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Sunday 11 December 2016 | 12 Rabia I 1438 Volume 21 | Number 7007 | 2 Riyals

Darb El Saai celebrations Qatar calls for Licence for truce in Syria Paris household QNA atar's Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman QAl Thani has called for an immediate ceasefire in Syria and return to the negoti- businesses ating table, stressing that a political solution is the only way to resolve the crisis. The Minister was speaking at a joint The Peninsula Licence for home business press conference with US Secretary of State John Kerry, French Foreign Minister Jean- n an important initiative, Marc Ayrault, and the German Foreign the Ministry of Economy Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, after the and Commerce will grant QR1,020 ministerial meeting on Syria in Paris yes- Children and families enjoy a toy train ride at the Darb El Saai grounds in Doha licences to households for To obtain a licence, the terday. The Minister reiterated Qatar's yesterday. Pic: Hussein Sayed → See also pages 3 & 5 small business activities at applicant should be at commitment to fighting terrorism in Syria. Ihome. least 18 years old and a → Picture on page 4 The Ministry said yesterday resident of the house. The that the initiative aims to cre- annual licensing fee has ate suitable investment been fixed at QR1,020. environment for entrepreneurs and encourage small Prepaid microchip Qatar crime rate lowest in MENA businesses. The licence holder is Under the initiative, the required to place a sign ministry will grant licences to board at the entrance of for refuelling The Peninsula lower than 20 as very low, crime levels practise business activities at the house showing the between 20 and 40 as being low, crime home that “do not require high name of the business. Sanaullah Ataullah atar has won the prestigious posi- levels between 40 and 60 as being mod- cost, depend on personal skills, The Peninsula tion as the country with the erate, crime levels between 60 and 80 as do not utilise disturbing equip- Qlowest crime rate in Middle East being high and those with higher than 80 ment or hazardous materials including computer-based he Qatar Fuel ( Woqod) has started install- and North Africa (MENA) region and as being very high, said a statement issued and aimed to make profit and designs with the exception of ing electronic microchips in fuel tanks of the Arab world, according to the Crime by the Ministry of Interior yesterday. provide living costs to the engineering designs which fall Tvehicles owned by individuals to speed up Index for Countries 2016 (Mid Year) The Numbeo surveys many aspects licence holder and his family,” within the specialty of engi- the payment system. issued by Numbeo. about crime and safety in countries and said a statement. neering companies; business The move is also meant to enable motorists Qatar has won the seventh position cities, which include opinions about the Activities that can be prac- services such as cooking, cop- to track the transactions of refueling their vehi- globally. South Korea came first, with seriousness of the crime, change in the tised at home include sewing, ying, packaging and binding cles through an SMS alert system. The system, the lowest crime rate in the world, fol- crime level in the past three years, services such as filming wed- school textbooks; preparation named ‘WOQODe’, works on a microchip affixed lowed by Singapore, Georgia, Taiwan, walking during daylight and night, rob- dings and events; creating of perfumes, “dkhoun” (oudh) near the fuel tank opening. The chip, which car- Japan and Hong Kong, respectively. bery level, stealing of cars, physical antiques and gifts; preparing and beauty products; and food ries details of the vehicle such as its registration Qatar earned 20.41 points in the crime attacks by strangers, being insulted in and packaging gifts; designing activities such as preparation number, name and location of petrol station index while South Korea had 14.99 the streets, being subject to any attacks cards and gifts by hand; arrang- of coffee, spices and meals. (where a customer prefers refuelling), date, time points. because of skin colour, ethnic origin or ing natural and artificial and other details as desired. The database has used the scale (0-100) religion etc. flowers; electronic services → Continued on page 7 → Continued on page 2 for values as it considered crime levels → Continued on page 2 02 HOME SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2016 Silatech gets new Board of Trustees Qatar spares no The Peninsula effort in promoting H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the Chairperson of Silatech’s Board of rights: NHRC chief Trustees, has Hissued a decision appointing H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani, Abdullah new board members for QNA Silatech. Al Fozan, Sabah Al Haidoos and Dr Hessa Al Jaber. Human Rights Day The new board includes: he National Human Qatari Constitution H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Rights Committee and national laws Abdulrahman Al Thani, Minis- (NHRC) Secretary- consolidate human ter of Foreign Affairs of Qatar; General Maryam bint rights: Maryam bint Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Abdullah Al Attiyah Abdullah Al Attiyah Thani, Group Chief Executive Thas called for concrete national, Officer of Ooredoo; Dr Hessa Al regional and global action to Jaber from Qatar; Dr Waleed Al strengthen the principles of The Human Rights Wohaib, Director-General of the Dr Waleed Al Wohaib, Rafat Al Akhali, Maha Al Ghunaim, Karim Hajji and Amira Yahyaoui. international legitimacy of the Islamic Solidarity Fund for human rights. Day is observed Development (ISFD); Abdullah In a speech on the occasion every year on 10 bin Abdullatif Al Fozan, Chair- Exchange in Morocco; Amira Chief Executive Officer of organisation promotes large- of the Human Rights Day, which December. man of Bawan; Maha Al Yahyaoui, Founder of Al Baw- Silatech. Silatech was launched scale job creation, falls on December 10 every year, Ghunaim, Co-Founder, Vice sala; Rafat Al Akhali, Yemen’s by Sheikha Moza in 2008 as a entrepreneurship, access to the NHRC Secretary-General said Chairman and Group Chief former Minister of Youth and regional social organisation capital and markets, and the that the importance of human Executive Officer of Global; Sports and Co-Founder and that works to create jobs and participation and engagement rights stems from "our Islamic Human Rights, for five years, Karim Hajji, Chief Executive Chairman of Resonate Yemen, expand economic opportuni- of young people in economic religion, which are universal, and which was re-adopted in 2015 to Officer of the Casablanca Stock in addition to Sabah Al Haidoos, ties for young Arabs. The and social development. indivisible." She added that the the same degree for another five Qatari Constitution and national years ending in 2020. She said laws consolidate these rights, that this category is granted only stressing that Qatar spared no to institutions that enjoy inde- effort, under the wise leadership pendence, impartiality and Qatar tops peace index Pre-paid microchip for refuelling of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim credibility in the full performance bin Hamad Al-Thani, in main- of the functions assigned to it. Continued from page 1 Continued from page 1 growing demand, the service will be avail- taining and respecting and The Human Rights Day is atar has been placed top in the MENA To avail of the new service, motorists able round-the-clock," said the source. promoting these rights. observed every year on 10 region in Global Peace Index published would call to the customer service centre Woqod has posted the service on social She noted that the NHRC, December. It commemorates the Qby the Institute for Economics and Peace on 40217777 for registration and take media sites. The post reads: "The best way since its inception, has been car- day on which, in 1948, the United (IEP) continuously till date since 2009. appointment for installing microchips, to pay and track your fuel purchases, for rying out its mandated role in the Nations General Assembly The IEP, headquartered in Sydney, Aus- which the firm calls "tag". After taking the first time in Qatar, you can now pay for dissemination, promotion and adopted the Universal Declara- tralia uses several relevant indicators related appointment the motorist will have to head your fuel purchases in seconds using a REID protection of human rights, and tion of Human Rights. In 1950, to peace and safety including political stabil- to a designated Woqod petrol station in New log at any Woqod petrol station. Save time has made several achievements the Assembly passed resolution ity, level of crime in the community, level of Al Rayyan, near Ansar Gallery. with a cashless, pre-paid system. Achieve and faced some challenges too, 423 (V), inviting all states and abuse among community members, internal The fee for the service is QR220 total control with SMS notification, elimi- but it is keen to communicate, interested organisations to conflicts and relations with neighboring coun- including QR195 for tag and QR25 as serv- nate unauthorized refueling." coordinate and cooperate with observe 10 December of each tries and terrorist crimes etc. ice charge, said a source at Woqod. The "Sign up and get a Woqode tag, use it all government departments and year as Human Rights Day. “ Qatar has accomplished this reputation tag comes with a pre-paid top-up serv- every time you refuel your vehicles at any institutions of the civil society in This year, Human Rights Day with constant efforts and the keenness of the ice, which is available at every Woqod fuel Woqod petrol station, track your fuel cost a way that makes it more capa- calls on everyone to stand up for security authorities in the State. The Ministry station. The top-up starts from QR20 and with SMS notification. If you sell or scrap ble to exercise all terms of someone's rights because disre- of Interior has been working to realize the max- there is no maximum limit, he added. The your vehicle, make sure to inform our cus- reference and achieve the spect for basic human rights imum security and stability in the community vehicle should be for private use and in tomers service to close your account to desired objectives of its establish- continues to be widespread in all through its strategies that are compatible with the name of the applicant, he added. avoid any further charges," it added. ment. She said that as a result, parts of the globe and messages the Qatar National Vision 2030, in order to build "We have good response from motor- The applicants have to produce their the NHRC has received a rating of intolerance and hatred prey an integrated security system supported by the ists for our new service. The hotline is valid Qatari ID and vehicle’s registration category (A) from the World Alli- on our fears. Humane values are development of the Ministry,” said. available from 6am to 10pm but with card (road permit) during registration. ance of National Institutions for under attack. SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2016 HOME 03 Qatari-French initiative for energy and environment

The Peninsula throughout the world.” Common interest The forum saw the partici- atar Foundation (QF) has Forum provides an pation of academics from top held a multi-sectoral opportunity to French higher education insti- Qforum providing leading tutes with a focus on engineering, identify areas of Qatari and French institutions as well as representatives of common interest in with the opportunity to identify French companies with a pres- areas of common interest in the the fields of energy ence in Qatar including Total, fields of energy and the and environment. Engie, Suez, Véolia, Alstom, environment. SNCF, QDVC, EDF - and Qatar- The ‘Qatar France Qatar France based companies Qatalum, Academia-Industry Initiative Academia-Industry Kahramaa, Muntajat, and 2016’, which brought together Initiative 2016 QAPCO. representatives from industry, brought together Dr Hassan Al Derham, Pres- academia, and science and several experts. ident of QU stated: “The Forum research, was jointly organised reflects the Qatari-French bilat- by QF, the French Embassy in H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice-Chairperson and CEO of QF; Eric Chevallier, French eral ties which play an important Qatar, Total EP Qatar, and to Qatar; and Guillaume Chalmin, role in promoting cultural and Ambassador to Qatar; and Guillaume Chalmin, MD of Total EP Qatar, attended the opening ceremony. Qatar University (QU). Managing Director of Total EP economic relations between the The opening of the forum Qatar. dialogue among partners in Executive Vice President, Qatar science and research, this forum two countries. The theme of the was attended by H E Sheikha The theme of the forum, Qatar, the region, and beyond, Foundation Research and Devel- has reflected the essential role forum – energy and environment Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice which concluded on December around global concerns facing opment (QF R&D), said: “By of multi-sectoral collaboration – is a timely one for dialogue Chairperson and CEO of QF; Eric 6, was Energy and Environment, the energy industry. bringing together representatives in addressing the most pressing among partners in Qatar, the Chevallier, French Ambassador and sought to create timely Dr Hamad Al Ibrahim, from industry, academia, and challenges facing societies region, and beyond." 'Yalla Natural' stall at Darb El Saai attracts crowds

Irfan Bukhari It offers education on how campaign and “Yalla Natural” The Peninsula to grow plants from seeds. They was an important component are not only giving basic garden- of public health initiative romoting healthy liv- ing lessons but also provide free launched by WCM-Q in collab- ing, a number of seeds and soil-filled pots. oration with Qatar Foundation activities at “Yalla Another interesting activity at and some other partners. Natural” stall at Darb the green enclosure is the sec- “Apart from planting les- El Saai including tion where kids make smoothies sons in which we are also Pplanting education, healthy using blender-bikes. To instill providing children with pots and cooking sessions, smoothie love for fruits and vegetables seeds, our smoothie bike is pull- bikes and green recipes are enriched diet in children, they ing children and elders too. We attracting hundreds of children were presented smoothies as provide seeds of vegetables like and elders alike. well as green recipes. celery, onion,” she said. Yalla Natural is part of An official of Sahtak Awa- She said Yalla Natural had Sahtak Awalan (Your Health lan seeking not to be named told established as many as 100 First) public health campaign of The Peninsula that a large greenhouses in independent Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar number children had learnt the schools. (WCM-Q). art of planting. “They are also “All students from two and The stall of Sahtak Awa- being given information on three grades visit those green- lan at Qatar Foundation healthy recipes and the smooth- houses along their science enclosure has become a major ies,” she added. teachers once daily to learn attraction for nature-loving How to be healthy, she said, about plants, planting, healthy kids and parents. was the main theme of their eating etc. While the elder stu- dents take part in other activities designed according to their age like poster designing contests,” she said. At Sahtak Awalan stall, 6:30 pm is the time of live healthy cooking in which children are taught how to prepare salads with fruits and vegetables. “We want to create nature loving attitude among children and a permanent inclination of soci- ety towards natural food and healthy lifestyle. We have set our target of establishing green- houses in all independent schools of qatar,” Sahtak Awa- lan official asserted. “This smoothie bike is won- derful,” said Ibrahim, a nine-year-old child who had just experienced making smoothie using bike-blender. “It has two goods: making smoothie and doing exercise,” he said while Children making smoothies with bike blenders. taking a sip of the smoothie he had just prepared. 04 HOME SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2016

Internal conflicts will pose FM attends Syria meeting in Paris challenge for Trump: Expert

Mohammed Osman The Peninsula

he major challenge for President-elect Trump will be inter- nal conflicts on identity as well as Teconomic, political and cultural issues rather than Middle East issues and the Pacific Ocean, said a senior analyst and intellectual. Trump, who used state- ments similar to “pubs Marwan Kabalan, Associate Researcher, Policy Analysis discourses” during his election Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani participated in the campaign, gained the support Unit Coordinator, and Azmi Bishara, General Director of the Syria Ministerial meeting of the group of like-minded countries, which was held in Paris of elders and labour whose fear Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, at the opening yesterday. The meeting discussed the tragic humanitarian situation in Aleppo and ways to of immigrants and economic session. settle the conflict in Syria, and the need to continue collective efforts to reach a political problems related to the finan- If Trump implemented his solution for the Syrian crisis. cial crisis of 2008 has been Rising right election promises, it means the greatly exploited by Trump, said The rising new right US foreign policy will witness Azmi Bishara, General Director movements in major changes not experienced of the Arab Center for Research for decades, said Marwan Kaba- Europe share Shafallah Center and Policy Studies. lan, Policy Analysis Unit common views with Conveyor belt first Bishara, who was speaking Coordinator at the Arab Center. participates in yesterday at the opening session the right in US, says Trump thinks the current world of one-day academic workshop expert. is chaotic, rejects multilateral- Disability Day examining the impacts of the ism and believes in domestically in the Mideast region election of Trump, held at Doha Trump 'is not driven foreign policy, Kabalan The Peninsula Institute, highlighted that the interested in added. rising new right movements in understanding the Joe Macaron, Middle East The Peninsula lifa Al Thani. hafallah Center partici- Europe share common views Middle East’s Analyst at the Arab Center The event was attended by pated in International with the right in US and these complicated issues'. Washington DC, said Trump's atar Primary Materi- HH Sheikh Mohammed bin SDay of People with Dis- include the anti-elite and estab- policies could be understood als Company (QPMC) Hamad bin Mohammed Al ability (IDPD) marked this lishments, anti-globalisation from his personal character. In has inaugurated the Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujai- year, under the Theme 'All and free trade, exploitation of force him to deal with them, said contrast to former US Presidents Bulk Materials Han- rah, QPMC Chairman Engineer Together', which was held Islamophobia and fear of migra- Khalil Gahshan, head of Arab who were optimistic, Trump has Qdling System (BMHS) Abdel Aziz Al Ansari and Chief under the patronage and in tion and the wave of refugees. Center for Research and Policy dim view of America, and major popularly known as conveyer Executive Officer, Eisa Al-Ham- the presence of Prime Minis- The financial crisis which Studies in Washington. challenge for him will be lack of belt on Thursday to increase the madi and other respected gusts ter and Interior Minister H E led to the damage of many Asked by The Peninsula pre- harmony between his team supply of building materials in and dignitaries Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser industrial areas, and made many cisely what Trump wanted from because he is not dedicated to the local markets. The conveyor belts and bin Khalifa Al Thani at the industries move to other coun- this region, Gahshan said nobody his supporters. He is the first US The new system will suite of comprehensive serv- Marriott Hotel on Thursday. tries with cheaper manpower, knows exactly, but in general he President without doctrine, increase over 81 percent the ices availed by the BMHS to the The Prime Minister visited have made the white labour wants constant partnership in vision and ideology, making it handling capacity of the Berths industrial, service and eco- the Shafallah pavilion and class in the US and Europe stand protecting US interests in the difficult to understand his for- 3 and 2 at Mesaieed Port from nomic sectors, will be the first was briefed on the activities against free trade, globalisation region. Trump want to rebuild US eign policy, Macaron stressed. 16.5 million tonnes to 30 mil- in the Middle East region, and of the center. He listened to a and support the rising right, said defence and security relations on "The GCC countries' concern lion tonnes in a year. the sixth globally in terms of detailed explanation from Bishara. a new basis replacing the basis set is justifiable because Trump As the Middle East’s first efficiency and capacity, said a Amal Al Mannai, CEO Qatar Ironically, the traditional up in the post-WW II era. does not feel concerned with and one of the world’s longest release. Foundation for Social Activ- white labour forces are against "There is GCC countries' chaos in the region, although I belt conveyor systems, BMHS “The project will bring ities and Acting Executive equity with black Americans, concern about his relations with do not expect dramatic changes boasts high levels of efficiency various industrial, economic Director of Shafallah. women and other minorities, Iran and the nuclear deal, and in US policies in the region," said and handling capacity and is and environmental benefits to The stall showcased the Bishara underlined. chaos in Syria and Yemen but I Macaron. Macaron said that it is considered a multi-dimensional major construction and infra- efforts of the students and Trump, who won with Elec- expect he will be more strict early to know Trump’s policies achievement for Qatar on the structure development their creativity to integrate toral College and not the towards Iran and its interven- on this region but generally industrial, economic and social projects in Qatar, said Al them with the society and majority of votes, will confront tion in the region," Gahshan speaking "I could say he will do fronts. Hammadi. prepare them to meet the with wide segments of the soci- said. Furthermore, he added that the same like Obama and reduce The new system will help The conveyor belts stretch requirements of the job mar- ety based in major cities and Trump, who criticised Obamas’ the US military presence in the cater to Qatar’s growing over 4.8 kilometers, from Gab- ket and to enhance their whose quality weights are much policy in this region, could eas- world to reduce expenses but demand for primary materials bro Berths at Mesaieed Port, to personalities and build their higher than their demographic ily be provoked by terrorist military bases will exist because by major construction and the storage regions. It operates self-confidence, said a state- weights. These groups will groups and dragged into the they are part of strategy to make infrastructural projects and in at a speed of three meters per ment yesterday. Paintings and defend not only their interests region’s conflicts. He lacked America great." addition will pave the way for second, so the travel distance drawing done by the Center's but their way of life, Bishara experiences in dealing with this “The Trump Presidency: the mutual synergies with private to the designated storage space students were on display. observed. region’s affairs because he is the View from within the United sector companies leading to will be made within 25 Every year Qatar Airways Trump is not interested in first president coming from out- States”, “The Ghosts of Karl Marx their growth. minutes. hires 35 students of the Center understanding the Middle East’s side the institution and never and the Ultimate Triumph of the The inaugural ceremony The belt ensures the strate- aged up to 21 years. Gradu- complicated issues, and his took an official position. "I am US Confederacy”, “Explaining the took place at Mesaieed Port gic stockpile sustainability of ates of the Center help understanding of the region, its very worried of his personal Trump Victory and “The Rise of under the patronage and pres- high quality materials, for the making gift bags for travelers people and culture is very character more than the elec- Trump: Political, Economic and ence of the Prime Minister and current and future projects of of Qatar Airways Business superficial, but the complica- tion promises he made," Demographic Factors” were also Interior Minister, HE Sheikh Qatar and reduces of vessels Class. This gift bags includes tions of the regional issues will Gahshan emphasized. discussed. Abdullah bin Nasser bins Kha- waiting duration and length. different types of creams, perfumes, eye-covers, ear phones and socks which are made by the students of the Malabar opens two showrooms in Kuwait Center. Maryam bint The Peninsula Salman Al Sabah from the royal Major Ali Hamdan Zaid Al family in the presence of Daihani, Chief Adviser, Far- Khalifa alabar Gold & Dia- Shamlal Ahamed, Managing waniya Governorate in the monds extended its Director – International Oper- presence of Mr. Shamlal Al Attiyah Mpresence in Kuwait by ations, Malabar Gold & Ahamed, Managing Director – launching two new showrooms Diamonds; Mr. KP Abdul Salam International Operations, passes away at Hawally and Mahboula – Group Executive Director, Malabar Gold & Diamonds; KP recently. Malabar Group, invited guests, Abdul Salam – Group Execu- aryam bint Khalifa THe 159th showroom at media & well-wishers. tive Director, Malabar Group, bin Abdullah Al Atti- Hawally was inaugurated by The 160th showroom at invited guests, media & Myah, wife of Sheikh Dawood Dawood Mahboula was inaugurated by well-wishers. Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Nasser Al Attiyah, passed away at the age of 70. The deceased was the sis- ter of Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, Mohammed bin Kha- lifa Al Attiyah, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, Abdulaziz bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, Khalid bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, Ahmed bin Khalifa Al Attiyah and Khalifa bin Khalifa Al Attiyah. The funeral prayers will be performed after the Asr prayer at Nasser bin Abdul- lah Al Attiyah Mosque in Al Kharaitiyat area. The burial will be in Al Kharaitiyat Cem- etery. Condolences from Malabar Gold & Diamonds' 160th showroom was inaugurated by Major Ali Hamdan Zaid mourners will be received at Al Daihani, Chief Adviser, Farwaniya Governorate in the presence of Shamlal Ahamed, Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Atti- Managing Director – International Operations; K P Abdul Salam, Group Executive Director, yah's Majlis in Al Kheessa Malabar Group, and other officials and well-wishers at Mahboula, in Kuwait. area. SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2016 HOME 05 Civil Defence pavilion draws many students

Sidi Mohamed housemaids of how to use fire The Peninsula Darb El Saai extinguishers at home in case of More than 2,000 fire and the aim of the activity is ore than 2,000 stu- students visited Civil to increase awareness among dents visited Civil Defence pavilion in them about safety and security Defence pavilion measures, he said. last three days at in last three days “It is very important for us as Darb El Saai, venue of at Darb El Saai, mothers to have a chance of get- Mvenue of official National Day official National Day ting information on how to use celebration, to know about safety celebration, fire extinguishers because only and security measures at homes we and our housemaids are stay- Students especially and commercial complexes. ing more at homes and may face “Yesterday was only for fam- from primary schools such problems," Umm Abdulrah- ilies and we received many taught how to use fire man said. "In addition to what we children and in last three days distinguishers are providing to children, we also our pavilion has received more especially in the first providing some books to winter than 2,000 students. We are three minutes of fire. campers related to required Romanian Folklore Night, featuring the Romanian folk ensemble Junii Sibiului, performing teaching students especially from safety and security measures at at Katara Drama Theatre on Friday. primary schools how to use fire camps." distinguisher especially in the smokes. "They must be very close The organising committee of first three minutes of fire because to ground to avoid smoke clouds Darb El Saai allocated more than these minutes are called golden- because within three minutes of 7,000 car parking and 70 car Katara hosts Romanian Folklore Night minutes to control the fire,” First living in dense fire smoke may parking for people with disabil- Lieutenant Abdulhadi Al Marri, lead to death," he added. ities, in addition to special The Peninsula number of folkloric items that group to a mixed ensemble. The Awareness and Media Officer at “We teach all these things parking for school buses. It also reflect the traditions of differ- repertoire of the ensemble con- Civil Defence Department said. through simulator devices and offered medical services and aids he Cultural Village Foun- ent cities in Romania, such as sists of dances from the most He said another very impor- every child must use fire extin- to visitors in case of any emer- dation-Katara in Maramureș, Tanjaua, Câmpia, representative traditional areas tant thing being taught to guisher to control mock exercise gency cases. Many government Tcollaboration with the Bihor, Oltenia, Moldavia, of the northern and southern students was how to exit in cases and we are also distributing some and non-government entities and Romanian Embassy hosted Bistrița, Muntenia, Banat, Tran- part of Romania. of fire emergency at school or awards to encourage them," Al institutions have stalls in Darb El Romanian Folklore Night fea- sylvania, and Hârtibaciu. “I’m delighted and thrilled commercial complex and what Marri said. There is also some Saai. The Darb El Saai activities turing the Romanian folk The ensemble dazzled to put in place such a great show they should do in case of heavy training for mothers and will continue until December 20. ensemble Junii Sibiului. Katara’s theatre with customs in the context of celebrating this Held at Katara Drama The- that symbolise aspects of life year’s nation of Romania in atre on Friday, the event was such as birth, wedding, sewing, Qatar. In a few weeks we will attended by Katara General health, prosperity, and tradi- together say farewell to 2016, Manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim tional seasonal wear. and this is a great opportunity Ooredoo Marathon to take place on January 13 Al Sulaiti, Romania’s Ambassa- Following the traditional for me to express my gratitude dor to Qatar Cristian Tudor, and dances is the interpretation of to the Romanian community for The Peninsula of runners take part every year Public Relations, Ooredoo, said: other representatives of diplo- songs from Transylvania by their hard work and dedication and Ooredoo has promised the “This year we are challenging matic missions. soloist singer Ovidiu Homoro- towards the positive improve- oredoo has officially marathon will be ‘more profes- everyone in Qatar to run. We’re The Romanian performers dean who captivated the ment in economic and cultural opened registration for the sional than ever’. Registration working to ensure the best pos- “Junii Sibiului” began the night audience with the rich reper- relations between Romania and O2017 Ooredoo Marathon. opened yesterday at marathon. sible experience for our with traditional performances toire of traditional music using the State of Qatar,” said Ambas- Now in its fifth year, the 2017 ooredoo.qa and fees will range competitors from start to finish from two beautiful and rich authentic technique. sador Tudor. Ooredoo Marathon will take place depending on the selected course and I encourage everyone to regions of Sibiu country: Junii Sibiului was estab- The Romanian envoy on Friday, January 13, 2017. The and age of the participant. take part – whether walking or Mărginimea Sibiului and Tar- lished in 1994 by the thanked Katara for its strong popular annual event, which was Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, running along our beautiful nave Valley. The ensemble also choreographer Ioan Macrea. The support and active cooperation launched in 2013, see’s hundreds Director of Community & Doha Corniche." enthralled the audience with a group first evolved from a male provided to host the event. 06 HOME SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2016

Qatar Museums Bedaya Center bringing back Treasure Hunt celebrates 5th for National Day QATAR Museums’ (QM) is bringing back its popular Treasure Hunt in time for anniversary National Day. On Decem- ber 17, between 12 and 3pm, people across Qatar The Peninsula Bedaya Center can take part and compete in the fun-filled adventure, he Bedaya Center for The Bedaya Center which will see visitors Entrepreneurship and provides career taken on a unique jour- Career Development guidance tools as well ney through the Museum of (Bedaya Center), a Islamic Art (MIA) and QM as offer a number of Officials and other well-wishers of Bedaya Center at the event to mark its 5th anniversary. joint initiative by job shadowing Gallery Al Riwaq, explore TQatar Development Bank (QDB) opportunities for one of the world’s great- and Silatech Celebrated its 5th students who wish to career guidance and training," and internship opportunities." advice at their school. est collections of Islamic anniversary on November 30 at explore a work he added. Bedaya’s achievements to Reem Al Sowaidi, General Art, discover artworks by Shef’s Garden, Marwan Club- The Bedaya Center provides date this year in career develop- Manager of Bedaya, said:" Encour- internationally-acclaimed environment. Alshaqab. The event was career guidance tools as well as ment have included several aging more young people to start Iraqi artist Dia al-Azzawi attended by representatives of offer a number of job shadow- major initiatives and activities up their own business has been a and take part in a series of Bedaya also delivers different organisations and ing opportunities for students that have benefitted approxi- key focus of Bedaya Center. Thus, challenges. entrepreneurship and companies. who wish to explore a work mately 15,000 Qatari youth. over the years, we have brought Prizes will be given Since its establishment, The innovation workshops, environment. Bedaya also deliv- Several agreements have been together numerous private and out to lucky winners at Bedaya Center provided a range advisory sessions, and ers entrepreneurship and signed with different educational public sector organisations to sup- the end of the event. of services for young people in enable participation innovation workshops, advisory institutions and corporations, port small and medium-sized A number of activities Qatar with training programmes in Bedaya sessions, and enable participa- and Bedaya has reached out to enterprises in the state.” will also be organised and activities designed to help Entrepreneurship tion in Bedaya Entrepreneurship 40 independent schools, as well "This also reflects Bedaya throughout the day, young men and women to programmes. programmes. as 12 international schools. Center’s positive impact on the including story-telling, an achieve career goals and develop Speaking on the occasion, Additionally, Bedaya has Qatari entrepreneurial commu- archaeology workshop, entrepreneurial skills. has worked effectively to Faisal Al Emadi , Bedaya’s Vice- delivered over 400 workshops nity through its continued efforts face-painting and a Welcoming guests to the cel- empower young people." Chairman, stated, "Under to young entrepreneurs in Qatar to develop the skills of young bazaar. ebration was Abdulaziz bin "Bedaya's mission has been Silatech's partnership in Qatar, and completed the independent entrepreneurs and foster their Khalid Yousef Al Ibra- Nasser Al Khalifa, Chief Execu- to provide solid support when Bedaya Center is the only pub- schools counsellors career innovative ideas and projects him, Chief Strategic tive Officer (CEO), QDB, Bedaya’s it's needed the most, and the lic centre which offers Qatar's advice training programme in that contribute to achieving Planning Officer at QM, Chairman, who said, "We take Centre's professionals and spe- youth a range of services for partnership with Hamad bin Qatar National Vision 2030. This said: “Our last Treasure great pride to share this mile- cialists have truly exemplified young people in Qatar including Khalifa University (HBKU), a is based on Bedaya Center’s Hunt event was great fun stone, which indeed is an our mission in action. We are career guidance and self-assess- member of QF, and the Supreme belief that SMEs have a pivotal and we received very extraordinary accomplishment proud of the hope and support ment skills development in Education Council in order to role in achieving sustainable positive feedback from and determination for lasting we've been able to provide each entrepreneurship and employ- ensure all young people can economic development," she the local community." success of an organisation that year to individuals looking for ability mentoring volunteering access career development concluded. Landmark opens 19 stores in Mall of Qatar

The Peninsula

andmark Group, the region’s leading retail and Lhospitality conglomerate, brings the best fashion, home and food choices, to the newly opened Mall of Qatar, with the launch of 19 stores at the iconic destination. Officials at the opening of the first-ever premium brand The Mall of Qatar will host a mix of Landmark Group’s home shop of LG Electronics at Mall of Qatar in Doha yesterday. grown and franchise brands including Centrepoint, Max, Iconic, Reiss, New Look, Koton, LG opens premium brand Steve Madden, Carpisa, Ecco, Kurt Geiger, Pablosky, Emax, Sports One, Shoexpress, Candel- shop in Mall of Qatar ite and Carluccio’s. Each of these brands have been an integral The Peninsula not have been possible without part of Qatar’s flourishing retail Officials at the ceremony. having a long-term trustwor- and hospitality landscape, and G Electronics, a global thy partner like Video Home & a key favourite of the Qatari con- statement party dresses, shoes growing market is a vital part of delighted to be anchor tenants leader and technology Electronic Centre - Jumbo Elec- sumer — highlighted by the and jewellery to the residents of our plan to expand our footprint at the mall which is destined to Linnovator in consumer tronics, whose team and Group’s loyalty customer data- Qatar. Zafran, a home grown in the region. Mall of Qatar will be a hub for fashion and lifestyle electronics, has announced the management have been instru- base of over a million in Qatar. casual dining restaurant, offers be significant addition to the retail in Qatar. We have also opening of its first-ever pre- mental in LG’s leadership in Landmark Group will also be contemporary Indian cuisine, country’s retail landscape. Stra- taken care to ensure that our mium brand shop in Qatar. The Qatar,” said Yong Geun Choi, introducing fashion and food and GRK Fresh brings a unique tegically located next to the offerings align with the evolv- new LG store located at Mall of President, LG Electronics, Gulf. concepts — Lipsy, Zafran and twist to classic Greek food, with award-winning Al Rayyan FIFA ing customer expectations, and Qatar opened doors to public LG also announced its plans GRK Fresh for the very first time fresh flavors, in a quick service 2022 stadium, the Mall of Qatar are certain that both tourist and yesterday. to bring to the new showroom in the country. Lipsy, the UK format. is poised to attract tourists and residents will appreciate the Located on the first floor, its premium Signature line-up fashion brand brings a young Santosh Pai, COO Landmark discerning shoppers from across concepts that we are shop no 006, in Qatar’s largest in the first quarter of 2017. The and vibrant collection of Group, Qatar said: “Qatar’s the city and the suburbs. We are launching.” shopping destination – Mall of LG Signature line-up, includ- Qatar and spread across 310 ing 4K OLED TVs in home sqm, the new showroom will entertainment and TwinWash serve as a one-stop destination washing machines in home for customers, housing an appliances is expected to meet Tablez in franchise deal expansive line-up of LG’s lat- the evolving demands of con- est and innovative consumer sumers in Qatar. LG Signature products. products bring together the with Grupo Cortefiel Conceptualised with an company’s best technology and intuitive layout, the outlet is best designs under a single The Peninsula Springfield will have a mix specifically designed to show- name, where each product of large format flagship stores case LG’s cutting-edge stays pure, sophisticated, and ablez, the brand retailing and exclusive brand outlets, technology from across differ- true its essence. company, is all set to while Women'secret would ent business units including Commenting on the occa- Tunfold a new chapter in mainly concentrate on exclusive home appliances, home enter- sion, Sajed Jassim Mohammed the retail landscape, in associa- brand outlets. A few tainment, mobile Sulaiman, Vice-Chairman & tion with Grupo Cortefiel, one of Women'secret stores will be communications, IT and resi- Managing Director, Video Europe’s leading fashion retail- alongside the large format flag- dential AC, providing a fully Home & Electronic Centre - ers. In a gala ceremony held at ship stores of Springfield. immersive hands-on experi- Jumbo Electronics, said, “The the Shangri-La Hotel in Ben- Adeeb Ahamed, Managing ence. A complete portfolio of opening of the first LG premium galuru, India, on Thursday, Director, Tablez, said “We see LG Electronics premium range brand shop in Doha is yet Tablez signed a master franchise tremendous potential for brand of products will be showcased another indication of the robust agreement with Grupo Cortefiel retailing in India and we are Tablez and Grupo Cortefiel officials at the master franchise within dedicated areas in the retail sector Qatar has to offer. to bring two of its brands, delighted to have aligned with showroom. As LG expands, we will continue agreement event. Springfield – a youth-oriented Grupo Cortefiel, which has an “Consumer satisfaction is to ensure LG’s premium prod- casual fashion brand and outstanding track record in fash- key for us at LG Electronics and ucts are accessible and enjoyed Women’secret – an innerwear, ion retail. With the introduction Grupo Cortefiel, said: "It has home market, one of the most our first flagship brand show- by the avid Qatari consumer swimwear and sleepwear brand of Springfield and been our long intention to enter important parameters is finding room is an embodiment of our and we look forward to the next to India. Women’secret, we aim to the market in India, as its one of the right local partner. With commitment to our customers chapter for the brand in Qatar.” The agreement outlines expand our footprint in the life- the most important markets but Tablez team we share the same in Qatar. This is further testa- LG aims to recreate unique plans for 60 stores in India over style and apparel brand at the same time challenging. For vision and passion for this mar- ment to our commitment to experiences in Qatar by giving the next five years. The first store segment.” every international company ket and for this reason we give every customer a holistic customers the opportunity to is slated to open by April 2017 in Antonis Kyprianou, Group that wants to be successful in decided to partner together on experience into our complete connect with the brand and the Bengaluru. Franchise General Manager, any market outside of their this challenge.” line-up. This milestone would product. SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2016 HOME 07 QBIC Tourism incubates two new startups

The Peninsula opportunity to celebrate Qatar’s academy in the world, located system creating better customer that share our passion and drive New ideas natural and cultural gems, tour- here in Qatar and an app match- service experience. to participate in developing Two of the successful atar Business Incuba- ism provides an important ing hotel guests with the closest Seeking support to build Qatar’s tourism sector,” said companies offered tion Center’s (QBIC) avenue to diversifying the available limousine. The “Inter- itself up into a viable scale-up, founding member of Discover innovative tourism specialised incubator, national economy, and we are national Spear-Fishing Discover Arabia was directly Arabia, Nasser Al Ghareeb. QBIC Tourism, has delighted that today we have Academy” is an idea pitched by incubated into QBIC Tourism. QBIC Tourism is a special- business ideas and Qincubated two new introduced new additions to the Dr Jamal Rashid Al Khanji as an Last year, Discover Arabia, a ised business incubator within have joined QBIC startups and one established SME country’s growing tourism offer- effort to create the first of its kind kayaking and eco-adventures QBIC, established through a part- Tourism. seeking support to scale-up its ing,” said Aysha Al Mudahka, state-of-the-art spear fishing company provides tours through nership between Qatar Business operations. Chief Executive Officer of QBIC. programme. This academy will Qatar’s nature reserves and Incubation Center, Qatar Devel- The businesses are QBIC recently concluded its “The companies incubated also provide certification once mangroves in addition to edu- opment Bank and Qatar Tourism the first spear fishing 7th LeanStartup Program with a at Demo Day will help shape the training is complete. cational and community service Authority. academy in the world, Demo Day event, which offered tourism sector in Qatar, and we Meanwhile, the business idea experiences. “In line with the Being incubated, the start- located in Qatar and 15 participating startups the call on more entrepreneurs to for GoRidr was developed by National Tourism Sector Strat- ups will have the opportunity to an app matching hotel chance to pitch their business come forward with their ideas Saleh Al Marri and partners, Ash- egy 2030, Discover Arabia aims build on and expand their busi- guests with the ideas. The pitches were evalu- to help build an attractive tour- ley Titus and Maryanne Njeri. to provide the best tourism expe- ness ideas, with support and ated by a panel of judges, ism destination reflective of The business aims to provide rience through exploring Qatar’s mentorship from QBIC and QTA. closest available investors and key partners, and Qatar’s rich heritage.” a personalised limousine serv- beautiful landscapes, culture, Potential entrepreneurs limousine and a rating successful businesses won the Two of the successful com- ice that is dedicated to hotels, long historical past and hidden looking to take their first step, as system creating opportunity to become incubated panies offered innovative helping to fulfil the variable assets. It was an obvious choice well as existing tourism start-ups better customer and develop their companies tourism business ideas and have demand of a hotel with prompt for us to approach QBIC Tour- wanting to expand, are encour- service experience. further. joined QBIC Tourism. The busi- quick service of the closest avail- ism and further strengthen our aged to get in touch via www. “In addition to giving us the nesses are the first spear fishing able limousine and a rating relationship with organisations qbic.qa/tourism website. Qatar takes part in Manama Dialogue Business activity should be consistent

Manama with residential environment QNA Continued from page 1 he State of Qatar took part yesterday at the The licence holder is required to practice business activities at opening session of the 12th edition of Man- To obtain a licence, the appli- to place a signboard at the home. “This initiative aims to reg- Tama Dialogue, held in Bahrain, with a cant should be at least 18 years entrance of the house showing ulate practicing business delegation headed by Secretary-General of the For- old and a resident of the house. the name of the business activ- activities at home, opening up eign Ministry H E Dr Ahmed bin Hassan Al The annual licensing fee has been ity and the licence number. areas for entrepreneurs and Hammadi. fixed at QR1,020. It is not permitted to display owners of small businesses, The three-day event serves as an annual plat- The desired business activ- any advertising or promotional allowing them to engage in cer- form to exchange views on security challenges, ity should be consistent with the boards , flags or striped boards tain business activities from their bringing together a number of officials, business- residential environment and on the house or its exterior walls. homes, which constitute a motive men, international figures, economists, politicians should have the necessary The business activity should not for expansion and development and strategic thinkers from Asia, Africa, North Amer- approvals from the competent disrupt traffic in the area or cause of their projects and the opening ica, Latin America and Europe. authorities. A certificate show- disturbances to other residents. of shops that will contribute to This year's edition held under the patronage of Secretary-General of the Foreign Ministry ing completion of construction The licence holder can engage the economic development and Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown H E Dr Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi at should be submitted along with only in direct sales to the public economic diversity,” said the Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Dep- the opening session of the 12th edition of the application as well as a civil from home i.e. home delivery. statement. The ministry has uty Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain will Manama Dialogue held in Bahrain yesterday. defence certificate in the case of The new initiative follows issu- asked interested entrepreneurs discuss competition, conflict and peace in the Mid- cooking. The licence should be ance of the Ministerial decision and small business owners to dle East along with management of regional Middle East, fight against terrorism in the region, limited to a single activity and the No. 242 of 2016 regarding the abide by the regulations, require- variables metamorphism, extent of regional pow- GCC and Asian geopolitical relationships and secu- person should not hold more guidelines, requirements and ments and procedures for ers in response to environmental threats in the rity challenges. than one licence per home. procedures for granting licenses obtaining a licence. 08 MIDDLE EAST SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2016 Syria and Russia pound rebel-held Aleppo

Aleppo City under siege group said. Government forces Reuters launched an attack in the Izaa Army advances area near the Old City early yes- yria's military and Rus- slowed down after terday which insurgents repelled, sian warplanes rapid gains during destroying an army tank, he said. bombarded rebel-held the week. US officials Fighting has killed hundreds districts of Aleppo yes- meeting Russian of people in recent weeks, mon- terday as Damascus’s team in Geneva but itors say, and devastated large Sallies said victory was near, but areas of Aleppo. Parts of the agreement seems insurgents fought back and army Unesco World Heritage Old City elusive. advances halted after rapid gains recaptured by the government during the week. were completely destroyed by The United States said it was in a handful of areas mostly fighting, a Reuters correspond- meeting a Russian team in south of the historic Old City, ent said. Old markets and Geneva to find a way to save having lost nearly three-quar- bathhouses had been flattened. lives, but an agreement looked ters of territory they controlled “I found my home elusive as the two countries, for years in the space of around destroyed,” said one returning which back opposing sides, have two weeks. resident, who gave only his fam- repeatedly failed to strike a deal Lebanese Shia group Hezbol- ily name, Sheikho. to allow evacuations and help aid lah, a key military ally of “I didn’t even recognise deliveries. Damascus alongside Russia and where it was because of the Russia, whose military inter- Iran, said late on Friday that a destruction,” he said. vention helped turn the war in “promised victory” in Aleppo was The US, which is leading a President Bashar Al Assad’s imminent and would change the separate fight against IS in north- favour, said the Syrian govern- course of the war. A general view shows destruction in Aleppo's Bab Al Nairab neighbourhood, yesterday. ern and eastern Syria, said it will ment now controls 93 percent of The advances mean the gov- send 200 additional military per- second city Aleppo, a figure Reu- ernment appears closer to A win for Assad in Aleppo government-controlled areas as counter attacks are what have sonnel, including special forces ters could not independently victory than at any point since looks close, but fighting still gunfire rang out, a Reuters cor- halted government advances. to create a pressure against the verify. Its recapture would deal 2011 protests against Assad raged yesterday. respondent in Aleppo said. “There’s no advance by the group’s Raqqa hub. a major blow to rebels who have evolved into armed rebellion. Russian warplanes and Syr- Russia and Syria said on Fri- regime. They (rebels) have The Syrian Observatory for fought to unseat Assad in the The war has killed more than ian artillery bombarded day they had reduced military stopped them several times,” Human Rights monitoring group nearly six-year war. 300,000 people and made more rebel-held districts, and rebels operations to allow civilians to Zakaria Malahifji, a Turkey-based said several people were killed The insurgents are holed out than 11 million homeless. responded with shelling of leave. But rebels say their official in the Fastaqim rebel in rebel shelling yesterday. Former US general voices Kuwait names new oil minister

Kuwait City Marzouk, a member of a mer- the former interior minister and reservation over Iran deal AFP chant family, was a board a senior royal, was moved to the member in national oil con- defence post. uwait's prime minister glomerate Kuwait Petroleum The defence minister in the Dubai great concern," Petraeus told the set of verification measures," he formed a cabinet yester- Corp and also the head of the previous cabinet, Sheikh Kha- AFP Manama Dialogue security said. Petraeus led the US troop Kday that includes a new Kuwait Bourse Company. led Jarrah Al Sabah, who is also forum in Bahrain of the accord. surge in Iraq from 2006 to 2008. oil minister but keeps all the rul- Besides Prime Minister Sheikh a member of the ruling family, global deal to curb Iran's He pointed to the 10-15 year He headed the Bahrain- ing family members, following Jaber Mubarak Al Sabah, the was given the interior portfolio. nuclear ambitions con- validity of the pact, and the fact based US Central Command and elections in which the opposi- cabinet includes five members Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah A tains elements "of great that it gives Iran access to tens then the Nato force in Afghani- tion performed well. of the Al Sabah family which has Khaled Al Sabah, a royal, was concern", retired US general of billions of dollars in previ- stan in 2010, before retiring to The government has seven ruled Kuwait for two and a half also retained. David Petraeus, seen as a con- ously frozen assets. lead the CIA. new faces including Essam Al centuries, as many as in the pre- Anas Al Saleh remained the tender to be Washington's top Petraeus is on the shortlist He resigned from the spy Marzouk who was named min- vious cabinet. Sheikh finance minister in the new diplomat, said yesterday. to be secretary of state under agency in late 2012 after com- ister of oil, electricity and water. Mohammad Khaled Al Sabah, cabinet. The agreement took effect Donald Trump, who will assume ing under investigation for in January following its signing the US presidency at the end of giving his biographer and mis- last year after years of interna- Barack Obama's term in Janu- tress, Paula Broadwell, access tional effort. ary. Trump has promised to tear to classified information. It calls on Tehran to curb its up the Iran nuclear agreement Petraeus eventually pleaded 35 troops dead in Yemen suicide attack controversial nuclear pro- once in office, calling it the guilty to a misdemeanour gramme in exchange for "worst deal ever negotiated". charge of mishandling classified Aden bomber detonated his explosives belt as hundreds sanctions relief from the United Despite Petraeus's reser- information. AFP of troops gathered to receive their monthly pay States and other nations. vations, the former general Gulf couuntries fear the Iran at the barracks in Al Sawlaban near the city's inter- Iran has denied that it seeks said "there are actually some nuclear pact will lead to more suicide bomber killed 35 soldiers and national airport, a military source said. to acquire a nuclear weapons positive elements", as it helped regional "interference" by pre- wounded around 50 yesterday at a military "A martyr from the IS denotated his explosives capability. curb Iran's path to a nuclear dominantly Shia Iran, which A camp in Yemen's southern city of Aden, mil- belt in Al Sawlaban military camp in Aden during "There are some significant weapon. backs opposite sides in the Syria itary and medical sources said. The Islamic State a gathering of the Yemeni army," the IS-affiliated downsides that should cause us "There's a pretty intrusive and Yemen conflicts. group claimed responsibility for the attack. The Amaq news outlet said. Quest for power Music rises above unrest in South Sudan

Juba known for his Jamaican accent Anatolia YogoMan reveals. He says the main challenge is recording. weet melodies can be heard “Like you know, modern equip- over the unusual calm of ment for recording is not here in SSouth Sudan’s capital Juba, South Sudan, you have to go to this hot December evening amid Uganda or Kenya where there the rush of people returning are good music promoters and home from work. good facilities,” he says. The Alabu Dance Contest has “The worst thing for me was General Secretary of Turkish Justice and Development gathered local artists and youths organising a show, but people Party (AKP) Abdulhamit Gul (right) and Turkish Nationalist from different parts of the coun- don’t turn up due to insecurity. Movement Party's (MHP) deputy of Afyonkarahisar Mehmet try, as citizens embark on Fans complain of harassment by Parsak shake hands after addressing a press conference initiatives to restore unity in the security forces,” he adds. in Ankara, yesterday. Turkey's ruling party submitted a bill war-torn country mired by eth- “Music, these days, is like a South Sudan President Salva Kiir (centre) leaves the hotel after to parliament that could expand the powers of President nic tensions and the risk of cure or painkiller,” says Jimmy. the end of the session during the 29th Intergovernmental Recep Tayyip Erdogan. genocide. The 24-year-old who regularly “We are very much aware of Authority on Development summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, braves unknown gunmen and the fact that the people of South late on Friday. ethnic targeted killings on the Sudan have never known true roads of his six-hour journey to peace since independence. Our country, dance and art represent killed in 2014 in Malakal [near Nimule, near Uganda border to country is dominated mostly by alternatives to the lure of armed the northern border with go and perform. “You have to Four militants dead as Turkey a culture of violence caused groups. “This initiative provides Sudan],” he says. take the risk. When I sing I earn mainly by the struggle for sur- an opportunity for us youths to Juba boasts popular clubs something to keep my music attacks Islamic State sites vival and power on ethnic and show off our skills and talents such as Club Signature, Vegas, going, and when I don’t sing just religious lines,” Andras Kamasi, and do something positive of our Club 64 and a bistro, but the like during the fighting in July, Ankara jihadists and Kurdish militia the CEO of KilKilu Ana Comedy lives and for the community,” spate of violent attacks since life becomes hard.” Reuters fighters away from the Syrian Extra and organiser of the Alabu said Jima Taban, one of the 2013 has hampered the Rasta, who doubles as an border area. Dance Contest, tells Anadolu competitors. nightlife. Afro pop musician, has been TURKISH warplanes destroyed Turkish jets destroyed shel- Agency. Every week at the Nyakur- Reports of killings have touring some towns in the coun- 39 Islamic State targets and ters, vehicles mounted with “We are doing this to pro- oun cultural centre in the capital, prompted government troops to try using his music in local killed four militants in north- guns, and ammunition depots mote inclusive unity and peace. the youths gather to dance, more strictly enforce a curfew. Arabic, the capital’s own dialect, ern Syria, the Turkish army said in the latest air strikes in the Al Through music, dance, comedy watch comedy shows and share Today, with the bitter civil to promulgate his peace songs. yesterday. Bab and Zarzur regions of and working together as broth- street art, which principally fea- war still raging, musicians are As South Sudan enters the Turkey’s ramping up of its northern Syria, the army said. ers and sisters, even though the ture peace and unity themes. scattered. “Some of our col- fourth year of war, rifts along air strikes in northern Syria are The Turkish army on Friday participants come from differ- Young Taban says he found leagues are refugees in ethnicity increasingly manifest part of Ankara’s almost four- said its air strikes destroyed 34 ent tribes,” he says. healing on the dance floor. neighbouring countries, while themselves with a "potential for month-old “Euphrates Shield” Islamic State targets, while a For many youths growing up "Once I am here, I forget others are still struggling to live genocide", the UN special advi- operation with Turkish-backed statement from the day before in the conflict-ridden city of Juba many problems including the and perform in the conflict-torn sor on genocide, Adama Dieng rebels, which aims to push the said it had hit 10 targets. and in other parts of the death of my father who was country,” local dancehall artist said in Juba last month. SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2016 ASIA / AFRICA 09

Congo leader's Gambia president rejects poll results allies to face

Overturned Banjul condemning "unacceptable "We will go back to the polls and surprise -- a peaceful and EU sanctions AFP errors" on part of electoral author- because I want to make sure swift handover of power to Pres- In the same way that ities and calling for a new vote. every Gambian votes under an ident-elect Barrow. Brussels I accepted the results ambia's President Jammeh pointed to an electoral commission that is On Thursday, Barrow vowed AFP faithfully believing Yahya Jammeh said accounting error, identified by impartial, independent, neutral to set up a South Africa-style that the Independent he would not recog- the IEC, which awarded victory and free from foreign influence," truth commission and said that THE EU will impose sanc- Electoral Commission nise the results of to his opponent Adama Barrow he said, adding that he would not the country's chief of defence tions on seven supporters of was independent and December 1 elections but with a slimmer margin than tolerate any street protests over staff had called to pledge the DR Congo President Joseph Gand called for fresh polls, a week initially announced. his decision. military's backing. Kabila after a crackdown on honest and reliable, I hereby reject the after he conceded defeat. Latest official figures gave The announcement upends But pressure to prosecute protests against his hold on "In the same way that I Barrow 43.29% of the votes in the situation in the west African Jammeh and top figures in his power left more than 50 people results in totality: accepted the results faithfully the presidential election, while nation, where the population administration, who have been dead, EU sources said. Jammeh believing that the Independent Jammeh took 39.64%. The turn- had been hoping for a peaceful accused of widespread human EU foreign ministers Electoral Commission was inde- out was at 59%. democratic transition after Bar- rights violations, is one of the warned in October they Gambia leader claimed pendent and honest and reliable, Jammeh claimed "investiga- row's shock victory this month key challenges facing the new would act if Kabila showed that 'investigations' I hereby reject the results in tions" had revealed that looked set to end Jammeh's 22 government. no sign of stepping down had revealed that totality," he said in a statement numerous voters had not been years in power. Barrow ruled out a "witch when his term ends on numerous voters had broadcast on state television. able to cast their ballots. On December 2, Jammeh hunt" and said that his prede- December 19. not been able to cast "Let me repeat: I will not "This is the most dubious made a magnanimous conces- cessor would be able to "live in One EU diplomatic source their ballots. accept the results based on what election we ever had in the his- sion speech on television and Gambia like any ordinary said that with the deadline has happened," he said, tory of this country," he said. promised -- to general shock citizen". fast approaching, the 28-nation bloc would have little option but to follow through when they met again on Monday since Kabila Thousands homeless showed no sign of budging. "The EU will impose seven new listings" involving travel after Indonesian quake bans and asset freezes," the source said. "The EU would Jakarta province, one of the areas worst regret any compromise which AFP affected by the 2004 tsunami. allows Kabila to stay in office". More than 700 people were Another source said those ens of thousands of people injured in the quake, many seri- targeted were likely to be in have been displaced after ously, according to the country's Kabila's security forces but no Ta devastating earthquake disaster agency. names were given. in Indonesia killed more than Most of the displaced spent The EU wants elections 100 people, an official said yes- the night outdoors in tents near and a new government to terday, leaving communities in their ruined homes as hundreds ensure stability in the DR ruins as aid trickled into the dis- refused to move into shelters Congo, a former Belgian col- aster-stricken province. fearing aftershocks, Nugroho ony impoverished and "We have 45,300 people added. strife-torn but sitting astride evacuating in several places as The country's army has Africa's strategic crossroads. of Saturday (yesterday) morn- established kitchens, shelters Earlier this week, the ing," national disaster agency and a field hospital in the hard- Catholic Church launched spokesman Sutopo Purwo hit town of Meureudu to help the "reconciliation" talks to end Nugroho said, adding that the region's overwhelmed health a political stalemate many number of displaced had almost facilities. A boy carries an aid package leaves a temporary shelter at a mosque following this week's fear could push the DRC back doubled since Friday due to an Indonesian President Joko strong earthquake in Meureudu, Pidie Jaya, yesterday. into civil war. influx of new data. Widodo visited Meureudu Fri- More than 50 people died The shallow 6.5-magnitude day, pledging to rebuild the The archipelago nation Fire", where tectonic plates engulfed several countries in clashes in Kinshasa in Sep- quake earlier this week levelled area's devastated communities experiences frequent seismic collide. around Indian Ocean, killing tember as the opposition hundreds of homes, mosques as he called on Indonesians to and volcanic activity due to its A huge undersea earthquake over 170,000 people in accused Kabila of planning to and businesses across Aceh pray for their countrymen. position on the Pacific "Ring of in 2004 triggered a tsunami that Indonesia. stay in office.

Women assert their rights

Ugandan police officers take part in the campaign march to end violence against women, 'Walk a mile in her shoes', in Kampala.

Mahama calls Indonesian police foil oppn leader to concede defeat plot to attack palace Accra AFP Tuban Argo Yuwono said in a state- Anatolia ment that the trio planned to GHANA'S President John detonate the bomb today. Mahama conceded defeat two olice have arrested three "Their plan is that bomb will days after a hotly contested suspected IS-linked mil- be detonated at the presiden- election, seen as a test for a Pitants for planning tial palace," kompas.com country generally viewed as weekend bomb attacks on quoted him as saying. a beacon of stability in west Indonesia's presidential Authorities believe all three Africa. palace. are members of the Jamaah Mahama called to con- Metrotvnews.com reported Anshar Khilafah Daulah gratulate opposition leader National Police spokesman Boy Nusantara (JAKDN) network led Nana Akufo-Addo, whose Rafli Amar as saying that the by Bahrun Naim, an Indonesian supporters had already gath- two men and a woman were fighting with IS in Syria who ered outside his modest house arrested in a house in West authorities believe master- as media had given him a clear Bekasi, West Java yesterday minded a fatal attack in Jakarta lead after Wednesday's polls. afternoon. in January. "He called to concede and He added that on searching Police are continuing to we are ecstatic," spokesman the building, police found three question all three suspects. Oboshie Sai Cofie of Akufo- high explosive bombs in a bag. Indonesia has been on alert Addo's New Patriotic Party Jakarta Police spokesman against extremist activities over said. Commissioner Raden Prabowo the past year. 10 VIEWS SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2016

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL Crisis in South Korea Brexiting the EU - Why did Britain hrewd and seasoned politicians should bow out when things spin out of control. South Korean President Park Geun-hye committed a terrible Smistake by clinging on when the public anger join in the first place? continued to swell against her over a corruption scandal she is involved in. Park spurned calls for her resignation, thinking that the crisis would blow over or people would realise the truth as she perceives it, or between 1959 and 1973 when it joined Another issue that has caused some Luzita Ball would take things in their stride. But before any of that the EU, a growth rate way out of the fear have been a handful of terrorist inci- could happen, she was impeached in parliament, and reach of Britain today. dents on European soil, and on Westerners voted out by some of her own supporters. The In truth it was more, if anything, the elsewhere, done apparently in the name of impeachment wasn’t surprising. What is surprising is fear of future political isolation, and the Islam, by extremist ISIS or Al Qaeda sup- that Park failed to foresee the situation. She handled desire to possibly be porters- it is claimed, in reaction to the the crisis ineptly by failing to explain her position The European Union began as an idea more influential in wars that Europe is taking part in. properly to the public, and by failing to take her party after the experience of fascist Nazism Europe, and gain wealth The concurrent steady spread of into confidence. At the same time, the crowds on the of the Second World War, after the and progress from doing mainstream Islam in Europe, indicated streets demanding her resignation swelled, attracting formation of the United Nations. It more trade with Europe, by the growing number of mosques and over a million people to Seoul. And tens of thousands of was thought that economic cooper- that may have contrib- halal shops, European conversions to people celebrated her impeachment in Seoul Tation and trade would help to stop the rise of Islam, as well as the increase in visibility yesterday. It was for the seventh straight week that nationalism and fascism, and discourage Euro- of Islamic styles of dress, and even protesters were gathering in the streets. It was a pean countries from making war on each other. In truth it was more, if prayers in the street, might have been thunderous fall for South Korea’s first woman Over time about 28 countries joined the anything, the fear of future seen as no problem if it had not been for president who took power EU, and it has become a ‘single market’ area political isolation, and the these incidents. However, along with in 2013 on a wave of of visa free travel and free trade, as well as a desire to possibly be more emotional hype by media, politicians, popularity. place where employment and residence can and a few activist groups seeking to gen- The crisis was sparked be sought in member countries by all its influential in Europe, and gain eralise blame for hardship and poverty, It’s time for all by revelations two months members’ citizens. It has a currency (which 19 wealth and progress from and insecurity, onto Muslims in general, ago that Park had abused countries use)- the Euro, its own central bank and to stir up fears about the future, this parties to move doing more trade with Europe, her position to help a and its own parliament which makes laws on that may have contributed to has heightened tensions and Islamopho- quickly to end the confidante, Choi Soon-sil, environment, transport, consumer rights and bic incidents against Muslims living in political turmoil in extort money from many other issues, which over-rule the laws the UK joining the EU. European countries. South Korea. companies for her in each individual country. Economic migrants to the UK from foundations. The Korean On June 23rd 2016, a referendum was the poorer European countries, such as media have since then held all over Britain, which is a vote on a par- uted to the UK joining the EU. Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, and been replete with stories of ticular issue by as many people in the UK as The European Union was also seen Hungary, have also been subjected to Choi’s access to the possible. The issue was whether or not to as a step towards a One World Govern- racist abuse and attacks, as they have President’s office and her leave the European Union. More than 30 mil- ment based on regional groups, by been perceived by many Britons to be oversized influence in decision-making. South Korean lion people voted, which is 71.8% of those influential people such as Harold Mac- putting extra pressure on limited jobs, presidents are no strangers to corruption scandals, but eligible to vote, representing only about half millan, a representative of the European accommodation, and especially schools the allegation that their president was being controlled of the population of Britain which is about 65 federalist movement in the British gov- and health services which have actually by an outsider was more than what many people could Million. The result was very close — only 52% ernment. He was supported by a small been cut by the UK Government largely tolerate. voted leave as opposed to 48% voting to group of close advisors including a in order to pay back debts incurred In addition to the corruption scandals, there are remain. In fact only about 18.5 percent of the number of well positioned Americans, through the War on Terror, including other factors which have contributed to Park’s lack of UK people actually voted to leave the EU! and Jean Monnet, a high international European efforts in Syria. popularity. The economy hasn’t done well under her, However the conclusion taken was that the civil servant who also worked with Numerous under publicised EU- with the growth rate falling to 2.6 percent in 2015, the majority of UK citizens wanted to leave. France, America and the Russia, whose funded grants and regeneration projects slowest since 2012. Reports say that her decision to Britain now seems to be on a firm path Action Committee was given financial in deprived areas of the UK, and the many reach an agreement with the US to deploy an advanced towards exiting the European Union (EU), backing by the CIA, through numerous laws protecting the rights of European cit- missile system to counter threats from North Korea despite the fact that quite a number of Brexit bodies including the Council for Foreign izens, interwoven with British Law and was not popular domestically, leading to a spike in supporters started getting cold feet (i.e. wish- Relations, well known for its one world sometimes superseding it, have not been tensions in the Korean Peninsula. Relations with China ing they had voted Remain), but the process government ambitions. able to stop multinational businesses from too are not steady. will not start until March 2017, and it could So, in fact actually the British Govern- leaving behind them a wake of unem- The impeachment requires the final approval from take up to six years to negotiate with the EU, ment brought Britain into the EU without ployment and deprivation when they the Constitutional Court, a process that could take so meanwhile let us ask why so many in Brit- the population having much of a sense of have suddenly pulled out of Britain and months, which means the country faces a lengthy ain wanted to leave the EU, and did not value its own benefits from this arrangement, headed to countries with cheaper labour. period of uncertainty. it enough? despite warnings from the then Lord Even war in Europe has not been South Korea is an important power in the region Perhaps to answer this it would be useful Chancellor, Lord Kilmuir, that member- completely prevented by European and the crisis has dragged on for too long. It’s time for to ask why Britain joined the EU in 1973 (then ship would mean the end of parliamentary trade, as the war between Bosnians, all sides to move quickly to end the political turmoil. called the EEC or the European Economic sovereignty, and being informed by the Croats and Serbs of the 90s demon- Community). In 1975 about 67% of voters Earl of Gosford, one of Macmillan’s foreign strated, driven again by media- this time were in favour of remaining within the EEC. ministers in the House of Lords, that the by the Serbian propaganda channel. The So what were their expectations and hopes? aim of the government’s foreign policy main victims of this war were European Besides generally aiming to prevent fas- was world government. Muslims trying to live peacefully cism and war, one reason given by some Fascism, i.e. extreme nationalism and amongst their non-Muslim neighbours QUOTE OF THE DAY historians for Britain’s particular interest in racism, unfortunately has not been erad- in Europe. joining the EU was that this was a way to pre- icated but is on the rise in many Ironically some of the decisions vent Britain from being politically isolated, countries for various reasons. One of the made by the European Union may have and to maintain influence in the face of the drivers are the austerity measures or cuts contributed to the very thing that the I believe there could shrinking of the British Empire, at a time when made by governments in order to fulfil countries wanted to prevent at the many countries, especially in Africa, were the economic requirements to join the beginning, and this now threatens its be a way forward but struggling for and gaining independence from Euro, which have led to many protests unity. So, it seems that the one world it depends on Britain. Another reason suggested was the especially in Greece and now France. government ambition may be also be at big, magnanimous desire to prevent further economic decline. The desired prosperity from European stake, or be delayed, as Britain’s example choices from Russia ... Britain was actually still one of the strong- trade This has been exacerbated by the may encourage other countries to leave. est nations politically in Europe at the time, refugee crisis, caused largely by bombing Many of the expectations and hopes for and insistence of and had good economic ties with many other campaigns in Syria which the Europeans the European Union have not been real- Russia on the Assad countries. As Prime Minister Charles De have taken part in, during which the EU ised by the people at the grass roots regime. Gaulle pointed out in 1963, Britain had demo- has put pressure on every member coun- level. Trade can only do so much. cratic political institutions, world trade links, try to take in a certain number of the cheap food from the Commonwealth and was thousands of refugees, regardless of dif- The writer is an English Muslim, with a John Kerry a global power. Britain’s annual GDP growth ferences in resource availability and Masters in Urban Regeneration. She can US Secretary of State in real terms had grown from 6% to 7.4% infrastructure capability. be contacted at [email protected] SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2016 OPINION 11 In 2017, watch Merkel pivot to the right

erman Chancellor Angela Mer- So, in the Essen speech, Merkel opted more foreigners have arrived in Germany, kel has been designated the new Leonid Bershidsky for the easiest compromise. “The full face and events in Turkey have brought Turkish leader of the Western world on Bloomberg covering is not appropriate here,” she told domestic politics to German soil. Gthe strength of her values. Now, the conference to enthusiastic applause. “It This is a significant inconvenience to watch her lift that mantle for a deft feint should be forbidden where legally possible. Merkel: It makes it more difficult for her to to the right. This week Merkel’s Chris- It doesn’t belong with us.” form a coalition with any of the leftist parties tian Democratic Union re-elected her as In terms of optics, this was a big bone to — the Social Democrats or the Greens. And its leader by an impressive 89.5 percent. Democrats, the CDU’s coalition partners, throw to the CDU traditionalists. Julia Merkel knows that if the CDU wins a plural- That’s higher than the 88.6 percent Shavkat and especially since last year’s experiment Kloeckner, one of the party’s brightest stars ity, as polls now show likely, it will have to Mirziyoyev received in the Uzbekistan with opening Germany’s doors to refugees. and its deputy chairman, seen as a future govern in coalition again. The party’s poll presidential election last Sunday. Yet Mer- Malte Kaufmann, a local CDU leader in contender for CDU leadership, has been ratings have slipped to 32 to 37 percent com- kel has only done worse once in her career Baden-Wuerttemberg who defected to the campaigning against “burqas” for years. In pared with the 41.5 percent it received in the as CDU leader, in 2004. AfD in September, explained on Facebook: practical terms, however, it makes little 2013 election. Yet the position can always be By its stolid standards, the CDU is “I can no longer share the party line on sense. Women in burqas have hardly ever renegotiated after the election, and for now, undergoing something of an identity crisis. so many subjects, especially family policy, been sighted in Germany, and only between it benefits Merkel more to acquiesce with the Some of its regional politicians have been the euro rescue policy, energy policy and a few hundred and a few thousand women party’s decision than to allow disunity. defecting to the anti-immigrant, anti-Euro- refugee policy. But also on other funda- cover their faces with a niqab — a less strict Merkel is a conservative, not a liberal. pean upstart party, the Alternative for mentally important issues, I hardly see any version of the burqa that doesn’t include a This part of the German political spectrum, Germany (AfD). Careers are easier in the difference between the CDU and the par- veil. Besides, face coverings are already of course, is far to the left of US conserva- newer political force, as former CDU mem- ties on the left of the political spectrum.” banned in many places. Many of the women tives, but it still doesn’t make Merkel a ber Alexander Gauland, now AfD’s vice He cited an example. In the state legisla- who knowingly breach the rules aren’t even leftist politician. She believes in balanced chairman, can attest. AfD is on the rise, ture of Baden-Wurttemberg, the CDU has immigrants but German-born converts to budgets, law and order and the assimilation having shown its strength in a number of formed a coalition with the Greens. The Islam’s more fundamentalist strains. of immigrants rather than multiculturalism. regional elections, and it will almost cer- CDU, originally a Christian party, has never A “burqa ban” is a nice political rattle to It’s not particularly hard for her to run as a tainly get into parliament after next year’s been an active proponent of gay rights, even play with, but CDU members aren’t kids. At conservative candidate in the coming elec- election. But even apart from pragmatic though under Merkel it hasn’t opposed the conference, they voted to campaign tion, just as it’s easy for an equally concerns, some CDU members, traditional- them, either. Compromises of this kind don’t against another compromise Merkel has experienced French politician, Francois Fil- ist German conservatives, have come to go down well with much of the party base. made with her leftist coalition partners — lon, to take a strongly right-wing stance in see Merkel as too left-wing after the com- So even though, within the CDU, Mer- the two-year-old decision to let the children his country’s presidential race. promises she’s made with the Social kel still gets more votes than a Central of immigrants retain dual citizenship rather Many who see Merkel as the new liberal Asian dictator, and an 11-minute ovation than choose a German or a foreign passport icon will be surprised to see her campaign followed her speech at the party confer- when they come of age. The CDU’s conserv- in 2017. They shouldn’t be: Merkel has only Merkel is a conservative, not a liberal. This part of ence in Essen this week, she needs to make ative youth wing, where Kloeckner’s ever leaned left for two reasons — to the German political spectrum, of course, is far to some compromises of a different kind. political career started, pushed for the achieve a compromise and, on matters like the left of US conservatives, but it still doesn’t make Germany, after all, isn’t a presidential repeal of the dual citizenship position, and it refugee and energy policy, out of a deep Merkel a leftist politician. She believes in balanced republic, so the party as a whole must win won by a relatively narrow margin. Now, emotion. In politics, though, Merkel is a the election, not just candidate Merkel. the CDU right wing and some in its Bavarian tough, pragmatic survivor: She’ll do what budgets, law and order and the assimilation of That means the party must present a united sister party, the CSU, want to make it a cam- she can to keep the CDU together and max- immigrants rather than multiculturalism. front, and even a few right-wing loud- paign issue, arguing that the situation is imise its showing. Next year, that will mean mouths can destroy that appearance. different from two years ago: A million something of a return to the party’s roots. The prospect of the US as a ‘banana republic’

D-RING ROAD Hamid Dabashi POST BOX: 3488 Al Jazeera DOHA - QATAR [email protected]

rump’s banana republic”, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE declares the title of a pas- sionate opinion piece on TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 “Tthe pages of The Boston FAX: +974 4455 7758 Globe after a televised presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clin- MANAGING EDITOR ton. “This is banana republic territory,” TEL: 4462 7505 the writer declares after criticising Trump for attacking the sacrosanct law enforce- DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR ment officials and casting doubts on their TEL: 4455 7743 reliability. The metaphor become perhaps the most potent political allegory of this elec- LOCAL NEWS SECTION tion season. America would be Trump’s TEL: 4455 7769 banana republic, was the title of another Supporters of US President-elect Donald Trump hold signs during the USA Thank You Tour in Grand Rapids, Michigan. opinion piece by Fareed Zakaria for The BUSINESS NEWS SECTION Washington Post. “The picture presented TEL: 4462 7535 to the world,” he wrote as he criticised the robbing them of their resources and installing a and Hillary Clinton) or declared millions have voted illegally “vigilante rage” of the Republican con- tyrant over the people lest they revolt against the (Trump). It is now expected that Trump’s business empire SPORT NEWS SECTION vention, “has been of America as a banana abuse. And yet the very same abusers get to use a will be an endless source of conflict of interest under his TEL: 4455 7745 republic.” sarcastic term to describe the result! presidency. If “banana republic” is to be the name of this cor- The European press soon chimed in: In this column I have already asked this question ruption, then the US is the likely contender to become the “Sounding more like the potentate of some when Muslims are used as a metaphor of fanaticism mother of all banana republics for the whole world to see. ONLINE SECTION palm-dotted tropical island than a presi- and stupidity by the left-liberal pundits in the US Is Trumpism a new brand of politics? TEL: 4462 7501 dential candidate,” declared Nick Bryant and Europe. But now I want to ask the same ques- Is Trump the personification of every racist trope this [email protected] of the BBC, “Trump twice declined to say tion about the larger non-European world they call white supremacist culture has created for other political con- during the final televised debate whether “the third world” or “banana republics”. texts and until now thought had completely exorcised out of PUBLIC RELATIONS he would accept the results of the 2016 “Donald Trump is not invested in democracy,” its own system but is now haunted by it? TEL: 4455 7613 election.” declares a famous liberal pundit, Keith Olbermann, Is Trump a classical example of frightful characters like [email protected] “Trump’s Banana Republic Jus- passionately, “Donald Trump is not invested in our Hitler, Mussolini, or Franco much closer to the European her- tice” was the title of yet another piece constitution, Donald Trump is not invested in Amer- itage of what might emerge as American fascism? in October in Newsweek, when criticis- ica, Donald Trump is not invested in preventing Is Trump a resurfacing of white supremacist genealogy ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT ing Trump’s attacks on Clinton: “This is people from being killed on the streets after an elec- much more deeply rooted inside the US colonial conquest of TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 the stuff of banana republics, not mature tion, like this were a third world police state” America and imperial warmongering around the globe? FAX: 4455 7870 democracies.” Why is it that when a comedian such as Sacha Or is Trump perhaps the dawn of a whole new white [email protected] The Los Angeles Times echoed the sen- Baron Cohen wants to make a movie about dicta- supremacist fascism that crosses the Atlantic and reaches timent: “He [Trump] was talking like he torship, The Dictator, he opts to feature a dictator deep into European racism now ringing from UK to Greece CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT would become some dictator of a Banana looking like an Arab potentate? Have there not - with variations on its theme evident in France, Italy, the TEL: 4455 7857 Republic and throw her and his political been enough dictators in Europe: Oliver Cromwell, Netherlands and elsewhere? [email protected] enemies in jail.” Napoleon Bonaparte, Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hit- It is perhaps too early to offer any definite answer to any The sentence was even attributed ler, Francisco Franco, Nicolae Ceausescu, Slobodan one of these questions. But the fact remains that the alarm- to Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Milosevic? ing congregation of racist, white supremacist, xenophobic, SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION Fallon: “That is the comment of a dicta- What and where is banana republic? misogynist, homophobic, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic, mili- TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 tor that you expect to hear in a banana The seismic psychological change evident in taristic billionaire forces inside the White House are bound FAX: 44557819 republic - the idea of jailing your political the US in the aftermath of this election is in part to craft a whole new vintage of a nasty prescription the US [email protected] opponents.” because US liberals are stripped naked of their usually orders for other political cultures, and yet it has now Why a ‘banana republic’? holier-than-thou arrogance of their delusional returned like a bulldog to bite itself. Why is it, if someone from “the third exceptionalism, that they are too smart for “third- In their book “Commonwealth”, political theorists world”, a “banana republic”, or a “palm- world tyranny” to come their way. Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri encourage us to “abandon All thoughts and views dotted tropical island” might be permitted Arguments were made, theories were woven all dreams of political purity and ‘higher values’ that would expressed in these columns to ask, that when the purveyors of the about how we Muslims, Arabs, Africans, Latin allow us to remain outside!” are those of the writers, not mighty and magnificent “Western civilisa- Americans lacked something in our DNA, deep in This admission, they believe, is only a tool towards build- of the newspaper. tion” want to characterise something nasty the marrow of our bones, in our culture that we ing an alternative project, “an ethics of democratic political and loathsome in their own midst they did not merit and deserve democracy, and yet sud- action within and against Empire”, aimed towards “a possible immediately opt for a metaphor, a pejora- denly smack in the middle of American democracy global democracy”. All correspondence tive term such as “banana republic” that a neo-fascist white supremacist has emerged so that That urgent objective will not happen unless and until regarding Views and they have invented for somewhere else? former CIA officers now worry about the US consti- the nasty Eurocentric name-calling of nations has collapsed Opinion pages should be Latin American countries have been tution under a Trump presidency. completely upon itself, North American and Western Euro- mailed to the systematically colonised and abused, first Three of the top four candidates running for peans are liberated from the noxious metaphor of “the West” by Europe and now by the United States, president have either contested the result (Jill Stein and join the fold of humanity at large. [email protected] 12 ASIA / PHILIPPINES SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2016

Abu Sayyaf China holds long-range drills: Taiwan members shot Military exercises Taipei to south and entered the Miyako dead in Sabah Reuters Strait around Japan's southern The defence ministry islands as well as the Bashi Manila said that the Chinese hinese military aircraft Channel south of Taiwan, but did AFP jets flew north to yesterday flew over not enter Taiwan's air defence south and entered waterways near Tai- identification zone, Taiwan's MALAYSIAN security forces the Miyako Strait wan as part of defence ministry said in a have killed a key member of around Japan's long-range exercises, statement. a Philippine Islamist militant CTaiwan said, the first such flights The drills, lasting for about group in a shootout in waters southern islands as well as the Bashi since a telephone call between four hours, involved more than off Sabah in Borneo, the Phil- Taiwan's leader and US Presi- 10 aircraft, including four elec- ippine military said yesterday. Channel of Taiwan, dent-elect Donald Trump irked tronic surveillance planes that The Abu Sayyaf group's but did not enter China. Tsai Ing-wen and Donald Trump flew through the Bashi Channel leader, Abraham Hamid, had Taiwan's air defence China claims self-ruled Tai- between Taiwan and the led the kidnapping of several identification zone. wan as its own and has never between a US president-elect Taiwan for what it called a Philippines. foreigners from a tourist renounced the use of force to and a Taiwan leader since Pres- "petty" move. China, which has in recent resort in the volatile southern The drills, lasting for take back what it deems a way- ident Jimmy Carter switched But there was no indication years become more assertive in part of Philippines last year, about four hours, ward province. diplomatic recognition to China the exercise by its military air- the western Pacific and South two of whom were later involved more than Trump's call with Taiwan from Taiwan in 1979. craft yesterday was a response China Sea, has carried out sim- beheaded. 10 aircraft. President Tsai Ing-wen on China lodged a diplomatic to the telephone call. ilar exercises in the area since "The death of Hamid is a December 2 was the first protest over the call and blamed The Chinese jets flew north September. big blow to the (Abu Sayyaf Group) as it neutralised one of the notorious bandits and will degrade their capability for spotting and kidnapping South Koreans celebrate Human rights protest victims in the future," said regional military spokesman Major Filemon Tan Park's impeachment yesterday. "Two other militants were Seoul process that could take months. killed alongside Hamid in the AFP And many were adamant shootout with Malaysian that the president should resign police in Lahad Datu in east- ens of thousands cele- immediately and face criminal ern Sabah," he added. brated the impeachment prosecution. Tan said Hamid had also Tof South Korean President "We are still hungry" the been involved in the kidnap- Park Geun-hye at a rally in crowd in Seoul's Gwanghwa- ping of four Indonesian Seoul yesterday, but amid the mun chanted. crewmen in April. euphoria there was lingering Organisers put the turnout "While Hamid and two anger, and anxiety at the pros- at around 600,000 -- smaller militants were killed, Sabah pect of an extended period of than previous weeks when the security forces have arrested political uncertainty. crowds passed the million two others," Tan added. For the seventh straight mark. Sabah police chief Abdul week, protesters gathered en Until the court rules, Park's Rashid Harun said the inci- masse in the streets of the cap- authority is only suspended and dent was the Malaysian ital, but the mood was generally she retains the title of president authorities' first direct con- festive, after lawmakers voted and the immunity from prose- frontation with suspected overwhelmingly to impeach the cution that goes with it. kidnappers in the waters off deeply unpopular Park over a And she still has her sup- eastern Sabah. corruption scandal. porters, many of them elderly On his blog, Malaysian Although the move stripped voters who remain steadfast Prime Minister Najib Razak Park of her substantial execu- admirers of her father, the late praised his security forces and Activists hold placards in front of a mock corpse as they protest against drug-related tive powers, activists said they military dictator Park Chung- said Kuala Lumpur and Manila extrajudicial killings, during International Human Rights Day, in Manila, yesterday. intended to keep up the pres- Hee -- credited as the architect would cooperate to fight the sure, with the impeachment still of the South's economic trans- recurring kidnappings. requiring final approval from formation but vilified as an the Constitutional Court -- a authoritarian rights abuser. Australia's theme park reopens after accident

Sydney eastern state of Queensland attractions was ongoing. and Investment Steven Ciobo Reuters was a poignant moment. "Every single attraction welcomed the park's "Today, the smiles of open today has passed an reopening. ustralian theme park Dreamworld staff sit atop heavy unprecedented multi-level "I encourage Australians to Dreamworld reopened hearts," Davidson said. safety review, encompassing continue to visit the Gold Coast Ayesterday having been "We are pleased to be reo- Workplace Health and Safety and the city's theme parks," he closed since the end of October pening our doors but our hearts Queensland's audit, Dream- said. following the deaths of four and thoughts remain firmly world's internal engineering "Gold Coast theme parks people on its now-shuttered with the families who lost loved review, (infrastructure consul- are an enduring and essential Thunder River Rapids ride. ones in the tragic accident on tancy) Pitt & Sherry's part of Queensland's $17bn Craig Davidson, chief exec- the 25th of October." independent review and the tourism industry." utive of theme parks at Davidson said yesterday external peer-review by UK- Ardent Leisure previously Dreamworld owner Ardent Lei- that safety had always been the based theme park safety said it would donate $25 for People set off fireworks on a road leading to the Presidential sure Group, said reopening the park's priority and that a rigor- specialists LTC," he said. every ticket sold over the week- Blue House during a protest calling for South Korean park on the Gold Coast in the ous safety review of all Minister for Trade, Tourism end to the Australian Red Cross. President Park Geun-hye to step down, in Seoul, yesterday. Hundreds stage pro-democracy protest in HK Writers demand China stop human rights crackdown Hong Kong pro-democracy legislators to AFP court on Thursday in a bid to Beijing these opinions and voices," said unseat them after an interven- AFP the letter, organised by the Lon- round a thousand protest- tion from Beijing. don-based PEN International ers rallied in Hong Kong "The direct message we hope ore than 100 authors writers association, which Ayesterday against a crack- to send to Beijing is we will not from around the world advocates for free speech. down on pro-democracy forgive and we will fight for Msigned a letter to Chi- "We therefore urge the Chi- lawmakers and an electoral sys- democracy and freedom," said nese President Xi Jinping nese authorities to release the tem skewed towards Beijing Joshua Wong, who led mass pro- yesterday -- Human Rights Day writers, journalists, and activ- ahead of elections for a new city democracy rallies in 2014. -- to urge an immediate end to ists who are languishing in jail leader. "We will not allow Beijing to China's "worsening crackdown" or kept under house arrest for It comes a day after unpop- disqualify one more legislator, on rights, a global writers group the crime of speaking freely and ular chief executive Leung because they are democratically said. expressing their opinions," it Chun-Ying said he would not run elected," Wong, 20, said. Since he came to power in stated. for office again in the March The city's youngest law- 2012, Xi has overseen a crack- Signed by writers including vote. maker Nathan Law, 23, who is down on dissent, with hundreds Salman Rushdie, Margaret While jubilant at his one of the four the government of lawyers, activists and aca- Atwood and Nobel laureate JM announcement, Leung's critics are seeking to unseat, addressed demics detained and dozens Coetzee, the letter mentioned fear another hardline Beijing- the crowd saying: "We need to jailed. imprisoned Nobel Peace Lau- backed leader will take his place. use our legs, our bodies, to tell Pro-democracy supporters take part in a rally against a His ruling Communist party reate Liu Xiaobo, currently There are increasing fears the regime they can't oppress us. government decision to commence separate legal proceedings tolerates no opposition to its serving an 11-year sentence for that China is tightening its grip "They might be taking away against four legislators, yesterday. rule. "subversion", and his wife Liu on the semi-autonomous city, my seat, but they are (also) Newspapers, websites, and Xia, who remains under house particularly after two pro-inde- imprisoning the people's minds." towards the pro-establishment massive 2014 rallies, which other broadcast and print arrest. pendence lawmakers advocating Protest leaders also slammed camp. failed to win any concessions on media are strictly controlled. It also referenced, among a complete split from Beijing the electoral system in which the In 2014, Beijing said Hong reform. An army of censors patrols others, scholar Ilham Tohti, were barred from taking up their chief executive is chosen by a Kong residents could elect their Veteran pro-democracy social media and many West- who is serving a life sentence seats. committee of 1,200 representa- own leader but that candidates lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung, ern news websites are blocked. for "separatism" for his criti- The Hong Kong government tives from various special would be vetted. said that the leadership system "China and the rest of the cism of Beijing's policies is also taking four other interest groups weighted That decision sparked the was a "tragedy". world can only be enriched by towards the Uighur minority. SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2016 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN 13

Braving the chill NEWS BYTES US Congress KP signs immunisation approves aid deal with UN THEKHYBER- PAKHTUNKHWA health department has signed a memorandum of under- for Pakistan standing with the United Nations High Commission Islamabad for Refugees (UNHCR) Internews Bilateral support under which the donor It includes $1.1bn for agency would help the oth chambers of the reimbursing the department in immu- United States Con- nations supporting nising Afghan refugees’ gress have finally children ‘wherever they US military passed the 2017 are found’. National Defence operations in Oscar Mundia, head BAuthorisation Act, which Afghanistan. The of the UNHCR’s sub-office includes $1.1bn for reimbursing largest chunk from in the provincial capital, the nations supporting US mili- this amount, $900m, said that the agency val- An Afghan man rides a bicycle during a snowfall in Mazar-i-Sharif, yesterday. tary operations in Afghanistan. is available for ued its collaboration with The largest chunk from this reimbursement to the K-P health depart- amount, $900m, is available for Pakistan. ment “as together they reimbursement to Pakistan but strive to include health- almost half of it, $400m, has The 2017 National care services for all, been put out of its reach. To get Defence including Afghan refu- those $400m, Pakistan will have Authorisation Act 30,000-year-old rock art uncovered gee children across the to get a ‘good conduct’ certificate imposes four province”. from the US defence secretary. conditions on Islamabad British era. In the next phase, Thursday. The MoU reads: “The The measures also include a Pakistan to qualify to Internews according to the political admin- The Khyber Agency UNHCR under its Refu- “sense of Congress that Dr Shakil receive assistance istration, the study will be remained the part of ancient gees Affected and Hosting Afridi is an international hero from the restricted rchaeologists and politi- extended to other tehsils of Tir- Buddhist Gandhariancivilisa- Areas programme con- and that the government of Paki- cal administration in rah and Barra. tion, which flourished in areas tributed towards the amount. stan should release him APakistan claimed to have Although the survey has that fall in Pakistan and Afghan- provincial health sector immediately from prison”. uncovered multiple pre-history highlighted a number of sites, istan from the mid-1st through various projects The act imposes 4 conditions to demonstrate its commitment sites, including 30,000-year-old the political administration and millennium BCE to the begin- and supported upgrading to qualify to receive assistance to preventing the group from rock art in Tehsil Jamrud of Khy- Fata secretariat have no archae- ning of the 2nd millennium CE. health facilities across the from the restricted amount: The using its territory. The secretary ber Agency. The archaeological ologists, funds or any specialised “We have no such staff or province.” US defence secretary needs to needs to certify that Pakistan survey as a pilot project was ini- department to work for its pres- department to work for preser- EPI Deputy Director certify to the Congress that Paki- actively coordinates with tiated by the agency’s political ervation, protect it from vation of archaeological wealth Hameedullah Afridi said stan continues to conduct Afghanistan to restrict the move- administration, along with tech- vandalism and utilise it to attract of the agency,” said political Rs6.7bn will be spent on military operations that are sig- ment of militants. And the final nical support from tourists. “These rock carvings agent Khyber Agency Khalid the vaccination drive, nificantly disrupting the safe certification needs to say that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s (K-P) were etched around 30,000 Mehmood. Documentation of adding “A surveillance haven and freedom of move- Pakistan has shown progress in Directorate of Archaeology. years ago,” Abdul Samad, Direc- such sites is a major success for system will be estab- ment of the Haqqani network in arresting and prosecuting The survey has documented tor K-P archaeology and political administration as such lished at the district level, Pakistan. He also needs to cer- Haqqani network’s senior lead- 110 archaeological sites of pre- Museums, who has conducted steps were never taken in the besides EPI centres being tify that Pakistan has taken steps ers and mid-level operatives. history, Buddhist, Islamic and the survey, told media on past, he added. set up in all districts in the province”.

Basic need Army promotes MoU signed with Vietnam seven major generals in auditing

Islamabad commandant of the Pakistan PAKISTAN and Vietnam Internews Military Academy Kakul. have signed a Memoran- He is from the Sindh Regi- dum of Understanding fter it became clear that ment and has commanded a pertaining to cooperation four officers superseded division in South Waziristan. He in public sector auditing. Aduring the appointment worked as a brigadier in the The MoU was signed of Chief of the Army Staff last Military Operations Directorate. by Auditor General of month had decided to step From 2001 to 2002, he Pakistan Rana Assad down, the army kicked off a remained a commanding Amin, and Auditor Gen- major reshuffle of the top brass, officer on the Line of Control eral of the State Audit promoting seven major gener- (LoC). Office of Vietnam Dr Ho als to the rank of lieutenant Meanwhile, Lt Gen Sar- DucPhoc, during the side- general to fill vacant slots. frazSattar, who was promoted lines of the International The general officers pro- in September, has been posted Congress of Supreme moted yesterday include Lt Gen as Multan corps commander in Audit Institutions. Nadeem Raza, Lt Gen Huma- place of Lt Gen Ishfaq Nadeem The heads of the two Internally displaced Afghan refugees collect water from a hand pump in Herat, yesterday. yun Aziz, Lt Gen Naeem Ashraf, Ahmed. Lt Gen Ishfaq was Supreme Audit Institu- Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal, Lt believed to be a front runner for tions agreed to benefit Gen Sher Afgun, Lt Gen Qazi- the appointment of Chief of the from each other’s expe- Ikram and Lt Gen Bilal Akbar. Army Staff (COAS) but was rience through mutual Lt Gen Raza was posted as superseded by Gen Qamar study visits, coopera- commander of the Rawalpindi- Bajwa. tive audits, peer reviews Overseas remittances up by 3.27% based 10 Corps in place of Lt Gen Ishfaq and Bahawalpur and capacity building Gen Zafar Iqbal, who will take Corps Commander Lt Gen Javed programmes. AGP Rana Karachi by the State Bank of Pakistan year. After a shocking fall of over over as Director General at the Iqbal Ramday belatedly decided Assad Amin said that the Internews (SBP) yesterday. 20 per cent in the month of July Joint Staff Headquarters. The to quit. Among the other offic- signing of the formal MoU However, total remittances 2016, the flow of remittances Joint Staff Headquarters posi- ers who were promoted, Lt Gen will further enhance the verseas Pakistanis remit- received by Pakistan during the into the country has remained tion had fallen vacant due to the Humayun Aziz is a gunner. He existing relations with the ted $1,616m in November first five months (Jul-Nov 2016) relatively stable. retirement of Lt Gen Najib on has commanded a division in State Audit Office of Viet- O2016, up a meagre 3.27 amounted to $7,874m, down Moreover, the months of being superseded during the the Khyber Agency and was nam and will open new percent compared with the 2.45 percent compared with October and November 2016 appointment of the army chief. posted as DG Welfare and areas of cooperation same month of the previous $8,072m received during the have shown gradual increase in Before his promotion, Lt Rehabilitation (DG W and R) at between the two SAIs. year, according to data released same period of the preceding remittances. Gen Raza was posted as the AG Branch. Afghan war shows no sign of ending in its sixteenth year

KABUL offered new ideas for breaking Barack Obama was a longtime partners perform two tasks: Afghanistan attain enough sta- hunting Islamic State fighters; AP the battlefield stalemate. They critic of the Iraq war, he always Operation Resolute Support is bility to remain a long-term these operations have killed the hardly mentioned the country, cast the Afghanistan fight as to train and advise Afghan security partner. top 12 IS leaders in Afghanistan, fghanistan has fallen so let alone a strategy. vital. Shortly after taking office forces fighting the Taliban. The US performs its coun- Nicholson said. He said that of far from Americans' con- And yet, the war President in 2009, Obama looked to fix Operation Freedom's Sentinel terterror work in Afghanistan the 98 militant groups desig- Asciousness that some George W Bush began as Amer- what he saw as US failures in is to hunt down and kill Al in two ways. First, it goes after nated by the US as terrorist may have forgotten it's called ica's response to 9/11 grinds on Afghanistan and Pakistan. He Qaeda militants, as well as those Al Qaeda and Islamic State organisations, 20 are in Afghan- the forgotten war. as nearly 10,000 US troops train tripled troop levels in Afghani- affiliated with the Islamic State operatives as a US-only mission. istan, the world's highest It also is America's longest and advise the Afghan army and stan, but the surge did not force and other groups using the Gen. John Nicholson, the top US concentration. That alone says war. Now in its 16th year and police, hopeful that at some the Taliban to the negotiating country as a hideout and poten- commander in the country, said much about the inconclusive — showing little sign of ending, it point the Afghans can stand on table. Pakistan remains a sanc- tial launching pad for attacks. last week that US special oper- some would say failed will soon be the responsibility their own against the Taliban — tuary for the Taliban. "The interests we are pur- ations forces have conducted — outcome of Obama adminis- of Donald Trump, two presi- or better, that peace talks will In December 2014, the US suing here are clear and 350 such missions in 2016, tration's efforts. dents removed from the end the insurgency. ended its combat role in enduring," Defence Secretary about one per day on average, Nicholson said on Friday the October 2001 invasion. A look at the war Trump is Afghanistan, but there will be Ash Carter said during a visit killing or capturing nearly 50 remnants of Al Qaeda, the group During the presidential inheriting, what US troops are at least 8,400 troops there when Friday. He cited the goals of leaders and other members of whose 9/11 attacks were the rea- campaign, neither Trump nor doing and why the outlook is so Trump takes office. American preventing another 9/11-type Al Qaeda. Secondly, US forces son the US invaded, still intend Democrat Hillary Clinton clouded: While President troops and their coalition attack on America and helping join Afghan special forces in to attack America. 14 INDIA SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2016 Sushma Former IAF chief Tyagi sent to CBI custody undergoes New Delhi Copter deal probe It told the court that the as they were not fit to reach IANS words "at least twin engine" high-altitude areas, and the kidney The changed were inserted in the amendment Defence Ministry in 2002 issued he changed specifica- specification of proposal in 2005 for procuring global tenders for procuring new transplant tion of VVIP VVIP helicopters, VVIP helicopters to bring Agus- VVIP helicopters in which 11 New Delhi helicopters, especially especially the taWestland into the eligibility companies participated includ- the reduced service criteria, adding that the changes ing AgustaWestland. IANS ceiling were made reduced service were made deliberately as Agus- However, AgustaWestland Tunder the advice of the Prime ceiling were made taWestland helicopters had three could not qualify for the short- xternal Minister's Office, former IAF under the advice of engines and a service ceiling of listed companies as it could not Affairs chief S P Tyagi (pictured) yes- the Prime Minister 4,500 metres. meet the eligibility criteria. EMinis- terday told a court, which sent Office, former IAF Claiming innocence in the "Therefore a conspiracy was ter Sushma him to the custody of the CBI till chief S P Tyagi case, the former IAF chief's hatched by the accused person Swaraj (pic- December 14 in the Rs3,767- told a court. defence counsel, Hariharan to help AgustaWestland win the tured) crore AgustaWestland helicopter apprised the court that it was a chopper contract by making yesterday deal case. The CBI sought 10 collective decision to procure change in the operational successfully "Then PMO advised to keep days custody to VVIP helicopters. Denying the requirements," contended the underwent the minimum mandatory unearth the bribery and the accused. charges, he opposed the request CBI, saying Italian nationals and a scheduled requirement of the service ceil- The agency told the court of custodial interrogation, say- middlemen Carlo Gerosa and kidney charges, saying a ing of the helicopters to 4,500 that crucial information was col- ing that the probe agency had not Guido Haschke were in constant transplant at the All India metres (from the earlier 6,000 huge amount was lected from three countries given any specific and vital point touch with Tyagi's cousin to Institute of Medical Sciences metres)," Tyagi's defence coun- routed to India — Italy, Switzerland and Mauri- for seeking remand. influence the bidding, and also (AIIMS) here and will need at sel N Hariharan told the court through various tius — via letters rogatory and Countering the CBI allega- accessed crucial information. least a week to properly while opposing the Central companies. the accused are required to be tions, Tyagi said that, as IAF chief The middlemen told Sanjeev recover, hospital's Director M Bureau of Investigation's plea confronted with it to unearth the 2004-2007, he had nothing to Tyagi that they had a good con- C Misra said yesterday. seeking custodial interrogration larger conspiracy in the deal. do with the deal and the deci- tact with Giuseppe Orsi and During the surgery, of the accused. was routed to India through Telling the court that regu- sion was taken collectively in in Bruno Spagnolini, then CEOs of Swaraj was transplanted a However putting aside the various companies. lar meetings were taking place consultation with then Defence the Italy-based Finmeccanica kidney of an unrelated donor submissions, Metropolitan Mag- "Considering the serious between senior officials of Agus- Ministry, the Special Protection and Britain-based AgustaWest- which was found almost a istrate Sujit Saurabh allowed the nature of the allegation and taWestland and S P Tyagi with Group and the PMO. land, which is a subsidiary of the week after her daughter was CBI to quiz Tyagi, his cousin San- gravity of the matter, I am of the help of Sanjeev Tyagi, the CBI The decision came during former, and could fix the meet- turned down as a potential jeev Tyagi alias Julie Tyagi and the considered opinion that has alleged that a conspiracy was the tenure of Manmohan Singh ing with them, CBI disclosed. All donor by the doctors as she Delhi-based lawyer Gautam police custody of the accused hatched to reduce the service but was axed in January 2013 the accused, companies too was diabetic and suffer- Khaitan till December 14 even is required for fair investiga- ceiling of the helicopters after when the corruption allegations included, were booked for crim- ing from obesity. as the agency sought 10 days tion," said the magistrate after which AgustaWestland became surfaced. The CBI told court that inal conspiracy, cheating and "The surgery was suc- custody to unearth the bribery a two-hour-long argument eligible to supply a dozen heli- in 1999, the government decided under the Prevention of Corrup- cessful and both, the donor charges, saying a huge amount between counsel of the CBI copters for VVIP flying duties. to phase out the old helicopters tion Act. and the recipient, have recov- ered from the general anaesthesia now. Both of them have been shifted to ICU to be monitored as part of the Jessop owner Pawan Mallya in the eye of the storm again post-operative procedure," Misra said. Misra said the procedure Ruia arrested in Delhi; began at 9am and lasted till 2.30pm. The surgery of both, the donor and the recipient, firm questions move went on for 90 minutes each. A dedicated team of 50 medical staff was required Kolkata Rs50 crore missing from the for the entire procedure. IANS Jessop factory premises. Several senior doctors were Police have accused Jessop involved such as M Minz, V olkata-headquartered owners of flouting the Calcutta K Bansal and Preet Mohinder Ruia Group Chairman High Court order to repair fac- Singh among others under Kand country's oldest tory walls, clean bushes and the leadership of Director M engineering firm, Jessop and make adequate lighting C Misra. Co's owner Pawan Ruia was arrangements to secure the fac- The three-hour surgery arrested from his New Delhi tory premises. was performed at the Cardio residence yesterday by the There were also repeated Thoracic and Neuro Sciences West Bengal CrID personnel in and frequent incidents of fire Centre of the hospital. connection with a complaint of in the factory premises and the The 64-year-old, who has theft filed by the Railways. probe was handed over to the been in and out of AIIMS for Ruia has been charged CID in October. The CID had the last few months, was under various sections of the summoned Ruia on four occa- admitted to the hospital on Indian Penal Code pertaining sions between October 26 and November 7. to cheating, dishonestly induc- November 5, but he failed to Swaraj on November 16 ing delivery of property and turn up even once. said in a tweet that she was criminal breach of trust with However, reacting to Ruia's admitted to AIIMS because of regard to missing railway prop- arrest, the business group ques- a kidney failure. According to The super yacht Indian Empress, owned by fugitive Indian businessman Vijay Mallya, is erty in the Jessop factory tioned how he could be dragged Misra, Swaraj will take at least premises in suburban Dum into the case. "Pawan K Ruia seen berthed beneath Fort St Angelo in Valletta's Grand Harbour, Malta. Mallya said on 7-10 days to get discharged. Dum, a CID officer said. does not hold any position in Friday that his Twitter account had been penetrated by a hacking group called Legion, "On behalf of the AIIMS The business group, which Jessop & Co Ltd. He is neither a which posted links to what it alleged were details of Mallya's bank accounts, offshore family we wish Sushma also owns ailing tyre makers Director, nor a Shareholder of investments and luxury cars. Swaraj ji a very speedy recov- Dunlop India, however, ques- the Company. He is not even an ery," said Misra. tioned Ruia's arrest saying he did occupier of any of the Jessop not hold any position in Jessop. premises. ace He is being brought to Kolkata ""We fail to understand how on transit remand after a team he can be dragged into the case. of officials picked him up from Anyways, we will contest all the Srinagar records Group of AIADMK leaders urge his residence at Hazrat Nizamud- charges brought against him in din in Delhi during the day. the proper legal forum," said season's coldest The Deputy Director, Rail- the Group's spokesman. Sasikala to take charge way, Kolkata, had filed the In February, ahead of the complaint at the Dum Dum state assembly polls, the West night at minus 4.5 Chennai Secretary, there will not be any contest or police station after a joint Bengal government had passed IANS show down. inspection by a team of railway a bill to take over both Dunlop SRINAGAR yesterday recorded the season's "The matter would be amicable settled and CID personnel on Novem- India and the 228-year old Jes- coldest night so far as the minimum tem- ours after Tamil Nadu's ruling and there will not be any contest," he added. ber 4 purportedly found sop, a maker of wagons, EMU perature dropped to minus 4.5 degrees AIADMK said there is no rift or fight When Jayalalithaa was alive, she held both equipment and rakes valued at rakes and cranes. Celsius. Temperatures continued to fall Hwithin the party for the powerful the posts of Chief Minister and party General across the valley due to clear night sky. post of General Secretary, a group of party Secretary. But after her death there is a pos- Foggy weather disrupted air traffic to and officials requested late leader Jayalalith- sibility of two power centres emerging and from Srinagar for the third consecutive day. aa's confidante V K Sasikala to take charge in the long run, the person who controls the "At minus 4.5 degrees Celsius, Srinagar city of the party. "We had requested Sasikala party will be the most powerful. AIADMK Two Bodo militants dead recorded this season's coldest night so far," an to take charge of the party. Party leaders party men said Chief Minister O Panneersel- official from the Met department said here. like E Madhusudhanan, party Presidium vam will have the support of the grass root TWO cadres of the anti-talk faction of National Democratic Front "The minimum temperature was Chairman, Valarmathi, K ASengottaiyan, cadres whereas party functionaries at the dis- of Bodoland (NDFB) were killed during an operation in Assam's recorded at minus 3 degree Celsius in Pahal- Saidai Duraisamy, and I met Sasikala and trict level might support Sasikala. Kokrajhar district early yesterday. a defence spokesman said. gam and minus 1 degree Celsius in Gulmarg. made the request," party spokesperson C Supporters of Sasikala point out that she Lt Col Suneet Newton said an AK-56 rifle, a pistol, several "Leh was the coldest town in Jammu and R Saraswathi said. was involved in the party affairs assisting Jay- rounds of ammunition and large quantity of rations and medi- Kashmir today (Saturday) as the minimum They met Sasikala at the Poes Garden alalithaa - and had been with her during the cines were also recovered from near the slain cadres. "Based on temperature dropped to minus 11.9 degrees residence of the late chief minister and gen- latter's tough times. According to AIADMK tip off, a joint team of Assam Police and Army launched an oper- Celsius. "Kargil town recorded minus 8.2 eral secretary J Jayalalithaa. This is the first officials, a good number of MLAs are loyal to ation in a jungle area of the district on Friday night. During degrees Celsius," the official said. time since the death of Jayalalithaa, party Sasikala as she had a say in the selection of operation the security forces noticed movement of suspected per- According to the official, light snow in the officials have openly gone and requested candidates in the elections and also in sons. On being challenged, they opened indiscriminate fire on the higher reaches and rains in the plains likely Sasikala to take charge. appointing others in party posts. security force.A The ensuing gun battle led to killing of two mili- during the next 24 hours can bring in some "Senior functionaries of AIADMK urge In the morning AIADMK spokesperson tants," he said. respite from the heavy fog. The minimum Thirumathi Sasikala to lead the party on C.Ponnaiyan told reporters the party would Newton said that the two slain cadres were moving with food temperature in Jammu city was 11.6 degrees the path shown by Puratchi Thalaivi soon elect a person whom the souls of party and medicines to be delivered to top wanted NDFB commander Celsius yesterday while in the Mata Vaishno Amma," read a tweet in the AIADMK's founder M G Ramachandran (MGR) or the B. Bidai, who is currently hiding in jungles. "One of the slain mil- Devi Shrine base camp town of Katra it was account. According to party officials, late Jayalalithaa would like to lead the itant is identified to be a Myanmar trained cadre of NDFB faction 10.7 degrees Celsius. Batote town in the Sasikala did not comment on the requests. AIADMK. "With over 1.5 crore members, while the other is a locally trained cadre," he said adding that the Jammu region recorded 6.5 degrees Celsius, Meanwhile a senior party official said that AIADMK is like a banyan tree. The party is two slain cadres were also responsible for providing tip offs and Bannihal 1.5 and Bhaderwah 3.5 degrees Cel- though there can be others who may nur- united and cohesive. There is no infighting warning to Bidai and his accomplices. sius as the lowest night temperatures. ture the ambition of becoming the General in the party for any post," Ponnaiyan said. SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2016 INDIA 15 `300m & 32kg gold seized from TN and Karnataka

Bengaluru/Chennai that black money was being con- spiked 500 notes and `10m in Reddy was also a Board middlemen, were also arrested IANS Big catch verted into white through 100 and 50 notes. The 7kg bul- Member of the Tirumala Tirupati and sent to judicial remand. The The currency and laundering and hoarding. lion in gold biscuits is valued at Devasthanam. The Andhra CBI registered three cases and axmen have seized gold were found "When teams of sleuths `20m. Pradesh government removed arrested four accused, including ` 57m in new 2,000 stashed in a secret searched 15 places in the two dis- In Tamil Nadu, the Income him from the post following the Sudheer Babu. ` ` notes, 9m in old chamber of a tricts, (the) hawala operator was Tax department said 240m was raids and the seizure. Sudheer Babu allegedly denomination and bathroom in the found converting old notes and recovered on the third day of Meanwhile, the CBI recovered handed over new currency notes 32kg of gold and jew- hoarding bullion using demone- raids on three businessmen — J `7m in new currency near of `2,000 denomination and val- house of hawala Tellery from a secret locker in a tised `500 and `1,000 notes," the Shekhar Reddy, Srinivasalu and Hyderabad during raids on rela- ued `29.5m to middlemen for a operator at bathroom in a Karnataka town, official said. Prem. "We have seized cash val- tives of a postal official who was commission. He had taken the officials said yesterday, hours Challakere in Incriminating documents ued at `4 crore in Vellore," an IT earlier arrested for allegedly new currency notes from the after `240m, also in new notes, Chitradurga district related to illegal activities were official said and added the seized being involved in fraudulent money sent to the postal depart- were recovered from a govern- of Karnataka during also recovered during the raids cash will be deposited with the exchange of new currency notes, ment for exchange of ment contractor's car in Tamil search operations, an and sent for analysing and inves- Reserve Bank of India. police said. The cash, all in new demonetised notes of `500 and Nadu. official said. tigating their content for The Central Board of Direct notes of `2,000, was seized dur- 1,000. An official in Bengaluru said evidence. Searches continued till Taxes (CBDT) said the IT depart- ing raids in Ibrahimpatnam in The CBI has also booked the recovery was made from a late yesterday. ment had seized `960m cash in Ranga Reddy district. The raids cases against two assistant in the hawala operator in a small town district during search operations," This is second major haul of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes, and came a day after a special court office of senior superintendent of in central Karnataka. It included said the official. With about currency and gold this month in `96.3m in new 2,000 currency in Hyderabad sent K Sudheer post office and officials of three 28kg of bullion in gold biscuits, 50,000 population, Challakere is Karnataka. On December 1, tax along with gold weighing 127kg Babu, senior superintendent of a post offices in Hyderabad for 4kg of gold and jewellery and over 200km from Bengaluru. sleuths seized `60m in cash and worth approximately `362.9m. post office in Hyderabad to judi- committing irregularities in crim- `9m in 100 and 20 rupee notes The tax department's inves- 7kg gold from the residences of The big fish is said to be Reddy, cial custody till December 23. inal conspiracy with Sudheer "They were found stashed in tigation wing searched premises two state government engineers from whose car the money was Sudheer Babu had surren- Babu. The investigating agency a secret chamber of a bathroom of casino operators and bullion in Bengaluru. seized yesterday. He is a contrac- dered before the CBI. had earlier recovered `1.7m in in the house of (the) hawala oper- traders in Hubballi and Chitra- Of the `60m cash haul, `47m tor and has executed works for Two others, Nitin and Nar- new currency notes of `2,000 ator at Challakere in Chitradurga durga districts following a tip-off were in `2,000, `30 lakh in now the Tamil Nadu government. asimha Reddy, who acted as denomination. Queues for larger No respite from queues outside good of country: PM ATMs in Delhi

Deesa, Gujarat in the Parliament over demon- New Delhi IANS etisation and said the IANS Opposition had brought the sit- rime Minister Narendra uation to such a pass that ON the first day of the long Modi yesterday said peo- President Pranab Mukherjee three-day weekend holiday Pple queuing up at banks virtually pleaded them to let the for banks, hundreds of peo- and ATMs after demonetisation houses function. ple were present in long were doing so for larger good "Though the government queues outside ATMs which of the country in keeping with has agreed the Opposition is not were dispensing cash yester- its tradition of selflessness. letting me speak in the Parlia- day, while most of the "In times of scarcity, the old ment over the issue. So I have machines remained cash less. people in our country leave to adopt this route (of address- There was no respite in something for the young and ing public gatherings)," he said. sight for cash-strapped people near and dear ones even if they "No opposition party what- yesterday as queues outside have to undergo difficulties. soever has asked me even once ATMs for money withdrawal This is our culture of selfless- to roll back decision of demon- continued across the city with ness," Modi said while etisation. They have a problem rising anger and pain. addressing a large gathering only with the way it has been Witnesses who went here in North Gujarat. implemented." around the city found most of He was here to inaugurate "Criticise me as much as the ATM machines displaying the Banaskantha District Coop- you want, in whatever ways the messages of "no cash" or erative Dairy's `350 crore you want, but prepare people shutters of kiosks housing cheese and whey powder plant for electronic banking, teach them down. besides a whey facility. The them how to use it. It is the need Out of the 13 ATMs in People queue to try to withdraw money from an ATM in Imphal, Manipur. Prime Minister also launched of the hour," Modi said. Vikas Marg area of east Delhi, A-2 Kankrej breed cow conser- Later, in a surprise detour only one ATM of Vijaya Bank vation project. from his scheduled programme, was found operating near He acknowledged the hard- the Prime Minister went to meet Cashless foreigner allowed to eat Preet Vihar metro station. ship people were facing after his mother Hiraba at her resi- Mahesh Singh Dhillon, a res- the government scrapped old dence in Raisan on the outskirts ident of Gagan Vihar, said: "I `500 and 1,000 notes but of Gandhinagar. am standing here in the line pointed out they were willing He spent nearly 25 minutes without paying at Kerala joint for almost one hour. And still to do so in larger fight against with his mother, who lives with I am not sure if I would be black money and terrorism. his brother at Raisan near Gan- Munnar staff, but let off when he said he swiping machine, I told them they able to get some cash." Assuring the people that the dhinagar, before reaching BJP IANS has money but there was no way can have food and pay later." Expressing his anger, situation would begin to nor- state headquarters, Sri he could withdraw it as the However, the generosity Dhillon said: "I have a family malise after 50 days and Kamalam, which is close by. all it a demonetisation ATM's did not have cash." came with a cost. of six, and I am left with `300, eventually be good for them, This was Modi's first visit to pain eased by a fine exam- Kunju said it was not a one- "Their total bill was `1,600. so if I don't get cash today, Modi said: "Everyone would Sri Kamalam after taking over Cple of hospitality in Kerala. off incident of inconvenience A few days later the women then I would have to borrow start noticing and experiencing as Prime Minister. He met par- A 40-year-old foreigner ate at faced by foreigners in Kerala came and paid their amount, but some money from friends or the difference." liamentarians, legislators and a restaurant here and didn't pay after the central government the men slipped away and have relatives." Modi referred to the logjam other party leaders in person. because he was cashless. He was announced on November 8 that not paid as yet." Kunju said he Lalita Kaur, 60, com- caught but let off because the it was spiking the country's 86 had never in his lifetime seen a plained there were no eatery staff realised their guest percent— `500 and 1,000 situation like this. arrangements made for senior had no other option. notes— of all currency in Koshy John, a tour guide, citizens at the ATM. "I am a ATM looted; guard slain in Bihar Khader Kunju, a restaurant circulation. said he had a group of foreign senior citizen, but there is no Patna owner here since 1989, said the He said he also faced "sim- tourists who landed on the day preference given to us here." IANS incident occurred at the eatery ilar situation as many of my the demonetisation was Kaur said, "I don't know near his joint. clients are foreign tourists". announced. "The announcement what (Prime Minister Naren- A SECURITY guard of an ATM booth was killed and cash looted Kunju said that the tourist The restaurant owner nar- proved a nightmare," John said. dra) Modiji thought before by unidentified people in Patna yesterday morning, police said. had before ordering food asked rated an incident how a group He said his guests had taking this decision." Deepak Kumar, the security guard of a Central Bank ATM booth if the restaurant accepted credit of French tourists — four men exchanged their currencies Echoing similar views, in Maurya Lok, was killed and cash was looted. Maurya Lok, a cards. He was told the facility and four women — walked into hours before Prime Minister Surinder Saxena, who is in his posh shopping centre, is known as a safe zone for visitors as patrol- wasn't available. his eatery and said they were Narendra Modi made the late 70s, said that he too was ling police have been deployed round the clock. Agitated residents But he still "went and had very hungry and wanted to eat announcement. And most of the waiting in the line for the last and relatives of the guard blocked roads and burnt tyres to pro- lunch and after washing his but had no cash. time his guests spend "waiting one hour and was not sure if test against the incident. They demanded arrest of those behind hands, he ran away", Kunju said. "They said they have credit in queues at banks". "They left he would be lucky enough to the crime, and a compensation to the family of the victim. "He was caught by the hotel cards, but since I don't have disappointed," said John. get some cash. Cyclonic storm Vardah to cross Andhra tomorrow Aadhar enabled payment system to be rolled out soon New Delhi without any card or PIN, officials payments. UIDAI and CMDs of major private Visakhapatnam IANS said. It said that an upgraded version and public sector banks on Thurs- IANS The application would be made of USSD (Unstructured Supplemen- day in Mumbai. n an attempt to give a big push to available to all banks, who would tary Service Data) should be rolled out The committee noted that fur- THE Vardah cyclonic storm over southeast Bay cashless transactions, the Unique encourage merchants in their vicin- by December 25. ther steps are required to make of Bengal is likely to intensify into a severe IIdentification Authority of India ity to adopt this application. According to an official state- digital transactions attractive vis-a- cyclonic storm over next the 12 hours, the met (UIDAI) will shortly roll out Android- This was one of the decisions ment, the second meeting of the vis cash transactions. office said yesterday. based Aadhaar enabled Payment taken by Chief Ministers' commit- panel headed by Andhra Pradesh The panel said that procedure The storm lay centered about 990km south- System (AEPS) application, said tee on adoption of digital Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for simplified Know Your Customer east of Visakhapatnam and 1,090km officials. payments. was held at NITI Aayog. (KYC) using Aadhaar needs to be east-southeast of Machilipatnam. Developed in collaboration with The panel in its report submitted The meeting followed delibera- adopted and also suggested that RBI "It is very likely to move nearly Northwest TCS, the application can be down- to Union Finance Ministry also rec- tions held by Naidu, Vice Chairman should allow authentication through ward then west northwest wards and cross loaded by the merchants, who will ommended rolling out more user of NITI Aayog Arvind Panagariya iris scanner and One Time Password Andhra Pradesh Coast between Nellore and need a smartphone and a fingerprint friendly version of USSD or *99# with RBI Governor Urjit Patel, top (OTP) for AEPS and that there should Kakinada around afternoon or evening of Mon- scanner to use it. Transactions on which is used on feature mobile officials of ministry of Electronics be no charge on AEPS day," the Indian Meteorological Department this application can be done phones for making cashless and Information Technology, the transactions. said in a bulletin. 16 EUROPE SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2016 Santos receives Nobel with peace message

Oslo Top honour the prize with Santos. Agencies The audience applauded a The Colombian group of about 10 victims olombian President President collected attending the ceremony, after Juan Manuel Santos Nobel prize - a gold they stood after Santos intro- said an accord to end medal, diploma and duced them. a 52-year civil war a cheque for Among them was Leyner with Marxist rebels $870,000 at a Palacios, a man who Santos said Cwas a “ray of hope” for solving lost 32 relatives, including his ceremony in Oslo’s conflicts from Syria to South parents and three brothers, in a city hall. Sudan as he collected the Nobel 2002 FARC mortar attack. Pal- Peace Prize yesterday. acios nodded when Santos said In an acceptance speech that The audience he had forgiven the attackers. quoted an anti-war song by Bob applauded a group The peace deal almost col- Dylan, the 2016 Literature Lau- of about 10 victims lapsed in October after reate, Santos said Colombia attending the Colombian voters rejected it in itself had drawn inspiration ceremony, after they a referendum, reckoning the from other peace processes such first version was too lenient on Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos receives medal and diploma from Norwegian Nobel stood after Santos as those in South Africa and the rebels. A revised deal was Committee member Berit Reiss-Andersen during the Peace Prize awarding ceremony at City introduced them. Northern Ireland. approved by Congress last Hall in Oslo, yesterday. Santos collected the prize - month, but controversially with- a gold medal, diploma and a out a referendum demanded by many deaths will it take till he of his mandate in 2018. has 1,500 guerrillas, also has to cheque for 8 million Swedish “It proves that what, at first, a big opposition party. knows that too many people have “I cannot guarantee that we lay down its arms. crowns ($870,000) at a cere- seems impossible, through per- Berit Reiss-Andersen, a died? The answer, my friend, is will finish before the end of my The ELN and the government mony in Oslo’s city hall for his severance may become possible member of the five-member blowin’ in the wind.” mandate,” Santos told reporters, began secret talks in January 2014 efforts to end the conflict with even in Syria or Yemen or South award committee, said in a pres- The other 2016 prizes - for Lit- referring to talks with National to pave the way for official talks Marxist FARC rebels in which Sudan,” he told an audience entation speech that Santos had erature, Medicine, Physics, Liberation Army (ELN), Colom- but the process has stumbled over 220,000 people died. including victims of the war as been “a driving force” and that Chemistry and Economics —will bia’s second-largest rebel group the issue of hostages and prison- “The Colombian peace agree- well as Norway’s King Harald. peace process needed “all the be presented later in Stockholm. after the Revolutionary Armed ers held by the two sides. ment is a ray of hope in a world The rebel Revolutionary international support it could Dylan has said he won’t attend, cit- Forces of Colombia (FARC). “Kidnapping, specifically kid- troubled by so many conflicts and Armed Forces of Colombia, or get” after the referendum. ing “pre-existing commitments.” “I will do my best but to napping civilians, is something so much intolerance,” he said, FARC, were not invited, except In his speech, received with Hours before accepting the establish a timeframe is always that is not acceptable ... We have saying a US academic study called for a Spanish lawyer to repre- a standing ovation, Santos Nobel Peace Prize, Santos said he counter-productive in negotia- told them ‘You have to free the it the most comprehensive of 34 sent them. FARC leader Rodrigo quoted what he called a “haunt- could offer no guarantees there tions of this sort,” he said. people you have kidnapped in peace accords signed in the past Londono had been tipped by ing question” from one of would be a peace deal in place But, before Colombia can order to start public negotia- three decades. some Nobel watchers to share Dylan’s most famous songs: How with ELN rebels before the end have total peace, the ELN, which tions’,” Santos told reporters. Five dead in Bulgarian gas train blast Hollande offers support Sofia A hospital in the nearby town to Cyprus peace talks AFP of Shumen said an 18-year-old man had died from his injuries, Nicosia, Cyprus we’re willing to contribute to t least five people were while three people with life- AP reaching such a solution,” Hol- killed yesterday and 29 threatening burns have been lande said after talks with Awere injured when a transported to a hospital Varna. rance is willing to help Anastasiades in Nicosia, the freight train transporting gas Aerial footage showed a mas- rally international support capital of Cyprus. derailed and exploded in the sive plume of black smoke rising Ffor a summit next month The goal of the Geneva northeastern Bulgarian village over the village. Charred tankers aimed at clinching an agree- summit is an agreement on the of Hitrino, officials said. lay scattered around the tracks of ment to reunify ethnically thorniest issues that have stood “Five victims have been con- nearly ruined railway station. divided Cyprus, the country’s in the way of a comprehensive firmed dead so far and 27 There was debris everywhere. president said yesterday. peace accord. Anastasiades and injured,” the interior ministry “There is devastation in the President Francois Hol- Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa said in a statement. area around blast site. Twelve lande said his country could Akinci already have been nego- The train was carrying more people have been rescued from play a “useful role” in getting tiating for over 18 months. than 20 tankers of propylene gas under the ruins alive so far and the five permanent members Cyprus’ so-called ‘guaran- and propane butane when it firefighters are checking for of the United Nations Security tors’ — Greece, Turkey and derailed while entering the vil- more,” Nikolov added. Hitrino’s Council engaged in the Jan. 9-12 former colonial ruler Britain — lage’s rail station. The last two station, the police headquarters summit in Geneva, will also take part in the tankers hit a power line and and several homes along the Switzerland. summit. exploded and seven tankers full Firefighters work on site where the train derailed and railway tracks were razed. Hollande said European Hollande met Anastasiades of propylene went off the tracks, exploded in Hitrino village. “There will be more than five Union leaders must also after visiting pilot crew and local police spokeswoman Assia victims. There are several injured become engaged in the proc- other military personnel aboard Yordannova said. The interior ministry said “Four victims have been with 90 percent burns,” Bulgar- ess and that Cypriot President the French aircraft carrier The blast occurred at 0337 there were 200 firefighters and identified but we fear there will ia’s Prime Minister Boyko Borisov Nicos Anastasiades would Charles de Gaulle that’s cur- GMT at village Hitrino, about rescuers at the scene. More than be more. Twenty-five people after arriving at site. He appealed sound them out during an EU rently deployed in the east 100km from Varna, Bulgaria’s 50 houses were damaged and were injured,” civil defence chief for blood donations for the hos- Council meeting next week. Mediterranean. The warship is main port on the Black Sea. 40 families evacuated. Nikolay Nikolov said. pitals treating the injuries. “The Cyprus problem which taking part in strikes against has lasted for many years must Islamic State group targets in today be solved, and Syria and Iraq. Extradition of France may extend state of emergency Kazakh oligarch Paris “absolutely necessary” to ensure neighboring European coun- to Russia blocked AP the highest possible level of pro- tries. The threat — he described tection in the country in the as an “imminent peril” — is still Paris rench Prime Minister Ber- context of next spring’s presi- closely linked to the actions of AFP nard Cazeneuve says 17 dential and general elections. the Islamic State group, he said. Fattacks have been Cazeneuve said the electoral Cazeneuve said the state of KAZAKH opposition figure thwarted in the country so far period with multiple political emergency has “fully proven its Mukhtar Ablyazov was this year and he is asking Par- meetings and gatherings may effectiveness” with 4,194 house released from prison after liament to extend state of increase the risk of attacks by searches leading to 517 suspects France’s highest administra- emergency until July 15. “those who want to strike our arrested, 434 kept in custody tive authority blocked his Speaking after an extraordi- democratic values and republi- and almost 600 firearms seized, extradition to Russia, where nary cabinet meeting, Cazeneuve can principles at the heart.” including 77 “weapons of war,” he is accused of embezzling said yesterday that Parliament The newly appointed prime over the last year in France. French President Francois Hollande (left) speaks during a billions of dollars. will vote on the bill next week. minister said the “terrorist Among those arrested 420 had Ablyazov, who has been He said the extension for threat” remains “at a particu- links with “terrorist networks,” joint press conference with his Cypriot counterpart Nicos held in French custody since seven more months is larly high level” in France and he added. Anastasiades, at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia. July 2013, walked out of the Fleury-Merogis prison in a Paris suburb smiling. Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine all accuse him of Parties make their cases to Italy president for new leader having embezzled billions of dollars during his time as Rome if someone can lead the country Mattarella around midday, said the need to prop up fragile banks. In this scenario, Gentiloni head of Kazakh bank BTA. Reuters to elections scheduled for 2018, his party would support a new He also said work should would oversee writing of a new But his defence team or whether an interim govern- mandate for Renzi, although a start on writing a new electoral electoral law and the PD would argued he would not get a fair olitical parties made their ment could serve until early parliamentary source said last law before a constitutional court hold primaries for candidates to trial in Russia, a position sup- cases to Italy’s head of elections in spring. week the PD leader had ruled out ruling on legitimacy of the cur- lead the party into elections in ported by the UN’s special Pstate yesterday for candi- Mattarella started with smaller - for the moment - staying on as rent one, which is scheduled for spring, the lawmakers said. rapporteur on torture, Nils dates to lead the country out of parliamentary groups, gearing up a caretaker. January 24. But the president may want Melzer. a government crisis prompted to finish with Renzi’s Democratic “It is important to end this Three PD lawmakers close to ensure support of former “This is a decision which by Matteo Renzi’s resignation as Party (PD), which holds a major- government crisis quickly, to Renzi said, going into consul- prime minister Silvio Berlusco- strongly defends the principles prime minister. ity in both houses. because of urgent pressures we tations, Renzi’s top pick to lead ni’s Forza Italia (Go Italy) party, of French justice,” said Jean- President Sergio Mattarella, Interior Minister Angelino face,” Alfano said, listing poverty an interim government would to allow the legislature to last Pierre Mignard, one of the a 75 year-old former constitu- Alfano, whose small centre-right and deprivation that were high- be Foreign Minister Paolo until 2018, one of the lawmak- Kazakh oligarch’s lawyers. tional court judge, must decide grouping in ruling coalition met lighted by referendum result, and Gentiloni. ers said. SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2016 AMERICAS 17 Russia helped Trump win White House: CIA

Washington Hillary Clinton’s presidential they released publicly were race for the presidency. intended to disrupt and dis- Reuters New revelation campaign, to WikiLeaks. potentially damaging to Clin- US intelligence analysts have credit the Western concept of US intelligence US President Barack Obama ton and the Democrats, the assessed “with high confidence” democracy by promoting he CIA has concluded agencies have ordered intelligence agencies to official told reporters. that at some point in the extremist candidates, parties, that Russia intervened assessed that as the review cyber attacks and foreign “That was a major clue to extended presidential campaign and political figures. in the 2016 election to 2016 presidential intervention into the 2016 elec- their intent,” the official said. “If Russian President Vladimir In October, the US govern- help President-elect campaign drew on, tion and deliver a report before all they wanted to do was dis- Putin’s government had decided ment formally accused Russia of Donald Trump win the he leaves office on January 20, credit our political system, why to try to bolster Trump’s chances a campaign of cyber attacks Russian government TWhite House, and not just to the White House said. publicize the failings of just one of winning. against Democratic Party organ- officials devoted undermine confidence in the US Obama’s homeland security party, especially when you have The Russians appear to isations ahead of the November electoral system, a senior US offi- increasing attention adviser, Lisa Monaco, told a target like Trump?” have concluded that Trump had 8 presidential election. Obama cial said yesterday. to assisting Donald reporters the report’s results A second official familiar a shot at winning and that he has said he warned Putin about US intelligence agencies have Trump’s effort to win would be shared with lawmak- with the report said the intelli- would be much friendlier to consequences for the attacks. assessed that as the 2016 presi- the election. ers and others. gence analysts’ conclusion about Russia than Clinton would be, Trump has said he is not con- dential campaign drew on, “The president has directed Russia’s motives does not mean especially on issues such as vinced Russia was behind the Russian government officials the intelligence community to the intelligence community maintaining economic sanc- cyber attacks. His transition team All the emails the devoted increasing attention to conduct a full review of what believes that Moscow’s efforts tions and imposing additional issued a statement on “claims of assisting Donald Trump’s effort Russian hackers happened during the 2016 elec- altered or significantly affected ones, the official said. foreign interference in US elec- to win the election, the US offi- released publicly tion process ... and to capture the outcome of the election. Moscow is launching a sim- tions” yesterday but did not cial familiar with the finding told were potentially lessons learned from that and Russian officials have denied ilar effort to influence the next directly address the issue. reporters on condition of damaging to Hillary to report to a range of stake- all the accusations of interfer- German election, following an “I don’t believe they inter- anonymity. Clinton and holders, to include the ence in the US election. escalating campaign to promote fered,” Trump told Time Citing US officials briefed Democrats, an Congress,” she said during an A CIA spokeswoman said the far-right and nationalist politi- magazine about Russia in an on the matter, the Washington official said. event hosted by the Christian agency had no comment on the cal parties and individuals in interview published this week. Post reported that intelligence Science Monitor. matter. Europe that began more than a “That became a laughing point, agencies had identified individ- As summer turned to fall, The hacked emails passed decade ago, the official said. not a talking point, a laughing uals with connections to the emails from the Democratic Russian hackers turned almost to WikiLeaks were a regular In both cases, said the offi- point. Any time I do something, Russian government who pro- National Committee and oth- all their attention to the Dem- source of embarrassment to the cial, Putin’s campaigns in both they say, ‘Oh, Russia vided thousands of hacked ers, including the chairman of ocrats. Virtually all the emails Clinton campaign during the Europe and the United States are interfered.’”

US strikes slain Trump returns to militant linked to Charlie campaign trail for Hebdo attack

Washington Senate elections AP

Grand Rapids, Michigan new research-and-development AN Islamic State leader linked AP center to Michigan. to the 2015 attacks at the In Louisiana, the incoming French satirical newspaper ppearing jovial and president addressed a large Charlie Hebdo was killed in a relaxed, Donald Trump crowd at an airport hangar, and US airstrike in Syria, US mil- Aplunged back into elec- at one point tossed his trade- itary officials said tion politics yesterday, a full mark “Make America Great yesterday. month after he won the presi- Again” hat to a supporter. He Officials said Boubaker el dency, thanking Michigan noted that he’d been named Hakim was killed in Raqqa on voters and prodding Louisiana Time’s “Person of the Year” and November 26. He is believed Republicans to turn out for Sen- asked the crowd if the maga- to have played a role in IS ate runoff election. zine should go back to its attack planning. Trump regaled supporters former “Man of the Year.” El Hakim, a 33-year-old in Grand Rapids with a lengthy Gauging the boisterous French Tunisian, was a men- recitation of his victories in a response, he declared the President-elect Donald Trump (left) and Senate candidate from Louisiana, John Kennedy, at a tor to the brothers who gunned string of battleground states, answer was yes. down cartoonists at the French rally at the Dow Chemical Hangar, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, yesterday. including Michigan, which had Trump campaigned for paper in January 2015. not previously backed a Repub- Republican John Kennedy, the He was arrested in Syria lican presidential candidate state treasurer who faces cement the party’s four-seat diplomatic silence in the face of the major themes of his cam- and sent to France, where he since 1988. against Public Service Commis- advantage in the new Senate. attitudes of racism, misogyny or paign, vowing to renegotiate was convicted in 2008 and “They forgot about you peo- sioner Foster Campbell, a “We need John in Washing- intolerance of any kind.” faulty trade deals, repair roads sentenced to seven years in ple,” Trump said of his Democrat, for the seat of retir- ton,” Trump said, speaking in Sturgeon’s office said she and bridges and “build a wall” to prison. He was considered to Democratic opponents. “In four ing Republican Senator David front of a lectern that urged vot- used the call to emphasise “val- guard against unlawful be among most radicalised of years they’re not going to forget. Vitter. Neither won a majority ers to “Geaux Vote. Vote GOP.” ues Scotland and the United immigration. the network of young extrem- But it’s not going to work because in the November primary, Trump said he needed Kennedy States share.” Trump’s transition “We have people coming into ists from the Paris area, which you’re not going to forget.” leading to runoff. Polls have to help him enact his agenda. team described the conversation our country by the thousands, included the brothers Said Several protesters were shown Kennedy with a com- Trump announced that Rudy as a “short congratulatory call.” thousands and thousands of peo- and Cherif Kouachi. removed from his rally at Del- fortable lead. Giuliani, the former New York Trump brimmed with opti- ple and now I don’t have to Released from prison in taPlex Arena. While candidate Trump was mayor who was an early favour- mism during his two rallies, eager campaign so I don’t have to say early 2011, el Hakim is Trump introduced Betsy often at odds with the establish- ite, was no longer under to begin implementing his Hillary’s going to increase it by believed to have moved to DeVos, his choice for education ment wing of his party, the consideration. agenda. 550 percent,” Trump said in Baton Tunisia, where he claimed secretary, who hails from West incoming president has been Trump also spoke by tele- Come January, Trump told the Rouge. “No, I don’t have to say it responsibility in 2014 for the Michigan, and announced that broadly supported by GOP phone with Scotland’s First crowd in Michigan: “The Ameri- anymore. Isn’t it nice?” assassinations of two politi- Andrew Liveris, the chief exec- leaders since the election. And Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who can people will be in charge. Your Trump’s day also included a cal figures. By then, he was utive of Dow Chemical, would he is trying to consolidate any broke with protocol during the voice, your desires, your hopes, meeting at his New York City high up in Islamic State’s lead a national manufacturing lingering factions, most imme- campaign to publicly endorse Hil- your aspirations, you will never tower with House Speaker Paul ranks and was believed to council. Liveris told the audience diately in Louisiana, where a lary Clinton and said afterward again fall on deaf ears.” Ryan to discuss policy play a role in the group’s that Dow would soon bring a victory by Kennedy would she would not maintain “a He rattled through some of priorities. external operations.

Hero-astronaut John Glenn Silhouette against the sun to lie in state in Ohio

Columbus, Ohio man in space at age 77 in 1998. profound humility, and always AP A US Marine and combat pilot, with integrity.” he also served as a US senator, Glenn was a fighter pilot in merican hero-astronaut representing Ohio, for more World War II and Korea and John Glenn will lie in state than two decades. served on the Senate Armed Ain Ohio’s capitol building President Barack Obama Services Committee, among preceding a celebration of his yesterday ordered flags at fed- other Washington service. life of military and government eral buildings and on ships In his eastern Ohio home- service and two history-mak- around the world flown at half- town of New Concord, the John ing voyages into space. staff until sunset on the day of and Annie Glenn Museum, usu- The public viewing at the Glenn’s internment. Glenn is to ally available this time of year Ohio Statehouse and a memo- be buried at Arlington National only for special tours and events, rial service at Ohio State Cemetery near Washington, DC. opened with free admission. University’s Mershon Audito- “Throughout his life, Sena- Char Lyn Grujoksi, of Con- rium is planned for next week; tor John Glenn embodied the nersville, Indiana, stopped in the dates and times were being right stuff,” Defence Secretary after spotting a roadside sign for worked out, said Hank Wilson Ashton Carter said in a state- the museum while driving home of John Glenn School of Public ment. “Our military in particular from Pittsburgh and listening to Affairs. Statehouse officials meet benefited from his courage and a radio report on Glenn. The tomorrow to authorise the pub- dedication ... But just as impor- museum is in the astronaut’s lic viewing. tant as what John Glenn converted boyhood home. Glenn, who died at age 95, accomplished is how he accom- “He was a true American was the first American to orbit plished it: with a combination hero, someone who loved his People observe sunset in front of Lima's Miraflores district in Peru. the Earth in 1962 and the oldest of fierce determination and country and served it,” she said. 18 AMERICAS SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2016

Missing plane New UN chief to be sworn in tomorrow likely crashed

United Nations To-do list Trump’s election however is enough in order to really make into Alaska AFP complicating that strategy. it effective, slimming it down Antonio Guterres, the “This is tough for Guterres,” in some places, realigning it in lake: Officials ncoming UN Secretary- former prime said Richard Gowan, a UN expert others, in a very pro-active General Antonio Guterres minister of Portugal at the European Council on For- way,” said the diplomat, who (pictured) will take the has put ending the eign Relations. “He enjoyed a asked not to be named. Anchorage, Alaska oath of office tomorrow, five-year carnage in wave of diplomatic goodwill at The US is by far the biggest AP hoping to show he is primed Syria at the top of his the UN and looked set for a financial contributor, providing Ifor action despite anxiety over the straightforward transition.” 22 percent of UN’s operating A SMALL airplane ferrying a to-do list and is keen US role in the world under unpre- “Now he will find it hard to budget and funding 28 percent father and his two teenage to put forward a new dictable Donald Trump. propose big institutional reforms of peacekeeping missions which children to Anchorage pre- During a formal ceremony plan to achieve a or float new political initiatives currently cost $8bn annually. sumably plunged into an at the General Assembly, settlement. until the Trump team is settled Over the past months, expansive Alaska lake shortly Guterres will be sworn in before in and made its intentions clear.” Guterres has toured capitals of after taking off from a nearby outlining in an address to all 193 notably over Syria. The key to getting new Trump powerful five permanent Secu- rural community, officials UN member-states his plans to The choice of the former ref- The 67-year-old former administration on board may lie rity Council members - Britain, said yesterday. confront global crises and reform ugee chief as the ninth prime minister of Portugal has in Guterres’ plans for reforming China, France, Russia and the No bodies have been the 71-year-old United Nations. secretary-general energised put ending the five-year carnage the world body to “turn it into United States - for talks on his found, but items belonging to The first former head of gov- many diplomats who see in Syria at the top of his to-do list something the US can support,” new tenure. “He will be a polit- the pilot and three passengers ernment at the UN helm, Guterres as a skilled politician, and is keen to put forward a new said a Security Council diplomat. ical secretary-general,” said a on board were discovered Guterres will take over from Ban able to overcome divisions that plan to achieve a settlement, dip- He will have to show that Security Council diplomat, who floating in Lake Clark, said Ki-moon on January 1. have crippled the United Nations, lomats say. “he is shaking up the system was briefed on Guterres’ plans. John Quinley, a spokesman for the National Park Service in Alaska. The names of the four were released after families Red tape halts Southwest In the wings were notified that debris belonging to them had been located. flights to Mexico All four on board the sin- gle-engine Piper PA-28 Dallas Puerto Vallarta and Cancun. Cherokee plane were from AP Southwest started flying the Port Alsworth, a small com- routes on Sunday but then sus- munity about 170 miles outhwest Airlines has pended service. southwest of Anchorage. They stopped new flights Southwest submitted all included the pilot, Kyle Long- Sbetween Los Angeles and required paperwork to Mexi- erbeam, 25; Scott Blom, 45, Mexico because Mexican can authorities more than three and his children, Kaitlyn authorities haven’t finished the months ago, airline spokes- Blom, 14, and Zach Blom, 13. paperwork formally authoris- woman Brandy King said Clint Johnson, head of the ing the service. yesterday. Alaska region of the National American Airlines has been “Because required paper- Transportation Safety Board, forced to delay one new route work still has not been issued said other members of the to Mexico while it too awaits by authorities in Mexico, we are Blom family took off in a sep- approval from Mexico. now faced with unplanned arate plane and arrived safely In both cases, the new challenges and forced to make in Anchorage. Johnson told flights were added after the US proactive flight cancellations,” Anchorage television station and Mexico agreed in August to King said by email. KTUU that it wasn’t immedi- loosen restrictions that had lim- A spokeswoman for the US ately clear why the family ited cross-border flights. Department of Transportation was flying in two different The Southwest cancella- confirmed that the government Workmen put finishing touches on a full-size X-Wing Starfighter replica that will help airplanes. tions cover 10 daily flights has gotten involved to resolve promote the world premiere of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in Hollywood, California, The debris was found between Los Angeles and Mex- the issue, but she declined to about 11 miles northeast of yesterday. ican resort cities of Los Cabos, comment further. Port Alsworth. SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2016 HOME 19

PRAYER TIMINGS

FAJR 04.47 am Mall of Qatar officially opens doors SHOROOK 06.09 am

ZUHR 11.27 am MAGHRIB 04.47 pm The Peninsula ASR 02.25 pm ISHA 06.17 pm all of Qatar, brand new shopping concept with WEATHER TODAY 500,000 sq. m of inno- vative shopping, o o top-notch recreation Mand remarkable leisure options, has 16 C 22 C officially opened its doors to public. Minimum Maximum Yesterday, Mall of Qatar welcomed a slew of visitors who came to experi- ence its offerings during the soft opening. Media personnel were also welcomed by the Mall management and also held a special breakfast ses- sion for them at AlRayyan Hotel, before embarking on a tour at the premises and its anchor tenants including beauty, fashion, department stores, homeware, and restaurants. Speaking about the first official day at Mall of Qatar, Ahmed Al Mulla, CEO, said: “After working towards a goal for many years, seeing it come to life is one of the most incredible experiences – and I am grateful to the entire team responsible for this momentous occa- sion. Mall of Qatar marks a new era of shopping in Qatar- merging shopping and entertainment at our regional super mall.” “We are pleased to Strong wind expected to the north- announce that the Mall is 99% leased- ern areas. Moderate temperature and 92% are currently in the fit-out daytime with slight dust to blowing phase. We are opening over 220 stores dust to the north and some clouds on our first day, which is 60% of the and cold by night. gross leasable area,” Al Mulla Added At Mall of Qatar, MOQ Live, a free HIGH TIDE 03:00 - 13:45 LOW TIDE 08:45 - 20:30 entertainment program will take vis- itors on an incredible adventure on the Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department Views of the Mall of Qatar during its soft opening yesterday. Pic by: Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula world’s first 360-degree in mall revolv- ing stage. The stage is located at MOQ`s LATEST NEWS dazzling Oasis, a 5,000 sq. m lush, concluded : “Mall culture plays a large offering. Today, we are setting super- at the Mall offerings during their tour UPDATE green, landscaped entertainment arena role in Middle Eastern, and especially regional standards for shopping malls, of the retail outlets culminating in a featuring dancing interactive fountains GCC society. We are pushing the bound- and bringing the concept of retailtain- delightful experience at NOVO Cinema, and waterfalls and hosting all year long aries and elevating the Mall experience ment to life.” Xtremeland and a lunch at the Cheese- www.thepeninsulaqatar.com shows. Al Mulla with our brand new, and innovative The media expressed their delight cake Factory. 20 HOME SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2016