airbus “The engineering design of the Executive Vice President Head Delivery Centre in Toulouse, A350 XWB is modern, techno- of Programmes and Eric Schulz, France. logically refined and spacious, Rolls-Royce President of Civil Al Baker said: “We are ready and we are proud to welcome yet Motorists told to keep off Large Engines, both of whom to commence operations with the another fine aeroplane into the previously attended the official A350 XWB and are delighted to Qatar Airways’ fleet.” Following the press conference, media were given the opportunity to take a tour the newly inducted parking slots for disabled aircraft. As global launch customer for the state-of-the-art airliner, QA will be the only airline to fly this Ministry warns of strict action against violators aircraft type for the foreseeable DOHA: The Ministry of vehicles parked at such slots. are mostly always occupied by future, and was a significant con- Interior has warned that strict Qatar has many parking spaces others for their convenience.” tributor to its cutting-edge design action will be taken against for people with special needs and However, another commentator in partnership with aircraft man- motorists parking their vehicles parking in a disabled bay without said, “I always found these spaces ufacturer, Airbus, and engine at slots reserved for people with permit attracts a fine of QR500. are empty and was impressed manufacturer, Rolls-Royce. special needs. For a disabled parking permit, that people respect that these The A350 XWB will comprise “More than a traffic violation, it is necessary to obtain a let- are purely for people with special a two-class configuration with 36 it shows how a person treats and ter from a hospital consultant. needs. This isn’t always the case Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 respects the rights of others, Upon submitting the letter at in other Middle East countries.” configuration, featuring 80-inch especially those who require spe- the Traffic Department, a per- But some motorists say at some fully flat beds and 17-inch HD cial consideration. mit could be obtained for people parking spaces the slots for people in-flight entertainment screens. “Remember that traffic police with special needs. The minis- with special needs are not clearly The Economy Class and (below) the Business Class. Economy Class will comprise of are taking strict action against try has requested the public to differentiated and lead to confu- 247 seats, each 18-inch wide in a those violating this rule and park- share opinions and suggestions sion. “I was a victim… The signage 3-3-3 configuration, with up to a ing their vehicles at parking slots about vehicles parked at slots for people with special needs was 32-inch pitch. reserved for people with special designated for people with spe- placed in between two parking Each individual seat will fea- needs,” the ministry said on its cial needs. slots, so I mistakenly parked in ture a 10.6-inch in-flight enter- Facebook page. One commentator said, “These one and was given a sticker for tainment screen, and more space The ministry also it is moni- slots (allocated for people with violation,” said one commentator. at shoulder level for passengers in toring the increasing number of special needs) at Hamad Hospital THE PENINSULA window seats, thanks to a vertical side wall panel design. Over 70 percent of the A350 XWB’s weight-efficient airframe is made from advanced materi- als combining composites (53 percent), titanium and advanced aluminium alloys. The aircraft’s innovative all- new carbon fibre reinforced plastic fuselage results in lower fuel burn as well as easier main- tenance. THE PENINSULA QA testing automatic tracking of planes

Continued from page 1 flight No. QZ8501 into the Java Sea the 162 passengers and crew mem- Al Baker said once this on its way from the Indonesian city bers died. cutting-edge technology of Surabaya to Singapore, in which all THE PENINSULA has been proven and all the bugs have been cleared, QA will install this system in its aircraft. “With the installation of this system, I hope, Qatar Airways will be the first airline in the world to introduce this in all its aircraft.” “As a member of the board of governors of IATA (International Air Transport Association) we are aggressively perus- ing matter related to automatic tracking of planes without the control of pilots. There is a task force in IATA to pressure regulators to push for the demand.” Citing IATA’s efforts to enhance safety measures, he said before the New Delhi accident, in which two aeroplanes had col- lided, airliners never had TCAS (traffic collision avoidance system). It was IATA that put on pressure on regula- tors to insist that airlines ensure all their aircraft are equipped with the TCAS. “After the Malaysian airline mishap, we are insisting that aircraft should have a system so that they can automati- cally be tracked from the time of take-off to land- ing,” he said. Of late, safety concerns in the aviation industry, including among passen- gers, have increased man- ifold especially after the recent crash of AirAsia’s THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Qatar Charity hosts festival for Somali orphans

DOHA: Qatar Charity (QC) sponsoring 75,000 throughout has held its fourth annual fes- the Muslim world, including tival for Somalia orphans. 9,000 in Somalia, making it the It was organised under the third country in terms of the patronage of the Qatari embassy. number of sponsored orphans. More than 1,500 orphans Some of the orphans high- attended, along with a QC del- lighted how they had suffered egation, prominent Somali fig- before QC’s intervention which ures, members of the diplomatic changed their lives. corps of Arab and Islamic coun- The festival also featured tries, and representatives from contests, songs and games. The international organisations. festival’s theme ‘Our orphans… The festival was held within Leaders of our future,’ was cho- the framework of the annual sen to encourage the orphans. plan of QC’s Somalia Office to The event aimed to give them provide comprehensive care for a break from their daily routine orphans. at home and test their men- Hassan bin Hamza, Acting tal abilities. QC has recently Qatari Ambassador in implemented many projects in Mogadishu, inaugurated the fes- Somalia, including those in the tival in the presence of Somali education and health sectors, parliament Speaker Professor the construction of mosques and Mohammed Sheikh Othman income-generating projects for Jawari, Jasim Abdullah Jassim, tens of thousands of Somalis. representing the QC CEO, and As part of the construction local and diplomatic dignitaries. projects in Puntland, QC reha- Jassim said QC has always bilitated two health centres at sought to help the needy, par- an estimated cost of QR292,000. Qatar Charity officials with the Somali delegation and orphans at the festival. ticularly orphans, currently THE PENINSULA New system to speed up SEC delegation visits Police College building licensing procedures DOHA: The Police College received an aca- DOHA: The Building Licensing more than 125 consultancy firms demic licensing and Complex at Doha Municipality will and the services sector, Qatar News accreditation team of implement key performance indi- Agency (QNA) reports. the Supreme Education cators system (KPIS) from January “Several points discussed in the Council. 15 to accelerate licensing proce- meeting will be implemented and The team was headed dures. The system will be manda- included in the plan to develop the by Dr Khalid Mohammed tory for all departments involved system for the issuance of build- Al Hurr, Director, Higher in the issuance of building licences, ing licences to keep pace with the Education Board, and was including consultancy firms. fast development Qatar is witness- received by the Director- Authorities will also launch kiosks ing,” said Mobarak Mahboob Al General of the college, (online machines) for applicants for Naimi, Supervisor General of the Brig. Dr Mohammed building licences to know the status Complex and a senior official at Doha Abdullah Al Muhana Al of their applications. Municipality. The system for build- Marri, Director, Technical An announcement in this regard ing licensing is being upgraded to Office of the Minister Police College officers with the academic licensing and accreditation team of the Supreme Education Council was made in a meeting held for con- simplify the procedures and provide of Interior, Brig. Badr during a meeting. sultancy firms. It was attended by quality services to citizens and expa- Ibrahim Al Ghanim, representatives from municipalities, triates. THE PENINSULA Director, Administrative other officials. taken on a tour of facilities, measures taken by the college. and Financial Affairs, Brig. Al Marri thanked the including classrooms, offices, Dr Al Hurr praised the facili- Maj. Dr Jabr Hamoud Al team for follow-up to run the col- computer labs, staff room and ties and preparations to meet all Crackdown on illegal vendors Nuaimi, Dean, Academic lege and developments witnessed sports buildings. They also met requirements of the licence and Affairs, Prof. Dr Husain by it so far. students and faculty members to start teaching. Mohammed Fathi and Dr Al Hurr and his team were and attended a presentation on THE PENINSULA Qapco honours Dhreima students

Officials from the General Monitoring Department at Doha Municipality and Al Fazaa Police caught four illegal vendors during a crackdown in the Industrial Area and destroyed their goods.

Qapco and Dhreima officials and students at the event.

DOHA: Qatar Petrochemical and rewarding talent to encour- school and awarded special prizes. from the alignment of Company (Qapco) sponsored age them to excel in studies. Dr Mohammed Yousef Al our strategy with Qatar a ceremony appreciating hard Thirty students were recog- Mulla, Vice-Chairman and CEO, National Vision 2030. working students of Dhreima, nised for their performance at Qapco, said, “We draw strength “Every day, our focus is on ensuring we par- ticipate in translating the vision into a reality. We believe that contributing to Qatari society and serving our country is part of our licence to operate. “It is our role to invest in the future of our country, by supporting the youth of our nation and offering them tools and means to reach their aspirations. “We are delighted to support Dhreima and its activities. Dhreima’s noble mission is essential as it strengthens social cohesion and integration,” Al Mulla added. Khaled Kamal, Director, Dhreima, said, “At Dhreima, education holds a central place. We encour- age our students to study scientific disciplines as we believe in benefits and pos- sibilities offered by a sci- ence-oriented curriculum for students. “Our aim is to support our students’ quest for learning and development and encourage them to pursue higher education in Qatar or abroad,” Kamal added. THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Snow blankets Middle East; two killed Snow blocks Bekaa Valley, home to 400,000 refugees • Flights cancelled in Turkey, Beirut airport shut briefly

BEIRUT: A storm buffeted the Middle East with blizzards, rain and strong winds yesterday, keeping people at home across the region and raising con- cerns for Syrian refugees facing freezing temperatures in flimsy shelters. Snowfall and gales in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley destroyed some ref- ugee tents. “There’s no firewood, no diesel,” said Ali Eshtawi, a refugee from Homs who spoke by phone from a camp near the Syrian border where he said snow had caused three tents to collapse, leaving 19 people with- out shelter. Snow blocked roads in the Valley, where more than 400,000 Syrian refugees are sheltering. A 35-year-old shepherd and an eight-year-old boy with him died in the storm in a mountainous area near to Syria, Lebanon’s National News Agency said. The storm is forecast to last several days, threatening further disruption in Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Jordan, Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which have all been affected. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent A general view of a Syrian refugee camp in the eastern Lebanese town of Arsal in the Bekaa Valley, near the border with Syria, as a heavy snow storm hit the region. RIGHT: A Palestinian Societies made an emergency pushes a car on a road covered with snow at Qalandia refugee camp near the West Bank city of Ramallah yesterday. appeal in support of displaced people in Iraq and the United prove fatal for the refugees. intermittently, while Beirut air- destinations. Budget airline some gas-fired power stations to is angry. I hope God is not angry Nations launched a winter cash Snow also fell on Jordan’s port was briefly closed on Tuesday Pegasus also cancelled some switch to fuel oil to generate elec- with us ... I am frightened for the assistance programme to provide main Zaatari refugee camp, night. Damascus was carpeted flights. Night-time temperatures tricity, an energy official said. fate of those without shelters, for 41,000 Syrian refugee children which houses over 70,000 Syrian with snow as were large areas of in Ankara were forecast to plunge Wind and rain struck the whose houses Israel destroyed,” in camps in Jordan. refugees. Turkey. to minus 17 degrees Centigrade. Gaza Strip, where infrastructure said Gaza City resident Abu The Norwegian Refugee Transport was widely dis- Turkish Airlines cancelled doz- Turkish natural gas consump- and thousands of homes were Ahmed, heading to buy fuel for Council said the assistance was rupted. Israeli police closed the ens of flights between Turkish cit- tion hit record levels as people destroyed in a 50-day war with a fire. Gaza has electricity for six insufficient and said this could main highways to Jerusalem ies and to several international tried to heat their homes, forcing Israel last summer. “Even nature hours a day. REUTERS

Amnesty urges Morocco lifts release of Khamenei airs doubts over US in N- talks movie ban with opposition head TEHRAN: Iran’s supreme came one day after Foreign passage silenced leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei New round in Geneva on Jan 18 Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, DUBAI: Rights watchdog yesterday gave vent to his dis- Iran’s top negotiator, was criti- RABAT: Morocco has lifted Amnesty International has trust of Washington as he BRUSSELS: Major world powers and Iran will hold fresh talks cised by hardline lawmakers over its ban on screening Hollywood urged authorities in Bahrain weighed the prospects of a on Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme in Geneva on January his handling of the talks, although biblical epic Exodus: Gods and to release a Shia opposition nuclear deal with world powers. 18 as they try to meet an end-June deadline for a deal, the he was later backed in a snap vote. Kings on the life of Prophet chief whose detention sparked The Islamic republic’s top dip- European Union announced yesterday. Zarif countered by saying the Moses but with part of the protests and widespread lomats have been negotiating with The EU-chaired talks, which are aimed at allaying western fears negotiations had changed Iran’s soundtrack silenced, its film condemnation. Washington for around two years Iran is seeking nuclear weapons, will be at the official level, picking image abroad, reversing the view watchdog announced. Amnesty called for the imme- — first in secret, and openly since up from a similar December round in Geneva. that Tehran was “threatening and Rabat last month banned diate and unconditional release autumn 2013 — to end a dispute They both follow a November round when political leaders failed dangerous for world security”. director Ridley Scott’s film on of Sheikh Ali Salman, the head over its controversial nuclear to strike an accord and decided to extend the negotiations. “Today the world is watching the grounds that it contained a of the influential Al Wefaq bloc programme. The P5+1 powers — Britain, China, France, Russia, the United Iran as a powerful and logical scene “representing God”, which who was arrested on December “The United States arrogantly States plus Germany — “will continue negotiations ... with a actor that cannot be set aside or is forbidden under Islam. 28 on charges including seeking says that if Iran makes conces- view to making further progress towards a long-term com- ignored,” Zarif said. The state-run Morocco Cinema regime change. sions in the nuclear case, they will prehensive solution on the nuclear issue,” the EU’s external Yesterday, however, Khamenei Centre said the film would now In a statement, the group said not at one stroke lift sanctions. affairs arm said. again raised the possibility of no hit theatres in the North African it considers Salman’s deten- With this reality, how can we The meeting will be chaired by EU Political Director Helga final deal, calling for self-reliance country after “several changes” to tion “a flagrant violation of his trust such an enemy?” Khamenei Schmid, it added. Iran has said it expects to have bilateral meet- to withstand crippling sanctions the original version. The filmmak- right to freedom of expression, asked in a speech in Tehran. ings with P5+1 officials on January 15 in Geneva, before moving into which have decimated Iran’s oil ers “accepted in an exceptional association and assembly” and “We are not against nego- the multilateral format. AFP exports, a crucial revenue earner. case... the removal of two audio urged the Bahraini authorities tiations... Let them talk all they “We must act so that even if passages that alluded to the per- “to release him immediately and want, but they must negotiate the enemy does not lift the sanc- sonification of God,” the centre unconditionally”. based on reality, not on imaginary seeking to develop an atomic Khamenei will have the last tions, there is no damage to the said. Mounia Layadi Benkirane, “If convicted, the organisation points,” he said. weapon and insists its nuclear word on Iran’s conditions for any progress and well-being of the the film’s distributor in Morocco would consider him a prisoner of Under an interim deal between programme is for peaceful energy final agreement, now facing a population,” he said, stressing said around five seconds of the conscience,” the London-based world powers and Tehran in force purposes only, received limited June 30 deadline. the need “to cut reliance on oil movie was being silenced. “It’s watchdog said. since January 2014, Iran agreed sanctions relief. Throughout the nuclear talks revenues”. “We must immunise a half-victory because we would Salman was remanded in cus- to limit its uranium enrichment, But two deadlines for a com- he has supported Iran’s diplomats ourselves against sanctions,” he have wished it was not censored tody on Monday for two more a process that makes fuel for prehensive accord with the P5+1 while simultaneously using public added. AFP at all,” she said. AFP weeks pending investigation. nuclear power but at high puri- group of nations — the United speeches to express doubt Prosecutors allege that ties can produce fissile material States, Britain, China, France, about what, if anything, Salman confessed to contact- for an atomic bomb. Russia plus Germany — have can be achieved. ing foreign regimes and political In return, Iran, which denies since been missed. His latest comments groups abroad, some of whom had “expressed readiness” to interfere in Bahrain’s affairs. Iran has been accused of interfering in Bahrain since its Sunni ruling fam- ily crushed month-long protests led by Al Wefaq in 2011 seeking an elected government in the Shiite- majority kingdom. Shia-dominated Iran has criticised Salman’s detention. The United States also expressed deep concern, warning the detention could inflame the per- sistent violence that has gripped the kingdom, which is home to its Fifth Fleet. At least 89 people have been killed in clashes with security forces since the protests were crushed. Hundreds have also been arrested and put on trial, human rights groups say. Several people were injured on Tuesday when demonstrators clashed with Bahraini secu- rity forces in the capital Manama during protests over the detention of the- opposition leader, eyewit- nesses said. AFP THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Editorial

A barbaric attack Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

HY does this keep happening? Who can stop them? Whose interests are they trying to serve? These questions keep coming back to us Wwhenever terrorists go on a killing spree. The world has reacted with shock and horror to the We cannot let the Paris barbaric attack on a French magazine yesterday which killed 12 people. The attack on the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo triggered a wave of solidarity, with rallies in defence of free speech in more than 30 French cities and in global capitals. murderers define Islam There is a number of factors which makes this attack BY ED HUSAIN diabolic and one with disastrous consequences. Eight of those failure to understand the west. They The extremism, terrorism and sectar- killed are journalists, making it the bloodiest single assault do not know the prophet for whom ian warfare is an overspill of this intra- on western journalism in living memory. The attacks were HE killing of journalists in they claim to kill. faith theological conflict. The vast the most deadly terrorist attack on French soil since the Paris on Wednesday was not Unable to observe Islam freely majority of the victims of terrorists Algerian war and will remain etched in French psyche for only an attack on France but in Makkah, the prophet migrated are Muslims because the intolerance of also an assault on Islam and to . There his first act was the zealot targets fellow Muslims first. years to come. It also comes at a time when the anti-Islamic T the very freedoms that allow 30 million to build a mosque, the most sacred In alone, more than 40,000 sentiment is at its worst in Europe. So the shooting adds to Muslims to prosper in the west. structure for a believer. An Arab man Muslims have lost their lives to terror- this tense environment, when an anti-immigrant party is Free speech is not a western con- entered the mosque and urinated in ism since 2001. The violence reaches dominating in France, with mosque burnings in Sweden and cept: it is a universal craving of the front of the prophet with no care for the west only occasionally. thousands marching in Germany decrying the ‘Islamization’ human soul. The gunmen ran away the sanctity of the mosque. How did When the attacks of 9/11 shook the of the west. shouting that they were “avenging the the prophet respond to this deepest United States, American Muslims ral- prophet Muhammad”. How dare they? of insults to Islam and himself? He lied around their government, mosques Qatar has condemned the barbaric attack, as has several We cannot let the murderers define cleaned the mosque, stopped Muslims flew the stars and stripes, and the other Arab countries. Muslims and Arabs are venting their Islam. from expelling the man and explained American president visited a mosque fury and expressing their condemnations on social media, and In sixth-century Makkah, it was the the inviolability of a place of worship. from which to say Islam and Muslims have expressed solidarity with the prophet Muhammad who fought for There are many such lessons of stood beside America. In Britain the relatives of the victims and the free speech to proclaim one God as the compassion, kindness and care in the government, media and Muslim citi- French society. At the same time, creator of life and life of the prophet that are airbrushed zens used the language of religion to The Muslim worthy of worship. by today’s fanatics. The bigotry of the delegitimise violence. and Arab there is a minority in this part The city’s pagans Salafi jihadis can only be challenged France has excellent relations with of the world who have failed to were his violent and eventually uprooted by educat- Muslim nations including Morocco, world must condemn it in unequivocal terms. persecutors. ing them on the prophet of Islam Algeria, Tunisia – and millions of They too have their excuses, Today Muslims described in the Qur’an “as a mercy French Muslims who could help mar- unite against though lame, that the magazine Today’s live freely in every to the worlds”. shal the language of religion to isolate European coun- Many in the world today would be and defeat Salafi extremists by coun- targeted has committed the sin of terrorists and fanatics are try because of the rightly asking “where is this mercy?” tering their arguments. satirizing Islam and its prophet. very freedoms For what we see is beheadings, wars This is a battle of messages and root out this Terrorism has no place in Islam, blind to the that the terror- and suicide bombings in the name of counter-messages – the jihadis call and what terrorists have done is ists struck at. religion. Sadly, we will continue to wit- for a caliphate, intolerance, death and evil once and attack Islam and Muslims, tarnish compassion Without the free- ness such evil unless we address the wanton destruction. We call for life, its teachings, and jeopardise the dom to blaspheme motivations of the Salafi jihadist kill- pluralism, openness and freedom of for all. and care in the and believe, ers. They kill in the name of religion; religion, conscience and security. lives of millions of Muslims all Muslims would we cannot respond by citing the vir- The sharia has higher aims that are over the world. prophet’s life. be seen as here- tues of Darwin, secularism and materi- fully in line with the modern world. In that sense, the ultimate tics and would be alism. The only language these radicals Radicals are in urgent need of re-edu- victims of yesterday’s attack will be Muslims, especially those Their ignorance unable to flourish understand is that of religion. It is by cation on Islam. We have the weight of in Europe and the US. The attack is sure to accelerate the must be as faith commu- mustering the best of religion that we 1,400 years of Muslim history behind growth of anti-Islamic sentiment in the West and feed far- nities in the west. defeat the worst of it. us, the vast majority of Muslim schol- The pogroms and The murders in Paris are not an ars and the bulk of the global Muslim right nationalist or right-leaning parties in every country. tackled head wars of religion in isolated incident but part of a global population. Muslims, both practising and non-practising, will be victims Europe’s history trend of young Muslims disenchanted The prominent French-speaking of hate and discrimination and will be expected to explain the on. bear testament with the modern world, finding con- Muslim theologian Shaikh Abdullah atrocities of a bunch of extremists among them, and mosques to European life solation in the theology and ideology bin Bayyah often says that if there and Islamic centres will be targeted, and leaders of liberal without freedom. of literalist sharia, killing, vengeance, is a house on fire, everybody works Islam and punishment, domination and impos- towards putting out the fire. You don’t and left parties in the West will be forced to adopt a hard Muslims are secure in the west ing their worldview as state law. Al ask why is this or that person carry- line on Islam and will be unable to defend their stances and because of freedom of speech, con- Qaeda, Isis, Somalia’s Al Shabaab and ing the bucket of water. The house of finally, the world will witness more hatred and rancour. science, press and religion. To attack others are only manifestations of this Islam is on fire. The water needs to Condemnation of the attack by Arab and Muslim those freedoms is to attack Islam’s mindset. be carried by everybody, regardless of countries is not enough. Leaders must persuade religious existence. The dangerous ignorance of There is a raging battle of ideas race or religion. scholars and ordinary clerics to speak loudly against the extremists is not limited to their within Islam across the world today. THE GUARDIAN terrorism and declare terrorists as apostates. The other side Quote of Be aware of the cause of Shanghai stampede the day PART from praying for the While it is necessary to raise peo- conducted to find out what exactly started to search for a way out. victims of the Shanghai New ple’s awareness of how they should act was the direct cause of the panic in the Apart from doing a better job in Year’s Eve stampede on in such a crowd, it is even more impor- crowd, and why emergency responses consoling the families of the victims, It (attack on a ATuesday, which is the seventh tant to look at how such crowds should should fail so sadly. It is necessary to the local government needs to clarify day, a traditional day to mourn the be managed, what arrangements be interview as many people as possible in detail what it has to do in future to French magazine) dead in China, thinking about how made and how they be applied to who were there to find out exactly what avoid any repetition of the tragedy. such a tragedy can be prevented in special occasions for easy and safe happened. The mayor’s vowed moves to adopt was a horrendous, the future is a must. evacuation of big crowds. Moreover, it is worth digging out contingent preparations for flow of big unjustifiable and cold- It has been suggested that the These findings should be included whether the local government leaders, crowds and major occasions are a uncivilized behavior of some people in in “lessons to be learned from the trag- those directly in charge in particular, late but necessary beginning of what blooded crime. It was the crowd was primarily responsible for edy”, as were echoed by Shanghai were aware they had the responsibility the municipal government should do also a direct assault the tragedy. However, such accusa- Mayor Yang Xiong during his reflection of ensuring that the assembly was well for people’s safety. To ensure they are tions do not hold much water as such on the gravity of the tragedy with local organized. There was not even enough applied properly and punish the irre- on a cornerstone of stampedes have happened in many lawmakers on Tuesday. monitoring of the swelling number of sponsible is the next. The authorities democracy, on the countries and they have little to do with A thorough investigation into people on the Bund that evening. It in other cities need to be aware of this the overall nature of the crowd. the Shanghai tragedy needs to be was too late when people in the crowd as well. China Daily media and on freedom Ban Ki-Moon of expression. UN Secretary-General THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 QATAR PERSPECTIVE www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Where does IS derive its power from?

the above mentioned reasons and PROF ALI AL HAIL more. I personally do not rule out that it would stop. The excessive force, especially hy the Islamic supposed to be the icons of from the US, French, British and State of Iraq and democracy, is one of the key rea- Australian air strikes with their Syria (ISIS), also sons for solidarity with IS and to technologically advanced air- Wcalled IS, is to be get financial and non-financial craft, turned out to be an utter blamed if it is a natural result support including fighters. failure in defeating ISIS, and this of the accumulated frustration Foiling the Arab revolution, made many Arabs, Muslims and and disappointment of Arabs, with hopes associated with by frustrated Liberals look at ISIS Muslims and the free people the Arab people, in the hand of with admiration, especially after throughout the world. totalitarian regimes in the Arab the intervention of Iran in the Address the root cause of this world, is another factor for the war to bomb ISIS. dilemma, crisis, problem, misun- frustration, disappointment and This was looked at as an alli- derstanding or whatever we call bitterness. ance between Iran and some of it and by eliminating the causes The third factor is the full the Arab and Western states as of frustration and disappoint- support being given to Israel if they are fighting against Islam, ment of the Arab population, by authoritarian Arab regimes at least from ISIS point of view, then, we will not have IS or even and democratic Western powers, on one side and sectarian war on similar organisations. presumably or metaphorically, to ISIS from the other side. Autocratic regimes in the Arab take whatever action it wants What can easily be noticed world, backed by superpowers against the people of Palestine. that the frustration among Israel is in a constant dis- many Arabs, Muslims and their mantling the West Bank supporters in other parts of the and Jerusalem, assassinating world is widening, and this in Palestinian leaders who were at turn is increasing sympathy to its service, and detaining citizens the ISIS. It is this contradic- under the pretext of terrorism. tory relationship that fuels ISIS The CIA was While Gaza, despite promises and maintains its continuity and and covenants, remains under sustainability. behind crimes siege through the boycott of The result of all this is the against humanity Arabs and non-Arabs who keep will represent the fifth reason. finally found innocent. to make the American people advance of ISIS amid the con- silent over Israel’s oppression Another reason is the lat- This report dropped the last wonder: “What’s new? And why flict with a coalition made of by committing and wish to even suppress the est report published by the US leaf that covered the super- now? This obviously had nothing 40 countries led by US that different forms of thought of Palestinians to object. Congress about the disgraceful power’s privy, which is a sixth to do with human feelings that lost one warplane with a heat- On the other side of the world, action of the CIA, covering over reason that poured more fuel suddenly arose in the hearts of seeking rocket and its pilot has persecution, torture, the Super Power contradicted fourteen years of torture since over fire, raging in the hearts of Republicans who are now in con- been captured, according to ISIS. humiliating prisoners itself and committed crimes in the 9/11 incident. Where the many Arabs and Muslims around trol of the majority of the House The same source reported that and infringing on the Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib and CIA committed crimes against the world that made them even and the Senate, which make up this was preceded by the tacti- Tora Bora, which caused the humanity by practising differ- believe more in the credibility of the most influential US decision cal heavy weapons withdrawal rights and freedoms Statue of Liberty to be ashamed ent forms of persecution, tor- ISIS. maker, the US Congress. of ISIS from Mount Sinjar city of individuals. if we added to that the massa- ture, humiliating prisoners and The deceitful practice of US ISIS today is a psychological due to the density of air strikes cres committed by this super infringing on the rights and policy of “the end justifies the situation or a global mood and and ground confrontation with power in Afghanistan and Iraq freedoms of individuals who were means” politicised the report phenomenon that reflects all of Peshmerga troops. Is government bankrupt? SA’AD AL HUDAIFI comes to fulfilling their rights DR MUHAMMAD ALI AL KUBAISI that are guaranteed by law. Divorce in Qatar... a Therefore, some make excuses as in the case of the University, henever I hear about while others commit fraud with billions of riyals in retirement funds by providing Wsurplus public budget it to someone unknown and no cancer in every home every year, I start rejoicing and one knows where the money goes. asking the authority concerned (like what the University did). ecently, divorce has become widespread examples spread in every neighbourhood and to pay me and other colleagues We know that There was a case back in 2011 in Arab societies and it became as if it is even in every home; a man and his wife lived our dues related to end of serv- where Qatari funds were stolen Rnormal or easily justifiable. The strange together for a lifetime as they shared their sweet ice and retirement. The rights we are obliged by forging them as an initial sub- phenomenon is that divorce cases are increasing and bitter times, had many children and raised for end of service and retirement scription to pension plans (please from year to year. This could be happening due a good family. Divorce wasn’t widespread at that dues and pensions were stipulated to implement read AlSharq of 9/10/2011). to external pressures or influences from family time as we see nowadays; they had different and in Article 23 of Law No. 24/2002 Some employers steal from or friends; then the man sacrifices with his wife more serious reasons to take such a step. as follows: the laws that employees’ salaries on a monthly and his children, to begin another path of struggle Today, many get married and forget their roles “If an employee has completed basis knowingly or unknowingly and suffer. A new story begins where the mother as fathers and mothers, and they forgot that they twenty years of service then he/ are for our and to go back to the government’s need to play the role of father in day time and are the fundamental pillars of a family, contribut- she is entitled to a retirement the society’s treasury, while someone submits mother at night. ing to the formation of a healthy society. pension paid by his employer...” a proposal to extend the service When talk about divorce, we should also We need to evaluate ourselves and our children Therefore, before retirement benefit. period to thirty years instead of talk about the marriage its whether it was the before indulging in marriage and making a crack I addressed Qatar University twenty, which is the worst thing right choice, and were the couple prepared well in society that is difficult to restore. Wife is a (QU), my employer, concerning to do. to build a family and take the responsibility of blessing for her husband, partner and means for these rights. I was told to go to The strange thing is that all having children before making such a decision? his success; according to what have been narrated the Minister of Finance, claim- this happens in the name of full Divorce is the most hated by Abdullah bin Amr from the ing that he is responsible for the that many people in the world service to the interests of the lawful in Allah’s sight; nar- Prophet (PBUH) said: “The issue, but the former Minister lack or are deprived of. We are people. Dear official, if this is rated Ibn ‘Umar that the If we look back in world is but a (quick passing) of Finance said this is clearly in absolute luxury due to God’s how “you fully serve the inter- Prophet (PBUH) said: “The enjoyment; and the best enjoy- stipulated in Article 23 of law no grace and the measures that our ests of the people” then please most hated of permissible history, we find ment of this world is a pious 24/2002. So you have to go QU, government have taken through- stay away from that since Allah things to Allah is divorce” and virtuous wife” (Reported your former employer and ask out history. is sufficient for us. And I kindly (Reported by Ibn Majah). beautiful examples — by Imam Muslim). them about your rights. I went We all know as individuals ask you to implement the Qatari Every day and night, each Divorce might have become back to the University and the that we are obliged to implement Constitution and laws. one of us is constantly ask- a man and his wife a fashion because of differ- official there told me, “You are the laws that are for our bene- I have tried repeatedly to find ing Allah to accept his deeds, ences of opinion between cou- now retired and you should ask fit and for the benefit of society. excuses for our government for wouldn’t this be more worthy lived together for a ples, a divorced person inciting for your rights from the Pensions Therefore, since we are required doing so, but I did not find any- to be away from everything lifetime as they shared his friend to do the same, or and Retirement Commission”. to implement the laws, not regula- thing like it worldwide, except that is hated by the Lord, encouraging him to abuse his Again, I went to that govern- tions, government officials are to from bankrupt governments who especially that we always their sweet and bitter wife. It was narrated by Abu ment organisation and I was told, apply those laws. are scratching for pennies. have shortcomings in our Hurairah that the Prophet “If the employee served more than The excuse for not issuing the I do not think personally that work and efforts. moments, had many (PBUH) said: twenty years, then he/she is enti- Executive Regulations, from my the State of Qatar is bankrupt to Some parents think that if “He is not one of us, anyone tled to receive pension plus a bonus point of view, is simply not accept- such an extent, since it is helping they marry their son, raised children and raised a who incites a woman against her of two months for each additional able and unrealistic, because the other nations with billions of dol- in luxury, would then change husband or a slave against his year above the twenty years, which regulations are only a tool for lars, it has investments all over him for better, forgetting good family. master is not one of us (mean- must be paid by the employer”. In the interpretation of the law, the world, and its lavish distri- that his inability to take on ing not a Muslim)” (Reported other words, it has been clear that and the essential key is the law bution of money left and right is responsibilities will be unfair by Abu Dawood) my pension and end of service because it is issued by H H the unsurpassed. to the girl who is searching for stable family life. Divorce was allowed for a noble cause but rights and same rights of my fel- Emir. Therefore, it must be imple- Every year, foreign media It is without doubt, an injustice to both partners must be preceded by many steps before taking low citizens were lost somewhere mented, whether regulations before the local one, says that the and the image will usually remain blurry after the decision. among these government bodies. are issued or not. The law is an Qatari budget has excess, which some time during the marriage. Dear readers, if you are a husband or a wife, In another attempt, I sent a order from the ruler and must obviously doesn’t make our gov- Here we pose a number of questions, who bears know that both of you are the foundation of the letter to the Board of Trustees of be implemented; failure of the ernment bankrupt; therefore, it the consequence of the divorce? The man who family that the society is based upon. You are QU on 03/06/2014 asking them pension official to implement or does not have any good reason to wanted to marry without being ready for that? Or the ones who will draw the right image for your to release my retirement funds. ignore the law is disobedience of freeze citizens’ funds or rob them his parents who perfectly knew that their son is children who will become a husband or a wife Their answer came through the the ruler and might render some- of their years of service. not eligible for marriage but they decide to marry one day, so take extreme care in overcoming your president of the university say- one an apostate as mentioned by I conclude that it is a defect him? Or the girl who agreed to get marriage of differences and make sure that you don’t do so ing the payment of these dues is God Almighty in the Holy Quran, that those in charge prevent civil- him? Or the society which are not preparing the in front of your children. Instead you need to linked to issuance of the executive which is translated as: ians from getting their retirement youths properly to take their responsibility when prepare them through your thoughts how to build regulations for the Law of retire- “O ye who believe! obey Allah, money while they do so, with they get married? Or the culture and traditions a family, reminding them that divorce is hated ment. But by referring to the law and obey the Messenger, and great pleasure, for military staff. imposed on a man to marry without being ready by God and it is only a solution when everything of the retirement and pensions, those charged with authority The problem is that those who are for marriage and unable to meet family require- else fails. Here I would like to thank RAF — we find that Article 54 stipulates among you”. (An-Nisaa, 4:59) responsible will always blame the ments or play the role of parent properly? the Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Foundation for that “based on suggestion of the This is clearly telling us to obey government for its shortcomings. The Minister of Development Planning and Humanitarian Services, which developed special retirement authority, the cabinet the ruler. Each minister swore There is a statement attributed Statistics, H E Dr Saleh bin Mohammed Al Nabit, courses for those wishing to marry in order to issue the executive regulation of in the name of Allah in front of to Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah issued a statement saying that divorce rate in educate them on how to deal with the life partner, the law.” Here we come to the H H the Emir, “to be loyal to the be pleased with him, “If poverty Qatar reached 34.8pc. raise children and manage family budget, among question, what is to be followed: country and the Emir, to respect was a man, I would have killed This is a high percentage and shows that there other important marriage issues. Divorce is a The question is what can be done Islamic law, the Constitution and him.” And I say, “If the executive is a cancer spreading in every home. This seems solution which comes as a final step after wasting in this regard; whether to adhere the civil law, and to fully serve regulation is a man, I would have to convey that if anyone faces marriage difficul- all possible solutions. Finally, solving the problem to law issued by the ruler of the people’s interests.” killed him.” ties then do not bother yourself and simply take requires honesty with oneself and others and not state or to keep waiting for exec- However, some of the minis- the easiest way out, which is divorce. harming others is a proof of good behaviour and utive regulation which still not ters who are entrusted to serve The views expressed in the articles on this If we look back in history, we find beautiful sound understanding. issued. Thanks to Allah, we have the country and the people give page do not reflect the viewpoint of the been blessed with a lot of things a hard time to citizens when it newspaper. THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 MIDDLE EAST 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Muslim world Car bomb kills condemns Paris attack 37 at Yemen DUBAI: Saudi Arabia, the Arab League and Al Azhar, Sunni Islam’s most prestigious centre of learning, condemned a police academy deadly attack on a Paris satiri- cal newspaper. “...The kingdom strongly con- demns and denounces this cow- Houthis blame Al Qaeda for attack ardly terrorist act that is rejected by true Islamic religion as well SANA’A: A car bomb tore bomb was in a minibus, of which as the rest of the religions and through dozens of Yemenis lined only scraps of metal remained. beliefs,” the Saudi state news agency up at a police academy in Sana’a Rescue workers loaded bodies SPA said, citing an official source. yesterday, killing 37 in the lat- into ambulances, which pushed “Arab League chief Nabil Al Arabi est attack highlighting the their way through gathered strongly condemns the terrorist country’s growing instability. onlookers, many taking pictures attack on Charlie Hebdo newspa- Police said another 66 peo- of the carnage with their mobile per in Paris,” the League said after ple were wounded in what it telephones. gunmen stormed the weekly’s offices described as a “terrorist bombing” The health ministry urged killing at least 12 people. targeting potential police recruits, Sana’a residents to “donate blood Al Azhar condemned the in a statement cited by the official at government hospitals to help “criminal attack,” saying that Saba news agency. the wounded”. “Islam denounces any violence”, Unstable and impoverished It was not immediately clear in remarks carried by Egypt’s Yemen has been hit by a wave of who was behind the blast but Al Yemenis inspect the scene of a car bomb targeting dozens of people outside a police academy in Sana’a, yesterday. state news agency Mena. violence in recent months, with Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula In a separate statement, Al a powerful Shia militia, known (AQAP), the jihadist network’s gathering being targeted. their presence in central and Yemen last week killed 49 people. Azhar senior official Abbas as Houthis, clashing with Sunni powerful affiliate in Yemen, has A European Union statement western Yemen, meeting fierce Four people, including a Shoman said the institution “does tribal forces and the country’s claimed responsibility for previ- spoke of the “latest in a series of resistance from Sunni tribes and reporter, were killed Sunday in not approve of using violence even branch of Al Qaeda. ous attacks on security forces. terrorist attacks aimed at desta- Al Qaeda militants. another blast targeting a gather- if it was in response to an offence Witness Khaled Ajlan said Speaking at the scene, a mem- bilising Yemen’s transition.” The increasing violence has ing of Houthis in southwestern committed against sacred Muslim the early morning blast targeted ber of the unofficial Houthi It added that “restoring secu- raised fears that Yemen, which Yemen, while six militiamen were sentiments”. dozens of “new students who security forces blamed “radi- rity and completing the transition shares a long border with oil- wounded in a blast in Sana’a on Turkey said it condemned all were registering at the police cals belonging to Al Qaeda” for process are paramount to achiev- rich Saudi Arabia, might become Monday. forms of “terror” after the shoot- academy”. the attack. And a Houthi state- ing the objectives of stability and a failed state. Meanwhile, two tribal dignitar- ing at a French satirical weekly The charred remains of the ment denounced “this despicable prosperity.” AQAP, considered by the ies and four of their escorts were that left 12 dead but added Europe dead, mostly young men, were crime,” whose perpetrators “will Yemen has been dogged by United States to be Al Qaeda’s killed in an ambush by unknown should also fight against growing piled on the sidewalk outside not go unpunished.” instability since an uprising forced most dangerous branch, has gunmen in central Yemen on “Islamophobia”. the academy alongside blood- The interior ministry said reg- longtime strongman Ali Abdullah pledged to fight the Huthis. Tuesday, state media said. “We, as Turkey, condemn with soaked documents they had been istration at the academy would be Saleh from power in 2012. Yemen is an ally of the United Saleh’s General People’s hatred any kind of terror. We are carrying. suspended for a week. Unrest grew after the Houthis, States in its fight against the Congress party said the pair were against any form of terror regard- The wreckage of a car sat Many of the potential recruits also known as Ansarullah, overran jihadist network, allowing among its leading figures, and less of where it comes from and nearby, with little remaining but had travelled from other parts Sana’a unopposed on September Washington to carry out a long- condemned the attack. what its motives are,” Turkish mangled metal and the steering of the country to the acad- 21. standing drone war on its terri- President Abdrabuh Mansur Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu wheel, one of several cars that emy. The ministry said that, in The militia, who already con- tory against AQAP. Hadi has struggled to assert his told reporters in Ankara. were still burning at midday. future, it would register them trolled northern parts of the A suicide bomb attack on authority since the Houthi takeo- An attack by gunmen targeting A security official said the locally to avoid another such country, have since expanded Houthi supporters in central ver of the capital. AFP the offices of the Charlie Hebdo weekly in Paris on Wednesday claimed the lives of some of France’s best-known cartoonists. But reprising a key theme of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Cavusoglu said terrorism and Kuwait detains ex-MP critical of Al Sisi visit increasing Islamophobia in Europe were “inter-connected”. KUWAIT CITY: Kuwaiti accused of writing comments In his tweets, Mulla repeatedly in December 2012 in protest at opposition activists and former “We must fight against increas- authorities have detained a on Twitter deemed “offensive” urged Emir H H Sheikh Sabah Al the government’s amendment of lawmakers for remarks deemed ing racism, xenophobia and former liberal opposition law- to Kuwait’s emir and “humili- Ahmad Al Sabah not to give more Kuwait’s electoral law. insulting to the emir. Islamophobia in Europe which maker for allegedly insulting the ating” for Egyptian President financial aid to Sisi. Other opposition activists had The latest ruling was issued threaten all our values. We must Gulf state’s ruler and criticising Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, who con- In one tweet, he said any money launched an online campaign on Monday when the supreme also fight against any form of ter- a visit by the Egyptian presi- cluded a two-day visit to Kuwait given to Sisi should be taken back against Sisi’s visit, urging authori- court sentenced activist Sager Al rorism,” Cavusoglu said. dent, his lawyer said yesterday. on Tuesday. by Kuwaitis. Kuwait along with ties not to give more funds to Hashash to 20 months in prison The minister also said Islam The public prosecutor ordered Mulla was also accused of other Gulf states backed Sisi fol- Egypt. on charges of insulting the ruler was a “religion of peace”, adding: Saleh Al Mulla held for 10 more threatening Kuwaiti-Egyptian lowing the military overthrow Ahmad said there was no legal on Twitter. “It is not a correct approach to days after detaining him late on relations by criticising Sisi, the of Islamist president Mohamed justification for Mulla’s deten- Criticising the emir in Kuwait associate Islam with terrorism.” Tuesday about comments made lawyer said. Mursi in July 2013. It has offered tion and demanded his immedi- is considered a state security Kuwait has strongly con- on Twitter, lawyer Abdullah Al Ahmad said he will file a peti- Cairo aid worth some $4bn. ate release. offence, with those found guilty demned the deadly attack, an Ahmad said. tion today to the court requesting Mulla was an MP for several Kuwaiti courts have handed facing up to five years behind bars. official source at Kuwaiti Foreign Ahmad said his client was that his client be freed. years before he boycotted elections down prison sentences to several AFP ministry said . AFP

Military training Qaeda destroys cleric tomb DAMASCUS: Syria’s Al Qaeda branch has dyna- mited the mausoleum of a Sunni Muslim cleric in a southern town it cap- tured in November, offi- cials and a monitoring group reported. Fighters of both Al Nusra Front and its jihad- ist rival, the Islamic State group, regard the rever- ence of tombs as tanta- mount to idolatry and have demolished many such shrines. Al Nusra blew up the mausoleum of Imam Nawawi in the town of Nawa in Daraa province, the Syrian Observatory American military trainers show Iraqi soldiers how to use US weapons during a training session at the Taji base for Human Rights said. complex, which hosts Iraqi and US troops, 30km north of the capital Baghdad. The Islamic endow- ments ministry of the Syrian government, which has lost control of much Marxist group claims Istanbul attack of Daraa province to rebel groups, condemned the bombing as an attack on ISTANBUL: An outlawed The Marxist Revolutionary aimed at “bringing to account” the the “country’s history and Turkish Marxist group yester- People’s Liberation Party-Front ruling Justice and Development heritage”. day claimed a strike by a female (DHKP-C) said in a statement Party (AKP) co-founded by suicide bomber in the heart of on its website: “Our sacrificial President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Istanbul’s tourist district, rais- fighter... carried out the sacrifi- over corruption following a ruling Saudi beheaded ing fears of a wave of attacks one cial action on the tourist police the day earlier that four former week after its militants hit police department in Sultanahmet”. ministers accused of graft will not for murder guarding a palace in the city. Sultanahmet is home to some stand trial. : A Saudi con- The bomber, a young woman of Turkey’s top attractions includ- As after the January 1 attack, victed of murder was in her 20s, killed herself and ing the Hagia Sophia museum and the DHKP-C also said the bomb- beheaded by the sword a policeman on Tuesday after the Blue Mosque and is thronged ing was a reprisal for the death yesterday, in the fourth walking into the police station by thousands of tourists each day. of Berkin Elvan, a teenager who execution so far this in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet dis- The DHKP-C — a radical died in March 2014 after spending month in the kingdom, trict, home to the city’s great- Marxist organisation considered 269 days in a coma due to injuries the interior ministry est concentration of historical a terrorist group by Turkey, the inflicted by the police in the mass announced. monuments. European Union and the United anti-government protests of 2013. Suwaileh Al Sahimi was Posing as a tourist who had States — had also last week “It (the attack) happened executed in Madinah. He lost her wallet, she blew herself claimed a January 1 attempted because the four former minis- was convicted of killing a up after police shot her in the leg grenade attack on police guarding ters, the thieves, escaped prosecu- member of his tribe in a when they became suspicious, the Dolmabahce palace in Istanbul tion. It happened because nothing dispute, it said. officials said. One other police that caused no serious casualties. has been done to bring justice for AFP officer was lightly injured. It said Tuesday’s bombing was Berkin,” the group said. AFP THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 World leaders slam ‘barbaric’ Paris attack Attack on free speech: Media groups

LONDON: US President cornerstone of democracy, on the Barack Obama led global con- media and on freedom of expres- demnation of the shooting at sion.” He added: “This horrific a French magazine yesterday attack is meant to divide. We which left 12 people dead, with must not fall into that trap.” world leaders and media groups British Prime Minister David branding it an act of terror and Cameron condemned the shooting an attack on free speech. as “sickening” and “barbaric”, while UN Secretary General Ban German Chancellor Angela Merkel Ki-Moon and Queen Elizabeth called it “despicable”; sentiments II also offered their sympathy, reflected across European capitals. after masked men armed with In a rare statement on inter- Kalashnikov automatic rifles national events, Queen Elizabeth opened fire at the offices of satiri- also offered her “sincere condo- cal weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris. lences” to the families of those A combination of file photos shows (from left) French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo’s deputy chief editor Bernard Maris and cartoonists Georges Wolinski, French President Francois killed and to the survivors of Jean Cabut, aka Cabu, Charb and Tignous. At least 12 people were killed, including cartoonists Charb, Wolinski, Cabu and Tignous and Maris when Hollande condemned as a “ter- the attack. In Canada, where gunmen armed with Kalashnikovs and a rocket-launcher opened fire in the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo yesterday. rorist attack” the massacre young radical Muslims staged at the publication, which has two attacks that left two soldiers of the violence is appalling,” said “Completely defenceless and showed a bomb in place of a tur- been in confrontation for years dead, Prime Minister Stephen Robert Mahoney, deputy director innocent people became the ban, prompted violent protests in Attack shows with Islamists who accused it of Harper said he was “horrified”. of the New York-based Committee victims of what appears to be Muslim countries. attacking their religion. Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam’s most to Protect Journalists. an attack on free speech,” said “There have been constant Islamist threat: The Committee to Protect prestigious centre of learning, “Journalists must now stand Denmark’s Prime Minister Helle threats since the caricatures Journalists said the shooting was called the attack “criminal” and together to send the message Thorning-Schmidt. were published,” Richard Malka, German groups a “brazen assault on free expres- said “Islam denounces any vio- that such murderous attempts The weekly started in 1970, Charlie Hebdo’s lawyer, told RTL sion in the heart of Europe”, while lence”, while the Arab League also to silence us will not stand.” taking inspiration for its name radio after the deadly attack. BERLIN: Anti-immigrant Reporters Without Borders called condemned the attack. Christophe Deloire, secretary from the American comic book “We’ve lived under the threats for groups in Germany seized on yes- it a “black day”. Turkish Foreign Minister general of Reporters Without character Charlie Brown and with eight years. There was protection. terday’s deadly attack in Paris, “Our thoughts and prayers are Mevlut Cavusoglu said his country Borders, said: “A newsroom the aim of mocking celebrities, But there is nothing that could be with leaders of the Alternative with the victims of this terrorist condemned all forms of “terror”, attack with machine guns is a political leaders and religions. It done against savages who come for Germany (AfD) party and attack and the people of France but said terrorism and increas- type of violence we witness in never changed course, even as the with Kalashnikovs.” PEGIDA saying it showed the at this difficult time,” Obama said. ing Islamophobia in Europe were Iraq, Somalia or Pakistan. This threats piled up. Malka, clearly shaken, said it threat of Islamist violence. US Secretary of State John “interconnected”. “We must terrorist attack marks a black day In 2006, Charlie Hebdo became was “madness” to be targeted “This bloodbath proves wrong Kerry later addressed the people fight against increasing racism, in the history of France.” a major target for Islamists with violence “simply for making those who laughed or ignored the of France in French, saying: “All xenophobia and Islamophobia in Stephan Oberreit, director of when it reprinted 12 cartoons cartoons”. “The newspaper only fears of so many people about a Americans stand by your side.” Europe which threaten all our Amnesty International France, of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) defended freedom of expression, looming danger of Islamism,” said United Nations chief Ban said: values. We must also fight against added: “It is an atrocity that published by the Danish newspa- freedom quite simply... and today Alexander Gauland, a regional “It was a horrendous, unjustifi- any form of terrorism,” he said. sought to kill journalists, sup- per Jyllands-Posten in a state- journalists, cartoonists — simple AfD leader. “This gives new clout able and cold-blooded crime. It Media rights groups also con- press freedom of expression and ment for freedom of expression. cartoonists — paid a heavy price to PEGIDA demands.” was also a direct assault on a demned the attack. “The scale sow fear.” The cartoons, including one which for that.” AFP PEGIDA, or Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West, itself reacted strongly to the Paris attack. “The Islamists, Danish paper ups security against whom PEGIDA has been warning over the last 12 weeks, COPENHAGEN: The Danish news- 30, 2005, which caused angry and showed in France today that they paper that caused a global stir with sometimes deadly protests worldwide. are not capable of (practising) a series of cartoons of the Prophet The cartoons were reprinted by Charlie democracy but instead see vio- Muhammad (PBUH) stepped up Hebdo in 2006. lence and death as the solution,” security yesterday after a deadly Kurt Westergaard, the artist behind PEGIDA wrote on its Facebook attack on a French satirical weekly, the most controversial of the 12 car- page. “Our political leaders want a report said. toons, was targeted in a failed murder us to believe the opposite is true,” Jyllands-Posten informed its staff by attempt at his home in 2010 but told the group added. e-mail about the unspecified security media yesterday that he did not fear for “Does a tragedy like this first measures after the armed attack on his safety thanks to police protection. have to happen in Germany?” the Charlie Hebdo in Paris, the Danish He told Danish public radio that the A top ally of Chancellor paper Berlingske said on its website. Paris attack was “scary and horrible” Angela Merkel condemned as “Surveillance and the level of secu- and he praised Charlie Hebdo’s staff “sleaze” the eurosceptic AfD’s rity in and around our headquarters in for holding “all authoritarian forces” to comments. “It’s sleaze to instru- Copenhagen and in (the west Danish account regardless of whether “they’re mentalise the attack for political city of) Viby has been increased,” Islamists, Catholics or politicians”. aims,” Parliamentary floor leader Berlingske quoted the email as saying. Meanwhile, the Danish security and Volker Kauder told Focus maga- “We are following closely the situa- intelligence service said that it was zine online. tion in connection with the attack on monitoring the situation carefully. “For Merkel and her government Charlie Hebdo in Paris earlier today.” the time being, the situation does not have condemned the grassroots Christine Blach, a spokeswoman for warrant a change in the assessment of movement PEGIDA, which drew Journalism students hold a banner reading in French: “Journalism students : Solidarity” as they raise the newspaper, refused to comment on the terrorism threat against Denmark, a record crowd of 18,000 to its lat- pens during a gathering at the Place de la Republique (Republic Square) in Paris yesterday. the security measures. Jyllands-Posten which remains serious,” it said. est rally on Monday in Dresden. published 12 cartoons on September AFP REUTERS Boko Haram leader threatens Cameroon

KANO: Boko Haram leader Abubakar Boko Haram fighters had in the past “repent”. “If you do not, you will see what will Shekau has threatened Cameroon in a launched attacks on northeastern Nigeria come from Allah, the All-Powerful who has video message on YouTube, warning that from bases inside Cameroon but recent control over everything in respect of chastise- the same fate would befall the country as months have seen an increase in strikes ment and calamity,” he says, waving his right neighbouring Nigeria. within the country. The attacks have taken index finger. “Your troops are nothing. Even The video, which was posted on January a similar form to those in Nigeria from hit- Nigerian soldiers couldn’t do anything to us.” 5, is directly addressed to Cameroon’s and-run raids to kidnappings. He also calls on the people of Cameroon President Paul Biya after repeated fighting Boko Haram, which began its violent to “rebel against democracy and shun it”. between militants and troops in the coun- insurgency in 2009, has taken over swathes Cameroon’s president has made a series of try’s far north. “Oh Paul Biya, if you don’t of territory in three northeastern Nigerian strong statements against Boko Haram and stop this, your evil plot, you will taste what states, and declared some towns as part of in October last year vowed to go after the has befallen Nigeria... Your troops cannot its Islamic caliphate. Last weekend, fight- group “until it’s totally wiped out”. do anything to us,” Shekau said in Arabic. ers captured the key town of Baga and the In May last year, he said that a Paris Paul Biya has been mentioned by Shekau headquarters of the Multinational Joint meeting of Nigeria’s neighbours was before but it is first time that he has directly Task Force in the Lake Chad area, tighten- designed to “declare war on Boko Haram”. addressed Cameroon and is the first admis- ing its control of the remote state of Borno. But a key agreement at the summit to set up sion that Boko Haram has been actively In the video, Shekau praises his fighters a regional force has yet to be implemented. operating in the country. “inside Cameroonian soil” and calls on Biya to AFP

British woman found US asks Poland to ELN agrees to peace buried in her garden extradite Polanski talks with Colombia LISBON: Police have found the body of a WARSAW: The United States has asked BOGOTA: Colombia’s second largest left- 72-year-old British woman buried in the Poland to extradite filmmaker Roman ist guerrilla group announced yesterday garden of her home in southern Portugal Polanski, who pleaded guilty in 1977 to that it is prepared to hold formal peace and have arrested her partner, police raping a 13-year-old but left the country negotiations with the government aimed said yesterday. The man, an unidentified before sentencing, Polish prosecutors said at ending a half century old insurgency. 59-year-old British national, is suspected yesterday. The National Liberation Front, or ELN of “aggravated homicide” and will be ques- The move comes months after the US by its Spanish acronym, would be following tioned by a judge, police said. attempted to have the French-Polish film- in the footsteps of the larger Revolutionary The woman’s son, who lives in Britain, maker arrested for sex offences when he trav- Armed Forces of Colombia, which has been contacted Portuguese police after he was not elled to Warsaw for the opening of a Jewish in peace talks with the government for more able to contact his mother for over a month museum in October. Polish prosecutors ques- than two years. at her home in the Algarve, Portugal’s tioned the 81-year-old maker of The Pianist The ELN’s leader, Nicolas Rodriguez, alias southernmost province, Portuguese media and Chinatown but allowed him to walk free. “Gabino,” announced the decision to enter the reported. Police found the body of the vic- The extradition request was sent on peace talks in a video posted on the guerrilla tim, identified by Portuguese media as Monday and will be transferred over to group’s Twitter account, @ELN_Colombia. Brenda, buried in the garden of her home in the regional prosecutors handling the case, “The government has set forth its willingness the town of Alcalzar, the Lusa news agency according to Mateusz Martyniuk, spokes- to put an end to the armed conflict and to do so reported citing police sources. man for the general prosecutor’s office. has convened the insurgency (to talks),” he said. The man who was arrested had lived with “The first prosecutors will do is question “We attend this dialogue to examine the true the woman for several years, daily newspa- Polanski,” he said. Polanski was accused will of the government and the Colombian per Correo da Manha reported. He admitted of raping Samantha Geimer after a photo state; if we conclude that arms are not neces- burying the body in the garden but said his shoot in 1977 when he was 43 years old. sary, we are prepared to consider whether to partner had committed suicide. AFP AFP stop using them,” he said. AFP THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES AirAsia jet tail found, search on for black box Airline chief says aim is to find all passengers

JAKARTA/PANGKALAN found was the tail part from the Initial insurance payments to BUN: The tail of a crashed pictures,” he said, adding that the cover immediate financial hard- AirAsia jet has been found team “now is still desperately try- ship in similar cases have run at upturned on the sea bed about ing to locate the black box”. around $25,000 for the next of kin 30km from the plane’s last known Indonesia’s Minister for of each passenger, according to location, Indonesia’s search and Maritime Affairs, Indroyono industry sources. rescue agency said yesterday, Soesilo, told another news con- Locating the tail of the plane has indicating the crucial black box ference: “With the finding of the been a priority because the cock- recorders may be nearby. tail, six SAR (search and rescue) pit voice and flight data recorders Flight QZ8501 vanished from ships are already at the location that can provide vital clues on why radar screens over the northern to search within a radius of two it crashed are located in the rear Java Sea on December 28, less than nautical miles.” section of the Airbus. half-way into a two-hour flight Forty bodies and debris from the “I am led to believe the tail sec- from Indonesia’s second-biggest plane have been plucked from the tion has been found,” AirAsia boss city of Surabaya to Singapore. surface of the waters off Borneo, Tony Fernandes tweeted minutes There were no survivors among but strong winds and high waves after the announcement. “If (it is An Indonesian Kalstar airplane takes off as a Japanese helicopter from Navy vessel Destroyer Onami prepares to depart the 162 people on board. have been hampering divers’ the) right part of tail section, then from Iskandar military airport in Pangkalan Bun yesterday. Indonesia said it had found the tail of AirAsia Flight 8501. “We’ve found the tail that has efforts to reach larger pieces of the black box should be there ... been our main target,” Fransiskus suspected wreckage detected by We need to find all parts soon so Bambang Soelistyo, head of the sonar on the sea floor. we can find all our guests to ease find, he cautioned the tail section meteorological agency, has said and Saturdays. Flight QZ8501 search and rescue agency, told a German insurer Allianz said it the pain of our families. That still of the aircraft might not be fully bad weather may have caused ice took off on a Sunday, though the news conference in Jakarta. had begun making initial payments is our priority.” intact. “The black box is located to form on the aircraft’s engines. ministry said this had no bearing The tail was identified by divers to the families of crash victims, In Pangkalan Bun, the south- behind the door, to the right of Indonesia AirAsia, 49 percent on the accident. after it was spotted by an under- although it declined to specify the ern Borneo town closest to the the tail. There is a possibility that owned by Fernandes’s Malaysia- Fernandes however maintained water machine using a sonar amount. “These payments are in crash site, search and rescue the tail and the back of the plane based AirAsia budget group, has that AirAsia had the required scan, Soelistyo said. He displayed no way final settlements,” said a agency coordinator Supriyadi told are broken up.” come under pressure from the permission. “What happened was underwater photographs showing spokesman for Allianz, which is reporters the bad weather that has Until investigators can examine authorities in Jakarta since the purely an administrative error,” partial lettering on the sunken the lead reinsurer for the consor- dogged the operation for 10 days the black box recorders the cause crash. The transport ministry has he said in an e-mail. “The process object compared with a picture tium of insurers covering claims had abated. But, as ships with of the crash remains a mystery, suspended the carrier’s Surabaya- has become clear now.” of an intact Airbus A320-200 in in the case. “We will agree further acoustic “pinger locators” designed but the area where the plane was Singapore licence, saying it only AirAsia has said it is cooperat- AirAsia livery. compensation in due course in con- to pick up signals from the black lost is known for intense sea- had permission to fly the route ing fully with the ministry’s inves- “I can confirm that what we sultation with all involved parties.” box converged on the scene of the sonal storms. BMKG, Indonesia’s on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays tigations. REUTERS

Bangladesh Lanka goes to polls today as vote Dhaka court bans reporting diplomat chief probes army deployment on opposition leader’s son must face US COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s elec- shooting two days ago had died suppression of a separatist strug- DHAKA: A Bangladesh court remains a fugitive, no print, elec- tion commission said yester- of his injuries. Police are looking gle. Both local and international yesterday banned local media tronic or social media can pub- lawsuit: Judge day it was investigating claims for a deputy minister and two poll monitors have expressed fears from reporting speeches by lish or broadcast any news on his of troops being deployed in the supporters of President Mahinda that authorities could try to pre- the son of the besieged opposi- speeches, statements or meetings NEW YORK: A US judge Tamil-dominated north ahead Rajapakse’s party in connection vent Tamils from voting after the tion leader, after authorities in the country,” deputy attorney rejected a request by a of a tightly-fought election, as with the shooting outside Colombo main Tamil political party backed sought to muzzle dissent amid a general Biswajit Roy said. Bangladesh diplomat and his police reported the first cam- on Monday, the final day of cam- opposition candidate Maithripala wave of deadly anti-government Zia, confined by authorities wife to dismiss a lawsuit by a paign-related death. paigning, police spokesman Ajith Sirisena. The Tamils make up the protests. to her office since Saturday, former domestic worker who Chief election commissioner Rohana said. largest minority on the island, and Tarique Rahman, the eldest son has called on her supporters to accused them of forcing him Mahinda Deshapriya said there The independent Centre for may be the deciders in the election of opposition leader Khaleda Zia block railway lines, highways and to work without pay in slav- had been complaints that security Monitoring Election Violence if, as appears likely, the majority and her heir apparent, has made a ports since Monday as part of ery-like conditions. forces were deploying in the north- (CMEV) on Tuesday accused the Sinhalese vote is split between series of speeches and comments efforts to topple her arch-rival US District Judge Sidney ern Wanni region, in contravention ruling party of tolerating “flagrant Rajapakse and Sirisena. criticising Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and pave the way for fresh Stein in Manhattan said of election laws. Wanni was part of violation of election laws” and said South Asia’s longest-serving Hasina and her independence elections. Monirul Islam, a former the war zone where Tamil separa- opposition party offices had been leader had appeared politically hero father. Tarique Rahman, 50, has espe- New York consul general tists fought the army in a decades- targeted. The CMEV, which is invincible after his forces crushed Rahman, who has been living in cially irritated Hasina’s govern- of Bangladesh, and his wife long conflict that ended only five deploying more than 4,000 moni- the Tamil Tigers in 2009, ending a London since 2008, was declared a ment after claiming that her Fahima Tahsina Prova were years ago. “I have already taken tors across the country, said it decades-long conflict. fugitive more than a year ago for father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman not immune from the law- this up with the army commander, had documented 420 incidences But his second term has been failing to appear in Bangladesh — widely regarded as the hero of suit by Mashud Parves Rana, who says he has not ordered troops of violence since the election was dogged by accusations of corrup- courts in connection with corrup- Bangladesh’s 1971 independence because their employment and to deploy,” Deshapriya told report- announced on November 20. It said tion, including undermining the tion cases. war from Pakistan — was in fact supervision of him were not ers on the eve of the bitterly con- the Tamil-dominated northern dis- independence of the judiciary and The High Court’s ruling coin- a stooge of Islamabad. “consular functions.” tested election. “I hope there will trict of Jaffna was worst hit. lining the pockets of political cro- cides with deadly protests which In a series of speeches in Rana sued for back pay be no attempt to use troops to President Rajapakse, who is nies through lucrative contracts. authorities have blamed on Zia, London he has also claimed that and punitive damages last block people voting.” standing for an unprecedented Sirisena’s surprise decision to although the judges made no his own father, late military dic- March, shortly before Islam The investigation came as police third term, is widely loathed by stand against him has turned what mention of the violence in their tator Ziaur Rahman, was actu- began a new job in Morocco as said a 57-year-old opposition the country’s minority Tamils might have been a walkover into a decision. ally the country’s first president Bangladesh’s ambassador to activist who was hit in a drive-by after overseeing a violent military bitterly-fought contest. AFP “The court said as long as he instead of Hasina’s father. AFP that country. The lawsuit was filed sev- eral days after Devyani Khobragade, once India’s deputy consul general in New York, won dismissal of a fed- Jakarta arrests eral indictment concerning Xi, Maduro to step up co-operation her employment of another domestic worker, in a case that foreigners frayed US-India relations. BEIJING: China and Venezuela A lawyer for the defendants will step up co-operation this in drug bust declined to comment the deci- year, Presidents Xi Jinping and sion, but said his clients will Nicolas Maduro said in Beijing JAKARTA: Indonesian continue to vigorously defend yesterday as falling oil prices authorities said a major Hong against the claims in the com- threaten the Latin American Kong drug lord had been plaint. Rana, a Bangladesh nation’s economy. arrested and more than 860 citizen admitted to the US on Maduro was widely expected kilogrammes of crystal meth- an A-3 visa, had accused the to ask for a new cash injection amphetamine seized, following defendants of luring him to to shore up oil-rich Venezuela’s a three-year investigation into work for them in New York by finances during his visit as elec- a global syndicate. promising to pay him $3,000 a tions loom and a faltering econ- Three other Hong Kong resi- month and renew his visa. omy could hurt his left-wing dents, as well as a Malaysian Instead, he said he was never party’s chances. “We have very and four Indonesians, were also paid during his roughly 1-1/2 good news to share about the detained in the “massive” bust years of employment, and was cooperation that will increase this on Monday, and all could face the forced to work 16- to 20-hour year,” Maduro said at a meeting death penalty, National Narcotics days through “physical threats, with his host. “It will be strength- Agency spokesman Sumirat coercion, isolation (and) physi- ened on the basis of the successful Dwiyanto said. cal restraint,” with threats to formula that we’ve built,” he said, He said Indonesian authorities his life if he tried to escape. without giving details. had been monitoring the head of “The record on this motion There were signs that Xi was the ring, a Hong Kong man only shows that Rana was employed willing throw a lifeline to what he identified by his initials of WCP, to meet defendants’ private called an “old and good friend of since 2012 after intelligence offic- needs,” Stein wrote. “That the Chinese people”. “Going for- ers learnt he was part of a major Rana occasionally cooked food ward we will deepen cooperation global drug ring. “WCP is a drug for events at the Bangladesh in all spheres,” he said. dealer who has been living in Consulate and provided serv- Foreign ministry spokesman Indonesia for more than 15 years. ices at monthly community Hong Lei told reporters at a reg- He is part of an international events there is not sufficient ular briefing: “During President syndicate, heading operations in to render his employment a Maduro’s visit we will work with Indonesia,” Dwiyanto said. Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro (right) and Chinese President Xi Jinping review a guard of honour during consular function.” them to promote our strate- A statement from the agency a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday. Emily Shea, a lawyer at the gic cooperation, including with said seven countries had been fol- Dechert law firm representing regards to finance. lowing the syndicate. Rana, welcomed the decision. “Due to falling oil prices 96 percent of its foreign currency. Welcoming Maduro, Xi told Venezuelan revolutionary system, Dwiyanto said WCP had sent a “Mr. Rana was enslaved by Venezuela is facing some difficul- China is looking to increase him: “When I visited Venezuela making great efforts to build a fishing boat to sea from a port in the defendants for over a year,” ties in its domestic economy.” its diplomatic heft in the region, I felt deeply the love and esteem, glorious homeland.” west Jakarta last Friday to col- she said. “This ruling brings Venezuela’s economy has sunk while Caracas and Washington as well as the boundless memo- But the extent of any new deal lect nearly 863kg of crystal meth- him one step closer to getting into recession in recent weeks have been at loggerheads since ries, of the Venezuelan people remained unclear, with officials amphetamine from a ship that what he is owed.” REUTERS due to the plummeting price of the days of Maduro’s predeces- for President Chavez, and that saying that no new agreements had departed from the southern oil, which the country relies on for sor Hugo Chavez. they continue to hold high the had been signed. AFP Chinese city of Guangzhou. AFP THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Aspiring servicemen Mumbai attacks mastermind detained again Case to be heard from January 12

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Supreme Court yesterday reim- posed a detention order on the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, court officials said, the latest in a tussle over his custody that has strained ties with India. Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, who is accused over the terror siege in India’s commercial capital, was granted bail on December 18 by an anti-terror court but authorities later detained him under a public order law, which in turn was then suspended by the Islamabad High Court on December 29. A two-judge panel has now sus- Afghan university graduates attend a course for selection as army officers in Herat, Afghanistan, yesterday. pended Islamabad High Court’s interim order and directed it to hear the case again from January 12, a A file photograph of Zaki-ur-Rehman court official told AFP. Lakhvi. The judges ruled that the high court did not hear the arguments of cases have made virtually no progress Pakistan executes two more for terrorism federal government and suspended in more than five years. Lakhvi’s detention orders in haste, It was also seen as an embarrass- MULTAN: Pakistan yesterday hanged Shabbir and Ahmed Ali, were hanged till Pakistan’s parliament on Tuesday the official said. ment for Pakistan’s government, two men sentenced to death by an anti- death today,” Saeedullah Gondal, superin- approved the setting up of military courts Lakhvi has never been let out of which has promised to crack down on terrorism court, taking the number of tendent of the jail where the executions took to hear terrorism-related cases in a bid to Adiyala Prison in Rawalpindi during all terror groups — including those executions to nine since the country lifted place, told AFP. speed up hearings. the back and forth over his deten- that target arch-rival India — in the a moratorium on capital punishment after “Their bodies were handed over to their The country’s notoriously slow civil court tion, which prompted an angry wake of the Taliban school massacre last month’s Taliban school massacre. families.” procedures often delays justice for years. response from Indian Prime Minister that killed 150 people, mostly chil- The convicts, Ghulam Shabbir and Ahmed Pakistan last month lifted a six-year On Tuesday, authorities halted the death Narendra Modi when he was initially dren, last month. Ali (alias Sheesh Naag), were reportedly moratorium on the death penalty in terror sentence of Shafqat Hussain, who was con- granted bail. The government had approached members of banned sectarian militant outfit cases in the wake of the Taliban’s horrific victed of murdering a seven-year-old boy The Mumbai attacks left 166 peo- the country’s Supreme Court last Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. massacre at an army-run school in the city in 2004 when he was just 15, following an ple dead and were blamed on banned week to reinstate Lakhvi’s detention The two were sentenced to death in 2002 of Peshawar. outcry from rights groups. Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e- under a public order law. by an anti-terrorism court — Shabbir for The attack on December 16 left 150 people Despite the moratorium, which began in Taiba (LeT). India has long seethed Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), a charita- killing a senior police official and his driver, dead, the vast majority of them children. 2008, courts continued to issue death sen- at Pakistan’s failure either to hand ble organisation seen as a front for and Ali for killing three people. Pakistani officials have said they plan tences and Amnesty International estimates over or prosecute those accused of LeT, operates openly in the country They were hanged in the southern city of to hang 500 convicts in the coming weeks, there are around 8,000 people on death row planning and organising the violence. and its leaders frequently appear on Multan early yesterday. drawing protest from international human in Pakistan. Lakhvi and six other suspects have television delivering fiery speeches “Two men convicted for murders, Ghulam rights campaigners. AFP been charged in Pakistan but their against India. AFP

Man sentenced to death for kidnapping American development worker LAHORE: A Pakistani court yester- seven years working in Pakistan. prosecutor Rai Asif told AFP. prosecution did not find any evidence of agency USAID. A year after he was day sentenced a man to death for the He later appeared in a video in which, The court also ordered that Imran pay his involvement in the case,” Asif added. kidnapped, Weinstein appeared in an kidnapping of an elderly US devel- under apparent coercion, he asked the a five million rupees ($50,000) fine. Head of the Anti Terrorism Court Al Qaeda video and urged US President opment worker in the eastern city of United States to free Al Qaeda prisoners. An official told AFP that Imran was a prosecution wing Sheikh Saeed Ahmad Barack Obama to respond to his kid- Lahore four years ago, officials said. “An ATC judge in Lahore awarded member of a banned terrorist group, but also confirmed the sentencing. nappers’ demands to release several Warren Weinstein was snatched after death sentence to Hafiz Imran on three did not disclose the name. Weinstein, 73, was the country direc- Islamists jailed in the United States, gunmen tricked their way into his home counts — kidnapping for ransom, ter- “Police had arrested two people in tor of a US-based consultancy J E Austin including the blind cleric Sheikh Omar in Lahore on August 13, 2011 shortly rorism and trespassing at somebody’s the case and the other accused Saifur Associates, which does contracting work Abdel Rahman. before he was due to return home after place with an intention to kill,” public Rehman was acquitted some time ago as for the US government’s development AFP

Pakistani cuisine Afghanistan, UN distribute most ordered winter aid to the displaced food on portal KARACHI: Proving its deli- KABUL: Afghan govern- cious worth, Pakistani cuisine ment and the United Nations remained the top-ordered food yesterday began distribut- category in 2014 at EatOye with ing blankets, clothes and chicken Tikka alone account- fuel to about 225,000 people ing for almost half the orders displaced by violence nation- booked through the online food wide as the bitter winter portal. sets in. Pakistani food remained the In recent years, scores of top-ordered cuisine in 2014, hold- Afghans living in slums, tents ing a strong 39 percent share or makeshift shelters have died in the overall orders booked of cold despite billions of dol- through the online platform, lars in international aid for the thanks to chicken Tikka and country. chicken Biryani that remained The UN refugee agency the main drivers of this growth UNHCR has coordinated efforts with 49 per cent and 13 per cent to reduce fatalities this winter. shares, respectively. “We know it (aid) is not The numbers are substantial at enough,” said Fazal Ahmad a time when fast food restaurants Azimi, the deputy refugees are flourishing across the coun- minister. try — dozens of fast food outlets, “All over Afghanistan we especially those focused on pizza have a lot of displaced people, and burgers, have opened during they are very needy.” last couple of years in Karachi, The annual programme Lahore and Islamabad, according helps 2,300 families around to industry sources. Kabul alone, providing a Fast food accounted for only winter kit of coal, children’s 20 percent share in the most- clothes, cooking equipment An Afghan displaced woman leaves after receiving winter supplies at ordered cuisines at EatOye’s and other supplies. a UNHCR distribution centre in Kabul yesterday. platform last year, the company “We really hope and believe said in a report. However, the that this programme can capital, due to the insurgency The UN says about 782,000 only exception was the pizza, provide support through the that has rocked Afghanistan people have been displaced which remained the second most- months of winter and (ease) the since the Taliban regime was by decades of conflict in ordered cuisine with a 29 percent suffering that follows the very ousted in 2001. Afghanistan. More than 130,000 share, statistics showed. serious temperatures,” said Bo “I’m thankful for this assist- individuals were recorded as The number of web searches Schack, UNHCR representative ance,” he said. “In the past they newly displaced in 2014, the last for food witnessed a 16 percent in Afghanistan. would give us flour and cooking year of Nato’s combat mission year-on-year growth in 2014. “We see the number of people oil. But this year they have cut against the Taliban. Chicken Tikka is easily avail- in these areas only increasing that down. I have six children Civilian casualties hit a able at almost every restaurant, and often people arriving from and no house.” new high last year with about which is the one reason why it hostile situations.” Abrisham, 66, said: “We are 10,000 non-combatants killed or remains the most selling item, Among those waiting for sup- poor people and it is difficult for wounded — 75 percent of them says EatOye CEO Nauman Mirza. plies was Hayatullah, 53, who us to buy these items for winter. by the Taliban, according to EatOye estimates online food moved to Kabul from Wardak These three coal sacks might the UN. ordering to be a $15m market. province southwest of the last around two months.” AFP INTERNEWS THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA Tharoor alleges bid Kerry to visit India ahead to implicate him in of Obama trip WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to India Sunanda’s death this week to join a key investment forum and pave the way for an upcom- ing visit by US President Barack Obama, an official said. Police assaulted domestic help, says MP Kerry will Saturday attend a glo- bal investors summit being held in NEW DELHI: A day after police said any law abiding citizen”. The letter became Ahmedabad, in western Gujarat, the Sunanda Pushkar was poisoned, her hus- public knowledge a day after Delhi Police home state of Prime Minister Narendra band and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor announced that Pushkar, who was found Modi, State Department spokeswoman alleged in a letter made public yesterday dead in a luxury hotel here a year ago, was Jen Psaki announced. that a police officer tried to implicate actually poisoned to death. Bassi said on It is the first time that the United him and a domestic help in her mysteri- Tuesday that this was the conclusion of States will join the Vibrant Gujarat Global ous death. the final medical report of the All India Investors Summit as a partner country, In a letter to Delhi Commissioner Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Psaki said. It is a biennial summit first of Police BS Bassi dated November 13, which conducted her autopsy. launched in 2003 to attract foreign invest- Tharoor, a former central minister, urged Pushkar, 52, died on January 17 last year. ment to the area bordering Pakistan. the police chief to take action against the Tharoor was a minister in the govern- The move comes as the United States officer. Tharoor said four police officers ment of then prime minister Manmohan is still trying to repair relations with interrogated his domestic help Narayan Singh. He was re-elected to the Lok Sabha India after a very public diplomatic spat Singh for 16 hours on November 7 and for in May last year. A day before her death, erupted in late 2013 and plunged ties to 14 hours on November 8. On both days, he Pushkar and Tharoor issued a joint state- their lowest level in early 2014. alleged that Narayan Singh was repeatedly ment denying reports that they had a row “The secretary will join leading US physically assaulted by an officer. over the Congress MP’s alleged affair with business executives and innovators at the “Worse, that officer used the traumatic a Pakistani journalist. summit to highlight the critical role that physical assault to try and intimidate Meanwhile, a police team formed to US technology plays in supporting sus- Narayan into ‘confessing’ that he and I investigate afresh Pushkar’s murder has tainable economic growth across India,” murdered my wife,” said Tharoor. begun work. “The special team is looking Psaki told reporters. The trip would also He quoted Bassi as telling him that the into each and every possibility of the case. boost trade and investment between the officer’s conduct was “completely unaccept- Whatever is needed will be done,” Bassi two countries, she said. able and illegal”. told the media. Asked if Tharoor, now in Obama is due to be “chief guest” at The Congress leader, later nominated Kerala, would be questioned, he said: “We India’s Republic Day parade on January by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an will do, if needed.” On Tuesday, police said 26 — a display of military might and eth- ambassador for the Clean India campaign, a case of murder was registered against nic diversity. He will be the first sitting said the police action amounted “to the use “unknown persons”. Informed sources US president to visit India twice. of physical coercion in the attempt to frame said that a Delhi Police team visited the In November, Delhi and Washington an innocent man. I request you to take Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences in also settled a bitter row over food subsi- immediate and appropriate action against Thiruvananthapuram last month to speak dies that had threatened to derail a WTO such unlawful misconduct of the officer.” to doctors who had treated Pushkar. After pact to ease global trade barriers. He said he and his staff had always made the police announcement, the Bharatiya A shopkeeper displays kites with images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) and US Two-way trade between the US and themselves available for any investigation Janata Party and the Communist Party of India currently stands at $100bn and President Barack Obama in Mumbai yesterday. Obama travels to India as chief guest “but the behaviour of the officers towards India-Marxist in Kerala asked Tharoor to the countries aim to boost the figure to for the January 26, Republic Day celebrations. my staff is a matter of serious concern to quit his Lok Sabha seat. IANS $500bn but have set no deadline. AFP

Coal workers’ Heptullah urges youth not to join groups like IS strike called off NEW DELHI: Minority Affairs the Indian Women’s Press Corps. A 24-year-old executive in a come in the limelight. The gov- anti-conversion bill being talked Minister Najma Heptullah “Muslims in India have enough private firm was recently arrested ernment’s aim is to create a tran- about, she said: “There are on second day appealed to India’s youth not to battles to fight, the battle against for sympathising with the IS and quil atmosphere,” she said. already so many laws... if there fall prey to the lures of militant poverty, and backwardness. Have running a Twitter handle to sup- She was replying to a question is a consensus on any law, it’s up NEW DELHI: A five-day groups like the Islamic State. any of these organisations come port them. about growing concern among to the lawmakers to decide. I will countrywide strike by more Asked about recent reports of out and helped us in any way?” The minister also said the cen- the minority communities fol- abide by my party’s decision.” than five lakh coal workers Indian youth joining the IS, she she questioned. tral government wants a “tran- lowing communal statements by She said Prime Minister protesting the government’s said she totally “disproves” of it. “I appeal to the youth not to get quil” atmosphere in the country the Bharatiya Janata Party lead- Narendra Modi in his moves towards commercial “Indian youth should not go involved with any such group who and will protect the minorities. ers and conversion programmes Independence Day speech and mining of the fossil fuel was to any extremist organisation. I are just killing people.” Heptullah also said comments being reported. “Minorities need Home Minister Rajnath Singh called off yesterday night, a don’t approve of fundamentalism,” A man from Kalyan in by “individuals are immaterial”. not be concerned, the government on several occasions have given trade union leader said. Heptullah said during an inter- Maharashtra who joined the mili- “In a country of 1.2 billion, will protect them,” she said. assurances that the interests of “The strike has been called action with women journalists at tant group was killed. many people say things just to Asked about the proposed minorities will be protected. IANS off on the second day today,” Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) vice president Basant Kumar Rai said. Leopard inside bedroom The BMS, affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Third swine flu death Sangh, was one of the major unions taking part in the strike that hit hard production, par- ticularly in mines of Coal India. reported in Delhi A committee comprising government officials and trade NEW DELHI: Delhi yester- department. He said samples of union leaders will be set up to day reported the third death both of the patients were con- review the workers’ demands. caused by swine flu, and eight firmed at the NCDC. The committee will submit a new cases, which prompted the Eight fresh cases were reported report to the government, he National Centre for Disease in the capital yesterday. Among said. According to industry Control (NCDC) and the city the inflicted were three women lobby Assocham, the strike health department to hold a and five men. With the fresh caused a loss of production of meeting to review the situation. cases, the capital has this year over one million tones of coal According to the health depart- witnessed 22 cases of swine flu. worth about Rs200cr a day. ment, a 42-year-old woman from “The three women were a The strike had the backing Uttam Nagar in west Delhi, and a 66-year-old from Madangir, a of five major trade unions — 39-year-old man from Faridabad 33-year old from Sangam Vihar BMS, Indian National Trade in the National Capital Region and a 23-year-old from Greater Union Congress, All India succumbed to swine flu. Earlier, Kailash,” Charan Singh said. Trade Union Congress, Centre a 51-year-old woman died of swine The five men were include a of Indian Trade Unions and flu on December 26 at the Sir 48-year-old from the JNU cam- Hind Mazdoor Sangh — which Ganga Ram Hospital. pus, a 71-year old from Laxmi represent almost 90 percent of “The woman from Uttam Nagar, a 57-year-old from Rajouri state-run Coal India’s half-a- Nagar died Tuesday night at Garden, a 62-year-old from million workforce. a private hospital, while the Masjid Moth and a 24-year- old Coal India Ltd has near Faridabad patient died at the east from Chattarpur. monopoly over coal produc- Delhi-based Deepak Memorial The patients were under con- tion and accounts for nearly Hospital,” said Charan Singh, stant medication and close obser- 82 percent of domestic output. an official of the Delhi health vation of medical experts. IANS Forest officials take away a leopard after it was tranquilised at a residence in Guwahati yesterday. The leopard IANS took shelter inside a bedroom of a house, and was later rescued and transported to Guwahati zoo. BJP distances from Sakshi Maharaj’s four-children theory

NEW DELHI: The BJP distanced itself Tuesday, Maharaj said the concept of be a consensus to bring the law. You ask Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu The Hindi film fraternity also expressed from a remark by party MP Sakshi four wives and 40 children will not work the so-called secular parties whether they Singhvi said the prime minister had spo- shock over Sakshi Maharaj’s remarks. Maharaj that Hindu women should pro- in India and the time has come when a would support to bring the law,” he said. ken on most “minute, micro issues” but has Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt tweeted: duce four children to protect Hinduism. Hindu woman must produce at least four BJP secretary Shrikant Sharma issued a kept quiet on Sakshi Maharaj’s remarks. “Sakshi Maharaj wants all Hindu women The Congress slammed the remark children in order to protect Hindu religion. statement which distanced the party from “Is the population policy of India now going to have at least four children. The good and sought clarification from Prime Maharaj also said a law will be passed in Sakshi Maharaj’s remarks and asked BJP to be in the electoral slogan — ‘Ab ki baar, news, he hasn’t specified the number of Minister Narendra Modi. parliament in which anyone indulging in activists to keep away from unnecessary bacche char’ or is it going to be ‘Make in husbands.” While Bharatiya Janata Party president cow slaughter and conversion will be pun- statements. “BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj’s India + 4’,” Singhvi said. Comedian Vir Das saw the lighter side Amit Shah distanced himself from Sakshi ished with death. Shah said his party was remarks are his personal views. The BJP He said Sakshi Maharaj’s remarks of the matter. “Dear Sakshi Maharaj, as Maharaj’s controversial statement, the opposed to forcible religious conversion believes in politics of development and reflected a viewpoint of seeing women as long as every Hindu woman has even one party issued a statement in Delhi echoing and asked if the “so-called secular par- good governance,” the statement said. child-bearing structures. kid who laughs at your speech, I think we similar views. ties” would support legislation to prevent “All party workers are requested to “This is a complete insult to the power will be ok,” he said. “This is his personal opinion. I don’t forcible conversion. focus on publicising the public welfare ini- potential and capacity of about 50 percent Tanuj Garg, former CEO of Balaji want to comment on this,” Shah told “Forcible conversion should be stopped tiatives of the central government and try of our population. I think it behoves no Motion Pictures, said: “Sakshi Maharaj reporters in Bhubaneswar. in the country. The BJP is not in favour to keep themselves away from any unnec- one to tolerate this kind of a statement wants every Hindu woman to produce four Addressing a gathering in Meerut on of forcible conversions. “But, there should essary statements,” it added. for more than a second,” he said. children. And we want him gagged.” IANS THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 16 dead in AP bus accident Satyarthi dedicates Nobel Prize to India Toll may go up as conditions of 13 of the 50 injured are very serious

HYDERABAD: At least 16 an auto-rickshaw. According to Chief Minister N sure that the state government passengers, almost all of them witnesses, the bus slid and fell Chandrababu Naidu expressed and other agencies are tak- college students, were killed off the road, about 15 km from shock and grief over the acci- ing necessary steps to provide and 50 were injured when a Penukonda town. Work was dent. Naidu announced a com- urgent medical assistance to the crowded bus slid down the going on there to widen the pensation of Rs5 lakh each for injured and all possible aid to road in Andhra Pradesh’s road. the families of the dead and Rs2 the bereaved families, who have Anantapur district, police Thirteen students including a lakh each for the grievously lost their near and dear ones.” said. girl were killed in the accident. injured. Deputy Chief Minister “Please convey my heartfelt The accident occurred Almost all students were of and Home Minister N Chinna condolences to the families of between Penukonda and Class 11 and 12. Two students of Rajappa announced a probe into the deceased. I wish speedy Madakasira, about 450 km from Class 6 and 10 were also killed. the accident. recovery to the injured persons,” here. The toll may go up as the The victims include a forest President Pranab Mukherjee he added. condition of 13 of the injured officer. and Prime Minister Narendra Modi too expressed grief and was said to be critical. While 11 According to officials, 46 Modi also condoled the deaths. condoled the loss of lives. died on the spot, five succumbed injured were undergoing treat- In a message to Andhra “PM has expressed grief on at hospitals. ment at a hospital in Hindupur Pradesh Governor ESL the unfortunate accident in The bus belonging to the state- and four in Anantapur. The Narasimhan, the President said: Anantapur, AP. He extends con- owned Andhra Pradesh State bus was carrying more than 60 “I am deeply saddened to learn dolences to the families of those Road Transport Corporation passengers. Some of the injured about the incident today in who lost their lives,” the Prime (APSRTC) was proceeding from said the negligence of the driver which a number of persons lost Minister’s Office said in a tweet. Madakasira to Penukonda when caused the accident. They said their lives and some were criti- Modi also wished “a speedy the driver reportedly lost con- he was driving fast and did not cally injured. I understand relief recovery to those injured in the trol while trying to avoid hitting heed to their warning. operations are underway. I am accident”. IANS

Italian marine CBI files case against Dera asks court for more leave chief over forced castration NEW DELHI: The CBI registered a case Chauhan had demanded a CBI inquiry and Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi (right) presents his Nobel medal against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram compensation for the castration inside the to President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi yesterday. after surgery Rahim Singh in connection with the alleged ashram in 2000. Satyarthi dedicated his Nobel Peace Prize to the country. The medal would be forced castration of 400 devotees inside his Seeking a CBI probe, Chauhan claimed before displayed in the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum. NEW DELHI: An Italian ashram in Sirsa, Haryana. the high court that the castration of Dera fol- marine accused of killing two The agency booked the Dera chief on charges of lowers was done by the chief through doctors Indian fishermen asked a court criminal conspiracy, cheating, voluntarily causing employed in his hospital. through his lawyers for more grievous hurt by dangerous weapons and crimi- Chauhan said in his petition that he along with time at home to recover from nal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code, other devotees were castrated under false claims Bengal gets Rs93,000cr heart surgery amid a diplomatic following an order by the Punjab and Haryana that they would be able to realise god through row over the case. High Court. the Dera chief after their castration. Last September India’s A former Dera follower, Hansraj Chauhan, had Haryana Police handed over the documents Supreme Court allowed filed a petition in the high court in 2012 alleging related to the incident to the CBI on January 2. commitment in summit Massimiliano Latorre to spend that he along with around 400 male devotees of Haryana Police had also provided documents four months in Italy after he was the Dera were castrated inside the ashram on related to seven other devotees of the Dera chief KOLKATA: Badly needing invest- announced projects in Bengal for found to be suffering from cer- the orders of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. who also claimed to be castrated. ment to usher in development and Rs41,600cr, then (state-run) SAIL ebral ischaemia — a restricted Disposing off the petition, the high court The Dera has dismissed the castration allega- jobs in the debt-stressed state, the announced investing Rs40,000cr,” blood supply that can lead to a had ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of tion. Gurmeet Ram Rahim is also facing trial in West Bengal government kick- Banerjee said in her speech that stroke. The court ruled last month Investigation into the case in December 2014. connection with cases of murder of a journalist started a fresh investors’ meet brought the curtains on the day’s that Latorre must return to India The court asked the CBI to file the first status and sexual exploitation of his women disciples. roping in business representatives proceedings. in January over the shooting that report by March 2. IANS from 20 countries besides India. Refering to Jaitley’s comment occurred during an anti-piracy By the end of the day, Chief in the summit that Bengal would mission off the southern state of Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed be a major beneficiary of the coal Kerala in February 2012. to have received commitment of over block auction which is in the off- But lawyers for the marine Rs93,000cr, none of which was from ing, Banerjee said: “If you add the yesterday again petitioned the the private sector. The day one of share of the auction of coal blocks of court in New Delhi to allow him Punjab to get custody of Jagtar Tara the two-day summit was attended by Rs12,000cr it (the total commitment extra time at home. They said over 1,000 business delegates, as also on the opening day of the summit) he underwent heart surgery in leading figures of the central gov- will Rs93,600cr only for today.” January and needs to recuperate. CHANDIGARH: Punjab Police will get A court in Thailand capital Bangkok Tuesday ernment — Finance and Corporate “If in one day it is more than one The court agreed to hear argu- former Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) ordered his extradition. Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley and lakh crore, tomorrow it will be more ments supporting the request terrorist Jagtar Singh Tara’s custody in a The DGP said all paper work for the extradi- Shipping, Highways and Road than our expectations,” she said giv- on Monday. Latorre and fellow month’s time, a top police official said. tion and custody of Tara have been completed Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. ing the closing address on day one of marine Salvatore Girone, who Tara was arrested by Thailand police from with Thai authorities. “The minister of shipping today the two-day summit here. IANS is in India, are accused of shoot- a house near the resort town of Pattiyya on Fugitive Tara had shaved off his beard and ing the fishermen during their Monday following a tip from Punjab Police. He cut his hair. Thai authorities said he was living mission on an Italian-flagged oil was living there under the assumed name of illegally in the country for over four months. tanker. The Italian sailors say Gurmeet Singh. Three BKI terrorists — Tara, Jagtar Singh they mistook the fishing boat for a He is one of the terrorists convicted in the Hawara, Paramjit Singh Bheora — and their pirate vessel and fired what were sensational assassination of then chief minister accomplice Devi Singh, a murder convict living intended to be warning shots. Beant Singh by a human bomb at the heavily- with them in the same prison barrack, had made Italy says the pair should be guarded Punjab secretariat complex here August a sensational escape by digging a 104-feet-long tried on home soil since the shoot- 31, 1995. “As per our information, he will be tunnel in the high-security Burail jail here on the ings involved an Italian-flagged extradited after one month. We will get his cus- intervening night of Jan 21-22, 2004. vessel in what Rome insists were tody,” Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Hawara and Bheora were re-arrested but Tara international waters. AFP Sumedh Singh Saini told the media. remained elusive. IANS

India reaches out to diaspora youth at PBD

GANDHINAGAR: India reached out to its global youth with the message of “come, connect, celebrate and contribute” to be part of the “momentous transformation taking place in the country” as the three- day 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), the world’s largest annual gathering of people of Indian origin, kicked off here yesterday. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is also minister for overseas Indian affairs, inaugurated the Youth PBD, being attended by hundreds of diaspora youth from across the world. Attired in a blue silk sari, she lighted the ceremonial lamp as part of the inaugural ceremony. Speaking at the inauguration of the 2015 Youth PBD, Sushma Swaraj urged the diaspora youth to contrib- ute to the country’s development. “We want you, the Pravasis, to contribute to the devel- opment of India. We want you to participate in the vision that Prime Minister Modi has for India’s future,” she said and enumerated the programmes launched by the govern- ment, including Make in India, Smart Cities, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj (right) interacts with Priti Patel, British Member of Swachch Bharat, and Skill India. Parliament and Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, during the launch of the Youth Pravasi She said the government “has been work- Bhartiya Divas in Gandhinagar yesterday. ing in mission mode to implement all these programmes. You can contribute to them and manufacturing, infrastructure development, India in your hearts” though living thousands become an active partner in these ventures. education, health, skills development, science of miles away and have “kept the spirit of Our Government is fully committed to good and technology, research and innovation, Bharat alive”. governance, efficiency, accountability, trans- knowledge economy and youth development The minister said the PBD is “an occasion parency, and speedy decision making”. as part of our effort to realise India’s full to reflect upon your heritage, and to touch The minister, addressing the diaspora potential”. base with a country which will always con- youth at the Mahatma Mandir complex, said She described the diaspora as “the most sider you as one of its own, regardless of the there are “tremendous opportunities today significant example of India’s soft power”. colour of your passport or the land of your for you to join us, especially in the fields of She said the diaspora has “retained a bit of citizenship”. IANS THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

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Today Thursday Friday Weather Conditions: Clear Partly cloudy Mostly cloudy Misty to foggy at places at first becomes moderate High: 26° High: 21° High: 21° temperature Low: 18° Low: 16° Low: 16° daytime with some clouds and slight dust at times and relatively cold by night. DOHA - SUN & SEA SUN TIDE SEA SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 06:21 17:01 07:00 & 18:30 14:00 & 00:00 05-15 KT

THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW

HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER Cast members and crew pose during a media event for the film ‘Into the Woods’, in London yesterday. From Left: Producer Marc Platt, Tracey Ullman, Meryl Streep, James Corden, Emily Blunt, director Rob Marshall and producer John DeLuca. MUSCAT 30/19 Clear 29/19 Clear MAKKAH 26/16 Mostly cloudy 26/16 Mostly cloudy KUWAIT 17/03 Partly cloudy 17/05 Clear BAHRAIN 22/13 Haze 19/13 Clear SANAA 22/04 Chance of rain 21/06 Partly cloudy Into the Woods hopes to make it big RIYADH 18/07 Partly cloudy 18/09 Partly cloudy DUBAI 27/18 Clear 23/15 Clear LONDON: Hit movie versions The film earned more on its of them that in that one day more studio backing for a film version BAGHDAD 13/02 Partly cloudy 14/02 Chance of rain of Broadway musicals are rare first weekend than the movie people saw the film than expe- of the musical, which opened on but the creators of the Disney versions of the Abba musi- rienced it in its two Broadway Broadway in 1987. THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW film of Stephen Sondheim’s cal “Mamma Mia!” or “Les runs combined,” Platt told a news “It took time because you HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER revered “Into the Woods” are Miserables”, according to indus- conference. know musicals are still a risk and hoping its smash opening in the try website Box Office Mojo. It was never certain that Sondheim musicals are few and ATHENS 06/02 Partly cloudy 08/04 Clear United States will be replicated “It’s been a great journey and “Into the Woods”— an amalgam far between,” Marshall said. WASHINGTON -5/-5 Clear 04/-7 Partly cloudy abroad. from a business perspective we’re of familiar fairytales includ- “We brought it to Disney and The film starring Meryl Streep delighted that it is reaching a very, ing Little Red Riding Hood, we were excited that they were SYDNEY 33/21 Clear 33/21 Partly cloudy as the Witch, Emily Blunt as the very broad audience,” co-producer Cinderella and Jack and the interested in redefining what LONDON 11/06 Rain 13/12 Partly cloudy Baker’s Wife and Johnny Depp Marc Platt said yesterday. Beanstalk which do not turn out a modern fairytale could be for PARIS 11/06 Rain 14/12 Chance of rain as a louche Wolf is approaching “As a little anecdote, I actually as expected — would make it to their company. We weren’t sure ISTANBUL 00/-2 Cloudy 02/-2 Partly cloudy the $100m box-office mark since called Steve Sondheim and James the screen. that would be the case and it was, MANILA 27/21 Chance of rain 26/20 Partly cloudy its Christmas Day opening, its Lapine (who wrote the book) the Director and co-producer which was thrilling, but we had to DHAKA 23/13 Partly cloudy 23/13 Clear producers said on the eve of its day after it opened on Christmas Rob Marshall spent years trying make it for a price.” DELHI 16/06 Partly cloudy 16/06 Partly cloudy British premiere. Day and was able to say to each to pull together a cast and get REUTERS ISLAMABAD 19/04 Clear 19/05 Clear

New antibiotic may lead Off to the races! Disney to fighting park runs are a fun ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA: in costume,” said Harrell, who a carb-loading Pasta in the Park superbugs At 5am on a Sunday, thou- had a speaker attached to her party. sands of people stream down waist so she could dance and Disney designs the races LONDON: Scientists have Disneyland Drive dressed in sing to the “Guardians” sound- for first-time runners up to discovered a new antibiotic, a mix of running gear, home- track. What started with one elite athletes, said Maribeth teixobactin, that can kill seri- made costumes and face paint race in 1994 has swelled to Bisienere, a senior vice presi- ous infections in mice without as America, Thor or 190,000 people registering for dent who oversees the runDis- encountering any detectable The Hulk. the seven Disney race weekends ney business. resistance, offering a potential It’s the first Avengers Super from October 2013 to September Competitive runners can new way to get ahead of danger- Heroes Half Marathon, a 13.1- 2014. Many races sell out within use their Disney marathon ous evolving superbugs. mile contest that is part of an hours. results to qualify for the Boston Researchers said the antibi- expanding slate of sold-out races This weekend’s Walt Disney Marathon. Contestants there otic, which has yet to be tried in at Walt Disney’s theme parks in World Marathon in Orlando, for fun can stop for photos with humans, could one day be used to California and Florida. Florida, is the largest race Disney characters. “It is unusual treat drug-resistant infections Runners come to Disney weekend in the country, accord- that you get both ends of the caused by the superbug MSRA, races for the chance to dash past ing to race director Jon Hughes. running gamut,” Bisienere said. as well as tuberculosis, which nor- Space Mountain or Cinderella Starting today, more than Entry fees, which include a mally requires a combination of Castle, grab high-fives from cos- 53,000 runners will compete shirt and medal, range from drugs that can have adverse side tumed characters, and show off over four days in a marathon, $60 for a 5K, to $170-$195 for effects. their fandom. half-marathon, 10K or 5K. a marathon or half marathon. “The discovery of this novel For Disney, which has become Some will enter more than A visit to the park to ride the compound challenges long- one of the nation’s biggest race one race, and enthusiasts will attractions costs extra. held scientific beliefs and holds organisers, the multi-day influx finish all four, a 48.6-mile feat Fans say the Disney experi- great promise for treating an of runners, relatives and friends called the Dopey Challenge. Two ence is worth the price. array of menacing infections,” provides a chance to earn more race weekends have been At the Avengers race, which said Kim Lewis, a professor at extra cash and help fill theme added to this year’s runDisney wound through Disneyland and Northeastern University in the parks and hotels during slower schedule, including a Star Wars the nearby Angel Stadium, run- United States and co-founder of weekends. Half Marathon at Disneyland ners carried red, white and blue the NovoBiotic Pharmaceuticals, “I love the atmosphere,” in California, from January 15 Captain America shields and which has patented said Lauren Harrell, 27, after to 18. cardboard versions of Thor’s teixobactin. she finished the November Other upcoming events hammer, or sported Mickey Lewis worked with research- super heroes race in a hand- include half marathons with Mouse ears. J T Rose, 42, from ers at Germany’s University of painted T-shirt and foam Disney Princess or Tinker Bell Kingsport, Tennessee, in his sev- Bonn and with Britain’s Selcia headpiece as Groot, the human- themes. enth Disney race, ran as Thor’s Limited, and the finding was like tree in Disney’s Marvel The races take place inside brother Loki, with a homemade published in the journal Nature Studios film “Guardians of Disney resorts and on neigh- staff and helmet. “Everybody yesterday. the Galaxy.” bouring streets but outside of who comes to Disney gets into His co-researcher, Bonn’s Runners in super hero outfits stream past Sleeping Beauty’s Castle during “People are cheering you regular park hours. Related it,” said Rose. “All the fans are Tanya Schneider, explained in a the Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon in and around the Disney Parks in every step of the way. And events include kids’ races, a just going crazy. It’s just a really teleconference that teixobactin Anaheim, California, in this file photo. nobody judges you for dressing Diaper Dash for crawlers, and fun race.” REUTERS belongs to a new class of com- pounds and kills bacteria by causing their cell walls to break down. It seems to work by bind- ing to multiple targets, she said, which may slow down the Human tooth found in Japan McDonald’s french fries development of resistance. REUTERS TOKYO: A human tooth was found in a tooth but concluded that it had not been network. “The manager didn’t really talk setback for the firm, and comes after a french fries sold at a McDonald’s in Japan cooked, said McDonald’s Japan senior vice about how it got in and what action they customer found a piece of vinyl inside a last year, the firm said yesterday, the lat- president Hidehito Hishinuma. will take in the future. chicken nugget at an outlet in the northern est in a series of woes involving contami- “We were not able to discover how it got “I have a small child and it terrifies me city of Misawa. nated nuggets and a chip shortage. in the food,” he said. to think that they could have eaten it and There was a similar case of contamina- A customer complained to the Japanese The customer, a mother with a small choked,” she said. tion at a Tokyo branch. arm of the fast food giant after finding a child, told a TV station that the store man- McDonald’s said there were no employ- The company also said a tiny piece of foreign body in a serving of potatoes from ager who visited her said the tooth had ees missing a tooth at the outlet and it hard plastic was found in a sundae in the an outlet in Osaka, two senior vice presi- been “fried”. believed there was a very low possibility of northeastern city of Koriyama in December, dents told a press conference in Tokyo. “I received an apology only when the contamination at the US factory that had while Fuji TV said a customer last year An independent investigation ordered by store manager came over,” the customer, shipped the chips. found a piece of metal in a pancake. McDonald’s determined that the object was whose name was not revealed, told the JNN The incident is the latest public relations AFP Thursday 8 January 2015 17 Rabial I 1436 Volume 19 Number 6304 Price: QR2

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Audi Prologue concept car Qatari Diar Qatari bourse shifts Al Khaliji stake to QIA DUBAI: Qatari Diar has trans- ferred its shares in Al Khaliji index gains Commercial Bank to Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the property arm of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund said yes- terday. Diar, which had been Al 80 points Khaliji’s largest shareholders, moved 61.9 million shares in the bank to QIA on Tuesday. Based on Al Khaliji’s closing GIS, MPHC recommend dividends price on Tuesday, the stock was worth QR1.35bn, according to DOHA: Qatari bourse snapped 28 advanced yesterday as 11 Reuters calculations. a six-session losing streak yes- declined and two remained terday as sell-off by institutional unchanged. Abu Dhabi financial investors eased. The benchmark Most Gulf stock markets index edged up 0.73 percent, or rebounded on Wednesday after centre to base rules 86 points, to close at 11,898. suffering sharp losses earlier in The index moved into positive the week because of the renewed on English law territory followed by a 1.53 percent slide in oil prices. Brent futures DUBAI: Abu Dhabi’s new fall on Tuesday, which bore the have fallen more than 10 percent financial free zone plans to brunt of a renewed fall in oil prices. this week to their lowest levels base its rules on English com- The Qatar Exchange (QE) wit- since the spring of 2009, and mon law, in a decision that could nessed its longest losing streak in traded near $50 per barrel yes- reduce costs and help the emir- the recent months when it extended terday, Reuters reported. ate develop stronger banking a six -day decline on Tuesday. However, some investors have and securities market ties with Real estate sector was the main decided that Gulf equities are over- The Audi Prologue piloted driving concept car is displayed after being unveiled at the 2015 International neighbouring Dubai. supporter yesterday. The sector sold and have returned to the mar- Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The autonomous driving system uses a laser scan- AGENCIES index jumped 2.25 percent, with kets as buyers, temporarily at least. ner, several video cameras, radar sensors and ultrasound sensors. the Barwa Real Estate gaining Dubai’s bourse, which had suf- the most by 4.64 percent. Ezdan fered more than others because it added 1.41 percent, while UDC is traditionally volatile and many edged 1.05 percent up. investors are leveraged, closed 4.4 Energy-sensitive stocks Gulf percent higher at 3,600 points in The Group ranks top in brokerage business International Services and MPHC a broad recovery on strong trad- advanced. Gulf International ing volume. surged 6.93 percent as MPHC Abu Dhabi’s index gained 2.6 BY SATISH KANADY QR12.23bn in December 2014 percent (QR3.32bn) compared to trading activity on QE. added 1.24 percent. percent, Qatar rose 0.7 percent from QR4.54bn during the same 16.70 (QR3.10bn) a year ago. International Securities’ share The Board of Directors of Gulf and Kuwait edged up 0.4 percent. DOHA: The Group Securities month in the previous year. CBQ Investment Services’ in the brokerage market was International yesterday rec- Saudi Arabia’s bourse, which closes ranked top in brokerage busi- In October 2014, the mar- market share stood 7.22 per- 7.38 percent (QR30.28bn) YTD ommended a cash dividend of later in the day than other markets nesses in 2014, snatching a ket regulator Qatar Financial cent (QR29.65 percent) YTD in in December 2014, up from 6.81 QR1.02bn, equivalent to QR5.5 per in the region, was up 1.3 percent. 31.26 percent of the total value Markets Authority (QFMA) December against 7.54 percent percent (QR10.94bn) during the share to the shareholders for the Shares in Kuwait’s Al of shares traded on Qatar announced financial services car- (QR12.12bn) during the corre- same period in 2013. Dlala-Islamic financial year ended December Qurain Holding tumbled their Exchange (QE). Through a total rying out margin trading on behalf sponding period in 2013. Qatar Brokerage clutched 3.20 percent 2014. The figure represents a daily 10 percent limit after the of nearly two million transac- of clients would be issued licences Securities’ share was 9.29 percent of the trading value (QR13.14bn) 243.7 percent growth compared to firm’s shareholders decided tions, the combined value of total by it. It had also laid down a set (QR38.15bn) against 10.26 percent against 3.02 percent (QR4.85bn) the previous distribution amount to delist it from the bourse, shares traded by the brokerage of guidelines for those wishing to (QR16.49bn) YTD December during the corresponding period of QR297.34m for the same period disappointed with the stock’s company hit QR128bn year-to- indulge in margin trading on the 2013. in 2013. in the previous year. performance. date (YTD) in December. bourse. Margin trading essentially The Gulf Investment Group The market share of Al-Ahli The MPHC’s board of direc- Kuwait’s market underper- QNB Financial Services, the allows those investing in the stock grabbed 8.6 percent share of the Brokerage rose to 1.17 percent tors recommended a dividend formed the region last year, partly brokerage arm of QNB Group, market to borrow funds in order trading value (QR35.39bn) YTD (QR4.79bn) YTD in December of QR1.38bn, compared to an because of investors’ frustration garnered 16.54 percent share of to purchase shares. in December against 9.38 per- 2014,from 0.98 percent (QR1.56bn) amount of QR440m distributed with the slow implementation of the total trading activity on QE, Dlala Brokerage acquired cent (QR15.08bn) during the during the same period in the for the four-month period ended development projects. with a trading value of QR67.91bn. 10.57 percent of trading value corresponding period in 2013. previous year. Al Rayan Financial December 31, 2013. In Oman, Index edged down In December 2014, The Group’s (QR43.40bn) YTD in December Islamic Securities’ share stood at Brokers’ market share stood at Over 12 million shares 0.4 percent to 6,204 points, while market share stood a high 35.05 2014, compared to 12.25 per- 4.15 percent (QR17.02bn) during 0.59 percent (QR2.42bn), up from worth a total value of QR514m Bahrain inched down 0.1 percent percent, up from 24.46 percent cent (QR19.69bn) same period the period. The brokerage firm’s 0.31 percent ( QR497m) YTD in exchanged hands yesterday. Of to 1,425 points. recorded a year ago. The Group’s in December 2013. It’s share in December 2014 share accounted December 2013. the total 41 traded companies, THE PENINSULA total traded value jumped to December 2014 accounted for 9.54 for 5.66 percent of the total THE PENINSULA

British car sales Oil snaps losing streak to level off after hitting 10-year high as US stocks drop

LONDON: Britons bought NEW YORK: The selloff in oil over half their value from June highs, nearly 2.5 million new cars last paused yesterday for the first especially after the astounding 10 year, the most in a decade and time in five days, with traders percent drop in the past two days. almost 10 percent more than appearing to take stock of the Others thought yesterday’s in 2013, as economic optimism market’s rout after crude prices price action was just a reprieve and cheap finance cemented the lost nearly 10 percent over two ahead of another leg lower. country’s position as the bright- days and benchmark Brent fell “I would call this a dead cat est auto market in Europe. to below $50 a barrel. bounce,” said Tariq Zahir, man- Sales should rise again this Support for oil emerged after aging member at Tyche Capital year, but much more slowly as weekly data for US crude inven- Advisors in Laurel Hollow in New pent-up demand starts to ebb and tories showed a surprising drop York. “Nothing’s fundamentally motorists face the risk of higher last week, although gasoline and changed. These people that have taxes after May’s national elec- distillates stocks still rose more gone trying to pick a bottom have tion, an industry body said. than expected. been wrong for weeks on end.” The Society of Motor Crude prices, down earlier in The EIA said US crude inven- Manufacturers and Traders said the day after the first negative tories fell by just over three mil- new car registrations totalled 2.476 reading in five years for euro lion barrels last week, versus million in 2014, up 9.3 percent on zone inflation, turned positive analysts’ expectations for a build 2013, above the long-run average with the inventory data issued of 880,000 barrels. and the highest number since 2004. by the US Energy Information But stocks at the Cushing, “For the market as a whole, Administration (EIA). Oklahoma, delivery hub for US we expect a more stable 2015 as Brent’s front-month contract crude rose by more than 1 mil- demand levels off,” the SMMT said. hovered near $51 a barrel by lion barrels. Gasoline inventories Its chief executive Mike Hawes saw 12.25pm ET (1725 GMT), down surged by over 8 million barrels growth in 2015 of 2-3 percent. about 10 cents from Tuesday’s close. and distillate stockpiles jumped “Current levels are hugely pos- Brent hit a session low of $49.66 by more than 11 million barrels. itive, and flat sales this coming earlier after the data showing euro- Some analysts said better- year, or even a slight reduction, zone consumer prices fell by more than-expected US jobs data on should still be seen as a positive than expected in December. Wednesday could have aided sen- position, and not a tale of woe,” US crude was up 70 cents at timent in oil. Private employers in said David Raistrick, an auto $48.63, after rallying earlier to the United States added 241,000 industry specialist at accountants A flame shoots out of a chimney at a petro-industrial factory in Kawasaki near Tokyo. Oil prices may continue to $49.31. jobs in December, beating the Deloitte. drop as high production meets weak demand, and a strong US dollar pressures crude, and markets will only pick Some traders said oil markets median forecasts of analysts. REUTERS up once major manufacturing economies particularly in Asia feel the benefit of cheaper energy. could be at a crossroads after losing REUTERS THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Ukraine policy Cheap oil may trigger eurozone deflation changes to ECB likely to announce government bond buying on January 22; unemployment flat at 11.5pc hurt: Warns

BRUSSELS: Eurozone inflation (the ECB) needed,” said Peter sharp fall in HICP inflation in at rock bottom, the ECB has bond-buying. This would leave the gas producers turned negative in December Vanden Houte, chief economist at January, by around -0.5 percent been preparing a QE programme risk and cost of QE with individ- for the first time since 2009, ING. “The economy is weak and year-on-year,” said Gizem Kara, to inject even more cash into ual countries, something critics LONON: Two British energy with cheap oil driving a bigger inflation negative. That should be senior European economist at the eurozone economy, to boost say would undermine efforts to companies with operations in than expected decline that may enough.” BNP Paribas. demand and make prices rise buoy the bloc, now 19-strong after Ukraine said their sales and prompt the European Central In a separate release, Eurostat “HICP inflation will then hover faster. Lithuania joined this month. investments in the country Bank to start printing money. said euro zone unemployment slightly below zero for most of Economists say a decision to To complicate matters more, would be hurt by the belea- The European statistics office was stable at 11.5 percent in 2015 according to our forecasts.” launch such bond-buying could Greece will hold parliamentary guered nation’s policies to said in a first estimate yesterday November, although the number Since the euro’s 1999 launch, be made at the ECB’s next meet- elections on January 25. Leftist address its energy shortfall. that prices in the 18 countries of people without a job increased inflation has only once before ing on January 22, although ECB Syriza, which leads opinion polls, JKX Oil & Gas Plc said it would using the euro in December were by 34,000 from a month before. fallen below zero, staying there President Mario Draghi will have says it will cancel austerity and a suspend investments in Ukraine 0.2 percent lower than a year Core inflation, which excludes for five months in 2009, although to overcome opposition from big chunk of national debt, mak- and that its sales would fall fur- before, after rising 0.3 percent volatile energy and food prices, it has been in what the ECB calls Germany’s Bundesbank that could ing any ECB purchases of Greek ther, due to restrictions on sell- in November. The last time euro was stable at an annual 0.7 per- the ‘danger zone’ below 1 percent curb the scope of any programme. bonds even more risky. ing gas to industrial clients and zone inflation was negative was cent in December — the same since October 2013. “We are in technical prepa- “The Greek issue could com- the continuation of high taxes on in October 2009, when it was -0.1 level as in November and October. IHS Global Insight econo- rations to adjust the size, speed plicate the (ECB) announcement production. percent. But energy prices plunged 6.3 mist Howard Archer said the and compositions of our meas- (on QE),” ABN AMRO economist Regal Petroleum Plc, which gets Economists polled by Reuters percent and unprocessed food was ECB would usually look through ures early 2015, should it become Nick Kounis said. all its revenue from Ukraine, also had expected a -0.1 percent year- one percent cheaper, outweigh- changes to inflation driven by necessary to react to a too-long “We expect the ECB to announce blamed these regulation changes on-year fall in prices. The ECB ing a 1.2 percent rise in the cost oil. But December’s figure will period of low inflation. There is that it will embark on a large for its decision to review invest- aims to keep inflation just under of services. Oil prices have more leave the central bank “seri- unanimity within the Governing scale asset purchase programme, ments in the country. two percent over the medium than halved since June, with ously concerned” that inflation Council on this,” Draghi said on including sovereign bonds, at its Shares in JKX, which gets most term and is widely expected to Brent at around $51 per barrel expectations will weaken fur- January 1. January meeting. However, it may of its gas from Ukraine, fell as respond to the lurch into deflation yesterday. ther, encouraging consumers Officials have recently said the well hold off from providing any much as 21 percent yesterday on by launching a programme of gov- “Due to the further fall in oil to hold back purchases in the ECB could require central banks further details until March, giving the London Stock Exchange. ernment bond buying with new prices, the inflationary downtrend hope of even lower prices and so in countries such as Greece or it a chance to see how the situation Russia’s Gazprom OAO cut money, or quantitative easing. is set to continue over the com- entrenching deflation. Portugal to set aside extra cash to in Greece turns out.” gas deliveries to Ukraine for six “It’s probably the figure they ing months. We expect another With interest rates are already cover potential losses from such REUTERS months last year before agreeing last month to resume supplies until the end of the first quar- ter. Separatist fighting in east- Cathode cleaning ern Ukraine crippled coal supply, exacerbating its energy supply Euro slide not over as worries. In mid-2014, the country imposed rules mandating gas output be sup- plied to the population rather than pressure grows on ECB to industries and almost doubled its tax on gas production to 55 per- LONDON: The euro’s slide is already they were far weaker cent. The higher rate stays in effect not yet over because diverg- than in a poll last month when this year as well. ing monetary policies at the the respective forecasts were Regal Petroleum, whose gas European Central Bank and the $1.24, $1.20 and $1.18. output accounts for 45 percent of United States Federal Reserve Central banks themselves are total production, said yesterday it will sink the currency to lev- growing more wary of the euro, expects gas prices to be less than els not seen since late 2003, a the second-biggest reserve cur- before the supply restrictions and Reuters poll found. rency after the dollar. that the higher tax would likely Fears that cheap oil will tip the The share of currency reserves “continue for the foreseeable now 19-member bloc into a defla- in the euro held by central banks future”. tionary spiral have increased calls fell to its lowest in over a dec- “The situation cannot exist over for the ECB to take urgent action, ade in the third quarter of 2014 a long time because otherwise possibly as soon as the Governing at less than 23 percent, accord- Ukraine will find itself completely Council’s January 22 meeting. ing to International Monetary at the mercy of the Russian gas Conversely, the Fed is widely Fund data. Sterling will also gain suppliers, and all Russia needs to expected to begin tightening its ground on the euro in the year do is turn the tap off to reduce policy later this year given robust ahead, the poll predicts. Ukraine to a complete shivering job gains and bullish growth signs It concluded you will need 78.2 wreck”, a JKX spokesman said. in the world’s biggest economy. pence to get one euro in a month, US energy major Chevron “We have the existing dispar- 77.1p in six months and just 76.0p Corp said last month it planned ity between ECB policy and Fed in a year. Last month the respec- to withdraw from a $10bn shale policy. Certainly quantitative eas- tive forecasts were 79.1p, 77.4p gas deal with Kiev. ing is priced in to a large extent and 76.5p. A worker cleans copper cathodes inside a plant at the copper refinery of Codelco Ventanas in Ventanas city, REUTERS but not fully,” said Jane Foley at Like the Fed, the Bank of northwest of Santigo in Chile. Rabobank, the most accurate England is expected to begin rais- 12-month euro forecaster in ing interest rates from record lows Reuters polls last year. later this year, although a recent The euro lost around 13 per- bout of weaker British data and cent against the dollar last year falling inflation have called the and sank to a nine-year low of timing into doubt and the pound Ireland begins 7-year bond sale to solid demand $1.184 yesterday amid gloomy eco- will struggle against the dollar. nomic data and renewed fears of Cable, trading around $1.51 ear- DUBLIN/LONDON: Ireland that Ireland was likely to seek Greek 10-year bond yields rose Dublin plans to use cheaper a Greek exit that could bring the lier on Wednesday, was predicted began selling a 7-year bond via to raise ¤3bn to ¤4 bn, though above 10 percent for the first market funding to replace more monetary union to its knees. to be at $1.53 in a month, $1.52 in syndication yesterday, setting traders said the amount could time since September 2013 as than ¤18bn of the money it bor- “Political risk is potentially the six and $1.51 in 12. The December it on course to cover as much be higher. Irish debt moves closer to per- rowed in 2010 as part of a three- new factor for 2015 and not just poll was much more bullish about as a third of its planned issu- In common with much of the ceived safer bets such as Belgium, year bailout. It repaid ¤9bn last with Greece ... the risk could be sterling with respective $1.57, ance for the year at record rest of the eurozone, yields on which was selling 10-year debt at month to start reducing the cost extended as we go into Spanish $1.55 and $1.54 forecasts. low borrowing costs below one Irish bonds have fallen sharply 11 basis points over mid-swaps of carrying national debt set and Portuguese elections too,” Speculators renewed their percent. in the past year, aided by an eco- yesterday. to remain above 100 percent of Foley said. net long dollar position at the Among the first eurozone nomic recovery which is likely to Fully pre-funded for the rest of annual economic output until According to the poll of over end of last year, data from the countries to mandate banks to have seen Ireland’s economy grow 2015, Dublin plans to issue ¤12bn 2018. 50 foreign exchange strategists, Commodity Futures Trading kick off their funding for the faster than any other European to ¤15bn of long-term bonds this Ireland raised 3.75 billion euros the euro will rally to $1.20 in a Commission showed, suggesting year, Ireland set guidance at 36 Union country in 2014. year. It said last month it would towards making the first repay- month then fall back to $1.18 in they also expect it to strengthen. basis points over mid-swaps, a The cost of borrowing 10-year include at least one syndicated ment by selling new 15-year debt six months. But at the end of this Dollar strength — it ended 2014 lead banker on the deal said. That debt issued by Dublin on second- issue. at a record-low yield of 2.49 per- year it will sit at $1.15, a level not with a gain of nearly 13 percent implies a yield of less than 0.85 ary markets was near record As well as beginning to cover cent in November. seen since late 2003. against a basket of major curren- percent. lows at 1.18 percent yesterday, its funding requirements for 2016, Barclays, Davy, HSBC, J.P. Nearly all those forecasts were cies — will also keep weakening Bids in excess of ¤5.75bn had having barely reacted to the call- Ireland needs to raise debt this Morgan, Nomura and Royal Bank taken before official data showed the Japanese yen, to 123.0 in six been received by 1100 GMT, ing of snap elections in Greece, year to finish refinancing the of Scotland were mandated as inflation fell more than expected months and 125.0 in a year. the banker said. A market which hit bonds from some other majority of its bailout loans from joint lead managers for the issue. to -0.2 percent in December. But REUTERS source told said on Tuesday peripheral euro zone countries. the International Monetary Fund. REUTERS

Global Brands honours for Barwa Bank Gold slips on strong dollar

LONDON: Gold eased yester- dollar, but that was because interest rates would encour- day after a three-day winning both were moved by safe-haven age investors to put money into streak as the dollar and equities considerations, given worries riskier assets such as stocks and strengthened, but prices held about the eurozone economy,” bonds. above $1,200 an ounce and near Macquarie analyst Matthew The metal was also undermined their highest in three weeks Turner said. by an oil price drop, which reduces ahead of minutes from the US “And if the dollar gets another gold’s appeal as a hedge against Federal Reserve’s December leg higher because the minutes oil-led inflation, and recovering policy meeting. are hawkish and the nonfarm stocks after data showing price Spot gold fell 0.3 percent to payrolls are strong, the negative deflation in the euro zone was $1,214.95 an ounce by 1543 GMT, correlation between gold and the seen as likely to trigger a bond- after jumping to its highest since dollar will reassert itself.” buying scheme by the European December 15 at $1,222.40 in the The dollar rose 0.8 percent Central Bank. previous session as equities fell on against a basket of major curren- Meanwhile, increasing specula- concerns over Greece’s future in cies, trading close to a nine-year tion that Greece might exit the the euro zone. peak and making dollar-denom- euro zone if a left-wing party that US gold futures for delivery inated gold more expensive for wants to cancel austerity meas- in February fell 0.4 percent to holders of other currencies. ures wins the Jan. 25 elections $1,214.60 an ounce. Investors waited for the US could lift gold’s demand from Gold’s near-term resistance Federal Reserve’s December investors looking for protection, for the closing price is expected meeting minutes, which should traders said. at $1,220, while a close above give markets some clues as to the Silver reversed earlier losses to that level would shift the focus timing of interest rate rises, and trade up 0.5 percent at $16.59 an Barwa Bank was named the “Best Internet Banking Brand Middle East 2014,” “Best Mobile Banking Brand to further gains, with a target US payrolls data on Friday. ounce, while platinum was up 0.2 Middle East 2014,” and “Best Customer Service Banking Brand Middle East 2014” at the Global Brands of $1,250, technical analysts at Gold has benefited from years percent at $1,216.74 an ounce and Publication Awards 2014. Anoud Al Rajab, Barwa Bank’s Al Sadd Branch Manager, received the awards at The ScotiaMocatta said. of increased central bank liquid- palladium was down 1.2 percent Address Downtown, Dubai. “Gold has done well recently ity and a low interest rates to $791.47 an ounce. to rally despite a stronger environment, while higher US REUTERS THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19

Oman has no Japan seeks to specific plan to cut spending: sell sub-hunting Finance minister MUSCAT: Oman has no spe- cific plans to reduce state spend- ing this year, its minister for jet to Britain financial affairs said yesterday, despite the plunge in oil prices to well below the level assumed in its government budget. Boeing’s P-8 Poseidon strong contender “There are no specific plans to cut public expenditure at this TOKYO: Japan is asking “It has potential customers time. We are observing the situ- Britain to buy its P-1 subma- beyond the UK, like New Zealand, ation closely and the oil prices rine-hunting jet in a deal that Norway and Canada, with large are still fluctuating,” Darwish Al could top $1bn, a major step in maritime areas,” said UK con- Balushi said. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s sultant Simon Chelton, a former “When needed, steps will be push to arms exports after dec- BAE Systems Plc executive and taken to maintain the economy’s ades of self-imposed restric- defence attache at the British performance,” he added without tions, people with knowledge of Embassy in Tokyo. giving details. the proposal said. “We are considering a number In its 2015 budget plan, released Britain has not formally of options in regard to defence last week, the finance ministry decided it will buy new maritime equipment sales, but we don’t said it would raise state spend- patrol planes, having cancelled comment on specific deals,” said ing by 4.5 percent from last an order for nine built by BAE Japanese Defence Ministry’s year’s original plan to RO14.1bn Systems in 2010 due to delays and spokesman Hirofumi Takeda. ($36.6bn). cost over-runs, and the P-1, made “We are not aware of the dis- Revenues this year were pro- by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, cussion so we can’t comment,” said jected at RO11.6bn, down one per- would face stiff competition from Teppei Kobayashi, a spokesman A Bentley Mulsanne Speed, a Bentley Flying Spur, and a Bentley GTC Speed (right) are lined up in the courtyard cent, leaving a budget deficit of Boeing’s P-8 Poseidon, the three for Kawasaki Heavy. “In general of a hotel in central London yesterday. RO2.5bn — Oman’s biggest fiscal sources said. it is a matter of national policy, so gap since at least 1990. Japanese officials raised the if there is a decision that results Balushi said yesterday that the issue of London buying the P-1 to in an order, we will follow that.” Bentley sees new SUV doubling budget assumed oil prices would replace the British-made Hawker Britain’s Ministry of Defence average $75 per barrel this year. Siddeley Nimrod, which was said it provided maritime surveil- The price of Brent crude oil retired in 2011, when they met lance using a combination of ships, slipped below $50 per barrel yes- their UK counterparts to discuss submarines and aircraft, and sales by ’20 after record delivery terday, to its lowest level since defence-equipment cooperation at coordinated closely with allies. April 2009, after a roughly $66 the Farnborough Air Show near “We will continue to assess LONDON/BERLIN: Bentley forecast of selling 3,000 SUVs a two percent of Bentley’s global drop over the past six months. London in July, the sources said. future requirements ahead of a Motors expects its first sport- year could be conservative. volume and totalled about 230 In November an advisory body After Abe eased curbs on mili- decision in the next Strategic utility vehicle (SUV) to help First deliveries of the new car vehicles, a spokesman said. to Oman’s government suggested tary exports in April, his Defence Defence and Security Review in almost double sales by 2020, will be made next year. The Americas remained sweeping spending cuts and tax Ministry has been looking to tap 2015,” an MOD spokesperson said. the British luxury carmaker The 96 year-old brand, whose Bentley’s biggest market in 2014, rises to cope with the reduction of foreign markets for its cocooned Senior Japanese and UK offi- said yesterday, after reporting customers include Queen with China coming a close second, oil revenues, including a levy on liq- weapons makers, including poten- cials will have a chance to discuss record deliveries last year. Elizabeth II and the Sultan of after sales there jumped 22 per- uefied natural gas exports, a royalty tial deals to sell subs to Australia the idea on Monday at a strategic Volkswagen-owned Bentley Brunei, delivered a record 11,020 cent from the previous year. on the revenues of telecommunica- and seaplanes to India. A P-1 sale dialogue in London organised by expects to increase sales to 20,000 saloons, coupes and convertibles Bentley’s strong growth in tions operators, and a hike in royal- to Britain would be Japan’s first independent British and Japanese a year by the end of the decade, in 2014, 9 percent more than in China came despite analysts ties paid for mineral exploitation. major military deal outside the think-tanks. a spokesman said, after previ- 2013, with growth powered by warning of an end to the country’s Balushi did not say on Asia-Pacific region. The P-1, designed to patrol ously targeting 15,000 deliveries demand from China. 10-year luxury car sales boom, Wednesday which if any of the Abe wants Japan’s defence Japan’s territorial waters from by 2018. Geopolitical risks made it which has been hit by President revenue-raising steps had been suppliers to move into the global the Pacific to the East China “We think the success of the impossible to project Bentley’s Xi Jinping’s crackdown on extrav- adopted. Last month, Omani arms market through tie-ups that Sea, where Beijing claims small SUV will lift us into a new dimen- sales performance in 2015 but it agance by government officials. cement firms said the govern- will help bring down procurement islands held by Tokyo, will be the sion,” Chief Executive Wolfgang was preparing for “a very strong “In terms of growth, China is ment would double the natural costs and strengthen the nation’s country’s principal sub hunter for Duerheimer said at a press con- year again,” CEO Duerheimer still the most important and most gas charges which they pay. A military to counter China’s grow- decades to come. ference in London, adding the said. interesting region,” Duerheimer proposal to tax foreign workers’ ing military might. Japan’s navy plans to buy vehicle would be unveiled this Last year’s sales in Russia, said. Rose said Bentley had remittances was rejected. Even if Britain doesn’t buy, around 20, costing about 20bn yen year, potentially at the Geneva where the rouble has been ham- around a 35 percent share of Asked about a drop in the the P-1 could benefit from being ($170mn) each, over the next five auto show in March. mered by slumping oil prices and China’s ultra-luxury car mar- projected fuel subsidy cost to treated as a genuine contender. years, though cracks in the fuse- Over 4,000 potential customers Western sanctions related to the ket and that its customers there RO580m in the 2015 budget from “If the UK gives it serious con- lage and wing and engine prob- have already expressed an inter- crisis in Ukraine, were in line with tended to be entrepreneurs not RO860m in 2014, Balushi said: sideration, then the P-1 will gar- lems have delayed its entry into est in the SUV without having 2013 levels, Rose said, predicting a affected by the crackdown as “It had to do with the drop in oil ner attention internationally,” one service. seen it, Bentley has said, leading similar outcome for 2015. much as government employees. prices only, not any subsidy cuts.” Japanese source said. REUTERS sales chief Kevin Rose to say a Russian sales account for about REUTERS REUTERS

Gulf Air gets MEET ICT award Not planning Shell to pay $83.5m compensation for Greek eurozone exit, to Nigerian fishing community says Germany LONDON: Royal Dutch Shell illegal refining. Commentators Conservation and Development is to pay more than $80m to a said the clean-up could take sev- Initiative group, said this was BERLIN: Germany is not plan- Nigerian fishing community eral years. more important that the com- ning for a Greek exit from the “devastated” by two serious oil Amnesty said the Bodo com- pensation. “The issue is whether eurozone and has not changed spills in 2008, it was announced munity had been “devastated” by (the Bodo people) can go back to its policy towards Athens, yesterday, while the clean-up the spills and, without compensa- their activities which were fishing Chancellor Angela Merkel’s could take years. tion, fishermen and farmers had and farming,” he said. spokesman said yesterday, after The Anglo-Dutch energy faced poverty in the years since. “Even if both the Nigerian gov- the Bild newspaper said Berlin giant’s Nigerian arm has agreed The rights group called the ernment and Shell get very seri- was working on contingency to pay £55m ($83.5m) to people in settlement an “important vic- ous about it, it could take at least plans for such a move. Bodo, a town in southern Nigeria, tory for the victims of corporate five to 10 years to restore things Mass-selling Bild said the gov- following a three-year legal battle. negligence”. to where they were before the oil ernment was running scenarios The Shell Petroleum Company Chief Sylvester Kogbara, chair- spills. for Greece’s January 25 election, of Nigeria (SPDC) will pay around man of the Bodo council of chiefs “It’s about the restoration of including a run on Greek banks, £35m compensation to 15,600 and elders, said his community the ecosystem and of the liveli- in case of a victory by the left- Nigerian fishermen whose liveli- was happy the case had finally hood of the Bodo people.” wing Syriza party, which wants hoods were affected, and a further been laid to rest and hoped it Nigeria is Africa’s biggest crude to cancel austerity measures and £20m to the wider community. would forge better relations producer, but much of the Niger a part of the country’s debt. Each individual will receive between Shell and other Delta Delta oil region remains deeply “I don’t know of any such around £2,200, equivalent to communities “impacted in the impoverished. plans and certainly the political around three years’ income on same way as us”. Decades of spills have caused leadership in the chancellery is the Nigerian minimum wage, “We are hopeful that the clean- widespread pollution in the not looking at such scenarios,” said their London-based lawyers up of the Bodo environment will region. spokesman Steffen Seibert told Leigh Day, who have received the follow suit in no distant time,” he Leigh Day claimed Shell made reporters when asked about the money. said. The clean-up is expected to an early offer of £4,000 compensa- report. ’s Electronic Flight Bags received MEET ICT Excellence SPDC is set to clean up the begin over the next two to three tion; sources claimed the commu- A spokesman for the finance award for best mobile application. Gulf Air Director of Information affected area, but insisted most oil months. nity’s lawyers were seeking more ministry echoed his remarks. Technology Dr Jassim Haji received the award from Bahrain’s pollution in the Niger Delta region Nigerian ecologist Ako Amadi, than £300m. Talk of a “Grexit” has spi- Minister of Transportation and Communication Kamal bin Ahmed was caused by sabotage, theft and who heads the Community AFP ralled in recent days, but Seibert Mohammed. has stressed that German policy remains the stabilisation of the euro zone without the loss of any of its members. Der Spiegel magazine reported German labour market undaunted by economic weakness on Saturday that Berlin con- sidered a Greek exit almost unavoidable if Syriza wins, but FRANKFURT: The German in early 2012. The unemployment “The trend in employment Germany averted a new reces- the course of 2015.” Natixis believed the eurozone would be labour market continued to rate — which measures the job- remains pointed upwards.” sion when gross domestic product economist Johannes Gareis said able to cope. Syriza is ahead of shine in December, shrugging less total against the working The German economy, Europe’s (GDP) expanded by a modest 0.1 the German labour market “has other parties in Greek opinion off current economic weakness, population as a whole — slipped powerhouse, has lost some of its percent in the third quarter. shown great resilience in the polls. with unemployment now at its to 6.5 percent in December from shine in recent months as uncer- Private and government con- course of 2014... and exhibits Bild said government experts lowest level since unification, 6.6 percent in November in sea- tainty resulting from geopolitical sumption is currently keeping the no signs of spillovers from the were concerned about a possible official data showed yesterday. sonally-adjusted terms, the office crises such as Ukraine under- German economic engine ticking current slowdown in economic bank collapse if customers storm The number of people regis- calculated. mined the outlook for recovery. over, while falling investment is growth.” Greek institutions to secure euro tered as unemployed in Europe’s The jobless rate has never been The new political crisis in preventing a more broad-based In fact, the buoyant labour deposits if Athens leaves the sin- biggest economy fell by a sea- lower since Germany reunited in Greece is also casting a shadow recovery, the latest GDP data market “continues to be reliable gle currency bloc. sonally-adjusted 27,000 to 2.841 1990 after the fall of the Berlin over the eurozone as a whole, showed. driver of Germany’s growth,” The European Union banking million in December, the Federal Wall the previous year. although most commentators GDP “is likely to have expanded boosting household confidence union would then have to inter- Labour Office said. “The labour market continued believe the fallout from that will only slightly again in the fourth and supporting wage growth and vene with a bailout worth billions, That is the lowest number since to develop favourably, independ- remain limited. quarter,” the labour office said, thus private consumption, the it said. December 1991, although the job- ent of the weak economy,” the Sentiment indicators are ten- but added that “slightly stronger expert argued. REUTERS less total came close to these levels labour office said. tatively pointing up again. And growth can be expected during AFP THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Abu Dhabi Dubai Islamic Bank to test bond market plastic maker Bank needs capital boost after strong growth, to issue sukuk, says CEO says prices to

DUBAI: Dubai Islamic Bank meeting of Opec ministers said The last deal from a Gulf issuer unit of Mashreq bank. Executive Adnan Chilwan said it be steady will reopen the Gulf bond mar- the group would not cut output came on November 12, when fel- “We will need stability in oil would need to bolster its capital ket next week with a capital- to support prices. low Dubai lender NBD prices for spreads to start tight- reserves to sustain growth. DUBAI: Abu Dhabi plastics boosting sukuk, the region’s Oil and gas production account completed a $500m five-year ening again. But there is still Strong lending and acquisi- manufacturer Borouge expects first debt offering in two months for nearly half of economic output trade. Prior to that, there had strong liquidity in the market tions had reduced its total capital steady demand to help stabi- as financial markets there wob- in the six Gulf Cooperation Council been 14 deals since September 4. and the widening in this region adequacy ratio - a key indicator lise product prices in 2015 after bled under the impact of falling nations, some three-quarters of Against this backdrop, DIB has been much more disciplined of the bank’s health - to 15.2 per- oil’s plunge pushed plastic oil prices. exports, and an even higher ratio said on Tuesday it had picked than in other regions.” cent on Sept. 30. While above the prices down 20 percent between A successful offering would of state revenues, raising fears eight banks to arrange roadshows A strong deal could acceler- minimum 12 percent set down by September and January, a sen- not just bolster reserves at DIB, about the effect on local economies. between January 8 and 12 in Hong ate the plans of other potential the UAE central bank, it was 3 ior executive said yesterday. the largest Islamic bank in the Stock markets in Dubai and Kong, Singapore, the UAE and issuers who have been waiting on percentage points down from the Borouge is a joint venture , but also Saudi Arabia have slipped by 19.4 London. The potential benchmark the sidelines, a senior Gulf-based start of 2014. between state-owned Abu Dhabi pave the way for others who may percent and 11 percent respec- size dollar sukuk issue will boost banker on the deal said on con- HSBC and Standard Chartered National Oil Company and have been waiting to see the fall- tively since the Opec gather- the bank’s Tier 1, or core, capital. dition of anonymity as he is not are joint structuring banks for Austria’s Borealis. out from oil prices before coming ing, while debt yields have risen. Despite the lack of bond deals allowed to speak to the media. the potential issue, with Al Hilal Its product prices fell by an to the market. Dubai’s 3.875 percent January 2023 and higher potential costs for A slew of companies had Bank, Emirates NBD, National average of 20 percent from Benchmark Brent oil has sukuk widened by 77 basis points issuing new debt, the DIB deal announced plans last year for bond Bank of Abu Dhabi, Noor Bank, September to January, Hazeem plunged by more than half from between the end of November and should find strong local demand issues including Bank Muscat, Sharjah Islamic Bank and DIB’s Sultan Al Suwaidi, Borouge sen- its June peak, hitting a 5-1/2-year mid-December to 4.483 percent. if it is priced well, said Abdul Gulf Finance House and Etisalat. own investment banking team ior vice president for Middle East low on Tuesday. The slump gath- The volatility brought a halt Kadir Hussain, chief executive at The transaction is important chosen for the deal. and Africa, told reporters. ered pace after a November 27 to what had been active issuance. Mashreq Capital, the investment for DIB, after the bank’s Chief REUTERS “I see 2015 as very challenging for all petrochemicals given the fact that oil prices continue to drop,” said Suwaidi. “The consumer packaging that we use every day, that’s not going Spanish economy shows to stop — demand for that seg- ment is quite strong,” he added. Petrochemical prices are linked to oil prices, because crude is signs of recovery often the main feedstock. Borouge relies on gas instead, but oil has MADRID: Fewer Spaniards economic situation will improve still had an impact on plastic stood in jobless queues in 2014, or at least remain stable in 2015, prices due to the broader correla- consumer spending rose and according to a survey by DYM tion between oil and petrochemi- banks boosted lending — all Market research published last cals, said Suwaidi. signs pointing to Spain’s econ- week by online newspaper El Gulf producers also typically omy getting back on track after Confidencial. enjoy subsidised energy costs, six years of a gruelling financial Those who fear that the new meaning higher energy prices crisis. year will be one of economic dif- provide a greater competitive The number of people reg- ficulty fell to 36 percent from 51 advantage over manufacturers istered as unemployed in 2014 percent during the same time a lacking such benefits. dipped by 253,627 to 4.45 million, year earlier. Borouge’s 2014 capacity was the labour ministry said this The growing optimism has also about two million tonnes and will week. spurred a shopping spree. reach nearly four million tonnes It was the second consecutive Sales over the Christmas this year as its Borouge three yearly drop since a decade-long season, which in Spain ended plant, in which it has invested property bubble burst in 2008, on Tuesday on the Feast of the up to $4bn, raises production. throwing millions of people out Epiphany when gifts are tradi- Capacity will be 4.5 million tonnes of work. tionally opened, are expected to in 2016, said Suwaidi. While the unemployment rate post their biggest rise in seven — which is calculated differ- years. SABB to raise ently—was 23.67 percent in the In November retail sales posted third quarter, one of the highest a 1.9 percent increase over the capital by 50pc rates in the industrialised world, same year-ago period. the dip in the jobless numbers New car sales — a key measure Women walk past a shop window announcing the start of the winter sales in Madrid yesterday. DUBAI: Saudi British Bank last year gives a ray of hope to of demand — jumped 18 percent in (SABB) has received approval job seekers, many of whom have 2014 to 855,308 vehicles, the best economy. A tax reform which 2007, expanding by 0.6 percent. fourth-largest economy last year, to raise its capital by 50 per- seen their unemployment benefits annual performance since 2010, came into effect in January may Prime Minister Mariano up from ¤20bn in 2013, according cent to SR15bn ($4bn) through run out. helped in part by a government also give the economy a boost. Rajoy’s government estimates the to an estimate by daily business a bonus share issue, the bourse “Today there is greater confi- subsidy scheme, according to car- It will reduce the tax bill of the economy will have expanded by newspaper Expansion. regulator said yesterday. dence in Spain in the ability to makers association Anfac. lowest-income groups on aver- 1.3 percent in 2014 and will grow US billionaire Warren Buffett, The Capital Market Authority find work in the coming months,” Government borrowing costs age by ¤320 ($385) per house- by 2.0 percent in 2015, a faster nicknamed the “Sage of Omaha” said Saudi British Bank, an affil- said Labour Minister Fatima are down and banks, which were hold per year, according to the growth rate than is expected in for his successful track record iate of HSBC Holdings, could Banez of the ruling conservative saddled with bad debt after the government. France, Germany and Italy. in investments, opened an office issue one bonus share for every government which faces regional property crash in 2008, also Spain emerged timidly from And foreign investors are step- in Madrid to seize opportunities two shares held, increasing the and legislative elections this year. appear more willing to lend, the recession in mid-2013 and in the ping back into Spain. in the real estate market where number of the bank’s outstanding One in two Spaniards, 51 Bank of Spain said in its lat- second quarter of 2014 posted its They poured ¤47bn (more prices have stabilised. shares to 1.5 billion from 1 billion. percent, believe their personal est bulletin on the state of the strongest quarterly growth since than $55bn) into the eurozone’s AFP AGENCIES Strikes spread as Brazil automakers cut jobs

SAO PAULO: Workers at a Mercedes but did not confirm how many. She had no vehicle sales fell by the most in a dozen years Benz truck factory outside of Sao Paulo immediate response to the union’s announce- due to rising interest rates, weak consumer voted yesterday to stop work for 24 hours ment of the strike beginning yesterday morn- confidence and the end of long-running tax in a protest over fired colleagues, the sec- ing. On Tuesday workers at a Volkswagen breaks for the industry. ond such strike in as many days as auto- AG plant in the same town, Sao Bernardo The labour standoff is testing the mettle makers cut payrolls in anticipation of a do Campo, declared an indefinite strike after of President Dilma Rousseff’s new economic third straight year of slumping sales. the company cut 800 workers and warned of team, which took office promising an end to The local metalworkers union said a pressing need to further trim staff. the cheap credit and tax incentives that have Mercedes Benz, a unit of Germany’s Daimler The high-profile job cuts point to rising propped up key industries but wrecked gov- AG, had cut 244 workers at the factory and tensions in the auto sector, which produces ernment accounts. In his inaugural remarks about 750 others remained on paid leave a quarter of Brazil’s industrial output, after this week, Finance Minister Joaquim Levy through April out of about 11,000 employees a slow burn of buyouts and paid leave over blamed the favoritism shown to some indus- at the plant. the past year. tries for Brazil’s fiscal challenges and lack of A Mercedes representative said some of the Payrolls in Brazil’s auto industry shrank competitiveness in many sectors. laid off workers had taken voluntary buyouts, about seven percent in 2014 as domestic REUTERS

Currencies weaken Canada trade deficit widens in November OTTAWA: Canada posted a C$644m ($544m) trade defi- cit in November, as exports to the United States and Britain fell dramatically, the govern- ment statistical agency said Wednesday. Statistics Canada also revised downward a nearly C$100m ($85m) surplus the previous month to a C$327m ($276m) def- icit. Analysts had been expect- ing a C$200m ($169m) deficit for November. According to Statistics Canada, exports to the United States — Canada’s largest trading part- ner — decreased 2.6 percent to C$32.9bn ($27.8bn) in the month. Britain led a drop in exports to other countries, down C$787m ($665m). The decline was par- tially offset by increased exports Boards showing currency exchange rates in Moscow, yesterday. Many emerging market currencies to Mexico and Hong Kong. weakened yesterday. AFP THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21 EU sanctions against Trade gap shrinks as Russia could last BY JAMEY KEATEN and SYLVIE CORBET US oil imports dry up U SANCTIONS against Russia over the crisis in Ukraine are cutting both ways: hurting Russia as well as pinching some big European companies. But economic relief isn’t BY MICHELLE has continued into 2015. Outside US products. Exports declined a slowing in exports amid wan- Elikely any time soon, diplomats and analysts say, since EU JAMRISKO of fuel, Americans bought record 1 percent to $196.4bn from ing global demand won’t spoil a divisions make the sanctions tough to overturn. amounts of consumer goods that $198.3bn in October. US. trend of 3 percent growth France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine are trying to set up talks HE trade deficit nar- shows the world’s largest econ- After eliminating the influ- or better this year. next week in Astana, Kazakhstan, to ease the tensions behind the rowed more than fore- omy is strengthening. ence of prices, which generates “While the strong dollar does punitive measures that, along with slumping oil prices and US cast in November as “Domestic demand here is the numbers used to calculate have the potential to put some sanctions, have sent the ruble sinking. US petroleum imports pretty strong, and we think gross domestic product, the damper on that, I don’t think it’s The sanctions, and Russian retaliation, have in turn squeezed sank to the lowest that will continue to be pretty trade deficit narrowed to $47.8bn going to be a significant factor corporate Europe — including banks, oil companies, machinery Tlevel in more than five years. strong,” Bryson said. “That compared with $50.1bn in in terms of offsetting the other makers and food giants that do business with Russia. The gap shrank 7.7 per- sucks in imports.” October. The average so far positive forces that are support- European Union rules complicate any attempt to modify the cent to $39bn, the smallest Bloomberg survey estimates in the fourth quarter is little ing overall economic growth sanctions put into place last year amid the separatist violence in since December 2013, from for the trade gap ranged from changed from the previous three this year,” Chief Economist eastern Ukraine and after Russia’s annexation of Crimea. October’s $42.2bn, Commerce deficits of $39bn to $43.9bn. The months, indicating trade won’t Emily Kolinski Morris said on a A unanimous decision by all 28 EU nations is needed to change Department figures showed in Commerce Department initially have much impact on GDP. January 5 conference call, citing the sanctions, and analysts say such unanimity doesn’t exist. Washington. The median fore- reported a $43.4bn shortfall for A narrowing of the trade defi- cheaper fuel and job gains among The main EU sanctions — which have hit Russian banks and cast in a Bloomberg survey of October. Imports dropped 2.2 cit in the three months ended the factors boosting demand. oil companies and have banned arms exports and the export of 69 economists projected $42bn. percent, the most since June in September added 0.8 per- Lower prices at the pump dual-use goods — are in place until the end of July. A first review The smallest quantity of crude 2013, to $235.4bn from $240.6bn centage point to growth, the have been cushioning consumers’ of some sanctions could come in March. oil imports in more than two in the prior month. category’s biggest contribution balance sheets since September. “We don’t turn any sanction screw just for the sake of turning,” decades and the lowest prices in The United States imported in three quarters, according to The average cost of a gallon of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert, four years combined to limit the $23.1bn worth of petroleum Commerce Department figures. regular gasoline was $2.19 as of told reporters. value of foreign-fuel purchases. in November, the least since GDP advanced at a 5 percent Jan. 5, marking 103 consecutive “The sanctions are responses to concrete situations from the “The main story is the fall in August 2009. The 189 million annual rate in the third quar- decreases and the cheapest rate Russian side and concrete situations in eastern Ukraine.” oil prices bringing down total barrels of foreign crude oil pur- ter, the strongest gain in 11 years since May 2009, according to Under the combined blow of sanctions and slumping oil prices, imports,” Jay Bryson, global econ- chased during the month were and up from a previously esti- data from motoring group AAA. the ruble has lost about half its value this year and the Russian omist at Wells Fargo Securities the fewest since February 1994, mated 3.9 percent pace. Monthly employment gains economy has drifted into recession. President Vladimir Putin has in Charlotte, North Carolina, said and the $82.95 average price Similar contributions to are on pace to show their best promised the economy will rebound, but he has failed to offer a before the report. “We’ll continue per barrel was the lowest since GDP will be difficult to match performance in 2014 in 15 years, specific plan for easing Russia’s heavy dependence on oil and gas to see a narrowing in the trade December 2010. in subsequent quarters as faster further propelling US growth. An revenues. deficit at least in value terms.” Excluding petroleum, the growth in the U.S. and slower average 240,910 jobs were added Zsolt Darvas, a senior fellow at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels, A combination of rising sup- trade gap would have been little demand among trading part- each month last year through said France and Italy are among the nations more open to lifting ply as domestic production picks changed in November at $27.6 bn ners boosts imports and slows November. December figures the sanctions while Poland, Britain and the Baltic countries want up and slower growth overseas compared with $27bn the prior exports. At the same time, from the Labor Department are to stand firm. that’s reducing demand is lead- month. Slower foreign demand companies including Dearborn, scheduled for release tomorrow. It’s not certain the talks scheduled for January 15 in Astana ing to a rout in oil prices that is also holding back orders for Michigan-based Ford are betting WP-BLOOMBERG will take place — diplomats say high-level preparatory talks are planned Friday. French President Francois Hollande told France-Inter radio that he would only attend the Astana talks if progress could be made in easing the tensions. “The sanctions should be lifted if there’s progress. If there’s no progress, the sanctions will remain,” he said on Monday, adding that Putin “of course is not letting on that he has the slightest difficulty.” “The sanctions ... and the decrease of the oil price ... weaken him. He doesn’t say it of course, he doesn’t let people think that he has any kind of difficulty, but he has some difficulties.” So do some European corporate titans. Hollande was to meet Wednesday with Patrick Pouyanne, the new chief executive of the French oil giant Total, in part to discuss the EU sanctions. Pouyanne has echoed his predecessor — who died in a plane crash in Russia in October — in calling the sanctions “unjust and unproductive.” The Western sanctions have hurt European companies that do business in or with Russia. For example, some Russian clients can no longer pay them because they are going into debt or payments are blocked in sanc- tions-hit banks. In addition, demand has dried up because Russians are struggling financially. Paul Ivan, a policy analyst at the European Policy Center in Brussels, said Russian retaliation has added to Europe’s economic pain. Moscow has imposed a one-year ban on imports on a range of food produced by EU countries, hitting Lithuanian dairy farm- ers, Italian cheese makers and Belgian apple growers alike. The European statistics agency Eurostat said Russia absorbs 10 percent of all EU agricultural and food exports. But overall, the fallout was limited to less than 1 percent of GDP in all EU countries, Ivan said. Beyond the tensions in parts of eastern Ukraine held by pro- Russian militants, diplomats from three EU delegations said Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea was making it impossible to move quickly to ease the sanctions, and no moves were underway to ease the pressure on Moscow. All three spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. “There are no serious reasons to change the policy,” Ivan said. “Fighting in Ukraine goes on. There are reports of new Russian military vehicles. There are no real improvements. ... The policy will continue as long as the situation doesn’t improve there on the ground.” Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate AP

Brightest lights in economics now lean to the left

BY NOAH SMITH favor of cutting government debt. Even in macroeconomics, all can easily see highlight reels of a book warning about inequal- right-leaning economists such What the protesters want has the focus is on incomplete and Friedman smacking down social- ity, and his ideas were apparently as Robert Barro, John Cochrane, LOT OF PEOPLE see nothing to do with methodology — imperfectly functioning markets, ists and idealistic leftist youths. all the rage at this year’s AEA Martin Feldstein and John Taylor economics as a “con- they want economics to lean more as Karthik Athreya explains in He inspired a generation of bright meeting. pen occasional op-eds in the Wall servative science” that to the left. his recent book, “Big Ideas in young conservatives to go into Stiglitz, who helped invent the Street Journal, but none of them Amakes up unrealistic But if the protesters bothered Macroeconomics.” economics. theory of asymmetric informa- has written a book or blog whose theories in order to push a free- to look around, they would see The move away from pure free- And before Friedman, there tion, travels the country talking popularity or influence matches market agenda. I don’t know if that their wish has been coming marketeerism has been helped by was Friedrich Hayek, whose about how markets are flawed. that of Krugman or Piketty. that was ever true — maybe in true for decades. a flood of new data. Economics has tirade against Keynesian govern- Sachs campaigns in favour of for- It’s worth asking: Why has eco- the 1970s? — but if so, those days Over the past quarter-century, become much more empirical, and ment intervention is still revered eign aid to poor countries and Sen nomics shifted to the left? Maybe are long gone. economics has been shifting from that has made it much harder to by many on the right. has spent his life trying to inject it’s because the country itself, At the latest American singing the praises of free mar- wave away the possibility of mar- Look around now. Where a human element into the cold and its problems, have shifted. Economic Association meeting kets. Instead, it has moved toward ket inefficiencies. is the Milton Friedman of equations of econ. In the 1970s, when conservatism — the big annual economist con- a greater focus on inequality, But academic economists the 2010s? According to a On the right side of the spec- and Friedman became the face vention, which ended on Monday human welfare and the ways that themselves aren’t very ideologi- recent post by George Mason trum, what popular economists of economics, we faced high tax — some people turned out to pro- markets break down. cal in the first place. Where the University economist and blog- can match the appeal of Krugman, rates, heavy regulation, high infla- test against what they claim is too In academia, the shift has come shift from right to left has really ger Tyler Cowen, the mod- Piketty and the rest? tion and powerful unions. But in much mathematical formalism in partly through the introduction of been more pronounced isn’t in ern Milton Friedman is…Paul The only candidate is Greg 2015, we confront rising inequal- economics. new tools, and models that reveal the ivory tower, but in the public Krugman. Friedman’s “Free to Mankiw of Harvard, who has ity, economic insecurity, and the In an act of supreme irony, the shortcomings of unfettered sphere. Choose” has been replaced by become known as America’s aftermath of a financial crisis and their main target was Carmen capitalism. Back in the 1970s, the public Krugman’s “The Conscience of a economics teacher through his a long, deep recession. Reinhart, a Harvard econo- Game theory shows how com- face of economics was Milton Liberal.” authorship of the most popular Maybe a country simply gets mist whose most famous work petition can lead to waste, and Friedman. Krugman isn’t alone. Cowen’s introductory college textbook. the economics it needs. was a book about the history models of asymmetric information A consummate public intel- list of the five most influen- Mankiw is a rock-ribbed conserv- In any case, if you think of eco- of financial crises — a famous also show how markets can fail. lectual, Friedman would travel tial economists also includes ative, arguing tirelessly for lower nomics as a bastion of conserva- example of modern econ that Decision theory, learning theory around the country giving lectures Thomas Piketty, Joseph Stiglitz, taxes on the rich. tism and free-market dogma, it’s isn’tmathematical. and behavioral economics have about the power of free markets Jeffrey Sachs and Amartya Sen But in terms of popular time to take another look. The Why did the protesters go poked holes in the old assumptions and the virtues of capitalism. Piketty, of course, exploded on influence, he can’t match the winds have changed. after Reinhart? Because she’s in of perfect rationality. Just search YouTube and you the national scene last year with heavy hitters on the left. Other BLLOMBERG THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary QE Index 11,898.18 0.73 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 17,746.03 0.73 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,978.17 1.15 % RATE QE All Share Index 3,056.54 0.69 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 3,089.68 0.26 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5334.495 -11.662 -0.22 5447.6 5321.5 QE All Share Industrials 3,976.81 0.96 % QR142.5202 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE All Share Transportation 2,248.29 0.50 % Cac 40 Index/D 4130.6 47.1 1.15 4311 4076.16 QE All Share Real Estate 2,172.52 2.25 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.4771 QR 5.5542 QE All Share Insurance 3,735.85 0.10 % Dj Indu Average 17371.64 -130.01 -0.74 18103.4 15340.69 QR 1.9224 Euro ...... QR 4.2850 QR 4.3655 QE All Share Telecoms 1,396.07 0.86 % CA$ ...... QR 3.0549 QR 3.1149 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 6,945.01 1.08 % Hang Seng Inde/D 23681.26 195.85 0.83 23998.87 23312.5 Services Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.5683 QR 3.6183 QE Market Summary Comparison Iseq Overall/D 5122.23 36.04 0.71 5278.86 5086.19 Yen ...... QR 0.0303 QR 0.0309 Aus$ ...... QR 2.9162 QR 2.9734 Today Previous day Karachi 100 In/D 32835.94 167.21 0.51 32866.4 32134.82 CRUDE OIL 07-01-2015 06-01-2015 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0571 QR 0.0582 Index 11,898.18 11,811.75 Nikkei 225 Index 16885.33 2.14 0.01 17540.92 16881.73 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0358 QR 0.0365 Change 86.43 183.92 BRENT Peso ...... QR 0.0800 QR 0.0816 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 2093.55 1737.92 % 0.73 1.53 $ 49.96 SL Re ...... QR 0.0274 QR 0.0280 YTD% 3.15 3.86 Straits Times/D 3298.36 16.41 0.5 3375.13 3272.4 Taka ...... QR 0.0463 QR 0.0473 Volume 12,130,974 11,647,353 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0357 QR 0.0364 Value (QAR) 514,955,039.67 475,862,718.96 Straits Times/D 3290.99 -1.82 -0.06 3387.84 2953.01 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3083 QR 0.3146 Trades 7,440 7,514 $ 46.41 Up 28 | Down 11 | Unchanged 02 Straits Times/D 3274.06 -8.82 -0.27 3291.83 2953.01

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 07-01-2015

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED A B G Infra-T/D 154.45 7.35 8282 Chowgule St-T/D 24.35 -1.25 22665 Godfrey Phil-B/D 567.5 -5.05 1969 Kakatiya Cem-B/D 109 1.25 1088 Orient Hotel-T/D 23.35 0.3 2179 Centrica/D 266.8 2.9 4114118 A C C-A/D 1368.15 -16.35 34210 Cimmco-B/D 72.1 -0.65 6390 Goodricke-B/D 155.1 -0.15 8800 Kalpat Power-B/D 229.2 7.75 139717 Orient.Carb.-T/D 388 5.2 9490 Gkn/D 335.4 3.1 1317059 Aarti Drugs-B/D 911.5 -4 6320 Cipla-A/D 612 -2 64264 Goodyear I -B/D 606.1 -16.2 20284 Kalyani Stel-T/D 160.9 -0.8 52935 Orient.Carb.-T/D 388 5.2 9490 Hsbc Holdings/D 601.2 7.5 11789449 Aban Offs-A/D 468.1 -20.6 391356 City Union Bk-/D 97 -0.05 107542 Hcl Infosys-B/D 53.1 0.8 513050 Kanoria Chem-B/D 34.3 -0.75 12363 Patspin India-/D 8.2 0.15 3203 Imperial Tobac/D 2847 13 863386 Ador Welding-B/D 201.5 -2.55 1109 Cmc Ltd-A/D 1853.1 -18.7 2092 Him.Fut.Comm-T/D 17.7 0.65 1859097 Kg Denim-B/D 17.6 0.15 9670 Punjab Chem.-B/D 114.7 0.9 7447 Kingfisher/D 317.8 1 1824296 Aegis Logis-B/D 422.5 -8.4 8650 Colgate-A/D 1870.95 26.45 22739 Himat Seide-B/D 90.2 -0.3 29694 Kilburnengg-T/D 38.95 -0.65 10620 Radico Khait-B/D 84.05 -1.1 37510 Land Secs Grou/D 1175 24 665723 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 321.05 -8.3 190472 Container Cor-/D 1349 2.3 3090 Hind Motors-T/D 7.74 -0.05 44678 Kinetic Eng-B/D 48 0.85 3207 Rallis India-A/D 215 -0.65 19812 Legal & Genera/D 241.464 2.7 4260693 Alembic-B/D 43.3 0.75 257697 Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 156 -0.45 5902 Hind Org Chem-/D 21.75 0.2 32528 Kopran-B/D 56.25 -1.2 114206 Rallis India-A/D 215 -0.65 19812 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 73.6 0.73 40505189 Alok Indus-A/D 9.98 -0.04 1221660 Dcm Financia-B/D 1.25 0.08 6525 Hind Unilever-/D 802.1 26.95 323345 Lakshmi Elec-B/D 441.3 -10.85 11806 Reliance Indus/D 461.8 -2.35 86450 Marks & Sp./D 464 9.6 2424051 Apollo Tyre-A/D 218.8 -2.35 283391 Dcm Shram Ind-/D 102 -0.05 5320 Hind.Petrol-A/D 568.7 11.05 173568 Lgb Broth-B/D 623 -2.1 1532 Ruchi Soya-B/D 36.75 -0.1 52509 Next/D 6790 50 226436 Asahi I Glass-/D 112.8 -2.15 16463 Dhampur Sugar-/D 43.5 -0.55 11664 Hindalco-A/D 149.1 -4.3 854527 Lok.Hous&Con-T/D 12.72 -0.66 44364 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 634.8 5.6 17857 Prudential/D 1470.185 33 1416934 Ashok Leyland-/D 59.65 3.1 4068315 Dr. Reddy-A/D 3043.5 -21.95 26398 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1100.05 -2.4 110656 Lumax Ind-B/D 420.9 2.65 5751 Samtel-T/D 6.3 -0.33 2791 Rentokil Initi/D 117.5 1.9 350463 Ballarpur In-B/D 15.2 -0.05 200361 E I H-B/D 116.45 0.05 3010 I F C I-A/D 35.9 -0.15 549443 Lupin-A/D 1376.5 -18.05 45287 Saur.Cem-B/D 43.45 0.7 44897 Rolls Royce Pl/D 863 9 2149820 Banaras Bead-B/D 44 -1.15 3950 E.I.D Parry-A/D 190 -3.1 127097 Idbi-A/D 71 -0.9 506447 Lyka Labs-T/D 29.85 -0.55 49556 Savita Oil-B/D 727 2.6 1363 Rsa Insrance G/D 427 7.1 3320656 Bata India-A/D 1285.95 11.05 12152 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19094783 Canfin Homes-B/D 566.5 6.1 23405 Finolex-A/D 258 0.4 4746 Jct Ltd-B/D 3.64 -0.09 249712 Nepc India-T/D 2.58 0.11 31596 3I Group/D 431.6572 -1.3 1012322 Whitbread/D 4643.4657 39 171473 Caprihans-B/D 85.25 -0.75 10232 Forbes-B/D 1977.35 94.15 2426 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 5.05 -0.18 24889 Neuland Lab-B/D 513.25 -7.05 8950 Assoc.Br.Foods/D3059.7756 -29 257325 Cast.Bo/D 521.35 8.7 102935 Gail-A/D 421.05 -11.3 127621 Jik Indust-B/D 1.06 0.08 5635 Nrb Bearings-B/D 131 -0.95 16060 Barclays/D 232.4271 2.05 14075869 Century Enka-B/D 166 0 5228 Galada Power-T/D 14.5 0.6 1435 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 132.3 2.5 459204 O N G C-A/D 338.1 5.65 996069 Bg Group/D 860.26 11.7 4391419 Century Text-A/D 519 5.35 102751 Gammon India-T/D 26.5 -0.45 53029 Jmc Projects-T/D 178.15 -6.75 11266 Ocl India-B/D 448.95 16.55 6307 Bp/D 395.1 4.05 18292776 Chambal Fert-B/D 60.25 0.45 122069 Gangotri Tex-B/D 1.35 -0.15 4000 Kabra Extr-B/D 85.5 0.5 12725 Oil Country-B/D 34.9 0.65 2501 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3443.7668 22 746383 Chola Invest-B/D 480.25 -2.95 641064 Garden P -B/D 29.85 -1 13469 Kajaria Cer-A/D 596.4 2.95 5595 Orchid Chem-B/D 62.55 -1.1 103794 Bt Group/D 392.9 7 6181354 THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

Pistons shock Tickets available Spurs in thriller

SAN ANTONIO: Detroit’s Brandon Jennings made the most of a San Antonio turnover, sinking the game-winner with for worlds in Doha one-tenth of a second left yes- terday as the Pistons shocked NBA champions San Antonio Smart Phone Ticketing system launched 105-104. The Spurs, who led by as many as 18 in the first half, left the door DOHA: The Qatar 2015 month and with the support use the email sent to their inbox open in the tight closing stages, Organising Committee of Dr Thani Abdulrahman Al to get into the venues on their making just four-of eight from the announced a new self-service Kuwari, Director General, Qatar selected day. free-throw line in the final two Smart Phone Ticketing feature 2015 Organising Committee, we As part of an ongoing campaign, minutes. in addition to a wide range of have provided several ticket sales the Organising Committee has Detroit pulled within 104-103 tickets available for the upcom- points for sport fans to ensure also launched a special promo- on a pair of Jodie Meeks free ing 24th Men’s Handball World that they can buy their tickets, tional push at Qatar University. throws with eight seconds to play. Championship in Qatar, as attend matches and enjoy the Students, faculty members and After a 20-second timeout, excitement continues to build excitement.” staff can purchase special price Spurs veteran Tim Duncan threw for the sporting mega-event. To purchase a ticket online, tickets for the Championship an inbound pass behind team- The pioneering Smart Phone sports fans can visit www. at dedicated booths at the mate Patty Mills -- the Spurs Ticket system is set to be an qatarhandball2015.com/tickets University when they present 17th turnover of the game -- and important “first” for a sports and choose the match, time and their University ID. Jennings banked in a shot at the event in Qatar. venue they want to attend. Once Tickets to the spectacular other end to lift the Pistons to While IT savvy people can registered, people can buy tickets Opening Ceremony as well as their sixth straight win. buy tickets online and via smart by country, venue and date. the first handball match in the The Spurs had won two phones, tickets are also available Before paying for the tickets, Championship between Qatar and straight after a disappointing for purchase at merchandising users will be asked to select a Brazil have now been released and December that saw them post a stands in malls across Qatar delivery method, which allows are available on the website. losing record for the month. including Landmark, City Centre, them to print the ticket at home, Countries competing for the They welcomed back French Villaggio and Al Khor. request for smart phone delivery, 24th Men’s Handball World point guard Tony Parker, who Sheikha Asmaa Al Thani, Head or pickup from the merchandising Championship include Qatar, had missed 13 of the last 16 games of Marketing Section, Qatar 2015 stands at malls. Spain, France, Denmark, Croatia, with a hamstring injury. Organising Committee, said: By clicking the “Smart Phone Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Iran, But Parker, who sat out the “We believe that Smart Phone Delivery” option, customers’ Iceland, Czech Republic, Russia, Spurs’ previous five games, had Ticketing is going to become tickets are sent directly to their Austria, Poland, Sweden, Belarus, a quiet night upon his return, the preferred way of attending smart phones for added ease of Slovenia, Saudi Arabia, Bosnia playing just under 13 minutes sports events in Qatar. We want use and security. Spectators from and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Fahed, the mascot of the 24th Men’s Handball World Championship, is and scoring three points with two to enable the widest possible audi- all over the world can buy their Argentina, Brazil, Chile and seen along with handball fans. assists and two turnovers. ence to attend Qatar 2015 next tickets using the website and Germany. THE PENINSULA Andre Drummond led the Pistons with 20 points and 17 rebounds. D.J. Augustin added 19 off the bench, and Greg Monroe contributed a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds. Korean Grand Prix dropped from F1 calendar Cory Joseph’s 16 points off the bench led the Spurs, who will try to regroup by Friday, when they Formula One 2015 LONDON: The Korean “We have a contract with could have five engines if the cal- drivers. Max Verstappen in 2014 host Phoenix. Formula One Grand Prix has Korea. We have to put it on the endar “as originally scheduled” became the youngest driver to The Suns opened a four-game Calendar been formally dropped from the calendar,” he said then. “If we had more than 20 races. take part in Grand Prix practice road-trip on yesterday with a 102- March 15 Australia 2015 calendar after its surprise hadn’t have done they could have That move was subsequently and will drive for Toro Rosso this 96 victory at Milwaukee. March 29 Malaysia inclusion last month for con- sued us. We let them off for a year rendered unnecessary by a deci- year at the age of 17. The new sea- A 16-4 run spanning the end of April 05 Bahrain tractual reasons. on the understanding they would sion to allow limited in-season son starts in Australia on March the third and start of the fourth April 19 China A revised 20-race calendar, be back.” development for the existing 15. If the rules were enforced this quarters was the difference for May 10 Spain starting in Australia on March The race, first hosted at the engine manufacturers, although year, Verstappen would not be the Phoenix Suns. May 24 Monaco 15, appeared on the govern- southern Yeongam circuit in 2010, McLaren’s new partners Honda allowed to take part and the likes Phoenix (21-16) missed seven June 07 Canada ing International Automobile did not take place last year. will not benefit from it. of Fernando Alonso, Sebastian of their first 11 shots in the final June 21 Austria Federation’s website (www.fia. The decision to axe it again Meanwhile, the International Vettel, Jenson Button and Kimi quarter but converted six of their July 05 Britain com). from what would have been a Automobile Federation (FIA) has Raikkonen would also have had to last seven while going 8-for-12 July 19 Germany An FIA spokesman confirmed record 21-race list leaves a three introduced tough new rules that wait for their race debuts. from the free-throw line. July 26 Hungary the race had been removed week gap between Bahrain on will mean Formula One drivers New competitors will have a Markleff Morris led Phoenix August 23 Belgium because it was not viable. April 19 and Spain on May 10. must be at least 18-years-old and test driving 300 kilometers (185 with 26 points and 10 rebounds September 06 Italy That came as no shock, with Some Formula One teams had go through more rigorous testing. miles) in a Formula One car at while Goran Tragic scored 16 and September 20 Singapore the sport’s commercial supremo seen the decision to include the Potential Formula One com- racing speeds over a two-day Eric Bledsoe finished with 10. September 27 Japan Bernie Ecclestone telling report- Korean race as simply a means petitors will have to build up period. They will also face an AFP October 11 Russia ers in December that the local of allowing teams to have five points over three years to get a exam on Formula One regulations October 25 USA South Korean promoters did engines per car this season and race super licence under the rules and have to complete at least 80 NBA Results November 01 Mexico not want to hold the May 3 race avoid a planned reduction to four. which will start in 2016. percent of two full seasons in San Antonio 104 Detroit 105 November 15 Brazil but he had to include it for legal The wording of the regulations The new rules are part of a championships that feed Formula Milwaukee 96 Phoenix 102 November 29 Abu Dhabi reasons. had stipulated that the teams clampdown on inexperienced One. AGENCIES

Doha Golf Club gears up for Qatar Open Lightning down Gordon Hill (left) of Canadiens 4-2 Scotland and Nick Glover of England during a Qatar Open NEW YORK: Tyler Johnson practice session at scored twice in a four-goal sec- Doha Golf Club (DGC) ond period as the Tampa Bay yesterday. More than Lightning won the matchup for top spot in the NHL Eastern 126 golfers from 35 Conference with a 4-2 victory countries will vie for top over the Montreal Canadiens honours at the amateur yesterday. event which kicks off Brett Connolly and JT Brown today. The winner, along also scored for Tampa Bay (26- with two top Qatari 12-4), which moved two points players, will make it to clear of Montreal atop both the the playing list of the Atlantic Division and Eastern 2015 Qatar Masters, a Conference standings. European Tour event to Dale Weise and Max Pacioretty be held from January scored for Montreal (26-12-2), 21 to 24 at DGC. The which holds two games in hand three-day event will end on the Lightning. on January 10. The Canadiens played their PHOTO BY: first home game since Dec. 20 KAMMUTTY VP after wining five straight on the road. They had won six in a row overall. The Bolt’s line of Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov, who each had two assists, is red hot. In their last Squash: Qatar’s Syed tops at seven games, Palat has 13 points while Kucherov and Johnson have 11 each. Tampa Bay outshot Montreal 36-22. The Canadiens GCC U-19 event in Bahrain are now 16-1-0 when scoring first in a game. AGENCIES DOHA: Qatar bagged Bahrain before losing to Kuwait medals at the GCC Junior in the final. Squash Championship, Qatar In the Under-15 battle Qatar NHL Results Squash Federation (QSF) has beat Saudi Arabia and Bahrain Edmonton 2 Detroit 4 announced. before losing to Kuwait in the Chicago 0 Colorado 2 Syed Azlan Amjad of Qatar title clash. won the gold in the Under-19 Qatar contingent included Dallas 2 Columbus 4 category beating Isa Ghoolam coach Stewart Boswell and Montréal 2 Tampa Bay 4 of Kuwait in the final. Hani Awada. Yusuf Al Malki Vancouver 3 NY Islanders 2 Syed won the final 11-7, Syed Azlan Amjad (left) and and Talal Al Mawlawi also Arizona 0 St Louis 6 11-7, 11-7 and sealed his win accompanied the Qatar delega- Abdel Aziz Ishaq Nashville 3 Carolina 2 without dropping a set in the tion to Bahrain. Minnesota 3 San Jose 4 tournament. Besides Qatar, players from In the Under-15 category, In the team event, Qatar Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and New Jersey 4 Buffalo 1 Qatar’s Abdel Aziz Ishaq fin- picked up the silver medal. Bahrain also featured in the Philadelphia 2 Ottawa 1 ished in third spot. Qatar beat Saudi Arabia and event. THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Mystery death of rider Hernik clouds Dakar Rally CHILECITO, Argentina: be determined, as the competi- Orlando Terranova maintained team-mate and reigning cham- Dakar Rally organisers yes- tor did not show any external the Mini team’s winning streak pion Marc Coma and overall terday hunted for clues to the signs of an accident,” said a rally by claiming his second stage race leader Joan Barreda Bort of cause of the death of motor- statement. win to move third overall in the Spain. “It was really dangerous bike rider Michal Hernik that Organisers sent a helicop- auto standings led by team-mate because we were on river beds A file picture plunged the race into mourning ter to look for Henrik after he Nasser Al Attiyah. with a lot of stones and broken up taken on after only three days. failed to arrive at the finish line Al Attiyah, the 2011 champion tracks all day,” said Barreda Bort. January 3, The 39-year-old Polish rid- of Tuesday’s stage between the and winner of Monday’s stage, Some 34 vehicles failed to start 2015 shows er’s body was found 300 metres Argentinian towns of Villa Carlos finished fifth in Tuesday’s stage on Tuesday after falling victim to Polish biker (yards) from the desert track Paz and Chilecito. His satellite which included 284km of specials. Monday’s longest stage, among Michal Hernik with no apparent injury and tracker had stopped sending South Africa’s Giniel de them the 4x4 of French duo of KTM during no damage to his motorbike signals. Villiers, picked up his third Catherine Houles and Sandrine the symbolic that would indicate an acci- The Pole was taking part in the podium finish in three days, Ridet, the only 100 percent start of the dent, according to race director Dakar Rally for the first time. ahead of another Toyota driven female team in the event. 2015 Dakar Etienne Lavigne. His was the fifth death since by Saudi Arabia’s Alrahji Zayed, However for Japanese veteran Rally in Lavigne added that there was the rally was moved to South to stay second overall. Sugawara Yoshimasa, 73 and tak- Buenos Aires. no helmet on Hernik when the America in 2009 over security In the motorbike section, ing part in his 33rd Dakar Rally, body was found. concerns in the Sahara region Austria’s Matthias Walkner, the race goes on in Wednesday’s “The circumstances sur- and the 24th since the race was was a surprise winner of his fourth stage from Chilecito to rounding his death have yet to created in 1979. first Dakar stage, ahead of KTM Copiapo in Chile. AFP Los Angeles Galaxy FA Cup: Lukaku rescues confirm Gerrard deal LONDON: Los Angeles Galaxy chose LA Galaxy was because of coach Bruce Arena has con- the success they’ve had recently,” firmed that Liverpool captain he said. Everton at Goodison Park Steven Gerrard will join the “I want to finish my career very club in July, in an LA Times strong. I want to add some med- interview cited by British media als and trophies to my collection,” Belgian striker scores in injury time to earn equaliser yesterday. he added. “Steven Gerrard arrives in July The Galaxy won their fifth and by then we will certainly have MLS title in December and LONDON: Romelu Lukaku’s a plan available,” Arena told the have a vacancy to fill thanks to late equaliser earned Everton newspaper. the retirement of longtime star an FA Cup replay against West Gerrard, 34, announced last Landon Donovan. Ham United and took the heat Friday that he will leave Liverpool Donovan’s departure left the off manager Roberto Martinez at the end of the season, ending Galaxy with a vacant designated- Everton’s Lukaku following a 1-1 draw at Goodison a 25-year association with the player berth, which they can use Park. celebrates his club that has seen him make 696 to sign high-priced stars with Martinez had been under grow- goal against appearances and score 182 goals. relief from salary cap constraints. ing pressure following a disap- West Ham United Press reports claim Gerrard Gerrard, a former England cap- pointing run of form which had d uring their will sign a contract, with British tain, famously inspired Liverpool seen Everton lose their last four FA Cup third media outlets suggesting it will be to glory in the 2005 Champions matches heading into this third- round match worth around £6m ($9.1m, 7.6 m). League final and has also won two round tie. in Liverpool on The move to the Galaxy will FA Cups, three League Cups and And Hammers defender James Tuesday. reunite Gerrard with his old the UEFA Cup. Collins looked like he had secured Liverpool team-mate Robbie But he has never won the safe passage to the fourth round Keane and see him follow in the Premier League title, with for his side, and a meeting against footsteps of former England col- Liverpool having narrowly lost out either Doncaster or Bristol City, league David Beckham, who spent to Manchester City last season. with a second-half header. five years at the California club. In an interview with British But the Belgian striker Lukaku Arena added: “He’s a player of regional newspaper the Liverpool popped up in injury time to fin- quality. I’m not concerned about Echo published on Wednesday, ish from close range, ensuring the how he’s going to fit in with our Gerrard explained that he had Toffees players and Martinez left team. decided to leave after manager the pitch to cheers rather than “We have a club now with a Brendan Rodgers told him he was jeers. proven history of success. All no longer guaranteed a starting Everton were without left-back those things go hand in hand in place. Leighton Baines, who had picked making LA Galaxy a very attrac- “I’ve never wanted to be a up a minor knock, as Martinez tive team for players such as squad player,” Gerrard said. “If I picked arguably his strongest Steven Gerrard.” was missing games now, I’d be sit- team, spearheaded by an attack- Gerrard told the newspaper ting out even more next season. ing triumvirate of Kevin Mirallas, the move was a “match made in I knew it would get worse and Steven Naismith and Ross heaven”. “One of the reasons I worse as time went on.” AFP Barkley behind Lukaku. West Ham were without striker Andy Carroll as Sam Allardyce made four changes to his start- in a matter of minutes as the stroke of half-time once again two goals to the good moments Liverpool’s ing line-up. Lukaku’s shot went just wide of saw Adrian spill the ball, although later when Kevin Nolan lifted Steven After a subdued start Everton the far post and Naismith went Everton were unable to capitalise. a ball into the box for Enner Gerrard (right) started to find their rhythm and even closer with an attempt from West Ham showed much Valencia, again unmarked, but his celebrates Lukaku saw a long-range shot a still tighter angle. greater ambition early in the sec- header was tipped over by Robles. scoring a goal spilled by West Ham goalkeeper However, the root of Everton’s ond period and Carl Jenkinson’s The Toffees had the majority during the Adrian, but Mirallas was unable problems have been defensive marauding run culminated with of the play in the remainder of FA Cup third to profit from the rebound. rather than in the final third of a low shot which Joel Robles beat the contest and Barkley’s brilliant round match The Toffees certainly did not the pitch, with 33 goals in the away at his near post. solo run five minutes from time against AFC look, initially at least, like a team Premier League conceded this The Hammers sensed the ten- almost got the leveller, but Adrian Wimbledon who had lost their previous four season. sion in the Everton ranks and the pawed away the England interna- at the matches as they stroked the ball And the nerves of the home opening goal duly arrived when tional’s shot, which had seemed Kingsmeadow about with confidence. supporters in the Gwladys Street Collins capitalised on some lack- destined for the top-left corner. Stadium in Naismith cleverly dropped into were palpable when West Ham lustre home defending at a corner. However, the home faithful got spaces in central areas and cre- forced a succession of corners Muhamed Besic and Naismith the equaliser they had been cry- London, in ated a shooting opportunity for on the half-hour mark. It was a failed to see the run of Wales ing out for when Bryan Oviedo this January himself in the 20th minute but warning for what was to come international Collins, who beat crossed into the area for Lukaku, 5, 2015 file saw his low effort from distance later. Lukaku seemed particu- them at the near post to head in who took a touch before smashing photo. flash just past the post. larly fired up for the encounter Morgan Amalfitano’s delivery. the ball past Adrian from close Everton then had two chances and the ferocity of his shot on Allardyce’s side could have been range. AFP Serie A: Inter hold Juve Prince Ali kicks off campaign

MELBOURNE: FIFA presi- The Bahraini and Jordanian dential candidate Prince endured an ugly public spat last Ali bin Al Hussein heads to year after Shaikh Salman pushed Melbourne for tomorrow’s AFC through legislation to ensure the Inter Milan’s Extraordinary Congress, aim- AFC President automatically took forward Lukas ing to convince Asian members the FIFA vice president position Podolski of he is the man to clean up world currently held by Ali. Germany soccer’s governing body. The Jordanian suggested the controls the The Jordanian royal said Bahraini should spend less time ball during the on Tuesday he would chal- on playing politics and more on Italian Serie A lenge for soccer’s top job at the developing the sport in a final dig match against May elections in Zurich against as he inevitably lost out in the Juventus on Frenchman Jerome Champagne power struggle. Tuesday in and incumbent Sepp Blatter after Next on Shaikh Salman’s radar Turin. Inter becoming fed up with the sport is finalising the removal of Iran being dragged through the mud from the Ali-founded West Asian Milan played by poor governance. Football Federation, which the out a 1-1 Backed by UEFA President Jordanian also presides over. draw against Michel Platini and the near Friday’s meeting in Melbourne, FIFA President Sepp Blatter (right) gets a gift from Jordan’s Prince Ali Bin champions majority of the European con- one of Asia’s furthest outposts, Juventus to Al Hussein, FIFA’s Vice President Asia, Chairman of the Jordan Football federation, the 39-year-old prince will see members ratify Iran’s Association, in Amman in this May 26, 2014 file photo. hand Roma a must convince a bulk of voters in move to the Central Asian title boost. the AFC he is the man for the job Federation, while the composition if he is to become only the ninth of the AFC executive committee Following the meetings, Ali home nation in Group D matches leader of FIFA and the first from could also see some changes. and many of the AFC’s top brass against holders Japan, former Asia. Some unsourced reports sug- will head to the Melbourne winners Iraq and tournament However, getting AFC gest Australian lawyer and AFC Rectangular Stadium for the newcomers Palestine as well as President Shaikh Salman bin Vice President Moya Dodd, an Ali opening match of the Asian Cup watch other matches in a per- Ebrahim Al Khalifa onside is ally, could be shunted aside in the between Australia and Kuwait. fect environment to lobby votes. most certainly a bridge too far. shake up. The avid fan will then follow his REUTERS THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 Smith joins greats as Australia pressure India Aussie skipper scores fourth ton in as many matches

SYDNEY: joined Shami straight to Ravichandran the greats yesterday with his Ashwin at deep midwicket for 81. fourth century of the series as Watson has now scored 24 half- India hung in after the shock centuries but just four tons in 56 New Zealand’s Mark Craig (second from right) celebrates with team-mates loss of an early on the Tests, with his last Test hundred after dismissing Sri Lanka’s Prasanna Jayawardene on day five of the second day of the final Test in coming against England in Perth second Test, at the Basin Reserve in Wellington yesterday. Sydney. in December 2013. The Aussie skipper became He toiled for 250 minutes and only the third batsman along with faced 183 balls in putting on 196 Don Bradman and runs for the third wicket with to score tons in four consecutive Smith. Kiwis fight back to Tests in the same series as his Shaun Marsh added 73 to his team posted a total beyond 500 99 in Melbourne before he was for the fourth Test running. caught behind off Shami nearing Smith contributed 117 in tea. Marsh batted for 116 balls win Sri Lanka series Australia’s first innings declara- with nine fours and a six. tion of 572 for seven before the Joe Burns, playing in his second WELLINGTON: Off-spinner Trent Boult and Doug tourists were rocked by the third- Test, was well caught by Rahul in Mark Craig grabbed three wick- Bracewell had earlier ripped ball dismissal of opener Murali the deep for 58 off 114 balls and ets after lunch as New Zealand through the top of Sri Lanka’s Vijay for a duck. Ryan Harris roused the crowd completed a 193-run victory, innings in the first session, aided At the close, India had stabilised with a lusty 25 off nine balls and 2-0 series sweep, shortly by some superb catching in the at 71 for one to trail Australia by before the declaration. before tea on the final day of the slips cordon. 501 with Lokesh Rahul on 31 and It was hard going on the unre- second Test against Sri Lanka Boult removed nightwatch- Rohit Sharma hitting two sixes sponsive SCG pitch for India’s at the Basin Reserve yesterday. man Dhammika Prasad (six) on his way to 40 . bowlers with Shami finishing with Craig took three after and Kumar Sangakkara (five) in Left-armer Mitchell Starc, five for 112 off 28.3 overs. lunch, including two in two balls, quick succession early in the ses- bowling with fire and rhythm, India have already lost the to help complete a remarkable sion before Bracewell struck twice slanted one across Vijay and Border-Gavaskar Trophy with turnaround for the hosts, who shortly before lunch. coaxed a snick to wicketkeeper Australia holding an unassail- had looked likely to lose the game The recalled seamer removed Brad Haddin. able 2-0 lead following wins in inside three days at one point. opener Kaushal Silva, who had Starc may get into disciplinary Adelaide and Brisbane. “That’s the beauty about this just scored his seventh Test half trouble for giving Vijay a big The tourists have won only one team, all the boys chip in and century but was then caught by send-off, roaring in his face and of their last 22 Tests overseas and shows when we put it all together Craig in the slips, before Angelo waving his fists in a fiery opening have been successful in only one what we can do,” Craig told Mathews was caught for eight by over as Mitchell Johnson’s injury of their 10 Tests at the Sydney RadioSport of the team’s fightback Williamson in the gully. replacement. Ground, that sole victory from a seemingly impossible posi- REUTERS But the day belonged to Smith, coming 37 years ago. AFP tion on the third day. who added another century to his “I think the way we played in Scoreboard unbeaten 162 in Adelaide, 133 in Scoreboard Christchurch and followed up Brisbane and 192 in Melbourne here was awesome, so two very New Zealand (I innings): ...... 221 in this series. Australia (I innings): good wins.” Sri Lanka (I innings): ...... 356 Australia passed 500 for the C Rogers b Shami ...... 95 Lahiru Thirimanne was left New Zealand (II innings): ...... 524/5 decl fourth Test of the series, a feat D Warner c Vijay b Ashwin ...... 101 not out 62, while Nuwan Pradeep Sri Lanka (II innings): last registered against the Garry S Watson c Ashwin b Shami...... 81 was bowled by Tim Southee for D Karunaratne c Rutherford b Craig...... 17 Sobers-led West Indies at home S Smith c Saha b Yadav ...... 117 one as the visitors were dismissed K Silva c Craig b Bracewell ...... 50 in 1968-69. S Marsh c Saha b Shami ...... 73 for 196. D Prasad c Neesham b Boult ...... 6 Smith was out just before lunch J Burns c Rahul b Shami ...... 58 Sri Lanka had resumed on 110 K Sangakkara c Watling b Boult ...... 5 when he was caught behind off B Haddin (not out) ...... 9 for five after lunch but had given L Thirimanne (not out) ...... 62 Umesh Yadav ending his 208-ball R Harris c Ashwin b Shami...... 25 up any pretence of chasing the 390 A Mathews c Williamson b Bracewell ...... 8 knock spiced with 15 fours. Extras (LB-6, W-7) ...... 13 runs they needed to win the game P Jayawardene c Williamson b Craig ...... 10 He has 698 runs in the series at Total (for 7 wkts decl) ...... 572 and level the series with survival D Chandimal c Watling b Craig ...... 13 an average of 139.6, placing him Fall of wickets: 1-200, 2-204, 3-400, uppermost on their minds. R Herath lbw Craig ...... 0 third behind Bradman (715) and 4-415, 5-529, 6-546, 7-572. Craig, however, managed to S Lakmal (run out-Bracewell) ...... 6 Ricky Ponting (706) for most runs Bowling: Kumar 34-5-122-0; Yadav 27-5- tempt a loose shot from Prasanna N Pradeep b Southee ...... 1 in a series against India. 137-1 (6w); Shami 28.3-3-112-5; Ashwin Jayawardene, who slapped the ball Extras (B-8 LB-6, W-3, NB-1) ...... 18 Smith is having an extraordi- 47-8-142-1; Raina 16-3-53-0. to Kane Williamson at cover for Total (all out) ...... 196 nary purple patch and has now India (I innings): 10, then had Dinesh Chandimal Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-51, 3-61, 4-94, scored six centuries in the first M Vijay c Haddin b Starc ...... 0 caught behind by BJ Watling for 5-110, 6-133, 7-156, 8-156, 9-189. innings of his last seven Tests at L Rahul () ...... 31 13. Bowling: Boult 21-2-55-2 (1w), Southee home. R Sharma (batting) ...... 40 The off-spinner trapped 17.4-6-41-1, Bracewell 13-3-25-2 (1nb, 2w), Watson again missed out on Total (for 1 wkt) ...... 71 Rangana Herath lbw on the next Craig 18-8-53-4, Rutherford 1-0-2-0, Wil- Australian captain Steve Smith celebrates after reaching his century on what would have been only his Fall of wicket: 1-0. ball and while Suranga Lakmal liamson 2-0-6-0 day two of the fourth Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground fifth Test century when, on a flat Bowling: Starc 6-2-17-1; Harris 7-1-17-0; saw off the hat-trick delivery Sri Result: New Zealand won by 193 runs. yesterday. SCG wicket, he had another brain Hazlewood 4-1-10-0; Lyon 8-1-27-0. Lanka’s resistance was virtually Series: New Zealand won 2-0. snap and hoisted Mohammed over at 156 for eight. SA gamble Sohail in Pakistan squad as seniors miss out on fitness of KARACHI: Fast bowler Sohail and includes legspinner Yasir sustained last month while play- “We have lot of expectations “We have picked only two spe- Khan earned a surprise recall Shah,” Moin said. ing against New Zealand in the from this squad specially the cialist openers while wicketkeeper De Kock and to the Pakistan squad for the Right-arm bowler Sohail has UAE and would lead the team at youngsters who have not played Sarfaraz Ahmed will be the World Cup while selectors omit- played two tests and five one- the Feb. 14-March 29 tournament before in Australia and New reserve opener when required,” ted senior players Shoaib Malik day internationals but last rep- in Australia and New Zealand, Zealand.” Moin added. REUTERS Duminy and Kamran Akmal from their resented Pakistan in Zimbabwe Moin added. Pakistan will be without two of final 15-member list yesterday. in 2011. Yasir also played his only “He (Misbah) says he is gaining their most experienced spinners CAPE TOWN: South Africa The 30-year-old Sohail was ODI against Zimbabwe on the fitness and he is an experienced at the tournament as Saeed Ajmal Pakistan Squad are to gamble on the fitness picked for his strong perform- same tour. player so we are confident he and Mohammad Hafeez have been Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed of Quinton de Kock and JP ances in domestic cricket this The leg-spinner, however, will be ready for the World Cup,” suspended from bowling in inter- Shehzad, Younus Khan, Misbah- Duminy, who were named yes- season, chief selector Moin Khan bagged 27 wickets in the five Moin added. national cricket for illegal actions. ul-Haq (captain), Harris Sohail, terday in a 15-man squad for the told reporters in Karachi. tests against Australia and New “The selectors have done a lot Hafeez, however, was included Umar Akmal, Sohaib Maqsood, Cricket World Cup in Australia “We have picked a full battery Zealand recently in the United of homework in selecting this as a specialist opener and Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, and New Zealand next month. of pace bowlers while our spin Arab Emirates. squad and we are confident this Moin said he would undergo Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, De Kock, the exciting 22-year- bowling department is also led Misbah-ul-Haq had also recov- side will put up a good perform- another bowling test prior to the Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz, Ehsan old wicketkeeper-batsman, is only by the experienced Shahid Afridi ered from a hamstring injury he ance in the World Cup. tournament. Adil, Yasir Shah. expected to recover from an ankle ligament injury in one month. He was injured in last month’s ‘Objective is to first Test against West Indies and Sri Lanka name Malinga in Cup team was initially ruled out of action be competitive’ for three months but has been HARARE: Zimbabwe’s new COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s selec- and Tillakaratne Dilshan, and undergoing intensive treatment. coach yesterday tors provisionally picked sling- Sri Lanka’s Squad spinner Rangana Herath. “He’s been coming along nicely named a 15-man squad for the arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga The team, led by Angelo and we hope he’ll be able to bat upcoming World Cup, aiming for the World Cup yester- Angelo Mathews (capt), Mathews, also has off-spinner in the opening game,” said coach for glory after a prolonged poor day, hoping the spearhead will Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sachithra Senanayake, whose Russell Domingo. showing on the global stage. recover fully from ankle surgery Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela bowling action was recently Duminy has had persistent “The objective is to be really four months ago. Jayawardene, Lahiru cleared by the International knee problems. He missed the competitive against good opposi- The 31-year-old, the only Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Cricket Council after he was sus- three three-Test series against tion, stiff opposition, opposition bowler in history to claim three Dimuth Karunaratne, Jeevan pended in June. West Indies but could play again that is ranked above us and most hat-tricks in one-day interna- Mendis, Thisara Perera, Sri Lanka, who won the World next week. “I’m very confident. of the teams are,” Whatmore tionals, was named in the 15-man Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Cup in 1996, reached the final of We still know we have to work said, flanked by captain Elton squad announced by Sri Lanka Malinga, Dhammika Prasad, the last two editions but lost to hard but the 15 guys we’ve picked Chigumbura. AFP Cricket (SLC) in Colombo, pend- Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Australia in 2007 and to India in are the right guys,” said cap- ing a fitness test. Herath, Sachithra Senanayake. 2011. tain AB de Villiers at the team The injury-prone Malinga, declared unfit. Tournament rules Sri Lanka are drawn in pool announcement in Cape Town. Zimbabwe Squad who has 271 wickets from 177 allow for injured players to be A alongside co-hosts Australia “We’ve never won the World Cup (capt), one-dayers, missed the last two replaced during the World Cup. and New Zealand, England, before so we really want to bring Sikandar Raza Butt, Regis series against India and England The 31-year-old Malinga, whose Afghanistan, Bangladesh and it back home.” REUTERS Chakabva, , after going under the knife in yorkers delivered with a sling- Scotland. The top four in the pool Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Craig September. shot action at times makes him will advance to the quarter-finals. Ervine, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, His fitness will be tested when almost unplayable, will be crucial Mathews’ men begin their SA Squad , Stuart he takes part in the later stages for Sri Lanka’s chances. campaign with the tournament AB de Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla (vice Matsikenyeri, , of the seven-match series against If Malinga is available for opener against New Zealand at captain), Kyle Abbott, Farhaan Behardien, Tawanda Mupariwa, Tinashe New Zealand starting on Sunday. the World Cup, he will boost an the Hagley Oval in Christchurch Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Panyangara, , The SLC statement announc- already experienced squad which on February 14. Imran Tahir, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Vernon Philander, Rilee and Sean Lasith Malinga ing the squad did not mention includes veteran batsmen Mahela The World Cup ends on March Williams. Malinga’s replacement if he was Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara 29. AGENCIES Rossouw, Dale Steyn. THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Mudhish charges to Al Karana Cup victory

DOHA: Gaetan Faucon spurred Mudhish to victory in the Al Horse Racing Results Karana Cup race at the Qatar L/B P/A MAIDEN PLATE THOROUGHBRED Racing and Equestrian Club Distance: 1800m HANDICAP RATED 50 - 70 (QREC) here yesterday. (Read as rank, horse, trainer Distance: 1800m The A de Mieulle-trained horse and jockey) 1. Succeed and Excel, M. won the top prize of QR57,000 as 1. Ghizwan, J. Smart, R. Mullen Hussain, Gaetan Faucon it stormed over the finish line to 2. Dheram Al Naif, Jassim Al 2. Statesmanship, Jassim Al win the 1900m dirt race. Ghazali, Harry Bentley Ghazali, Harry Bentley One Cool Bex, trained by I 3. Khafouqi, Jassim Al Ghazali, 3. Protect, Jassim Al Ghazali, Al Malki and ridden by Evert Stephan Ladjadj Stephan Ladjadj Pheiffer, came in second while THOROUGHBRED THOROUGHBRED Elkhart, trained by A Al Qathiri MAIDEN PLATE HANDICAP RATED 70 - 90 and ridden by Marco Monteriso, Distance: 1200m Distance: 1200m finished third. 1. Disco Inferno, H. Al Khayarin, 1. Sejalaat, Jassim Al Ghazali, Altogether eight races were Gerald Avranche Gerald Avranche held yesterday. T O’Shea rode 2. Town Crier, Jassim Al Ghazali, 2. Rock Up, Jassim Al Ghazali, Hassiba to win the penultimate Harry Bentley X. Ziani race of the day and claim the first 3. Ballroom Blitz, M. Khalid, Y. 3. Alsefra, Debbie Mountain, prize of QR45,600. Al Hajri Evert Pheiffer Waddah, ridden by P P/A GRADUATION PLATE L/B P/A CONDITIONS Convertino and trained by A de Distance: 1200m Mieulle, was second while Mutazz, Distance: 1200m ridden by Marvin Suerland and 1. Rassan, Jassim Al Ghazali, 1. Hassiba, H. Al Matwi, T. O’Shea trained by Abdullah Al Jaber, Harry Bentley came third. 2. Mouwash, Z. Mohsen, Marvin 2. Waddah, A. de Mieulle, P. Convertino However, it was a very good Suerland afternoon for trainer Jassim Al 3. Ashkal, Jassim Al Ghazali, 3. Mutazz, Abdullah Al Jaber, Ghazali. As many as nine horses Yanis Aouabed Marvin Suerland AL KARANA CUP - T/B trained by the Qatari finished in THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP RATED 80 - 100 the top three in yesterday’s eight GRADUATION PLATE races. Distance: 1100m Distance: 1900m English jockey Harry Bentley 1. Bern Me Baby, Z. Mohsen, 1. Mudhish, A. de Mieulle, also had a decent outing. He had Marvin Suerland Gaetan Faucon as many as four podium finishes 2. The Smart One, A. Al Qathiri, 2. One Cool Bex, I. Al Malki, Evert Pheiffer yesterday and rode Rassan to vic- Gaetan Faucon rides Mudhish to victory in the Al Karana Cup race at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club Marco Monteriso tory in the P/A Graduation Plate (QREC) in Doha yesterday. 3. Champagne Babe, Bustawi 3. Elkhart, A. Al Qathiri, Marco race. THE PENINSULA Ismail, Almotasem Al Balushi Monteriso Wawrinka toys with teen Dimitrov starts with eye on next level

BRISBANE: Big things are He saved two match points in expected of Grigor Dimitrov the deciding set tiebreaker, the Coric in Chennai Open this year. If the experts are first with a 208 km per hour (129 right, the Bulgarian could be a mph) ace, the second when his major player in 2015. French opponent double-faulted. Top seed begins defence of his title in $450,000 event The 23-year-old has been one “Sometimes your game is not of the most talked about players there, so you need to sort of count in men’s tennis for the past few on something else. You cannot CHENNAI: Top seed Stanislas to hold his serve while serving for years, even though he did not focus on one thing in particular, Wawrinka opened his campaign the match at 5-3 in the decider, make much of an impression at you’ve got to be ready for what- in the new season with a 6-1, 6-4 but played the tie-breaker well to the grand slams until last season. ever is on the other side,” he said. demolition of teenager Borna move ahead. Before then, he was best known “I think today was a great Coric of Croatia to cruise into “I really don’t know what went for being Maria Sharapova’s example. Even though I wanted the ATP Chennai Open quarter- wrong,” the 24-year-old Goffin boyfriend, and for his nickname to play my game and my rhythm, finals yesterday. said. “I was myself surprised by “Baby Fed”, the label he inherited against players like that it’s never The Swiss world number my high level of play in the first after winning junior Wimbledon easy. You have to pull something four gave the 18-year-old Coric set, but then a bad service game in 2008 because he has a similar else out of the bag.” a tennis lesson as he began the at the start of the second set style to Roger Federer. Dimitrov faces Martin Klizan defence of his title in the $450,000 made it difficult for me. But 2014 changed all that. He next before a possible semi-final event on the centre court of the “Probably it was my first match reached the quarter-finals of the clash with Federer but is already Numgambakkam Tennis Centre. of the season and my legs were Australian Open then the semi- looking ahead to bigger and bet- Wawrinka, who was among the not ready. But I am sure I will finals at Wimbledon and finished ter things. top four seeds given a bye into the play better on Friday. I just have the year ranked in the top 10. “There is always possibility for second round, showed no signs of to be consistent.” All of a sudden, he is being everything. I think the first step is rustiness against the 95th-ranked Goffin’s quarter-final opponent tipped as a future grand slam definitely top five. From there you Croatian, the youngest player in will be Austrian Andreas Haider- winner, possibly as early as this can sort of see the end, and that’s the top 100. Maurer, who came from behind season. the top,” he said. REUTERS Wawrinka ran up a 5-0 lead in to oust Jiri Vesely of the Czech “Well, that sounds very nice,” the first set and broke Coric in Borna Coric of Croatia and Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland Republic 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 6-4. he told reporters at the Brisbane Brisbane the seventh game of the second The tournament, a warm- International yesterday. set to win, but not before he had am happy with the way I played said Muller. “I was in control and up for the Australian Open in “But, you know, tennis is action. International Results wasted four match points with today.” did not allow him many openings. Melbourne from January 19, With the talk you’re never going lazy returns from the baseline. Wawrinka will next play eighth It’s nice to start the year this will earn the winner on Sunday to go any further than what it is. Men’s Singles Second Round: Martin Klizan “I am really happy to start this seed Gilles Muller of Luxembourg way.” $73,400 and 250 ranking points. “I need to prove that, and I (SVK) bt Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR x7) 1-6, way,” said Wawrinka, who will for a place in the semi-finals. Fourth seed David Goffin of AFP think the most important thing 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (9/7); Kei Nishikori (JPN x2) bt defend his Australian Open title Muller, 31, still looking for his Belgium overcame a mid-match is I need to prove to myself. Only Steve Johnson (USA) 6-4, 7-5; Grigor Dimitrov later in the month. first title after 14 years on the loss of form to struggle past then I can say, ‘yeah, I won a (BUL x4) bt Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 3-6, 6-4, “I played a solid, aggressive circuit, brushed aside Swedish Richardas Berankis of Lithuania Chennai Open grand slam.’ Until then, we can 7-6 (10/8); Bernard Tomic (AUS) bt Thanasi match. I made him run around teenager Elias Ymer 6-4, 6-2 in in three sets 6-0, 4-6, 7-6 (7/1). just have our presumptions.” Kokkinakis (AUS) 7-6 (7/2), 6-1. and my backhand worked well. an hour and 19 minutes. Having romped through the Results If Dimitrov’s first match of Women’s Singles Second Round: Alla This is a good sign and very Muller wrapped up the first set first set in 16 minutes, Goffin Second Round: David Goffin (BEL x4) bt 2014 is any guide, it’s going to Kudryavtseva (RUS) bt Karolina Pliskova (CZE) satisfying. with a break in the 10th game and suddenly began making unforced Ricardas Berankis (LTU) 6-0, 4-6, 7-6 (7/1); be a roller coaster year. He beat 4-6, 6-3, 6-3; Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP x7) “For sure Coric is a good player. then broke the 18-year-old Ymer errors from the baseline and Gilles Muller (LUX x8) bt Elias Ymer (SWE) 6-4, Jeremy Chardy 3-6 6-4 7-6(8) to bt Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) 5-7, 6-3, 6-4; He is young and has already again in the sixth game of the sec- served erratically to allow 6-3; Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI x1) bt Borna Coric reach the quarter-finals but only Kaia Kanepi (EST) bt Madison Brengle (USA) made his mark. It was not ond set to clinch victory. Berankis to draw level. (CRO) 6-1, 6-4; Andreas Haider-Maurer (AUT) bt after a tense struggle at the Pat 6-3, 7-6 (7/3); Ana Ivanovic (SRB x2) bt Jarmila easy out there. That is why I “I think I played a good match,” The 22nd-ranked Goffin failed Jiri Vesely (CZE) 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 6-4. Rafter Arena. Gajdosova (AUS) 6-4, 6-1. Qatar ready for Asian Cup Clash of the Stars tickets now on sale

DOHA: Tickets for the FC QR100 and can be bought online Bayern Munich and Qatar and also at designated places. Stars have gone on sale, organ- Online tickets are on sale at isers of the match Qatar Stars tickets.qsl.com.qa. League (QSL) announced here Interested fans can purchase yesterday. tickets in person at three stadi- The QSL and Volkswagen ums namely: Al Sadd, Al Gharafa Group will organise a friendly and Qatar Sports Club. between the German giants and At Al Sadd Stadium tickets will the elite players of the QSL on be sold at Gate 5 ticket office and January 13 at Abdullah Bin Al Gharafa – ticket office between Khalifa Stadium. gates 7 and 8 today from 4pm to The local side will be led by 10pm; tomorrow and January 10 Lekhwiya SC coach Michael from 2pm to 10pm; and January 11 Laudrup in the one off match; and 12 from 4pm to 10pm. known as ‘The Clash of the At Qatar Sports Club will Stars’ while the German side cater to fans at Gate 5 ticket will be spearheaded by coach Pep Franck Ribery (left) and FC Bayern Munich’s assistant trainer Domenec office today from 4pm to 10pm; Guardiola. Torrent talk during a training session at the club’s facilities at Saebner tomorrow from 2pm to 10pm and The Bundesliga leaders’ will Street in Munich yesterday. January 11 and 12 from 4pm to be in Qatar for eight days, from 10pm. January 9 to 17, as part of winter training. eager for the chance to see the No sales will take place on break training programme. “People are encouraged not to Bayern Munich internationals January 10 at Qatar SC, while This is the fifth year in a row delay in purchasing their tickets as well as the stars players from remaining tickets will be avail- A Qatari rider gets on the team bus outside the team’s training camp in that the Bavarian club will train for this one off match. A large QSL,” the QSL has said in a press able on match day from 2pm at Canberra yesterday. at the Aspire Academy for Sports number of spectators from across release. Lekhwiya Stadium, the organisers Excellence as part of the winter the region are expected to attend, Tickets are priced at QR50 and said. THE PENINSULA Most Popular Bangladeshi Newspaper

THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2015 PROTHOM ALO WEEKLY SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Published every Thursday 27 Available in all leading stores in Qatar       Tel: 4465 0600 Email: [email protected]

Stars visit ExxonMobil Qatar stand

Croatia’s veteran tennis player Ivo Karlovic signs a ball for a young fan during his visit at the ExxonMobil Qatar stand, yesterday at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha. RIGHT: Spain’s David Ferrer competes against other players in a competition for the best lap time using the F1 simulator at the ExxonMobil Qatar stand. Djokovic eases into quarter-finals World number one to meet Karlovic in mouth-watering clash; Ferrer outwits Verdasco

BY RIZWAN REHMAT 25 winners as Stakhovsky, who called time out in game one of the Qatar Open DOHA: World number one first set after twisting his ankle, Novak Djokovic of Serbia and struggled with 29 unforced errors Results the world’s tallest player Ivo in the second-round clash. World number Karlovic of Croatia yester- “Not playing Sergiy for a while, one Novak Second Round: 6-Richard Gasquet day posted quick wins to set I didn’t know what to expect,” Djokovic of (France) bt Simone Bolelli (Italy) 6-3, 6-2. up a mouth-watering quarter- Djokovic said. “I knew he’s going Serbia returns 3-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) bt Blaz finals clash at the $1.2m Qatar to come out, be aggressive, try to the ball during Kavcic (Slovenia) 6-1, 6-2. ExxonMobil Open. mix up the pace. And that’s what his second Djokovic, the top seed with he did. He sliced well at the start Ivan Dodig (Croatia) bt Michael Berrer round match (Germany) 7-6(1), 6-2 seven Grand Slam title wins, of the match. I didn’t play so against Sergiy yesterday produced slick ten- (well). I didn’t start the match so Stakhovsky 1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) bt Sergiy nis to crush Ukraine’s Sergiy great, but I managed to hold my of Ukraine Stakhovsky (Ukraine) 6-2 6-1. Stakhovsky in straight sets. serve on 4-2,” he added. at the Qatar 4-David Ferrer (Spain) bt Fernando Verdasco Djokovic won 6-2, 6-1 in just 61 “And from that moment on it ExxonMobil (Spain) 6-3, 6-2. minutes. felt as a different match. I felt I Karlovic, who also played his was more swinging through the Open Andreas Seppi (Italy) bt Joao Souza (Brazil) match on the Centre Court, ball on the court and just play- yesterday in 7-5, 6-2. Doha. beat Georgian qualifier Nikoloz ing more confidently,” the Serbian Dustin Brown (Germany) bt Jan-Lennard Basilashvili 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 to reach added. Struff (Germany) 7-6(9), 6-4. his third quarter-finals berth at In the day’s first match, the Qatar Open, the season’s first 35-year-old Karlovic blasted 19 7-Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) bt Nikoloz Basilashvili event. aces to beat Basilashvili in 1 hour (Georgia) 7-6(3), 6-3. Djokovic, who battled fever 22 minutes on the Centre Court before landing in Doha, was at Khalifa Tennis Complex. quick to wish Serbian fans Merry Karlovic, 35, has now hit 9041 Today’s Order of Christmas after his fourth career aces in his career. On Monday win over the Ukrainian opponent. he hit 27 aces in his first-round Play Serbs do not celebrate Christmas match against Lukas Rosol of the Ivo Karlovic on December 25th, but on January Czech Republic. CENTRE COURT start 3:30 pm 7th. The Croatian, who stands 6’ 11” of Croatia in [4] D Ferrer (ESP) vs D Brown (GER) “I want to wish Merry tall and wears size 16 shoes, has action during [1] N Djokovic (SRB) vs [7] I Karlovic (CRO) Christmas to everybody who cel- Djokovic thinking. his match [6] R Gasquet (FRA) or S Bolelli (ITA) vs [Q] B ebrates it today. For the rest of “We all know how Ivo is serv- against Kavcic (SLO) or [3] T Berdych (CZE) A Seppi the people, thank you very much ing. He is one of the best serv- Nikoloz (ITA) vs I Dodig (CRO) for coming out and supporting ers ever to play the game. Hope Basilashvili COURT 1 start 5:00 pm tennis in this fashion. It was a that he can miss some volleys,” of Georgia. D Inglot (GBR)/F Mergea (ROU) or D Marrero pleasure to play tennis in front Djokovic said. PICTURES (ESP)/F Verdasco (ESP) vs L Rosol (CZE)/S of you again,” Djokovic said with In other matches yesterday, BY: SALIM Stakhovsky (UKR) or J Knowle (AUT)/P his trademark smile yesterday. fourth seed David Ferrer of Spain MATRAMKOT Oswald (AUT) “I had never played in Doha, in crushed compatriot and friend B Becker (GER)/A Sitak (NZL) or J Monaco Qatar before. Now I see how much Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-2 in 77 (ARG)/R Nadal (ESP) vs [3] J Cabal (COL)/R I am enjoying here and how much minutes while Germany’s Dustin Farah (COL) or [WC] N Djokovic (SRB)/F my family is enjoying here. It feels Brown edged compatriot Jana- Krajinovic (SRB) comfortable. I will definitely be Lennard Struff 7-6, 6-4 in 85 coming back in the next years,” minutes. the affable Serbian added. It was Ferrer’s 12th win over “Dustin Brown, he’s unpredict- Michael Berrer 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 in minutes. Also yesterday, Djokovic game in terms of serve and return Djokovic, who is also play- Verdasco in 19 meetings on the able. I have to be consistent with 82 minutes. paired up with Filip Krajinovic and reaction,” he added. ing the doubles in Doha to gain ATP Tour. my first serve, because with Third seed Tomas Berdych of to beat Colombian duo of Juan Rafael Nadal also advanced in match practice, broke Stakhovsky “We played a lot of times, my second, he will put a lot of the Czech Republic eased past Sebastian Cabal and Robert the doubles when he joined Juan in games four and eight to take Fernando and me,” Ferrer, 32, pressure.” Slovakian qualifier Blaz Kavcic Farah 6-3, 7-5. Monaco of Argentina to beat the first set in just 38 minutes. said. “I think our career is simi- Also yesterday, Italy’s Andreas 6-1, 6-2 in just 58 minutes. “I’m glad Filip and I played and Germany’s Benjamin Becker and In the second set, Djokovic reeled lar, playing (for) 13 or 14 years on Seppi beat Brazil’s Joao Souza 7-5, Berdych, ranked seventh in the we won against very good dou- Artem Sitak of New Zealand 2-6, off slick returns to break the the tour. On the court we try to 6-2. It was first meeting between world, will take on sixth seed bles players that play only doubles 6-3, 10-6. Ukrainian in games four and do our best and after the court we Seppi and Souza on the ATP Tour. Richard Gasquet of France in the and they are specialists for the In a shocking start to the new seven to seal his win in straight are friends,” Ferrer added. In the quarter-finals, Seppi will quarter-finals today. doubles,” Djokovic said. “I enjoy season, Nadal was sent crashing sets. When asked about his next play Croatia’s Ivan Dodig who Gasquet yesterday beat Italy’s it (playing doubles) very much. I out of the singles on Tuesday. The Serbian top seed produced opponent Brown, Ferrer said: yesterday beat German qualifier Simone Bolelli 6-3, 6-2 in 62 do. I think it also helps my singles THE PENINSULA Kids Tennis Clinic Wozniacki, Williams march on untroubled in Auckland

AUCKLAND: Caroline percent success rate. She plays rate and no double faults, but Wozniacki and Venus Williams Russian Elena Vesnina in the she had difficulty dealing with strolled into the quarter-finals quarter-finals after the Russian Townsend’s switch to go to the of the Auckland Classic yester- breezed past Croatian teenager net more in the second set. day with second-round straight- Ana Konjuh 6-3, 6-1. The left-handed American sets wins. Head-to-head, Vesnina leads broke serve to lead 4-2 in the sec- Venus Williams was made to Williams 2-1 although Williams ond set but double-faulted when work at the start of her match won their last encounter in Dubai serving for the set, and Wozniacki with Japan’s fleet-footed Kurumi 11 months ago. came through to close out the tie- Nara, dropping serve twice before The pressure was reversed break with an ace. shifting up a gear to cruise home for top-seed Caroline Wozniacki “The second set I broke her 6-4, 6-1. who cruised through the first set and thought it’s going well for me Although the win was com- against rising American Taylor and all of a sudden I see myself Young tennis players pose for a group photo along with their coaches. Children from the ExxonMobil Qatar fortable, 34-year-old Williams Townsend and then struggled to down 5-2 and she started playing community, and young local tennis players took part in a Kids Tennis Clinic during the Qatar ExxonMobil Open was not satisfied with the way get home in two sets 6-1, 7-6 (7-4). really well. All of a sudden I had 2015, organised by the Qatar Tennis Federation and ExxonMobil Qatar. her usually venomous serve mis- Wozniacki’s first serve worked to fight my way back,” Wozniacki fired, delivering a less than 50 a treat with an 81 per cent success said after the win. AFP