ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER

Qatar’s current account surplus to narrow down

Business | 17

Sunday 4 January 2015 • 13 Rabial I 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6300 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780

Show Jumping Championship ends Israel freezes Private firms tax payment to Palestinians to run four over ICC bid JERUSALEM: Israel is delay- ing the transfer of taxes it col- lects on behalf of the Palestinians health centres in retaliation for their appli- cation to join International Criminal Court (ICC), an official confirmed yesterday. Al Ebb to have first wellness centre Israel is also considering filing war crimes suits overseas against DOHA: In a new initiative, pri- The Peninsula during a news Palestinian leaders, sources said. vate firms will operate at least conference. Haaretz daily, citing an official, four primary healthcare cen- “We have a bid for that. It’s the said the move involves $127m tres in Doha soon. plan according to the partnership. (106m euros) in VAT and cus- The Supreme Council of Health The (PHCC) strategy encourages toms duties on goods for the (SCH) has invited tenders to us to do that. We are working on Palestinian territories that pass choose the operators and the it (to choose the private opera- through Israel. bidding process is in progress, tors) but yet we don’t know who “Funds for December were a senior official of Primary will be selected. They are sup- due to pass on Friday, but it Healthcare Corporation (PHCC) posed to follow and meet the was decided to halt the trans- has disclosed. Dr Mariam Ali PHCC accreditations standards. Qatar’s Ali Yousef Al Rumaihi clears a hurdle on the final day of Qatar International Show Jumping Championship fer as part of the response to Abdulmalik, Managing Director, Staff will be provided by them. We at Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club in Doha yesterday. Al Rumaihi on his nine-year-old horse Gunder, finished the Palestinian move,” the paper PHCC, said the private operators will start with four health centres the main event in second place behind Edwina Tops-Alexander. Report on page 25 quoted the official as saying. will provide all healthcare serv- within Doha,” she said. On Friday, the Palestinians ices but the facilities will continue PHCC will open six new health had submitted applications to the to be managed by PHCC. centres across the country this United Nations to join ICC and PHCC’s 2013-2014 report last year to meet the health require- press war crimes charges against October said privately-operated ments of the increasing popu- Israel. health centres will be allowed lation, she added. It has been Three get death for murder Chief Palestinian negotia- to compete with state-backed providing services through 21 tor Saeb Erakat said the freeze facilities, with implementation health centres for many decades. DOHA: A criminal court yes- house during the holy month of her room and stabbed her several was a war crime. “This decision of the National Health Insurance The first facility will be opened terday sentenced three young Ramadan. times. is a new Israeli war crime, but Scheme (Seha). The initiative in Al Ubeib to be operational by Asian construction workers to Through their frequent visits to It was around 1am. They took a we won’t back off in the face of is part of the five-year National the end of the first quarter of the death by firing squad for mur- the house for food, they knew well few items they found in the room, those pressures,” he said. Tax Primary Healthcare Strategy, year. The project also includes the dering an 82-year-old woman in about the premises, including the but failed to open the safe that revenues make up two-thirds of said Dr Abdulmalik. first wellness centre in Al Ebb. It her home. entrance and exit, said Al Sharq. contained money and jewellery, the Palestinian Authority’s annual Initially four health centres in will be a health centre with spe- The victim who lived alone On the day of the incident, they said the daily. budget, excluding foreign aid. Doha will be operated by the pri- cial facilities such as swimming in New Salata was stabbed to entered the house at night. The maid came down but when Meanwhile, legal proceedings vate sector, with more expected to pool, sports clubs, spa, medicine death by the men who broke into All rooms were open except she saw the men carrying knives, at courts in the US and elsewhere be added later. Staff will also be and foot care, healthy food serv- her house with the intention of the one where the woman was she ran back to her room and are being weighed against Abbas, provided by the private operators. ices, healthy cooking lessons and robbery. sleeping. locked the door. Palestinian Authority and other “There will be partnership (of a cafeteria. The wellness centres The incident took place in They knocked her door that They chased her in an apparent senior officials, Israeli sources the private operators) with us. will work with families to main- February 2012, according to ear- was locked from inside. The bid to get rid of her. She locked said. The basis of the complaints The health centres will be under tain fitness of family members lier reports. woman ranged the bell to alert the door and called the woman’s would be that Abbas’s partnership the management of PHCC, but and their psychological and nutri- The victim’s house was adja- her maid who was upstairs and relatives for help who, in turn, in a consensus government with they (the private operators) tion health which has a direct cent to a construction site where moved with the help of a walking alerted police. Hamas makes him complicit in will provide the services on our impact on public health. the three men worked. stick to open the door. The men ran way but were the group’s rocket attacks from behalf,” said Dr Abdulmalik, THE PENINSULA The woman used to pro- As soon as she opened the door, caught shortly, with the help of Gaza against civilians in Israel. in response to a question from Continued on page 5 vide them with meals at her the men dragged her back into the maid. THE PENINSULA AFP Feathered guests Saudi to reopen Ministry collects samples of embassy in Iraq food product for pork tests RIYADH: Saudi Arabia announced yesterday it was DOHA: The Ministry of Economy and Commerce said yesterday sending a delegation to Iraq that it had collected samples of a food product for laboratory tests ahead of opening an embassy in after reports that it contains pork. Baghdad where its last mission According to a post on the ministry’s Twitter account, a neighbour- closed nearly 25 years ago. ing GCC country has seized stocks of the product for containing pig A foreign ministry statement meat. The ministry, however, didn’t disclose the name or details of said yesterday that the delega- the product. tion would “take decisions to choose and equip buildings” for an embassy in Baghdad and a Fog disrupts flights in Abu Dhabi consulate in Arbil, capital of the DUBAI: Etihad Airways reported serious disruption to arrivals autonomous Kurdistan region in and departures for all airlines after fog forced temporary closure of the north. Abu Dhabi International Airport yesterday. Diplomatic ties between both The airport was closed for a little more than an hour from 2.30am, countries were severed in 1990 Etihad said. “These conditions have resulted in unprecedented conges- but restored in 2004 after the fall tion at the airport and will lead to knock-on delays throughout the of Saddam Hussein’s regime. network for the next 24 hours,” the airline said. THE PENINSULA Last November, Iraqi President Fuad Masum visited Turkey okays new church Saudi Arabia for the first such high-level trip in years in a sign ANKARA: Turkey’s Islamic-rooted government has authorised of warming ties. the building of the first church in the country since the end of the AFP Migratory birds settling to roost on their wintering grounds in Sailiya yesterday. SYED OMAR Ottoman empire in 1923. More pictures on page 4 The church is for the tiny Syriac community and will be built in the Istanbul suburb of Yesilkoy on the shores of the Sea of Marmara, which has Greek Orthodox, Armenian and Catholic churches. “It is the first since the creation of the republic,” a government source said yesterday. “Churches have been restored and reopened to the public, but no new church has been built until now,” he added. Girl survives US plane crash that kills four Turkey, which once had large Christian minorities, is 99 percent Muslim, and critics of the ruling party AKP have accused it of trying WASHINGTON: A seven-year-old girl “She was bleeding pretty bad, her legs were hospital for treatment to non life-threatening to Islamicise its officially secular society. walked free from the wreckage of a pri- bleeding, her face had a bloody nose. She was injuries, State Police Sergeant Dean Patterson vate plane that crashed in a wooded area of barefoot, only had one sock on,” he told NBC said in a statement. AirAsia plane parts found Kentucky on Friday killing four others on News by telephone Saturday. Emergency crews raced to the area and board, US police said. “She told me that her mom and her dad later located the small plane. PANGKALAN BUN: Indonesia pledged yesterday to investigate Police were alerted to the crash when they were dead, and she was in a plane crash, and “Investigators on scene confirm four fatali- flight violations by AirAsia, as search teams found four large parts received an emergency call from a local resi- the plane was upside down,” he added. ties at the crash site. of the airline’s plane that crashed into the sea last weekend with 162 dent, they said in a statement on Facebook. He said he got a washcloth to clean her The fatalities account for the pilot and people on board. The transport ministry said the aircraft had been The 71-year-old man, Larry Wilkins, said wounds and immediately called emergency remaining passengers,” a subsequent police flying on an unauthorised schedule when it crashed, and the airline he was watching television at about 6.30pm, services. statement on Facebook said. had been suspended from flying the route from the city of Surabaya when he heard a knock. The girl was distressed and taken to a AFP to Singapore. AGENCIES SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Five primary health centres to work 24 hours PHCC plans to open 19 new centres by 2019 to meet growing needs

DOHA: Patients would be able being made based on surveys Mashaf, Ain Khalid, Al Khor, to receive services around the involving visitors. and Al Shamal for health and clock at some primary health- Further working time at some wellness. care centres in future, says a centres has been increased. Another four health centres senior official. The centre in Mesaimeer is are at the planning stage and Five centres in and outside also open during weekend and will be built in Al Sadd (health Doha, including at places like working hours at centres in Al centre, urgent care, well- Al Gharafa and Al Shahania, Karaana and Al Ghwaireya has ness centre) Madinat Khalifa, would start operating 24 been extended to meet demand. (health centre, urgent care, hours, according to Dr Mariam To meet the needs of increas- wellness centre) Al Hilal (health Ali Abdulmalik, Managing ing population, 19 health centres centre, urgent care) and (health Director, Primary Health Care will open by 2019. centre, urgent care). www.swiss-belhotel.com Corporation (PHCC). In the first phase, six under Services in the new health Although health centres glo- construction in Al Karana, Al centres will include advisory Tel bally function within a limited Ghwaireya, Al Roda, Rawdat Al clinics, control rooms, special- Fax time, Dr Abdulmalik said some Khail, Al Ebb (wellness health ised clinics, dental clinics, child centres providing urgent care centre) and Umm Salal are set and maternal health clinics, services in Qatar will operate to open in 2015. communicable diseases clin- throughout the day. PHCC is in the first stage of ics, primary emergency care Tel “These centres (providing finding contractors to build four departments, radiology services Fax urgent care) will work round centres in Al Waab, Al Jamaa, (diagnostic) (X-rays, Panorama, Dr Mariam Ali Abdulmalik, the clock, we have identified Al Wajbah and Muaither. ultrasound), patient health edu- Managing Director, Primary Health five of them,” she told a press In a third phase, five health cation, departments for pre- Care Corporation, addressing conference. centres with counselling cen- marital tests, isolation rooms a press conference at the main Changes in working time and tres are scheduled to be built and pharmacies. PHCC building. BAHER AMIN Tel some facilities at the centres are and open in south Al Wakra, Al THE PENINSULA Fax

Tel + 974 44298888 Fax Fruit, vegetable prices drop by 30pc

Tel DOHA: Prices of several types of fruits and most green veg- Fax etables in the Central Market have dropped significantly, with large number of people Tel rushing to the market early Fax morning to buy fresh stocks sourced from neighbouring countries and local farms. “Prices of some citric fruits Tel and most seasonal vegetables Fax have come down by up to 30 percent compared to a couple of www.doha.hilton.com months ago,” Abdur Rahman, a frequent visitor of the wholesale Tel 44233333 974+ market was quoted as saying by a local Arabic daily. Fax 44233000 974+ He said some perishable items such as tomato and leafy vegetables at times are sold at throwaway prices to clear stocks. A box of Jordanian toma- toes (about 8kg) was sold for QR16, Saudi cucumber (7kg) at QR10, eggplant (3kg) at QR5 and Jordanian capsicum (6kg) Tel and marrow (7kg) at QR18 and QR15, respectively. Fax Similarly, Lebanese lemon and apple (5kg) was available at QR15 and QR25, respectively, Lebanese orange (6kg bag) at Tel QR15 and Philippine banana Fresh vegetables at one of the shops in the Central Market. Fax (13kg bag) at QR40. “This is a normal phenom- enon almost every winter sea- and individuals, especially lim- growing competition among Another trader, Wessam son. Not only large quantities of ited-income people with big traders. Yusri, said prices have come Tel fruits and seasonal vegetables families, buy fruits and vegeta- Hafiz said since it’s not com- down due to good weather and Fax start coming from local farms, bles in bulk. mercially viable to keep unsold a high yield in exporting coun- the market is also flooded with He said the price decline is vegetables and fruits in ware- tries. The situation is expected cheaper quantities from over- not only because of plenty of houses, traders clear stocks to continue over the next few seas, including Saudi Arabia,” local produce, it’s also due to the on the same day at any price moths until weather changes in said Mahmood Abdul Hafiz. monitoring by the Consumer because people would not like those countries, he added. Tel He said retailers, restaurants Production Department and to buy them the following day. THE PENINSULA Fax Evening fun on the Corniche Tel Fax

Tel Fax

Tel Fax

Tel Fax www.marriottmarquisdoha.com

Tel + 974 44195000 Fax + 974 44195100

Families flocked to the Corniche as mercury dropped in Doha last evening. Some spent time flying kites. KAMMUTTY VP SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Hotline set up for CMC elections DOHA: The committee technology and ease registra- supervising preparations for tion, the committee has also the fifth Central Municipal allowed citizens to register Council (CMC) elections has via Metrash2 service of the set up a hotline to answer que- ministry. ries from citizens regarding The voters list will be voters registration and elec- announced after completion of tion procedures. registration. The hotline — 2342555 — will Applications for deletion and be available from 4pm to 7pm, addition of names in the list will the Ministry of Interior said in be received from January 28 to a statement yesterday. February 5, said the statement. Voters registration for the A voter must be an original elections begins on January 11 Qatari or one who acquired and continues until January 22. Qatari nationality 15 years ago, The ministry said registration and must not be under 18 cal- forms are available at special endar years, must not have been booths set up in 29 constituen- convicted in a case involving a cies across the country from breach of honour or trust unless 4pm to 7pm. rehabilitated. Dr Hanan Al Kuwari, Managing Director, HMC, with other officials and staff at the new 10-bed supportive and palliative care unit. There are separate booths for A voter must be a resident of women. the electoral district where he Citizens can submit filled can use exercise franchise and forms at the booths. must not be a personnel of the They are also required to armed forces or police. HMC opens palliative care unit produce their Qatari ID and Those who registered earlier documents showing the area must reregister again in view of residence as well as street, of the restructuring of the con- house and electricity numbers. stituencies, said the committee. To benefit from modern THE PENINSULA at cancer and research centre Ministry detected 82 It provides support with symptoms control in late stages of illnesses DOHA: A new 10-bed “It aims to ensure the best American Women’s Association These include increasing the Supportive and Palliative Care possible quality of life, support- donated time and effort to add number of dedicated multi- Unit has opened at National ing patients and their families in some finishing touches to the disciplinary teams, successfully violations last month Centre for Cancer Care and a dedicated, specialised environ- rooms,” he said. meeting the two-day target time Research (NCCCR). ment. I am thankful to all those The unit also has an activity for urgent cancer referrals to be DOHA: The Ministry of displaying products outside their Palliative care takes a holistic who have contributed time and room and a multi-disciplinary seen by a specialist, and increas- Economy and Commerce premises without permission, approach and looks at the whole effort to develop the service and team to look after patients, ing the number of specialist can- reported 82 violations across reducing prices without permis- person, whether their needs are am delighted to be able to declare including specialist doctors, cer clinics. Doha in December. sion, not displaying announce- physical, emotional, spiritual or it open.” clinical nurse specialists and It recently launched a new pro- Inspectors from the Consumer ments in Arabic, and selling goods social. Professor Alexander Knuth, healthcare professionals, such as gramme at NCCCR — ‘Putting Protection Department raided not complying with standards set Inaugurating the unit, Dr Medical Director, NCCCR, said dieticians and clinical psycholo- Patients First’ — to assess patient several outlets and detected 21 by the authorities. Hanan Al Kuwari, Managing a large multi-disciplinary team gists. It has been designed with experience to ensure patients violations, including failure to The ministry said violations Director, Hamad Medical was involved in the development palliative care in mind and is always remain at the centre provide product description, not had dropped in December com- Corporation (HMC), said it was of the unit in addition to support therefore a tranquil environment of healthcare delivery at the showing it properly or giving fake pared to previous months and a very important milestone in from community groups. conducive to providing end-of-life hospital. descriptions, according to a state- attributed the decline to the the journey of transformation for “The unit has 10 single en- care. An interactive patient experi- ment by the ministry yesterday. department’s effort to reach out cancer services. suite rooms and the aim is that Since the launch of the ence app was also launched to The ministry also fined 16 to all traders during inspection “Patients who need support they feel like a comfortable National Cancer Strategy in measure the quality of patient outlets for not displaying prices campaigns. Fines included from with symptom control in the ‘home-away-from-home’ for our 2011, HMC has implemented experience in the hospital in real and fined seven shops for selling QR6,000 to QR30,000 in addition late stages of their illnesses, can patients. service enhancements which have time so that quick action can expired goods. to temporary closures based on receive the care they need in pri- “Each room has been decorated directly improved the care deliv- be taken based on the results Traders were also fined for violations. THE PENINSULA vacy and with dignity at the unit. to feel a little less like a hospital. ered to cancer patients. received. THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Migratory birds arrive in Qatar

Come winter and migratory birds start arriving in Qatar from colder regions in search of food and rest. Flocks of different species were seen in Al Hassad farm and on their wintering grounds in Sailiya. SYED OMAR

Deputy PM leaves Brazil BRASILIA: The Deputy Prime Minister QC gets donation for kidney patients and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud left the Brazilian capital Brasilia yesterday Korean Business Centre hands over part of proceeds from food festival for Doha. He took part in the inauguration of President DOHA: Qatar Charity (QC) has Dilma Rousseff and held talks with US Vice- received a donation from Korean President Joe Biden. Business Centre of the Commercial Department at the South Korean Qatar, Tunisia ties reviewed embassy for the benefit of kidney patients at Hamad General Hospital. TUNIS: Tunisian Foreign Minister Mongi The donation was made part of the Hamdi and Interior Minister Lotfi Ben embassy’s corporate social responsi- Jeddou held separate meetings with Qatari bility and presented by Ambassador Ambassador Abdullah bin Nasser Al Chung Keejong to Mohammed bin Humaidi. Talks dealt with means of enhanc- Ali Al Ghamdi, Executive Director, ing cooperation. QNA Department for International Development, QC, at the QC headquarters. Mohammed Rashid Al Hashemi, Director, Lulu Hypermarkets, ICC plans awareness Kwang-Il Lee, Head, Commercial Department at the embassy, and Shanavas, Regional Director for Qatar programme, contest to and Egypt, International Lulu Group, were present. mark Environment Day Cooperation between QC and the centre comes within the framework DOHA: The Minister of Environment H E of the Korean Food Festival organ- Ahmed Amer Mohamed Al Humaidi and other ised by the Commercial Section of officials of the ministry held a meeting with the the embassy in cooperation with Lulu managing committee of Indian Cultural Centre Hypermarket. (ICC). Part of the proceeds from the festi- South Korean Ambassador Chung Keejong presenting the donation to Mohammed bin Ali Al Ghamdi, Executive Director, Department As part of its environmental commitment to val was directed to charity work and for International Development, QC, in the presence of other officials. the universe, ICC wants to move ahead with its QC was chosen as the implementing action plans with cooperation and support of the partner, with kidney patients as ben- social responsibility of institutions underlines the commitment of all agreement with Hamad Medical government. eficiaries, particularly those needing and companies make them key part- stakeholders to pursue noble causes Corporation through Qatar Center for The committee briefed the Minister on its regular dialysis. ners of humanitarian and charitable to bring more value to our objectives.” Organ Transplantation to activate the immediate tasks related to the environment which Al Ghamdi expressed QC’s gratitude organisations. Shanavas said: “Lulu and QC have agreement for organ donation. will be taken up by the Indian community prior to to the embassy and Lulu Hypermarket Keejong said, “We are happy with been working together in the service The deal seeks to honour organ Qatar National Environment Day on February 26. for “their noble humanitarian efforts”, the results of the festival and its popu- to the community for a long time and donors and their families and pro- The Minister praised the initiatives and assured saying QC strives to form partner- larity with the Korean community in we are pleased to contribute to this vide social care for the families of the the committee of full support for the initiatives. ships that contribute to society, par- Qatar. humanitarian cause.” donors after their death. One of the tasks is an awareness and competi- ticularly the most needy, and that the “The donation for kidney patients QC has signed a cooperation THE PENINSULA tion programme on environment challenges. It will be carried out by affiliated organisations of ICC (96 with around 45,000 community members) for six weeks starting from the first week of January. The grand finale will feature the presentation of the Ambassador’s Rolling Trophy on February 26. This programme will be conducted by ICC under CILE to host public lecture on ‘Quran and Ethics’ the aegis of the Indian embassy. ICC has prepared modalities and details of the DOHA: The Research Center for Foundation for Education, Science perspectives and discuss a selection University, Saudi Arabia; and Dr awareness programme and competition. Islamic Legislation and Ethics and Community Development (QF). of ethical ideas in the Quran. Abdulrahman Helli, Visiting Fellow It has also arranged a meeting with affiliated (CILE) will host its next public Through this event, CILE supports Dr Mu’taz Alkhatib, Assistant, from Free University of Berlin. organisation which will participate and contribute lecture, ‘The Quran and Ethics: QF’s mission to foster an engaged Methodology and Ethics, CILE, will The public lecture will be the to the Indian community’s endeavour. Concept and Approach’, on society appreciative of its Islamic moderate the event. concluding event of the three-day The programme begins today at Ashoka Hall, Tuesday. heritage, and that is equipped to A group of prominent scholars and specialised closed seminar on ‘The ICC at 7pm. It will be inaugurated by the ICC Part of CILE’s popular monthly address contemporary issues and researchers in Islamic and human Quran and Ethics’. president who will highlight the initiatives. lecture series, the event will take challenges. sciences will participate in the event. Bringing together scholars and Officials from the ministry and the embassy will place from 7pm to 9pm at Qatar The lecture will address the ethical They include Dr Abu Yaarub El experts, the event aims to establish a also address the gathering. ICC vice-president will Faculty of Islamic Studies in Hamad reading of the Quran, in particular, Marzouki, Professor of Arabic and collective framework to help develop make a Power- point presentation on the aware- Bin Khalifa University in Education aspects highlighted by ancient and Greek Philosophy, Tunis University; research in ethical readings of the ness and competition programme for the affiliated City. contemporary scholars. Dr Kevin Reinhart, Associate Quran and explore the role of ethi- organisations, followed by a question-answer ses- CILE is a member of Qatar Faculty Experts will also tackle the Professor, Dartmouth College, cal concepts in rebuilding the legal sion. The head of HSE will propose a vote of thank, of Islamic Studies in the univer- concept, methodology and objec- the UK; Dr Abdulrahman Shehri, system of Islam. followed by dinner. THE PENINSULA sity which is a member of Qatar tives from legal and philosophical Associate Professor, King Saud THE PENINSULA Ooredoo, Regency Group Holding sign ICT solutions deal DOHA: Ooredoo solutions for the Saleh Al Marri, Chief continue to develop has announced a group’s diverse busi- Sales & Service Officer, our portfolio of modern multi-year deal with nesses, including five- Ooredoo, and Hassan services and state-of- Regency Group star hotels, real estate Ibrahim Al Asmakh, the-art infrastructure. Holding to provide and travel agencies, Vice-President, Regency Smart living develop- high-speed fibre among others. Group Holding. ment is the future, and Internet, telecom- The deal was signed Ooredoo will pro- we are excited to be able munications and ICT by Dr Mohammed vide mobile and fixed to work with Regency data services for the Group Holding.” group, and an IPTV Al Asmakh said: “We service for Wyndham have built our reputa- Grand Regency Hotel. tion in innovation and It will also provide the partnership with ICT solutions for the Ooredoo has allowed us group’s upcoming to continue our prom- Entertainment City ise to our customers project in Lusail City and and provide world-class both will work together services across our to develop new smart hotels in Qatar and cut- ICT solutions. ting-edge ICT solutions Dr Al Marri, said: for our customers and Ooredoo and Regency Group Holding officials signing the agreement. “Ooredoo is the part- employees.” ner of choice for major The deal highlights forward to be at the forefront helping businesses supply cus- entertainment and solutions. players in Qatar as we how Ooredoo is pushing of Qatar’s business sector, and tomers with up to date content, THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 HOME / MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 No deal to ship enriched IS jihadists kill 14 Libyan soldiers BENGHAZI: Supporters of radical Islamists are seeking to location and posted a picture pur- Islamic State (IS), the militant exploit a power vacuum in the oil- porting to show the execution of group that has overrun parts of producing nation. one. A rival parliament in Tripoli uranium to Russia: Iran Iraq and Syria, have killed 14 The recognised government denounced the killing. Libyan soldiers in the south of of Prime Minister Abdullah Al There have been attempts by DUBAI: Iran denied yester- to tarnish the climate of talks But wide gaps remain in their the country, the official govern- Thinni, forced to work from the IS to open a branch in Libya at day that it had reached an and make it more complicated positions. ment said yesterday. east since a group known as Libya Derna, an eastern hot spot for agreement with the US to ship to reach a settlement,” the state An interim accord struck In separate violence, forces Dawn linked to Misrata seized radical Islamists. its surplus enriched uranium IRNA news agency quoted her on November 24, 2013, yielded loyal to the internationally rec- Tripoli last August, said IS had The US military is monitoring to Russia under new conces- as saying. steps by Iran to curb aspects ognised government staged air executed 14 soldiers on a road a nascent effort by IS to train a sions aimed at clinching a The semi-official ISNA of its sensitive nuclear activity, strikes on the port of Misrata, a north of Sabha, the main city in couple of hundred fighters in east- comprehensive nuclear deal agency, citing an “informed including higher-grade enrich- western city allied to a group that the south. ern Libya, the commander of US with six world powers. source”, also denied the report: ment, in return for a measure of holds the capital Tripoli. “Members of IS staged an forces in Africa said last month. The Associated Press, citing “The topic of transferring relief from economic sanctions. Both sides also fought with attack... during which they exe- Al Thinni has accused the diplomats, had said on Friday (enriched) uranium abroad has But last November, the two ground troops near the coun- cuted 14 members of the Libyan Tripoli government of rely- that Tehran and Washington been circulating for a while, but sides failed for a second time to try’s biggest oil port, part of a army belonging to the infantry ing on Islamists. It denies this had tentatively agreed on a for- we haven’t had any agreement meet a self-imposed deadline struggle between forces loyal to battalion 168,” the government and says Al Thinni is backed by mula to ship to Russia much of in this regard.” on ending the stand-off and two rival governments allied to said, asking the international former Gaddafi officers. Saqer Al the material that could poten- The head of Iran’s atomic extended the period until June former rebel groups that helped community to lift an arms Joroushi, Commander of an air tially lead to manufacture of energy agency, Ali Akbar Salehi, 30, 2015. oust Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 embargo to help fight “terrorists”. force unit loyal to Al Thinni, said atomic arms by the Islamic had told worshippers at Friday Among sticking points are the but now vie for power. A website called Islamic State war planes had hit Misrata port republic. prayers that the nuclear conflict scope of uranium enrichment, Western powers and Libya’s in Libya claimed responsibility and an air force academy in the It said negotiators had drawn was drawing to an end. the number of centrifuges and neighbours fear IS and other for killing 12 soldiers at the same western city. REUTERS up a catalogue for the first time “Have no doubt that the pace and sequencing of sanc- at their December meeting nuclear issue will be resolved in tions relief. in Geneva, outlining areas of Iran’s favour and we will soon Iran insists its programme potential accord and differences celebrate Iran’s victory,” he was is peaceful and has urged in their 12-year nuclear dispute. quoted as saying by Mehr News. Western powers to drop “unre- Iran’s Foreign Ministry Iran and the six powers alistic” demands hindering a spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham “P5+1” — the US, Russia, China, breakthrough. said “no agreement on any France, Britain and Germany The US and its allies are seek- nuclear topic” had been reached. — are to resume low-level talks ing fool-proof guarantees and “Such news is spread out of on Tehran’s nuclear activities in safeguards. political motives and its goal is Geneva on January 15. REUTERS

Clinical Information System in West Bay Health Centre in February

Continued from page 1 records will be made possible from all health centres “Supporting patients in their health will lead them once the Clinical Information System (CIS) is fully to be more energetic and productive at work which implemented by 2016. will lead to better health and reduce their use of Dr Abdulmalik said even if there is a delay in medical services,” said Dr Abdulmalik. transferring people from one health centre to Wellness centres in Al Roda, Rawdat Al Khail, another, following a change in their residence, it and Umm Salal will open subsequently. And the will be possible to access case records through CIS. sixth facility in Al Ghwaireya will be a regular health CIS has been implemented in three health centres centre. and the fourth will be the West Bay Health Centre Another 13 health centres will open between 2016 in February. and 2018 and those in Al Kraana and Ghuwairiya PHCC is expanding its facilities and services will be renovated. and has hired 83 new doctors with various speci- “We have plans for 19 new health centres by 2018 alities throughout 2014, which reflected a 14.3 per- and six will be handed over to PHCC by Ashghal cent increase in the number of doctors, added Dr this year,” she said. Abdulmalik. As part of upgrading services, access to patient THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Libya rebels Prophet’s birth anniversary kidnap 20 Christians Islamist fighters kill 15 soldiers

BENGHAZI, LIBYA: Islamist their own law in the absence of militants have abducted 20 central control. Egyptian Christians in Libya The country remains awash in recent days, a source close to with weapons and powerful mili- the government said yesterday. tias, and has rival governments The Ansar Al Sharia mili- and parliaments. tia had kidnapped 13 of them As well as Sirte, Tripoli and last Saturday in the coastal city second city Benghazi are largely of Sirte and the rest of them in the hands of militias, and the there over the past few days, the internationally recognised gov- source said. ernment has taken refuge in the Their identity was not immedi- remote east. ately clear, except that they were Separately yesterday, Islamist said to be Coptic Christians. fighters attacked and killed 15 Thousands of Egyptians work soldiers in the town of Soknah, in Libya, mainly in the construc- 180km southeast of Tripoli, a tion and craft sectors, and several source close to the government have been killed in recent years. said. Some of the troops were shot In February, the bodies of seven dead and others decapitated by Egyptian Christians who had been militants who have pledged alle- Egyptian Sufi Muslims wave the country’s flags during celebrations marking the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in Cairo yesterday. shot were found near the second giance to IS, the source added. city of Benghazi. UN-brokered talks aimed at And just last week, an Egyptian ending months of violence and Coptic couple were found dead in political deadlock in the North their home in Sirte, hometown African nation are scheduled to of longtime dictator Muammar begin tomorrow. Hamas slams minor’s killing by Egypt troops Gaddafi, who was overthrown A UN diplomat said the ini- and killed in a popular uprising tiative calls for a ceasefire as GAZA CITY: Militant group the army has created a buffer He was the first Palestinian “to Egypt announced on Tuesday three years ago. Their 13-year- well as a withdrawal of all mili- Hamas yesterday condemned zone to prevent the movement of have been killed in a long time” that work to double the width of a old daughter, who was kidnapped, tias and the disarmament of the the fatal shooting by Egyptian militants. along the border between the buffer zone along the Gaza border was later found dead. warring sides. border guards of what they said “Soldiers charged with pro- Gaza Strip and Egypt, according would begin next week to prevent Local council chairman Yussef Libya’s internationally recog- was a Palestinian minor on the tecting the frontier fired at six to Qudra. militants infiltrating from the Tebeiqa said the attack might nised parliament has voted not Gaza border. Gazans, of whom three suc- An eyewitness told AFP that Palestinian enclave. have been motivated by religion to attend the negotiations if the “We condemn the kill- ceeded in returning to Gaza Houbi and three others scaled Construction of the 500-metre as money and jewellery were rival legislature in Tripoli is party ing (Friday) of the child Zaki while three were arrested. One a concrete wall on the bor- buffer zone along 10 kilometres not taken. Sirte, 500km east of to the talks. Al Houbi by Egyptian army gun- was probably hit by the fire,” an der hoping to find work on the of the border comes after an Tripoli, is in the hands of Islamist Last month, leaders in the sub- fire on the borders, we consider official said. Egyptian side. October 24 suicide bombing that militias, including Ansar Al Saharan Sahel region of Africa what happened as a dangerous Gaza emergency services His mother, Sarah Al Houbi, killed 30 Egyptian soldiers. Sharia, which the UN Security meeting in Mauritania called on development and excessive use of spokesman Ashraf Al Qudra said 35, said that he had “left home Some 800 homes are being Council last month added to its the United Nations to organise an force,” the Islamist organisation that Houbi was 17 years old. to look for work” adding that her demolished in the process. terror list over links to Al Qaeda international force “to neutralise said in a statement. He was killed in the Gaza fron- husband was unemployed and the After that incident, Egypt and for running Islamic State the armed groups” in Libya. “What happened is not appro- tier town of Rafah by Egyptian family stricken by the poverty declared a three-month emer- group training camps. Libya’s violence has drawn priate to neighbourly relations soldiers firing from across the rampant in Gaza. gency in parts of North Sinai Since Gaddafi’s ouster, Libya’s strong condemnation from both between brothers.” border, Qudra said. She said that he was not a — a remote but strategic region small Christian minority has the UN and European Union, An Egyptian security official The border troops shot the member of any militant group bordering Israel and Gaza — and expressed fears over Islamist and rights group Amnesty inter- said that troops opened fire on youth “in the back and the bullet and had tried several times to closed the Rafah border crossing extremism, especially with the national has accused several fac- Gazans who had illegally crossed settled in the heart. He died on get into Egypt but was sent back for two months. rise of armed militias enforcing tions of war crimes. AFP into the Egyptian Sinai, where the spot,” he told AFP. each time. AFP

Bahrain protests Houthi chief Iran Guardian council threatens to seize oil-rich rejects Hijab law TEHRAN: A draft law that The official IRNA news agency, Yemen province would give greater powers to quoting a council spokesman, said Iran’s police and volunteer mili- the 24-point plan contained 14 SANAA: The head of Yemen’s tias to enforce women’s com- flaws and it “contradicted the con- Shia Houthi militia threat- pulsory wearing of the veil has stitution and was not approved”. ened yesterday to take control been ruled unconstitutional, The report did not give specifics. of the oil-rich Marib province, state media reported yesterday. However, the council’s decision targeted by the group since it Under Islamic law in force in is not the end of the law, under seized the capital and central Iran since the 1979 revolution, which lawmakers want to give areas three months ago. women must wear loose clothing, members of the Basij, a religious “If official authorities do not known as hijab, that covers the volunteer force established by assume their responsibilities, (we) head and neck and which conceals the country’s revolutionary lead- will act to support the honour- their hair. ers, power and protection to ver- able people of Marib,” Abdelmalek But many now push the bally caution women they deem Al Houthi said in a televised boundaries by wearing thin improperly dressed. address to supporters in Sanaa. head scarves, tight leggings and The council has sent the law Yemen has been dogged by fashionable coats rather than a back to parliament for amend- instability since an uprising forced chador, a long and traditional ment, IRNA said. longtime strongman Ali Abdullah black garment that covers the The wearing of hijab is an emo- Saleh from power in 2012, with entire body from head to toe. tive issue in the Islamic repub- Houthi rebels and Al Qaeda seek- This has led to claims from lic, with supporters saying it is ing to fill the power vacuum. lawmakers and religious leaders an essential part of Islamic cul- The Houthis, also known as that the rules are being skirted ture for women, but opponents Ansarullah, overran the capital and not maintained by moral- argue that it is an ill-defined legal Sanaa unopposed in September ity police whose job is to ensure requirement. and have since advanced into Islamic dress code is complied The draft law, which was mainly Sunni districts. with in public places. approved by parliament in They have been met with fierce The draft law, called the “Plan December, also aimed to place resistance by Al Qaeda and Sunni on Protection of Promoters of responsibility on employers to tribal fighters. Virtue and Vice” was rejected by ensure hijab is observed by work- Houthi accused “certain” the country’s influential Guardian ers, with companies facing fines tribesmen of wanting to hand Opposition protesters hold pictures of jailed Sheikh Ali Salman during a demonstration in Bilad Al Qadeem Council, a 12-member group that for non-compliance. over Marib to “Al Qaeda and village, Manama, Bahrain, yesterday. Protests demanding the release of the jailed opposition leader contin- scrutinises legislation. AFP the takfiris,” a reference to the ued for a sixth day. Islamist Al Islah movement that has fought alongside Al Qaeda’s Yemen franchise against the Shia group. On Thursday Sunni tribes- men ambushed a military convoy travelling between Marib and Saudi officials to reach Baghdad for embassy reopening Sanaa and seized heavy weapons they claimed were destined for DUBAI: A Saudi delegation will travel sectarian discrimination against Sunnis, a the kingdom’s ruling dynasty had branded Mustafa Alani, an Iraqi security analyst Houthi militiamen, tribal sources to Baghdad in the coming week to start charge Baghdad denies. his predecessor, Nouri Al Maliki, a puppet with close ties to the Saudi government, and witnesses said. preparations to reopen an embassy in The Saudi move would help return of Iran, according to US embassy cables said the move was prompted by both the Three soldiers died dur- the Iraqi capital for the first time in 25 Iraq to the Arab nation “after an absence released by WikiLeaks change in Iraqi leadership and the threat ing ensuing clashes, accord- years, official Saudi media said yesterday. since the toppling of the Saddam Hussein Citing an official foreign ministry from Islamic State, which staged a lightning ing to Yemen’s High Security A thaw in the once chilly relations regime and the penetration of the Iranian source, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) advance across Iraq in June and is the target Commission, which demanded between Saudi Arabia and Iraq could help regime into the joints of the Iraqi state,” said that besides reopening its embassy, of US-led air strikes in both Iraq and Syria. in a statement late Friday the strengthen a regional alliance against said Abdullah Al Askar, head of the foreign the kingdom also planned to set up a gen- “The Saudis think there is a gap now. tribesmen return the military Islamic State militants who have seized affairs committee on Saudi Arabia’s Shoura eral consulate in Arbil, capital of Iraq’s If they leave Mr Abadi without help, equipment they had seized. territory in Iraq and Syria. Council, which advises the government Kurdistan region. A team from the min- he will be forced to go to the Iranians,” Almost 50 people were killed in Saudi Arabia closed its Baghdad embassy on policy. istry would head to Baghdad this week to he said. “With the change of leadership, a suicide bomb attack on a reli- in 1990 after the late Iraqi dictator Saddam Saudi Arabia began cautious moves liaise with Iraq on choosing and preparing change of circumstances, they think that gious celebration by Huthi sup- Hussein invaded Kuwait. It has long towards rapprochement after the appoint- buildings for both missions, so they could it’s time to bring back Iraq ... to the Arab porters in the mainly Sunni city accused Iraq of being too close to Shia Iran, ment in August of Haider Al Abadi as Iraq’s start work “at the earliest opportunity”, fold and to reduce the Iranian influence.” of Ibb on Thursday. AFP its main regional rival, and of encouraging new prime minister. Senior members of SPA said. REUTERS SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Hoping for son’s release Syrians will need visa to enter Lebanon Citizens of neighbouring nation to need visa for 1st time

BEIRUT: Lebanon is to impose visa restrictions on Syrians for the first time after being overwhelmed by an influx of more than 1.1 million refugees, according to documents pub- lished online. The new regulations, posted on the website of the General Security agency, come into effect on January 5 and lay out various categories, including for tourism and medical treatment. This is the first time that Lebanon has required Syrians to apply for visas. Relatives of the Jordanian pilot who crashed in Syria, wait to meet the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Citizens of both countries have Twal (not pictured) in Karak, Jordan, yesterday. According to reports, the Patriarch, accompanied by other been able to travel freely across members of the clergy, visited the family of Lieutenant Muath Al Kasaesbeh, who was captured by IS after their shared border since Lebanon the crash. gained independence in 1943. The new rule is the latest in a series of measures taken by Lebanon to stem the influx of Syrians fleeing their country’s Free Syrian Army fighters use an iPad as they prepare to launch a weapon brutal civil war. toward the forces of Syria’s President Bashar Al Assad in Ain Tarma Turkey gives go-ahead for In October, Social Affairs yesterday. Minister Rashid Derbas said Lebanon was effectively no longer “The goal is to prevent has given indications, how- receiving Syrian refugees, with (Syrians) from taking refuge” in ever, that vulnerable persons in first church in century limited exceptions for “humani- Lebanon, and “to more seriously immediate need of international tarian reasons”. regulate the entry of Syrians”, he protection will be admitted on a A security source, speaking added. He said the visas would be case-by-case basis after review,” ANKARA: Turkey’s Islamic- percent Muslim and critics of the minority, which now numbers to AFP on condition of ano- available at the border, but that he told AFP. rooted government has author- ruling Justice and Development less than 20,000, live mostly in nymity, declined to describe Syrians already in Lebanon and Redmond added that the UN’s ised the building of the first Party (AKP) have accused it of the southeast and tend to be the new requirements as visas, registered with the UN refugee refugee agency had recorded a church in the country in nearly a trying to Islamicise its officially either affiliated to the Orthodox but acknowledged they were agency UNHCR would not be more than 50 percent drop in century, officials said yesterday. secular society. or Catholic churches. unprecedented. required to apply. the number of Syrians refugees The church is for the tiny However, as part of its bid to But their numbers have swol- “This is the first time these The many thousands of Syrians registering in Lebanon since the Syriac community in Turkey and join the European Union, Ankara len in recent years by thousands kinds of instructions have been in the country who are not regis- summer. will be built in the Istanbul suburb has made efforts to widen minor- of Syriac refugees first forced out given,” he said. “The goal is to tered with the UN, among them But aid groups have long of Yesilkoy on the shores of the ity rights and return some seized of Iraq by war and sectarian vio- bring the security and economic wealthy individuals who have not warned that Lebanon, with a Sea of Marmara, which already property as well as restore lence and later by others fleeing situation under control and to sought aid, will have to apply for population of just four million has Greek Orthodox, Armenian churches, monasteries and the fighting in Syria. monitor the presence of Syrians visas when their current residen- people, has been overwhelmed by and Catholic churches. synagogues. During his visit to on Lebanese soil.” Derbas con- cies expire, Derbas said. the Syrian influx. The announcement came after Christians now make up less Turkey in November, Pope firmed that the rules were a first. UNHCR spokesman Ron The new document categories Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu than 100,000 of Turkey’s popula- Francis denounced what he “This is the first time in the Redmond said he regretted that including tourist visas, which met Turkey’s religious leaders in tion of 76 million and are some- termed the current wave of history of the two countries that the new measures included “no require applicants to provide evi- Istanbul on Friday and said no times the target of attacks. “Christianophobia” in the Middle Syrians have been required to explicit provision for exceptional dence of a hotel reservation and faith that has lived in the coun- But the prime minister insisted East, accusing Islamist radicals of define the purpose of their visit,” humanitarian entry”. $1,000, as well as a valid passport try could be regarded as foreign. that the ruling AK Party “does “hunting” Christians. he told AFP. “The Ministry of Social Affairs or ID card. AFP “It is the first (new church) not discriminate between our The various Syriac churches since the creation of the republic citizens... the principle of equal are among the oldest surviving (in 1923),” a government source citizenship continues to be our Christian denominations, and use told AFP. characteristic trait,” he added. Aramaic, the language of Jesus “Churches have been restored He condemned recent attacks Christ, in their services. and reopened to the public, but no on mosques in Europe and urged The new Istanbul church will new church has been built until the religious leaders he met with be built on land given by the local now,” he added. Friday to “speak up together council and paid for by a Syriac Turkey, which once had large against Islamophobia”. group, the government spokes- Christian minorities, is now 99 The country’s ancient Syriac man said. AFP

Al Qaeda, Hezbollah clash kills 23

BEIRUT: Al Qaeda-linked which stretches along Syria’s with Sunni Islamist groups like fighters battled with members of western border with Lebanon, Nusra and Islamic State. Lebanese group Hezbollah and threatening to drag the smaller The head of Lebanon’s security the Syrian army in a mountain- Mediterranean state deeper into apparatus told Reuters that mili- ous area on the Syria-Lebanon its neighbour’s nearly four-year tants in the Qalamoun mountains border yesterday, leading to civil war. were seeking to gain control of deaths on both sides, security The Britain-based Syrian nearby Lebanese villages to sup- sources said. Observatory for Human Rights port their fighting positions. Three Hezbollah fighters, five said Nusra Front had attacked Fighting from Syria spilled Syrian soldiers and more than 15 Hezbollah and the Syrian army into Lebanon several times last members of Al Qaeda’s Syria wing with mortar fire and that the year. Islamic State and Syria’s Nusra Front were killed when Syrian military responded by Al Qaeda wing attacked the bor- Nusra attacked Flita, a village shelling areas in the Qalamoun der town of Arsal in August and just inside Syria in the Qalamoun area. took Lebanese soldiers captive, mountain range, Lebanese and Shia Muslim group Hezbollah and gunmen, including some Syrian security sources said. has sent thousands of fighters to linked to Islamic State, clashed In recent months fighting support Syria’s army in the con- with the army in Tripoli in has raged in the Qalamoun area flict and has regularly clashed October. REUTERS

Iraq attack Islamic State frees 162 men held over flag burning KIRKUK: The Islamic State jihadist group yesterday freed dozens of men it had seized while searching for people who burned its flag in north Iraq, officials and residents said. An intelligence officer and a local official said that 162 out of 170 men were released after being taken by IS from the villages of Al-Shajara and Gharib in Kirkuk province, where two of the jihad- ist group’s flags were torched. A 39-year-old from Al Shajara who was among those detained said that they were taken by pickup truck to an open area where they were bound and ques- tioned about who burned the flag. He and other detainees were kept overnight in houses with five An Iraqi boy walks through the wreckage of a house allegedly dam- to 10 people per room, after which aged in an army rocket attack on Fallujah yesterday. At least 20 people, all but eight were released, the including women and children, were killed in the attack. man said. AFP SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

ACTING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR KHALID AL-JABER

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

Migration crisis Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

UMAN TRAFFICKERS are adept at finding new ways of smuggling people. Their ability to do so can be attributed as much to their ingenuity Has the desperation of those smuggled to flee war and poverty. With large swathes of Middle East and Africa becoming unlivable due to all kinds of conflict and warfare, Turkey’s witch hunt tens of thousands are left with no option than flee or face death or misery. Their destination is mostly Europe, which BY EKREM DUMANLI organisation” threatening the sover- unfortunately is fighting its own battle against immigration eignty of the state. Don’t look for con- after a financial slowdown that caused unemployment and a HEN I FIRST fiscated arms, attack plans or suicide lack of opportunities. appeared in court bombers disguised as journalists. Our after raid a month fault was to report on government The police and judiciary In the latest case, a cargo ship was found abandoned by ago on my newspa- actions that are undermining the foun- its crew with 359 Syrian refugees on board. The Ezadeen, a per in Istanbul and 80 dations of a democratic Turkey. are seizing upon new Sierra-Leone-flagged vessel that had set sail from Turkey, Whours of detention, I asked the judge: The level of media subservience to legislation at odds with was towed ashore yesterday and its passengers, including 62 “Two columns and a news report: Is that the government in today’s Turkey is minors, were being transferred to immigration centres and all the evidence against me?” The judge unprecedented. Most media are directly the Turkish constitution replied, “Yes.” It surely was an “I rest my controlled, with government supervi- foster homes across Italy. This was the second such rescue this case” moment for me — as well as for sors monitoring all editorial content. and international week. On Wednesday, about 800 mostly Syrian migrants were the dismal state of Turkish democracy Anyone who strays is harassed or fired. norms. These laws have rescued from another ‘ghost ship’, the Moldovan-flagged Blue under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. But as members of the free press, or Sky M, which too was abandoned at sea, highlighting a new Turkey’s leader for almost 12 years, whatever is left of it in Turkey, we are been enacted to allow ploy by traffickers who make money by promising refugees a Erdogan contributed to economic suc- simply doing our jobs. All it takes to authorities to prosecute transfer to Europe and prompting calls for stronger European cesses and democratic reforms during be called a terrorist under Erdogan’s his first and second terms. However, regime is speaking out against govern- or persecute whomever Union action in the face of new tactics by human traffickers. emboldened by consecutive election vic- ment corruption and abuses of power. The situation is dire and there is no easy solution. The tories and incompetent opposition par- Verbal attacks, smear campaigns by Erdogan wishes. civil war in Syria has created a humanitarian crisis of ties, he is now leading Turkey toward pro-government media and legal har- unprecedented proportions, with one-man, one-party rule. assment soon follow. the number of people attempting The two critical turning points Since the corruption scandal, a allow authorities to prosecute or per- to cross the Mediterranean came in 2013: peaceful civil society movement called secute whomever Erdogan wishes. It is If a solution his government’s Hizmet, or service, focusing on democ- no surprise that we were taken in just is found to swelling to unmanageable levels. harsh treatment racy, education, interfaith dialogue and days after the approval of a law that Some 160,000 seaborne of protesters in social welfare efforts has become the allows the government to detain based the Syrian migrants arrived in Italy as Gezi Park and primary object of Erdogan’s obsession. only on “reasonable suspicion,” without of the end of November and The level of media the systematic In its mission and values, Hizmet is sim- concrete evidence. conflict, much thousands of others drowned. Most obstruction of ilar to the US civil rights movement. Erdogan’s reckless behaviour is hurt- subservience to justice after a Its supporters are ordinary citizens ing not only his legacy but also Turkey used to cross in small boats in the of the flow of major corruption drawn from a cross-section of public and its allies. Turkey’s image as a sta- beginning, but in recent months the government in scandal. Since or private institutions, but Erdogan ble investment hub has been damaged. immigrants to are using cargo ships. today’s Turkey is then, Erdogan equates their presence in the bureauc- A politics of character assassination, At the same time, the European has branded dis- racy with a legal coup. The government polarisation and suppression inevita- Europe can be public is turning hostile to unprecedented. senters and crit- has purged thousands of police, prosecu- bly creates dangerous social stresses. immigration due to economic ics as traitors tors and other public officials. Erdogan’s An internally chaotic Turkey cannot staunched. Most media who are part of a attack machine has also cracked down be considered a reliable partner for the upheavals in their countries and vast international on Hizmet in the private sector, going international community. Erdogan’s the rise in Islamic radicalism, are directly conspiracy to top- after institutions and businesses affili- authoritarian steps move Turkey away especially with the emergence controlled, with ple him. Just last ated with its supporters. from its long-held goal of joining the of Islamic State. Governments which were sympathetic to week, a 16-year- The latest round was targeting a European Union. immigrants are succumbing to public fury. In Sweden, for government old was arrested month ago of Zaman and the Samanyolu Despite all this, I will never lose hope example, which was known for its pro-immigration policies, for pointing out television station, media institutions in Turkey. After all, this is not the supervisors corruption. On established by entrepreneurs who share first downward spiral that the nation mosques are being attacked and the public are shouting Tuesday, two jour- the same democratic values as Hizmet has gone through. Having heard the vociferously. The result is that European policymakers are monitoring all nalists critical of supporters. Hidayet Karaca, chairman domestic and international outcry after busy framing new rules to curb immigration, which, according editorial content. the government, of the Samanyolu Broadcasting Group, Zaman was raided, I feel even more to one EU official, would make the fight against smugglers a Sedef Kabas and was arrested. I was released but will optimistic. My wife and I have named priority. And they can’t be blamed for acting tough. The EU Mehmet Baransu, still be tried on terrorism charges. A our baby girl, who came into the world were detained warrant was also reportedly issued for while I was in detention, Saadet, which is struggling to cope with the sheer number of migrants, the over tweets. My newspaper, Zaman, and Fethullah Gulen, a US-based Turkish means bliss and happiness. Saadet sym- cost of sea patrols and rehabilitation and the increasing fury of I are just the latest victims of Erdogan’s thinker who was the inspiration behind bolises our belief in the brighter future their public. witch hunt. Hizmet. of Turkish democracy. The darkest hour But framing laws to curb immigration will only be like In the eyes of the regime, the jour- The police and judiciary are seizing of the night is just before dawn. treating symptoms. What Europe needs to do is try to solve nalists, TV producers and screenwrit- upon new legislation at odds with the (The writer is Editor-in-Chief of the the problem at its origin. If a solution is found to the Syrian ers detained by the police on December Turkish constitution and international Zaman daily newspaper in Turkey.) 14 are members of an “armed terrorist norms. These laws have been enacted to WP-BLOOMBERG conflict, much of the flow of immigrants can be staunched• The other side Quote of Improving Kingdom’s education system the day t is probably true to say that the sciences are the most conspicuous The half-baked answer was to have from 21 to 14 and just 12 for second most strongly-felt adult memories areas where there are always new students do a year of German and a and third year students. There is a are to do with school days. Everyone things to teach, new understandings year of Spanish (in addition to the com- clear imperative here. As the number has an opinion about education. to be explained. pulsory French) at the start of their sec- of courses has increased, so has the I I know Brazil needs Generally, surveying today’s school- But there is also evolution in teach- ondary schooling. The result was two burden on students. There are only so going youngsters, that opinion is that ing methods. This includes not just the years of wasted periods in which very many hours in the school day. There to resume growth. education ain’t what it used to be. way pupils are taught. There are also little was learned about either language. are only so many hours that can be A perceived lack of discipline, a lack changes in the way in which the teach- The driving force for change in edu- devoted to homework. The first steps of this of rigor, a lack of generalist education in ers themselves are trained. cation has to be what still works best. The requirements of exams loom over journey are an overhaul favor of early specialisation, are all com- Education therefore, is not some- A well-run educational system will spot the school year. With so much ground to of public accounts, mon criticisms from those who haven’t thing static, sterile even. It evolves and the need for change and will respond cover, it is hardly surprisingly that pupils sat in a classroom for many years. Yet changes. Sometimes that change is accordingly. and their teachers have resorted to rote increasing domestic education here in the Kingdom, every driven by bureaucrats pursuing irrel- Thus, the new education plans for learning. This is simply unsatisfactory. savings, beefing up bit as much as in other advanced coun- evant targets. Thus 20 years ago in secondary schools in the Kingdom While it may get the students through tries, is undergoing a process of steady the UK, the government of the day deserves close attention. The idea is to their exams, it guarantees that they will investments and Dilma Rousseff change. Not least, it evolves with devel- promised to up Britain’s abysmal cut the number of courses in the inter- not have a deeper grasp of a subject. improving productivity. opments in the subjects taught. The record in learning foreign languages. mediate and secondary stage curricula ARAB NEWS Brazilian President SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Echoes of 1991 in Democrats’ race much this. Although Democrats under President Barack Obama have moved left Democrats and in some areas, progressives pointing to 2016 are restless and looking for someone the country were to shake things up. In Warren they see the ideal candidate. Whenever a story appears about divi- denied what might sions within the Democratic Party, there are objections raised by those who con- have been an tend that Democrats across the spec- trum are mostly in agreement on policy matters — economic and social. They epic confrontation argue that what Clinton wrought with his presidency has taken root within between old and the party, that the differences are manufactured. Progressives believe otherwise. They new Democratic say there are substantial differences. Trade issues divided Democrats when philosophies, Clinton ran in 1992 and still do today. Warren advocates increasing Social Security benefits at a time when some offered by two other Democrats believe they will need to be squeezed. But the gaps between those who see Warren as a champion and of the party’s those rallying around Clinton appear far narrower than the differences that brightest minds existed between Bill Clinton and Mario Cuomo. The differences today are both issue- and political based and stylistic. Progressives are pushing for a sharper, more populist edge talents. US Senator Kay Hagan (Democrat-North Carolina) waves along with former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (right) before Clinton to the Democratic message, with more speaks during a campaign event in Charlotte, North Carolina. attention aimed at working- and middle- BY DAN BALZ class families who haven’t enjoyed the fruits of the economic recovery. Warren istory never repeats, but some- his party, seeking to move it off its tra- prominence and political heft; ready there were chartered planes waiting on has that populist edge. Clinton so far times things circle back in ditional liberal moorings toward a new because he had been honing his argu- a tarmac in Albany to fly him to New does not. intriguing ways. How else to centrist identification. ments for years about the need for the Hampshire, a lectern set up outside the Two decades ago, Bill Clinton was Hexplain parallels between 1992 He was anything but a dominant Democrats to change if they hoped to state capitol in Concord and throngs ready to take on Cuomo and his phi- and 2016, with a pair of candidates named front-runner in the fall of 1991, just one recapture the White House. of reporters in each place awaiting losophy — although his approach never Clinton, at the start of their presidential of a number of Democrats with hopes Their differences were substantial. what most thought would be a positive involved a repudiation of the Democratic campaigns, shadowed by liberal icons of and dreams. Although he had served as Cuomo’s governmental philosophy, announcement. past. He always found a way to blend old the Democratic Party? governor of Arkansas almost continu- though he once called it “progressive In the end, Cuomo chose not to run, and new. But today, the question is how For Bill Clinton, it was Mario Cuomo, ously since 1978 (he lost his first bid for pragmatism,” was the embodiment of earning him the nickname “Hamlet on much Hillary Clinton will feel the need the three-term governor of New York, re-election in 1980) and had a network New Deal and Great Society ideas and the Hudson.” to accommodate those who yearn for a who died on New Year’s Day this year. For of friends that extended far beyond the values. After seeing Democrats defeated Democrats and the country were Warren candidacy. How much will she Hillary Rodham Clinton, it is Elizabeth borders of his home state, he knew he in three consecutive presidential elec- denied what might have been an epic move left, while remaining largely rooted Warren, the first-term senator from would have to prove himself to become tions, Clinton recognised that public confrontation between old and new where she is? Massachusetts. The two pairings speak the party’s presidential nominee. faith in Great Society programmes Democratic philosophies, offered by two In the end, Hillary Clinton could end to ever-present tensions within the Cuomo, meanwhile, was a major figure, had waned, that constituency politics of the party’s brightest minds and politi- up as her husband did, without the Democratic Party. But they also high- if a rather reluctant presidential candi- had its limits and that the cultural lib- cal talents. We can only speculate how party’s contemporary liberal icon in light some important differences between date. He was the leading liberal in the eralism of the Democrats had created history might have been changed had that the presidential field. Warren appears then and now. Democratic Party, a politician of intel- roadblocks with many voters whose clash occurred. as or more reluctant than Cuomo did As Bill Clinton began his run for the lectual depth and rhetorical virtuosity. support the party needed to win again Clinton was ready for a fight that never in 1991. Although she couches her White House in the fall of 1991, Cuomo Through the 1980s, he was a counter- nationally. came. Instead, he faced weaker opposi- denials in present tense — “I am not loomed large. Most of the Democrats’ weight to the philosophy of President Clinton also knew at the time that tion — and his own scarred past — in the running for president” — she is doing heavyweights had already passed on the Ronald Reagan and the rising conserva- there were doubts about him among nomination campaign. nothing yet to suggest preparations 1992 race. Then-president George H W tive sentiment in the country. To the party liberals. At a forum in Chicago in Now, more than two decades later, the for a serious campaign. Perhaps that Bush had started 1991 with a victory in delight of his party’s liberal base, Cuomo November 1991, he was asked a planted dynamics of the Democratic nomination will change. the Gulf War that took his approval rat- offered a vigorous defensive of an expan- question about fears that he was a contest are different. Hillary Clinton is In 1992, Cuomo ended up delivering ing to about 89 percent in the Gallup sive role for government, with an empha- Republican posing as a Democrat. His cast as the status quo candidate, a poli- the nominating speech for Bill Clinton at poll. At that point he looked unbeatable sis on aiding the poor, the homeless and answer showed his political agility to be tician rooted in Democratic centrism, the Democratic convention in New York. to risk-averse Democrats. the downtrodden. a New Democrat rooted in old Democrat defending an older order ushered in by He offered a robust, fulsome embrace of Clinton was among those who sensed By the late fall of 1991, as Clinton symbols. “My granddaddy thought when her husband. the young New Democrat. If Warren an opportunity. He had come close to began his rise, Cuomo suddenly appeared he died, he was going to Roosevelt,” Many in the progressive wing of the stays out of the 2016 race, and if Hillary running in 1988 but chose to stay out. as a potentially serious obstacle when he he said. party — just how many isn’t yet clear — Clinton runs and wins the nomination, In the intervening four years, he had announced that he would consider enter- Throughout December of that year, are suspicious of the former secretary of could we see the Massachusetts senator used his standing as the chairman of the ing the race. Clinton was both wary of, Cuomo dithered until it was too late. On state. They see the party as far too tied to in the role of Mario Cuomo at the next Democratic Leadership Council to accel- and ready for, a Cuomo challenge — wary the day of the deadline for filing papers corporate and moneyed interests. Fairly Democratic convention? erate the process of trying to redefine due to the New York governor’s national to enter the New Hampshire primary, or unfairly, they blame the Clintons for WP-BLOOMBERG Abe faces critical year for diplomacy Why I can’t binge

BY KENTARO NAKAJIMA Japan, it could and will focus on the Japan-US alliance and pro- and RYOICHI TERAGUCHI backfire domesti- Japan’s 70 years as mote stability in the Asia-Pacific watch TV shows cally. Therefore, a peaceful nation. region. The government is trying mportant diplomatic issues analysts believe the Meanwhile, to secure a visit during the Golden BY JAYA SAXENA inability to binge-watch means for Japan today include Chinese leadership Abe is continuing Week holiday period in May, so as that I don’t like brilliant shows improving ties with China under President Xi to try to realise a to highlight how Japan and the have never been able to or, worse, that I don’t like televi- Iand South Korea and Jinping will remain summit meeting United States went from enemy binge watch television shows, sion at all. I am berated for not strengthening its alliance with prepared to play with South Korean nations to friendly allies, before Idespite all the modern ameni- taking the time to consume pieces the United States. the “history card,” President Park China’s and South Korea’s offen- ties that put seasons upon seasons of our collective history; I am told Prime Minister Shinzo Abe if needed. Geun-hye. The sive against Japan is expected to of obscure and groundbreak- of the countless series that have (pictured) plans to release an Last year, leaders of Japan heat up in the summer. ing television at my fingertips. shaped our media landscape, the “Abe statement” to coincide with China declared and South Korea The government plans to Instead, I linger, too intimidated ur-texts considered necessary for the 70th anniversary of the end September 3 to have not met for- delay submitting national secu- to begin what has always felt like understanding anything currently of World War II, though it could be “Victory over mally since the rity legislation to enable the a chore, while everyone I know being produced. invite backlash depending on its Japan Day” — this being the day second Abe administration was limited exercise of the right of flies through a whole series in a The problem is that I am content. after Japan signed surrender launched in December 2012. collective self-defense under the week to catch up – or keep up incredibly impatient, which would In any case, 2015 is shaping up documents ending WWII — and However, Park has shown no Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense – with the cultural conversation. seem the perfect fuel for a binge to be a crucial year for strategic December 13 as the “national signs of yielding in her desire for Cooperation until after the uni- The first show I tried to binge watching habit. diplomacy. day of mourning,” commemorat- concessions from Japan over the fied local elections in April. watch was Pretty Little Liars, It’s a good thing, then, that I’ve A senior Foreign Ministry offi- ing the day when the Nanjing so-called comfort women issue. This would provide a specific a ridiculous three-season teen never been bothered by “spoilers”. cial described the government’s incident involving the Imperial Although it may be difficult for benchmark to show the strength- drama now on Netflix that illus- Knowing how something ends basic diplomatic policy for this Japanese Army took place. either Japan or South Korea to ening of the Japan-US alliance. trates one of the main problems does not ruin the story for me year: “Some countries are deploy- On May 9, China is planning to compromise, a source with ties The government also hopes to with binge-watching: if a show is — but I do increasingly enjoy the ing campaigns to damage any trust cohost with Russia a ceremony to the Japanese government said: wrap up contentious negotiations bad, you notice really quickly. The ritual of watching the story unfold [in Japan] by calling up an image of marking the 70th anniversary “It’s an aberration for the leaders with the United States over the constant cliffhangers and campi- on actual live television. the Japan from more than 70 years of its victory over Germany in of neighbouring countries not to Trans-Pacific Partnership trade ness would have kept me coming Binge watching doesn’t give me ago. We intend to express our posi- Moscow. China has also sought meet. We’d like to create a start- pact so a course can be set to set- back had I watched it in real time any of that when I partake either tion clearly, pointing proudly to our South Korea’s cooperation in ing point for dialogue soon.” tling the overall talks soon. – but, watching a dozen episodes solitarily or with a group. It’s pacifist Constitution and the global “resisting Japan” over historical February 22 is Shimane This would be another poten- all in a row on Netflix revealed instead a race to complete some- contributions we have made since issues. In such a situation, the Prefecture’s Takeshima Day, tial achievement for Abe in the just how monotonously formu- thing for the sake of completing the war.” Japanese government is planning which South Korea is expected United States. laic it really was. A similar thing it, to get to an ending that is often The government is most con- to take the utmost care in craft- to protest, as usual. Japan’s diplomacy is approach- happened when a group of friends just a Google search away. I even cerned about China and South ing the Abe statement, which is Then on March 1 a ceremony ing a critical point in relations and I tried to binge on Sabrina, know people who will refuse to Korea escalating their criticism to commemorate 70 years since is planned in South Korea to with North Korea and Russia. The Teenage Witch: even nostal- watch shows currently on TV, of Japan over historical issues. the end of the war. commemorate the “March The Japanese side has speci- gia could only hold our attention and who go to great lengths to “This year, China will use a Abe has said his message will 1st Movement” of 1919, which fied a deadline of one year for for about six episodes. avoid “spoilers”, just waiting until variety of opportunities to get basically follow these statements, involved Korean resistance to the re-investigation into Japanese Being unable to stomach hours they can sit down and watch a across both hard and soft mes- but will also place focus on the Japanese colonial rule. abductees by North Korea, which of middling teen TV may not whole series in one go. For them, sages,” a source with ties to the future. The government plans to Anti-Japanese sentiment started in July last year. seem like a great cultural loss, the isolation of binge watching is Japanese government predicted. establish a working group of spe- in South Korea is expected to In October, a Japanese gov- but it’s not just “bad” shows that pretty much the point – as is the There were signs of improve- cialists in history and diplomacy heighten as the year passes, ernment delegation visited can’t hold my interest for hours immediacy of being able to see ment in ties between Japan and to help craft the statement, and further raising the barrier to Pyongyang and called for the at a go. I’m halfway through what happens without waiting China last year, with the realisa- will seek opinions from a wide a Japan-South Korea summit North Korean government to the eight-episode first season of for weeks as a season unfolds. I tion of the first summit meeting range of figures, sources said. meeting. As for relations with conduct the re-investigation Twin Peaks, but if my husband find I prefer to be part of the jour- between the nations’ leaders in Following past precedent, the United States, the govern- promptly, but there are no pros- didn’t bring up watching the next ney – almost to the point where three years. the statement is expected to be ment hopes to have Abe visit pects in sight for any specific installment so often, I’m not sure the finish has ceased to matter as But if the Chinese govern- announced on August 15, the Washington this year — his first explanations from North Korea. I’d remember to re-start. much as getting there. ment becomes too friendly with anniversary of the end of the war, trip in two years — to strengthen WP-BLOOMBERG My friends assume that my THE GUARDIAN SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL

EU to set up 360 migrants expert cell to fight jihadist leave Italy propaganda

BRUSSELS: The European Union plans to set up a cell of ghost ship advisers in Belgium that mem- ber governments can tap to fight jihadist propaganda, a top EU official told a newspaper Cold, hungry Syrians reach shores yesterday. “The idea is for Belgium to wel- CORIGLIANO, Italy: Italian wave of migrants making the come a cell of experts who can authorities disembarked some dangerous journey across the offer European countries imme- 360 cold and hungry migrants Mediterranean. diate responses to a very serious yesterday from a ship aban- On Wednesday, the navy had communications problem,” EU doned by its crew off the coun- already faced drama after it counter-terrorism chief Gilles de try’s jagged southern coast. stopped another crewless “ghost” Kerchove told Le Soir newspaper. Women and children were ship left drifting with nearly 800 Social media has become a pow- among hundreds of migrants left migrants on board. erful recruiting tool for jihadists, stranded aboard the Ezadeen, Italian authorities told report- with the Islamic State group post- which docked in the port of ers passengers on the Ezadeen ing several videos online show- Corigliano Calabro around 11pm had each paid $4,000-8,000 ing grisly beheadings of Western (2200 GMT) on Friday after a (¤3,300-6,600) for the journey to hostages. delicate operation by the Italian Europe. The experts taking part in the navy to take control of the age- The authorities also provided Migrants smile after disembarking from the Sierra Leone-flagged vessel Ezadeen at Corigliano Calabro harbour, pilot project will offer “counter- ing vessel. new details of the migrants’ southern Italy, yesterday. narratives” and other messages It had been left to drift in itinerary. to fight the propaganda used by stormy seas off southern Italy The passengers said they were Marini said. “We are alone, there The incident marked the third migrants was found drifting Islamic State and other jihadist without fuel or electricity. flown from Lebanon to Turkey, is no one, help us!” Marini quoted sea rescue operation Italy’s navy Wednesday towards the rocks off groups, de Kerchove said. In the dark rescuers had first where they set sail on December her as saying. has been forced to mount in a Italy’s southeastern shore. For example, he said, the experts thought that it could be holding 31 aboard the ship that normally An Icelandic patrol boat Tyr, week. The first arose with after The Blue Sky M freighter was might be able to distribute inter- up to 450 people but after dock- carries cattle. which was in the area on a mis- a deadly fire broke out on the on autopilot, after having been views of jihadists who return from ing, the authorities revised the According to the migrants, sion with the European Union’s Norman Atlantic ferry Sunday abandoned by the people smugglers Syria disillusioned with the cause, count to 360. the crew members masked their border agency Frontex, came to between Greece and Italy. who had sailed it from Turkey. either because they are shocked by Most of the 232 men, 54 faces throughout the journey, the rescue but rough weather Italian prosecutors fear the The appearance of two drift- “sick people who take pleasure in women and 74 children aboard fuelling suspicions they may not conditions made boarding the Norman Atlantic, which has been ing migrant boats in under a the violence” or because the battle are thought to be Syrians fleeing actually have abandoned ship but ship impossible. towed to the port of Brindisi, week has raised concerns that is no longer about removing Syrian the war in their homeland. They mixed in among the migrants After the vessel ran out of could contain the bodies of illegal smugglers have started abandon- President Bashar Al Assad but were all said to be in good health. while awaiting rescue. fuel, five Tyr crew members were immigrants and unregistered pas- ing large boatloads of people in rather a power struggle between Six coastguard officers were ‘We are alone’ - winched onto the ship by helicop- sengers yet to be discovered. European waters as a new tactic insurgent groups. lowered from a helicopter onto The nearly 50-year-old Ezadeen ter to care for passengers until Bari prosecutor Giuseppe to maximise profits from their De Kerchove said the project is the deck of the Sierra Leone- was spotted by a coastguard plane the Italian coastguard arrived to Volpe said almost 500 people may ruthless trade. not yet finalised but the European flagged vessel on Friday to set up 80 miles offshore shortly after take control. have been aboard—far above the The Moldovan-registered Blue Commission, the EU executive a tow for the 40km to the Italian nightfall Thursday. “The migrants aboard were 474 officially on the manifest— Sky M got within five miles of arm, aims to set aside one million coast. A female refugee raised the visibly distressed but overall in prompting fears the current running aground before six navy euros over 18 months to hire five The rescue is the latest in a alarm over the ship’s radio, tell- good medical condition. They have death toll of 13 may rise once the officers were lowered on to the or six experts who work inside the series of maritime operations ing the coastguard that the crew been provided with food, water ferry is fully searched. ship by helicopter and succeeded Belgian interior ministry, accord- Italy has mounted in recent days had abandoned the vessel, coast- and basic medical assistance,” a Three days after the ferry in bringing it under control. ing to the daily. as it struggles with a record guard spokesman Captain Filippo Frontex statement said on Friday. fire, a ship carrying nearly 770 AFP He said the cell would have a lim- ited capacity to advise simultaneously a handful of European governments seeking to tackle a communications problem. “We will see if it leads to something,” the counter-terrorism Power struggle rips open Germany’s eurosceptic party expert was quoted as saying. “If it works well, without doubt some states will develop a certain BERLIN: A power struggle In a letter obtained by Reuters, bailouts for indebted eurozone party of thousands. We want you deputies denounced that as a uni- capacity and would like to con- over the direction of upstart five senior party figures told countries, has also adopted an to be ... one of three equal leaders.” lateral and menacing move. tinue it with their own means. eurosceptic party Alternative Lucke they were alarmed by his anti-immigrant stance. But party Lucke had no comment on the “You’re not going to build con- The idea is to advise; the state for Germany (AfD) burst into plans, denounced his “despot-like leaders are divided about those letter, his spokesman Christian fidence with threats,” Petry and then does what it wants,” he said. the open yesterday when a group style of leadership” and sum- two directions. Lueth said, because he is on holi- her allies wrote to Lucke. “How There was no immediate comment of deputy leaders attacked its moned him to a meeting. Lucke, who founded the party in day. “Even if I had seen it, I would effective can a threat like that be from the European Commission. founder Bernd Lucke and his It was the latest sign of strife 2013, is keen to avoid a drift fur- still not comment on its contents if it comes from a chairman act- De Kerchove said in September plans to take sole control of the in the party that has shaken up ther to the right, while co-chairs because it is an internal party ing on his own?” that around 3,000 citizens of the party. German politics, winning seats Frauke Petry and Konrad Adam matter,” Lucke said in a state- One of the signatories was European Union had flocked to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s in the European Parliament and are eager to see the AfD open up ment via Lueth. Alexander Gauland, party the cause of jihadists in Syria and conservatives, concerned about three German state assemblies, more to voters from the far right. Ahead of a party congress set leader in the eastern state of Iraq as EU member states worry the rise of a party that attracts and has been hovering around 7 “We’re writing to you because for January 31, Lucke had called Brandenburg, who recently that some of them could pose far-right voters and siphons percent in most national opinion we’re worried about party unity,” upon regional AfD leaders to meet caused a stir by calling Lucke a “terrorist” threat when they off some of its support, have polls. Petry, Adam and others told him to discuss his plans to change “a control freak...(who) wants to return to their home countries been hoping the movement will The AfD, which first gained Lucke. “It is no longer only ‘your’ the party’s charter to allow him control every detail.” trained and battle hardened. self-destruct. popularity with its opposition to party as you keep calling it, but a to lead on his own. Petry and the REUTERS AFP Homes lost as bush fire rages in Australia Congo threatens to attack

ADELAIDE: Dozens of homes were feared lost as an intense Rwandan Hutu rebels bush fire raged out of control in South Australia yesterday, with KINSHASA: Democratic 2013 when it helped Congolese firefighters struggling to con- Republic of Congo’s govern- forces defeat Tutsi-led M23 rebels tain the worst blaze in decades ment said it was ready to launch who had seized swathes of North fanned by strong winds. military operations against Kivu, with the support of Rwanda, “Your life is at risk,” South Rwandan Hutu rebels in its east according to UN experts. Australian Premier Jay Weatherill after most missed a deadline to However, the prospects of an told residents of the Mount Lofty disarm and return home or go immediate and quick operation Ranges east of Adelaide, urging into exile. against the FDLR are compli- them to leave as the “incredibly A six-month ultimatum set by cated by rivalries between the dangerous fire” raged in rugged regional leaders expires at mid- various regional powers involved, scrub. night and just 300 of the esti- the rugged terrain the rebels “If you’ve decided to stay, you mated 1,500 rebels have disarmed, occupy and their past history of need to be aware that the fire will according to Congo’s government. striking civilians in revenge when become incredibly scary and could The fighters, known as the attacked. lead you to change your mind at FDLR, include some of the rem- The UN mission is also some point. It could be a cata- nants of the Hutu militia that stretched trying to track down strophic decision for you to leave took part in the 1994 genocide members of the Ugandan ADF- late,” he said. and have been at the heart of NALU rebel group that has been The blaze at Sampson Flat two decades of violence in Congo’s accused of killing dozens in east- was spreading in all directions, mineral-rich east since then. ern Congo in recent weeks. sweeping rapidly from a 154 hec- “The option of disarming (the Nonetheless, international tare area on Friday afternoon to rebels) by force is now inevitable envoys for the Great Lakes region one covering 4,741 hectares with a and all the preparations to do so called on Friday for immediate perimeter of 38 kilometres. have been made,” the government action, saying the lack of volun- “It’s a bit frightening,” said in a statement read on state tary disarmament left no alter- said Graeme Zucker who left television. native to the military option Kersbrook near the blaze and The statement did not give and FDLR fighters must now be was waiting anxiously to find out Embers glow against the smoke-filled sunset near Gumeracha in the Adelaide Hills yesterday. any further details but the rebels neutralised. whether his home still standing. operate in North and South Kivu Rwanda said the rebels had “You might be lucky, you weather abates. “There’s not a fire worst blaze the area has seen in “At the moment, we have a provinces, which lie on Congo’s taken advantage of the disarma- might not be,” he told Australian service anywhere in this world decades. fire which is extremely dan- border with Rwanda and Burundi. ment window to consolidate their Associated Press. “We won’t know that could put this fire out at the So far five homes have been gerous and it is burning under If an assault goes ahead, Congo’s positions and regional leaders until the roads are opened and we moment,” Ian Tanner from the destroyed in the blaze and reports extremely adverse conditions,” government will rely heavily on must now follow through on their can drive back and come around Country Fire Service told resi- have suggested that dozens more South Australia’s Country Fire the UN peacekeeping mission, threats. the corner. If you see the house dents who fled their homes. could be lost but authorities said Service chief Greg Nettleton said. known as MONUSCO, and its “The delaying tactics and there, you jump for joy. If you Residents of 19 towns in the this could not be confirmed until “Right at this moment, residents Force Intervention Brigade, a excuses that have allowed the don’t, well you don’t jump for joy.” Adelaide Hills, an area with a they were able to visit the fire- in the Adelaide Hills are being beefed up unit within the mis- FDLR to perpetuate their crimes The fire is spreading unpre- population of about 40,000 dotted ground. Eight firefighters have confronted by a fire which hasn’t sion that has the mandate to hunt and genocidal ideology should no dictably due to wind gusts, forc- with scenic villages and known for also been hurt fighting the flames been seen in the hills since the down rebels. longer be tolerated,” it said in a ing firefighters to abandon hopes its farming produce and wineries, but are thought to have only 1983 bush fires of Ash Wednesday.” The 3,000-strong brigade statement. of stopping the blaze until the have been urged to leave amid the minor injuries. AFP recorded significant successes in REUTERS SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Qaeda suspect dies before US trial: Lawyer Al Libi dies of liver cancer in New York

NEW YORK: A Libyan accused incriminating statement. over the 1998 Al Qaeda bomb- But Libi had sought to supress ings of US embassies in Africa the statement in court, saying he died yesterday, days before he was on hunger strike at the time, was to stand trial in New York, raising questions about the extent his lawyer and family said. to which he was cognizant when Abu Anas Al Libi, 50, was on he waived his rights. the FBI’s most-wanted list with Investigators told the court a $5m price on his head when he Libi had informed them of the was captured by US troops in the hunger strike during the flight, Libyan capital Tripoli in October but that he had been hooked 2013. up to an IV and under medical He and Saudi businessman supervision. Khalid Al Fawwaz were due to He was responsive, understood stand trial on January 12 over the his rights, knowingly waived them attacks on the US embassies in and spoke willingly, and at no Kenya and Tanzania that killed point appeared confused, investi- 244 people and wounded more gator George Corey said. than 5,000. The August 7, 1998 car bomb- Libi, a computer expert, died at ing of the US embassy in Nairobi a hospital in the New York area killed 213 people and wounded on Friday, his lawyer Bernard around 5,000. Kleinman told The Washington A near simultaneous truck Post, saying the health of his client bomb outside the US mission — who had advanced liver cancer in Tanzania killed 11 people and New York Police Department officers arrive to attend a wake for police officer Wenjian Liu at a funeral home in New York’s borough of Brooklyn yesterday. — had deteriorated significantly wounded 70 more. in the last month. In an indictment, prosecutors Libi and Fawwaz both previ- accused Libi of discussing in 1993 Funeral for grieving, not grievance: Police chief ously pleaded not guilty to con- possible attacks against the US spiracy charges. embassy in Nairobi, and of car- A third suspect, Egyptian Adel rying out surveillance of the dip- NEW YORK: New York’s largest in the history of the shot to death on December 20 not far from where he lived with Abdel Bary, last year pleaded lomatic mission. police commissioner asked department, with more than as they sat in their squad car in his wife of two months and his guilty to playing a role in the 1998 In or around 1994, the indict- members of the force attending 20,000 officers from around the Brooklyn. Their killer, Ismaaiyl parents. A wake, closed to the attacks. ment said, he received files con- services for the second officer country filling streets around the Brinsley, who killed himself soon public, was to be followed by a Libi’s son Abdel Mouin told cerning possible attacks against slain in Brooklyn last month church. after, had said he was seeking to funeral that tens of thousands of CNN by telephone from Tripoli the embassy, the US Agency for to refrain from the “act of dis- When de Blasio began his avenge the deaths this summer police were expected to attend. early Saturday that his father had International Development, and respect” seen at his partner’s eulogy, many uniformed offic- of two unarmed black men at the In a sign of the force’s broaden- been in a coma before his death British, French and Israeli targets funeral, when some of the tens ers turned their backs on televi- hands of white police officers. ing ethnic diversity, observances and that the family holds the US in Nairobi. of thousands in uniform turned sion monitors set up outside, in a The killing of Liu and Ramos are expected to meld Chinese and government “fully responsible” for However, defense lawyer their backs on the mayor. gesture of disdain for the liberal further frayed relations between Buddhist customs with the usual his demise. Kleinman says Libi was inno- “A hero’s funeral is about mayor following his criticisms of the rank and file and De Blasio, traditions of an NYPD funeral, Libi, who also suffered from cent and had cut his ties with grieving, not grievance,” wrote police policies. who vowed to end the New York which date to when Roman hepatitis C, was detained by US Al-Qaeda before the 1998 attacks. Commissioner Bill Bratton in a “For the last seven days, the Police Department’s stop-and- Catholic men of Irish or Italian commandos on October 5, 2013, The United States faced criti- memo to be read at roll calls over city’s and the country’s conscious- frisk policy when he ran for office descent dominated the force. and interrogated on board a US cism after the raid in which Libi the weekend, when a wake and ness has focused on an act of dis- in 2013. Ed Mullins, president of the warship before being handed over was captured as he was park- funeral will be held for Wenjian respect,” said Bratton, who had The mayor, who has a biracial Sergeants Benevolent Association, to FBI agents on October 12 and ing his car in Tripoli, with Libya Liu, believed to be the first previously called the action inap- son, also offered qualified support one of several city police unions, flown to New York. denouncing it as a kidnapping and Chinese-American police officer propriate. He said it had stolen for the wave of protests triggered was among those who turned their He was questioned by the rights groups accusing Washingon killed in the line of duty in the the “valor, honor and attention” late last year by the black men’s backs on de Blasio as the mayor agents on board the flight, ini- of violating his fundamental city. that rightfully belonged to the deaths in New York and Missouri. arrived at the hospital where Liu tially waiving his right to a law- human rights. The funeral for his partner, slain officer. Services for Liu were due to and Ramos were declared dead. yer, during which he made an AFP Rafael Ramos, was among the Liu, 32, and Ramos, 40, were take place yesterday in Brooklyn, REUTERS

Boston bombing trial opens tomorrow as emotions run high Ebola-hit British nurse in critical NEW YORK: The highly conspiracy to use a weapon of life sentences for him instead of some vowing to attend the full who were proclaiming the sus- anticipated trial of Boston mass destruction resulting in death sought by prosecutors. trial in the northeastern US city pect’s innocence. condition bombing suspect Dzhokhar death and bombing a public place She also helped spare which has a population of 645,000. After the hearing, a woman Tsarnaev opens tomorrow, resulting in death. Unabomber Ted Kaczynski from Liz Norden has two sons who yelled out support for Tsarnaev LONDON: A British nurse promising to inflame emotions The federal trial is one of the death, after he sent several explo- each lost a leg in the attack, and in Russian. who contracted Ebola in Sierra 18 months after the bloody most anticipated since Timothy sives to universities and airlines, she said she plans to attend every Defense lawyers have asked for Leone and was hospitalised in attack, the worst on US soil McVeigh’s for detonating a bomb killing three and injuring 23 court session. protesters to be barred from dem- London this week is now in a since September 11, 2001. in Oklahoma City, killing 168 peo- between 1978 and 1995. “I want to try make sense of it. onstrating outside the court. “critical” condition, the hospital Tsarnaev, 21, faces the death ple in 1995. But in order to ease the death I know I won’t, but I just need to Tsarnaev is being held at Fort treating her said yesterday. penalty for the April 15, 2013 Tsarnaev will be represented sentence for Tsarnaev, she would see it through... I have no choice. Devens prison hospital about 70 “The condition of Pauline bombing at the finish line of the by a team of five lawyers, includ- have to strike a deal with pros- I want to know everything,” she kilometers (43 miles) outside of Cafferkey has gradually dete- Boston marathon that killed three ing Judy Clarke, a defense attor- ecutors, which so far seems an said. Boston. riorated over the past two days people and wounded 264. ney known for getting clients off unlikely prospect. She hopes to see Tsarnaev sen- The Muslim of Chechen and is now critical,” the Royal Jury selection will commence death row. Tensions have been high at pre- tenced to death. descent is accused of carrying Free Hospital in London said in Monday for the trial, which is She has represented Eric liminary hearings for the trial, “I want him dead, I think that out the Boston attacks with his a statement. expected to last several months, Randolph, the mastermind behind with small protests at last month’s would be justice.” brother Tamerlan, who was killed On Wednesday, doctors had after a three-month delay. the Atlanta Olympic bombing that court appearance, Tsarnaev’s sec- At Tsarnaev’s appearance last in a shootout with police four days said the 39-year-old Scot was Tsarnaev has pleaded not killed two people and injured more ond since the attack. week, one victim angrily showed after the attack. sitting up in bed, reading and guilty to 30 charges, including than 100. She secured consecutive Families of victims gathered, his artificial leg to demonstrators AFP talking to staff from inside her isolation tent in the hospital. They said Cafferkey, who was working with the charity Save Sweeney funeral the Children in Sierra Leone, had agreed to have blood plasma Conservatives plan to cap treatment and take an experi- mental anti-viral drug. However, they were not able to give her ZMapp, the drug success- redundancy payments fully used to treat fellow British volunteer nurse William Pooley, LONDON: Britain’s ruling “Excessive public-sector because global supplies had run Conservatives said yesterday redundancy payouts — cour- out. they would cap redundancy tesy of the British taxpayer — The plasma was taken from payments for public-sector are all too commonplace,” Patel the blood of a patient successfully workers at £95,000 ($145,588) if said, citing payments of more treated in Europe, in the hope they win a national election set than 450,000 pounds for senior that the antibodies it contained for May 7, as part of their drive civil servants and staff in the would help her fight the virus. to rein in state spending. state-funded National Health Doctor Michael Jacobs, infec- Official forecasts suggest 1 mil- Service. tious diseases consultant at the lion government jobs will go over Prime Minister David Cameron Royal Free, had warned at the the course of the next five-year stressed his commitment to defi- time that “Ebola runs a very vari- parliament. The Conservatives cit reduction when he launched able course and the next few days and their Liberal Democrat coa- an election billboard campaign are going to be very critical”. lition partners have already cut on Friday, contrasting it with Cafferkey, who works for the about 400,000 public sector jobs the more gradual approach of the state-run National Health Service since taking power in 2010 in opposition Labour Party. in Scotland, had been volunteer- order to reduce Britain’s large Labour said yesterday the ing at a British-built treatment budget deficit. government had already wasted centre in Kerry Town when she Junior finance minister Priti money on redundancy payments contracted the deadly virus. Patel, in an article in the Daily when it reorganised National Scottish First Minister Telegraph newspaper, said the Health Service management at Nicola Sturgeon said: “Our Mourners line the street after the requiem mass for Erin McQuade, Lorraine Sweeney and Jack Sweeney Conservatives would make an a total cost of 1.6 billion pounds. thoughts continue to be with held at St Patrick’s RC Church in Dumbarton Scotland, yesterday. Erin, and her grandparents were killed election manifesto pledge to cap Redundancy payments are nor- Pauline Cafferkey and her fam- when a rubbish lorry ran out of control and careered down a pavement crowded with shoppers in Glasgow the pay-offs to public-sector mally based on length of service ily during this extremely dis- on December 22. workers and would introduce and final salary. tressing time. legislation in the new parliament. REUTERS AFP SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES Search teams find four large AirAsia jet parts Airline’s Surabaya-Singapore licence suspended

JAKARTA/PANGKALAN from the port of Pangkalan Bun weather procedures, and later BUN: Search teams hunting in Borneo, said earlier that poor suspended Indonesia AirAsia’s for the wreck of an AirAsia pas- visibility had hampered efforts Surabaya to Singapore flights, senger jet that crashed with 162 to capture images of the objects saying the airline’s operating people on board have found four with underwater remote operat- licence only permitted flights on large parts of the plane on the ing vehicles (ROVs). Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays sea bed, the head of Indonesia’s “The visibility is only two and Saturdays. search and rescue agency said metres,” he said. “It’s cloudy, mak- Djoko Murdjatmodjo, yesterday. ing it difficult for the cameras to Indonesia’s acting Director A multi-national task force detect.” General of Air Transportation, of ships, planes and helicopters Divers, including a team of said yesterday that the Transport have been scouring the northern Russian specialists who just Ministry would investigate other Java Sea and coastline of southern arrived in Pangkalan Bun, may routes used by the carrier, which Borneo to recover the bodies of be able to investigate the sus- flies from at least 15 Indonesian victims and locate the wreck of pected wreckage on Sunday if the destinations. Flight QZ8501 and its black box weather improves, officials said. “We are going to investigate flight recorders. No survivors have been found all AirAsia flight schedules. “We’ve found four big parts from the crash, which happened Hopefully we can start on next from the plane we’re looking for,” about 40 minutes after the plane Monday,” he said. “It is possible Indonesian officers carry coffins with the remains of passengers of AirAsia flight QZ8501 before they are sent to search and rescue agency chief took off from Indonesia’s second AirAsia’s licence in Indonesia Surabaya, in Pangkalan Bun, yesterday. Fransiskus Bambang Soelistyo largest city in an area known for might be revoked,” he added. told reporters in Jakarta. intense tropical thunderstorms Sunu Widyatmoko, Indonesia said it was unlikely more would the AirAsia group, remains were also investigating the possi- The breakthrough came as during the current monsoon AirAsia chief, told reporters the be found floating. unexplained. bility that the pilot did not ask for authorities said that Indonesia season. airline, which is 49-percent owned “Because we’re already in The plane was flying at 32,000ft a weather report from the mete- AirAsia had violated the terms A report from Indonesia’s by Malaysia-based AirAsia , would the seventh day ... the chances and the pilot had asked to climb orological agency at the time of of its licence for the Surabaya to weather bureau said it was likely cooperate with the inquiry. are they have all sunk,” he said. to 38,000ft just before contact was take-off. Singapore route by flying on a the plane had flown into bad “The government has sus- “There’s a possibility they’ll be lost. When air traffic control- Indonesia AirAsia said in a Sunday, the day the Airbus A320- weather which would have been pended our flights from Surabaya found on beaches.” lers granted permission to fly at statement that weather reports 200 plunged into the Java Sea, and difficult to avoid, and that it was to Singapore and back,” he said. Small pieces of the aircraft 34,000ft a few minutes later there were printed in hard copy at the announced they would investigate possible this had caused ice to “They are doing the evaluation and other debris have also been was no response. operations control centre at all its the carrier’s other schedules. form on its engines. process. AirAsia will cooperate found, but there has been no sign A source close to the investi- flight hubs, including Surabaya, One large object was pin- “Based on the available data on fully with the evaluation.” of the crucial voice and flight data gation said radar data appeared and taken by the pilot to the air- pointed by a ship searching dur- the last received location of the Much effort has focused on recorders — the so-called black to show the aircraft made an craft before each flight. ing the night, Soelistyo said, and aircraft, the weather was a fac- finding the mostly Indonesian boxes that investigators hope will “unbelievably” steep climb before An AirAsia spokeswoman three more, the largest of which tor in causing the accident,” the victims of the crash. Thirty bod- unravel the sequence of events in it crashed, possibly pushing it declined to comment on was around 18 metres long, were weather bureau said. ies have been recovered from the cockpit during the doomed beyond the A320’s limits. whether the pilot had followed located yesterday. Indonesian authorities on the sea, although rescue offi- jet’s final minutes. Hadi Mustofa Djuraid, a trans- the procedure described in the Another official, Supriyadi, Friday questioned whether cial Supriyadi, who like many The cause of the crash, the port ministry official, told report- statement. who is coordinating the operation the pilot had followed correct Indonesians uses just one name, first fatal accident suffered by ers on Friday that authorities REUTERS

Violence escalates ahead of Sri Lanka elections: Officials Labour group slams transport COLOMBO: Campaign-related elected representatives are among Maithripala Sirisena, narrowly The attack came hours after to become the main opposition violence escalated across Sri those who have been arrested in escaped a stone attack at a politi- Sri Lanka’s External Affairs min- candidate. fare increase Lanka ahead of next week’s connection with 245 complaints of cal rally outside Colombo Friday istry warned the European Union Local media reports say that elections as President Mahinda violence, police spokesman Ajith night, but some 20 of his support- not to interfere in Thursday’s the two men are currently neck MANILA: The labour group Rajapaksa fights an unexpect- Rohana said. ers were injured, the party said. elections after Colombo-based and neck, although Rajapaksa was Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) edly tough battle to remain in CaFFE said the increasing vio- Mobile phone footage of Friday’s ambassadors urged the govern- considered the clear front-runner slammed the impending hike in power, poll monitors and police lence was well organised and target stoning at the opposition rally ment to ensure peaceful polls— when he called the vote two years the fares of Light Rail Transit said yesterday. the opposition, which is mounting shared on social media showed peo- a sentiment echoed by UN chief ahead of schedule. (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit The private Campaign for Free a serious challenge against two- ple trying to cover their heads and Ban Ki-moon in a separate state- The ruling party’s vote sank (MRT), pointing out the gov- and Fair Elections (CaFFE) moni- term incumbent Rajapaksa. duck as stones were thrown from a ment earlier this week. 21 points at a local election in ernment subsidy for the travel toring group said it had received “We are seeing a trend of nearby multi-storied building. Previous elections have been September, suggesting that the budget of public officials is also 1,073 complaints since campaigning increasing violence,” CaFFE Police spokesman Rohana said two marred by violence, particularly president’s own popularity may increasing. got underway in early December. director Keerthi Tennakoon said. men were arrested and they were against Tamil and Muslim vot- be waning five years after he was PM spokesman Wilson Police said they had received a much “The violence is well organised. It looking for four more suspects. The ers, the opposition’s major sup- credited with ending a separatist Fortaleza said the travel budget of smaller number of complaints, but is almost always directed against opposition’s Sirisena blamed pro- port base. Sirisena left his health war that had claimed 100,000 lives public officials has increased by at that 130 arrests had been made. the opposition’s campaign.” government elements for unleashing portfolio and quit Rajapaksa’s between 1972 and 2009. least 1.5bn pesos yearly since 2011. A deputy minister and 13 other Rajapaksa’s main rival, the attack against his rally. administration in November AFP “Clearly, there is a tale of ine- quality in this issue. First, the fare hike as admitted by Secretary Abaya himself is meant not for Three killed in Quezon City fire service upgrade but mainly for debt payments to an onerous con- tract with a private concession- MANILA: New Year celebrations were debris from liquefied petroleum gas tanks. aire,” Fortaleza said, referring to marred by fire incidents believed to have been He was among the first to respond to the scene, Transportation Secretary Joseph caused by firecrackers in several cities in Fernandez said. Emilio Abaya. Metro Manila. According to village officer Noel Cariño, the He said the budget cut is A fire spread through a residential area in fire was apparently sparked by firecrackers set imposed on poor commuters while Barangay Apolonio Samson in Balintawak, Quezon off by children and spread quickly by strong travel budget for public officials City at around 6.45am yesterday, leaving three winds through a row of shanties. keeps increasing. dead. Quezon City Fire Marshal Superintendent More than 100 fire trucks responded to the Fortaleza added Malacañang Jesus Fernandez said 800 houses were engulfed in incident, which was raised to general alarm by has “uncaringly decided to flames and 2,000 families were affected. 8am. A general alert status means that all avail- remove the seven billion pesos to Three people were reportedly killed – able fire trucks must respond to the scene. 10bn pesos subsidy to millions of Evangeline Nicosia, 16; Arnold Tusi, 50; and Tirso The fire was declared out around 12.45pm. train riders, purportedly to re- Romano, 39 – while five others were injured in In Malate, Manila, a seven-year-old son of an channel the freed budget to other the incident. overseas Filipino worker died in a fire that hit a social services.” The injured were identified as Rommel slum area during the revelry. But at the same time, Balmaceda, Kenard Banba, Artemio Galang, Joel Senior Fire Officer 4 Joseph Jaligue said the Malacañang had “resourcefully Soriano and fire volunteer Paul Manuel. boy’s body was discovered by relatives on the sec- kept” on increasing the travel Manuel was rushed to the Chinese General ond floor of the house after the fire was put out. budget of public officials by at Hospital with a severed hand after he was hit by THE PHILIPPINE STAR least 1.5bn pesos every year. Bomb found in Fire in China market Basilan jeepney

ZAMBOANGA CITY: Army Scout Rangers seized a power- ful improvised bomb on a pas- senger jeepney in downtown Lamitan in Basilan shortly before noon yesterday. The Scout Rangers are ques- tioning two suspects, whose names have not been released. Senior Inspector Gean Gallardo, Lamitan City police chief, said the Scout Rangers found the bomb on the jeepney while it was parked in the oval near the commercial district on a tip from an intelligence asset. The Scout Rangers found the bomb inside a medium carton box covered with okra after searching the jeepney, he added. The jeepney had just arrived from Al Barka town, Gallardo said. Firefighters battle a blaze at the Beifangnanxun ceramics market in Harbin, northeast China’s Police said the bomb was made Heilongjiang province yesterday. Three firefighters were killed and 11 others were injured when the of two kilos of ammonium nitrate warehouse collapsed on them. and half kilo of common nails. AGENCIES SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Pakistan govt Traditional bull race may shelve Musharraf trial Govt spent Rs57m over proceedings

ISLAMABAD: After a costly government is no more interested exercise lasting a little over a in defending the actions of its year, the federal government own created court against such is now considering shelving its interventions. treason trial against former “Had it been based on purely military ruler General Pervez legal basis, it could not have faced Musharraf. Perhaps it is just too these complications at the end difficult to exercise Article 6 of of the year,” conceded Advocate the Constitution. At least that Faisal Chaudhry, a member of much has been proven during Musharraf’s defence team. the year 2014. The special court’s November Sources privy to the develop- 21 judgment attained finality ment revealed that the federal after the federal government did government wants the issue to not challenge the same. However, linger on till the special court’s former prime minister Shaukat functioning becomes irrelevant. Aziz, ex-law minister Zahid Already, the prosecution team has Hamid and former chief justice refused to prosecute abettors in Abdul Hameed Dogar, challenged Pakistani farmers arrive with their bulls as spectators watch a traditional bull race in Khunda village in the northwestern district of Attock, some this case, citing it as “unending the special court’s decision indi- 80km from Islamabad, yesterday. process of trial”. vidually in the IHC. The federal government also Justice Athar Minallah led backed the Islamabad High single-judge bench with the con- Court’s (IHC) decision to sus- sent of all the parties in the case pend the special court’s proceed- including the federal government’s Pakistan issues death warrants 18 militants ings for a few weeks. “This is part attorney stayed the proceedings to of a new strategy in the changing the special court till further order. circumstances after the Peshawar The high court would decide first killed in incident,” commented an interior whether or not it has powers to for six more militants: Official ministry official, adding that “it is intervene in this matter. Afghan air raid also part of overall scheme of the As per budget document, the KARACHI: Pakistan issued federal government to improve federal government has spent orders to hang six more mili- KABUL: At least 18 rebels were the relations with the military more than Rs57m over the trial tants, official said, the latest New alert system for schools killed in air strikes by foreign establishment.” proceedings so far. According in a wave of executions in the forces in southeastern Paktika During a four-month long cam- to the breakup, appropriations, wake of the Peshawar school ISLAMABAD: In order to deal with emergency situations, the province of Afghanistan yester- paign of sit-ins staged by Pakistan expenditures incurred during massacre, which claimed 149 local police will soon introduce a smart phone-based emergency day, said police. Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the high treason trial, payment lives in the country’s deadliest alert system for the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) schools on A senior police official told Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), of fees and contingency and other terror attack. the instructions of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. media that the air assault was the treason trial proceedings expenses have cost the national Among the six is Shafqat A police spokesman said the system will be provided to the admin- carried out in Gayan district of against Musharraf were delayed exchequer Rs49.5 million. This Hussain, who was 15 when he was istrative staff of 422 government and 1,200 private schools, colleges Paktika province early morning for a few weeks. amount has been spent by the sentenced to death for the kid- and universities. Under the direct supervision of IGP Tahir Alam yesterday. Following the November 21 Interior Division. Additionally, the napping and murder of a seven- Khan, arrangements to design and deploy the system are in progress. Foreign militants were also judgment of a three-judge special cost of renovating the National year-old boy in 2004, officials said. The IGP has directed the Operations and IT departments to make among the dead rebels, he added. court regarding joint trial, the case Library building, where the spe- “The courts have issued death the system functional before the opening of educational institutions Earlier on Friday, the secu- currently stands at the same posi- cial court is trying Musharraf, warrants for seven convicts,” the on January 12.In this regard, a meeting was held between the experts rity forces targeted an explo- tion from where it commenced on comes in at around Rs7.7 million. prison department home secre- of Pakistan Telecommunication (PTA) and the Islamabad Police offic- sive laden-motorbike in Barmal December 24, 2013. The legal wiz- It is widely believed that trea- tary in southern Sindh province ers on Thursday. The system will be directly connected to the Police district of the Paktika province ards believe that a fresh process son trial idea was result of a per- Nawaz Shaikh said. Control, Rescue 15 and officers concerned. INTERNEWS before it could reach the target, is required for joint trial, which sonnel vendetta of premier Sharif “Prisoners Shahid Hanif and said police. The air strikes came means Musharraf would also be against Musharraf, who ousted Khalil Ahmed convicted for kill- will be given capital punishment moratorium on the death pen- at a time when Taliban rebels charge sheeted again. The three- him from power in 1999 through a ing government official on sec- for sectarian killings on January alty in terror cases last month have paced up their attacks on bench special court comprising military coup and briefly put him tarian grounds, Zulfiqar Ali for 15,” he added. in the wake of the slaughter security forces following drew Justice Faisal Arab, Justice Tahira behind bars in Attock Fort first killing 22 policemen deputed at Rights groups in the country at an army-run school in the back of NATO/ISAF forces from Safdar and Justice Yawar Saeed and then forced him for exile. the US Consulate in Karachi and have opposed Hussain’s con- northwestern city of Peshawar Afghanistan handing over the had conducted 80 hearings to dis- Before initiating this trial, Behram Khan for killing a young viction and sentence saying he on December 16. security control to Afghan forces. pose of some 26 petitions. the government has formed a lawyer will be hanged on January should have been tried in a juve- Heavily-armed Tehreek-e- The Afghan National Security The IHC barred the special three-member joint investigation 13, while Shahfaq Hussain will nile court and not been given the Taliban Pakistan gunmen mur- Forces (ANSF) assumed the full court’s proceedings with the con- team of Federal Investigation be executed for killing a child on death penalty, which cannot be dered 149 people, 133 of them security charges from NATO-led sent of the federal government till Agency (FIA) for investigation. January 14,” Shaikh said. imposed on minors in Pakistan. schoolchildren, in the attack, troops as the security transition February 3 that means the federal INTERNEWS “Two others, Talha and Saeed, Pakistan ended its six-years-old which shocked the world. AFP ended. QNA Prominent Pakistani teen killed in border clash ISLAMABAD: A teenage said yesterday. “13-years-old Kashmir, which both countries cleric under Pakistani girl was killed and Sumaira, resident of... Zafarwal administer in part but claim another child wounded in the sector embraced martyrdom in full, have killed at least 21 latest round of cross-border due to the firing (and) 8-year- civilians and forced thousands probe after firing with Indian troops near old Mursaleen of... Shakargarh to flee their homes. the eastern city of Sialkot on sector got injured.” The nuclear-armed neigh- yesterday, officials said. Pakistani paramilitary bours, who have fought two child murder The incident comes a day forces responded “befittingly” wars over Muslim-majority after New Delhi claimed a to Indian fire, the statement Kashmir, have traded blame for Pakistani fishing crew sus- added. the upsurge in firing and shell- LAHORE: Pakistan police yes- pected of involvement in “illicit” The clash comes three days ing which started on October terday launched an investiga- activities blew up their boat after two Pakistani paramili- 6 last year. tion against a prominent cleric after trying to evade capture tary soldiers were killed in India called off peace talks after a six-year-old boy was at the hands of the Indian navy. cross-border firing in the same in August after Pakistan first found strangled and dumped in “Indian BSF (Border Security area, spurring a strong protest consulted Kashmiri separatists, a mosque after being sexually Force) yet again resorted to from Islamabad. a move some saw as a sign of abused. unprovoked firing on working Recent exchanges of fire a tougher stance by Prime “We have apprehended up to boundary near Sialkot today,” across the de facto border Minister Narendra Modi’s new seven people including local cleric a Pakistani military statement between India and Pakistan in right-wing government. AFP Qari Saqib, who is prime suspect in this case,” Ijaz Shafi Dogar, a senior police official in the eastern city of Lahore, said. Hindu mass wedding in Karachi Moeen Yasin’s body was found in the grounds of a mosque in Lahore after he was reported missing by his father on Friday. “According to the post mor- tem report, the child was stran- gled to death after molestation,” Dogar said. Another local police official, Abu Bakar Siddique, con- firmed the incident, adding that the investigation was currently focused on the cleric. A crowd of around 200 people gathered near the child’s home, demanding the arrest of the cul- prits and justice for the victim’s family. In November last year, a six-years-old girl from the minor- ity Hazara ethnic community was strangled and dumped near a gar- bage heap after rape attempts in the southwestern city of Quetta in Baluchistan province. Sexual violence against children is common in Pakistan though authorities lack data because many families don’t report such A Hindu minority bridal couple attending a mass wedding ceremony in Karachi. The Pakistan Hindu crimes because of the attached Council organised the collective wedding for some 50 couples belonging to low income groups. stigma. AFP SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

Search on for Cross-border suspected terror boats firing kills wreckage

NEW DELHI/ GANDHINAGAR: Search is on for the wreckage of the suspect three, hurts 10 terror boat, the Indian Coast Guard said yesterday, add- ing that surveillance has been Rajnath wants good ties with Pakistan increased along Gujarat coast. Coast Guard officials said that JAMMU/SRINAGAR: Two Mawa, Sadho and Chak Fakira ships and aircraft are continuing soldiers and a woman were said dozens of families left their the search operation to recover killed and 10 injured yester- homes because of the shelling. wreckage or bodies of those who day in two separate incidents Police also said Pakistan were seen on the boat. of Pakistan shelling and firing Rangers had fired at Border However, an official said that across the international border Security Force outposts around with the sea being at least 2,000 and the Line of Control (LoC) in 9.30pm on Friday and the BSF metres deep in the area, the task is Jammu and Kashmir. retaliated. The firing exchange not an easy one. Talking to report- Home Minister Rajnath Singh that stopped at 3.30am yesterday ers in Gandhinagar, Coast Guard said India wants good relations resumed in Hiranagar, Ramgarh Commander (North-West Region) with Pakistan and wondered why and Samba sectors of the interna- Kuldip Singh Sheoran also said the neighbouring country resorts tional border, police said. surveillance has been increased. to repeated ceasefire violations. In another incident of Pakistan “We are alert round-the-clock, The woman was killed and firing on the LoC in Tangdhar but due to these events we are on eight other civilians were injured sector of Kupwara district, police extra alert. Our ships and aircraft Saturday in Pakistani shelling said rocket propelled grenades are doing their job of patrolling along the international border (RPGs) fired at an Indian army the sea,” Sheoran told reporters. in Samba and Kathua districts, post triggered a blaze in which He said those onboard did not police said. two soldiers of Gorkha Rifles An Indian villager inspects the roof of his shop damaged in shelling from the Pakistani side of Kashmir, in the look like fishermen. “We saw The woman identified as were killed and two others were Bainglar village in the Samba sector, some 60km from Jammu, yesterday. four men on the boat... they were 45-year-old Toshi Devi, wife of injured. nowhere looking like fishermen, Somnath and a resident of Mangu The injured soldiers have been “But the Pakistan government Pakistan always violate the cease- Shah told reporters in Bengaluru. they were wearing t-shirts and Chak village in Samba, was shifted for treatment to army should also take initiative so that fire,” he asked. Outgoing Jammu and Kashmir half-pants, and this raised suspi- injured in the shelling and suc- hospital. ceasefire violations do not take BJP President Amit Shah, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah cion on our side,” Sheoran said. cumbed to her injuries at a hos- Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata place,” he said. meanwhile, said India has been tweeted: “Pakistan plan to enter Asked if the men seen on the pital in Jammu. The eight injured Party activists carried out a pro- He said Prime Minister giving a “befitting reply” to via sea route busted and now boat were terrorists, he said: civilians were being treated in the test march in Jammu against the Narendra Modi shook hands with Pakistan since the National they are trying via Samba and “Multiple Indian intelligence same hospital, a police officer said. Pakistani shelling. his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Democratic Alliance government Hiranagar.” He was referring agencies are jointly investigating The shelling forced scores Responding to a media query Sharif during his oath-taking cer- has come to power. to the boat that blew up after the incident and they will go to of villagers to migrate to safer on the repeated ceasefire viola- emony in May last year and con- “After BJP formed the govern- its crew set fire to it after the the bottom to it.” places. Reports from the bor- tions by Pakistan, Rajnath Singh veyed that “we not only want to ment, Indian forces have been giv- Coast Guard intercepted it off The suspicious boat was inter- der villages of Manyari, Paansar, said: “Pakistan is our neighbour shake hands, but also want deeper ing fitting reply whenever there Gujarat in the intervening night cepted by the Coast Guard late on Bobia, Londi, Sadechak, Chailari, and we want good relations with ties”. have been ceasefire violations and of December 31-January 1. December 31, and was traced and Chachwal, Mangu Chak, Regaal, all our neighbours.” “Despite that, why does will continue to do so in future,” IANS chased by aircrafts and vessels of Coast Guard. While a warning was issued to the boat to stop for a check, it shut down its light, and four occu- pants seen onboard then went to a lower deck and set the boat afire. Govt’s agenda is Hindu vote consolidation: Yechury This led to an explosion, raising the suspicion of explosives being NEW DELHI: Communist agenda they are pursuing is the polarisation. Therefore, we said that this is the real agenda of against forced conversion. onboard. Party of India-Marxist (CPM) worst form of vote bank politics that this has to stop. And only the government. And I think in “We say that a new law is leader Sitaram Yechury has of consolidating the communal the prime minister can come and that we have succeeded. For the infructuous. Articles 24 and 25 of AAP, BJP workers alleged that the agenda being Hindu vote bank. That is the clear assure us, and through us, the first time since this government the Indian constitution, and sec- pursued by the BJP-led govern- message,” Yechury said. country. They refused. So, who assumed office a lot of questions tion 153 (a) of the Indian Penal clash in Delhi ment is not that of development Asked about stalling the upper stalled (the upper house)?” he said. are being raised in public discourse Code (IPC) already have enough but of consolidating the commu- house of parliament, Yechury said: The upper house or Rajya about what is their actual agenda provisions which define forcible NEW DELHI: Many peo- nal Hindu vote bank. “Well, I think it was the govern- Sabha witnessed disruptions for and that is an important point. religious conversions as a crime. ple were injured yesterday in In an interview to news channel ment who stalled it, not us”. more than half the winter ses- Because remember that the Modi People can be acted against under a clash between AAP and BJP CNN-IBN, the CPM politbureau “We had asked the government sion, first over remarks by union government got only 31 percent of that law. A law exists - so what is workers following a debate show member said that Prime Minister that the prime minister should Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti the total votes polled, not of the the talk of a new law. It is only a on a Hindi television channel, Narendra Modi’s silence over the come and give us an assurance. and then over reconversions and total electorate. Sixty nine percent diversion,” said Yechury. police said. issue of conversion despite the He came once — he did not apol- communal statements by some of the people who actually cast “Christian missionaries, Islamic The clash broke out over an opposition’s demand for his state- ogize for the unparliamentary BJP leaders. their votes cast their votes against organisations or the RSS and issue after the debate show in ment revealed the government’s statement that the minister made Yechury added that the disrup- the Modi government,” he said. the Hindu Mahasabha - anybody Tughlakabad area of south Delhi. real agenda. but he nevertheless assured that tions took the message to the peo- Asked about their views doing it forcibly, we are opposed; Workers of the Bharatiya “...the actual agenda that the henceforth nothing would happen. ple, revealing the government’s on the government proposal we continue to oppose and that is Janata Party and the Aam Aadmi government is pursuing is not on “And then immediately followed real agenda. to ban conversions, Yechury our given minimum denominator,” Party pushed each other and development ... not on ‘achhe din a string of statements which were “What we have achieved is to said it was unconstitutional, the CPM leader added. pelted stones. aane waale hain’, but the actual aimed at sharpening communal tell the country and the people but added that they are IANS IANS

Mounted warm-up Manali gets BJP seeks support for snowfall, more in store anti-conversion bill SHIMLA: Popular hill station BENGALURU: Asserting that conversions on advice from the Manali in Himachal Pradesh his party was against conver- Narendra Modi government this yesterday got a fresh blanket of sions and re-conversions, BJP week. snow, giving the resort and its president Amit Shah has sought neighbouring areas a more pic- the support of the “secular par- Law possible: Bishop turesque look. ties” on bringing an anti-con- There can be a law to pre- Manali residents shivered as version bill. vent forced conversions but icy winds brought down the mini- “We are against forceful con- there should not be a blanket mum temperature to minus one versions and re-conversions. law against conversions per degree Celsius. Neither our party nor the NDA se, because it would impede However, state capital Shimla, government is involved in the the freedom to choose religion, which saw just snowflakes, ‘ghar wapsi’ (return home) pro- Bishop Alwyn Barreto from received 10.3mm of rain overnight. gramme. We seek support of the Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg dio- The city saw a low of 3.2 degrees so-called secular parties for a cese said yesterday. Celsius, whereas the maximum strong legislation against conver- Speaking to reporters on the settled at eight degrees Celsius, sions,” Shah told reporters here. sidelines of a book release event, an official at the local Met office Regretting that no secular Barreto said: “There can be a law said. party had come forward to intro- against (conversion by) force, but Resorts near Shimla like Kufri duce the anti-conversion bill, he there cannot be a law against con- and Narkanda have been receiv- said the Bharatiya Janata Party version, because my freedom is ing intermittent snowfall. was in favour of such a law to gone... Tomorrow I might have to “Heavy rainfall and snowfall may P olicemen warm up their horses before going on patrol in the Magh Mela area during a cold and foggy day check conversions. become a Hindu, so I have to have occur in the next 24 hours at iso- on the banks of Sangam in Allahabad yesterday. “There is a need for a strong anti- the right to change.” lated places in Shimla, Lahaul-Spiti, conversion law to prevent conver- Barreto, who hails from Goa, Kinnaur districts and parts of Kullu sions by anyone, be they Christians, further batted against forced con- and Chamba districts,” a meteoro- Muslims or Hindus,” Shah said version saying compulsion should logical office statement said. It said while appealing to all parties to be eliminated from the concept the maximum temperature across BJP chief calls for Cong-free Karnataka support the government in enact- of conversion, whether it is to the state declined by three to four ing a law against conversions. Christianity, Islam or Hinduism and degrees, while the minimum rose Noting that the BJP had noth- that people’s choice to join or leave by two to three degrees. BENGALURU: Describing Karnataka,” Shah told reporters the condition of farmers is very ing to do with the ‘ghar wapsi’ Christianity should be respected. Rain lashed the lower areas the Congress government in here. In his maiden press confer- poor, with 77 percent agricul- programme of some Hindu “Some people want to become of the state such as Dharamsala, Karnataka as non-perform- ence in the city during his sec- tural households indebted,” Shah right-wing groups, Shah said Hindus, they are welcome. People Palampur, Solan, Nahan, Bilaspur, ing, corrupt and defunct, BJP ond visit to the state, Shah alleged asserted. his party did not believe in such are leaving the Catholic church, Una, Hamirpur and Mandi, bring- President Amit Shah yesterday that the state’s economy had been The Congress returned to conversions. we have no problem. They are ing down the temperature. called upon the people to free crippled under the Congress mis- power in the state after a decade The Dharma Jagran Samiti coming back they are most wel- Kalpa in Kinnaur district, the state from the ruling party. rule and the state’s growth rate by securing a majority (122) in the was allegedly behind the forceful come. But there should not be which saw 9.2cm snow, recorded “As the NDA freed the country had declined to five percent from 225-member House in the May conversions of about 250 Muslim forced conversion,” Barretto said. a low of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius from the Congress at the centre, 10 percent during the previous 2013 legislative assembly elec- families to Hinduism in Uttar He also said that there were while the temperature was minus the people should free the state BJP rule. tions, defeating the BJP which Pradesh in November. no ghar-wapsi episodes in the 7.6 degrees Celsius in Keylong from the ruling party. By joining “The youth of Karnataka have ruled the state for the first time Later, BJP sources said that Sindhudurg diocese apart from a with 6cm of snow. hands with our party, the people become unemployed after the on its own since May 2008. the Dharma Jagran Samiti had few individuals who left the Church. IANS should ensure a Congress-free Congress came to power and IANS been told to refrain from such IANS SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15

Excessive Nation’s progress allegations weaken linked to science, democracy: PM

KOLHAPUR: Excessive alle- gations by the media can weaken says premier democracy, particularly when allegations replace proper criti- cism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here yesterday. Technology can advance peace: Modi “Criticism can help prevent mistakes and enable reveal the MUMBAI: A nation’s progress was a “mood of optimism for truth. Every decision, every was linked to science and tech- change in the country, the energy thought must be criticised. If nology, both of which are also to pursue it, and confidence to there is no criticism in a democ- potent enablers for advanc- achieve it”. racy, then there is a problem. ing peace in the world, Prime He said science has helped However, in recent times, there Minister Narendra Modi said shape modern India and lauded hasn’t been proper criticism, as yesterday. scientists for their pioneering allegations have replaced criti- “A nation’s progress and work that placed the nation in cism,” Modi said during the its human development are the forefront globally. platinum jubilee celebrations of linked to science and tech- Congratulating the Indian Space Marathi newspaper Pudhari here. nology. They can also remove Research Organisation (ISRO) He termed “samvad” (dialogue/ national barriers, unify the for placing the Mangalyaan in the debate) as very important for a world and advance peace,” he Mars orbit on its first attempt, democracy to thrive, along with said in his inaugural address he said: “Whenever the world “vivad” (criticism). at the 102nd Indian Science shut its door on us, our scien- “But these days, there is no Congress here. tists responded with the zeal of a healthy criticism. Sadly there are Pitching for making digital national mission. Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) felicitates 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh mostly allegations. It is like a ‘tu connectivity a “basic right” for “And when the world sought during the inaugural function of the 102nd Indian Science Congress in Mumbai yesterday. tu, main main’ (pointing fingers) children just as their right to our collaboration, our scientists scenario,” Modi said. schooling, Modi stressed the need reached out with the openness more lethal while damaging developments, innovations and to “step up investments in science The prime minister called for to make school education more that is inherent in our society.” environment. expertise in diverse areas. and technology in its own inter- a thorough analysis and study “creative”. Linking science with human Modi also urged the country’s Underscoring importance of est” and make it a corporate of criticism as it has become a “School education in science development, he said the two university system be placed at international collaboration in social responsibility. casualty of speed in the modern and mathematics should become cannot be divorced from “politi- the cutting edge of the research scientific research and the need Modi also urged people to era. more creative and stimulating. cal decisions, social choices, the and development activities, and to benefit from a growing trend “restore the pride and prestige “The need of the hour is healthy Let us also use the Internet to question of equity, ethics, and also called for broadening scope of such endeavours, Modi said he of science and scientists in our criticism, not allegations.” bring the best of our scientists in access. Human development has of investment in science and “placed science and technology at nation, revive the romance for sci- The prime minister said people direct contact with our children been the larger purpose and the technology from the present the forefront of our diplomatic ence in society, rekindle the love looked up to the media to provide and our youth. Digital connec- driving force of Indian scientific focus on central government engagement”. for it in our children, and encour- good, truthful news as a dialogue tivity should become as much a pursuits”. agencies. “As I have travelled abroad, I age our scientists - to dream, was imperative for the survival of basic right as access to school,” Modi said the poorest should “Our universities must be freed have personally sought out scien- imagine and explore”. democracy. he said at the Congress held at also have access to science and from the clutches of excessive tists to explore collaborations in The five-day conference will “The credibility that the the University of Mumbai. technology. regulation and cumbersome pro- areas like clean energy, agricul- see deliberations and presenta- media enjoys today also gives it Inaugurating the five- “To me, the arms of science, cedures. They must have a higher ture, biotechnology, medicine and tion of papers by scientists and immense responsibility. Pudhari day Science Congress amid technology and innovation must degree of academic freedom and healthcare. Nobel laureates from across the is one newspaper that has ful- the presence of Science and reach the poorest, the remotest autonomy, and, there should be as Modi said India’s “long-term globe. filled this responsibility. It has Technology Minister Harsh and the most vulnerable person,” much emphasis on research as on global competitiveness” depended As the Science Congress overcome obstacles, persevered Vardhan, Maharashtra Governor he said. teaching,” he said. not on “replicating what others returns to Mumbai after 45 years, and won against all odds during Vidyasagar Rao, and Chief However, he was quick to Modi said India needed to foster have done, but through a proc- the emphasis will be on showcas- India’s freedom struggle,” Modi Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the caution that science and tech- a strong culture of collaboration ess of sustained development and ing the city as a science hub as said, lauding the newspaper’s prime minster sought help from nology could also increase between institutions and across innovation.” well as India’s financial capital. contributions. people to transform India as there inequality and make wars disciplines to take advantage of He urged the domestic industry IANS IANS

Chilly morning Fire breaks out Consensus in JD-U in Delhi church, management over merger with RJD PATNA: A consensus emerged will take place on Makar Sankranti alleges arson bid yesterday in Bihar’s ruling January 14. Both Lalu and Nitish JD-U over the party’s merger have also indicated merger. NEW DELHI: A minor fire with the RJD of Lalu Prasad to Referring to the Bharatiya broke out yesterday in the counter the BJP in state assem- Janata Party (BJP) allegations Christmas crib at a church due bly polls later this year. that jungle raj-2 will come if the to a short circuit in the deco- “A consensus has emerged in JD-U and the RJD merged and rative lights, police said. The the JD-U political advisory com- won the next assembly election in church management, however, mittee in its meeting yesterday Bihar, Nitish had said on Friday: said it was an arson attempt. for the party’s merger with the “There will be no return to jungle The fire was noticed around RJD to counter the BJP...,” JD-U raj...I will be in total command of 8am after morning prayers inside state president Vashisht Narayan the state of affairs after the next the church in Rohini area of Singh told the media here. assembly election in Bihar.” northwest Delhi. The committee meeting at the Lalu had said that the BJP Police suspect that the fire was state party headquarters here was was feeling intimidated by the caused due to a spark in the lights attended by former Bihar chief combined vote share of the RJD used to decorate the tableau, minister Nitish Kumar, Singh and and the JD-U and was hell bent which the church management most of the senior party leaders on instilling fear in the minds of was to remove in a few days. including ministers and MPs to the people to find a way to divert “After the prayers, a church discuss and finalise the party’s attention from an impending rout employee noticed the burnt stat- strategy for the merger of the in the next assembly polls. ues and other decorative materi- Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and Responding to the reports als in the crib arranged near the the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). of the the RJD-JD(U) merger, boundary wall of the church,” “The JD-U and the RJD merger BJP’s party incharge in the state, said a member of the church is definite and certain, it will take Bhupendra Yadav Saturday said management. place soon. But now I cannot tell the here that it was not a challenge Savari Muthu Sankar, spokes- date of its formal announcement,” for the BJP in the assembly polls. man for the Delhi archdiocese, P assengers wait for train on a chilly morning at the railway station in Amritsar yesterday. Seasonal fog and Singh said when asked if the merger IANS alleged that it was an arson cold weather have taken hold of northern India. attempt. “It seems somebody poured some chemical on the crib from outside the church and set it on fire. All the statues were burnt. Will this pravasi meet be more about Modi than NRIs It was a failed attempt at arson in the whole church,” Shankar said. or 10 years running, the the ‘Modi wave’ evoked from the administration and effective The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas The authorities immediately Congress-led UPA gov- world’s largest democracy (and THE NR EYE development measures. became a meaningless annual informed police but they declared Fernment in India hosted consumer market) in the 2014 Now that he doesn’t need to ritual. Modi has other ideas. He it was due to a short circuit with- the annual conclave of non- general elections appeared to have Moiz Mannan look for votes for the next five knows that what can work is only out a proper investigation, he resident Indians, but nobody ignited a new-found love for him years, he has to test his popularity his own image as a go-getter, a said. ever mentioned Prime Minister among world leaders. not surprised because 30 percent with NRIs in terms of meaningful man in control as a friend of “There was rain the whole night Manmohan Singh except in the It is not surprising that a gal- of all overseas Indians come from and substantial involvement with investors. He is not new to NRI and the crib was wet. How could a media reportage of his opening axy of world politicians, business- his home state, Gujarat. Their his schemes and programmes. relations. He’s done this as the short circuit cause the fire,” John day speech. men, diplomats and professionals claim is that Modi is popular only Already, for example, he has Chief Minister of Gujarat with Dayal, former president of the All This year, in the run-up to the have agreed to attend the 2015 among the wealthy NRIs in the sought NRI help in the Clean initiatives such as the Vibrant India Catholic Union, said. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas itself, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to be developed countries. Bes that as Ganga initiative. Similarly, India’s Gujarat Summit every two years The church authorities did not there is hardly a passage writ- hosted by Gujarat for the first it may, Modi has made it clear in basic infrastructure in terms of since 2003. inform the fire service as it was ten or spoken on the event that time as well the Vibrant Gujarat many ways that now he is not out roads, power, health and educa- Besides seeking investment, not a major blaze, police said. does not feature the indomitable Summit that would follow. It is to win any popularity contests, tion is crying for aid. Modi is also aiming to use the On December 1, the St Narendra Modi. hard to imagine, for example, but to push forward his agenda. NRIs have made India the top event to find allies in Indian origin Sebastian Catholic Church in His detractors may have what the UN Secretary-General The man is a politician and remittance recipient in the world, political leaders in different coun- east Delhi’s Dilshad Garden was dubbed him as the “NRI PM” tak- Ban Ki Moon will do at a global obviously the agenda would but in terms of investment in the tries for the sake of diplomatic gutted in an attack by uniden- ing a dig at his frequent foreign investor’s summit? Yet, he has include strengthening relations home country overseas Chinese support as and when needed. For tified assailants. A day after travels since taking over as Prime said he’ll be there. with influential and resource- have left us light years behind. It the first time, this PBD has a ses- the incident, at least 1,000 peo- Minister, but the fact remains Riding on the back of his ful NRIs who have helped his is this area where the Congress- sion dedicated to foreign politi- ple protested outside the Delhi that tough Uncle Sam too had to domestic electoral popularity, party and him in the past and led government failed miserably. cians of Indian origin. Police headquarters demanding make an embarrassing U turn by Modi basked in glory at overflow- would do so in future. But, in Why? Mainly owing to a trust gap We’ll have to wait and see how a probe. rolling out the red carpet for a ing NRI gatherings, most notably the larger context, Modi also as big as the Grand Canyon. The far these initiatives go. What’s Police later formed a special man once refused even a visit visa. at the historic Madison Square knows how weighed down corrupt and tardy political set- certain, though, is that this PBD investigation team to probe the At a time when coalition poli- Garden in New York City and he is now with high expecta- up was, in fact, the reason why seems to be more about Modi matter. tics was being considered inevita- Sydney’s Olympic Park. tions of an electorate that many chose to flee India in the than the NRIs themselves. IANS ble, the massive mandate which Again, his critics say they’re voted for a clean and assertive first place. THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Cage reversal!

Fajr (Dawn) 4:59 Shorook (Sunrise) 6:20 Zuhr (Noon) 11:39 Asr (Afternoon) 2:37 Maghrib (Sunset) 4:58 Isha (Night) 6:28

WEATHER Weather Today Monday Tuesday Conditions: Clear Clear Partly cloudy Hazy to misty, maybe foggy at places at first High: 27° High: 25° High: 24° becomes moderate Low: 16° Low: 18° Low: 17° temperature with slight dust later, relatively cold with some clouds.

DOHA - SUN & SEA SUN TIDE SEA SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 06:20 16:57 05:00 & 15:30 12:00 & 21:45 03-12/15 KT

THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW

HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER

MUSCAT 29/19 Clear 27/19 Clear MAKKAH 30/19 Partly cloudy 29/18 Partly cloudy KUWAIT 23/09 Clear 21/07 Clear A visitor feeds an African lion from inside an iron cage at the Leofoo Village Theme Park in Taiwan’s Hsinchu County. By paying 2,000 Taiwan dollars BAHRAIN 27/14 Clear 23/17 Clear ($66) besides the entrance fee, visitors can stay in the cage and feed lions, tigers and baboons. SANAA 21/05 Clear 22/05 Partly cloudy RIYADH 26/09 Clear 21/12 Clear DUBAI 27/17 Clear 26/17 Clear BAGHDAD 17/06 Partly cloudy 17/06 Partly cloudy

THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW 10,000 people want to be shot, with paintball!

HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER LONDON: Some 10,000 peo- Candidates from not just “We couldn’t have predicted an ex-army soldier boasting ATHENS 14/06 Partly cloudy 07/02 Chance of rain ple from around the world have Britain, but as far away as United that so many people in the UK previous experience of guns and WASHINGTON 16/02 Showers 05/-2 Partly cloudy applied to be shot at as a paint- States, Canada and India have and beyond would want to get weaponry... and an ex-magician’s ball bullet tester, the British applied for the £40,000 ($60,000) shot for a living.” assistant who was once almost SYDNEY 33/19 Clear 27/19 Chance of storm company posting the job advert a year job testing the impact of Applicants have cited a range shot for real in an illusion that LONDON 04/02 Partly cloudy 09/04 Fog has said. paintballs. of different skills to prove they went horribly wrong,” Toohig PARIS 06/-1 Partly cloudy 06/00 Clear UKPaintball, which has more “This incredible response were up to the job, including one added. ISTANBUL 08/03 Rain 04/02 Mostly cloudy than 60 paintballing venues in is the last thing we expected who said he was fat, so would be “It’s going to be a real struggle MANILA 28/24 Chance of rain 29/22 Partly cloudy Britain, said it was stunned by when we posted the advert,” easier to hit, he said. attempting to whittle down the DHAKA 25/17 Thunderstorm 23/15 Clear the response to its search for a said UKPaintball owner Justin “We’ve had individuals hop- thousands of applicants to just DELHI 20/10 Fog 19/09 Partly cloudy “human bullet impact tester”. Toohig. ing to secure the job including one.” AFP ISLAMABAD 17/05 Partly cloudy 17/06 Partly cloudy Elon Musk The Interview: No laughing matter for N Koreans divorces SEOUL: Hollywood comedy “The laughing stock overseas and the United Interview” has won a few fans in between States could assassinate him... This would sparking apocalyptic warnings from deal a blow to North Korea’s efforts to idol- actress wife North Korea — but for defectors who ise the young leader.” escaped the communist state, there’s Park’s group is planning to launch the nothing funny about it. first of the giant balloons carrying copies of Talulah Riley That’s not to say they’re not watching it. the film, along with bundles of anti-regime Defectors based in the South have flocked leaflets, later this month. LOS ANGELES: Internet to see the film at the centre of an escalating Some defectors have already managed to entrepreneur Elon Musk and international row thanks to its lurid depic- pass online links to the movie to informants his British actress wife Talulah tion of the assassination of North Korean living in the North near the border with Riley have agreed to “amicably” dictator Kim Jong-Un. China, where they have access to secret end their marriage, according The United States claims that the film’s smartphones paid for by South Koreans, to a joint statement received presentation of Kim — whose family has according to Kim Sung-Min of Free North Friday. ruled the reclusive, impoverished state Korea Radio. It was the second split for the for more than six decades — prompted At a recent screening of “The Interview” couple, who first married in 2010, Pyongyang to launch a massive cyber- in Seoul, viewers said the puerile comedy and again after a breakup rewed attack on Sony Pictures, the studio that — which relies heavily on butt jokes — in 2013. made it. could prove an unlikely tool against the “Elon Musk and his wife “Every defector I know has seen the Pyongyang propaganda machine if any Talulah Riley have announced movie,” said Kim Sung-Min, who fled the North Koreans manage to secretly view it that they are ending their mar- North in 1996 and now runs the anti- in their homes. riage amicably,” said the state- Pyongyang Free North Korea Radio “The biggest threat to the regime is ment received by AFP. station. undermining the narrative they tell their “Mr Musk filed a divorce peti- “We’ve talked a lot about this flick over people. This film actually gets that,” said tion in Los Angeles on December the past week, and we simply did not Sokeel Park, director of research and strat- 31, 2014.” understand why it gives foreigners laughs,” The Interview may not make North Koreans laugh. egy at Liberty in North Korea, a US-based The statement went on to say he added. charity that helps defectors. that Riley would receive $16m Internet links to the film quickly circu- But that subversive message will have to from Musk, who co-founded the lated amongst the South’s 20,000-strong South for years, it is jarring to see Kim To see Kim portrayed as an object of ridi- battle with the fact that much of the film online payments firm PayPal defector community after Sony reversed its ridiculed as a Katy Perry fan who has a cule — rather than the infallible, all-pow- is incomprehensible to an audience raised before moving on to launch the decision to axe it late last month following complex about his dad. erful leader depicted in state propaganda on a diet of propaganda distinctly lacking firms SpaceX and Tesla Motors. threats to cinema-goers from the shadowy “For me, it wasn’t a comedy — more of — would be nothing short of a revelation in any kind of humour — let alone the frat- Musk is one of the world’s Sony hackers. a bombshell, because of the way it made for most North Koreans, Park said. boy jokes that have won “The Interview” a wealthiest individuals with a net But defectors have reacted to the movie fun of Kim Jong-Un,” Park Sang-Hak, who widespread panning from critics. worth estimated at some $8bn, with a mixture of shock and bafflement. defected to the South in 1999, told AFP. Kim lookalike disappoints North “It didn’t give me much to laugh about as according to Forbes magazine. It’s not just that its crass humour is But that is precisely the reason that Koreans we North Koreans are not accustomed to Musk and Riley have been liv- largely lost on a North Korean audience — Park, who leads a group of activists that Some of them might initially react with comedy,” said Lee Han-Byul, a defector who ing apart for the past five months it’s that growing up immersed in a person- regularly attempt to airdrop anti-Kim anger. “For North Koreans, it’s the equiva- was among around 100 people who crowded after marrying in July 2013. ality cult, which gives god-like status to the leaflets into North Korea, is planning to lent of portraying Jesus in a poor light. It the Seoul bar to watch the film. According to the statement, ruling Kim dynasty, is not an experience launch gas-filled balloons over the border would not be at all funny,” said Park. “There are no comedy films in North Riley “has decided to remain in that can easily be forgotten. carrying some 100,000 copies of the film on “The most important takeaway for them Korea, and we have (a) different sense of the UK and pursue her career Even for defectors who have been in the DVDs and USB memory sticks. would be that their great leader can be a humour.” AFP where she has spent the last five months working on her first fea- ture film, ‘Scottish Mussel,’ as a writer and director.” It added that “Mr Musk and Ms Riley remain friends.” A 43-year-old South African ‘Beverly Hillbillies’ actress Donna Douglas dies at 81 native, Musk has channelled a dot-com fortune into a series of LOS ANGELES: Wholesome Thursday of pancreatic cancer he discovers oil on his land, then Her co-stars included: Max Baer ambitious ventures. AFP blonde actress Donna Douglas at a hospital in Baton Rouge, her moves his hillbilly family into Jr as big goofball cousin Jethro; (pictured), who played pretty niece Charlene Smith said. a Beverly Hills mansion to live Irene Ryan as irascible Granny; tomboy Elly May Clampett “The Beverly Hillbillies” ran alongside the wealthy. and Raymond Bailey as money- on the hit 1960s sitcom “The on CBS for nine seasons — from Elly May was gorgeous but was crazy banker Mr Drysdale. Beverly Hillbillies” and starred 1962 to 1971 — and was one of the happier playing with her numer- “Elly was a slice out of my life,” opposite Elvis Presley in the most popular shows of the 1960s, ous pets including chimpanzees or Douglas added. “I was raised a 1966 film “Frankie and Johnny,” topping the ratings its first two “rasslin’ fellas” rather than pet- tomboy, with one older brother has died at age 81, her family seasons. ting them. Rich suitors tried to and all male cousins. So I grew up said on Friday. Douglas played the daugh- woo her with little success. swinging from vines and playing Douglas, a local beauty queen ter of backcountry widower Jed “Elly did kiss a heap of animals,” softball. I was getting ready for in her native Louisiana before Clampett, portrayed by Buddy Douglas told the Parsons Sun Jethro long before we ever met.” becoming an actress, died on Ebsen, who becomes rich when newspaper in Kansas in March. REUTERS Sunday 4 January 2015 13 Rabial I 1436 Volume 19 Number 6300 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Qatar’s current account First day of winter sales surplus to narrow down Surplus projected to fall from 27.6pc to 21.2pc of GDP

BY SATISH KANADY should add incremental growth to This is equivalent to more than 8 hydrocarbon GDP annually dur- months of import cover. The pace DOHA: Qatar’s current account ing 2015-23. of reserve accumulation, however, surplus, which now stands large According to NBK analysts, has slowed in 2014 in line with by international standards, is Qatar’s export growth is expected slowing export growth, it said. projected to narrow down going to level off during the period. The Qatar’s headline inflation is forward, separate forecasts by commissioning of the Barzan facil- forecast to accelerate from an two leading banks in the region ity should provide some increase expected annual average of 3.1 have noted. in exports of products associated percent in 2014 to 3.4 percent The country’s current account with gas production such as liq- and 4.1 percent in 2015 and 2016. surplus, currently at an estimated uefied petroleum gases (LPG) The main impetus is rental infla- 27.6 percent, is projected to nar- and petrochemicals. Imports, on tion, which comprises 32 percent row to 21.2 percent of GDP in the other hand, will continue to of the CPI basket and which was 2015 and 16.6 percent in 2016. A be spurred by population growth trending at 8.2 percent year- combination of plateauing LNG and materials and services needs on-year last October. Rents are and crude oil exports, softer of the development plan. likely to feature significantly as People queue as they wait to enter a shop on the first day of winter sales in central Rome yesterday. energy prices and rising imports “Public debt, dropped in 2013 an inflationary impulse during the will weigh on Qatar’s current to 32 percent of GDP as govern- next two years as a result of lim- account surplus, NBK said in its ment-issued bonds and sukuk ited supply of residential housing Mena outlook for the first quarter matured. The government is also units and burgeoning population of 2015. channelling more of its surpluses growth, which is expected to be Lawsuit against Apple on storage space In a separate note, QNB ana- towards capital and development close to 10 percent year-on-year lysts also forecast Qatar’s current spending. Debt issuance, however, by year-end 2014. SAN FRANCISCO: Apple on about a fifth of that is eaten up that represents devices as hav- account and fiscal surpluses will in the form of T-bills and bonds The country’s real estate price Friday faced a lawsuit accusing by the latest operating software. ing much more storage space than narrow in the coming years. But continues apace as the authori- index, which tracks the price of it of promising more available The percentage of advertised is really available to people who added, “they should still be suffi- ties manage liquidity and further land, villas and apartments in the storage space than it actually space available for digital content purchase devices. cient to cover government spend- develop the domestic debt mar- country, increased by a record 42 delivers in iPhones, iPads, and such as photos, video, or music Once Apple gadget owners ing plans.” ket,” they said. percent y-o-y last September. iPod touch devices. shrinks further when Apple gadg- reach limits to data storage, the In the hydrocarbons sector, NBK also forecast a slow- Prices are expected to continue The suit filed early this week ets built with eight gigabytes of California-based technology titan the QNB analysts expect produc- down on the pace of accumula- to rise given the premium com- in US District Court in Northern storage are considered, the suit prompts them to pay monthly tion will return to full capacity. tion of Qatar’s foreign exchange manded by land in the context California argues that while Apple filed on behalf of two Florida men fees for digital locker space online The only gas project expected to reserves. Qatar’s international of the country’s ambitious infra- touts 16 gigabytes of digital stor- maintained. at its iCloud service, according to add to growth is Barzan, which reserves increased to a record structure development plan. age on lower price models of gadg- The suit charges Apple with the lawsuit. is only for domestic supply and high of $45.3bn in October 2014. THE PENINSULA ets such as hot-selling iPhones, being deceptive in advertising AFP

Qatar’s non-hydrocarbon sector accounts for over half of GDP: QNB

DOHA: Huge investments in non-hydrocarbon sector averaged Doha and Lusail to the north, as and restaurants also grew strongly By investing heavily in major major infrastructure projects 11.9 percent in Q1, 2014 to Q3, well as new roads, highways and (13.7 percent y-o-y) on the back of non-hydrocarbon projects the and fast growing population 2014, even higher than our forecast the further expansion of the new the growing population, the sea- authorities are attracting a new will further spur Qatar’s non- of 11.2 percent for the full year. Hamad International Airport, sonal Ramadan effect as well as wave of expatriate workers to hydrocarbon sector. In its lat- Non-hydrocarbon growth was resulted in a 18.5 percent year- increased tourist activity. Qatar. Indeed, population contin- est research note on Qatari spurred by large investments in on-year expansion in construc- In contrast, the hydrocarbon ued its near double-digit growth economy, the QNB Group said major infrastructure projects and tion activity — the fastest growing sector contracted in the year to (9.7 percent y-o-y) in November the non-hydrocarbon sector now by the fast growing population. On sector. Q3 as a result of lower crude oil 2014, driven by the large ramp accounts for over half of its GDP. the other hand, the hydrocarbon In addition, transportation and output and shutdowns for main- up in infrastructure spending. Citing Ministry of Development sector declined 2.8 percent year- communication increased by 10.5 tenance at gas facilities. A mora- Accordingly, small and medium- Planning and Statistics’ (MDPS) on-year as a result of lower crude percent year-on-year, predomi- torium on new projects at Qatar’s sized enterprises, such as hotels, data, the QNB analysts said the oil production and temporary gas nantly owing to increased passen- largest gas field, the North Field, education, medical services, retail non-hydrocarbon sector has production shutdowns for mainte- ger flows through the new airport. means that increases in gas pro- and restaurants are expected to pushed its share of GDP to over nance,” the analysts said. Financial, real estate, and business duction are likely to be limited. flourish in order to cater to the half (50.7 percent) in Q3, 2014 for The latest GDP figures con- services also grew robustly (13.7 The strong growth momentum growth of the population. As such, the first time from 49 percent in firm Qatar’s ongoing rapid proc- percent year-on-year in Q3 2014) achieved in Q3 continues to be this increased level of population Q2, 2014. Real GDP growth accel- ess of economic diversification as banking intermediation accel- in line with the country’s over- growth should boost aggregate erated to 6 percent in the year to away from its traditional role as a erated and real estate services all development plan outlined in domestic consumption and add Q3, 2014 from 5.7 percent in the hydrocarbon exporter towards a notably the new metro in Doha, were boosted by the demand for the National Vision 2030 and the to non-hydrocarbon GDP growth previous quarter. manufacturing and services hub. major real estate projects such housing for the growing popula- National Development Strategy going forward. “Rapid growth in the Major infrastructure projects, as Musheireb in the centre of old tion. Furthermore, trade, hotels 2011-16. THE PENINSULA Russia oil output hits post-Soviet high Oil revenue of South

MOSCOW: Russia’s 2014 oil in oil output in 2014 slowed from a output hit a post-Soviet record Iraq oil exports highest in decades gain of 1.4 percent in 2013. Sudan dips to $3.38bn high average of 10.58 million Top listed oil company Rosneft, barrels per day (bpd), rising BAGHDAD: Iraq’s oil exports reached their highest level in which produces more oil than by 0.7 percent helped by small decades in December, the oil ministry’s spokesman said yester- Opec members Iraq or Iran, saw JUBA: South Sudan’s oil reve- to an average 160,000 barrels per non-state producers, Energy day, but vital revenues were being hit by the plummeting prices its output slip 0.7 percent as it nue last year was hit by reduced day (bpd) since fighting broke out, Ministry data showed. of crude. Iraq exported 91.141 million barrels of oil in December struggled to arrest declining pro- output because of conflict in the from 245,000 bpd just before the Oil and gas condensate produc- for an average of 2.94 million barrels per day, the highest daily duction at its West Siberian fields. African republic and the rapid violence erupted. Petroleum and tion in December hit 10.67 million average since 1980, Assem Jihad said, citing initial figures. Oil and gas fund about half of decline in oil prices, petroleum mining minister Dau’s statement, bpd, also a record high since the December exports were far and away the highest in 2014, eclipsing Russia’s budget. minister Stephen Dhieu Dau dated December 30, said that after collapse of the Soviet Union. the previous best month by more than 11 million barrels, according The country’s economy is slip- said in a statement yesterday. deducting $884m in payments due The data showed Russia’s so- to ministry figures. But revenues were $5.25bn, only up slightly on ping into recession following a fall Oil is the main source of cash to Sudan and loan repayments of called small producers, mostly November and much lower than the early months of 2014 because in oil prices and could see oil out- for South Sudan, but total oil $781m, the government was left privately held, increased their of sharply declining oil prices. put decline to 525 million tonnes income was $3.38bn last year with $1.71bn from its oil revenue. output by 11 percent to just over Jihad said prices averaged $57 a barrel in December, down from in 2015, according to an Energy from the sale of 36.6 million bar- “It will come as no surprise that 1 million barrels per day. $100 or more during the first half of the year. The average December Ministry forecast. rels as output was hit by the fight- one effect of the decrease in global Crude oil exports via state price was even lower than the $60 per barrel used to calculate Iraq’s The International Energy ing that began in December 2013 oil prices is the fairly substantial monopoly Transneft fell 5 per- 2015 budget, which already includes a more than $19bn deficit. Agency (IEA) expects Russian oil in the wake of a power struggle reduction of revenues our nation cent to 195.5 million tonnes due Oil producing cartel “Opec must move to address this issue,” output to fall by 1 percent. The between President Salva Kiir is receiving in its sales of crude to rising domestic demand and Jihad said. “Prices are falling now to abnormal levels, and it is up country’s natural gas production and former Vice President Riek oil,” Dau said, though he gave no refinery runs. to the organisation to move instead of watching prices collapse to in 2014 fell by 4 percent to 640.237 Machar. Thousands of people have comparative figures for 2013. Exports to China reached a illogical levels,” he said, adding that this was his personal opinion billion cubic metres (bcm). been killed and more than a mil- Dau added that he is confi- new high of 22.6 million tonnes .rather than that of the ministry. AFP Top producer Gazprom posted lion have fled their homes during dent that crude oil production (452,000 bpd), up 43 percent on an output fall of 9 percent to an the conflict, which also resulted in will resume in four oil blocks this the year as Russia seeks to diver- all-time low of 432 bcm due to damage to some of the country’s oil year and that the ministry plans to sify its energy customers. of 2014, when they reached over Hurt by falling oil prices and its pricing dispute with Ukraine, fields while production at others start allocating blocks for explora- Russian producers capitalised $113 per barrel. However, they Western sanctions prompted by once its second-largest customer was hit by a lack of spare parts. tion and production using an open on rising oil prices in the first half have halved since then. Moscow’s role in Ukraine, growth after Germany. REUTERS Production fell by about a third tender process. REUTERS SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS UK pound declines amid Dollar gains more strength signs economy is cooling

Euro drops to 4 1/2-year low as ECB splits from Fed; rouble sinks LONDON: The pound fell Markit Economics said yester- against the dollar for a third day its manufacturing purchasing week, reaching a 16-month low, managers index fell to 52.5 from a NEW YORK: The euro currency traded at 120.28 per dol- sixth straight month of losses, its The BOJ can employ new as reports showed growth in revised 53.3 in November. A read- slumped to the lowest in four- lar. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot longest skid since 2010. measures to reach its 2 percent manufacturing and the hous- ing above 50 indicates expansion. and-a-half years against the Index, which tracks the US cur- “Those who are subtly encour- inflation goal in the 2015 year, ing market slowed, spurring Economists forecast the gauge US dollar after the European rency against 10 major peers, rose aging the lower euro, they Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said bets the Bank of England will would rise to 53.6 from a previ- Central Bank signalled it will 0.9 percent in the week to 1,141.02. won’t be satisfied yet,” Richard in an interview with the Mainichi refrain from raising interest ously reported 53.5 in November, embark on large-scale govern- It increased 11 percent last year, Franulovich, the chief currency newspaper. rates. according to the median of esti- ment-bond purchases as the the biggest gain in data going strategist for the northern hemi- The dollar gained as econo- Gilts added to 2014’s returns, mates in a Bloomberg News sur- Federal Reserve moves closer back to 2005. sphere at Westpac Banking Corp mists surveyed forecast the US the best since 2011, after vey of economists. to raising interest rates. The dollar gained against all in New York, said. The extent of unemployment rate fell to 5.7 European Central Bank President House prices rose 7.2 percent The 19-nation common cur- of its 31 major counterparts in euro weakness “really does come percent in December, the lowest Mario Draghi said in an inter- in December from a year ago, rency slid for a third week after 2014 for the first time in data down to the composition and size since June 2008, before the Labor view that he can’t rule out the compared with an 8.5 percent ECB President Mario Draghi said going back to 1989, buoyed by an of this sovereign QE that they’re Department report on January risk of deflation in the 19-nation gain in the previous month, he can’t rule out deflation in the improving economy. Strategists talking about,” he said. 9. Employers added 240,000 jobs, bloc, the UK’s biggest trading Nationwide Building Society said euro area. The yen also declined don’t see a repeat of that domi- Draghi seldom gives inter- economists projected. partner. on December 30. for a third week. The rouble nance in 2015. views and his comments to the The Fed said it will be patient Sterling was little changed ver- The Bank of England will plummeted 9.4 percent to lead More than half of those coun- German newspaper Handelsblatt on the timing of the first inter- sus the euro as falling oil prices keep the benchmark base rate emerging-market peers lower. terparts are forecast to gain reflect a drive to win over that est-rate increase since 2006 and stoked speculation that lower unchanged at a record-low 0.5 The dollar gained against all of next year against the greenback, nation. Policy makers there have raised its assessment of the labor energy costs will keep a lid on percent when officials announce its 16 major peers before a report led by this year’s biggest loser, led criticism of quantitative eas- market at the last meeting of inflation and delay an increase their next policy decision on next week that may show the job- Russia’s ruble. It is predicted to ing, saying it threatens financial its Open Market Committee on in BoE borrowing costs while January 8, according to all 42 less rate fell to a 6 1/2-year low. add 17 percent after plunging 46 stability, reduces the incentive for December 17. The FOMC’s next the ECB prepares to expand economists in a survey. “The US labour market is percent in 2014 under the pres- governments to restructure their scheduled decisions are January stimulus. The central bank won’t start performing well and the unem- sure of sliding oil prices and US economies, and is legally tricky. 28, March 18 and April 29. “Recent UK data suggested raising the rate until the third ployment rate is falling further,” and European economic sanc- “The risk cannot be entirely Fed funds futures show a 63 growth may have peaked,” said quarter of this year, the median Ralf Umlauf, head of research tions against Russia for its role excluded, but it is limited,” Draghi percent probability that the Jeremy Stretch, head of foreign- of analyst estimates compiled by for Helaba Landesbank Hessen- in Ukraine turmoil. said when asked if the region central bank will raise rates by exchange strategy at Canadian Bloomberg show. The pound may Thueringen in Frankfurt, said Mexico’s peso is projected to could enter a spiral of declining September, up from a 45 percent Imperial Bank of Commerce decline further against the dol- by phone yesterday. “In the euro- gain 9.9 percent after a losing prices, falling wages and post- likelihood at the end of November. in London. “That supports a lar as positioning data suggests zone, it’s a completely different 12 percent last year, and the poned spending. “We have to act Analysts at BNP Paribas SA view that sterling will probably investors are increasingly bearish picture. We have still very high Norwegian krone may add 4.6 against such risk.” recommended buying the dollar weaken against the dollar as the about the currency outlook. unemployment rates near the his- percent after a 19 percent tumble. Policy makers in Japan have and selling the euro and yen in a US economy outperforms.” Wagers by hedge funds and torical top. So that’s the reason Argentina’s peso is forecast to also embraced monetary stimulus note yesterday. The UK currency dropped 1.3 other large speculators on the why we have the divergence in be the biggest loser in 2015, drop- to ward off deflation, prompting “With US economic outper- percent in the week to $1.5357 as pound’s decline against the dol- monetary policies.” ping another 29 percent after last the yen to fall for a third consecu- formance keeping US yields and of 5:32 pm. London time yester- lar exceeded those on a gain by The euro dropped 1.5 percent year’s 23 percent descent. The tive year against dollar in 2014. the US dollar supported, inves- day, when it reached $1.5354, the 15,233 contracts in the week last week to $1.2002 yesterday in euro is projected to fall 1.7 percent The foreign-exchange market is tors’ question at the start of the lowest since August 2013. through December 23, the first New York after falling to $1.2001, and the yen 3.6 percent after each bracing for more yen- debasing year should not be whether to buy Sterling was at 78.18 pence per increase in three weeks, data the lowest since June 2010. The dropped 12 percent in 2015. stimulus measures from the Bank the USD, but which currency to euro, having gained 6.9 percent from the Chicago Mercantile shared currency lost 1.3 percent The shared currency slumped of Japan after the nation slipped sell against it,” the bank said. last year against the common Exchange. against the yen to 144.63. Japan’s 2.8 percent in December for a into a recession last quarter. BLOOMBERG currency. BLOOMBERG Failure to stop Petrobras scandal could haunt Rousseff

RIO DE JANEIRO/ her popularity has suffered only Puttini, who was one of the audit- BRASILIA: When federal slightly. Still, she faces mounting ing officials, said. “What’s hap- investigators first identified scrutiny over whether she did pening now is not a surprise to signs of corruption at Petrobras enough to halt the corruption at us at all.” in 2009, Dilma Rousseff insisted Brazil’s biggest company by rev- Rousseff said in a statement Brazil’s state-run oil company enue. The scandal could haunt her on November 22 that she reacted had nothing to hide. in her second term as president, properly to the TCU report and “Petrobras has one of the most which began on Thursday. noted it detailed only a portion accurate accounting standards Petrobras’ stock has fallen of the wrongdoing that has since in the world,” said Rousseff, who nearly 50 percent in the last six been uncovered. A spokesman was then chairwoman of its board months and its market value is referred recent queries regard- and is now Brazil’s president. “If down more than 80 percent from ing Petrobras to that statement. it wasn’t the case, investors would its peak in 2008. Two top former A senior official close to not be seeking out the company executives and three dozen other Rousseff said Petrobras’ decision as one of the great investment suspects allegedly involved in the not to share more information targets.” scheme have been indicted. with the TCU at the time was Today, it’s clear her confidence The accounting standards made by Rousseff’s subordinates. was misplaced. Petrobras now that Rousseff praised are now “It never crossed her desk,” the acknowledges it overpaid on con- in such disrepute that independ- official said. tracts for years. ent auditors have refused to cer- Overseeing Petrobras was not Prosecutors say engineering tify Petrobras’ quarterly results Rousseff’s only job, though people firms paid bribes to win Petrobras because, pending further inves- who worked with her say it was contracts, systematically over- tigation, they are unable to put a her passion. charged it to the tune of billions value on its assets. An economist with a zeal for of dollars and funneled a cut of Records from the Federal energy issues, she was also energy the money to corrupt execu- Audits Court, or TCU, show that minister from 2003 to 2005 and tives, vendors and political par- investigators detected widespread President Luiz Inacio Lula da ties, including Rousseff’s ruling over-charging on contracts and Silva’s chief of staff until 2010. Workers’ Party. irregular tendering practices at Rousseff oversaw Petrobras A review of a 2009 federal major Petrobras projects. They during a rise in its fortunes that investigation of Petrobras, and included the Abreu e Lima refin- paralleled Brazil’s commodities- Petrobras Chief Executive Maria das Gracas Silva Foster (second left) speaks to guests at Planalto Palace after interviews with those who con- ery in northeast Brazil, the big- driven economic boom. Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff being sworn in for a second four-year term in Brasilia. ducted it, indicates Rousseff gest single investment project in She attended monthly board missed opportunities to stop the Petrobras’ history. meetings, weighed in on invest- Petrobras found huge new off- In its 2009 report, the TCU regulatory system is responsi- graft before it erupted into a cri- The TCU advised both the gov- ment priorities and successfully shore oil resources starting in cited irregular tender practices ble for the protection of public sis so big it could push Brazil’s ernment and Petrobras’ directors pushed for a rewrite of Brazil’s 2006 and its market value soared and systematic over-charging on property. slow-growing economy back into in a report that was sent directly oil law to make Petrobras a man- to more than $290bn in 2008 from Abreu e Lima contracts. It also It found no wrongdoing but its recession next year. to Rousseff and her board. datory partner in new deep-sea $15bn a decade earlier. But prob- criticised Petrobras for waiting ability to do its job has been widely Rousseff says she did not know Investigators say they would finds. lems were cropping up. The TCU, until the last day of the inves- questioned. Its chief Jorge Hage about the corruption, or partici- have uncovered even more abuses “She was involved deeply and which is an office of Congress and tigation to deliver many docu- resigned last month after com- pate in it, when she was Petrobras’ if Petrobras hadn’t refused to pro- emotionally in Petrobras,” said audits federal spending, in 2008 ments, saying it was tantamount plaining that budget cuts mean chairwoman from 2003 to 2010. vide key documents. Ildo Sauer, the former head of began reviewing contracts for to obstruction. it has trouble paying telephone Opposition leaders say they The TCU’s findings were “a its natural gas and energy unit the Abreu e Lima refinery after After receiving the findings, and electricity bills, much less the believe her and that she is unlikely clear warning sign of bigger prob- who worked with Rousseff during spending estimates started to rise Rousseff alerted the Comptroller expense of tracking corruption. to face impeachment. Polls show lems and likely corruption,” Saulo those years. sharply. General’s office, which in Brazil’s REUTERS

General Motors’ vehicle Recall of 8.23 million cars linked to the recent ignition Huawei sales switch problem, a flaw which can cause engines to shut Micromax Informatics recalls since 2014 off, leading to loss of power steering and power brakes, to hit $46bn and the failure of airbags to deploy in a crash plans up to $500m IPO BEIJING: Chinese telecoms RECALLS equipment maker Huawei MUMBAI: Micromax Micromax expects a valuation of Technologies expects Million vehicles affected Informatics, India’s second- 14 times its operating profit. advances in cloud comput- 5 largest smartphone maker, Micromax did not immedi- ing and higher demand for Affected system or related component plans to raise as much as $500m ately respond to the request for smart devices to have lifted Ignition Airbag Other through a stock market listing comment. The company told the 2014 sales revenue by 15 per- 4 in its financial year beginning paper it did not comment on mar- cent to $46bn, CEO Ken Hu in April, the Economic Times ket speculation. Jan. 1, 2015 said in a new year’s message 3 newspaper reported yesterday. The company, backed by pri- on the company’s website. 83,572 vehicles recalled due to Micromax, which entered the vate equity firms TA Associates The company, for which problems with ignition lock actuator Indian handset market in 2008 and Sequoia Capital, had hired three executives share CEO 2 with cheap large-screen phones, banks in 2010 for an IPO to raise duties in six-month rotation, will sell a minority stake in its ini- as much as $150m but scrapped had said last year that it will tial public offering of shares, the the plan a year later, citing poor achieve sustainable growth 1 newspaper said, citing unnamed market sentiment. in 2014. It had also targeted bankers and a company executive. Its main rivals in the world’s revenue of $70bn by 2018, or 0 The company has shortlisted fastest-growing smartphone mar- growth of about 10 percent a Jan.Feb. March April May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Morgan Stanley and Goldman ket include Samsung Electronics, year. REUTERS Sachs to manage the offering, Motorola and China’s Xiaomi. Sources: Reuters; GM the report said, adding that REUTERS SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 Risk of ECB failing its At the New York Stock Exchange mandate higher: Draghi Preserving price stability tough now than 6 months ago

FRANKFURT: European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said the risk of the cen- Merkel ally urges ECB not to tral bank not fulfilling its man- date of preserving price stability was higher now than half a year buy struggling states’ bonds ago, and reiterated its readiness BERLIN: A senior member of Angela to act early this year should it Merkel’s party warned the ECB not become necessary. to pour money into Greece and other In an interview with German struggling eurozone states through financial daily Handelsblatt, bond purchases, saying this would Draghi urged politicians to imple- reduce pressure on them to enact ment necessary reforms, reduce much-needed reforms. tax burdens and cut red tape to Michael Fuchs, deputy parliamentary support the eurozone recovery, floor leader of the German chancel- which Draghi said was “fragile lor’s Christian Democrats (CDU), told and uneven”. Deutschlandfunk radio: “We shouldn’t There was a limited risk of pump extra money into these states, but rather make sure they deflation in the eurozone, Draghi continue along the reform path. “I’d be grateful if Mr Draghi (pic- said, but if inflation remained too tured) would make statements along these lines.” A trader is reflected on a screen as he works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York. low for too long and led to reced- In an interview, Draghi urged politicians to implement necessary ing inflation expectations and a reforms, reduce tax burdens and cut red tape to support a fragile delay in spending, the ECB would eurozone recovery. “I expect there to be fierce discussion over this need to act to fulfil its mandate. at the next ECB meeting,” said Fuchs, referring to opposition to the “The risk that we do not ful- bond-buying plan by the head of the Bundesbank Jens Weidmann. European bond gains send yields fil our mandate of price stability The ECB’s next policy meeting is on January 22. is higher than six months ago,” Fuchs has frequently expressed frustration felt by many German Draghi was quoted as saying in politicians and the public about the pace of reform in twice-bailed- to record lows on QE speculation an interview published on Friday. out Greece. He was quoted as saying in a newspaper interview pub- “We are in technical prepa- lished on Wednesday that eurozone politicians were not obliged to rations to adjust the size, speed rescue Greece as the country was no longer of systemic importance LONDON: Yields across the “Draghi’s comments to The 2.75 percent security due in and compositions of our meas- to the single currency bloc. Greece holds a general election just euro area fell to records, with Handelsblatt have been keeping October 2024 rose 2.195, or 21.95 ures early 2015, should it become three days after the ECB meeting and polls suggest the left-wing some analysts forecasting QE at the forefront of people’s euros per 1,000-euro ($1,201) face necessary to react to a too long Syriza party, which rejects the terms of Greece’s eurozone bailouts, they’ve further to go as traders minds,” said Lyn Graham-Taylor, amount, to 111.36. period of low inflation. There is will emerge as the strongest party. REUTERS bet more stimulus is imminent a fixed-income strategist at Germany’s five-year yield unanimity within the Governing after European Central Bank Rabobank International in dropped six basis points to minus Council on this.” President Mario Draghi sig- London. 0.005 percent, meaning investors He added that government 0.3 percent, far below the ECB’s Draghi also said he had no nalled euro-area deflation risks. “We can see yields going lower. are willing to receive less back bond purchases were among the target of just under 2 percent, desire to enter politics. “I do not Germany’s five-year borrowing We think initially in the wake of from the securities if they hold tools the ECB could use to fulfil and calls for more ECB action want to be a politician,” he said. costs dropped below zero for the a QE announcement you’re going them to maturity than they paid its mandate, but that state financ- have grown louder as policymak- On Wednesday, Italy’s 89-year- first time and 10-year yields from to see a pop higher in the 10- year to purchase them. ing — which is prohibited by the ers warn that plunging oil prices old President Giorgio Napolitano Belgium to Portugal reached new bond yield but it’s a case of how The rate on 10-year bonds fell EU treaty — had to be avoided. could push inflation below zero said he would step down soon lows after Draghi was quoted in much further it could go in the to a record-low 0.492 percent Printing money to buy gov- in coming months. Concerns are because of his age. Commentators German newspaper Handelsblatt meantime. Maybe it could fall and the yield premium investors ernment bonds, a step known as that weaker price expectations have mentioned Draghi as a pos- as saying he can’t exclude the another 10 basis points.” get for holding similar- maturity quantitative easing (QE), is seen could affect wages and invest- sible successor in recent months. risk of falling prices. Euro-area Spain’s 10-year yield fell 23 Spanish bonds earlier touched as as one of the last tools the ECB ments and dampen growth pros- Asked by Handelsblatt whether yields plunged last year as the basis points, or 0.23 percentage little as 97 basis points. Italian has to revive inflation, with the pects. Regardless, Draghi ruled he would be interested in succeed- ECB cut its deposit rate below point, in the week to 1.50 percent 10-year yields declined to 1.737 key interest rate at 0.05 percent out a break-up of the eurozone. “A ing Napolitano, Draghi said: “My zero, unveiled an unprecedented as of 5 p.m. London time yester- percent and the rate on equiva- and growing doubts about the break-up of the eurozone? That mandate as ECB president con- program of asset purchases and day, when it touched 1.492 per- lent maturity Belgian bonds slid impact of earlier measures. will not happen. That’s why there tinues until the year 2019.” said an expansion to include gov- cent, the lowest since Bloomberg to 0.764 percent. Eurozone inflation stands at is no plan B,” he said. REUTERS ernment bonds is possible. began collecting the data in 1993. BLOOMBERG

Free Wi-Fi offering Japan economy to grow more than expected

TOKYO: Japan Business economy a boost. In November, Federation Chairman Sadayuki Prime minister Shinzo Abe Sakakibara has expressed his decided to postpone until April confidence that the country’s 2017 implementation of the sec- economy will grow beyond ond stage of the sales tax hike expectations in 2015. that was supposed to take effect In an interview with the Nikkei in October this year. This was daily published Friday, Sakakibara done on account of the dampen- also reiterated the organisation’s ing effects of last April’s increase intent to push for wage increases in the sales tax on the country’s of more than 2 percent. consumption, the driving force of “Private sector think tanks on the world’s third-largest economy. average project economic growth “I want this year to be the year this year to be in the upper one when Japan undeniably escapes percent range, but I think it will deflation and gets on track to do better,” he said. economic recovery,” said the The Bank of Japan in its last chairman, adding: “The business quarterly report also put the community will make every effort country’s average economic to raise wages, and we will make growth rate for 2015 at 1.5 per- this stance clear in our guidelines cent. The head of the economic for the spring wage negotiations.” organisation attributed his opti- “We will call on companies to mistic forecast to the Japanese consider the option of increasing corporations’ strong performance base pay. Wages increased by over propelled by the continued fall of 2 percent for the first time in 15 the yen against the dollar and years in fiscal 2014. We are hop- said that the delay in the (con- ing for similar figures this time The Verizon logo is seen at the headquarters for Northern Virginia in Ashburn. Thousands of high-tech terminals offering free Wi-Fi and other sumption) tax hike would give the around.” IANS services will soon replace New York’s remaining fleet of seldom-used pay phones, the city mayor said. Shake Shack IPO filing comes amid a hunger for premium burgers

NEW YORK: Shake Shack Inc’s fil- in Palm Beach, Florida, and a noted younger, more affluent consumers. Sales to increase the number of domestic com- more personalized options: McDonald’s ing for an initial public offering under- short-seller. “That a company of such a at such chains including Five Guys and pany-operated Shacks to at least 450 and is rolling out a new “Create Your Taste” scores a question for investors and small size can get a valuation is sympto- Smashburger rose 9 percent in 2013, analysts say that finding new locations program this year that will give custom- foodies alike: How hungry are US con- matic of the silliness ... that develops in according to restaurant consultancy with affluent consumers is critical. ers a choice of sandwich toppings. sumers for another burger chain? a period of zero interest rates,” he said. Technomic Inc, while overall sales at all Consumers such as Leticia Garza, 33, In December, the world’s biggest fast A key part of Shake Shack’s growth A Shake Shack spokeswoman declined burger chains including fast food res- a middle school teacher in Austin, Texas, food chain, which has not had a monthly strategy involves expanding its locations to comment. Still, several factors appear taurants such as McDonald’s Corp were help illustrate the brand’s potential in gain in sales at its established U.S. res- beyond its New York base, and investors to be working in Shake Shack’s favor. down 1 percent. other parts of the country, but also the taurants since October 2013, said it also and analysts are bullish on its prospects. First, 2014 was a solid year for restaurant “The better burger space has been a challenges. Garza says she is excited to planned to cut the number of items on They say there is room for more “fast IPOs, particularly of the fast casual vari- pretty disruptive force for McDonald’s hear that Shake Shack planned to expand its U.S. menus. It also plans to use fewer casual” restaurants that offer higher ety. Burger chain Habit Restaurants Inc’s and other players,” said Darren Tristano, to Austin. Still, she notes that she has ingredients in food, in an effort to reach quality burgers, a variety of toppings shares have risen 3 percent since its $30 executive vice president at Technomic. many similar options. “There’s definitely consumers who want simpler, more natu- and in some cases, beer and wine. Shake Nasdaq debut on November 20, based on Shake Shack has developed a fervent going to be some competition because we ral choices. Shack’s burgers are described in its pre- Friday’s prices, and Zoe’s Kitchen was up following since it was founded by res- have recently gotten an In-N-Out, and a McDonald’s is cheaper than Shack liminary prospectus as all-natural and 12 percent from its April market debut at taurateur Danny Meyer in 2001, but the couple of local versions that are similar Shack and competes for a less affluent hormone- and antibiotic-free. $28.72 on Friday. Shares of El Pollo Loco, challenge will be to replicate the success to In-N-Out: P. Terry’s and Mighty Fine.” consumer. Still, industry watchers say To be sure, there are skeptics who say another fast casual company, were up 5.5 it has found in New York in the rest of She adds: “We have Smashburger, too.” such efforts could put pressure on pre- the excitement over Shake Shack is over- percent Friday from their $19 market the United States and overseas. The Indeed, the market may be just a few mium burgers. “We’re always looking for blown. “Consumers love it and it will be debut in July. company has 31 company-operated and years away from being saturated with the latest version,” said Harry Balzer, an well greeted in the market —and then Second, premium burger chains are five licensed locations in 10 states and too many fancy burger places, some ana- analyst at NPD Group, a market research probably fizzle out,” said Doug Kass, pres- outperforming the burger category Washington, DC, and 27 locations abroad. lysts say. Furthermore, premium burger company. But, he said, “there’s a limit to ident of Seabreeze Partners Management as a whole, thanks to demand from The chain believes it has the potential chains are not the only ones offering the burgers we’re going to eat.” REUTERS SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Weak growth suggests more central bank action Factories from Asian and European nations register sluggish production Fed official sees rate rise by June LONDON/SYDNEY: The glo- sharply further, given what is beating November’s 17-month low and is expected to show a still NEW YORK: A top Federal Reserve official said she could see bal economy ended 2014 in a happening to energy costs, those of 50.1. That is above the 50 mark strong reading around 57.6 for the US central bank raising interest rates in the first half of the fragile state as factories strug- concerns that Draghi highlighted that separates growth from con- December. China’s massive fac- year, earlier than some expect, given that the economy is on a gled to maintain growth across suggests we are going to get quan- traction, but there was little sign tory sector looked to have sput- “very firm footing.” Europe and Asia, business sur- titative easing,” Knightley said. of any improvement this month, tered in December and across the “The Fed is preparing the public and the markets,” Cleveland veys showed, adding to pressure The risk of a deflationary spi- with the subindex for new orders region manufacturers struggled Fed President Loretta Mester said on the Fox Business Network on central banks to implement ral, alongside a stagnating euro at just 50.2, leading factories to with weak demand, both at home television channel. “I do believe that inflation will gradually move more stimulus. economy, will push the ECB to barely increase headcount in and abroad. back to our target, so I could imagine interest rates going up in the Ebbing price pressures across buy sovereign debt early in 2015, December. China’s official PMI slipped to first half of the year.” the continents offers room for a Reuters poll showed last month. British manufacturing 50.1 in December from November’s The Fed’s key rate has been near zero since late 2008. Investors the People’s Bank of China and The ECB council meets on expanded at a much weaker pace 50.3, its lowest level of the year. and economists generally expect a hike around mid-2015 — with the European Central Bank to January 22 and markets are than expected in December, sug- While the PMI for China’s many eyeing policy meetings set for June, July and September — do more to drive up inflation and wagering heavily it will finally gesting its contribution to the services sector, which accounts and comments from influential Fed officials appear to back this. support growth. “Growth really decide to start buying sovereign economic recovery ebbed further for close to half of the economy, Monetary tightening will depend on the economic data and how does appear to be stalling based debt, a major reason the euro hit in the final months of 2014. edged up to 54.1 from November’s close inflation and unemployment are to its goals, said Mester, a on these indicators so certainly 4-1/2 year lows on Friday. Global exporters should get 53.9, many analysts suspect 2014 centrist who does not have a vote on policy this year. the pressure is on, although we Eurozone manufacturing con- some relief as the US shifts into economic growth has undershot As “the real rate of return on capital goes up, we want to make are less worried about China,” cluded last year on a subdued higher gear, although they did the government’s 7.5 percent tar- sure that our short term policy rate is moving up with it,” she added. said James Knightley, senior glo- note as output, new orders and not benefit as much from 2014’s get, marking the weakest expan- “There is no predetermined formula.” Fed policy meetings are set bal economist at ING. employment all recorded slug- recovery in the world’s biggest sion in 24 years. for mid-June, late July and mid-September. REUTERS On Thursday, ECB President gish growth. Also of concern to economy as they have in the past. With factories able to make Mario Draghi fanned expecta- policymakers, activity was weak The US Federal Reserve has more than consumers wanted to tions he would take bolder steps in Germany, Europe’s largest indicated it will start raising rates buy, the pressure was intense to shore up domestic demand.” space for some rate cuts in 2015,” this month, saying the central economy, while the downturn from rock bottom later this year cut prices. “The price measures In India, too, inflation has said Pranjul Bhandari, chief India bank stood ready to respond to also deepened in France, the euro as long as the economy continues show very strong disinflationary slowed to only 4.38 percent annu- economist at HSBC. the risk of deflation. Consumer bloc’s second-biggest. to improve and unemployment forces,” said analysts at Nomura. ally, the lowest since the govern- In South Korea, consumer price data for the eurozone due Markit’s final December manu- falls further. “We expect more policy easing ment started releasing the data prices grew at the slowest clip in on January 7 is widely expected facturing Purchasing Managers’ A US Institute for Supply in the first quarter, including a in 2012. “With the disinflationary more than 15 years in December, to show a fall in annual terms. Index stood at 50.6, down from Management measure of manu- 50-basis-point cut in the bank trend gaining ground, the Reserve opening the door for further rate “With inflation set to fall an earlier flash reading of 50.8 but facturing is due later on Friday reserve requirement ratio, to Bank of India is expected to find cuts there. REUTERS

US construction falls Uber rings in New Year Italy state with two million rides sector budget surplus shrinks SAN FRANCISCO: Car- and spying on riders. sharing startup Uber bragged The controversy widened when it rang in the New Year with a BuzzFeed report indicated that in December two million rides, many of them executives at Uber had taken apparently to revellers heading liberties with access to a “God ROME: Italy posted a state home in early morning hours. View” that showed where riders sector budget surplus of €5.1bn And while demand for rides and their drivers were located at in December, sharply lower spiked from one to two in the any given time. than the €15.58bn posted in morning in most cities where The firm, which lets customers December 2013, weighed down Uber operates, partiers in Paris order and pay for taxis or private by lower tax revenues, higher didn’t put pressure on the service vehicles via smartphones, has payments of bills in arrears and until after 4 am local time. been unofficially valued in the debt servicing costs. The Uber smartphone applica- range of $25bn to $30bn based on The Economy Ministry said tion was downloaded more than funding rounds. Its smartphone the state sector budget deficit for 20,000 times after midnight on app connects users with local the full year came to €76.8bn, an New Year’s Eve, the company drivers and the company charges improvement of more than €3.5bn added. Use of Uber through the a commission for each ride. compared with the figure in 2013, night hit a peak of 58 rides reach- Founded in 2009, Uber is now tied to tighter spending. ing their destinations a second, present in more than 200 cities The Treasury said debt serv- according to the San Francisco- and in 45 countries. icing costs were higher but it based startup. In December, Uber The company’s rapid expansion noted that in 2013 there were scrambled to allay fears that exec- has caused tensions with tradi- exceptional payments for a capi- A sign shows a new home is sold in Ashburn, Virginia. US spending on construction fell slightly in November utives at the hot car-sharing star- tional taxi drivers, especially in tal increase for the European from the previous month driven by a decline in non-residential building, but was higher from a year ago, the tup are gunning for journalists Europe. AFP Investment Bank and for fund- Commerce Department said. ing support to the troubled Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena. The state sector borrowing requirement (SSBR), a measure of the gap between central gov- Car sales slump in France, but rise in Spain and Italy ernment spending and income, differs from the broader “general government” accounts, which PARIS/MADRID: France’s 2014 for the first time since 2009. cars were sold in December and head of communication at Anfac urged caution. “A lot of ground the European Union Stability floundering economy pushed Registrations for the year rose 855,308 in 2014, up 18.4 percent said. “If the Plan PIVE continues still needs to be recovered to and Growth Pact refers to when car sales 6.8 percent lower 0.3 percent to 1.8 million cars, the from 2013 and the best annual throughout the year [2015], car return to normal market lev- assessing countries’ deficit year-on-year in December, CCFA industry association said. performance since 2010, car mak- registrations could come close to els,” automotive research group performances. while Spanish sales jumped by Car registrations declined to ers’ association Anfac said. a million.” Centro Studi Promotor said. At the end of September, Italy 21.4 percent, helped by a sub- 163,382 vehicles last month, with The government announced In Italy, Europe’s fourth-larg- Promotor expects Italian car hiked its general government sidy scheme, and also rose in those of PSA Peugeot Citroen it was extending the Plan PIVE est car market, new car sales sales to rise 5.2 percent this year, deficit forecast for 2014 from 2.6 Italy, according to auto industry tumbling 9.6 percent. Renault scheme that offers price cuts on rose 2.35 percent in December to boosted by a car replacement percent of gross domestic prod- associations. fared better as group domestic new low-emission vehicles for the 91,518 vehicles, the transport min- cycle. The number could easily uct to 3.0 percent, exactly in line The contrasting year-end per- registrations slipped 0.8 percent, seventh time at the beginning of istry said. In all of 2014, Italian be surpassed if the government with the European Union’s ceil- formance highlights how France CCFA said in a statement. November. “The car market ends car sales were up 4.21 percent to introduced measures to spur ing, citing a weaker than expected has been left out of a fragile Francois Roudier, a CCFA the year with its strongest annual 1.36 million vehicles, it added. demand, it added. Foreign car- economy. recovery in Europe’s car sector. spokesman, said sales in France growth in 15 years, with the Plan But while industry groups makers’ association UNRAE sees Italy’s general deficit in 2013 Yet the French market did were expected to be largely stag- PIVE allowing 16 straight months welcomed the first rise in annual Italian car sales increasing around came in at 2.8 percent of GDP. manage to post annual growth in nant this year. In Spain, 73,440 expansion,” David Barrientos, sales after a six-year slump, they 3 percent in 2015. REUTERS REUTERS

Newly-built solar plant RBS shares hit by report of higher mortgage bond claims in US

LONDON: Royal Bank of The federal court in with the situation, said RBS’s Scotland could have to pay Connecticut is handling a sec- £1.9bn provision was unlikely to higher than expected set- ond case which addresses RBS’ be enough to cover the expected tlements to cover the cost of sale of $30.4bn in mortgage claims. involvement in the mis-sell- securities to Freddie Mac and “The FHFA settlement is ing of US mortgage-backed Fannie Mae. likely to be the largest of the securities, The Times reported Shares in RBS fell 1.4 percent outstanding litigation and on Friday, pushing RBS shares to 388.5 pence by 1538 GMT. conduct hits that RBS still faces, lower. “We believe that a 5bn set- but there are many others, and The part-nationalised bank, tlement would be towards the they are likely to drag on for which had set aside £1.9bn to top end of market expectations many years,” Goodwin added. deal with the claims, could be for this particular issue, and RBS Chief Executive Ross asked by the Federal Housing slightly above the levels where McEwan said in October the Finance Agency (FHFA) to pay other banks have settled in rela- bank would not pay a dividend settlements of more than £5bn tion to the assets involved, but until it had strengthened its over the sale of about $32bn of it’s not inconceivable,” said RBC capital position and had mortgage-backed debt in the Capital Markets banks analyst more clarity over future miscon- United States, the report said. Leigh Goodwin. duct charges. Spokeswomen for RBS and for UBS in 2013 agreed to pay In September the FHFA had the FHFA declined to comment. $885m to settle a lawsuit that reached a total of $17.9 bil- The bank agreed to pay $99.5m alleged the bank misled Fannie lion of settlements, stemming in June to settle claims it mis- Mae and Freddie Mac into buy- from lawsuits it filed in 2011 to represented more than $2bn of ing $4.5bn of problem mortgage recoup losses on roughly $200bn mortgage-backed bonds during bonds. of mortgage-backed securities An electricity pylon is seen above a newly-built solar power plant on a hill during sunset in Wuhu, China’s the US housing bubble between The Times report, citing purchased by Freddie Mac and Anhui province. 2005 and 2007. unnamed sources familiar Fannie Mae. REUTERS SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

Fare rises show why Worst redemptions British railways should be renationalised BY CAROLINE LUCAS for Pimco in history

T’S THE first week of January, so it’s time for that painful BY MARY CHILDS investors and stem redemptions according to Morningstar. Pimco said in a telephone interview. annual ritual – the introduction of yet more rail fare rises. No after Gross left on September had $1.87tn in assets under man- The fund had more than dou- wonder rail passengers have had enough. Fares are increasing acific Investment 26, bringing back high-profile agement as of September 30. bled from $132bn at the end of Imuch faster than wages, with regulated ticket prices having Management Co’s big- money managers and naming Last month’s redemptions 2008, after navigating the finan- risen by more than 20 percent since 2010. gest mutual fund had top performers to run its larg- from the fund followed a com- cial crisis with returns that Figures released today by the Campaign for Better Transport Pthe worst year of client est funds. The Total Return bined $60.5bn in September, beat 82 percent of rivals. Assets show what this could mean for a constituency like mine in Brighton. withdrawals in the history of Fund, which was once the big- October and November, includ- peaked in April 2013, before Average ticket prices have soared by more than 20 percent for fund management as the firm gest US mutual fund, is now the ing a record $27.5bn in October. the Federal Reserve hinted it Brighton-London commuters, for example, whose journey to and lost both of its co-chief invest- fourth-largest as offerings from In 2013, clients pulled $41.1bn would unwind stimulus meas- from work could cost the equivalent of 8.6 weeks of net earnings ment officers, Bill Gross and Vanguard Group Inc have over- from the fund, according to ures, sparking redemptions and – more than £4,400. That’s 17 percent of the average regional sal- Mohamed El-Erian. taken it, according to data com- Morningstar estimates. unsteady performance. ary, and a price increase of £745 under the coalition. And while Investors pulled $19.4bn from piled by Bloomberg. The decline Pimco Total Return, managed Gross, who co-founded Pimco today’s rise sees regulated fare hikes capped at 2.5 percent, the cost Pimco Total Return Fund in has erased more than five years by Chief Investment Officers in 1971 and built it into one of increase on unregulated fares, such as off-peak leisure tickets, will December, bringing redemp- of growth at the fund, bringing Scott Mather, Mark Kiesel, the nation’s largest money man- be left to train companies’ own discretion. tions in 2014 to a record $105bn, assets to 2008 levels. and Mihir Worah since Gross’s agers, left after deputies includ- Passengers in this country pay the highest fares in Europe to according to data compiled by “The pace of outflows dur- departure, trailed a majority of ing now-group Chief Investment travel on services that all too often are unreliable, understaffed, Bloomberg using information ing December continued to be peers for the second straight Officer Daniel Ivascyn said they and overcrowded. After two decades of privatisation, the private from Newport Beach, California- significantly below the peak in year in 2014 after missing a would quit and management sector has not delivered the innovation and investment that were based Pimco and Morningstar September and early October rally in longer-term bonds and debated his ouster, according to once promised. Inc. Assets in the world’s big- 2014,” spokesman Daniel Tarman betting that inflation would rise. people familiar with the matter. Moreover, private rail companies still remain dependent on gest bond fund fell to $143.4bn said in an e-mailed statement The fund returned 4.7 percent Gross resigned to run an uncon- public subsidies to run their services. But these same companies as of December 31, according on January 2. “The fund’s expe- in 2014, trailing 53 percent of strained fund at Denver-based can then turn over up to an estimated 90 percent of their operat- to a January 2 statement from rienced portfolio management comparable funds, after losing money manager Janus Capital ing profits to shareholders. This blatant transfer of public money Pimco, down by more than half team remains focused on pur- 1.9 percent the previous year, Group Inc. means that the public purse is effectively propping up a failing rail from a peak of $293bn in April suing investment opportunities behind 65 percent of peers, El-Erian, who shared the role system for private gain. 2013. designed to play out over the according to data compiled by of CIO with Gross and served as The Rebuilding Rail report, published by Transport for Quality “No doubt, it is the largest medium and long-term, while Bloomberg. Pimco’s chief executive officer, in of Life, conservatively estimates that about £1.2bn is lost each year outflow for one year in dollar retaining a focus on capital “You could still see some more January announced his resigna- as a result of fragmentation and privatisation. The irony is that terms,” among money manag- preservation and liquidity for outflows and then it probably tion from the firm. some of the biggest profiters are the state-owned rail companies of ers, according to Russel Kinnel, shareholders.” stabilises, unless performance El-Erian is now chief economic our European neighbours. Yet that’s money that could, and should, director of mutual-fund research Pimco can weather withdraw- really deteriorates,” Michael adviser at Pimco’s parent Allianz be reinvested to improve our own rail services and reduce fares. at Chicago-based research firm als from institutional and retail Rosen, chief investment officer SE and a contributor to Bloomberg That’s why on Monday, I will be joining campaigners from groups Morningstar. clients of as much as $350bn at Angeles Investment Advisers View. including RMT, Action for Rail, Compass and the People’s Assembly Pimco is seeking to reassure without hurting performance, LLC in Santa Monica, California, BLOOMBERG at rallies at stations all around the country to call for rail to be brought back into public ownership, with passengers having a greater say in the development of the system. We are proposing that the government would take back individual franchises when they expire, or when companies fail to meet their conditions. The enormous savings generated could and should then be reinvested in rail infrastructure, and to reduce the soaring cost of fares. This is no dewy-eyed throwback to a 1970s British Rail. The modern, efficient, clean and affordable services enjoyed in other parts of Europe offer a much better blueprint for the future. Closer to home, the recent experience of the East Coast Mainline tells its own story. In the five years it was run by the public sector, it returned almost £1bn to the taxpayer, as well as increasing pas- senger numbers, introducing a new timetable, improving punctual- ity and establishing industry-leading approaches to recycling and reducing carbon emissions. No wonder a government ideologically obsessed with privatising public services was so embarrassed by this success that it bundled it back into the private sector as soon as it could. My private member’s bill to bring rail back into public ownership is due for its second reading at the end of next week. I’d like to think that Labour would support it. Yet its policy of inviting public operators to compete against private companies is half-hearted and deeply flawed, and will do nothing to address the fragmentation at the heart of the privatisation chaos. Come on, Ed Miliband, have the courage of your convictions and join the vast majority of people in this country who want to see an integrated rail service run for passengers, not for private gain. THE GUARDIAN

In the five years the East Coast Mainline was run by the public sector, it returned Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate almost £1bn to the taxpayer. Productivity tips from business leaders BY JENA MCGREGOR Colour-code every minute basically said when I’m on a plane, October and it got more attention. and thanking them for their child. LinkedIn executive editor Daniel I won’t work. I’ll read, I’ll play Speaking at a Techonomy event in Roth in November about how he HIS TIME of year, we VMWare CEO Patrick video games, I’ll sleep, I’ll watch 2012, the Square CEO and Twitter Create a “Yesterbox” manages three companies based in all resolve to find ways Gelsinger movies, but I don’t work. chairman and co-founder dis- Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh three countries. One key: Having to be more efficient: to The CEO of this software com- Make employees put a response cussed how he balances working his schedule set more than a year Tlead teams better, be pany codes his schedule by colour, deadline in emails for two companies at once. One Hsieh started experimenting in advance. smarter about how we manage according to a report in the Wall thing he does is to “theme” his with this concept for managing our time, and find wiser ways to Street Journal in July. He marks Birchbox co-founder Katia days, devoting a different day each his email at the end of 2012, but Spend a day a week on only work. But what time-tested ideas meetings turquoise when they’re Beauchamp week to different types of work. it got more notice earlier this mobile actually stick for really busy with customers or partners, Mondays are for management, year. His approach, which he people? purple if they’re with media or Katia Beauchamp, co-founder Tuesdays are focused on product, calls “Yesterbox,” helps him navi- Google CEO Larry Page To answer that question, investors, and yellow for strategy of a popular beauty-sample sub- Wednesdays are for marketing gate the 1,000 to 2,000 emails he we looked for ideas that Chief reviews. Then, an intern tallies scription service, told the website and communication, and so on. receives a day. The idea: Deal with In a recent Fortune feature Executive Officers have shared up how his “time use stacks up to Lifehacker that one of her best yesterday’s emails today (rather story about Larry Page, whom the over the past year about time various studies on executive time time-saving tricks is to get cow- Write letters to employees’ than today’s emails), so you start magazine named Businessperson management, work-life balance management,” the Journal wrote. orkers to include deadlines for parents the day knowing how many mes- of the Year and “the most ambi- and leadership. even simple questions. “I insist sages must be answered and “feel tious CEO in the universe,” the We tucked away these produc- Don’t work on aircraft people on the Birchbox team indi- PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi a sense of completion when you’re Google CEO told writer Miguel tivity hacks and management cate when they need a response done,” he writes on the Yesterbox Helft that he “forces himself to do tips — which range from how to Evernote CEO Phil Libin in all emails,” she told the site. In a conversation with then- site he created. without a computer during much run faster meetings to how to “It makes prioritisation so much Fortune managing editor Andy of his day.” manage email overload — and Phil Libin, chief executive of the faster.” Serwer at Davos in January, Indra Plan ahead — far ahead He goes to meetings with only have pulled them together in note-taking and archiving soft- Nooyi divulged that she makes his phone, and encourages engi- one place. ware Evernote, told PC Magazine Give every day a theme a habit of writing letters to her Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn neers and product managers to Whether they come from that he gives himself a break by employees’ parents. The PepsiCo spend at least one day a week Silicon Valley wunderkinds, not working in the air anymore. Square CEO and Twitter chair- chief executive said she writes let- Most CEOs have a full sched- working only on their mobile Fortune 500 CEOs or startup “Like everyone else, I used to just man Jack Dorsey ters to the parents of all of her ule running one company. Carlos devices. It’s all part of his effort founders, these day-to-day hab- work on planes — I’d use that as direct reports, often telling them Ghosn runs three: He’s the chief to keep the company’s focus on its all have one thing in common: a time to catch up on things,” he While Jack Dorsey shared this the story of how much pride her executive of Nissan and Renault, mobile and to keep “pushing peo- busy leaders credit them as small said in a video interview with productivity idea a few years family in India had shown to her and the chairman of Russian auto- ple ahead,” he told Fortune. secrets to their success. the publication. “And I stopped. I ago, Lifehacker picked it up in mother when Nooyi became CEO, maker AvtoVaz. He spoke with WP-BLOOMBERG SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Rondo leads Mavs Wins for El Jaish, Al Wakra in QBL to win over Celtics Point guard makes triumphant return

BOSTON: Rajon Rondo ran rampant in his return to Boston, scoring a season-high 29 points yesterday to help Dallas to a 119-101 victory over his former NBA team. Traded from the Celtics just a fortnight earlier, Rondo received a warm welcome from fans in Boston, where he played a key role in the Celtics’ 2008 title run. The night was an emotional rollercoaster for the 28-year- old point guard, whose 15 first-quarter points included Action from the Qatar Basketball League (QBL) match between Al Wakra and Al Khor at Al Gharafa Stadium three three-pointers and per- in Doha yesterday. Al Wakra won 86-65. fect six-for-six shooting as he helped the Mavericks take a 31-17 lead. He then was visibly moved when a video tribute to his eight- plus seasons in Boston prompted Golden State Warriors’ guard Stephen Curry (left) reaches up for a ball a standing ovation from the from a pass as Toronto Raptors’ guard Kyle Lowry defends during the crowd between the first and sec- first half of the NBA game between the Toronto Raptors and the Golden Action from ond periods. State Warriors at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, yesterday. the QBL match But on the floor nothing dis- tracted him from the task at between Al hand as he drained another three-pointer in a 7-3 Dallas Mavericks in a four-player trade Shamal and scoring run to start the second on December 18. Rondo was the El Jaish at NBA Results frame. The Mavericks led 59-46 center of attention from the Al Gharafa at halftime and 92-64 after three moment he arrived in Boston, and Stadium in Cleveland 91 Charlotte 87 quarters. at Friday morning’s shootaround Doha yesterday. Brooklyn 100 Orlando 98 A 23-5 scoring run saw Boston he admitted it was a bit strange Al Shamal won Dallas 119 Boston 101 pull within 97-87 midway through to be back as a visitor. 78- 88. RIGHT: Detroit 97 NY Knicks 81 the fourth, but they didn’t get the Rondo, who was the last of the Action from Al New Orleans 111 Houston 83 deficit below double digits the rest core group of players that led Wakra and Al Oklahoma City 109 Washington 102 of the way. Boston to the 2008 crown after Khor match. Indiana 94 Milwaukee 91 Monta Ellis scored 22 points the departures of Paul Pierce, and Tyson Chandler grabbed 16 Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, also Phoenix 112 Philadelphia 96 rebounds for Dallas, who have expressed his gratitude that the Atlanta 98 Utah 92 won four straight. rebuilding Celtics traded him to Golden State 126 Toronto 105 They are now 5-2 since acquir- a team that he can help contend Memphis 109 LA Lakers 106 ing Rondo, who was dealt to the for a title. AFP

Dana excels at Qatar Cup for Shooting and Archery at Losail Penguins power past Lightning

NEW YORK: Steve Downie scored twice after missing five games with the mumps, and the Pittsburgh Penguins used a three-goal, first-period lead to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-3 yesterday. Chris Kunitz scored a power-play goal, his 12th of the year and Evgeni Malkin netted his 17th and just his second in 11 games as Pittsburgh won its ninth straight home game against Tampa Bay. Sidney Crosby added four assists for the Penguins, who bolstered their depth at for- ward earlier in the day by acquir- ing left wing David Perron from the Edmonton Oilers. Andrew Ebbett added a goal and an assist, and Christian Ehrhoff also scored. Thomas Greiss, playing for the first time since he was diagnosed with the mumps, made 32 saves for his fourth win and first at home. Brian Boyle, Victor Hedman and Alex Killorn had goals for the The podium winners at the Qatar Cup for Shooting and Archery in different categories pose for pictures along with officials of Qatar Shooting and Archery Association at Losail Shooting Lightning, whose four-game win Range yesterday. The event will end on January 10. Dana Saad Al Mubarak won the Women’s 10m Air Pistol title followed by Suad Waleed Al Khater and Hanadi Salem. Maltsev Konstantin streak ended. Tampa Bay, which secured a gold medal when he posted a narrow victory over Abdurahman Zaeid Al Shammari in the Men’s 10m Air Pistol final. Ahmad Zaid Al Shammari finished third. In other finals, plays four of the next five away Abdulaziz Al Anaizi won the Junior Men’s 10m Air Pistol, Dana Suleman bagged the Junior Women’s 10m Air Pistol and Noora Salem Al Mohannadi claimed the Junior Women’s 50m Rifle from home, has just two wins in 3 Positions gold medal. its past eight road games. The struggles have been magni- fied at Pittsburgh’s Consol Energy Center where the Lightning have never won. Their last win in Pittsburgh came March 31, 2010, when the Penguins played at the Steelers’ star rusher ruled out for play-offs now-razed Civic Arena. Pittsburgh chased starter Ben WASHINGTON: The National hyperextending his right knee and awaiting the winners. In the It’s the same opportunity Suh Cardinals squad that will be Bishop, scoring three first-period Football League’s top rusher in a victory over Cincinnati last National Conference, Arizona will thought would be denied him led by third-string quarterback goals on just 10 shots, but Evgeni DeMarco Murray will lead Sunday. visit Carolina on Saturday while after he was suspended by the Ryan Lindley. Nabokov came on to stop 16 of Dallas against Detroit as the That leaves the Steelers rely- the Cowboys entertain Detroit league for one game on Monday Arizona lost Carson Palmer and 18 shots. Tampa Bay, trailing play-offs kick off this weekend, ing on rookies Josh Harris and today. for stepping backwards twice Drew Stanton to injuries but have 4-2 entering the third period, but Steelers star running back Dri Archer, and recently signed Defending Super Bowl cham- upon the leg of Green Bay quar- matched the club record for wins. cut the deficit to a goal when LeVeon Bell has lost his fitness journeyman Ben Tate. pion Seattle and Green Bay terback Aaron Rodgers in a game “It’s a whole new season now,” Killorn worked around Penguins battle. “I feel like we all have made earned first-round byes and await the previous day. Cardinals coach Bruce Arians defenseman Simon Despres and Murray led the league with sure we did the things we needed the winners next week. Suh won an appeal of the pun- said. “We’re all 0-0 and we’re in slid a shot around an outstretched 1,845 rushing yards, but he and to do all week so we can help Bell, who was injured when ishment, claiming numb feet pre- the tournament. We’re going to Greiss. AGENCIES the rest of the Cowboys offense out our team,” said Harris, who Bengals safety Reggie Nelson vented him from feeling his rival get ready for this playoff game. will face formidable Lions defense came in for Bell after he was hurt tackled him low after a third- star’s leg beneath his cleats as he We’re not planning on being led by Ndamukong Suh, who will against the Bengals. quarter reception, has no struc- stepped back. one-and-done.” NHL Results appear after his one-game ban “As soon as they ask me to play, tural damage in his knee, so if the Carolina routed Atlanta to win The Colts will be without offen- Florida 2 Buffalo 0 was overturned on appeal. I am going to do all I can to make Steelers advance he could return the NFC South division last week sive tackle Gosder Cherilus, who Montreal 4 New Jersey 2 The Steelers had hoped to sure I can do it all.” this post-season. and become only the second team was placed on injured reserve Pittsburgh 6 Tampa Bay 3 have Bell -- whose 1,361 rushing Cincinnati will visit In the meantime, he’s been with a losing record to qualify for with a groin injury. Carolina 2 Philadelphia 1 yards were second in the league Indianapolis on Sunday and the lending his expertise in practice an NFL playoff berth. Joe Reitz will replace him Minnesota 3 Toronto 1 -- for matchup with arch-rivals Steelers will host the Ravens on to Harris, Archer and Tate. The Panthers’ reward for among the protectors of Colts’ Colorado 2 Edmonton 1 Baltimore. Saturday in American Conference “It’s a big opportunity for all their fourth win in a row was quarterback Andrew Luck against But the team confirmed first-round games, with New three of us,” Archer said. “We are a home playoff game but they the Bengals’ defensive unit. NY Islanders 2 Calgary 1 he would be sidelined after England and Denver having byes more than happy to step in.” will be tested by an 11-win AFP Anaheim 4 St Louis 3 SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Marseille look to Qatar National Enduro Cross Round 1 at Losail avoid surprises Ligue 1 leaders face Grenoble today

PARIS: After a short winter break, Ligue 1 clubs are back in action this weekend in the round of 64 of the French Cup, with Marseille hoping to avoid any surprise against lower- league opponents. Marcelo Bielsa’s side, who topped the Ligue 1 table at the halfway stage of the season to take the symbolic title of Autumn Champions, travel to the freezing Alps for an awkward tie against fourth-tier Grenoble today. A tie that should be straight- forward could be a tricky affair due to the state of the playing surface at the Stade des Alpes, The winners at the first round of the Qatar National Enduro Cross celebrate on the podium at the Losail which has been covered to protect Motocross Circuit in Doha on Friday night. BOTTOM: Riders perform some daredevil acts during the first round it from the bitter cold but was of the Qatar National Enduro Cross. used for a Top 14 rugby match yesterday. Valencienne’s forward Adama Coulibaly (left) vies with Nice’s forward “It is a reality that we need to Neal Maupay during the French Cup match at the “ Hainaut” Stadium live with. The pitch will suffer in Valenciennes yesterday. but I don’t think it is something worth pointing out because it will be the same for the two teams,” the future absences of Nicolas performance this time, just two said Bielsa. Nkoulou and Andre Ayew,” said weeks after holding PSG in the The Argentine added that he Bielsa, who will see the duo depart league. With Montpellier’s own intends to play his strongest pos- for the Africa Cup of Nations with Stade de la Mosson still out of sible team as Marseille try to win Cameroon and Ghana respec- action after being seriously dam- the Cup for the first time since tively. Winger Florian Thauvin aged during autumn floods. 1989. will come up against the club That could be a levelling fac- “I am going to try to play my where he started his career, tor, but PSG -- whose prepara- best team, taking into account although much has changed at tions have been overshadowed by Grenoble in recent times. the late return from Christmas They spent two seasons in holidays of Ezequiel Lavezzi and French Cup Round Ligue 1 before being relegated in Edinson Cavani -- need a posi- 2010 and then sliding down the tive result. of 64 Fixtures leagues due to financial problems, Elsewhere, Lyon, who sit sec- (all kick-offs GMT) and are currently enjoying a fine ond in Ligue 1 ahead of third- campaign in the fourth tier. placed PSG, travel to Lens today Today Meanwhile, Paris Saint- looking for revenge after losing to Epinal vs Metz (1245), Saint-Etienne vs Germain go to Montpellier the same opponents in last sea- Nancy, Lens vs Lyon, Nimes vs Monaco, in an all top-flight encounter son’s competition. Bordeaux v Toulouse, Dinan Lehon vs tomorrow. Monaco, who finished 2014 with Guingamp (all 1315), Dunkerque vs Rennes Montpellier beat the capital six straight wins, begin the new (1400), Caen vs Dijon (1645), Grenoble vs giants at the Parc des Princes year with a trip to Ligue 2 strug- Marseille (1945) in the round of 32 a year ago glers Nimes, whose campaign has Tomorrow and Rolland Courbis’s side may been overshadowed by allegations Montpellier vs Paris Saint-Germain (1945) fancy their chances of a repeat of match-fixing. AFP Qatar’s Al Mana set to be re-elected president of AWF

DOHA: Mohamed Yousef Al Mana, President of Qatar Weightlifting Federation (QWF) is all set to be re-elected as president of Asian Weightlifting Federation (AWF) for another four-year term at the two-day Electoral Congress meeting. Al Mana is the lone candi- date who is left in the fray for Fares Hassona the elections which will be held (second right) of on January 6 at Doha Marriott Mesaimer Club, Hotel. Tomorrow morning a winner of a gold meeting of the Executive Board medal at the will be held followed by the meet Qatar Open, is of the Congress in the evening seen along with session, while the meeting of Mohamed Yousef the Congress will take place on Al Mana (right), January 6. Also seeking re-election as President of QWF. General Secretary of AWF is Moradi Ali of Iran. Three oth- ers in the fray are Jalood Mohammed Hasan of Iraq, Oian Guangjian of China and Thailand’s Odbangtoey Boossaba for the General Secretary’s post. Besides the President and General Secretary, a number of candidates are contesting for the Vice President’s post and to be Mohamed Yousef Al Mana, members of the Executive Board President of Qatar Weightlifting and of the Technical Committee, Federation (QWF) is all set to be Coaching & Research Committee re-elected as the President of and Medical Committee. Asian Weightlifting Federation Meanwhile, Fares Hassona of (AWF). Mesaimer Club set a new record in the 77kg category at the Qatar Open championship here at the junior events, while those born Hotel Marriott. between 1st January, 1999, and Hassona managed to lift a total December 31, 2003, are seen in of 320kgs, 180kgs in the Clean and action in the Youth championship. Jerk and another 140kgs in the Athletes born between January Snatch, to win the gold medal. 1 1995 and December 31 2000 are The Qatar Open saw some top taking part in the men’s and competitors competing in the junior events, while those born men’s 62kg, 77kg and +105kg, between 1st January 1999 and besides the women’s 53kg. December 31 2003 are seen in The event is organised by QWF. action in the Youth championship. The QWF is also organis- Weightlifters from ing the 29th Junior Men’s and Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, China, the 22nd Junior women’s Asian Egypt, Chinese Taipei, Nepal, Weightlifting Championship Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, besides the 17th Youth Bangladesh, Turkmenistan, Iraq, Championship for boys and girls Japan, Jordan, Algeria, Qatar, at the same venue. India, Oman, UAE, Uzbekistan, A Chinese weighlifter in action in the 22nd Junior Women’s Asian Weightlifting Championship at the Doha Marriott Hotel yesterday. RIGHT: The podium Athletes born between January Pakistan and Korea are taking winners in the 58kg category of the 22nd Junior Women’s Asian Weightlifting Championship are seen along with Birendra Prasad Baishya, President 1, 1995 and December 31, 2000 part in the championship. of Indian Weightlifting Federation. PICTURES BY: SALIM MATRAMKOT are taking part in the men’s and THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Debutants Iran out to Rivera eyes successful make a statement DOHA: Iran will be one of B along with Croatia, Bosnia- only two newcomers at this Herzegovina, FYR Macedonia, month’s Men’s Handball World Austria and Tunisia. Barkhodari Championships to be held in believes that Iran is capable of run at World Handball Doha. producing a few upsets. They sealed their precious “For us the ultimate target is to ticket after capturing the finish fourth and advance to the After Asian titles, Qatar’s coach eyes berth in pre-quarters bronze medal at the 2014 Asian next round. It won’t be a walk in Championship in Bahrain, but the park, but we’ll try our best, no in spite of this unprecedented doubt. I trust we can beat Tunisia DOHA: The incredible story success, the federation decided and maybe Austria. A couple of of success had its initial point to controversially release coach wins might help us go through, in Malmö, Sweden, in January Rafael Guijosa, the 1999 IHF although there is no weak team 2011, when Dr Hassan Moustafa, Player of the Year, from his in our group, apart from Croatia President of the International duties, and bring back Qatar’s of course.” Handball Federation (IHF), 2013 World Championship coach “I also know that coaches, offi- announced the host for the Men’s A Qatari Borut Macek. cials and agents will have an eye 2015 World Championship: “It’s The Iranians along with on Iran searching for new play- handball Qatar!” Bosnia-Herzegovina will surpris- ers. Three Iranians are already player The bid of the Qatar Handball ingly make their debut in IHF’s playing in Europe (Sayed Alireza Association (QHA) had been suc- attacks the flagship event in Qatar, although Mousavi Ghalehmirzamani and cessful, leaving their competi- Swiss goal those who follow international Mohsen Babasafari Renani for tors France, Norway and Poland during an handball closely know that quali- Tatabanya and Saeid Pourghasemi behind – by the decision of the international fication didn’t happen suddenly. for Mezokovesd in Hungary) and IHF Council. From one second to friendly at Samen-e-Sabzevar’s goalkeeper, I believe more will follow.” another, Qatar started its engines, Al Gharafa the 25-year-old Saeid Barkhodari Iranian handball is vying to not only on organisational ground, Indoor (pictured) explains: “The core of find its place in the international but also on the court. Hall, in this the current team presented their handball scene, but the coun- Awarded to host the event was October credentials for the very first time try’s national volleyball team has the starting whistle mainly for 2013 file at the 2007 Men’s Youth World already been placed there after the main man behind the scenes, photo. Championship in a fantastic 2014 sea- Mohamed Ahmed Al Shaabi, the Bahrain, when we son which saw them President of the QHA. The fed- were ranked tenth. finishing sixth at the eration had a long-term plan to This is the start- 2014 FIVB World implement the best ever Qatar ing point of modern Championship in handball team to play an integral Iranian handball. Poland, where they role at the “home matches” in Two years later stunned traditional January 2015. we qualified to superpowers, and In January 2011, the man, who the Junior World fourth in the FIVB now is in charge for the team now, team under the great leadership Championship and World League. could not imagine how his life of Mohamed Ahmed Al Shaabi is we narrowly missed “What volleyball would change later: Valero Rivera. a great task and I feel happy and qualification to the did was astonishing. At the 2011 Men’s World honoured every day to train with next phase, although we beat For us it’s a source of inspira- Championship in Sweden, he took those players.” Spain (36-35) and Tunisia (38- tion, the perfect example that we his first medal as coach of the Rivera mostly worked on the 26). This generation grew up, year Iranians can succeed, no matter Spanish national team, leading it physical conditions, the defence by year acquired more and more the sport, as long as we are organ- to the bronze medal in Malmo. and the discipline – and his play- experience and here we are now, ised and we work hard. In volley- Before, he had already become the ers understood his words. at the senior World Championship ball the federation brought in one Qatar most successful handball coach in So far, the Qatar team has in Qatar.” of the best coaches in the world, handball history, leading FC Barcelona to played 20 matches with Rivera Eighteen out of the twenty- Julio Velasco, they gave him time an overall of 70 trophies including as a coach – test matches and coach Valero eight players on Iran’s provi- and the sources to deliver. In the five titles in the EHF Champions official games – and only lost Rivera giving sional team list for the 24th Men’s beginning the team did nothing League. But his biggest suc- two encounters, including a close instructions Handball World Championship more than qualify to interna- cess so far was still to come: In defeat against reigning Olympic to his players came from “The School of 2007” tional events, but soon they grew 2013 Rivera became the mas- and European champions France. during a - players born between 1988 and stronger and they thrived.” termind for the Spanish World In official matches, Qatar is still friendly 1991. Only two men on the squad Barkhodari played with Samen- Championship title, on home unbeaten, since Rivera’s era had against are over thirty, making Iran one e-Sabzevar at the recent Asian ground, in Rivera’s hometown started. China in this of the youngest teams in the com- Clubs’ League, the inauguration Barcelona, clashing Denmark in Thanks to a huge number September petition. Obviously experience is of the state-of-the-art Ali bin the final. of training camps and tests in 2014 file not on their side, but nevertheless Hamad Al Attiyah arena, in what Only a short time later – in Europe – mainly in Barcelona photo. Iran will not surrender without a was his sixth visit in Doha. February 2013 – Rivera’s phone and France – his players clearly fight, as Barkhodari states. “Year by year you can see the rang. It was the QHA, first con- improved in all departments. “Being a part of Qatar 2015 is city change. During the Asian gratulating for the title, then In addition, Rivera (awarded really great, we will surely gain Clubs’ League I started feeling asking, if he wanted to become IHF World Coach of the Year experience just from being there the heat of the upcoming World Qatar’s coach. 2013) added fresh blood to the and playing against the best. We Championship, with all these giant It took Rivera only some weeks team – thanks to the highly suc- are an unknown quantity but we billboards everywhere around the to think it over then he agreed in cessful QHA youth programme, don’t lack quality. We are coming city. Don’t ask me what to expect April 2013. Five month later, he shifting youth and junior to Qatar to introduce ourselves, to from a World Championship held took over the Qatar team – which teams to Asian titles and great earn everybody’s respect; to show- in Qatar. I am convinced that the since then climbed the ladder of results at Younger Age World case our abilities and to prove Qataris will try their best and success in a never expected way. Championships. in Incheon. Again, Qatar won against Brazil on January 15. that we can stand on an equal everybody knows this is going to “This decision, to join the QHA, Rivera’s first major success was all preliminary matches and the In addition, World Champion footing with the other teams.” be a great event,” he said. was the best in my life. If I had the maiden Qatar title at Men’s semi-final in style, making it to Spain (Rivera’s previous team), Iran has been drawn into Group THE PENINSULA not agreed, it would have been Asian Championships, beat- the final against host Korea. And Slovenia, Belarus and Chile are the biggest mistake in my whole ing host Bahrain in the final in again Qatar achieved the gold Qatar’s opponents. career,” Rivera said later, add- Manama in February 2014, fin- medal by defeating hosts by 24-21. The each first four teams of all The file photo ing: “To work with the national ishing the tournament with an This result again meant making four groups qualify for the eighth- shows Iran’s unbeaten record after an unlucky history, as Korea had not lost a finals – and it’s Rivera’s great goal silver medal in 2012. single match at home since the to be among those. coach Borut Qatar Competition “Thanks to the great sup- final of the 1988 Olympic Games “This would mean the Macek. port of the QHA I can prepare in Seoul against the USSR(32-25). best result ever at World Macek’s team Record the national team nearly like a With the final steps of prepara- Championships for Qatar, and I will be making World championship campaigns: 2003: 16, club team. We are together for tion ahead, the pressure is rising, am confident that we can man- its debut at 2005: 21, 2007: 23, 2013: 20 long periods, which means that but Rivera and his players know age it.” the Men’s Asian championship campaigns: 1991: 4, the team is perfectly rehearsed, to cope with it. Rivera’s contract with the QHA Handball 2002: SILVER, 2004: BRONZE, 2006: BRONZE, though we know that still some In the final stages Rivera expires at the end of the World World 2012: SILVER, 2014: GOLD work is ahead prior to the World has nominated 22 players, from Championship, but it was already Championship Championship on home ground,” which he must select 16 for the discussed to extend it until 2016, Qualification for Qatar: Host to be played says Rivera. preliminary round of the World with the great goal to qualify for Coach: Valero Rivera in Doha. The next major step towards Championship, which Qatar Olympic Games in Rio. Key players: Bertrand Roine, Goran Stojanovic Qatar 2015 were the Asian Games starts with the opening match THE PENINSULA World Championship Facts Saudis hope for better results in Doha Since its inauguration in 1938, the Men’s Handball World Championship has produced numerous interesting and intriguing DOHA: Saudi Arabia was one take their spot for Doha after stories. The 24th Men’s Handball World Championship Media Team of the pioneers for the growth Bahrain and the United Arab has collected and listed down the 50+9 most interesting facts and of handball in the Gulf Region. Emirates had withdrawn from figures from throughout those 77 years. Quite early the Saudi Arabian participation. Scoring Handball Federation (SAHF) Saudi Arabia had finished sixth 1. 3654 the number of goals Spain has scored in all past World and the domestic clubs managed at the qualification event, the 2014 Championships, more than even Sweden who has taken part in to transfer European coaches Asian championship in Bahrain. four more tournaments and holds the appearance record with and players to their country to After two defeats against the 147 matches develop handball on a semi-pro- hosts and Korea in the prelimi- 2. 3 goals were scored in the 1938 bronze medal game between fessional and even professional nary round, they missed the semi- Sweden and Denmark. The Swedes won 2:1 in a duel with the level. finals and finally ranked on the least goals ever scored in a whole match (3) and in a halftime (1 The SAHF was founded in 1975, sixth position, while only the four by Sweden at the second half), and with the least goals scored by and in the late 1990’s the first semi-finallist clinched their berth a single team in a whole match (1), and in a halftime (goal-shy European players like later-on for Qatar. Later-on at the Asian Danes didn’t score in the second half) World Handball Player Filip Jicha Games 2014 the Saudi team fin- 3. 55 goals Iceland scored against Australia in a group stage game, arrived to bring Saudi handball on ished on the seventh position in more than any other team in a single game a higher level. Incheon, Korea. 4. 42 goals separated eventual winners Germany and losing side The result of this develop- Despite their leading role on A Saudi player attacks opposition’s defence. Saudi Arabia are in Group Luxemburg in their between match in 1958 which ended 46:4; ment process was the partici- club level including former Asian D at the World Championship to be staged in Doha from January 15. the most comfortable victory by any team ever pation in four straight World champions and IHF Super Globe 5. 16 goals separated eventual winners Spain and losing finalists Championships from 1997 to participant Mudhar, the national Denmark at the 2013 final; the biggest margin (35-19) ever 2003. After a six year absence team never managed to win the had led the team to the 2013 rejuvenated squad are goalkeeper between finalists in the history of the event the Saudis managed to return title at Asian Championships. World Championship in Spain, Mohamad Alsalem, the only one to the world stage, qualifying for Their by now best results were the coach now has changed to with more than 100 international 6. 74 goals, more than in any other Final, were scored in the 2005 Gold medal match between Spain and Croatia. The Spaniards the IHF event 2009 in Croatia. bronze medals in 2002, 20089 and another former professional from matches, and left back Abdullah won 40-34 In their neighbour country Qatar 2012. In 1993, they had their first the Balkans, Goran Djokic, who Alhammad. In Qatar, Saudi they are part of their in total sev- ever semi-final appearance, finally had been coach at Spanish clubs Arabia will face Denmark, Poland, 7. 92 goals FYR Macedonia’s Kiril Lazarov scored in 2009, the best enth World Championship. finishing on the fourth position. for a long time before. Russia, Argentina and Germany scoring spree by a player in a single tournament The Saudi team profited from After Nenad Kljajic, Olympic The most experienced players in preliminary round group D in 8. 3 times the Korean Kyung-Shin Yoon topped the scorers list an IHF Council decision to champion with Croatia in 1996, in the current and completely the event. THE PENINSULA (1993, 1995, 1997) SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani (right), Secretary-general of the Qatar Olympic Committee, hands over the trophy to rider Edwina Tops-Alexander of Austria who won the final round of the Qatar International Show Jumping Championship at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) in Doha yesterday. CENTRE: Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Sharbatly (left) who came third in the final round of the Qatar International Show Jumping Championship receives his trophy. RIGHT: QREC President Hamad bin Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah (right) hands over a trophy to Qatar’s Ali Yousef Al Rumaihi who stood second. Experienced Edwina tops Doha field Impressive show by Al Rumaihi at Qatar International Show Jumping Championship

BY RIZWAN REHMAT jumped amazing and it all worked to seal his win with a time of out well.” 34.66s. DOHA: Experienced rider “I am super happy, yes,” she Al Emadi picked up the top Edwina Tops-Alexander of said. “I won the Grand Prix three prize of QR29,625. Rabane De Austria yesterday topped a years ago in Doha. I have been Sury — who had Turkey’s Omer strong field to claim the two- here many times. I go to Basel Karaevli in the saddle — finished leg final round at the Qatar from here. It is an indoor event in the second spot that was worth International Show Jumping and then I do a lot of World Cup QR23,700. Championship. shows after that.” The third spot was secured by The Austrian produced a near- Al Rumaihi said: “My horse Al Hawajer Arizona Pie 9 — who perfect routine on Old Chap doesn’t have much experience. was ridden by Sheikh Khalifa Al Tame to clinch the top prize of He has been with me for only two Thani — with a time of 37.34s. QR186,000 at the Qatar Racing years. But he did really well. He The third-place finish was and Equestrian Club (QREC). tried hard. It (the difference) was worth QR17,775. Edwina finished ahead of just less than a second between Earlier, Qatar’s in-form rider Qatar’s Ali Yousef Al Rumaihi me and the winner.” Rashid Al Towaim Al Marri pro- who guided Gunder to an impres- Al Rumaihi said he was expect- duced a neat routine on Kannada sive second-place finish. ing a good result. “I am not sur- to win competition 9 (130-135cm) In third place was La Toya 44, prised with my result. We have at the QREC. who was ridden by Saudi Arabia’s to work hard to get such results. Kannada clocked a time of Abdullah Sharbatly. There were a lot of pressure. I am 59.48secs to seal his win ahead of Edwina clocked a time of 49.29s really happy for my horse,” the Saudi Arabia’s Khaled Aleid who while Al Rumaihi finished with a Qatari said. clocked a time of 60.01secs. Aleid time of 50.37s. “I had him since last year. I was astride Lord Figaro 2. Al Rumaihi picked up had him when he was seven. In third place was Saudi QR148,800 in cash while third- We are aiming for big achieve- Arabia’s Abdulaziz Alhamazani, placed Sharbatly was richer by ments. I want to qualify for the who clocked a time of 61.26secs. QR111,600. Sharbtaly had one Rio Olympic Games,” Al Rumaihi Al Marri picked up the top prize fault in his two runs. added. of QR10,000 while Aleid walked “I am really happy. It is always Earlier, in competition 10 off with QR8,000 cash. The third Qatar’s Khalid Al Emadi rides Utascha SFN to win competition 10 (145cm) of the Qatar International Show a moment of joy,” Edwina said. “I (145cm), Qatar’s Khalid Al Emadi prize was worth QR6,000. Jumping Championship at the QREC in Doha yesterday. did as much as I could. The horse combined well with Utascha SFN THE PENINSULA

Liverpool say Djokovic illness gives Murray win in Abu Dhabi Gerrard to ABU DHABI: World number one Novak Djokovic withdrew move to USA from the final of the Mubadala World Tennis Championships in LONDON: Liverpool captain Abu Dhabi yesterday handing Steven Gerrard will join a team Andy Murray his first title of in the United States when he the season. leaves Anfield at the end of the Serb Djokovic had dismissed season, the Premier League club Stan Wawrinka in the semi- confirmed yesterday. finals of the exhibition event on Gerrard, 34, announced on Friday but the defending cham- Friday that he has decided to pion revealed yesterday he was leave Liverpool after a 25-year suffering from a fever. association with the club that has Murray had himself complained seen him make 695 appearances of pain in his left shoulder during and score 180 goals. his 6-2, 6-0 win over Rafael Nadal He said that he would join a in the last four. foreign club and in a teaser for The 27-year-old Scot said: “I Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns the ball to Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka an interview with him due to don’t know exactly what hap- during the third-place paly-off match of the Mubadala World Tennis be broadcast on Liverpool’s in- pened. I’ve never had anything Championship in Abu Dhabi yesterday. BELOW: Stanislas Wawrinka in house television channel later on happen to my left shoulder before. action against Rafael Nadal yesterday. Saturday, Liverpool confirmed it “It’s pretty sore and at the end will be a team in Major League of the match when I was reach- Soccer, most probably Los Angeles ing out to sign autographs it was Galaxy. quite painful.” “Steven Gerrard confirms he Murray is set to undergo a scan will move to the USA this sum- before continuing his build-up to mer,” Liverpool said on Twitter. the first Grand Slam of the sea- Meanwhile, Liverpool manager son, the Australian Open, at the Brendan Rodgers has rejected a Hopman Cup in Perth next week. claim by Gerrard’s former team- He will join Heather Watson mate Jamie Carragher that the to represent Britain at the mixed club could have done more to pre- team event, with their opening vent the former England captain match due to be against France on from leaving. Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, have already given Mubadala World Gerrard an invitation to return Monday. Speaking on Eurosport, 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 in the match for to the club in as-yet-unspecified Tennis Championship Murray said: “It’s unfortunate third place, in his first competi- capacity, and Rodgers said he was that Novak wasn’t feeling well. It tion since undergoing an appen- not interested in staying on as a

Results happens. dectomy at the start of November. coach. Final: Andy Murray (GBR) bt Novak Djokovic “I go over to Australia tonight The Spaniard and Djokovic are “Steven’s statement makes it Andy Murray of Britain poses with the winner’s trophy after Novak (SRB) by walkover. to play my next event and hope- both scheduled to open their ATP clear. He certainly knew my feel- fully I can keep it going.” season by playing in next week’s ings on him wanting to be here,” Djokovic of Serbia pulled out of the final match at the Mubadala World Third-place play-off: Rafael Nadal (ESP) bt Nadal shrugged aside his defeat Doha tournament where Nadal is Rodgers told a press conference Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 7-6 (7/1), 6-3. against Murray to beat Wawrinka the defending champion. AFP yesterday. AFP SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Bowlers shine in Wellington Test 15 wickets fall on first day of second Test, SL 78-5 after bowling out hosts for 221

WELLINGTON: Fifteen wick- Sri Lanka’s rock with two half ets fell in a bowlers’ blitz yes- centuries in Christchurch, could Sangakkara terday as Sri Lanka ended the only manage 15 before he was first day of the second Test in squared up by Tim Southee. Wellington at 78-5 in reply to As the wickets fell at one end joins elite New Zealand’s first innings 221. Sangakkara proved an unshake- Sri Lanka’s response in their able force at the other as he 12,000-run attempt to level the series after easily knocked off the five runs an eight wicket drubbing in the he required to reach 12,000 and first Test has been highlighted by cruised through another 28 runs New Zealand’s club Kumar Sangakkara becoming just before stumps. Doug the fifth player in cricket history The prolific 37-year-old left- Bracewell is WELLINGTON: Sri Lankan to post 12,000 career runs. hander has an impressive average bowled out batsman Kumar Sangakkara New Zealand’s innings was of more than 58.00, including 37 by Sri Lanka’s joined an elite group of cricket- rocked by batting hero Brendon centuries in 130 Tests. His highest Dhammika ers yesterday when he became McCullum’s second-ball duck. score was 319 against Bangladesh. Prasad on only the fifth to make 12,000 At stumps Sangakkara was New Zealand made a bright day one of the runs in his career. 33 not out while recalled New start to the day, reaching 141-2 second Test The prolific 37-year-old left- Zealand paceman Doug Bracewell before the Sri Lankan bowlers hander reached the milestone match at the had three for 23. found how best to utilise the con- when he knocked Trent Boult Basin Reserve With conditions ripe for bowl- ditions and the last eight wickets square for two in Sri Lanka’s first ers, Sri Lankan captain Angelo fell for 80. McCullum’s return to in Wellington, innings of the second Test against Mathews had no hesitation in the scene of his greatest triumph, yesterday. Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara New Zealand in Wellington. At making New Zealand bat first on a New Zealand record 302 knock walks from the field at the end stumps he was not out on 33. a green strip with overcast skies against India last February, only of the first day’s play of the Sangakkara started the two- and a blustery wind. lasted two deliveries. second Test match against New Test New Zealand series on 11,988 The game changed as they He had been feted on his return Zealand in Wellington, yesterday. runs and after scoring six and one pitched the ball up more in the to Wellington and was presented Sangakkara joined an elite group in the first Test in Christchurch, middle session when five New with the keys to the city during a of cricketers when he became he was determined to get the final Zealand wickets fell, while the lunch-break ceremony. five in Wellington. only the fifth to make 12,000 runs last three New Zealand wickets But this time there was to be “When he fails, it’s a coach’s in his career and five top Sri Lankans were no marathon session in the mid- nightmare. You have to throw removed after tea. dle, nor a replay of the rollicking (balls to Sangakkara) for hours First Test centurion Dimuth 195 he blasted in a shade over two and hours,” captain Angelo Karunaratne (16) was first to go hours in the first Test against Sri Mathews said ahead of the Test. for Sri Lanka when he was lured Lanka in Christchurch. Sangakkara key but Kiwis “He’s been working really hard into chasing a ball that moved off He received a heroes welcome in the nets and he’s desperate to the seam and edged a comfortable as he strode to the middle eight go out there and get some runs.” catch to Jimmy Neesham in the overs after lunch, played at two Since launching his Test career slips. Kaushal Silva, in a cautious deliveries and returned to the plan to target others today in 2000, Sangakkara has made an start, faced 30 deliveries before he shed after chopping a fuller ball impressive average of over 58.00, played on Doug Bracewell for five. from Suranga Lakmal onto the WELLINGTON:Kumar wickets in Sri Lanka’s innings, re-establish himself again today including 37 centuries in 130 Bracewell, recalled to the side stumps. Sangakkara’s wicket early before adding that the hosts may the fact he reached 33 by the Tests. His highest score was 319 in place of Neil Wagner, followed Kane Williamson, with 69 and on the second day of the sec- look to target his batting partners close yesterday indicated he had against Bangladesh. with the dismissal of Lahiru Ross Taylor who made 35 propped ond Test is the one that New instead with Dinesh Chandimal adjusted to the pitch in much the He sits behind four retired Thirimanne who lobbed a simple up the New Zealand innings Zealand will be seeking the the last remaining recognised same way Kane Williamson (69) cricketers but has a superior catch to Brendon McCullum at with a 79 run stand for the third most though they may focus batsman. and Ross Taylor (35) did in New average on the all-time scoring mid off without scoring. Mathews, wicket. AFP on running through their tail, “We will have a yarn in the Zealand’s innings. list which is headed by India’s according to pace bowler Doug morning and work out some plans The pair had taken New Sachin Tendulkar who compiled Bracewell. and look to attack the new play- Zealand from 93 for two at lunch 15,921 from 200 Tests at an aver- Scoreboard The 37-year-old Sangakkara ers coming in. At the same time to 141 in less than 40 minutes age 53.78. New Zealand (I innings): Bowling: Lakmal 17-2-71-3 (3nb); Pradeep was 33 not out as Sri Lanka we’re still looking to get him early after the break before Taylor’s Australian Ricky Ponting T Latham c Jayawardene b Lakmal ...... 6 16-0-63-4 (2w, 1nb); Prasad 11.1-1-50-2; were left teetering on 78 for five tomorrow.” dismissal, indicating that once (13,378 at 51.85), Jacques Kallis H Rutherford c Jayawardene b Pradeep ...... 37 Mathews 9-3-29-1; Herath 2-0-7-0. in reply to New Zealand’s 221 as Sangakkara reached the a batsmen was in, the runs were from South Africa (13,289 at K Williamson b Prasad...... 69 Sri Lanka (I innings): 15 wickets fell on the green Basin 12,000-run milestone with a sim- there to be scored. 55.37) and India’s Rahul Dravid R Taylor b Pradeep ...... 35 D Karunaratne c Neesham b Boult ...... 16 Reserve wicket on the first day ple tuck off his legs for two runs “The bottom end is a little bit (13,288 at 52.31) round out the B McCullum b Lakmal ...... 0 K Silva b Bracewell ...... 5 yesterday. and while he was rewarded with more inconsistent with some top five. Last month, Sangakkara J Neesham c Jayawardene b Pradeep ...... 15 K Sangakkara (batting) ...... 33 Sangakkara became the fastest a sustained standing ovation from going through and some staying a became only the fourth batsman B Watling c Chandimal b Mathews ...... 11 L Thirimanne c McCullum b Bracewell ...... 0 man to 12,000 Test runs when he the crowd of almost 5,000 he did bit lower (but)... the guys showed to surpass the 13,000-run mark in M Craig c Mathews b Lakmal ...... 7 A Mathews c Watling b Southee ...... 15 reached five yesterday, but it was not acknowledge the achievement that once they gave themselves a one-day internationals, achieving D Bracewell b Prasad ...... 16 P Jayawardene c Neesham b Bracewell ...... 6 the fact that he had been patient at all. chance and were pretty patient the feat in his 386th match. T Southee c Sangakkara b Pradeep ...... 0 Extras (LB-1, NB-2) ...... 3 before he began to play his shots Instead, he simply got back to then the scoring opportunities The ODI list is also headed by T Boult (not out) ...... 16 Total (for 5 wkts) ...... 78 that was looming as the danger batting and tried to ensure that came,” Bracewell said. Tendulkar, who made 18,426 runs Extras (LB-1, W-3, NB-5) ...... 9 Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-25, 3-29, 4-58, 5-78. for the hosts. his side got back into the match “It’s the sort of wicket where in 463 matches, ahead of Ponting Total (all out) ...... 221 Bowling: Boult 7-1-18-1; Southee 9-2-30-1; “He is obviously a very good after they had skittled New you can lose wickets in clumps with 13,704 runs from 375 ODIs Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-62, 3-141, 4-142, Bracewell 7.4-1-23-3 (2nb); Neesham 2-0-6- player and we will have to be Zealand for such a low score on but when the guys apply them- and Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri 5-162, 6-181, 7-182, 8-194, 9-195, 10-221. 0. smart with our plans,” Bracewell the first day. selves and get going then it is a Lanka, who has 13,430 runs in told reporters after he took three While he will need to nice wicket to bat on.”REUTERS 445 games. AFP

Australian bowler Amla, De Villiers lift South Africa Mitchell Johnson CAPE TOWN: South African delivery after making top score screams out captain Hashim Amla made a of 56. an appeal patient half-century as he and Jason Holder and Jerome Taylor during an AB de Villiers steered their both went for their shots before Ashes Test team towards a sound position perishing to mistimed blows. against on the second day of the third Holder top-edged a pull and was England in and final Test against the West caught at mid-on and Taylor was Melbourne, in Indies at Newlands yesterday. caught at fine leg when he hooked South Africa were 227 for three a ball from Morkel. this January when rain ended play half an hour Benn was last man out, driving 2014 file early - 102 runs behind the West Morkel to mid-off. Steyn finished photo. Indian first innings total of 329. with four for 78 and Morkel two On a day of largely attritional for 83. cricket, the West Indies opted Taylor and Gabriel both built for defensive fields after an ini- up plenty of pace at the start of Johnson uncertain for tial burst of aggression with the the South African innings, with new ball, while the South African Gabriel recorded at over 150kmh. batsmen were content to keep the But they bowled some loose scoreboard ticking over. deliveries as they tried to unsettle final Test against India It was a game of patience, with the batsmen with short-pitched only one South African batsman deliveries. SYDNEY: Australian fast fellow left-armer Mitchell Starc falling victim to frustration - Both fast bowlers conceded bowler Mitchell Johnson missed and Peter Siddle as potential when Faf du Plessis, whose 68 wides with balls that climbed over training yesterday citing ham- back-up pace bowlers – along with was the top score in the match, wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin’s string soreness, throwing into Ryan Harris and Josh Hazlewood. leapt out of his crease and was head for four extra runs. question whether he will be fit Harris has said he is plan- stumped off left-arm spinner The tall Holder conceded 12 South African captain Hashim Amla plays a shot during the second day for the fourth and final Test ning on playing in Sydney, and Suleiman Benn. runs in his first over after replac- of the third Test against the West Indies at Newlands Cricket Stadium in against India, reports said. if Johnson is rested he could be A near-capacity crowd then ing Gabriel but followed up with a Cape Town, yesterday. Johnson, 33, has bowled long replaced by Starc. saw Amla and De Villiers forge maiden before Dean Elgar played spells during the first three Tests “We haven’t trained for a couple a careful unbeaten fourth wicket across a full delivery and was out against India, and has said he is of days, so I am raring to get out partnership of 70. Amla made 55 for eight. With the West Indies hoping for a more responsive there today and in the next cou- not out off 130 balls with seven having as many as three fielders Scoreboard pitch in the fourth which begins ple of days, in order to get myself fours, while De Villiers was on on the boundary for much of the West Indies (I innings): Bowling: Steyn 25-6-78-4 (3w); Philander in Sydney on Tuesday. best prepared for this Test,” Starc 32 off 52 deliveries, hitting four rest of the day, K Brathwaite c Elgar b Steyn ...... 7 19-2-73-0 (1nb); Morkel 19.5-1-83-2 (1nb; “Definitely, all us bowlers feel said during the training session boundaries. Du Plessis and Alviro Petersen D Smith b Harmer ...... 47 1w); Harmer 26-5-71 -3; Van Zyl 8-2-13-1; like we need to have a bit of a yesterday. Fast bowlers Dale Steyn and put on 56 for the second wicket L Johnson lbw Harmer ...... 54 Elgar 2-0-6-0. freshen up,” he said on Friday. “So “I guess it (selection) depends Morne Morkel took two wickets before opening batsman Petersen M Samuels c Du Plessis b Van Zyl ...... 43 South Africa (I innings): we’ll just see what happens after on the fitness of other blokes and each as South Africa wrapped was run out by a direct hit from S Chanderpaul st De Villiers b Harmer ...... 9 A Petersen (run out-Blackwood) ...... 42 this match here. how they have pulled up from last up the West Indian first innings Jermaine Blackwood at point J Blackwood lbw Steyn ...... 56 D Elgar lbw Holder ...... 8 “And then we’ve got some tri- week.” inside the first hour. for 42. It was a cruel blow for D Ramdin c&b Steyn ...... 53 F du Plessis st Ramdin b Benn ...... 68 series one-dayers, so hopefully I “The decision isn’t up to me, Resuming at 276 for six, the Petersen, whose place is under J Holder c Van Zyl b Steyn ...... 23 H Amla (batting) ...... 55 can get a bit of a break at some but If I am called up this week I West Indies lost their remain- threat after a string of modest J Taylor c Steyn b Morkel ...... 13 A de Villiers (batting) ...... 32 stage there.” will be ready.” ing four wickets amid a flurry of scores. S Benn c Bavuma b Morkel ...... 5 Extras (LB-2, NB-8, W-12) ...... 22 Johnson missed a training ses- Australia regained the strokes. Du Plessis went on to make S Gabriel (not out) ...... 4 Total (for 3 wkts) ...... 227 sion with the rest of the team Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Jerome Blackwood reached 68 off 123 balls with eight fours Extras (LB-5, NB-2, W-8) ...... 15 Fall of wickets: 1-48, 2-112, 3-157. yesterday, Australian Associated Tuesday after India hung on for his third Test half-century with before he became the only victim Total (all out) ...... 329 Bowling: Taylor 13-1-59-0 (1w); Gabriel 12-2- Press reported, adding that he had a tense draw in the third Test in a cover drive for four off Steyn of Benn, who bowled an econom- Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-80, 3-131, 4-162, 41-0 (5nb; 3w); Holder 14-3-46-1 (2nb); Sam- stayed instead at their hotel for Melbourne. Australia won the but was then trapped in front of ical unbroken spell of 24 overs, 5-172, 6-266, 7-299, 8-316, 9-319. uels 5.3-0-17-0; Benn 24-5-62-0. treatment. first two Tests in Adelaide and his stumps with a full, swinging taking one for 62. AFP Australia’s squad includes Brisbane. AFP SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

Transfer ban Griezmann keeps Atletico in a chance for youngsters: quest to retain La Liga title Enrique MADRID: Barcelona coach Luis Enrique believes the club’s famed academy can help mini- Frenchman scores brace in 3-1 win, Atletico just one point behind Real mise the impact of a ban on sign- ing players for a year handed down by FIFA. MADRID: La Liga champi- The Catalan giants lost their ons Atletico Madrid remained appeal to the Court of Arbitration in the race to retain their title for Sport to have the ban over- with a comfortable 3-1 win over turned this week for irregularities Levante yesterday thanks to two in the signing of players under the goals from Antoine Griezmann. age of 16. With Fernando Torres watch- Barcelona, who are second ing on from the stands before his behind Real Madrid in La Liga, move back to his boyhood club is are banned from buying players concluded on Monday, Griezmann during the January transfer win- was under pressure to continue dow and for the summer transfer his fine form after scoring a hat- period before the 2015-16 season. trick as Atletico closed 2014 with That means they cannot sign a a 4-1 win away to Athletic Bilbao player until January 2016. two weeks ago. Enrique started his managerial And he duly obliged with two career with Barca B under Pep headed finishes from close range Guardiola and has already handed early in each half before Diego debuts to Munir El Haddadi, Godin nodded in Atletico’s third Sandro Ramirez and Sergi after Nabil El Zhar’s deflected Samper in his first six months in effort had given Levante hope. charge at the Camp Nou. Atletico are now level with And he believes that the trio Barcelona in second place and and others from the side that won one point behind leaders Real the under-19 Champions League Madrid, with the latter two sides last season can make the step in action against Real Sociedad up to the first team on a regular and Valencia respectively today. basis. Torres was the star attrac- “It is evident that we would tion before kick-off as he took have preferred another decision, his seat in the directors’ box to but it is what it is and we have much acclaim. to get on with it,” he said on at a However, on the field, press conference ahead of Barca’s Griezmann ensured Los visit to Real Sociedad today. Rojiblancos’ former captain will “The quality of the squad is find it hard to get into the side good enough with the players that for the visit of Real Madrid in the we have and we have to bear in Copa del Rey on Wednesday. mind that this is a great incentive Simeone, though, suggested for the youth team players. Griezmann could eventually move “There are players in the acad- out wide, where he has played for emy that I like and that could the majority of his career, to make Atletico Madrid’s striker Fernando Torres (centre), whose transfer by Italian club AC Milan will become effective on January 5, is to take his seat at the certainly make the step up. The way for Torres. stand during the Spanish La Liga’s Primera Division match between Atletico Madrid and Levante at Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid, yesterday. fact we can’t sign players for next “More than just the goals, RIGHT: Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann celebrates after scoring a goal against Levante. season very clearly opens the door which are important for him and to the young players.” the team, I like when he tracks Of more pressing concern for back, works and when he wins the from the left looped into the seconds into the second period as However, they were stunned and Mandzukic with one eye to Enrique is to ensure that his side ball back to be able to attack from Frenchman’s path and he nodded despite more heroics from Marino just after the hour mark when Wednesday’s repeat of last sea- don’t lose more ground on league better positions,” Simeone said of past the helpless Diego Marino. to claw a Mandzukic header off Levante halved the deficit. sons’ Champions League final leaders Real Madrid at a ground Griezmann. Atletico should have extended the line, he couldn’t react in time Mandzukic was again heavily against Real. where their title challenge began “He can play in different posi- their lead before half-time as Arda to prevent Griezmann’s follow-up involved again as he did brilliantly And, not for the first time to unravel last season. tions, as well as on the wing Turan fired just over, Mandzukic effort crossing the line. to turn Victor Casadesus’s header this season, the Argentine’s side Sociedad boss David Moyes will where he has played before. Not saw a goal ruled out for handball The unlucky Mandzukic saw off his own line, but the ball fell to needed to rely on their threat get his first taste of testing him- all games are equal.” and Marino then made a fine save another header drift wide and Ivan Lopez and his drive clipped from set-pieces to seal the three self against one of La Liga’s giants Griezmann put Simeone’s to deny the Croatian from point- Tiago’s deflected shot flew into El Zhar on its way into the far points eight minutes from time at Anoeta and, despite a mixed set men in front on 18 minutes blank range. Yet, they looked to the side-netting as Atletico con- corner. when Godin headed home Tiago’s of results since the Scot took over when Guilherme Siqueira’s cross have made the game safe just 60 tinued to dominate. Simeone then withdrew Turan in-swinging cross. AFP in November, Enrique insisted he has seen an improvement in the Basque outfit under the former English FA Cup Manchester United manager. West Brom crush Gateshead 7-0; “Real have recovered their Results intensity and the aggression in LONDON: Collated English their pressing,” he added. FA Cup results yesterday: “We have to go there and be Third Round very intense because if we are not Barnsley 0 Middlesbrough 2 (Vossen 48, Leicester eliminate Newcastle then we will suffer.” AFP Ayala 84) LONDON: Tony Pulis’ West all-Premier League tie cour- Blyth Spartans 2 (Dale 35, 41) Birmingham Bromwich Albion tenure began tesy of a 39th-minute header by Ramos 3 (Novak 52, Thomas 55, 58) with a 7-0 demolition of non- Argentine striker Leonardo Ulloa. Bolton 1 (Clough 76) Wigan 0 league Gateshead in the FA Cup Swansea City joined Leicester Brentford 0 Brighton 2 (Dunk 88, O’Grady third round yesterday, while in the fourth round after a 6-2 doubtful for 90) Leicester City eliminated man- romp at fourth-tier Tranmere Cambridge 2 (Simpson 27, Donaldson 66) agerless Newcastle United. Rovers. Luton 1 (Harriman 74) Pulis was appointed as West Bafetimbi Gomis claimed a Valencia trip Charlton 1 (Gudmundsson 55) Blackburn 2 Brom’s new head coach on New brace for Garry Monk’s visitors, (Taylor 4, 59) Year’s Day following Alan Irvine’s while Nathan Dyer, Tom Carroll, MADRID: Real Madrid could Derby 1 (Martin 90-pen) Southport 0 sacking and he watched his new full debutant Mo Barrow and be without influential defender charges cruise into round four, Wayne Routledge also found the Sergio Ramos when they look to Doncaster 1 (McCullough 50) Bristol City 1 with Saido Berahino scoring four net. extend their 22-game winning (Smith 75) times. Blyth Spartans of the seventh- run at Valencia today. Fulham 0 Wolves 0 The England Under-21 tier Northern Premier League The Spanish international Huddersfield 0 Reading 1 (Blackman 69) striker, who has been linked with looked poised to record the day’s played through a calf injury as Leicester 1 (Ulloa 39) Newcastle 0 Liverpool, opened the scoring in biggest upset after going 2-0 up at he led Los Blancos to their fourth Millwall 3 (McDonald 36, Fuller 66, 83) the 42nd minute at the Hawthorns home to second-tier Birmingham trophy of 2014 with the opening Bradford 3 (Knott 6, 76, Nelson 70-og) before Victor Anichebe added a City thanks to a double from cap- goal in a 2-0 win over San Lorenzo Preston 2 (Gallagher 71, 84) Norwich 0 second with a solo goal in first- tain Robbie Dale. in the final of the Club World Cup Rochdale 1 (Vincenti 12-pen) Nottingham half injury time. The scoreline even attracted two weeks ago. Forest 0 Berahino produced two classy the attention of former Portugal “Together we have taken the finishes early in the second period and Real Madrid great Luis Figo, decision to evaluate after train- Rotherham 1 (Brindley 10) Bournemouth 5 to complete his hat-trick, with who began to follow Blyth’s offi- ing and then take a decision,” (MacDonald 44, Stanislas 58, Fraser 63, Chris Brunt and James Morrison cial Twitter account via his @ Real boss Carlo Ancelotti said Kermorgant 67, 71) adding two more goals before LuisFigo page. yesterday. Tranmere 2 (Power 70, Stockton 83) Berahino struck again to take his But three goals in six minutes “It is a different situation Swansea 6 (Dyer 34, Carroll 49, Barrow 58, tally for the season to 13. turned the tie on its head, with because he decided to force it to Gomis 77, 90, Routledge 85) “Saido Berahino is a very tal- Lee Novak reducing the arrears play in the final of the Club World West Brom 7 (Berahino 42, 46, 53, 90, ented boy,” Pulis said. “There is in the 52nd minute before Wes Cup, but now is not the moment Anichebe 45+1, Brunt 55, Morrison 79) always going to be transfer specu- Thomas claimed a quick-fire West Bromwich Albion’s Burundian-born English striker Saido Berahino to risk it. If there is any risk, Gateshead 0 lation and you can see why. He brace to give Birmingham a 3-2 (second left) celebrates after scoring his first of four goals with team- Ramos will not play.” Played on Friday has great pace, great balance and win. mates during the FA Cup match against Gateshead in West Bromwich, Raphael Varane will part- Third Round scores goals. “We just hope that we can get yesterday. ner Pepe in central defence for Cardiff 3 (Ralls 34, Harris 53, Jones 60) “But when I came in here the more fans through the gates now.” the European champions should Colchester 1 (Sears 74) chairman had not received any The day’s biggest upset came Ramos miss out and Ancelotti offer for him and we will try our at third-division Rochdale, club won 3-2 to end a nine-year Chelsea and Manchester City insisted they will be plenty of Second Round damnedest to try and improve who beat two-time cup-win- trophy drought, and there are both enter the competition opportunities for all the fringe Milton Keynes Dons 0 Chesterfield 1 him.” ners Nottingham Forest of the three other repeats of former against second-tier opposi- members of his squad with a (Roberts 43) While West Brom began Championship 1-0 thanks to a finals in the third round. tion today, with Chelsea hosting demanding schedule of up to 10 Playing Today (1500GMT unless stated) their new era in confident fash- 12th-minute spot-kick by Peter Sunderland host Leeds United Watford and City entertaining games to come in the next 32 Third Round ion, Newcastle made a forget- Vincenti. (1973) today, with Tottenham Sheffield on Wednesday. days. Arsenal vs Hull (1730GMT), Aston Villa vs table start to life without Alan Meanwhile, Derby County, cur- Hotspur visiting Burnley (1962) Palace travel to fifth-tier Dover “I think the rotations are nec- Blackpool, Chelsea vs Watford (1600GMT), Pardew, who had been confirmed rently third in the Championship, the following day. Athletic for their first game since essary because that way we will Dover vs Crystal Palace (1300GMT), as Crystal Palace’s new manager needed an injury-time penalty by Meanwhile, Liverpool visit Pardew was appointed manager. have fewer injuries and a more Manchester City vs Sheffield Wednesday, earlier in the day. Chris Martin to see off fifth-tier fourth-tier AFC Wimbledon Manchester United visit third- motivated squad,” said the Italian. QPR vs Sheffield United (1300GMT), With Newcastle coaches John Southport 1-0. tomorrow in a match that recalls tier Yeovil Town, while the fourth “I can’t think about playing the Southampton vs Ipswich, Stoke vs Carver and Steve Stone depu- Holders Arsenal host Hull City the original Wimbledon’s shock and final all-Premier League fix- same players all the time at this Wrexham, Sunderland vs Leeds (1300GMT), tising in the dug-out, Leicester today in a repeat of last season’s success in the 1988 final. ture sees Everton host West Ham stage of the season. They will all Yeovil vs Manchester United (1530GMT) prevailed in the day’s only final, which the north London Premier League co-leaders United on Tuesday. AFP play.” AFP Sunday 4 January 2015 13 Rabial I 1436 Volume 19 Number 6300 Sport Price: QR2

Djokovic Bowlers shine illness hands in Wellington Murray victory Test

Sport | 25 Sport | 26

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780

Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2015 Stars to look out for Qatar warm up for Asian Cup 1 SRB DJOKOVIC, Novak Djokovic makes his debut: 2 SRB LAJOVIC, Dusan World number one Novak 3 UKR STAKHOVSKY, Sergiy Djokovic is mak- ing his debut 4 QAT ALI MUTAWA, Jabor Mohammed at the Qatar 5 RUS YOUZHNY, Mikhail ExxonMobil 6 QUALIFIER Open. The Serb 7 CZE ROSOL, Lukas finished 2014 on 8 CRO KARLOVIC, Ivo a high — winning 9 ESP FERRER, David back-to-back titles in Paris and 10 QUALIFIER at the Barclays 11 RUS GABASHVILI, Teymuraz ATP World Tour Finals. 12 ESP VERDASCO, Fernando Rafa returns to Doha: After 13 GER BROWN, Dustin illness curtailed his finish 14 ITA LORENZI, Paolo to the 2014 ATP World Tour season, Rafael Nadal will look 15 GER STRUFF, Jan-Lennard to make a fresh start on his 16 GER KOHLSCHREIBER, Philipp seventh appearance in Doha, 17 FRA GASQUET, Richard where he won the title for the 18 ESP ANDUJAR, Pablo first time last year (by defeat- 19 ITA BOLELLI, Simone ing Gael Monfils in the final). 20 GER BECKER, Benjamin The Spaniard was also the run- ner-up in 2010 and is looking to 21 ARG MONACO, Juan win his 65th tour-level crown. 22 QUALIFIER Thomas Berdych is back: 23 UZB ISTOMIN, Denis World number seven Thomas 24 CZE BERDYCH, Tomas Berdych returns for a second 25 ARG MAYER, Leonardo tilt at winning the Doha crown, 26 ITA SEPPI, Andreas having suffered a shock first- round exit last year. He won 27 BRA SOUZA, Joao two titles last year. 28 TUN JAZIRI, Malek David Ferrer in the hunt: 29 CRO DODIG, Ivan David Ferrer will look to make 30 EGY SAFWAT, Mohamed a strong start to the season in Qatari coach Djamel Belmadi (right) watches a player during a training session at the Maroons’ training camp 31 QUALIFIER Doha, where he reached the in Canberra yesterday. Qatar kick off their Asian Cup campaign on January 11 when they take on UAE at the semi-finals in 2012. 32 ESP NADAL, Rafael Canberra Stadium. Djokovic to begin with Lajovic clash It’ll be a tough start, says unseeded Serb

BY RIZWAN REHMAT

DOHA: World number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia was yesterday drawn to play his unseeded compatriot Dusan Lajovic at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open where Spanish icon Rafael Nadal will be looking to defend the title next week. Djokovic, who finished the 2014 ATP season by winning his fourth season finale title in London in November, will be looking to kick off his 2015 season on a winning note when he makes his first appearance at the Doha event. However, the 27-year-old Serb withdrew from the final of the Mubadala World Tennis Championships in Abu Dhabi yesterday due to fever — handing Andy Murray his first title of the season. In the second round, Djokovic is expected to clash with tall FROM LEFT: Russia’s Teymuraz Gabashvili, Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic, Croatian Ivo Karlovic, who is Germany’s Dustin Brown and Spain’s Pablo Andujar at the draw event seeded seventh in Doha. for the 2015 Qatar ExxonMobil Open that was held at the Four Seasons In the first-half of the 32-man Hotel in Doha yesterday. PICTURE: KAMMUTTY VP draw, the reigning Wimbledon champion is likely to meet fourth Thirty-two-year-old Ferrer, In his first competition seed David Ferrer of Spain in winner of 21 ATP Tour titles, will since undergoing an appendec- quarter-finals. kick off his season with a clash tomy at the start of November, Djokoivic is also listed to play against a qualifier in the first Nadal yesterday brushed the doubles with Filip Krajinovic. round while Karlovic, 35, will aside Switzerland’s Stan In 2014 Djokovic played doubles in play Lukas Rosol of the Czech Wawrinka 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 in the just four tournaments so that he Republic. third-place match of the Mubadala could concentrate on his singles Fifth seed Phillipp Kohlscreiber World Tennis Championships in career. of Germany takes on compatriot Abu Dhabi. Lajovic, however, is ready for Jan-Lennard Struff while sixth Twenty-nine-year-old Berdych, the “challenge” of playing the seed Richard Gasquet of France seeded three in Doha, opens his world number one. faces Spain’s Pablo Andujar in account with a match against “What can I say, it is a big chal- their opening clashes. Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan. lenge,” Lajovic said yesterday. “It Nadal, who started 2014 with a The winner in Doha will pocket is going to be a tough start, I win at the $1m Qatar ExxonMobil $195,000 and 250 ranking points. guess. I will try my best. Maybe I Open last January, plays a quali- The losing finalist goes home with did not have the luck of the draw fier in the first round. $102,675 and 150 ranking points. but that’s tennis,” he said. A possible victory in the second The losing semi-finalists end up When asked if he could upset round with eighth seed Leonardo $55,615 richer. the world number one, Lajovic, Mayer of Argentina could see the After the January 10 final 24, said: “I just hope I can give former world number one enter in Doha, the players head to my best. Novak is the world’s the quarter-finals, where he could Melbourne for the season’s first best player and it is a challenge run into Thomas Berdych of the Grand Slam in Australia. for me.” Czech Republic. THE PENINSULA