ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER

Opec won’t cut output even at $20: Saudi

Business | 21

Wednesday 24 December 2014 • 2 Rabial I 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6289 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780

Kuwait Emir receives PM Palestinians to New safety cut ties with Israel if UN measures at gambit fails

ALGIERS: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas bus station warned yesterday that his administration would “no longer deal” with Israel if More concrete barriers installed a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a BY YASIN KAKANDE all safety measures for commuters final peace deal fails. are in place. “If the Arab-Palestinian initi- DOHA: After an accident left The recent accident was the ative submitted to the Security four people dead and two injured second in less than two years. In a Council to put an end to (Israeli) at Al Ghanim bus terminal, similar accident last year, a driver occupation doesn’t pass, we will authorities are making efforts lost control of a bus and hit several On behalf of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Prime Minister and Interior Minister be forced to take the necessary to make the place safer for passengers, leaving at least four H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani yesterday offered condolences to the Emir of Kuwait political and legal decisions,” commuters. seriously injured. H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah on the death of Sheikha Sabah Al Nasser Al Sabah. Abbas was quoted as saying by A second row of concrete bar- “That was the time when the the Algerian APS news agency. riers has been installed at the authorities responded by putting “If it fails, we will no longer station between the passengers’ the first row of concrete barriers,” deal with the Israeli govern- waiting area and the stopping said a taxi driver who has been ment, which will then be forced points of buses. working in the area for two years. to assume its responsibilities as The temporary barricades as “Now, they have put another. But Law on electronic salary an occupier,” he added. well as signs that display route even if they add a third row it will The Palestinian draft resolu- maps carry notices warning com- not be enough to stop a 50-ton bus tion sets a 12-month deadline muters not to cross over the running into passengers if such an for wrapping up negotiations on dividers. accident happens again,” he added. transfer to get nod soon a final peace settlement and the “Stay behind the barrier… Your A commuter waiting at the end of 2017 as the time frame for safety is our concern” read the terminal said that the authorities DOHA: The proposed electronic these amendments are awaiting reservation quota for nationals. completing an Israeli withdrawal notices. could easily solve the problem if salary transfer system whereby approval by the State Cabinet. “We are looking forward to dou- from Palestinian territories. The additional safety measures they reduced crowding at the bus all workers in the country are About amendments being made bling employment opportunities A final peace deal would pave have been taken after the recent station, especially on Thursdays to be paid via banks, exchange to other provisions of the labour for fellow citizens in the private the way to the creation of a incident in which a bus reportedly and Fridays. houses and other financial insti- law to help strengthen mecha- sector in the near future.” Palestinian state with Jerusalem accelerated as it approached the “They should set up more sta- tutions, is in the final stages of nisms to protect the rights of for- The minister was appreciative of as a shared capital, according to stop area, hit the barrier and the tions in other areas instead of hav- approval. eign workers, the minister said the private sector and said it was the text. waiting shed and came to a halt ing all the buses in one terminal This was disclosed here yes- preparations were under way to highly responsive to the govern- Speculation has been mount- after crashing into two taxis in a with a lot of congestion,” he said. terday by the Minister of Labour issue those amendments as well. ment’s call for providing increas- ing since the death in December neighbouring parking lot. People point out that the bus and Social Affairs, H E Dr The amendments are to be ing opportunities to nationals for of a Palestinian official who was The new barricades and the station, though located in the Abdullah bin Saleh Mubarak Al issued along with the amended jobs and training. struck by an Israeli soldier that warning notices, however, have not heart of the city, is too small to Khulaifi. sponsorship law, which also cov- The event was Al Khaliji the Palestinian Authority could made people more cautious. Some accommodate all the buses plying Called the Wage Protection ers exit permit rules, said the Commercial Bank’s open career suspend security coordination commuters were seen crossing to different parts of the country. System (WPS), it will guaran- minister. day for Qataris. with Israel in the West Bank if over the barriers and waiting for Commuters also want the authori- tee that all employers pay their “These amendments (to the “The private sector must play the resolution fails to pass. their buses close to the stopping ties to provide separate toilets for workers salaries in time via a sponsorship law) are being made its role in implementing the state’s “We are determined to regain points, as was the case in the past. men and women. foolproof electronic system. by the Ministry of Interior,” the job nationalisation policy within the rights of our people, including The new safety measures work “There are no toilets for women. The draft law is awaiting the minister clarified. He, though, the framework of the Qatar the right of return (for refugees) in the evening rush hours when The few toilets for men are dirty final nod of the State Cabinet, didn’t elaborate on the amend- National Vision 2030,” Abdullah and the freedom of all Palestinian two or three Karwa officials are and stinking due to lack of proper which is expected soon, the min- ments being made to some provi- bin Saleh said. prisoners held in Israeli jails,” deployed to monitor the termi- cleaning,” said an expatriate who ister said in remarks to Al Sharq sions of the labour law. According to him, a report on Abbas said. nal. They ensure that passengers didn’t want his name in print. on the sidelines of an event held Talking about the job nation- Qatarization has been prepared The Palestinian president stay behind the concrete barriers “They should take care of both at his ministry’s headquarters. alisation drive in the private by his ministry and it has been met his Algerian counterpart and ask them not to walk unnec- safety and hygiene,” he added. Relevant provisions of the sector, the minister said that welcomed by various government Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Monday essarily inside the bus terminal. THE PENINSULA labour law have been amended a large number of companies departments and agencies. during a three-day official visit. The officials also make sure that Picture on page 6 to put the WPS in force and had exceeded the 20 percent job THE PENINSULA AFP Libya fighting Rules tightened for non-Qatari lawyers to appear in court

DOHA: Working in a law firm Or, they must be or must in court in legal matters, Al in Qatar for three years may have been a member of the Bar Zaman said the committee not be sufficient anymore for Association in their home coun- was still studying the proposed a non-Qatari lawyer to appear try to be permitted to represent amendments. in court on behalf of a client. a client in court in Qatar after The Minister of Justice has There are indications that three years of working with a set up a six-member commit- rules are being changed and law firm here. tee to study amendments to a more conditions may be imposed Prominent lawyer Yusuf Al draft law (to regulate the legal on non-Qatari lawyer-employ- Zaman told this newspaper profession) that seeks to permit ees of law firms to practice their yesterday that yet another con- companies to have their legally profession. dition being imposed on non- qualified employees represent The Lawyers’ Admission Qatari lawyers is that they must them in court. Committee at the Ministry have enough experience. Three of the members are of Justice met yesterday and And finally, to be allowed to from the ministry while the approved regulations applica- appear in a Qatari court, the other three are from the ble to lawyers, both Qataris and foreign lawyer must appear for Lawyers’ Association, Al Zaman non-Qataris. an interview with a committee said. These regulations are part of being set up for this purpose by Until 2006, companies enjoyed Article 9 of the law that regu- the Minister of Justice. that privilege, the lawyer said. A member of the Libyan army stands on a tank as smoke rises from the city’s port in the background after lates the legal profession in the The Admission Committee, However, a new law enforced a fire broke out at a car tyre disposal plant during clashes against Islamist gunmen in Benghazi yesterday. country. meanwhile, admitted some that year ended that privilege. It says that after working for new lawyers to the legal profes- A recent draft law seeks to three years in a law firm a law- sion. Its meeting was presided give that privilege back to pri- yer can be “promoted” so that over by its ex-officio chairman, vate companies. The Lawyers’ he can appear in court on behalf the Minister of Justice, H E Association has objected Sony to release The Interview of a client. Dr Hassan Lahdan Saqr Al and asked the justice min- The Admission Committee Mohannadi, QNA reported. istry to cancel the relevant LOS ANGELES: Sony Pictures Just six days after cancelling to be limited to smaller movie did not find fault with the Asked about the tus- amendments. said yesterday it will screen the film’s opening, in a move chains. The New York Times above provision, but imposed sle between the Lawyers’ The Association, thus, pro- madcap comedy The Interview in decried as a defeat for freedom reported that only 200-300 cin- the additional condition that a Association and the private posed some amendments and some US theatres on Christmas of speech, Sony chief executive emas were expected to show the non-Qatari must be registered sector over allowing compa- the ministry has set up a com- Day, a U-turn after its widely Michael Lynton confirmed that film, a fraction of the estimated as a lawyer in his or her home nies to have their legally quali- mittee to study them. criticised decision to cancel the the movie would now be shown 2,500 theatres originally expected country. fied employees represent them THE PENINSULA film following a cyberattack in theatres tomorrow. to screen the movie. AFP blamed on North Korea. The release of the film is likely See also page 13

HOME WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Website on Prophet launched DOHA: A website highlighting the noble char- In the verse, God describes the Prophet as the acter of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) has been best model for humanity. launched in Doha. The website contains a library with icons leading The website www.oswaty.com was launched by to audio and video materials, books, lectures and a Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani, Honorary section on the life of the Prophet. Dr Ayed Al Qahtani President, RAF, as part of the awareness campaign said it aimed to encourage, people, especially youth, entitled ‘My Prophet… My Mode’ taken from a verse to emulate the Prophet. of the Holy Quran. THE PENINSULA

Jassim Al Rumaihi (left), Chairman, organising committee, Pravin Patel (third left), Judge, Guinness World Records, Fahad Al Kuwari (second right), from Qatar Mega Marathon, and other officials during a press conference on ‘Qatar Mega Marathon 2015’ at Al Sadd Sports Club yesterday. KAMMUTTY VP Qatar eyes Guinness record for marathon Bid to bring most runners on National Sport Day DOHA: Qatar will attempt to Participating athletes, members of media campaign will be held with set a Guinness World Records for the public and institutions will be the assistance of athletes and ‘Most runners in a marathon’ provided with uniforms bearing celebrities to promote the event with the Qatar Mega Marathon the Qatari flag and the logo of the and ensure maximum partici- 2015 on Qatar National Sport club. All participants will be medi- pation. Apart from using inter- Day on February 10. cally examined to determine fit- national media, campaigns will A press conference was held ness prior to the race. Considering also be done through the event’s yesterday in Al Sadd Sports Club age differences, participants will website and social media such to announce details of the event. be classified into categories cover- as Facebook and Twitter. A cer- The event being organised by Al ing specific distances. emony will be held at the end of Sadd Sports Club is expected to Awards and certificates will be the event to be attended by promi- attract 50,000 runners to be led by given to the top finishers. nent Qatari and Arab figures. well-known international runners. Organisers said an extensive THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Qatar chairs meet on Deputy Emir meets outgoing envoys Condolences sent to Saudi King environment in Kuwait DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani KUWAIT: Qatar chaired for West Asia, the Regional yesterday sent a cable of con- the 34th meeting of under- Organization for the Protection dolences to the Custodian of secretaries responsible for of the Marine Environment the Two Holy Mosques King environmental affairs in the and the World Bank, as well Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al GCC yesterday in Kuwait. as environmental coopera- Saud following the death of the It prepared for a meeting of tion with Turkey, Jordan and mother of Prince Abdulaziz the ministers responsible for Morocco. bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz the environment in the GCC The meeting also followed bin Abdullah Al Saud. states, to be held on Thursday. up on progress in implemen- The Deputy Emir H H Sheikh During the meeting tation of the GCC environmen- Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani chaired by Ahmed Mohamed tal monitoring centre, GCC also sent a cable of condolences Al Sada, Undersecretary, Award for environment and to King Abdullah. Environmental Affairs, at wildlife, GCC environmental The Prime Minister and the Ministry of Environment, portal project, GCC network Interior Minister H E Sheikh participants reviewed coop- for the study of land degrada- Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa eration among the GCC states tion and the Award of Sultan Al Thani sent a similar cable to and with the United Nations Qaboos for Human Affairs and The Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday met outgoing Tunisian Ambassador Mohammed the Saudi Monarch. Environment Programme Environmental Sector. Mundhir Zarif at the Emiri Diwan and conferred the Sash of Merit on him in recognition of his role in boosting relations. (UNEP) Regional Office QNA The Deputy Emir also met separately outgoing ambassadors Victor M Lagos (El Salvador) and Maria Del Carmen De Emir of Kuwait Labena (Spain) and honoured them with the Sash of Merit for bolstering relations between Qatar and their countries. condoled

KUWAIT: On behalf of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Prime Minister and Interior Minister 10 initiatives win first CSR Awards H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani offered condolences and sym- 30 firms, organisations compete for honours; second edition of White Book 2014 launched pathy to the Emir of Kuwait H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah on the death of Sheikha Sheikha Sabah Al Nasser Al Sabah. The Premier also offered condolences to Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah. He offered condolences and sympathy to Sheikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al Hamad Al Sabah on the death of his wife Sheikha Sheikha Sabah Al Nasser Al Sabah. The Premier offered con- dolences and sympathy of the Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani to the Kuwaiti Ruler on the death of Sheikha Sheikha Sabah Al Nasser Al Sabah . He offered condolences of the Deputy Emir to the Kuwaiti Crown Prince and Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al Hamad Al Sabah on the death of Sheikha Sheikha Al The Minister of Youth and Sports and Vice-Chairman of Da’am Fund H E Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser Al Ali with Dar Al Sharq CEO Abdulatif Al Mahmoud, Editor-in-Chief, Al Sharq, Jaber Al Nasser Al Sabah. The Premier Harami, other officials and award winners at the event. also offered his condolences and sympathy to the members of the DOHA: The 10 best corporate Ezdan Holding (Construction community through initiatives to Editor-in-Chief, Al Sharq, said information. ruling family. social responsibility initiatives and Development), small com- support development. Dar Al Sharq had made CSR one The event also saw two CSR of companies and organisations panies Innovation Films (Small Al Obaidli said Ezdan believed of its priorities. sessions — ‘The role of govern- Japan Emperor in Qatar were honoured at the Company), Qatar General in being an integral part of the “We are proud to have initiated ment in CSR’ and ‘Environment first CSR Awards yesterday at Authority for Standards and Qatari society in all its compo- efforts to disseminate the prin- and social responsibility of congratulated Four Seasons Hotel. Metrology (Government Sector), nents, and that the Group had ciples of CSR. I am delighted to companies’. The ceremony was part of the Qatar Football Federation (Sports adopted initiatives over its long announce that the CSR Awards The forum ended with a Doha DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh CSR conference organised by Dar Sector) and Al Sadd Sports Club career in all sectors, including which succeeded in its first year Declaration on CSR which Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani Al Sharq which saw the launch of (Best CSR Report). social, health, educational, cul- will continue to honour compa- included recommendations and yesterday sent a cable of con- the second edition of White Book The Minister of Youth and tural, sports and environment. nies chosen based on standard proposals to be submitted by gratulations to Emperor 2014. Sports and Vice-Chairman of The CSR Awards committee criteria and with full transpar- companies to the government to Akihito of Japan on his coun- The award was the first of its Da’am Fund H E Salah bin and sponsors of White Book 2014 ency,” he said. initiate a national policy on CSR try’s National Day. kind on the national level for Ghanem bin Nasser Al Ali and were also honoured at the event, He said Al Sharq will soon pub- to achieve Qatar’s leading role in The Deputy Emir H H Sheikh which 30 companies competed in Dar Al Sharq CEO Abdulatif Al attended by over 250 representa- lish a weekly supplement on CSR, the region. Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani various categories. Mahmoud presented the awards. tives from the business commu- a first in the GCC. The conference was held also sent a greetings cable to The Best CSR Initiative awar- Receiving the award, Ali Al nity, civil society and government The White Book and the sup- under the patronage of Sheikh Emperor Akihito. The Prime dees were Qatar Charity (NGO), Obaidli, CEO, Ezdan Holding institutions. plement, he said, would serve Abdulla bin Saoud Al Thani, Minister and Interior Minister Qatar National Bank (Financial Group, said participants had been Speaking at the opening of the as a link between the private Governor, Qatar Central Bank, H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Sector), Ooredoo (Big Company), able to highlight their presence in conference, Jaber Al Harami, and the government sectors on and Chairman, Sport and Social bin Khalifa Al Thani sent a simi- Ritz-Carlton Doha (Tourism), the social responsibility field, aim- Executive Vice-President, their development efforts and an and Contribution Fund. lar cable to the Emperor. QNA Shell Qatar (Energy Sector), ing mainly at the consolidation of Media and Publishing, and effective platform for exchange of THE PENINSULA Municipality shuts three erring ice units in Barwa Village DOHA: Al Wakra Mansoura, Old Rayyan, and Municipality has closed New Rayyan that failed to down three ice manufac- display the prices for public turing facilities in Barwa information, said a state- Village for failure to meet ment issued by the ministry health requirements. yesterday. They were found sell- Two fruit and vegetables ing ice unfit for human shops in Al Wukair and consumption, Qatar News Al Wakra were fined for Agency reported yesterday. failure to comply with the Irregularities were daily price list issued by the detected during an inspec- ministry. A laundry and an tion campaign launched ice cream shop face action by the Health Control also for not displaying the Department at the munici- prices. pality, in collaboration A shop in Markhiya vio- with the Industrial Control lated the law by issuing Department at the Ministry bills to customers carry- of Energy and Industry. ing a warning that the sold It targeted shops and items cannot to be returned facilities selling and manu- or changed. facturing ice in the jurisdic- A laundry and food outlet tion of the municipality. in the same area face action Inspectors discovered for offering products and steel and templates in services at prices higher ice, rickety equipment than the declared ones. A and inappropriate storage food complex was fined for methods, said a report. similar offences. Meanwhile, the Ministry Twelve car decoration of Economy and Commerce shops in different mar- registered 26 violations of kets were fined for failure the Consumer Protection to announce the prices Law during surprise raids for their services offered in Al Wakra, Al Wukair, Al on National Day. Fines Mamoura, Al Markhiya and for violations ranged from Al Rayyan. QR5,000 to QR6,000, said Seven cases involved the statement. furniture shops in Al THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 CMC election could see keen contests Re-demarcation of constituencies changes equation

DOHA: The election of the For example, Al Markhiya has which includes Doha Jadeeda, rep- Central Municipal Council been cancelled as an independent resented by Al Malki in the coun- (CMC) in May next year is constituency while South and cil. Other stalwarts who may seek expected to witness keen North Maither constituencies re-election from this new constit- contests in some constitu- have been unified into one. uency are Ibrahim Al Ibrahim, a encies following the recent The re-demarcation has former councillor, and Ali Lahdan, re-demarcation. changed the equation so much so who lost in the last poll. The 29 constituencies were re- that if some sitting councillors and In constituency No. 8, for demarcated by authorities after former CMC members decide to instance, the lone woman coun- large-scale demolitions in some contest again, there would be keen cillor and a veteran, Sheikha Al areas, particularly in the city fight among stalwarts in several Jefairi, might be challenged by and its suburbs, prompted many constituencies, the local Arabic Meshal Al Dahnim, a sitting CMC Qatari families to shift to the daily Al Raya reported yesterday. member and a popular figure. FROM LEFT: CMC Chairman Saud Al Hanzab, Vice-Chairman Jassem Abdullah Al Malki and member Sheikha Al outskirts. The 29-member CMC, which CMC Chairman, Saud Abdullah Jefairi. The lopsidedness was such that has a four-year term, was first Al Hanzab, may not seek re-elec- some constituencies had 3,000 to elected in early 1999. The May tion but could be pitched against the Supervisory Committee of the list. Registration can be done January 11, said Brigadier Majid 4,000 voters while others had 2015 election is for its fifth term. Mohamed Ali Al Athba if he CMC election as asking eligible through Metrash2 or by show- Ibrahim Al Khulaifi. about 200 to 800 voters. This Due to re-demarcation, Jassem decides to join the fray. Qataris to register in the voter ing up in their constituencies on THE PENINSULA called for their re-demarcation. Al Malki, Vice-Chairman, CMC, Al Hanzab represents North Following re-demarcation, may come face-to-face with a Maither and Al Athba is from some areas of a particular con- colleague Dr Mohamed Jassim Al South Maither. Both constitu- stituency have been included in Muslemani in constituency No. 1. encies have been merged. Such other constituencies while some Al Muslemani was elected from examples are galore, Al Raya said. constituencies have been merged Al Markhiya which has been Meanwhile, Qatar News with others. merged with constituency No. 1, Agency quoted the chairman of Al Meera new Nojoom partner DOHA: Ooredoo yesterday announced Al Meera as its new Nojoom partner to continue bringing a larger variety of reward options to the multi- award winning programme. Members have the choice to earn Nojoom points on their purchases at Al Meera or make a redemption for vouchers starting at QR50 up to QR2,000 to complete their shopping needs. Outlets in Mansoura, Azghawa, Airport Ooredoo and Al Meera officials after signing the deal. Hypermarket, Hazm Al Markhiya, Al Wakra, Bin Omran, Nuaija, Khalifa South, Al Merqab and customers. Whether it’s a pint of milk or a TV, you Legtaifiya are covered under the plan, which also will be rewarded,” said Yousuf Abdulla Al Kubaissi, aims to cover additional Al Meera outlets in 2015. CEO, Ooredoo Global Services. Ooredoo and Al Meera are offering members who Dr Mohammed Nasser Al Qahtani, DCEO, Al earn or redeem points before January 21 with the Meera, said, “In 10 stores of Al Meera, Ooredoo listed outlets a free entry to a raffle draw to win customers will be able to earn points and benefit by prizes including a QR10,000 gift voucher from Al exchanging them with groceries and quality prod- Meera and 10 winners will receive 40,000 Nojoom ucts.” Redemptions can be made following Nojoom’s points. redemption channels by logging into their account “Partnerships that reward everyday events such at www.ooredoo.qa/nojoom or by downloading the as shopping at Al Meera help us give back to our Ooredoo App. THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Ashghal inks deal to Solidarity for jailed Aljazeera scribes DOHA: Journalists and friends around the world will express solidarity with Aljazeera jour- nalists Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, improve road safety marking one year of their arrest in Cairo on December DOHA: The Public Works 29. Authority — Ashghal — signed a Newsrooms across the world memorandum of understanding will stop work at 1200 Egypt-time (MoU) with the International to reflect on the year’s events. Road Assessment Programme Aljazeera English will start its (iRAP) for upgrading the safety coverage of the tragic milestone standards for roads in Qatar. by examining changes this year in The MoU was signed at the press freedom around the world annual general conference organ- on December 28. ised by Automobile International On December 29, it will take a A file photo of Aljazeera journalists Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Federation (FIA) in Doha look at events of the last 365 days recently. The forum was hosted in Egypt, from the arrest of Peter, Baher Mohamed attending their trial in Cairo. by Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Baher and Mohamed to their Federation. conviction and the lengthy wait Foreign and Commonwealth release of the journalists have The MoU paves the way to for the next legal development. Office, the European Union, the occurred throughout the social adopt and implement road safety On January 1, Egypt’s Court of Australian Government and media campaign #FreeAJStaff, standards that are implemented Cassation will rule on whether a over 150 rights groups, includ- with over 137,000 people express- by the iRAP to evaluate roads in full appeal can be heard. It will ing Amnesty International, ing support on Twitter, reaching Qatar. also look at the process behind Committee to Protect Journalists 112 million, and delivering over The standards aim to raise the original trial, a process and International Press Institute. two billion impressions. the safety levels on the high-risk Yousef Al Emadi, Manager, Roads Operations and Maintenance Department, observers have said was flawed, Over 200,000 people have Anyone can express soli- roads to a three-star minimum as Ashghal, with John Dawson, Chairman, iRAP at the MoU signing ceremony. and which has caused global signed petitions globally, includ- darity on the anniversary and per the standards approved by the outrage. ing two by 150,000 presented to throughout the court pro- programme. “It is also an important con- annual general conference that Calls for the release of the Egyptian Vice Counsel in ceedings by using the hashtag Yousef Al Emadi, Manager, tribution that will support the marks the beginning of a new Aljazeera staff have been made Sydney by Australia’s journalists. #FreeAJStaff Roads Operations and National Road Safety Strategy. partnership between Qatar and by the White House, the British Public calls of support for the THE PENINSULA Maintenance Department, “We are proud to be part of iRAP. Ashghal, signed the MoU with these efforts that will play a role “This partnership is an exam- John Dawson, Chairman, iRAP. in reducing road accidents and ple of the innovative approach “Our collaboration with iRAP saving lives,” said Al Emadi. that leads to measurable results, Safety steps at Al Ghanim bus terminal represents an important mile- Saul Billingsley, Director- and contributes to reducing road stone towards providing safe General, FIA, said: “We are fatalities and injuries in Qatar.” roads for all those living in Qatar. delighted with the hosting of our THE PENINSULA HBKH team treats patients in Mauritania village

DOHA: Hamad Bin Khalifa Hospital (HBKH) 50 percent children, a statement said, adding the in Boutilimit, Mauritania, provided services to general medicine clinic received 246 cases, the the local community and neighbouring areas as gynaecology clinic treated 95, and the ultrasound it recently dispatched multi-disciplinary medical examination clinic received 43 cases. convoy to Matamoulana, a village, 180km south- The hospital was established in 2007 under the east of the capital Nouakchott. patronage of H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, formerly The team was part efforts to deliver services to through Qatari-Mauritanian Social Development the largest possible number of local communities. Foundation, and now through Education Above All, Qatar Red Crescent, which takes the responsibil- a global initiative to build an international move- ity for operating and managing the hospital, said ment to contribute to human, social, and economic the convoy was equipped with an ambulance, an development by offering good education and welfare ultrasound examination kit and other equipment, programmes and other initiatives. medicines for malaria, skin diseases, antibiotics and On average, staff at the 73-bed hospital perform 40 anti-inflammatory drugs for pregnant women. surgical operations per month, with women and chil- Commuters waiting for their buses at Al Ghanim terminal. Authorities are exerting efforts to make it safer fol- The one-day programme treated 384 people, dren being the biggest beneficiaries of the services. lowing a freak accident that left four people dead and two injured on December 12. BAHER AMIN including 15 percent men, 35 percent women and QNA WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 ROTA volunteers hold training QA ties up with Aspire Academy to nurture sessions in Cambodia schools football talent in Africa DOHA: Seventeen Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) volunteers DOHA: Qatar Airways (QA) sports as a key development tool,” recently travelled to Cambodia has announced its partnership he added. to conduct educational training with Aspire Academy to sup- “Giving young people in Africa in schools. port this year’s Aspire Football the chance to fulfil their poten- They visited the capital city Dreams project by form- tial while being able to make a Phnom Penh from December 6 to ing ‘Qatar Airways & Aspire big step towards becoming a pro- 13 and held workshops for teach- Academy – Football Dreams fessional football player has been ers and staff of Hun Sen ROTA Africa’. important for the academy and School and other schools. The project aims to empower we are proud to have partnered During the trip in cooperation the development of youth by with QA on the project,” said Ivan with Vodafone Qatar, some 17 identifying and training football Bravo, Director- General, Aspire teachers and staff attended ses- talent. Academy. sions on computer technologies; The academy has begun scout- Javier Faus, First Vice- 20 in workshops on administra- ing for talent in Africa. Once President and Head of FC tive and human resources skills selected, finalists will be offered Barcelona Finance and Strategy development; and 20 were trained a once-in-a-lifetime opportu- Department, said: “This is one in sports, hygiene and environ- nity to train in Barcelona and more example of the projects ment awareness and teaching play a friendly game against FC resulting from our sponsorship techniques. Barcelona’s youth team. agreement with QA. Through this Essa Al Manaai, Executive As FC Barcelona’s global main initiative, Barça is offering the Director, ROTA, said: “Rota sponsor, QA has been associated possibility for young footballers believes in Qatar Foundation’s ROTA volunteers holding a session for academic staff in a school in Phnom Penh. with initiatives involving the foot- from the African continent to be mission to develop human capaci- ball team to spread the love of able to enjoy a unique experience ties and unlock potentials of indi- “Such trips further develop educational projects around the Vocational Education & Training football to all corners of the world. and is reasserting its commitment viduals to be active and innovative volunteers’ psychosocial life skills world and this is best exemplified programme. QA Group Chief Executive to sport as part of education.” members of society. and international experience that in cooperation between the com- It serves around 760 stu- Akbar Al Baker said: “QA has QA welcomes fans to support “ROTA supports volunteer become an inspiration to engage pany and ROTA.” dents and 49 teachers – 45 for a proud tradition of supporting the project by registering at activities and trips that expose more youth in Qatar-based vol- Funded by ROTA, and devel- the high school and four for the meaningful, socially relevant ini- http://www.qatarairways.com/ volunteers to the reality faced by unteering activities.” oped in partnership with programme. tiatives and we believe that the footballdreamsafrica. in-country beneficiaries to raise Dana Haidan, Head, Corporate Cambodian NGO, Monithipana The volunteers also visited project is an excellent opportunity All registered supporters will their awareness about the impor- Social Responsibility, Vodafone Foundation, Hun Sen ROTA other schools and shared teaching to make the dreams of young foot- be entered into a draw, and QA tance of education as a tool for Qatar, said, “Vodafone is keen School was launched in 2011. It is techniques with academic staff. ballers in Africa come true. will offer 20 winners tickets change. to support developmental and a high school offering a Technical THE PENINSULA “We aim to use it as a platform to Barcelona and a tour of FC to nurture budding football talent Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium. and highlight the effectiveness of THE PENINSULA 20 get certificates for handling biological samples QNB, MasterCard promotion winners enjoy New York trip

DOHA: Qatar National Bank their companions visited New (QNB) and MasterCard have York from December 11 to 14 announced the names of the and were awarded business class five winners of ‘Spend and return flights along with a stay Win’ campaign offering an all- for four days and three nights at expense paid trip to New York the five-star Quin Hotel, an urban with a loved one to celebrate the retreat near the Central Park. festive season, a statement said Upon arrival, the winning yesterday. members and their companions The five QNB First members were greeted at a reception at won the reward as part of a QNB Tavern On The Green in Central First and MasterCard promotion, Park. whereby all QNB First customers The next day they toured New with valid QNB LIFE Rewards York City, and had dinner at A Officials with some of the employees at the event. MasterCard World Credit Cards Voce in Time Warner Centre and who spend a minimum of QR1,500 ended the night with the ‘Wicked DOHA: Twenty employees of the Supreme (in preparation and shipment of biological qualified staff to keep pace with the grow- during October are eligible to Show’ on Broadway. They were Council of Health, Hamad Medical samples) after passing a first-of-its-kind ing needs of the health sector with regard to enter a raffle. also rewarded a $2,000 prepaid Corporation, Primary Health Care training course organised by the SCH in shipments of biological samples and increase The raffle was conducted after card each to enjoy a private Corporation, Qatar University, the Ministry Qatar. cooperation with specialised research centres the end of the promotion, in the shopping experience, followed by of Environment, Sbitar, Qatar Airways and Three secured the Golden level (excellence) in the field across the world, according to a presence of a representative dinner at Marcus Samuelsson’s shipping firms received International Air and 14 the Silver level (privilege). statement issued by the SCH. from the Ministry of Economy restaurant, at Red Rooster. Transport Association-certified certificate The course aimed to raise the number of THE PENINSULA and Commerce. The winners and THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 HOME 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com QU honours top achievers 328 students obtained GPA 3.5 and above in two semesters

www.swiss-belhotel.com Tel Fax

Tel Fax Dr Mazen Hasna, Vice-President and Chief Academic Officer, QU, addressing the ceremony. (RIGHT): Abdul Aziz Al Mahmoud, Qatari writer and Guest of Honour signing a copy of his new book The Holy Sail.

DOHA: A total of 328 stu- Hasna presented certificates hard work and dedication. “If we do not make our his- Tel dents on the Honour Roll to them in the presence of “The events highlight QU’s tory, somebody else will make it Fax of Qatar University (QU) parents, members of QU lead- commitment to maximise for us.” He also briefed them on Vice-President and Chief ership, deans, heads of depart- its students’ potential and The Holy Sail, a fictional story Academic Officer were cel- ments and faculty. give them the opportunity which chronicles the medieval ebrated at male and female The events also included to develop skills and knowl- world of Lisbon, Cairo, Jeddah Tel + 974 44298888 ceremonies. students’ meet-and-greet edge to become future lead- and Istanbul. Some 265 female and 63 male with Abdul Aziz Al Mahmoud, ers and contribute to Qatar’s It uses historical research Fax students in QU colleges were Qatari writer and Guest of development.” methods while engaging read- honoured for achieving GPA Honour, who signed copies of Al Mahmoud expressed pride ers in a tale of love and honour. 3.5 and above for the fall and his books, including his new over their distinction which, he Al Mahmoud highlighted the Tel spring semesters in the aca- novel The Holy Sail. said, allows them to accomplish importance of reading which, demic year 2013-14. Dr Hasna said, “It is a great their goals and aspirations and he said, will help contribute to Fax Vice-President and Chief honour to celebrate our stu- contribute to building Qatar’s Qatar’s cultural development. Academic Officer Dr Mazen dents for their achievements, knowledge-based economy. THE PENINSULA

Tel Fax

Tel Ooredoo, partners promote disaster preparedness Fax DOHA: Ooredoo is work- preparedness are becoming tonnes of water bottles air- Indonesia, forced from their ing with GSMA and Souktel important elements of our lifted to the Maldives by Qatar homes by major flooding at the www.doha.hilton.com Mobile Solutions to develop strategy for serving the com- Airways. start of 2014. “Access to mobile new partnerships and enhance munity, particularly as mobile Over the summer, Asiacell, network services can be a life- Tel 44233333 974+ strategies to manage disaster technology opens new oppor- Ooredoo’s company in Iraq, line for those affected by crisis,” preparedness, following the tunities to provide support for pledged to help keep commu- said Kyla Reid, Head of Disaster Fax 44233000 974+ first Middle East Summit on people,” said Dr Nasser Marafih, nication alive in conflict areas Response, GSMA. Mobile Technology and Crisis Group CEO, Ooredoo. by distributing 10,000 free SIM “Innovative partnerships Response. Recently, Ooredoo Maldives cards equipped with a free between mobile network opera- Ooredoo Group has been pro- has been in action to help tackle SMS notification service offer- tors and humanitarian organisa- viding emergency aid via tech- the Male water crisis, which left ing information for internally tions is critical in ensuring that nology such as a recent Gaza thousands of people without displaced persons and refugees. those displaced or impacted by SMS donation campaign by fresh water after a fire broke It also established a call cen- humanitarian emergencies are Wataniya Palestine. out at the main water and sew- tre in Sulaimanyah to connect able to connect, seek and receive During the month-long drive, age company. people with organisations and critical information and are able customers in Palestine could It provided a water track- programmes that provide sup- to support response activities in Tel donate directly to relief efforts ing service on Ooredoo locate, port, and donated handsets to their communities.” by pledging funds via text the company real-time vehicle refugee camp representatives to Jacob Korenblum, CEO, Fax message through their mobile tracking system, which enabled enable families to contact each Souktel Mobile Solutions, said: accounts. The rapid donations users to find nearest mobile other in war zones. “Partnerships are essential for helped get real-time assistance water units. Ooredoo’s Indosat provided achieving impact in humanitar- to families in the Gaza Strip. Ooredoo Group donated to emergency aid and free mobile ian response work.” Tel “Disaster relief and the relief fund and provided access to help communities in THE PENINSULA Fax

Tel Fax Dr Janahi first Qatari with full professorial rank at WCMC-Q Tel Fax DOHA: Dr Ibrahim Janahi Managing Director, HMC, said, and Sidra Medical and Research (pictured) from Hamad “I’m sure that Dr Ibrahim’s vast Centre. He is certified by the Medical Corporation (HMC) experience and knowledge in American Board in Paediatric has been appointed as Professor paediatrics and research will be Pulmonology and Paediatrics Tel of Clinical Paediatrics at Weill of great benefit to students at and is a fellow at the UK’s Royal Cornell Medical College-Qatar WCMC-Q. As the first Qatari College of Paediatrics and Child Fax (WCMC-Q). to be appointed in this position, Health. Dr Ibrahim, the first Qatari to Dr Ibrahim is setting an exam- Dr Ibrahim said, “I’m hon- have a full professorial rank at ple for up-and-coming Qatari oured to have been appointed as WCMC-Q, will combine his new clinicians.” Professor of Clinical Paediatrics extensive clinical and research Tel position with his current roles Dr Ibrahim has been working at WCMC-Q. I look forward to experience in paediatrics and Fax at HMC. at HMC since 1992, and holds helping advance teaching and his new role will allow greater He will play a leading role in senior positions in HMC and research programmes and ensur- opportunities to pass his knowl- the teaching and research pro- other organisations. In addition ing that the college continues to edge on to the next generation of grammes at the college, including to his role as Executive Director provide the finest education pos- physicians and researchers. His supervising new research projects of HMC’s Medical Research sible for students, as well as con- appointment reinforces WCMC- and developing research partner- Centre, he is Deputy Chair of ducting cutting-edge research.” Q’s commitment to excellence ships locally and internationally. Paediatrics at HMC and Head of Dr Javaid Sheikh, Dean, and the future of healthcare in Dr Hanan Al Kuwari, Paediatric Pulmonology for HMC WCMC-Q, said, “Dr Ibrahim has Qatar.” THE PENINSULA

Tel Fax

Tel 10,000 kids attend Total road safety campaign Fax DOHA: Total in Qatar held a road safety international road signs, was produced to Marketing Qatar, said, “The campaign campaign in partnership with the Traffic support implementation of the programme. aims to reach out to 14,000 children and Department at the Ministry of Interior, On completion of the course, children will expand. Our aim is to see the initia- www.marriottmarquisdoha.com reaching out to about 10,000 children in received a colouring booklet that explains tive grow in the coming years and help save the age group 5-8. It was held in Darb Al basic road signs, along with a certificate sig- thousands of lives”. Tel + 974 44195000 Saee from December 8 until 20 and will nifying their awareness of basic road safety “It is our responsibility to teach children Fax + 974 44195100 continue in the following years to reach guidelines. about road safety, and it is important to do out to more children of primary schools in “The campaign aims to teach the drivers so now so they become responsible drivers the same age group. of tomorrow, who will act as traffic police in at a later age,” said Guillaume Chalmin, Total set up a classroom and held their families, encouraging them to follow Managing Director, Total E&P Qatar and 45-minute sessions daily to teach children traffic rules to be safe,” said Yousef Al Jaber, Group Representative. basic road rules and raise their awareness Head, CSR and Institutional Relations, Total will also conduct these courses at about road safety to reduce accidents. Total E&P Qatar. schools to reach out to a larger audience. A road safety cube, containing major Maher Thabet, General Manager, Total THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Heritage sites Santa protests against Israel destroyed in Syria war 1,000 jihadists killed in three months

BEIRUT: Nearly 300 sites of ongoing damage that is happening incalculable value for Syria to Syria’s vast cultural heritage”, and human history have been and called for efforts to scale up destroyed, damaged or looted their protection. in almost four years of war, The satellite images were put the UN said yesterday, citing together by UNOSAT, a Geneva- “alarming” satellite evidence. based UN institute. From prehistoric settlements They focused on 18 areas, six and ancient markets to world- of them listed as Unesco world famous mosques and Crusader heritage sites: the Old City of castles, Syria is home to count- Aleppo, Bosra, Damascus, the less treasures. Dead Cities of northern Syria, But since the country’s brutal the Crac des Chevaliers castle war erupted in 2011, heritage sites and the Greco-Roman oasis of have been plundered by all sides — Palmyra. regime loyalists, anti-government “It is very sad for Syria as well rebels, jihadist fighters and even as the world that this is hap- desperate residents. pening,” Unosat Director Einar A Palestinian protester dressed as Santa Claus grapples with Israeli Border Police at the separation wall entry from Jerusalem into the West Bank A monitoring group yester- Bjorgo told AFP. “Humankind is town of Bethlehem yesterday during a protest by Palestinians against Israeli settlements and the occupation. day said US-led air strikes in losing hundreds and thousands of Syria have killed more than years of heritage.” 1,000 jihadists in the past three Aleppo, Syria’s former com- months, nearly all of them from mercial hub where settlements the Islamic State group, . date back 7,000 years, has been “At least 1,171 have been killed especially hard hit in fighting EU urges Erdogan to treat detainees fairly in the Arab and international between rebels and forces loyal air strikes (since September to President Bashar Al Assad. BRUSSELS: Donald Tusk, in Turkey, including recent deten- keep your wisdom to yourself.” of Gulen, who lives in the US. 23), including 1,119 jihadists of The 11th century Great Mosque president of the European tions and the importance of an Mogherini had said she was Erdogan has accused Gulen, a the Islamic State group and Al of Aleppo saw its minaret reduced Council of EU leaders, urged impartial and transparent proc- especially surprised by the moves former ally, of plotting to seize Nusra Front,” said the Syrian to rubble in fighting, and the Turkish President Recep ess in this regard. We agreed to against allies of cleric Fethullah power. Observatory for Human Rights, famed Carlton Hotel has been Tayyip Erdogan yesterday to remain in close contact and both Gulen because they came just The statement by Tusk, who which relies on a network of pulverised, leaving behind a huge ensure fair treatment of recent looked forward to a meeting at days after she led one of the took office this month and hosted activists and medics across the crater, the images show. detainees, a week after sharp the earliest possible opportunity.” highest-level EU visits to Turkey his first summit of EU leaders on war-ravaged country for its “Every time the regime or the exchanges between the bloc and A week ago, Erdogan effectively in years, aiming to revive a rela- Thursday, added to impressions information. rebels would take the mosque, its prospective Muslim member. told the EU to mind its own busi- tionship that has been strained by that he plans to play a more vis- After a major survey, the United they would deploy a sniper in the In a statement couched in ness after its foreign policy chief European criticism of authoritar- ible role in diplomacy than his Nations said that detailed analysis minaret. In the end, it was hit by diplomatic language, the former Federica Mogherini and its com- ian tendencies in Ankara. low-key Belgian predecessor of satellite images from several an air raid,” Cheikhmous Ali of Polish prime minister said he and missioner in charge of member- The German government said Herman Van Rompuy. Turkey hundred sites had unearthed the the Association for the Protection Erdogan discussed in a telephone ship negotiations described the Turkey should remove doubts began negotiations to join the EU full scale of the damage. of Syrian Archaeology (APSA) call how to improve relations. He arrests as incompatible with the over its “commitment to basic in 2005, 18 years after applying. Of the 290 sites, 24 had been told AFP. said the EU welcomed Turkey’s bloc’s democratic values. democratic principles” follow- But political obstacles, especially destroyed, 104 severely damaged, Ali added that Aleppo’s ancient efforts to care for Syrian refugees. “We have no concern about ing the raids on December 14, in over the divided island of Cyprus, 85 moderately damaged and 77 souk, the largest market of its But referring to the arrests of what the EU might say, whether which 24 people including execu- and resistance from countries like possibly damaged. kind in the world, had been seri- journalists and others close to an the EU accepts us as members or tives and former police chiefs Germany and France have slowed The UN said the report was ously damaged as well. opponent of Erdogan, Tusk added: not, we have no such concern,” the were held. On December 19, an its progress towards membership. “alarming testimony of the AFP “We also discussed developments Turkish leader had said. “Please Istanbul court ordered the arrest REUTERS

Turkish cop IS slavery pushing minorities to suicide: Amnesty who praised BAGHDAD: Women and thousands of Yazidi women and escaped. “She cut her wrists and abducted with her family, then revival of slavery before the hour”, girls from Iraq’s Yazidi reli- girls had been forced to marry, hanged herself. She was very beaten and raped by a man twice Dabiq argues that by enslaving killing of boy gious minority have told rights sold or given to IS fighters or beautiful; I think she knew she her age. Her male relatives were people it claims hold deviant reli- activists they were beaten and supporters. was going to be taken away by a killed. The man “took me as his gious beliefs, IS has restored an forced into sexual slavery by “Many of those held as sexual man and that is why she killed wife by force. I told him I did not aspect of Islamic Shariah law. goes on trial the Islamic State jihadist group, slaves are children — girls aged 14, herself.” want to and tried to resist but he “After capture, the Yazidi driving some to suicide. 15 or even younger,” said Donatella Another former captive told beat me. My nose was bleeding, women and children were then ISTANBUL: A Turkish police IS militants have overrun Rovera, Amnesty’s senior crisis the rights group that she and her I could not do anything to stop divided according to the Shariah officer went on trial yester- swathes of Iraq since June, response adviser, who interviewed sister tried to kill themselves to him,” Randa said. amongst the fighters of the day on charges of praising in a declared a cross-border Caliphate dozens of former captives. escape forced marriage, but were “It is so painful what they did Islamic State who participated in Facebook posting the killing of also encompassing parts of neigh- A 19-year-old named Jilan stopped from doing so. to me and to my family,” she said. the Sinjar operations,” the article a teenager who died from inju- bouring Syria and carried out a committed suicide out of fear “The man who was holding us Amnesty said that many of the said, referring to the area where ries inflicted by the police in litany of abuses in both countries. she would be raped, according said that either we marry him perpetrators were IS fighters, but the Yazidis were seized. the anti-government protests The group has targeted Yazidis to the Amnesty report entitled and his brother or he would sell might also include supporters of The abductions and rapes have of 2013. and other minorities in northern “Escape from Hell: Torture and us,” said Wafa, 27. the group. drawn widespread international Berkin Elvan spent 269 days in Iraq in a campaign that rights Sexual Slavery in Islamic State “At night we tried to stran- Some of the escaped victims condemnation. a coma and died in March, aged group Amnesty International said Captivity in Iraq”. gle ourselves with our scarves. said they were kept in family US Secretary of State John 15, after being hit in the head by in a report yesterday amounted “One day we were given clothes We tied the scarves around our homes with wives, children, par- Kerry has denounced the enslave- a tear gas canister fired by police to ethnic cleansing, murdering that looked like dance costumes necks and pulled away from each ents and siblings of the rapists. ment of women and girls by IS as while going to buy bread during civilians and enslaving others for and were told to bathe and wear other as hard as we could, until I IS has boasted in its propa- “abhorrent”. the protests that swept Istanbul a fate that some captives consider those clothes. Jilan killed her- fainted,” she said, but two other ganda magazine “Dabiq” of the The abuse causes long-term in May-June 2013. worse than death. self in the bathroom,” said a girl captives stopped them. horrors it has inflicted. damage even to those who man- Policeman Ufuk Colak was It said hundreds and possibly who was held with her but later Sixteen-year-old Randa was In an article entitled “The age to escape. AFP charged with “praising crime and criminals” after writing “I kiss the hands of the riot policeman who fired on your head” on his Jewellery thieves caught Facebook page only a few hours after Elvan’s death. Sudan investigates “Who the hell you think you are? You were going to buy bread, huh?... From now on, you will only face discrimination!” he wrote. political detainees Colak was brought to trial after the lawyers for Elvan’s family KHARTOUM: Sudan’s pros- the evidence before deciding spotted the Facebook post and ecutor has begun investigating whether to charge them formally. launched a criminal complaint two political detainees on 10 Despite the investigation begin- against him for “misconduct” and charges “of crimes against the ning yesterday it was halted tem- other offences. state” more than two weeks porarily after 81-year-old Abu The officer is facing up to two after they were detained, their Issa was taken to hospital, suf- years in prison if found guilty. lawyer told AFP yesterday. fering from high blood pressure In the first hearing in the trial Farouk Abu Issa and Amin and diabetes. in Istanbul’s main court, lawyer Makki Madani were arrested in He was transferred from Serif Ozgur Urfa, who represents Khartoum on December 6 after Khartoum’s Kobar prison to a the victim’s family, labelled the returning from Addis Ababa, police hospital, where family policeman “a pathological case where they signed an agree- members visited him briefly, his who takes pleasure in the death ment aimed at uniting opposition daughter Nahla said. of a 14-year-old.” groups. “We are worried, particularly Elvan was 14 at the time of the The prosecutor has now opened because he is suffering from protests. investigations on 10 possible chronic illnesses,” she said. Berkin’s father, Sami Elvan, charges against the two, their Both men were arrested on who became a party to the trial lawyer Nabil Adib told AFP. their return from the Ethiopian along with his wife, told the court: All of the charges were con- capital where they had signed the “If he wrote that, I want the nected with crimes against the agreement uniting political par- police officer to be punished with state, including “undermining the ties, rebels and civil society groups the heaviest sentence.” constitutional order” and “incit- opposed to the government. The family is seeking justice in UAE police officials sit next to a screen showing jewellery recovered from gang members, during a press ing hatred against the state, and Abu Issa signed for a grouping a separate trial into the killing conference at Dubai Police headquarters in the United Arab Emirates yesterday. Dubai Police chief Major inciting war against the state”, of opposition parties he leads, of Elvan, with authorities yet to General Khamis Al Muzaina said police arrested east European nationals who stole diamonds and jewellery and could incur the death pen- and Madani signed for civil identify his killers or submit an worth Dh12m ($3,270,000) in a crime that took place in Dubai and Paris. alty, Adib said. society groups. indictment. AFP The prosecutor will consider AFP WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 10 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KHALID AL SAYED [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL TEL: 44557741 / 44557743 FAX: 44557746 / 44557758 P. O. BOX: 3488, DOHA, QATAR E-MAIL: [email protected]

ADVERTISING: TEL: 44557837 / 780 FAX: 44557870 CLASSIFIED: 44557857 E-MAIL: [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY TEL: 44557809 /839 FAX: 44557819 E-MAIL: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION RATES: ANNUAL QR 675 6 MONTHS QR 340 Editorial Tunisian model

NOUGH has been said and written about how Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Tunisia has become a model for other Arab Spring countries. The country has just completed its Epresidential process and Beji Caid Essebsi was declared winner in Sunday’s run-off against incumbent Moncef Marzouki. Essebsi is an 88-year-old veteran of previous Tunisian regimes and Marzouki was a dissident who lived in exile in France for many years. The election process Misleading the world was rated as flawless by independent observers and the country won praise from the international media and leaders for choosing a secular politician as president, at a time when the rest of the Islamic world is reeling under terrorism. on Iran’s ‘bomb’ All of this is true, but after the initial enthusiasm has subsided, there is a concern that everything may be not BY JONATHAN POWER nuclear bomb would go against Islamic has been nothing more than an Iranian as rosy as painted. Some veterans of the 2011 revolution belief and jurisprudence. tactic to get the sanctions removed and fear the victory of an 88-year-old from the old guard will HE negotiations over Iran’s I don’t find this difficult to believe- to checkmate President George W. supposed nuclear bomb-build- during the bitter and savage war with Bush’s plans for regime change. bring a return to repression and for them his victory has ing abilities seem to be stuck Saddam Hussein’s Iraq in 1980 when In his book Porter makes his own soured what was seen as the culmination of the transition Tin a rut. Given the detailed Iran lost 2 million people Iran refused to devastating points: to democracy in the birthplace of the Arab Spring. This fear undertakings by Iran incorporated in deploy chemical weapons even though In 2004 Bush explicitly refused to could be unfounded, and the new leader might embrace the the interim agreement made last year Iraq did. They too were regarded as countenance an agreement between ideals of democracy as he has promised, but the concerns it should have only been a hop, skip un-Islamic. Iran has been consistent Iran and the UK, Germany and France can’t be written off, especially in view of what is happening in and a jump to forge a final agreement. in its morality. Iran’s religious practice that would have committed Iran to a In reality it hasn’t been so easy. Over today is about as far away from the minimal nuclear program that would Egypt, where the revolution has taken a U-turn. many years the US with European con- Islamic State or Pakistan’s Taliban as not have constituted a threat of Essebsi’s opponents have accused him of seeking a return nivance most- not always- of the time you can get. proliferation. to the era of toppled autocrat Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who manufactured and manipulated the The US has not been consistent in its There was a systemic failure in clung to power for 23 years. And whole crisis. To overcome the suspi- own Western morality, whether judged CIA intelligence that parallels the during his campaigning, Marzouki cions aroused by that, now past, tac- by Christian belief or secular values. It misleading intelligence that Iraq Some veterans had repeatedly warned against the tic is not easy. provided- as did some European states- had nuclear weapons-that let Bush That is not just sophisticated arms and intelligence to get away with his decision to go to of the 2011 danger of electing Essebsi, an anti- my opinion after Saddam Hussein’s Iraq during its long war with Iraq. He ignored the find- Islamist lawyer who held key posts following this war with Iran. ings of his own National Intelligence revolution fear under Habib Bourguiba, the father The US is subject for 30 This is not to say that in recent Estimate in 2007 which concluded the victory of an of Tunisian independence, as well gradually years. It is that years Iran has been straightforward Iran had stopped its nuclear weapons as Ben Ali. Essebsi has dismissed of the former in its nuclear dealings. It hasn’t. It research in 2003. vice-chair of has also played a hide and seek game The well-quoted dossier of “intelli- 88-year-old from all accusations against him, saying building a the US National with the US, the EU, Russia and the gence” that was publicized by the IAEA the old guard will he was in favour of “completely relationship of Intelligence supervisory nuclear authority, the UN’s in 2009, which “proved” that Iran was bring a return turning the page on the past”. trust with Iranian Council, Graham International Atomic Energy Agency. engaged in secret nuclear weapons He also accused Marzouki of Fuller. Now In its nuclear research it has not taken work, was made up mainly of informa- to repression in representing the Islamists, whom leaders. But it a new book, the straight road to a peaceful use of tion supplied by Israel. he says have “ruined” the country needs to bend “Manufactured nuclear energy. It has on certain key It was President Bill Clinton who Tunisia. Crisis” by the points built in a possible dual use of its aligned US policy towards Iran with since the revolution, and many towards the astute investiga- nuclear infrastructure. Israel’s. Yet Israel’s top intelligence voters appeared to be seeking Iranian position tive journalist, It has done enough of this to allow officials did not share the public alarm a return to stability after a Gareth Porter, the US, the EU, the IAEA and Israel mouthed by Prime Ministers Yitzhak sometimes chaotic transition. somewhat has taken the lid to milk this ambiguity for all its worth. Rabin and Benjamin Netanyahu who Tunisians will have to watch carefully every step of more if it is off the attempt They have tried to convince the world used any argument they could lay their the new government for signs of return to repression. by the US, often that Iran has no compunction about hands on to denigrate Iran. to convince in collusion with building a bomb and time was its main It was Bush who injected poison into Though Ben Ali has been ousted, many sections of the top Israel, to paint constraint. the relationship with his goal of “regime bureaucracy in Tunis might still be loyal to him, and they them that US Iran into a cor- Never has it been admitted that Iran change”. That is why he opposed the will be happy to serve a leader who had worked with Ben Ali. policy has truly ner, whilst shun- has been playing chess in a desperate European-negotiated compromise. Supporters of the outgoing president also fear that Tunisia’s ning any effort attempt to compel the West to lift the Now, under President Barack media will be largely deferential to the new leadership, as changed. by Iran to resolve sanctions that were imposed way back Obama, the US is gradually building a the dispute. in Jimmy Carter’s presidency at the relationship of trust with Iranian lead- they were to Ben Ali. But before we get into that I want to time of the hostage crisis, when US dip- ers. But it needs to bend towards the The new government must be given time to serve the make one point about the Islamic sense lomats were detained. Studied ambi- Iranian position somewhat more if it people. The Islamists too must refrain from doing anything of morality. Ayatollahs Khomeini and guity over its nuclear program is the is to convince them that US policy has that will cause instability. But every Tunisian must be on Khamenei, the successive top clerics only lever Iran has had to persuade the truly changed. Only then will a final guard and should adopt a zero tolerance policy against even and paramount leaders of the country, West to lift sanctions. Indeed, it is that agreement be made and the fear of an slightest hint of authoritarianism have made it clear on a number of occa- that has brought the US and EU to the Iranian nuclear bomb be laid to rest. . sions that for their country to build a negotiating table. Enriching uranium THE PENINSULA The other side Quote of Al Sebsi must now focus on governance the day

UNISIANS have used their since independence from France in Tunis party includes several politicians rebuilding Tunisia. This follows his skil- presidential elections to give 1956. One reason why they chose an from the old regime, but its firmly secular ful dialogue last year with his arch-ene- a solid mandate to veteran 88-year-old candidate to lead the coun- policies have appealed to the people mies, the moderate Islamist Al Nahda Tpolitician Beji Qaid Al Sebsi, try into the 21st century was his personal in elections that were called after the party, which resolved the political crisis I am for who won the election on an offer of political legitimacy from being part of the previous government run by the Islamist at the time. stability and secular leadership. The liberation struggle with Habib Bourguiba party Al Nahda gave way to an interim The new government faces major completely turning elections were held in a remarkably and of serving under Bourguiba as government headed by interim presi- challenges. Ever since the first convul- transparent atmosphere in which interior minister. The elections proved dent Munsif Marzouqi. A few days ago sion of what became the Arab Spring the page on the secularists, Islamists and a wide range that his legitimacy has survived despite Marzouqi claimed victory, but after the that toppled Bin Ali, Tunisia has not had of other parties all competed and him serving under the now-discredited count was published he had the grace a stable government. It desperately past, we must go complied with the people’s verdict former president Zine Al Abidine Bin Ali. to say that his earlier claims of victory needs to concentrate on rebuilding its beyond the past in an impressive demonstration of It will be an important test of Al Sebsi’s were premature. Al Sebsi set a hope- potentially strong economy, now that its constitutional acceptance. commitment to the new Tunisia that he ful tone with an acceptance speech politics has entered a more stable and and look to the This was the first time Tunisians were does not let the old regime slip back into that reached out to his opponents as legally transparent period. able to vote freely for their president the corridors of power. Al Sebsi’s Nida he asked them all to join in the task of Gulf News future. Beji Caid Essebsi Tunisia’s new leader WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Off duty, black cops feel the heat

Force report on police-on-police shoot- The protests and ings — the first such inquiry of its kind — that found that in the previous 15 years, the ambush of officers of colour had suffered the highest fatalities in encounters with police offic- ers who mistook them for criminals. the uniformed There’s evidence that aggressive polic- ing in the NYPD is intensifying, accord- officers pose a ing to data from the New York City Comptroller. Police misconduct claims — including major challenge for lawsuits against police for using the kind of excessive force that killed Garner — NY Mayor Bill De have risen 214 percent since 2000, while the amount the city paid out has risen 75 percent in the same period, to $64.4m in Blasio. He must try fiscal year 2012, the last year for which data is available. to ease damaged People who have taken part in the marches against Garner’s death — and that of Ferguson teenager Michael Brown relations with a — say they are protesting against the indignity of being stopped by police for police force that little or no reason as much as for the deaths themselves. feels he hasn’t “There’s no real outlet to report the abuse,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, a former NYPD captain who fully supported said he was stigmatised and retaliated against throughout his 22-year career them, while at the for speaking out against racial profiling and police brutality. Officers make complaints to the same time bridging NYPD’s investigative arm, the Internal Affairs Bureau, only to later have their a chasm with identities leaked, said Adams. One of the better-known cases of alleged racial profiling of a black police- communities. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (right) and his wife Chirlane McCray hug after observing a moment of silence at 2.47pm, the time two New man concerns Harold Thomas, a deco- York Police Department officers were murdered last Saturday, at City Hall, in New York City. rated detective who retired this year BY MICHELLE CONLIN after 30 years of service, including in New 15 of whom are retired and 10 of whom is occurring, but I don’t think you can remaining officers who made no com- York’s elite Joint Terrorism Task Force. rom the dingy donut shops are still serving. All but one said that, validate it until you look into the cir- plaints said they refrained from doing Shortly before 1am one night in August of Manhattan to the clois- when off duty and out of uniform, they cumstances they were stopped in,” said so either because they feared retribution 2012, Thomas was leaving a birthday tered police watering holes in had been victims of racial profiling, Bernard Parks, the former chief of the or because they saw racial profiling as party at a trendy New York nightclub. FBrooklyn, a number of black which refers to using race or ethnicity as Los Angeles Police Department, who is part of the system. Wearing flashy jewellry, green sweat- NYPD officers say they have experienced grounds for suspecting someone of having African American. In declining to comment to Reuters, pants and a white t-shirt, Thomas walked the same racial profiling that cost Eric committed a crime. “Now if you want to get into the essence the NYPD did not respond to a spe- toward his brand-new white Escalade Garner his life. The officers said this included being of why certain groups are stopped more cific request for data showing the racial when two white police officers approached Garner, a 43-year-old black man sus- pulled over for no reason, having their than others, then you only need to go to breakdown of officers who made com- him. What happened next is in dispute, pected of illegally peddling loose ciga- heads slammed against their cars, get- the crime reports and see which eth- plaints and how such cases were handled. but an altercation ensued, culminating in rettes, died in July after a white officer ting guns brandished in their faces, being nic groups are listed more as suspects. White officers were not the only ones Thomas getting his head smashed against put him in a chokehold. His death, and thrown into prison vans and experienc- That’s the crime data the officers are accused of wrongdoing. Civilian com- the hood of his car and then spun to the that of an unarmed black teenager in ing stop and frisks while shopping. The living with.” plaints against police officers are in direct ground and put in handcuffs. Ferguson, Missouri, has sparked a slew majority of the officers said they had been Blacks made up 73 percent of the proportion to their demographic makeup “If I was white, it wouldn’t have hap- of nationwide protests against police pulled over multiple times while driving. shooting perpetrators in New York in 2011 on the force, according to the NYPD’s pened,” said Thomas, who has filed a law- tactics. On Saturday, those tensions Five had had guns pulled on them. and were 23 percent of the population. Civilian Complaint Review Board. suit against the city over the incident. escalated after a black gunman, who Desmond Blaize, who retired two years A number of academics believe those Indeed, some of the officers Reuters The New York City Corporation Counsel wrote of avenging the black deaths on ago as a sergeant in the 41st Precinct in statistics are potentially skewed because interviewed acknowledged that they said it could not comment on pending social media, shot dead two New York the Bronx, said he once got stopped while police over-focus on black communities, themselves had been defendants in litigation. policemen. taking a jog through Brooklyn’s upmarket while ignoring crime in other areas. They lawsuits, with allegations ranging from At an ale house in Williamsburg, The protests and the ambush of the Prospect Park. “I had my ID on me so it also note that being stopped as a sus- making a false arrest to use of excessive Brooklyn last week, a group of black uniformed officers pose a major challenge didn’t escalate,” said Blaize, who has sued pect does not automatically equate to force. Such claims against police are not police officers from across the city gath- for New York Mayor Bill De Blasio. The the department alleging he was racially criminality. Nearly 90 percent of blacks uncommon in New York, say veterans. ered for a chicken wing special. mayor must try to ease damaged relations harassed on the job. “But what’s suspi- stopped by the NYPD, for example, are Still, social psychologists from Stanford They discussed how the officers with a police force that feels he hasn’t cious about a jogger? In jogging clothes?” found not to be engaged in any crime. and Yale universities and John Jay involved in the Garner incident could fully supported them, while at the same The NYPD and the Patrolmen’s The black officers interviewed said College of Criminal Justice have con- have tried harder to talk down an upset time bridging a chasm with communities Benevolent Association, the police offic- they had been racially profiled by white ducted research — including the 2004 Garner, or sprayed mace in his face, or who say the police unfairly target them. ers’ union, declined requests for com- officers exclusively, and about one third study “Seeing Black: Race, Crime and forced him to the ground without using What’s emerging now is that, within ment. However, defenders of the NYPD said they made some form of complaint Visual Processing” — showing there is a chokehold. They all agreed his death the thin blue line of the NYPD, there credit its policing methods with trans- to a supervisor. an implicit racial bias in the American was avoidable. is another divide — between black and forming New York from the former mur- All but one said their supervisors either psyche that correlates black maleness Said one officer from the 106th Precinct white officers. der capital of the world into the safest big dismissed the complaints or retaliated with crime. in Queens, “That could have been any one Reuters interviewed 25 African- city in the United States. against them by denying them overtime, John Jay professor Delores Jones- of us.” American male officers on the NYPD, “It makes good headlines to say this choice assignments, or promotions. The Brown cited a 2010 New York State Task REUTERS Can Pakistan finally give up the ‘good Taliban’? BY ISHAAN THAROOR it’s also clear that there’s a recognition country’s approach to national security among some Pakistanis that many of has been driven by ideological rather than n the aftermath of last week’s bru- their country’s wounds are self-inflicted. pragmatic considerations . . . tal terrorist attack by the Taliban The Taliban, after all, were incubated for The ideology of Pakistan, and the falsi- Ion a school in the Pakistani city of years by the Pakistani state as “strategic fied historic narrative taught in schools to Peshawar, which left 148 dead, the coun- depth” in the larger geopolitical battles justify it, produces sympathy in society for try’s authorities responded with a firm, taking place in neighbouring Afghanistan. Shariah rule, for an Islamic Caliphate and if heavy, hand. In the past half a decade, a segment of an Islamic state. This works in favour of Pakistani officials dubbed the massacre the militants turned and targeted the more than 33 militant groups that operate a “mini-9/11,” a tragic moment of reckon- machinery of the Pakistani state, impos- out of Pakistan. Pakistan’s strategic plan- ing in the country’s history. “Terrorism ing Shariah law in remote areas where ners may see no difficulty in eliminating and sectarianism are a cancer for this they held sway while killing hundreds of global terrorists and fighting local jihadis country and now the time has come to innocents. Some Pakistanis came to tol- while supporting regional ones. But the root it out,” said Prime Minister Nawaz erate a terrible dichotomy: the Pakistani general public is conflicted in its attitude Sharif on Monday. Taliban were “bad,” while others, whose towards jihadi groups. Unfortunately for The Pakistani military carried out a forays across Pakistan’s borders served those who want to stop the [Pakistani “blitzkrieg” of airstrikes on suspected the interests of elements of the military, Taliban], their rhetoric about Shariah Taliban positions, allegedly killing doz- were “good.” The Afghan Taliban’s leader- and against western values resonates with ens of militants. Authorities also lifted ship has long found sanctuary in Pakistan supporters of other, ostensibly ‘more pal- a moratorium on capital punishment — so too other extremists, most notably atable’, jihadi groups even if their methods in the country, and set about executing Osama bin Laden. are abhorred by Pakistanis. those with death sentences for terror- Sharif has insisted no such distinction The fragility of Pakistani nationalism ism charges. Six people have already been will be allowed, and that all the militant Pakistani troops search for suspects in a residential area of Islamabad following the — to this day, more South Asian Muslims hanged, while some 50 more face immi- groups in the country “would be dealt massacre some days ago by Taliban at an army-run school. are non-Pakistani than Pakistani — has nent execution, according to reports. As equally with an iron hand.” The Pakistani allowed it to become an umbrella for many as 500 inmates on death row in military has spent the better part of the the Peshawar attacks on India, on still choose to believe it. unsavoury extremism. That requires a Pakistan could be executed in the com- year on a ruthless military campaign Afghanistan, on Arab outsiders — anyone Despite the consensus about dealing very difficult reckoning, one for which ing weeks. against Taliban factions in the coun- but Pakistanis. The attitudes and ideolo- with the Taliban in their frontier hide- some fear the country is still not ready. Many are not impressed by this grim try’s rugged, remote tribal border areas. gies that have condoned militancy in the outs, there’s little will among Pakistan’s “A national conversation like that display of resolve. It is the response, Thousands of militants have been killed past won’t go away overnight. political and military establishment to remains improbable, however, in the observes Ahsan Butt, an assistant pro- and hundreds of thousands of civilians Just days after the massacre, a confront head-on groups like Lashkar- climate of fear established by religious fessor of international affairs at George have been displaced. Pakistani court granted bail to a militant e-Taiba and others that operate in the extremists and their many allies among Mason University, of a “punch-drunk But the problem of tackling militancy believed to be one of the masterminds of country’s heartland. mainstream political parties and the state lashing out” with “the strategic in Pakistan goes deeper than airstrikes the 2008 terror attack in Mumbai. It was Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani media,” writes Butt. equivalent of a non sequitur.” and counterinsurgency. It’s far too early launched by Lashkar-e-Taiba, an Islamist ambassador to the United States, writes Some of the harshest critics of International rights groups fear that to judge what lessons have been learned militant group whose charity arm held a at length on the roots of this schizophre- Pakistan’s security state doubt even some of the Pakistani inmates slated now after the horrors of Peshawar, and who mournful mass prayer for the slain chil- nia, which he argues stems from the the Peshawar massacre will shake the for execution are innocent of crimes. In has learned those lessons. Public opinion dren of Peshawar and whose prominent country’s origins as a haven for South convictions of elements within the their rush to avenge Peshawar’s slain chil- over Islamist militancy remains mixed, leader Hafiz Saeed held a public gather- Asia’s Muslims: Pakistani establishment that remain dren, Pakistan’s leaders may be inflicting with many more wary of supposed exter- ing in the city of Lahore, blaming India Pakistan’s constructed identity empha- tacitly or directly in collusion with more injustice. nal enemies in the West and India. for the slaughter — an absurd accusation sises religion and ideology at the expense extremist forces. This includes a wing It’s clear that many in Pakistan want Conspiracy mongers, Islamists that would be laughable were it not for of ethnic, linguistic and sectarian diver- of the ISI, Pakistan’s notorious military the Taliban to pay for their crime. And and hard-line nationalists pinned the fact that far too many in Pakistan sity of a complex society. As a result, the intelligence agency. WP-BLOOMBERG WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 MIDDLE EAST 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com New leader says Tunisia has turned page Essebsi says the country has left dictatorship behind; EU election observers hail transparent elections

TUNIS: Tunisia’s new leader Beji Caid Essebsi with police on Sunday and Monday. On national momentous transition to democracy”. said the country has turned the page on dicta- television late Monday, Marzouki urged supporters President Francois Hollande of France, Tunisia’s torship after a presidential vote that European to respect the result and return to their homes “in former colonial ruler, also praised Tunisians for their observers hailed yesterday as “credible and the name of national unity”. “determination, sense of responsibility and spirit of transparent”. “These are the rules of the democratic process,” compromise”. Essebsi, an 88-year-old veteran of previous he said. The next government will face major challenges. Tunisian regimes, was on Monday declared the win- Essebsi is now expected to begin forming a gov- Tunisia’s economy is struggling to recover from ner of a vote seen as a landmark for the birthplace ernment, after his Nidaa Tounes party won parlia- the upheaval of the revolution and there are fears of the Arab Spring. mentary polls in October. widespread joblessness will cause social unrest. The election rounded off Tunisia’s transition to The moderately Islamist Ennahda party, which A nascent jihadist threat has also emerged, with democracy and has won praise from Western leaders was in power after the revolution and installed militant groups long suppressed under Ben Ali car- including US President Barack Obama. Marzouki as president, came second in the general rying out attacks including the killings of two anti- European Union observers reported yesterday election and has not ruled out joining in a govern- Islamist politicians. that Tunisians had voted “for the first time in a ing coalition. Ahead of the vote, jihadists issued a videotaped credible and transparent presidential election”. The presidential vote — the first time Tunisians threat against Tunisia’s political establishment. The head of the EU mission, Annemie Neyts- have freely elected their head of state since inde- Tunisian newspapers yesterday under- Uyttebroeck, said however that “private televi- pendence in 1956 — was seen as a milestone for the lined the difficulties ahead, with daily sion channels had clearly favoured the candidate country that sparked the Arab Spring with the 2011 La Presse saying the new leader must deal with “a Essebsi”. ouster of longtime strongman Zine El Abidine Ben massive debt, weak growth, high unemployment, That was in line with complaints from his oppo- Ali. deteriorating competitiveness and highly threatened nent Moncef Marzouki during an often bitter and A supporter of newly-elected Tunisian President Beji The revolution that began in Tunisia spread to security”. divisive campaign that has raised concerns that Caid Essebsi holds a poster with his portrait in Tunis. many parts of the Arab world, with mass protests Le Temps hailed Tunisia for emerging “victorious Essebsi’s victory marks the return of Tunisia’s old in Egypt, Libya, Syria and Yemen. from a gruelling and painful ordeal,” adding that guard. In every country except Tunisia the revolution voters had not given Essebsi a “blank cheque” to do But Essebsi insisted Tunisia would not turn back Essebsi said in a nationally televised interview late was followed by violent turmoil or, as in Syria’s case, as he pleases. history. on Monday. Marzouki, a long-exiled 69-year-old a devastating civil war. “No party is in a position to claim that it alone “I am for completely turning the page on the past, former rights activist, has conceded defeat and called Obama congratulated Essebsi and hailed the vote can solve the country’s problems,” the daily said. we must go beyond the past and look to the future,” for calm after hundreds of his supporters clashed as “a vital step toward the completion of Tunisia’s AFP

Christmas shopping in Iran Egyptian satirist fined millions of dollars over show

CAIRO: A prominent Egyptian The private channel said at satirist has been fined mil- the time that Youssef had “vio- lions of dollars over a dispute lated the editorial policies” of the with a television channel which channel. suspended his show after it Youssef terminated his contract lampooned military leaders, with the channel after it refused officials said yesterday. to resume broadcasts of the show, Bassem Youssef, often com- a source close to Al-Bernameg pared to US satirist Jon Stewart, told AFP. moved Al-Bernameg (The In February 2014, he began Programme) to Saudi-owned airing the show on Dubai-based channel MBC last year after it MBC but suspended it in June was pulled by the private Egyptian because of what he described as broadcaster CBC. “enormous” pressure. The Cairo Regional Centre The doctor-turned-satirist for International Commercial plans to appeal the arbitration Arbitration fined Youssef and body’s ruling, the Al-Bernameg his company, Q-Soft, 50 million source said. An Iranian woman walks past a shop displaying Christmas decorations in Tehran yesterday as Christians around the world prepare to celebrate Egyptian pounds ($6.5m) each “I have been forced into a com- the festival. for “CBC’s financial and literary mercial arbitration conflict, that losses,” CBC owner Mohamed I am not part of, regarding CBC’s Al Amin told AFP. suspension of the show,” Youssef The arbitration body said the wrote on Twitter. weekly show was not “purposeful The show’s suspension trig- and constructive” but a platform gered concerns about media Sudan vote delayed over charter change for “smearing the country’s politi- freedoms in Egypt amid a brutal cal direction”. crackdown overseen by Sisi on KHARTOUM: Sudan’s elec- by 11 days to April 13. It also post- the position was passed, it would NEC said it had received no appli- It said that if Youssef’s com- supporters of Islamist president toral body said yesterday it poned the date for candidates to “have become a complicated cations from foreign organisations pany failed to pay its part of the Mohamed Mursi, whom he ousted postponed elections to allow apply to stand, from December 31 legal issue”. to act as observers in the April fine then he would have to shoul- in July last year. parliament to consider a con- to January 11. Bashir proposed the change vote. “We have not received any der it all himself. Youssef became a household stitutional amendment allow- NEC chief Mukhtar Al Assam to the constitution last month, requests to monitor the elections CBC suspended Al-Bernameg in name known for witty remarks ing President Omar Hassan told journalists parliament “is and parliament will vote on it in by foreign or world organisations November 2013 after an episode lampooning public figures includ- Al Bashir to appoint state gov- currently looking at amending early January. Opposition parties up to now. Applications for moni- in which the satirist poked fun ing Mursi, the country’s first ernors who were to have been the constitution” and that if can- have criticised Bashir’s decision toring will end on December 30,” at military leaders including then freely elected president. elected. didates had applied to stand for to stand for reelection in April, NEC official Atta Bashir said at a army chief and now President AFP The National Electoral state governor before the amend- and it is expected that many peo- news conference yesterday. Abdel Fattah Al Sisi. Commission pushed back polling ment allowing Bashir to appoint ple will boycott the elections. The AFP Egyptian Christians Shooting, blasts claim two Shias in Yemen killed in Libya SANA’A: Two Shia militia- TRIPOLI: An Egyptian abducted the couple’s 18-year- men were killed in the Yemeni Coptic Christian couple were old daughter, leaving her two capital yesterday in a series murdered and their daughter younger sisters behind. of small bomb attacks and a kidnapped yesterday in Libya Tebeiqa said the attack may drive-by shooting, a medic and in what officials said may have have been motivated by religion. witnesses said. been an attack motivated by “Money left on the table Five small bombs hit the centre religion. and the wife’s jewellery left of Sana’a, which has been mostly “Unidentified armed men at the crime scene were not controlled by the Shia militiamen killed Christian Egyptian doctor touched,” he added. Several since September, killing one of Magdi Sobhi Toufik and his wife Coptic Egyptians have been them and wounding two others, in their house at the Jarf health killed in Libya in recent years. a medic said. centre in Sirte,” 500 kilometres In February, the bodies of seven The first explosion went off in (310 miles) east of Tripoli, local Egyptian Christians who had the old quarter of Sana’a when council chairman Yussef Tebeiqa been shot were found near the one of the militiamen, known as said. second city of Benghazi. Houthis, tried to defuse a bomb He added that the killers AFP discovered underneath the car of a judge. He died in hospital, according to the medic. Another four bombs planted in garbage containers in the same Bustan Al Sultan neighbourhood then exploded within intervals of about five minutes, an AFP cor- respondent reported. A Yemeni armed man inspects the wreckage of a car at the scene of an explosion that targeted the house of a The Houthis, who fought member of the Shia Houthi movement yesterday in the capital Sana’a. authorities for a decade in their northern stronghold, overran two gunmen riding a motorcycle powerful Al Qaeda affiliate. southern separatist and wounded Sana’a on September 21 and have near the University of Sanaa, wit- The Arabian Peninsula country four others as security forces con- since expanded to coastal areas nesses and a Houthi source said. is also facing continued violence fronted protesters in Ataq, the and southern regions. Yemen has been wracked by in its restive south, where separa- provincial capital of southern In a separate attack yester- unrest as the Houthi advance tists are pushing for the restora- Shabwa province, activists from A Libyan soldier stands on a tank as smoke rises from the city’s port in day, a prominent Houthi figure, is met by fierce opposition from tion of independence. the Southern Movement said. the background after a fire in Benghazi yesterday. Faisal Sherif, was shot dead by Sunni tribes backed by Yemen’s Police yesterday shot dead a AFP WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Ukraine takes Sony allows limited release of The Interview LOS ANGELES/WASHINGTON: Sony of threats from hackers. It said it was “deeply Obama on Friday called Sony’s decision to Pictures cleared the way yesterday for saddened at this brazen effort to suppress the pull the movie a mistake, suggesting it could release of The Interview in some US theatres distribution of a movie.” set a bad precedent in which “some dictator on Christmas Day, less than a week after Lynton said in yesterday’s statement: “We some place can start imposing censorship here historic step pulling the movie following a devastating have never given up on releasing The Interview in the United States.” cyberattack that has been blamed on North and we’re excited our movie will be in a It remained unclear how many theatres Korea. number of theatres on Christmas Day.” He would be allowed to screen the film and if Sony Pictures Chief Executive Michael said Sony was trying to secure other platforms major movie chains, which had decided not Lynton said there would be “a limited the- and more theatres “so that this movie reaches to open the film last week owing to security atrical release” in the United States of the the largest possible audience.” concerns, would join the group of authorised towards Nato comedy about a fictional plot to assassinate The White House said President Barack exhibitors. North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, and said Obama was pleased that Sony had rethought A national security official said US author- the studio was looking for more options to its decision. “The decision made by Sony and ities did not rate the threats by hackers Move counterproductive: Russia screen the film. participating theatres allows people to make against theatre-goers as credible and that he Sony Pictures last Wednesday cancelled the their own choices about the film, and we wel- was unaware of any plans by US agencies to KIEV: Ukraine took a historic Ukraine’s rejection of neutrality December 25 release after major US theatre come that outcome,” presidential spokesman issue warnings of possible attacks to cinemas step toward Nato yesterday in a and a new Russian sanctions law chains pulled out of showing the film because Eric Schultz said in a statement. screening the film. REUTERS parliamentary vote that stoked that US President Barack Obama Russia’s anger ahead of talks on signed on Friday “will both have ending the ex-Soviet state’s sep- very negative consequences.” aratist war. “And our country will have to Lawmakers in the government- respond to them,” he wrote in a controlled chamber overwhelm- Facebook post. ingly adopted a bill dropping Perhaps the most immediate France steps up patrols after attacks Ukraine’s non-aligned status — a threat will be to delicate peace classification assumed by states talks this week in the Belarussian PARIS: French security forces that refuse to join military alli- capital Minsk that Poroshenko stepped up security in public ances and play no part in wars. and Putin agreed on Monday. places for the Christmas season President Petro Poroshenko The deal for Kiev and rebel yesterday after three acts of vio- had vowed to put Ukraine under negotiators to meet in the pres- lence in three days left one dead Western military protection after ence of Russian and European and 30 wounded, reigniting fears winning an election called in the envoys today and on Friday was of attacks by Islamist radicals. wake of the February ouster struck during a joint call with Late on Monday, a man rammed in Kiev of a Moscow-backed German Chancellor Angela a van into a crowded Christmas president. Merkel and French President market in the western city of “European and Euro-Atlantic Francois Hollande — the West’s Nantes, wounding 10 shoppers. integrations — that is Ukraine’s top mediators on Ukraine. One of the victims, a 25-year-old single course,” Poroshenko tweeted A new meeting in Belarus had man, later died of his wounds. moments after the 303-8 vote. been hampered by Kiev’s refusal to The assailant survived and is Ukraine assumed de facto neu- discuss lifting last month’s suspen- being questioned by police. trality under strong Russian pres- sion of social security and other That came a day after a man sure in 2010. It had sought Nato benefit payments to the rebel-run shouting “Allahu Akbar” (“God is membership in the early post- districts. greatest”) injured 13 in a similar Soviet era but — its once-mighty Ukraine’s leaders suspect the attack in the eastern city of Dijon. army in ruins and riven by cor- money is being stolen by militias On Saturday, an attacker, also ruption — was never viewed as a in the Russian-speaking Lugansk yelling “Allahu Akbar”, was shot serious candidate. and Donetsk regions and used to after stabbing three police officers Last winter’s revolution in Kiev finance their war. in central France. upset Russian President Vladimir A Kiev-based representative for “What we are seeing with Putin’s plans to enlist Ukraine in the Organisation for Security and events in Dijon and Nantes is that a new bloc he was forging in order Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) they are creating copy-cat reac- to counterbalance Nato and the who will attend Wednesday’s tions,” Prime Minister Manuel European Union. meeting said the sides will discuss Valls said after ordering the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei humanitarian aid deliveries but deployment of 200 to 300 extra Lavrov demanded that Kiev “put steer clear of the payments debate. soldiers for patrols in zones such an end to confrontation” and stop The OSCE’s Heidi Tagliavini as Paris’s Champs-Elysees avenue Soldiers patrol near the Eiffel Tower in Paris yesterday as security forces stepped up protection of public places adopting “absolutely counterpro- added that the other big points on and main shopping districts. after three acts of violence in three days reignited fears about France’s vulnerability to attacks by Islamic radicals. ductive” measures that only stoked the agenda included the details of Some 780 soldiers have already tensions between the two sides. a mutual troop withdrawal and a been deployed to security patrols. Prime Minister Dmitry prisoner exchange. France is already on high alert Prosecutors have opened a ter- Authorities are not treating with two pump-action shotguns Medvedev said even more bluntly But Donetsk rebel representa- after calls earlier this year from rorist investigation for the first the other two other incidents as and a knife had been arrested that “in essence, an application tive Andrei Purgin said his side militants to attack its citizens and attack, after searches unearthed terrorism and have said those at dawn near a local mar- for Nato membership will turn would insist on raising the funding interests in reprisal for French what they called a written “reli- attackers both had mental health ket. They said his motivations Ukraine into a potential military issue — should the Minsk talks go military strikes on Islamist gious testament” in which the sus- problems. remained unclear pending further opponent for Russia.” ahead as planned. strongholds in the Middle East pect invoked the Arabic word for Separately, police in the Riviera interrogation. Medvedev warned that AFP and Africa. God, “Allah”, to give him strength. city of Cannes said a man armed REUTERS

Protests will continue: NY activists

NEW YORK: Protesters who have rallied for weeks over exces- Another terror attack likely: Australian PM sive use of police force rejected New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plea to suspend demonstrations after the killing of two SYDNEY: Australian Prime to Abbott. He was killed as armed “That’s why it’s important that understand, at this level, an attack officers, vowing to march in the centre of Manhattan last evening. Minister Tony Abbott yesterday police stormed the eatery after 16 people remain alert and aware as is likely,” he said. Answer Coalition, organisers of a march on 5th Avenue in midtown warned of heightened “terror- hours. Two hostages also died — well as reassured that our police Australia has not officially Manhattan said a “peaceful protest against police violence” would ist chatter” in the aftermath of mother-of-three Katrina Dawson, and security agencies are doing branded the Sydney siege as a continue as planned. “The mayor’s call for a suspension of democracy the fatal Sydney cafe siege and 38, and 34-year-old Lindt cafe everything they humanly can to terrorist attack and Abbott said and the exercise of free speech rights in the face of ongoing injustice said another attack was likely, as manager Tori Johnson — while keep us safe.” “I’m not going to speculate” on any is outrageous.” tearful mourners paid tribute to several were injured. Abbott did not raise Australia’s potential new threat. the victims. “A briefing from the security terror alert level beyond its cur- A private funeral was held yes- N Ireland parties break deadlock Iranian-born gunman Man agencies today indicated that rent high, which means an attack terday for Johnson at St Stephen’s Haron Monis, who had a history there has been a heightened level is likely. An extreme alert level Uniting Church, just metres from LONDON: Rival parties in Northern Ireland reached agreement of extremism and violence, took of terrorist chatter in the after- means one is imminent or has where he died. A memorial for yesterday over government reforms and dealing with the prov- 17 hostages in the city’s financial math of the Martin Place siege,” occurred. “I am alerting people lawyer Dawson also took place at ince’s violent past after months of talks. heartland last week, unveiling an Abbott said after a meeting of his to the fact that the terror threat Sydney University’s Great Hall. Five parties agreed to a programme addressing immediate budget- Islamic flag and demanding to talk National Security Committee. remains high and as you all AFP ary issues as well as longer term reforms of welfare and the public sector, underpinned by an extra £2bn promised by the British govern- ment. The deal promised further services and rights for families of the victims of The Troubles, including a new organisation to investigate Glasgow mourns unsolved killings during the three decades of civil unrest. Fresh wave of Greece moves closer to early polls violence in CAR ATHENS: Greece moved closer yesterday to early elections that could undermine its international bailout and rekindle a eurozone crisis after lawmakers failed for a second time to elect a president. claims 18 lives The government candidate, EU Environment Commissioner BANGUI: At least 18 people Stavros Dimas, fell 32 votes short of the required 200 votes, mean- have been killed and dozens ing a third and final vote will be held on December 29. injured in fresh attacks in the European Union and International Monetary Fund officials fear an Central African Republic, where early election would be won by radical leftist party Syriza and could dozens have died in a new flare- undo many of Greece’s ongoing fiscal reforms. up in inter-ethnic violence, offi- cials said yesterday. Huge payout for bushfire survivors The latest attacks took place early on Sunday in and around the SYDNEY: Survivors of a 2009 bushfire in Australia won final southwestern towns of Gamboula court approval yesterday for a nearly Aus$500m (US$407m) pay- and Nola, near the border with out — the biggest class action settlement in the nation’s history. Cameroon. The Kilmore East blaze was the largest of the February 2009 fires Armed Peul herders launched in southern Victoria state that left 173 dead and razed more than attacks in the early morning, 2,000 homes, the nation’s worst natural disaster of modern times. killing at least eight people in Thousands of people joined an action blaming power company SP the Gamboula area and 10 in AusNet over the inferno, claiming SP AusNet’s faulty equipment Nola, a senior official in the local ignited the blaze. Mambere-Kadei prefecture said. “Most of the inhabitants were Russia convicts 57 in terror case surprised in their sleep by the attackers, who also torched dozens MOSCOW: A Russian court yesterday convicted 57 people, jailing of houses,” the official, who spoke five of them for life, after a decade-long trial over an armed raid on on condition of anonymity, added. the North Caucasus city of Nalchik. Terrified residents, including The October 2005 attack saw dozens of armed men swarm the city, some of the injured, have been raiding several security offices, arms shops and other buildings. Fifty fleeing the area the east and north. people died, including 35 policemen, and more than 200 were injured. Fighting was on yesterday in In a statement, the Investigative Committee said the supreme People pay tributes to the victims of a fatal rubbish truck accident in Glasgow, Scotland, yesterday. Flags Gambouri between the Peul, who court of the Kabardino-Balkaria region convicted all 57 defendants were flown at half mast above Scottish government buildings to remember six people killed when the out-of- are mostly Muslim, and members of various charges, which included terrorism, illegal arms possession, control truck ploughed into Christmas shoppers. of the predominantly Christian murder and armed rebellion. AGENCIES anti-balaka militia. AFP WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES N Korea’s Net services back up after outage No indication whether a cyber-attack caused shutdown

SEOUL: North Korea’s tiny Websites such as those of the new connection is. The question Internet network appeared to official Korean Central News for the next few hours is whether be working again yesterday Agency and the Rodong Sinmun it will return to the unstable fluc- following a near 10-hour shut- newspaper went down during tuations we saw before the out- down, amid a row with the the outage. US computer experts age.” North Korean websites were US over a hack against Sony said the network appeared to have again accessible. Pictures that Washington has been resurrected. The issue of who carried out blamed on Pyongyang. Jim Cowie, chief scientist at a cyber-attack, if there was one, There was no indication as to Dyn Research, a US internet is complicated by the fact that whether a cyber-attack caused analysis company, said in an knocking out North Korea’s web the outage, and if so who might online post that the entire North network would not be a particu- have been behind it. The White Korean internet “went dark” fol- larly difficult task. It has a total House and the Department of lowing instability that began at of 1,024 IP addresses – in a coun- State declined to comment. the weekend and seemed “con- try of 25 million people – a single US tech companies monitoring sistent with a fragile network service provider and one con- the North Korean web network, under external attack”. However, nection to the outside world, via which has only about 1,000 web he added, it could also have been China. “Any one of us that was addresses and is accessible only to caused by a technical fault such upset because we couldn’t watch Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse unveiling his election manifesto in Colombo yesterday, a handful of elite officials, said it as a power problem. the movie, you could do that,” said appeared to have suffered a con- In an update, Cowie said the Dan Holden, director of security certed denial-of-service attack, in network was now functioning research at Arbor Networks. which a target’s Internet equip- again following a nine-and-a-half- “Their Iinternet is just not that Rajapaksa promises judicial ment is overwhelmed by spurious hour shutdown. He told Reuters: sophisticated.” traffic. “We’re yet to see how stable the Nonetheless, some suspicion is likely to fall on the US after Barack Obama said on Friday that the US government expected inquiry into war crimes Seoul steps up cyber to respond to the hacking of Sony Pictures and a subsequent threat COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s presi- Rajapaksa is credited with “Fresh defections from against filmgoers which prompted dent, under pressure from his crushing the Tamil Tiger rebels President Rajapaksa’s ruling security at N-plants Sony to cancel the release of main opponent in upcoming who at the height of their power coalition suggest that opposition The Interview, a comedy drama elections, yesterday promised a between 1990 and 1995 controlled candidate Maithripala Sirisena SEOUL: South Korea boosted cyber security at the country’s centred on a plot to assassinate judicial inquiry into allegations a third of Sri Lanka’s territory. But will narrowly win the presidency nuclear power plants yesterday following what President Park the North Korean leader, Kim that his troops killed thousands he is also accused of rights abuses when votes are counted on 8 Geun-hye described as a series “grave” data leaks, and prosecu- Jong-un. of Tamil civilians at the end of and is perceived by some as an January,” Eurasia’s Sasha Riser- tors said they were investigating a new online threat. It is not known how many peo- the civil war. increasingly authoritarian ruler. Kositsky said in a report released Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co Ltd (KHNP), which runs ple in North Korea have access But President Mahinda Maithripala Sirisena, his main on Monday night. South Korea’s 23 nuclear power reactors, said on Monday that its to the Internet, but given the Rajapaksa reiterated that he opponent in the January 8 presi- He was referring to Industry computer systems had been hacked, raising alarm in a country that tiny extent of the network it is would not cooperate with a dential election, has already and Commerce Minister Rishad is still technically at war with North Korea. Park ordered inspections believed to run to just a handful UN-mandated investigation into promised a similar investiga- Bathiudeen who quit the coalition of safeguards at national infrastructure facilities, including nuclear of people among the political elite. the government’s 2009 crushing of tion. Rajapaksa was seen as the government on Monday and with- power plants, against what she called “cyber terrorism”. A govern- Mobile phones are becoming more the Tamil Tiger rebellion. “If any favourite when he called the snap drew the support of his All Ceylon ment official said authorities had raised the cyber crisis alert by one common in the country, but these rights have been violated (during election in November, two years Makkal (People’s) Congress. level for all the state-run companies to “caution” from “attention”. are not able to make overseas the war), justice will be ensured ahead of schedule. The Brussels-based The nuclear operator, part of state-run utility Korea Electric calls or access the web. through a transparent domestic But Sirisena has emerged as a International Crisis Group warned Power Corp, said only non-critical data had been stolen and opera- North Korea also has its own judicial mechanism,” Rajapakse formidable opponent after secur- two weeks ago that Rajapakse tions of the nuclear plants were not at risk. South Korea’s law very tightly regulated intranet said in his election manifesto. ing the support of all the main could try to remain in power by enforcement authorities are investigating the leaks. called Kwangmyong, or Bright, It did not say how this would opposition groups, including the using security forces, a suggestion “Nuclear power plants are first-class security installations that to which a slightly larger elite differ from an inquiry he ordered tacit support of minority Tamils. discounted by both the military directly impact the safety of the people,” Park said at a cabinet meet- group has access. This provides a in July, following intense foreign The New York-based political and the opposition. Opposition ing. Within hours of Park’s comments, an online user who claimed connection between industry, uni- pressure to account for the 2009 risk analysis firm Eurasia Group leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told to have hacked the nuclear operator posted a new threat and a fresh versities and government, and is killing of Tamil civilians. A 2011 said the opposition’s Sirisena was business leaders in Colombo that a batch of data on the same Twitter account that was used for previ- believed to be used mainly to pass UN report cited estimates from likely to “narrowly win,” but that majority in the armed forces were ous threats and leaks. “We are now looking at it,” an official at South information rather than enter- “credible sources” that up to 40,000 a desperate Rajapakse could still sympathetic to the opposition and Korean prosecutors’ office investigating the leaks said. AFP tainment or commerce. civilians may have been killed in use security forces to discourage he expected a peaceful transition. THE GUARDIAN the final months of the war. opposition supporters from voting. AFP

Aquino declares Bangladesh ex-minister sentenced to hang for genocide long holiday DHAKA: Bangladesh’s war said he would be “hanged by the Nationalist Party has also been “At least 108 unarmed Hindu with police in nationwide protests for Pope’s visit crimes court yesterday sentenced neck until his death”. sentenced to hang. civilians were killed. Scores of that left some 500 people dead. a former government minister to Lawyers for Kaiser, a former Prosecutors said Kaiser had their houses were looted and set The BNP and Jamaat have MANILA: With the possi- hang for rape and genocide dur- minister with the Jatiya Party raised a pro-Pakistani militia that on fire,” he said. called the trials politically moti- bility of millions flocking to ing the 1971 independence strug- which forms part of Bangladesh’s carried out a series of murders, Kaiser joined the centre-right vated, aimed at eliminating Metro Manila to get a glimpse gle against Pakistan. ruling coalition, have rejected the rapes and looting. Jatiya Party in the 1980s and was opposition leaders rather than of Pope Francis, President Syed Mohammad Kaiser charges and say they will appeal. Judge Obaidul Hassan said the elected to parliament. He was rendering justice. Rights groups Benigno Aquino has declared a became the 15th person to be The government of Prime prosecution proved “beyond rea- made state minister for agricul- have said they fall short of inter- long holiday for the scheduled convicted of atrocities by the Minister Sheikh Hasina cre- sonable doubt” that Kaiser had ture by military ruler Hussain national standards and lack any visit of the pontiff in the coun- International Crimes Tribunal, ated the International Crimes established the militia, which cre- Muhammad Ershad. foreign oversight. try next month. which found him guilty of head- Tribunal, a domestic court, in ated a “reign of terror”. His conviction is unlikely to The government maintains Executive Secretary Paquito ing a militia that rounded up and 2010. Prosecutor Mohammad Ali told trigger the kind of protests that they are needed to heal the Ochoa Jr issued Proclamation killed some 150 people in the nine- It has mostly focused on the AFP that Kaiser led his militia plunged the country into deadly wounds of the war, which it says 936 declaring January 15, 16 and month conflict. trials of the leaders of the largest and Pakistani forces to attack unrest last year, after Jamaat’s left three million people dead. 19 as special non-working days. The 73-year-old, who uses a Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, 22 villages in the Brahmanbaria leaders were sentenced to death Independent researchers put The two other days in the papal wheelchair, did not react as the although a former minister of area near the border with India for their roles in the war. the toll much lower. visit, January 17 and 18, fall on judge read out the verdict and the main opposition Bangladesh on November 15, 1971. Thousands of Islamists clashed AFP a weekend. The holidays will cover only the National Capital Region. The government is undertaking ‘Anti-women’ citizenship bill sparks fury in Nepal preparations for the papal visit and is working on the smooth flow Taiwan launches largest of traffic in Metro Manila during the motorcade of the pope along major thoroughfares. Filipinos, ever missile ship not only those residing in Metro Manila, are expected to witness SUAO: Taiwan yesterday shipping lanes,” he added. Vice the rare event, either personally launched its largest ever mis- Admiral Wen Chen-kuo said that or on television. sile ship as the island strives to “the supersonic missile is very dif- About 25,000 policemen will modernise its armed forces in ficult to intercept”. be involved in the security team response to a perceived threat The sleek twin-hulled ship uses for the papal visit, a police official from China. stealth technology to reduce the said yesterday. The 500-tonne corvette named reflection of radar waves, making it Chief Superintendent Wilben ‘Tuo Chiang’ — ‘Tuo River’ — is harder to detect, with a maximum Mayor, spokesman for the the first of its kind ever pro- speed of 38 knots per hour and a Philippine National Police (PNP), duced by Taiwan and was touted range of 3,704km. It set sail briefly said some of the policemen will by defence minister Yen Ming yesterday to show its capabilities to guard the places the pope would as “the fastest and most pow- reporters before returning to the visit while others will be in charge erful” in Asia. Armed with 16 port again. of perimeter and route security. missiles including eight super- The corvette is scheduled to be Aside from Manila, the Pope is sonic Hsiung-feng III (Brave deployed in Taiwan waters after scheduled to visit Tacloban City, Wind) anti-ship missiles, it will further tests and is the prototype hardest hit by Super Typhoon boost Taiwan’s defence capabili- of up to 11 others to be built by Yolanda in November last year. ties against its giant neighbour, the navy. Its launch comes after Mayor earlier said the PNP has which considers the island part the US Congress passed a bill been preparing elaborate security of China’s territory awaiting to last week authorising President measures for Pope Francis. be reunited by force if necessary. Barack Obama to transfer up to He said the PNP will pro- “From now on, the navy’s com- four Perry-class guided missile vide operational support to the A file picture shows Nepalese activists participating in a march demanding equal citizenship rights for men bat capabilities will reach a crucial frigates to Taipei. Presidential Security Group and and women in Kathmandu. A proposed legislation in Nepal threatens to make millions stateless, thanks to a milestone, Yen said at a launch cer- China slammed the deal, say- close-in security services for the provision in the draft constitution that will make it near impossible for Nepalese women to pass on citizenship emony held in the port of Suao, in ing a diplomatic protest had been pope’s entourage. He reiterated northeastern Yilan county. lodged with the US. “We are firmly to their children. As Nepal’s constituent assembly prepares to write the country’s new constitution by early that the PNP has yet to receive “The completion of the new opposed to arms sales to Taiwan 2015, a draft citizenship bill, that awaits discussion, has triggered a campaign demanding amendments to any specific threat in connection generation of naval warship is by the US,” said Chinese foreign with the Pope’s visit. what activists and victims call discriminatory provisions. expected to ensure security in ministry spokesman Qin Gang. THE PHILIPPINE STAR the Taiwan Strait and protect AFP WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 1,159 institutions identified as soft targets Guards deployed in schools; colleges and universities told to hire armed personnel; Taliban militants ‘plan’ attacks

ISLAMABAD: Law enforce- by Taliban militants. He said the ment agencies have identified terrorists might target school or 1,159 educational institutions college vehicles with an impro- in the Pakistani capital as soft vised explosive device. targets for terrorists, the media The authorities are taking all reported yesterday. possible measures to stop educa- This follows a terrorist massa- tional institutions from becoming cre of students and teachers at a targets of militant attacks. Peshawar school on December 16. The superintendents of police of A police officer said there were all the four zones in Islamabad — 1,137 private and government City, Saddar, Rural and Industrial schools and colleges as well as Area — have been asked to hold 22 universities in the city, Dawn meetings with the school admin- online reported. He said there istrations in their respective areas were 77 markets and 14 hospitals and brief them on the security which were also considered soft arrangements. targets for terrorists. Walk-through gates should also The officer said his men were be installed at the entry points already bogged down by different of the schools and guards should assignments while many were be deployed with metal detectors. deployed to protect high ranking The educational institutions have officials. In some schools, guards also been asked to arrange reflec- have been deployed. But now it tors to check vehicles for magnetic has been made mandatory for all explosive devices. institutions to hire armed secu- Police officers and station house rity personnel. officers concerned have been asked The administrations will be to ensure that each educational asked to install CCTV cameras institution had implemented the for surveillance of the buildings, standard operating procedure. the report said. The height of the As of now, winter vacations have boundary walls of all schools, started in the schools and major- colleges and universities should ity of the universities. be raised and barbed wires Meanwhile, a three lakh-strong fixed, the officer said. volunteer force will be formed to The digging of trenches was provide security at educational also proposed around school institutions across Punjab prov- buildings. The officer said ince in Pakistan. A large number Pakistani paramilitary soldiers and police officials search for suspects in residential area of Islamabad yesterday following a massacre at an army-run schools should also carry out of volunteers were being gathered school. Nearly 32 suspects were arrested from different areas for initial investigation. evacuation drills. to counter the threat stemming The officer said there were from terrorism at education insti- of the administrations of educa- was not solely responsible for we all need to be on the same death toll rose yesterday to 150 intelligence reports that suicide tutions, The News International tion institutions has been called countering this menace. page,” Mashood said. Pakistan including 134 children after one jackets and bombers had been reported citing Punjab Education for today. He added that the “First we listened to the has ramped up its anti-terror of the injured — a 17-year-old stu- moved towards Punjab, espe- Minister Rana Mashood. entire nation had stood up against Taliban, then we launched strategy since the attack on an dent — passed away in hospital. cially Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Mashood further said a meeting terrorism and the government Operation Zarb-e-Azb and now army-run school in Peshawar. The AGENCIES Leader of banned Operation Zarb-e-Azb militant group will continue: Sharif set to walk free ISLAMABAD: Pakistan today morning. The meeting will ISLAMABAD: The leader of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif finalise the National Action Plan a banned Pakistani sectarian yesterday said there was no dif- to counter terrorism. militant group is set to walk free ference between terrorists and Earlier, Pakistan’s Gen Raheel from jail, officials said yesterday. their abettors. Sharif met Chief of General Staff Malik Ishaq, the head of Chairing a special anti-ter- of the Afghan National Army Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) which rorism meeting of the country’s (ANA) Gen Sher Muhammad is dedicated to killing minority civilian and military leadership, Karimi and commander of the Shias, is expected to be released Prime Minister Sharif stressed International Security Assistance tomorrow after the Punjab pro- the need to eliminate the mind- Force (ISAF) Gen John Campbell vincial government withdrew a set associated with terrorism and at the General Headquarters request to extend his detention militancy, The News International (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. under public order laws. reported. According to an Inter-Services LeJ has claimed responsibil- People hold banners during a protest against the attack on army-run school, in Karachi yesterday. It was agreed upon in the meet- Public Relations (ISPR) state- ity for numerous bloody attacks, ing that Operation Zarb-e-Azb ment, the visiting dignitar- including two bombings targeting would continue till the elimina- ies expressed their grief over Shias in the southwestern city of Panel outlines new anti-terror plan tion of the last terrorist. the Peshawar school carnage in Quetta in 2013 that killed a total Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif, which more than 140 students and of nearly 200 people. Director General of Inter- teachers were massacred. A senior legal official said the ISLAMABAD: A working and other organisations. Federal Investigation Agency. It Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt While appreciating the recently decision not to seek an extension group of parliamentary parties It stressed the need to also asked the government to Gen Rizwan Akhtar, and Federal commenced operations by Afghan of Ishaq’s detention was made in Pakistan yesterday suggested strengthen the National Counter- protect religious minorities and Ministers Chaudhry Nisar and forces against the Tehreek-e- by a three-judge review panel at measures ranging from forma- Terrorism Authority and forma- cancel all licences for explosive Ishaq Dar attended the meeting. Taliban (TTP) in areas close to Lahore High Court on Monday. tion of military courts to anti- tion of a special task force to materials. In an earlier meeting, Prime the Pakistan-Afghanistan Border, Ishaq, named a “Specially terrorism council as part of the eliminate terrorism. The working group urged Minister Sharif said that people Gen Sharif said he would extend Designated Global Terrorist” nation’s efforts to combat the The working group recom- the government to strengthen could not be left at the mercy of full support to Gen Karimi and by the US, has been implicated scourge of terrorism which has mended that militants included the provincial government of terrorists. The prime minister Gen Campbell in all spheres, in numerous murder cases and devoured the lives of more than in schedule four of the anti-terror Balochistan for political recon- pointed out that extraordinary including intelligence sharing as was accused of masterminding a 50,000 people in the country. act be arrested and a ban should ciliation and take the ongoing times called for extraordinary well as coordinated operations by 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan The working group came up be imposed on the militant organ- Karachi operation to a logical end. measures. both sides. cricket team in Lahore which with 21 recommendations, The isations and their leaders. The experts also recommended He emphasised that citizens The trilateral meeting dis- killed eight people. News International reported. It also called for a ban on hate that the act of praising terror- from all ethnicities and religious cussed the overall security situ- An anti-terror court in May The group proposed formation speech and literature and under- ists through electronic and print beliefs would be protected. He ation in the region, matters cleared him of inciting violence of the anti-terrorism council to scored the need for reforms in the media should be considered as a added that atrocities committed relating to coordination on the and of making speeches which be chaired by the prime minister religious seminaries. crime. It is expected that the anti- by terrorists would not be forgot- Pakistan-Afghanistan border and fomented hate but he was held and represented by interior min- The working group suggested terrorism plan would materialise ten or forgiven. protocols placed to improve bor- under maintenance of public istry, the army, the Inter-Services action through monitoring inter- within two weeks of its approval. Sharif has summoned a meet- der control. order laws. Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau net activities of terrorists by the IANS ing on parliamentary leaders AGENCIES AFP

Preparing for winter PTI to hold rally on January 17 151 Taliban fighters ‘killed’ KABUL: At least 151 Taliban fighters is believed to be based in the Pakistani ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan have been killed by Afghan govern- city of Quetta, and Kabul has long accused Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) yester- ment forces during 12 days of fighting Pakistan of turning a blind eye to the group. day decided to hold a rally in in the volatile east, near the border Dangam is 4km from the porous border. Islamabad on January 17. with Pakistan, the police chief of Kunar The Taliban denied losing so many fighters The PTI’s strategic committee province has said. but did not provide its own figures. made the decision during a meet- General Abdul Habib Sayedkhaili said Sayedkhaili said local people had joined ing, held at D-Chowk in the federal yesterday that at least another 100 insur- the fight against the insurgents, and that capital, Dawn online reported cit- gents had been wounded in the fighting in five had been killed and 12 wounded, ing sources. However, the purpose Dangam district. He said the Pakistani including both locals and security forces. of the rally was not mentioned. Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba — the group He said there was no involvement of either On December 17, the PTI had responsible for the attacks on Mumbai Pakistani government forces or the inter- announced its decision to sus- in 2008 in which more than 160 people national forces that have been based in pend countrywide protests, in the were killed — were also taking part in Afghanistan for the past 13 years. aftermath of a terrorist attack on a the battle. The US and Nato are due to withdraw Peshawar school. Imran Khan had “That 17 foreign fighters were killed the last of their combat troops on 31 announced the party’s decision to during the battle prove[s] that foreign- December, leaving behind a residual force suspend their protest movement ers are supporting local insurgents in the of 13,000 to provide training and some saying that the country was in area,” he said. “As Dangam is so close to battlefield backup. need of unity. the border, it is very easy for them to cross Taliban attacks have escalated since The PTI, along with Pakistan the border into Afghanistan and help the international forces withdrew from Kunar Awami Tehreek (PAT), had insurgents here,” he said. “We are very four months ago and the fight across launched a campaign against the careful with conducting our operations the country has intensified. Kabul and Afghan street workers warm themselves around a fire in Kabul yesterday. Afghans are busy government of Prime Minister to prevent civilian casualties.” Islamabad have discussed joining forces to preparing for winter, with high unemployment and the high cost of living have increased the Nawaz Sharif in August, demand- The presence of foreign fighters in launch operations against insurgent groups vulnerability to the weather for large sections of the population. ing that he resign over alleged Taliban battles in Afghanistan is not following last week’s school massacre in rigging in last year’s polls. IANS unusual. The Afghan Taliban leadership Peshawar. THE GUARDIAN WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

BJP President Amit Shah (centre), displays a victory sign during his arrival at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi yesterday. RIGHT: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President and Member of Parliament Mehbooba Mufti (centre) addresses the media at her residence in Srinagar. Peoples Democratic Party became the single-largest party in Kashmir winning 28 seats while BJP managed to win 25 seats. Hung house in Kashmir Jharkhand gets PDP comes on top with 28 seats, BJP makes history with 25 BJP government

SRINAGAR/JAMMU: Jammu seats — enough to take power on Modi and Shah, BJP sources said Kashmir Valley. The National RANCHI: The BJP yesterday a marked improvement from just and Kashmir got a hung assem- its own in Jammu and Kashmir. opinion within was split on who Conference and PDP won two emerged victorious and pre- two seats it held earlier. bly yesterday, with the PDP That did not happen. But a PDP- the party should go with—the seats each in Jammu region and pared to form its government in The ruling Jharkhand Mukti becoming the single largest BJP coalition would give them the PDP or National Conference. got the rest in the valley, the epi- Jharkhand, with Prime Minister Morcha (JMM) failed to improve group and the BJP making his- numbers to comfortably form a The BJP did not field any senior centre of a dragging separatist Narendra Modi saying the people its performance, winning 17 seats tory by finishing a close second coalition government. leader or known face in the elec- campaign. have “voted for stability which and leading in just one — a tally in a verdict that exposed the PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti tion. Instead, the party projected Three of the four seats in the is essential to realise the true that was same as last time. deep divide between the largely said it would take time to form Modi as the answer to Kashmir’s Buddhist-dominated Ladakh potential of the state”. “We are disappointed with our Muslim Kashmir Valley and a government to provide “good long-standing problems. region went to the Congress. The BJP won 30 seats and were performance. We were expecting Hindu-majority Jammu region. governance”. Her party spokes- Modi visited the state six times The fourth seat was taken by an leading in eight seats, while its 30 plus seats... We are hopeful of With no single party in a posi- man Samir Kaul, however, said to campaign and focussed mainly independent supported by the pre-poll alliance partner the All getting more than 20 seats two tion to form a government on that “an alliance with the BJP is on issues of development. He also National Conference. Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) more than that in the previous its own, the Peoples Democratic not ruled out”. spoke against corruption and BJP general secretary P got four seats and was leading in a polls,” Supriyo Bhattacharya, gen- Party with 28 of the 87 seats Mehbooba added: “It is not a dynastic rule. Muralidhar Rao said: “More fifth — taking them comfortably eral secretary of the JMM, said. hinted it was not averse to sail- decisive mandate. It is not even On his part, outgoing Chief important than winning is the past the magic halfway mark of 41 He added: “The alliance with ing with the Bharatiya Janata according to our expectations. We Minister Abdullah said the best fact that the BJP’s acceptability in the 81-member assembly. Congress and RJD could have Party (BJP), which bagged all its could not get the kind of result we possible combination would be one has increased in the state in an “People of Jharkhand have kept the BJP away from power. 25 seats from Jammu region. had expected.” involving the BJP and PDP and exponential way. voted for stability which is essen- The Congress stand to part ways The National Conference of She refused to say if her party chided the Congress for making “What will be important for tial to realise the true potential of helped the BJP win in Jharkhand.” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah — would prefer to sail with the BJP overtures to the PDP for the sake us (when we decide on alli- the state. I congratulate them,” The Congress-RJD combine who won from Beerwah but lost or the Congress. “We are looking of tripping the BJP. ances) is how to fight terrorism said Modi who had campaigned bagged a miserable three seats in Sonwar — won 15 seats, dis- for a government which is based “I have accepted the people’s and insurgency... Jammu and vigorously in Jharkhand, a state and a lead in four constituencies. proving critics who felt it might on an agenda... The agenda of verdict,” he said. “But those who Kashmir is not like any other that is home to 3.2 million. Congress spokesperson be wiped out. Its estranged ally good governance. thought we would do badly very state. We need to see the options The vote share of the BJP went Kishore Shadeo said the results Congress finished with 12 seats “It will take time to find out badly have been proved wrong.” available (to us).” up from last time’s 24 percent to show that their organisation has — five less than last time. what formulations can give good Riding on the Modi wave, the Asked about possible alliances, 31 percent now. The party also improved. Seven seats went to smaller governance. We will take our BJP won its 25 seats in the Jammu BJP’s Jay Narayan Vyas said: did remarkably well in the tribal BJP cadres were ecstatic in parties and independents includ- time... We are not in a hurry.” region, where only six Congress “Politics is always a game of enor- Santhal Pargana region that has Jharkhand as well as in Delhi. The ing two bagged by the People’s Although the final decision on candidates won. But the BJP got mous possibilities.” 18 assembly segments. The BJP celebrations began soon after the Conference of Sajjad Lone, a forging an alliance would rest on only two percent of votes in the IANS won seven seats in the tribal belt, trends indicated that the party former separatist leader. Yusuf was coasting home to victory. Tarigami, a veteran Marxist, won A beaming BJP chief Amit Shah again from the valley. said in Delhi: “It is for the first While Prime Minister Narendra Congress to go for revamp after results blow time that people of Jharkhand Modi hailed the record voter turn- have given a clear mandate in an out in Kashmir as a sign of people’s NEW DELHI: The assembly election BJP in the four states where assembly polls failed in bringing non-BJP parties together. assembly election to the BJP. We faith in democracy, BJP President results in Jharkhand yesterday came as a were held in the past four months. There are a large number of people who are will form a majority government.” Amit Shah credited the unprec- blow to the Congress though the tally was The Congress finished third or fourth in not in favour of BJP,” he said. Shah credited the victory in edented showing by his party in not as disappointing in Jammu and Kashmir. the assembly polls in Haryana, Maharahstra, Political commentator and journalist S Jharkhand to the achievements the state to the six months of good Congress leaders said they will go for organi- Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir. Nihal Singh said the Congress had performed of Modi’s six-month-old central governance by Modi. sational revamp in the coming weeks to res- Party leaders yesterday conceded that in the election as per expectations. He said government. “People’s love and Minister of State in the Prime urrect the party’s electoral fortunes. there was a need to get their act together. the party was facing a leadership crisis. respect for Modi has translated Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh, In Jharkhand, the Congress went down “We need to go to the drawing board and get “There is nothing much to write home into this victory (in Jharkhand),” a Lok Sabha member from from 14 seats in 2009 to six this time, while in out act together,” a party leader said. about (for the Congress peformance). The Shah said, referring to a state that Udhampur in Kashmir, said: “This Jammu and Kashmir, the party’s tally declined Congress spokesperson Ajoy Kumar said Congress faces existential dilemma. Without has seen a as many as nine chief will be a turning point for BJP and from 17 to 12. The Congress’ graph has been that while the BJP should be credited for vic- the first family, it will splinter. They need a ministers in the past 14 years. for Jammu and Kashmir politics.” on the decline since the Lok Sabha elections tory in Jharkhand, its performance had come coherent leadership. It will not come through BJP national vice president The BJP, until now considered this year when Bharatiya Janata Party leader down from the Lok Sabha polls. Rahul Gandhi,” he said. Raghbubar Das, who is a con- a bit player in Kashmir that too Narendra Modi led the party to an emphatic “The results in Jammu and Kashmir are The results are also expected to raise voices tender for the chief minister’s only in Jammu region, not only victory and replaced the Congress-led United better than what the opinion polls said. But within the party for Rahul Gandhi to step up post and has won from East increased its seat tally from 11 Progressive Alliance government. we are disappointed with Jharkhand,” he said. his role as party vice president. Party sources Jamshedpur constituency, said in 2008 to 25 now, but polled the The worrying aspect for the Congress is “It’s time to go to the grassroots level and said organisational revamp could take place that the BJP parliamentary board maximum votes — over 23 percent. that it has not even finished runners-up to the rebuild our support base in Jharkhand. “We over the next few weeks. IANS will take a call on who will be the The BJP had hoped to win 44 chief minister. IANS

Carnival procession Acid thrown at woman doctor in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Acid was hurled where she was said to be out of linked to dowry or land disputes at a 30-year-old woman doc- danger. In her statement to police, or a man’s advances spurned. tor at a crowded market in Amrita Kaur said: “Two people Attacks on women have been the national capital yesterday on a motorcycle approached me on the rise with the National morning by two motorcycle- when I stopped my two-wheeler Crime Records Bureau reporting borne assailants, police said. at a place to attend to a phone 309,546 crimes against women Amrita Kaur, employed with an call. One of them threw acid on last year against 244,270 in 2012. Employees State Insurance (ESI) my head when I resisted their There were 225 reported cases of hospital, was attacked around attempt to snatch my hand bag.” acid attacks alone between 2010 9.30am in west Delhi’s Rajouri Police suspect robbery as the and 2012. Those who survive acid Garden area. The unidentified main reason behind the attack attacks often face lifelong scars attackers also snatched her bag but have not ruled other motives. and social stigma. Activists say before speeding away, police said. They said they would examine little has changed despite steps Amrita Kaur was heading CCTV footage of the incident and taken last year to help wipe out towards the ESI hospital in Bali the culprits will be arrested soon. the scourge and improve financial Nagar area, barely a few kilometres The woman is a native of Punjab aid for survivors. from the spot. The woman was rid- who lives in Hari Nagar area with The Supreme Court in July ing her two-wheeler when she was her brother. She got engaged eight last year gave Indian states three attacked, a police official said. months ago. At least 50 victims months to enforce restrictions on According to the official, of acid attacks staged a protest the sale of acid, but campaigners Amrita Kaur received 45 percent at the incident spot and outside say it remains easy to purchase burn injuries on the right side of the Rajouri Garden police station and inexpensive. The court also her face and head. The acid also after yesterday’s attack. said victims should get Rs300,000 A man dressed as Santa Claus takes part in a Christmas carnival procession in Mumbai yesterday. affected her right eye. Acid attacks have long plagued in compensation, a third of it She was rushed to the All India India, often targeting women in within 15 days of the assault. Institute of Medical Sciences public places as a form of revenge AGENCIES WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 17

Protest against ‘PK’ Satyam case Healthcare budget verdict put off till Mar 9

HYDERABAD: A special cut by nearly 20pc CBI court yesterday adjourned pronouncement of the much awaited judgment in the multi- Fiscal strains cited as cause; HIV/Aids funds slashed crore Satyam scam till March 9, next year. NEW DELHI: Indian govern- ministry officials said, referring to The cost of that programme Special Judge B V L N ment has ordered a cut of nearly Modi’s BJP. “No reason was given over the next four years had Chakravarthi deferred the verdict, 20 percent in its 2014/15 health- ... but there is shortage of funds. been estimated at Rs1.6 trillion citing the voluminous documents of care budget due to fiscal strains, It is not rocket science.” ($25bn). The Health Ministry the case. K Surender, special pub- putting at risk key disease con- The Finance Ministry, which officials had been expecting a lic prosecutor, Central Bureau of trol initiatives in a country ordered the spending reduction jump in their budget for the com- Investigation (CBI), which probed whose public spending on health and overruled objections from the ing year, in part to pay for this the case, told reporters that the is already among the lowest in Health Ministry at a recent meet- extra cost. court would now pronounce the the world. ing, did not respond immediately “Even next year we don’t think verdict March 9, 2015. Two Health Ministry officials to requests for comment. we’ll get a huge amount of money,” The court was expected to pro- told Reuters yesterday that more The move reflects the govern- said one official, adding that it nounce the verdict yesterday in than Rs60bn, or $948m, has been ment’s struggle to achieve its was now unclear how the new what is billed to be the country’s slashed from their budget alloca- 2014/15 fiscal deficit target of 4.1 programme would be funded. biggest accounting fraud that left tion of around $5bn for the finan- percent of GDP. In addition to the healthcare the corporate world stunned in cial year ending on March 31. Dominated by private play- budget, the finance ministry has 2009. All 10 accused, including Despite rapid economic growth ers, India’s healthcare industry also ordered a spending cut for the prime accused B Ramalinga over the past two decades, suc- is growing at an annual clip of India’s HIV/AIDS programme by Raju, the Satyam Computer cessive governments have kept a around 15 percent, but public about 30 percent to Rs13bn. Services Ltd’s founder and former tight rein on healthcare expend- spending has remained low and In October, India was on the chairman, appeared in the court iture. India spends about 1 per- resulted in a dilapidated network brink of running out of a criti- yesterday. cent of its gross domestic product of government hospitals and clin- cal medicine in its free HIV/AIDS The judge told the prosecu- (GDP) on public health, compared ics, especially in rural areas. drugs programme due to bureau- tion and defence counsels that to 3 percent in China and 8.3 per- One of the Health Ministry cratic delays. A crisis was averted he required more time to pro- cent in the United States. officials said the cut could crimp with the assistance of pharmaceu- nounce the verdict. He said typ- But hopes were high that efforts to control the spread of dis- tical companies and global health ing the order itself may take two Prime Minister Narendra Modi, eases. More newborns die in India organisations. to three weeks. who was elected in May, would than in poorer neighbours such as Still, health activists complain The scam came to light on upgrade basic health infrastruc- Bangladesh, and preventable ill- about dire shortages of several January 7, 2009, when Ramalinga ture and make medical services nesses such as diarrhoea kill more HIV/AIDS diagnostic kits. “We Raju confessed that the company’s more affordable for the poor. than a million children every year. are all in shock. That shows the account books and profits were The United Nations estimates The retrenchment could also kind of importance the govern- inflated over many years to the about one third of the world’s 1.2 derail an ambitious universal ment attaches to public health,” tune of several crores of rupees. billion poorest people live in India. healthcare plan that Modi wants said Leena Menghaney, a New The CBI put the loss to the “We were not expecting to launch in April. The plan aims Delhi-based public health activist. shareholders at Rs14,000 crore. (budget cuts) this time because to provide all citizens with free “This will undermine the HIV pro- Activists from Shiv Sena and Sher-e-Punjab burn a poster against the The investigating agency also of the commitments they made in drugs and diagnostic treatments, gramme in the long run.” film ‘PK’ outside a cinema in Amritsar yesterday. The protest was held charged Raju with gaining the manifesto,” one of the health as well as insurance benefits. REUTERS against the film for allegedly offending Shiv Sena religious sentiments. Rs2,500 crore by selling his fam- ily shares in Satyam. Raju was charged with floating several front companies to buy land with the scam money as well. He was arrested by Andhra Pradesh Country’s birth rate shrinks: Study Police Jan 9, 2009. The CBI, which Top Tamil filmmaker later took up the investigations, filed three chargesheets against NEW DELHI: India’s birth Improvements in female liter- While the national govern- Raju and the other accused, charg- rate declined dramatically in acy were having “a direct impact ment officially abandoned tar- ing them with cheating, criminal K Balachander dead the last two decades due in on fertility”, said the report, called gets for family planning in 1996, conspiracy, forgery, falsification of part to rising female literacy, the Sample Registration Survey. local authorities still offer cash accounts and breach of trust. CHENNAI: Legendary Tamil Dubbed “Iyakunar Sigaram” — a new study shows, but experts “The new data shows India incentives to women who undergo IANS movie and drama director, or director’s peak — Balachander warned against complacency in does not need to panic,” said sterilisation. screen writer and producer K was born in a Tamil Brahmin the country of 1.2 billion. Poonam Muttreja, director of Rights groups say this amounts Balachander (pictured) — who family in 1930 in Thanjavur dis- The Total Fertility Rate — the the Population Foundation of to coercion. The problem was 34 killed in Bodo was instrumental in bringing trict. At an early age, he was number of children the average India, a non-profit advocacy and highlighted last month when talents like Kamal Haasan, attracted to theatre and drama woman will have in her lifetime research group. “Even the poor- 13 women died after a govern- attacks in Assam Rajinikanth and Prakash Raj and took part in stage plays. based on current trends — fell est and most marginalised women ment-run mass sterilisation pro- to the film industry — passed After graduating in zoology, to just 2.3 last year from 3.6 in want no more than two children, gramme in the central state of GUWAHATI: At least 34 people away here yester- Balachander joined 1991, according to official figures thanks to the country’s focus on Chhattisgarh. were killed when Bodo militants day. He was 84. the Accountant released on Monday. family planning in recent years.” AFP fired indiscriminately at villag- Balachander was General’s office and ers in Assam’s Kokrajhar and ailing for some time pursued his thea- Sonitpur districts, police said. and was admitted to tre interest with An Assam Police spokesman the Kauvery Hospital the United Amateur Cold wave in New Delhi confirmed that 34 people, includ- here where he Artistes, a drama ing four women, were killed in breathed his last. He company. Later, four incidents of firing by cad- was suffering from a he started his own res of the National Democratic urinary infection and drama company Front of Bodoland (NDFB) fac- other age-related ail- and his play Major tion opposed to peace talks. ments. The auteur’s Chandrakanth “While 24 people were killed manager confirmed the news. He became a hit. in Biswanath area in Sonitpur said Balachander will be cremated After entering the tinsel district, six were killed by mili- tomorrow. “Balachander sir’s body world, Balachander made the tants in Dhekiajuli area in the dis- will be kept for public homage for play into a movie which was also trict,” he said. “In another attack the next two days. The last rites a big hit. Many of his hit mov- in Pakhiriguri area in Kokrajhar will be performed on Thursday.” ies were earlier stage plays like district, NDFB militants fired Balachander is survived by his Server Sundaram, Neerkumizhi indiscriminately and killed four wife, a son and a daughter. His and Mezhuguvarthi among others. women and injured four other eldest son Kailasam passed away Another notable film by people,” the spokesman said. recently. Balachander had over Balachander was Abborva He said police also have reports 150 films to his credit, including Ragangal. It was in this movie of firing by militants at a village in Aval Ora Thodar Kathai, Avargal, that Balachander introduced Ultapani area. Though police have Varumayin Niram Sigappu and 47 Rajnikanth. Balachandar’s Hindi reports of three people being killed, Natkal. Balachander was a recipi- movie Ek Duuje Ke Liye was where they were yet to receive the bodies ent of the Dada Saheb Phalke Kamal Haasan and Rathi Agnihotri “and it is difficult to confirm with- Award. He was awarded the made their Bollywood debut. A couple wrapped in quilts wait for their bus at a terminal on a cold winter morning in New Delhi yesterday. out recovering the bodies”, he said. Padma Shri in 1987. IANS The minimum temperature in New Delhi was reported to be 6 degrees Celsius. IANS United opposition leaves imprint on parliament’s winter session NEW DELHI: The performance of the where the numbers are to the govern- government businesses done was intro- of “economic recovery”, he said. A total p.m., only functioned for 27 percent of two Houses stood in stark contrast as ment’s advantage. duction of anti-hijacking bill, and return- of 10 bills were passed by parliament in its scheduled time as against 84 percent the month-long winter session of parlia- Of the total 22 working days, Rajya ing the appropriation bill to Lok Sabha. this session. In addition, eight bills were in the Lok Sabha. The session saw the ment concluded yesterday with the Lok Sabha saw 16 marked by disruptions as The issue figured in the last two days passed by the Lok Sabha, but could not highest number of questions answered Sabha having passed a “record” 18 bills it saw two major protests. as well, but the opposition gave a window be taken up in Rajya Sabha due to the orally across all sessions of parliament while the Rajya Sabha lost a majority of The first was over foul remarks by for passage of a bill extending deadline for disruptions. since 2004. its working days to disruption. union minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Delhi’s unauthorised colonies, just before “The Lok Sabha passed a record 18 The Lok Sabha, which saw major dis- The fate of crucial bills like the insur- which saw proceedings being disrupted the house was adjourned sine die. bills this session as compared to 12 in cussions on black money, religious con- ance bill and the coal mines allocation bill for five days (December 1-5), even as Hitting out the opposition, the last budget session and four in the versions, natural calamities and dilution hangs in balance with the Rajya Sabha Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a Parliamentary Affairs Minister M the winter session of last year when the of the rural job guarantee scheme, was failing to transact any substantial busi- statement urging members to forgive her. Venkaiah Naidu charged them with try- UPA was in power,” Naidu said. not untouched by protests. These saw ness. Sources said the government was The stalemate ended on December 8 ing to “stall the development agenda” While the Rajya Sabha witnessed fre- innovative methods such as members mulling the ordinance route. following a statement by Chairman M of the government. “You cannot make quent adjournments due to disruptions, using black umbrellas during the black Both houses witnessed an united oppo- Hamid Ansari. the prime minister make a statement on the Lok Sabha worked beyond scheduled money discussion to earthen pots to pro- sition with the Congress, Trinamool However, it was not the end of prob- every matter. It is against the principles hours to transact its business. test “dilution” of the rural job guarantee Congress, Samajwadi Party, the Left, lems for the government in the upper of collective responsibility,” he said. According to PRS, the Lok Sabha scheme. Janata Dal-United, Bahujan Samaj Party house, where it wanted to bring and pass The government managed to introduce spent 14 percent of its productive time Rajya Sabha discussed issues related and others speaking in one voice on sev- a bill to raise foreign direct investment key bills in the Lok Sabha like the consti- in answering questions, 35 percent on to agrarian crisis, black money, sexual eral issues. cap in insurance to 49 percent. The sec- tutional amendment to bring in the goods discussing legislation and 44 percent assault of a woman by a cab driver and The House that bore the brunt of ond issue was the vociferous opposition and service tax, which Naidu termed the discussing non-legislative issues. The the stand on WTO. Both houses passed protests was the Rajya Sabha, where protests over reconversions, and alleged “high point of the government’s initia- corresponding figures for Rajya Sabha resolutions condemning the attack on the ruling National Democratic Alliance communal statements by ruling party tives in this session”. were 8 percent, 34 percent on discussing school children in Peshawar and the is in a minority. It was productive for members. Bills on auction of coal mines, amend- legislation and 35 percent. release on bail of 26/11 mastermind just 67.18 percent of its time, compared The House was virtually stalled ing the electricity act and the companies The question hour in the Rajya Sabha, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi. to 105.71 percent for the Lok Sabha, through last week, and the only act showcase the government’s agenda changed in this session from 11 a.m. to 12 IANS

WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Upside-down house

Fajr (Dawn) 4:54 Shorook (Sunrise) 6:16 Zuhr (Noon) 11:33 Asr (Afternoon) 2:31 Maghrib (Sunset) 4:51 Isha (Night) 6:21

WEATHER

Today Thursday Friday Weather Conditions: Clear Clear Partly cloudy Moderate temperature High: 23° High: 22° High: 23° during the day and Low: 17° Low: 16° Low: 16° slight dust with some clouds, and relatively cold by night.

DOHA - SUN & SEA SUN TIDE SEA SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 06:16 16:51 06:45 18:00 14:00 23:45 15-25/30 KT

THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW

HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER

MUSCAT 26/22 Clear 27/22 Clear MAKKAH 29/19 Partly cloudy 32/22 Partly cloudy A man passes a house built upside-down in Russia’s Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk. The house was constructed as an attraction for tourists. KUWAIT 21/17 Clear 17/06 Clear BAHRAIN 22/16 Partly cloudy 22/13 Clear SANAA 22/09 Clear 22/06 Partly cloudy RIYADH 24/12 Partly cloudy 21/09 Partly cloudy DUBAI 24/21 Clear 25/19 Clear BAGHDAD 16/05 Partly cloudy 16/05 Partly cloudy Fish eye sheds light on colour vision THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW PARIS: A fish eye from a prim- study. It is rare for palaeontolo- the retina. The remains had been Vision is thought to have existed HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER itive time when Earth was but gists to find eye remains, as the soft preserved under a thin coating of for at least 520 million years, but one single continent, has yielded tissue generally decays within 64 phosphate, Tanaka said. this is the first direct evidence of

ATHENS 18/11 Clear 16/11 Clear evidence of colour vision dating days, the authors of the study said. Analysis of the tissue “pro- colour-sensitive receptors. back at least 300 million years, However, the Hamilton Quarry vides the first record of miner- AFP WASHINGTON 10/09 Rain 10/11 Rain researchers said yesterday. in Kansas is a treasure trove of alised rods and cones in a fossil,” SYDNEY 26/19 Chance of storm 31/21 Partly cloudy Analysing the fossilised remains well-preserved fossils — an entire said the study. These, combined LONDON 13/10 Partly cloudy 13/03 Chance of showers of a fish from the “spiny shark” ecosystem having been rapidly bur- with light-absorbing melanin PARIS 09/06 Cloudy 11/04 Chance of rain family that lived long before the ied under sediment. They included pigments, suggested the fish was ISTANBUL 11/09 Partly cloudy 12/09 Clear dinosaurs, scientists discovered the extinct fish Acanthodes bridgei “probably” able to see in low light light-sensing “rod” and “cone” — among the oldest known verte- using highly-sensitive rod cells, MANILA 29/24 Partly cloudy 29/24 Partly cloudy eye cells — the oldest ever found. brates with jaws. and by day using cone cells. DHAKA 25/15 Clear 26/15 Clear “This is the first discovery of ver- An A. bridgei specimen found In modern animals, cone cells DELHI 14/07 Clear 15/08 Clear tebrate retinal fossils,” said Gengo at the quarry retained elements of respond individually to light at ISLAMABAD 16/07 Partly cloudy 16/04 Partly cloudy Tanaka from Japan’s Kumamoto the original eye colour and shape, specific wavelengths, thus allowing University, who co-authored the and a light-absorbing pigment in observation of different colours. Wednesday 24 December 2014 2 Rabial I 1436 Volume 19 Number 6289 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Iraq’s Dec Opec won’t cut output oil exports even at $20: Saudi rise towards record level

Oil prices increase despite minister’s comments LONDON: Iraq’s oil exports are rising in December towards a RIYADH: Opec will not cut production capacity, according to the most efficient producer. It is record high, according to load- oil production even if the price the International Monetary Fund. unbelievable after the analysis we ing data and industry sources, as drops to $20 a barrel and it is The kingdom pumps about 9.6 carried out for us to cut,” he said. Opec’s second-largest producer unfair to expect the cartel to million barrels per day but Naimi Opec tried to seek market sta- pumps more despite oil prices reduce output if non-members said it is “crooked logic” to expect bility through a common front trading near a five-year low. do not, Saudi Arabia said. his country to cut and then lose between members and non-mem- The increase will add to ample “Whether it goes down to business to other major producers bers “but there was no way,” he supplies and may worry other $20 a barrel, $40, $50, $60, it is outside Opec. said. Prices were above $100 a members of the Opec unable to irrelevant,” the kingdom’s Oil The increasingly competitive barrel earlier this year, a level expand exports and suffering a Minister Ali Al Naimi (pic- global oil market has seen daily which Naimi said “we may not” drop in oil income after a near 50 tured) said in an interview with United States output rise by more see again. percent drop in prices since June. the Middle East Economic Survey than 40 percent since 2006, but Repeating comments he has Exports from Iraq’s southern (MEES), an industry weekly. In at a production cost which can made elsewhere, Naimi told terminals have averaged at least unusually detailed comments, be three or four times that of MEES that oil prices will, how- 2.60 million barrels per day (bpd), Naimi defended a decision by the extracting Middle Eastern oil. ever, improve. according to shipping data for the Organisation of the Petroleum “Is it reasonable for a highly “The timing is difficult to first 23 days of December. Two Exporting Countries, whose lead efficient producer to reduce out- know,” he said, but international industry sources who monitor the producer is Saudi Arabia, last put, while the producer of poor oil companies have reduced their exports had similar estimates. month to maintain a produc- efficiency continues to produce?” future capital expenditures, “This is looking very strong — tion ceiling of 30 million barrels Naimi asked during the interview “which means there is no explo- massive volumes,” said an indus- per day. The decision sent global conducted with MEES on Sunday. ration”. That, in turn, signals $4-$5 a barrel, Gulf nations and which hit Russian exports. try source, who saw southern flows crude prices tumbling, worsening “If I reduce, what happens they will not have additional particularly Saudi Arabia “have Oil prices rose yesterday after rise as high as 2.80 million bpd for a price drop that has seen them to my market share? The price production. the ability to hold out”. data showed the US economy part of the month. fall by around 50 percent since will go up and the Russians, the The minister said Opec was Other nations would be grew at its fastest rate in 11 The southern oilfields produce June. Slower demand growth and Brazilians, US shale oil producers not surprised by the extent of the “harmed greatly before we feel years, supporting expectations of the bulk of Iraq’s oil and the ter- a stronger dollar have also con- will take my share.” price drop. “No, we knew the price any pain,” he added. greater demand for crude. minals are its main outlet to world tributed to the slump. Naimi added it is “unfair” would go down because there are Russia, whose estimated pro- Benchmark Brent oil was up markets. Located far from the Saudi Arabia has tradition- for the cartel to reduce output investors and speculators whose duction topped 10 million barrels $1.02 at $61.14 a barrel by 1745 parts of the country controlled ally acted to balance demand because it is not pumping most job it is to push it up or down a day this year, has seen its rou- GMT, after a session high at by Islamic State, they have kept and supply in the global oil of the world’s oil. to make money,” he told MEES. ble currency collapse since last $61.49. US crude rose $1.34 to pumping despite the unrest. market because it is the only “We produce less than 40 per- Naimi said that with their com- month’s Opec meeting, partly $56.60 a barrel after a session In addition, flows of Kirkuk country with substantial spare cent of global output. We are paratively low production costs of from the slumping global prices peak at $56.85. AFP crude out of the Turkish port of Ceyhan have returned in December, after Baghdad reached a deal with the Kurdistan Regional Government. Iraq’s State Oil Some Opec members see oil back above $70 by end-2015 Marketing Organisation, or SOMO, has been exporting about ABU DHABI: Arab Opec pro- the breakneck growth of high cost The comments are among the crude had been set aside, at least would be asked to cut,” the 180,000 bpd of Kirkuk so far in ducers expect global oil prices producers such as US shale patch first to indicate how big producers for the foreseeable future. source said. December, two industry sources to rebound to between $70 and slows and lower prices begin to see oil markets playing out next Saudi Arabia, the world’s big- The second Gulf Opec source said. The oil is being exported in a $80 a barrel by the end of next stimulate demand, oil prices could year, after the current slump that gest exporter — and its close Gulf reiterated that Opec would not Kurdish pipe to Ceyhan as an older year as a global economic recov- begin finding a new equilibrium has almost halved prices since allies within the Opec — say it’s cut alone. Non-Opec produc- line has been repeatedly attacked. ery revives demand, Opec dele- by the end of 2015 — even in the June. Global benchmark Brent time for others, whether that ers such as Russia, Mexico, “It is all going through the gates said this week in the first absence of any production cuts by closed at around $60 a barrel on is countries like major exporter Kazakhstan and “anyone produc- Kurdish line now,” said a trade indication of where the group Opec, something that has been Monday. Russia or US shale drillers, to ing more than one million barrels source with a company that buys expects oil markets to stabilise repeatedly ruled out. Their internal view on the mar- slow down; Opec can no longer per day” should also cut or at least Iraqi crude. “The old Kirkuk pipe- in the medium term. “ The general thinking is that ket outlook will provide welcome slash output, ceding market freeze their output if they wanted line is not usable.” The delegates, some of which prices can’t collapse, prices can insight to oil company executives, share, to spare them a downturn. a stable market and better prices, That brings pipeline exports of are from core Gulf Opec produc- touch $60 or a bit lower for some analysts and traders, who were Without Opec to defend prices, the Gulf Opec source said. Iraq’s main crudes to around 2.78 ing countries, said they may not months then come back to an caught out by what was seen by oil entered a free-fall, but most of Iraqi oil minister Adel Abdel million bpd — close to the 2.80 see — and some may not even wel- acceptable level which is $80 a some as a shift in Saudi policy two Opec’s members are holding fast. Mehdi said on Monday he thought million bpd record high posted in come now — a return to $100 any barrel, but probably after eight months ago and have struggled At this point, intervening in prices would stabilise now at February, just before flows from time soon. Once deemed a “fair” months to a year,” one Gulf oil since then to understand how and the market would simply invite about $60 a barrel but could rise Iraq’s Kirkuk fields along a pipeline price by many major producers, source said. A separate Gulf Opec when the market will find its feet. new rivals to carry on pumping to over $70 by mid-next year. running to Ceyhan were halted by $100 a barrel crude is encouraging source said: “We have to wait and For the past several months, crude, eroding Opec’s market “I believe that m arket has a bomb attack. Northern exports too much new production from see. We don’t see $100 for next Saudi officials have been mak- share without any guarantee of a started to stabilise itself now,” may be higher if crude produced high cost producers outside the year, unless there is a sudden sup- ing clear that the Kingdom’s sustained price recovery, another Falah al-Amiri, head of Iraq in the Kurdistan region and being exporting group, some sources ply disruption. But average of $70- oft-repeated mantra that $100 a Arab oil source said. state oil marketing SOMO said in shipped to Ceyhan is included, the say. But they believe that once 80 for next year – yes.” barrel crude is a “fair” price for “Every time prices fall, we Abu Dhabi. REUTERS sources said. REUTERS RasGas, KOGAS team up on CSR project for Korean city

DOHA: As part of its ongoing partnership with KOGAS to meet Kang said: “Today is a very sig- CSR programme, RasGas and the energy requirements of South nificant day, as this CSR cam- Korea-based KOGAS held a spe- Korea. On behalf of RasGas CEO paign marks the first collaboration cial event to mark the opening of Hamad Rashid Al Mohannadi, between public and private organ- the ‘Moonlight Children’s Park’ RasGas is very proud and hon- isations from two friendly coun- at Dong-gu District in Daegu oured to take such partnership tries, Qatar and Korea. I would Metropolitan City following the even further by jointly launching like to express a special thanks to completion of the renovation of this CSR campaign with KOGAS RasGas and KOGAS.” the park facilities. for the residents and children KOGAS Vice-President Kim According to a press state- of Daegu City, the new home of added: “This event should be ment issued yesterday by RasGas, KOGAS Headquarters offices,” regarded as important as this is the renovation of ‘Moonlight said Ali Khalaf Al Kaabi, RasGas’ the first collaboration CSR event Children’s Park’ included a relax- Marketing Manager (Long Term in Korea between KOGAS as a ation area for senior citizens, Sales) and LNG Marketing customer and RasGas as a sup- installing sports equipment for Committee Secretary. plier. KOGAS and RasGas will residents and upgrading the chil- Al Kaabi said: “This pioneer- try to find more meaningful CSR dren’s playground facilities. ing international CSR initiative events in Daegu city in the future.” As a global energy supplier, demonstrates RasGas’ commit- In addition to the renovation RasGas is committed to making a ment to positive and proactive of ‘Moonlight Children’s Park’ difference in the lives of the com- corporate citizenship, and our and part of this CSR campaign, munities where it lives and works, dedication to KOGAS, the people RasGas and KOGAS are also in Qatar and abroad, through of South Korea, and Daegu City supporting a children’s library at its ongoing Corporate Social community.” Kyung-bok University Hospital Officials with the children at the special event in Daegu in Korea. Responsibility (CSR) programmes. Mayor of Dong-gu District of and to support orphanages. “RasGas has a long standing Daegu Metropolitan City, Daesik THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS MPHC board Informal capital controls will discuss arrest rouble’s plunge dividends Rouble at highest level against dollar since December 8 on Jan 7 DOHA: Mesaieed MOSCOW: The rouble hit its Russians are no strangers to cur- operations. But then we reserve Petrochemical Holding highest levels in two weeks rency crises, having seen hyperin- the right not to help them if and Company (MPHC) yesterday yesterday, shored up by infor- flation destroy their savings after when they hit tough times,” said announced that the Board of mal capital control measures the collapse of the Soviet Union. one government source. He said Directors of the company will designed to head off a repeat of The rouble plunged to an all-time companies that needed to repay hold a meeting on January 7 to the inflation and protests that low in mid-December on the back large foreign debts could continue discuss the proposed dividend marked Russia’s 1998 financial of lower oil prices and sanctions, to accumulate hard currency. “If distribution for the financial crisis. The government set limits which make it almost impossible exporters are told not to increase year ended December 31, 2014, on net foreign exchange assets for Russian firms to borrow from their hard currency positions, according to a press statement. for state-owned exporters, while the West. it can be viewed as an unofficial The statement said that this officials and banking sources said Prime Minister Dmitry reintroduction of capital controls,” is in line with the keenness of the central bank had installed Medvedev said yesterday that said Vladimir Osakovskiy from MPHC, as a listed company on supervisors at the currency trad- Russia risks deep recession. Bank of America Merrill Lynch. the Qatar Exchange, to abide by ing desks of top state banks. Standard and Poor’s ratings agency Limiting money flows, once its obligations especially those Early in the day, the rouble said it was putting the country’s considered a damaging constraint related to the principles of trans- hit 52.88 to the dollar, its strong- credit outlook on creditwatch with on open markets, has been more parency and disclosure, and for est since December 8. It fell back negative implications, a warning of accepted in the aftermath of the the purposes of early disclosure later but was still was up 1.4 per- a possible downgrade. “The credit- 2008-2009 financial crisis as a in line with similar companies in cent at 55.34 at 1810 GMT. Before watch placement stems from what tool sometimes needed to manage the region, and to serve the share- the recent rebound, the rouble fell we view as a rapid deterioration financial stability. holders of the Company, and with as low as 80 per dollar last week, of Russia’s monetary flexibility But in Russia, the issue has the liquidity available to the group from the average of 30-35 seen in and the impact of the weakening political resonance. Capital move- companies. 2014’s first half. economy on its financial system,” ments were liberalised only 10 Full disclosure of the finan- Economists said the measures the agency said. years ago and restrictions bring cial statements of the financial were effectively a softer version of Former Finance Minister Alexei back memories of the chaotic period will be provided as soon capital controls, but that President Kudrin warned on Monday that post-Soviet financial turbulence as the financials have been con- Vladimir Putin, who has drawn Russia is likely to be downgraded which Putin, now in his 15th year solidated and the audit process is much of his popularity from finan- to ‘junk’ territory next year. as Russia’s leader, made it his mis- completed. THE PENINSULA cial stability and rising prosperity, The Russian government told sion to banish. would keep his pledge not to resort large state exporting companies Full capital controls “would be a to full-fledged controls. “They have that by March 1 they must bring huge immediate blow to the econ- already forced government export- their net foreign exchange assets omy”, Mikhail Zadornov, chairman GIS board ers to sell their dollars, and same back to the levels of October 1 of the board of VTB-24 bank, told will happen for banks I guess, so in and report to the central bank the newspaper Vedomosti. “It would A woman walks past a currency exchange board in central Minsk yesterday. meet on Jan 7 a sense, capital controls are already on a weekly basis. “Of course, the intensify capital outflows and cause Belarus blocked online stores and news websites, in an apparent attempt to in place,” said Sergei Guriev, an companies are free to hold on to a complete loss of confidence in the stop a run on banks and shops as people rushed to secure their savings. The dividend payout exiled economist who fled Russia the hard currency, they are also country among both domestic and Belarussian currency was dragged down by the slide of rouble last week. after criticising the Kremlin. free to get involved in speculative foreign investors.” REUTERS DOHA: Gulf International Services Company yesterday announced that its board of directors will held a meeting on January 7, 2015 (Wednesday) to discuss the proposed dividend Gulf markets’ rebound stalls; QE index down 1.91pc distribution for the financial year ended December 31, 2014, DOHA: Most Gulf stock mar- closing of 12,421.22. Among the the government using its huge fis- second- or third-tier stocks such 1.1 percent after a strong rise in according to a press statement. kets fel l ye s t erday, end i ng a ra l ly top losers were Qatar National cal reserves to cover a deficit. as insurers, with Solidarity climb- early trade, and the biggest devel- This is in line with the keen- of several days, after the Brent Bank whose share dropped 4.17 The main Saudi stock index ing 6.5 percent. oper Emaar tumbling 5.9 percent. ness of the group as s listed com- oil price pulled back to near $60 percent to QR207, Islamic Holding closed flat at 8,547 points after Saudi Telecom rose 1.5 per- Abu Dhabi’s market, usually pany on the Qatar Exchange, to a barrel, dampening sentiment lost 10 percent to QR108.90, Gulf rising 17 percent over the four cent after saying it would book a much less volatile than Dubai’s, abide by its obligations especially among retail investors. International fell 6.24 percent to previous trading days. Trading SR621m gain in the fourth quar- edged down 0.2 percent. those related to the principles of The bourses have been closely QR90.10 and Vodafone Qatar was volume fell back to a moderate ter of this year due to expropria- Kuwait edged up 0.02 percent transparency and disclosure, and correlated to oil over the last sev- down 3.13 percent to QR15.50. level. tion of some of its land holdings as recently listed telecommunica- for the purposes of early disclo- eral months because of concern Elsewhere, major spending The index has still not turned by the government — though it tions firm Viva Kuwait rose 1.9 sure in line with similar compa- that lower oil export revenues cuts look unlikely in big econo- technically bullish despite its added that it thought the amount percent and Abyaar Real Estate nies in the region, and to serve could cause Gulf governments to mies such as Saudi Arabia. The rebound; it faces technical of compensation was too small, Development gained 2.9 percent. the shareholders of the Company, cut back spending, particularly kingdom’s Al-Madina newspa- resistance around 8,700 points, and it would appeal for more Egypt edged up 0.1 percent as and with the liquidity available to in the countries with relatively per, quoting unnamed sources, where its downtrend line from money. Global Telecom surged 4.1 percent the group companies. weak state finances, Bahrain and reported that the 2015 Saudi September now comes in. Dubai’s index fell 3.4 percent to 3.59 Egyptian pounds, trigger- Full disclosure of the financial Oman. budget — set to be announced The most heavily traded stock, after bouncing 27 percent over ing a bullish right triangle formed statements will be provided as Qatar Exchange index down this week — was expected to rise real estate developer Dar Al the three previous trading days. by the highs and lows of the past soon as the financials have been 237.70 points, or 1.91 percent, to marginally from the 2014 plan to Arkan, ended flat at SR8.85. Much Trade focused on real estate week and pointing up to about 4 consolidated and the audit process 12,183.52 points from the previous a record SR860bn ($229bn), with trade focused on beaten-down developers, with Deyaar dropping pounds. QNA/REUTERS is completed. THE PENINSULA Bank dealmakers set for bonus UK households drive economy cheer, bond traders not so much

LONDON: Investment bankers work- already signalled a likely cut in payouts. “I ing on corporate takeovers and share don’t think it will be as controversial,” he issues can expect good news on bonuses said this week. when they return from the holidays after Banks contacted by Reuters over their a buoyant year, but bond and currency bonus plans have declined to comment traders face lower payouts. before they are finalised in full-year results. Investment banks will finalise bonuses Bankers’ bonuses remain a lightning rod over the next two months and early signs for industry critics and politicians who say are that average payouts will be relatively not enough has been done to bring down flat or slightly higher across most banks, high pay that encouraged the risk-taking although totals could drop at banks that that contributed to the financial crisis. have cut staff. Many shareholders, too, say pay needs to “We’re seeing bonus pools on average come down to help get returns back above up by between 5 and 10 percent on 2013 the cost of capital. numbers, but that’s massively differenti- US bank JPMorgan paid managing direc- ated across different businesses,” said Giles tors on trading desks in London 3461,000 Orringe, a London-based partner at execu- ($715,000) on average in 2013, according tive search firm Heidrick & Struggles. to Emolument, a website that benchmarks At the upper end of the range, merger salaries. Emolument said bonuses averaged and acquisitions dealmakers and those more than £200,000 at Deutsche Bank, UBS, advising on debt and equity issues should JPMorgan and Credit Suisse investment see bonuses up 5-10 percent on average, banks last year. industry sources said. Bonuses for 2014 are expected to broadly Taking a more bullish line, Greg Bezant, reflect performance across business lines director at recruitment firm Phaidon and the mixed fortunes for dealmakers International in Zurich, predicted bonuses and traders in London are expected to be could be up 20-25 percent in some areas and repeated on Wall Street. merger and acquisitions and private equity Revenues derived from takeover advice units should fare well. and share and debt offers are up 7 per- Traders in fixed income, commodities and cent this year to their highest level since currencies are likely to see bonuses drop 2007, thanks to a deal-making frenzy in the by up to 10 percent, however, after another healthcare, telecoms and consumer sectors bruising year. and a revival in share offerings, according Several banks are also expected to cut to a data. JPMorgan and other US banks payouts in areas where they have been made the most from fees. fined heavily for misconduct. Six banks Those advisory revenues only make up were fined a record $4.3bn for attempted about one-third of investment bank rev- foreign exchange market rigging and there enues, however. Overall revenues are likely have also been fines for manipulating inter- to be down 4 percent on the year at $257 est rates and commodities prices and other billion, led by a 12 percent drop in fixed misdemeanours. income, commodities and currencies, and a Several banks are under more pressure 3 percent dip in equities, consultancy firm than others to cut costs hard, which could Coalition estimated. A shopper passes a man dressed as Santa Claus, in the run-up to see European banks being more restrained That could mean some bankers’ expecta- Christmas, in central London yesterday. Britain’s economy relied more than US rivals, industry sources said. tions are too high. A survey by recruitment heavily on spending by households for growth in the third quarter Barclays angered investors last year by firm Astbury Marsden said senior London despite a fall in take-home incomes, underscoring the challenges of increasing bonuses despite a drop in profits, finance sector staff expect bonuses to jump getting the recovery onto a sounder footing. and its Chief Executive Antony Jenkins has 21 percent this year. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 US third quarter growth highest in 11 years November consumer spending rises Gold pares

WASHINGTON: The US econ- in November after declining 1.9 omy grew at its quickest pace percent in October. The continued early gains, in 11 years in the third quar- weakness in the so-called capi- ter, the strongest sign yet that tal goods orders is at odds with growth has decisively shifted industrial production data, which vulnerable to into higher gear. has shown strong momentum in The economy appears to have the manufacturing sector. further losses sustained some of the momentum In a third report, the in the fourth quarter. Other data Commerce Department said con- showed consumer spending rose sumer spending, which accounts LONDON: Gold edged up yes- solidly in November, which could for more than two-thirds of US terday, but pared earlier gains offset an unexpected weakness in economic activity, rose 0.6 per- after strong US GDP data lifted durable goods orders. “After four cent in November after gaining the dollar and was looking vul- years of rocky recovery the US 0.3 percent in October. nerable to further losses as economy is now hitting its stride A rapidly strengthening labour appetite for risk continued to ... and growth should remain good market and lower gasoline prices boost equities. next year, with lower gasoline are boosting consumer spending, “It is still a dollar story that prices a big plus for consumers,” which should help to cushion the moves the market, good US eco- said Gus Faucher, a senior econo- economy from slowing growth in nomic data... and that’s likely mist at PNC Financial Services in China and the eurozone, as well to persist in the new year,” Pittsburgh. as a recession in Japan. ActivTrades senior analyst Carlo The Commerce Department That should provide the econ- Alberto de Casa said. “The first revised up its gross domestic omy with sufficient momentum area of support stands at $1,175 an product growth estimate to a in 2015 and keep the Federal ounce, while a break through that 5.0 percent annual pace, citing Reserve on course to start rais- level would see a test of this year’s stronger consumer and busi- ing interest rates by the middle lows between $1,130 and $1,140.” ness spending than it had previ- of next year. Caterpillar CEO Douglas Oberhelman (centre) rings the opening bell to start the trading day at the New York Stock Spot gold was up 0.3 percent to ously assumed. It was the fastest Underscoring the economy’s Exchange in New York. $1,178.90 an ounce by 1543 GMT. growth pace since the third quar- firming fundamentals, growth in It had tumbled nearly 2 percent ter of 2003. The economy was pre- domestic demand was revised up on Monday, dropping to its low- viously reported to have expanded to a 4.1 percent pace in the third est since December 1 at $1,170.17. at a 3.9 percent rate. quarter instead of the previously US gold futures for delivery in GDP growth has now been reported 3.2 percent pace. It was Dow tops 18,000 for first time, February were down 0.1 percent revised up by a total of 1.5 per- the fastest pace since the second at $1,178.70 an ounce. centage points since the first esti- quarter of 2010. Liquidity was thin due to the mate was published in October. In the GDP report, consumer upcoming Christmas holiday, Big revisions are not unusual as spending grew at a 3.2 percent S&P hits new record after GDP while Japanese markets were the government does not have pace, the fastest since the fourth closed for a public holiday. Wall full information when it makes quarter of 2013, instead of the NEW YORK: US stocks Orange County, California. “You average .DJI rose 82.17 points, or Street closed at historic highs, its initial estimates. The economy previously reported 2.2 percent advanced yesterday, as the Dow are going to see the consumer 0.46 percent, to 18,041.61, the S&P boosting global equities and damp- expanded at a 4.6 percent rate rate. Growth in business invest- climbed above the 18,000 mark spending number continue to inch 500 .SPX gained 3.75 points, or ening demand for assets perceived in the second quarter, meaning ment was raised to an 8.9 percent for the first time in history and up and get better and better as 0.18 percent, to 2,082.29 and the as safer. The dollar rose 0.3 per- it has now experienced the two pace from a 7.1 percent rate, with the S&P 500 set a new intra- we continue on in this expansion.” Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped cent versus a basket of currencies, strongest back-to-back quarters a stronger pace of spending than day record after an unexpect- Major Wall Street indexes have 13.27 points, or 0.28 percent, to but still holding close to a nine- of growth since 2003. previously thought on equipment, edly strong report on economic risen for four straight sessions, 4,768.16. year peak. A weaker greenback Economists polled had expected intellectual property products growth. pushing the benchmark S&P Advancing issues outnumbered makes dollar-denominated gold growth would be raised to a 4.3 and nonresidential structures The gains pushed the Dow as index .SPX to its 50th record high declining ones on the NYSE by cheaper for holders of other cur- percent pace in the third quarter. accounting for the revision. high as 18,051.14, and the index is of the year. The S&P has risen 1,968 to 980, for a 2.01-to-1 ratio rencies. “Positioning still seems But the pace of growth likely Inventories were also revised now up about 175 percent from a 5.4 percent over that period, its on the upside; on the Nasdaq, to be light in gold so we expect slowed in the fourth quarter. higher, with restocking now being 12-year low hit on March 9, 2009. best 4-day run since July 2010. 1,366 issues rose and 1,198 fell for a the market to remain contained In a second report, the neutral to GDP growth instead “What was most interesting The rally comes on the heels of a 1.14-to-1 ratio favoring advancers. during the holiday period, but big Commerce Department said of being a mild drag. That also about that is if you dig in the selloff sparked by a slump in oil The benchmark S&P 500 index swings in other markets such as non-defence capital goods orders helped to offset downward revi- details the primary surprise came prices that saw the index drop posted 100 new 52-week highs and the dollar and crude will exacer- excluding aircraft, a closely sions to export growth. But inven- from consumption,” said Scott nearly 5 percent from its prior 5 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite bate moves due to the light liquid- watched proxy for business tories could undercut output in Keifer, global investment special- record high set on December 5. was recorded 141 new highs and ity,” said MKS Group in a note. spending plans, was unchanged the fourth quarter. REUTERS ist at JP Morgan Private Bank in The Dow Jones industrial 27 new lows. REUTERS REUTERS

Argentina loses Telstra buys Pacnet for $697m UltraTech to buy Jaiprakash

US appeal SYDNEY: Cashed-up be completed by mid-2015. Telstra network, more submarine cables Australian telecoms giant chief executive David Thodey said and major customers across the cement plants for $852m over creditors’ Telstra said yesterday it has the move was part of his compa- region. “The enterprise services MUMBAI: India’s UltraTech Cement has agreed to buy two agreed to buy Pacnet, Asia’s ny’s strategy to expand its busi- market is evolving rapidly and cement plants from Jaiprakash Associates for Rs54bn ($852m) biggest private owner of sub- ness beyond Australia. Pacnet will strengthen our net- including debt, the companies said. subpoenas marine communication cables, “Asia is an important part of works, data centres and subma- Both the plants are in Madhya Pradesh. The acquisition will cre- for $697m in one of its largest our growth strategy. We believe rine network as well as boosting ate significant synergies for UltraTech, the country’s leading cement NEW YORK: A US appeals acquisitions to date. this acquisition will help us our service offerings and people maker, it said in a statement. It will initially raise UltraTech’s court yesterday rejected Pacnet, headquartered in become a leading provider of capabilities,” said Thodey. cement capacity in India to 65 million tonnes per year from 60 mil- Argentina’s bid to reverse a Singapore and Hong Kong, also enterprise services to multina- “For Australian businesses, lion tonnes, with this figure expected to rise to 71 million tonnes decision requiring the country offers data centre services to car- tional companies and carriers in businesses across Asia and a year by 2016, the company added. Jaiprakash has been selling and various banks to provide riers, governments and multina- the region,” he said. importantly companies looking assets in recent quarters to cut its heavy debt load and improve its holdout creditors with informa- tionals across the Asia-Pacific. Pacnet gives Telstra ownership to expand and grow in Asia, the balance sheet. It said that — including the latest deal — it had sold tion about the country’s assets, The acquisition, which includes of an extensive range of services combined entity will provide pow- assets worth more than Rs200bn and that it would now shift focus including military equipment Pacnet’s interests in its China including software-defined net- erful new options for networks to making operational savings. REUTERS and diplomatic property. joint venture PBS, is expected to working, an expanded data centre and services.” AFP The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in New York affirmed the 2013 ruling, which ordered the banks and Argentina to comply with subpoenas and information requests served by bondholders suing for full payment of debts US businesses line up to tap Cuba trade potential after Argentina’s $100bn default in 2002. The holdouts are credi- MIAMI: US businesses are lin- assist as the Cuban people work to seismic policy shift. tors that declined to accept the ing up to take advantage of the unleash the power of free enter- There has been a “dramatic Cuba expects stronger growth in 2015 terms of 2005 and 2010 Argentina enormous investment potential prise to improve their lives,” he change in the tone of the con- Cuba said its economy will grow 4 percent in 2015, apparently banking on debt restructurings, in which it of Cuba, all but untouched for said in a statement. versation,” said Pedro Freyre, a improved diplomatic and economic relations with the United States to pull it out swapped about 92 percent of its more than half-a-century by The Small Business Cuban American attorney with of years of stagnation. bonds for new obligations. American capitalism. Administration, another interest the international division of the While the court upheld US Last week, President Barack group, was equally upbeat about Akerman law firm. GDP Consumer price index Unemployment rate District Judge Thomas Griesa’s Obama announced a break- the investment prospects. “The One of the areas poised for the Constant prices percent Percent, year-on-year Percent of economically change, year-on year active population ruling, the three-judge panel through in US relations with best way to ensure opportunity most dramatic growth is tourism. 5 3 4 3.3% stressed “that Argentina — like Cuba, reviving diplomatic ties and and democracy in Cuba is by Even with the embargo, there 4% all foreign sovereigns — is entitled making some commercial trans- empowering the Cuban people — are already more than 90,000 US (forecast) 4 0.3% to a degree of grace and comity.” actions easier. rather than denying them access citizens who travel to Cuba each 2 3 Saying those concerns were of No sooner was the historic to resources,” said SBA President year. That number is expected to 3 “particular weight” when it came announcement made, than the Maria Contreras-Sweet. grow once the Obama adminis- 1 2 to a country’s diplomatic and sover- American business community “At the same time, American tration eases restrictions on how 2 eign affairs, the 2nd Circuit urged began assessing Cuba’s untapped businesses, small and large, stand much they can spend and on the 0 1 1 Griesa to prioritise the production markets. Emilio Morales, presi- to gain access to an important Cuban products they can bring 1.3% of documents “unlikely to prove dent of the Miami-based Havana new market for goods and services home. (projection) 0 invasive of sovereign dignity”. Consulting Group, described only 90 miles from our shores.” In the past few years, President -1 0 Neither a US lawyer for a “tsunami” of interest among America’s farm states are Raul Castro already has put some 20082015 2008 2013 2008 2013 Argentina nor a representative investors, particularly in Florida, particularly keen to sell corn, reforms in place, allowing private Imports of goods Exports of goods for a lead hold bondholder, Elliott just 144km from the island. wheat, soy and other crops to restaurateurs, beauticians and Billions of euro Billions of euro Management’s NML Capital No-one, he said, wants to miss Cuba, which has to import much other small business people to Ltd, responded to requests for out on such a market, fuelled by of its food. And there also has open up their own shops. 9.5 2013 2013 comment. decades of pent-up demand. been interest from US technol- He also has relaxed some 9.3 breakdown breakdown (percentage) (percentage) Argentina defaulted in July of “There are a lot of people in the ogy firms in Silicon Valley in a restrictions on travel outside the 8.3 this year after refusing to honor US business community who are market that is decades behinds country and granted permission 7.4 Venezuela 37.1 EU ...... 26.7 orders barring it from paying in panic,” said Morales, who said the United States with respect to for Cubans to to sell real estate 5.9 EU ...... 20.7 Canada . . 16.0 holders of its restructured bonds that since last week, his phone its high-tech infrastructure. and cars for the first time in China . . . . 12.1 without also paying $1.33bn plus has been ringing off the hook. Morales said, however, that it nearly 50 years. China . . . . 15.1 interest to holdout creditors The president of the US may take many months before But the creation of Cuba’s Brazil . . . . . 4.7 Venezuela 14.1 2.5 2.4 2.3 including NML. Chamber of Commerce, Thomas investors get to make good on that nascent free market is nothing Canada . . . 4.0 1.6 1.9 Guyana . . . 3.4 Argentina’s latest default came Donahue, representing business dream of increased trade, because to the growth anticipated once Others . . . 21.4 after it refused to obey Griesa’s groups and companies, also spoke of legislative hurdles in the United the embargo is dismantled. “The Others . . . . 24.7 order on paying the holdouts. of a barely-contained enthusiasm States. Experts point to an altered market will grow,” said Morales, 20092013 2009 2013 Griesa held Argentina in con- to invest in Cuba. “The chamber business climate in just the few adding: “The process is going to tempt in September. REUTERS and its members stand ready to days since Obama announced the take a while.” AFP Sources: National Statistical Office of Cuba; European Union; Reuters WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Wanda makes trading Tycoon set France waves to build discreet goodbye debut in Hong Kong more billions with offering to 75pc super-tax Chinese shopping mall developer raises $3.7bn BEIJING: Wang Jianlin rose from local bureaucrat PARIS: When President A first version of the tax HONG KONG: Chinese shop- to China’s richest man by Francois Hollande unveiled a payable by the earners them- ping mall developer Dalian transforming a debt-laden “super-tax” on the rich in 2012, selves was thrown out by the Wanda made its trading debut state-owned house builder some feared an exodus of busi- Constitutional Court as punitive. in Hong Kong after raising into the sprawling Wanda ness, sporting and artistic tal- A final version obliged companies $3.7bn in an initial public offer- Group, and the flotation of ent. One adviser warned it was to pay the levy instead. ing that broke records despite one of its subsidiaries yester- a Socialist step too far that French soccer clubs briefly concerns about China’s cooling day may propel him back up would turn France into “Cuba threatened to go on strike, and property market. a rich list now dominated by without sun”. actor Gerard Depardieu took up But shares in the Beijing-based Internet moguls. Two years on, with the tax Russian residency in a one-man company were down at HK$44.65 Wang has penchants for due to expire at the end of this protest against the French tax ($5.76) by the afternoon, almost karaoke and collecting, and month, the mass emigration has burden, among the highest in the seven percent less than its HK$48 has an impressive selection not happened. world. Others were making more offering price, following the big- of fine art, property projects But the damage to France’s discreet arrangements. gest IPO in the world by a real in top markets around the appeal as a home for top earners “A few went abroad — to estate firm. Owned by the prop- world, and an ever-expanding has been great, and the pickings Luxembourg, the UK,” said tax erty arm of Dalian Wanda Group portfolio of companies includ- from the levy paltry. lawyer Jean-Philippe Delsol, and controlled by Chinese billion- ing cinema chain AMC and “The reform clearly damaged author on a book on tax exiles aire Wang Jianlin, the company is yachtbuilder Sunseeker. France’s reputation and compet- called “Why I Am Going To one of the world’s largest devel- He topped the Forbes China itiveness,” said Jorg Stegemann, Leave France”. opers of shopping malls, owning Rich List in 2013 with an esti- head of Kennedy Executive, an “But in most cases, it was dis- dozens across China. “Today is a mated net worth of $14.1bn, executive search firm based in cussed with their company and historic day for Wanda and also but was displaced this year by France and Germany. agreed to limit salaries during an important milestone for the charismatic Internet entre- “It clearly has become harder the two years and come to an business development of Wanda,” preneur Jack Ma after he to attract international senior arrangement afterwards,” he said Wang before striking the floated his e-commerce pow- managers to come to France told Reuters by telephone. gong at the Hong Kong exchange erhouse Alibaba Group in the than it was,” he added. Hollande and his government to mark the listing. world’s biggest ever IPO. Ma’s Hollande first floated the have since sought to relieve busi- The listing comes after China fortune is now estimated at 75-percent super-tax on earn- ness of around €40bn of taxes cut interest rates in November nearly $20bn. Wang dropped ings over €1m ($1.2m) a year and other charges, as unemploy- to spur the mainland property to number four, though his in his 2012 campaign to oust ment at over 10 percent drives market, which remains under ranking could rebound after his conservative rival Nicolas home the urgent need to attract pressure from a hefty inventory Dalian Wanda Commercial Sarkozy. It fired up left-wing investment to the sickly French of unsold newly-built homes. Properties, the flagship subsid- voters and helped him unseat economy. House prices fell on a monthly iary of Wang’s Wanda Group, the incumbent. It was no accident that Prime basis for the seventh straight raised $3.7bn in an IPO ear- Yet ever since, it has been a Minister Manuel Valls — along- month in November, according lier this month by selling a 13.4 thorn in his side, helping little side Macron the main reformer to the independent China Index percent stake. in France’s effort to bring its in Hollande’s cabinet — chose Academy. Wanda slashed its IPO Dalian Wanda Commercial Properties CEO Wang Jianlin opens trading The IPO valued the firm at public deficit within European a visit to London in October to fundraising target by about a $28bn and Wanda Group’s 44 Union limits and mixing the confirm that the super tax would during the company’s IPO at the Hong Kong stock exchange yesterday. third from the original goal, possi- percent post-flotation share of message just as Hollande sought not be renewed: his British coun- bly to attract investors concerned the subsidiary at $12.5bn. to promote a more pro-business terpart David Cameron famously by the slowing real estate market. The Wanda Group bought investors through Hong Kong’s Wang himself owns more image. The adviser who made offered to “roll out the red car- Analysts also pointed to the US cinema chain AMC bourse. The city’s stock exchange than 98 percent of Wanda the “Cuba” gag was Emmanuel pet” to French tax exiles. company’s high debt levels. Entertainment Holdings two has now climbed to second in the Group, with the remaining Macron, the ex-banker who is But Delsol said the saga had Dalian Wanda Commercial years ago and has also branched world in terms of IPO fund rais- sliver held by his only son, now his economy minister. made his clients more nervous Properties says it is the second- out into film production, theme ing activities, according to Dow Wang Sicong. Wang and his The finance ministry esti- about investing their time and largest commercial property parks, print media and art Jones Newswires. wife together own around mates the proceeds from the money in France and had only owner and operator in the world, investment. Shares in China General another 10 percent of Wanda tax amounted to €260m in its added to mistrust of a complex with 175 property projects across Wang has said he wants the Nuclear Power (CGN), the Commercial. The parent con- first year and €160m in the tax system which successive gov- China, including 71 Wanda Plazas, company to rival world leading nation’s largest nuclear power glomerate, which has interests second. That’s broadly in line ernments have failed to reform. each made up of a combination of brands like Google, IBM and producer, surged almost 20 per- in hotels, entertainment and with expectations, but tiny com- “People have lost confidence,” shopping centres, luxury hotels, Walmart. His firm is the latest cent on their debut last week retail, last year saw $2.06bn in pared with a budget deficit which he said. “That is not something and office and residential towers, in a string of Chinese compa- after it raised more than US$3 profits. AFP had reached €84.7bn by the end you can restore overnight.” according to the bourse filing. nies tapping in to international billion in its IPO. AFP of October. REUTERS

Family Dollar US-Israeli gas field control nixed over monopoly fears adjourns JERUSALEM: Israel’s said in a statement. The authority Leviathan on condition they sell essential infrastructure in Israel” ratings, calling himself a “victim” Antitrust Authority yesterday said it would consider defining the two smaller offshore gas fields to being held “by one private body,” in an interview on military radio. meeting on moved to scrap a deal that gave two firms’ Leviathan partnership enable competition, which was and called to “rethink” the regu- Israel’s offshore gas findings US giant Noble Energy and as a “cartel”. to have been submitted to court lation of the field. have shifted it from costly and Israeli partner Delek control The size of the Leviathan field within two weeks. But it eventu- Noble Energy slammed the unreliable imports to a growing Dollar Tree deal over the Leviathan offshore gas is estimated at 18.9 trillion cubic ally went back on its decision. antitrust authority’s move, warn- self-sufficiency and the potential field, citing monopoly concerns. feet of natural gas, along with “The authority received sig- ing it would cast “a shadow over to become an energy exporter, NEW YORK: Family Dollar The decision, pending a con- 34.1 million barrels of condensate, nificant indications the agree- the future of the gas and crude oil recently advancing agreements to Inc adjourned a special meet- firmation hearing, effectively making it the largest gas deposit ment would not create a solution industry in Israel”. export gas to neighbours Jordan ing of shareholders to vote on dismantles the monopoly held by found in the world in a decade. to the problem of competition,” Ahead of the announcement, and Egypt. the company’s potential acqui- Noble and Delek over Leviathan Noble and Delek also control the statement said. Deputy Bini Zomer, director of Noble’s The Jewish state had relied on sition by smaller rival Dollar and Israel’s smaller offshore gas the Tamar field, which holds 250 attorney general Avi Licht had local branch, warned any such Egypt for roughly 40 percent of Tree Inc to January 22 from findings. bcm of natural gas, and lies 80km recently called upon director move would “affect the future its gas needs, but in April 2012 yesterday. “The entry of Delek and Noble west of the northern Israeli port generals of the government min- of Noble Energy investments” in Egypt annulled the contract fol- Family Dollar, the second larg- into Leviathan created a situa- city of Haifa. istries to “rethink” the gas fields Israel. lowing a spate of bomb attacks est US discount retailer, said it tion in which these groups con- The authority had initially pro- arrangement. And Yitzhak Tshuva, owner of that targeted the pipeline used adjourned the meeting as there trol all the gas reserves off Israel’s posed an agreement under which In a letter sent last week Licht Delek, warned the move would to transport natural gas to Israel were not enough votes to adopt coasts,” the Antitrust Authority Noble and Delek would enter warned of the situation of “an lead to a drop of Israel’s credit and Jordan. AFP the Dollar Tree agreement. The company had earlier postponed the meeting from December 11 to yesterday. Family Protest against new tax law Dollar agreed to be acquired by Dollar Tree for $8.5bn in cash and stock after twice rejecting TGI Fridays sells UK higher all-cash bids from bigger rival Dollar General Corp, citing antitrust concerns. franchise to Electra Dollar General took its $9.1bn offer directly to Family Dollar’s shareholders in September. LONDON: TGI Fridays, the £410m on behalf of Electra Private Dollar General and Dollar casual dining restaurant chain Equity this year. Tree did not immediately com- known for its retro American- Cinven’s dismantling of its ment on the adjournment. themed setting, has sold its UK Gondola Group has put brands Proxy advisory firm franchise business to Electra including Italian chains Prezzo Institutional Shareholder Partners in the latest private and Pizza Express on the market, Services (ISS) said this month equity buyout in Britain’s eating- the latter being snapped up by that Family Dollar’s sharehold- out market. China’s Hony Capital in a record ers should oppose the Dollar Electra said it has injected $155m £900m deal in June. In its final Tree takeover offer and post- of equity alongside TGI Friday’s UK move to exit Gondola, Cinven sold pone the meeting to vote on the managing director Karen Forrester ASK Italian and Zizzi restaurants deal. and other executives. Britain’s high- to London-based private equity Delaying a decision may result street restaurant chains have long firm Bridgepoint for £250m on in a higher offer from either been on the radar screen of yield- December 1. Dollar Tree or Dollar General, hungry private equity investors British celebrity chef Jamie ISS said in a note on December with several sector deals coming Oliver, who has campaigned to 11. to fruition in 2014. Dallas-based improve standards of school can- ISS declined to comment on TGI Fridays was itself sold to teen food, could become the lat- the latest adjournment. investment firms Sentinel Capital est food entrepreneur to finance Family Dollar’s shares were Partners and TriArtisan Capital growth with private equity help. little changed on $79.39 in late Partners earlier this year. It oper- TGI Fridays, which celebrates morning trading on the New ates 66 venues in Britain, some of the weekend with its name stand- York Stock Exchange, while which are located in shopping cen- ing for “Thank Goodness it’s Dollar General’s shares were up tres and leisure parks. Electra’s Friday”, is looking to cut operat- 1 percent at $69.45. Chief Investment Partner Alex ing costs worldwide. Its previous People demonstrate against a planned tax law in Skopje, Macedonia, yesterday. The tax law, which is to be Dollar Tree’s shares were up 1 Fortescue called the British fran- owner, US leisure chain Carlson, implemented on January 1, 2015, stipulates an increase from the current rate of 10 percent to 35 percent percent at $69.83 on the Nasdaq. chise a “promising opportunity”. He cashed out in May after 39 years. for freelance and part-time workers. REUTERS said Electra Partners has invested REUTERS WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

Risks from oil’s decline Deflation isn’t what’s may exceed benefits BY A GARY SHILLING

hen the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries holding eurozone back failed to cut production quotas last month, the initial investor reaction was: Hallelujah! Lots more savings for Wenergy buyers! Blowout Christmas spending by consum- BY LEONID BERSHIDSKY countries — Belgium, Bulgaria, poor people, may not be as allow stores to open on Sundays. ers! The celebrations may have been premature. Greece, France, Hungary, rational as economics suggests: In France, there’s the famous True, the $1 decline in US gasoline prices since April is the equiva- s the European the Netherlands, Poland and When they can afford more stuff, 35-hour workweek. In Italy, Prime lent of a 1 percent rise in consumer spending power. Of course, some Central Bank gets Romania experienced deflation they may just buy it without giv- Minister Matteo Renzi is only now of that may be saved and not spent, at least initially. And in countries ready for quantita- — that is, the harmonized con- ing much thought to next month’s pushing through legislation that with fixed fuel taxes, including China, the economic effect will be tive easing, over- sumer price index in these coun- consumer price index. The other would make it possible to fire greater. At the same time, US auto makers may benefit from increased riding German tries was lower in September prediction is that companies workers who have open-ended sales of low-mileage SUVs and light trucks, which are highly profit- Aarguments that buying govern- than it was in March. Denmark will invest less when prices are contracts. In Spain, which has able. Net energy importers, including Japan, South Korea and other ment debt creates moral hazard showed exactly zero change in going down, because they make succeeded in driving down labour East Asian countries, also benefit from lower energy prices. China in debt-laden countries, it is prices. Yet, of these countries, less money or expect their prof- costs since the 2011 debt crisis, imports 60 percent of the 9.6 million barrels of oil it uses each day. reacting to the threat of defla- only Greece showed negative its to fall. That hasn’t been true workers are still automatically Other energy importers helped by lower prices include India, Turkey tion. Yet slow-growing prices growth over the same period. for Europe in mid-2014, either. entitled to 30 days annual vaca- and Western Europe. Pakistan, Egypt, India and other countries that aren’t at the heart of what ails Indeed, according to Eurostat’s Eurostat data show fixed capital tion plus 12 paid public holidays — subsidise energy costs will be able to reduce those expenses. Some of the euro area, and QE won’t fix GDP data, the average growth formation increased in all the more than a typical US employee the benefit, though, is offset because the euro and other currencies the deeper problems that are. rate in these countries (minus deflation countries except France, gets after 20 years of loyal service. are weak and oil is priced in more expensive US dollars. It’s easy to see why so many Romania, for which the European and that stands to reason: if con- East European countries, But the list of oil losers may overpower the winners. Almost immedi- economists are concerned about statistics agency has no raw GDP sumer spending has been increas- forced to take the dive after the ately, energy companies started to cut capital spending, which equaled deflation in Europe. According numbers) over the two quarters ing, there’s no need for firms to fall of communism, now have 0.9 percent of US gross domestic product in 2013, the largest share to a recent report from Bruegel, was higher than for the euro area cut their investment plans. some of Europe’s highest growth since the early 1980s. An index of oil-field service companies is down the Brussels-based think tank, 30 as a whole: 1.3 percent compared Perhaps the effects Krugman rates. Latvia, Lithuania and about 40 percent from its peak. percent of the eurozone’s inflation with 0.5 percent. described are going to manifest Estonia have business environ- General Electric has acquired more than $14bn in oil and gas busi- basket is now in negative territory, Economists say deflation is themselves yet. But even if the ments closer to the US model nesses since 2007, and three months ago said its “base case assump- and that number doesn’t even take dangerous, because when prices ECB floods the euro area with cash than to the European one, and tion” included Brent crude oil at around $100 a barrel. CEO Jeffrey into account the recent steep drop begin to fall, consumers delay to boost demand, any growth cre- have all been growing faster than Immelt admitted that, with oil around $60, profits could be lower next in oil prices. All of this has led purchases and stop borrowing. ated won’t be sustained for long. the EU average this year. year. Also harmed are oil-sands producers in Canada, where a lack of to comparisons with Japan, and Paul Krugman provided the That’s because a relatively tight That’s no way to fix the real transportation had pushed prices to $48 a barrel by late November, warnings that Europe may also be classic popular explanation a few monetary policy is not the reason problem: If Europe wants more well below all-in production costs of about $85. Canadian Oil Sands, the in for a “lost decade.” years ago. But that’s not how all European countries have been growth, it needs to emulate US largest owner of the giant Syncrude oil sands joint venture, plans to cut What evidence we have, how- things appear to work in real life, underperforming the US. entrepreneurial ruthlessness, not its dividend by almost half. Also vulnerable are highly leveraged North ever, suggests there’s no clear at least not in Europe right now. Europe’s biggest economies are its monetary gimmicks. If, how- American oil and gas producers. The 10 worst-performing energy link in Europe right now between In the EU countries that expe- weighed down by bloated social ever, Europe wants to keep its companies in the Russell 3000 index have debt that is four times their declining prices and low growth. rienced deflation in the second security systems and severely focus on reducing inequality, it market value. By comparison, the energy sector’s average is 1.2 times. According to Eurostat, in the and third quarter of 2014, private restricted labour markets. In needs to get used to low growth Energy companies issued junk debt with abandon in recent years. second and third quarters of spending mostly increased. So Germany, retailers have been una- rates as payment for this politi- Strained financial conditions may force weak energy producers and this year, eight European Union consumers, especially relatively ble to persuade the government to cal priority. BLOOMBERG service companies to divest properties or sell themselves, yet buyers are likely to be scarce until energy prices stabilise. Many low-quality master limited partnerships in the energy area could be in trouble. The weakness in junk bonds is spreading beyond energy- related issues as scared investors retreat. Since June, they have pulled $22bn from junk-bond funds as they begin to realise they were further out on the risk curve than they wanted. Also, post-financial crisis regulations are limiting banks’ involve- ment in junk-security markets, removing their cushioning effect as providers of liquidity. Ditto for leveraged loans that banks often make to finance private-equity deals (and the subject of considerable worry at the Federal Reserve). Overseas, grossly mismanaged oil producers, including Venezuela and Nigeria, are obviously in trouble. They need prices well above $100 a barrel to meet budget needs. Russia, of course, is the poster boy for troubled oil exporters. Even before Russia’s central bank raised interest rates to 17 percent from 10.5 percent, it said the economy could contract by as much as 4.7 percent next year if oil remained near $60. With the 40 percent drop in the rouble this year pushing up import prices and higher interest rates increasing credit costs, inflation is set to rise. It already jumped 9.1 percent in November over the same month a year ago. No wonder Russian consumers are lining up to buy furniture, mobile phones and other goods before prices leap. Since the 2008 financial crisis, central bank money has encouraged individuals, businesses and countries to borrow at low rates. The nosedive in oil and other commodity prices makes it hard to pay back those loans as deflation spreads worldwide and almost every currency declines against the US dollar. The US stock market, while pointing up now, may yet have a negative response to declining energy costs, suggesting that the financial risks from falling oil prices may outweigh the benefits to consumers. If a full-blown global financial crisis unfolds, along with an accompanying worldwide recession, investment strategy will no doubt shift from the current “risk on” stance to “risk off.” In that scenario, you would expect to see a rush into the safety of Treasury bonds and the US dollar and a stampede out of commodities and stocks globally. Interestingly, most of this is already in tow. Treasuries are rallying as Americans and foreigners pour in; yields recently hit 2014 lows. The dollar has been robust against the deliberately devalued yen and euro, as well as the currencies of commodity exporters Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Russia. And commodity prices, from oil to cop- per to sugar, are falling. Only stocks remain to turn down decisively, and even that could Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate change if oil prices keep sinking. BLOOMBERG

Derivatives exchanges prove resistant to change

BY DAVID HENRY as Bear Stearns go bust, fearing clearinghouse with too little col- the most common type of deriva- through its own capital, banks alone, the Securities and Exchange that a failing bank would default lateral. There are by one measure tives that trade off exchanges, can lose confidence in it and clear Commission, the Commodity n December 2013, Hanmag on derivatives trades with other about $700 trillion of derivatives according to an analysis of data new contracts elsewhere, lead- Futures Trading Commission, and Securities Corp, a small market players, which in turn that trade off exchanges, which are by clearinghouse operator LCH. ing the clearinghouse to either the Federal Reserve all make rules South Korean brokerage would default on obligations with the types of products regulators Clearnet. That’s about four times wither away or collapse. Many of for clearinghouses. firm, lost 46bn won ($42m) others, potentially spiralling into a are most concerned about, though as much as before the financial cri- the biggest clearinghouses now are Regulators have done some work in a day after a stock option systemic meltdown. that number is far bigger than the sis. LCH.Clearnet’s SwapClear, one for-profit companies, which may on clearinghouses already — in Itrading algorithm went bad. It was For clearinghouses to work, actual potential losses from these of the biggest clearinghouses in the encourage them to hold as little 2012, they agreed on 24 principles a fatal blow for a company that had they need to be rock solid when contracts. Figuring how much cap- market, has cleared some $400 tril- capital as regulators will let them for how clearinghouses should just 15bn won of capital — Hanmag the world is crashing around them. ital different parties should pony lion of outstanding interest-rate get away with to maximize profits. operate. One of those is a sort went bust. What happened next If they aren’t, they may make any up when a failing bank doesn’t have derivatives known as swaps. A majority of London-based LCH. of capital standard for clearing- rattled regulators around the unfolding financial crisis much enough collateral is also difficult. The actual market risk from Clearnet was bought last year by houses, namely that the compa- world: Hanmag defaulted on its worse, by spreading panic instead Forcing other banks or the clear- those swaps is much lower, but the publicly-traded London Stock nies must be able to cover possible obligations, forcing the Korea of tamping it down. inghouse itself, for example, to put even so some bankers complain Exchange Group. CME Clearing is losses from defaults by its two Exchange’s clearinghouse to tap While regulators have recently up a lot of cash when a member that most clearinghouses have low operated by Chicago-based CME biggest customers. But regulators its emergency funds. talked about efforts to make has failed could further destabilise levels of their own capital available Group Inc and Intercontinental are not yet consistently check- Clearinghouses are a criti- clearinghouses stronger, they are the financial system. to absorb losses. SwapClear has Exchange Inc runs clearinghouses. ing clearinghouses’ calculations. cal part of regulators’ efforts to finding it’s not easy, according to To be sure, clearinghouse fail- just €44.6m ($55.45m) of capital LCH and other clearinghouses Rulemakers see the work done so fix the financial system after the bankers and former regulators who ures are rare — four have hap- on the line as of October 31. have said they have enough capi- far as only a start, people who have crisis, and they have grown much are working with global rulemak- pened in the last 40 years. Still, At SwapClear, if a bank fails, its tal and business reasons to manage spoken to them said. larger in recent years. Seen as a ers on this issue. regulators have been late to design collateral is applied to losses, and their risk appropriately. If clear- An international panel of way to ensure that banks are not Clearinghouses force banks to risk management standards for next comes the money the bank inghouses put up more capital rulemakers is now crafting too connected to fail, clearing- post collateral to support their clearinghouses, given how big they had put into the clearinghouse’s themselves, then members would standardised “stress tests” for houses can guarantee that if one trades, but it is hard to be sure that are, said Darrell Duffie, a finance safety fund. After that comes feel emboldened to take more risk, clearinghouses to ensure the com- party in a derivatives trade can’t parties have always posted enough, professor at Stanford University SwapClear’s capital, and then they have said. panies can weather tough market meet its obligations, other banks it in part because during crises the who has consulted with regula- finally a safety fund with $4.85bn Crafting good rules for clear- conditions. But the regulators have trades with will still get the money value of collateral may drop. The tors on the matter. For example, paid in by all its members. inghouses could take years, said not figured out how those tests will they are owed. During the finan- derivatives contracts that banks clearinghouses handle more than Beyond that, banks would face Stanford’s Duffie, because of their work, or how much of the results cial crisis, regulators were reluc- trade may also behave unpre- two-thirds of over-the-counter additional assessments. However, complexity and the number of regu- will be disclosed to customers and tant to let wobbly traders such dictably, potentially leaving the interest-rate derivatives, which are once a clearinghouse burns lators involved. In the United States the public. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary QE Index 12,183.52 1.91 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 18,171.6 1.91 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 4,043.33 1.39 % RATE QE All Share Index 3,097.13 1.79 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 3,189.53 2.38 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5414.093 101.353 1.91 5672.3 5072.7 QE All Share Industrials 3,935.08 1.74 % QR138.2071 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE All Share Transportation 2,233.98 0.31 % Cac 40 Index/D 4278.93 37.28 0.88 4598.65 3789.11 QE All Share Real Estate 2,223.63 2.24 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.6229 QR 5.7013 QE All Share Insurance 3,786.09 1.24 % Dj Indu Average 17804.8 26.65 0.15 17991.2 15340.69 QR 1.8461 Euro ...... QR 4.4204 QR 4.4825 QE All Share Telecoms 1,420.8 0.71 % CA$ ...... QR 3.1048 QR 3.1661 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 6,775.65 0.00 % Hang Seng Inde/D 23408.57 291.94 1.26 25362.98 21137.61 Services Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.6744 QR 3.7259 QE Market Summary Comparison Iseq Overall/D 5172.49 3.69 0.07 5325.15 4275.26 Yen ...... QR 0.0300 QR 0.0306 Aus$ ...... QR 2.9357 QR 2.9933 Today Previous day Karachi 100 In/D 31491.62 480.47 1.55 32315.56 25273.11 CRUDE OIL 23-12-2014 22-12-2014 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0570 QR 0.0582 Index 12,183.52 12,421.22 Nikkei 225 Index 17635.14 13.74 0.08 18030.83 13885.11 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0359 QR 0.0366 Change 237.70 391.63 BRENT Peso ...... QR 0.0808 QR 0.0824 S&P 500 Index/D 2070.65 9.42 0.46 2079.47 1737.92 % 1.91 3.26 $ 62.02 SL Re ...... QR 0.0275 QR 0.0281 YTD% 17.38 19.67 Straits Times/D 3330.96 51.43 1.57 3387.84 2953.01 Taka ...... QR 0.0466 QR 0.0477 Volume 16,257,858 24,720,527 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0357 QR 0.0363 Value (QAR) 707,810,787.35 1,004,521,961.98 Straits Times/D 3290.99 -1.82 -0.06 3387.84 2953.01 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3117 QR 0.3179 Trades 7,778 10,931 $ 58.15 Straits Times/D 3274.06 -8.82 -0.27 3291.83 2953.01 Up 09 | Down 29 | Unchanged 02

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 23-12-2014

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED A B G Infra-T/D 121.05 14.5 50122 City Union Bk-/D 94.8 2.1 311182 Hind Org Chem-/D 20.35 -0.5 8362 Kilburnengg-T/D 42.35 1.7 4041 Reliance Indus/D 435.95 -6.65 37912 Legal & Genera/D 247.736 2.6 3405632 A C C-A/D 1387 3.2 46785 Cmc Ltd-A/D 1895 -7.15 10489 Hind Unilever-/D 765.95 -1.05 39322 Kopran-B/D 51.2 -1.35 87746 Ruchi Soya-B/D 34.05 -0.95 32712 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 76.55 -0.02 20143571 Aarti Drugs-B/D 776.1 -20.95 4296 Colgate-A/D 1788.1 9.5 15864 Hind.Petrol-A/D 566.15 -5.85 49856 Lakshmi Elec-B/D 442.15 -1.1 3280 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 586 -1.85 5495 Marks & Sp./D 483.2 2.4 666348 Aban Offs-A/D 413 -14.6 323279 Container Cor-/D 1299.75 -30 19319 Hindalco-A/D 153.2 -2.6 1176990 Lloyd Metal-B/D 9.9 -0.1 3501 Salora Inter-B/D 31 -1.95 4355 Next/D 6505.9127 -5 68178 Aegis Logis-B/D 442.85 8.55 22740 Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 142.05 0.25 22532 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1124.35 -21.95 89468 Lok.Hous&Con-T/D 11.1 -0.4 18180 Samtel-T/D 6.78 -0.35 2760 Pearson/D 1179 -2 516593 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 335 -4.9 72841 Dhampur Sugar-/D 42.15 0 8479 I F C I-A/D 35.4 -0.85 461934 Lumax Ind-B/D 414.55 -3.05 3355 Saur.Cem-B/D 41.05 0.7 38761 Prudential/D 1528.3223 2.5 426924 Alembic-B/D 38.95 -0.3 115940 Dr. Reddy-A/D 3205.25 -41.15 21770 Idbi-A/D 68.3 -1.1 310260 Lupin-A/D 1434 -6.85 27551 Til Ltd.-T/D 400 3.75 5493 Rank Group/D 163 1 184 Alok Indus-A/D 9.93 -0.29 1880838 E I H-B/D 116.7 -0.65 22008 Ifb Agro-B/D 346.95 -7.2 3821 Lyka Labs-T/D 25.75 -0.1 6515 Timexgroup-T/D 13.1 -0.35 19957 Rentokil Initi/D 121.7 1.3 210763 Apollo Tyre-A/D 218.5 -1.85 187247 E.I.D Parry-A/D 198.4 -0.65 8886 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 472 -7.9 4052 Mah.Seamless-B/D 251 -3 9655 Tinplate-B/D 61.45 -0.45 26774 Rolls Royce Pl/D 872.5 -1 962375 Asahi I Glass-/D 114.25 -3.4 9523 Electrosteel-B/D 17.7 1.1 347386 India Cement-A/D 80.25 0.95 596936 Mangalam Cem-B/D 314.85 24 82487 Ucal Fuel-B/D 138.6 -2.45 107836 Rsa Insrance G/D 447.6 2.4 456824 Ashok Leyland-/D 49.65 -1.05 672758 Emco-B/D 37.3 -1.05 53371 India Glycol-B/D 100.1 -1.25 21499 Maral Overs-B/D 19.35 0.5 3132 Ucal Fuel-B/D 138.6 -2.45 107836 Sainsbury(J)/D 242.4 2.9 1893728 Ballarpur In-B/D 15.65 0 237275 Escorts Fin-B/D 5.84 -0.15 7655 Indian Hotel-A/D 119.4 2.45 254987 Mastek-B/D 405.55 -4.75 815106 Ultramarine-B/D 69 -1 4093 Schroders/D 2713 0 72481 Banaras Bead-B/D 46.7 4.6 8164 Escorts-A/D 125.2 -0.8 221842 Indo-Tcount-T/D 314.35 -6.4 19549 Max India L-A/D 380 0.65 93408 Unitech P -A/D 15.4 -0.2 3937112 Severn Trent/D 2045 7 81491 Bata India-A/D 1296.65 14.2 12070 Essar Oil-T/D 108.8 -2.2 46864 Indusind-A/D 786.3 9.05 80554 Mrpl-A/D 47.5 -0.45 30337 Smith&Nephew/D 1097 -11 336918 Beml Ltd-A/D 681.8 -11.05 40026 Eveready Indu-/D 176.35 -3.1 54649 J.B.Chemical-B/D 199.5 3.65 23089 Nahar Spg.-B/D 95.55 0.2 13712 Smiths Group/D 1100.36 20 196133 Bh Electronic-/D 2732.95 -33.85 18613 F D C-B/D 158.85 2.7 37708 Jagson Phar-B/D 36.5 -0.15 17194 Nation Alum -A/D 52.45 -1.35 156185 LONDON Standrd Chart /D 952 9 975888 Bharat Bijle-B/D 649.95 -2.55 3619 Federal Bank-A/D 146.5 0.85 104561 Jbf Indu-B/D 241.3 -15.45 100059 Navneet Edu-B/D 102.95 2.4 47997 Tate & Lyle/D 605.5 5 298775 Bharatgears-B/D 61.3 -0.7 3071 Ferro Alloys-B/D 6.42 -0.51 9018 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.67 0.05 26507 Nepc India-T/D 2.56 -0.13 18014 3I Group/D 450.3 -0.2 211807 Tesco/D 185.45 4.5 5837065 Bhartiya Int-B/D 400.05 -4.9 21361 Finolex-A/D 260.1 -4.55 14499 Jct Ltd-B/D 3.62 0.21 215587 Neuland Lab-B/D 455.45 -2.2 3105 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 3237 20 104073 Tomkins/D 0 0 0 Bhel-A/D 261.8 -3.95 328953 Gail-A/D 447.65 1.15 57276 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 5.07 -0.26 4932 Nrb Bearings-B/D 123.2 -4.1 4153 Barclays/D 242 1.65 8077851 Unilever/D 2674 23 539359 Bom.Burmah-B/D 385.4 -9.15 83368 Galada Power-T/D 12.35 -0.65 6892 Jik Indust-B/D 1.15 0.01 12100 O N G C-A/D 352.1 -4.8 197917 Bg Group/D 879.2 -6.9 3103164 United Util Gr/D 934.5 4 498221 Bombay Dyeing-/D 65.4 -0.3 290406 Gammon India-T/D 24.55 -0.55 58297 Jindal Drill-B/D 177.4 -10.3 8183 Ocl India-B/D 445 10.05 9210 Bp/D 414.83 1.35 6465892 Vodafone Group/D 224.85 -0.35 6952308 Canfin Homes-B/D 504.7 7.6 14116 Garden P -B/D 30.55 -0.9 3967 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 137.8 -6.15 724504 Oil Country-B/D 34.75 -0.25 4929 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3554.07 20.5 375552 Whitbread/D 4762.5223 29 125609 Caprihans-B/D 86.9 -3.1 40165 Godfrey Phil-B/D 588.25 -4.05 3536 Jmc Projects-T/D 167.55 -5.2 128271 Orchid Chem-B/D 63.25 0.15 285609 Bt Group/D 411.25 0.3 2452331 Cast.Bo/D 508.6 0.5 175533 Goodricke-B/D 157.9 -0.9 3791 Kabra Extr-B/D 81.75 -1.15 6523 Orient.Carb.-T/D 363.5 0.5 7959 Centrica/D 282.036 4.8 3214467 Century Enka-B/D 166 1.3 18354 Goodyear I -B/D 610.2 -10.05 21462 Kajaria Cer-A/D 558.25 1.25 4091 Orient.Carb.-T/D 363.5 0.5 7959 Gkn/D 345.5632 -0.6 1060916 Century Text-A/D 495.1 -14.05 86933 Hcl Infosys-B/D 43.8 -0.65 480750 Kalpat Power-B/D 198.3 1.1 87137 Punjab Chem.-B/D 103.7 -0.9 3845 Hsbc Holdings/D 613.5 1.5 2757974 Chambal Fert-B/D 60.1 -0.75 30616 Him.Fut.Comm-T/D 16.95 -0.8 1179986 Kalyani Stel-T/D 162.25 15.1 439821 Radico Khait-B/D 88.05 -3.3 80549 Imperial Tobac/D 2889 15 200265 Chowgule St-T/D 19.5 0.35 5689 Himat Seide-B/D 88 0.9 40711 Kanoria Chem-B/D 35.35 0.85 10091 Rallis India-A/D 213.5 -3.9 14697 Kingfisher/D 331.6 1.5 1013718 Cipla-A/D 629.65 11.25 159987 Hind Motors-T/D 7.65 -0.06 98207 Kg Denim-B/D 14.6 -0.25 10135 Rallis India-A/D 213.5 -3.9 14697 Land Secs Grou/D 1176 3 387251 WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

Willett secures Masters berth Bengals punish Manning via world ranking

LONDON: Englishman Danny Willett will be a big winner in to clinch play-off spot the final world rankings of the year, to be issued next week, by narrowly punching his ticket to Kirkpatrick’s two interceptions sink Broncos, Patriots get top AFC seed the 2015 Masters. Willett is among a dozen play- ers not previously exempt for the CINCINNATI: The Cincinnati season’s opening major who will Bengals intercepted Peyton lock up invitations to Augusta Manning four times to clinch National next April by finishing a play-off berth with a big-play 2014 in the top 50. filled 37-28 victory over the However, Willett cut it ever so Denver Broncos on Monday close in earning his first invita- night. tion to the Masters and made his Playing in pouring rain, the move by winning the Nedbank Bengals staged a fourth-quarter Challenge in South Africa on recovery after blowing a 13-point Dec. 7. lead to earn a fourth straight trip Though he was ranked 51st to the post-season. last week after not competing, “This one was big. We knew he will climb to 50th in the year- what we were up against... at end rankings with no tourna- home, playing on Monday Night ments scheduled for this week in prime time,” Bengals quarter- and because points are reduced at back Andy Dalton told reporters. differing rates in the world rank- “Our defence played great, ing formula. especially when it counted.” Among the other players Dre Kirkpatrick caught two gaining Masters exemptions via interceptions for Cincinnati, who the top 50 are Britons Jamie also enjoyed a big day on kick Donaldson, Ian Poulter and returns. The Bengals (10-4-1) can Stephen Gallacher, all of them now seal the AFC North Division members of Europe’s triumphant with a season-finale win against 2014 Ryder Cup team. Pittsburgh next week. American Kevin Streelman Denver (11-4), who had already will drop from 50th to 52nd in cinched the AFC West, was hop- the final rankings of the year, but ing to maintain their push to he is already in the Masters field enter the play-offs as the confer- because he won the PGA Tour’s ence top seed but the loss con- 2014 Hartford tournament. ceded the number one spot to the There will be further oppor- New England Patriots. tunities for players to qualify for Manning threw for 311 yards the April 9-12 Masters, including but was unable to connect with an updated top-50 world rank- his wide receivers when it mat- ing heading into the week of the tered most. Cincinnati Bengals’ Dre Kirkpatrick celebrates after running in a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during an NFL game at the Paul Brown tournament. “I had four interceptions, Stadium in Cincinnati on Monday. Northern Irishman Rory you’re not going to beat very McIlroy will end 2014 as the world many good football teams (that Brandon Tate lifted the Bengals to help push the Bengals nine Jeremy Hill broke free for an for failing in big games and have number one after assuming the way),” Manning said. “We have to midway through the fourth with a points ahead of a demoralised 85-yard touchdown run in the not won in the play-offs since top spot on Aug. 2. find a way to learn from this and 49-yard punt return that helped Denver team. first quarter, finishing with 147 1990. McIlroy deposed Australian play better next week.” them move back in front on Mike Early on, it was the Cincinnati yards on the night, and fellow “We understand that it was the Adam Scott, who was the game’s In a wild affair, the Broncos Nugent’s 23-yard field goal. running game that led the way back Giovani Bernard caught a elephant in the room; we heard leading player for 11 weeks and woke up in the second half, with The Cincinnati defense struck on a night where the Bengals 22-yard TD in the third to give it all week,” Hill said. “We knew will end the year ranked third. Manning tossing two third-quar- the decisive blow in the final min- lost standout wide receiver A.J. the home side a 27-14 advantage. tonight with the country watch- American Tiger Woods started ter touchdowns to give the visi- utes as Kirkpatrick intercepted Green to an arm injury in the first The win was a big relief for the ing that we had to show people 2014 at the top of the world rank- tors a 28-27 edge. Manning and returned it 30 yards quarter. Bengals, who have a reputation we’re serious.” REUTERS ings and stayed there until May 17. Woods, who played in only nine tournaments in 2014 due to a back injury that required surgery, will end the year in 32nd spot. Red-hot Butler shines Barkov’s strike gives REUTERS Panthers 4-3 victory Cummins as Bulls stomp Raptors SUNRISE: Aleksander Barkov scored the lone goal in the shoot- returns to Force CHICAGO: Jimmy Butler con- out, and the Florida Panthers tinued his torrid scoring streak edged the Pittsburgh Penguins from Japan on Monday by tallying 27 points 4-3 on Monday night. and 11 rebounds as the Chicago Barkov skated in on Marc- Bulls overpowered the first Andre Fleury in the seventh SYDNEY: Nick Cummins place Toronto Raptors 129-120. round of the tiebreaker, moved (pictured) yesterday secured a Butler scored a career-high left, and lifted in a one-handed loan deal back to Super 15 club 35 points in a victory over New shot to win it. Western Force for the 2015 sea- York on Thursday, then followed Florida’s Roberto Luongo made son, putting him back into the it up with a 31-point performance a sprawling glove save, among Wallabies frame for next year’s against Memphis. his seven, on Chris Kunitz in the World Cup. He didn’t quite reach 30 again, fourth round. The winger was released from but he did add five blocks and four Jimmy Hayes scored twice his contract by the Perth-based assists to his totals. in the third period to give the team in July to sign a lucrative Derrick Rose scored 29 points, Panthers a 3-1 lead. two-year deal with Japan’s West Pau Gasol engineered 14 points Nick Spaling deflected in a shot Red Sparks on compassionate and nine rebounds and Aaron for a power-play goal with 4:52 grounds. The 27-year-old made Brooks came off the bench to remaining to bring the Penguins Pittsburgh Penguins players the switch so he could provide score 17 points for the Bulls, who within 3-2, and Evgeni Malkin celebrate after scoring a goal financial support for his father have won six of their last seven jammed a puck past Luongo to against the Florida Panthers Mark, who is battling cancer, and NBA contests. tie it with 3:10 left. during a NHL game at the BB&T two other family members who Kyle Lowry finished with 34 Patric Hornqvist had given Center in Sunrise, Florida, on have cystic fibrosis. points and six rebounds, while Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead in the first The move away from Australia Monday. Jonas Valanciunas added 20 period, and Jussi Jokinen tied it made him ineligible for Wallabies points and nine rebounds for in the final minute of the second. forwards and seven defensemen. selection but the Eastern Conference leading Florida took a 2-1 lead when Only 19 players dressed for the the World Cup Toronto, which had its six-game Sean Bergenheim stole the puck game. dream of the winning streak snapped. along the side boards and passed Backup goalie Jeff Zatkoff was shaggy-haired Chicago pulled away in the it to Hayes, who beat Fleury just called up from Wilkes-Barre/ Cummins, a fourth quarter by outscoring the 22 seconds into the second. Scranton of the AHL as an emer- cult figure Raptors 49-37. Four minutes later, Hayes gency backup. He missed war- known as The game was tied 95-95 just tapped in Bergenheim’s shot for mups but arrived in time for the the “Honey prior to the midway point of the his ninth goal. But the Penguins start of the game. Badger”, is fourth before Chicago went on an got even late to force overtime. After a hard-hitting, high- once again 18-8 run over the next 4:48. Pittsburgh opened the scor- tension game in Pittsburgh on alive. The Bulls trailed by as much ing 4:39 into the game when Saturday — a 3-1 Penguins victory “I’m stoked to be back on the as 12 points earlier in the Hornqvist deflected in Simon — the clubs played a fairly tame burst and returning to Australian second-half. Despres’ shot from the blue line game until late in the second. rugby in 2015,” he said. “Gonna Hawks 105, Mavericks 102 for his 12th goal. Penguins defenceman Kris be a huge year. Can’t wait to get Atlanta point guard Dennis Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (centre) drives against Toronto Raptors Jokinen tied it just after Letang upended Nick Bjugstad amongst it!” Schroder scored 22 points to lead forward Amir Johnson (left) during the second-half of a NBA game at the Florida’s third power play ended. with a chest-high hit in the He will join the Force squad at a balanced attack in the Hawks’ United Center in Chicago on Monday. He one-timed a pass from Dave Pittsburgh zone. A few minutes the end of the Red Sparks’ sea- win over the Dallas Mavericks. Bolland into the net with 37 sec- later, Bergenheim rocked Bobby son in early 2015 and will return The Hawks (20-7) earned their on the Los Angeles Clippers, nine assists. AGENCIES onds left. Farnham with a shoulder-to- to the Japanese club for the fourth consecutive win and 13th leading the Spurs to a victory Jokinen scored 21 goals for shoulder hit along the side boards. 2015/2016 Top League season. in the past 14 games. Atlanta is that snapped a four-game losing Pittsburgh last season before AGENCIES “While most people are aware in second place in the Eastern streak. NBA Results being signed by Florida. of Nick’s colourful personality, the Conference. Parker returned to his spot at Charlotte 110 Denver 82 The Penguins (22-6-5) were NHL Results character he displays in his per- The Mavericks (20-9) lost point guard, after missing eight Chicago 129 Toronto 120 short-handed due to illness and Washington 2 Ottawa 1 formances on the field makes him despite 13 points and 11 assists of the last nine games with a Houston 110 Portland 95 injury. Nashville 5 Columbus 1 an integral part of our team,” said from Rajon Rondo who was play- strained left hamstring, as San Forwards Steve Downie and Force coach Michael Foley. Utah 97 Memphis 91 Florida 4 Pittsburgh 3 ing his second game since being Antonio (18-11) earned a sea- Brandon Sutter and goalie “His ability to lighten the mood Atlanta 105 Dallas 102 acquired in a trade. son-high output in points and Thomas Greiss were sent back Vancouver 7 Arizona 1 is balanced against a fierce deter- Spurs 125, Clippers 118 assists with 37. Chris Paul led the San Antonio 125 LA Clippers 118 to Pittsburgh for mumps test- Anaheim 3 San Jose 2 mination to win and play for his Tony Parker dropped 26 points Clippers (19-9) with 25 points and Golden State 128 Sacramento 108 ing, leaving the Penguins with 11 Calgary 4 Los Angeles 3 mates.” AFP WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Doha set to host Optimist Cup Six-day event begins on December 27 at Katara, sailors from 11 countries to take part

DOHA: Sailors from eleven countries will be vying for the top honours at the Qatar Optimist Cup 2014 which kicks off on December 27 at Katara’s Cultural Village. The six-day event, which ends on January 2, will see 32 sailors competing in 12 races, the first day which is reserved for practice. The event is open for competi- tors born in 1999 or after and is organized by Qatar Sailing and Rowing Federation (QSRF) in cooperation with Doha Sailing Club. Besides hosts Qatar, sailors from Algeria, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Denmark, Germany, India, Netherlands, Switzerland and Turkey will be seen in action at the championship. Qatar is one of the four coun- tries which will field sailors in both the boys and girls categories. Turkey, India and Netherlands will have one girl competitor each in the event. Fahad Ahmed Al Jaber, Executive Director of QSRF said Rasim Yasar of Turkey, overall winner at the Qatar Optimist Cup of Qatar Sailing and Rowing Federation (QSRF) all the arrangements have been poses for a pictures along with second placed Marsha Shahrin (left) of Singapore and Florine Bramervaer complete for the hosting of the (third place winner) of the Netherlands at the Doha Sailing Club in this file picture of January 3, 2014. Also championship. seen is Khalifa Al Suwaidi (right), QSRF President. “Three races will be held per day, depending on the weather conditions. The first day is reserved for practice and the opening ceremony will be held in the evening. One day is reserve for team.” Fahad informed that one day has been set aside as a spare day, while the final three races will be held on January2, followed by the closing ceremony. “Most of the sailors will be A file picture of last years Qatar Optimist Cup reaching Doha by Wednesday,” added Fahad. Meanwhile Rashid Al Suwaidi, Mohammad Al Sharshani, Ali Al Suwaidi, the QSRF President have manager of the Qatar team Marhoun, Rashid Al Awalma, been holding coordination meet- informed that the hosts will field Abdulrahman Al Nasr, Ghanim ing with different committees to 13 sailors at the event. Al Sulait and Rashid Talfat. discuss organisational issues and “The Qatar team has been The Qatar event will be an to form the working committees training for the last two weeks ideal event for sailors from the for hosting the championship. for the event in a close camp,” host country ahead of next month THE PENINSULA said Rashid. GCC championship which takes “Most of the sailors, part of the place in Oman, said Rashid. Qatar Optimist Cup Qatar Open Sailing Cup, took part “The Doha championship will in the Asian Games in Incheon serve as a good preparation for 2014 Schedule South Korea. We have high hopes our sailors for the GCC cham- Dec 27: Practice race, 2.00pm, Opening and the preparations have been pionship. It will also help them Ceremony on the right track,” added the to make the necessary improve- Dec 28: Races 1, 2, 3 from 10.00am team official. ments and gain valuable inter- Dec 29: Races 4, 5, 6 from 10.00am The Qatari squad includes national experience competing Dec 30: Team Race from 10.00am Khairadin Bu Shama, Zeyad against sailors from different Dec 31: Spare Day Rashid Al Suwaidi, Manager of the Qatar team, speaking to the media ahead of the Qatar Optimist Cup 2014 Al Awalma, Yasin Benzarti, countries.” Jan 1: Races 7, 8, 9 from 10.00am in Doha yesterday. Fahad Al Jaber, Executive Director of Qatar Sailing and Rowing Federation. Ali Al Sharshani, Abdullah Al Meanwhile the Organising Jan 2: Races 10, 11, 12 from 10.00am, PICTURES BY: KAMMUTTY VP Sharshani, Moshin Al Sharshani, Committee chaired by Khalifa Al Closing Ceremony Rose to star at Commercial Bank Qatar Masters

DOHA: World No. 6 Justin Rose trophy on the Tour each season its 10th year as title sponsor of will compete in the Commercial from 2010. the event, during which time Bank Qatar Masters for the Hassan Al Nuaimi, President of champions have included Garcia, second time in three years as the Qatar Golf Association, said Stenson (2006), fellow Ryder Cup the 2013 US Open Champion the addition of Rose to a field representatives Thomas Bjørn, joins Ryder Cup team-mates that already featured Stenson Paul Lawrie and Robert Karlsson, Henrik Stenson and defending and Garcia, currently World No. former World No. 1 Adam Scott champion Sergio Garcia in an 5, boded well for an all-star field and two-time US Open Champion increasingly strong line-up in in January. Retief Goosen. Doha. “Justin Rose is a true Ryder Many of the world’s top golf- Rose, 34, recently finished third Cup hero and we welcome him ers compete each year at the in The Race to Dubai – behind back to the Commercial Bank Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, Rory McIlroy and Stenson, cur- Qatar Masters after his brilliant which has been held at Doha rently World No. 1 and 2 respec- display for Europe, just like when Golf Club since its inauguration tively – after a strong finish to he competed here two years ago. in 1998. The club’s desert-type the season, having already won We were also delighted to see him Championship Course is one of his seventh European Tour title at win the US Open last year just the longest par 72 courses on The the Aberdeen Asset Management a few months after he competed European Tour. Scottish Open in July. here in Doha,” Al Nuaimi said. Commercial Bank Qatar In November, Rose finished “Justin is one of the true gen- Masters tickets are avail- fourth at the BMW Masters in tlemen in golf and always popular able to purchase now at Virgin Shanghai and two weeks later was wherever he goes. He has spent Megastores, in stores in Doha and runner-up at the season-ending most of the past three years in online, Doha Golf Club, and the DP World Tour Championship, the top 10 and much of that in Doha Rugby FC. Each ticket pur- Dubai for the second time in three the top five, so we’re proud to wel- chased entitles the holder to one years. come one of golf’s great players to free return drive to the event at The Englishman – who will a star-studded line-up.” Doha Golf Club by event partner be making his sixth appearance Abdullah Saleh Al Raisi, CEO UBER. Commercial Bank Qatar in Doha – is now determined to of Commercial Bank, which is title Masters tickets for adults are continue that form into the 18th sponsoring the event for the 10th priced as follows: Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, straight year, added: “Commercial 21 January – QR 150 which will be held at Doha Golf Bank is proud to work with the 22 January – QR 150 Club from January 21-24. Justin Rose in action during the 2013 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters at the Doha Golf Club. Qatar Golf Association each year 23 January – QR 250, includes “I finished the season playing to attract a strong line-up of evening entertainment – UB40 really well and I want to build players for the Commercial Bank featuring Ali Campbell, Astro and on that in Doha. I enjoyed myself “It looks like it’s already shap- an unstoppable pairing in it was a real privilege to team up Qatar Masters. Mickey) at the Commercial Bank Qatar ing up into a strong field. I know September’s Ryder Cup, as the with Henrik and play so well. We “With Justin Rose join- 24 January – QR 200 Masters a couple of years ago and Sergio played well last year to win duo won all three of their matches really fed off each other. I much ing Henrik Stenson and Sergio Season Pass – QR 450, includes I’m looking forward to returning. and he played great when I last against the USA to help Europe prefer playing with him than Garcia, I strongly believe we’re on event entry on all four days and I felt increasingly comfortable on competed in 2013, so he will be retain the trophy. Their three against him, but I’m looking for- track for one of the tournament’s evening entertainment. the course and want to really a favourite. Henrik beat us all in wins included a Ryder Cup record ward to meeting up with him and best-ever fields. All of these play- Entry is free for children under have another go at it this time,” Dubai, so he’ll be another strong of 12 birdies in 16 holes to beat Sergio and other guys from the ers are hugely popular when 14 years of age. For those looking said Rose, who tied for 16th on contender, especially as I know he Matt Kuchar and Bubba Watson team in Doha.” they compete in Doha and we’re for an extra-special experience, his last visit when he memora- plays in Doha every year. It’ll be 3&2 in the fourballs. Rose has also continued to delighted to continually deliver hospitality packages are available bly met Wayne Rooney on a tee- tough, but I’m confident I’ll be in Rose said: “Henrik and I had an shine in the USA and won his one of the strongest line-ups on through the tournament’s official box as Manchester United stars with a shout this time.” incredible time at The Ryder Cup. sixth PGA Tour title in June to The European Tour.” website, qatar-masters.com. watched the action. Rose and Stenson proved It’s always an amazing event, but continue his run of lifting at least Commercial Bank is marking THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 29

World Sports Diary January 2015 THURSDAY, JANUARY 1 2014: Brazil’s semis rout FRIDAY, JANUARY 2 SOCCER: FA Cup third round (to 6) CRICKET: South Africa vs West Indies, Cape Town, third Test (to 6) SATURDAY, JANUARY 3 CRICKET: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, second tops list of sporting flops Test, Wellington (to 7) SOCCER: French Cup round of 64 (to 5) SUNDAY, JANUARY 4 MOTOR RACING: Dakar Rally begins (to 17) Heartbreak for Denver Broncos, Vettel among failures of the year MONDAY, JANUARY 5 TENNIS: ATP: Qatar Open, Doha (to 11); Chennai Open, India (to 11) LONDON: Anything less than ATP/WTA: Brisbane International, Australia a World Cup win on home soil (to 11) was always going to be seen as WTA: Auckland Classic, New Zealand (to 11) a failure but nobody could have Brazil’s defender predicted Brazil would suffer Thiago Silva (right) TUESDAY, JANUARY 6 a 7-1 semi-final drubbing by comforts Brazil’s CRICKET: Australia vs India, Sydney, fourth Germany, one of the greatest defender David Test (to 10) shocks in soccer history. Luiz after the WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7 To make matters worse, the semi-final against SOCCER: Spanish King’s Cup last 16 (to 8) Brazilians followed that up with Germany at the THURSDAY, JANUARY 8 a another woeful performance to Mineirao Stadium GOLF: PGA Tour: Hyundai Tournament of lose 3-0 to the Netherlands in the in Belo Horizonte, Champions, Kapalua, Hawaii (to 12) third-place play-off. in this July 10, 2014 European Tour: South Africa Open, The poor showing at the Johannesburg, South Africa (to 11) month-long tournament will file photo. remain a black spot for a country FRIDAY, JANUARY 9 that has one of soccer’s proudest SOCCER: Asian Nations Cup, Australia (to traditions – with five World Cup 31) titles, more than any team. SUNDAY, JANUARY 11 Russia (Ice hockey) CRICKET: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, The men’s ice hockey gold Christchurch, first ODI; South Africa vs West medal was one of Russia’s top pri- Indies, Johannesburg, second T20I orities at the Sochi Olympics, and MONDAY, JANUARY 12 winning the event for the first TENNIS: ATP: Auckland Open, New Zealand time since the fall of the Soviet (to 17); ATP/WTA: Sydney International, Union in 1991 was supposed to Australia (to 17); WTA: Hobart International, offer the world a symbol of the Australia (to 18) country’s might. TUESDAY, JANUARY 13 Facing massive pressure each time they played, the talented SOCCER: French League Cup quarter-finals squad had a mediocre preliminary (to 14); Italian Cup (to 15) round that forced them into a do- WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14 or-die qualification game versus SOCCER: Italian Cup last 16; Spanish Cup Norway, which they won easily as last 16 (to 16) a nation exhaled for one more day. CRICKET: South Africa vs West Indies, But the toll of playing four Durban, third T20I games in five days showed as THURSDAY, JANUARY 15 Russian dreams of celebrating a CRICKET: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, gold medal victory on home soil Hamilton, second ODI were crushed in a 3-1 quarter- HANDBALL: Men’s World Championship, final loss to Finland. Qatar (to Feb 1) Shaun White (Snowboarding) The American snowboarder FRIDAY, JANUARY 16 was one of the biggest draws in CRICKET: Australia vs England, Sydney, Sochi where he was looking to ODI tri-Series; South Africa vs West Indies, join a rare pantheon of Winter Durban, first ODI Olympic greats as the first from SATURDAY, JANUARY 17 his young sport to win three golds SOCCER: African Nations Cup, Equatorial in one individual event. Brazil’s Marcelo Guinea (to Feb 8) The 2006 and 2010 champion’s gestures after CRICKET: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, triple gold bid in the halfpipe was Neymar was fouled Auckland, third ODI looking good after the morning CYCLING: Tour Down Under, Adelaide, qualification where he was the by Colombia’s Camilo Zuniga (not pictured) Australia (to 25); Track World Cup, Cali (to top finisher but things started 18) to unravel in his first run in the during their FIFA World SUNDAY, JANUARY 18 finals when he fell twice. Cup 2014 quarter- White, needing a flawless run finals at the Castelao CRICKET: South Africa vs West Indies, in his second run to win gold, was Arena in Fortaleza, in Johannesburg, second ODI; Australia vs the night’s final competitor and this July 5, 2014 file India, Melbourne, ODI tri-Series while he didn’t fall, two stum- story. Neymar missed MONDAY, JANUARY 19 bles left the world’s most famous the semi-finals due TENNIS: Australian Open, Melbourne (to Feb snowboarder off the medal to the back injury, 1) podium in fourth place. resulted in Zuniga’s TUESDAY, JANUARY 20 Denver Broncos (NFL) foul. CRICKET: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, Nelson, Clear favourites to win the fourth ODI; England vs India, Brisbane, ODI Super Bowl before the season tri-series started, Denver reached the SOCCER: Spanish Kings Cup quarter-finals NFL’s championship game in (to 21); Capital One (League) Cup semi-finals impressive fashion as the first first leg (to 21); French Cup last 32; Italian team to score over 600 points in Cup (to 22) a season. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21 The Broncos were built around future Hall of Famer Peyton GOLF: European Tour: Qatar Masters, Manning, who had thrown a game’s opening snap sailed over Sebastian Vettel (F1) Reliability problems and his the Mercedes team to stand on Doha (to 24) record 55 touchdown passes that Manning’s head for a safety that Vettel won four consecutive car’s underperforming Renault the top step of the podium. CRICKET: South Africa vs West Indies, East season and was seeking a second put his team behind. Formula One world champion- engine had something to do with Formula One greats are sup- London, third ODI Super Bowl title that, in the eyes The Seattle Seahawks went ships and the last nine races of that but Vettel would have a had posed to show their greatness by THURSDAY, JANUARY 22 of many, would have made him the on to win the biggest game in 2013 but his run of success ended a more solid case had he not been making a difference and getting GOLF: PGA Tour: Humana Challenge, La greatest quarterback of all time. American professional sports in 2014 when the Red Bull driver eclipsed by team-mate Daniel more out of a poorly-performing Quinta, California (to 25) But Denver were humili- 43-8, the third-worst rout in went through the entire season Ricciardo, who took three wins car. On that score alone, Vettel RALLYING: Monte Carlo rally (to 25) ated from the start as the Super Bowl history. without a victory. and was the only driver outside flopped. REUTERS FRIDAY, JANUARY 23 CRICKET: Australia vs England, Hobart, fourth match ODI Tri-series; New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, Dunedin, fifth ODI SATURDAY, JANUARY 24 SOCCER: English FA Cup fourth round (to 25) ATHLETICS: Glasgow International Indoor Athletics, Glasgow SUNDAY, JANUARY 25 CRICKET: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, Dunedin, sixth ODI; South Africa vs West Indies, Port Elizabeth, fourth ODI MONDAY, JANUARY 26 CRICKET: Australia vs India, Sydney, fifth match ODI Tri-series WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28 CRICKET: South Africa vs West Indies, Centurion, fifth ODI THURSDAY, JANUARY 29 GOLF: PGA Tour: Phoenix Open, Arizona (to Feb 1) European Tour: Dubai Desert Classic, United Arab Emirates (to Feb 1) CRICKET: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, Wellington, seventh ODI FRIDAY, JANUARY 30 CRICKET: England vs India, Perth, ODI tri- series Denver Broncos’ quarterback Peyton Manning reacts after an incomplete pass on a third down during the NFL match against the New England Patriots in Foxboro, Massachusetts, in this SATURDAY, JANUARY 31 November 2014 file photo. RIGHT: German Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel (left) of Red Bull Racing and Spanish driver Fernando Alonso of Scuderia Ferrari during a press conference CRICKET: New Zealand vs Pakistan, at the Sochi Autodrom Circuit, in Sochi, Russia, in this October 2014 file photo. Wellington, first ODI WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 30 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Downcast Cook takes SL kick off World Cup to the oche after snub

LONDON: Alastair Cook (pic- Eric Bristow, and Cook, who tured) tried to take his mind remains England’s Test captain, off his shock World Cup snub admitted he was struggling to tune-up in New Zealand as the deposed England captain take in what the last 48 hours stepped onto the oche at the had served him. World Darts Championships on “It’s been an interesting cou- Monday. ple of days,” he said on Sky Sports Mathews’ team to play 2 Tests, 7 ODIs against Kiwis Two days after the heartache Darts. of being sacked as England’s one- “I’m frustrated and disap- day captain and dropped from pointed not to be joining Jimmy WELLINGTON: Sri Lanka swansong. “We’re playing without the squad for next year’s World on the plane. Sometimes these will open hostilities against the Mahela for the first time in about Cup in Australia and things happen; I Black Caps in their first tour of 18 years and that’s going to be a New Zealand, Cook take it on the chin New Zealand for eight years on challenge for us,” Mathews said. made his return to and get a couple of Friday, looking to acclimatise to “But there’s pressure on all of the public eye in a weeks away. local conditions for the upcom- us anyway, this is going to be a light-hearted darts “It’s gutting and ing World Cup. challenging series. Playing against contest with inter- frustrating, but The tour features two Test New Zealand in New Zealand is national team-mate that’s the way of the matches, the first beginning in going to be tough. They’ve been James Anderson at world and you have Christchurch on Boxing Day, playing really good cricket.” London’s Alexandra to get over it and I but the emphasis is squarely on Sri Lanka will be without left- Palace. wish the guys well.” the 50-over game, with seven arm spinner Rangana Herath for Cook took part in Cook is now looking one-dayers as a warm-up to the the opening Test after he strained a one-leg shoot-out forward to spend- February-March tournament a hamstring against England. with Anderson ahead ing some time on co-hosted by Australia and New Only two of Mathews’ Test of the fifth day’s play his farm and then Zealand. team, Kumar Sangakkara and in the World Championships and throwing himself into a 2015 cam- “We have to be mentally and Prasanna Jayawardene, have his bruised ego may have been paign which involves Test series physically fit for the most-impor- experienced New Zealand’s soothed a little after he won with against the West Indies, New tant game on February 14,” coach seam-friendly wickets before, so a double-11 checkout. Zealand, Australia and South Marvan Atapattu told Sri Lankan Mathews said it was important Performing under the nick- Africa. “It’s hard to talk about it media, referring to his team’s to adjust. name ‘Bed and Breakfast’, Cook at the moment (the World Cup) clash against New Zealand in the “Getting used to the conditions looked in good spirits on stage because of the way I feel, but opening match of the World Cup. will be key for us,” he said. and got into the swing of things there are Tests next year, two real Sri Lanka are buoyant after “We’ve been playing a lot of in amongst the raucous fans. marquee series (against Australia humiliating England 5-2 in a one- cricket in the sub-continent over The pair then headed into the and South Africa) and hopefully I day series, a result that contrib- the last six months or so, so we Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan (centre) celebrates with team-mates after commentary box to do a stint can get back scoring some runs,” uted to Alastair Cook’s sacking as really need to make the most of dismissing England’s captain Alastair Cook (left) during their second ODI alongside former world champion he added. AFP limited overs captain, and notch- our practice sessions and try and at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo, in this November 2014 ing Test and one-day series wins adapt to these conditions as best file photo. Sri Lanka will play two Tests and seven ODIs against New over Pakistan in August. we can.” Zealand ahead of the World Cup. But skipper Angelo Mathews Sri Lanka, who won the 1996 said he expected a tough match World Cup and were runners up against the New Zealanders, in 2007 and 2011, are fourth in drew a Test series and their under Brendon McCullum’s particularly since Mahela the ODI rankings and fifth in ODI series with Pakistan in the aggressive leadership have shown Jayawardene will be missing from the Test standings, with New United Arab Emirates, will be they can compete with the best the Test line-up after retiring Zealand placed sixth and seventh out to make a statement in front and they are desperate to build from the long form of the game respectively. of their home fans ahead of the some momentum leading into the to concentrate on a World Cup New Zealand, who recently World Cup. The Blacks Caps World Cup. AFP Australia’s Watson cuts short training after bouncer blow MELBOURNE: Australian all-rounder Shane Watson was Australia’s captain Steve Smith walks off the field with the winning stumps forced to cut short his train- after Australia won the second Test match against India at Gabba in ing session in the Melbourne Brisbane, in this December 20 file photo. Cricket Ground nets after being hit on the helmet by a Malcolm Waller bouncer yesterday, three days before the start of the third Haddin backs Smith Test against India. Watson, under pressure for his ICC suspends place at number three in the bat- ting order, was knocked to the as Australia captain ground when a short ball from Waller from James Pattinson hit him flush on MELBOURNE: Brad Haddin “I think the decision was an the helmet. has backed the elevation of outstanding one. He’s got a good “Shane Watson shaken up, but Steve Smith to the Australian core of senior players to help him bowling OK, after helmet blow,” Cricket test captaincy in place of the out if he needs it. But things are Australia tweeted. injured Michael Clarke for the going well, he’s a good thinker CAPE TOWN: Zimbabwe all- Pattinson was also shaken remainder of the India series, about the game and he still wants rounder Malcolm Waller has up by the incident, which came despite being overlooked for the to learn. been suspended from bowling less than a month after former caretaker role himself. “I’d much rather you remem- just seven weeks out from the Australia batsman Phillip As vice-captain, the 37-year- ber the last two hours at Adelaide World Cup, the International Hughes was killed by injuries old wicketkeeper would have been than do it full time.” Cricket Council said yesterday. sustained when he was hit by a first cab off the rank for the posi- While Smith has been enjoying The off-spinner was reported short ball in a domestic match tion once it became clear that a purple patch with the bat, scor- after the second Test against in Sydney. Clarke required surgery on the ing 375 runs at an average of 187.5 Bangladesh in Khulna last month Left-arm paceman Mitchell latest in a string of hamstring in the series so far, Haddin has and analysis performed by the Starc also left the session early injuries. been struggling with that aspect ICC’s accredited team of Human after being hit on the knee by a Australian batsman Shane Watson leaves the field after being dismissed Instead, after Haddin took of his game and has only 92 in the Movement Specialists at the High ball but his likely replacement by Indian batsman Ishant Sharma for nought on day four of the second charge for the last couple of hours last seven tests. Performance Centre in Pretoria. in the side, Ryan Harris, was Test match between Australia and India at the Gabba in Brisbane, in of the 48-run victory in Adelaide, “I’m not concerned about it, all “The analysis revealed that all apparently untroubled by the this December 20 file photo. Cricket Australia turned to my preparation and everything is of his off-spin deliveries exceeded thigh injury that ruled him out 25-year-old Smith, who led the okay, I’ve just been out of runs,” the 15 degrees level of tolerance of the second Test. team to a four-wicket victory in Haddin said. permitted under the regulations,” The hosts, who take a 2-0 lead the bat this year, had little doubt but I’m not missing a Boxing Day Brisbane last weekend. “I’m not stressed about it or the ICC said in a statement. into the Boxing Day Test, already in his own mind that he would be Test, that’s for sure.” “I think they’ve made a very worried about it, the game will Waller, 30, will have the oppor- had injury concerns over David ready to go by Friday. Uncapped batsman Joe Burns brave and good decision in mak- turn my way, the runs will come tunity for re-assessment but faces Warner, who skipped the ses- “I will definitely be playing,” was brought into the squad on ing Steve the captain. I think it’s and it will be my turn soon,” said a race against time with the sion to nurse a thumb injury he said the batsman. Sunday to cover for injured all- the perfect time for him,” Haddin the glovesman. World Cup in Australia and New sustained on the final day of the “I will be doing everything rounder Mitchell Marsh, while told reporters at the Melbourne “I’ve been in these situations Zealand starting on February 14. four-wicket victory in Brisbane I can,” he told reporters when captain Michael Clarke will miss Cricket Ground (MCG) ahead of before, that’s cricket. I’m com- The middle-order batsman has on Saturday. the team arrived in Melbourne the rest of the series after sur- this week’s third Test. fortable where my game’s at, been used as a bowling option The aggressive opener, one of on Monday. “Obviously it’s a bit gery on a hamstring problem. “He’s a good leader, he’s only everything’s going in the right more often in the last 12 months. Australia’s best performers with painful, it’s the one I broke before, REUTERS young but he’s going to get better direction, I’d just like to get more REUTERS and better at it. runs.” REUTERS India up against MCG record to save Aussie series

India’s MELBOURNE: India must for 148 to leave the Australians While India routinely master from, but ideally would go in to captain reverse a demoralising los- chasing 128 runs for a four-wicket Australia on their home pitches, the Boxing Day showpiece with ing streak at the Melbourne victory in Brisbane. winning the last seven Tests Mitchell Johnson, Harris and Josh Mahendra Cricket Ground (MCG) to pre- Dhoni said India had not been straight, it’s the reverse situa- Hazlewood, who took seven match Singh Dhoni vent Australia from regaining getting the 50-50 umpire calls tion Down Under. But the tour- wickets on his debut in Brisbane. (left) and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in and were not far off winning away ists now have pace weapons with “The Gabba Test was played at India’s Friday’s Boxing Day third Test. from home where they have a Varun Aaron, Umesh Yadav and a fast pace, it was four-and-a-half Varun Aaron Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s tour- dismal record of just one victory Ishant Sharma. runs an over for the whole Test watch the ists trail 2-0 in the four-match from their last 21 away Tests. “It was quite good to see our match,” Australia coach Darren presentation series after defeats in Adelaide “There’s plenty of areas we’re fast bowlers still running in, Lehmann said. after England and Brisbane, and have lost their showing improvement, but we’re giving 100 percent,” said Dhoni, “It was exciting again and it’s win Test last five encounters at the MCG still not crossing the line,” Dhoni who is lining up for his 90th Test been an amazing nine days of Test match and stretching back 23 years. said. match as a player and 60th as cricket.” series at While India have competed well “We need to give it a bit more captain in the Melbourne Test. Lehmann said he expects the Oval, in in the series, they unravelled both time. Once they start crossing “We have seen the execution opener David Warner, who was this August times in their second innings. that line, once they harness that power of our fast bowlers has struck a painful blow on his left 17, 2014 file The Indians lost their last aggression in the right channel increased.” thumb while facing Aaron in photo. seven wickets for 73 to go down you’ll see plenty of good results The home side has a pool Brisbane, to play in the third Test by 48 runs in Adelaide and nine from this side.” of five pace bowlers to choose at the MCG. AFP WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 31

Lekhwiya’s Danish head coach Michael Laudrup (left) who was awarded the best coach in Qatar Stars League for December 2014 for his team’s perform- ance during the recent five games played dur- ing this month, as he achieved four victories and one draw to gain 13 points out of 15. RIGHT: Al Sadd striker Hassan Al Haydoos, the most valuable player for December 2014. Chelsea sink Stoke to go top Terry and Fabregas score in 2-0 win; Man City three points behind EPL leaders

STOKE-ON-TRENT, United for Spain midfielder Fabregas. the most likely to get a second Kingdom: Chelsea ensured Mourinho’s men coped better goal and Brazilian winger Willian they will spend Christmas Day with the blustery conditions at saw a free kick deflect wide for a on top of the Premier League the Britannia Stadium and came corner. as goals from John Terry and close to a second as Diego Costa Crouch had endured a frustrat- Cesc Fabregas gave the leaders dragged a shot wide of the post. ing evening and he was replaced a gritty 2-0 victory at Stoke on Stoke defender Phil Bardsley by Mame Diouf as Stoke boss Monday night. was only booked for a late chal- Mark Hughes looked for a way It was not the most fluent per- lenge on Hazard on the touch- back into the contest. formance from Jose Mourinho’s line, a decision that prompted Marco Arnautovic then saw an side but, at a venue where Mourinho to protest from outside effort deflected wide for a corner Arsenal recently lost 3-2, it the technical area. but Stoke’s set pieces were prov- was the result and not the per- And that incident seemed to ing to be unthreatening. formance which mattered most spur on Stoke, who went close Charlie Adam was brought and the Blues now sit three within seconds as Steven N’Zonzi’s on to improve Stoke’s quality in points clear of second placed deflected shot was pushed behind possession. Manchester City heading into by Thibaut Courtois. And immediately Walters came the hectic festive programme. But it should have been 2-0 on close to getting on the end of an City’s win over Crystal Palace the half hour as a Fabregas pass Adam delivery, while the Scottish on Saturday had drawn them breached the Stoke offside trap midfielder also drilled a left- level on points with Chelsea, but and Costa ran through before footed shot wide from the edge of this was an emphatic response dragging his tame shot wide. the area from N’Zonzi’s lay-off. from the west Londoners as they Stoke created brief moments But Fabregas settled the bid to wrestle the title from the of optimism at the start of the contest 12 minutes from time, Eastlands outfit. second half with Peter Crouch taking Hazard’s pass before scuff- The only concern for Chelsea heading over from Bardsley’s ing his shot past Begovic from was a late injury to Belgium play- cross from the right. close-range. maker Eden, Hazard, who was At the other end, Willian’s run It may have been a fortunate replaced after getting a kick to from the right ended with a shot strike but the Spaniard joyously his foot following a challenge by straight at Begovic. celebrated his fourth goal for the Jon Walters. The Blues carved out club he joined from Barcelona in Chelsea could not have got off another opening as Hazard the close-season. to a better start as they took the crossed for Fabregas whose Chelsea could have added a lead inside the opening 90 sec- near-post flick failed to overly third late on, with substitute onds when Terry rose highest trouble Begovic. Andre Schuerrle setting up Costa above Geoff Cameron to head Chelsea were not at their free- who was denied by Begovic. a Fabregas corner past Asmir flowing best, with Nemanja Matic Stoke refused to give up and Begovic. summing up a disjointed perform- Oussama Assaidi was foiled by It was the former England cap- ance with an air shot when well Courtois after finding space down Stoke City’s Marko Arnautovic (left) in action against Chelsea’s Willian during the English Premier League tain’s first league goal of the sea- placed. the left and Adam fired just over match at the Britannia Stadium in Stoke, Britain, on Monday night. son and a 12th assist of the season But the steely visitors were still in stoppage-time. AFP China names 23-man squad for Asian Cup

BEIJING: China yesterday The 3-1 defeat to Iraq made for announced its 23-man squad for a chastening start for the newly the 2015 Asian Cup to be held in hired Perrin, whose team barely Australia in January. avoided missing out on the Asian The 2013 Asian player of the Cup for the first time since the year Zheng Zhi, who plays for club 1970s. giants Guangzhou Evergrande, Despite wealthy Guangzhou’s will bolster the midfield. emergence as kings of Asian club Zheng was a hit with fans soccer, China have a woeful record Juventus player pose for a picture before their Italian Super Cup match against Napoli in Doha on Monday night. Napoli won 6-5 in the penalty shoot out. during nearly three seasons at at national level. Charlton Athletic and a year China, who won only two of with Scottish giants Celtic their six qualifiers, will have their before returning to China to work cut out at next year’s tour- join Guangzhou Evergrande in nament in Australia with heavy- 2010. duty competition in the form of Importance of purity of sport Also bringing an international the hosts, defending champions flavour is midfielder Hao Junmin, Japan and South Korea. who made 14 league appearances China squad: for Germany’s Schalke 04 in 2010 Goalkeepers: Wang Dalei and 2011. (Shandong Luneng), Zeng Cheng featured at Super Cup in Doha The roster also includes (Guangzhou Evergrande), Yan Guangzhou Evergrande striker Junling (Shanghai SIPG) DOHA: The importance of pro- the message of pure sport to a glo- UNICEF and Brazilian child pro- ideals and values that sport can Gao Lin and his midfield team- Defenders: Zhang Linpeng tecting the dream of pure, fair bal audience. Players, coaches and tection authorities including the teach young people and to share mate Zhang Linpeng, whose red (Guangzhou Evergrande), and clean sport took centre- prominent guests also expressed Secretariat for Human Rights. this important message around carding this year damaged their Ren Hang (Jiangsu Guoxin- stage as Save the Dream used their solidarity by wearing Save Titled ‘It’s in your hands to pro- the world. teams bid for the AFC Champions Sainty), Zhang Chengdong the global platform of the Super the Dream badges, pins, caps tect’, the initiative encompassed “I would like to thank the QFA, League title. (Beijing Guoan), Jiang Zhipeng Coppa final in Doha to promote and scarves in support of the a widespread outreach campaign Aspire Academy and Lega Serie A He is joined at the front by (Guangzhou R&F), Mei Fang sport values and issue a call campaign. designed to mobilize people on the for helping to promote the values Yang Xu, who plays for Shandong (Guangzhou Evergrande), Ji to safeguard sport against the Save the Dream presented fundamental right of every child of sport and call on other organi- Luneng at home and scored in Xiang (Jiangsu Guoxin-Sainty), threat of violence, discrimina- a specially-curated exhibition to be protected from violence and sations around the world to do the China’s build-up for the Cup in Li Ang (Jiangsu Guoxin-Sainty) tion and misconduct in all its of the Magnum Photos with discrimination in the context of same.” a 3-0 over Thailand in October. Midfielders: Zheng Zhi forms. Save the Dream project at the major sporting events. Save the Dream is a joint pro- Young midfielder Liu Binbin (Guangzhou Evergrande), Wu While Juventus and Napoli Al Sadd Stadium. The selected Mohammed Hanzab, President gramme of the International will make his cup debut after a Xi (Jiangsu Guoxin-Sainty), Hao played out an enthralling match, images form part of the collection of the International Centre for Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) strong domestic season. Junmin (Shandong Luneng), Save the Dream made their pres- “Noites do Brasil”; which includes Sport Security (ICSS) said: and Qatar Olympic Committee Former Lyon boss Alain Yu Hanchao (Guangzhou ence felt by undertaking several over 100 stunning images taken “It is crucial to engage and that promotes and protects the Perrin is China’s coach fol- Evergrande), Wu Lei (Shanghai match day activities in coopera- by Magnum photographers in the inspire the next generation of core values of sport for young lowing a lengthy search to SIPG), Yu Hai (Guizhou Renhe), tion with Aspire Academy, Qatar streets of Brazil around the twelve young athletes and fans to share people at a global level. replace Spaniard Jose Antonio Sun Ke (Jiangsu Guoxin- Football Association and Lega 2014 FIFA World Cup host cities with them how important it is to Save the Dream has enjoyed a Camacho, sacked after a humil- Sainty), Liu Jianye (Jiangsu Serie A. capturing the universal emotion, safeguard sport against the threat close cooperation with Lega Serie iating 5-1 defeat by Thailand Guoxin-Sainty), Liu Binbin Children wearing Save the spirit and passion for sport. of violence, discrimination and A. During the 2013-14 season, a last June. (Shandong Luneng), Liao Lisheng Dream colours escorted the play- The impetus for “Noites do misconduct. campaign designed to promote China survived an almighty (Guangzhou Evergrande), Cai ers on to the pitch while banners Brasil” was sparked by an impor- “With the Super Coppa final the awareness of sport integ- scare before scraping into the Huikang (Shanghai SIPG) and short films displayed in the tant initiative launched during the taking place in Doha for the rity among young people, was Asian Cup on goal difference Forwards: Gao Lin (Guangzhou stadium prior to kick-off and dur- 2014 FIFA World Cup™ by Save very first time, this was an ideal launched in 10 stadia across Italy. thanks to a late penalty in their Evergrande), Yang Xu (Shandong ing half-time helped to promote the Dream, in partnership with platform to promote the positive THE PENINSULA 3-1 defeat to Iraq in March. Luneng). AFP Wednesday 24 December 2014 2 Rabial I 1436 Volume 19 Number 6289 Sport Price: QR2

Watson Chelsea sink ‘shaken’ by Stoke to grab

Available every Wednesdays in all leading supermarkets and bouncer blow the top spot shops in Qatar & Bahrain Sport | 30 Sport | 31

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Jedinak, Cahill to GCC Beach Volleyball Championship kicks off today lead Australia bid Hosts unveil 23-man squad for Asian Cup

SYDNEY: Crystal Palace cap- pulsating final. tain Mile Jedinak and stalwarts Seven players in the squad are Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano playing in the domestic A-League, will lead Australia’s bid for including Wellington Phoenix Asian Cup glory after coach striker Nathan Burns who forced Ange Postecoglou unveiled a his way back into the reckoning 23-man squad yesterday. with 10 goals in 11 games this The Socceroos face Kuwait in season. the opening match of the tourna- The Socceroos will assemble in ment in Melbourne on January 9 Melbourne for a pre-tournament and Postecoglou has stuck with training camp from Saturday 16 of the players who went to the with Postecoglou confident he World Cup in Brazil. can deliver at a tournament on But he also injected some home soil. young talent and recalled in-form “From our perspective, we’re striker Nathan Burns, who is the pretty comfortable with this leading scorer in the A-League group that they’ll all be available this season. and, more importantly, capable The Secretary General of the Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA) and the Chairman of the Qatar Beach Volleyball “It’s been almost six months of playing out the whole tourna- Committee, Mohammed Ali Al Mohannadi (front row, second from left), poses with volleyball officials from various in the making since the FIFA ment,” he said. AFP GCC nations at the Movenpick Hotel in Doha yesterday where the technical meeting and draw ceremony for World Cup,” Postecoglou said of the 16th GCC Beach Volleyball Championship was held. The tournament kicks off today at the Qatar Beach his squad which contains no real Volleyball Academy (QVBA) courts at Al Gharafa Stadium. Oman A, Bahrain B, Saudi Arabia A, Qatar A and Qatar surprises. Australia Squad D have been drawn in Group A while Bahrain A, Oman B, Saudi Arabia B, Qatar B and Kuwait are in Group B. “We’ve had a series of games Terry Antonis (Sydney FC), Aziz Behich PICTURE: SALIM MATRAMKOT where there have been some (Bursaspor), Mark Bresciano (Al Gharafa), pretty clear objectives, particu- Nathan Burns (Wellington Phoenix), Tim Cahill larly in terms of broadening the (New York Red Bulls), Jason Davidson (West pool and seeing whether we could Brom), Ivan Franjic (Torpedo Moskva), Eugene get some better balance in the Galekovic (Adelaide United), Chris Herd (Aston squad and more depth. Villa), Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace), Tomi “In the end, I’m pretty pleased Juric (Western Sydney Wanderers), Robbie with the 23 we’ve ended up with. Kruse (Bayer Leverkusen), Mitchell Langerak “There’s a good combination of (Borussia Dortmund), Mathew Leckie (FC the core of the group that went Ingolstadt), Massimo Luongo (Swindon Town), to the World Cup, there’s some Matt McKay (Brisbane Roar), Mark Milligan experience there, but also a sprin- Mile Jedinak (top) and Tim Cahill (Melbourne Victory), Tommy Oar (FC Utrecht), kling of guys who will enhance the — Burns, Cahill, Jedinak, Robbie Mat Ryan (Club Brugge), Trent Sainsbury squad we took to the World Cup.” Kruse, Matt McKay, Tommy Oar (Zwolle), Matthew Spiranovic (Western Sydney There are seven survivors from and Matthew Spiranovic — where Wanderers), James Troisi (Zulte Waregem), Alex the last Asian Cup in Qatar in 2011 Australia lost 1-0 to Japan in a Wilkinson (Jeonbuk Hyundai) Ticket sales for ExxonMobil Open off to a flying start

DOHA: Tickets for the final (January 10) and semi-finals (January 9) of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open have already been sold out while those for the quarter-finals are moving fast. World number one Novak Djokovic, defending champion Rafael Nadal, world number seven Tomas Berdych and world number 10 David Ferrer will be in action during the ATP World Tour event, which kicks off here on January 5. People can attend the qualify- ing for the main draw on January 3 and 4 for free. In 2014, two qual- ifiers Dustin Brown and Peter Gojowczyk, both from Germany, made it through to the quarter- final and semi-final respectively. “The tickets are selling extremely well for the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, which shows that people in Doha and Qatar are aware of the quality of the play- ers such as Djokovic and Nadal and many others who are com- ing for the tournament. It is great to see that the semis and finals are already sold out. Those who cannot get tickets for the last Defending champion Rafael Nadal of Spain in action during the second two days can come for the early round of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open Tennis tournament in Doha earlier rounds while tickets are still available and see fantastic tennis this year. too,” said Qatar ExxonMobil Open The Qatar ExxonMobil Open Play commences on January 3 Tournament Director Karim will be held at the Khalifa at 11am, on January 4 it starts at Alami. International Tennis and Squash 3.30pm. Main draw play starts A popular day for tennis fans Complex and tickets are available at 3.30pm on January 5-8. Semi- would be January 7. The second now at City Center, Landmark, final play starts at 4.30pm and the round of the competition will held Lagoona, Villaggio, on-site at the finals commence from 5.30pm. on this day and it is common for Khalifa International Tennis and Gates open 90 minutes before the the stars to get tested or even Squash Complex and from www. start of play each day. beaten in this round. qatartennis.org. THE PENINSULA