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Sunday 28 December 2014 • 6 Rabial I 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6293 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Nepalese gain De-icing the plane most from currency flux Pakistanis are major losers

BY SACHIN KUMAR Nepalese rupees for one Qatari Riyal in early January when the DOHA: Nepalese expatriates rupee was quoting 27.16 against gained the most while those the Riyal. Now, he would get from Pakistan were among the around 28 rupees because the major losers due to currency currency is trading weak at 27.92 fluctuations this year. per Riyal. The Pakistani Rupee strength- On the contrary, appreciating ened by about five percent against currency is a bad news for expa- the Qatari Riyal in 2014, eroding triates. A Pakistani expatriate in the earnings of Pakistani expatri- Qatar was getting 29 rupees for ates. Pakistani currency was the one Riyal at the beginning of this only Asian currency to appreci- year when Pakistani currency was ate significantly against the Riyal quoting 29 against one riyal but while Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri now he is getting around 27.50 Lankan and Nepalese curren- as the rupee is trading at 27.62 A Qatar Airways plane is de-iced at the Frankfurt airport in Germany yesterday. cies weakened in the year. The against Riyal. Philippine Peso, like past years, The Indian community was the was seen to be stable against the second biggest gainer as the rupee Riyal. Nepalese Rupee depre- weakened by two percent or 35 ciated the most, registering a paise during the current year. The Syria ready to decline of three percent in 2014, Indian Rupee is now trading at Huge marijuana haul at airport giving additional value to the 17.45 against one Riyal. However, participate in earnings of Nepali expatriates. during the year, rupee had a roller DOHA: Customs authorities at marijuana during the inspection. Customs has made 1,500 seizures “This year has been of sharp coaster ride as it strengthened up Hamad International Airport He said smugglers and the in 2013. The seizures include 282 Moscow talks volatility for the currency mar- to 15.96 against one Riyal in May have foiled an attempt to smug- seized parcels were handed over narcotic substances, 102 nar- kets. Except Peso, all the major but it has been on downward jour- gle 17 kilogramme of marijuana to security organisations who will cotic pills, 80 tobacco products, Asian currencies have witnessed ney since then. by a passenger coming from one complete legal procedures and 162 seizures pertaining to intel- BEIRUT/CAIRO: Syria said sharp fluctuations,” Zuber Abdul Sri Lankan Rupee depreciated of the Asian countries on board investigations prior to referring lectual property rights, 19 weap- yesterday it was willing to par- Rahman, Operations Manager, by about one percent to 36.22 a direct flight to Doha. them to the attorney general’s ons and ammunition, in addition ticipate in “preliminary con- Al Zaman Exchange, told yesterday from 35.90 in the first Khalid Hamad Rashed Al office. Al Kaabi explained that to 689 commercial fraud and sultations” in Moscow aimed The Peninsula. week of January. The Bangladeshi Kaabi, Director of International the Customs Authority in the past other seizures related to porno- at restarting talks next year A depreciating currency augurs Taka weakened one percent to Airport Customs Department has made big hauls of banned sub- graphic materials, the smuggling to end its civil war but the well for expatriates as a given 21.60 yesterday from 21.38 at the said customs officers monitoring stances like hush, narcotic pills, of endangered species of animals Western-backed opposition dis- amount fetches more because of beginning of the year. X-ray detectors became suspi- opium, cocaine hidden in unex- and other banned materials. missed the initiative. the decline. For example, a Nepali THE PENINSULA cious and inspected a bag. They pected places. THE PENINSULA Two rounds of peace talks this expatriate was getting around 27 Continued on page 5 found three large parcels of The General Authority of Picture on page 2 year in Geneva failed to halt the conflict which has killed 200,000 people during more than three years of violence and there was Qatar beat Estonia little sign of the latest move gain- ing traction. Malaysia in major flood rescue Syrian state television quoted a source at the Foreign Ministry PENGKALAN CHEPA, MALAYSIA: Rescuers struggled yes- saying: “Syria is ready to partici- terday to get help to the tens of thousands of people affected by pate in preliminary consultations Malaysia’s worst flooding in decades as angry victims accused the in Moscow in order to meet the government of being slow in its response. aspirations of Syrians to find a Malaysians have vented their anger at Prime Minister Najib Razak way out of crisis.” after photos went viral on social media showing him playing golf with But there are many obstacles to US President Barack Obama during the storms. peace. The most powerful insur- The number of people forced to flee their homes climbed past 120,000 gent group, the hardline Islamic with weather forecasters warning of no respite for the northeastern State, controls a third of Syria but states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang. From the air, parts of has not been part of any initiative Kota Bharu, the state capital of badly-affected Kelantan, resembled to end the fighting. a vast, muddy lake. Other rebel factions are not unified. The opposition is also suspicious Bahrain opposition leader re-elected of Russian-led plans as Moscow has long backed President Bashar DUBAI: Bahrain’s main opposition movement Al Wefaq said yes- Al Assad with weapons. terday that it had re-elected the leader of the banned Shia group, Hadi Al Bahra, head of the who was summoned by police hours later. Sheikh Ali Salman, 49, Turkey-based opposition National was handed a new four-year term at Al-Wefaq’s general congress on Coalition, met with Arab League Friday night, in a meeting held to comply with a law on associations Chief Nabil Elaraby in Cairo that led to the three-month ban. yesterday and told a news con- The interior ministry ordered Salman to appear before police inves- Qatar’s Hassan Al Haidos (left) vies for the ball with an Estonian player during a friendly at the Lekhwiya Stadium ference “there is no initiative as tigators today, said Al-Wefaq, which described the move as “serious”. in Doha yesterday. The Maroons notched up a comfortable 3-0 victory before leaving for Australia where they rumoured”. AGENCIES will take part in next month’s Asian Cup. See also page 27 REUTERS Picture: MOHD OBAIDALI Report questions double standards of labour rights unions

DOHA: An article published by Asian region. They continually dominate media the report. ANI said that bodies like the to lobby the ILO on this issue in return staff wages increased by ¤600,000 between News International (ANI) last week headlines with allegations of wrongdoing ITUC have employed dubious means dur- for maintaining its funding!” 2011 and 2012, a rate of eight percent or has questioned the sincerity of inter- taking place against workers in places ing their alleged investigation of workers’ “Junior employees are paid minimally approximately three times inflation. It is national trade unions in their scath- like Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi condition. and the trade union uses ineffective even harder to understand the justifica- ing attacks against the alleged labour Arabia, to name a few,” says the report. “A series of interactions with various retired people to save costs, whereas tion for this pay rise when you consider rights violations in Gulf countries, For example, the International stakeholders revealed a different perspec- the management leads a lavish lifestyle. that their affiliation fees — paid by real especially Qatar. Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has tive regarding their lifestyle, administra- Racquel Gozalez, the head of Geneva workers — only rose by 1.1 per cent to 11.9 The report titled “International trade severely criticised Qatar for its failure to tion, agenda and financial angle,” said the office, for instance, arrives at work in her million, said the report. unions need to be less combative, encour- give more rights to the work force and report. BMW 5 series car valued at ¤70,000 and Interestingly, one of the ways ITUC is age more interaction with workers” pub- appears relentless in its pursuit to help A personnel stationed at the Swiss- lives in a ¤500,000 apartment,” he added. funded is through contribution by global lished on December 26 was reproduced by strip Qatar of its right to host the FIFA based office of ITUC located in the ILO The ITUC’s accounts show that in 2012, affiliates. Spending money every year to several leading newspapers across Asia. 2022 World Cup. building in Geneva was quoted as saying it paid its 75 staff at its Brussels office have an organisation like ITUC fighting “Trade unions around the world are “They have ensured that the campaign on conditions of anonymity, “in 2013/14, almost ¤6m in salary, which equates to for your piece of the pie needs to be justi- playing a leading role in the protracted is not only relentless, but also aggres- the ILO fired more than 600 employees in ¤80,000 per person, almost 2.5 times the fied, it added. THE PENINSULA global debate on various issues in the Gulf sive, and at times, questionable,” says an effort to save costs. ITUC agreed not average salary in Belgium. Furthermore, Continued on page 5 SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Leaders send condolences to Kuwait ruler DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has sent a cable of condolences to the Emir of Kuwait H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah on the death of Sheikha Sheikha Salem Ali Al Malek Al Sabah. The Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani sent a similar cable to the Kuwaiti Emir. The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani also sent a condolence cable to Sheikh Sabah. Emir gets call from www.swiss-belhotel.com Tel Abandoned shopping trolleys blocking a car at a mall. KAMMUTTY VP Turkish President Fax DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday received a telephone call from Turkish President Tel Coin-operated carts Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Fax They reviewed means of enhancing relations as well as regional and international sought at malls issues. Tel Turkmen President Fax BY YASIN KAKANDE However, according to a belongs is not a bad idea. The receives envoy Kenyan security guard who idea is not that you just move DOHA: Shopping trolleys was collecting carts at a shop- the trolley out of the way so it ASHGABAT: The President Tel + 974 44298888 abandoned in parking lots of ping centre, the responsibility does not damage other vehicles. of Turkmenistan, Dr malls are inconveniencing lies on the shoppers to return “The idea is that efforts Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Fax shoppers looking for park- their trolleys to the designated should be exerted to return received the credentials of ing space or trying to remove area. “We are supposed to col- it to its place,” said Nayem Qatari Ambassador Khalifa their blocked cars, it is learnt. lect a trolley once a shopper Mohammed, a shopper at Al bin Ahmed Al Suwaidi. Tel Though most shopping cen- does not leave it in the desig- Meera Shopping centre on The envoy conveyed greetings tres have places where trolleys nated area. Airport Road. of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim Fax should be kept after use (called “It’s not that we don’t want According to him, some bin Hamad Al Thani and his trolley corrals), most shoppers to do our work. We are so busy families are reluctant to leave wishes of the best of health and neglect the practice or are lazy striking a balance between trolleys at the designated area the Turkmenistan people further Tel to return them to the corrals keeping abandoned trolleys because they are scared to leave progress and growth. Fax after removing their last gro- from hitting cars and guiding their children in their cars, but The president expressed cery bag into their cars. traffic,” he said. most trolley corrals are only a keenness to enhance relations Instead they choose to push He said some shoppers had few seconds walk. and gratitude for the open- trolleys away, leaving them complained that abandoned “If you’re so scared to leave ing of the Qatari embassy in Tel behind parked vehicles. trolleys had dented the finish kids in the car for 30 seconds or Turkmenistan. Fax “It’s common after shop- of their vehicles. so while you return the trolley Deputy Prime Minister ping in a mall to find your car “If a trolley pushed by the to its place, don’t bring them and Foreign Minister Rashid www.doha.hilton.com blocked with trolleys behind it. wind hits a parked car, who is with you. Meredov also received a copy of Then you have to remove one responsible?” he asked. “And “There is no excuse for leav- the credentials of Al Suwaidi. Tel 44233333 974+ by one and take them back this is a common occurrence ing a trolley in the middle of the Meredov expressed his coun- to their place,” said Abdullah as trolleys can move freely in parking lot,” he said. try’s keenness to promote rela- Fax 44233000 974+ Badr, a Sudanese shopper at a parking lots.” He said malls should intro- tions in several areas of common hypermarket. He said there were also duce coin-operated trolleys in interest. “It is also frustrating to see instances when shoppers took which a shopper has to put a a parking space blocked by an the trolleys far beyond the des- coin in a slot to use the cart Qatar-Vatican abandoned trolley. The shopper ignated area and because the because they will leave such must either leave the car in the guard had to account for every trolleys back in the corrals to ties reviewed parking space and take care cart, they had to go in almost get their coins. of the trolley or find another all the neighbourhood looking Some shoppers complained THE VATICAN: The Vatican’s space.” for them. about the sight of abandoned Secretary of State Cardinal The negligence is mostly due Some shopping centres trolleys and said it ruins the Pietro Parolin met Qatar’s Non- Tel to the belief that malls must don’t employ such workers and image of the mall’s parking lot resident Ambassador Sheikha have staff to collect the trolleys. expect every shopper to take while others claimed trolleys Mozah bint Nasser Al Thani Fax Some have workers while oth- the responsibility and leave the block the area meant for walk- and reviewed relations between ers rely on their security guards trolley in the designated area. ing to reach their cars. both countries. for the purpose. “Putting something where it THE PENINSULA QNA Tel Fax

Tel Health centre to work throughout week Fax DOHA: Primary Healthcare statement yesterday. Future expansions are being consid- Corporation (PHCC) will extend work- It will continue to provide ordinary ered to extend working days from five ing days at Messaimeer Health Centre services between Sunday and Thursday to seven at two of the most busy centres from January 2. from 7am to 2pm and 4pm to 11pm. in Doha. The plan is subject to further Tel On Fridays, the centre will open from PHCC continues to improve services study and recruitment of additional staff Fax 4pm to 11pm and on Saturdays from 7am and access for the benefit of patients and is underway. to 2pm and 4pm to 11pm, PHCC said in a the community. THE PENINSULA

Tel Major marijuana haul Fax

Tel Fax

Tel Fax

Tel Fax www.marriottmarquisdoha.com

Tel + 974 44195000 Fax + 974 44195100

A customs officer showing 17kg of marijuana seized at Hamad International Airport. A passenger from an Asian country on a direct flight to Doha had tried to smuggle in the drug. SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Two housing projects launched in Sri Lanka Initiatives funded by two Qatari sisters

Officials at the launch of a housing project in the village of Erukkalampiddy.

DOHA: Two housing projects Serendib Foundation for Relief Earlier, a QRC assessment have been launched in Mannar and Development and local com- and inspection team visited the District, northern Sri Lanka, munity leaders. They toured the location and selected the housing for families displaced by local project sites before returning to design based on a completed hous- armed conflicts. the capital Colombo. ing project that proved practical The projects have been funded The first project involves 70 and comfortable for occupants. by two Qatari sisters who opted family housing units for 460 The Sri Lankan government for anonymity in pursuit of the people of the poorest families in has provided land for the new great reward of undisclosed Kondachi, Musali Division. projects. charity. It also involves constructing Scheduled to be completed and The foundation stones of the and furnishing of four shops, a handed over in a year, the homes two projects worth about QR3.1m school, a prayer centre and dig- will be built in compliance with ($849,315) were laid in the pres- ging two artisan wells equipped international and environmental ence of a Qatar Red Crescent with a 4,000-litre water tank and standards. (QRC) delegation. a solar-powered pump. Components and materials will QRC was represented by The second project involves be purchased from the local mar- Ahmed Al Khulaifi, Head, Public building 44 family housing units ket, and execution will be done Relations, in the presence of for 264 people in the village of by local labour to create more job Rishad Badiuddin, former min- Erukkalampiddy, in addition to opportunities and improve the ister of trade and commerce, two fully-furnished shops. economic conditions of the local Hussain Mohamed Al Kubaisi, The projects will be executed in community, thus further serving First Secretary, Qatari embassy partnership with the foundation, the developmental and humani- in Sri Lanka, representatives which also conducted a survey to tarian goals of the projects. of Sri Lanka Red Cross and identify beneficiaries. THE PENINSULA

FROM LEFT: Al Meera outlets in Jeryan Nejaima and Al Azizia. Al Meera to open 9 new malls across Qatar soon BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB Aba El Herran, Azghawa, Al Khor, everywhere in Qatar. Um Qarn, Rawdat Al Hamama, Al Meera will continue to reha- DOHA: As part of efforts Jeryan Junaihat, Al Sailiya, and bilitate its old branches and fully to serve better, Al Meera Ain Khaled. switch over to the new innova- Consumer Goods Company yes- The initiatives are part of the tive concept. The modern and terday announced to open nine company’s ongoing quest to keep contemporary concept is designed new malls across the country up with the pace of development by international companies and by the beginning of 2015, said a and growth in Qatar, guided by aims to meet the Qatari market senior official of the company. Qatar National Vision 2030. requirements. “To achieve a wider spread Al Meera’s commitment to the To value and serve better its and serve better our customers, vision is reflected by its expan- customers, the company has we will be opening nine stores sion and development plans car- also signed a partnership with by the beginning of 2015. They ried out since the beginning of its Ooredoo’s Nojoom, the mul- will be located in Al Wakra, Al establishment to make shopping tiple-award winning loyalty Thumama, Al Wajba, Muaither, easier and more convenient and programme, at Al Meera’s head- Al Azizia, Zakhira, Murraikh and fun for consumers in and outside quarters to provide new awards Jeryan Nejaima and a branch at Doha through the provision of a to customers. It was signed by Al a rented property in the Gulf wide range of products that meet Qahtani, and Yousuf Abdulla Al Mall,” Dr Mohammed Nasser Al their daily needs. Kubaisi, CEO, Global Services, Qahtani, Deputy CEO, Al Meera, Al Qahtani said all new malls Ooredoo, in presence of depart- told this daily yesterday. will be built to stringent interna- ment directors and staff from Al Qahtani said the company is tional standards based on latest both companies. also in the process of opening 15 interior design style and equipped The partnership will allow Al shopping centres of various sizes with modern lighting system. Meera customers to earn and over the next one year across The contemporary concept will redeem points with the Nojoom Qatar. The new centres are in cover all Al Meera’s supermar- programme when shopping at Al different stages of development. kets, shops, restaurants and other Meera branches in Mansoura, Bin He said Al Meera is working stores. The progress of Al Meera Omran, Khalifa South, Hazm Al with full potential to get the con- will benefit all in Qatar, share- Markhiya, Azghawa, Al Merqab, struction phase of 15 malls to be holders and consumers, especially Wakra, Airport hypermarket, accomplished by 2015. that Qatar was and will remain Legtaifiya and Nuaija. The malls will be opening, the major market for its retail Nojoom Red and Silver mem- based to four innovative designs, company. bers will earn one point and in Sailiya North, Rawdat Ekdeem, The company’s expansion plan Nojoom Gold members two for Umm Salal, Leabaib 1, Leabaib 2, is part of efforts to make eve- spending QR6. Bu Sidra, Al Wakra 2, Rawdat ryone close to Al Meera stores THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME QIC’s Qatari staff complete insurance course Senior Group president and CEO presents participation certificates DOHA: Qatar Insurance employees, who were positive in Company (QIC), in collabora- their approach and responded tion with Qatar Finance and well to the modules. Business Academy (QFBA), On completion of the pro- presented certificates to nine gramme, Ali Al Fadala, Senior Qatari employees who com- Group President and CEO, pleted the first course of a QIC Group, said: “The initia- resourceful professional train- tive is aligned with QIC’s state- ing programme, conducted by ment of values to enhance and QFBA. develop soft skills of its employ- According to a statement, the ees. We organised the course to course was designed for QIC’s strengthen and enhance com- Qatari employees across finance, munication, negotiation, selling legal and retail departments. and customer service skills of our The course from November Qatari employees. 9 to December 21, comprised “It also empowered our Qatari lectures, discussions and work- employees by providing them shops to deliver pragmatic and with unparalleled, long-term innovative solutions with a focus career development opportuni- on insurance. It also helped the ties across the organisation. It Ali Al Fadala, Senior Group President and CEO, QIC Group, with some of the employees. employees to enhance their cus- helped them to be competent tomer service delivery standards. and better equipped to face the our drive towards Qatarisation skilled and competent Qataris.” and demand of their job profiles. of participation were presented Weekly assessments in highly dynamic Qatari insurance and exemplifies the manage- The course also increased the To acknowledge and encour- by Al Fadala in the presence of between helped monitor, evalu- market. ment’s efforts to transform QIC employees’ cognizance of insur- age their involvement, progress QFBA’s guests. ate and assess the progress of the “The initiative also supports to be the choicest workplace for ance according to the relevance and performance, certificates THE PENINSULA

Education Minister to meet writers, Parents urged to take note of behavioural changes in kids academics today BY FAZEENA SALEEM and Adolescent Psychiatry, and think it’s not right to access appropriate, sometimes it could health difficulties. Director, Child and Adolescent mental health service. They be that children are not happy at HMC has taken steps to cre- DOHA: The Minister of DOHA: Parents are advised Mental Health Service, told this don’t acknowledge that there is school or subjected to something ate awareness about mental Education and Higher Education to be aware of any behavioural daily. need to take medicine.” like bullying and show behav- health problems among schools. and General Secretary of the changes in children and ado- Children and adolescents can But sometimes children with ioural difficulties. A workshop to raise awareness Supreme Education Council H lescents and to seek help from show changes like poor per- behavioural difficulties do not “This is an area we need to about mental health and dealing E Mohammed Abdul Wahed Ali experts. formance at school, socially, or actual show mental health invest a lot in as a service and with mental issues among stu- Al Hammadi will today meet Some behavioural changes at home. They might even show problems. look at it strategically, we need dents and teenagers was held at Qatari writers, academics and in children can also occur due bad behaviour. “We sometimes get refer- to focus more on supporting and 20 Independent schools recently. educationists to discuss issues to wrong parenting methods, Lack of interest, mood swings rals of children with symptoms educating parents,” she added. It aimed to promote the con- related to education in the according to an expert in child and physical aches are among and challenging behaviour that There is no data in Qatar on cept of mental health in a school country. and adolescent psychiatry. other symptoms of behavioural people think they have mental the prevalence of mental health setting, enhance communica- The meeting is part of the min- “It’s important that if they changes. illnesses. problems among children. tion with students, highlight istry’s efforts to get feedback from (parents) see any changes in Some children are vulnerable “But when we assess them, International studies on common mental health issues the public and experts to improve the kid’s behaviour to seek right to mental health problems due frequently we don’t find any adults indicate that one in five facing teenagers by identifying the standards of education and help and the school too should to genetic, neuro-biological and significant evidence,” said Dr will be affected by mental ill- the proper ways of dealing with promote human development in be conscious about the behav- environmental reasons. Derby. ness at some stage of their lives them and the most suitable time the country, Al Sharq reports. iour of students,” Dr Hanan However, Dr Derby said, “We “It’s related to the parent- and that one in 20 children and for referral. THE PENINSULA Derby, Senior Consultant, Child still have stigma where people ing style which needs to be adolescents experience mental THE PENINSULA

Tareq Abdullatif Taha, CEO, Regency Travel & Tours, receiving the award at the ceremony. Regency ‘World’s Leading Travel Agency’ for eighth consecutive year DOHA: Regency Travel & Tours retained the He said Regency strived hard to enhance service title of ‘World’s Leading Travel Agency’ for standards, offering customers value through a right the eighth consecutive year at the 2014 World mix of technology solutions and high standard of Travel Awards at Cuisinart golf resort & spa in infrastructure and qualified human capital. Anguilla, Caribbean Sea. Regency has 45 branches, with more than 450 staff. Over 300 international hospitality industry lead- A Luxury Lounge is opening soon at the head office ers attended the ceremony. on Suhaim Bin Hamad Street, Al Sadd. Tareq Abdullatif Taha, CEO, Regency Travel Taha said air traffic in the Middle East would grow & Tours, said the achievement reflects the trust by 7.1 percent by 2015 compared to the global growth customers have placed in Regency’s high standard of 5.3. During 2016-2025, it is expected to grow at 5.2 of service and the 30 percent growth over last year. percent in the Middle East and 4.4 percent globally. He attributed the growth to the region’s location — central to Russia, Eastern Europe and India markets and the investment environment which is boosting tourism, especially in UAE and Qatar, which account for 50 percent of total visitors. He said Qatar Airways has capitalised on the stra- tegic location of the region and gained market share of travel from Asia to Africa and Europe, which has contributed to tourism growth and business invest- ment while Hamad International Airport contributed to Qatar’s position in the global travel market. Katara Hospitality won the title of World’s Leading Hospitality Company and Frasers Hospitality took the title of World’s Leading Service Apartment Brand. The winners were selected after a voting process over one year. THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 HOME / MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05

First database on Falcon contests registration continues disabled, elderly next month DOHA: The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs will launch the first national database on people with disabilities and the elderly next month. Najat Al Abdullah, Director, Department of Elderly and People with Disabilities, said the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs H E Abdullah Saleh Mubarak Al Khulaifi will launch it on January 18. It will be the starting point to accurately assess the number of people in both categories to provide them with the required services, she added. Al Abdullah was addressing a seminar being held to discuss issues related to the elderly and people with dis- abilities. The ministry has set up Registration for competitions in the sixth Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival 2015 continues until Monday evening. About 80 percent of preparations for the festival have been a committee to study recommen- completed, said the organisers yesterday. dations of the four-day meeting which ends on Tuesday. Haj, Omrah ban Iran tests suicide Major currencies weakening on firm lifted Morocco banned epic drone in drill Continued from page 1 “The US, the largest economy DOHA: The Ministry of Awqaf The Philippine Peso did not wit- in the world, is showing signs of and Islamic Affairs has lifted for ‘showing God’ TEHRAN: Iran’s army said ness any fluctuation as it started recovery. This has prompted glo- the ban on Al Furqan for Haj yesterday it had deployed a the year with 12.28 against one bal investors to pull their money and Omrah operations imposed RABAT: Morocco banned bib- theatre if I did not take the film suicide drone for the first time riyal and is now trading at 12.25. out of different countries and earlier this year, the company lical epic Exodus: Gods and Kings off the schedule,” Belkady said. in ongoing military drills near “All the major currencies invest in US currency, bonds and said yesterday. on the flight of the Jews from Distributor Benkirane, who the strategic Strait of Hormuz around the globe are showing equities. The firm has been permitted ancient Egypt because it “rep- runs the Colisseum cinema in at the entrance to the Persian weakening trend because US dol- However Pakistani rupee was to continue operations during resents God” which is forbidden Marrakesh, said Exodus has been Gulf. lar is strengthening,” said Zuber. able to buck the trend as Pakistan this Haj and Omrah season. The under Islam, its distributor said pulled from the schedules. Gen. Ahmad Reza Pourdastan, All the major currencies are was reported to have received decision was approved by Saudi yesterday. “The last screening was on Chief Commander of Ground pegged to the US dollar which is funds during the year which authorities, said a statement The distributor said it had Friday at 21.30pm. I respect the Forces, described the unmanned strengthening since the beginning boosted its currency. issued by the company. The min- received notice that Ridley Scott’s decision of the MCC board,” she aircraft as a “mobile bomb,” of this year. THE PENINSULA istry imposes temporary ban on blockbuster contained a scene said, but added she did not under- according to state media, which tour operators organising Haj and that represents God in the form stand why the decision was taken. said the aerial device is designed Umrah trips following complaints of a “child who gives a revelation “The child through whom to strike air, ground and naval from pilgrims about their serv- to the prophet Moses”. Moses receives the revelation targets. ices. The ban is imposed after an Initially, cinema owners were in the film at no time says he He did not provide the name assessment of their performance informed that the film had been is God,” she said, noting such a of the drone. The conservative ITUC ‘fees are too high’ and could be lifted once the erring banned, media reports had said. “I ban is “very rare” in the North Kayhan daily referred to it as the firm rectify the errors. deplore this censorship,” distrib- African country. Yasir, while an online news web- Continued from page 1 for 18 years as saying. INTUC is utor Mounia Layadi Benkirane Neither the head of the MCC site called it the Raad. Officials “We pay huge amounts of the Indian affiliate of ITUC. Cafeteria shut over said in a statement. nor the communications ministry could not be reached for comment. money as annual fees to ITUC. “I believe that instead of tak- Egypt has also banned could be contacted for comment. The drone, first unveiled last Sometimes, we even pay half- ing a hardline stand, promoting hamour fraud the movie, citing “historical Benkirane said the film could year, can fly for up to 10 hours and yearly. We hope we get much more and publishing story after story inaccuracies”. have resulted in 35,000 ticket carry out 360-degree imaging, in turn, in terms of training pro- against the Gulf, they should sit DOHA: The Ministry of Moroccan media on Thursday sales in Morocco and earned 1.8m officials said at the time. Western grammes and skill development,” together and find a resolution. In Economy and Commerce has reported that cinema managers dirhams (about 160,000 euros). military analysts say the Yasir is a the report quoted Rajendra, who absence of same, it looks like a closed down a cafeteria at the had been told not to screen the The buzz caused by the contro- modified version of the American has been working as an admin- Western-driven agenda to stall Doha Port for selling white film, despite its release having versy “will profit only the pirates ScanEagle drone. istrative manager with Indian development.” fish (samak al abyad) as fresh been approved by the state-run who continue to peddle the film,” AGENCIES National Trade Union Congress THE PENINSULA hamour. Hamour is one of the Moroccan Cinema Centre (MCC). she said. favourites of citizens. The min- Hassan Belkady, who runs The 3D film starring Christian istry said the closure is for two Cinema Rif in Casablanca, told Bale as Moses rising up against weeks. Inspectors detected the media24 news website that he had the Pharaoh Ramses, earned fraud during recent surprise been threatened with the closure $24.1m in its debut weekend in raids on the market, the minis- of his business if he ignored the the US, according to box office try said in a statement yesterday. ban. “They phoned and threat- tracker Exhibitor Relations. THE PENINSULA ened they would shut down the AGENCIES

Ready to fire

A Shia fighter mans a heavy machine gun as he takes position on the outskirts of Balad, north of Baghdad, yesterday. SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Libya asks Italy to help extinguish oil port fire Blaze spreads to more tanks at Es Sider port BENGHAZI: Libya has called firefighters to come forward to Libya has had two parallel gov- on Italy to send firefighters to fight the flames with the help of ernments since August when a prevent a fire spreading out of oil installation guards. group called Libya Dawn seized control at Es Sider, the country’s “They are doing their best to Tripoli, forcing the internationally biggest oil port, officials said extinguish the fire and are work- recognised administration headed yesterday. ing under difficult conditions,” by Abdullah Al Thinni out of the A rocket hit an oil storage tank Hassi said. capital. last week at the port in the east A technician for Waha, the Es Sider and its adjacent Ras of the country during clashes company responsible for running Lanuf oil terminal have been between forces allied to Libya’s Al Sidra, said there are 19 stor- closed since a force allied to a competing governments. age tanks at the terminal with a rival government in Tripoli tried Ali Al Hassi, spokesman for a total capacity of 6.2 million bar- to take them two weeks ago. This security force allied to the inter- rels of oil. has affected exports of an esti- nationally-recognised government, The source, who declined to be mated 300,000 barrels of oil a day. said the fire had spread to a total named, estimated the amount of Issa Al Oraiby, chairman of of five oil tanks. “We are trying to crude lost to the fire so far at more the energy committee in the extinguish it but our capacities are than 1.6 million barrels. Thinni government’s House of limited,” he said. In its statement, UNSMIL Representatives, said lawmak- The United Nations Support called attacks on oil installations ers had asked Italy to help with Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said a “clear violation” of UN Security firefighters. in a statement yesterday that it Council resolutions on Libya. “Italy expressed its willingness “strongly condemns” attacks on “Libyan oil belongs to all the to assist in extinguishing the fire Libya’s oil installations. Libyan people and is the country’s at the Es Sider oil tanks but only Senior Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal (left) shakes hands with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu during a “The mission warns of the envi- economic lifeline,” it said, urging under the condition that fighting meeting of Turkey’s ruling AK Party in the central Anatolian city of Konya yesterday. ronmental and economic conse- all sides to “desist from any action stopped,” he said. quences as a result of this violence that endangers this strategic The fighting between rival and destruction in the oil crescent national asset”. groups in the country has reduced area, and urges the forces on the The North African country is Libya’s crude output to 352,000 ground to cooperate in order to struggling with fighting on several barrels a day, Libya’s National allow the fire crews to extinguish fronts as brigades of former rebels Oil Company said on Thursday. Hamas chief lauds Turkey as the blaze,” it said. who battled side by side to oust Es Sider and Ras Lanuf ports Hassi said the national fire Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 now had been processing an estimated department refused to extinguish compete for political power and a 300,000 bpd until their closure. the fires, prompting volunteer share of oil revenues. AGENCIES ‘source of power’ for Muslims ANKARA: Hamas chief hopes to “liberate Palestine and crescent with a star was a “sym- Khaled Meshaal yesterday Jerusalem,” according to the bol of the innocent in the world.” Car bomb hits diplomatic security building praised Turkey as a “source state-run Anatolia news agency. “God is witness ... we will of power” for all Muslims in His brief address was inter- make this red flag a symbol of TRIPOLI: A car bomb “This is a criminal act aimed the capital, and provided a photo gratitude to Turkey’s leaders rupted repeatedly by cheering the innocent. This red flag will exploded yesterday outside the at undermining security and sta- of the blast,” SITE said. for supporting the Palestinian crowds in the hall waving Turkish fly side by side with the flags of diplomatic security building in bility and at targeting policemen Abu Dhaheer said police were cause. and Palestinian flags and chant- Palestine, free Syria and all other Tripoli but caused no casualties, tasked with guarding diplomatic investigating the car bombing and “A democratic, stable and ing: “Allahu Akbar (God is great- innocents’ flags anywhere in the a Libyan official said, with the missions,” said Abu Dhaheer. were also looking into a fire that developed Turkey is a source of est)” and “Down with Israel!” world,” he told the congress. Islamic State group claiming The jihadist Islamic State (IS) broke out at the shuttered Saudi power for all Muslims,” Meshaal The Hamas chief often shows Turkey’s leaders, in particu- responsibility. organisation said it carried out embassy, damaging three cars. said in an address to the ruling up at the ruling party’s events. lar Erdogan, are known for Colonel Mubarak Abu Dhaheer, the bombing, according to the In November, two car bombs Justice and Development Party He also attended the AKP’s con- their angry outbursts at Israel. who heads the security depart- US-based monitoring group SITE struck near the shuttered (AKP) annual congress in the gress in 2012 when President A staunch supporter of the ment in charge of protecting dip- Intelligence. Egyptian and United Arab conservative central Anatolian Recep Tayyip Erdogan was serv- Palestinian cause, Erdogan has lomatic missions, said the blast “The provincial division of the Emirates embassies in Tripoli. city of Konya. ing as prime minister. often blasted the Jewish state in central Tripoli caused some Islamic State (IS) for Tripoli, Italy is one of the few countries Meshaal said a “strong Turkey Current Prime Minister over its military assaults on the damage to the building but that Libya, claimed a car bombing at to keep an embassy open in the means a strong Jerusalem, Ahmet Davutoglu, in his speech Gaza Strip, which is ruled by no one was hurt. the diplomatic security building in Libyan capital. AFP a strong Palestine,” voicing said Turkey’s red flag featuring a Hamas. AFP Houthis vow to continue Yemen offensive Egypt writer to face trial SANA’A: Yemen’s Ansarullah for ‘insulting Islam’ Shia militia vowed yesterday to press ahead with an offensive it CAIRO: Egypt’s prosecutor has questioning that she had written launched in September to con- referred a female writer to trial them. solidate its grip across Yemen, for allegedly insulting Islam by The 50-year-old columnist despite fierce resistance from criticising the slaughter of ani- denied she had any intention Sunni tribes and Al Qaeda. mals during a major religious to insult Islam, the official said, The Arabian Peninsula coun- festival, a judicial official said adding she had also been charged try has been rocked by instabil- yesterday. with “making fun of the right to ity since the Shia fighters, also “Happy massacre,” Fatima sacrifice”. known as Houthis, seized control Naoot wrote on her Facebook “It is the price paid by those of Sana’a in September. page in October during Eid who carry torches of enlighten- They have since expanded their Al Adha, the Muslim feast of ment at every age,” Naoot wrote presence in central and western sacrifice. on Friday after having been Yemen, but have met fierce resist- Animals are slaughtered dur- informed of her trial which is due ance from powerful Sunni tribes- ing Eid to commemorate the to start on January 28. men backed by fighters from Al willingness of Abraham to fulfil She said that in October she Qaeda. God’s command to sacrifice his had posted messages on Facebook “The Yemeni people is deter- own son, although in the end God to congratulate Muslims for mined to pursue its revolu- provided him with a sheep. Eid Al Adha but “urged them tion... and combat corruption,” “Massacre committed by men to respect the offering and not Ansarullah chief Abdulmalik Al over the past 10 centuries and humiliate it by flooding the Houthi said in a statement pub- followed by men each year with a ground with animal blood”. lished by Yemeni media. smile,” Naoot wrote at the time. Egypt’s constitution outlaws He said he will also push ahead “Annual massacre observed insults against the three mono- with the offensive to “guaran- because of a nightmare of one theist religions recognised by the tee security” and “put an end to (prophet) about his son... ,” she state — Islam, Christianity and political tyranny”—repeating slo- wrote in Arabic. Judaism. gans used by the Houthis to jus- “Although the nightmare has Earlier this year a female tify launching their campaign in passed for the prophet and his Coptic teacher was jailed for six Yemeni protesters shout slogans during a rally in Sana’a yesterday against the deployment of armed militias from September. son, each year helpless animals months after parents of her stu- On the streets of central Sana’a, the Shia Houthi movement across the country. pay with their lives the price of dents accused her of evangelising meanwhile, hundreds of youths this sacred nightmare.” and insulting Islam. staged a rally demanding that the had pledged to lay down their again did not provide any details weekend on Friday and Saturday. Naoot, who is Muslim, deleted In June, in a separate case a Houthi militiamen withdraw from arms and pull out of the city. on what these might be. The militia official said the new her posts from Facebook after Coptic Christian man was sen- the capital, a correspondent said. They have yet to respect the In another development, regulation has entered into force controversy erupted about them. tenced to six years in jail for The demonstrators marched terms of the agreement. Ansarullah has told residents in in the Houthi stronghold of Saada But a judicial official said yes- insulting Islam. to the mayor’s office carrying In his statement, the Houthi areas it controls that yesterday in the remote north, as well as terday that she admitted during AFP banners that read: “No to armed leader also called on supporters will no longer be considered part in the neighbouring province of groups” and “Yes to security and to “organise better in order to pre- of the weekend because it is “the Amran. stability”. pare for any eventuality”, without rest day of the Jews”, a militia offi- In the south, meanwhile, two On September 21, the Houthis elaborating. cial said. soldiers were killed yesterday and signed a UN-brokered deal with He also warned of “strict meas- Yemen, like some other four wounded in a bomb explosion Policeman shot dead in Cairo the government under which they ures” that could be adopted, but Arab countries, observes the in Hadramawt province. AFP CAIRO: Gunmen on a motorbike killed a policeman and wounded another in a drive-by shooting in the Egyptian capital yesterday, the interior ministry said. “Armed men on a motorcycle opened fire on the police before fleeing,” ministry spokesman Hani Abdel Latif told AFP. Morocco jails 10 in cases linked to ‘terrorism’ The police officers had been guarding branches of two foreign banks, Britain’s HSBC and Union National Bank of the United RABAT: A Moroccan court terror” were given the longest jailed by the court was a minor approved a draft law to tighten Arab Emirates, when they were attacked near a Cairo square. specialising in cases related sentence of five years each, the sentenced given six months for anti-terrorist legislation, aimed Scores of policemen and soldiers have been killed in bombings to “terrorism” has sentenced official MAP news agency said. “praising terrorist acts”, the especially at stopping people from and shootings since the Egyptian military deposed Islamist presi- 10 people to jail terms, includ- It did not identify those con- agency said. joining jihadist groups. dent Mohamed Morsi in July 2013. ing some accused of recruiting victed, but said that one had Other defendants tried in the More than 2,000 Moroccans, Most of the attacks have been in the Sinai Peninsula, the deadli- fighters for Syria and Iraq, offi- fought in the ranks of the jihadist same case, including for indoctri- including people with dual citizen- est of them claimed by Beit al-Maqdis, a militant group that has cial media said yesterday. Islamic State group and had been nation, were given jail terms of ship, are believed to have signed pledged allegiance to the Islamic State organisation. Three defendants accused of wounded in the leg. between two and four years. on with jihadist groups in Syria AFP plotting to “carry out acts of Among the other defendants In September, the government and Iraq. AFP SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07

Bahrain oppn Islamic State chief re-elected, gets summons

DUBAI: Bahrain’s main oppo- loses ground sition movement Al Wefaq said yesterday that it had re-elected the leader of the banned Shia group, who was summoned by police hours later. Sheikh Ali Salman, 49, was in Kobane handed a new four-year term at Al Wefaq’s general congress on Friday night, in a meeting held to Kurdish militia advances eastward comply with a law on associations that led to the three-month ban. BEIRUT: The Islamic State Kurds did not enter for fear of The interior ministry ordered jihadist group has lost ground mines,” he added. Salman to appear before police in the Syrian border town of A Kurdish activist from investigators today, said Al Kobane, where Kurdish fighters Kobane, Mustefa Ebdi, said that Wefaq, which described the move now control more than 60 per- Kurdish militia defending the as “serious”. cent of territory, a monitoring town had advanced eastwards Police will question key mem- group said yesterday. on the frontline during the past bers of Al Wefaq for what it said The strategically located town week. were “violations” committed on the border with Turkey has IS has withdrawn from the during a pro-democracy rally, become a major symbol of resist- seized Kurdish militia headquar- Bahrain’s state news agency BNA ance against IS, which has seized ters in the north of the city, as reported yesterday. large parts of Syria and Iraq, well as from southern and central People rescue an injured civilian at a site hit by an air strike by forces of Syria’s President Bashar Al Assad in the Al Wefaq said Salman, was committing widespread atrocities. districts, according to activists. Duma neighbourhood of Damascus, yesterday. among those being questioned The jihadists launched a major “The Kurdish advance is due and that his house had been offensive in mid-September to try largely to the air strikes by the heavily surrounded by armed to capture Kobane, and at one coalition,” said Ebdi. government troops as the notice point controlled more than half “The jihadists are now using Shortages kill more than 300 in Syria was delivered to the Al Wefaq of the town, known in Arabic as tunnels after failing in their tac- chief’s residence on the outskirts Ain Al Arab. tics of car bombs and explosive BEIRUT: Shortages of food and included 34 women — had died in have been killed in Syria’s nearly of the capital Manama. But supported by US-led air belts,” he said. medicine caused the deaths of the flashpoint Eastern Ghouta four-year war, and half the pop- It came a day after thousands strikes and reinforced by Kurds Dozens of IS fighters have car- more than 300 civilians, includ- region, a rebel stronghold under ulation have been forced to flee of Shias protested along a road from Iraq, “Kurdish forces now ried out suicide bomb attacks ing about 100 children, in areas army siege for a year and a half. their homes. linking two of their villages control more than 60 percent in Kobane in the face of fierce besieged by the Syrian regime It denounced the sieges as a This month the UN appealed near Manama to call for the of the city”, said Rami Abdel Kurdish resistance. in 2014, a monitoring group said “war crime” and said they vio- for $8.4 billion to provide emer- dismissal of the parliament and Rahman, director of the Britain- More than 1,000 people are yesterday. lated a Security Council resolu- gency aid and longer-term help to government. based Syrian Observatory for reported to have been killed in The Britain-based Syrian tion which calls for the delivery nearly 18 million people in Syria “Bahrain Authority is illegiti- Human Rights. the battle for the town, most of Observatory for Human Rights of aid to regions in need. and across the region hit by the mate. The people will continue “IS has even left areas that the them jihadists. AFP said many of the 313 victims — who An estimated 200,000 people conflict. AFP struggle for freedom,” said some of the English-language banners they held aloft during a march. Following the demonstration, which ended without incident, the opposition issued a statement Kurdish rivals clash saying “the government and the current parliament have no pop- ular mandate”. In July, the justice ministry in Turkey; three dead sued Al Wefaq demanding it rec- tify its “illegal status following DIYARBAKIR: Three people in a three-decade insurgency for the annulment of four general were killed yesterday in clashes Kurdish self-rule. assemblies for lack of a quorum between Kurdish rebels and a The clashes in Cizre were con- and the non-commitment to the rival Kurdish Islamist group tinuing sporadically, the source public and transparency require- in southeast Turkey near the said. ments for holding them”. Syrian border, a local governor’s Local media reported that one The Manama administrative office said. of the dead was the father of a court slapped Al Wefaq with the The initial death toll given leader of the Huda-Par. ban on October 28 and gave it was two but the local governor’s Fierce street fights between three months to hold an assembly office in the southeastern city of the Huda-Par group and the to elect its leaders. Sanliurfa later said one of the PKK took place in Turkey’s pro- The ruling came after Al three injured died in hospital. Kurdish southeast in October Wefaq announced it was boycott- Tensions have escalated in the when the Islamic State was fight- ing a parliamentary election in town of Cizre since Friday night ing Kurdish forces in the mainly November, the first in the Gulf when the Sunni Muslim Huda- Kurdish town of Kobane across state since Sunni authorities Par group attacked tents belong- the Syrian border. crushed Shia-led pro-democracy ing to rebels of the outlawed Ankara has not intervened mil- protests in 2011. Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), itarily against IS jihadists, to the Al Wefaq, which withdrew its a security source told AFP. fury of Turkey’s Kurds, who took lawmakers from parliament in Huda-Par is known to be the to the streets in a show of protest protest, denounced the vote as political extension of Turkish in October, leaving scores of peo- a “farce”. Hezbollah and has long been ple killed in the worst outbreak of It has called for an elected hostile to the PKK—which has such violence in years. prime minister who is independ- fought Turkish security forces AFP ent from the ruling royal family. A Palestinian protester argues with Israeli border policemen during a protest against Israeli settlements in Beit Pro-government Sunni candi- Fajjar town, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, yesterday. dates, including Islamists, won 27 of the 40 parliamentary seats in the November 22 election, with the rest taken by Shias including Palestinians held for firebomb attack Four die of bird flu in Libya three women. BENGHAZI: Four people have died of bird flu in Libya in recent The parliament can examine JERUSALEM: Two north of the occupied territory, a Her father suffered light inju- days, the health minister of the country’s internationally recog- bills proposed by King Hamad Palestinians suspected of Shin Bet statement said. ries in the attack. nised government said yesterday. and has monitoring powers, while throwing a firebomb that It said the two Palestinians Firebomb attacks by Rida Al Awkali said a fifth person suspected of having contracted the Majlis Ash-Shura, a consult- wounded an 11-year-old Israeli hid in ambush above the road Palestinians in the West Bank the virus is currently in hospital in the far eastern city of Tobruk. ative council whose 40 members girl and her father have been separating the Maale Shomron against Israeli civilians and mili- Three of the victims died in the capital Tripoli, while the fourth are appointed, can block legis- arrested in the West Bank, the settlement from Azzoun before tary targets are not rare. died in Tobruk, he added, without saying which strain of the disease lation coming out of the lower Shin Bet security service said throwing the petrol bomb at a car According to the military, in they caught. house. yesterday. carrying the Israelis. the first nine days of December AFP AGENCIES The two, including a 16-year- The vehicle caught fire and the Palestinians carried out 24 old, were detained overnight girl was gravely injured. She was Molotov cocktail attacks, five of Thursday-Friday, hours after the still being treated in hospital late them targeting civilian Israeli incident at Azzoun village in the yesterday, Israeli media reported. cars. AFP Libyan olive oil

Senior Shebab official surrenders MOGADISHU: A top leader who the Americans put a lot of of commanders who had already of Somalia’s Al Qaeda-affiliated money on their head,” he added. fallen out with Godane prior to his Shebab rebels, intelligence chief Another Somali military official, death — some of whom were killed Zakariya Ismail Ahmed Hersi, Mohamed Osmail, said the mili- in a purge. has surrendered to government tant was hiding in a house in the There was no immediate com- and African Union forces and border town in the El-Wak area, ment from the Shebab. is now in custody, officials said and made contact with govern- The surrender brings some yesterday. ment officials in order to hand welcome good news for Somalia’s The militant is the subject of himself in. fragile, internationally-backed a $3m bounty as part of the US Another intelligence source government as well as the African State Department “Rewards for said the surrender was believed Union’s AMISOM force, who have Justice” programme. Officials said to have been motivated by a series been facing an almost constant he surrendered in the Gedo region, of recent bloody splits and purges wave of attacks from the Shebab where Somalia borders Kenya and within the group, with Godane despite recent territorial gains in Ethiopia. having ruthlessly eliminated many the south and centre of the Horn “Zakariya Ahmed was a very of his rivals and his successor, of Africa nation. senior person who worked with Ahmad Umar Abu Ubaidah, con- The Somali government has Godane,” said regional military tinuing to maintain strict internal also been locked in bitter infight- official Jama Muse, referring to security. ing, with the president this month former Shebab leader Ahmed Abdi Although presented by the offi- falling out with his prime minister. Godane, killed by a US air strike cials as a senior Shebab operative, According to a Western intelli- in September. it was unclear if Zakariya Ahmed gence source, the surrender could A Libyan labourer shows a can of olive oil at an olive oil factory in Tripoli yesterday. Libya, the 12th largest “He was in charge of intelli- had still been active within the deliver an “intelligence bonanza” olive oil producer in the world, plans to boost its production to compete with its North African neighbours gence and finances. He was one of Shebab in recent months or weeks, that could prove damaging to the and to expand its exports to Europe. the senior Al-Shebab commanders or if he was among a large group Al Qaeda-linked group. AFP SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Editorial Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate North Korean ire A mental tyranny is keeping HEN they get angry, North Korean officials often forget that they represent a country and can get as vitriolic as a hooligan. Nothing else Wcan explain the unparliamentary words which black writers from greatness Pyongyang has used against US President Barack Obama. It compared Obama to a “monkey in a tropical forest” as it BY BEN OKRI lead to distortion and limitation. history is not visible in the work. blamed the administration for disrupting its Internet access It is a curious fact that the greatest You could not guess at the difficult amid a hacking dispute related to the movie The Interview. IVING as we do in troubling short stories do not have, on the whole, lives of the ordinary people from the North Korean officials have been fiercely critical of the film, a times, we look to writers to the greatest or the heaviest of subjects. works of Shakespeare. Nowhere in his comedy, because it involves a plot to assassinate its leader Kim reflect the temper of the age. By this I mean that the subject is not plays would you learn that in his time Jong Un. The acrimony that followed saw Sony Pictures being LThe essential thing is freedom. what is most important about them. they emptied their lavatory buckets A people cannot be great or fulfilled Rather, it is the way they are written, outside their windows and that the subjected to a cyberattack which was blamed on North Korean without it. A literature cannot be great the oblique way in which they illumi- streets of Stratford-upon-Avon reeked cyber activists. Pyongyang has denied any role in the attack, without it either. The basic prerequi- nate something significant. Their overt with rubbish. Yet the works endure. but in an embarrassing development, Sony initially canceled site of literature is freedom. And the subject might seem slight but leads, They continue to illuminate the human the release of the movie earlier this month fearing terrorist first freedom is mental freedom. For it through the indirect mirror of art, to spirit and awaken us to the strangeness attacks from hackers and large cinema halls refused to screen is possible to be free in the world and profound and unforgettable places. The and magnificence of the human estate. unfree in your head. The most strik- overwhelming subject makes for too There is an interesting lesson here. the movie. ing thing about great literature is the much directness. This leaves no place Cervantes knew slavery, the expulsion After the cyber attack on Sony, Obama had threatened strength of freedom that flows through for the imagination, for the interpreta- of the Moors; he lost his arm in the retaliation. Last week, North Korea’s Internet service suffered its pages. tive matrix of the mind. Great litera- battle of Lepanto, was not ignorant of huge disruptions and it was not clear if the attack was carried Yet an anomaly of perception is often ture is almost always indirect. Spain’s brutal history; and yet he could out by the US government or by independent hackers. But brought to black and African writ- James Joyce’s The Dead is ostensi- not have left us a more lasting legacy Pyongyang is blaming Washington for the disruption. ers. They tend to be considered only bly about a party that takes place in a than Don Quixote, a novel about a man important for their subjects. We read Dublin household one winter’s night. who chooses to live the adventures he This is not the first time Pyongyang has hurled abuse at Flaubertfor beauty, Joyce for innova- People talk, music is played and a has only read. its enemies and used racist language. In May, its official news tion, Virginia Woolf for her poetry, Jane woman remembers a young man who Homer tells of the fall of Troy agency called Obama a “crossbreed” and “a wicked black Austen for her psychology. But black died of love for her many years ago. The through one man’s sulk. Sophocles tells monkey,” while referring to South and African writers are read for their subject is not the Irish famine, Irish of a king’s culpability, not the horrors Pyongyang Korean President Park Geun-hye novels about slavery, colonialism, pov- nationalism or any such supposedly of Greek history. Tolstoy had a great as “an old prostitute.” In August, erty, civil wars, important subject. It is about memory, subject in War and Peace, but it is his imprisonment, music, or snow falling over Ireland. The insight and the writing that give the is wasting it called Secretary of State John female circumci- importance of the story is the way it subject nobility. Pushkin was soaked in its limited Kerry a wolf with a “hideous sion – in short, is written, the indirect revelation of Russia’s grim and extraordinary history. lantern jaw.” This time Pyongyang for subjects that the human heart, and other things too He knew the violence of the Boyars, the resources on was unusually furious. “The United We should not be reflect the trou- heartbreaking, elusive and beautiful to long shadow of Ivan the Terrible, the States, with its large physical bles of Africa and encapsulate in words. If he had set out crushing lives of the peasants. He knew black people as to write about the Irish famine he could exile. Yet his Eugene Onegin, a foun- vilifying its size and oblivious to the shame of expected to write perceived by the not have given us anything as enduring tain of Russian literature, is about a enemies and playing hide and seek as children about slavery, rest of the world. as The Dead. bored aristocrat; and his short storyThe with runny noses would, has begun poverty or racial They are defined In our times we are blinded by sub- Queen of Spades, one of the best short instead must disrupting the Internet operations by their subjects. ject because we have lost our sense of stories ever written, is about a gambler. spend them on of the main media outlets of our injustice. The The black and the true significance of art. If a novel Great literature is rarely about one republic,” it said. African writer is about the slave trade we automati- thing. It transcends subject. The sub- greatest literature is expected to cally think it is significant, certainly ject was always the least important its people. North Korea, instead of write about cer- more significant than one about a chap element in works that have endured. spending its limited resources on comes not from tain things, and who drinks too much palm wine. Black Sometimes an important work has a improving the living conditions if they don’t they and African history, with its trage- significant subject, but it is usually its of its people, is known for using plenty of its energy to vilify the heaviest are seen as irrel- dies, injustices and wars, has led, with art, rather than its subject, that makes its enemies. The US and South Korea are huge economies, subjects but evant. This gives some justification, to the writers being it constantly relevant to us. If the sub- whose people are living a life of modernity and prosperity. their literature treated as spokespeople for such ills. ject were the most important thing we from freedom of weight, but dooms This has made the literature more com- would not need art, we would not need Both countries are fully capable of defending themselves in the it with monotony. mitted than others. It might also make literature. History would be sufficient. event of any kind of attack from any quarter. North Korea has thought. Who wants to the literature less varied, less enjoyable We go to literature for that which to realise that it will never win this war because the odds are constantly read a and, fatally, less enduring. speaks to us in time and outside time. stacked heavily against it. A country with a weak economy and literature of suf- It is a mystery that Italy, with its It is time that black and African impoverished people is not a candidate to settle scores with fering, of heavi- Borgias, black deaths, inquisitions and writers woke up from their mesmerism ness? Those living through it certainly violence, left as its lasting legacy the with subject. By it they gain a brief suc- superpowers. don’t; the success of much lighter fare Mona Lisa, The School of Athens, the- cess, a small flutter of fame. Then with It’s likely that North Korea will look at ways of retaliation among the reading public in Africa Sistine Chapel, Giorgione’s Tempesta, time the work sinks; but other works against US, perhaps through more cyberattacks. This will only proves this point. Maybe it is those in the Divina Commedia, the Decameron– whose subject was perhaps less sensa- create a vicious cycle in which there will be only losers. the west, whose lives are untouched by works, on the whole, noted for their tional, but whose art is more compel- The United States has requested China’s help in punishing such suffering, who find occasional spice beauty, their constant universal appeal ling, make their way through time and its ally North Korea, but Beijing has appeared reluctant to get and flirtation with such a literature. and influence. They leave us mainly win the appreciation of eternal readers. But this tyranny of subject may well with their beauty. The horror of their THE GUARDIAN involved. The other side Quote of We must ensure that acid does not reach the hands of thugs the day CID is still available to anyone where the attack may come from next. person. The problem is that the nature of punishment for a plethora of crimes who cares to procure it. The truth is that little has been done of the injuries is life-long, painful in the against women. This is the message we got to ensure that acid remains out of the extreme and the deformities socially This can happen only if the culprits Afrom the attack on a woman reach of people, unless they have the stigmatising for the victim. And for the are found, which is often not the case. in the Capital two days ago by two requisite permits for it and reasons for man, possibly the cheapest way of We simply have to clean our cities and We will search for motorcycle-borne thugs. CCTV its use. The second problem in most exacting a terrible revenge. towns of tools like acid that can harm cameras caught the chilling footage: metros and towns is the proliferation Every time such an attack takes women. Instead, after they are harmed, and find everyone The attack and the usual indifference of of unregulated industrial units, many place, there is the usual outcry about they are often left to their devices with the public but for one good Samaritan. of which use acids for their operations. women’s safety. But the focus must no funds, no medical help or societal and not leave Union home minister Rajnath Singh This means that anyone who wants move to prevention, not something support. No society can be considered on Wednesday approved measures to can procure the deadly material. that cannot be done unless strict pen- civilised if it does not act to prevent, anyone behind. to crack down on acid attackers According to the home ministry, 400 alties are handed out against anyone at least minimise, maiming its women The country will and control open sale of acid. The cases of acid attacks are reported selling acid. in such a brutal manner. A campaign government also says that it will make every month. The first thing the authorities could against this practice should be started fight for each one acid attacks a heinous crime. Acid attacks are a particularly do is to undertake a check on the both by politicians and civil society These words are, however, cold ghastly subcontinental method of ‘pun- industrial units functioning in cities and involving men as much as possible. of its faithful sons. Petro Poroshenko comfort to women who never know ishing’ women usually by a vengeful towns. The laws prescribe the strictest Hindustan Times Ukrainian President SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Next year may be no calmer than 2014

head of transnational threats at On one threat, most of the world’s London’s International Institute for Strategic Studies. powers are coalescing. Pushing back He said much would depend on whether Israeli Prime Minister Islamic State in Iraq and Syria is a high Benjamin Netanyahu wins March elections and how hardline a coali- priority for western states, Gulf powers tion results. On one threat, most of the world’s powers are coalescing. and Turkey, Russia and China. Pushing back Islamic State in Iraq and Syria is a high priority BY PETER APPS world peace declining for the sev- for western states, Gulf powers enth consecutive year since 2007, and Turkey, Russia and China. rom financial crisis in reversing a trend of improvement Whether they can bridge dif- Russia to cyber warfare over decades. ferences on the fate of Syria’s with North Korea, 2014 The same group said in President Bashar Al Assad, how- Fhas generated new flash- November deaths from militant ever, remains unclear. points right into its final days, set- attacks leapt 60 percent to an Already some worry the anti- ting 2015 up to be just as turbulent. all-time high, primarily in Iraq, IS operation initially to safeguard Almost all of the major con- Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and minority refugees in northern Iraq frontations, such as the battle Nigeria, this at a time when the is suffering “mission creep” as US with Islamic State militants, the West’s ability to respond militarily elections hove into view. West’s stand-off with Russia over is constrained as Washington and More than 1,000 members of the Ukraine and the fight against its European allies cut defence 82nd Airborne Division will deploy Ebola, will rumble on. budgets. to Iraq in the New Year to help Others could erupt at short While Western policymakers A vehicle belonging to Shia fighters fires a multiple rocket launcher during clashes with the Islamic State on the train Iraqi forces. notice. hope Russia’s economic crisis will outskirts of Balad, north of Baghdad, yesterday. The first months of 2015 will “Normally after a year like this curb Vladimir Putin’s ambitions, also be key in tackling a very dif- you might expect things to calm others worry it could make him to be rich in oil and gas. Brunei, cyberattack on Sony Pictures after uniforms and vehicles the West ferent foe: Ebola. down,” said John Bassett, former more unpredictable. Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam its film on the fictional assassina- says Russia deployed in Ukraine. A major US military deploy- senior official with British signals “It’s not necessarily going to and Taiwan also have claims. tion of leader Kim Jong Un. North Covert tactics may no longer be ment to build treatment centres intelligence agency GCHQ now make Russia any better behaved,” In the East China Sea, a string Korea has rejected the charge. enough to satisfy Israel it can slow in Liberia is credited with help- an associate at Oxford University. says Christopher Harmer, a of islets claimed by both China and “The recent hack on Sony has Iran’s nuclear programme. With ing slow new cases there but the “But none of these problems have former US navy pilot now senior Japan have strained ties severely. highlighted the vulnerability of the a mid-year deadline for a deal, virus continues to spread in Sierra been resolved and the drivers of fellow at the Institute for Study Some officials and analysts say West to the growing threat posed some analysts believe Israel’s gov- Leone and Guinea. them are not going away.” of War. Western overstretch means a con- by cyberattack,” said Alastair ernment might launch a military “It really is an unusually The causes are varied - a global Nato officials say the alliance frontation in one part of the world Newton, senior political analyst strike to knock it back. broad range of challenges,” said shift of economic power from the would treat any aggression, even can encourage potential adversar- at Nomura. “If Iran agrees a deal, and that Kathleen Hicks, US Principal West, new technologies, regional covert, in Nato member Baltic ies elsewhere to try their luck, a Washington’s adversaries are remains a big “if”, that could Deputy Secretary of Defence rivalries and anger over rising states as an act of war. potential factor in North Korea’s becoming more adept at “ambigu- constitute a trigger for such an for Policy from 2012-13 and now wealth gaps. China is building up its military increased assertiveness. ous warfare”, using deniable tac- event,” said Nigel Inkster, former with the Centre for Strategic and In June, a report by the Institute might. It lays claim to almost all Washington has accused tics or proxy forces such as the deputy chief of Britain’s Secret International Studies. for Economics and Peace showed the South China Sea, believed Pyongyang of launching a “little green men” in unmarked Intelligence Service and now REUTERS For police, order comes before law How to bring North Korea BY ALLEN STEINBERG to its cyber-knees olice misconduct has ignited a political firestorm in New York Pand many other cities across the BY MATTHEW GAULT “The Chongryon are vital to North Korea’s nation, not seen in quite some time. military budget,” a recent report from HP Relations between the public and the resident Barack Obama, during his Security analysts explained, “raising funds police are fraught with tension, mis- year-end news conference, promised a via weapons trafficking, drug trafficking and trust and violence. Many are outraged. Pproportional response to North Korea’s other black market activities.” . Politicians and the media are posturing cyber-attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment. Chongryon is just one of many groups that and promising reform. The police are There are many ways Washington could do Pyongyang’s dirty work while operating angry, feeling besieged. strike Pyongyang in cyber space. One effective outside North Korea. Washington could work It is all pretty ugly — and thanks to tactic would be to go after the black markets with its partners in other countries to pursue modern media it appears that things where hackers trade dangerous software. The such North Korea’s satellite hackers and shut are worse than ever before. We can Sony hack, as most people now know, was rel- them down. now watch video of people being killed. atively unsophisticated. The tools used were Richard Haass, president of the Council Protests can be organized, recorded and crude and readily available on the Internet. on Foreign relations, suggested attack- broadcast instantly. Guns make deadly Which means these tools will be hard to ing Pyongyang’s Internet infrastructure. A confrontations easier to provoke. eliminate. response-in-kind, for Haass, is an attack on There are many reasons specific Hard but not impossible. Washington could North Korea’s political and military networks. to this time that have brought us to learn something from the music industry. Yet disrupting North Korea’s internal net- this unhappy point in the relationship In 2001, when Napster, the file-sharing serv- works is not a proportional response. The Police officers listen to the funeral service for slain New York Police Department officer between the police and society. But the ice, was at the height of popularity, the music Guardians of Peace attacked Sony — not the problem of police violence is hardly new. Rafael Ramos outside the Christ Tabernacle Church yesterday. industry flooded the site with broken songs Pentagon. Violence has always been inherent to and obnoxious repetitive sounds dressed up to It would also be incredibly difficult if not policing, and police brutality has long science of brutality among the police, themselves with improving community look like popular music. It worked. Millions of impossible. Most of North Korea’s military been a source of tension between the using the instrument that gave them relations and assisting people in need, people downloaded files that hurt their ears. communications are on “wired circuits that police and the public. It has regularly their advantage over civilians in the or even fighting dangerous crime, they Washington could do something similar to the are not connected to international net- provoked political controversy, as it did days before firearms. sought to break the machine in order online black markets used by hackers. works,” Martyn Williams, senior correspond- in New York City at the turn of the The most famous policeman of 19th- to control the police and harness their This could mean flooding black markets ent at IDG News Service who writes about 20th century. Then, and after, however, century New York, Alexander “Clubber” violence in pursuit of reform ends. with faulty software, malware and broken Pyongyang for the blog North Korea Tech, graft and corruption, not violence, have Williams, was known for saying that Not everyone agreed that the end tools. The files would look like regular mali- told Reuters. proved easier problems to address than there was more justice at the end of his of destroying corrupt politicians and cious software — but either wouldn’t work Though North Korea isn’t as wired as the the much thornier issue of brutality. club than in all the courts of the land. fighting vice justified the continuation or would be engineered to backfire on the United States, some of its people do have Modern militarily organised police Use of the club was so instrumental to of aggressive and violent law enforce- hackers. access to the Internet. That connection is slow, forces first appeared in American cities the job of policing New York that the ment. The most penetrating criticism US cyber teams could also go after the unstable and heavily censored by the state. in the 1840s, during the first great wave muckraking journalist Lincoln Steffens came from New York State Supreme hackers aligned with Pyongyang and make It’s possible for the United States to breach of urbanization and immigration in the referred to it as an “art.” Court Justice William J. Gaynor, who their lives miserable. It’s an effective tactic. that connection and shut it down. All the con- United States. Their mission was not Williams boasted to critics that club- was elected New York City mayor in Bullies are notoriously susceptible to bullying. nections run through China, however, and to detect or investigate crime, but to bings were all that were needed for him 1909 largely on the strength of his criti- Since the FBI has declared that the attack Washington would need to work with Beijing pacify what was then called “the dan- to keep the peace on his beat. Another cism of police violence and abuse. He came from North Korea, there’s a good chance to make it happen. And Washington already gerous class” — meaning young immi- patrolman remembered how he “dis- warned his fellow critics of the police the bureau’s experts know which computers has its own problems with Chinese hackers grants and unskilled workers. Violence pensed the law with the night stick, sel- not to “go into a reform which hopes to and even which hackers it came from. Hackers linked to the People Liberation Army. was naturally intrinsic to this mandate. dom bothering to make arrests” when reform the world by means of a police generally have robust online lives. They use Taking North Korea offline would be Philadelphia’s first police force, for he patrolled the Bowery district. club. Don’t go into a reform that takes social networks, maintain a presence in online counterproductive in any case. The US intel- example, was created in 1845 as a direct In this way, police brutality toward for granted that the police are our mas- forums and chatrooms and transfer money ligence community monitors all Internet response to vicious ethnic and religious working-class boys and young men ters instead of our servants.” using Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. traffic moving through North Korea. Shut riots the year before. Many of the new became routine, with or without an But Gaynor’s was a relatively lone Washington could make their lives uncom- down the country’s Internet and you shut off policemen were members of one of arrest. voice in reform and political circles. fortably complicated. Washington’s ability to listen in. the warring factions — ensuring that The city was teeming with new The moment was missed. The police It could break into the hackers’ email Shutting down the country’s Internet might some of the same violence would now immigrants — almost none of them were wrested from machine control accounts and publish them — just as the be the proportional response Obama men- be undertaken in the name of order. represented on the police force — and and became an instrument of social hackers did to Sony Pictures executives. It tioned. It might also, however, be a sign that The expectation that the police the city was rife with ethnic conflict policy, which had many salutary effects, could ban their Internet protocol addresses China is punishing the country for its recent should be violent was not so explicit and misunderstanding. Police violence including improved police-community or infect their computers with destructive cyber activities. Beijing isn’t above reining in elsewhere. But it was quickly under- often had ethnic overtones, and their relations. viruses and malware that could store every Pyongyang when it needs to. stood. In neighbourhoods where the routine brutality against ordinary peo- The vexing issue of police violence, keystroke the hackers type. Every password, But another sort of US retaliation would “danger” was thought to be greatest, ple helped fuel the crucial politics of however, was largely avoided. Violence email, website visited would be recorded and be to get The Interview into North Korea. So the goal of the police was to maintain police reform in fin-de-siecle New York. remains at the core of police work, stored in a US database. It might only sideline much of the fuss surrounding this hack con- physical control of the streets. The police had by 1900 largely as it has been from its inception in the hackers, by making them spend time and cerns the film and Pyongyang’s reaction to Patrolmen were armed with stout become an arm of the Tammany Hall American cities. It is less routine than energy fixing the problem or even force them it. Making it free online or uploading it into clubs in order to establish police political machine. People wanting in the 19th century, but far more lethal to buy entirely new hardware — a hacker’s North Korea’s networks would take away one authority over those who congregated appointment to, or promotion within, and militarised. The police have more worst case scenario. of the biggest gains the country got from the in the streets. Typically, a policeman the New York Police Department had amicable and structured relationships US cyber teams could also pose online as attack — getting the movie withdrawn from ordered people lounging on the street to contribute substantial sums to the with urban populations than they did commentators and ruin the hackers’ reputa- public view. to “move on” — an instruction resisted machine or one of its clubs. That only then, and cities are markedly more tions among any communities they belong to. One human-rights group plans to achieve at the peril of arrest. The mostly young encouraged policemen to collect graft peaceable than they were. But the For example, they could upload faulty soft- just this. This organization, Fighters for a Free men on the receiving end of such from illegal businesses in their districts, primary responsibility of the police to ware to the black markets as the Guardians North Korea, routinely airdrops over North orders were seldom cowed at that often operated by machine-connected patrol the streets and maintain order, of Peace. Korea hydrogen balloons carrying DVDs. They prospect, however. Most patrolmen businessmen. however defined, through the threat Of course, some security experts insist that aim to airdrop The Interview as soon as it’s understood that the physical challenge It was in this context that the idea and sometimes use of serious violence, the attack did not originate in North Korea, available. implicit in a gang member’s refusal to that police should “serve and protect” remains intact. but was routed through it. Still, disrupting the black markets and move had to be met if the police were emerged. Before that there was never It’s both a thin blue line and a very One group of expat North Korean hackers, hounding the hackers responsible remain ever to truly have control of a beat. So any sense that the police should have a slippery slope. If another moment for known as Chongryon, is based in Japan. Their the two best options. It’s a direct punishment out came the club. role in social policy, in modern parlance, serious reform is again upon us, let’s actions are crucial to Pyongyang, which uses levied against the individuals responsible — In New York City by the end of to be “social workers with guns.” But hope we don’t miss it again. the group’s grifts and hacks to spread propa- and has the added effect of slowing down or the 19th century, this led to a virtual before police reformers ever concerned REUTERS ganda and bring money to the state. stopping more attacks. REUTERS SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL Belarus PM sacked as economy bites Chief of staff appointed premier

MINSK: Belarussian strong- central bank to announce a “tem- man Alexander Lukashenko porary” tax of 30 percent on all yesterday sacked his prime purchases of foreign currency and minister and other top officials raise interest rates to 50 percent. as the ex-Soviet state reels from Lukashenko has admitted that the effects of Russia’s economic his country’s economy has been crisis next door. hit hard as around 40 percent of Lukashenko dismissed Mikhail its exports are bound for Russia. Myasnikovich, in office since Earlier this month, the December 2010, and appointed his Belarussian strongman tasked chief of staff Andrei Kobyakov as the government with conducting his new head of government, his transactions with Russia settled administration said. in dollars or euros. Lukashenko also replaced the “Fluctuations on the Russian head of the central bank as well as currency market are unfathom- several other top officials includ- able,” he said at the time. ing the Ministers of Economy and Under the pressure of falling Industry. oil prices and Western sanctions Ahead of the cabinet shakeup, over Ukraine, Russia is sliding Lukashenko on Friday issued a into a full-blown economic crisis Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko (left) shakes hands with Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) returning home after being exchanged for pro-Russian stern warning to the government, complete with the collapse of the separatist prisoners, in Kiev yesterday. saying several officials might have rouble and growing inflation. spent too long at their posts. Political analyst Alexei Korol “That can be fixed,” he said. said the government reshuffle was Poroshenko welcomes 145 freed prisoners The tightly-controlled coun- a band-aid solution that would try’s economic ills present a seri- not help address the root causes ous challenge to Lukashenko’s of its economic troubles. KIEV: Ukrainian President “My heart as that of a president Ukraine’s allies in Europe hope The Minsk negotiations were 20-year rule. “The country needs deep eco- Petro Poroshenko yesterday and citizen is brimming with joy that Friday’s exchange will mark called to reinforce a largely The country faces a presi- nomic reforms. Instead he is re- welcomed home as heroes 145 that you — as I had promised — a watershed in a war that seems ignored peace plan struck in dential vote next year. shuffling an old pack of cards,” soldiers freed by pro-Russian will be able to meet the New Year at a stalemate but still rages on September that aimed to both Lukashenko has indicated he he told AFP, referring to the rebels during the largest pris- with your families and comrades because of the immense mistrust stem the bloodshed and ease the would seek re-election in case of president. “He won’t embark on oner swap of the eight-month in arms,” Poroshenko said as the between the two sides. crisis in East-West relations the popular support. reforms because at the end of the separatist war. released men huddled around him Kiev on Friday freed 222 conflict has sparked. Although the Belarussian rou- day they would lead to the col- The Western-backed leader on the tarmac. insurgent fighters captured The eastern revolt began only ble is not officially pegged to the lapse of his authoritarian regime.” donned a black bomber jacket Ukraine’s badly underfunded near the main rebel stronghold weeks after Russia’s March sei- Russian currency, the country is “It’s important for Lukashenko before walking up with a grin on army has been castigated by the of Donetsk and its surrounding zure of Crimea and appeared to highly dependent on its former to pass the buck onto his team,” his face to the back cargo bay of public for failing to stamp out regions. have been staged in reprisal for master Moscow and is hugely sen- he added. The former head of a transport plane that landed at a revolt that has claimed 4,700 Another four Ukrainian sol- the February ouster in Kiev of a sitive to its economic woes. the Belarussian central bank, a military airport outside Kiev in lives and threatens to redraw the diers were handed over yester- Moscow-backed president. The collapse of the Russian Stanislav Bogdankevich, also the dawn hours. former Soviet republic’s borders. day by insurgents fighting in the Russia had initially denied rouble this month sparked panic, said that the move signalled He shook hands and tightly Poroshenko appeared to be neighbouring breakaway province parachuting in its troops to cap- with Belarussians rushing to con- Lukashenko’s apparent unwilling- embraced the men — some young addressing that rebuke by prais- of Lugansk. ture the Black Sea peninsula. vert their savings into dollars. ness to conduct sweeping reforms. and others sporting greying ing the men for “not breaking or “We will search for and find But President Vladimir Putin Since the start of the year the He dismissed Kobyakov as an beards — as they trundled down changing and firmly keeping your everyone and not leave anyone later awarded medals to sol- Belarussian rouble has lost about “obedient” official who will be the steps wearing regular civilian military morale, demonstrating behind,” Poroshenko promised. diers involved in the Crimean half of its value. The run on the unable to challenge the president. clothes and knitted skull caps in the best qualities of a Ukrainian “The country will fight for each campaign. Belarussian rouble forced the AFP the searing cold. warrior”. one of its faithful sons.” AFP

Would-be assassin offers Tears, anger at slain New York cop’s funeral NEW YORK: Tens of thou- it before and you will do it again.” of police officers in at least one sands of police and other Police department chief spokes- part of the crowd outside all flowers at Late mourners filled a New York City man Stephen Davis said Ramos’s turned their backs to a large pro- church and nearby streets for funeral might prove the larg- jection screen. Pope’s tomb the funeral yesterday of one of est in the history of the force. “He had a dream that he would two police officers shot dead by Streets outside the church were one day be a police officer,” de VATICAN CITY: Mehmet a man who said he was aveng- filled for blocks with neat, quiet Blasio said of Ramos, who joined Ali Agca, the Turkish former ing the killing of unarmed black crowds of officers in blue uniform, the police department relatively extremist who attempted to men by police. including force delegations from late in his working life after a assassinate Pope John Paul II, Singled out for their uniforms, Boston, Atlanta, St Louis and career as a school safety officer. yesterday laid flowers on the the deaths of Rafael Ramos and New Orleans. “He couldn’t wait to put on that late pontiff’s tomb. his patrol partner Wenjian Liu The service at Christ uniform. He believed in protect- The latest highly publicised have become a nationwide rallying Tabernacle Church in Ramos’s ing others and those who are act of contrition by Agca came 31 point for police and supporters, Queens neighbourhood also called to protect others are a spe- years to the day after John Paul beleaguered by months of street brought together Mayor Bill de cial breed.” New York Governor visited him in prison in Rome to protests accusing police of racist Blasio and the police officers and Andrew Cuomo spoke about forgive him for the 1981 shooting practices. “Your husband, and his union leaders for the first time how Liu and Ramos represented that nearly killed the leader of the partner, they were a part of New in public since an extraordinary the diversity of the city’s police world’s Catholics. York’s finest, and that’s not an idle confrontation a week ago at the An officer weeps at the funeral of slain NYPD officer Rafael Ramos at Christ department, which has officers of Agca, then 23, shot the phrase,” US Vice President Joe hospital where Ramos and Liu Tabernacle Church yesterday. more than 50 nationalities speak- pope twice from close range in Biden said, addressing Ramos’s were pronounced dead. ing 64 languages, he said. St Peter’s Square, one bullet pass- widow, Maritza, over his coffin, Hours after Ramos, 40, and backs to the mayor as he arrived enraged by his expressions of The officers’ killer, Ismaaiyl ing through his abdomen and bathed in blue light. Liu, 32, were slain while sitting at the hospital. support for the protests against Brinsley, 28, fatally shot himself another narrowly missing his “I believe that this great police in their parked patrol car in Marking the most toxic rela- police practices, said the mayor soon after the attack, and had heart. force of this incredibly diverse city Brooklyn on December 20, police tions in decades between a New had “blood on his hands”. earlier the same day shot and He arrived back in Rome unex- can and will show the nation how officers, in an unusually pointed York City mayor and his police Yesterday, as de Blasio began wounded his former girlfriend in pectedly yesterday and presented to bridge any divide. You’ve done display of disgust, turned their department, union leaders, speaking at the funeral, thousands Baltimore. REUTERS himself to police to declare his intention to lay the flowers. “I felt the need to make this gesture,” he told police, accord- Station chaos ing to Italian media who had been tipped off in advance Swedish govt in major about his visit. Granted authorisation to pay his respects under a discreet police escort, Agca was filmed deal with opposition by the ADNKronos news agency murmuring a prayer at the side of STOCKHOLM: Sweden’s gov- a tolerant nation and illustrated the tomb after he had deposited ernment yesterday announced the rising political fortunes of his bouquet of white roses. a deal with the opposition that anti-immigrant parties in much “A thousands thanks holi- will avert the country’s first of Europe. ness,” he said in Italian. “This is snap elections in more than half “Thanks to the agreement we a miracle that goes on. The mys- a century and counter the ris- have found enabling a minority tery of Fatima goes on. Long live ing influence of the anti-immi- government to govern, the gov- Jesus Christ!” grant far right. ernment will not organise early Agca requested a meeting with The deal announced by Prime elections,” Loefven, a Social Pope Francis when the current Minister Stefan Loefven, in office Democrat, said. pontiff visited Turkey last month. for less than three months, will The Sweden Democrats, which That was declined as was a fresh see the minority centre-left gov- had said they wanted to turn the request for an audience this week- ernment remain in power. The far now-cancelled election into a ref- end in Rome. “He has put flow- right has however threatened a erendum on immigration, reacted ers on the tomb of John Paul II. no-confidence vote. with anger and disappointment I think that is enough,” Francis’s Loefven had called early elec- to the news of the surprise deal. spokesman, Federico Lombardi, tions this month after the popu- “We don’t have any confidence told La Repubblica. list and anti-immigrant Sweden in Loefven as prime minister,” The motive for Agca’s 1981 Democrats torpedoed his fledgling said Mattias Karlsson, interim attack on the pope remains a Passengers gather outside Finsbury Park Station in north London after all trains in and out of King’s Cross government’s budget. leader of the Sweden Democrats, mystery. Station were cancelled yesterday because of construction work. The crisis had dealt a severe in an interview with public AFP blow to Sweden’s self-image as television SVT. AFP SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 ASIA / PHILIPPINES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 North Korea likens Obama to monkey Internet outage hits country SEOUL: North Korea called Although it did flicker back on for US President Barack Obama a moment, and go back down and a “monkey” yesterday after stay down,” said Doug Madory, US cinemas released a comedy director of Internet Analysis with about a fictional plot to kill its Dyn Research. leader, as it suffered another “If an outside force took it down in a series of crippling Internet again, it did it more efficiently outages that it has blamed on than the previous incident.” Washington. The NDC accused Obama The isolated dictatorship’s of taking the lead in encour- powerful National Defence aging cinemas to screen “The Commission (NDC) threat- Interview” on Christmas Day. ened “inescapable deadly blows” Sony had initially cancelled its over the film and accused the release after major US cinema US of “disturbing the Internet chains said they would not show operation” of North Korean it, following threats by hackers media outlets. aimed at cinemagoers. An online blackout earlier this “Obama always goes reckless in week triggered speculation that words and deeds like a monkey US authorities may have launched in a tropical forest,” a spokesman a cyberattack in retaliation for for the NDC’s policy department This aerial view shows houses and plantations submerged in floodwaters in Pengkalan Chepa near Kota Bharu in Malaysia yesterday. the hacking of Sony Pictures — said in a statement published the studio behind madcap North by the North’s official KCNA Korea comedy “The Interview”. news agency. Washington has said the “If the US persists in American- attack on Sony was carried out style arrogant, high-handed and Anger rises among Malaysia flood victims by Pyongyang. gangster-like arbitrary practices It suffered another paralysing despite (North Korea’s) repeated PENGKALAN CHEPA, From the air, parts of Kota six-month-old baby, she said: “For flood victims. The massive flood- outage last evening which also warnings, the US should bear MALAYSIA: Rescuers strug- Bharu, the state capital of badly- breakfast I had three biscuits and ing, caused by torrential north- affected telecommunication net- in mind that its failed political gled yesterday to get help to affected Kelantan, resembled a tea. There’s not enough water and east monsoon rains, has so far left works in the pariah state, accord- affairs will face inescapable deadly the tens of thousands of people vast, muddy lake, with row after no food at all for my baby. I had five people dead. ing to Chinese state-run Xinhua blows,” the NDC spokesman said. affected by Malaysia’s worst row of rooftops peeking out of the to buy my own milk.” The region is regularly hit by news agency. “At Pyongyang He accused Washington of link- flooding in decades as angry murky waters. Farhana was forced to aban- flooding during the annual mon- time 7.30pm (1030 GMT) North ing the hacking of Sony to North victims accused the government Tempers were frayed among don her home four days ago after soon, but this year’s rains have Korea’s Internet and mobile 3G Korea “without clear evidence” of being slow in its response. people sheltering at a crowded flood waters rose quickly almost been unusually bad. network came to a standstill, and and repeated Pyongyang’s con- Malaysians have vented their relief centre just outside Kota to neck level. Deputy Prime Minister had not returned to normal as of demnation of the film, describing anger at Prime Minister Najib Bharu, with fears the situation “I have lost everything, includ- Muhyiddin Yassin conceded that 9.30pm,” Xinhua said, adding that it as “a movie for agitating terror- Razak after photos went viral on would worsen as it continued to ing huge damage to my house rescuers were struggling with its reporters in the North found ism produced with high-ranking social media showing him play- rain in surrounding areas. and my car and motorcycle,” power outages and roads being the Internet to be “very unstable” politicians of the US administra- ing golf with US President Barack “I am angry with them (the said Suhada, who was among washed away by the floods. throughout the day. Respected tion involved”. Obama during the storms. government). We don’t care about 200 people seeking refuge in a “I admit the situation is chal- cyber security firm Dyn Research The film took in $1m in its lim- The number of people forced their politics. We just want the two-storey school. lenging to the rescue workers and said the Internet blackout was ited-release opening day, show- to flee their homes climbed past government to do what they The under-fire Najib, mean- we are trying our best to make “country-wide”. ing in around 300 mostly small, 120,000 with weather forecast- should do and help us,” 23-year- while, arrived in Kelantan to sure that the food arrives to the “This time there wasn’t the independent theatres. It was ers warning of no respite for the old Farhana Suhada, who works lead the national flood response victims depending on the flood hours of routing instability that also released online for rental or northeastern states of Kelantan, for a courier service, told AFP. after cutting short his vacation in situation,” he was quoted as say- presaged the outage like last time. purchase. AFP Terengganu and Pahang. Holding on tightly to her Hawaii and was expected to meet ing by the Star newspaper. AFP

Six arrested in Yangon votes for first municipal polls in 60 years

Indonesia for YANGON: Residents of for November next year, despite rule in 2011. It was also a rare in Thaketa township told AFP. YCDC. Just under 300 candidates, Myanmar’s commercial hub strict curbs on who could vote opportunity to have a say over the “But we came here to vote and among them businessmen, retired Yangon went to the polls yester- yesterday and the limited power future of Myanmar’s biggest city, show our spirit.” civil servants and activists, are trying to join day for the first municipal elec- of the councillors they were where residents grumble about Despite such enthusiasm, local competing for 115 positions on the tions in six decades, with voters electing. runaway construction and soar- media said turnout was low, committee. Islamic State enthusiastic for change even For many the ballot for the ing rents, worsening traffic, poor although there were no official Campaigns were muted — or though many knew little about Yangon City Development sanitation and weak pollution figures immediately available. non-existent — in a country where the candidates or their policies. Committee, which closed yes- control. Restrictions on who can vote politicians are unused to wooing JAKARTA: Indonesian police The election is being closely terday afternoon, was the first “It’s very difficult to have big enfranchised just 400,000 of the the electorate, although election yesterday arrested six people watched as a test of the country’s chance to vote under the coun- expectations as this is the first city’s several million residents, officials said the ballot would attempting to fly to Syria to join democratic credentials ahead of a try’s quasi-civilian government, YCDC election for 60 years,” while other clauses have strictly be transparent, free and fair. the Islamic State group, offi- landmark nationwide poll slated which replaced outright military Khin Maung Tun, 50, a resident controlled who can stand for the AFP cials said, the latest in a wave of potential sympathisers emerg- ing from the world’s most popu- lous Muslim nation. Philippines’ communists Those arrested at Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta airport at dawn included a couple and their Myanmar protesters 10-year-old child, with police say- ing they were attempting to travel on fake passports. The alleged organiser of the want mine closed trip was also captured after the arrests. YANGON: Around 500 people Small but near-daily protests “They admitted during an including dozens of Buddhist against Wanbao have been held investigation that they want to monks protested near the in Yangon and Mandalay. carry out jihad and be martyrs Chinese consulate in Myanmar’s “We are not against China. We in defending (IS),” said Jakarta central city of Mandalay yester- are neighbours. But we are wor- police spokesman Rikwanto. day demanding the closure of a ried that relations between China “We hope to find out more flashpoint copper mine. and Myanmar may be damaged,” details from the organiser, It was the largest protest since by the mine dispute, Thein Aung including who funded the trip,” the fatal shooting of a woman Myint added. he added. demonstrating against the Mandalay police confirmed the The number of IS support- Letpadaung mine in the north- protest, saying hundreds were in ers embarking from Indonesia western town of Monywa — a attendance but no arrests were soared to 264 in October from 86 Chinese backed venture dogged made. Keen to prevent the issue in June, the National Counter- by complaints of land grabbing snowballing, Wanbao has rec- Terrorism Agency (BNPT) chief and environmental damage. ognised the woman’s “senseless Saud Usman Nasution was quoted Khin Win, in her 50s, was killed death” as “painful and poignant”, as saying in the Jakarta Post. last Monday when police opened while China’s foreign ministry In total, an estimated 514 fire on protesters trying to stop on Wednesday also expressed its Indonesians have gone to Syria Members of the communists’ armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), walk past a hammer and sickle flag the mine company building a regret. The Letpadaung copper and Iraq to fight alongside IS — displayed in a village as they mark the 46th anniversary of its founding, on the southern island of Mindanao fence in territory disputed with mine has triggered several rounds around half of them students or in Philippines. local farmers. of fierce opposition from local migrant workers based in nearby The mine — run by Chinese firm villagers. countries, according to Nasution. Wanbao as part of a joint venture In November 2012, a botched A large number of Muslims with a major local military con- police raid using phosphorus on around the world have gravitated glomerate — has raised ques- a protest at the mine left dozens towards the radical group, which Realty firm tries to create AIDS scare tions about Myanmar’s reliance of people, including monks, with this year declared a Caliphate on investment from neighbouring burn injuries. spanning territories it captured SHANGHAI: Police in central frequent cause of unrest and previously confirmed the team’s China, which gave crucial political That crackdown, the harshest in Syria and Iraq. Indonesia has China detained five people and anger in China, with local gov- existence, but denied they were support to the former junta. “We since the end of outright army waged a crackdown on terror four officials were reprimanded ernments and developers often hired by the local government. want the truth of what happened rule in 2011, sparked fury in the groups over the past decade fol- after reports that a construc- accused of using thugs to carry The four officials, including in Letpadaung as Khin Win was Buddhist-majority country. lowing attacks against Western tion firm employed HIV/AIDS out demolition orders and three from the Nanyang City killed. We want the authorities to Earlier this year, two Chinese targets, including the 2002 Bali sufferers to scare residents into of not paying proper housing bureau, were given dis- take appropriate action,” Thein workers were kidnapped at the bombings — a campaign that has vacating their houses, the state compensation. ciplinary warnings for dereliction Aung Myint, a protest organiser site by activists, though they were been credited with weakening news agency repor ted yesterday. The government of Nanyang in of duty, Xinhua said. from Movement for Democracy later released unharmed. key networks. AFP Forced demolitions are a the central province of Henan had REUTERS Current Force (MDCF) told AFP. AFP SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN

Air strikes, gun Panels to craft anti-terror roadmap soon battle kill 55 Sharif constitutes 21 committees to implement National Action Plan to curb militancy militants PESHAWAR: At least 55 mili- ISLAMABAD: Pakistani National Action Plan,” a govern- also contact other stakeholders The committee, which com- said that legislation to stop glo- tants were killed in air strikes Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ment official said. to devise a mechanism for imple- prises Aslam, Pakistan Tehreek- rification of terrorists on all and a gun battle with ground has constituted 21 committees In addition to the 20 commit- menting the plan as well. Khan e-Insaf’s Hamid Khan, Pakistan forms of media may be prepared forces in Pakistan’s troubled to devise a roadmap for the tees for each point of the plan, will serve as the secretary of this Peoples Party’s Aitzaz Ahsan, immediately. northwest where the military implementation of the National sources said Sharif constituted committee, the sources added. Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Sharif tasked the Federal launched a major offensive this Action Plan forged by the coun- one oversight committee headed While addressing the meeting, Farogh Naseem, Khan and Zaheer Investigation Agency with pre- year, officials said yesterday. try’s national political leader- by himself and comprising his spe- Sharif vowed he would oversee Ahmed, will then hand over the paring a roadmap to throttle the The army intensified its offen- ship against terrorism and set cial assistant Barrister Zafarullah the enforcement of the National draft to Sharif. finances of terrorist organisations. sive after the massacre of 150 peo- them a 72-hour deadline to Khan, Interior Minister Nisar Ali, Action Plan himself. “I am giv- In addition to working out He assigned the task of monitor- ple in a school in Peshawar this complete their respective tasks. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, ing all members of my team days, the necessary constitutional ing FIA’s operations towards this month, a carnage which Pakistan Sources here say that chairing Information Minister Pervaiz not weeks, to gear up for this war reforms for military courts, end to the finance ministry and described as its own “mini 9/11” a high-level consultative meeting Rashid, Minister for Planning against terrorists,” he said. the law ministry has also been State Bank of Pakistan. and a game-changer in the fight at the Prime Minister’s House to and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Sharif directed Attorney tasked with proposing laws to Sharif also directed the ‘imme- against extremism. take the government’s new anti- Minister for States and Frontier General of Pakistan Salman counter all aspects of terrorism diate deployment’ of the proposed Troops raided a militant hide- terror strategy forward, the pre- Regions Qadir Baloch, and Aslam to immediately consult and extremism, including cover- Federal Counter-Terrorism out late on Friday in an area mier set up a committee for each Adviser to the Prime Minister politicians from leading political age by media and propagation of Force. He said the federal gov- adjoining Orakzai and Khyber of the plan’s 20 points, sources on Foreign Affairs and National parties to finalise necessary con- hate material. ernment would fulfil the opera- tribal districts — near the Afghan privy to the developments told Security Sartaj Aziz. stitutional amendments to set up “Laws will be made stringent tional requirements of this force border — where the insurgents The Express Tribune. Each panel The function of this committee military courts in the country, an to stop printing and publica- while the defence ministry would had gathered for a meeting, the is to be headed by the concerned would be to ensure the “expedi- official statement said. tion of hate material promot- provide the necessary technical military said in a statement. federal minister or bureaucrat, tious and effective implementa- The representatives of the law ing sectarianism,” Sharif said. support. “An intense battle took place, they said. tion of the National Action Plan minister also made a commitment “Legislation to stop the glorifi- The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa gov- in which 16 terrorists were killed “All the committees have been to wipe out terrorism and extrem- to the premier that the committee cation of terrorists on all forms ernment, meanwhile, was asked and 20 injured,” it said, add- given three days to submit their ism from the country.” It would made up of constitutional experts of media will be prepared imme- to present a plan to register ille- ing that “fleeing terrorists left recommendations on implement- not only monitor the performance from political parties will finalise diately.” About media regulations gal Afghan residents in Pakistan. behind nine dead bodies of their ing their respective points of the of the 20 other committees, but its draft by Monday evening. how to tackle terrorism, Sharif INTERNEWS accomplices”. Troops arrested two critically wounded militants while four sol- diers were also wounded in the battle, the statement said. Separately, 39 militants, includ- Threats hinder trial in ing two rebel commanders, were killed in airstrikes in the north- west late Friday and an ammu- nition depot was also destroyed, Bhutto murder case according to military spokesman Major General Asim Bajwa. It was ISLAMABAD: The murder case and ordered a retrial. But not possible to independently verify of chief prosecutor, nonstop despite the February 14, 2013 the casualties as media are banned threats to witnesses, police clear orders by the Rawalpindi from visiting the far-flung area. officers and the judge, coupled Bench of the Lahore High Court In another incident, police with an untidy judicial system to hear the case on daily basis and said they arrested an important have all contributed to hinder complete the trial within three Taliban commander who was Benazir Bhutto’s murder trial, months, the Bhutto murder case wanted for attacks on police and seven years after the former has not been heard since October was also involved in the killing a Pakistani prime minister’s 8, 2014. local journalist in northwestern assassination. The orders for daily hearing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The killing of Benazir marked were passed by on petition filed the end of the long political legacy by Federal Investigation Agency’s Gunmen kill man of the Bhutto family. chief prosecutor in the case Seven years later, the country Zulfiqar Ali who had contended from Ahmadi is still clueless as to who had mas- that a trial court, under the Anti- terminded her assassination since Terrorism Act 1997, was bound community yet there is no dearth of the prob- to hold daily hearing of cases for able culprits to choose from: al- their quick disposal. ISLAMABAD: Gunmen in Qaeda and Taliban-linked Islamic He further apprised the court eastern Pakistan shot dead a extremists, former military dic- that counsel for all the accused member of the Ahmadi religious tator Pervez Musharraf and his were using delaying tactics to lin- minority yesterday, an Ahmadi associates, or some contract kill- ger on the case, which was evi- spokesman said, five days after ers hired by her political rivals, dent from the fact that not even a Muslim leader denounced including Musharraf? a single murder case of 2007 was Ahmadis on a popular Pakistani Whatever the conspiracy the- pending in the ATC-I except the television talk show. ory is, it keeps getting denser Bhutto murder case. A supporter of Pakistan Peoples Party hangs a poster of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto at her assassination Luqman Ahad Shehzad was with each passing day. In fact, However, hardly four weeks site in Rawalpindi yesterday. shot in the back of the head even those investigating her mur- after the court passed orders for near Bhiri Shah Rehman village, der under the Asif Zardari-led daily hearing of the Bhutto mur- and claiming responsibility for his three accomplices Hammad assassination, the Benazir murder a small community of Ahmadis Pakistan People’s Party govern- der case, Ali was shot dead in the assassination. Days before Adil, Adnan Adil and Tanveer case is going nowhere. Six differ- in the Gujranwala district, said ment had consumed full five years Islamabad on May 3, 2013 while his murder, Ali had said that he Ahmed. ent judges have headed the mur- Saleem ud Din, the spokesman. to finally believe in her own dec- he was on his way to the court had gathered solid evidence to While Umar was injured and der trial and the prosecution has In 1984, a Pakistani law laration that Musharraf should to attend the hearing of Benazir indict the under trial assassins paralysed during the attack on filed eight separate charge sheets declared Ahmadis non-Mus- be held responsible in case of her Bhutto’s murder case. of Bhutto. Ali, another assailant Harris ever since the proceeding started lims and made it possible to jail assassination. Inspector General of the Following intense investiga- Khan was killed by his gun- on February 29, 2008, which have Ahmadis for “posing as a Muslim” Therefore, it was in April Islamabad Police Binyamin Khan tions, Islamabad Police finally man and was buried in the lawn added to the delay as have the or “offending a Muslim’s feelings”. 2013 that the Rawalpindi Anti- revealed that the police had arrested Abdullah Umar, the son of the Adil brothers’ house in investigations by two different They are often targeted by violent Terrorist Court had finally found a letter from the crime of an ex-army officer, who con- Rawalpindi. investigation teams. extremists. indicted Musharraf in her murder scene, written by the Taliban fessed having killed Ali along with However, since Ali’s INTERNEWS AGENCIES

Keeping vigil 4th century BC Buddhist Court orders arrest sculpture discovered of Red Mosque cleric PESHAWAR: Archaeologists mostly terracotta sculptures in Pakistan’s mountainous had been discovered. ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani to implement it,” a police official north have discovered Buddhist Samad said a training and court has issued an arrest war- in capital Islamabad told AFP, sculptures and heads during the capacity building programme rant for a hardline Islamic cleric requesting anonymity as he was excavation in Haripur district of for students and field staffs of who suggested the massacre not authorised to talk to media. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. the directorate of archaeology of school children in country’s Hafiz Ihtesham Ahmed, a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and museums had initiated worst ever terror attack was spokesman for the Red Mosque Archaeology and Museums at the field training school in understandable, after he alleg- accused civil society activists of Directorate Director Dr Abdul Bhamala to inform archaeologi- edly threatened people criticis- pressurising police to register a Samad said on Saturday that cal excavators about the latest ing him. case against Aziz. sculptures and heads dating back techniques and methods of Maulana Abdul Aziz, the pro- “This case has no grounds, so to second to fifth century AD had excavation. Taliban cleric and head of the we will resist any move to arrest been discovered during excava- The director said more than 50 Red Mosque in capital Islamabad Maulana Abdul Aziz,” Ahmed tion at Buddhist stupa known as participants, including students of has been accused of threatening said. Pakistan has described the Bhamala Buddhist Complex near various educational institutions, civil society activists, who this bloody rampage in Peshawar as Khanpur. took part in the training, which week staged several demonstra- its own “mini 9/11”, calling it a He said during excavation, would continue for months at the tions outside the mosque, a police game-changer in the fight against precious coins of Kushan period field training school. He said the official and a spokesman for the extremism. were also found around the stupa, first batch had so far completed mosque said. The protests were The Tehreek-e-Taliban adding that the Bhamala archaeo- training. staged to denounce Aziz, who Pakistan (TTP) claimed the logical site had been declared “The leading foreign schol- refused to condemn the massacre assault as revenge for an ongo- national and world heritage site ars and archaeologists belong- on a television talk-show. ing military offensive against located near Khanpur dam. ing to United States and United Later Aziz effectively told wor- its strongholds in the tribal He said the ruins dated back Kingdom have offered to extend shippers the attack in Peshawar, northwest. to fourth century BC. “The ruins services in the training pro- which left around 150 people The Red Mosque, which stands are situated near Khanpur dam. gramme,” he said. dead — mainly children, was a a stone’s throw from the parlia- The stupa is cross-shaped and Samad said the capacity build- justifiable reaction to the army’s ment buildings in the centre of looks like an Aztec Pyramid,” he ing training programme lasted “un-Islamic” operation against the capital, was the scene of a said. four-months in which more than militants in the North Waziristan week-long military siege against The director said the 50 members of field staffs, mostly tribal district. radicals which left more than 100 Bhamala site was partially archaeologists, conservators, “O rulers, O people in power, if people dead in 2007. excavated in early 1930 by Sir draftsmen, conservation assist- you will commit such acts, there Earlier this month female Jan Marshal. He said fresh ants, photographers and students will be a reaction,” he told wor- students affiliated with the excavation at the archeological of archaeology from various edu- shippers in a sermon last week, Red Mosque issued a video site had been initiated by the cational institutions participated. A burqa clad Afghan woman passes by Afghan security forces as prompting further protests statement praising the Islamic Hazara University, Mansehra. He said a survey had been initi- they stand guard in Herat, Afghanistan, yesterday. Security has been accusing him of being a Taliban State group and calling on it During excavation done by ated of different archaeological intensified in Herat city as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani visited the sympathiser. to avenge the death of Osama archaeologists, conservators, sites in Buner district. city for the first time after his elections. “Police have received the court bin Laden. diggers, and treasury hunters, INTERNEWS order and we are trying our best AFP SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Army chief to keep vigil on Assam’s volatile situation No new violence but exodus of people continues in four affected districts

GUWAHATI: Indian Army chief Gen. Dalbir Singh yes- terday reviewed the secu- rity situation in Assam in the aftermath of the gory killings A file photo of Dawood Ibrahim at a cricket stadium. by Bodo militants, as security forces intensified operations along the international border Pakistan asked to hand with Bhutan. Singh said he would continue to maintain a close watch on the region. over Dawood Ibrahim An army spokesman said Singh headed to the army base NEW DELHI: India yesterday they would use diplomacy. How in Rangia from the Guwahati air- asked Pakistan to hand over they would explore other means port and reviewed the situation the “country’s most wanted” and mechanisms to bring Dawood with top commanders. and 1993 Mumbai blasts’ mas- Ibrahim? He was given an overview termind Dawood Ibrahim, while “If Dawood is in Karachi then of the current status of opera- the Congress said it was time for the government should walk the tions, including measures taken the Narendra Modi government talk and bring him to justice,” to improve the larger security to “walk the talk” and sought to Tiwari told reporters. milieu in Assam. know what it had done so far. The BJP defended the govern- General Singh also reviewed “He is the most wanted... India ment, saying it “was committed the deployment of 66 army col- has asked Pakistan to hand him towards the fact that Dawood is umns in the disturbed areas, over... you just wait,” Union Home brought back to India. after the violence unleashed by Minister Rajnath Singh told “... because of our government’s Bodo militants left 73 people reporters. efforts a joint statement, by the dead and rendered over 70,000 India has made the demand US and India, regarding the ter- homeless in the four districts of many times earlier but Pakistan rorist was issued during Prime Kokrajhar, Chirang, Sonitpur had denied his presence in the Minister Narendra Modi’s recent and Udalguri. country. visit to the US,” BJP spokesperson “He was briefed on the proac- However, Dawood, listed as Sambit Patra said. tive actions undertaken by an international terrorist, has Dawood, on the wanted list of the army along with agencies Activities of the Communist Party of India Marxist-Leninist shout slogans as they burn an effigy representing reportedly been caught on tape Interpol for cheating, criminal to intensify pressure against separatist rebels and Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi during a protest against the recent killings in Assam, in by a Western intelligence agency conspiracy and organised crime, the militant outfits,” a defence Siliguri yesterday. talking to one of his associates is reportedly involved several spokesperson said in a statement. from Karachi city. crimes in India, including for Singh interacted with com- army with police and directed Democratic Front of Bodoland. fresh incident of violence since Reacting to Singh’s statement, planning the 1993 Mumbai blasts manders in the field to obtain his troops to extend all possible Singh had on Friday met Tuesday’s killings, the exodus of Congress leader Manish Tiwari and sport fixing. a first-hand perspective of the support to the state administra- Home Minister Rajnath Singh people continued in the districts. sought to know what the govern- The US, believing that he main- operations, and undertook an tion in bringing back normalcy, in New Delhi over the situation. Assam Police sources said the ment headed by the Bharatiya tained close links with Al Qaeda aerial reconnaissance of the while carrying out operations The central government has Bhutan border had been sealed Janata Party which had raised and other terrorist organisations, strife-torn areas. against the perpetrators of ter- sent 50 companies of additional and a special operation might be the issue frequently while in the declared him a “global terrorist” He expressed satisfaction over ror,” it said. forces, including those from launched against militants from opposition, had done about getting in 2003. the steps taken at all levels, and The army has intensified Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo- the northeast hiding there. Dawood. It also took the matter to the asked for greater synergy with operations along the Assam- Tibetan Border Police, Central The State Disaster “So what is this government is UN to ensure freezing of his the central and state intelligence Arunachal Pradesh inter-state Reserve Police Force and Border Management Authority said over doing about it? When they were assets around the world and a and security agencies. border and the border with Security Force to control the 70,000 people had taken shelter in the opposition they used to do a crackdown on his operations. “The general took note of the Bhutan in the aftermath of situation. in 77 relief camps in the affected lots of chest-thumping about how IANS road map being planned by the the massacre by the National Although there has been no districts. IANS

Govt pushes for ‘Made in India’ goods 18,112 Santa Clauses NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Secretariat has asked all government agencies to give preference to domestically produced goods in its procurement programme to push Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s make new Guinness ‘Make in India’ campaign. “A committee of secretaries has decided that all ministries and record in Thrissur departments should identify department-specific domestically manu- factured electronic products for procurement, and notify them within THRISSUR: The archdiocese of a fortnight,” an official communiqué said yesterday. Thrissur in Kerala yesterday made “All government departments have been asked to adhere to a tender a new Guinness World Record when template issued by the Department of Electronics and Information they assembled 18,112 Santa Clauses on Technology for procurement of electronic items,” said the communiqué the streets and broke the record set by from the Prime Minister’s Office. Derry in Northern Ireland with 13,000. The event named ‘Boun Natale 2014’, Stone hurled at Kejriwal at public meet was the brainchild of Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, who had last year paraded 5,000 NEW DELHI: A man in mid-20s yesterday hurled a stone at AAP Santas. Guinness officials oversaw the chief Arvind Kejriwal at a public gathering here, a party member event, and each and every Santa was bar- said. coded before they assembled, to make a An Aam Aadmi Party source said the incident occurred around scientific evaluation on the number. Luciya, 6.45pm when Kejriwal was addressing a gathering in south Delhi’s a Guinness representative from Britain, Deoli area. However, the stone did not hit him as the stage was at a told the gathering that the event will be distance from the area for the public. A pedestrian walks along railway tracks during a cold winter morning in New Delhi yesterday. registered in the Guinness World Records The youth was arrested and taken to the Neb Sari police station. as the largest assembly of Santas. Kejriwal tweeted, “One person threw a stone at me in deoli jansabha The announcement was greeted with a today. BJP so scared? Resorting to violence? I wish well for the boy who Another foggy morning for New Delhi huge applause by the Santas. Even though did it.” “We have no bad wishes for people who hurl shoe and stones at the official figure was 18,112, the organis- us, we wish them all the best,” he further tweeted. NEW DELHI: The capi- “There will be dense fog minimum temperature was ers said there were more, but could not be tal city experienced a chilly tomorrow (Sunday) morning, 4.8 degrees, three notches documented. The procession began at 1pm Engineer among five crushed by train Saturday as the maximum but the day will be mainly below the season’s average. and the announcement came after 4.30pm. temperature settled a notch clear. Fog will return in the The maximum humidity was “The Guinness team with the help of PATNA: A railway engineer and four contract labourers were run below the season’s average evening,” said an official with 100 percent. new technology did the counting and it over by a train yesterday when they were repairing the railway at 19.2 degrees Celsius while the India Meteorological Northern Railway said 68 was for that barcodes were used for each track in Bihar’s Rohtas district, police said. fog continued to affect the Department. trains were affected. While Santa. There was an application process “Due to dense fog, they failed to see the Ajmer-Sealdah Express movement of trains. The maximum and mini- 36 arriving in the city were each Santa had to go through and it came coming and were crushed,” police said. The incident occurred near Similar weather is in store mum temperatures are likely delayed, the departure of 27 from parishes attached to the archdiocese,” Kumhau station. “All the five died on the spot and two were seriously today, the Met office said. to hover around 19 and 4 had to be rescheduled and five said Simon Joseph from the Thrissur arch- injured and rushed to hospital,” officials said. Visibility dropped to 700 degrees today. Yesterday, the were cancelled. diocese. IANS IANS metres at 8.30am yesterday. morning was chilly and the IANS Is Jammu and Kashmir heading for Governor’s rule? SRINAGAR: With no party in a posi- parties is understandable. After the results came out, outgo- Valley about a Hindu chief minister. Conference and the PDP is likely to delay tion to form a government and with The BJP started the election cam- ing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said This shifted the media focus to the the possibilities of an early government the PDP and the National Conference paign with a much hyped 44 plus agenda. there was victory in defeat since many, PDP. When BJP General Secretary Ram formation in Jammu and Kashmir. not eager to ally with the BJP, is Midway during the campaign, it revised including the media, had predicted that Madhav reached Srinagar on Thursday, How long can the two parties refuse Jammu and Kashmir inching towards its target and said it could garner more the National Conference would not senior PDP leader and MP Muzaffar to admit that they may want to sail with Governor’s rule? than 55 seats. reach the double figure. The question is: Hussain Baig held two rounds of talks the BJP? Can the PDP and the National No one is sure. But equally, no one The PDP kept on asserting it would Which of the parties can come together with him. Conference have an alliance with the seems to know which two parties or more form the next government on its own as to form a government in the country’s It was then felt that the PDP and the BJP without risking loss of support in can come together in the hung 87-mem- it expected nothing less than 44 seats, the only Muslim-majority state. BJP might shake hands. the valley? Will the two parties surmount ber legislature to cobble a majority. minimum needed to take power. Initially, it appeared the National But PDP spokesman Baig clarified he internal opposition to forge an alliance The assembly polls threw up a hung PDP spokesman Naeem Akhtar put up Conference had reached some kind of an had met Madhav in his individual capac- with the BJP? house, with the Peoples Democratic Party a brave face when the last round of vote agreement with the BJP. Speculations ity and not as a PDP negotiator. Can the PDP, National Conference and winning 28 seats, the Bharatiya Janata count was on. were fuelled by Abdullah’s visit to New It is clear that the National Conference the Congress join hands to keep the BJP Party 25, the ruling National Conference The National Conference said it would Delhi on December 24. and the PDP are shying away from away, as the CPI-M has suggested? 18 and the Congress slipping to 12. win more than 28 seats it had in the out- But when Abdullah landed in Srinagar, admitting that they can stitch an alliance Answers will determine if Jammu and Smaller parties and independents col- going house with a better showing in the some of his legislators came out publicly with the BJP. But the BJP is no more coy Kashmir will have a government or if it lected the remaining seven seats. Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley. That against an alliance with the BJP. about its dealings with them. is heading for a spell of Governor’s rule. The predicament of the four major didn’t happen. There is also uneasiness in the Kashmir This posturing by the National IANS SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA Debt waivers have not Sikh procession helped farmers: RBI Credit flow was restricted subsequently, says Rajan UDAIPUR: Debt waiver sensitive issue to find out if they The first UPA government schemes of central and state were caused by indebtedness. announced in early 2008 an governments have not benefited “It is worth examining to ascer- agricultural debt waiver and farmers as they restricted credit tain if farmers’ suicides are caused debt relief scheme under which flow subsequently, Reserve by indebtedness in the farm sector Rs525.16bn due from 36.9 million Bank of India (RBI) Governor or other factors,” Rajan said. small and marginal and six mil- Raghuram Rajan said yesterday. He recalled that loan waiv- lion big farmers across the country “Studies have shown that debt ers were declared for farmers in were waived off. waiver programmes have been Andhra Pradesh after cyclone The comptroller and auditor ineffective, constraining credit flow Phailin made landfall in October general, however, found out later to farmers after their loans were 2013. that several ineligible farmers waived off,” Rajan said at the 97th Banks had a combined exposure benefited from the central govern- annual conference of the Indian of Rs1.3tr to the farm sector in ment’s debt waiver scheme while Economic Association organised Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. many deserving farmers were left by the economics department of Though the Telangana govern- out. Mohanlal Sukhadia University in ment, which came into being in Referring to subsidies in the Udaipur, about 420km from Jaipur. June 2014, paid 25 percent of the agriculture sector, the central Concerned over farmers’ sui- waived amount to the affected bank governor said it would be cides, arising partly out of their banks, the Andhra Pradesh gov- worth studying if they (subsidies) inability to pay back loans, Rajan ernment has not remitted its due have actually helped farmers. said there was a need to study the amount so far. IANS Sikhs carry the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book, in a procession from the Akal Takht at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on the eve of the 350th birth anniversary of the 10th Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, yesterday. Punjab gets nod to dispose Ghalib’s Agra forgets him on birthday of damaged wheat AGRA: Mirza Ghalib (pic- “Agra, which has given so much his poetic talent blossomed and tured), whose contribution to the Urdu culture, should have found new expression at a time CHANDIGARH: The central government has allowed the Punjab gov- to Urdu literature was per- a decent memorial for the poet. when Bahadur Shah Zafar was ernment to dispose of over 600,000 tonnes of damaged wheat lying in haps as significant as that of The municipal corporation has the Mughal emperor. the state, an official said yesterday. Shakespeare to English, was proposals pending to name a Sandeep Arora, a member “The government and its procurement agencies have damaged wheat to born in this city on December street after the poet but there of the city’s hotel and restau- the tune of 600,000 tonnes lying in Punjab. According to the earlier guide- 27 over 200 years ago. The city has been no follow-up,” he said rant association, said when for- lines of the central government, only those parties registered with the FCI of the Taj Mahal yesterday Saturday. eign tourists ask to be taken to (Food Corporation of India) were eligible for participation in the tendering not only forgot to celebrate his The haveli in Kala Mahal area Ghalib’s birthplace, Agra citizens process,” a state government spokesman said here. birthday but also does not have where Mirza Asad Ullah Khan feel “very embarrassed”. “There were about 30-40 parties in India registered with the FCI for a decent memorial to the poet, ‘Ghalib’ was born in 1796 is now Surendra Sharma of the Braj purchase of damaged wheat. These parties connived with each other to pool activists said. a girls’ inter-college. The mansion Mandal Heritage Conservation the tenders and offered very less rates to the procurement agencies. The Despite repeated demands to has no memorial to the poet. Society said Ghalib’s house state government agencies suffered huge financial losses,” he said. name a road or an auditorium The Uttar Pradesh tourism “should be converted into a He said the majority of these bidders had limited purchasing capacity and after the famed poet, the munici- department had at one time national memorial” for the poet used to lift only some part of the damaged wheat, resulting in the govern- pal corporation has not responded Syed Jaffrey, director of the planned to take over the haveli “whose contribution to Urdu lit- ment agencies bearing additional heavy costs on warehousing expenses of and Agra University has turned Mirza Ghalib Academy, wants and convert it into a memorial, erature has been as significant as the damaged wheat. down a demand to set up a Ghalib better facilities and support but the plan was shelved for some that of Shakespeare to English Punjab contributes over 50 percent of the foodgrains to the national kitty chair to promote research and from the government to promote reason. literature”. despite having just 1.54 percent of the country’s geographical area. IANS work in Urdu literature. research in Urdu literature. Ghalib moved to Delhi, where IANS

Four rebel JD-U NRIs can now avail of legislators in prepaid rupee cards Bihar disqualified PATNA: The membership of n a move to enlarge the net of four rebel Janata Dal-United financial inclusion as well as THE NR EYE (JD-U) MLAs was terminated Imake it easier for visiting non- yesterday for their anti-party resident Indians and foreigners to Moiz Mannan activities, Bihar assembly offi- deal in India, the central bank has cials said here. revised its norms with regard to been fixed at Rs 200,000. Both new Speaker Uday Narayan pre-paid instruments (PPIs). additions are beneficial for NRIs. Choudhary terminated member- The rationalised measures “The cards can be issued by ship of Raju Singh, Poonam Devi would be particularly beneficial to overseas branches of banks in Yadav, Ajit Kumar and Suresh NRIs working in the Gulf because India directly or by co-branding Chanchal under the provisions of a vast majority of them are fre- with the exchange houses/money the anti-defection law, the offi- quent visitors to India and also transmitters up to a maximum cials said. have dependents here. Nearly all amount of Rs.200,000 by load- According to the officials, Indian expats in the GCC coun- ing from a KYC-compliant bank Choudhary has taken the decision tries avail of their annual leave, account,” media agencies quoted against the four legislators on the which they spend with their fami- from the RBI statement. “Such basis of a complaint submitted by lies back home. PPIs should be activated by the the ruling party. Choudhary gave This is also a time when they do bank only after the traveller the verdict in the presence of the a considerable amount of spending. arrives in India. legislators. Mostly, it is the immediate family Cash withdrawal from such Last month, the speaker consisting of wife and children and PPIs will be restricted to reserved his order on the dis- often parents, siblings and other Rs.50,000 per month. The cards qualification proceedings against relatives who look forward all year should be issued strictly for use the four MLAs. round to this visit. With increas- in India and transactions set- It was the second such action ing amounts of disposable income, tled in rupees,” RBI said, add- taken against rebel JD-U legisla- many visiting expats now go sight- ing that one individual can hold tors, who have been challenging seeing or on religious vacations only one card at a time and it is the party leadership since April. within India during these visits. non-transferable. In November, Choudhary termi- For all these activities, the NRIs Banks have to maintain a trans- nated the membership of four need a convenient way to do mon- action history of the accounts and rebel JD-U MLAs on the same etary transactions. For this, they refund of unutilised amount has ground. would either have to carry con- to adhere to foreign exchange siderable amounts of cash, which guidelines. BJP enrols 6.4 is risky, or get credit/ debit cards With the change in norms, a made in the names of their resi- fully KYC-compliant resident million new dent relatives, which has its own of India can now load up to hassles regarding registration and Rs100,000 in a prepaid instru- recharging. ment. Additionally, such custom- members in UP Recently, the Reserve Bank of ers can transfer funds from their LUCKNOW: The BJP’s Uttar India (RBI) changed the guidelines accounts to a prepaid instrument Pradesh unit yesterday said related to Pre Paid Instruments issued to a family member, subject it had contributed 6.4 million (PPIs), providing individuals to a limit of Rs10,000 per cash- out of the total 24 million new with an easier mode of dealing out and a ceiling of Rs25,000 per enrolments nationwide in the with these instruments. PPIs month. Banks have also been per- first phase of the membership include prepaid cards, mobile wal- mitted to issue non-reloadable drive started last month. lets, Internet wallets and paper instruments in electronic form to Briefing media persons at the vouchers. foreign nationals or NRIs visiting party headquarters, Bharatiya For resident Indians, the apex India, which could be co-branded Janata Party (BJP) state spokes- bank enhanced the maximum bal- with exchange houses and money man Manoj Mishra said the first ance that can be made available in transmitters approved by RBI. phase would go on until December a PPI from Rs50,000 to Rs100,000. The maximum validity of gift 31 and they hoped to add a size- Going further, the RBI allowed the cards has also been enhanced from able number of new members. introduction of two new card cat- one year to three years. Other pro- Mishra said that the sec- egories: One, those issued to family visions of existing PPI guidelines ond phase of the drive would be members from fully know-your- with respect to gift cards will con- undertaken between January 1 customer (KYC) compliant bank tinue to be applicable. RBI also and 20. During this period, booth- accounts; and two, cards for vis- allowed issue of multiple PPIs by level membership drives would be iting NRIs and foreign nationals. banks from fully KYC-compliant undertaken from January 9 to 11, For the latter category the maxi- bank accounts for dependents or he said. mum money a card can carry has family members. IANS

SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Artificial snow making

Fajr (Dawn) 4:56 Shorook (Sunrise) 6:18 Zuhr (Noon) 11:35 Asr (Afternoon) 2:33 Maghrib (Sunset) 4:53 Isha (Night) 6:23

WEATHER Weather Today Monday Tuesday Conditions: Clear Partly cloudy Partly cloudy Hazy to misty at places at first High: 25° High: 27° High: 24° becomes moderate Low: 17° Low: 19° Low: 18° temperature during the day and relatively cold by night.

DOHA - SUN & SEA SUN TIDE SEA SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 06:18 16:53 09:30 & 23:00 02:15 & 17:00 05-15/20 KT

THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW

HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER

MUSCAT 27/18 Clear 28/21 Clear Artificial snow making is in progress on grass-covered slopes at the ski station at Les Gets in the French Alps. MAKKAH 34/22 Clear 33/22 Partly cloudy KUWAIT 28/12 Partly cloudy 24/09 Clear BAHRAIN 25/16 Clear 26/17 Clear SANAA 22/05 Clear 22/05 Clear RIYADH 26/13 Partly cloudy 27/16 Clear DUBAI 27/17 Clear 26/17 Clear Wisconsin man keeps 40-year-old BAGHDAD 20/10 Partly cloudy 19/10 Partly cloudy

THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER Christmas tree up until son returns ATHENS 14/13 Partly cloudy 16/09 Clear WASHINGTON 10/04 Rain 07/01 Rain WISCONSIN: A Wisconsin A photograph of the tree in the SYDNEY 23/16 Partly cloudy 29/19 Rain man will refuse for about the Wausau Daily Herald showed the LONDON 05/-1 Clear 04/-2 Partly cloudy 40th time to partake in the tree’s needles have turned brown PARIS 01/-2 Rain 05/-1 Clear annual after-holiday chore of but not fallen off. ISTANBUL 09/06 Clear 13/02 Rain putting Christmas ornaments “Most of ‘em don’t last,” Olson MANILA 29/22 Chance of rain 28/23 Partly cloudy back into storage and dragging told the newspaper. “The nee- DHAKA 24/14 Clear 23/15 Partly cloudy the Christmas tree to the curb. dles are kept on for a reason. It’s DELHI 16/04 Clear 12/03 Clear Instead Neil Olson will leave his supernatural, I say.” ISLAMABAD 18/04 Clear 17/05 Clear Christmas tree — the same one The original ornaments, some he says he put up in 1974 — in the more than a century old, and the same corner of his living room in lights that he used to decorate in Wausau, Wisconsin. 1974 remain on the tree. Olson is not a procrastinator Over the years, a few bats have iPhone to help you track tweets but a promise keeper. He vowed to gotten into Olson’s house and keep the now scrawny spruce up made a nest in the tree, which is NEW YORK: A new feature in Twitter’s iPhone app can find until all of his six sons are home skinnier and shorter than it once how many people are reading your tweets, retweeting or click- together for Christmas again. was. “It’s still smiling at me,” he ing on a link you posted. “You need to sign in to the Twitter Olson’s children have not all said. “Still a pretty tree yet, no analytics page with your account so that the company can start gathered for Christmas since matter how old it is.” collecting the mobile analytics data,” said Ian Chan, a software 1974, when his oldest son, Barry, Olson, a World War Two and engineering manager at Twitter. went to fight in Vietnam. Korean War veteran, spent Make sure you have upgraded your Twitter iPhone app to the Barry was severely wounded in Christmas at his home where his latest version. Open the app, and tap any tweet you have posted, the war has lived in Seattle since sons, except for Barry, and grand- CNET reported. At the bottom of the tweet, you will see a link returning. He cannot come home children gathered around the tree that says “View Analytics Details”. Now tap that link. In response, to Wisconsin because he is unable and drank a couple of beers. Twitter shows you the analytics for that specific tweet. The total to travel due to debilitating com- “I just pray to God that he impressions displays the number of times people saw your tweet, bat injuries. can keep it in good shape until while the total engagements reveals the number of people who actu- “My oldest one was all shot to he gets home,” Olson said of the ally retweeted or favourited your tweet. Scroll down further, and hell,” Olson said. “I won’t ever tree. “Maybe my prayers will be you will find specific percentages for the engagement data. IANS take it down until my boy comes answered.” The star on the top of a Christmas tree decorated by volunteers is seen at home.” REUTERS the US Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. Gut bacteria Sony’s PlayStation, Microsoft’s helped humans to be resilient Xbox ‘gradually coming back’

WASHINGTON: A new study WASHINGTON: Sony was massive amounts of data from effective. Though a direct has found that microbes resid- still struggling yesterday its servers. connection between “The ing within the guts of our to fully restore its online The US has blamed North Interview” and the service ancestors helped them thrive PlayStation system, three Korea for the attack, with disruptions could not be con- and evolve into more stable and days after the Christmas day the reclusive state furious at firmed, some gamers were con- resilient populations. hack that also hit Microsoft’s the release of Sony film “The vinced a link exists. The human race survived Xbox, reporting that serv- Interview,” which parodies “I blame that darn movie because our ancestors were robust ices were “gradually coming leader Kim Jong-Un. ‘The Interview,’” wrote a user enough to handle environmental back.” After initially cancelling the going by as2009man on a changes and the natural disasters Meanwhile, Xbox was up film’s December 25 release, PlayStation community forum they encountered, it added. and running except for three Sony backtracked and brought message board. “It’s the gift To look at the microbiome’s of its applications, following an it out to a small number of US that keeps on giving.” effects on people as they age, allegedly coordinated attack theatres. Another poster to the same researchers created a mathemati- that sent both companies The film was also made avail- forum said he was getting fed cal model to simulate an ancient scrambling. able online — including through up with the game world’s vul- hunter-gatherer population. PlayStation, whose support the Xbox console and, soon, the nerability to repeated denial of During the study, Martin homepage reported that the PlayStation. service attacks. Blaser, microbiologist at New York system was still offline, tweeted However, analysts said a “A DDos attack is like a semi University’s Langone Medical yesterday that “PS4, PS3, and direct connection with the Sony (truck) driver intentionally Center, noticed that the stomach Vita network services are Pictures attack was unlikely, jackknifing his rig on a busy bacteria Helicobacter pylori could gradually coming back online and that the latest hack was interstate and shutting down live symbiotically in people’s guts — thanks for your patience.” probably the work of fame- traffic for a few hours,” said a for decades, without causing them A new Twitter user going seeking amateurs. gamer writing under the name any harm. by the name “Lizard Squad” “The timing suggests that shadoefax. But it could also cause stomach took credit for the disruption, this is an attack that we can Game users also took ulcers and stomach cancer — a claiming it had the “nation on put in the category of adoles- to Twitter to vent their risk that grows with age. strings.” cents who are looking for a bit frustration. IANS The name is the same used of glory,” said Pierre Samson of “After this christmas, #liz- by a group of hackers that the European Circle Security ardsquad is forever on the has targeted Sony in the past, and Information Systems. naughty list,” one frustrated though it was not possible to “There is a very small prob- gamer fumed. verify the Twitter account’s ability that there was a direct A major cyber attack on authenticity. link with the attack on Sony PlayStation in 2011 saw per- The account did not return Pictures. You can order an sonal details from 77 million requests for comment and only attack to online services fairly customers stolen, preventing became active on Wednesday. easily with few resources.” customers from playing online Sony had earlier this month He said thousands of simi- and forcing Sony to disable the been hit by a sophisticated lar hacks are launched daily, network for more than three hacking attack that stole although they are not always weeks. AFP Sunday 28 December 2014 6 Rabial I 1436 Volume 19 Number 6293 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Rouble rout may spell further trouble: QNB Resilient Qatar unlikely to suffer from cross-border contagion Rouble rebound The rouble rebounded sharply on Friday after the government ordered exporters to DOHA: The capital flight from negatively impacted the current the case when the main export economies, raising concerns about sell some of their hard currency revenues, but Russia’s annual inflation has climbed developing economies has accel- account. Hydrocarbons accounted commodity is oil where the price cross-border contagion. into double digits in December due to the rouble’s depreciation. erated, most spectacularly from for 69 percent of export revenue is determined internationally. All The worst-hit were Eastern Russian rouble/US$ - Rebased, Year-to-date Russia’s key interest rate Russia. A toxic mix of falling oil in 2013 while the current account these factors weighed heavily on European countries such prices and international sanc- surplus is narrow (1.6 percent of the rouble and equity markets. as Ukraine and Hungary. 0 18 tions unnerved investors and GDP in 2013). Meanwhile, ten- Since June, Russia’s equity index Additionally, Bulgarian, Czech, Dec. 17 17% led to a collapse in the Russian sions in Ukraine and the steady adjusted for the weaker rouble fell Polish and Romanian equity mar- -10 15 rouble and equity markets in tightening of US and EU sanc- 41 percent. QNB weekly analy- kets have all fallen by 15 percent mid-December, the weekly tions against Russian banks, cor- sis highlighted that the Russian or more since June. These coun- -20 12 analysis of Qatar National Bank porations and individuals eroded authorities have responded with tries have been dragged down (QNB) Group said yesterday. their ability to raise external a number of measures and the by the deteriorating political -30 9 Measures introduced by the financing. The combined effect of rouble and equity markets have situation in Russia and Ukraine Dec. 26 -39.4% Russian authorities and flatter oil oil price declines and sanctions recovered the USD adjusted and were particularly severely -40 6 prices have been enough to calm unnerved investors leading to equity index is up 20 rouble since impacted by the collapse of markets for now, said QNB report. capital flight. As a result, Russia the trough. the rouble in December. There -50 3 However, it is likely that the crisis fell into a currency crisis and the Russia is not the only country appears to be some risk of finan- Dec. 17 will escalate further. There are rouble crashed 37 percent in one facing difficulties and there is a cial contagion from a balance of -54.6% 0 a number of commodity produc- day on December 16. risk that crises could emerge else- payments crisis in Russia to other -60 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec ing countries that are also facing The weakening of the rouble where. In Nigeria, the naira has countries in Eastern Europe. potential crises, such as Brazil, has had a negative impact on the weakened 10 percent since June In summary, oil prices are not Russia inflation - percent change Y/Y Nigeria and Venezuela. There is economy and Russian companies and the stock market is down 29 expected to recover to $100 levels 10.4 10.0 also a risk of cross-border conta- a recession is expected next year percent. In Venezuela, the black- in the next five years. Therefore, gion as investors flee from risky and equity markets have experi- market exchange rate has weak- Russia, Nigeria and Venezuela markets as has occurred in the enced a sharp selloff. Moreover, ened around 40 percent, inflation all remain at risk of crisis. This 7.5 case of Russia, Ukraine and other servicing the external debt of is over 60 percent, international could lead to contagion, weaker Eastern European countries, such Russian banks and corporations reserves are low and the country currencies and slower growth in 5.0 as Hungary. (which totals around $700bn, or is running out of basic goods. In a number of developing econo- Oil prices have fallen around 33 percent, of GDP) has been Brazil, the dollar adjusted equity mies. However, Qatar is unlikely 48 percent since June leading to made tougher with the rouble index has fallen 22 percent since to suffer from contagion as it has 2.5 a steady deterioration in the out- depreciation, causing a drag on June on lower oil and commod- been resilient so far. Although, look for a number of oil-exporting the economy and raising concerns ity prices and due to political its equity market has been hit by 0.0 countries, with Russia occupying about defaults. While a weaker uncertainty around the recent lower oil prices, it is still around 5 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec most of the headlines. The rou- currency can normally boost elections. The rouble’s collapse percent higher compared with the Sources: Thomson Reuters Datastream, Central Bank of Russia ble weakened as falling oil prices export competitiveness, this is not had an impact across developing end of June. THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Japan approves $29bn After Christmas sales stimulus programme No bond issue involved; keeps fiscal consolidation goal Japan’s economy TOKYO: Japan’s government Tohoku earthquake Shinzo Abe Sales tax hike and tsunami assumes office implemented approved yesterday stimulus March 2011 January 2013 April 2014 spending worth $29bn aimed PRIVATE CONSUMPTION - Percent change, q/q 4 at helping the country’s lagging 2 regions and households with 0 -2 subsidies, merchandise vouch- -4 -6 ers and other steps, but analysts 2008 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 are sceptical about how much it GDP - Expenditure approach, annualised percent change can spur growth. 12 9 The package, worth 3.5 tril- 6 lion yen was unveiled two weeks 3 0 after a massive election victory -3 by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s -6 -9 ruling coalition gave him a fresh -12 -15 mandate to push through his 2008 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14

“Abenomics” stimulus policies. INFLATION RATE - Percent change, YoY The government said it expects 4 3 the stimulus plan to boost Japan’s 2 GDP by 0.7 percent. 1 0 Given Japan’s dire public -1 -2 finances, the government will 2008 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 avoid fresh debt issuance and EXPORTS - Percent change, YoY fund the package with unspent 60 money from previous budgets and 40 20 Shoppers are pictured during day after Christmas sales at Citadel Outlets in Los Angeles, California. tax revenues that have exceeded 0 -20 budget forecasts due to economic -40 -60 recovery. 2008 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 With nationwide local elec- tions planned in April which Abe’s VISIBLE TRADE BALANCE - in trillion yen ruling bloc must win to cement 1.5 Russian grain exports revive 1.0 his grip on power, the package 0.5 centres on subsidies to regional 0.0 -0.5 governments to carry out steps -1.0 -1.5 again as informal curbs ease to stimulate private consumption -2.0 and support small firms. 2008 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 Of the total, 1.8 trillion yen INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION -Monthly index MOSCOW:Russian grain The informal Russian export Two trade sources said some 120 will be spent on measures such 110 exports have picked up again controls — tougher quality vessels were leaving Black Sea as distributing coupons to buy 100 after the decision to impose offi- monitoring by safety watchdog deep-water ports, but shallow- 90 merchandise, providing low- 80 cial export duties reduced the Rosselkhoznadzor and limits on water ports in the Azov Sea were income households with subsidies 70 informal curbs that had all but railway loadings — had all but still mostly closed, unofficially. 60 for fuel purchases, support- 2008 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 stopped sales abroad, SovEcon stopped exports, according to a State-controlled Russian ing funding at small firms and UTOKYO MONTHLY INDEX* - Percent change, YoY agriculture consultancy said non-state farm lobby group. Railways also called off its con- reviving regional economies. The 3 yesterday. The informal measures were trols on grain loadings on Friday, 2 remaining 1.7 trillion yen will 1 Russia, the world’s fourth larg- then followed by a government but said it planned to raise its be used for disaster-prevention 0 est wheat exporter, introduced decision to introduce duty on tariffs for such supplies by 13.4 -1 and rebuilding disaster-hit areas -2 informal grain export controls wheat exports from February 1 percent from January 24. including those affected by the 2008 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 last week to try and cool domestic until June 30, 2015. The Russian domestic grain March 2011 tsunami. Tokyo will *Index is compiled by the University of Tokyo which measures price data from supermarkets. wheat prices as exports hit record “Since the clarity over the duty, market has also revived in the also seek to bolster the housing Sources: Ministry of Finance and Bank of Japan via Thomson Reuters Datastream; UTokyo Price Project levels thanks to the slump in the market players have reported a past few days after stalling when market by lowering the mortgage rouble. decline in the informal barriers on the informal curbs were intro- rates offered by a governmental coalition in the nationwide local pin its hope on wage hikes by big Russia’s main wheat buyers are exports,” SovEcon said in a note. duced, SovEcon said. home-loan agency. “It’s better elections.” companies to play a greater role Turkey, Iran and Egypt, which is “Rosselkhoznadzor has started to The price of third-class wheat than doing nothing, but I don’t Kuwahara said the stimulus is in bolstering the economy and very vulnerable to any disruptions give certificates and vessels with fell 200 rouble to 11,125 roubles think this stimulus will have a big unlikely to spur consumer spend- pulling Japan out of deflation. in supply. grain have started leaving the ($206) per tonne in the European impact on boosting the economy,” ing amid uncertainty over the The stimulus highlights a tough Officials in Moscow have Azov and the Black Sea ports.” part of Russia at the end of this said Masaki Kuwahara, a senior economic outlook, adding that it balance Abe must strike between assured Egypt that deals to A Rosselkhoznadzor spokes- week, SovEcon said. economist at Nomura Securities. could push up GDP by just about boosting the economy and curb- import 120,000 tonnes of wheat man said, however, that the The price, though, is still too “This package directly tar- 0.2 percent. ing runaway debt, which is more for delivery in January will be tougher quality monitoring would high for the government which gets households and regions left With little room left for Japan than twice the size of GDP, the met, the state Al-Ahram newspa- remain in place. According to the is ready to pay 10,100 roubles a behind by Abenomics, so it may to resort to big fiscal spending, biggest in the developed world. per quoted Egypt’s supplies minis- watchdog, the tougher checks did tonne as part of its stock replen- work favourably to Abe’s ruling analysts say the government must REUTERS ter, Khaled Hanafi, as saying. not affect exports anyway. ishment programme. REUTERS Amazon draws 10m new Prime members over holidays

NEW YORK: Amazon.com Inc which confers free two-day ship- disclosed the precise number of season, compared with a year ear- Now to additional cities in 2015,” physical stores but make their said it drew more than 10 mil- ping and streaming of select mov- Prime subscribers, except to say it lier. It did not reveal figures for CEO Jeff Bezos said in a state- purchases online. “Mobile contin- lion new members to its Prime ies and songs, essential to driving is in the tens of millions. Analysts Prime Now, the novel one-hour ment. Amazon also said nearly 60 ues to accelerate the secular shift shipping and digital content its growth and margins. It was estimate it is growing at a rapid clip, delivery option unveiled for parts percent of its customers shopped from offline to online purchases,” service over the holidays and unclear, however, how many of and the company continues to try of New York City’s Manhattan bor- via a mobile device this holiday, said R.W. Baird analyst Colin intends to offer one-hour ship- the 10 million new members were and spice it up with new content. ough just this month. and total holiday sales through Sebastian. “Consumer use-cases ping to more cities in 2015. just taking advantage of a stand- Amazon said customers ordered “We are working hard to make its smartphone app doubled this for last-minute shopping, in-store Amazon considers its ing 30-day free trial offer. more than 10 times as many items Prime even better and expand- year. That may reflect “show- purchases and price comparison $99-a-year Prime membership, The Internet retailer has never via same-day delivery this holiday ing the recently launched Prime rooming,” when customers browse continue to expand.” REUTERS

City Link shut

The gates at a City Link depot are padlocked in south London. British courier and parcel firm City Link has gone into administration and many of its 2,727 employees will be made redundant in the coming days, its administrators said. No buyer has been found for the loss-making business, which pest control-to-hygiene group Rentokil Initial sold to private equity firm Better Capital for 1 pound last year, cutting loose a business that had dragged on its performance for years. SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19

Credit Suisse Uber broke Indian financial rules: RBI bid to dismiss Govt working to fix e-commerce payments post-Uber case: Central bank governor US mortgage NEW DELHI: India’s cen- which were in violation” of Indian the case raised new questions was not immediately available for unfair competition, which the tral bank chief lashed out at regulations, the central bank about Uber’s driver-screening comment on Rajan’s statements. company denies. Rajan added suit denied Uber, already under fire over governor Raghuram Rajan told procedures. Uber, which has been But the central bank told the India is seeking to establish a the alleged rape of a passenger, NDTV. engaged in judicial fights with firm it understood the problems new financial framework to keep NEW YORK: Swiss bank- saying the US taxi-hailing firm India will not tolerate such vio- governments around the world it was facing in setting up a pay- pace with the country’s burgeon- ing giant Credit Suisse can be violated the country’s financial lations “no matter who you are”, over safety and licensing issues, ment process and that it was ing e-commerce sector, which fea- prosecuted for its role in the regulations by using an overseas he warned. “If we are a country has said it is committed to pro- “willing to work to try and solve tures varying business models, so US housing finance meltdown, payment system. that is going to turn a blind eye to tecting its passengers in India them”, Rajan added. that it can flourish in the country. according to a court decision, A row over the highly valued a violation of regulation... then we and globally. Uber later migrated Uber users find a cab using a “We want to encourage that which dismissed the compa- start-up’s financial transactions don’t have rule of law,” Rajan said. to a new transaction process in smartphone app, which uses GPS kind of thing (e-commerce) — we ny’s bid to halt a suit. erupted in India earlier this year Rajan’s comments come after India in conformity with banking to connect the customer with the certainly have to recognise new The bank had filed a motion after domestic taxi firms com- Uber ran into fresh controversy regulations. nearest taxi driver. The company, technologies as they come and to have a suit for fraud over the plained Uber was not following in India earlier this month when The third-largest Asian econ- which has said its market value make adjustments to the fact sale of questionable mortgage the country’s two-step authen- it was banned from operating omy is one of the company’s key stands at $40bn, collects a com- they operate in a different fash- securities that dealt buyers tication system for e-commerce in the nation’s capital over the markets outside the United States mission for each ride. ion,” said Rajan. $11.2bn in losses in the housing credit card payments. alleged rape of a woman passen- and operates in nearly a dozen The firm’s operations in India, “We have some solutions com- crisis dismissed. “They (Uber) were using a ger by one of its drivers. Indian cities. as elsewhere around in the world, ing that are without too much But Justice Marcy Friedman way of bypassing our regulations The driver was formally charged The San Francisco-based have stirred tensions with local ‘jhanjhat’ (trouble) to solve them,” of New York’s Supreme Court to conduct transactions overseas with rape of the passenger and mobile taxi-booking provider cab drivers who accuse Uber of Rajan added. AFP authorised the state’s attorney general to pursue the suit in a decision on Wednesday. Freidman denied the bank’s Spain optimistic about growth claim that a three-year stat- ute of limitations had been Panama Canal claims exceeded, insisting that the state had six years to file against Credit Suisse. New York Attorney General $737m in cost overruns Eric Schneiderman sued Credit Suisse in November 2012, PANAMA CITY: The con- that the delay in excavation work stating that the Swiss bank sortium building the third set may mean it will not receive water deceived investors over the of locks for the Panama Canal needed to test the gates. quality of residential mortgage- is making fresh claims for cost Quijano, however, said he has backed securities that it sold overruns totaling $737m. a “plan B” to provide the neces- in 2006 and 2007. The suit said Canal administrator Jorge sary water for testing. The canal that the bank knew that the Quijano told reporters that the authority will pay another $120m RMBS it was selling as quality Panama Canal Authority had in adjustments to the contract and investments were full of high- received two claims on Tuesday other small claims, Quijano said. risk, subprime home loans that that “will be evaluated” to deter- Work began in 2007 to expand the bank’s own traders branded mine if there is probable cause. But the canal with a third set of locks “garbage.” The decision opens he warned that “at first glance, the to enable it to handle the modern the way for a settlement issues will be very difficult for the mega-freighters that global ship- between authorities and the counterparty to justify.” ping companies prefer. bank or proceedings that could One of the claims, for $333m, is But the $5.25bn project has result in heavy fines of up to related to the weight of the gate for been plagued by delays, strikes several billion dollars. the locks — at 55,000 tonnes, com- and a bitter dispute over $1.6bn in In 2013, US bank JPMorgan pared to the 35,000 tonnes initially cost overruns with the consortium agreed to pay $13bn to federal planned. But Quijano pointed to a carrying out the upgrade, led by and state agencies for losses clause in the contract according to Spanish construction firm Sacyr. related to falsely marketed which the canal authority would The project’s due date has been mortgage-backed securities, pay up to the value of a gate weigh- pushed back to early 2016. Nearby bringing an end to proceedings ing 49,000 tonnes. The second Nicaragua, meanwhile, launched initiated by Schneiderman and claim, for $404m, is due to delays construction this week on a rival others. Citigroup and Bank of in the fourth phase of excavation in canal, a $50bn project that the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy takes questions during a press conference following the last America paid $7bn and nearly the Pacific sector. The consortium, Chinese firm behind it plans to Cabinet meeting of the year, in Madrid, Spain. Rajoy appeared optimistic about growth within the $17bn respectively to settle Grupos Unidos por el Canal, says complete in five years. AFP Spanish economy for 2015, even as other large European economies continue to struggle to rebound claims over risky mortgage following the economic slump. securities. AFP Dalian Wanda Producer Price Index for October down by 6.4pc buys control of DOHA: The monthly Producer received by domestic produc- products” by 3.3 percent, “Grain The overall PPI of October, down by 2.9 percent. However, Price Index (PPI) of the ers for their output of dif- mill and other products”, by 1.3, 2014, compared to the PPI of price rises were noticed in China online Industrial sector for October ferent sectors covering the “Basic metals” by 0.6 percent October, 2013, has decreased “Dairy products” by 5.2 percent, stood at 148.2 (Base Year Mining, Electricity & Water and and “Beverages” group by 0.2 (year-on year) by 13.3 percent. “Cement and other non-metallic 2006=100), showing a decline Manufacturing activities. percent; and price increases The “Mining” group PPI leads products” by 2.6 percent, “Basic payments firm of 6.4 percent over the PPI of The “Mining” group (with a noticed in “Basic Chemicals” by this drop, where Crude petro- Metals” by 1.2 percent, “Basic September 2014, according to weight of 77 percent), registered 1.3 percent, and “Cement and leum and Natural gas prices chemicals” by 0.1 percent, and data released by the Ministry a decline of 7.6 percent, mainly other “non-metallic products” tumble by 15.4 percent. “Grain mill and other products” BEIJING: China’s Dalian of Development Planning and due to decrease in prices of crude groups by 0.6 percent. The “Manufacturing” group by 0.5 percent. Wanda Group Co, whose real Statistics yesterday. petroleum and natural gas by The PPI of “Electricity and PPI showed a decline of 4.5 per- The PPI for “Electricity & estate arm just raised about However, on year-on-year 7.7 percent. water” group (with 2 percent cent in October, 2014, when com- Water” showed a decrease of 2.3 $3.7bn in a Hong Kong share basis the index has declined by The “Manufacturing” group weightage) shows an increase pared to the PPI of October, 2013. percent, resulting from the price sale, said it has bought a con- 13.3 percent compared to the PPI PPI (with a weight of 21 percent) of 0.8 percent, resulting from The major products where price falls witnessed in Electricity trolling stake in 99Bill Corp, a of October 2013. is down by 1.7 percent. This fall price rises seen in Electricity fall was seen include “Refined by 2.6 percent and Water by Chinese third-party payment The index (PPI) is a meas- is the combined result of price and Water by 0.4 percent and Petroleum Products”, slumping 1.8 percent. processor similar to PayPal. ure of the average selling prices falls seen in “Refined Petroleum 1.5 percent, respectively. by 7.9 percent and “Beverages”, THE PENINSULA China’s biggest commercial property developer did not say how much it paid for the stake, which marks its first acquisition Bosnian workers march in the Internet finance sector, but sources said it may have spent Audi to up investment more than 2bn yuan ($322.55m). The Beijing-based conglomerate is diversifying into e-commerce as it seeks to maintain profitability in new models, plants during China’s property downturn. “Wanda Group hopes that 99Bill BERLIN: Volkswagen’s flag- in the innovative areas of electric will soon provide online payment ship Audi division is to increase mobility, connectivity and light- solutions for all Wanda’s busi- spending on new models, plants weight construction.” nesses, and quickly become a lead- and technology through 2019 Audi, the world’s second big- ing payment and financial service to push its goal of surpass- gest luxury automaker, is aiming provider in China,” Ding Benxi, ing German rival BMW as to expand its model range to 60 Dalian Wanda’s chief executive, the world’s largest luxury-car from currently 50 by 2020 and is told a news conference. manufacturer. spending over €1bn on new facto- The 99Bill tie-up places property Audi, which contributes 40 ries in Mexico and Brazil. billionaire Wang Jianlin, Dalian percent of operating profit at Ingolstadt-based Audi said it Wanda’s chairman, into direct Europe’s biggest automotive will hire another 850 workers competition with Alibaba Group group, said yesterday it will push in Mexico next year where the Holding Ltd Executive Chairman up investment in car-making Q5 sport-utility vehicle will be Jack Ma and his Alipay unit, operations by €2bn ($2.44bn) to assembled from 2016. which controls about 80 percent a record €24bn over the next five Under its previous budget of China’s mobile payment market. years. drawn up a year ago, Audi Alipay settled $788bn in transac- Seventy percent of spending announced investments of €22bn tions in the year ended on June 30. will be assigned to developing new over the 2014-18 period. Parent Wang has said he was preparing to models and technologies such as VW in November unveiled auto shift the focus of the conglomerate emission-cutting plug-in hybrid investments of €85.6bn through towards entertainment, tourism vehicles, Audi said. The brand is 2019, slightly more than a year and online businesses. He said at also working on purely electric earlier, even as the carmaker a conference this month that he cars to catch up with BMW and is pushing cost cuts at its core would announce plans for trans- Tesla Motors. brand. forming the group early next year. More than half of the funds will Stadler told German daily In August, Dalian Wanda be spent on Audi’s two German Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung teamed up with two Chinese factories in Ingolstadt and (FAZ) in an interview yesterday Internet giants, Tencent Holdings Neckarsulm which accounted for that the launch of an electric and Baidu, to launch an e-com- half the carmaker’s nine-month sports car and a sports activity Bosnian workers march through the village of Cerik, as they walk towards the Bosnian-Croatian bor- merce joint venture that could output of 1.34 million autos, Audi vehicle (SAV) were under way. der. Nearly 200 Bosnian employees left the city of Tuzla on Wednesday, on a journey of 77km to the leverage the group’s 104 Wanda said. “We place top priority on sus- The SAV would be a four-wheel Croatian border, after several state owned factories closed and left them jobless and unpaid for the Plaza shopping malls, 72 luxury tainable growth,” Chief Executive drive with a range of more than work they provided before factories closed. Croatia, a European Union country, is more prosperous hotels and 150 movie theaters in Rupert Stadler said. “That’s why 500 km per battery load, Stadler than Bosnia, where unemployment is more than 40 percent. 111 Chinese cities. REUTERS we are making large investments said. REUTERS SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS China industry suffers biggest dip in 27 months Industrial profits drop 4.2pc to $108.85bn in November due to decline in sales Trade growth SHANGHAI: Chinese indus- trial profits dropped 4.2 percent in November to 676.12bn yuan ($108.85bn), official data showed falling short yesterday, the biggest annual decline since August 2012 as the economy hit major unexpected headwinds in the second half. of 2014 target Despite last month’s drop, prof- its for January-November were 5.3 SHANGHAI: China’s trade will grow 3.5 percent percent higher than in the first 11 in 2014, implying the country will fall short of a months of 2013, according to the current 7.5 percent official growth target, accord- National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) ing to a report on the Ministry of Commerce’s web- data. The NBS attributed November’s site that was subsequently revised to remove the profit drop to declining sales and a numbers. The initial version of the report published long-running slide in producer pric- on the website yesterday, which quoted Minister of ing power. “Increasing price falls Commerce Gao Hucheng, was replaced with a new shrank the space for profit,” the version that had identical wording but with all the agency said. It said the impact of numbers and percentages removed. prices for coal, oil and basic materials China’s trade figures have repeatedly fallen short of falling to their lowest levels in years expectations in the second half of this year, providing “was extremely clear”. more evidence that China’s economy may be facing As the NBS analysis suggested, a sharper slowdown. Foreign direct investment will the net slide in industrial profits was amount to $120bn for the year, the earlier version of driven primarily by weakness in coal Ministry of Commerce report said, in line with official mining, and oil and gas industries, forecasts. The earlier version of the report also said where November profits tumbled outward non-financial investment from China could from a year earlier by 44.4 percent also come in around the same level. and 13.2 percent respectively. That would mark the first time outward flows have Oil, coking coal and nuclear fuel pulled even with inward investment flows in China, processing industries saw their prof- People working at the site of a new airport at the outskirts of Beijing. The airport, which will be located in southern Beijing’s and would imply a major surge in outward investment its slide by 34.2 percent, accord- Daxing district, has been designed to handle 72 million passengers, 2 million tonnes of cargo, and 620,000 flights in 2025. in December given that the current accumulated level ing to the data. On the upside, stands slightly below $90bn. Chinese technology industries saw The earlier version of the report also predicted that profits grow sharply last month. promoting industry restructuring is avoid causing a crisis in the finan- Economists are debating whether retail sales growth would come in at 12 percent for Telecommunications firms saw a having a positive effect on efficiency,” cial system. the monetary easing steps taken 2014, in line with the current average growth rate. 20.7 percent increase, electronics the NBS analysis said. If Beijing allows mass closures in recent months — including late In a separate report, the Chinese Academy of Social and machinery grew 15.1 percent and However, the unbalanced nature of among its sagging erstwhile indus- November’s surprise interest rate cut Sciences predicted that real estate prices in Chinese automobile manufacturers enjoyed a the performance highlights a quan- trial champions in the name of eco- — can prove effective in a context cities would continue to slide in 2015, with third- and 16.7 percent gain. dary regulators face. They want to nomic transformation, it also risks where many companies are seeking fourth-tier cities hit hardest. “This suggests that on the one restructure the Chinese economy forcing a wave of bad loans onto bank fresh capital primarily to roll over But it said the market would have a soft landing as hand, in the context of weak invest- away from credit- and energy- balance sheets. That would make existing debt amid weak customer local governments take action to provide further policy ment demand, stable consumption intensive heavy industries toward banks even more reluctant to lend to demand, while China’s most success- support to the market. demand provided a certain degree lightweight technology products the next-generation companies which ful firms remain reluctant to borrow. REUTERS of support; on the other hand, and services, yet they must also authorities want them to support. REUTERS Shanghai free trade zone plans expansion China’s monetary policy SHANGHAI: China will dra- Zhangjiang districts nearby. green light to many projects out- commitment to the Shanghai appropriate: Central bank matically expand the size of The expansion will allow com- side the zone that duplicated or FTZ - a caution now paying off a free trade zone (FTZ) in panies in those areas to take exceeded the policy benefits the for those who waited. Shanghai to include the city’s advantage of existing preferential Shanghai municipal government In addition, analysts said that SHANGHAI: The head of costs for off-balance sheet financ- commercial centre where major policies for companies in the free hoped would remain exclusive. while many of the liberalisations China’s central bank’s research ing at a large number of banking multinational companies and trade zone and it fulfils a govern- Not only did Beijing authorise implemented in the zone targeted department told a forum in institutions; these are two sides Chinese banks have their head- ment commitment to expand the competing zones in other cit- service industries, the zone’s sepa- Beijing that China’s current of the same coin.” quarters, state media reported. zone once conditions were deemed ies, it also launched nationwide rate areas were all far from the monetary policy is appropriate He said next year could see The official Xinhua news ripe. The zone was launched in pilots testing liberalisation for central business district. but that liquidity management more policy adjustments to reduce agency cited the conclusion of 2013 to much fanfare but it has currency controls and cross-bor- Long commutes to meetings is increasingly important in the funding costs, buttressed by the the 12th meeting of the National failed to live up to expectations. der investment, most recently deterred many companies that face of high funding costs. creation of new financial prod- People’s Congress on Friday, but it Media reports predicting that the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock might have otherwise been inter- The remarks by the People’s ucts and services. Sources say the did not given a date for the formal opening the FTZ would be fol- Connect programme, that dimin- ested, analysts said. In addition, Bank of China (PBOC) research PBOC has also told financial insti- expansion nor mention any new lowed by deep liberalisation to ished the zone’s relative appeal. real estate speculation grew so bureau head Lu Lei were reported tutions it will further ease loan- policies for the zone. China’s capital account, the The Shanghai zone’s geographic fierce that the zone government in the official Securities Times to-deposit ratio requirements, Under the plan, the zone will be scrapping of wide restrictions isolation out near the airport and stepped in to control prices. newspaper yesterday. “On the one having already relaxed their enlarged to include the Lujiazui on foreign investment, and even the port area was also a disad- The Xinhua report also said hand, we can see the difficulties in enforcement in October, freeing financial district, Shanghai’s riv- the lowering of China’s censor- vantage. Companies with existing that the geographic limits of trade fundraising in the real economy, up more liquidity by unlocking erside commercial centre and ship firewall inside the zone went footprints in the city were reluc- zones in Guangdong, Fujian prov- being both difficult and expen- existing cash held by banks and in home to its tallest skyscrapers. largely unfulfilled. At the same tant to relocate given uncertain- ince and the city of Tianjin had sive,” he was quoted as saying. theory increasing their propensity It will include the Jinqiao and time, the leadership gave the ties about the depth of Beijing’s been set. REUTERS “On the other hand, we see high to lend. REUTERS

Strike against privatisation Hyundai, Kia promote Toshiba plans younger executives, overseas chip with eye on succession production plant TOKYO: Toshiba Corp will decide dur- ing the next business year from April on SEOUL: Hyundai Motor and Both Hyundai and Kia did not where to build an additional memory chip affiliate Kia Motors promoted elaborate on the reasons for the plant and will consider overseas locations younger executives on Friday, promotion of the executives. for the facility, Chief Executive Hisao in moves analysts said would While Hyundai Motor Group Tanaka said. help smoothen an eventual chairman Chung Mong-koo, 76, Less than four months after opening a leadership succession at the has given no signal that he plans NAND flash memory chip fabrication plant family-owned conglomerate. to step down soon, he is expected in Yokkaichi, western Japan, Tanaka said Hyundai Motor said it ele- to eventually hand over reins to that demand is outstripping capacity and vated chief marketing officer his only son and vice chairman, the Japanese conglomerate must expand Cho Won-hong to executive Eui-sun, who is 44. production. NAND memory chips are used vice president. Cho, 50, was At Samsung Electronics, vice in smartphones and other electronic devices. handpicked by the automaker’ chairman Jay Y. Lee is seen “Samsung already has a factory in China, s heir apparent Chung Eui- accelerating moves to take over in Xian, and Hynix has one, too,” Tanaka sun, people familiar with the from his father Lee Kun-hee, said. matter said. who was hospitalized in May for Pressed on whether China would be Its domestic public relations a heart attack. the best overseas location, he added: “But chief Kong Young-woon, who Cho, who earned an MBA Samsung has a plant in the United States, too is 50, was also elevated to at the Wharton School of the as well.” Toshiba will aim to begin produc- the post, making the duo the University of Pennsylvania tion at the new facility around 2017, he said, second-youngest executive vice and served as head of consul- adding that domestic locations would also presidents currently at Hyundai. tancy Monitor Group’s Korean be an option. At Kia, Kim Gyun, a 52-year- office, started his stint at For the company’s nuclear power plant old at the strategic planning Hyundai in 2010. business, Tanaka said India could be an division, was also promoted to “Automakers are injecting option if he could be convinced of the worka- executive vice president. younger blood into the organi- bility of a proposed insurance pool backed by “When you look at this zation to cope with a paradigm the government to indemnify global nuclear year’s management reshuffle at shift and lead innovations,” suppliers against liability in the case of a Korean firms, you have to focus said Lee Hang-koo, a senior nuclear accident. on executive vice presidents, not researcher at the state-funded The company’s healthcare department CEOs, because they are the ones Korea Institute for Industrial aims to reach the 1 trillion yen ($8.3 billion) who will support scions when Economics and Trade. milestone in revenue in 2017 partly through they take over,” said Chung Sun- BMW said early this month acquisitions, although M&A on the scale of sup, head of local research firm that Harald Krueger, a 49-year hundreds of billions of yen would be neces- Chaebul.com. old production chief, will suc- sary to achieve that goal, Tanaka said. “The promotion of young ceed Norbert Reithofer as chief A Renfe worker waits for passengers before the departure of a train bound to Madrid, running “Our strong suits are diagnostics, treat- executives should pave the way executive of the German car in minimum services, during a 23-hour nationwide train strike against the privatisation plans of ment, and such, but (M&A deals) would for the future of the junior maker in May of next year. railway public companies Adif and Renfe, at Malaga Maria Zambrano station in southern Spain. most likely be in MRIs and CT scans, or Chung,” he said. REUTERS the area of disease prevention.” REUTERS SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

Oil prices fell, why aren’t China’s Russia bailout is airfares doing the same? BY VOLODYMYR BILOTKACH ominous sign for future IL prices are down almost 50 percent from their peak this year, and jet fuel has plunged 33 percent since last December. OGiven energy costs consume almost a third of airline oper- ating expenses, shouldn’t we expect airfares to decline as well? In BY WILLIAM PESEK that’s been decades in the mak- punches. What happens if and Zimbabwe. But there’s also short, don’t hold your breath. ing. The IMF, World Bank the Federal Reserve’s taper- lots at stake for Asia’s budding As one might expect, airfares react more quickly to a rise in HANKS to China, and ADB are bloated, change- ing slams economies from democracies. The so-called the price of a barrel of oil than to a decline. As economists would Christine Lagarde adverse institutions. When India to Indonesia and govern- Washington consensus on eco- say, the prices are sticky on the way down. Long-term contracts, of the International Ukraine received a $17bn IMF- ments look to China for help? nomic policies isn’t perfect, but a lack of competition and profit maximization all play a part, and Monetary Fund, led bailout this year it was Why would Cambodia, Laos or is Beijing’s model of autocratic airlines aren’t in any hurry to give up that extra income at a time Jim Yong Kim of about shoring up a geopolitically Vietnam bother with the IMF’s state capitalism with scant when seats are already packed for the holidays. Tthe World Bank and Takehiko important economy, not geopo- conditions when China writes press freedom really a better In the U K, there’s some good news. The government said this Nakao of the Asian Development litical blackmail. big checks with few strings option? week that airfares have begun to decrease along with the lower fuel Bank may no longer have much Chinese President Xi attached? With China becoming Asia’s costs. Could the same thing happen on this side of the Atlantic? meaningful work to do. Jinping’s government doesn’t Beijing’s $24bn currency swap sugar daddy, the temptation in, The numbers don’t look good so far. The price of an average Beijing’s move to bail out care about upgrading econo- program to help Russia is a sign say, Myanmar might be to avoid airline ticket climbed 1.63 percent this year through October, com- Russia, on top of its recent aid mies, the health of tax regimes of things to come. Russia, it’s the difficult process of creating pared with a 6.96 percent decline in energy prices over the same for Venezuela and Argentina, or central bank reserves. It often said, is too nuclear to fail. credible institutions to oversee period, according to Consumer Price Index data. And even as the signals the death of the post-war cares about loyalty. The quid As Moscow weathers the worst the economy. decline in oil prices accelerated in recent months to a five-year low, Bretton Woods world. It’s also pro quo: For our generous crisis since the 1998 default, it’s There could be a silver lining carriers haven’t cut their airfares as a result, according to George marks the beginning of the end assistance we expect your full tempting to view China as a good to China lavishing its nearly $4 Hobica, founder of airfarewatchdog.com. for America’s linchpin role in support on everything from global citizen. trillion of currency reserves on “Airlines are going to use this windfall to buy new planes, refur- the global economy and Japan’s Taiwan to territorial disputes But Beijing is just enabling crisis-plagued nations: It might bish terminals . . . there’s no incentive to reduce prices,” he said. influence in Asia. to deadening the West’s pesky President Vladimir Putin, force the IMF, World Bank “In the past, when fuel goes down, airfares don’t.” What is China’s new Asian focus on human rights. who’s now under zero pressure and ADB to raise their games. Inflation-adjusted airfares have increased in three out of the Infrastructure Investment This may sound hyperbolic; to diversify his economy away Competition, as Lagarde, Kim last four quarters for which data are available, while oil prices Bank if not an ADB killer? If Russia, Argentina and Venezuela from oil. The same goes for and Nakao would agree, is a good have declined in all four, on a year-over-year basis, according to Japan, ADB’s main benefactor, are already at odds with the US China’s $2.3bn currency swap thing. But more likely, China’s US government data. In the second quarter of this year, average won’t share the presidency with and its allies. But what about with Argentina and its $4bn largess will encourage bad policy airfares were up 2.5 percent from a year earlier, compared with a Asian peers, Beijing will just use Europe? In 2011 and 2012, it loan to Venezuela. In the Chinese habits and impede development 0.8 percent decline in the price of oil. its deep pockets to overpower it. looked to Beijing to save euro century, bad behaviour has its in ways that leave the global According to the International Air Transport Association, jet fuel Lagarde’s and Kim’s shops also bond markets through massive rewards. economy worse off. constituted 30 percent of airlines’ total operating costs in 2013, and are looking at a future in which purchases. If ever there were a time for William Pesek, a Bloomberg the price of it was down 33 percent at the beginning of December crisis-wracked governments call Expect more of this dynamic President Barack Obama to View columnist based in Tokyo, from a year earlier. All else being equal, that means airline oper- Beijing before Washington. in 2015 should fresh turmoil hit accelerate his “pivot” to Asia writes on economics, markets and ating costs are about 10 percent lower than they were last year. China stepping up its role as the euro zone, at which time it’s now. There’s plenty to worry politics throughout the Asia-Pacific Let’s look at three facts we can glean from an analysis of the lender of last resort upends an Beijing will expect European about as China tosses money at region. historical data from the Department of Transportation. First of economic development game leaders to pull their diplomatic rogue governments like Sudan WP-BLOOMBERG all, oil prices are much more volatile than airfares. Second, look- ing at the quarterly data, the two move in the same direction only about two times out of three. Third, when airfares and oil prices do move in the same direction, on average a 17 percent change in oil price is associated with a one percent shift in average airfares. This implies that a 50 percent drop in the price of oil should yield a three percent fall in fares. Whether airlines will actually pass those lower fuel costs on to the consumers will depend on their energy hedging strategies and the intensity of competition in the industry. Fuel hedging, which involves signing contracts that keep the cost of fuel fixed for a designated period of time, makes sense if the airline expects prices to rise. If an airline hedges, and the price of fuel falls as in the present situation, the carrier will find itself paying more for fuel than it should. And it can be assumed that many airlines are in that situation now, meaning that even though prices are down, their fuel costs may well be above the market rate. European carriers have already begun ending their hedges as early as this summer, according to Bloomberg. And it seems US carriers are following suit. This suggests the airlines are indeed already taking advantage of the drop in jet fuel prices and as a result simply fattening their profit margins, rather than lowering airfares. And that can be explained by the state of competition in the industry, one of only two things that typically cause airfares to decline, according to Hobica (the other being a recession). Competition among the major carriers in the US is insufficient to create incentives for passing the fuel cost savings along to pas- sengers. The mega-mergers and consolidation over the last decade have left the US market with only four large airlines, plus a few smaller carriers such as Alaska Air and JetBlue. While one might think that four rivals is enough to create a competitive landscape, the fact that the airlines interact continu- ally and operate in so many markets can lead to what economists refer to as tacitly collusive behaviour. In other words, there’s soft (little or no) competition over prices but not explicit price fixing. Moreover, mergers have substantially increased the number of routes in which the major airlines are competing with one another. While it might seem like that would lead to more competition and lower prices overall, in fact, economic studies suggest increased so-called multimarket contact can lead to collusion. That is, the air- lines would keep prices artificially high rather than try to undercut one another with cheaper fares out of fear their rivals will harm them in another market where they both compete. WP-BLOOMBERG Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Cuban port poised for trade boom BY ANATOLY Residents, mired in poverty, hope Fish salesman Ivan Sanchez is feels frustrated by the obstacles we can solve anything with our said. “I might have three rooms KURMANAEV the container terminal and near- reaping the benefits, citing three thrown in his way as he tries to hands. If only we had the condi- ready to rent next year.” by free- trade zone will be the first Venezuelan shipping agents as his help the town emerge from its tions, we could do anything.” Four years after President HE last time Elda to benefit after President Barack best customers. “They have the economic lethargy. After waiting Jhonny Amores, 41, can sympa- Raul Castro’s decision to simplify Fernandez Acosta saw Obama announced on December most money to spare,” Sanchez three hours in the Community thize as he sits at the desk in the licensing laws for private industry US ships come into 17 the restoration of diplomatic said while showcasing 3-kilo packs Council, the administrative branch office of his hotel — without any and increase the range of activi- the harbour at Mariel ties and an easing of a five-decade- of snook for traditional Cuban of the town hall, to get a document rooms. The electricity has failed ties open to them, the island’s was to evacuate thou- old embargo. New Year meals from a freezer in allowing him to pay his 16 workers again and he is wiping sweat from economy remains in the doldrums. Tsands of Cubans seeking a bet- Goods will be transported along the back of his house. holiday bonuses, he gives up. his brow as he fills out stacks of Economic growth slowed to ter life abroad 34 years ago. The a new bypass connecting the Yet, in a country where the “The paperwork is too exasper- forms on a cramped desk next 1.3 percent this year, almost half next time she sees them, they’ll port to a three-lane highway to average wage is $20 a month, ating,” Rodriguez, 38, said while to his assistant in a small room the official target and down from be loaded with Cuban goods for Havana, about 40km further east. many potential customers walk dodging streams of water in the adorned by portraits of guerrilla 2.7 percent in 2013, according export, she says. The free-trade zone to be com- away without buying, unable to Council’s leaky reception room. leader Ernesto “Che” Guevara and to National Office of Statistics. “Once the blockade falls, the pleted in 2015 will churn out other afford the $5 bundles. Down the “We have the hope of benefiting former President Fidel Castro. Economic slowdowns in Venezuela economy here will really take goods for export, said Cesario road, the new cranes outside from the port, but the regulatory The provincial government and Brazil curbed any resurgence off,” said Fernandez, Communal Melantonio, Brazilian ambassador Fernandez’s office are idle and changes are very, very slow.” assigned Amores six months ago of activity at Mariel’s port. Assembly President of Cuba’s big- to Cuba. Tax and tariff exemptions only one ship is docked in the ter- Rodriguez, a trained lawyer, to renovate Mariel’s only hotel, La Estel Gordines, 70, lives in a gest port, as she looked out from in the zone will allow Brazilian minal on Christmas Eve. said all deals with foreign firms Puntilla, a dilapidated state- owned social housing project next to her office at four new Brazilian- agribusiness, food and tobacco For now, Mariel’s potential is are negotiated by the government, building on a bay that hasn’t been Mariel’s power plant and survives built cranes across the bay. companies to exploit Cuba’s edu- unfulfilled and few local people are preventing his company from get- inhabited since the 1990s. on a $10 monthly disability stipend “Companies will come here to cated and low-cost labour force benefiting from the investment. ting port construction work. His He said a group of Spanish for her deaf and mute son. export all over the world.” to gain a competitive edge in the Many homes in the town of projects with local authorities to hoteliers came last month to talk “We haven’t seen any of the new Famous for the Mariel boat-lift US and Caribbean markets, he 43,000 have no tap water because renovate parts of the hospital and about investing, though he hasn’t money, nothing has changed here of 1980 when Cuban authorities said in an interview December of broken pipes, and those resi- kindergarten have stalled because heard from them since. In the in the last 20 years,” she said. “I allowed 125,000 people to flee to the 23. Brazil is Cuba’s fifth biggest dents with water can’t drink it of lack of funds, meaning he can’t meantime, Amores is rebuilding subsist on what my friends and United States, the town used to be trading partner. due to contamination. Outside the afford a proper Christmas meal each of the 23 rooms “one brick relatives give me.” Thirty four a symbol of Cuba’s economic stag- The new port already employs homes, horse drawn carriages tus- for his family this year. at a time” with sporadic funding years after the boat-lift, many in nation and despair. Now, a $1bn about 2,000 workers, 10 times sle for space with container trucks “I know we are technologically from authorities. Mariel are not convinced staying port opened this year by Brazil’s more than the old terminal, in the muddy, narrow streets. backward, but we are not morons,” “Hopefully, once the port picks for the possible end of the embargo Odebrecht is making it emblem- on above-average wages, said Construction businessman Rodriguez said. “We have the inge- up the need for accommodation will be worth the 54-year wait. atic of the island’s potential. Fernandez. Carlos Rodriguez Vazquez says he nuity and academic preparation, will increase the pace of work,” he WP-BLOOMBERG SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com GECM & TENDERS

GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS MAP (GECM) Every Sunday China’s services trade deficit UK current account deficit widens in November Third-quarter US economic soars to £27bn French manufacturing BEIJING: China recorded a deficit of growth strongest in 11 years LONDON: The UK’s current $20.8bn in its services trade with the account deficit widened faster shrinks as weak demand rest of the world in November, official Japan inflation slips to WASHINGTON: The US economy weighs on economy 14-month low grew at a 5.0 percent clip in the than expected in the third quarter data showed Tuesday. That was third quarter, its quickest pace to reach a record high of £27bn. PARIS: The jobless total rose wider than a $17.2 billion deficit in TOKYO: Inflation in Japan in 11 years and the strongest The Office for National Statistics by 27,400 in November to the services trade for October. China dropped to a 14-month 3,488,300 - the highest level sign yet that growth has (ONS) said today the Q3 deficit previously reported a record $54.47 low in November, in what yet seen. That means the decisively shifted into higher stood at £27bn, up from £24.3bn billion surplus on its merchandise trade policy makers hope will be a in Q2 2014 and significantly worse number looking for a job has in November. temporary lull caused by the gear. Previously, the economy risen by 5.8pc in the past year. was reported to have expanded than economists’ expectations of recent sharp drop in the oil at a 3.9 percent annual rate. a £23bn figure. price. Growth has now been revised up by a total of 1.5 percentage points since an initial estimate in India’s foreign trade rises by October. 13.42pc to $42bn since 1990s NEW DELHI: : India’s foreign trade South Africa government trims rose over 18 times since the launch of budget deficit forecast Economists cut Brazil 2014 economic liberalisation programme in growth forecast to 0.13pc. JOHANNESBURG: The Labour 1991 while the trade deficit widened government has trimmed its by more than 22 times. The country’s RIO DE JANEIRO: Private 2014/15 deficit projection to $185 foreign trade (export and import) has economists estimate Brazil’s million, after the budget bottom increased with an annual average economic growth in 2014 at 0.13 line was boosted by a one-off growth rate of 13.42 per cent from $42 percent, the Central Bank said payment from the privatisation of billion in 1990-91 to $765 billion in Monday. Latin America’s largest the Motor Accident Commission. 2013-14. economy is suffering through its But a forecast budget surplus for roughest year since 2009, when the following year has been revised Brazilian GDP shrank 0.33 percent. Unemployment to reach down, from $406m to $265m. 12 year high SYDNEY: “The unemployment rate is expected to drift up to 6¼pc by the June quarter of 2015,” Hockey’s report said.

TENDERS

TENDER TENDER CLOSING TENDER TENDER CLOSING No. COMPANY TENDER NO. SUBJECT No. COMPANY TENDER NO. SUBJECT BOND FEES DATE BOND FEES DATE

Stocking & supply of Methyldiethanolamine Re-bidding Renting one printing office 19/01/2015 Ministry of 12 Monday 1LT14MT0098(MDEA) on call-off basis for a period of QR 35,000 QR 500 21 (female) at Airport (Al Matar) Traffic QR 1,500 QR 100 (12:00hrs) Interior 2014-2015 05/01/2015 three (3) years Department for (3) years

Supply & Work contract for Modification of Supply of DBB valves, various sizes-107 20/01/2015 PWA/ Existing portable GSM starter panels for 2 ST14MT0262 QR 18,000 QR 100 22 QR 8,000 QR 400 15/01/2015 nos. (12:00hrs) STC/031/14-15 incorporation of Remote level Monitoring system AA/D/14-15/OM/1659/S Supply, install, commission & training of Pre-contract professional consultancy reference 600 potentiostat/Galvanostat 13/01/2015 PWA/ 3ST14MT0278 QR 15,000 QR 100 23 Services for 5 new Masjids at Various QR 35,000 QR 500 15/01/2015 Zra. 6 channels for Gamry corrossion test (12:00hrs) STC/032/14-15 equipment Locations (package 5) BA/14-15/D/031/S

Motor Control center (MCC) Spares PWA/ Epic for replacing of Old 3 phase test 24 2014-Supply/Installation AA/DOM/14- QR 45,000 QR 500 8/1/2015 4GT14117300 QR 600,000 QR 500 25/01/2015 STC/034/14-15 separators at DKH 15/M/1674/S

Stocking & supply of monosodium Provision and maintenance of safety 20/01/2015 PWA/ 5ST14MT0290Phosphate (MSP) solution on call-off basis QR 15,000 QR 100 25 barriers throughout Qatar, Contract-4 AA/ QR 700,000 QR 1,500 13/01/2015 (12:00hrs) GTC/068/14-15 for a Period of three (3) years ROM/14-15/056/C2/G

Provision and maintenance of safety Sale and removal of butane tank power 30/12/2014 PWA/ 6 ST14MT0237 QR 2,000 Free 26 barriers throughout Qatar Contract-5 AA/ QR 700,000 QR 1,500 13/01/2015 transformer & regeneration cooler (12:00hrs) GTC/069/14-15 ROM/14-15/059/C3/G Sale and removal of electronic system 30/12/2014 7 ST14MT0239 QR 2,000 free Supply of ABS submersible pump spares materials/ items etc (12:00hrs) PWA/ 27 for pumping stations AA/DOM/14-15/ QR 32,000 QR 500 22/01/2015 STC/030/14-15 M/1656-2.05/S Sale and removal of electrical cables and 30/12/2014 8ST14MT0241 QR 2,000 Free equipment/ electroinc materials etc (12:00hrs) Construction, completion & Maintenance PWA/ of proposed administrative offices, Garage QR Epic for Fibre optic telecommunications at 28 QR 5,000 20/01/2015 9ST14103700 QR 40,000 QR 200 6/1/2015 GTC/064/14-15 & Labor accomodation at Wadi Al Mazroua 4,800,000 QPAA and QPSFA in Dukhan Zone ( Jarle Al Samar) BA/13-14/C/087/G

13/01/2015 PWA/ Road safety improvement program stage QR 10 ST14MT0291 Supply of scuba set QR 12,000 QR 100 29 QR 3,000 30/12/2014 (12:00hrs) GTC/065/14-15 2B AA-R/14-15/OM/045/C2/G 1,750,000

Three years on-call supply of PWA/ 13/01/2015 30 miscellaneous hoses for drainage networks QR 900,000 QR 1,500 6/1/2015 11 ST14MT0292 Supply of chloride adsorbent QR 7,200 QR 100 GTC/066/14-15 (12:00hrs O & M Dept. AA/DOM/14-15/M/1677/G

04/01/2015 20/01/2015 LTC Distribution control Center Web Application 12 ST14MT0293 Supply of RTK/DGPS survey equipment QR 10,000 QR 100 31 QR 15,000 QR 500 Not later (12:00hrs) 869/2014 (DCC Application) than 11:00am

Sale and removal of SS linepipes 27/01/2015 Sale and remvoal of various machineries, 27/01/2015 13 ST14MT0279 QR 2,000 Free 32 ST14MT0277 QR 2,000 Free (different sizes) (12:00hrs) instrumentation & electrical parts ets (12:00hrs)

12:00 hours Sale and removal of furniture, kitchen & 27/01/2015 QF/RD/TC/ 33 ST14MT0281 QR 2,000 Free 14 Provision of consumables supply QR 50,000 QR 500 on 05-Jan- electronic items etc (12:00hrs) OP/001/2014 2015 Sale and removal of SS strainers, assorted 27/01/2015 34 ST14MT0280 line pipes spool, valves, joints, cables, QR 2,000 Free Comprehensive Maintenance of Perimeter (12:00hrs) AF/M/ electrical items etc. 15 Advertising board (PAB) in Athletic track QR 170,000 QR 1,000 11/1/2015 AA3069/14 sports hall at Aspire Zone Sale & removal of crane mobile & foam fire 27/01/2015 35 ST14MT0282 QR 2,000 Free tender truck (12:00hrs) Supply, delivery, install, testing and AF/C/ 16 commissioning of GPS sports system-SPI QR 21,000 QR 200 11/1/2015 Sale & removal of machineries, turbine ASP5626/14 flowmeters, generators, CTV, mechanical- 27/01/2015 pro X with 30 units at Aspetar 36 ST14MT0283 QR 2,000 Free electrical-instrumentations and process (12:00hrs) equipment etc 68/ Replacing plaster ceilings with metal 17 QR 15,800 QR 500 12/30/2014 Supply & installation of Air Conditioner 2014-2015 ceilings in (04) schools 37 KH/1336/SBR QR 16,000 QR 350 22/01/2015 package for sealine beach resort

Replacing and installing switches, circuit Demolition of existing useful life expired 67/ QR 18 Supreme breakers and wirings for air-conditions in QR 14,000 QR 500 12/30/2014 38 KH/1356/HQ structure (villa and staff accomodation) in QR 12,500 QR 300 2014-2015 15/01/2015 Education (05) schools Katara hospitality land at Al kholaifat Council Supply & installation for car parking shaes 6 9 / Supplying, installing and operating latos for 39 KH/1357/SHQ QR 40,000 QR 700 22/01/2015 19 QR 180,000 QR 500 12/30/2014 for Sharq Village and spa 2014-2015 PISA test + providing logistics support

Supply & fixing of window film for external 11/01/2015 LTC glazed panels of Kahramaa main building Not later Ministry of 113 Tender supply and installation of office Monday 40 QR 100,000 QR 500 20 QR 250,000 QR 750 807/2014 at Dafna & One year price agreement for than 11:00 Interior 2014-2015 furniture and Equipment for (3) years 05/01/2015 other Kahramaa buildings am SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Cavaliers, Rockets register victories; Lakers suffer loss James excels with 29 points for Cavs in 98-89 triumph over Orlando

NEW YORK: LeBron James scored 29 points, including 15 in Anderson Varejao the fourth quarter, to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 98-89 victory over the Orlando Magic. Cleveland (18-11) trailed for Cavaliers big much of the game until James began to dominate late. He scored Cleveland’s last eight points. man Varejao The Cavs were without point guard Kyrie Irving, who bruised a knee Thursday. undergoes Rockets 117, Grizzlies 111 The new-look Houston Rockets surgery defeated Memphis 117-111 in overtime to take the Southwest Division lead from the Grizzlies, CLEVELAND: Cleveland with James Harden scoring 32 Cavaliers centre Anderson points and just missing out on a Varejao underwent successful triple-double. surgery on Friday to repair a Houston (21-7) also got 21 ruptured left Achilles tendon, points and eight rebounds from the club said, but the Brazilian Josh Smith after signing him to a star is not expected to return contract on Friday morning. this season. The Grizzlies (21-8), who got 29 Brian Donley performed the points and eight rebounds from procedure following an injury Marc Gasol. that took place Tuesday, when Mavericks 102, Lakers 98 Varejao collapsed while going for Dirk Nowitzki scored 14 points a rebound in the third quarter of and moved into eighth place on Cleveland’s 125-104 victory over the NBA’s all-time scoring list as Minnesota. He had to be helped the Dallas Mavericks earned a off the court. 102-98 win over the Los Angeles No timeline has been set for the Lakers. 32-year-old center to return to Pelicans 97, Spurs 90 the court. Anthony Davis turned in a Varejao averaged 9.8 points and monster third quarter as the 6.5 rebounds a game this season New Orleans Pelicans beat the and his absence is a major setback San Antonio Spurs 97-90. for the title hopes of the Cavaliers In handing the defending Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (centre) dunks over Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (left) during the second half of their NBA game at in their first season since the NBA champions their sixth loss Amway Centre. Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Orlando Magic 98-89. return of superstar LeBron James in seven games, Davis scored after four years with the Miami Heat, two of which resulted in NBA Results 10 points, blocked four shots began on March 27, 2012. Pistons 119, Pacers 109 Marcus Morris and Markieff NBA titles. Brooklyn 109 Boston 107 and grabbed four rebounds in Nets 109, Celtics 107 The Detroit Pistons snapped Morris combined for 37 points Varejao’s loss will hurt on the the third period as the Pelicans Jarrett Jack scored a game- a 12-game home losing streak as the Phoenix Suns beat the defensive end, putting more pres- Cleveland 98 Orlando 89 opened a 70-64 lead. high 27 points and the Brooklyn by beating the Indiana Pacers Sacramento Kings 115-106 to sure on power forward Kevin Love Milwaukee 107 Atlanta 77 Bucks 107, Hawks 77 Nets edged Boston 109-107 when 119-109. record their fifth win in a row. to grab rebounds and intimidate Detroit 119 Indiana 109 Jared Dudley came off the Jared Sullinger missed a game- Nuggets 106, Timberwolves Trail Blazers 114, 76ers 93 opponents near the basket. Houston 117 Memphis 111 bench to score a season-high 24 tying shot at the buzzer for the 102 Portland played without regu- But it also deals a blow to New Orleans 97 San Antonio 90 points and spark the Milwaukee Celtics. Denver’s Kenneth Faried had lars LaMarcus Aldridge (upper Cleveland, the South American’s Oklahoma City 98 Charlotte 75 Bucks to a 107-77 road win over Thunder 98, Hornets 75 a career-high 25 rebounds to go respiratory illness), Robin Lopez size and inside scoring threat Atlanta, ending the Hawks’ five- Russell Westbrook scored with a season-high 26 points as (broken hand) and Chris Kaman helped by the outside scoring Dallas 102 LA Lakers 98 game winning streak. 29 points in the absence of the the Nuggets beat Minnesota 106- (wife expecting baby) but still punch of James, a four-time Denver 106 Minnesota 102 Dudley was 10-for-10 from the injured Kevin Durant to lead 102 and sent the Timberwolves to led nearly the entire game on the NBA Most Valuable Player, and Portland 114 Philadelphia 93 field as the Bucks halted a seven- Oklahoma City to a 98-75 win their seventh straight loss. way to a 114-93 win over the lowly Australian guard Kyrie Irving. Phoenix 115 Sacramento 106 game skid against the Hawks that over Charlotte. Suns 115, Kings 106 Philadelphia 76ers. REUTERS AFP

Struggling New Jersey Australia’s James O’ Kansas Devils fire Connor City Chiefs kicks over a quarterback penalty kick Alex Smith head coach during their (centre) in NEW JERSEY: The struggling Tri-Nations action during New Jersey Devils fired head Rugby Union the NFL game coach Peter DeBoer yesterday. match at against the The Devils (12-17-7) are sev- Kings Park in Pittsburgh enth in the Metropolitan Division Durban, in this Steelers in with 31 points. DeBoer was in his August 2013 Pittsburgh, in fourth season as New Jersey’s file photo. this December coach. 21, 2014 file General manager Lou photo. Lamoriello did not comment on the reasons behind the move or a possible replacement for DeBoer. The Devils said in a statement that there would be no fur- ther comment until Lamoriello O’Connor leaves Toulon addresses the team. DeBoer, 46, took over in July 2011 and had a 114-93-41 record for three-plus seasons. to pursue Cup dream He is the third NHL coach to Chiefs quarterback Smith be fired this season. Paul MacLean TOULON, France: Australia World Cup. “I will do everything of the Ottawa Senators was dis- back James O’Connor says he to earn my selection, first of all missed on December 8 and Dallas leaves Toulon after today’s Top in the Super 15, then with the Eakins of the Edmonton Oilers 14 clash against Stade Francais national team.” out with lacerated spleen was let go a week later. after “a great six months” with O’Connor was dropped by DeBoer led the Devils to the the French champions. Australia in September 2013 in NEW YORK: Kansas City I had the laceration on there and Francisco 49ers and a loss by Stanley Cup Finals in 2012 but The 24-year-old is heading the wake of an incident at Perth Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith it was enlarged,” Smith, who had the Seattle Seahawks, who are they have not made the postsea- home to join Queensland Reds in airport that reportedly saw him has a lacerated spleen and will practiced earlier in the week, told at home to the St. Louis Rams. son since. a bid to boost his chances of being escorted from the premises for miss today’s regular-season reporters. Seattle will claim the title if they Meanwhile, the Calgary Flames selected for the Wallabies’ 2015 arguing with airline staff. finale against the San Diego Chase Daniel will start for the beat St. Louis and Arizona loses. recalled defenseman Corey Potter World Cup squad. The then Australia coach Chargers, the NFL team said Chiefs. The backup’s only previ- Three other division crowns are from the Adirondack Flames of “I’ve picked up so many things Ewen McKenzie declared that yesterday. ous NFL start came against the up for grabs today. the American Hockey League, the from my time here,” he said. O’Connor would have to “modify San Diego can make the play- Chargers last year. Either the Cincinnati Bengals team announced. “I’ve learnt a great deal from (his) behaviour” if he wanted to offs with a victory in the game at The play-off-bound Arizona or Pittsburgh Steelers will win The Columbus Blue Jackets this team. Playing with top play- resurrect his international career. Kansas City, who have slim post- Cardinals also will be using backup the AFC North in their show- added center Sean Collins to the ers gives you confidence. He quits Toulon meanwhile season hopes depending on other Ryan Lindley again in their game down at Pittsburgh. roster on emergency recall from “There’s a real culture of win- with fond memories of his half results. against the San Francisco 49ers. The NFC North title will go to the American Hockey League’s ning here, I’m sure the boys are year in France. Smith was hit in the abdo- Lindley, who became the the winner of the game between Springfield Falcons. going to win the Top 14 and the “I love the way of life in France, men in last week’s loss to the Cardinals starter after Drew the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Collins, 25, has appeared in two European Champions Cup.” the culture and their style of liv- Pittsburgh Steelers and tests Stanton was injured, was inef- Packers while the NFC South will games with Columbus this season Explaining his decision to ing suits me perfectly. revealed the laceration. fective in a 35-6 loss to Seattle go to the winner of the Carolina and has no points. In 13 career return home he added: “I’m going “I reckon it’s the ideal place for “They pushed me to get last week. Arizona can win the Panthers-Atlanta Falcons game. NHL games, Collins has no goals back to Australia in the hope of me to better express myself both checked out and I got the call that NFC West with a win at the San REUTERS and one assist. AGENCIES fulfilling a dream: to play in the on and off the pitch.” AFP SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Sceptics quietened by International Premier Tennis League

Mario Balotelli Liverpool rule out offloading Balotelli LONDON: Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers insists he will not entertain the thought of off- loading controversial forward Mario Balotelli in the January transfer window. Reports from Italy have linked Balotelli with Inter Milan and his former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini. They have coincided with Rodgers admitting that Balotelli, who has started just eight league games since his £16m summer signing, is struggling to come to terms with Liverpool’s style of play. But with Liverpool still fighting (FROM LEFT) Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, Gael Monfils and Cedric Pioline of the Micromax Indian Aces share a light moment in between matches of the International Premier Tennis on three cup fronts — the Europa League (IPTL) in New Delhi earlier this year. Few things created more debate in tennis this season than the IPTL, the brainchild of Indian doubles sensation Mahesh Bhupathi. Promoted League, League and FA Cups — from the start as a ‘revolutionary’ concept that formed franchise teams representing cities across Asia, the IPTL aims to fill a gap in the Asian market, in locations that don’t necessarily get Rodgers insists nobody will leave to see live professional tennis. Its format is tailored for TV, making sure matches start at specific times no matter what, and don’t last for hours and hours at the risk of losing viewers and when the transfer window opens live spectators. It also adds an entertainment element; cheerleaders, music, lights. The plans were very ambitious from the start and even when A-listers like Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, next week. Andy Murray, Andre Agassi and Serena Williams endorsed the idea, skepticism remained among the masses, who first questioned whether Bhupathi and company could pull it off and later Rodgers said: “It is not some- doubted the league’s traction with the public, considering the drastic changes in the game rules. But how could something that put the likes of Roger Federer and Pete Sampras on one thing I have even thought about. team, or got Maria Sharapova and Murray to share a doubles court not become a hit? We have had a lot of games this season in a lot of competitions. At this moment in time, it is key for me to keep the squad together.” The large number of fixtures looming in the new year — plus the on-going injury problems endured by Daniel Sturridge — 2014: Prizes shared but appear certain to gift Balotelli a January reprieve at Anfield despite his much-publicised problems. On the morning of Rodgers’ claims, Italian newspaper Gazzetta Dello Sport claimed Djokovic, Serena still rule Balotelli has ‘tested the waters’ over a potential move to Inter Milan, where he would reunite Eight Grand Slam singles trophies were lifted by eight different players with his former manager Roberto Mancini. Mancini has also not ruled LONDON: Grand Slam titles Nishikori, completing a stunning out the switch, with the Italian were shared around like slices comeback from the depths of the paper quoting the Inter manager of pizza in 2014 but for all the previous year when he served a as saying, “It all depends on him welcome variety Novak Djokovic doping ban. (Balotelli).” and Serena Williams ended the Djokovic, who got married and Rodgers has also challenged year still setting the standard. became a father this year, claimed goalkeeper Simon Mignolet to For the first time since 1998, a chart-leading seven titles and make the first-team place his own the eight Grand Slam singles tro- won his last three events, culmi- again, after injury to Brad Jones phies on offer were lifted by eight nating at the ATP World Tour forced him into substitute action players. Finals. in the Boxing Day win at Burnley. While the four women’s cham- “I physically feel very fit,” Mignolet was axed after some pions were existing members Djokovic said ominously. “I’m shaky performances but is now of the elite club, Switzerland’s very motivated to keep on play- likely to regain his number one Stanislas Wawrinka and Croatia’s ing on a very high level. I’m going position for Monday’s visit of Marin Cilic marked the big- to try to use these years in front Swansea to Anfield. gest shake-up of men’s tennis of me to fight for number one in He said: “Brad has come into for a decade with breakthrough the world and the biggest titles in the team and worked very hard victories. the sport.” but now he’s injured and he’ll After years spent in the Like Djokovic, Williams, 33, will have a scan on his thigh to see shadow of 17-time Grand Slam start 2015 as the measuring stick the duration of that. champion and compatriot Roger for the rest as usual. “It’s an opportunity for Simon Federer, Wawrinka came good The American, now the oldest to come back in and prove his in Melbourne, beating Djokovic world number one, overpowered worth. He is a very good goal- in the quarter-finals of the Caroline Wozniacki to win her keeper and he will tell you the Australian Open and showing no Serbia’s Novak Djokovic (left) and Czech player Petra Kvitova pose with their 2014 Wimbledon singles’ trophies 18th Grand Slam title at the US time out has helped him to reflect mercy to injured Spaniard Rafa during the Wimbledon Champions Dinner in London. Open, moving level on the all-time a bit. Now he can come in and try Nadal in the final. list with Martina Navratilova and and stay in the team,” Rodgers Nadal rebounded to claim a Chris Evert and only four behind said. ninth French Open title, but the record holder Steffi Graf. “It’s been a difficult season year was too prove a worrying one While not as dominant as the for the team, not just for Simon. for the injury-prone Mallorcan year before, she still bagged seven But certainly I’ve seen the per- who suffered a shock defeat by titles and the way she scythed formance level of all the players Australian teenager Nick Krygios through the draw at Flushing improve over the last few weeks. at Wimbledon before a wrist Meadows was awe-inspiring, win- He’s a very resilient character. problem and a grumbling appen- ning 14 consecutive sets and drop- Like everyone, he has taken a wee dix restricted him to only seven ping only 32 games in bagging a bit of flak and stick but to oper- more matches. sixth US Open crown. ate at this level you have to deal Federer, 33, claimed five titles Romania’s Simona Halep, the with that. He came in yesterday but was unable to add to his most improved player on the and had a couple of edgy moments record collection of Grand Slams. circuit, and Canadian Eugenie and he will recognise that but he He came close though. The Bouchard both contested their made a couple of punches, had a Swiss maestro went toe to toe first Grand Slam finals but the couple of crosses and ended the with Djokovic for five sets in an establishment showed they are game with a clean sheet. That’s epic Wimbledon final, while a few unwilling to cede the top trophies what you want as a goalkeeper weeks later in New York he looked to the new generation. and as a team.” AGENCIES favourite for the title before being Chinese veteran Li Na, who retired in September, won the Australian Open, Maria Sharapova fought off Halep to win the French Open title while Czech Petra Kvitova thrashed Bouchard USA’s Serena Williams reacts with the championship trophy alongside tennis greats Martina Navratilova (left) to win her second Wimbledon and Chwris Evert after defeating Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark to win the women’s final of the 2014 US Open title. at the USTA National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows, New York. Tennis entered the brave new world of the International ambushed by the powerful Cilic Nishikori became the first Asian final took place without a mem- Premier League in December but in the semi. man to reach a Grand Slam sin- ber of the Fab Four, be it Federer, a more fitting climax to a memo- The door had been opened gles final with a stunning defeat Nadal, Djokovic or Briton Andy rable year was Federer leading Maria Sharapova with the French invitingly by events earlier on of Djokovic. Murray. Switzerland to the Davis Cup title Open women’s trophy. that sweltering New York day It meant that, for the first time Cilic seized his chance in to fill one of the final gaps on his Brendan Rodgers when Asian trailblazer Kei since 2005 a men’s Grand Slam ruthless fashion by destroying CV. REUTERS SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 SL battle for survival against New Zealand Boult forces follow-on as visitors still 219 runs behind

CHRISTCHURCH:New order starting with the removal of Zealand had the scent of victory Dimuth Karunaratne for nought after only the second day of the with his fourth delivery to bring first Test against Sri Lanka yes- up his 100th Test dismissal. terday after a scintillating bowl- He followed with the wickets ing spell forced the tourists to of Kaushal Silva for four and follow on 303 runs in arrears. Sri Lanka dangerman Kumar After New Zealand posted 441 Sangakarra for six. in their first innings at Hagley Sangakkara was six runs short Oval in Christchurch, a four- of becoming only the fifth player pronged pace attack led by Trent to reach 12,000 Test runs when Boult dismissed Sri Lanka for 138 he was beaten by a late swing- inside 43 overs. ing Boult delivery that caught an “That first innings was some- outside edge and was snapped up thing special. It just seemed to by Tim Southee at third slip. happen against a quality side so Southee split the webbing it was brilliant,” New Zealand’s between the thumb and forefin- chief destroyer Boult said after ger of his left hand securing the returning figures of three for 25 catch and required five stitches. off 11 overs. But the injury did not affect his Sri Lanka made a more solid right-arm deliveries and after a start to their second innings, tight but fruitless opening spell reaching 84 without loss at he joined the action after lunch, stumps, but with three days claiming Lahiru Thirimanne (24) remaining they were still 219 runs and Niroshan Dickwella (two) in in arrears and Boult believed the the space of four balls. signs were good for New Zealand. Neil Wagner chimed in with the “It’s a great opportunity to win wickets of Prasanna Jayawardene, a Test match in New Zealand,” Angelo Mathews and Tharindu the left-arm quick said. Kaushal before Jimmy Neesham He described the pitch as mopped up the tail with the wick- In this file picture taken on August 5, Pakistani bowler Saeed Ajmal “inconsistent” with the amount ets of Dhammika Prasad and delivers a ball during a practice session at the Galle International Cricket of assistance it gave but said if Suranga Lakmal. Stadium in Sri Lanka. Ajmal has pulled out from the World Cup after the New Zealand bowlers kept the Amid the carnage, only failing to correct his bowling action completely as per ICC parameter. pressure on “then I think we’re Mathews carried the fight to New going to be successful”. Zealand as he raced from 40 to New Zealand had resumed the his 19th half-century with a four second day at 429-7 and lost their and six off successive deliveries Ajmal ‘fails’ to rectify last three wickets for a cheap 12 from Wagner. runs in 32 balls as their innings But his belligerence was to folded for 441. prove his downfall when he New Zealand’s Trent Boult bowls during day two of the first Test against action, pulls out of Cup The quick end signalled that charged at Wagner a third time Sri Lanka in Christchurch at Hagley Park Oval, yesterday. the bowlers had found how to and skied a top edge to Tom KARACHI: Ace Pakistan spin- bowlers are allowed to bend their exploit the green-tinged surface Latham at third man. ner Saeed Ajmal announced he elbow by 15 degrees beyond which and 13 wickets fell in two ses- In addition to Boult’s impres- Karunaratne receiving a life when resistance as Mathews and will not feature in next year’s the action is deemed illegal. sions after the batsmen led by sive figures, Wagner took three he was dropped on 10 by substi- Lakmal removed Southee and World Cup after he failed to Ajmal did remedial work New Zealand skipper Brendon for 60, Southee two for 17 and tute Cole McConchie off Boult’s Boult without scoring. Lakmal completely correct his bowling under former Pakistan spin- McCullum’s 195 had dominated Neesham two for 28. bowling. also removed Wagner for four to action which led to his suspen- ner Saqlain Mushtaq who also the first day. In their second innings New Zealand’s first innings finish with three for 90 while the sion three months ago, an offi- advised him to take some more In a pre-lunch onslaught Boult Karunaratne was not out 49 at folded tamely with only Mark more economical Mathews took cial said yesterday. time. ripped through Sri Lanka’s top stumps with Silva on 33, with Craig, not out 12, offering token three for 39. AFP The 37-year-old Ajmal Mohammad Akram, head appeared before a Pakistan coach at Pakistan’s national Scoreboard Cricket Board (PCB) commit- cricket academy, said Ajmal has Cheema returns as tee yesterday before taking the taken an honest decision. New Zealand (I innings): Sri Lanka (I innings): decision. “Ajmal wants to play as world T Latham c Kaushal b Eranga ...... 27 D Karunaratne lbw Boult ...... 0 “Ajmal has taken this decision number one bowler and not H Rutherford b Lakmal ...... 18 K Silva lbw Boult ...... 4 all by himself as he has failed to someone who wants to hide for Pakistan manager completely correct his action and his action,” said Akram. K Williamson b Prasad...... 54 K Sangakkara c Southee b Boult ...... 6 R Taylor (run out-Silva) ...... 7 L Thirimanne c Craig b Southee ...... 24 he will hold a press conference “Saqlain advised him to B McCullum c Karunaratne b Kaushal ...... 195 A Mathews c Latham b Wagner...... 50 LAHORE: Pakistan yester- Moin would “stay on as chief in a couple of days to announce concentrate on cricket after J Neesham c Sangakkara b Mathews ...... 85 N Dickwella c McCullum b Southee ...... 2 day appointed retired top mili- selector as part of the squad for his decision,” said PCB chairman the World Cup which he has B J Watling lbw Mathews ...... 26 P Jayawardene c Williamson b Wagner ...... 10 tary officer Naveed Cheema as the ICC World Cup 2015”, the Shaharyar Khan. accepted and withdrew from the M Craig (not out) ...... 12 D Prasad c McCullum b Neesham ...... 18 manager for next year’s cricket PCB said in a press release. Ajmal’s bowling action was World Cup.” T Southee c Thirimanne b Mathews ...... 0 T Kaushal c Williamson b Wagner ...... 6 World Cup, replacing former Cheema would also serve as reported during the Galle Test Pakistan face another race N Wagner c Kaushal b Lakmal ...... 4 S Eranga (not out) ...... 10 captain Moin Khan. team manager for two one-day in Sri Lanka in August. His against time on all-rounder T Boult c Jayawardene b Lakmal ...... 0 Suranda Lakmal c McCullum b Neesham ..... 2 Sixty-year-old Cheema, a internationals in New Zealand on action was found illegal on a bio- Mohammad Hafeez whose action Extras (LB-4, W-2, NB-7) ...... 13 Extras (LB-3, W-2, NB-1) ...... 6 retired brigadier who also held January 31 and February 3, held mechanic assessment a month was also reported last month. Total (all out) ...... 441 Total (all out) ...... 138 the manager’s post from 2011 to ahead of the World Cup running later which led to his suspension. PCB has decided to send Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-60, 3-88, 4-214, Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-8, 3-15, 4-58, 5-60, 2013, is currently serving as chief from February 14 to March 29 in “The remedial work on his Hafeez to Chennai, India for 5-367, 6-420, 7-429, 8-431, 9-440, 10-441. 6-88, 7-105, 8-118, 9-128, 10-138. secretary of Punjab province. Australia and New Zealand. action will take some time so unofficial tests before applying Bowling: Lakmal 19.5-3-90-3 (2nb); Eranga Bowling: Boult 11-4-25-3 (1w); Southee 12- The Pakistan Cricket Board Moin said he accepted that he we are not sending him for an for reassessment with the ICC. 18-1-82-1; Mathews 12-2-39-3; Prasad 12-2- 4-17-2; Neesham 6.4-1-28-2 (1w); Wagner (PCB) said Moin had to step aside could not stay on in two positions. unofficial test,” said Khan. Ajmal’s absence will badly 62-1 (2w); Kaushal 22-0-159-1 (5nb); Thir- 11-0-60-3 (1nb); Craig 2-0-5-0. as he also held the post of chief “My priority is to select a team Under the International hamper Pakistan’s chances in imanne 2-0-5-0. selector and such a dual role was that has capability to win the ICC Cricket Council (ICC) rules all the World Cup. AFP not allowed. World Cup 2015,” he said. AFP Ballkids gear up for ATP Qatar ExxonMobil Open

The ballkids who will serve during the upcoming Qatar ExxonMobil Open pose for a group picture. The ballkids have been training hard for the last 16 weeks to prepare for the coveted tournament. As many as 80 kids (aged 12-16) who play tennis will grab the oppurtunity to serve world’s best players who will come to Doha for the January 5-10, 2015 event. Ballkids organiser Mervat Bahgat has been supervising the young girls and boys from 15 different nations. She has been overseeing the ballkids for 14 years. RIGHT: A young girl who will serve as a ballkid participates in the training session. SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Smith ton puts Australia on top Australian captain scores his third century of series, India need 331 to avoid follow-on

MELBOURNE: Steve Smith It was nice to be able to play a put Australia in command of few shots there at the end and Australia’s the third Test with a memo- try and get the total up as high rable innings to leave India as we could.” Clarke unlikely with a massive task to stay Smith bettered his previous alive in the Border-Gavaskar highest score of 162 not out in to make start Trophy series in Melbourne the first Adelaide Test by dancing yesterday. down the wicket to plonk spinner Smith blasted an imperious 192 Ravi Ashwin high into the stands of World Cup off 305 balls with 15 fours and two with a mighty six. sixes to spearhead Australia to a The new skipper was aided by MELBOURNE: Australia cap- formidable 530 and then took a lusty knocks from Haddin (55), tain Michael Clarke (pictured) diving catch to have the tourists Mitchell Johnson (28) and Ryan doubts he will be fit for the start at 108 for one at the close on the Harris (74) as Australia took of the World Cup in February second day and trailing by 422 apart the Indian attack. but hopes to be back at some runs. As a double century beck- stage during the tournament. India’s first task was to avoid oned for Smith, Dhoni placed Clarke had surgery on his the follow-on target of 331 while all his fielders close to the ropes injured hamstring after strain- the Australians, leading the four- in damage limitation but in the ing it for a fourth time in as many match series 2-0, will be pressing end the Aussie skipper threw months during the first Test for victory over the final three away his wicket going for a big against India in Adelaide. days. heave off Umesh Yadav only to Clarke came out of the surgery Murali Vijay passed fifty for the be bowled. feeling positive but conceded on fourth time in the series and was Smith has now accumulated Saturday he would struggle to be unbeaten on 55 with Cheteshwar 567 runs in the series for three fit for Australia’s opening match Pujara not out 25 after Smith times out at an average of 189. against England on February 14. swooped to take a catch low off “We looked to get them out “I’m really confident that the the ground at second slip to dis- pretty early this morning. way things are progressing at the miss Shikhar Dhawan for 28 off Unfortunately, Smith batted moment, that if I continue tick- Ryan Harris. really well and they got a (few) ing the boxes, I’ll be a really good It could have been better for too many runs for our liking,” chance for the World Cup,” Clarke Australia but wicketkeeper Ashwin said. told host broad- Brad Haddin dropped Pujara “But if you look at the overall caster Channel on 12 off the bowling of Josh game, the score is pretty par for Nine. Hazlewood. this wicket. It seems slow and “I think I’ll Smith dominated day two with pretty flat as well. Australian batsman Steve Smith acknowledges the crowd after scoring 192 against India during the second certainly be fit his highest Test score and was the “We’ll take 1-108 and we’d like day of the third cricket Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne yesterday. and available for last wicket to fall when he went to pile on the runs tomorrow,” the majority of after a big shot with fielders on while adding with a smile: “We’ll the World Cup. the boundary in pursuit of a dou- make 650 and try to put them 130 runs to their overnight score “I’m hoping ble century. back in.” of 259 for five. Haddin played him- Scoreboard the selectors It was his third century of the Paceman Harris brought up his self back into form after a run of Australia (I innings): Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-115, 3-115, 4-184, will give me the series, his fifth for the year and highest Test score with a six off 15 innings without a fifty, reach- C Rogers c Dhoni b Shami ...... 57 5-216, 6-326, 7-376, 8-482, 9-530, 10-530. opportunity (to was replete with all his quirky Ashwin and then was out next ing his 18th Test half-century and D Warner c Dhawan b Yadav ...... 0 Bowling: I Sharma 32-7-104-0 (5nb); Yadav come back).” shotmaking to leave India skip- ball leg before wicket for 74 off his highest score for almost a year S Watson lbw Ashwin ...... 52 32.3-3-130-3; Shami 29-4-138-4 (1w); Ash- Steven Smith per MS Dhoni at a loss as to how 88 balls. with his 55. S Smith b Yadav ...... 192 win 44-9-134-3; Vijay 5-0-14-0. has been leading to contain him. He put on 106 runs for the The veteran wicketkeeper tried S Marsh c Dhoni b Shami ...... 32 India (I innings): the Test side in Clarke’s absence “I feel pretty good at the eighth wicket with Smith and to leave a Shami delivery but got J Burns c Dhoni b Yadav ...... 13 M Vijay (batting) ...... 55 while George Bailey led the one- crease. Everything is working looked unruffled against the non- a bottom edge and was caught B Haddin c Dhoni b Shami ...... 55 S Dhawan c Smith b Harris ...... 28 day international team during for me at the moment which plussed Indian bowlers. behind. M Johnson stp Dhoni b Ashwin ...... 28 C Pujara (batting) ...... 25 the recent series victory at home is nice and the most pleasing Nathan Lyon was out going for Haddin put on 110 runs for the R Harris lbw b Ashwin ...... 74 Total (for 1 wkt) ...... 108 against South Africa. thing is that we’ve got 530 runs a big heave off Mohammed Shami sixth wicket with Smith, while N Lyon b Shami ...... 11 Fall of wicket: 1-55. After hurting his hamstring in on the board and that’s a very for 11 with another 48 runs added Johnson hit a breezy 28 off 37 J Hazlewood (not out) ...... 0 Bowling: Johnson 9-3-24-0; Harris 7-3-19-1; Adelaide, a distraught Clarke told good first innings total for us,” off 38 balls. balls with five fours before he Extras (B-1, LB-9, W-1, NB-5) ...... 16 Hazlewood 9-4-19-0; Watson 4-0-14-0; Lyon reporters he had to face the pos- Smith said. Australia lost two wickets in was stumped off Ashwin shortly Total (all out) ...... 530 8-0-32-0. sibility that he might never play “It was pretty fun to be honest. the morning session but added before lunch. AFP again. He has since rowed back on those comments and remains determined to take back the reins. Clarke said he put his reac- Rain dampens South tion in Adelaide down to being “extremely emotional” and he had since been given confidence from surgeons that the hamstring tendon he had repaired was oth- Africa’s chances erwise in sound condition. With Clarke likely to miss the PORT ELIZABETH, South Scoreboard du Plessis said. Du Plessis, on 99 first part of the World Cup, Bailey Africa: Faf du Plessis com- overnight, flicked Jerome Taylor’s is well placed to lead, though pleted his fourth Test century South Africa (I innings): first ball of the day for four runs Smith has mounted a compelling and was dismissed immedi- A Petersen c Johnson b Gabriel ...... 17 to raise his century off 229 balls. case, bashing three centuries in ately afterwards on a rain-hit D Elgar c Ramdin b Peters ...... 121 He hit 13 fours and two sixes. consecutive matches against second day of the second Test F du Plessis c Ramdin b Taylor ...... 103 But he was out to the next ball, a India and also dominating South between South Africa and the H Amla (batting) ...... 23 perfect outswinger which found Africa’s world class attack in the West Indies at St George’s Park A de Villiers (batting) ...... 9 such a faint edge that umpire ODI series. REUTERS yesterday. Extras (LB-4, NB-7, W-5) ...... 16 Paul Reiffel remained unmoved Only half an hour’s play was Total (for 3 wkts) ...... 289 as wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin possible in Port Elizabeth, during To bat: S van Zyl, T Bavuma, V Philander, D and the bowler celebrated. Mitchell Marsh which six overs were bowled and Steyn, M Morkel, Imran Tahir The West Indians sought a South Africa moved from their Fall of wickets: 1-47, 2-226, 3-274. review and Reiffel was forced to overnight 270 for two to 289 for Bowling: Taylor 22-4-74-1 (2nb; 1w); Peters change his decision when ‘Snicko’ out of final three. 15-6-44-1; Holder 16-5-34-0 (1nb); Gabriel revealed the tiniest of scratches “It was a very frustrating 15-0-52-1 (3nb); Benn 25-3-81-0 (1nb); off the bat. It was the first wicket India Test day,” said Du Plessis after play Samuels 1-1-0-0. of the series for Taylor. was finally called off more than West Indies: D Ramdin, K Brathwaite, D AB de Villiers joined captain four-and-a-half hours after the Smith, L Johnson, M Samuels, S Chanderpaul, Hashim Amla and hit two hand- MELBOURNE: Australia all- stoppage. J Holder, J Taylor, S Benn, S Gabriel, K Peters. some drives for four off Jason rounder Mitchell Marsh (pic- “We had a very good day one Holder. tured) will miss next week’s and were exactly where we but on the St George’s Park He was on nine not out and final Test against India after wanted to be.” wicket it does take a bit longer.” Amla was unbeaten on 23. scans confirmed problems with With more rain predicted for Du Plessis knows that St West Indian opening batsman his injured hamstring, team offi- today, Du Plessis admitted it George’s surface rewards batsmen Kraigg Brathwaite said patience cials said yesterday. might be difficult for South Africa who are willing to show patience, would be the key when the tour- Marsh, 23, suffered right ham- to force a series-clinching win to because he experienced it first- ists eventually batted. string trouble on day one of the follow their victory by an innings hand and through the eyes of his He said the West Indian play- second Brisbane Test and was and 220 runs in the first Test in partner, Dean Elgar, for most of ers had been encouraged by the unable to bowl Centurion. the first day. way they bowled on the first day in the rest of the “Out there’s still quite a lot of “I struggled for most of my but wanted to get on the field to match. time left,” he said. innings, and I never felt like I make up for the chances they had South Africa’s Faf du Plessis (left) celebrates reaching a century dur- “(Marsh) will “We will just have to do what was hitting the ball in the mid- missed during a 179-run second ing the second day of the second Test match against West Indies at S not be available we plan to do a lot quicker. We’ve dle. I told myself it did not have to wicket partnership between Du George Park in Port Elizabeth yesterday. for the Sydney got a very good bowling armoury be pretty; it just had to effective,” Plessis and Dean Elgar. AFP Test,” team physio Alex Kountouris said. “Our focus for Ojha banned from bowling due to illegal action Mitchell will now be on his return MUMBAI: Indian left-arm Ojha thus joins a host of inter- a year now. Board of Control for Indians earlier this year. Ojha will to Chennai in a couple of days. to one-day cricket spinner Pragyan Ojha has been national bowlers barred from Cricket in India (BCCI) had now have to undergo rehabilita- Ojha will have to be in Chennai for as we lead into barred from bowling in competi- plying their art due to ‘chuck- appointed a three-member com- tion and cannot bowl in any com- a fortnight or so but we are con- the tri-series.” tive cricket after his action was ing’ - Saeed Ajmal, Sachithra mittee comprising of Javagal petitive cricket until his action fident that he will come through Marsh, who has suffered five found to be illegal, ESPNCricinfo Senanayake, Kane Williamson, Srinath, S Venkatraghavan and has been cleared. this without any problem. It’s a hamstring injuries in the last two has reported. Sunil Narine, Prosper Utseya to umpire, AV Jayaprakash to weed The 28-year-old will undergo technical matter and the HCA is years, was ruled out of the third According to the website, name a few. In fact on Saturday, out those having an illegal action rehabilitation in Chennai. fully with the player as he under- Test, but travelled with the squad following a request by the Saeed Ajmal announced that he in domestic cricket. “We received a mail from goes this process,” Manoj said. to Melbourne. Hyderabad Cricket Association was pulling out from Pakistan’s HCA received a letter from the BCCI about Ojha having to Ojha had been in the news Batsman Joe Burns made his (HCA), Ojha’s action was tested 2015 World Cup squad. BCCI citing Ojha’s ban and the undergo rehabilitation in Chennai. since former Test umpire AV debut in the Melbourne Test as a at the ICC-recognised centre in Ojha has played 24 Tests and 18 spinner was subsequently left out Hence, he will not be playing the Jayaprakash had, a couple of replacement for Marsh. Chennai. ODIs for India but his last inter- of the squad that is set to play next few games for Hyderabad,” months ago, revealed that the Marsh has played 12 one-dayers The tests apparently concluded national appearance was way against Services in the Ranji confirmed HCA secretary John left-arm spinner had been for Australia and is likely to be that Ojha’s elbow flexed more back in November, 2013. Trophy. Manoj. reported while playing domestic part of the team for the World than the permissible limit of 15 It is reported that Ojha’s action Incidentally, Ojha was also left “The player has been told about cricket last season. Cup, which starts on February 14. degrees. was under scrutiny for more than out by his IPL franchise, Mumbai it and we will decide on his going AGENCIES AFP SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 Confident Qatar blank Estonia in Doha friendly DOHA: Buoyant after their last month’s Gulf Cup title, Qatar showed they will be a force to be reckoned at the upcoming Asian Cup with a comfortable 3-0 vic- tory over Estonia in a friendly game, here at the Lekhwiya Stadium yesterday. Just hours before their depar- ture for Australia for the January 9 to 31 continental event, the Annabis outclassed their European counterparts throughout the 90 minutes to set perfect launch pad for the Asian Cup, with all their three goals coming in the first half. Mohammad Muntari opened up the scoring in 23rd minute with Abdul Karim doubling the lead, seven minutes later. Mohammad Ismail took the score beyond Estonia’s reach by netting a goal in 36th minute. With the victory, Qatar main- tained their unbeaten run which started with the friendly matches in build-up for the Gulf Cup that also includes an emphatic 1-0 win over Australia. The Djamel Belmadi’s side also remained unbeaten in the Gulf Cup where they overcame hosts Saudi Arabia in the final in Riyadh. The team was scheduled to leave for Canberra via a chartered flight late yesterday night. Qatar have been drawn in Group C of the Asian Cup along with the UAE, Qatari players celebrate after scoring a goal against Estonia during a friendly at the Lekhwiya Stadium in Doha yesterday. RIGHT: A Qatari player vies for the ball with two Estonian players Iran and Bahrain. yesterday. THE PENINSULA China has a Hibs dent Rangers Table doesn’t lie, slim chance of winning Asian title hopes with Cup: Perrin says Mourinho GUANGZHOU: China yester- home hammering day said it does not have the “best chance” to win the 2015 EDINBURGH: Hibernian he smacked a sensational 20 yard No new injury worries for Chelsea today Asian Cup, held in Australia in secured their biggest victory strike into the top corner past the January, after its 23-man squad over Rangers since 1912 as a helpless Steve Simonsen. was unveiled. turbulent week for the Glasgow Rangers had barely regrouped LONDON: Jose Mourinho “We are not the favourite, we giants ended in a 4-0 thrashing when Hibs added another through believes his Chelsea side have do not have the best chance,” yesterday. Cummings. improved sufficiently in 2014 to China’s head coach Alain Perrin In a week where manager Ally Keeper Simonsen was caught justify their position as Premier said. McCoist was placed on garden- in no man’s land when Craig League leaders. “What I know is that the play- ing leave and serious concerns knocked Scott Allan’s excellent A 2-0 victory over West Ham at ers are ready to give the best they were raised about the running of cross-field pass back across goal Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day, can,” Perrin said, adding that the club at a stormy AGM, it was and Cummings bundled the ball courtesy of goals from John Terry “anything was possible”. hoped the focus would revert back home with a queue of Hibs’ play- and Diego Costa, kept Chelsea China survived a scare before to the Ibrox club’s challenge for ers waiting to finish. three points ahead of last season’s scraping into the Asian Cup on the Scottish Championship title Cummings then tested champions Manchester City. goal difference thanks to a late at Easter Road. Simonsen with a stinging shot The Blues, who finished third penalty in their 3-1 defeat to Iraq However, caretaker man- that the keeper could only palm last season, will have their title in March. ager Kenny McDowall’s reign as away as Hibs bossed proceedings. credentials tested again against That defeat made for a shaky Rangers boss got off to a disas- It took Rangers until the 37th Southampton on December 28, start for the newly hired former trous start when David Gray fired minute to have their effort on goal but Mourinho is confident his Lyon boss, after he was selected home a superb eighth minute with Lee McCulloch sending his players can rise to the occasion at following a lengthy search to opener followed four minutes header from a Steven Smith cor- St Mary’s and finish the calendar replace Spaniard Jose Antonio later by a Jason Cummings strike. ner widely over the bar. year on top. Camacho. There was to be no second In a rare foray forward Lee “We are a much better team “I hope that the efforts the half comeback for Rangers with Wallace managed to swing a when we have the ball,” he said. players made during these few Scott Robertson and Liam Craig decent delivery from the left into “Last year we were very strong months of preparation, and the compounding their misery as the box but Miller powered a defensively but lacked a bit of team spirit of that group, will Hibernian ran riot. header wide under pressure. creativity when we had the ball. Chelsea’s Portuguese Manager Jose Mourinho looks on during the English allow us to get past the first The defeat, Rangers’ fifth in Rangers tried to respond in the The challenge was to bring that Premier League match against West Ham United at Stamford Bridge in round,” Perrin said. just 17 matches, all but ends their second with Liam Fontaine clear- dynamic without losing the quali- London on Friday. The Frenchman was speaking hopes of beating Hearts to the one ing a Nicky Law strike off the line ties of the team. to reporters after the players, all automatic promotion spot back to but an Allan-inspired Hibs soon “At the beginning of the season Mourinho reported no period. “I had two training ses- wearing suits and in high spir- the Premiership, with the Jambos killed off their hopes. there was a little bit of conflict new injury worries for the sions for tomorrow (Saturday) its, were introduced on a televi- able to open up a 15 point lead at The midfielder’s sublime pass between those two ideas and we Southampton game and revealed but they were crying so much in sion programme from a studio the top of the table if they defeat slipped in Robertson who curled a made defensive mistakes. At the he had made alterations to the the dressing room I decided to in the southern Chinese city of Livingston. shot beyond Simonsen in the 63rd moment we have a good balance. training schedule to make sure make a change,” he added. Guangzhou. Hibernian, who had a shaky minute. “The team is happy to have the his squad remained in peak con- “They are training now so The 2013 Asian player of the start to the season under new Allan was again the architect in ball and also comfortable when dition over the hectic Christmas tomorrow, instead of two ses- year Zheng Zhi, who plays for club manager Alan Stubbs, have the 70th minute as he burst for- the opposition has it. We are a sions, there is only one. They are giants Guangzhou Evergrande, now completed the double over ward down the inside right chan- very good team.” human, like the Southampton will bolster the midfield. Rangers following their 3-1 win nel and chipped a beautiful ball Today’s trip to the south coast guys are human. It will be very Zheng, the team’s captain, was at Ibrox in September to close to across goal for Craig who sent a will see Mourinho renew his rela- difficult for us and for them.” a hit with fans during nearly three within four points of the Gers in measured volley low into the bot- tionship with Southampton man- It took a long time for West seasons at Charlton Athletic and second place. tom right-hand corner of the net. ager Ronald Koeman. Ham to threaten Chelsea, a year with Scottish giants Celtic McDowall opted to make no AFP The pair were colleagues at although they did hit a post late before returning to China to join changes to the Rangers side Barcelona when Manchester on through substitute Morgan Evergrande. that defeated Livingston last United manager Louis van Gaal Amalfitano. China has a woeful record at a week while Hibs manager Stubbs Scottish Premiership was in charge at the Nou Camp. Hammers manager Sam national level. The team won only kept faith with the same players “I was there before him,” Allardyce was disappointed with two of their six qualifiers and has who had won their previous two Results Mourinho added. “Obviously his players’ first-half showing and their work cut out at next year’s matches. Celtic 0 Ross County 0 he was a very big player for Manchester United manager will be sure to demand a reac- tournament with tough competi- Any hopes McDowall har- Dundee 1 (Irvine 84) St Mirren 3 (McLean 28, Barcelona but he left. Louis van Gaal has bemoaned tion on Sunday when they host tion in the form of South Korea boured of getting his Gers reign 79-pen, Mallan 68) “I arrived there in 1996 and I the lack of time at his disposal Arsenal. and defending champions Japan. off to a perfect start took a Kilmarnock 1 (Eremenko 90) Hamilton 0 think Ron came back in 1999 so as he attempts to nurse an “We didn’t play like I asked AFP dent almost immediately as his Motherwell 1 (Sutton 14-pen) Partick 0 I was already a member of the the players to play,” Allardyce side conceded two goals in four injury-plagued squad through St Johnstone 2 (O’Halloran 76, Millar 86) technical staff. complained. minutes. his first Christmas in English Dundee Utd 1 (Butcher 43) “We helped each other but we “They got too sucked into a AC Milan signs The first came from Gray, who football. United have just 43 were there to help Mr van Gaal negative style, passing it side- collected the ball wide right and, Playing today hours between their 3-1 victory because he was the boss then. I ways and backwards, instead of Torres on as the Gers defence stood off him, Inverness CT vs Aberdeen think we did our work quite well. over Newcastle United on Boxing forwards into the right areas. “I know that he is a good coach Day and their Sunday visit to “As good as Chelsea were and permanent deal and I know the football principles Tottenham Hotspur, which kicks our goalkeeper was in great that he defends and he likes. off at lunchtime. It is a piece of form, but the two goals were so LONDON: Former Spain for- Hibernian’s “When I saw him get his hands fixture scheduling that clearly avoidable. ward Fernando Torres’ loan David Gray on (Mauricio) Pochettino’s team has not impressed the former “I have no complaints about the move from Chelsea to AC Milan (right) strikes I thought he was the right guy Dutch national team manager, result. Chelsea are a top quality will become a permanent trans- the ball to put to do it. who said: “I can’t prepare my side and we found it difficult to fer next month, the English the home side “Obviously they lost some good team like I have to prepare. We compete with them. Premier League club said yes- 1-0 up against players but they were very clinical have unit meetings, we have team “I’m angry with the first-half, terday. “The striker moved to Rangers in their choices. They don’t have the way we approached the game. the San Siro on a two-year loan meetings, we have a training early on in any pressure because they are I expected us not to play that way. deal in August and on January session, 11 against 11, simulating the match very, very far away from relega- “I had to set out the tactics 5 he will complete a permanent the opponents. We can’t do that yesterday. tion and the title is not for them. now. We have to play within 48 against a side of the quality of transfer to the Serie A side,” the They are in a fantastic situation Chelsea. When it doesn’t happen, Stamford Bridge club said in a hours.” to play beautiful football.” you get frustrated.” AFP statement. REUTERS Sunday 28 December 2014 6 Rabial I 1436 Volume 19 Number 6293 Sport Price: QR2

Rockets shoot Smith ton puts down Grizzlies, Australia on Cavaliers win top on day two

Sport | 23 Sport | 26

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Qatar 2015 official song launched Global musicians from 24 participating countries come together for unique project

DOHA: The Qatar 2015 Organising Djemmal and Saudi Arabia’s Jaber Al Committee has launched a unique Kaser. Lyrics of the Official Song have project that brings together 24 musi- Global musicians been provided by Amir Teima and Shady cians and artists from around the world from participating Ahmed, and music composed by Sveinung to create the official song of the 24th countries which S. Nygaard Men’s Handball World Championship. will take part in the One of the main objectives of the Qatar With the Championship set to take 24th Men’s Handball 2015 Organising Committee is to boost place in fewer than 30 days, excitement World Championship the prestige of handball. The song will is growing among the global community have come together play a significant role in that, promot- of handball fans. to create an official ing the Championship and its message of This initiative truly embraces the song for the cham- unity through sport to a global audience. international spirit of the event by col- pionship. RIGHT: Participating artists have also helped to laborating with renowned artists from raise awareness about Education Above Fahad Al Kubaisi, each of the participating countries. Fahad All (EAA) and its programme Educate A a prominent Qatari Al Kubaisi, a prominent Qatari singer, Child, that will be supported by the 24th has been chosen to represent the host singer, who rep- Men’s Handball World Championship. nation of Qatar. resents the hosts Proceeds from ticket sales of the cham- The official song features the Qatar Qatar. pionship will help to further the efforts Philharmonic Orchestra and the Siwar of EAA’s programme and several artists choir, Qatar’s leading youth choir which have also pledged their support through was established by Al Jazeera Children’s an online campaign. Channel (JCC). barriers in addition to enhancing com- community.” The song has been launched Charlee, Macedonia’s Daniel Kajmakoski, The song’s music and lyrics reflect Expressing his enthusiasm about the munication with countries and creating along with a music video featuring all Argentina’s Daniela Herrero, Czech’s the pride, the passion that people feel in official song, Fahad Al Kubaisi said: “I am sense of unity and togetherness.” the international artists that have par- Ewa Farna, Denmark’s Fallulah, Chile’s supporting their national team. It will extremely honoured to have been given Mani Hoffman representing France ticipated in this project. There is also Francisca Valenzuela, Tunisia’s Hasan engage audiences at the championship the opportunity to represent my country said: “Music has a way of crossing geo- a special documentary being produced, Karbech, Iceland’s Jon Jonsson, Croatia’s to sing and cheer for their teams during Qatar, the proud host nation of the 24th graphical boundaries and the collabo- showing the “making of” the official song Lana Jurcevic, Brazil’s Lucas Silveira, the matches. Men’s Handball World Championship. It ration between various regional artists and including a few interviews. Bosnia’s Marija Sestic, Russia’s Nyusha, To watch the video of the Qatar 2015 has been a truly enriching experience to for this song will strengthen its mission Other confirmed artists include Germany’s Oceana, Sweden’s Ola, Spain’s Official Song visit: http://www.youtube. work on this and the official song defi- to engage everyone. It will also make Belarus’ Alexander Rybak, Slovenia’s Pablo Lopez, Poland’s Rafal Brzozowski, com/watch?v=h7n2If4n-W0 nitely holds up to its purpose of bridging them feel like they are part of a global Alya, Egypt’s Carmen Suleiman, Austria’s Iran’s Shahab Tiam, Algeria’s Amine THE PENINSULA