QATAR | Page 16 SPORT | Page 8 Boudiaf strikes as Duhail INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2, 16 COMMENT 14, 15 REGION 3 BUSINESS 1-6, 8-12 edge 26,071.72 9,200.10 63.51 ARAB WORLD 3 CLASSIFIED 7, 8 Spring Festival at +53.91 +41.33 -0.44 INTERNATIONAL 4-13 SPORTS 1-8 Arabi +0.21% +0.45% -0.69% Souq Al Wakrah Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

SATURDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10704 January 20, 2018 Jumada I 3, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals FM meets ICG president UAE tarnishes

In brief Louvre’s fair name by omitting QATAR | Airspace violations Envoy says UAE accusations weak Qatar from map Qatar’s permanent representative to the UN, HE Ambassador Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, has aff irmed he unjust gesture from the Unit- mad al-Thani tweeted: “Entirely our Qatar’s keenness to inform the UN ed Arab Emirates (UAE) of omit- fault. We were a little behind on updat- Security Council member states of what Tting Qatar from a map exhibited ing the map.” He then posted the pic- it believes that aff ects its peace and at the recently opened Louvre Museum ture of the map tweeted by Ulrichsen, security and the surroundings in which in Abu Dhabi, has drawn widespread but superimposed with the image of it lives, and this prompted it to send two condemnation. the FIFA World Cup trophy. letters to the UN on two incidents of Turkey’s Anadolu Agency reported Qatar Museums chairperson HE airspace violations by the UAE in order yesterday that in an analysis piece Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin to document this information. In a press written earlier this week entitled “The Khalifa al-Thani (@almayassahamad), statement yesterday, Sheikha Alia said UAE/Qatar rivalry is escalating”, the tweeted “Throughout history muse- that the allegations and letters sent by Washington Institute’s Simon Hender- ums were a source of reference. People the UAE to the Security Council that son noted that a large map of the world would visit to acquire knowledge and Qatari fighters intercepted their civilian HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met yesterday with President featured at the museum “completely learn about world cultures through the aircraft are weak accusations and not of International Crisis Group (ICG) Robert Malley. Discussions during the meeting in Washington dealt with regional and omits” the nation of Qatar. exploration of objects on display. Al- based on accurate information, which international developments of common interest. “In the children’s section of Abu though the notion of museums is a new Qatar has addressed to the Security Dhabi’s new fl agship Louvre Museum, one to Abu Dhabi, surely the @Musee- Council, but rather an expected reaction a map of the southern Gulf completely Louvre is not okay with this?” to the letters sent by Qatar. omits the Qatari peninsula – a geo- Last year, the UAE paid France’s graphical deletion that is probably in- iconic Louvre Museum a whopping AMERICA | Diplomacy compatible with France’s agreement to $520mn for the use of its name in its let Abu Dhabi use the Louvre’s name,” own Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum, which Trump to meet British Henderson wrote. fi nally opened its doors last November PM in Davos next week The issue was highlighted yesterday after a fi ve-year delay. US President Donald Trump plans to Gulf crisis created by Kristian Ulrichsen, Rice University’s It was on June 5 that the UAE – along meet Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa Baker Institute for Public Policy and with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain May at the World Economic Forum in associate fellow, Chatham House, who – abruptly severed ties with Qatar, ac- Davos next week, the White House said tweeted a picture of the map accom- cusing it of supporting terrorist groups yesterday. The announcement came panying an exhibit, a vase: “Here is the in the region. after Trump cancelled a planned trip to map from an exhibit in the Louvre Abu Qatar, for its part, vehemently denies London, casting further doubt on the by Saudi, UAE to Dhabi that omits the Qatari peninsula the allegations, describing attempts to strength of the vaunted trans-Atlantic from the Lower Gulf.” isolate it by its fellow Arab states as a “special relationship.” To which Sheikh Mohamed bin Ha- violation of international law.

REGION | Nuclear Russia: Iran deal can’t grab Qatar’s wealth be saved without US Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov yesterday ruled out the possibility of salvaging the Iranian nuclear deal zSheikh Abdullah says bin Zayed and Mohamed bin Salman to On January 14, Sheikh Abdullah had if President Donald Trump decides he was put under usurp the wealth and riches of Qatar,” released a video statement, saying he to pull the United States out of the tremendous pressure he said, referring to the Abu Dhabi and was a “prisoner” in the UAE, and that agreement. “This agreement cannot be Saudi crown princes, respectively. if anything happened to him, “Sheikh implemented if one of the participants “I urge my fellow Qataris to defend Mohamed” is responsible. unilaterally steps out of it,” Lavrov told a controversial member of the your position, beware of them,” he While he did not specify, Sheikh Ab- news conference at the United Nations. Qatari royal family, who was al- added. “They may lure you with money dullah appeared to be referring to Abu “It will fall apart and there will be no Alegedly held against his will in to destroy your own country.” Dhabi’s crown prince. On Wednesday, deal then,” he said, adding: “I think the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has In his audio message, threatening he fl ew to Kuwait where he was trans- everyone understands that.” Page 3 accused Saudi Arabia and the UAE of suicide, Sheikh Abdullah said: “Due to ferred to a hospital shortly after his ar- A screenshot of Sheikh Mohamed bin A screen grab of HE Sheikha Al orchestrating the Gulf crisis in order to the pressures on me, my confi nement, rival in a wheelchair. Hamad al-Thani’s tweet. Mayassa’s tweet. BUSINESS | Markets seize Qatar’s wealth, Al Jazeera report- and inability to return home (Qatar) or A day earlier, Abdullah’s brother, S&P 500, Nasdaq ed yesterday. join my family, namely my two daugh- Sheikh Khalid, told Al Jazeera that his Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali al-Thani ters, I have decided to end my life with sibling’s health had deteriorated due All 2022 World Cup matches to be played in Qatar fi nish at records was previously portrayed by Saudi Ara- the aim of preventing any harm to oth- to exhaustion and pressure he was The S&P 500 and Nasdaq finished at bia and the UAE as the main opposition ers.” exposed to under Emirati authori- Qatar will host every game of the increasingly bitter eight-month crisis. records Friday as Wall Street investors fi gure to the Qatari government amid Majed al-Ansari, a professor at Qatar ties. Sheikh Khalid had added that his 2022 World Cup, the country’s senior “Qatar is the sole host country of the shrugged off worries about a US the major diplomatic dispute. University, told Al Jazeera that the re- brother was in stable condition and tournament organiser insisted yesterday, 2022 World Cup and will host the 64 government shutdown amid partisan In an audio recording from January 15 cording came as “no surprise”. should be leaving the hospital soon. amid speculation the Gulf political crisis matches of the tournament across bickering in Washington. The broad- obtained by Al Jazeera, Sheikh Abdul- “We know that [Sheikh Abdullah] The Saudi-led group of countries would force the country to relocate eight planned venues,” al-Thawadi told based S&P 500 finished up 0.4 % to lah said he was put under “tremendous has been pressured in the past couple accuse Qatar of supporting “terrorism”, matches. Hassan al-Thawadi, secretary- AFP in a statement. He was responding 2,810.30, while the tech-rich Nasdaq pressures” which led him to even de- of months,” he said. “He hasn’t been as an allegation Doha strongly denies. general of Qatar’s World Cup organising to a recent media claim that the 2022 Composite Index gained 0.6 % Index cide to “put an end to his life”. visible as he was in the beginning of the On June 5 last year, Saudi Arabia, the committee, also maintained that matches could be played elsewhere in to 7,336.38. The Dow Jones Industrial “The [Gulf] crisis is based on inter- crisis, which tells us basically that he UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic preparations for the tournament were the region, specifically Iran, because of Average finished at 26,071.72. ests and the desire of both Mohamed wasn’t co-operating with his captors.” and transport links with Qatar. on schedule, despite the ongoing and political and economic uncertainties. Qatar helps refugee athlete contest at Tokyo games

By Anthony Harwood camp in Kenya where he learned how to resent the 65.6mn forcibly displaced activities means a safe space in which London run competitively. people who have had to fl ee from their they can heal, grow and develop. Ten years later, he was on the starting homes because of war, famine, man- “Sport is also an agent for change for blocks for the 800m in Rio, one of 10 made and natural disasters displaced and refugee children work- refugee who ran in the Rio Olym- athletes in the fi rst ever Olympic refu- “Being on the board of the Olympic ing to improve their social, physical and pics has been chosen to improve gee team. Joining him were two Syrian Refuge Foundation, I am looking for- emotional well-being, regain their self- Asports facilities at displacement swimmers, two Congolese judo players, ward to adding my own experiences as confi dence and develop their skills”. camps around the world so people like an Ethiopian marathon runner and four a refugee athlete to achieve the foun- The publicity surrounding Rio led to him can compete at the Tokyo games in other middle distance runners from dation objectives to support refugees Pur being reunited on the phone with 2020. South Sudan. and internally displaced populations his mother after news of his participa- Yiech Pur Biel has joined the Olym- All had overcome tremendous hur- by creating safe environments using tion reached his hometown of Nasir, pic Refuge Foundation (ORF), a Qatar- dles, not only the heartbreak and pain sports as tools for changes for young South Sudan. sponsored venture to help people like of family separation and loss, but also people and refugee children around the But she has now moved to a refugee him do something worthwhile with reaching high levels of fi tness in ad- world.” camp in Ethiopia and, although the two their lives. verse conditions. Financed by donations from the still speak to each other, they have not Last month he met Qatar Olympic “In the refugee camp we have no facili- Qatar Olympic Committee and the yet been reunited in person. Committee president HE Sheikh Joaan ties – even shoes we don’t have,” said Pur Yiech Pur Biel (left) with Qatar Olympic Committee president HE Sheikh Joaan bin government of Liechtenstein, the In the meantime Pur has begun bin Hamad al-Thani at the inaugural at the time, who was living with 200,000 Hamad al-Thani (second right) and other dignitaries at the inaugural board meeting ORF is a partnership between the In- studying international relations and board meeting of the ORF in Lausanne, others at Kenya’s Kakuma camp. “There of the Olympic Refuge Foundation in Lausanne, Switzerland. ternational Olympic Committee and still goes back to train with the Tegla Switzerland. is no gym. Even the weather does not fa- the UNHCR. Loroupe Peace Foundation in Kenya Pur was just 10 years old when he vour training because from morning up As it happened, Pur failed to qualify Last month he was given the op- Filippo Grandi, UN High Commis- in the hope that he will be selected for was separated from his family during to evening it is so hot and sunny”. from his 800m heats but to him just portunity to help others like him sioner for Refugees, said: “Sport for Tokyo. the Sudanese civil war after their grass Talking as he was about to leave for being there was important. He said he when he joined the board of the ORF, children, especially those displaced, “I can show to my fellow refugees house was burned. Rio, the 21-year-old added: “Even if I only remembers crying twice in his life; which is to set up safe sport facilities is vital. It helps restore childhood and that they have a chance, and a hope in Left to fend for himself in the bush, don’t win gold or silver I will show the when he was separated from his mother for refugee, displaced and vulnerable brings some semblance of normalcy in life,” he said. “Through education, but surviving on fruit and leaves, his jour- world that being a refugee you can do and when he found out he’d been se- children. these young but already broken lives. also in running, you can change the ney eventually took him to a refugee something.” lected to run in Rio. Pur, now 23, said: “I am proud to rep- For refugee children, organised sport world.”

Gulf Times Saturday, January 20, 2018 3 REGION/ARAB WORLD UN: Palestinian aid caught up in diplomatic row

AFP Jerusalem

he head of the United Na- tions agency for Palestin- Tians said yesterday the US decision to freeze tens of mil- lions of dollars in aid resulted A banner bearing the Turkish flag and a picture of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seen hanging from a building while Syrians from diplomatic disputes rather wave rebel flags during a demonstration in the rebel-held town of Azaz in northern Syria yesterday, in support of a joint rebel and Turkish than the agency’s performance. military operation against Syrian-Kurdish forces in Afrin. The US State Department this week put on hold two planned payments of more than $100mn to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The State Department denied Turkish troops shell Afrin in the freeze was to punish the Pal- estinian leadership, which has cut ties with President Donald Trump’s administration follow- Pierre Krahenbuhl, Commissioner General for the United Nations ing his recognition of Jerusalem Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), looks on eff ort to oust Kurdish militia as Israel’s capital, with a spokes- during an interview in Jerusalem, yesterday. woman saying it was linked to necessary “reform” of UNRWA. see the eastern part of the city as He added that during a recent AFP try. The YPG is a major bone of But Pierre Krahenbuhl, the the capital of their future state. visit to the US he had been in- Reyhanli contention in ties between Tur- agency’s commissioner general, President Mahmoud Abbas formed the administration was key and the US which considers said they had not been informed has said the US under Trump can satisfi ed with UNRWA’s per- it a key ally in fi ghting IS. by the United States of any no longer be mediator in peace formance. urkey yesterday started President Recep Tayyip Er- new reform demands and were talks with Israel. “What is new is a decision by fresh shelling of the dogan had reacted with fury to “caught up” in the political dis- The United Nations General the United States to dramatically TSyrian town of Afrin in the announcement of the US- pute. “I have to look at this as not Assembly voted to condemn the reduce its contribution and that a move to oust a US-backed backed border force, denounc- related to our performance but a US decision on Jerusalem. was not — in the communica- Kurdish militia that Ankara ing it as an “army of terror”. The decision and a debate that was Trump had been pushing to tions to me — associated with considers “terrorists” and Pentagon said it does not plan caught up in the aftermath of restart peace talks, but on Janu- reform elements.” vowed to press on with a full- to create an “army” and that the what of course was the General ary 2 he tweeted that the US gives “We were simply informed scale operation against them. force is aimed at fi ghters from Assembly resolution on Jerusa- the Palestinians “Hundreds of that the contribution to our core The Turkish government has the Islamic State group and lem and other matters,” Krahen- Million of Dollars” and gets “no budget would be this year $60 repeatedly warned it will strike maintaining stability in areas buhl told AFP in an interview in appreciation or respect”. mn when the United States con- Syrian towns controlled by the recaptured from the militants. Jerusalem. “With the Palestinians no tributed in total to UNRWA last Kurdish People’s Protection Ankara however said it was “My perception is there is a longer willing to talk peace, why year $360mn.” “For the moment Units (YPG) militia, including not satisfi ed with the US assur- debate in the US administration should we make any of these there has been no further com- Afrin, after the US said it was ances. about funding to the Palestin- massive future payments to munication.” training a 30,000-strong bor- Syrians inspect damage at a psychiatric hospital after it was hit Turkey accuses the YPG of ians and our funding got caught them?” The Trump administration der force there. by mortar fire leaving at least one patient killed and over a dozen being a branch of the outlawed up in that.” On Tuesday, his administra- argues that other global pow- “The Afrin operation will wounded, in the rebel-held town of Azaz in northern Syria, yesterday. Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) The US gave around $700mn tion suspended $65mn to UN- ers are not paying enough for take place,” Defence Minister that has waged an insurgency in in support to the Palestinians RWA, followed Thursday by UNRWA, with China contrib- Nurettin Canikli told A Haber targeting the “terror nests of Canikli said with the shelling its southeast since 1984. last year, of which about half putting on hold another $45mn in uting only $300,000 last year, television. the terror organisation in Af- “in fact, the operation has de Meanwhile, mortar fi re on went to UNRWA, which has a food aid destined for the agency. while Russia has just agreed to “The presence of all the ter- rin,” Anadolu said. facto started.” the Syrian town of Azaz just non-political mandate to pro- State Department spokes- give $2mn a year for the com- ror lines in northern Syria will A military convoy of 20 bus- Asked about the timing of a across the border from Turkey vide schooling, health care and woman Heather Nauert said the ing years. be removed. There’s no other es carrying Syrian opposition ground incursion, Canikli said: and held by Turkish-backed other services to more than 3mn money was being held but could Krahenbuhl said they were way out,” he said. rebels backed by Ankara also “It could be tomorrow, it could rebels wounded at least 14 peo- Palestinians across the Middle be released “in the future, if re- searching for new sources of Turkish troops fi red on sev- crossed over into Syria through be in the evening. What we say ple in a psychiatric hospital, a East. forms are met, if UNRWA agrees support, but that hundreds of eral YPG targets in Afrin to pre- the Oncupinar border crossing is that this operation will take monitor said yesterday. Israel and some American to undertake reforms, if other thousands of students relied on vent the formation of a “terror in the Kilis province, Turkish place.” The Syrian Observatory for politicians accuse the agency countries agreed to pitch in and the agency. corridor” on the border, the media reported. Syria’s deputy foreign min- Human Rights, a Britain-based of bias, with Israeli leaders say- provide money”. In 2015 UNRWA schools near- state-run Anadolu news agency Separately, around 30 buses ister Faisal Mekdad warned on monitor of the war, said the ing its existence perpetuates the Krahenbuhl said the agency ly did not open on time because reported. full of Syrian fi ghters headed Thursday that the Syrian air mortar rounds on Thursday confl ict. had received no communication of funding shortages. “What is Army howitzers in the fron- towards the Cilvegozu border force could destroy any Turkish were fi red by the Syrian Demo- Trump’s December 6 recogni- from the United States about at stake is the access of 525,000 tier Hatay province launched at crossing in the town of Reyhan- warplanes used in a threatened cratic Forces, a US-backed alli- tion of Jerusalem as Israel’s capi- further necessary reforms in re- boys and girls to their educa- least 10 rounds of artillery fi re, li, an AFP photographer said. assault on the war-torn coun- ance dominated by the YPG. tal angered the Palestinians, who cent days. tion,” Krahenbuhl said.

OPINION 10 Syrians die of cold trying to fl ee into Lebanon: offi cials Iran N-deal Ten Syrians have died trying to flee their hospital as a result of frostbite,” it said. Family shoots dead relative ‘cannot survive war-torn country into neighbouring Lebanon According to the statement, troops also ar- if US pulls out’ after they were caught in a fierce snowstorm, rested two Syrians who were involved in trying the Lebanese army and civil defence said to smuggle the refugees across the border Russian Foreign Minister Sergei La- yesterday. near Masnaa. suspected of spying in Rafah vrov said yesterday the Iran nuclear “They died of the cold. They included two chil- Lebanon, a country of 4mn, hosts just under a deal cannot survive if the United dren, six women and two men,” said Georges million Syrians who have sought refuge from States pulls out of the agreement. Abou Moussa, head of operations at the Leba- the war raging in their neighbouring homeland Reuters US President Donald Trump said nese civil defence. since 2011. Gaza a week ago that European allies He said that rescue workers and Lebanese Many live in informal tented settlements in the and Congress have to work with troops had retrieved the bodies together. country’s east and struggle to stay warm in the him to fix “the disastrous flaws” in In a statement, the army said it had received winter. Lebanon and Syria share a 330-kilo- Palestinian family in the the nuclear pact or face a US exit. a tip yesterday morning that a group of Syrian metre border with no official demarcation at Gaza Strip said yester- Trump wants it strengthened with refugees had got stuck in snow while trying to several points. Aday it had killed a rela- a separate agreement within 120 cross the mountainous frontier between the For several years after Syria’s uprising began, tive they said had helped Israel days. “This agreement cannot be two countries. refugees flowed into Lebanon. But Lebanese track down and kill three senior implemented if one of the partici- “An army patrol found the bodies of nine refu- authorities introduced new restrictions in 2015 Hamas fi ghters, including one pants unilaterally steps out of it. It gees who died as a result of the snowstorm. in order to curb the number of Syrians enter- of the man’s own kinsmen. will fall apart, there will be no deal It rescued six others, one of whom died in the ing the country. In a statement, the family then,” Lavrov told reporters at the of Ahmed Barhoum said it had United Nations in New York. Lavrov shot him in the city of Rafah af- said he believed the United States ter they were told by a militant was “going to try to convince the group that he had provided in- European states to take the same formation to Israel. position that Washington has taken.” This, the statement said, A Palestinian rides a motorcycle past a billboard bearing the Most UN and Western sanctions on More than 32,000 Yemenis guided an Israeli air strike dur- portraits of the commanders of Hamas’ armed wing Al-Qassam Iran were lifted two years ago under ing the 2014 Gaza war that tar- Brigades, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, yesterday. A family the 2015 nuclear deal between Te- geted the Hamas fi ghters. has said it had killed one of its members, after he was accused of hran and key world powers, which “In light of our religious aiding Israel in the killings of three Qassam commanders. is enshrined in a United Nations displaced in two months and moral commitment we Security Council resolution. have executed the collaborator Ahmed Barhoum after he was DIPLOMACY AFP in fi ghting in the rebel-held Riyadh.On the ground, Emira- handed over by the resistance Dubai capital Sanaa, as well as the ti-trained government troops factions,” the statement said, Pence to head to provinces of Hodeida on the and coalition forces have been without giving the name of the Red Sea and oil-rich Shabwa in advancing along the Red Sea group that had caught him. Mideast despite ntensifi ed hostilities in the south, had driven the dis- coast in a drive to retake the The family said they had shutdown threat Yemen have forced more placements. rebel-held port city of Hode- listened to their relative’s con- Ithan 32,000 people to fl ee “We continue to see correla- ida, which is a key entry point fession and saw the evidence US Vice President Mike Pence will their homes in the past two tions between intensifi ed hos- for humanitarian supplies. against him. still head to the Middle East later months, the United Nations tilities and civilian casualties + But the coalition has met The Barhoums are one of Ra- for a high-stakes trip, despite the refugee agency has said. displacement,” Mantoo said on strong resistance from the fah’s largest families and well threat of a federal government They join some 2mn Yemenis Twitter yesteday. rebels, who continue to hold known for their closeness to shutdown looming over Washing- already displaced by the war, More than 9,000 people Sanaa and most of northern Palestinian fi ghter groups at ton, his spokeswoman said. “The the UNHCR said in a statement have been killed in Yemen since Yemen. odds with Israel. vice president’s meetings with the on Thursday. a Saudi-led military coalition In mid-December, govern- Hamas, the movement that leaders of Egypt, Jordan, and Israel “The arrival of winter in intervened in 2015 against the ment forces retook Beihan dis- dominates the small enclave, A Palestinian demonstrator reacts after he was injured during clashes are integral to America’s national se- Yemen, when temperatures can Houthi rebels with the aim of trict in Shabwa province from issued a statement praising the with Israeli troops, near the border in the east Gaza Strip, yesterday. curity and diplomatic objectives,” his dip below zero degrees Celsius restoring the country’s inter- the Houthis, their last strong- Barhoum family’s action as il- press secretary Alyssa Farah said. across a number of governo- nationally recognised govern- hold in the province. lustrating “its nobleness and sure and sweeteners to entice of the death penalty, and urged “The vice president will travel to the rates, has worsened the hard- ment to power. “The latest violence has fur- deep affi liation with the (anti- Palestinians to divulge intel- Hamas and the Palestinian Au- Middle East as scheduled.” A US ship for many, particularly those The coalition intensifi ed ther exacerbated the world’s Israel) resistance”. ligence. thority, to abolish it. off icial said the decision would displaced and living in informal its air campaign against the worst humanitarian crisis, The Israeli military declined Hamas has sentenced 109 Israel withdrew soldiers and not be changed no matter what settlements exposed to the el- Houthis around Sanaa and on with more than 22mn people to comment. people to death and executed at settlers from Gaza in 2005, happens on Capitol Hill, where ements with little protection the country’s west coast in — around three quarters of the Over the years, Israel has es- least 25 in Gaza since 2007. leading to a Hamas takeover Republicans and Democrats must against the cold,” it said. December, after Saudi Arabia total population — in need of tablished a network of contacts Palestinian and international two years later, but continues reach a deal before midnight to UNHCR spokeswoman intercepted a ballistic missile humanitarian assistance,” the in the Palestinian territories, human rights groups have re- to expand settlements in the avoid a partial shutdown of federal Shabia Mantoo said fl are-ups the rebels had fi red at its capital UNHCR said. using a combination of pres- peatedly condemned such use occupied West Bank. government services. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, January 20, 2018 AFRICA UN envoys want Trump

Bennett: had been largely based to meet African leaders in South Africa in recent years. Reuters/AFP chairs the Africa Group, said when they meet in Addis Ababa later tweeted that “this was not the reported remarks as “shock- United Nations that the US ambassador did at the African Union. the language used”. ing and shameful” as well as not off er an apology during the That meeting is due to take The US mission to the United “racist.” closed-door meeting, but she place on January 28-29, accord- Nations declined to comment on “You cannot dismiss entire Zimbabwe frican UN envoys have did express regret. ing to the African Union website. the UN meeting beyond a tweet countries and continents as suggested that US Presi- Haley told the meeting that Haley told the ambassadors it posted, which read: “Thank ‘s*******s’ whose entire popu- Adent Donald Trump meet “she was not there at the White that she did not know what had you to the Africa Group for lations, who are not white, are opposition African leaders in Ethiopia this House, she is not sure what was been said in last week’s White meeting today. We discussed our therefore not welcome,” Rupert month after he was reported said, but she regretted all this House meeting and promised long relationship and history of Colville, spokesman for the UN to have described some immi- situation that has been created”, to convey the African ambas- combating HIV, fi ghting terror- human rights offi ce, told report- fi gure grants from Africa and Haiti as the ambassador said. sadors’ message to Trump when ism, and committing to peace ers in Geneva. coming from “s******e” coun- “We appreciate the fact that she meets him in Washington throughout the region.” According to diplomats at the tries. she came and she talked about this week, according to the dip- African UN ambassadors is- UN meeting on Thursday, Haley Bennett African ambassadors met US all the co-operation between the lomats. sued a statement last Friday also spoke about the billions of ambassador to the United Na- United States with Africa,” said Trump reportedly demanded that said they were “extremely dollars that the United States tions Nikki Haley, who told them Ndong Mba, who described the to know why the United States appalled at, and strongly con- had invested in the fi ght against killed she regretted the political drama meeting as “very friendly”. should accept immigrants from demned the outrageous, racist, HIV/Aids and terrorism in Af- around what was said a week ago The diplomats said that South “s******e countries” after law- xenophobic remarks attributed rica and in humanitarian aid for at a White House meeting on African UN ambassador Jerry makers raised the issue of pro- to the president of the United South Sudan. AFP immigration, according to dip- Matjila, who spoke on behalf of tections for immigrants from States”. Haley travelled to Ethiopia, Los Angeles Haley: did not off er an apology lomats at the UN meeting. the group, told Haley that “it African nations, Haiti and El They demanded Trump re- South Sudan and the Democrat- during the closed-door meeting, Ambassador Anatolio Ndong could be useful” for Trump to Salvador. tract his remarks and apologise. ic Republic of the Congo in late but she did express regret. Mba of Equatorial Guinea, who address African leaders directly However the US president The United Nations slammed October last year. eading Zimbabwe opposi- tion fi gure Roy Bennett, Lone of long-time president Robert Mugabe’s most outspo- ken critics, has died in a helicop- ter crash in a remote area of the After two-year wait, Uganda US state of New Mexico, author- ities said on Thursday. He was 60. Bennett was killed along with gets a new cancer machine his wife Heather and three other people after the helicopter went down on Wednesday, New Mexi- AFP treating cancer patients across “major cause of celebration”. co state police (NMSP) said. Kampala east Africa, many of them com- The agency and the Ugandan A crash survivor called 911 ing from countries lacking radio- government each paid half of the for help but could not say where therapy equipment. cost of the machine. in the mountainous region the ganda’s only radiotherapy Yesterday Prime Minister Ru- “In 28 countries in Africa there wreckage was located. machine was offi cially re- hakana Rugunda said the new is no cancer machine. (Patients) After a frantic search the crash Uplaced yesterday, nearly $815,000 (€664,000) Cobalt-60 cannot be diagnosed and they was found ablaze at a ranch two years after the previous one machine, housed in a concrete cannot be treated,” said Amano. about 10 miles east of the town broke down, giving hope to can- bunker at the hospital, was part Dr Jackson Orem, director of of Raton. cer patients who had been denied of a “vision of becoming the East the Uganda Cancer Institute, State police offi cers at the a crucial tool against the disease. African centre of excellence in told AFP that about 5,000 cases scene “reported the helicopter The failure of the old machine the management of oncology”. are referred to the institute each wreckage had been engulfed in in March 2016 caused a public Yukiya Amano, director gen- year. fi re making identifi cation diffi - outcry and was seen as symbolis- eral of the International Atomic Many patients show up with cult”, the NMSP statement read ing the deterioration of Uganda’s Energy Agency (IAEA) which cancer that is already at an ad- but confi rmed that Bennett, 60, medical services. helped install the new machine, vanced stage. and his 55-year-old wife were Since 1995, Mulago Hospital said that yesterday’s commis- The new machine is capable of among the victims. in Kampala had become a hub for sioning of the new machine was a treating up to 120 people a day. The new Cobalt-60 radiotherapy machine at Mulago Hospital in Kampala. Bennett, who had been largely based in South Africa in recent years, sprang to prominence as the treasurer of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), led by Morgan Tsvangirai. 32 children rescued Kenyan doctor goes to court to legalise FGM A former farmer whose prop- erty was seized by the Mugabe regime as part of a controversial from ‘terrorist school’ Reuters of things that might bring them East – is usually carried out by gressive step, setting back dec- land reform programme, Ben- Nairobi harm or injury, and yet they are traditional cutters, often using ades of gains made to improve nett became the best known allowed to make that decision,” unsterilised blades or knives. the sexual and reproductive white opposition fi gure in the Reuters because it pointed fi ngers at Kamau told Kenya Television In some cases, girls can bleed health of women and girls. party, working closely with Ts- Mogadishu them,” he added. Kenyan doctor is seeking News. “I think that even for the to death or die from infections. “I actually think it’s one of the vangirai before they later fell out. In a report this week, the to legalise female genital decision of female circumcision, FGM can also cause fatal worst ideas I’ve ever heard, and Bennett was arrested in Zim- New York-based rights group Amutilation (FGM), argu- a woman can make that deci- childbirth complications later in it’s even more shocking that it is babwe in February 2009 shortly omali authorities said said that since September 2017, ing that a ban on the interna- sion. And once she has made life, add health experts. coming from a medical doctor,” before he was to be sworn in as troops stormed a school Shebaab had ordered village tionally condemned practice is that decision, she should be able Kenya outlawed the practice said Njoki Njehu from the char- deputy agriculture minister in Srun by Shebaab on elders, teachers in religious unconstitutional and that adult to access the best medical care in 2011, but it continues as com- ity Daughters of Mumbi Global a shaky coalition government Thursday night and rescued 32 schools, and rural communities women should be allowed to do to have it done.” munities believe it is necessary Resource Centre. “Everything after being accused of funding a children who had been taken as to hand over hundreds of chil- what they want with their bod- An estimated 200mn girls for social acceptance and in- we know about FGM is that it plot to topple Mugabe years ear- recruits by the religious mili- dren as young as eight. ies. and women worldwide have creasing their daughters’ mar- has no benefi t and causes a great lier. tant group. The US Africa Command Tatu Kamau fi led a petition undergone FGM, which usu- riage prospects. deal of harm. We also know the Even though Bennett was “The 32 children are safe and said it had carried out an air in the Machakos High Court in ally involves the partial or total One in fi ve women and girls majority of those who undergo eventually cleared of the charg- the government is looking af- strike on Thursday against eastern Kenya on Wednesday, removal of the female genitalia between 15 and 49 years in Ken- FGM are young girls, not adults. es, Mugabe refused to swear ter them. It is unfortunate that Shebaab targets 50km (30 claiming that women are being and can cause a host of serious ya have undergone FGM, says We – all women’s rights groups him into the job for the next two terrorists are recruiting chil- miles) northwest of Somalia’s harassed and arrested for un- health problems, say health ex- the United Nations. – are ready to fi ght this if it years. dren to their twisted ideology,” port city of Kismayo, killing dergoing FGM. perts. Kamau’s petition has sparked comes to that.” Fearing another arrest on Abdirahman Omar Osman, in- four militants. “If women can decide to The ancient ritual – practised criticism from women’s rights The petition is expected to trumped up charges, Bennett formation minister for the So- US forces regularly launch drink, to smoke, women can join in at least 27 African countries campaigners who said over- heard by the court on February fl ed Zimbabwe and moved to mali federal government, told such aerial assaults. the army, women can do all sorts and parts of Asia and the Middle turning the ban would be a re- 26. South Africa. Reuters yesterday. “It showed The Shebaab militia, linked how desperate the terrorists to Al Qaeda, is fi ghting to top- are, as they are losing the war ple the UN-backed Somali and people are rejecting terror.” government and establish its Shebaab said that govern- own rule based on a strict in- ment forces, accompanied by terpretation of Islamic law. Cape Town authorities approve punitive water tariff s drones, had attacked the school Somalia has been plagued by in Middle Shabelle region. confl ict since the early 1990s, It said four children and a when clan-based warlords DPA sumption from 20,000 litres to teacher were killed. overthrew authoritarian ruler Cape Town 10,500 litres. The Somali government said Mohamed Siad Barre then “It is quite unbelievable that a no children were killed in the turned on each other. majority of people do not seem to rescue. In recent years, regional ad- he municipal authorities care,” the statement read. “They kidnapped the rest ministrations headed by the in South Africa’s drought- The city is currently using of the students,” said Abdiasis Mogadishu-based federal gov- Tstricken Cape Town have more than 600mn litres of wa- Abu Musab, Shebaab’s military ernment have emerged, and approved a punitive tariff for high ter per day, according to City of spokesman. African Union peacekeepers water usage, local broadcaster Cape Town water supply man- “Human Rights Watch is supporting Somali troops have eNCA reported yesterday. ager Barry Wood. responsible for the deaths of gradually clawed back territory The tourist metropole is suf- The consumption needs to de- the students and their teacher from the Islamist insurgents. fering the worst drought in re- crease to 450mn litres per day to corded history, according to cli- avert “Day Zero.” mate researchers. Under the new punitive tar- Winnie loses battle for Mandela home If residents don’t save enough iff , households using more than water, Cape Town will reach 6,000 litres per month will be A South African court has struck down a long-running eff ort by late “Day Zero” on April 21, and will charged $12 instead of the previ- president Nelson Mandela’s ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela to have to turn off the taps. ous tariff of about $2.50. claim ownership of his former rural home. The dams that supply the city On a sliding scale, house- The Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed her appeal against a lower with water are currently less than holds using 20,000 litres will be court’s ruling that she was not the rightful owner of the property in 29% full, according to the city charged $125, while households his childhood village. authorities. using 50,000 litres per month or Mandela, the country’s first democratic president, spent much of his To prevent “Day Zero”, the city more will have to pay $1,700 for early years in Qunu in the Eastern Cape province after being born announced on Wednesday that their water. nearby. He regularly returned to the village after his retirement and residents will be limited to 50 li- Households with more than was buried there in 2013. tres per person per day from Feb- four people will have to apply In his will, the anti-apartheid icon left the house to his family ruary 1. for the water limit to be raised trust, but Madikizela-Mandela claimed it belonged to her under The new restrictions come af- to avoid unfair penalisation, ac- customary law because it was bought in 1989 while they were still ter 60% of residents in the city of cording to the city. married. The couple were wed in 1956 and divorced in 1996. 4.5mn people have continued to If Cape Town reaches “Day This picture taken on October 25 last year shows a sign warning Cape Town residents of water Madikizela-Mandela had approached the Supreme Court in use more than 87 litres a day, ig- Zero”, residents will have to col- restrictions. Bloemfontein to challenge the 2016 ruling by the Eastern Cape High noring previous restrictions, the lect a maximum of 25 litres of Court that said she had no claim to the home. city said in a statement. water per person per day at about The city is meanwhile imple- available, said mayor Patricia de rently in mid-summer. “A reasonable person in (her) position ... would have asserted a right On January 1, the city had al- 200 public collection points un- menting an emergency plan for Lille. This year the rainy season is to ownership of the property before the death of Mr Mandela,” said ready reduced the permitted der police and military supervi- desalination, groundwater and Cape Town, which is located in only expected to start in May or justice Jeremiah Shongwe, delivering the ruling. monthly household water con- sion. water reuse to make more water the southern hemisphere, is cur- June. Gulf Times Saturday, January 20, 2018 5 AMERICAS

CONTROVERSY LEGAL POLICY VISIT VIOLATION Michael Douglas accused Order to redraw N Carolina Appeals against ‘Dreamer’ Canada PM Trudeau to Workers ‘found living’ of sexual misconduct congressional map halted immigrant ruling travel to US to smooth ties at Canadian Burger King

A woman yesterday publicly accused Oscar- The US Supreme Court has blocked a lower The US justice department has asked the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will Foreign workers at a Burger King in western winning actor and producer Michael Douglas of court’s order for North Carolina to rework Supreme Court to quickly overturn a lower travel to the US in February to smooth over Canada were apparently living at the sexual misconduct when she worked for him in its congressional map because Republicans court ruling that blocked President Donald bilateral relations and save a continental trade restaurant, health inspectors found, in a the 1980s. “He thought he was the king of the violated the Constitution by drawing electoral Trump’s move to end a programme that pact in jeopardy of falling apart, his off ice case the labour ministry called “troubling.” world, and that he could humiliate me without districts intended to maximise their party’s protects hundreds of thousands of immigrants said. The February 7-10 trip will include stops Inspectors in the province of Alberta any repercussions,” journalist and author Susan chances of winning. The conservative-majority brought to the US illegally as children. Solicitor in Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. discovered mattresses and household Braudy said on NBC News’ “Today” show. Douglas, court granted a bid by Republican legislators in general Noel Francisco said in a court filing In meetings with off icials, entrepreneurs equipment “for foreign workers” during an 73, issued pre-emptive denials of the story in North Carolina to suspend the January 9 order “time is of the essence” and asked the high and business leaders and in speeches at unannounced visit, according to their public articles published over the last two weeks, by a federal court panel in Greensboro that gave court to rule on the case before its current the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation report made to the restaurant owner Sadiq including one in which he called it a fabrication. the Republican-controlled General Assembly term ends in June. The Republican president and Institute and the University of Chicago Holdings. Alberta Health Services ordered His publicist, Allen Burry, said yesterday there until January 24 to come up with a new map in September rescinded, eff ective in March, Institute of Politics, Trudeau will underscore the “removal of all mattresses and associated would be no further comment. Braudy, a former for US House of Representatives districts. Two the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or “the interconnectedness of the Canada-US furnishing” at the restaurant in Lethbridge city, executive at Warner Bros. studios, worked for liberal justices, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia DACA, programme put in place in 2012 by his economies” as well as press for “stronger and demanded that individuals no longer be Douglas’ production company for three years. Sotomayor, objected to the high court’s action. Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama. Canada-US economic and political ties.” allowed to stay or sleep there. Woody Allen Trump addresses March for Life rally faces growing backlash over abuse claims

AFP tering career and remains mar- New York ried to Soon-Yi. But the sexual harassment fi restorm that has brought down oody Allen faced wid- Hollywood titans such as Har- ening isolation yes- vey Weinstein, has seen many Wterday over allegations reassess Farrow’s claims and that he molested his daughter has fuelled a growing backlash more than 25 years ago, after Co- against Allen. lin Firth joined the list of actors In recent weeks, actresses in- saying he would not work with cluding Greta Gerwig, Rebecca the director again. Hall, Ellen Page and Mira Sor- Allen’s estranged, adopted vino, have announced they re- daughter Dylan Farrow has re- gret working with Allen. vived claims that he sexually Oscar-winner Natalie Port- assaulted her as a seven-year- man also told Oprah Winfrey in old in 1992, asking the world to a televised interview with other fi nally believe her as the sexual actresses that she believed Far- US President Donald Trump addresses the annual March for Life rally, taking place on the National Mall, from the White House Rose Garden in Washington, US, yesterday. harassment watershed convuls- row. es America. “He’s lying and he’s been ly- On Thursday, Farrow aired ing for so long,” Farrow told CBS her fi rst television interview This Morning in the interview, as 82-year-old Allen hit back, breaking down into tears when accusing his ex-lover’s fam- watching a clip of Allen denying ily of “cynically” exploiting the the alleged assault. Time’s Up movement to repeat Now a 32-year-old married “discredited” allegations. mother of a young girl, Farrow After the interview broadcast, said in retrospect she wished the New Pentagon strategy Oscar-winning Firth became case had gone to trial. the latest actor and arguably the “Honestly, yes. I do wish that most high-profi le to publicly they had,” she told CBS. rebuke Allen, telling the Guard- A Connecticut state pros- ian newspaper: “I wouldn’t work ecutor at the time found prob- with him again.” able cause to charge Allen but Firth starred in Allen’s 2014 thought Farrow too fragile to takes aim at Russia, China fi lm Magic in the Moonlight, shot face a celebrity trial. before Farrow detailed the al- Allen said the alleged mo- Reuters fence Strategy” represents the Russia annexed Ukraine’s particular major power war,” he of allies who he says unfairly leged abuse for the fi rst time in lestation had been “thorough- Washington latest sign of hardening resolve Crimean peninsula in 2014 and added. take advantage of US her own words in an open letter ly investigated” by the Child by President Donald Trump’s intervened militarily in Syria to The document also listed security guarantees. published on a New York Times Sexual Abuse Clinic of the administration to address chal- support its ally, Syrian Presi- North Korea among the Penta- Mattis said that the US mili- blog in 2014. Yale-New Haven Hospital and he US military has put lenges from Russia and China, dent Bashar al-Assad. gon’s top priorities, citing the tary’s competitive edge has Her claim fi rst surfaced in the New York State Child Welfare countering China and despite Trump’s calls for im- Still, Moscow was limited by need to focus US missile de- eroded “in every domain of midst of her parents’ bitter split, and that both “concluded that TRussia at the heart of a proved ties with Moscow and its economic resources, Colby fences against the threat from warfare” and blamed that partly when Allen left the actress Mia no molestation had ever taken new national defence strategy Beijing. said. China, on the other hand, Pyongyang, which beyond on spending caps and congres- Farrow for her adoptive daugh- place.” unveiled yesterday, the latest “We face growing threats was described as economically its nuclear weapons has also sional budget dysfunction. ter from a previous marriage, “Instead, they found it like- sign of shifting American prior- from revisionist powers as dif- and militarily ascendant by the amassed an arsenal of biologi- “As hard as the last 16 years Soon-Yi Previn, 21 years old at ly a vulnerable child had been ities after more than a decade- ferent as China and Russia, na- document. cal, chemical, and conventional of war have been, no enemy in the time. coached to tell the story by her and-a-half of focusing on the tions that seek to create a world It has embarked on far- arms. the fi eld has done more to harm Allen — the director angry mother during a conten- fi ght against Islamist militants. consistent with their authori- reaching military moderni- It said that while state actors the readiness of the US military of more than 50 mov- tious breakup,” he said. The strategy document, the tarian models,” Defence Secre- sation that Colby said was in would have to be countered, than the combined impact” of ies, a four-times Os- “What I don’t under- fi rst of its kind since at least tary Jim Mattis said in a speech “deep contravention to our non-state actors like militants the caps and short-term fund- car winner and show- stand is how is this crazy 2014, sets priorities for the US presenting the document. interests.” would continue to pose a threat. ing. ered with awards in story of me being brain- defence department that are Elbridge Colby, deputy as- “This strategy really repre- The document said that in- In sheer spending terms, the Europe — has always washed and coached more expected to be refl ected in fu- sistant secretary of defence for sents a fundamental shift to say, ternational alliances would be US’ military outlay per year is denied the allegations, believable than what ture defence spending requests. strategy and force development, look, we have to get back, in a critical for the US military, by still far more than China and which have never I’m saying about be- The Pentagon released an un- said at a briefi ng with reporters sense, to the basics of the po- far the world’s best-resourced. Russia, the rivals cited by Mat- been proven. ing sexually assault- classifi ed, 11-page version of the that Russia was far more brazen tential for war and this strategy But it also stressed a need for tis. The US is spending $587.8bn He continues ed by my father?” document yesterday. than China in its use of military says the focus will be on priori- burden-sharing, an apparent per year on its military, China to enjoy a glit- hit back Farrow. The so-called “National De- power. tising preparedness for war, in nod to Trump’s public criticism $161.7bn and Russia $44.6bn.

Woman on train doused Immigrants’ rally ‘Tourniquet Killer’ with liquid, seats set on fi re executed in Texas Reuters to prison offi cials. “No amount Tribune News Service At the Argyle Avenue station The small fi re was quickly Austin, Texas of words could ever undo what Chicago at 1118 W. rgyle, she said the train snuff ed out by the fi re chief, I’ve done,” Shore added. “To the operator locked down the cars Velez said. The man was taken family of my victims, I wish I except the one with the man, into custody and brought to n the first US execution of could undo that past. It is what it man on a CTA Red Line who by then had started a fi re. Weiss Memorial Hospital, po- 2018, Texas put to death a is. God bless all of you, I will die train doused another The operator went to the car lice said. Iman convicted of raping with a clear conscience. I made Apassenger with an un- with an extinguisher. Soon, A CTA employee was tak- and murdering five girls and my peace.” known liquid then set a small police responded and the train en to Weiss for treatment of young women, using a tourni- The crimes went unsolved for fi re on the train car in Chicago’s operator ordered everyone off smoke inhalation, and a Chi- quet to torture and strangle his more than decade until Shore Uptown neighborhood, ac- the train. cago police offi cer was taken victims. was arrested for sexually mo- cording to witnesses and au- to Advocate Illinois Masonic Anthony Shore, 55, was ex- lesting two of his daughters thorities. “He fl ung some sort of Medical Center for “minor in- ecuted by lethal injection in the and his DNA was put on fi le as a Leora Arsers, 26, was rid- chemical on me. I thought juries not related to the fi re,” state’s death chamber in Hunts- sexual predator, the district at- ing in a crowded southbound it might have been paint police said. ville, dying at 6.28pm, Robert torney’s offi ce said. Red Line train car a little after thinner, just from the Northbound Red Line Hurst, a spokesman for the Texas The DNA was tested against 5pm, headed to her Lakeview smell” trains did not stop at the Ar- department of criminal justice, cold case fi les and proved a posi- apartment, when a man seated gyle station during the inci- said by telephone. tive match in at least one case. across from her - without say- Arsers said another passen- dent, and southbound trains It was the 546th in the state Shore was then brought in ing a word - splashed her with ger told her he saw the man set- did not make stops between since the US Supreme Court for questioning and confessed liquid from a water bottle, she ting fi re to the seats. Howard and Wilson stations reinstated the death penalty in to murdering and raping five said. Chicago police said they were for a little less than an hour. 1976, the most of any state. girls and women in the Hou- “He fl ung some sort of called to the Argyle station Normal service resumed a lit- Shore, whose murder spree ston area, the office said. He chemical on me,” Arsers said. around 5.20pm for a man who tle before 6.10pm, but delays dates back to the 1980s and was convicted in 2004 and sen- “I thought it might have been started a fi re, a police spokes- remained. 1990s, was dubbed the “tour- tenced to death. paint thinner, just from the man said. With her clothes smelling niquet killer” for strangling his His victims included Maria smell.” Chicago fi re department from fumes, Arsers said she Protesters with the ‘1804 Movement for All Immigrants’ victims with handmade tourni- del Carmen Estrada, 21, whose At the next stop, Arsers and personnel also responded and ended up taking a Lyft back march with the Haitian community and other immigrant quets, the Harris county district nude body was found in a Dairy many of the passengers on the found a book bag on fi re on to her apartment. “Hey, every forces across the Brooklyn Bridge yesterday to a rally at attorney’s offi ce said. Queen drive-through in 1992, train car moved to another car, the CTA station’s platform, Chicagoan needs a CTA story Wall Street’s Trump Building in response to his words and “I’d like to take a moment to the district attorney’s offi ce for where she paged the train op- according to fi re commander and now I’ve got mine,” Arsers policies in New York. say I’m sorry,” Shore said be- the county containing Houston erator about the incident. Frank Velez. said. fore he was executed, according said. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, January 20, 2018 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Taiwan blocks China fl ights after travel route row

AFP cancelled since China launched Taiwan and China during the against Chinese airlines over the closer to the mainland and use it Beijing-sceptic president Tsai civilian fl ights and China would Taipei them earlier in January, but their Lunar New Year period in mid- row. “The two airlines’ requests only for north-to-south fl ights. Ing-wen took the reins. maintain technical communica- complaints have fallen on deaf February. are not approved for now be- The CAA offi cial declined to Chinese authorities unilat- tions with Taiwan. ears on the mainland. But Taiwan’s Civil Aeronau- cause they are operating other comment on reports that around erally stopped communication The CAAC added that the aiwan has blocked nearly Authorities on the island said tics Administration (CAA) said fl ights using the M503 and re- 50,000 passengers would be af- between the two sides after she M503 route would also now be 200 fl ights by Chinese they had not been consulted yesterday it had refused permis- lated routes that are launched fected by the decision. took offi ce. used for south-to-north fl ights, Tairlines over the strait over the routes and described sion because the two airlines without a consensus between Beijing sees self-ruling demo- China said it had introduced overriding the original restric- that separates the two rivals due their introduction as “reckless”, had been using the controversial the two sides,” a CAA offi cial cratic Taiwan as part of its ter- the new fl ight routes to help ease tion. Taiwan’s military has said to the carriers’ use of controver- endangering fl ight safety, and new routes, even though the ex- told AFP. ritory to be brought back into congestion in its airspace over it would intercept, warn and re- sial new travel routes introduced politically motivated. China tra Lunar New Year fl ights they M503 is an existing route in- the fold and has recently upped the strait. pel if necessary any planes that by China. Eastern Airlines and Xiamen Air requested would not have fl own troduced in 2015, which also military drills around the island. The Civil Aviation Adminis- cross into Taiwanese airspace Taipei has repeatedly called have since requested to operate along them. sparked a backlash from Taiwan, Cross-strait ties have stead- tration of China (CAAC) said the and threaten the island’s secu- for four new fl ight paths to be 176 additional fl ights between It is the fi rst action taken prompting Beijing to move it ily deteriorated since 2016 when routes would only be used for rity. China to enshrine Xi’s name in constitution

AFP er Mao Zedong. The architect of pected to hold its annual plenary sion to establish a new anti-graft tative and effi cient national sur- Beijing China’s economic reforms, Deng session in March. The forthcom- agency, the National Supervisory veillance system,” it said. Xiaoping, is the only other leader ing amendment would need to Commission, that will coordi- The elevation of Xi, 64, into Xi Jingping whose name appears alongside “enshrine the major theoretical nate investigations at all levels of the Communist Party consti- hina’s Communist Party his guiding principle in both the points and major principles and government and expand their re- tution in October had already “We should resolutely sup- years of the 1966-76 Cultural proposed yesterday to state and party constitutions. policies stipulated by the 19th mit to include non-party mem- brought him into the pantheon port the core, faithfully follow Revolution, was hailed as a “great Cengrave President Xi Jin- The party’s Central Commit- Party Congress — especially Xi bers. of the country’s most powerful the ‘lingxiu’, use our courage and teacher, great lingxiu, great ping’s guiding philosophy in the tee proposed at a two-day meet- Jinping Thought on Socialism The Central Committee not- leaders. morale...and make strides to- commander-in-chief, and great country’s constitution, further ing that “Xi Jinping Thought on with Chinese Characteristics for ed in its statement that reforms Earlier this week, the Party ward a brighter future,” read the helmsman” — a slogan known as cementing his status as its most Socialism with Chinese Charac- a New Era — into state law,” the to the state supervisory system mouthpiece People’s Daily fur- article published Monday. Chi- the “four greats.” powerful leader in decades. teristics for a New Era” should body said in a statement released would be included in the amend- ther cemented that status by na’s ruling body, the Politburo, in The party congress unveiled a Xi’s eponymous “thought” also be added to the state con- by Xinhua. ment. publishing an article that for the October used the term to refer to new seven-member ruling coun- was already enshrined in the stitution, said the offi cial Xinhua “The plenum believes that is a “It is necessary to establish fi rst time referred to Xi as “lingx- Xi and the military’s offi cial PLA cil that did not include a clear Communist Party constitution news agency. major event in the country’s po- an anti-corruption work organ iu” — a Mao-era honorifi c with Daily and Henan Daily have also successor to Xi, leaving the im- at the 19th Party Congress in Oc- The constitutional change litical life,” it said. under the unifi ed leadership of more reverential and spiritual used it. pression that he could break with tober, elevating him to the same must be approved by the National A major outcome of the 19th the party according to law, and connotations than the ordinary Mao, at the height of his per- recent tradition and seek a third status as modern China’s found- People’s Congress, which is ex- Party Congress was the deci- establish a centralised, authori- monikers. sonality cult during the early term in offi ce in 2022. Prime Mum-ister: New Zealand PM Ardern reveals she’s having a baby

AFP Wellington

ew Zealand Prime Min- ister Jacinda Ardern an- Nnounced yesterday she is expecting her fi rst baby, and is set to become the country’s fi rst leader to give birth while in offi ce. The 37-year-old, who was sworn in last October, made glo- A unification flag hangs on a military fence near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two bal headlines when she slapped Koreas in Paju, South Korea, yesterday . The Korean characters read: “I’d like to walk freely beyond this down pre-election questions military fence.” over whether she intended to start a family, insisting preg- nancy had no bearing on a wom- an’s career opportunities. Ardern was all smiles yes- terday as she appeared with All-female North partner Clarke Gayford at their home to announce the “unex- pected but exciting” news of their fi rst baby. “Clark and I are really excited New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (right) and her partner Clarke Gayford announce to the Korea band leader to share...that in June we are press that they are expecting their first child, in Auckland. looking forward to welcoming our fi rst child,” she told report- said she aimed to be “contacta- sparked a sexism row during the head of government to have giv- ers. “We still have to get used ble and available” during the election when a television host en birth during her term, when to saying that out loud because period and would resume all quizzed her on the issue, saying she had a baby in 1990. Ardern set to visit South we’ve been keeping that to our- leadership duties when it was voters had a right to know be- said “there’s no doubt times selves for quite a long time.” over. Ardern, who did not reveal fore they cast their ballots. She have changed” making it possi- The charismatic leader en- whether she was expecting a rejected the line of questioning ble for her to juggle motherhood AFP high-ranking offi cials to en- planning comes amid reports joyed a rapid rise to the top ranks boy or a girl, said she and Gay- as “unacceptable”, saying preg- and a high-profi le political ca- Seoul courage North Korean athletes that North Korea could be pre- of politics, winning offi ce last ford previously had doubts they nancy and child rearing should reer. But she played down sug- attending the Asian Games in paring a lavish display of its year just months after taking the could conceive. not hinder women’s opportuni- gestions she was a trailblazer. Incheon, although they did not military strength on the eve of helm of the centre-left Labour “Clarke and I have always ties in the workplace. “I am not the fi rst woman he leader of North Ko- meet any members of the gov- the Games. Party. “We thought 2017 was been clear we wanted to be par- “It is a woman’s decision to multitask. I am not the fi rst rea’s all-female West- ernment. Diplomats have reportedly a big year!” she tweeted. “This ents but had been told we would about when they choose to have woman to work and have a baby,” Tern-style Moranbong The Unifi cation Ministry been invited to attend festivities year we’ll join the many parents need help for that to happen,” children and it should not pre- she said. “I know these are spe- band is set to head a delegation said the North identifi ed Hyon in Pyongyang to mark the 70th who wear two hats. I’ll be PM she said. determine whether or not they cial circumstances, but there are to the South today to prepare as the head of the less well- anniversary of the founding of and a mum while Clarke will be “That’s made this news a fan- are given a job or have job op- many women who would have cultural performances during known Samjiyon Orchestra, the North’s regular army on Feb- ‘fi rst man of fi shing’ and stay at tastic surprise.” portunities,” she said. done this well before I have. the Olympics, Seoul said, be- which will make up much of the ruary 8, a day before the Winter home dad.” She tweeted a picture of two While several male prime “There are plenty of women coming the fi rst North Korean 140-member art troupe from Olympics’ opening ceremony. Ardern said she would take large fi shing hooks, one with a ministers have become parents who carved a path incrementally offi cial to visit in four years. the North. There was no specifi c men- six weeks off after the birth of smaller hook inside it, in refer- in offi ce — including Britain’s to make it possible for people to Hyon Song-wol, reputed to be The performances will be the tion of a parade but the South’s her child, with maverick Deputy ence to Gayford’s career as a Tony Blair — late Pakistani look upon my time in leadership an ex-girlfriend of leader Kim fi rst of their kind since 2002, Yonhap news agency, quoting Prime Minister Winston Peters television fi shing show present- prime minister Benazir Bhutto and think ‘yes I can do the job Jong-un, was the subject of lurid when Pyongyang sent a cohort an unidentifi ed government of- taking the reins of offi ce. She er. Ardern’s plans for a family is believed to have been the fi rst and be a mother’.” 2013 reports in the South that she of 30 singers and dancers to fi cial, said that some 12,000 sol- and around a dozen other state Seoul for a joint pro-unifi cation diers had been rehearsing with musicians had been executed for event. The two Koreas have artillery pieces and other weap- Political milestones for women appearing in porn movies. agreed to march together under ons at an airfi eld near the capital The North angrily denied the a unifi cation fl ag — a pale blue and could march through Kim Women get the vote: New suff rage, New Zealand didn’t Since then, several women a baby girl in 1990. On the claims and Hyon later appeared silhouette of the Korean penin- Il-Sung Square. Zealand has a track record of get its first female MP until have occupied the biggest job campaign trail, Ardern, 37, had on state television. The nuclear- sula — at the Games’ opening But the North’s parades in- being progressive on women’s 1933, while Australia elected in their respective countries, pushed back against questions armed North agreed last week ceremony on February 9, and volve tens of thousands of peo- issues – in 1893 it became the two women lawmakers to its including: Margaret Thatcher about whether she intended to to take part in the Pyeongchang to form a unifi ed women’s ice ple and take months to prepare, first country to give women national parliament in 1943. of Britain, German Chancellor start a family, saying pregnancy Games, which will take place hockey team. while Pyongyang is bitterly cold the right to vote. Australia The first woman elected to Angela Merkel, India’s Indira should not aff ect a woman’s just 80km south of the Demili- Yesterday the Olympic fl ame in February. Analysts point out extended the franchise in Britain’s House of Commons Gandhi, Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff career opportunities. tarized Zone (DMZ) that divides passed through Daeseongdong, that satellite pictures of the 1902. Major powers of the era was Constance Markievicz in and Thailand’s Yingluck the peninsula, easing tensions a tiny village inside the heavily airfi eld preparations appear to followed later, with the United 1918, although as a member of Shinawatra. But yet again, New Women in the majority: The over its weapons programmes. fortifi ed DMZ, where elemen- show far less activity than ahead States granting women the the Irish republican party Sinn Zealand is a trailblazer in this number of women lawmakers Pyongyang nominated Hyon tary school teacher Koo Hyun- of previous major displays, sug- vote nationally in 1920. Women Fein, she did not take her seat. respect – Ardern is the third has increased in recent years to head a seven-member ad- jin carried it with his pupils and gesting that a smaller event than in Britain had to wait until 1928. woman to be the country’s and currently stands at 23% vance team to inspect venues told reporters: “This will give usual could be in the works. Women in Saudi Arabia voted First female prime minister: prime minister, following in the of all MPs worldwide – but for proposed art performances them a happy memory.” “It would look bizarre to have for the first time in 2015 at The first female prime minister footsteps of Helen Clark and female MPs make up over half in Seoul and the eastern city of Offi cials of the two Koreas a military parade in Pyongyang, municipal elections. was Sirima Bandaranaike, who Jenny Shipley. of elected representatives Gangneung in connection with met at the nearby truce village of just a day before the opening of was elected to lead Sri Lanka in the lower houses of just the Olympics, the South’s Uni- Panmunjom on Monday to dis- what the South has declared a Elected to parliament: (then Ceylon) in 1960. She only Leaders who have had two countries. In Rwanda, fi cation Ministry said. cuss the art performances, when ‘Peace Olympics’”, Ahn Chan- Jeannette Rankin, a Republican came into politics after the babies in off ice: Ardern will 61% of MPs are women, while As such she will be the fi rst Hyon was the second most sen- Il, an analyst at the World In- from Montana and leading assassination of her husband, not be the first female head in Bolivia the figure is 53%, senior offi cial from the North ior delegate of the North. stitute for North Korea Studies, activist, was the first woman to then-premier Solomon of government to give birth in according to Swiss-based to visit the South proper since The advance team will enter told AFP. be elected to the US Congress, Bandaranaike, but became a off ice – that record was claimed Inter-Parliamentary Union, an 2014, aside from talks on the the South overland today and “But this fi ts the North’s usu- in 1916. Despite being ahead dominant figure, serving three by late Pakistani prime minister organisation that collects data southern side of the DMZ. return on Sunday, the unifi - al claim that it is prepared for of the curve with universal terms as head of government. Benazir Bhutto when she had from legislatures worldwide. Then, Pyongyang sent three cation ministry said. But the both peace and a war”, he added. Gulf Times Saturday, January 20, 2018 7 BRITAIN

INVESTIGATION OFFBEAT TRIAL SCARE DECISION More tests ordered over Biscuit lovers hit Teen denies carrying out Package near Kings Cross Rape case against singer’s hotel death by Brexit squeeze bomb attack on train station sparks security alert Oxford student dropped

Further tests need to be carried out to establish A much-loved British biscuit has fallen A teenager accused of planting an improvised Police investigating a package which briefly The case against an Oxford University student the cause of the death of Cranberries frontwoman victim to the Brexit-linked slump in the bomb on a London commuter train which sparked a security alert near London’s Kings who had a rape charge “hanging over his Dolores O’Riordan, an inquest opening heard pound, as McVitie’s Digestives yesterday injured 30 people yesterday pleaded not Cross railway station yesterday said the item head” for two years has been dropped on yesterday. The Irish singer was found dead aged said their packets will shrink. Packets of the guilty to charges of attempted murder and was non-suspicious and that the cordons had the eve of his trial. Oliver Mears had been on 46 at a hotel in Park Lane on Monday morning. quintessentially British brand will be cut from causing an explosion at Parsons Green station been lifted. “Police dealt with a suspicious bail since his arrest on suspicion of rape and Coroner’s off icer Stephen Earl told Westminster 500 to 400 grammes this month, after the in southwest London last September. Ahmed package in Pentonville Road/Caledonian sexual assault in July 2015, when he was 17. coroner’s court: “She was found unresponsive in weakened pound ramped up import costs. Hassan, 18, appeared at London’s Old Bailey by Road, #KingsCross. The package has been A judge criticised prosecutors’ “last-minute” her room. The London Ambulance Service was “The rising cost of ingredients and changes video link from Belmarsh prison. He is charged deemed non-suspicious & cordons have now decision to drop the case, made after new contacted and verified her death at the scene. in the exchange rates means it has become with trying to murder passengers on a District been removed,” the local police announced evidence emerged last week. Surrey Police Subsequently the Met police attended and they more expensive to bake our products,” said Line underground train heading to central on Twitter. A police spokesman had earlier admitted its initial investigation into Mears, determined the death to be non-suspicious. A Nick Bunker, UK and Ireland managing director London. He is also accused of making a bomb informed the media that all roads had been now 19, had been flawed. The chemistry post-mortem has now been carried out and the of Pladis which owns the brand. He said the using the highly volatile triacetone triperoxide shut near Kings Cross, but the railway station scholar, from Horley, was attending St Hugh’s court is awaiting results of various tests that change was necessary “in these challenging (TATP) or another explosive substance. The two itself had not been shut down during the College but suspended his studies amid have been commissioned.” times”. week trial is due to start on March 5. incident. investigations into the allegations.

Stuck in snow Prisons chief blames cuts after damning reports on jails

Guardian News and Media rats, cockroaches, damp, and London leaking toilets: “There have been failings at Liverpool and some of that is about leadership. I accept he head of the prison that we should have taken cells service has accepted the that weren’t fi t for use out of use Tfi ndings of two damning much earlier than we did.” inspection reports on Liverpool He linked the conditions to the and Nottingham prisons but government’s decision to scrap blamed the failures on govern- plans for a new prison in the city. ment cuts and the infl ux of drugs “Liverpool for many years has not into jails. had the investment it needed in Peter Clarke, the chief inspec- the residential accommodation. tor of prisons in England and A new prison would have relieved Wales, said there had been a “fail- pressure on Liverpool. The invest- ure of leadership at all levels” after ment for that wasn’t available – it fi nding Nottingham prison was was scrapped in 2010.” “fundamentally unsafe” and de- Spurr also claimed the prison scribing conditions at Liverpool service was “robustly managing” as “appalling”. Amey, the company contracted Michael Spurr, the chief execu- to clean and maintain Liverpool A car sits abandoned on a snow covered road in Castleton, Britain, yesterday. tive of the Prison and Probation prison. Service since 2010, promised im- The shadow justice secretary, provements at both jails. Richard Burgon, urged the gov- Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s To- ernment to reintroduce state-run day programme, he accepted the maintenance contracts. fi ndings of the reports but said At Nottingham, the chief in- they should be seen in the context spector found the prison was of underinvestment. “dangerous”, with eight inmates Asked if he had a grip of the killing themselves in the past two problems, Spurr said: “We have years. He also criticised the prison been managing a service that has service for implementing just two Furore as govt not to had to deal with signifi cant pres- out of 13 recommendations made sures over those eight years.” in 2015. The prison service has suff ered Spurr said: “We have not been a real-terms budget cut of 40% able to reduce violence at Not- since 2010, according to the Insti- tingham to the extent we would tute for Fiscal Studies. have wanted. Nottingham along Spurr claimed recent deci- with other prisons has suff ered oppose rapist’s release sions to reverse some of those cuts from a signifi cant infl ux of psy- would help improve conditions. choactive drugs that have often Reuters The opposition Labour Par- not be allowed to set foot in Gauke declined to explain little memory of their ordeals “Now the government is investing been supplied to prisons by or- London ty, of which Khan is a member, London, said he had instructed his decision further, saying and could only recall falling £1.3bn to modernise the prison ganised criminals and new ways also called it deeply regretta- lawyers to explore the possi- that publishing the legal advice asleep in the back of the vehi- estate. It is also investing £100mn of getting those drugs into prisons ble. bility of a legal challenge from could harm attempts by other cle before waking up at home. to increase staffi ng resources. that were named in the inspection ondon mayor Sadiq Khan Worboys, one of Britain’s him. groups to challenge his release. In 2009, the former male Some of those staff are in Not- report. Getting on top of those is- joined a chorus of protest most prolifi c sex off enders, was The decision to release Wor- Warboys, a licensed London stripper was convicted of 19 tingham and over time will make sues has proved very challenging.” Lyesterday against a gov- convicted in 2009 of raping or boys is “astonishing and it is black-cab driver, used alcohol offences of drugging and sexu- a diff erence. Additional staff are He added: “The secretary of ernment decision not to block sexually assaulting 12 women. extremely disappointing that and drugs to incapacitate his ally assaulting women and also in Liverpool and those staff state for justice (David Gauke) has the release from jail of a former However, police fear he may the government is accepting victims between 2002 and 2008. ordered to serve at least eight are already beginning to make a said he will look at this urgently. black-cab driver suspected of have had more than 100 victims. this without challenge,” Khan He told some women he had years in jail. diff erence,” he said. We will do exactly that.” assaulting dozens, possibly Justice Minister David Gauke said in a statement. won money at a casino or lot- Worboys spent just under 10 “The investment that we hadn’t Sharon Whitford, the mother of hundreds of women. yesterday told parliament he Warboys’ release has pro- tery and offered them spiked years in custody, including a had for a number of years is now in Marc Maltby – the fi fth inmate to Khan said it was “extremely had received legal advice that voked outrage from campaign- champagne laced with seda- period on remand. place, and with that investment die at Nottingham prison within disappointing” that the gov- suggested launching a judicial ers against sexual violence and tives in an invitation to cel- A three-member panel of we will be able to make improve- a month last October – said her ernment was not challenging review of the parole board de- exposed failings in the justice ebrate with him. the parole board decided at the ment across the prison service.” son had complained of “horrible” a decision by the Parole Board cision would not be successful. system after some of his vic- He then pounced on the vic- end of last year Worboys could Spurr said of conditions at Liv- conditions at the prison before to free John Warboys, 60, after Mayor Khan, who has pre- tims were not informed of the tims in the back of his black be released as he no longer pre- erpool, where inspectors found taking his own life. nine years in prison. viously said Worboys should decision to release him. cab and many were left with sented a risk to the public.

Author Peter Mayle May rejects Johnson’s dies at the age of 78

Channel bridge plans AFP who had written “multiple best- London selling books about life in Pro- vence, died at a hospital near his Agencies Johnson fl oated the idea of the French counterparts today.” home in the south of France”. London bridge across the Channel to en- He also tweeted: “I’m especially eter Mayle, who wrote the Mayle wrote several follow-on hance transport links with France pleased we are establishing a panel best-selling memoir A books, including Toujours Pro- after Brexit. of experts to look at major projects PYear In Provence, has died vence and Encore Provence. heresa May has slapped The foreign secretary discussed together. Our economic success at the age of 78, his publishers Film director Ridley Scott, his down Boris Johnson’s the issue with Emmanuel Ma- depends on good infrastructure announced. friend and neighbour, directed the Tcalls for a 20 mile-long cron, the French president, at the and good connections. Should Following a short illness, the 2006 fi lm A Good Year, starring bridge across the English chan- Anglo-French summit, saying it the Channel Tunnel be just a fi rst British author died on Thursday in Russell Crowe and Marion Cotil- nel, with her spokesman saying was “ridiculous” that two of the step?” a hospital near his beloved home in lard, which was based on Mayle’s the prime minister has no plans world’s biggest economies are Johnson has previously pro- southern France, publishing house book of the same name. to build one. The foreign secre- linked by a single railway line. moted the idea of another Chan- Alfred A. Knopf said. “It was all that humorous com- tary on Thursday night fl oated the Macron is understood to have nel Tunnel but is now said to think A Year In Provence, about petitive spirit between the French prospect of building a new link to responded positively with an a bridge could also be possible, Mayle’s fi rst 12 months after relo- and the English that Peter cap- the continent following a meeting agreement that a second link telling aides that such feats of en- cating to the south of France, was tured brilliantly,” Scott told BBC with French president Emmanuel should be built. At the gather- gineering have been achieved in released in 1990 with an initial radio. “It was quite true about Macron. ing at Sandhurst military college Japan. print run of 3,000. the French — and it was quite The idea was immediately sav- in Berkshire, Theresa May and It was revealed last year in a The witty tale of moving into true about the British.” He was aged by leading architects and Macron held talks alongside their book about the election, by Sun- a 200-year-old stone farmhouse made a knight in France’s Legion shipping experts as impractical. senior ministers. day Times political editor Tim in the lavender-scented, remote d’Honneur in 2002 for his services “Building a huge concrete struc- Macron has off ered to loan Brit- Shipman, that Johnson was keen countryside, and adapting to the to French culture. ture in the middle of the world’s ain the Bayeux tapestry as a ges- on a road tunnel linking Britain slower Provencal way of life, went “Peter was a very kind and busiest shipping lane might come ture of friendship, and suggested and France under the Channel to on to sell 6mn copies in 40 lan- successful man... You could feel with some challenges,” the UK the UK and France were “making cement the countries’ relationship guages. whatever he did, whatever he Chamber of Shipping tweeted. a new tapestry together” with after Brexit. He was said to have Its infectious warmth for the touched was going to work,” Scott “It’s (one of the) world’s busi- their range of bilateral agreements abandoned the idea after being south of France and the local life- said. est shipping lanes. Is that not across culture, security, art and talked out of it by his former aide style and culture fi red up the im- The writer, who for millions of enough? It would be easier, and trade. Will Walden. aginations of thousands of Britons Britons epitomised the “European less expensive to just move France Later, Johnson tweeted a picture Johnson has championed ambi- and others to seek the same ro- dream” of living in the sun, said in closer,” Alan Dunlop, an architect of himself and Macron both giv- tious infrastructure projects in the Prime Minister Theresa May and France’s President Emmanuel mantic dream. 2016 that the UK’s exit from the and professor at the University of ing a thumbs-up sign, captioned: past that have not come to frui- Macron attend a news conference at the Royal Military Academy in Alfred A Knopf announced on EU was a “disaster for them and Liverpool, said. “En marche! Great meetings with tion. Sandhurst. Twitter late Thursday that Mayle, for Europe. Gulf Times 8 Saturday, January 20, 2018 EUROPE

Turkey demands Schulz warns fresh polls full seat at EU table

By Tulay Karadeniz and would further harm SPD Orhan Coskun, Reuters Ankara Reuters ‘No catastrophe if Merkel fails to form coalition’ Schulz also expressed impa- Berlin tience with those who argue that Germany will not plunge into political crisis if Chancellor Angela Merkel’s the SPD must reinvent itself in urkey would reject any eff orts to form a coalition government with the Social Democrats fail, opposition, arguing that it had off er of partnership with he leader of Germany’s former finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble yesterday. the power now to improve the Tthe European Union that Social Democrats (SPD) “If it works, this is good,” Schaeuble, who gave up his finance portfolio lives of everyday Germans. falls short of membership, An- Thas urged members of to become president of the Bundestag lower house after an election last “I don’t want the geriatric kara’s minister for EU aff airs his centre-left party to endorse year, told Die Welt newspaper. “If it doesn’t work, it is also no catastrophe. nurse to have to wait four years said, warning that the current coalition talks with Chancellor There are other ways it could work.” for better working conditions impasse gave Turkey no reason Angela Merkel’s conservatives Delegates from the left-leaning Social Democratic Party (SPD) vote just so the SPD feels better,” he to maintain its migrant deal with or risk facing new elections that tomorrow on whether or not their leaders should push ahead with nego- said. the bloc. could further damage the party. tiations on forming a coalition government with Merkel’s conservatives The leader of the SPD’s youth In an interview with Reuters, The SPD is scrambling to rally after striking a preliminary deal last week. wing, Kevin Kuehnert, and other Omer Celik batted back recent support among rank-and-fi le In a rare jab at Merkel, Schaeuble was separately quoted by Focus opponents of another coalition comments from French presi- party members for formal nego- magazine as saying that Germany was still “suff ering” from the decision government, say that the blue- dent Emmanuel Macron, who tiations with the conservatives in 2015 to leave open the country’s borders, allowing the influx of more print hammered out with con- has mentioning the possibility of about another “grand coalition” than 1mn people seeking asylum. servatives falls too far short of a partnership rather than full EU – a move opposed by outspoken “We are still suff ering as a result. I don’t want to trivialise it,” he said. SPD goals. membership. members of the party’s youth Schulz and his backers insist Schulz: I don’t want the geriatric nurse to have to wait four years for Developments in Turkey did and left wings. the blueprint will benefi t Ger- better working conditions just so the SPD feels better. not allow for progress in its dec- Nearly four months after a na- native for Germany (AfD), which Martin Schulz told weekly news man citizens, and dampened ades-long push to join the bloc, tional election, Merkel has still entered parliament for the fi rst magazine Der Spiegel. hopes that formal coalition talks and 75% of SPD members – ex- though 68% of conservatives Macron has said. not managed to form a govern- time in September. He said that the SPD – which would result in signifi cantly dif- pect SPD delegates to approve were in favour, and 57% of SPD “A privileged partnership or ment. The process would also fur- posted its worst result since 1933 ferent results. further talks with Merkel’s con- members. similar approaches, we don’t Refusal by SPD delegates to ther exacerbate uncertainty in September’s election – was “The exploratory talks created servatives. Conservatives would win 33% take any of these seriously. Tur- hold further talks could lead that has raised questions about likely to see further losses in any a framework for what is possible The SPD has vowed to leave if the next election were held to- key cannot be off ered such a to new elections or a minority the future of Europe’s largest new poll. and what isn’t,” he said. “Af- the fi nal decision on whether to morrow, the poll showed, up one thing,” Celik said. “Whatever government for the fi rst time in economy and Merkel’s quest for “If the parties do not succeed ter all, we don’t want the other enter government to members in percentage point from a poll last it would be called, a privileged Germany’s post-war era. a fourth term in offi ce. in forming a government with side to question things that we a vote by mail. week. partnership or co-operation Many experts fear that Rejection of the talks “would the majorities in the Bundestag, fought for and won.” The poll showed that only The SPD would win just 20% against terrorism, such an off er new elections could further lead to new elections, and in then voters will punish them,” he A new poll by broadcaster ZDF 45% of Germans were in favour of the vote, down three points will not even be considered by strengthen the far-right Alter- pretty short order”, SPD leader told the magazine. showed that 64% of Germans – of another grand coalition, al- from last week. Turkey.” The EU has expressed con- cern over Turkey’s crackdown on suspected supporters of a failed 2016 coup. Around 50,000 people have been arrested pending trial and Storm damage to cost Germany €500mn 150,000, including teachers, journalists and judges, sacked or suspended from work. AFP was crushed by a falling tree, ter of that infl icted by another President Recep Tayyip Er- Berlin police said. deadly tempest in 2007, which dogan says the crackdown is The huge storm caused an- cost some €2bn. necessary to counter the multi- other three deaths elsewhere in Separately, Dutch insurers ple security threats Turkey faces. erman insurers estimated northern Europe and left air and reported €90mn in damages Turkey has said it wants better yesterday that ferocious rail traffi c in chaos. across The Netherlands, where ties with Germany in 2018. Ggales that battered Ger- In southern Germany, high- train services were also slowly Nonetheless, Europe’s nego- many caused €500mn ($614mn) speed ICE trains were running as creaking back into gear yester- tiations with Ankara have re- in damages, as the number of normal yesterday morning, al- day. mained frozen since December dead across the country rose to though the service in the rest of “According to our fi rst es- 2016, European Commissioner eight. the country remained subject to timates, the damage to homes Johannes Hahn, who oversees Trains on Germany’s inter- major disruptions, rail operator and cars is at least €90mn,” the EU membership bids, told Reu- city lines gradually resumed Deutsche Bahn said. Dutch Association of Insurers ters this week, adding that there operation a day after they were The company had on Thurs- said. were no talks on a proposed free- suspended due to the hurri- day suspended all high-speed But it said it had yet to add in trade deal. cane-force winds which caused services due to storm Friederike the cost to businesses, govern- Hahn also played down Anka- transport chaos across northern – the fi rst such stoppage since ment buildings and the agricul- ra’s overtures about a fresh start Europe. 2007, when major gales battered ture sector. in 2018. Two more people were re- the country. The Netherlands bore the “Nothing has changed,” he ported killed in the worst storm By the end of the morning, initial brunt of Thursday’s se- said. “It is good that Turkey un- to strike Germany in a decade, trains should be running to all vere storms which slammed in derstands we need a functioning adding to an earlier toll of six the main cities, Deutsche Bahn with winds of up to 140kph off relationship and that Turkey is which included two fi refi ghters said, with the service expect- the North Sea before barrelling not just President Erdogan. But responding to emergency calls. ed to be back to normal by the across northern Europe. the accession process is essen- A 64-year-old man fell 8m weekend. On a lighter note, a baby boy tially frozen and for many mem- (26’) while he was working to se- Regional train services were A woman stands yesterday amid parts of the roof structure of a primary school in the schoolyard in was born in his parents’ car in ber states, they feel it is best to cure the roof of a house. also disrupted yesterday, par- Halberstadt, eastern Germany, a day after the region was hit by the heavy storm named ‘Friederike’. the western city of Cologne as leave it that way.” He later died in hospital, po- ticularly in North Rhine-West- they were caught up in the traffi c Celik said the European Union lice from the eastern state of phalia, Germany’s most popu- tracks of fallen branches and winds of up to 130kph (80 mph) sociation said €500mn of dam- chaos unleashed by storm, city was not honouring all parts of a Saxony-Anhalt said. lous state. trees. while others worked to repair age was caused by the country’s authorities said. deal to stem the fl ow of migrants Another man, 34, also suc- Hundreds of rail staff worked Many trees were uprooted by damage to the lines, it said. worst storm in more than a dec- The couple have called him westwards from Turkey in return cumbed to his injuries after he through the night to clear the the force of the storm which saw The German Insurance As- ade, although it was only a quar- Anton. for €3bn in fi nancial aid to Tur- key and other support. The fi nancial aid was “not working well”, no new chapters had been opened in Turkey’s EU accession eff orts and there had Czech prime minister loses immunity from fraud charge been no development on ex- panding a Turkish-EU customs deal, he said. Reuters prevented Babis from creating a deputy chairman of Babis’ ANO A police spokeswoman told to fi ght corruption and run the new administration is formed. “Technically there’s no reason Prague government as smaller parties party. Czech Television: “We reject state better. The start of 2018 has seen in- for Turkey to maintain this deal,” have refused to back him while Babis, who remains popu- that it would be possible to order Opinion polls show ANO’s creased political instability in Celik said. the charge remains. lar among voters, has called the prosecution.” support continues to grow. eastern EU countries. The migrant deal also includ- he Czech parliament has Babis, the country’s second subsidy case a ploy by opponents Babis himself voted to lift his But the party created by Babis Romania got its third prime ed the lifting of short-term visa lifted Prime Minister richest person, denies hiding to drive him out of politics. immunity. in 2011 only holds 78 of the 200 minister in a year and Bulgaria’s requirements on Turks. TAndrej Babis’ immunity, ownership of a farm and con- “We live in a country where Parliament had already taken lower house seats and has not government faces a no-confi - But its implementation has leaving him open to prosecution vention centre to receive a €2mn you can order a prosecution of away Babis’s immunity once, but been able to form a coalition. dence vote. been waylaid by disagreement over accusations he fraudulently ($2.5mn) subsidy a decade ago. somebody and you can probably he regained it in October when On Tuesday, Babis’s minor- Last month, Poland re-shuf- over Turkey’s anti-terror laws, received European Union subsi- Lawmakers voted 111-69 to get somebody in jail,” Babis told ANO won a national election, ity government lost a confi dence fl ed its government amid dis- which Europe says are too broad dies. lift parliamentary immunity for parliament, drawing strong crit- getting three times the votes vote in its fi rst attempt. putes with the EU over a judicial and need to be narrowed to meet The threat of legal action has Babis and Jaroslav Faltynek, the icism from opposition parties. of its nearest rival on pledges He will stay in offi ce until a overhaul. European standards. Catalan ex-leader insists he can rule from abroad, Madrid says no

Reuters said he could not rule from Brus- parties would win. That ploy is, there would be a new regional Puigdemont would not clarify Madrid sels either. backfi red, with parties in favour election in Catalonia. in yesterday’s radio interview “He won’t be president (of of a split gaining a slim majority. “This is not what we want but whether he would continue with Catalonia),” Inigo Mendez de Puigdemont moved to Brus- that’s what will happen if they plans to unilaterally construct an he sacked former leader of Vigo, who is government spokes- sels shortly after he was fi red by act outside the law,” he said. independent republic if elected Catalonia said yesterday man and minister of education, Madrid but has said he would re- The new Catalan parliament regional president. Tthat he could be re-elected culture and sport, told Reuters. turn to Catalonia if the Spanish met for the fi rst time on Wednes- But he said he planned to re- as the region’s president and rule The government would im- government gave him certain un- day and picked a separatist poli- store the previous administra- remotely from his self-imposed mediately appeal to the courts if specifi ed guarantees – probably a tician as speaker, signalling Puig- tion. “There is no plan B: plan exile in Brussels, but the Spanish parliament leaders allowed the promise not to arrest him. demont’s possible return. A is restoration because that is government said it would not let election of “a fugitive in Brus- Other Catalan independence The appointment of Roger what the people have entrusted that happen. sels”, Mendez de Vigo said. leaders including Oriol Junquer- Torrent to the role ended a rela- us with.” Supporters of Carles Puig- Puigdemont’s administra- as, leader of the second-biggest tive lull in the crisis since the The independence drive has demont, who faces arrest for tion was dismissed by the cen- separatist party in the regional election in December. deeply divided people in the charges including sedition and tral government in Madrid after parliament, are serving custo- The Catalan parliamentary wealthy region and caused re- rebellion if he returns to Spain, he spearheaded a drive for the dial sentences in Madrid for their committee, which has a pro- sentment in much of the rest of have suggested that he could rule northeastern region, which is al- roles in planning a banned inde- independence majority, must Spain. via video link – earning him the ready semi-autonomous, to split pendence referendum. decide by January 31 if it will al- Uncertainty over the future sobriquet “the hologram presi- Puigdemont: These days many from Spain that culminated in a The Spanish government has low presidential candidates to act Rajoy: has dismissed the of Catalonia, which has Spain’s dent” from detractors. big projects are handled with the unilateral declaration of inde- been ruling Catalonia directly remotely. possibility of long-distance rule second-biggest city Barcelona “I am a member of parliament use of new technologies. pendence in October. since it sacked Puigdemont. Rajoy has dismissed the pos- by Puigdemont as absurd. and factories for global brands who is perfectly eligible as presi- He regained his seat in the Mendez de Vigo said the gov- sibility of long-distance rule by like Volkswagen and Nestle, wor- dent,” Puigdemont told Catalun- Referring to the charges Catalan parliament in a Decem- ernment would continue to di- Puigdemont as absurd and Ma- leader is likely on January 31, and ried investors and led to thou- ya Radio. “These days many big against him, he added: “You can’t ber 21 election that was called by rectly rule Catalonia as long as drid has said it will contest any Catalonia’s two main pro-inde- sands of companies moving their projects are handled with the use rule from prison.” Spanish Prime Minister Mariano necessary and that if the situa- such decision in the courts. pendence parties have said they registered headquarters to else- of new technologies.” But the Spanish government Rajoy in the hope that pro-unity tion remained deadlocked as it A fi rst vote to choose a new back Puigdemont. where in Spain. Gulf Times Saturday, January 20, 2018 9 INDIA

LEGAL LAW AND ORDER WARNING POLITICS CONTROVERSY Appeal against filmmaker’s Arrest warrants against Andhra threatens fight over Congress wants NGO’s appeal to tourists rape case acquittal rejected Mallya, 18 others Centre’s unfulfilled pledges Mani back in UDF angers tiger reserves’ staff

The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the A court in Bengaluru has issued arrest Amid a perceived strain in ties with the BJP, The Kerala Congress (Mani) with six legislators, Hundreds of tourist guides and drivers working acquittal of a Bollywood director accused of warrants against fugitive tycoon Vijay Mallya Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu currently sitting as an independent bloc in the for various tiger reserves in Maharashtra and raping an American research scholar in a case and 18 others for off ences involving alleged Naidu yesterday virtually threatened to Kerala Assembly, is being wooed by the Congress central India protested against UK-based NGO that has sparked intense debate about consent fraud and concealment of material facts for drag the Centre to court over the unfulfilled to return to the United Democratic Front (UDF), Survival International’s appeal to foreigners to in a country with high levels of sexual violence. inducing investments, on a complaint by the commitments made in state Reorganisation even as the Communist Party of India (CPI) boycott Indian tiger reserves. The protests at the Mahmood Farooqui was initially found guilty of Serious Fraud Investigation Off ice (SFIO). Act. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president says there is no place for it in the ruling Left Pench Tiger Reserve and Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger rape in 2016, but the Delhi high court last year Besides Mallya, the others against whom arrest said the state government could move Democratic Front (LDF). Yesterday, the Congress Reserve come in the wake of a protest lodged overturned the conviction on appeal, ruling warrants have been issued include a clutch of the Supreme Court to get justice. “We are party made its overture to him, with former chief against SI by various organisations including the incident had been consensual. The alleged UB Group off icials, including its chief financial not asking for any extra favours. We are minister Oommen Chandy saying they would be the Satpuda Foundation, working for tiger and victim sought to appeal, but the Supreme Court off icer A K Ravi Nedungadi, Capt G R Gopinath, demanding what is due to us. We want the glad if Mani returns to the UDF. “Even though no forests conservation. Their ire stems from an yesterday dismissed her plea, saying the acquittal promoter of Deccan Aviation till its merger with Centre to do the handholding and provide talks in this respect have commenced, there is a open e-mail alleging that the government was had been sound. “The high court judgement is well Kingfisher Aviation, Ashok Wadhwa of Ambit level playing field till the state achieves parity strong feeling in the UDF that Mani should return “illegally evicting” tribals from their forests written. It does not require our interference,” said S Private Ltd., and several chartered accountants with others. If required, we will go to the to the UDF. This is our wish and Mani now has to violating their rights, and asked tourists to stop A Bobde, one of the judges hearing the case. associated with Kingfisher. Supreme Court on one or two issues,” he said. take the call,” said Chandy. visiting the 50 tiger reserves spread across India.

India Gaming Show South opens Shiv Sena accused of Kejriwal cries threatening refi nery protesters foul as 20 AAP

IANS Mumbai lawmakers face aharashtra Swabhiman Party (MSP) president MNarayan Rane yesterday accused the Shiv Sena of threat- ening farmers and leaders oppos- ing the upcoming mega-refi nery project at Nanar in Konkan. disqualifi cation “Despite strong opposition from the local villages, the state IANS test Kejriwal’s grip on Delhi. tinue. Half of his Cabinet minis- government has initiated forci- New Delhi The MLAs who face the axe are ters were removed on corruption ble land acquisition process for Alka Lamba, Adarsh Shastri, San- charges. Twenty MLAs who were the project. An activist, Ashok jeev Jha, Rajesh Gupta, Kailash enjoying ministerial perks would Walam, his wife Ashwini Walam n a major setback to the rul- Gehlot, Vijendra Garg, Praveen be disqualifi ed,” Delhi Congress and another campaigner, Man- ing Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Kumar, Sharad Kumar, Madan Lal chief Ajay Maken said. gesh Chavan, were threatened in Iin Delhi, the Election Com- Khufi ya, Shiv Charan Goyal, Sari- BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra Matoshri,” Rane told media per- mission yesterday recommended ta Singh, Naresh Yadav, Rajesh Ri- said Kejriwal had lost the moral sons. disqualifi cation of 20 of its MLAs shi, Anil Kumar, Som Dutt, Avtar right to continue. He accused the The MSP chief claimed that in for holding offi ce of profi t as par- Singh, Sukhvir Singh Dala, Manoj chief minister of acting like a dic- Matoshri – the residence of Shiv liamentary secretaries, triggering Kumar, Nitin Tyagi and Jarnail tator, saying “the party and the Sena president Uddhav Thack- an angry reaction from the party. Singh (Tilak Nagar). government function on the basis eray – these activists and villag- The Election Commission gave The AAP said the EC recom- of (whatever he says). ers were warned against oppos- its opinion to President Ram Nath mendation was based on false al- “But for the fi rst time, the con- ing the project and even lured Kovind on a complaint by the legations, alleging that the “BJP stitution has shown him the mir- with money to back off , but they Congress fi led in June 2016 seek- through its agents seriously com- ror in a big way,” Patra said. refused. ing disqualifi cation of the MLAs. promises the prestige of the EC BJP MLA and leader of the op- “The police arrested them The decision led to calls by the just to divert the attention of the position in the Delhi Assembly, and fi led cases for opposing the Congress and BJP for Chief Minis- nation from its all-round failures. Vijender Gupta, said it was “a project and fi nally they were ter Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation. “What (the) Narendra Modi huge moral defeat” for the chief granted bail by the court. The The Congress application said government appointed Election minister and hence he should re- people who are trying to grab the 21 AAP MLAs, including Jarnail Commission is leaking to the me- sign on ethical grounds. villagers’ land are agents of Shiv Singh (Rajouri Garden) who re- dia is a recommendation made The panel last year in Octo- Sena,” said Rane, whose party is signed to contest the Punjab As- without hearing the arguments ber issued a notice to the AAP part of the ruling National Dem- sembly polls last year, were ap- of MLAs on the false allegation of MLAs seeking an explanation ocratic Alliance (NDA). pointed parliamentary secretaries offi ce of profi t. Such a blatantly after rejecting their pleas to drop He said people of at least to ministers in the Delhi govern- biased recommendation will not the ‘offi ce of profi t’ case against 16 villages in Nanar area have ment in violation of the constitu- stand scrutiny in court of law,” them. not given their consent for the tion. Kejriwal’s media advisor Nagen- In March 2015, the AAP gov- project and have refused to ac- The president is bound to act in dra Sharma said. ernment passed an amendment to cept the government’s compen- accordance with the poll panel’s Aam Aadmi Party chief spokes- the Delhi Members of Legislative sation package. recommendation. person Saurabh Bhardwaj said Assembly (Removal of Disquali- The former chief minister, There was no offi cial word from there was a political conspiracy fi cation) Act, 1997, to exempt the who hails from the picturesque the poll panel. But sources said the against the party, alleging that posts of parliamentary secretary coastal Konkan region of Mahar- commission’s recommendation chief election commissioner Ach- from the defi nition of offi ce of ashtra, listed major environmen- had been sent to Kovind. al Kumar Jyoti, a 1975 batch IAS profi t with retrospective eff ect. tal hazards if the government The move will pave the way for offi cer who was Gujarat chief sec- But then President Pranab pushes ahead with the project, by-polls in Delhi for 20 constitu- retary when Modi was the chief Mukherjee refused to give as- besides destroying the habitat encies of the 70-member assem- minister, was ‘repaying back’ sent, following which the for the world-renowned Devgad bly. The AAP at present has of- favours to the prime min- appointments were set Alphonso mango unique to this fi cially 66 members in the House ister just a few days before aside by the Delhi High region. although some have turned dis- demitting offi ce. Joti’s term Court in September 2016, “The Shiv Sena is playing a sidents. The other four seats are expires on Monday. declaring them illegal dual role in the matter. On the held by the BJP. The Congress and the since the order had been one hand, Thackeray says the A man dressed as a Manga character attends the India Gaming Show South 2018 at the Even if 20 MLAs are disquali- BJP welcomed the move passed “without concur- party is opposed to the project, Bangalore International Exhibition Centre yesterday. India Gaming Show South 2018, an fi ed, the ruling party will still and asked Kejriwal to step rence/approval but its ministers in the state and international gaming, animation and infotainment event aims to reach out to professional have a comfortable majority down. of the lieu- the centre are giving various gamers, developers and audiences at large. in the Delhi Assembly. But by- “Kejriwal has tenant gov- clearances for it.” elections, if called, will put to no right to con- ernor”. Govt’s investment terms Ammonia leak scare Veerendra Kumar not leave foreign partners cold to lay claim to RS seat IANS unit,” the leader added. Thiruvananthapuram Kumar and his party which Reuters with government offi cials over Group, Cairn Energy and Deut- was part of the LDF till 2009, New Delhi the past 10 months, but does not sche Telekom have initiated arbi- shifted alliance after he was de- want to be named as the discus- tration proceedings against India ontrary to speculation, nied the Kozhikode Lok Sabha sions are private. seeking to protect their invest- media baron and Janata seat. aving cancelled invest- Negotiators from countries ments against retrospective tax CDal-United supremo, M P However, after he lost the 2014 ment treaties with about including Australia, Iran and the claims and cancellation of con- Veerendra Kumar, who bid fare- Lok Sabha polls by a margin of H50 foreign governments European Union have told the In- tracts. well to the Congress-led United over 100,000 votes, he has been last year, India is struggling to dian side that investors are wait- Covered by a bilateral trade and Democratic Front and is set to unhappy with the UDF. They convince some to accept new ing to come in but the new treaty investment agreement between join the ruling CPI-M-led Left UDF then pacifi ed him by giving terms that make it harder to seek terms give too little protection, New Delhi and Tokyo, Japanese Democratic Front, will not stake him a Rajya Sabha seat in 2017. international arbitration for dis- the source said. automaker Nissan is the latest claim to the Rajya Sabha seat he Kumar suff ered a jolt when Bi- putes, sources familiar with the Foremost among their con- company to sue India, claiming resigned from in December, a har chief minister and the JD-U talks said. cerns are a requirement for in- damages of over $770mn in un- senior party leader said. president Nitish Kumar decided From New Delhi’s perspective vestors to fi ght any case in the paid tax incentives. The leader, who did not wish to support the National Demo- those treaties, mainly struck in Indian courts for at least fi ve While several countries limit to be identifi ed, said “they were cratic Alliance (NDA), forcing the 1990s when it was desper- years before going for interna- the type of tax-related claims quite aware of the political mo- him to bid goodbye to the JD-U ate for foreign capital, left it tional arbitration, and other pro- that can be made, lawyers say In- rality that one should practice”. along with Sharad Yadav. Ku- too exposed to potential claims visions narrowing the scope for dia’s step to omit all tax matters “We will not stake claim and mar subsequently quit his Rajya awarded by international arbi- companies to make claims, the goes too far and could expose in- we do not want the Rajya Sabha Sabha seat. trators. source said. vestors to sudden changes in tax seat that our chief won last year While the CPI-M has cleared To reduce that exposure, the The new model treaty also rules or retrospective claims. with the support of the UDF. Kumar’s entry into the LDF, this government has drafted a new has no provision for investors to These days, India appears to be Now that we have left the UDF, will offi cially happen once the model agreement that legal advi- bring claims against India for any in a far stronger negotiating po- we will not ask for that seat from new party is announced. sors say is similar to those used tax-related matters and for dis- sition than it was during the 1991 the LDF,” said the party leader. All eyes are now on which by other big emerging market putes arising due to actions taken balance of payments crisis. Last week the JD-U decided party in the Left alliance will take economies like Brazil and In- by local governments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi to end its relation with the UDF, over the vacant Rajya Sabha seat. donesia, but some of its foreign Currently, India is entangled has a strong mandate and there is An ammonia gas tanker turned turtle in Chicalim village and to return to the Left Demo- The CPI, the second biggest partners are baulking at the more in more than 20 international ar- more confi dence in the ability of near the Dabolim International Airport in Goa yesterday. cratic Front (LDF). ally in the LDF, in all probabili- restrictive approach. bitration cases, and could end up his pro-business government to Dozens of residents in South Goa were evacuated from “Our fi rst task is to fl oat a ties will stake claim to it, as at “India is getting nowhere with paying billions of dollars in dam- get the under-achieving econo- their homes by disaster response teams following the new party, which would be led the moment they do not have any the negotiations,” said a source, ages if it loses. my moving than there has been accident. (PHOTO: IANS) by Sharad Yadav, and once this representation from the state in who is aware of the meetings Companies like Vodafone in any of its predecessors. happens we will form the Kerala the Upper House. Gulf Times 10 Saturday, January 20, 2018 LATIN AMERICA

PEOPLE OFFBEAT DECISION TRAGEDY LAW AND ORDER Pele ‘hospitalised Eagles settle case against Mexico deputy finance Train derailment in Mexico Uruguay seizes Argentine following collapse’ real-life Hotel California minister quits post City suburb kills five people union boss’s millions

Brazilian football legend Pele has reportedly been A hotel in Mexico named Hotel California plans Mexican deputy finance minister Vanessa Rubio Five people were killed when a train derailed Uruguayan authorities have seized some $6mn in hospitalised with exhaustion after collapsing to continue using the name after settling a has left her post to join the campaign team of in a densely populated Mexico City suburb, cash from bank strongboxes held by a recently- on Thursday. The 77-year-old “collapsed and lawsuit brought by the Eagles over rights ruling party presidential hopeful Jose Antonio authorities said. The train, which was arrested Argentine trade union leader. “It’s the was taken to hospital in Brazil where he has related to the country-rock band’s classic 1976 Meade amid a reshuff le at the ministry, off icials transporting grain, crashed in Ecatepec, a large largest seizure of cash in the history of Uruguay,” undergone a series of tests which appear to song. Hotel California Baja yesterday said it said yesterday. Rubio, whose departure was municipality in the State of Mexico that forms state prosecutor Jorge Diaz said. The initial figure point to severe exhaustion,” the Football Writers’ will “continue to use the service mark and announced by Meade’s campaign, is due to be part of the urban sprawl extending from the was $4mn following seizures in Montevideo, Association (FWA) in England said yesterday. trademark ‘Hotel California’ in Mexico,” where replaced by Miguel Messmacher, the deputy capital. After the train ran off the tracks, one of its but it jumped higher after authorities opened “He remains on fluids while doctors monitor his it owns about 28 valid trademark registrations minister for revenue, a ministry off icial familiar cars careened into a residential area, killing five new chests in the department of Maldonado to recovery.” Pele, who won three World Cups with for the name and variants. In a federal lawsuit with the matter said. Meade was in charge people, the communications and transportation complete the operation. Marcelo Balcedo, the Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970, was due to travel filed in Los Angeles, the Eagles had accused of the finance ministry until stepping down ministry said in a statement. Authorities are 54-year-old head of Argentina’s 35,000-member to London for a FWA tribute night in his honour the hotel of improperly encouraging guests to to seek the presidential candidacy for the removing debris and more victims will probably education workers union SOEME, was arrested tomorrow but will no longer make the journey. believe the band had authorised its use of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) in late be found, the State of Mexico prosecutor’s with his wife on January 4 after a request by The FWA said “there is no suggestion of anything song’s name, in part to sell T-shirts and other November. Rubio said on Twitter she would act off ice said. The train belonged to Kansas City Interpol. Balcedo had lived on and off in a mansion more serious than exhaustion” in Pele’s condition. merchandise. as Meade’s off ice co-ordinator. Southern’s Mexican unit, the ministry said. in Punte del Este on Uruguay’s east coast. Petrobras owes govt billions, not likely to pay in ’18: minister

Reuters Congress after spending politi- Brasilia cal capital to fi ght off corruption charges. With Temer’s approval rating razilian state-controlled in the single digits, some inves- oil company Petroleo Bra- tors doubt he can follow through Bsileiro SA owes the gov- on an agenda of market-friendly ernment billions of dollars tied reforms, such as privatising to off shore exploration rights power utility Centrais Eletricas but is unlikely to pay this year, a Brasileiras SA. Cabinet minister said. Oliveira said he sees little The government’s 2018 budg- resistance from lawmakers to et does not include any revenue the plan to privatise Eletrobras from the so-called “transfer of through a capital increase or a rights” area that has sparked a related measure deregulating dispute with the company also electricity prices, which would known as Petrobras, Planning likely result in higher rates for Minister Dyogo Oliveira said in consumers. an interview. Together, the electricity re- In 2010, Brazil exchanged off - forms would produce 12bn reais shore exploration rights for eq- in revenues, according to the uity in Petrobras. government’s budget plan. The government argues it is “I don’t see Congress putting now owed money due to a reas- up resistance against the Eletro- People stand around the car which crashed into people at the Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. sessment of the value of the as- bras capitalisation. You hear sets, but Petrobras says it is owed some comments about its sub- money by the government from sidiaries or things like that, but the reassessment. I don’t hear comments about the Oliveira’s comments sug- main concept,” he said. gested the dispute could drag on Even one-time revenue from despite the creation of a govern- Petrobras would not keep the ment commission comprised government from breaking of representatives from several budget rules in 2019, Oliveira Baby killed, 17 injured as ministries this week to acceler- said, as an ageing population ate negotiations. accelerates social security pay- There is a 60-day deadline to ments. reach a deal. “I don’t expect to Brazilian law forbids the see revenues from this process government from issuing debt this year,” Oliveira said though worth more than its planned in- he added the government is vestments in a given year. car drives into Rio crowd working to reach an agreement Breaking the so-called “gold- as soon as possible. en rule” would leave Temer’s Agencies An Australian man, one of 17 the baby’s death and said 15 in- “I was working at the time, ping on the sand of the beach. He declined to estimate the successor, who will take over Rio de Janeiro people injured, was in a serious jured people were being treated my wife was walking with my The smashed widescreen and amount the government was after this year’s elections, vul- condition yesterday, health of- in hospital. daughter on the beach in the dented roof indicated the force owed, saying only it would be nerable to impeachment unless fi cials said. stroller, so he came running with which the vehicle had hit billions of dollars. authorised by Congress. speeding car ploughed The 68-year-old Australian “I was working at the over everybody.” people. The revenue could help Bra- Temer has said he will not run through evening stroll- was among 10 people still in time, my wife was Dramatic images from the The promenade at Copac- zil plug a budget hole and slow again. A ers on a crowded prom- hospital yesterday, most suff er- walking with my scene on television showed a abana is a favourite summer down growth in public debt after Some analysts fear the gov- enade at Copacabana beach in ing multiple fractures after the daughter on the beach in black car with its windscreen evening walk for Rio residents it suff ered a sovereign down- ernment could break the rule Rio in an apparent accident, accident, a statement from the the stroller, so he came smashed on the beach. Oth- and tourists who have started to grade last week. in 2018, but Oliveira said a killing an eight-month-old Rio de Janeiro health secretariat running over everybody” ers showed emergency serv- arrive for carnival celebrations On the other hand, if a resolu- smaller-than-expected 2017 baby and injuring 17 people, said. ice teams carrying patients on next month. tion is reached favouring Petro- defi cit would help meet obliga- police said. The G1 news website report- “How is it that he’s taking stretchers as shocked witnesses One victim, who suff ered mi- bras, the government could tions this year. “For 2018, we Injured people lay on the ed that the driver, who fl ed the epilepsy medicine and is driv- looked on. nor injuries, told O Globo news- make payments in the form of are not worried. There is no risk pavement, recalling recent ter- scene but was quickly arrested ing a car,” the baby’s 27-year- Witnesses said on the Globo paper: “He came at a very high barrels of oil, sidestepping any of breaking the golden rule,” he rorist attacks by vehicles mow- by police, had said he had had old father Darlan Rocha asked in News network that the car had speed before he lost control. spending increase, Oliveira said. said. “For 2019, there is no pos- ing down pedestrians, but there an epileptic fi t, and medicine an interview with Brazil’s Globo driven over a cycle path and Thank God I did not lose my President Michel Temer’s ad- sibility of meeting the golden was no indication that the Co- for epilepsy was found in the TV. across the promenade, hitting senses. It was a terrible scene. ministration has struggled to rule, given the size of the imbal- pacabana incident was deliber- car. “He’s a killer. He shouldn’t people and crashing through The car caught everyone on the push austerity measures through ances.” ate. Copacabana police confi rmed have a driver’s licence,” he said. tables and chairs, before stop- sidewalk.”

Wetland conservation Rousseff warns of chaos if Mexico ‘should study Lula’s election bid blocked Bogota peace process’ Reuters to work with the ruling Insti- Mexico City tutional Revolutionary Party AFP presidential elections in which mantling” his socialist policies. (PRI) and has worked with Brasília he is currently the frontrunner. Rousseff lives near her daugh- Lopez Obrador since 2006. Speaking by phone from her ter and grandchildren in Porto he Colombian peace Durazo also cited the end home in Porto Alegre, Rousseff Alegre, where the court verdict process is a “good refer- of apartheid in South Africa, ormer president Dilma - who was impeached in 2016 for on Lula’s future will be delivered Tence” for Mexico to fol- Spanish efforts to end the Rousseff yesterday said breaking budget rules — said she on Thursday. low to try and end years of drug ETA conflict and Argentina’s FBrazil will be ungovernable believed Lula can calm the South Lula’s Workers’ Party (PT) violence, the security advisor so-called Full Stop Law that if a court decision due next week American country’s stormy po- expects to fl ood the southern of leftist presidential front- helped reconcile a society blocks Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva litical waters. Brazilian city with its supporters runner Andres Manuel Lopez riven by years of political re- from running in October polls, “I don’t think that insisting on ahead of the ruling. The local au- Obrador said. pression, as models to learn and upholds his corruption con- the political use of the judicial thorities have called on the army Lopez Obrador has chosen from. viction. system will stabilise and grow to provide extra security. Alfonso Durazo, a veteran po- Lopez Obrador has said Du- “Any government that assumes the country,” she said. “Lula PT chairman senator Gleisi litical operative who critics razo, 63, would take a central power by winning the 2018 elec- can help turn the page, help in a Hoff man said that if they wanted say has little law enforcement role in restoring order after tions, without a transparent and transition period between now to arrest Lula they would have to experience, as his pick to reac- years of violence claiming tens correct electoral process, without and a reconstruction. “kill people”. tivate the public security min- of thousands of lives, while manoeuvres to invalidate candi- “We are going to have to try to Rousseff yesterday distanced istry if he wins July’s presiden- also making the contentious dates — as in Lula’s case — will heal the wounds and mend the herself from such talk. “What tial election, tasking Durazo suggestion of exploring an am- not be able to govern this coun- country.” there is, is indignation, and in- with the tough job of lowering nesty for criminal gangs. try,” Rousseff said in an interview. After years of economic de- dignation is a peaceful, demo- a record murder tally. “Will we explore the possi- Lula was sentenced in July to cline and corruption scandals, cratic feeling. That indignation In an interview with Reuters bility of an amnesty? Yes. We nine years and fi ve months be- Brazilians are so far turning away is an expression of an awareness in Mexico City, Durazo said won’t discard any idea that’s hind bars after being convicted from centrist, traditional candi- of injustice and political perse- he and his team would study on the table without evaluat- of corruption in Brazil’s huge dates, with Lula a comfortable cution,” she said. successful eff orts to end long- ing it fi rst,” Durazo said. “Will “Car Wash” graft scandal. leader in the polls, despite his Rousseff remains convinced running confl icts from around we sit down with the big cartel The court in Porto Alegre said many legal problems. of a plot by judicial, political and the world, but adapt those kingpins? I can’t tell you right it will rule on his appeal on Janu- Rousseff , 70, still believes that business sectors to sideline the PT. solutions to meet Mexico’s now.” ary 24. her impeachment was a parlia- They wanted to “destroy the Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos poses for needs. Nonetheless, he stressed That could decide whether mentary coup intended to cut a PT, destroy their greatest leader, pictures after he signed a document that will allow for “The Colombian peace that the focus was not on let- Lula — hugely popular during his cycle of 13 years of leftist rule, but they went wrong because all the conservation of the Tarapoto wetland complex in process is a good reference, ting criminals off the hook, but 2001-10 two-term presidency and that the legal process against the polls show a growing inten- Amazonas, Colombia. but we need to design our own rather seeking new ways to end — can take part in October 2018 her mentor Lula is aimed at “dis- tion to vote for Lula.” terms,” said Durazo, who used the violence. Gulf Times Saturday, January 20, 2018 11 PAKISTAN ‘Ethnic party’ blamed for Sharif: attended the meetings. situation in Baluchistan PML-N Internews a role in Baluchistan’s politics, Jamali, Haji Mohammad Khan MPs had unanimously agreed However, the government another former chief minister, Quetta and said they would contest the Lehri, Sarfraz Bugti, Anwarul that the provincial government would take notice following a said that the government should next elections under the ban- Haq Kakar, Ghulam Dastagir had failed in defending the le- court verdict, he added. hold a judicial inquiry over the plans law ner of a unifi ed Muslim League Badini, Haji Akbar Askani, Mir gitimate rights of Baluchistan Kakar declared that all Mus- abuse of public and develop- number of Baluchistan or any of the Pakistan Muslim Aamir Rind, Tahir Mahmood, and its people. lim League candidates would ment funds. Assembly lawmakers League (PML) faction. and Mir Faiq Jamali. The process of develop- take part in the next elections He wants the government to against Ahave defended their de- “We are not going to join a They explained that there ment had stopped, causing a under a single platform. allocate Senate seats to districts, cision to bring a change in the central political party,” the MPAs were some negative remarks sharp feeling of deprivation, he Sardar Mohammad Saleh and called for support from the provincial government, alleging said, quashing rumours that cer- made on the recent develop- claimed. Bhootani, a former caretaker political parties operating at the insulting that an ethnic party had held tain members of the Baluchistan ments in Baluchistan, and after “We had informed the federal chief minister, said that it is un- national level. the provincial government and Assembly are going to join the consultation they decided to re- government in advance but they fair that the Asian Development Prince Ahmed Ali claimed former chief minister Sanaullah Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). spond as a group. never took notice,” another MPA Bank funds were used for build- that Rs15bn in funding from the parliament Zehri hostage throughout the The legislators claimed that Anwarul Haq Kakar said that told the media. ing roads in Baluchistan, shown federal government and Rs20bn latter’s term. more than Rs15bn in funding members belonging to the Pa- He said that they had taken as a project of the China-Paki- in funding from the provincial Speaking with the media at from the federal government and kistan Muslim League – Na- the step in the greater interest of stan Economic Corridor (CPEC). government lapsed every year Internews a luncheon hosted by Mir Faiq Rs20bn in funding from the pro- waz (PML-N), Pakistan Mus- the people of Baluchistan. He also claimed that the gov- because the Baluchistan gov- Lahore Jamali at his residence, the law- vincial government had lapsed, lim League – Quaid-e-Azam Kakar meanwhile said that ernment had failed to explain ernment failed to utilise those makers claimed that the govern- and blamed the ethnic party for (PML-Q), Awami National Party the new government had taken CPEC and its objectives in Balu- funds. ment had ignored their legiti- maladministration, ineffi ciency (ANP), Baluchistan National a serious notice of the recent re- chistan. Deputy Opposition Leader meeting of Pakistan mate demands and rights as the and corruption. Party – Mengal (BNP-Mengal), cruitments made in the provin- He was of the view that the Zamruk Khan said they resorted Muslim League – Nawaz said ethnic party ruled supreme Those who addressed the Baluchistan National Party – cial information department. most important route is the to the no-confi dence motion A(PML-N) bigwigs, in- in the coalition government. media included Prince Ahmed Awami (BNP-Awami), and Ja- He claimed that the political western route and the govern- after a former minister levelled cluding Prime Minister Shahid They also rejected reports that Ali, Sardar Mohammad Saleh miat Ulema-e-Islam – Fazlur constituents of a certain MPA ment was yet to start work on it. charges of buying and selling of Khaqan Abbasi and party presi- any federal party was playing Bhootani, Mir Jan Mohammad (JUI-F) as well as independent were given jobs without merit. Mir Jan Mohammed Jamali, votes. dent Nawaz Sharif, has agreed on legislation to create deter- rence against contemptuous speeches against parliament, after condemning the scornful language used for the house by Science the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan. The prime minister arrived in labs for the city to attend two separate meetings at Jati Umra. Punjab Chief Minister Shah- Punjab baz Sharif received the PM at the Lahore Airport yesterday. In the fi rst meeting, the par- schools ticipants condemned the “in- sults” hurled at parliament and it was unanimously agreed that all Internews political parties would be taken Lahore onboard to introduce legisla- tion to create strict deterrence against such acts. cience labs will be estab- The participants shared that lished in Punjab’s 300 Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Sgovernment schools in the along with many other parties, fi rst phase under the Khadim-e- was willing to get onboard for Punjab Next Generation Schools such legislation. Initiative Programme. The PNL-N leadership was This was announced by Pun- updated on the pace of progress jab Schools Education Minister on development projects, espe- An off icer fires a teargas shell towards demonstrators during a protest in Rana Mashhood on Tuesday. cially the energy sector initia- One day Karachi yesterday over the killing of a man in a ‘police encounter’. He was addressing the inau- tives. A man plays with a street dog while carrying his son early gural ceremony of the Khad- The meeting discussed ways yesterday morning at China Creek in Karachi. at a time im-e-Punjab Next Generation to make up for the delays that Schools Initiative Programme were blamed on the disqualifi ca- at Government APS Girls High tion of Nawaz Sharif and conse- School, Model Town. quent loss of investor confi dence The minister said the use of in Pakistan economy. information and communication In the second meeting, Hasil technologies in school education Bizenjo, Mahmud Khan Achak- by the Punjab government had zai, Prime Minister Abbasi and helped in achieving the targets Sharif discussed the fallout of of educational reforms pro- the political manoeuvring in the gramme. Baluchistan Assembly and ways He said: “Due to these pro- to minimise the damage it could grammes, students have access cause to the party in the upcom- to world-class education. As a ing Senate elections. result, educated and self-confi - dent youth leadership has been developed which has benefi ted the whole country.” He added that under the pro- gramme, IT labs, science labs, Nuclear health labs, art rooms and early childhood education rooms along with food labs were estab- physicist lished to provide the most con- ducive atmosphere for students. He said that modern labs is dead would be introduced in 300 schools in the fi rst phase of the programme. Internews Mashhood said the initiative Karachi would ensure quality educa- Women prepare yesterday to light earthen lamps at a shrine in Islamabad. A salesman shows off a tiara at a shop in the market in Peshawar. tion and capabilities of teachers would also be enhanced. uclear physicist Dr Ish- He revealed that Rs345bn had faq Ahmad passed away been allocated for education. Nin Islamabad yesterday, Punjab School Education De- according to PTV. partment Secretary Dr Allah He was 87. Bakhsh Malik said that 8,000 IT He was seriously ill and had FBI issues new images of 1986 Pan Am hijackers labs and 11,000 early childhood been hospitalised for the past educational rooms had been set few weeks. up in schools situated in diff er- Ahmad served as the chair- AFP ent districts of the province. person of the Pakistan Atomic Islamabad “Similarly, technical and Energy Commission from 1991 vocational education is being to 2001 – during which Paki- imparted in 1,109 schools and stan conducted its nuclear test he US Federal Bureau of Danish schools are providing in 1998. Investigation (FBI) has free education to the needy stu- He also worked as adviser to Treleased age-progressed dents,” he said. the prime minister for strategic images of four men involved in and scientifi c programmes. the deadly hijacking of a Pan In recognition of his services Am plane in Karachi in 1986. Pakistan now a in the fi eld of nuclear physics, Twenty passengers and crew, Ahmad was awarded three of the including two US citizens, were part of $1tn club highest civil awards of Pakistan killed on September 5 that year – Sitara-i-Imtiaz, Hilal-i-Im- when the hijackers took control Pakistan has been made member tiaz, and Nishan-i-Imtiaz. of Frankfurt-bound Pan Am of Trillion Dollar Markets Club. His endeavours led to the fl ight 73 for some 16 hours dur- Members of the Trillion Dollar creation of Global Change Im- ing a stopover in the megacity. This picture released by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) shows age-progressed images of (from left) al-Turki, Rahim, Markets Club are countries pact Studies Centre in Islama- It ended when the hijackers ar-Rahayyal, and al-Munawar. whose economies, measured bad, where research on climate opened fi re on passengers and by GDP on a purchasing power change is undertaken. crew, forcing Pakistani com- the four – Wadoud Muhammad by the FBI Laboratory. arrest, through its Rewards for was quickly arrested by the FBI. parity basis in current dollars, Prime Minister Shahid mandos to storm the plane. Hafi z al-Turki, Jamal Saeed Ab- “We’re hoping that with the Justice Programme. In May 2004, a US federal have grown larger than $1tn. Khaqan Abbasi expressed sor- The four are believed to be- dul Rahim, Muhammad Abdul- age-progression photos next to At a trial held in Pakistan in judge in Washington sentenced Based on IMF/World Bank row over Ahmad’s death. long to the Abu Nidal group, lah Khalil Hussain ar-Rahayyal, the original photos maybe that 1988, the four men plus a fi fth him to 160 years. estimates in October 2017, The prime minister paid trib- accused of having carried out and Muhammad Ahmed al- will jar some memories or may- hijacker, Zaid Hassan Abd La- The four other hijackers were Pakistan’s economy is believed to ute to Ahmad for his services for attacks in more than 20 coun- Munawar – is on the FBI’s Most be someone has seen these guys tif Safarini, admitted to having released by Pakistan after com- have grown to $1.056tn. the country. tries under the banner of Pales- Wanted Terrorists List. walking around,” the statement carried out the attack and were pleting their jail terms in 2008. According to Federal Secretary According to PTV, Interior tinian liberation. According to a statement said, quoting a case offi cer. given death sentences that were In 2010, some news reports for Trade Younis Dhagga, Minister Ahsan Iqbal also of- The group is designated a posted on the FBI website, im- The US State Department is later commuted to life. claimed that Rahim was killed Pakistan’s economy is only the fered condolences over Ahmad’s terrorist organisation by the US ages of the four obtained in the also off ering a $5mn reward for Safarini was released from in a US drone strike in North 25th economy in the world to death. State Department and each of year 2000 were age-progressed information leading to their prison in Pakistan in 2001 but Waziristan. have achieved this key milestone. Gulf Times 12 Saturday, January 20, 2018 PHILIPPINES Facebook top choice for nation’s wildlife traders: monitor

AFP with numbers growing 11% in Manila three months. Most transactions were completed using Facebook’s acebook has emerged as Messenger service, the report the top site for wildlife said, adding that trading con- Ftraffi cking in the Philip- tinues on the platform despite pines, a watchdog said yester- periodic government raids. day, with thousands of endan- Over half the species bought gered crocodiles, snakes and and sold were protected inter- turtles illegally traded in just nationally and by the Philip- three months. pines’ wildlife act, which car- Monitoring network TRAF- ries jail terms and fi nes. FIC said Facebook had not done The radiated tortoise, black enough to shut down the trade, spotted turtle, Bengal monitor which saw more than 5,000 lizard, and Dumeril’s boa — all reptiles from 115 species put up threatened with extinction — for sale on its discussion groups were among them, as well as from June to August 2016 alone. the critically endangered Phil- “Facebook is the platform of ippine crocodile and Philip- choice for illegal traders in the pine forest turtle. Philippines because of its pop- In one transaction, a trader ularity and insuffi cient inter- also used an unnamed ride- nal monitoring enforcement,” sharing service to deliver wild- the report said. life to a buyer. “This magnitude of commerce “This small snapshot rein- in live wild animals online is just forces how social media has mind-boggling,” said Serene taken over as the new epicentre Chng, TRAFFIC’s programme of wildlife trade,” Chng said. Maria Ressa (centre), the CEO and editor of online portal Rappler, speaks during a protest on press freedom along with fellow journalists in Manila, yesterday. offi cer for Southeast Asia. A statement from Face- The groups where live reptile book’s PR fi rm said the site advertisements were posted does not tolerate wildlife trade had more than 350,000 mem- and is working with TRAFFIC bers when the study began, to tackle the problem. Journalists protest move Inquiry sought into navy’s $310mn frigate deal to close news website Reuters pable vessels, which are due for Manila delivery in 2020. Go has denied AFP About 200 journalists and that the government says has which takes eff ect after 15 days. summoned by the justice minis- any wrongdoing. The frigate is- Manila activists, most of them wearing claimed the lives of nearly 4,000 Rappler has had a testy rela- try to answer a cybercrime com- sue cost former navy chief Vice black, gathered in northern Ma- suspects. tionship with Duterte since he plaint against her next week. group of Philippine op- Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado nila at dusk to protest the ruling, Human rights groups charge won election on an anti-crime The complaint was fi led by a position senators has his job last month. hilippine journalists took seen by critics as Duterte’s lat- that thousands more have been platform in 2016, with the Phil- businessman, who accused Rap- Asought a public inquiry Defence Secretary Delfi n to the streets yesterday in est bid to stifl e opposition to his killed by shadowy vigilantes. ippine leader threatening last pler of libel for reporting in 2012 into the navy’s 15.7bn peso Lorenzana said Mercado was Psupport of a news website narcotics crackdown. The government’s corporate year to expose the website’s that he lent a luxury van to then- ($310mn) acquisition of a frig- sacked because he kept insist- facing state-enforced closure, The protesters carried banners regulator alleged that the news “American ownership”. Du- Supreme Court chief Renato Co- ate from a South Korean fi rm, ing those ships be installed accusing President Rodrigo Du- saying “fi ght the Duterte dicta- organisation violated a consti- terte has also publicly attacked rona who was later impeached after media said the president’s with combat systems made by terte of trampling on press free- torship” and “defend press free- tutional ban on foreign owner- other media outlets that have for failing to declare his assets. closest aide had meddled in the a Dutch company. dom. dom”. Duterte’s spokesman Har- ship of local media when its par- criticised his policies, includ- Ressa said the charges against deal. Mercado and Lorenzana The government withdrew ry Roque said in a statement that ent company issued Philippine ing leading daily the Philippine Rappler were part of a “fi shing President Rodrigo Duterte is have both said Go had not in- the corporate registration of the demonstration showed “that depositary receipts for Rappler Daily Inquirer and major broad- expedition” to fi nd any legal ba- furious at media reports that tervened. the Rappler website this week freedom is alive and democracy shares that were sold to a foreign caster ABS-CBN, threatening to sis to attack the news site. his longtime special assistant, But opposition senators and has summoned its chief is alive in the Philippines”. Rap- fund. block the TV station’s applica- “This administration’s laws Christopher “Bong” Go, had in- want an inquiry to establish executive to answer a “cyber- pler, founded in 2012, is among Rappler maintains the in- tion for a franchise renewal. are being used to stifl e Rappler, tervened to help a South Korean whether or not there were vio- libel” complaint in what media a handful of Philippines-based vestment did not constitute eq- Apart from the loss of its cor- a group of journalists and press sub-contractor win the right to lations of the government’s watchdogs describe as payback news organisations which had uity nor give the investors veto porate licence, Rappler’s chief freedom,” she said. install a combat management procurement laws and if the for critical coverage of Duterte’s produced reports critical of Du- on editorial matters and has executive Maria Ressa faced a “The end goal of all of this is to system on the two missile-ca- president aides had intervened. deadly war on drugs. terte’s fl agship “war on drugs” vowed to fi ght Monday’s ruling, second challenge after she was intimidate us into silence.” Airport fires contractor Overseas deployment of over baggage thefts workers halted over deaths Reuters to specifi c cases or say when the domestic workers mentioned by Manila deaths took place. the president. AFP embarrassing incidents.” Monreal said the nila airport contract, did not reply to AFP’s There are more than 250,000 “We have begun immediate Manila airport would not renew the operating request for comment. Manila airport, also Filipinos in Kuwait, the Philip- contacts with Filipino authori- licence of one ground handling company known as Ninoy Aquino International Air- he Philippines suspended pine foreign ministry estimates, ties to examine the extent of this serving 14 carriers after passengers on at port, says 20.4mn passengers used the hub sending workers to Ku- most working as domestic help- statement and to try to refute anila airport fi red a major con- least two fl ights lodged formal complaints last year. It topped the list of worst airports Twait yesterday, a day after ers. the erroneous information that tractor and announced a raft of over items stolen from their luggage. It on the travel website “The Guide to Sleep- President Rodrigo Duterte said There are also large numbers came in it,” state news agency Mnew security measures yester- also ordered other contractors to equip ing in Airports” from 2011-2013, causing abuse by employers there had in the United Arab Emirates, KUNA quoted Jarallah as saying. day after a spate of baggage thefts at the baggage handlers and security personnel the government to make major renovations. driven several domestic helpers Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Jarallah said there were more main Philippine gateway once derided as with body cameras, install closed circuit In 2015 the government investigated to suicide. Duterte, who is hugely popu- than 170,000 Filipino workers the world’s worst airport. television in their working areas, and re- claims of an extortion racket involving se- Kuwait expressed surprise at lar among the Filipino diaspora, in Kuwait, all protected by laws President Rodrigo Duterte summoned move all pockets from their uniforms. curity personnel planting bullets in passen- the move and said it was in touch said on Thursday the Philip- that shield them from abuse. airport authorities and the transport min- Monreal said surveillance footage had gers’ luggage and demanding money not to with Manila to try to resolve the pines had “lost four women” in More than 2.3mn Filipinos are ister on Thursday and ordered them to put confi rmed the pilferage, with authorities press charges for illegal possession of bul- issue. Kuwait, referring to domestic documented as working abroad. a stop to the thieving, Manila International also fi nding evidence including “boots lets, punishable by up to 12 years in prison. Philippine Labour Secretary helpers. Collectively they remit more Airport general manager Ed Monreal told that allow them (suspects) to hide stuff at Offi cials said the extortion ended after Silvestre Belo told Reuters no Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign than $2bn of their income back reporters. “I am really ashamed over what their feet”. The airport has fi led criminal the 2016 election of Duterte, a fi ery politi- more Overseas Filipino Workers Minister Khaled al-Jarallah ex- to the Philippines every month, is happening, what our passengers are go- charges against a number of suspected cian who warned in his speeches that he would be sent to Kuwait “pend- pressed “surprise and sorrow” money that fuels robust con- ing through,” Monreal said. thieves, he said without elaborating. would force airport security personnel to ing investigation of the causes over Duterte’s remarks, saying sumer spending in one of the “Let us all work together to stop these MIASCOR, the company that lost its Ma- eat bullets they found in passenger luggage. of deaths of about six or seven that legal proceedings had been world’s fastest-growing econo- of our OFWs”. He did not refer taken in the cases of the four mies.

Social welfare dept ensures food aid Several displaced by volcano allowed to return home

By Mary Gleefer F Jalea The DSWD, however, said (Phivolcs) reported that while DPA “There’s actually no reason Seismology, the alert at Mayon Institute of Volcanology and Manila Times only 34,491 individuals or Mayon’s energy has not gone Manila for them to evacuate but they remained at level 3 which means Seismology (Phivolcs). More 8,530 families have taken shel- down, only 48 rockfalls and were fearful when they saw (the a hazardous eruption could be than 24,000 residents were still ter in 32 evacuation centres in one volcanic earthquake were lava fl ows from) Mayon Volca- possible within weeks. staying at evacuation centres he Department of Social the province. recorded in the past 24 hours. ore than 11,000 resi- no,” said Miladee Azur, head of in seven towns and cities at the Welfare and Develop- The agency added that Meanwhile, the Bankers As- dents displaced by the the city’s disaster risk manage- Residents of Legazpi City foot of Mayon, according to the Tment (DSWD) has as- 36,499 people in 37 baran- sociation of the Philippines Meruption of the Philip- ment offi ce. in Albay province, 330kms national disaster relief agency. sured enough food supply for gay (villages) and eight mu- (BAP) said it is ready to assist pines’ most active volcano have Azur said the residents’ evacu- south of Manila, were told it The 2,463-metre volcano has Mayon Volcano evacuees in nicipalities are affected by their clients in areas that may been allowed to return home de- ation was voluntary because their was safe to go back to their erupted about 50 times since case of prolonged volcanic ac- Mayon’s continuous eruptive be aff ected by Mayon’s activity. spite continuing lava emission, homes were located away from the homes because activity on 1616. The last deadly eruption tivity of the famed mountain in activity. “While the authorities have offi cials said yesterday. seven-kilometre extended danger Mayon Volcano was so far was in May 2013. Five hikers the Bicol Region. “We assure that we have already raised the alert level in Residents of Legazpi City in zone. limited to what they termed were killed and seven people in- The provincial government adequate supply of food com- Albay due to ash emissions and Albay province, 330 kilometres “It was not a mandatory evacu- “quiet lava eff usion” jured in that incident. of Albay said the number of modities just in case of pro- lava fl ow, the BAP assures that south of Manila, were told it was ation,” she said. “We just accom- Mayon’s most violent erup- evacuees ballooned to 9,361 longed activity of Mayon,” clients will be assisted to ensure safe to go back to their homes modated their willingness to “The current activity can tion was in 1814, when more than families or about 40,000 peo- Assistant Regional Director continuity of banking services because activity on Mayon Vol- evacuate because they couldn’t be described as continued lava 1,200 people were killed and ple housed in various evacua- Arwin Razo of DSWD-V said. as member banks strive to de- cano was so far limited to what sleep at night.” eruption or non-explosive lava a town was buried in volcanic tion camps in three cities and The Philippine Institute of liver and serve the general pub- they termed “quiet lava eff u- According to the Philippine eruption,” said Renato Soli- mud. An eruption in 1993 killed fi ve towns as of Thursday. Volcanology and Seismology lic,” it added in a statement. sion.” Institute of Volcanology and dum, director of the Philippine 79 people. Gulf Times Saturday, January 20, 2018 13 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Rohingya Chiefs of seven Nepal protest provinces take oath repatriation Agencies Kathmandu move

epal President Bidhya AFP They have also expressed Devi Bhandari admin- Dhaka concerns about conditions Nistered oath to chiefs, in Myanmar, where many the constitutional heads of Rohingya settlements have seven provinces in Kathmandu undreds of Rohingya been burned to the ground yesterday. refugees staged pro- by soldiers and Buddhist Vice President Nanda Baha- Htests in Bangladesh mobs. dur Pun, Prime Minister Sher yesterday against plans to send The government has said it Bahadur Deuba, Chief Justice them back to Myanmar, where is building temporary camps Gopal Prasad Parajuli and other a military crackdown last year to accommodate the return- dignitaries were also present in sparked a mass exodus. ees, a prospect feared by Ro- the swearing-in ceremony. The refugees chanted slo- hingya, said Mohibullah, a Govinda Bahadur Tumbahang gans and held banners de- refugee and former teacher. sworn in as the chief of Province manding citizenship and “We want safe zones in Ar- 1, Ratneshwar Lal Kayastha of guarantees of security before akan (Rakhine) before repa- Province 2, Anuradha Koirala they return to their home state triation,” he told AFP by phone Province 3, Baburam Kunwar of Rakhine in Myanmar. from Cox’s Bazar, where the Province 4, Umakanta Jha Prov- The protest came ahead of camps are located. ince 5, Durga Keshar Khanal a visit by UN special rappor- “We want a UN peacekeep- Province 6 and Mohan Raj Malla teur Yanghee Lee to the camps ing force in Arakan. We want as governor of Province 7. Chiefs of seven Nepal provinces taking oath of off ice in Kathmandu yesterday. in southeastern Bangladesh fundamental rights and citi- On Wednesday the cabinet where around a million of zenship. We do not want repa- had approved names of tem- landslide victory in all states ‘tree’, CPN (Maoist Centre) ‘ham- Similarly, the Rastriya Praja- elect eight persons from each the Muslim minority are now triation without life guaran- porary capitals and chiefs of all except Province 2. mer and sickle inside a circle’, the tantra Party Prajatantrik has been province. The chiefs and deputy living. tees,” Mohibullah said. seven provinces of the country. The two major parties of Mad- Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal allotted ‘plough within a circle’, chiefs of the rural municipalities Bangladesh has reached an Police said they were una- The Election Commission hes, Sanghiya Samjawadi Forum the ‘hand carrying a torch’, and the the Bibeksheel Sajha Party ‘pan and municipalities and the prov- agreement with Myanmar to ware of the protests. (EC) of Nepal has submitted re- Nepal and Rashtriya Janata Party Rastriya Janata Party Nepal ‘um- balance’, the Naya Shakti Party ince assembly members make send back the around 750,000 A Bangladesh offi cial said sults of state assemblies election Nepal got majority in Province 2. brella’ as the election symbol. Nepal ‘left eye’, Nepal Dalit Party electoral college for the National refugees who have arrived around 6,500 Rohingya cur- to newly appointed provincial Now newly appointed gover- Likewise, the Nepal Sang- ‘well’, the Rastriya Prajatantra Assembly election. since October 2016 over the rently living in no man’s land chiefs. After the promulgation nors will administer oath to re- hiya Samajbadi Party has been Party ‘cow’, the Bahujan Samaj Besides those elected by the next two years, a process set to between the two countries of new constitution in Sep- cently elected members of their given ‘bus’, Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party Nepal, ‘giraff e’, the Gna- electoral college, the president begin as early as next week. would be among the fi rst to be tember 2015 Nepal has adopted respective provincial assemblies. Party ‘madal’, the Sanghiya dhibadi Party Nepal ‘sheep’, the will nominate three more mem- But many Rohingya living repatriated. federalism. Poll symbols allocated to Lokatantrik Rastriya Manch the Nepal Janata Dal ‘wheel of a bul- bers to the 59-member National in the crowded, unsanitary The repatriation deal does First time in the history of the political parties: The EC has ‘khukuri placed inside a sheath’, lock cart’, and the Rastriya Mukti Assembly on the recommen- camps have said they do not not cover the estimated country elections for provin- allocated election symbols to the the Bahujan Shakti Party ‘jug’, Aandolan Nepal the ‘hexagram’ dation of the government. The want to return to Rakhine af- 200,000 Rohingya refugees cial assemblies were held in two 21 political parties that have reg- Nepal Pariwar Dal ‘key’, the Ras- as the election symbol. National Assembly is the Upper ter fl eeing atrocities including who were living in Bangla- phases on November 26 and 7 istered to contest the election for triya Janamorcha ‘glass’ and Ne- The election to the National House of the bicameral federal murder, rape and arson attacks desh prior to October 2016, December 2017. the National Assembly (NA). pal Naulo Janabadi Party, ‘pigeon Assembly is taking place on Feb- parliament. The Lower House of on their homes. driven out by previous rounds CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist The CPN (UML) has been allo- carrying a letter in its beak’, as the ruary 7. The number of voters in parliament is called the House of Rights groups and the UN say of communal violence and Center) Left Alliance registered cated ‘the sun’, the Nepali Congress election symbol. the election is 2,056 and they will Representatives. any repatriation must be voluntary. military operations. Zia’s BNP vows to Second phase of Biswa Ijtema begins ‘restore’ democracy through movement

By Mizan Rahman 82nd birth anniversary. there seeking salvation of the Dhaka BNP standing committee departed soul of Zia. members Mirza Abbas and BNP secretary general Nazrul Khan also spoke on the Alamgir, standing committee ajor opposition Bang- occasion. members Khandaker Moshar- ladesh Nationalist Later, the rally was taken raf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, MParty (BNP) yesterday out, led by Fakhrul, by releas- Mirza Abbas, Abdul Moyeen said that the party will ‘restore’ ing balloons and white pigeons Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, democracy in the country which concluded peacefully at Amir Khasru Mahmud Chow- through a movement under the Nayapaltan after parading dif- dhury, and senior joint secre- leadership of its chairperson ferent roads through Bijoyna- tary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Khaleda Zia. gar, Kakrail and Shantinagar. and other leaders and activists “Now democracy in the Earlier, BNP standing com- of the party and its associate country has been snatched. mittee member Gayeshwar bodies were present. We’ve been on a movement to Chandra Roy along with other Born on January 19, 1936 at bring it back. Let’s all join our party leaders and activists cut Bagbari in Bogra district, Ziaur movement and we’ll restore a cake at the BNP central of- Rahman founded BNP in 1978 democracy under Zia’s leader- fi ce arranged by ‘Zia Smriti and become the country’s sev- ship,” BNP senior leader Mirza Pathagar’ celebrating the party enth president. Alamgir said. founder’s birthday. BNP and its associate bod- Alamgir came up with the Meanwhile, BNP and its as- ies also chalked out a weeklong comments in his brief ad- sociate bodies celebrated the programme to observe the day dress before bringing out a 82nd birth anniversary of their in a befi tting manner. rally by BNP’s workers’ wing party founder Ziaur Rahman As part of the programmes, People attend the second phase of annual Muslim congregation Biswa Ijtema on the bank of the Turag river at Tongi, on the outskirts of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal in across the country with various the party fl ag was hoisted atop Dhaka, yesterday. Thousands of Muslims from home and abroad took part in the religious event. the capital Dhaka, marking programmes yesterday. all the BNP offi ces across the its founder Ziaur Rahman’s Zia also off ered prayers country early in the morning.

Lanka rupee edges down on dollar Lanka to generate demand Hi-tech parks set to create The Sri Lankan rupee closed power from wood slightly weaker yesterday as dollar demand from importers and banks IANS Hundreds of farmers in the surpassed mild selling of the US Colombo drought-prone Moneragala dis- currency by exporters, dealers said. trict will benefi t from this project 300,000 jobs in Bangladesh The spot rupee ended at as the farmers supplying Gliricidia 153.90/154.00 per dollar, ri Lanka and China yester- Sepium wood will make $3.2mn By Mizan Rahman They said the work on Bang- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Village in Dhaka is underway. compared with Thursday’s close day signed a joint venture per year as a result of the power Dhaka abandhu Hi-Tech City at Ka- on December 10, is expected Of them, Sylhet Electronic of 153.85/95. Sagreement to construct plant, Dharmawardana said. liakoir in Gazipur is going on in to generate employment for City is likely to create 50,000 “The demand (for dollars) was there Sri Lanka’s largest dendro power Explaining the reasons for full swing. 10,000 people. Currently, employments, Bangabandhu from importers and some banks plant in the country’s south. choosing Gliricidia Sepium wood round 300,000 jobs are The park, which is being set 235 people are working in 33 Sheikh Mujib Hi-Tech Park in to settle foreigners who are selling The power plant will produce as the fuel rather than solar power expected to be created in up on 355 acres of land in the companies, according to the Rajshahi 14,000 and Mohakhali bonds,” said a currency dealer. 70,000 megawatts a year to the to run the turbines in the power ABangladesh as the gov- public-private partnership sources. IT Village in Dhaka 30,000 jobs. The rupee might witness volatility national power grid. plant, Dharmawardana said the ernment has taken initiatives to model, is expected to create The sources said 15 IT/ITES The Executive Committee of with the government’s heavy debt The joint venture was signed primary mission of the compa- set up hi-tech parks/software employment for nearly 100,000 companies have so far been the National Economic Council repayment this year, said dealers. between Beijing Full Dimension ny was to fi nancially secure the technology parks in all divi- people. given space at Janata Tower (ECNEC) on April 24 last year Sri Lanka aims to raise $500m this Power Tech, Nanjing Turbine farmers in drought-prone areas sions and districts for develop- Currently space has been al- Software Technology Park at approved setting up of high- month via development bonds, the and Electric Machinery Group of the island nation. ment of IT/IT enabled services located against six companies Karwan Bazar in Dhaka and tech parks in 12 districts in the central bank said last week, as the and Sri Lanka’s IMS Holdings, Hu Xingzhong, chairman of Bei- (ITES) sector. in the park, the sources said, of them, 10 companies have country. government faces unprecedented Xinhua news agency reported. jing Full Dimension Power Tech, Senior offi cials of the infor- adding 40 persons are now started their activities. The parks will be built in debt repayment this year. Speaking at the ceremony, said the project was of “great sig- mation and communication working in these fi rms. The park is expected to cre- Khulna, Barisal, Rangpur, Chit- President Maithripala Sirisenea’s Jinawara Dharmawardana, nifi cance” not only to the partners technology ministry said steps Sheikh Hasina Software ate employment for 2,500 peo- tagong, Comilla, Cox’s Bazar, administration must repay an estimated chairman of IMS Holdings, said but also to the two countries. have been taken to set up hi- Technology Park was set up in ple. Presently, 700 persons are Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Na- Rs1.97trn ($12.85bn) in 2018 – a record dendro power was the genera- The power plant will consist of tech parks/software technol- Jessore on 12.13 acres of land at working in 10 fi rms. tore, Gopalganj, Dhaka and Syl- high – including $2.9bn of foreign loans, tion of electricity from sustain- six biomass boilers and three steam ogy parks in all divisions and a cost of 2,407.3mn taka open- The work on establishing het districts at a cost of 17.97 and a total of $5.36bn of interest. ably grown biomass (fuel wood) turbine generators as the core of the districts under the Bangladesh ing up a new horizon of po- Sylhet Electronic City at Com- billion taka under the project Foreign investors had sold and in this project the fuel would power generation system. Hi-Tech Park Authority for the tentiality in the country’s ICT panyganj in Sylhet, Bangaband- titled “Establishing IT Park/ Rs3.2bn worth of government be produced from the wood of The plant is expected to start op- development of IT/ITES sector sector. hu Sheikh Mujib Hi-Tech Park High-Tech Park in District securities this year up to January the Gliricidia Sepium tree. eration by the end of September. and generating employment. The park, inaugurated by in Rajshahi and Mohakhali IT Level (12 Districts)”. 10, central bank data showed. Gulf Times 14 Saturday, January 20, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka The right question about Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko Production Editor Amjad Khan inequality and growth P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar Whether inequality is good have challenged this assumption, while ameliorating inequality. Even income households, the increased or bad for growth should and making defi nitive claims that are reforms that cost more – like expanding taxation was offset by earnings, but [email protected] impossible to support, partly because preschool education in the United leisure also fell. As a result, the tax will continue to concern social 44350478 (News), diff erent sources and types of inequality States – generate economic benefi ts change left around 60% of households scientists. But those guiding likely have diff erent impacts on growth. that far exceed the tax losses associated worse off, even as average household 44466404 (Sport), Second, most research focuses on with funding them. income grew, driven by gains at the an economy should focus the impact of inequality on growth, These types of approaches – what top. 44466636 (Home delivery) on assessing outcomes and rather than on how specifi c policies I call “all good things go together” This analysis does not answer the 44350474 aff ect growth. The former is of interest policies – could be applied to other question of whether this illustrative modes of distribution rather to social scientists and historians, sectors of the economy that are being tax policy is a good idea. But most facebook.com/gulftimes than on a puzzle that will but it is the latter that is relevant for squeezed by imperfect competition. policymakers would likely object if twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar policymakers. More vigorous antitrust policies, or they understood that growth would be never fully be solved And, fi nally, politicians generally increased consumer ownership of data, achieved by higher taxes on two-thirds defend their policies in terms of how could strengthen competition and, of households, leaving the median By Jason Furman they aff ect the middle class or the poor, in the process, boost effi ciency and household working harder to earn the Cambridge not the arithmetic average of incomes improve income distribution. same after-tax income. GULF TIMES across an economy – which gives equal Any policy that promotes growth or Social scientists should continue to weight to a $1 increase in the income of lowers inequality without negatively ask whether inequality is good or bad he belief that inequality hurts a poor person and that of a billionaire. aff ecting the other variable can also for economic growth. More research economic growth is gaining So, even if reducing inequality was bad be classifi ed as a win-win. A revenue- is needed on the variables that aff ect currency among policymakers. for overall growth, it might still be good neutral reform of business taxes, for growth, such as median income. TSome argue forcefully that for social welfare in the relevant sense, example, could raise the level of output Economists should also pay less While wasted food high levels of inequality can make if it made many households in the with no meaningful impact on the attention to inequality in the aggregate, sustained growth impossible, and may middle better off . distribution of income. and more on the specifi c policies that even contribute to recessions. This The fact is, economic policies in It is far more diffi cult to evaluate might increase or reduce inequality. view stands in stark contrast to the the real world are nuanced and site- policies that involve a tradeoff between But policymakers have diff erent piles up, millions traditional view that there is a tradeoff specifi c, making the search for a single growth and inequality. For the sake priorities than economists do. Rather between equality and growth, and that answer to the question of how – and of illustration, consider the eff ects than rethinking macroeconomics, greater inequality is a price that must be how much – inequality aff ects growth a of a hypothetical 10% reduction in policymakers must consider whether paid for higher output. Sisyphean task. Rather than concerning labor taxes paid for by a lump-sum tax specifi c goals for social welfare and suff er from hunger Lost in the discussion, however, is themselves with how to balance growth modeled using a neo-classical Ramsey distribution can be achieved through whether any of this is actually germane and inequality, policymakers would do growth model – a scenario that I win-win measures or through policies to economic policymaking. I don’t better to focus on how policies impact detailed in a recent paper for the Olivier that make worthwhile tradeoff s. The At school and company cafeterias, Americans pile up believe it is. Whether inequality is average incomes and other welfare Blanchard and Lawrence Summers answer may be to obsess less over their plates with all the most attractive looking foods. good or bad for growth should and will indicators. series on Rethinking Macroeconomics. aggregate data, and to focus more Sometimes they overestimate their stomach capacities continue to concern social scientists. Win-win policies – defi ned This plan is good for growth, with on how policy decisions impact real But those guiding an economy should as distribution mechanisms that average output increasing by 1%. But people. – Project Syndicate and, too stuff ed to fi nish the leftovers, scrape the focus on assessing outcomes and modes produce growth and reduce inequality to understand how this policy would remainder into the trash. Over the course of just a few of distribution rather than on a puzzle simultaneously – are the easiest to actually play out for taxpayers, I applied Jason Furman, Professor of the weeks, the amount of food that is wasted is startling. that will never fully be solved. evaluate, and the most advantageous to the scenario to the real distribution of Practice of Economic Policy at the Imagine such wasted food accumulating in every Three developments make this adopt. Education is a classic example. US household incomes in 2010. Harvard Kennedy School and Senior cafeteria in every university and every company. refocusing necessary. For starters, Reforms that cost little or no money, Nearly all households in the model Fellow at the Peterson Institute for while recent studies have concluded such as improving the quality of experienced an increase in pre-tax International Economics, was Chairman Imagine such wasted food building up in the kitchens that higher levels of inequality produce primary and secondary education, income. But taxes increased for two- of President Barack Obama’s Council of of restaurants and cafes, along with the expired food lower long-term growth, other data have been shown to encourage growth thirds of households. For middle- Economic Advisers from 2013-2017. products in grocery store aisles and home refrigerators and pantries. While wasted food accrues, 11.3% of the world’s population suff ers from hunger and undernourishment. If we were to collect all the wasted food in the world and redistribute it, we would be capable of feeding every hungry person in the world three times over. The quantity of food we throw out is monstrous: At the consumer level, A compromise for Catalonia? nearly a third of untouched household food is trashed. Where does discarded food end up? After a sorting By Miguel Otero-Iglesias process, food scraps are trucked, dumped, and compacted Madrid in landfi lls. In fact, wasted food accounts for 20% of all the waste sent to landfi lls. Not only does wasted food any foreign observers exacerbate the issue of limited landfi ll space, but the have misread the impasse decomposition of organic material in landfi lls by bacteria between Catalan seces- also produces methane, intensifying environmental and Msionists and the Spanish government. The general view from climate change problems. abroad seems to be that the Catalan The quantity In addressing hunger, the independence movement is democratic issues, then, do not seem to be and peaceful, and that Spanish Prime of food we the lack of production of food Minister Mariano Rajoy could resolve the issue simply by calling for a ref- throw out is as much as the inability to erendum, or by granting greater fi scal access food already produced. autonomy to Catalonia. monstrous A partial solution may If only it were that simple. involve saving and effi ciently Among the biggest misconceptions is the belief that secessionist leaders re-distributing excess food. In doing so, we would are democratic; they are anything simultaneously reduce global environmental pollution but. Not only did they violate Spain’s while helping to address food deprivation. Individually, constitution in launching their bid for we can reduce wasted food through small changes: independence; they also ignored the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia, the serving ourselves smaller portions, sharing larger orders region’s highest law, when they rammed or bringing leftovers home, using shopping lists, only a secession law through the Catalan buying the necessary items and taking note of expiration parliament in September 2017. and “sell-by” dates. To amend the statute, two-thirds Donating to food banks is also an option for unused of parliament must agree. This threshold exists in most constitutions food products. Investing in organisations that recover and in continental Europe. After centuries distribute food to those who have a need for it locally and of political instability, Europeans internationally is a step in the right direction. By altering have learned that a simple majority is the ways we handle our excess food, wasted food can be insuffi cient to change the rules of the game. Broad consensus is essential; the diverted and used instead to help feed the millions of requirement of a supermajority ensures people who can’t live their lives to the fullest because of that it exists. hunger and undernourishment. Catalonia’s separatist leaders forged Yet it is often not feasible to divert all wasted food no such a consensus, and they didn’t to feed people, or even in their best interests. First, care. With their slim parliamentary This picture taken on September 30 shows protesters with Spanish flags during a demonstration in Barcelona against majority, they initiated a “binding” independence in Catalonia. donations are accompanied by distribution limitations referendum, proclaiming that 51% of and cannot target all those with food insecurity. Second, the vote would be suffi cient to establish uncertain how regional politics might – who continue to have a majority it, given that Catalonia is already relying on food donations alone may create a lack of food a Catalan Republic. And this republic aff ect their operations. They fear they in the Catalan parliament after privileged. So, while the unilateral choice and food quality, which would subtract from the would be formed regardless of what the could lose access to the single market or capturing 47% of the popular vote route was always impossible, the majority of Catalans, or Spaniards for be taxed by the new “illegal” republic. in last month’s election – cannot bilateral solution proposed by Carles dignity of food assistance. that matter, wanted. Citizens are equally confused. For hold the rest of the country hostage. Puigdemont, Catalonia’s former Although the prevention and redistribution of wasted Determining the movement’s example, between the referendum, on This is why Ciudadanos, the Citizens prime minister and the leader of the food to reduce hunger isn’t an all-encompassing solution, commitment to peace is trickier. It is October 1, and the unilateral declaration party, which strongly opposes Catalan independence movement, now appears and cannot replace longer-term measures addressing true that leaders have always advocated of independence on October 27, many independence, has the most support to be dead as well. restraint. It could even be argued that Spaniards didn’t even know which side of any party in Catalonia. It has done That leaves just one way out: to poverty, it may help to reduce food insecurity for the the only violence during the standoff Catalonia’s 16,000 police, the Mossos particularly well in the Barcelona reform the Spanish constitution and short-term. It is therefore time for each of us to step up last year was at the hands of the d’Esquadra, were on. metropolitan area, which is more make it truly federal. This would to the plate and play our individual role in helping to take Spanish national police, who forcibly As the Spanish writer Javier Cercas cosmopolitan and wants to remain in require Catalan nationalists to drop food insecurity into our own hands. stopped people from voting in the has described it, the country has been Spain. their independence bid and re-engage illegal referendum. witnessing a postmodern coup d’etat. For Catalan separatists, this means with Spain’s government and state But I believe that this view is too Separatist leaders remain in preventive they now face what the political institutions. They would have to emerge charitable, because it overlooks detention awaiting trial not because of scientist Hans Morgenthau termed from their Catalan bubble and build the institutional “violence” that their ideas, which are legitimate, but the “A-B-C paradox” of nationalism. alliances with other political forces that To Advertise the region’s secessionists have because of their seditious actions. Of If Catalonia wants to leave Spain, why want a federal system. orchestrated. The Procés Constituent course, secessionists are right to say shouldn’t Barcelona have the right to Outsiders may misunderstand [email protected] – the Catalan independence movement that the judiciary will not solve the leave Catalonia? And why wouldn’t the complexities, but perhaps even Display that was launched in 2013 – claims that Catalan question. But the secessionists today’s “oppressed” Catalans become Spaniards are underestimating the its only tactics are mass demonstrations themselves have burned all the bridges, tomorrow’s oppressors to prevent that odds of resolving the crisis. In a 44466621 44418811 and civil disobedience. But, in reality, and it will take time to rebuild them. from happening? post-Brexit European Union, Catalans it also threatens the Spanish state Politically, the Spanish government Given that the status quo is unstable, might be pushing against an open Classified through parallel institutions. With the is not in a position to off er concessions; and independence impossible, many door, even in the Spanish capital. 44466609 44418811 creation of state-like bodies, including the level of disloyalty has simply believe that the only solution is more After all, if Spain’s elites really want a a tax authority, the future “Catalan been too severe to ignore. No Spanish fi scal autonomy for Catalonia. But this, more federal Europe, they cannot say Subscription Republic” is already challenging the governing party has ever had a too, is unlikely in the near term. Spain no to a more federal Spain. – Project Spanish government’s authority. democratic mandate to negotiate a is a decentralised country already, Syndicate [email protected] The eff ects of this institutional binding independence referendum for and the government cannot give more violence are varied, and costly. More Catalonia, and that fact is unlikely to autonomy to Catalonia without the Miguel Otero-Iglesias is a senior than 3,000 companies have relocated change now. consent of the other autonomous analyst in international political © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved their headquarters from Catalonia, Two million Catalan nationalists regions, which are unlikely to provide economy at Elcano Royal Institute. Gulf Times Saturday, January 20, 2018 15 COMMENT India’s urban awakening

By Ejaz Ghani Making its cities more There is certainly an economic Washington, DC competitive will require India incentive for private actors to channel to decide whether to emphasise their money toward developing- specialisation (with an industry country infrastructure. After all, hen the United Kingdom concentrated in a particular city) high-income countries, where became the fi rst country or diversification (with each city populations are ageing rapidly, often in the world to undergo home to a range of industries, have an excess of savings ready to be Wlarge-scale urbanisation roughly in line with the national allocated to high-yield investments. in the 19th and early 20th centuries, average). This is no easy choice: Lower-income countries, with the process transformed its economy the debate over which approach is their younger populations and large and society. Today, India is facing better has been raging for nearly a infrastructure needs, provide just a similar transformation, only it is century. such opportunities. happening at 100 time the pace. By In 1991, around the time India’s As it stands, however, less than 1% of 2030, India’s urban population will economic liberalisation began, the $68tn managed by pension funds, reach 600mn people, twice the size of the country’s cities tended toward life insurance companies, and others America’s. specialisation. But, in recent years, are channelled toward infrastructure For India, rapid urbanisation is there has been a notable shift projects. And, given the low risk particularly vital to enable the toward diversification, with some appetite among investors, not to country to take full advantage of the major urban centres, like Mumbai mention the small size of city-level demographic dividend afforded by its and Bangalore, experiencing the projects, municipal governments will young population. With 12mn more largest and fastest shifts away from struggle to raise that share. people joining the country’s labour specialisation. But it isn’t impossible. What is force every year, the potential of that Specialisation tends to be much needed is visionary leadership dividend is huge. As the urbanisation higher in traditional industries at the local level, with municipal process continues, connectivity, than in modern industries. Though governments identifying proximity, and diversity will some modern industries – like infrastructure projects that promote accelerate knowledge diffusion, spark office accounting and computing entrepreneurship, increase their further innovation, and enhance machinery, and radio, television, cities’ competitiveness, and productivity and employment and communication equipment promote regional development growth. – tend to be located in more by strengthening urban-rural For all of its benefits, however, specialised districts, roughly connectivity. Those governments rapid urbanisation also poses three-quarters of Indian districts should also leverage their assets, enormous challenges, from with higher specialisation levels Rapid urbanisation in India poses enormous challenges, from managing congestion and pollution to ensuring that growth is including land; mobilise user managing congestion and pollution rely on traditional industries. Of inclusive and equitable. revenue; and modify financial to ensuring that growth is inclusive India’s 600 districts, those that regulations and incentives to and equitable. As a latecomer to remain the most specialised are increase investors’ risk appetite. urbanisation, India will benefit Kavaratti (water transport), Darjiling This bodes well for employment, high growth rates, which support In the developing world, a billion Add to that greater technical and from technological innovations (paper products), Panchkula because more diversified cities and poverty reduction, are concentrated people lack access to electricity and financial capacity, and it would – including digital technologies, (office accounting and computing districts tend to experience greater in the rural areas of particular roads, and more than a half-billion become much easier to attract the cleaner energy, innovative machinery), and Wokha (wood job growth. Initial clusters of modern districts. lack reliable access to safe drinking needed private funds and build construction materials, and new products). services have also experienced Taking full advantage of these water. Addressing these deficiencies partnerships benefiting India’s urban modes of transport – that will Though India’s specialisation levels abnormally high employment growth positive trends, however, will is critical to development – and India transformation. enable it to leapfrog some of its more were much higher than those in the since 2000. require India to boost infrastructure is no exception. Access to better India has all of the tools it needs to developed counterparts. But taking United States in the early 1990s, the And there’s more good news: investment. Despite a slowdown in infrastructure will enable millions advance its urbanisation process in advantage of those technologies will two countries have converged over the strongest job gains due to the manufacturing sector’s growth more entrepreneurs, especially a way that promotes inclusive and require effective policies, including time. All of this suggests that, as diversification are occurring in rural – a trend mirrored in much of the women, to benefit from the country’s sustainable growth. It must use them smart infrastructure investments technology continues to advance, so areas and among small enterprises, rest of the world – urbanisation has urban awakening. The key to success wisely. – Project Syndicate and measures to make cities more will diversification – a trend that will suggesting that India’s urbanisation continued to accelerate in India, will be to improve the efficiency of competitive, particularly in modern shape future urbanisation patterns can bring inclusive growth and especially in districts with access to public spending, while attracting Ejaz Ghani is Lead Economist at industries. in India. prosperity. Evidence also shows that better infrastructure. more private investment. The World Bank.

LEGAL HELPLINE Three-day forecast TODAY Maximum Temperature : 250c Minimum Temperature : 160c

SUNDAY Taxpayer’s objection to dept’s assessment Maximum Temperature : 210c Minimum Temperature : 140c By Dr Nizar Kochery the company debts, the liquidator leaving the country for two weeks, take the necessary legal action to recover MONDAY Doha should pay up the partners the value the formalities for changing job and the loan amount. Loan repayment shall Maximum Temperature : 230c of their monetary shares of capital and the bank liability settlements? subsist irrespective of whether the Minimum Temperature : 130c to allocate the surplus among them VS, Doha borrower is employed or not. Fisherman's forecast Question: We are a branch of a in proportion to the profi t quota of A: If you hold valid residency permit foreign company having WLL status each. The assets of the company will and an exit permit, you can leave the WARNING Expenses borne Inshore : Expected poor visibility annually fi ling tax returns. Recently be distributed among the partners country to meet your family and return and strong wind at we have received a notifi cation from by sorting, following the principles to Qatar. In accordance with Entry, by the losing party places. the tax department with regard to prescribed for the distribution of the Exit and Residence Law (Law No. 21 Offshore : Expected poor visiblity at paces and strong assessment and in that we have joint property, unless the articles of the of 2015), in case of termination of the Q: Can we get our expenses borne wind and high sea by objection in consideration of loose association of the company stipulate employment contract, the employee by the other party in circumstances afternoon. tools. How do we raise objections? otherwise. can have up to three months’ time as a where the case fi led is baseless? Inshore : Hazy to misty/foggy at most areas at first, ASE, Doha grace period to fi nd new employment by Please advise. becomes slight dust Answer: According to Article 28 of notifying the Ministry of Administrative JS, Doha to dusty at places later the tax laws, the taxpayer may object Formalities for Development, Labour and Social A: According to Article 131 of the civil and scattered clouds. the tax assessment decision within 30 Aff airs. When the worker has found and commercial procedure law, the WIND changing job Inshore : Southeasterly - South- days from the date of its notifi cation by a new job, they will be required to court shall decide, on its own motion, westerly 05-12 KT a registered letter to the department. Q: I am in Qatar since the last four return to the ministry and present their the expenses which shall be borne by Offshrore : Southeasterly-South- The objection shall be submitted to the years. For the last seven months I new employment contract. In case of the losing party. Attorney fees shall westerly 05-15 KT department and the submission of the am with a second employer – having cancellation of residency permit, the form part of such expenses. If the losing VISIBILITY : 4-8 KM/2 KM or less objection shall result in the suspension my visa locally transferred. But on person will be able to return to Qatar to parties are several, the court may divide at places at first. of the execution of the assessment the last day of my sixth month, I take up employment immediately after the expenses between them on an equal SEA STATE decision. If the taxpayer fails to was terminated due to optimisation being granted a new visa. The new law basis or on a pro rata basis of the interest Offshore : 2-4 FT submit an objection within the period reasons without any notice period abolishes the current two-year ban on of each of them in the lawsuit according Around the region mentioned above, the assessment provided to look for an alternative expatriates who want to come back to to the assessment of the court, and they Weather Weather decision shall become fi nal and the job locally. I have an outstanding the country on a new visa. shall not be jointly liable for payment today Max/min tomorrow Max/min tax shall become due. In 60 days, the bank loan. Due to the current Loan contract is independent of of the expenses, unless they are jointly Baghdad P Cloudy 17/04 Sunny 18/06 department shall settle the objection uncertainties, there is a long delay borrower’s employment and borrower liable for the original obligation. Kuwait City Sunny 19/07 Sunny 19/06 and elapse of the said period with no in fi nding a suitable job in Qatar. I will be legally obliged to repay the loan Manama Cloudy 22/14 Cloudy 19/14 response from the department shall need to meet my family due to an as per the terms of loan. On failure to Please send your questions by Muscat Sunny 24/18 Sunny 24/17 be treated as an implicit refusal of the emergency. What are the options for repay the loan amount, the bank can e-mail to: [email protected] Tehran Showers 07/0 Sunny 12/03 same. If taxpayer does not accept the department’s decision on the objection, LEGAL SYSTEM IN QATAR an appeal may be submitted within 30 days from the date of notifi cation of the According to Article 83 of the Civil and After the expiry of one year from the department’s decision on the objection Commercial Procedure law, the case last proper proceeding of the litigation, or from the elapse of the period fi led may be stayed as per the parties’ any interested party to the litigation provided for to settle the objection with agreement for a maximum period of may apply for a judgment declaring the no response made, as the case may be six months from the date the court has litigation as expired in the event that before the tax appeal committee as confi rmed their agreement. Such stay the case has not been resumed due to provided under Article 31 of the tax laws. shall have no eff ect on any time limit the plaintiff ’s act or forbearance. The specifi ed by the law for a proceeding. If period of expiry of the litigation in cases the case is not resumed within twenty of discontinuance shall start from the Rent claim against days subsequent to the expiry of the day on which the party applying for the liquidating company six-month period, the plaintiff shall expiry of the litigation, acting on behalf be deemed to have abandoned the of the deceased or the incapacitated Around the world Q: We rented out fi rst fl oor of our case and the appellant deemed to have party has notifi ed the legal heirs of his Weather Weather building to a company in 2013. The abandoned the appeal. deceased opponent that a lawsuit existed today Max/min tomorrow Max/min rent from July 2017 is still pending Except in cases where the law provides between him and the original party to Athens M Cloudy 17/11 Rain 16/07 and we have fi led a case before the for mandatory or discretionary the lawsuit. The period for the lapse of Beirut Sunny 17/11 P Cloudy 19/14 rental court. Now the court has suspension of the case, the court may the litigation shall apply to all persons, Bangkok P Cloudy 32/24 M Sunny 34/25 stopped the case stating that the order the suspension of the case, even those without, or with diminished Berlin Cloudy 03/-3 M Sunny 02/-2 company is under liquidation. On whenever it considers that the issuance competence. Cairo Sunny 20/09 M Sunny 23/11 enquiry, we came to know that the of the judgment on the merits depends judgment on merits when the parties According to Article 89, application Cape Town Cloudy 28/19 P Cloudy 26/19 liquidator will settle the claims on the determination of another matter have submitted their fi nal statements for the expiry of the litigation shall be Colombo P Cloudy 29/23 M Sunny 29/23 from the assets of the company. related to the judgment. When such and applications in the hearing before submitted to the court where the case Dhaka Fog 25/13 Fog 26/13 According to our knowledge, there reason for suspension has ceased, any the death or incapacity or loss of is fi led, in accordance with the normal Hong Kong P Cloudy 21/17 P Cloudy 21/17 are a lot of creditors. How we will be of the parties may apply to resume the capacity to proceed with litigation. The procedure for fi ling such lawsuits. The Istanbul M Cloudy 14/09 Rain 12/08 able to get the rent amount? Please proceedings. litigation shall not be discontinued due expiry of the litigation may be pleaded Jakarta T Storms 31/24 T Storms 30/24 advise. As per Article 85, the litigation process to the death of the attorney nor on the as a defence if the plaintiff applies to Karachi Sunny 27/12 Sunny 27/14 DF, Doha shall be discontinued by law if one of termination of the power of attorney resume the proceedings after the expiry London Showers 05/01 Rain 11/10 A: Submit your claim against the the litigants dies or on incapacity of by retirement or dismissal. The court of one year. The application or the Manila M Sunny 32/23 P Cloudy 32/23 company to the liquidator. The one of the parties unless the lawsuit is may grant a reasonable period for the defence shall be against all plaintiff s Moscow S Showers -7/-7 Snow -3/-7 liquidator will settle the company’s ready for judgment on its merits and party whose attorney has died or whose or appellants, otherwise it shall not be New Delhi Fog 23/06 Fog 23/07 debts after deducting the liquidation then the court may hear the case based power of attorney has expired, to acceptable. New York M Sunny 11/02 P Cloudy 09/02 expenses including the liquidator fees in on fi nal statements and applications, appoint a new attorney. When litigation is discontinued at the Paris Rain 09/06 Rain 09/09 the following order: (1) amounts due to or postpone it at the request of Discontinuance of litigation shall result appeal stage, the appealed judgment Sao Paulo S T Storms 27/21 S T Storms 29/21 the employees, (2) amounts due to the representatives of the party who has in the suspension of all time limits for shall be considered in all circumstances Seoul P Cloudy 07/-6 M Sunny 06/-3 state, (3) rent due to landlord who leased died or lost his competence to litigate proceedings, and the nullifi cation of all as fi nal. In all cases, the litigation shall Singapore T Storms 30/24 S T Storms 31/24 the property, and (4) other due amounts or at the request of the other party. The proceedings which take place during lapse upon the expiry of three years from Sydney Sunny 28/18 Cloudy 27/19 each in accordance to its preference with lawsuit shall be deemed to be fi t for the discontinuance. the last proper proceeding taken therein. Tokyo Cloudy 08/03 Clear 11/02 respect to relevant laws. After clearing Gulf Times 16 Saturday, January 20, 2018 QATAR

A female performer takes the centre stage during the acrobatic The Spring Festival 2018 off ers a variety of exciting rides and activities for all ages. PICTURE: Joey Aguilar show. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam Spring Festival brings in a host of activities to Souq Al Wakrah

By Joey Aguilar Staff Reporter

slew of entertainment shows, acrobatics and Afun-fi lled activities at Souq Al Wakrah’s Spring Festival 2018 continued to enthrall a large number of visitors yesterday. The opening on Thursday greeted festival-goers with a music-accompanied fi reworks display, providing families and children a unique attraction at one of Qatar’s most popular des- tinations. “This is a fi rst-of-its-kind show and a lot of people were very happy to see it. We expect more visitors here next week- end,” Souq Al Wakrah manager Khalid al-Suwaidi told reporters on the sidelines of the event yes- terday. Besides Doha and Wakrah resi- dents, he noted that many of the visitors come from various areas A speaking and dancing robot entertains the crowd at the festival. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam Stilt walkers roam around Souq Al Wakrah to welcome visitors. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam across Qatar such as Al Khor and Al Rayyan, among other places, cultural performances highlight- include a one-of-its-kind circus and 8pm),” he said. a number of restaurants along the leyball, and other recreational increasing number of foreign spending the weekend with their ing Qatar’s rich cultural heritage. and acrobatic shows led by per- The festival also features pony beach area off er an array of tradi- games. Many residents and visi- visitors in the previous months, families and friends at the festi- He said spectators will have formers from Russia, Ukraine, rides, carnival at the seaside, ro- tional and international dishes. tors also fi nd the festival a good I think because of the free transit val. Al-Suwaidi hopes to match, the chance to witness two more France and the UK, according to bot-controlled games, train and The souq’s beach, which is opportunity to buy local hand- visa and other visa (facilitation) or even exceed the 70,000 visi- fi reworks, scheduled on Janu- al-Suwaidi. “We brought some aquatic rides, and trampoline, open to the public, remained to made products such as perfumes, measures,” said an employee of tors who thronged the venue in ary 25 and February 1, making new rides, attractions and games among other activities. A number be a favourite spot for families abayas, turbans, garments and an abaya shop. “We expect more the previous edition of the event, the 2018 edition bigger than last for the children to enjoy such as of food stalls treat visitors with and children, especially those accessories. tourists to visit this place par- which also organised a variety of year’s. Some of the highlights the European circus (at 5.20pm various snacks and sweets while who swim and play football, vol- “The good thing is we see an ticularly this winter.”

HBKU students to the aid of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

ome 16 graduate students at Hamad Bin Khalifa Uni- Sversity (HBKU) took part in an educational and humanitar- ian trip to Bangladesh recently, it was announced. In a statement, HBKU noted that the trip was aimed at pro- viding a deeper understanding the crisis engulfi ng Myanmar and the plight of Rohingya refugees. The trip, held in collabora- tion with Qatar Charity (QC), was preceded by a series of edu- cational workshops on disaster management before distributing relief goods. The expedition started in the city of Dhaka with a group brief- ing and proceeded to the relief HBKU graduate students with Rohingya refugees at Cox’s Bazar in station at Cox’s Bazar, a port city, Bangladesh. which hosts a signifi cant number of Rohingya refugee camps. have only been able achieve by the extent to which displaced The relief tour concluded with venturing outside of our comfort refugees are in need of life essen- a reception at the Qatar embassy zone,” al-Mohannadi added. tials such as food, clothing, shel- in Bangladesh, which was at- In Bangladesh, the HBKU ter, sanitation, and healthcare.” tended by Qatar ambassador to team visited Rohingya camps The humanitarian assistance Bangladesh Ahmed Mohammed and donated ready-to-eat meals, team from HBKU also organised Nasser al-Dehaimi. The HBKU delegation visits Rohingya camps and distributes relief goods. food products, clothes, tents, a series of recreational activities “Qatar Charity is pleased to and hygiene kits. to engage Rohingya children liv- jointly co-operate with HBKU the refugees deepened the par- human values they share with supervisor at HBKU who was current Rohingya refugee crisis. They also visited hospitals to ing in refugee settlements and in the fi eld of humanitarian re- ticipants’ understanding of the those living in crisis,” al-Ab- on the trip, said: “Our serv- With the support of QC, we suc- gain a deeper insight into the orphanages in Bangladesh. sponse and international relief many lives that have been grave- dullah said. ice learning expeditions helped ceeded in delivering a number of unique medical concerns being Such eff orts were designed work, furthering its graduates’ ly aff ected during this ongoing “Through our joint work with HBKU graduate students gain an services to this distressed com- faced by the displaced Rohingya to help the youth develop their abilities to play pioneering roles humanitarian crisis. the students, we are happy that understanding of complex global munity,” he noted. community. communication skills and main- in economic and social devel- “As a result of the relief work we were able to underscore the challenges – be they develop- “In addition, our time in Rashid al-Marri, a Juris Doc- tain their cognitive, emotional, opment at home and abroad,” the HBKU team conducted to importance of volunteering as mental, socio-economic or hu- Bangladesh gave us the rare op- tor student at HBKU and expe- social and physical abilities. QC’s media and communication alleviate suffering amongst the an important aspect of learning,” manitarian in nature.” portunity to directly engage with dition member, said: “My trip to Every year, graduate students executive director Ali Ateeq al- refugees, participating stu- al-Abdullah explained. “This trip to Bangladesh pro- the refugees and hear about their the Rohingya camps is of special from HBKU volunteer to assist Abdullah said. dents were able to gain a new Faisal Ahmed al-Mohanna- vided students with an oppor- moving experiences. This gave educational signifi cance for me underprivileged communities He added that interacting with appreciation for the common di, senior student engagement tunity to learn more about the us a unique perspective we would because I personally observed around the world.