BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Confi dent Qatar take on China INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-6, 24 COMMENT 22, 23 Economic forum REGION 7 BUSINESS 1-5, 12-16 in crunch 25,801.00 9,174.66 64.30 ARAB WORLD 7 CLASSIFIED 6-11 set to boost +246.00 +38.80 +0.50 INTERNATIONAL 8-21 SPORTS 1-8 clash today +0.96% +0.42% +0.78% Qatar-Turkey ties Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

MONDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10699 January 15, 2018 Rabia II 28, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals PM gets message from Kuwait Qatar monitoring

In brief Sheikh Abdullah’s ‘detention’ in UAE QATAR | Offi cial

Emir gets verbal message Agencies In August, Sheikh Abdullah met from Kazakhstan president Doha Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al- Saud and Crown Prince Mohamed bin His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim Salman but Doha was quick to point bin Hamad al-Thani received yesterday atar has been closely monitoring out that he was in Saudi Arabia on a a verbal message from Kazakhstan the reported detention of Sheikh personal mission and did not represent President Nursultan Nazarbayev QAbdullah bin Ali al-Thani, who the government. pertaining to bilateral relations and in a video was seen as saying he is being Riyadh had tried to present him as means to advance them in diff erent held against his will in the UAE. someone who opposes His Highness fields. Kazakhstan’s Special Envoy HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani received a written message from Foreign Ministry spokesperson HE the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- for Middle East and Africa Baghdad Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Hamad al-Sabah, pertaining to bilateral relations and ways to enhance them in Lulua al-Khater told Qatar News Agen- Thani. Amreyev conveyed the message, all fields. The message was delivered by Kuwait’s ambassador to Qatar Hafiz Mohamed al-Ajmi during a meeting yesterday with cy (QNA) that Doha was closely moni- Sheikh Abdullah appeared frequent- during a meeting with HE Minister of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. toring the situation, but due to the total ly on Saudi and UAE television pro- State for Foreign Aff airs Saad bin Sultan severance of ties with the UAE “it is dif- grammes expressing his views in sup- al-Muraikhi yesterday. The meeting fi cult to clearly establish the circum- port of the measures against Doha. was attended by a number of Foreign stances surrounding the situation”. Majed al-Ansari, a professor at Qatar Ministry off icials. She said despite that, Qatar prin- University, said Sheikh Abdullah’s ap- cipally stands with the protection of parent detention could be seen as part ARAB WORLD | Confl ict rights for every individual and affi rms of a wider “trend of behaviour” by Saudi the entitlement of his family to pursue Arabia and the UAE in dealing with Trump’s peace eff orts all legal means for the protection of his high-profi le Arab personalities that ‘slap of the century’ rights. may be used as leverage. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas Sidra opens new “We have seen similar behaviour, in In November, Lebanese offi cials al- denounced US President Donald the past, by the siege countries where leged that Prime Minister Saad al- Trump’s peace eff orts as the “slap rights of individuals and offi cials alike Hariri was being held hostage by Saudi of the century”, at a key meeting are violated in total contravention of authorities. yesterday on the White House’s international norms, conventions and Hariri appeared on television from declaration of Jerusalem as Israel’s laws with no clear purpose or valid rea- Saudi Arabia on November 4 to an- capital. In a wide-ranging two-hour hospital building, soning,” she added. nounce his resignation, but retracted it speech, Abbas reiterated he would not Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali al-Thani, a when he returned home. accept the Trump administration as controversial member of Qatar’s royal Riyadh denied detaining Hariri, but a mediator in peace talks with Israel family, emerged as an unlikely mediator the intervention of several countries, and called for an internationally-led in August, weeks after Saudi Arabia, the including France, led to his release and process. He also accused Israel through UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with allowed him to travel two weeks later its actions of ending the 1994 Oslo Doha. with his wife while their son and daugh- peace accords that form the basis of delivers fi rst baby Yesterday Sheikh Abdullah released a ter remained in Saudi Arabia. Palestinian ties with the Jewish state, video statement, also broadcast by Qa- In a similar situation at the end of saying the Palestinians would study all By Joseph Varghese tar-based Al Jazeera television, showing November, former Egyptian prime min- strategies for responding to it. Page 7 Staff Reporter him seated in an armchair warning that ister Ahmed Shafi q accused Abu Dhabi he was afraid something could happen in a videotape of detaining him and EUROPE | Politics to him that will be blamed on Qatar. preventing him from travelling, after he idra Medicine, the high-tech “I am currently in Abu Dhabi. I was expressed his desire to run for president SPD aims to improve world-class, premier healthcare a guest of Sheikh Mohamed. I am no in Egypt. deal with Merkel Sfacility in the region for children, longer a guest; I am a prisoner,” he said Abu Dhabi accused Shafi k of lying be- Leading members of Germany’s Social young people and women and a member in the video, which was widely circu- fore allowing him to travel alone with- Democrats yesterday said they would of Qatar Foundation, delivered its fi rst lated on social media. out his family. He had been living in the press for improvements to a coalition baby yesterday as the hospital opened “I want to make clear that the people UAE since 2012. blueprint agreed with Chancellor the new building and welcomed the fi rst of Qatar are innocent,” he said. “Sheikh “This is now the way that Saudi Angela Merkel’s conservatives, inpatients. Mohamed bears full responsibility for Arabia and Abu Dhabi deal with their seeking to win over sceptical party “Baby Mariam, weighing 3.1kg, was anything that happens to me.” friends,” al-Ansari told Al Jazeera. members who can torpedo the deal. the fi rst to be delivered at the hospi- An exterior view of Sidra Medicine. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil “They told me not to leave. I am afraid Sheikh Abdullah is no more useful to Social Democrat (SPD) leaders must tal, that too with her father witness- that anything could happen to me, and them because their plan to use him to sell the deal to party members before ing the birth in the operating theatre,” “The opening of the main hospital at dents of Qatar. It will help them avoid the people of Qatar would be blamed. serve their purpose has miserably failed, a congress on January 21 at which announced Dr Justin Konje, chair, Sidra Medicine marks the achievement the trouble of travelling abroad as well So I just wanted to inform you that if he added. delegates vote on the agreement, Women’s Services Clinical Manage- of another major milestone in the expan- as spending large amounts of money anything happens to me, the people of Late in the evening, sources quoted clinched on Friday after 25 hours of ment Group, Sidra Medicine. He was sion of healthcare facilities in the country. for treatment. We will be able to use the Qatar are innocent,” added Sheikh Ab- Abu Dhabi offi cials as denying the de- exploratory talks. Only then can they addressing a press conference to mark The new hospital will further enhance facilities in the hospital to attract more dullah. tention report, saying Sheikh Abdullah move ahead with formal negotiations. the opening of the inpatient facility of the healthcare provided for women and patients from outside Qatar standing Emirati offi cials were not immedi- was hosted as a guest and he was free to But by holding out to their members the hospital. children and reinforce our commitment in the world as a beacon of excellence ately available for comment. go wherever he wanted to go. the prospect of a better deal, the SPD “We have admitted nine child pa- to improving the health and well-being in healthcare. The safety and comfort leaders ran into swift push back from tients at the hospital. So, including the of the people in Qatar,” HE the Minister of our patients is of utmost importance a senior conservative – sparring that delivery of the newborn baby, the total of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al- and we look forward to welcoming underlines the diff iculties the two number of people admitted at the hos- Kuwari said in a statement. them,” said Peter Morris, CEO, Sidra groups still face before finalising a full pital is 10,” said Dr David Sigalet, chair of Prof the Lord Darzi of Denham, vice Medicine. coalition agreement. the Department of Surgery. chair of the Board of Governors at Sidra Sidra Medicine will open its Emer- Lactalis to compensate victims Sidra Medicine presently works on Medicine, told the press conference: gency Department by the middle of this AMERICA | Security referrals from Hamad Medical Cor- “As part of Qatar Foundation, Sidra year. It will also accept regional and in- AFP packages of Picot, Milumel, Celia and poration and the Primary Health Care Medicine is a true embodiment of the ternational referrals for women, young Paris other brands of powdered baby milk. US offi cial defends Corporation. It will start receiving re- country’s wider, long-term eff orts to people and children who need its spe- “We are going to draw the lessons early-warning systems ferrals from private hospitals this year build a world-class healthcare and re- cialist expertise. from this crisis and set out an even A top US off icial yesterday defended onwards. search infrastructure in Qatar, and Her The press conference was also at- he chief executive of France’s stricter hygiene framework, in col- government early-warning systems The fi rst inpatients seen by Sidra Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser’s tended by other offi cials of Sidra Medi- Lactalis group yesterday vowed laboration with the authorities,” he after a false missile alert terrified Medicine are children requiring low- specifi c focus on transforming the care cine including, Dr Abdulla al-Kaabi, Tcompensation for victims of said. Hawaii, in what a congresswoman risk surgeries and women undergoing of women and children. Qatar Founda- executive chair, Children’s Services salmonella-tainted baby milk, as he re- Asked why he had not publicly ad- called an epic failure that emphasised elective C-sections. These services will tion, with Her Highness Sheikha Moza Clinical Management Group, executive vealed that recalls were now under way dressed earlier parents’ concerns as the need for talks with North Korea. be increased through mid-2018 to in- at the helm, has been a powerful force vice chief medical offi cer and member of in 83 countries. worries about the outbreak intensifi ed, The Pacific archipelago was already clude more complex paediatric surger- for progress. It has established Qatar as the Board of Governors; Dr John Fergu- Emmanuel Besnier, giving his fi rst Besnier said: “It’s true, by nature I’m on edge over fears of a North Korean ies, specialist paediatric services in neu- a leader in education, science and com- son, chief medical offi cer; Morag Gates, interview in nearly 20 years as head of not very forthcoming.” attack when the phones of residents rology and cardiology, among others, as munity development.” chief operating offi cer and Dr Rashid the family-controlled company, told “In a crisis like this, we act fi rst, and and tourists blared the alert just after well as deliveries, focusing on high-risk “Sidra Medicine off ers specialised al-Ali, division chief, Biomedical Infor- the Journal du Dimanche newspaper perhaps I didn’t take the necessary 8am (1800 GMT) on Saturday. Page 9 pregnancies. treatment for the citizens and resi- matics. Page 24 that the recall involved more than 12mn time to explain things.” Page 15 Over 2.4mn travellers used e-gates at HIA in 2017 he number of passengers using e- The e-gates services provided by the are located in a place parallel to the pass- verifi ed, the gate will open automatically. gates at Hamad International Air- Ministry of the Interior (MoI) to all citi- port counters. Major al-Mulla pointed out that the Tport (HIA) has registered a quan- zens and residents are free of charge, and Qatar citizens and residents travelling system of e-gates at HIA has been lauded tum leap of more than 1mn between 2016 saves time and eff ort of the passengers. via HIA can use e-gate facility at the en- by the International Civil Aviation Organ- and 2017. “HIA currently has 40 electronic gates, try and exit points for quick completion of isation as a distinctive model. As many as 2,462,470 passengers used including 19 in the arrivals lounge and 21 passport control procedures. All residents He said that the airport passport de- the e-gates during 2017, compared to in the departures lounge, which facilitate above 18 years old with ID cards can take partment has opened an offi ce next to the 1.41mn in 2016, it was announced yesterday. the smooth entry and exit of passengers,” advantage of this facility. e-gates to activate the service using ID The fi gure for 2017 included 1,280,564 he explained. The procedures of using e-gates are cards of the residents over 18. He stressed arrivals and 1,181,906 departures from the The e-gates work with identifi cation very simple. The passenger has to fi rst that the use of the ID card does not require country. of travellers’ vital data including fi nger- place the ID card or passport on the e- prior registration or payment of any fees. “A total of 20 new e-gates with 10 each prints, iris scan and personal travel docu- reader. Then the fi rst glass barrier will The offi cial called on residents to use in the departure and arrivals lounges will ments. They are easily accessible for the be opened and the passenger will reach the e-gates at HIA to facilitate the com- be opened soon,” Airport Passports Sec- passengers with availability of the assist- the middle of the gate. The system will pletion of their travel without having to tion head Major Khalid Mohamed al- ance by staff s of Airport Security and Air- match the data of identity with iris scan stand in front of the passport counters. Mulla said in a statement. port Passports departments. The e-gates or fi ngerprint. Once the information is Page 4 Travellers using the e-gates at HIA (file picture supplied by the MoI). Gulf Times 2 Monday, January 15, 2018 QATAR

From left: Primrose Fernandes, Q-Label sales manager Daniela Lesanu and Pooja Adam at a press briefing on Shop Qatar. PICTURE: Joey Aguilar ‘Shop Qatar, other QTA events helping local companies to expand’

By Joey Aguilar benchmark for modest wear Show was our second show opportunity for them,” she Staff Reporter where ‘East Meets West,’ in Qatar in the last four said, adding, “These include so that is our main aim as a months,” Adam added. Italian, Spanish, German, brand,” she pointed out. About the impact on lo- Hong Kong, Indonesian, hop Qatar 2018, along Q-Label, a local brand cal companies of the unjust and Chinese brands, as well with other events or- launched in 2017, took part blockade, she pointed out as Turkish and Lebanese Sganised by Qatar Tour- in the recently-held Ara- that the siege on Qatar even brands.” ism Authority (QTA), pro- bian Fashion Show at Mon- helped them to reach more “They see this blockade vides a golden opportunity drian Doha, one of the main clients. as an opportunity for them for small Qatari companies events of Shop Qatar last Echoing Adam’s view, to start business here and it to grow and expand their op- week. All its travel wear de- Design Creationz (sister is really interesting. It has erations, some events organ- signs and collections (Eu- company of Q-Label) ac- created many opportuni- isers and local fashion brand ropean Infl uences) and in- count executive Primrose ties,” she stressed. offi cials have said. house production are done Fernandes said the blockade Citing the success of “Shop Qatar and other in the country. has not made a single dif- Heya, Fernandes said, QTA events have given us Adam said that they have ference in their operations. “Many embassies in Doha the platform to elevate our been keen to be part of the Design Creationz operates also partnered with us and brand to the Qatari audi- QTA event, which she be- with a small team and man- each country sponsored two ence,” Q-Label’s marketing lieves will help them grow. ages events in Qatar. designers to participate at and public relations man- Citing the success of the “What I see from my con- Heya. I haven’t felt the siege ager Pooja Adam told re- Heya Arabian Exhibition tacts from day to day, when has aff ected us a bit.” porters on the sidelines of a last year, she noted that I deal with designers not Shop Qatar also provided press briefi ng on Shop Qatar more people have noticed only from Qatar but inter- a booth for local companies recently. Q-Label and its customer nationally, they are really like Q-Label at Mall of Qatar, “It is important for us base expanded. very interested to open new along with other startup and to be seen by Qataris as a “The Arabian Fashion markets here, it is like a new home-based enterprises.

Gulf Times 4 Monday, January 15, 2018 QATAR

PM meets Interpol official, US charge d’affaires, Malaysian envoy Official

Deputy PM receives HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin messages Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met yesterday with Interpol Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI) executive director Noboru Nakatani HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin and the accompanying delegation, on the occasion of their visit HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met yesterday with Malaysian from FMs of to Qatar. During the meeting, they reviewed areas of co-operation Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met yesterday with US charge d’aff aires ambassador to Qatar Dato’ Ahmad Fadil bin Shamsuddin. During the between Qatar and Interpol and ways of developing them, especially to Qatar Ryan Kleha. Talks during the meeting covered co-operation meeting, they reviewed aspects of co-operation between the two in the security fields, in addition to a number of issues of common relations between the two countries and ways of promoting them in countries and prospects for their development and enhancement, Bangladesh, concern. various fields. in addition to discussing a number of issues of mutual interest. Kazakhstan

E the Deputy Prime Min- ister and Foreign Min- Qatar Post reopens Hister Sheikh Mohamed People with fl u advised against bin Abdulrahman al-Thani re- ceived yesterday a written mes- Rayyan, LuLu Old sage from Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, pertaining to bilateral rela- visiting patients in hospitals Airport branches tions and means to support and develop them. HE Minister of State for For- senior offi cial of Ha- drink plenty of fl uids, and take with infl uenza-like-illness at our atar Post has offi cially Chairman Faleh al-Naemi eign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al- mad Medical Corpora- fever-reducing medicine. Those emergency departments. Many of reopened its newly re- said, “Qatar Post is not just a Muraikhi received the message Ation (HMC) has advised who have other chronic diseases these cases are not an emergency Qbranded branches in Al service provider but an organi- during a meeting with Bangla- that people suff ering from fl u or like asthma or heart disease and and can be treated at community- Rayyan and LuLu Old Airport. sation that has historically been desh ambassador to Qatar Achod common cold should not visit who have fl u-like illness (fever, based health centres. For most in- The events held yesterday a part of the daily life of the peo- Ahmed. friends and family in hospital. cough, runny nose, sore throat, dividuals, the best treatment for were attended by Qatar Post ple and we are ready to continue The meeting was attended Dr Abdullatif al-Khal, deputy body aches) should seek medical fl u is staying at home, drinking chairman and managing di- to do so in a much greater way by several Foreign Ministry chief medical offi cer and head attention immediately. plenty of fl uids, sleeping, and tak- rector Faleh al-Naemi, COO with renewed vigour and focus.” offi cials. of infectious diseases, HMC, Flu symptoms can include ing anti-fever medication. Unless Hamad al-Fahida and several COO al-Fahida said, HE the Deputy Prime Minis- emphasised how important it is fever of 38C or higher, chills, you are over the age of 65 or un- other senior offi cials. “Our rebranding campaign, ter and Foreign Minister Sheikh for people with fl u or common Dr Abdullatif al-Khal harsh and barking cough, runny der the age of two, have diabetes, Al Rayyan branch showcases launched last year, has been Mohamed bin Abdulrahman cold symptoms to avoid visiting nose, headache, vomiting/nau- a heart, lung, or kidney condi- Qatar Post’s new brand initiative very successful. The transfor- al-Thani has received a written patients until these symptoms fl u virus and several other res- sea, body aches, sore throat and tion, or immunosuppression, it and strategy which represents mation has helped us provide message from Kazakhstan Min- subside completely. piratory (fl u-like) viruses are in general weakness. is usually not necessary to visit a its digital ambition arising from much better and effi cient serv- ister of Foreign Aff airs Kairat “While the fl u is generally not circulation.” Dr al-Khal added that mem- hospital for treatment of the fl u,” the transformation of its serv- ices to the customers and we Abdrakhmanov, pertaining to a life-threatening condition for a Healthy hospital visitors are bers of the public who are ex- advised Dr al-Khal. ices from traditional to hi-tech. are well poised to take service bilateral relations and ways of young healthy individual, it can instructed to sanitise their hands periencing fl u symptoms should Anyone who is having diffi - Aside from the big change delivery to the next level.” advancing them. make someone who is already when they arrive at the hospi- seek treatment from their pri- culty breathing is experiencing in services, the Al Rayyan More Qatar Post rebranded The message was handed to sick or recovering from a medical tal and before they leave. They mary care provider and avoid shortness of breath, chest pain branch’s state-of-the-art fa- branches are scheduled to open HE the Minister of State for condition very ill and can com- should also cover their cough going to the Emergency Depart- or severe abdominal pain, con- cility also refl ects the new in the coming months with Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad plicate their illness and prolong or sneeze with a tissue or their ment unless they have existing fusion, sudden dizziness, or se- strategy of working on the Al Mansoura and Souq Al-Ali al-Muraikhi, during his meet- their stay in the hospital,” he sleeve, and sanitise their hands health conditions that put them vere vomiting, should, however, physical change of Qatar Post. branches topping the list. ing yesterday with Kazakhstan’s explained, adding, “People who after coughing or sneezing. at risk for severe infl uenza. Preg- seek medical attention. With the success of the re- Qatar Post is fully embracing special envoy for the Middle East are sick with symptoms of respi- Dr al-Khal suggested that in- nant women are at increased risk The best way to prevent the branding campaign which the digital age and diversifying and Africa Baghdad Amreyev. ratory tract infections shouldn’t dividuals who feel sick should for severe infl uenza and should fl u is to get the fl u shot, wash started with the main post of- its product and services port- The meeting was attended visit someone in hospital at any stay at home to avoid spreading seek medical attention if they hands thoroughly, avoid touch- fi ce building, Al Rayyan branch folio while investing in e-com- by a number of offi cials at the time of year, but this advice is the fl u and focus on getting well. develop fl u symptoms. ing eyes, nose, and mouth when becomes the fi rst to be opened merce and teaming up with key Foreign Ministry. particularly important during He said that anyone experienc- “This year we are seeing an outside, and avoid contact with with the new-look Qatar Post business partners both in Qatar the fl u (winter) season when the ing fl u symptoms should rest, increased number of patients individuals who are sick. logo and brand colours. and globally.

Al-Khulaifi More than 7.2mn people benefi ted from QRCS projects in 2017 meets envoy ore than 91,000 people Qatar, as well as relief of the vul- Khulaifi , Saleh Ali al-Mohannadi, conducted in Syria (refugees in in Doha and Al Khor, including during 2017, particularly the past in Qatar and 7.2mn in- nerable around the world,” said Dr Abdullah al-Naimi, Dr Talal Turkey and Lebanon), Palestine healthcare, academic assistance, challenging six months,” Dr al- from Iran Mternationally have ben- QRCS president Dr Mohamed al-Abdullah, Ali Hassan al-Ham- (Gaza and the West Bank), Afghan- economic empowerment, and Maadheed said. efi ted from Qatar Red Crescent bin Ghanem al-Ali al-Maad- madi, Dr Khaled al-Sulaiti, and istan, Iraq, and Somalia — together other social development off er- “The successive crises and Society’s (QRCS) various projects heed, who chaired a recent board Omar Hussain Alfardan. Execu- taking a cost of QR124,310,878. ings, at a total cost of QR13mn. disasters in the Mena region are E the Director General in 2017, it was announced. of directors’ meeting aimed tive directors of QRCS divisions At the local front, QRCS man- QRCS also recruited 433 vol- exacerbating and posing diffi - of Public Security Staff QRCS’ operations covered 25 at mapping the organisation’s were also present. ages three Workers’ Health Cen- unteers in 2017, and newcomers culties for humanitarian action. HMajor General Saad bin countries in the fi elds of health- strategy and action plan for the “In co-operation with the tres and three Medical Commis- were reported to have contrib- Like any other fi eld of activ- Jassim al-Khulaifi met yester- care, shelter, water and sanita- coming 12 months. government, non-governmental sion Units commissioned by the uted eff ectively to diverse pro- ity, it is necessary to have ad- day with Iranian ambassador to tion, food security, training, and The meeting was attended by organisations, individual and in- Ministry of Public Health. These grammes, events, and activities, vantageous settings in order to Qatar Mohammed Ali Sobhani. other relief aid. Dr Aisha Yousef al-Mannai, vice- stitutional donors, we redoubled health facilities served 716,000 registering a total of 4,108 vol- achieve our humanitarian goals. During the meeting, they dis- “QRCS’ 2017 results further president, and all the board mem- our eff orts and conducted projects and 92,940 clients, respectively. unteering hours. Therefore, making progress re- cussed a number of topics of show a fi rm belief in its strategic bers Dr Abdul-Salam al-Qahtani, worth QR167,047,749,” he noted. More than 90,000 people had “As a new year begins, it is im- quires working harder in the face common concern. mission of social development in Mohamed al-Yami, Fatima al- QRCS’ major operations were access to QRCS’ social services portant to review the work done of challenges,” he noted.

Research receives certificate from Belmont International Forum How HIA e-gates work

A joint Qatari-European-American scientific research on food, water and energy has been awarded a scientific and technical certificate from the Belmont International Scientific Research Forum and the European Union for Urban Cities. The scientific research was about the formulation of a sustainable strategy for food, water and energy resources (FWE) in urban areas by improving the co-operation between food, water and energy systems for a period of three years starting from January 2018 and ending in December 2020. Some international donors, including the Qatar National Research Fund, are financing this research. The Qatar team is headed by director of the Municipal and Environmental Studies Center Dr Mohammed bin Saif al-Kuwari, representing the Ministry of Municipality and Environment and the researcher of the Qatar Institute for Environmental and Energy Mohammed al-Hashri, while Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) is represented by Prof Dr Abdul Karim Ahmed, where the Qatar team is involved with European and American scientific research centres. The Qatar team, in co-operation with universities, national institutions, and specialised research centres, is carrying out this important scientific research to serve Qatar National Vision 2030, and the National Development Strategy 2017-2022, and achieves the sustainable strategy for food, water and energy resources in Qatar. Eighty-eight scientific researches were presented in the first phase, of which 40 researches qualified to compete in the final stage in December, while the short list comprised 15 scientific researches and papers. The Qatari-European-American joint scientific research has won the scientific and technical certificate to provide innovative solutions to challenge the relationship between food, water and sustainable energy. The 17 sustainable development goals called for in the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Plan call for a holistic approach to address the growing demand for food, water and energy, increase linkages and build the foundations for sustainable human life. The Qatari team participating in the global project will also organise a symposium, where the ministry will invite scientists and researchers from ministries, institutions, universities and national research centres related to food, water and energy in the country to present the idea of the project and discuss the objectives and expected outputs. (QNA) Gulf Times Monday, January 15, 2018 5 QATAR

Open seminar on Ministry launches private Qatari families

he Doha International Family In- stitute (DIFI), a member of Qatar TFoundation (QF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Administrative De- velopment, Labour and Social Aff airs, boat mooring fi elds project will hold a public seminar titled ‘Qatari Families: Strengths and Challenges’, at he Ministry of Transport and deliver the project in roughly a year the Qatar National Convention Centre Communications (MoTC) has and a half, he added. from tomorrow. Tannounced that it has start- The Al Zakhira harbour’s mooring The seminar will discuss the fi ndings ed implementing a project to build fi elds are to be completed and deliv- of a study on Qatari families, as part of a mooring facilities for private boats at ered in 10 months, Al Khor harbour’s larger DIFI research project on Arab Fam- all harbours in the country. in 14 months and Al Wakrah and Al ily Strengths in Qatar, Jordan, and Tuni- Work has begun across all the har- Ruwais harbours’ in 18 months, the sia. bours simultaneously and the project offi cial informed. Noor al-Malki al-Jehani, executive is planned for completion within 18 Project works include constructing director, DIFI, emphasised that families months, the ministry has said in a mooring slips at a length of 22m for are the basic, foundational social units in press statement. boats and 10m for cruisers, as well as every society, and that healthy individu- The MoTC has assigned the project groynes for which “we use sustaina- als within healthy families are essential to Qatar Ports Management Company ble, eco-friendly materials”, he noted. to the core of a healthy society. (Mwani Qatar), which will implement Implementing an eco-friendly “It’s the responsibility of society, it in collaboration with private sector Dr Saleh Fetais al-Marri Hamad Murshid al-Muraikhi Nabil Alkhaldi. project has been the focus of attention and in everyone’s best interest, to help companies. of all stakeholders and parties involved create a positive environment for all The goal is to provide some 1,000 He stressed that the project aims at the Al Wakrah harbour, 324 at Al the MME’s Fisheries Department. in the project, involving the use of eco- families. Therefore, the purpose of moorings in accordance with lat- to regulate private boat mooring op- Ruwais, 200 at Al Khor and 28 at Al Environment standards and codes friendly materials and techniques that our research is to identify the factors est global standards and systems at erations within modern anchoring Zakhira. Planning for these mooring have been observed for the project, help preserve the environment and liv- that are associated with strong, Arab harbours in Al Wakrah, Al Khor, Al spaces, constructed to global stand- slips has taken into consideration all aiming to preserve the environment ing marine resources, Alkhaldi added. families, the challenges they face, and Zakhira and Al Ruwais, through di- ards and specifi cations to fulfi l private boat sizes, which means each mooring and marine resources, al-Muraikhi how they rely on their strengths as rect co-ordination with the Ministry boaters’ needs and expectations. It slip can accommodate more than one said. He also stressed that the allo- A Quick Look individuals, family units, members of of Municipality and Environment’s also aims to keep boats safe from dan- boat and part of the project is to in- cation of mooring fi elds for private communities, as well as the wisdom Fisheries Department, which is con- gerous weather events such as storms crease the number of moorings in the boaters will not take place at the same z 1,000 moorings to be provided of their cultural and religious beliefs, cerned with harbour aff airs. and high waves, provide smoother future, the statement notes. harbours where fi shermen’s ships and across 4 harbours – Wakrah, Al Khor, to meet these many challenges,” said The project comes within the private boat movement and preserv- The MME’s Marine Fishing Har- boats operate, but adjacent to them. Al Zakhira and Al Ruwais al-Jehani. MoTC’s strategy related to planning ing people’s belongings. Besides, it bors Section head, Hamad Murshid Nabil Alkhaldi, engineering direc- z Al Zakhira harbour’s mooring fields The two-day seminar will include the for the marine transport sector and its will support the private sector in a way al-Muraikhi, said the project would tor at Mwani Qatar, said the mooring are to be completed and delivered following four panel discussions: ‘Mari- development. that helps boost Qatar’s economic de- contribute to serving many private fi elds project is a major public-private in 10 months, Al Khor harbour’s in 14 tal Relationships’, ‘Parenting’, ‘Culture’, “The project is a great, right solu- velopment, he added. boat owners and reduce the burden on partnership in Qatar. He noted that months and Al Wakrah and Al Ruwais and ‘Financial Aspects’. tion providing moorings for private Dr al-Marri said the project’s most fi shing harbours. the private sector plays a key role in its harbours’ in 18 months On the fi rst day, Dr Abdallah Badah- boaters. It follows a considerable rise important feature is the optimised use Upon project completion, the cur- implementation based on the consid- z Project works include constructing dah, director, the Family Research Divi- in the number of private boats reg- of the potential of Qatar’s harbours rent fi shing harbours will be cleared of erable attention the country pays to mooring slips at a length of 22m for sion, DIFI, and Dr John DeFrain, pro- istered lately by the ministry,” said and establishments, aiming to reduce private boats, mooring fi elds reorgan- enhancing and bolstering the private boats and 10m for cruisers fessor emeritus of family science in the Dr Saleh Fetais al-Marri, director of cost, observe environmental and sus- ised and redistributed, and new serv- sector’s role and contribution to de- z Upon project completion, the cur- Department of Child, Youth and Family Maritime Transport Planning and tainability standards and codes, and ices will be provided, helping fulfi l the velopment projects countrywide. rent fishing harbours will be cleared Studies, College of Education and Hu- Licensing and general supervisor of apply the world’s best practices in fi shermen’s desire that fi shing har- The project implementation plan of private boats and, mooring fields man Sciences, University of Nebraska- Maritime Transport Aff airs at the terms of project design and execution. bours should be exclusive to only ships has been endorsed by the bodies con- reorganised and redistributed Lincoln, USA, will present the research MoTC. He said there are 436 mooring slips and boats that have a licence from cerned and the plan is to complete and fi ndings.

Branded cases for iPhone recalled total purchase amount. any violations to its The MEC said the recall Consumer Protection and ‘Strong Qatar laws ensure women’s safety’ The Ministry of Economy the ornamental cover and campaign comes within the Anti-Commercial Fraud and Commerce (MEC), in the leak of the liquid within framework of its ongoing Department through the Qatar has set an example for wom- collaboration with Dareen which could result in skin eff orts to ensure that product following channels: Call en’s safety in the world, Doha resident International Co Qatar, rashes and burns. dealers follow up and repair centre: 16001, e-mail: info@ Amina Khan told Qatar Urdu Radio’s has announced the recall The MEC urged customers product defects in a bid to mec.gov.qa, Twitter: @MEC_ live show Haqeeqat yesterday. of Victoria’s Secret liquid to immediately stop using protect consumers. Qatar, Instagram: MEC_Qatar, “Qatar has very strong laws when glitter iPhone cases over the product and return it to The MEC has urged all MEC mobile app for Android it comes to the safety of women. the possible breakup of the outlet for a refund of the customers to report and IOS: MEC_Qatar We can be out after midnight alone without worrying about anything. This sense of security for women is not common in many countries in the world these days,” Khan said. “Truth is that apart from all the facilities Qatar provides, sense of security is a major motivation for people to live here. Many migrants don’t feel secure wearing gold or carrying expensive items outside in the night, but here in Qatar we don’t worry about such things,” she asserted. Khan closely works with the Nepalese community in Qatar and frequently participates in events to create awareness about the laws of Qatar. “There are many people who are not fully aware about the laws of Qa- tar, especially when it comes to traff ic laws, so we routinely conduct events to inform people about road safety among other subjects.” Haqeeqat is a joint venture of the Gulf Times and Qatar Media Corp Urdu Radio. The show, hosted by Saif-ur-Rehman, aims to engage and interact with the large South Asian expatriate community in Qatar. Log on to Qatar Urdu Radio on Facebook and ‘@QatarUrduRadio’ on Twitter for feedback and comments about the show. Amina Khan and Saif-ur-Rehman

Beach clean-up QIB promo off ers 5 fully-paid 2018 FIFA World Cup prizes

atar Islamic Bank (QIB), five lucky Visa cardholders the in partnership with Visa, chance to watch live the semi- Qwill grant fi ve fully-paid finals of the 2018 FIFA World packages to fl y to Russia and at- Cup Russia,” said QIB gen- tend the 2018 FIFA World Cup eral manager Personal Banking semi-fi nal matches. Group D Anand. Visa is the offi cial payment “Football is well-rooted in Qa- partner of the FIFA World Cup. tar and we are proud to take an In the run-up to the 2018 FIFA active role in the FIFA World Cup World Cup Russia scheduled to and let our customers live the ex- take place from June 14 to July 15, perience as Qatar is getting ready QIB has announced that it is cel- to host the next FIFA World Cup ebrating the long-awaited event in 2022” he added. with its customers. Customers who use their Visa The promotion will run from credit cards locally or interna- January 15 to April 15. tionally, and those who use their Each of the fi ve packages to be Visa debit card internationally won will cover the expenses for for a minimum of QR5,000 dur- The Beaches and Islands Section at two individuals — the lucky win- ing the month, will be eligible to the General Cleaning Department ner and one companion. enter the monthly draw, which of the Ministry of Municipality and The fully-paid packages will will select one winner every Environment has conducted a cleaning cover the airfare cost, deluxe month. campaign at the north and northwest accommodation, tickets for a Customers who will use the beaches. The campaign, which started 2018 FIFA World Cup semi-fi nal same cards for a minimum of on January 1, had two phases. In the match with pre-match hospital- QR15,000 during the three- first phase, the beaches extending up to ity, and a guided tour to the city month campaign will also get Abu-Zaluf were cleaned. Carcasses of a of Saint Petersburg, courtesy of two chances to win the fully- dead dolphin and dugong were found Visa. paid 2018 FIFA World Cup pack- at Al-Arish. During the current week, “The 2018 FIFA World Cup ages. beaches extending from Al-Arish until is the biggest and most an- For more information and Al-Zubarah are to be cleaned. ticipated football event world- terms and conditions, visit www. wide. QIB is excited to grant qib.com.qa. Gulf Times 6 Monday, January 15, 2018 QATAR

Nissan Patrol promotion CRA fully meeting starts at all Abideen: expressed gratitude to loyal Safari outlets customers for their support new off ers as part of its mega promotion, afari Group has announced that it is besides musical game shows. launching the “Safari Win 10 Nis- The musical shows are free events that need for national Ssan Patrol Car Promotion” today. would be held in the food court of Safari This is the fi rst mega promotion from Mall from today until Wednesday (Janu- Safari this year, the Safari Group said in a ary 17), and will be led by famous artistes press statement. from Doha. Five draws will be held as part of the Abideen expressed gratitude to cus- promotion, with two Nissan Patrol vehi- tomers for their support over the years. cles given away in each draw. Customers “gave tremendous sup- To avail of the opportunity to win the port” to the “Safari Win 20 Toyota Cam- scarce resources 2018 Nissan Patrol, customers need only ry Car Promotion”, which started in 2017 make purchases worth a minimum of and ended this month, it was observed. he Communications Regula- complaints received throughout 2017 “are serving the Qatari market and QR50 to be eligible for a raffl e coupon. “The best part is that the winners of tory Authority (CRA) has met (down 45% from 11 investigations in community well”. In the statement, Safari Group director these promotions have mostly been com- Tthe full and diverse range of 2016). Also, the total number of registered and general manager Zainul Abideen said mon people from all walks of life and dif- “national scarce resources” needs, The CRA conducted two routine Qatari domains reached 20,253. that the promotion would be available at ferent nationalities. Safari’s promotions such as numbering, domain names, inspections on 546 shops that sell In the fi eld of numbering man- all Safari outlets. have always got tremendous support,” and spectrum, it was announced in a radio and telecommunication equip- agement, in 2017 the CRA allocated Safari has also launched a number of the statement adds. statement yesterday. ment (up by 180% from inspections 100,000 new mobile numbers and Throughout 2017, the CRA said it on 195 shops in 2016) and issued 257 10,000 fi xed-line numbers to service allocated 100,000 mobile numbers violation notices for shops that were providers. Katara gearing up for Winter Festival 2018 to service providers, registered 3,272 selling telecoms devices and equip- As of December 31, 2017, a total of new Qatari domain names, issued ment without having the required 8.1mn mobile and 1.46mn fi xed line Keen to present a wide array of Championship will host an exhibition of 1,311 spectrum licences, and assigned licences. numbers have been allocated. entertainment shows and cultural events, collectables and equipment from previous 649 frequencies. The CRA also played a signifi cant Throughout the year, 29,466 mo- Katara – the Cultural Village is set to host championships. “The CRA is keen to ensure the ef- role in supporting spectrum require- bile numbers were ported and 5,914 the fifth edition of the Winter Festival from The Ministry of Municipality and fective management and allocation ments of three major events during mobile numbers were returned under January 18 to 22, it was announced. Environment is scheduled to organise of the ‘national scarce resources’ and the year: the National Day celebra- the mobile number portability serv- The festival will feature performances, “winter planting” workshops for children, to meet all current and future needs. tion, the fi nal round of the Superbike ice. folklore shows, amusing events and Katara said in a statement. The CRA also ensures that the use World Championship, and FIA World In addition to mobile and fi xed- informative competitions from 4pm to A campaign on health awareness and of such resources is rationed in a fair Touring Car Championship. line numbers allocation, the CRA 9pm at Katara’s esplanade. free medical checkups for the public will and transparent manner,” said CRA It has made considerable eff ort to assigned 15 numbering resources for In addition, residents and visitors will get be conducted by the Syrian American president Mohamed Ali al-Mannai. encourage the uptake of “.qa” do- other services that include toll free, to buy traditional and artistic pieces from Medical Centre, Al Hayat Medical Centre, In the fi eld of spectrum manage- main names, which allow local busi- public service, and licenced operator Katara’s traditional Souq. Bin Muftah Centre, Naseem Al Rabeeh ment, in 2017 the CRA issued 407 Al-Mannai: The CRA ensures that the nesses to secure a reliable and reach- service. The Souq hosts a diverse range of Medical Centre, Value Medical Centre, and import authorisation licences (up by use of ‘national scarce resources’ able name on the Internet and ensure Furthermore, with the emergence pavilions off ering products such as Boston Medical Care. 12% from 363 licences in 2016), is- is rationed in a fair and transparent that they refl ect their Qatari identity of new services like M2M/IoT and textiles, perfumes and unique art pieces. Tamim Toast Master International Club sued 1,082 type approval certifi cates manner. when they provide services to their the need to keep the numbering plan The festival will also see Al Gannas will off er entertaining shows on the art of for radio and telecommunications local and international customers. in pace with the global technological Association participating with an public speaking and classic poetry. terminal equipment (RTTE), and re- spectrum interference cases (down Throughout 2017, the CRA regis- developments, the CRA is working to exhibition and educational workshops for Bedaya Centre is participating with a ceived 22,317 custom clearance ap- by 33% from 84 in 2016) and con- tered 3,272 new domains (up nearly update the national numbering dis- young falconers, as well as Al Da’oo and display of new business startups aimed plications. ducted six quality of service inves- 10% from 2,981 in 2016), which indi- tribution table and policy, which will Hudad Al Suloqi. at educating the public on the various Furthermore, the CRA received 56 tigations relating to the consumers’ cates that Qatari domain extensions be issued in 2018. In addition, the organisers of Al Galayel services provided by each project. National Car Company brings in all-new Mazda 2018 models

ational Car Compa- and delight is evident in the ny, the sole agent of driving dynamics derived NMazda in Qatar, has from i-Activ All-Wheel announced the introduction Drive. of the all-new 2018 Mazda 6, “The assurance of i-Ac- CX3 and CX9 in the country. tiv All-Wheel Drive comes The new models, all made through its sensors, which in Japan, come with free fi ve- take into account factors year “unlimited kilometre” like steering angle, throt- warranty along with road- tle inputs and wheel-spin side assistance, National Car along with temperature and Company has said in a state- use of wipers to paint a clear ment. picture of the outside condi- The models are on display tions. at the Mazda showroom in Al “i-Activ All-Wheel Drive Nasr, Doha. can adjust power output As an ancient Japanese more than 200 times per tradition, horse-mounted second, using 27 diff erent archers believed that the key variables, to ‘predict’ what The Mazda 6 (above) and the Mazda CX3 (below). to mastering their skill was the road conditions look more immediate power and for horseman and mount to like,” the statement explains. torque for eff ortless accel- achieve “oneness”. The brand-new Mazda eration and overtaking, even This is known as Jinba It- CX-9 is the “ultimate blend when towing and carrying tai, or “horse and rider as of stunning sophistication loads. one”, and is the engineering and family SUV”. The smooth ride and ath- inspiration for the new-gen- It is the fi rst Mazda to fea- letic responses are further eration Mazda vehicles, the ture the breakthrough Sky- enhanced with the latest ad- statement notes. activ-G 2.5T petrol engine, vances in Skyactiv Technol- The Mazda 6 is a personal delivering breakthrough ogy, of which CX-9 boasts sports sedan with “every- performance and bringing the full suite. thing in the cockpit dedicat- new levels of driving pleas- The addition of intelligent ed to helping you celebrate ure. i-Activ AWD monitors and driving through a direct feel- The direct injection tur- even predicts road condi- ing of being at ‘one’ with the bocharged engine provides tions. vehicle”. New-generation Skyactiv Vehicle Dynamics, realised as a result of the Mazda human- centric development philos- ophy, debuts with the adop- tion of G-Vectoring Control to take the trademark Jinba Ittai driving experience to a new level. “Engineered to respond precisely to your every wish as if it were a part of you, the Mazda 6 off ers unprecedent- ed linearity in acceleration, cornering and braking to take Mazda’s world-famous unity between car and driver to a still higher level,” the state- ment adds. The CX-3 is a driver’s “companion for whatever the road may throw its way – from the urban sprawl to the great outdoors”. It is a vehicle designed to meet the needs of a new gen- eration of car buyers, sup- porting creative, adventur- ous lifestyles. The interior off ers a high- quality and sophisticated feel that complements the exte- rior design. Attention was paid to eve- ry detail, including the cohe- siveness of designs and qual- ity of materials. Mazda’s commitment to making vehicles that thrill Gulf Times Monday, January 15, 2018 7 REGION/ARAB WORLD US-led coalition to build border force in Syria AFP ment forces to the west. Turkey reacted Turkey has often targeted YPG positions Beirut sharply to news of the border force yes- in northern Syria and yesterday, Erdogan Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during a meeting in West Bank city of Ramallah, yesterday. terday, saying it would “legitimise a terror threatened to attack the Kurdish-held organisation”.Ankara is fiercely opposed to area of Afrin in northern Syria “in the days he US-led coalition fi ghting the Is- the SDF, which is dominated by the Kurd- ahead”.The SDF’s relationship with regime lamic State group said yesterday it was ish People’s Protection Units (YPG) — con- forces is less tense. Tworking to create a 30,000-strong sidered by the Turkish government to be a Since last year, a “de-confliction line” border security force in northern Syria, “terrorist” group. cutting diagonally across eastern Syria has Abbas calls Trump peace drawing sharp condemnation from Turkey. “Rather than end its support to the PYD- largely kept the two forces from clashing. With the offensive against IS winding YPG, these steps taken to legitimise a terror There was no immediate reaction from down, the coalition and its allies in the Syr- organisation and to make it permanent in the Syrian government to the border force ian Democratic Forces alliance were begin- the region are worrying,” said Ibrahim Ka- announcement. The coalition declined to off er ‘slap of the century’ ning to shift their focus to border security, lin, spokesman for Turkish President Recep comment on possible military protocol coalition spokesman Colonel Ryan Dillon Tayyip Erdogan. when it came to Turkish or regime troops. AFP said. “Accepting this state of affairs is abso- Dillon said the force was primarily part Ramallah Body of disabled Gazan exhumed “There is a goal of a final force of approx- lutely not possible,” Kalin added. of a broader strategy to “prevent the resur- imately 30,000,” about half of whom would Top SDF media official Mustefa Bali con- gence of IS”. Palestinian off icials exhumed the body of a disabled be retrained SDF fighters, he said. firmed the creation of the border force, and “With the fight against IS, as the re- alestinian President Mahmoud Abbas de- Gazan man yesterday as part of eff orts to prove “There are approximately 230 individu- said training had already begun. maining pocket continues to go away, we nounced US President Donald Trump’s Israeli forces shot him in the head during recent als that are training right now in the border “We are transitioning to a new phase of know that doesn’t mean the end of Daesh,” PMiddle East peace eff orts as the “slap of the protests and clashes. “Ibrahim Abu Thurayeh’s body security force. That’s an inaugural class,” co-ordination between us and the interna- he told AFP, using the Arabic acronym for century” yesterday after the White House recog- was exhumed this morning for another autopsy Dillon said. tional coalition,” Bali said. IS. nised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. to refute Israeli claims that come as an attempt Backed by the US-led coalition’s air “The wide areas and cities that were lib- “We’ll have to make sure that there is se- Abbas also said Israel had “ended” the land- to evade their responsibility for this crime,” said strikes, special forces advisers, and weap- erated need someone to protect them.” curity that can be maintained,” he said. mark Oslo peace accords of the 1990s with its ac- Mohamed sl-Najjal, the deputy justice minister in ons, the SDF has ousted IS from swathes of Bali said the new units would be de- Dillon said SDF troops in Syria’s east tions, while branding the US ambassadors to the the Gaza Strip. Najjal said the Palestinian authori- northeastern Syria. ployed along the Turkish border and adja- were already co-ordinating with Iraqi forc- UN and to Israel, Nikki Haley and David Fried- ties in Gaza decided that “in order to refute the Its Kurdish and Arab members now cent to territory held by Syrian troops, but es across the border to target any “transient man, a “disgrace”. occupation’s claims, the bullet in his head must be control territory bordering Turkey to the did not immediately respond to a question movement” by IS fighters between the two “We said ‘no’ to Trump, ‘we will not accept presented to international parties,” he added. north, Iraq to the east and Syrian govern- on rules of engagement in those areas. countries. your project’,” Abbas said at the start of a key He said “the results of this autopsy will be presented meeting of Palestinian leaders on how to face to international parties including the ICC (Interna- Trump’s declaration. “The deal of the century is tional Criminal Court).” UNREST the slap of the century and we will not accept it,” Christian gunned he added, referring to Trump’s pledge to reach the “ultimate deal” — Israeli-Palestinian peace. peace process after Trump’s move. Yesterday, he down in restive Abbas made his comments at the opening cer- said the Palestinians were calling for an interna- Sinai region Army seizes dozens of emony of the meeting taking place yesterday and tionally led process in which the United States today in a marathon speech that lasted some two was not the mediator. Suspected militants have shot hours. He said the Ramallah meeting must take deci- dead an Egyptian Christian in the villages in advance on base The meeting was called in the wake of Trump’s sions on how to move forward. volatile northern Sinai region, a December 6 declaration on Jerusalem that deeply “I am saying that Oslo, there is no Oslo,” Abbas security off icial said yesterday, angered the Palestinians. said, referring to the agreements that led to the the latest in a series of attacks on AFP Abbas had previously said the United States creation of the Palestinian Authority and envi- the country’s Christian minority. Beirut could no longer play any role in the Middle East sioned a fi nal resolution to the confl ict. The 35-year-old man was attacked while he was walking with his brother late Saturday in the yrian troops have recap- district of Al-Safa in al-Arish, the tured dozens of towns capital city of northern Sinai, the Sand villages from militant chief of the local security depart- fi ghters, a monitor said yes- ment, Major-General Reda Selim, terday, bringing them closer Bomb wounds Hamas said according to local media. to a key military airport in the Security forces sealed off the country’s northwest. area and were hunting for the “In the past 24 hours, regime assailants, the off icial said, adding forces have taken at least 79 member in Lebanon that the victim’s brother was not villages in the southern parts injured in the incident. of Aleppo province, an area Members of the Syrian government forces stand on a tank in Jabal It was not immediately clear near the Abu Duhur military al-Hass in the southern part of Aleppo province as they advance Reuters comment from Israel. stations showed.Fire fi ghters whether the man was known to airport,” said Rami Abdel Rah- towards the Abu Duhur military airport in the ongoing off ensive Beirut Al-Manar television, run doused the vehicle. A leader of his assailants. Christians make up man, the head of the Britain- against opposition fighters, yesterday. by the Lebanese political and the Palestinian Fatah move- around 10% of Egypt’s population based Syrian Observatory for military group Hezbollah, ment in Lebanon said Hamdan of nearly 95mn people. Human Rights monitor. rocious counter-off ensive by added. Syrian daily Al Watan, bomb blast wounded a described Hamdan as an im- was involved in operations in In recent months,extremists have Russia-backed regime militants and rebels. which is close to the govern- member of the Palestin- portant fi gure in Hamas, add- Israel.”The incident has Is- stepped up attacks on Egypt’s troops are aiming to reach the With the latest push in Alep- ment, also reported that the Aian group Hamas in the ing that he appeared to have raeli fi ngerprints,” Mounir al- Christians and their places of Abu Duhur base as part of a po province, Abdel Rahman army was “encircling” the air- Lebanese city of Sidon yester- a security role and was being Maqdah, the Fatah offi cial, told worship. Last month, nine people weeks-long assault against said, army troops were seek- port. day, destroying his car as he tracked by Israel. Reuters. Hamdan was “slightly were killed in back-to-back attacks Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), ing to open a new front on the The airport straddles the was about to get in. The blast took place around wounded” in the attack, a Ha- on a Coptic church and a nearby which is dominated by Al Qae- airport’s northern and eastern border between Aleppo and The target, Mohamed Ham- noon (1000 GMT), the Leba- mas offi cial in Sidon, Ayman store in Cairo. In April, twin suicide da’s former Syria affi liate. The fl anks. Idlib, the last province in the dan, was not a publicly known nese army said in a statement. Shanaa, told the Palestinian bombings on Palm Sunday at two off ensive has seen Syrian forces “Regime troops lost control country outside the govern- Hamas fi gure in Lebanon. Security forces sealed off television station Paltoday. Coptic churches killed at least seize surrounding territory in of those villages in southern ment’s control. A statement from Hamas, the site of the explosion, in a Witnesses said the man tar- 47 people and prompted Egypt the provinces of Aleppo and Aleppo province in 2012,” he In addition to the base, the the group that controls Gaza, northern residential district of geted in the attack appeared to to declare a nationwide state of Hama as they close in on Abu said. regime hopes to secure a key confi rmed he was a member of Sidon, 40km south of Beirut. have been wounded in the leg. emergency. The following month, Duhur, which lies just inside “They are advancing quickly patch of highway running the group, without detailing The blast destroyed Ham- He was taken to hospital, at least 28 people were killed in an the Idlib province. now because of HTS’ collapse, through Idlib that links the his role, and said “initial indi- dan’s silver BMW and sent a where he was being treated. attack on a bus carrying Coptic They briefl y broke into the and the withdrawal of its fi ght- northern city of Aleppo with cations” suggested Israel was column of smoke into the sky, Sidon is home to two of the Christians on a journey to a mon- air base this week from the ers and those of other groups the capital Damascus further behind the bombing. footage from the scene broad- 12 Palestinian refugee camps in astery in southern Egypt. south but were ousted in a fe- from the area,” Abdel Rahman south. There was no immediate cast by Lebanese television Lebanon.

AGITATION 25 killed in recent Protests mark Tunisia uprising anniversary unrest: judiciary A total of 25 people were killed in the recent unrest that hit several AFP The revolution “is the best coalition, and Prime Minister its steps towards democracy in towns and cities across Iran, the Tunis thing that could have happened, Youssef Chahed’s Popular Front the years since, compared to judiciary said yesterday, with 465 despite the hardships...As long party also called for demonstra- countries now wracked by war still under arrest. “Twenty-five as there are people (who be- tions. such as Syria or Yemen. people, ordinary citizens and our unisians yesterday lieve), there is hope,” said Mo- President Beji Caid Essebsi A new constitution was own forces, were killed during marked seven years hamed Wajdi. marked the anniversary by at- adopted and legislative and the recent troubles,” said judici- Tsince the uprising that A wave of peaceful protests tending the opening of a youth presidential polls held in 2014. ary spokesman Gholamhossein launched the Arab Spring, with and night-time unrest hit cities centre in the working-class But authorities have strug- Mohseni Ejeie, according to the fresh protests and some peo- and towns across the country Tunis suburb of Ettadhamen, gled to revitalise Tunisia’s Mizanonline news agency. “None ple expressing pride but others over the past week, after hikes in which saw clashes between economy, including after deadly were killed by shots from the anger over persistent economic value-added tax and social se- young protesters and police this militant attacks in 2015 dealt a security forces because they were problems. curity contributions introduced week.“This year we will start to major blow to the key tourism ordered not to use their weapons,” The North African country is in early January. take care of the young,” he said. sector. he added. He provided no details seen as having had a relatively The interior ministry says “The revolution for freedom and Seven years on, youth un- on how the members of the smooth democratic transition it has arrested more than 800 dignity...was in eff ect led by the employment is more than 35%, security forces or civilians were since the January 14, 2011 top- people suspected of taking part young.” according to the International killed, including six protesters who pling of President Zine El Abi- in violence, theft and looting Several local residents turned Labour Organisation, while in- died while trying to storm a police dine Ben Ali after 23 years in since the unrest began. out to air their frustration. fl ation was more than 6% at the station in the central province of power. Protesters’ demands have in- “He says he will help us, and end of last year. Isfahan. The figure was four more But seven years later, anger cluded a review of the 2018 aus- then he goes back to his palace,” On Saturday, Essebsi an- than the death toll announced has risen over new austerity People shout slogans during demonstrations on the seventh anniversary terity budget and more effi cient said Mouna, a high school stu- nounced an increase in aid to the during the unrest that spread measures after a year of rising of the toppling of president Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, in Tunis, yesterday. measures to fi ght enduring cor- dent. needy and improved health care across the country between prices, with protesters again ruption. Tunisia’s 2011 revolt was as part of social reforms. December 28 and January 1. “At chanting the 2011 slogans of into Habib Bourguiba Avenue, erful UGTT trade union, demon- More than 1,000 people took sparked by the self-immolation The action plan, costing more most, there were 465 people un- “Work, Freedom, Dignity”. Yes- the epicentre of the 2011 dem- strator Foued el-Arbi waved an part in yesterday’s protest out- of a fruit seller in desperation at than 70mn dinars ($28.5mn), der arrest across the country as of terday, several hundred people onstrations, but no incidents empty basket marked “2018”. side the UGTT offi ces. “The police harassment and unem- will benefi t more than 120,000 yesterday, while a certain number took part in rallies in the capi- were reported. “This empty basket sums up people want the fall of the 2018 ployment. Tunisians, according to the au- have probably been released tal Tunis, responding to calls to Demonstrators chanted our situation seven years after budget,” some chanted, echo- On January 14, 2011, Ben Ali thorities. since then,” Ejeie said, adding that demonstrate from a powerful against “poverty and hunger” the revolution,” said the philos- ing 2011 calls for the fall of the fl ed to Saudi Arabia, inspiring Tunisia has secured a 2.4bn- the number included 55 in Tehran. labour union and several politi- as they marched up the avenue, ophy professor. regime. similar revolts across the region euro ($2.9bn) IMF loan in Reformist lawmaker Mahmoud cal parties. accusing “thieves” of having But others expressed their Hundreds more gathered in what became known as the return for a reduction in its Sadeghi had said on Tuesday that Security was tight as protest- stolen the country. pride over the uprising that un- after Ennahdha, an Islamist Arab Spring. budget deficit and financial 3,700 people were arrested during ers poured through checkpoints Outside the offi ces of the pow- seated Ben Ali. party that is part of the ruling Tunisia has been praised for reforms. the protests. Gulf Times 8 Monday, January 15, 2018 AFRICA

Zuma question to 4 Congo soldiers hacked be dealt with over time: Ramaphosa

Reuters to death in restive Kasai Johannesburg

AFP airport, while the streets of the city of he new leader of South Africa’s ruling Af- Kananga, DR Congo around 1mn inhabitants were deserted rican National Congress (ANC) party, Cyril and churches called off Sunday services. TRamaphosa, has said the question of wheth- Early this month, three suspected mi- er President Jacob Zuma should step down would en armed with machetes yes- litiamen were killed in fi ghting with sol- be addressed “as time goes on”. terday killed four soldiers in an diers near the airport. There has been widespread speculation that Mattack near the main Kananga The violence in Kasai erupted after a Ramaphosa and his allies are lobbying ANC mem- airport in Kasai, an opposition strong- tribal chieftain known as the Kamwina bers to oust Zuma as head of state in the coming hold in the south of the Democratic Re- Nsapu, who rebelled against the regime weeks, but he made no mention of Zuma’s future in public of Congo, residents said as ten- of President Joseph Kabila, was killed in a closely watched speech on Saturday. sions returned to the restive region. August 2016. Ramaphosa won the race to succeed Zuma as The assailants attacked the soldiers More than 3,000 people have died in ANC leader last month, narrowly defeating former as they were sleeping in their tent, the the region and some 1.4mn have been cabinet minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Zu- sources told AFP, adding that they then displaced since then. ma’s ex-wife, in a bitter leadership contest that had set fi re to the tent. Two UN experts were killed in March threatened to split the 106-year-old ANC. “An army vehicle arrived not far from last year while investigating violence in In the interview to South Africa’s eNCA televi- my house and I saw four bodies of sol- the region, where the United Nations sion station, Ramaphosa said the issue of whether diers that they were transporting as well has counted more than 80 mass graves. the ANC would push for Zuma to step down as as another soldier with blood all over his Elections were supposed to take place president “will be dealt with, you know, as time body and wounds,” one resident said by by December 2017, but they were repeat- goes on”. telephone. edly postponed — offi cially because of In a statement issued in response to the inter- The regional army commander, Brig- the violence in Kasai. view, South Africa’s presidency said Zuma and adier General Marcellin Assoumani Issa Kabila, 46, has been in power since Ramaphosa had agreed to hold regular meetings Kumba, confi rmed the attack but said he 2001, at the helm of a regime widely “to ensure synergy between the governing party could not confi rm the death toll. criticised for corruption, repression and and government.” “We are in full pursuit of these ban- incompetence. Ramaphosa said Zuma was a “deployee of the dits,” he told AFP, adding that “the situ- The International Federation for Hu- ANC” and that the ANC “dictates to all of us”. ation is under control for the moment.” man Rights in December accused the au- He added that he knew South African people A large contingent of soldiers could thorities of committing “crimes against were impatient for change but that “we should not DR Congo soldiers fire a mobile artillery piece in Matombo, 35km north of Beni, North Kivu. be seen patrolling the Kananga humanity perpetrated to create chaos”. humiliate President Zuma.” Zuma, who orchestrated the removal of former president Thabo Mbeki in 2008 after succeeding Mbeki as ANC leader, no longer holds a top ANC post. Zuma’s presidency, tainted by corruption accu- sations which he denies, has tarnished the image of Liberia ruling party expels outgoing president Sirleaf Africa’s oldest liberation movement and seen the economy slow to a near-standstill. Reuters er for 12 years, denies the party’s al- the party’s executive committee late freed American slaves — in over 70 Weah will be sworn in later this Markets have rallied since Ramaphosa’s elec- Monrovia legations that she held inappropri- on Saturday. years. month. tion as ANC leader in December, as investors have ate private meetings with election A senior offi cial in Johnson Johnson Sirleaf was not allowed Johnson Sirleaf won the Nobel warmed to his promises to root out corruption and magistrates before the October 10 Sirleaf’s offi ce declined to comment to run for re-election due to consti- Peace Prize in 2011 for helping se- kick-start economic growth. iberia’s ruling Unity Party has vote. on the decision. tutional term limits. cure peace after civil wars from Any sign that Zuma could step down before his expelled the country’s outgo- Four other party offi cials were The president and other offi cials A split between her and Boakai 1989-2003. second presidential term ends in 2019 has tended Ling president, Ellen Johnson also expelled, the party said in a were not immediately available yes- burst into the open during the cam- Weah, who in 1995 became the to lift South African assets, including the rand cur- Sirleaf, who is accused by party statement distributed yesterday. terday for comment. paign. only African to win FIFA World Play- rency. leaders of meddling in last year’s “The behaviour of the expelled Former soccer star George Weah The statement said Johnson er of the Year, now faces sky-high Ramaphosa faces a diffi cult balancing act as he presidential elections in which its persons...constitutes sabotage and defeated the Unity Party’s Joseph Sirleaf and the other members had expectations from his base of young struggles to unite a party which has been beset by candidate suff ered a bruising defeat. undermined the existence of the Boakai in a landslide, marking the violated rules, including a require- supporters. Others, who see him as bitter infi ghting for the past year. Johnson Sirleaf, a Nobel Peace party,” said the statement announc- fi rst democratic transition of power ment to support all Unity Party can- lacking the experience and knowl- A faction within the ANC opposed his bid for Prize laureate who has been in pow- ing the decision, which was taken by in Liberia — a nation founded by didates in elections. edge for the job, remain sceptical. party leader and is more closely aligned with Zuma.

Senegal arrests 16 for Casamance massacre

AFP blamed the massacre on a feud in the ported, quoting a witness. One resi- Ziguinchor, Senegal illegal teak logging industry, ending a dent told AFP yesterday that he and 15 period of relative calm in the region. others, including a woman, had been Around 20 men were collecting detained by troops in the early hours enegalese police have arrested wood in the protected forest of Bayo- in Toubacouta. “They combed the vil- at least 16 people suspected of ttes, close to the regional capital of lage,” said the man, who would not give Sinvolvement in a January 6 mas- Ziguinchor when a 15- to 20-strong his name. sacre of 14 young men in the troubled armed group attacked them. The A local youth association head, Ab- region of Casamance, sources said yes- government says 10 were shot dead, dou Sane, was quoted by APS as say- terday. two were stabbed to death and one ing that “19 young men and a woman The arrests are the fi rst in connec- was burned. Half a dozen more were were arrested this morning by police. tion with the killings in the region sep- wounded. Days later a 14th body was They are being held at Ziguinchor po- arated from the rest of Senegal by The found. lice station.” Gambia and which has been the target Four of the victims of the killings in Army chief of staff General Cheikh of an independence campaign for more the village of Toubacouta were mem- Gueye meanwhile said his troops had than 35 years. bers of a local forestry surveillance “yet to fi nger anyone” but “we are in A rebel movement in the area has committee, the APS news agency re- no hurry.”

Zambia eases cholera curbs

ambia yesterday re- laxed rules imposed Zto curb the spread of cholera as the number of new cases being re- ported has halved, Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya said. Schools and some mar- kets will be allowed to re- open, Chilufya told a news conference in Lusaka. Police arrested 55 peo- ple in the capital on Friday after residents rioted over a curfew and ban on street vending. The outbreak has killed 74 people since October 4, including 68 in Lusaka, Chilufya said. The number of new cases has fallen to around 80 from 164 a week ago. Of the more than 3,200 cases reported in total, more than 3,000 have been in Lusaka. All government and private schools will re- open on January 22, but Zambia’s two largest pub- lic universities will re- main closed for now. President Edgar Lungu last month directed the military to clean markets and unblock drains to help to fi ght the spread of the waterborne disease. Cholera causes acute watery diarrhoea. It can be treated with oral hydration solu- tions and antibiotics but spreads rapidly and can kill within hours if not treated. Gulf Times Monday, January 15, 2018 9 AMERICAS

Whistleblower Trump: Immigration Manning seeks US Senate seat

AFP deal ‘probably dead’ Washington AFP a “gross misrepresentation” of the White Washington House meeting on immigration. histleblower Chelsea Manning, jailed for leaking But other Republicans, pained by the turn classifi ed information, is seeking election to the US of events, spoke out against the president as WSenate in the state of Maryland, says a document S President Donald Trump yesterday debate over the slur spilled into television seen by AFP on Saturday. appeared to give up for dead a bipar- talk shows yesterday. Manning has now gone from prison to US senatorial can- Utisan deal on immigration, blaming “I can’t defend the indefensible,” said Mia didate in less than a year during which she often made head- Democrats as the aftershocks of his vulgar Love, a Haitian-American congresswoman lines, as the fame and infamy she gained by leaking a trove of disparagement of African countries and from Utah who campaigned on Trump’s be- classifi ed documents follows her after release. Haiti rumbled Washington’s political bat- half in the country’s Haitian community. The Federal Election Commission document, fi led Thurs- tlegrounds. “I still think that he should apologise,” she day, lists Chelsea Elizabeth Manning of North Bethesda, Trump came back on the issue in a pair said on CNN’s ‘State of the Union’. Maryland, as a Democratic candidate for the Senate. of early morning tweets three days after “I think that there are people that are Manning, now 30, was an army intelligence analyst sen- reportedly referring to African and Haitian looking for an apology. And I think that that tenced to 35 years in prison in 2013 for leaking more than immigrants as coming from “(expletive) would show real leadership.” 700,000 classifi ed documents related to the wars in Iraq and countries,” triggering global condemnation. Trump’s remarks were confi rmed by Sen- Afghanistan. “DACA is probably dead because the ator Dick Durbin, a Democrat who attended The revelations by Manning, who is transgender and was Democrats don’t really want it,” Trump the White House meeting, after it was re- then known as Bradley Manning, exposed covered-up mis- tweeted, referring to the Deferred Action for ported by the Washington Post and other deeds and possible crimes by US troops and allies. Childhood Arrivals program at the heart of media. Her actions made Manning a hero to anti-war and anti-secrecy the immigration impasse. But Trump has stuck with a vague denial activists but US establishment fi gures branded her a traitor. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants that he used such language, and so far has Then-president Barack Obama commuted Manning’s sen- brought to the country illegally as children made no move to apologise, hurting pros- tence, leading to her release in May. — so-called “dreamers” — face deportation pects for a deal on DACA and making life The Democratic Senate incumbent is Ben Cardin, who was unless a compromise can be reached that uncomfortable for Republicans as they look fi rst elected in 2006 and is the senior Democrat on the Senate would grant them rights to stay. ahead to mid-term elections this year. Protesters demonstrate against President Donald Trump during a rally in support of the Foreign Relations Committee. A bipartisan deal to resolve the dreamers The president sought to shift from the de- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals near Trump Tower in New York on October 5, 2017. US President Donald Trump has labeled Manning a traitor. problem in return for changes demanded fensive by portraying Democrats as not truly He also tried to bar transgender personnel from the military by Republicans in the way visas are allo- interested in an immigration deal. White House Thursday would end a visa lot- Trump announced in September he was but federal courts ruled against that ban. cated collapsed in acrimony Thursday with “They just want to talk and take desper- tery system and so-called chain migration scrapping the DACA program but delayed Manning wrote on Twitter in September that she was Trump’s remarks, which were widely de- ately needed money away from our Military,” under which legal immigrants can bring in enforcement to give Congress six months — barred from entering Canada due to criminal convictions in nounced as racist. he tweeted. family members. The dreamers would be al- until March — to craft a lasting solution. the United States and posted an image of a document. The “I think this man, this president, is tak- “I, as President, want people coming into lowed to stay but not become US citizens, Last Tuesday, however, a federal judge or- document said Manning had committed a crime outside the ing us back to another place,” John Lewis, a our Country who are going to help us be- according to Flake. dered the government to keep DACA going country that “would equate to an indictable off ence, namely Georgia congressman who was on the front come strong and great again, people com- The senator from Arizona said Trump’s pending resolution of court challenges to the treason” in Canada and which carries a maximum sentence of lines of the 1960s civil rights movement, ing in through a system based on MERIT. No remarks came in reaction to an element of president’s decision. 14 years imprisonment. said yesterday on ABC’s ‘This Week’. “I think more Lotteries! #AMERICA FIRST,” he said. the deal that would reallocate the visas given Meanwhile, dimming prospects for a 2018 he is a racist.” Senator Jeff Flake, a Republican who has out in a lottery to immigrants who are cur- spending agreement means lawmakers will Senator David Purdue, a Republican from been critical of Trump, said Democrats were rently in a protected status, like Haitians and have to resort to a temporary funding ex- Suspect held in fatal ‘swatting’ case Georgia, called charges that Trump is rac- serious about a bipartisan deal on immigration. the dreamers. tension to avert a government shutdown on ist “ridiculous” and his reported remarks He said the compromise presented to the “I believe there is a deal to be had,” he said. January 19. California man accused of making a hoax call, that led police in Kansas to kill an unarmed man, was in a Wi- Achita jail on Saturday after his fi rst court appearance in the “swatting” case, local media reported. Tyler Barriss, 25, who made a video appearance on Friday from Sedgwick County jail, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, giv- Govt offi cial defends early-warning systems after Hawaii ‘failure’ ing a false alarm and interference with law enforcement. Barriss was accused of “swatting,” in which a caller falsely reports an emergency requiring a police response, usually AFP MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO threat, so that we could provide as by special weapons and tactics, or SWAT, teams, authori- Honolulu HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHEL- much notifi cation and preparation ties said. He made the call from Los Angeles on December 28, TER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL”, sent to the public,” he said, pledging to prosecutors said. A Wichita police offi cer fatally shot Andrew people rushing for safety whether in investigate what happened and to Finch, 28, after law enforcement offi cials rushed to his home top US offi cial yesterday de- a bathtub, a basement, a manhole or avoid a repetition. following a phone call falsely reporting that hostages were fended government early- cowering under mattresses. He said a rule has already been being held there. Awarning systems after a false The Federal Communications put in place ordering that two peo- In his fi rst on-camera interview since his arrest, Barriss missile alert terrifi ed Hawaii, in what Commission, which is responsible for ple be present before the button is told CBS television affi liate KWCH12 from jail late on Friday: a congresswoman called an epic fail- Emergency Alert System procedures, pushed to issue an alert. “I feel remorse for what happened. I never intended for any- ure that emphasised the need for promised a “full investigation.” A cancellation message “tem- one to get shot and killed.” He said he had been paid for mak- talks with North Korea. The erroneous message came af- plate” will also be created to avoid ing “numerous” swatting calls in the past. The Pacifi c archipelago was al- ter months of soaring tensions be- a delay like that on Saturday, the “People were sending money to have that done,” he told ready on edge over fears of a North tween Washington and Pyongyang, report said. KWCH when asked what inspired him to make the December Korean attack when the phones of which claimed it had successfully “What happened today was to- 28 call, although he would not confi rm that he was paid for it. residents and tourists blared the alert tested ballistic missiles that could tally unacceptable,” Hawaii Gover- Barriss also said he started swatting after he and his grand- just after 8am on Saturday. deliver atomic warheads to the nor David Ige said. mother were targets of a similar hoax call in 2014. Emergency management offi cials United States, including the Hawai- The false alarm highlighted a “People have said before: ‘People could die; someone could later admitted “the wrong button was ian islands popular with tourists. broader issue — the risk of acci- get shot and killed. Why do you do that?’” he told KWCH. “I pushed” during a shift change. Homeland Security Secretary dental nuclear war, said Gabbard, a guess it could have happened to me, to my grandmother.” But it took them nearly 40 minutes Kirstjen Nielsen urged people “not Democrat and Iraq war veteran. to issue a corrected message. to draw the wrong conclusion” “We have got to get to the un- Hawaii’s governor said there was from the Hawaii incident. derlying issue here of, why are the no automatic way to cancel the false “I would hate for anybody not people of Hawaii and this coun- alarm, meaning it had to be done to abide by alert warnings coming try facing a nuclear threat coming manually. from government systems,” she said from North Korea today? And what Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi yesterday on Fox News. is this president doing urgently to Gabbard issued her own advisory “They can trust government sys- eliminate that threat?” she said on of the false alarm much earlier after tems, we test them every day. This CNN’s ‘State of the Union’. directly checking with civil defence was a very unfortunate mistake, but “I have been calling on President offi cials, she told ABC News ‘This these alerts are vital, seconds and Trump to directly negotiate with Week’. minutes can save lives.” North Korea,” Gabbard said. “It’s an epic failure of leadership,” She said her department is work- President Donald Trump recently said Gabbard. “It was unacceptable ing with state and local authorities said that, under the right circum- that this went out in the fi rst place, “to make sure it doesn’t happen stances, he would be willing to speak but the fact that it took so long for again.” directly with North Korean leader them to put out that second message, Vern Miyagi, administrator of Kim Jong-un, with whom he has to calm people, to allay their fears Hawaii’s Emergency Management traded sharp words over Pyongyang’s that this was a mistake, a false alarm Agency, confessed at a press con- missile and nuclear tests. is something that has to be fi xed, cor- ference that “we made a mistake,” The White House said Trump was rected with people held accountable,” for which he apologised. briefed about the Hawaii incident, An electronic sign reads ‘There is no threat’ in Oahu, Hawaii, in this she told the programme. “We’ve spent the last few months but called the alert “purely a state ex- photo obtained from social media. The alert, which read “BALLISTIC trying to get ahead of this whole ercise.”

20 dead as search grinds on for California mudslide survivors

Reuters Department of Forestry and Fire Los Angeles Protection, and forced the partial closure of one of California’s most celebrated coastal roads, the heav- he search for survivors of ily used Highway 101. the deadly mudslides in Offi cials ordered residents in most Tparts of California’s Santa of the southeastern corner of Mon- Barbara County continued yester- tecito, which is east of Santa Barbara, day even as hopes dwindled to fi nd to leave their homes for what was anyone alive, offi cials said. likely to be one or two weeks. “We’re still in rescue mode and Many fl ed to nearby Carpinteria, we still hope to fi nd someone alive, where local resident Tessa Nash although the chances of that are said they were communicating via becoming slim,” said Justin Coop- a Facebook page called Carpinte- er, a spokesperson for the multi- ria Swap, which is usually focused agency response team. on buying and selling secondhand The death toll rose to 20 yester- goods. day with four people still missing, In the last few days, Nash said, Cooper said. it has been carrying informa- Another 900 emergency per- tion about community-led blood sonnel arrived this weekend to join Santa Barbara County Fire Engineer Rick Pinal navigates through a muddy home destroyed by mudflow and drives and transportation tips. the relief eff ort conducted by more debris backyard in Montecito, California. “We’re really joined together,” than 2,100 personnel from local, she said. state and federal agencies, includ- additional manpower made earlier been stripped away by the largest uprooted trees and boulders onto “We’re aff ected here in Carpin- ing the US Coast Guard, the US in the week. wildfi re in California’s history last the valley below and killing people teria in the sense that we’re taking Navy and the American Red Cross. Heavy rains last Tuesday soaked month. aged three to 89. these people in and a lot of people The ramped-up rescue eff ort is the area near Montecito, north of Sodden hillsides gave way, un- The destruction covered 78sq are out of work because they can’t in response to urgent requests for Los Angeles, where vegetation had leashing a torrent of mud, water, km, according to the California travel. It’s a trickle down eff ect.” Gulf Times 10 Monday, January 15, 2018 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Exiled Cambodian opposition members set up new movement

Reuters the Cambodia National Rescue Former CNRP leader Sam Rainsy statement. Sam Rainsy, a former of the now dissolved CNRP, Eng prisoners of conscience. Huy tion of Cambodians,” he said. Phnom Penh Party (CNRP) in November at said in a tweet yesterday that the CNRP leader who lives in exile Chhai Eang and Mu Sochua. “We Vannak, undersecretary of state The Supreme Court’s decision the request of the government Cambodia National Rescue Move- in France, did not say it was call- invite our compatriots from all at the Interior Ministry, called also banned more than 118 CNRP of long-serving Prime Minister ment (CNRM), launched on Satur- ing for any protests at this point. walks of life, regardless of their the movement “desperate” and members from politics ahead of oreign-based members Hun Sen. day, would provide a new structure It was not immediately clear political affi liation, to join the that Sam Rainsy is “a serial loser.” the general election on July 29. of Cambodia’s dissolved Party leader Kem Sokha was ar- that nobody can harm or dissolve. how widespread the backing for CNRM in order to protect the “I advise the people on this list Rights groups have decried an Fopposition party have rested in September and is accused “The CNRM can launch ap- the new movement was among will of the Cambodian people about the spirit of the Cambodi- ongoing crackdown against the launched a movement to demand of trying to overthrow the gov- peals to the people to organise CNRP members. through free, fair and inclusive an Supreme Court’s decision on political opposition and inde- the release of its detained leader ernment with American help and peaceful protests, to workers to According to the statement, elections,” the statement said. the prohibition of political rights pendent media. and to call for free and fair elec- of espionage — charges he denies go on strike and to the armed the CNRM’s members include They said in the statement that and to avoid taking illegal or One group called the CNRP’s tions and possibly protests. and says are politically motivated forces to side with the people,” Sam Rainsy, his wife Saumura they also demand the release of guerrilla acts leading to the harm dissolution the death of democ- The Supreme Court dissolved ahead of a general election in July. Sam Rainsy tweeted, along with a Tioulong and deputy presidents Kem Sokha and other politician of innocents and the destruc- racy in the country.

S Korean held after double murder at Hong Kong hotel

AFP said. The motive for the kill- Hong Kong ings remained unclear, with the suspect still in hospital and unfi t to talk to police. South Korean has been Local news site Apple Daily arrested for the sus- said the couple and their son A pected murder of his had checked into the fi ve-star wife and young son at the hotel a few days beforehand. luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel on A source with knowledge of Hong Kong’s harbourfront the investigation told AFP that yesterday, offi cials said. a friend of the suspect had Police rushed to the hotel warned authorities in South after receiving a report yester- Korea he was potentially sui- day morning that a man and cidal shortly before the inci- a woman, both aged 42, were dent. fi ghting. The Ritz-Cartlon is locat- The woman and a boy aged ed on the top fl oors of Hong six were found dead at the Kong’s tallest skyscraper — scene while the man was ar- the International Commerce rested on suspicion of murder Centre — and is famous for and taken to hospital, police panoramic views of the city said. and its Victoria Harbour. The suspect was believed “Our thoughts are with the to have consumed alcohol family of the guests involved at and appeared unconscious this very diffi cult time,” a hotel in the hotel suite with minor spokesperson in Hong Kong Smoke and flames coming from the burning oil tanker Sanchi at sea off the coast of eastern China. wounds to his hand and face, told AFP, declining to com- police assistant district com- ment further as an investiga- mander Chan Tsz-Leung told tion was ongoing. an evening press conference. In a separate incident, Hong The woman suff ered mul- Kong police are investigating tiple cuts and wounds to her the murder-suicide of a couple neck and wounds were also found dead at a public housing found on the throat of the boy. estate near the border with Police retrieved a fi ve-inch- mainland China, local media Flaming Iranian tanker long knife at the scene, Chan reported.

PNG volcanic burst sparks more evacuations

Thousands of residents of reports said, after fears a sinks in East China Sea an island near a Papua New second volcano on Biem Guinea volcano have been had also erupted. Local Reuters called the Sanchi, which surface of the water. The drift of overfl owing oil” bers and passengers of China will continue to evacuated after escalating volcanologists have yet to Beijing had been adrift and on fi re ship sank before 5pm, the from the wrecked ship. the tanker were presumed make 100% eff ort” to res- eruptions sparked fears of confirm the second eruption, following the accident with broadcaster said. A Chinese salvage team dead. Iranian President cue and recover the crew. a possible landslide and with the RVO saying the the freighter CF Crystal, had China’s State Oce- on Saturday recovered two Hassan Rouhani sent mes- The tanker, owned by Na- tsunami, authorities and tremors could be from the n Iranian oil tanker “suddenly ignited” around anic Administration said bodies from the tanker. sages of condolence to the tional Iranian Tanker Co, reports said yesterday. The ongoing activity on Kadovar. has sunk after burn- noon, China Central Televi- that because the hull of Another body, presumed families of the crew and was carrying almost 1mn previously dormant volcano, PNG Prime Minister Peter Aing for more than a sion (CCTV) said. the ship had detonated, a to be one of the Sanchi’s called for an investigation barrels of condensate, an more than 500m (1,640ft) O’Neill said his government week following a collision “Currently it has already large amount of oil in sur- sailors, was found on Mon- into the accident, Iranian ultra-light crude oil, to high, on the northern island was supporting the on January 6 in the East sunk,” CCTV said, citing rounding waters was on day and brought to Shang- state media reported. South Korea. of Kadovar off PNG erupted evacuations as he warned China Sea, Chinese state the Shanghai maritime fi re, according to the of- hai for identifi cation. The Chinese Foreign Min- It collided with the CF on January 5 with all 600 of a possible tsunami. “The media said yesterday, add- search and rescue centre. It fi cial Xinhua news agency. Sanchi’s crew consisted of ister Wang Yi earlier told Crystal, which was carry- residents evacuated. But terrain around the (Kadovar) ing that large amounts of showed video of a tower of The Administration said it 30 Iranians and two Bang- his Iranian counterpart ing grain from the United volcanic activity significantly volcano is very steep, so oil are burning in the sur- billowing black smoke that would expand the scope of ladeshis. Mohammad Javad Zarif States, about 160 nautical escalated in recent days, this increases the risk of a rounding waters. it said reached as high as its monitoring and “quick- Iranian offi cials said the by telephone that “as long miles (184km) off China’s culminating in a big blast large landslide that could The stricken tanker, 1,000m, and fl ames on the ly ascertain the spread and remaining 29 crew mem- as there is 1% of hope, coast near Shanghai. on Friday, the Rabaul trigger a tsunami,” O’Neill Volcanological Observatory said in a statement yesterday. (RVO) said. “Big rocks were “Tsunamis can travel China revokes academic title of professor accused of sexual harassment blasted out and there was hundreds and thousands of a significant amount of kilometres across open water, material involved,” the RVO so communities must be China’s Education Ministry posts after an investigation number and said he was Chinese state radio said, he relented only after she and share their own told local news website ready if there is a landslide.” yesterday revoked the found he had engaged refusing interviews. referring to an academic burst into tears ... Luo also experiences under the Loop PNG. “The rocks were He added that flights had prestigious academic title in “sexual harassment The university’s award given to individuals accused Chen of harassing hashtag. Luo’s allegations, glowing red ... previous to been cancelled and all ships of a university professor behaviour” that seriously investigation was launched in higher education. several other students. combined with another this blast, it was observed and boats not involved with accused of sexually violated professional ethics after former Beihang The ministry also Luo, who now lives in the public post from a Peking that the fracture, which the evacuation eff ort were harassing students, state and the school’s code student Luo Xixi publicly authorised the university United States, said she was University graduate, have was apparent in the initial to keep clear of the area. media said, in a case that of conduct. The Beijing accused Chen of sexually to relieve Chen of his inspired by the #MeToo inspired students from aerial photos, running from Tsunamis can be triggered has sparked national media Youth Daily had previously harassing her 13 years appointment and took back social media movement more than 50 universities the summit dome down to by undersea earthquakes coverage and a nascent reported Chen saying he ago in an online blog that his award funding, it said. It that started in October to issue open letters the coast, had apparently or due to the eruption or #MeToo movement in the had done “nothing illegal”, promptly went viral after it did not give further details. in the wake of sexual demanding more eff ective widened.” More than 3,000 collapse of volcanoes located country. Beihang University but Reuters was unable to was posted on Jan 1. “The In her post, Luo said Chen misconduct allegations oversight and a reporting residents on surrounding on coastlines, according to in Beijing said last week reach him for comment as ministry decided to revoke made an unwanted sexual in the US entertainment system to deal with sexual islands Biem and Ruprup the United States Geological that it removed Chen the university declined to Chen Xiaowu’s status as advance after luring her to industry, and encouraged harassment on their were also evacuated, local Survey. Xiaowu from his teaching provide Chen’s telephone a Yangtze River Scholar,” his sister’s house, and that others to come forward campuses. 16 injured from boat explosion in southern Thailand

Reuters Bangkok

tourist speedboat carrying 31 passengers exploded in front of Phi Phi Le island in the southern Thai- Aland province of Krabi yesterday, injuring 16, mostly tourists from China, the Phi Phi police told Reuters. The speedboat, named “King Poseidon”, was ferry- ing 27 Chinese tourists from the nearby resort island of Phuket to Phi Phi before its engine caught fi re and ex- ploded injuring 14 tourists and two crew members, the police said, adding that the authority is still investigating the cause of the explosion. Out of the 16 injured, six are in a severe condition, Phi Phi hospital staff told Reuters, adding that seven people have been sent to hospitals in Phuket for further treatment and nine have been discharged. Beach resorts and islands in southern Thailand are major tourist attractions, par- ticularly during the high season from November to March. Gulf Times Monday, January 15, 2018 11 BRITAIN/IRELAND

UK must stay in customs union to avoid Irish hard border: Smith

Guardian News and Media newed scepticism about some lic this week to meet politicians to be a solution to the Northern inside the customs union and the up with some, frankly fantasy, from DUP’s Arlene Foster and London aspects of the single market and trade unions, marking a year Irish border, and my view is that single market. solution.” Irish Prime Minister, Leo Var- yesterday, and repeated his as- since the power-sharing agree- can’t be reached without eff ec- “It is incredibly important Two key paragraphs in the adkar. sertion that it is not possible to ment at Stormont collapsed, tively retaining membership of for the peace process that we agreement say that if the fi nal Smith, the MP for Pontypridd, wen Smith, the shadow remain inside the single market Smith said the logical way to the single market and the cus- do not have, cannot counte- UK-EU deal does not obviate was brought back into the shad- Northern Ireland sec- without being a member of the prevent the return of a hard bor- toms union.” nance, a hard border on the the need for border-checks, and ow cabinet after the general Oretary, has waded into European Union. der was to sign up to the rules of He added: “That is an argu- island of Ireland,” he said. ”At a separate solution cannot be election in June. In 2016, he un- the row about Labour’s Brexit Smith said: “I fi nd that slight- the single market and customs ment that I’m consistently mak- the moment the government found for Northern Ireland, the successfully challenged Corbyn stance, warning the return of ly puzzling, because it is clearly union. ing within the Labour party.” appears to me to be conceding UK will “maintain full alignment for the leadership. border posts in Northern Ireland possible for us to be outside the Asked about Labour’s policy, Smith believes the practical that the only way in which they with those rules of the internal Speaking in advance of his trip will be unavoidable without the EU and inside the single market, he said: “The position we’ve implication of the withdrawal deliver on their guarantee of market and the customs union, to Belfast and Dublin, he urged UK “eff ectively retaining mem- as is Norway and other coun- got at the moment is very clear, agreement Theresa May struck not having that, is that we re- which, now or in the future, sup- the new Northern Ireland secre- bership of the single market and tries.” which is that we’ve got to stay in with the EU27 member states main aligned with the rules of port north-south co-operation”. tary, Karen Bradley, to intervene the customs union”. As he prepared to visit North- for the transitional period. The before Christmas is that the UK the customs union and the sin- May was forced to tweak the to get power-sharing back on Jeremy Corbyn expressed re- ern Ireland and the Irish Repub- position is equally that there has will end up eff ectively remaining gle market; or that they come language to meet objections track. Harder the Brexit, worse the outcome, warns Sturgeon

Reuters Party over their vision for the new Edinburgh relationship with the EU, while the biggest opposition party, Labour, is also split on the best way for- cottish leader Nicola Stur- ward. geon yesterday said there Speaking to the BBC’s Andrew Swas a “golden opportuni- Marr, Sturgeon again urged for ty” to argue for Britain to remain Labour to sign up for Britain to in the European single market remain in the single market, but after Brexit, as no-one had yet leader Jeremy Corbyn said mem- demonstrated the benefi t of bership of the market was depend- loosening trade ties with the EU. ent on being a member of the EU. Sturgeon, whose nationalist “So I don’t quite understand SNP runs the devolved Scottish why she would keep saying join government, said there was no al- the single market when leaving ternative to EU membership that the EU means you leave the single could deliver the same economic market,” Corbyn told the ITV’s Pe- Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer arrives to speak at the Fabian Society New Year Conference in central London. benefi ts. The SNP will today pub- ston on Sunday programme. lish a study of the economic im- “You have to make a special re- pact of Brexit on Scotland. lationship with the EU,” he said, adding that there were “aspects of the single market” he would want to challenge such as state aid rules. May has said she is targeting the closest possible economic ties with the EU after Brexit to reduce Labour to vote against EU future problems for companies, but also wants to reduce immi- gration and restore sovereignty by ending the jurisdiction of the Eu- “There is zero credible ropean court. evidence to suggest leaving The British government has also the single market will said it is seeking a one-size-fi ts- withdrawal bill: Corbyn bring any benefi t to our all Brexit that would suit all parts economy” of the UK, ruling out the possibil- Guardian News and Media Commission, Amnesty Interna- this week on the EU withdrawal porting or calling for a second be there for all of us who are ity of a second referendum on in- London tional, Liberty, the Fawcett So- bill. We’ve set down our lines referendum,” he said. “What we democrats,” she told the BBC’s She said Prime Minister Theresa dependence, a vote Sturgeon said ciety and the National Aids Trust on that which are about demo- have called for is a meaningful Andrew Marr show. May must defend whatever trade she would be able to have a view on warned that the bill, which re- cratic accountability, protection vote in parliament and that is the “But at the moment and as option the government chose to by the end of the year. eremy Corbyn has said La- turns to the House of Commons of workers and environment and one area that I think parliament things currently stand we pro- pursue with hard evidence, dam- But Sturgeon’s party says con- bour will vote against the EU tomorrow, “will not protect peo- consumer rights, human rights has asserted itself just in the vote ceed in good faith, we do as we aging the economy as little as pos- tinued single market membership Jwithdrawal bill at its third ple’s rights in the UK as the gov- across Europe.” before Christmas.” are instructed and we are leaving sible. would be the option that best re- reading because of concern about ernment promised”. It is understood Conservative Asked if he was saying Labour the EU.” “There is zero credible evidence fl ects the fact that a majority of a lack of protection for parlia- Keir Starmer, the shadow rebels who defeated the gov- would never support a second Pro-EU Labour MPs have to suggest leaving the single mar- Scots vote in the 2016 referendum mentary democracy and human Brexit secretary, has said Labour ernment in December over an referendum, the Labour leader ratcheted up eff orts over the ket will bring any benefi t to our to stay in the EU. rights. would propose an amendment to amendment designed to protect would only say his party was not past week for Corbyn to harden economy. Indeed, as our analysis “(Those defending Brexit) have The Labour leader confi rmed the withdrawal bill to retain the a parliamentary vote on the fi nal calling for one. Labour’s Brexit policy to back will show — the harder the Brexit, completely failed to explain how for the fi rst time that his party EU charter of fundamental rights deal are unlikely to vote in sig- The shadow foreign secre- continued membership of the the worse will be the outcome,” their approach could even re- planned to vote against the bill, in British law. nifi cant numbers against the fi - tary, Emily Thornberry, said single market and the customs Sturgeon said. motely come close to replacing the but also said he would not heed Corbyn said he would direct nal bill and are minded to wait to a second referendum was not union. May is preparing for the start enormous lost trade and invest- calls from within his party and his MPs to vote against the bill see any changes proposed by the the party’s policy, but public On Saturday, the MP Wes of talks about Britain’s trade rela- ment,” Sturgeon said. from outside to commit the UK when it returned to the House House of Lords. opinion would be a signifi cant Streeting told the Fabian Soci- tionship with the EU once it is no “That means there is now a to staying inside the European of Commons. “If our tests are Corbyn was yesterday also factor. “If 90% of the popula- ety’s annual conference Corbyn longer a member. golden opportunity for those single market. not met by the government, we asked if his party would defi - tion was now saying we must was the single biggest barrier to Agreeing a united stance has moderate voices who are making Over the weekend, human will vote against the bill,” he told nitely rule out calling a second stay in the European Union and a policy that would “command a been made harder by infi ghting in the case for Scotland and the UK rights organisations including ITV’s Peston on Sunday. referendum on the terms of the we must not leave … then that majority in the Commons and a May’s Cabinet and Conservative to remain in the single market.” the Equality and Human Rights “We’ve got a vote coming up EU withdrawal. “We are not sup- would be a challenge that would majority in the country”. Tories ‘right to take credit Brexit vote may be for EU-imposed policy’ reversed, feels Farage Reuters 48% in favour of ending its mem- London bership of the EU. Guardian News and Media banned credit card charges” on Lord Malloch-Brown, who Prime Minister Theresa May London the day the new regulations were chairs the group, said: “These has ruled out a second referen- introduced, without mention of regulations show, clearly, how rexit campaigner Nigel dum, saying her government was the European Union. intertwined we are with Europe. Farage yesterday said he was seeking an amicable divorce with he Conservatives are right Guy Verhofstadt, the Brexit These rules are not the Brus- Bincreasingly concerned that the EU which will safeguard the to take credit for an EU representative for the EU parlia- sels diktats that the few on the a vote for Britain to leave the Eu- economy and enable Britain to se- Tpolicy to protect custom- ment, tweeted it was “refresh- extreme right pretend they are. ropean Union could be overturned cure trade deals with other coun- ers from credit card charges, ing to see so many embracing the They are rules to protect us from by a powerful group of the bloc’s tries. the party’s chair has said, after benefi ts of EU legislation”, and rogue practices and dodgy busi- supporters. But some Brexit campaigners widespread mockery of a party the LibDem leader, Vince Cable, nesses. In an interview with the Ob- fear her approach has led to the promotional tweet. said the Tories were “claiming “I guess Lewis thinks ‘we’ is server newspaper, Farage, former watering down of several of their Hidden surcharges on using a popular policy that they had also MEPs, EU commission and head of the eurosceptic UK In- demands, including the ability to credit cards imposed by retailers, nothing to do with”. 26 other governments. It’s just dependence Party, said a well- reduce immigration and to reclaim airlines and ticketing companies, The Labour MEP Clare Moody shameless and shows how the organised and funded group of sovereignty by leaving the juris- which can be as high as 20% of replied to May’s tweet saying: Tories try to use Europe for their campaigners that wants to remain diction of the European Court of the costs, will be banned after an “No, you haven’t. This is an EU own ends.” in the EU was drowning out those Justice. EU–wide directive, but Brandon initiative from which all EU citi- Lewis, the former immigration who want to leave. Several pro-EU campaigners Lewis said it was right the Con- zens will enjoy, not instigated by minister who replaced Patrick “The Remain side are making all say the need for a second referen- servatives were able to promote UK government.” McLoughlin as party chair, has the running,” said Farage. “They dum has become more pressing the decision while the UK re- The ban on charges is among been charged with re-engaging have a majority in parliament, and because public opinion is show- mained a member. 2,557 new EU regulations and with the party’s dwindling mem- unless we get ourselves organised ing some signs of turning against “We are fully represented and changes made since the UK vote bership, especially refortifying we could lose the historic victory Brexit as the diffi culty of negotia- part of that process of mak- to leave the EU in 2016, accord- the party’s online war against that was Brexit.” tions to leave the bloc becomes in- ing those decisions,” Lewis told ing to new data released by the Labour. Last week, Farage said he was creasingly clear. the BBC’s Andrew Marr show, House of Commons library. Over the weekend, Lewis said warming to the idea of holding a On Thursday, a ComRes poll saying Conservative MEPs had The research, which was re- the party would distribute a second vote on Britain’s member- for the Daily Mirror newspaper of backed the measure. “We’ve got quested by the pro-EU campaign “toolkit” of videos and GIFs for ship of the EU to settle the argu- 1,049 adults showed that although to spread that message much Best for Britain, found 1,602 party activists to use online but ment — an idea written off by oth- more people think there should more widely about the things we new EU regulations had become told the Sunday Telegraph he was er Brexit campaigners who urged not be a second referendum (51% are doing.” applicable since June 24, 2016, conscious that many Conserva- the government to press on with to 43%), if there were to be a re- Theresa May’s offi cial Twit- though they may not all be appli- tive supporters felt uncomforta- Brandon: “We are part of that process of making those exit talks with the bloc. run, voters say they would opt to ter account tweeted that “we’ve cable to the UK. ble engaging in the debate online. decisions” In 2016, Britons voted 52% to stay in the EU by 55% to 45%.

Gulf Times 14 Monday, January 15, 2018 BRITAIN

Animal welfare groups seek higher standards for farmed chickens

Guardian News and Media large-scale production of meat. ters operation revealed workers al- the new standard stipulates the use chain by 2026. Marks & Spencer is food chain McDonald’s, tradition- the RSPCA. “The scale of suff er- London Supermarkets and restaurants tering food safety records for poul- of higher welfare breeds. It also bans the fi rst retailer to have signed up to ally a beef-focused business, now ing is substantial, including the use are being urged to sign up to the try processed at the fi rm’s plant in inhumane live bird shackling during the higher standards. sells more chicken than beef and of fast-growing breeds which can new blueprint, which represents West Bromwich. The UK’s largest slaughter, and specifi es more natural Broiler chickens – those raised expects that by 2020 it will source contribute to painful conditions ew welfare standards for the fi rst time a single set of re- supplier of supermarket chicken light and space, room to perch and for meat only – are produced more than 10 times the volume of such as severe lameness and heart farmed chickens have quirements has been agreed on temporarily shut the plant follow- “enrichment” items such as straw more than any other farm animal chicken it does at the moment. defects. This January it will have Nbeen demanded by a large across the continent. ing undercover fi lming which also and vegetables for pecking. The au- for meat, by far, with a staggering “Despite rapidly growing de- been 10 years since chicken welfare coalition of European animal The complexity of the lengthy revealed poor hygiene standards. thors of the pan-European guide- 950mn slaughtered each year in mand, there has been little progress was highlighted by celebrity chefs protection groups, including the supply chain and ugly side of the To help curb some of the cruell- lines are urging retailers and food the UK alone, and 50bn worldwide. made in improving the welfare of Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley- RSPCA, in a bid to address grow- chicken business was exposed last est aspects of the business – which service businesses across Europe to This is expected to increase rapidly the majority of chickens bred for Whittingstall and sadly there hasn’t ing concerns about inhumane year when a Guardian and ITV sees fast-grown, over-bred birds commit to raising welfare standards and by 2020 to become the larg- their meat,” said Sophie Elwes, been as much progress as we hoped conditions in the intensive and News investigation into the 2 Sis- collapsing under their own weight – across their entire chicken supply est meat sector in the world. Fast farm animal welfare specialist at there would be.”

Early Man premiere New appeal launched to Government help solve student’s murder ‘preparing to

London Evening Standard London halt’ black cab business student killed when gunmen fi red a vol- Aley of shots through his front door was a victim of sus- pected mistaken identity, police said. James Owusu-Agyekum, 22, rapist’s release died from four bullet wounds to his back and one to his arm after Guardian News and Media we can go forward with judicial Soubry urged Hardwick to two gunmen walked past his open London review in a positive way then we “make full inquiry to ensure that door in Harlesden and opened fi re. will look to do that,” he said. “I some grave error has not been As he lay dying in the arms of think every victim out there, every made”. his mother, he told her: “Mum, ustice Secretary David Gauke friend and family, everyone who In a letter sent on Friday and I haven’t done anything to is seeking legal advice on how has read about this case, will want seen by the Guardian, she raised anyone...I don’t like trouble.” Jto prevent the release of the to know we are doing everything “very serious concerns about the More than a year on from his serial sex attacker John Worboys we can.” process by which the board has murder, detectives and his family following mass public outcry, the Lewis said he understood wide- decided to release John Worboys”. renewed an appeal for informa- Conservative party chairman has spread public anger and victims’ Soubry warned that the trauma tion and released images of the said. distress about the decision to re- suff ered by at least one of Wor- two young suspects on pedal cy- Brandon Lewis said Gauke, lease Worboys. “I absolutely un- boys’ victims had been com- cles. Police believe a feud between who became justice secretary derstand. I know someone who pounded by her views not being two rival gangs in Harlesden led in last week’s Cabinet reshuffl e, has been through this and been a taken into account by the Parole to the shooting of the “gentle gi- was taking advice on whether to victim of this but even anybody Board. ant” who worked for a west Lon- launch a judicial review of the Pa- out there who is reading about this According to Soubry, her friend don shipping company to fund his role Board’s decision to release the will appreciate just how awful this was asked in November last year studies. black-cab rapist John Worboys af- will be for victims to think about if she wanted to be kept updat- A £20,000 reward is on off er for ter less than 10 years. someone like this being out on the ed about Worboys’ sentence or information leading to the con- “The secretary of state for jus- street,” he said. whereabouts and she replied that viction of his killers. tice will be doing everything he The ministry of justice con- she did. However, she was not told An inquest heard that Owusu- can to make sure this man stays fi rmed it was looking at the op- at any time he was to be moved or Agyekum was shot on Novem- behind bars,” Lewis told BBC1’s tion of judicial review after it was considered for parole or that there ber 2, 2016, by one of two sus- Andrew Marr Show, amid reports fi rst reported in the Sunday Times. was any change in the sentencing pects who then fl ed to the nearby that Cabinet ministers had pri- “The secretary of state is minded regime. Stonebridge Estate on bicycles. vately warned Gauke that the de- to move forward only if there was The victim did not know he was Police described the victim as a cision to release Worboys could be a reasonable prospect of success,” about to be released until January 4 popular young man from a devout unlawful because of an apparent a spokesman said. when a BBC reporter called her for Christian family, who had recently failure to consult victims. The terms of Worboys’ licence a reaction. Soubry told Hardwick taken time out from his studies to Worboys was jailed indefi nitely are not yet fi nalised and victims that there had been “a fundamen- care for his disabled mother. in 2009, with a minimum term will have a chance to give their tal error in the process leading to Detectives said it was “likely of eight years, for drugging and views to the Parole Board on suit- the decision to release Worboys” James had been mistaken for sexually assaulting female pas- able conditions before his release. because at least one of the vic- someone else”. Detective chief in- sengers. He has been linked to 102 Victims and campaigners are tims was denied a right to be heard spector Dave Bolton, leading the complaints, making him one of the understood to have already been about his release. investigation, said: “James’s fam- country’s most prolifi c sex off end- looking at options for judicial re- Zac Goldsmith, the MP for some ily has lived with the torment of ers. He has been convicted of 19 view. Sarah Green, from the End of the victims, is also understood knowing his killer is still free for off ences relating to 12 victims. Violence Against Women Coali- to have written to Hardwick. more than a year now. I am doing The decision to release him was tion, said victims would “hope- Harriet Wistrich, a lawyer rep- everything I can to change that. met with criticism from those who fully have some relief at this news”. resenting one of the victims from “We are releasing images of two questioned why all of the com- Amid signs of a growing politi- Worboys’ criminal trial and anoth- suspects we would like to speak to plainants who came forward had cal backlash to Worboys’ release, er complainant, said: “My clients in connection with our investiga- not seen their cases brought to Anna Soubry MP, a former busi- are keen for anything to be done to tion. trial. ness minister, criminal barrister stop the release of Worboys, who “I would urge anyone who rec- Lewis said the government and friend of one of Worboys’ they are both convinced remains ognises these people to contact us; would proceed with a judicial re- victims, told Nick Hardwick, the a danger to women … Such a chal- all information will be handled in view if it received the advice that chairman of the Parole Board, that lenge would be unprecedented strictest confi dence and could be (Left to right) British actors Tom Hiddleston, Maisie Williams and Eddie Redmayne pose on the it would be a successful route to the “statutory process has been but, in this case, at the very least key in helping to bring a small level carpet after arriving to attend the world premiere of the film Early Man in London yesterday. keeping Worboys behind bars. breached and the decision to re- they deserve an explanation and of comfort to James’s family.” “Obviously if the advice is that lease Worboys is not lawful”. an opportunity to be consulted”. Girlfriend of Ukip chief Missing girl found suspended for racist texts with mother in Spain Guardian News and Media who has mental health prob- London lems, after social services staff Guardian News and Media are doomed if we let this behaviour ately after he was made aware of at Barking and Dagenham coun- London happen in the party,” the teenage the messages. cil intervened. activist said. “Ukip does not, has not and four-year-old girl who Hayden had made a number In a series of messages report- never will condone racism,” he told went missing with her of appeals for information on he girlfriend of Ukip leader edly sent by Marney to her friend the Mail on Sunday. A mother has been found the mother and daughter’s Henry Bolton has been sus- she referred to Markle as a “dumb The report of Marney’s use of safe and well in Spain, a high whereabouts. Tpended from the party after little commoner” with a “tiny highly off ensive language about court judge has said. In an unusual move for care reportedly making racist remarks brain”. She also apparently claimed people from diff erent ethnic back- Elliana Shand, also known as proceedings, Hayden had ruled about Meghan Markle. that Markle would “taint our royal grounds comes as Bolton faces an Elliana Richards, who has been that detail of the case could be Jo Marney, 25, sent a series of family”. investigation into his controversial missing with her mother, Jessica made public and pictures of El- messages to a friend in which she When her friend suggested her private life by senior party offi cials. Richards, since last summer, is liana and her mother were re- made highly off ensive comments comments were “racist”, Marney The Ukip leader confi rmed that the subject of care proceedings. leased to the media. about Prince Harry’s fi ancee and reportedly replied “lol so what”. he had a “change in my relation- At a hearing in the family di- In December he urged anyone black people, according the Mail Peter Whittle, leader of Ukip’s ship status” in recent weeks, al- vision of the high court in Lon- with information about Elliana on Sunday. In a statement to the delegation in the London Assem- though denied reports that it had don, justice Hayden said the girl to call police immediately. At paper, Marney said she apologised bly, also called for Marney to be involved “a clandestine aff air with was found by police in Spain. the time he said: “I am very con- “unreservedly” for the “shocking “expelled altogether” for the “dis- a young lady who happens also to He also indicated that plans cerned indeed about Elliana and language” used in the messages, graceful remarks”. be a member of Ukip”. were in place to return Elliana to her mother. It is imperative that but said they had been “taken out Meanwhile former Ukip leader- He said he had already made England in the next few days. they are found so that we can be of context”. ship candidate Ben Walker called clear on social media that he had After the hearing, Eileen Doy- sure they are safe.” Her paternal Bolton, 54, whose relationship for Bolton to resign, accusing him recently been spending time “with le, her paternal grandmother, grandfather, a Liverpool fan who with Marney is under investiga- of having “deeply fl awed judge- somebody who has become in- said she and her husband Sean campaigns for victims of the tion by the party, yesterday said ment”. creasingly important to me”. were “over the moon”. Hillsborough disaster, had also she had been suspended “imme- Bill Etheridge, a Ukip MEP, also Yesterday he was accused on The judge had praised the begged for help. diately upon us receiving this in- called for Bolton to quit. Twitter of being in Marney’s com- couple, whose son Craig is Elli- He said: “Please think if you formation”. “A quick resignation is now es- pany when he appeared on televi- ana’s father, for the eff orts they have seen them. We know Jes- The Ukip leader sent the mes- sential to allow the party to re- sion in mid-October. had made to trace their grand- sica loves Elliana to bits. But sage in reply to a young party group and campaign properly for In a letter to members, Oakden daughter. He also praised the Jessica is schizophrenic and El- member who urged him to publicly Brexit,” he said. said the national executive com- work of British and Spanish po- liana is very small. They must call for Marney to have her mem- Party chairman Paul Oakden mittee ruling body agreed to dis- lice and Foreign Offi ce staff . be somewhere. Someone must bership removed. said he decided to suspend Mar- cuss the leader’s private life at a Elliana disappeared from her have seen them. They both need “She has to go or he and Ukip ney’s party membership immedi- special meeting in Bolton: under attack London home with her mother, help.” Gulf Times Monday, January 15, 2018 15 EUROPE

Russia deploys more Lactalis contamination missiles to Crimea scare aff ects 83 nations Reuters AFP/Reuters cember had still found their way ing investigated in Greece. Implementing the global re- Moscow Paris onto shelves. An association representing call will be challenging. Besnier, who was summoned victims says the authorities are Privately owned Lactalis ex- to the French fi nance ministry underestimating the number of ports its baby food products to ussia deployed a new divi- salmonella scandal at on Friday, promised compensa- cases. 83 countries across Europe, Af- sion of S-400 surface-to- French dairy group Lac- tion for all the families aff ected. “There are complaints and rica and Asia. Rair missiles in Crimea on Atalis has aff ected 83 His promise came two days there will be an investigation “It’s not easy to evaluate the Saturday, Russian news agen- countries, where 12mn boxes of after Lactalis widened a product with which we will fully collab- number of items that need to be cies reported, in an escalation of powdered baby milk are being recall to cover all infant formula orate. We never thought to act returned because we don’t know military tensions on the Crimean recalled, the company’s chief made at its Craon plant, regard- otherwise,” Besnier said. what’s been consumed already,” peninsula. executive said yesterday in an less of the manufacture date, in a Created in 1933 by Besnier’s Besnier said in the interview Russian annexed Crimea from interview with French media. bid to contain the fallout from a grandfather, Lactalis has be- with Journal du Dimanche. Ukraine in 2014, triggering eco- Emmanuel Besnier, scion health scare that risks damaging come an industry behemoth Friday’s recall was the third in nomic sanctions by the Europe- of the secretive family behind France’s strategic agribusiness with annual sales of some €17bn a month and Lactalis has come an Union and United States and one of the world’s biggest dairy in overseas markets. ($20.6bn), with products in- under fi re for its response. a tense stand-off in the region. groups, was speaking publicly Besnier said that the conse- cluding Galbani ricotta and Besnier has also been criti- The US said in December that for the fi rst time since an outcry quences of this health crisis for mozzarella in Italy. cised for failing to speak out it planned to provide Ukraine erupted over claims the compa- consumers, including babies With 246 production sites in A man walks past a placard which reads ‘Lactalis aff air, partial publicly during the salmonella with “enhanced defensive ca- ny hid the salmonella outbreak aged under six months, were at 47 countries, its list of products unemployment at Celia factory’, in Craon, western France. scare. pabilities”, which offi cials said at a plant making the product. the forefront of his mind. also features household names While his family is France’s included Javelin anti-tank mis- “We must take account the “It is for us, for me, a great like President butter and Societe They failed to fi nd the sal- determine who was responsible 11th wealthiest, according to siles. scale of this operation: more concern,” he told the Journal du roquefort. monella bacteria that had been would continue. a 2017 ranking by Challenges Moscow’s latest deployment than 12mn boxes are aff ected,” Dimanche. Two of those brands, Picot detected by Lactalis’s own tests “Paying compensation is magazine, the dairy tycoon has represents the second division he said, adding that distribu- Hundreds of lawsuits have and Milumel baby milk, were the in August and November, which good, but money cannot buy long shunned the public lime- armed with S-400 air defence tors would no longer have to sort been fi led against the group by subject of chaotic international were not reported to the author- everything,” government light and schmoozing with poli- systems on the peninsula, after through the produce to fi nd the families who say their children recalls issued in mid-December ities. spokesman Benjamin Griveaux ticians. the fi rst in the spring of 2017 contaminated powder. “They got salmonella poisoning after after dozens of children fell sick. The company said it was not said in an interview on BFM TV. His workers nickname him near the port town of Fedosia. know that everything has to be drinking powdered milk made The scandal deepened this legally bound to report the con- “It is the job of the investiga- the “invisible man”. The new division will be based removed from the shelves.” by the company. month when French investiga- tamination. tion to determine where failings “We’re a discreet business. In next to the town of Sevastopol The health scare intensifi ed So far French offi cials have re- tive weekly Le Canard Enchaine Yesterday the French authori- occurred and who is to blame,” this region there is a mentality of and will control the airspace over last week after France’s biggest ported 35 cases of infants getting reported that state inspectors ties welcomed Lactalis’ pledge he said, adding that “responsi- ‘work fi rst, speak later’,” he said. the border with Ukraine, the RIA retailers including Carrefour, salmonella from the powder, had given a clean bill of health to to compensate victims of the bilities were shared”. But he acknowledged lessons news agency reported. Auchan and Leclerc admitted while one case has been reported the Lactalis site in Craon, north- Salmonella contamination, but Besnier did not say how much had been learned during the past The new air defence system, that products recalled in De- in Spain, and another case is be- west France, in early September. said a judicial investigation to the damages might amount to. few weeks. designed to defend Russia’s bor- ders, can be turned into combat mode in less than fi ve minutes, Interfax news agency quoted Viktor Sevostyanov, a com- mander with Russia’s air forces, Eight die, as saying. Russia’s defence ministry says that the S-400 systems, known 38 hurt in as “Triumph”, can bring down airborne targets at a range of 400km and ballistic missiles at a Portugal range of 60km. They were fi rst introduced to the Russian military’s arsenal in blaze 2007, the ministry said.

AFP Minority Norway Lisbon govt formed ire ripped through a lo- Three parties have formed a cal community centre in minority government in Norway, Fnorthern Portugal where four months after parliamentary dozens of people were watching elections. a weekend football match, kill- “We will find good, joint solutions ing eight and injuring another for Norway,” Conservative Prime 38, offi cials said yesterday. Minister Erna Solberg pledged Nine people with severe burns yesterday in Oslo. were taken by helicopter to hos- She said that the new pitals in Porto and Lisbon, emer- government will focus on job gency response chief Carlos creation and poverty reduction, The Pegasus Airlines aircraft is seen after it skidded off the runway at Trabzon airport by the Black Sea. Pereira told AFP. and better integrate migrants in Civil protection offi cial Paulo the labour force. Santos earlier said between 50 The minority government and 60 people were hurt. is made up of Solberg’s “It happened very fast. The Conservative Party, the right- Turkish plane goes off runway metres away from sea whole fl oor was in fl ames with- wing populist Progress Party, and in fi ve minutes,” survivor Julio the Liberals. Dias told the daily Publico. “In It is backed by the centrist AFP The Pegasus Airlines fl ight a cliff several metres from the among the 162 passengers on- board during the landing. the panic, many people massed Christian Democrats. Ankara had taken off smoothly from Black Sea, its wheels stuck in board as well as two pilots and “We tilted to the side, the against the doors and it was im- Progressive Party leader Siv the capital Ankara and landed mud. four cabin crew after they were front was down while the possible to open them.” Jensen said that Norway would in Trabzon, but skidded off the Other images from Dogan evacuated. plane’s rear was up. There He said a few minutes later tighten its immigration policy, passenger plane skid- runway in the northern airport. news agency showed smoke The cause of the incident was was panic; people shouting, rescue workers forced open a including the relocation of family ded off the runway late No one was injured or killed emanating from the trapped not known but an investigation screaming,” she told state-run door using ropes tied to an all- members, and higher demands Aon Saturday, just metres in the landing. plane. is under way, the Trabzon gov- news agency Anadolu. terrain vehicle. for Norwegian citizenship. away from the sea as it landed at Dramatic images from CNN Pegasus Airlines confi rmed ernor’s offi ce said. The airport was temporarily Portuguese President Marcelo Minority governments are an airport in northern Turkey, Turk broadcaster showed the in a statement yesterday that One of the passengers, Fatma shut before reopening yester- Rebelo de Sousa headed to the common in Norway. local media images showed. plane dangerously hanging off there were no injuries reported Gordu, said panic erupted on- day morning. scene yesterday. Offi cials said the fi re broke out around 9pm (2100 GMT) on Saturday on the fi rst fl oor of the building in a village near Tonde- la, which lies between the north- Merkel could join Macron in Davos for epic clash with Trump ern towns of Coimbra and Viseu. Many had taken part in an am- ateur card tournament, playing By Noah Barkin, Reuters ering whether to attend. with North Korea by engaging in tionship with Trump, who ac- Sueca, a popular game in Portu- Berlin If she does, it is unlikely that an escalating war of words with cused her during his campaign gal, and were watching football she or Macron would overlap its leader Kim Jong-un. for the presidency of “ruining match, they said. with Trump, who is expected to Last week, he stirred inter- Germany” by allowing hundreds Local mayor Jose Antonio Je- erman Chancellor Angela arrive on the afternoon of Janu- national outrage by referring to of thousands of refugees, many sus said the fi re was caused by Merkel is considering ary 25. Haiti and African nations using fl eeing war in the Middle East, the explosion of a wood-burn- Gjoining French President This year’s forum will be an expletive, according to mem- into the country in 2015. ing stove, which let off a “large Emmanuel Macron at the World opened by Indian Prime Min- bers of Congress who attended a She was hailed in some West- quantity” of carbon monoxide. Economic Forum (WEF) in Da- ister Narendra Modi on January meeting in the White House. ern media as the last defender of The Tondela fi re service said vos next week in what could turn 23. On Saturday, some 500 dem- liberal democratic values after the blaze was brought under into an epic clash of competing Britain’s Theresa May, Cana- onstrators marched in the Swiss Trump’s victory. control after an hour. world views with US President da’s Justin Trudeau and Israel’s capital Bern to protest against Since then, the election of The area was hit by a series of Donald Trump. Benjamin Netanyahu are also Trump’s plans to attend the Macron, a pro-European cen- deadly wildfi res in October. Merkel, who has been strug- expected, as well as celebrities WEF. trist who, like Merkel, supports gling to put together a govern- such as actress Cate Blanchett “There are very few things in free trade and the global rules- ment since a German election in Merkel, Macron and Trump at last year’s G20 summit in Hamburg. and musician Elton John. the world that unite countries as based order, has given her a Six hurt in housing September, had been expected Last year’s gathering took much as their antipathy towards powerful ally in the confronta- to skip the annual gathering of by some in the German and in- ner “Creating a Shared Future in place in the week leading up to Trump and what he is doing,” tion with Trump. block explosion leaders, chief executives, bank- ternational media as a spent a Fractured World” and will at- Trump’s inauguration and was said Ian Bremmer, president of Macron is slated to speak for ers and celebrities in the Swiss force. tract some 60 heads of state and headlined by Chinese Presi- political risk consultancy Eura- 45 minutes in the evening of Six people have been injured Alps for a third straight year. It would also allow her and government. dent Xi Jinping, who signalled sia Group, and a regular at Dav- January 24 in Davos, a ski resort in an explosion at a residential But after clinching a prelimi- Macron, who is scheduled to But after clinching a pre- his readiness to fi ll the vacuum os. “In the United States he may in eastern Switzerland. housing block near the Italian nary coalition agreement with speak at the forum on January liminary deal with the SPD, the in global leadership created by have 40% who approve of what “My instinct tells me that city of Milan, news agency Ansa the centre-left Social Democrats 24, two days before Trump, to chances that she could attend America’s shift inward. he’s doing. In the Davos crowd it Macron will go big,” said Robin reported yesterday. (SPD) on Friday, German offi - reaffi rm their commitment to appear to have risen. Since then, Trump has pulled is closer to 5%.” Niblett, director of the Chatham Two apartments in the top floor cials said Merkel could travel to reforming the European Union German offi cials said no fi nal the United States out of the The visit by Trump will be the House think tank in London. of the block in the town of Sesto Davos after all, possibly setting after Britain’s decision to leave, decision had been taken and that Trans-Pacifi c Partnership, a free fi rst by a US president since Bill “He won’t just talk about Eu- San Giovanni were completely up a major confrontation with and to defend liberal democratic Merkel may wait for the outcome trade deal with Asian countries, Clinton in 2000. rope. He will try to take up the destroyed in the explosion, which Trump, who is expected to speak values in the face of Trump’s of an SPD congress in Bonn next announced a withdrawal from He will be accompanied by a mantle of the free world under was likely caused by a gas leak, on the fi nal day of the forum. “America First” policies. Sunday – where the party will the Paris climate accord and large delegation that is expected Europe’s wing.” the local fire brigade said on An appearance would sig- Merkel’s spokesman Steff en formally decide whether to enter threatened to torpedo an agree- to include his son-in-law Jared If he is joined by Merkel, who Twitter. nal Merkel’s return to the world Seibert was coy last week when coalition talks with her conserv- ment between Western powers Kushner, Treasury Secretary has made seven appearances at A 73-year-old man was seriously stage after months of political asked whether she might attend atives – before committing. and Iran aimed at curbing its Steve Mnuchin, and Secretary of the WEF since becoming chan- injured after suff ering burns, but limbo in which she has avoided the WEF, which will run from Offi cials at the WEF said they nuclear programme. State Rex Tillerson. cellor in 2005, that message may no one was in life-threatening the limelight and been dismissed January 23-26 under the ban- believed Merkel was still consid- He has stirred fears of confl ict Merkel has had a frosty rela- resonate even louder. condition, Ansa said. Gulf Times 16 Monday, January 15, 2018 INDIA

Tamil Nadu Roundup In UP, Akhilesh wakes up to challenge the BJP By Umaima Shafiq IANS with party cadres, specially the “bhaiyya-ji” - as he is fondly same page against what the SP equals, the BJP will be paid back multaneously rebuild the SP, Lucknow youth. called by his followers - has terms as manipulation of the in its own coin)”, Yadav declared they feel a sustained campaign Hot air balloon Reduced to 47 in a 403-mem- decided to stop sulking at the electronic voting machines at a recent press conference. against the BJP government, ber assembly, the SP has been electoral losses and rather gar- (EVMs) but has also author- The SP is already admitting in both at the national and state festival begins anished into political hi- struggling to remain centre- ner strength to take on the BJP’s ised state party leaders to begin its fold leaders of various castes levels, is the need of the hour. in Pollachi bernation after a humili- stage even as the 325-member- might with renewed vigour. Ya- similar talks with like-minded like Nishads, Thakurs and Brah- Reining in the lumpen cadre in Bating drubbing in the 2017 strong Bharatiya Janata Party dav is said to have worked the leaders and legislators in other mins – and a lot of Muslims have the party is another challenge. assembly elections, the Sama- (BJP) gallops from one electoral wires with opposition party parties. also returned to the party in the At a recent press conference, The fourth annual hot air jwadi Party (SP) of late seems to victory to another in the state. leaders in December 2017, trying “We are trying to take the help past few weeks. The party has his cadres took over the audi- balloon festival started in have got its voice and bearings Yadav has been meeting party to forge a front that could collec- of all parties in exposing the BJP,” so far distanced itself from the torium, forcing journalists to Pollachi, about 56km from back, led by its young leader and workers from every nook and tively counter the BJP’s might. state spokesman and former Congress and is focusing on leave in a huff. Coimbatore city, on January 10. party chief, former chief minis- corner of the state in the past This came as a surprise to minister Rajendra Chowdhary rebuilding its cadre and boost- Yadav fi nally apologised for The festival organised by the ter Akhilesh Yadav. few weeks for their feedback many, mostly those who think said. Yadav himself has pointed ing the morale of the crestfallen the unruly behaviour of his party Tamil Nadu Tourism Board, After a gap of almost 10 on what went wrong in the as- Yadav is hesitant in getting off out that he has “understood the faithful. But is this enough? cadres. Clearly, he realises the with ten sports companies months, the Yadav scion has, sembly polls where its numbers the high horse and getting into game of the BJP” and would now Opinion is divided. pitfalls of being caught in the old has nearly 40 hot air balloons in the past one month, not only shrank from a high of 224. “realistic” politics of “some “take on the electoral war of the While political observers see image of the party. Now, time powered by helium. The been vocal in his criticism of He has also begun work on sense, camaraderie”. BJP in their own style”. a shift in Yadav’s attitude of will tell how much he can change balloons are tethered to SUV Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s setting the caste combinations Yadav not only initiated a “Loha, lohe ko katta hai, ab late and view it as a welcome his own party, make it battle vehicles. Over 2,000 visitors government but has also estab- and demographic arithmetic process where opposition party hum Bhajpa ko usi ki bhasha sign that he is trying to unite ready and challenge the might of ascend these balloons daily lished the “missing connect” right. Party insiders say that leaders were brought on the mein samjhayenge (in a battle of the opposition forces and si- the so far unstoppable BJP. which give a short trip on air while moored to the vehicles. The flights are held only during daylight hours. Festive dip Badru Toufiq, a regular visitor said: “The longer un-tethered balloon flights cover nearly 20km covering aerial radii of Pollachi, Anamalai, Valparai and Kerala. These can be Former top chartered for Rs15,000 per passenger. This year the festival began at Chennai’s Loyola College and came by road here. January is a preferred month to attract public who visit hometowns judges join for Pongal harvest festival.” This year ten balloons have come from the UK, US, Germany, France and Netherlands. First designed in 1914 by French engineer Albert Caquot, tethered balloons were used criticism of for barrage and watchtower work during the two World Wars. Later its spherical shape was modified into elliptical for commercial purposes and its fuel was changed from hydrogen to helium. Chief Justice Tamil Nadu is fast becoming a popular destination for Agencies Suresh, a former judge of the wrote to Misra a couple of months adventure sports. New Delhi Bombay High Court. ago, conceding that he was the Two of the retired judges said master of roster but that was “not it was important to support the a recognition of any superior au- Police search our former senior judges group of Supreme Court judges thority, legal or factual of the chief for man in yesterday released a letter because they had taken the bold justice over his colleagues”. Fin support of a group of Su- step of speaking out publicly to In a related development, a marriage scam preme Court judges who on Fri- protect the sanctity of the most seven-member delegation of the day openly criticised the way the important institution of India. Bar Council Of India (BCI) yester- Police are on the lookout for top court was functioning. The four judges – J Chela- day met Chelameswar at his resi- 57 year-old Purushotaman The retired judges – including a meswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B dence and discussed the issue for who duped eight women into former Supreme Court judge and Lokur and Kurian Joseph – who around 45 minutes. marrying him and amassed a chief justice of the Delhi High are the most senior after Misra Earlier the delegation met millions of rupees. Court – confi rmed they had is- in that order on Friday rebelled some other judges of the Supreme Purushotaman, a widower sued an open letter to the Chief against the chief justice over allo- Court including R K Agrawal, A M with a teenage daughter Justice of India Dipak Misra after cation of cases, saying the admin- Khanwilkar and Arun Mishra. from Coimbatore, allegedly four Supreme Court judges held istration of the top court was “not The BCI on Saturday decided colluded with a couple running a press conference on Friday in in order”. to send a delegation to meet a a marriage bureau service. which one of them warned that The public outburst by judges majority of the Supreme Court The couple chose wealthy the nation’s democracy was under prompted Prime Minister Naren- judges so that the crisis can be re- widows and divorcees for threat because of the way the top dra Modi to hold an emergency solved at the earliest. Purushotaman. court was being run. meeting with his law minister on “The council is of the unani- He charmed his ‘wives’ with The four sitting judges of the Friday but the government has re- mous view that it is an internal romantic talk and glamorous Supreme Court had criticised fused to comment. matter of the Supreme Court. The credentials. He managed to distribution of cases to judges The four former judges said in council has hope and trust that dupe Indira Gandhi, a Chennai- and raised concerns about judi- the statement that all rules and the judges of the Supreme Court based college lecturer of cial appointments in the nation’s norms must be laid down clearly will realise the seriousness of the Rs10.45mn from sale of her highest court under Chief Justice for allocation of cases. issue and in future may avoid any ancestral house. Similarly he Misra. “This must be done immedi- such situation that politicians or convinced Kumudavalli in Misra has not responded to ately to restore public confi dence political parties could take undue Coimbatore to sell her farmland their allegations. in the judiciary and in the Su- advantage of and or which could for Rs30mn to finance a ‘civil “We agree with the four judges preme Court,” the former judges cause harm to our judiciary,” the suit’ that he claimed would that though the chief justice of said. BCI said in a statement on Satur- bring in Rs170mn. He played India is the master of roster and They also released a letter they day. similar tricks on three other can designate benches for alloca- women and has now gone tion of work, this does not mean Leave us alone, says Loya’s family underground. that it can be done in an arbitrary Police have arrested the manner such that sensitive and Dismissing any “suspicions” since his demise. We are pained marriage bureau owners important cases are sent to hand- over the death of Special Judge by the chain of events in the past and begun a search for picked benches of junior judges Brijgopal Harkishan Loya, his few days. We don’t want any probe Purushotaman. by the chief justice,” the former family yesterday appealed to the in his death. There’s no suspicion In a separate case, Coimbatore judges said in the open letter yes- media, lawyers, NGOs and others in the matter (of his death),” Anuj police are searching for Shruthi, terday. “not to harass” them. Address- said, with other members of the 21, who allegedly duped four The letter was drafted and ing a hurriedly convened press Loya flanking him. “Though tragic, foreign grooms of millions of signed by P B Sawant, a former conference, Anuj Loya and other there is no controversy. No need rupees over four years. She People gather to take a dip at Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and Supreme Court judge; A P Shah, relatives said that for the family, to politicise it. Let it remain non- and her parents and brother mythical Saraswati during the annual Magh Mela festival in Allahabad yesterday. The Magh former chief justice of the Delhi Judge Loya’s death in December controversial. We don’t want to be posed as film personalities and Mela, which is known as a mini-Kumbh Mela, started on January 2 and ends on February 13 High Court; K Chandru, a former 2014 was a sad and private matter. victims of politicisation,” the fam- lured the grooms into getting with auspicious bathing dates throughout the 45 day period. judge of the Madras High Court, “The family has been traumatised ily’s lawyer Ameet Naik said. engaged to her. and H Bus strike ends after high court appoints arbitrator Death toll from helicopter A state-wide government bus strike for wage hike that went on for eight days was called off on January 11, after the Madras crash rises to six: offi cial High Court ordered a court off icial to arbitrate between Agencies “Search and rescue opera- Pankaj Garg, Jose Antony, R the trade unions and the Mumbai tions continued overnight and Sarvanan and V K Bindulal government. are still underway. More parts Babu, all based in Mumbai. Former judge E Padmanabhan of the helicopter have also been The two pilots have been was appointed as arbitrator. earchers have recovered found.” identifi ed as V C Katoch and A Soundarajan, a leader of the two more bodies from The helicopter lost contact Ramesh Oathkar. Centre of Trade Unions (CITU) Sthe wreckage of a heli- with air traffi c control at around India’s civil aviation minis- said, “We are ready to accept the copter that crashed off India’s 10.30am roughly 40 nautical ter said air crash investigators current wage revision of 2.44%, west coast, taking the death miles off the west coast of India would launch an inquiry. but we do want our demand toll to six, an official said yes- above the Arabian Sea. ONGC, India’s top oil pro- for 2.57 % to be fulfilled in the terday. It was supposed to land at the ducer, has oil and gas fi elds off future.” The helicopter went down on off shore oil rig Bombay High at the coast of Mumbai. Meanwhile the state Saturday shortly after take-off 11am. Pawan Hans helicopters rou- government had released from Mumbai with two pilots Images from the Indian Navy tinely ferry ONGC employees Rs7.5bn towards pension and fi ve employees of state oil yesterday showed rescue crews and offi cers to Bombay High, benefits, wage arrears and and gas fi rm Oil and Natural Gas near fl oating debris. some 160km off shore. bonuses of these unions. The Corporation. Divers were searching for the In 2015, a Pawan Hans chop- bus strike crippled the state’s “So far the hospital has said missing pilot, the navy said. per crashed after taking off economy as passenger and daily that six bodies have been re- The navy and coast guard had from the oil rig and killed two parcel services were aff ected. covered from the crash. One sent ships and planes on Sat- pilots. The end of the strike was a person is still missing,” B P urday to search for the downed In 2003, a helicopter hired major relief for the public ahead Sharma, chairman of state heli- helicopter. by ONGC crashed off the of the harvest festival of Pongal copter company Pawan Hans The ONGC offi cials were Mumbai coast, killing 28 peo- Mourners carry the body of ONGC off icial P N Sreenivasan who died in the helicopter crash, in Mumbai and long weekend. that leased the aircraft, said. identifi ed as P N Sreenivasan, ple aboard. yesterday. Gulf Times Monday, January 15, 2018 17 INDIA

CRIME AVIATION TOURISM TRAGEDY PROTEST Man fatally stabbed Fly AirAsia at Rs99 HP to restore hot springs Rape victim seeks DU student, supporters while resisting robbers to 7 cities in India at Tattapani, says CM permission to end life continue hunger strike

A young man was stabbed to death by four Low-cost airline AirAsia India yesterday said The Himachal Pradesh government is committed A 17-year-old girl in West Bengal’s East Midnapore A relay hunger strike by a Delhi University PhD people in a south Delhi park when he resisted it would fly passengers from today to seven to promoting religious tourism in Tattapani has appealed to the district authorities to allow student and his supporters on the campus to their attempts to snatch his mobile phone and cities across India at a promotional base fare village on the Sutlej river bank in Mandi district her to kill herself as she has become pregnant demand the arrest of a professor who allegedly wallet, police said yesterday. Naresh, 22, a B from Rs99. “The promotional fares start from and restore the natural hot springs there, Chief after allegedly being raped by a man on the made casteist remarks made against him entered Tech degree holder but working as a waiter in Rs99 under the dynamic pricing to cities like Minister Jai Ram Thakur said yesterday. The promise of marriage, police said yesterday. “We the fourth day yesterday. Akshay Kumar from the a restaurant in south Delhi, had gone to visit Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, New Delhi, issue of restoration of hot springs at Tattapani, got intimation from the District Magistrate’s Department of Buddhist Studies complained to the park in Tughlakabad with a female friend Pune and Ranchi,” the airline said in a statement. 52km from the state capital Shimla, and hot baths public grievance cell that a girl has sought police last week against K T S Sarao. “We will observe on Saturday evening when he was stabbed. The budget carrier’s parent firm AirAsia will also would soon be taken up both with the National permission to kill herself after being raped the relay hunger strike till Sarao is arrested,” Kumar “Naresh was strolling with his friend when fly its passengers at Rs1,499 base fare from Indian Thermal Power Corp (NTPC) and the Sutlej Jal by a man of same village on the promise of said. “The police have asked witnesses to record their the four men accosted them and tried to cities to 10 countries in the Asia-Pacific region (APAC), Vidyut Nigam Ltd. Thakur said that religious marriage,” police officer Jaleswar Tewary said. statements tomorrow (Monday). We will continue the snatch his valuables at knife-point. Following including Auckland, Bali, Bangkok, Kuala Lampur, places like Mahunag, Kamrunag, Shikari Devi and She felt it would be difficult for her to stay alive hunger strike in the meantime,” he said. According to an argument, they stabbed him over half a Melbourne, Singapore and Sydney. “Passengers can Rewalsar would also be developed for promoting as an unwed mother, Tewary added. The victim’s Surendra Kumar, a teacher supporting the students, dozen times and escaped with his cell phone book from Monday up to January 21 and avail the religious tourism with the assistance of the mother alleged that while the accused was a complaint was filed against Sarao at the Maurice and wallet,” Deputy Commissioner of Police off er to travel from January 15 to July 31,” said the central government. Hot springs in Tattapani absconding, his parents, who had earlier agreed Nagar police station but the police failed to act Chinmoy Biswal said. The woman told police statement. The fare off er is on all flights of the group were submerged in 2015 after the construction to their marriage, were opposing the proposal initially. “The police registered the complaint only that the suspects threatened to kill her too network, including AirAsia India, AirAsia Berhad, of a dam by the NTPC for the 800-megawatt now. “A case was registered and the man’s father after students took out a protest march to the when she tried to intervene. Thai AirAsia, AirAsia X and Indonesia AirAsia X. Koldam hydroelectric project in Bilaspur district. has been arrested,” the police officer said. police station,” the research scholar claimed. Hope acrimony between India, Pakistan ends soon: Mehbooba

IANS in the state, and asked them to Jammu be more humane while enforc- ing the law. Mufti advised them to as- ammu and Kashmir Chief sume parenting role more than Minister Mehbooba Mufti policing while dealing with Jyesterday said she hoped law and order situations. India and Pakistan will soon She also asked the police move away from acrimony to tackle problems like drug and mistrust to a discourse of menace and crimes against peace, harmony and friend- women. She said she will ad- ship. vise setting up of drug de- Addressing a passing-out addiction centres in every parade of 911 recruits of Jam- district of the state, given the mu and Kashmir Police at the enormity of the problem. Subsidiary Training Centre at The chief minister said her Talwara in Reasi district, the government was sensitive to chief minister said the state’s the problems and diffi culties people had suff ered a lot due of Jammu and Kashmir police to acrimony, bitterness and and had already taken many hostilities between the two major steps like Kashmir Po- countries. lice Service (KPS) cadre re- She said she hoped that view, enhancement of exgra- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu on their arrival at the Air Force Station in New Delhi yesterday. better sense would prevail tia, and increase in promotion and both countries go back to quota for constabulary. the days of friendship, am- Security forces yester- ity and reconciliation, as was day discovered an improvised witnessed when Atal Bihari explosive device (IED) on the Vajpayee was the prime min- outskirts of Srinagar, averting ister. a tragedy. Mehbooba Mufti said the Police said the IED was state’s people had also suf- found in Maloora area. “A Netanyahu arrives in fered due to violence in the bomb disposal squad is defus- past 30 years. ing the IED,” a police offi cer “When we should be said. providing them with good On Saturday, the security schools, hospitals and other forces had defused a power- amenities of modern life, ful IED on the Srinagar-Muz- the demand from border ar- aff arabad road some distance India on six-day trip eas comes for the construc- away from where yesterday’s tion of bunkers. This situa- IED was found. IANS Netanyahu quickly respond- to enhance co-operation with a video, alleging that the oppo- cludes the largest-ever delega- tion has to change. The pain After militants killed four New Delhi ed. “Thank you to my good global economic, security, tech- sition party had “lost its sense tion of Israeli business people of and agony of Jammu and policemen in Sopore town last friend Narendra Modi for the nology and tourism power,” he and balance” which “does not some 130. Kashmir’s people should be week by detonating an IED, warm welcome.” said. “Modi is a close friend of behove a mature political par- According to Israeli newspa- heard,” she said. senior police offi cers worry rime Minister Narendra “Very much appreciate the Israel and of mine and I appreci- ty”. per Haaretz, these businessmen She said the police must that more such devices are Modi yesterday set aside gesture,” the Jerusalem Post ate the fact that he will accom- Human Resource Develop- include senior executives of play an active role in further- likely to be used by them in the Pprotocol to personally re- quoted Netanyahu as saying. pany me on extensive parts of ment Minister and senior BJP Aeronautics Defence Systems – ing the reconciliation process coming days. ceive his Israeli counterpart and Modi and Netanyahu, who my visit.” leader Prakash Javadekar said: an Israeli drone maker currently “friend” Benjamin Netanyahu have developed a close friend- He said strengthening re- “Modiji’s infl uence as world under criminal investigation by with a warm hug as he arrived ship, exchanging greetings on lationship between Israel and leader is increasing. Today a sur- the police’s international crimes Kashmir shivers as cold wave continues here on a six-day visit to step up social media on various occa- “this important world power... vey found him at No 3 in popu- division. growing trade as well as military sions and hugging each other helps us with security, the econ- larity as a world leader.” At least nine commercial Biting winter cold continued said. Kashmir Valley is passing and strategic ties between the heartily, will hold talks on a omy, trade, tourism and many In a sign of growing impor- agreements are expected be in Kashmir Valley and Ladakh through the 40-day long period two countries. range of issues today after Presi- other aspects”. tance to the ties with Israel, the signed during the visit. These region of Jammu and Kashmir of harsh winter cold called This is the fi rst visit to India dent Ram Nath Kovind formally The Congress criticised Modi government yesterday renamed include memorandums of un- yesterday with the weather ‘Chillai Kalan’ which will end by an Israeli prime minister since welcomes the Israeli leader at for what it called “hugplomacy”. Delhi’s Teen Murti Chowk as derstanding on gas and oil, re- off ice giving no indication of on January 30. The minimum Ariel Sharon came in 2003. Rashtrapati Bhavan. It posted a video hashtagged Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk after newable energy, aviation, indus- any immediate relief. Minimum temperature was minus 4.3 As Netanyahu and his wife The visit, which marks 25 “hugplomacy” on its offi cial the Israeli city. trial research and development, temperatures remained several degree in Srinagar, minus 4.8 Sara stepped on the red carpet at years since the establishment of Twitter handle, capturing a few Modi and Netanyahu laid a cybersecurity, reciprocal invest- degrees below the freezing in Pahalgam and minus 5 in the airport here, a smiling Modi diplomatic relations between the “awkward” moments in Modi’s wreath at the iconic Teen Murti ments, supplementary medi- point in Kashmir Valley and Gulmarg yesterday. In Jammu embraced the Israeli leader and two countries, comes six months meetings with world leaders war memorial where they were cine, space research and joint Ladakh region. At minus 15.2 region, Jammu city recorded then shook hands with the cou- after Modi became the fi rst In- including US President Don- received by Army Chief General movie productions, Haaretz degree Celsius, Leh town 5.4 degrees, Mata Vaishno ple. dian prime minister to visit the ald Trump, German Chancellor Bipin Rawat and Foreign Secre- said. was the coldest in Kashmir Devi Shrine base camp of “Welcome to India, my friend Jewish state in July last year. Angela Merkel, Japanese Prime tary S Jaishankar. Today morning, Netanyahu yesterday. “The cold wave is Katra 6.4, Batote 3, Bannihil Netanyahu! Your visit to India Before embarking on the fl ight Minister Shinzo Abe and Turkish The two leaders paid homage will lay a wreath at Rajghat to likely to continue in Kashmir minus 0.6, Bhaderwah 1 is historic and special. It will to India, Netanyahu said his trip President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Indian soldiers who fell in the pay homage to Mahatma Gan- Valley and Ladakh region for at degree and Udhampur 1.6 as further cement the close friend- was intended to strengthen bi- and also Netanyahu. battle of Haifa during World War dhi. Tomorrow, he will fly to least another seven days,” an the minimum temperatures ship between our nations,” Modi lateral relations “even more”. The ruling Bharatiya Janata I. Agra to view the iconic Taj Ma- off icial of the Met department yesterday. tweeted in English and Hebrew. “This visit is an opportunity Party condemned the meme Netanyahu’s entourage in- hal.

26 arrested over Stars shine at police show stone attack on ‘Hindutva’ has nothing to Nitish convoy At least 25 people including 10 women, have been arrested in do with Hinduism: writer connection with stone-throwing on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish IANS killed. On suspicion of storing (there is) a very evil political Kumar’s convoy in Buxar district, Kolkata beef, people are being killed,” the climate,” Sahgal said. an off icial said yesterday, adding writer told IANS. The much feted writer said a high-level probe is underway. “Remedy is to throw out India at the time of independ- “In the last two days, 26 persons escribing the cur- Hindutva and reject it. This is ence decided to put democracy have been arrested,” the off icial rent political situation creating violence. It is a very before development and it also said in Buxar. Das “not conducive for dangerous ideology and has decided to be secular. “This is Upset over lack of development, anybody”, veteran writer Nay- nothing to do with Hinduism. something to be proud of.” a group of villagers on Friday antara Sahgal has called for re- Many writers have been speak- During the session of ‘Women stoned the convoy in Nandan jecting the idea of “Hindutva” ing and writing against this Writers: Shaping a New India’ village during the chief minister’s which is “creating violence” ideology,” Sahgal said on the at the Festival, an award – the visit, injuring nearly a dozen and has “nothing to do with sidelines of the Apeejay Kolka- Prabha Khaitan Woman’s Voice security personnel. Hinduism”. ta Literary Festival 2018 here on Award – in association with Ox- According to police, when Nitish “Right now, it is a very dif- Saturday evening. ford Bookstore, was announced. Kumar was passing through the ferent situation. In the present She said Hinduism was “not Applauding the initiative, village, some people urged him political situation, the forces a terrorist creed” and did not she said: “I always hate to put a to visit the area inhabited by are trying to stamp out all dis- advocate violence. dividing line between men and Dalits which they claimed was sent and disagreement. People “The current (political) situ- women. Maybe, it is because Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan and women officers from the Mumbai police take part in the neglected. who disagree with them are be- ation is not conducive not for that in my family men strongly ‘Umang Mumbai Police Show 2018’ in Mumbai on Saturday. The annual celebratory event held But the chief minister ignored the ing killed. The last person was just writers but for anybody. believe about woman’s rights. by the Mumbai police had several the big stars from Bollywood besides Khan, including Deepika plea, angering the villagers who Gauri Lankesh. Anybody, they don’t like, they I always fi rmly believe in a Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Aamir Khan and Hrithik Roshan who attended the event as a mark of attacked his convoy. Some youths “Not only writers, people who fi le cases against them. There partnership between men and their respect for the city’s law enforcement team. also shouted slogans against the are transporting cattle have been is persecution and murder and women.” chief minister. Gulf Times 18 Monday, January 15, 2018 LATIN AMERICA

CONTROVERSY LAW AND ORDER COMMENT ASSURANCE INVESTIGATION Economist denies claims Chile government Venezuela oil production UN to send more aid for Lawmaker arrested in of bias against Chile guarantees Pope’s safety recovering, says minister Venezuelans in Colombia killing of journalists

A World Bank economist in charge of the Pope Francis will not be at risk during his trip Venezuela’s oil production has increased to The United Nations is willing to send more Police in Guatemala arrested a ruling party lender’s annual competitiveness rankings denied to Chile this week, despite a series of attacks at near 1.9mn barrels per day (bpd) after hitting resources to Colombia to help the Andean country lawmaker for involvement in plotting a 2015 accusations that the reports treated Chile unfairly churches in the capital Santiago, Interior Minister a historic low last year, according to Manuel care for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans killing of journalists. Julio Juarez, of the FCN- for several years. Chilean off icials criticised the Mario Fernandez said. Unknown vandals set fire to Quevedo, oil minister and head of state oil firm fleeing food shortages and economic devastation Nacion party, was arrested near his home in San World Bank after its chief economist, Paul Romer, at least two churches, threw a homemade bomb at PDVSA, who vowed 2018 will see output rise in their homeland, secretary-general Antonio Bernardino, Suchitepequez, south of the capital. He said changes to the “Doing Business” report’s one and left pamphlets with threatening messages to more than 2.4mn bpd. The Opec country is Guterres said. Guterres is on a two-day visit to is suspected of having masterminded the killings, a methodology caused the South American to the pontiff early on Friday morning, days facing an economic crisis, with millions suff ering Colombia to discuss the progress of its peace deal spokeswoman for prosecutors said. In December, country’s ranking to decline under socialist before his arrival in the South American country. food and medicine shortages. Venezuela relies with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia the 37-year-old lawmaker made a US list of alleged President Michelle Bachelet, and that the changes No one was injured, and no group has claimed on oil for about 95% of export revenue though (Farc) rebels and ongoing peace talks with smaller human rights abusers and people engaging in may have been politically motivated. In the responsibility for the attacks. Fernandez told local output has fallen significantly in recent years. guerrilla group the National Liberation Army (ELN), corruption around the world. The two killings took interview, economist Augusto Lopez-Claros radio station BioBio that small groups with limited “The year 2018 will be one of recovery, after which recently re-started attacks after a months- place March 10, 2015 in Mazatenango. Prosecutors defended the study, noting that his unit consulted capabilities were to blame, but he did not name having touched a historic low. We are now long ceasefire. Venezuelans fleeing acute food with a UN agency already had linked him to the with people both within and outside the World them. “We are not talking about significant groups near 1.9mn barrels of oil per day, thanks to the shortages, high crime and political unrest have crime last year. “I have not done anything. And all Bank before making big changes. that are truly dangerous,” he said. workers,” said Quevedo in an interview. flooded across the border to Colombia. this will be cleared up,” Juarez said. Salvadoran Hernandez election opposed call centres welcome US deportees

Reuters some potential call centre em- San Salvador ployees, earns $600 a month. That is just over half of what he made in the US but double El lexander Ramos was de- Salvador’s minimum wage. ported to El Salvador He said he felt safe working in Afrom the US seven years an offi ce rather than a street en- ago, forced to leave jobs as a gar- vironment. dener and at McDonald’s after Tattoos he wore openly in Cal- getting caught driving without ifornia could be misinterpreted a licence. as gang-related in El Salvador Back in his native San Salvador, and make him a target for attack, the 31-year-old brushed up on his he said. “The economic situation English and landed a job at one of is a bit better than what you can the nation’s 70 call centres. make anywhere else, and the en- The industry, which employs vironment is safe,” he said. 47% more people than two years Some Salvadorans fl ed to the ago based on government data, is US during its 1980s civil war. now eyeing a growth spurt after Others came later, feeling vio- Supporters of opposition candidate Salvador Nasralla march to protest the re-election of Honduras’ President Juan Orlando Hernandez in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. the Trump administration said lence, poverty and natural dis- it would end immigration pro- asters. tection for more than 200,000 Many gained temporary pro- Salvadorans. tected status (TPS) following The decision has alarmed Sal- destructive earthquakes in 2001, vadoran immigrants, many of allowing them to live and work whom have lived for years in the legally in the US. US and fear returning to a home- It is unknown how many Sal- land that frequently features vadorans will return home after among the world’s most violent US President Donald Trump’s nations. decision to cancel TPS from Sep- Two killed as strong They dread the prospect of tember 2019 gave them 18 months seeking jobs in a country where to leave or seek lawful residency. the minimum wage is less than Some call centre executives $10 per day and two out of three foresee a larger pool of talent as a people work in the informal consequence of the move. economy. “There is certainly going to be The call centres, some run by enough momentum that there quake rattles Peru foreign fi rms including Tampa- is going to be very fast growth,” based Convergys Corporation said Jorge Orellana, who over- AFP “There are two fatalities in and fl ew over the quake zone. Structural damage was re- Peru lies on the so-called and Paris’ Teleperformance SE, sees Contacto Tu Call Center in Lima the region of Arequipa and so Speaking to reporters, he at- ported to a bridge in Arequipa, “Ring of Fire” — an arc of fault could help soften their return San Salvador where 250 employ- far 65 injured have been report- tributed the two deaths to ado- said the head of the region’s lines that circles the Pacifi c with higher paying work making ees service US insurance, emer- ed,” general Jorge Chavez, head be houses collapsing. highway police, Major Alberto Basin and is prone to frequent calls and answering customer gency and fi nance fi rms. 7.3 magnitude earth- of the National Civil Defence The Peruvian navy and the Rojas. earthquakes and volcanic erup- enquiries. Both local and foreign com- quake shook southern Institute, said. Pacifi c Tsunami Warning Cen- In the city of Arequipa, resi- tions. Neither company said in re- panies have taken advantage of APeru yesterday, killing at Chavez said military planes tre in Hawaii ruled out the dents ran into the streets af- The South American coun- cent public fi lings which cus- El Salvador’s English-speaking least two people and injuring were delivering humanitarian threat of a tsunami. ter the quake struck at 4.18am try records about 200 earth- tomers are serviced from El workers, proximity to the US 65 others, the South American aid including tents to aff ected Adobe houses were levelled (0918GMT). It was felt as far quakes a year, most of them Salvador, but Convergys counts and low labour and operational country’s civil defence agency areas. in the coastal town of Lomas away as Lima. going unnoticed by the pub- AT&T as its biggest client. costs, he added. said. One person died in the Yau- and elsewhere in the surround- “Here at the clinic the lic. Teleperformance has worked For US clients the location Local authorities said homes ca district and another in the ing area, Santiago Neyra, the tremor felt super long,” a pa- The last major earthquake to with Apple, and said on its web- has been an attractive option made of adobe collapsed in Bella Union district, both in the mayor of the nearby town of tient in a Lima private hospi- shake Peru hit in August 2007, site that its El Salvador location compared with more distant coastal areas most directly af- Arequipa region, where rescue Caraveli said. tal said. killing 595 people. serves seven international cli- outsourcing hubs like India and fected by the quake, which workers were trying to help Electricity was out in several The earthquake rocked Peru A 6.3 magnitude quake was ents, mainly from the US. the Philippines. The industry struck in the Pacifi c, 31kms from those aff ected, Peru’s Civil De- municipalities and many roads just before Pope Francis was felt in southern Peru on the Ramos, whose misdemeanour has also landed in Costa Rica, the seaside town of Acari in the fence said. were closed to traffi c or passable slated to arrive Thursday for border with Chile last October, off ence in the US fell short of the Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, region of Arequipa, according to Peruvian President Pedro Pablo in only one direction, the mayor a three-day visit after touring leaving four people with slight kind of crimes that disqualify Nicaragua and Panama. the US Geological Survey. Kuczynski travelled to the region said. Chile. injuries. Venezuela govt, opposition Ex-S America leaders to hold new round of talks back Lula petition AFP credited with helping lift 30mn Rio de Janeiro Brazilians out of poverty. AFP protracted political and economic The latest round of meetings, He was hugely popular during Santo Domingo crises, Jorge Rodriguez, the main which began on Thursday, came his 2003-10 two-term presidency, Venezuelan government delegate, after Maduro’s government our South American ex- but his reputation was damaged said there was consensus on the threatened to ban key opposi- presidents are among by the steep economic decline un- he Venezuelan govern- “majority of the points.” tion parties from the election, Fmore than 170,000 people der his handpicked successor Dil- ment and opposition while the opposition threatened who signed a petition support- ma Rousseff who was impeached Tdelegates meeting in the to resume street protests which ing former president Luiz Ina- in 2016 for breaking budget rules. Dominican Republic will hold a cost the lives of 125 people last cio Lula da Silva bid for another A court convicted Lula in con- new round of talks on Thursday year. term as Brazil’s president, de- nection with Brazil’s “Car Wash” on resolving the crisis facing the Venezuela’s all-powerful spite his corruption conviction. graft probe, which began with country, the Dominican presi- Constituent Assembly, loyal to US fi lm-maker Oliver Stone also a seemingly run-of-the-mill dent said. Maduro, has ordered the three signed the online petition sup- money laundering investiga- Venezuela is in the throes of a main opposition parties to re- porting Lula, whose electoral aspi- tion but which led investigators deepening crisis caused by fall- “Although we have very register with the National Elec- rations are at risk of being blocked. to a web of corruption involving ing oil prices, spiralling infl ation important advances, we toral Council (CNE) in order The petition on change.org, much of the country’s political and corruption that has ravaged are still left with pending to take part in the presidential titled “Election without Lula is and economic elite. the oil-rich country’s economy. issues” election. fraud,” comes ahead of a January The appeal court’s ruling President Nicolas Maduro has The rule was imposed after the 24 court ruling on his appeal of a could decide whether Lula can increasingly consolidated power, “We remain at the negotiating parties boycotted mayoral elec- nine-and-a-half-year jail sen- take part in October 2018 presi- aided by disarray in the opposi- table...we have some points that tions in December, saying they tence issued last July. dential elections in which he is tion. I am sure will be resolved” in the lacked transparency. Former presidents Cristina currently the frontrunner. “Although we have very im- talks on January 18, Rodriguez The opposition wants the Kirchner of Argentina, Jose Mujica While Lula could fi nd ways to portant advances, we are still left said. government to recognise its call of Uruguay, Rafael Correa of Ec- appeal further, a ruling against with pending issues,” President Julio Borges, the main delegate for a more neutral CNE, interna- uador, and Ernesto Samper of Co- him would throw the presiden- Danilo Medina said. for the opposition Democratic tional observers at the polls, the lombia are among the personalities tial race into further uncertainty. The two sides will hold fur- Unity Roundtable (MUD), also release of political prisoners and who have signed the document. Lula, 72, also faces six other ther talks in Santo Domingo on highlighted agreement. a later timeline for the election. It calls the scheduling of the corruption cases. January 18, said Medina, one of But the MUD’s main require- But analysts believe it is likely appeal date “purely an act of He claims that a “diabolical those working to encourage the ment in the negotiations is that the election will be held in the persecution” against Lula as his pact” has been struck between dialogue. this year’s presidential election fi rst half of the year, as Maduro Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a meeting support “grows in the polls.” prosecutors, federal police and After 10 hours of meetings be “free and fair” — something seeks to take advantage of oppo- with representatives of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Lula was Brazil’s fi rst demo- the media to prevent his return aimed at fi nding solutions to the that will be diffi cult to achieve. sition disarray. Americas (ALBA) alliance in Caracas, Venezuela. cratically elected leftist and was to the presidency. Gulf Times Monday, January 15, 2018 19 PAKISTAN

ECP campaign to bridge gender gap Pakistan aims to sell enters new phase

Internews Gender Aff airs at the ECP. Islamabad She conceded that while it is diffi cult to bridge this gap to airline before polls a level, the ECP is hopeful of he Election Commission slashing this gap, which pres- By Drazen Jorgic, Reuters of Pakistan (ECP)’s drive ently stood at around 12.7mn, Islamabad Tin 79 selected districts to 6mn. for registration of female vot- She pointed out that during ers to bridge the gender gap the ongoing drive, males were akistan will try to privatise will enter a new phase today, noticeably more forthcoming its national airline before as the male-female voter ratio in getting registered for ob- Pgeneral elections due this is to remain 56% to 44% even taining the computerised na- year, privatisation minister Dani- with 7.3mn new voters to be tional identity cards (CNICs) yal Aziz said, as the ruling party added to the electoral rolls. than females, hence the mo- seeks to restart sales of state-run Of new 7,360,279 voters to bile teams would make sure to businesses. be added from today, 4,072,433 reach out to females. Pakistan International Airlines are males and 3,287,846 fe- Electoral experts say that (PIA), haemorrhaging money males, hence the disparity is any campaign to get the maxi- and losing market share to Gulf- obvious. mum number of females to based rivals such as Etihad and Previously, within 97,022,591 obtain the CNICs, and then get Emirates, has been hit by man- registered voters database, the registered as voters, is diffi cult agement turmoil in recent years male-female disparity stood unless the political parties and and a 2016 plane crash that led to at 56%-44% with 54,598,173 their activists at grass root lev- 47 deaths. males and 42,424,418 females. el get involved. The privatisation of loss-mak- The addition of the 7,360,279 It is noted that that there are ing entities that were draining will not change the ratio. some men are concerned that the exchequer is a key priority The question being asked the images of females on the for the Pakistan Muslim League in the ECP and elsewhere is electoral rolls might be mis- – Nawaz (PML-N) party when it whether the voters who will go used, possibly leading to dele- swept to power in 2013. to polls late this year with the tion of a signifi cant number of PIA was among 68 state- same disparity, or would the females from the lists. owned companies earmarked desired results of reducing it at In this regard the Khyber for privatisation in return for a least by half, be achieved. Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan $6.7bn International Monetary A few months back, the ECP, Election Commissions have Fund (IMF) package that helped This file picture shows a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane arriving at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad. duly supported by civil society already been approached by Pakistan to stave off a default in and some NGOs, had launched worried men seeking help in 2013. “Next step would be going to in parliament to reverse the 2016 “Tomorrow morning. If you have tions likely in July or August. a drive in 79 districts where getting names of their women Despite some initial success, the cabinet committee ... and legislation that converted PIA the money, come and buy it.” Aziz said that, owing to time there the male-female gender withdrawn as registered voters. the process stalled in 2016 after that’s imminent, maybe even into a limited company and ef- He gave no indication of an ex- restraints ahead of the elections, gap was greater than other dis- “You can’t compel anyone staff protests caused havoc with next week,” Aziz said in his Is- fectively barred the government pected valuation. the privatisation commission tricts. not to seek withdrawal of the PIA operations and the govern- lamabad offi ce this week. from giving up management Both Emirates and Etihad had will focus on one state company Under this campaign, there names of their females. It is ment passed a law that eff ective- The new plans focus on split- control. shown interest in buying PIA per sector. will be door-to-door mobilisa- purely optional. We had re- ly made it impossible to privatise ting up the carrier, with the core The impetus to sell PIA has before the government backed He added that there has been tion from today, involving mo- quested the government to the airline. airline business being separated grown as the airline has piled down from privatisation in 2016, “huge interest” in buying Paki- bile registration vans. consider not providing elec- However Aziz, chairman of the from vast peripheral operations up huge losses estimated by its the English-language Express stan Steel Mills, once the pride of And this will continue till toral rolls with images of fe- Privatisation Commission, told such as catering, hotels and former chief executive in March Tribune newspaper reported, cit- Pakistan’s industrial output but April 30. male voters to political parties Reuters that new plans have been maintenance, Aziz said. at about $30mn a month. ing an unnamed offi cial. now shut and bleeding cash. “We intend to bring down or candidates,” said a senior drawn up to sell off PIA and he The core airline would then be The airline’s total debt stood Analysts have been sceptical “We will get runs on the board, this diff erence or disparity be- ECP offi cial who did not wish would take the proposals to the sold. at Rs186bn ($1.8bn) at the end of about the government’s ability, but the real challenge is to bring tween male and female voters to be identifi ed. cabinet committee on privatisa- However, to complete the 2016. or willingness, to take on unions to fruition the two big animals: to 6mn before the next general He noted that they could ex- tion, chaired by Prime Minister transaction, Aziz said, the gov- When asked how soon a buyer and embark on a privatisation one is PIA and the other one is election sometime this year,” pect requests for deletions of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. ernment would have to pass laws could acquire PIA, Aziz said: process so close to general elec- Steel Mills,” Aziz said. said Nighat Siddique, Ad- female voters during revision ditional Director General for of electoral rolls. PML-N gets humbled in Baluchistan PTI approaches apex Internews There are also those who ac- According to some accounts, Critics of the Baluchistan Na- Islamabad cuse the unseen hands of un- PML-N’s Nawab Changez Khan tional Party – Mengal (BNP-M) court in bid to join democratic forces of engineering Marri refused to meet the prime chief say this is because he is this turn of events, but the fact is minister when he knocked on the angling for a big win in the up- olitics is a tricky business that mainstream political parties latter’s door to canvass for his coming general elections, and is overseas voters’ case in Pakistan’s southwest have always struggled to under- chief minister – some say that is also vying for a greater role in the Pprovince of Baluchistan as stand Baluchistan and its politi- why Zehri had to step down. politics of Baluchistan, both for no one knows for certain what cal culture. Following Zehri’s, Pa- himself and his family. Internews will happen next. There are no longer any ide- khtunkhwa Milli Awami Party But for Quetta-based journal- Islamabad Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo ologically-driven parties in the (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan ists, the current political climate – the new provincial chief ex- provincial set-up: people vote Achakzai has resorted to his tra- is becoming decidedly “undem- ecutive – epitomizes this uncer- not for parties, but for individu- ditional rhetoric, addressing a ocratic”. akistan Tehreek-e-Insaf tainty: a member of the Pakistan als who bend in the wind when- crowd in Pishin, he again spoke “Tenures of both former chief (PTI) chief Imran Khan Muslim League – Quaid-e-Azam ever there is an upheaval. of the possibility of merging the ministers, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch Bizenjo: had the backing of Phas approached the Su- (PML-Q), his ascent was made There is a widely held belief Pakhtun belt with Afghanistan and Sanaullah Zehri, seemed like the so-called dissidents of the preme Court with a request to possible by the votes of the so- here that the ruling PML-N does as their party’s mandate was not ‘controlled democracy’,” s a y s PML-N. become party to a pending case called dissidents of the Pakistan not understand Baluchistan’s being respected. Noorzai. seeking directions for making Muslim League – Nawaz (PML- societal structure, its people or This, according to Quetta- There are also fears that the Although they are a middle- swift arrangements to grant N). their grievances. based analyst Jalal Noorzai, is Baluchistan Assembly will be class Baloch family, there are overseas Pakistanis the right to This is why 11 of the 14 mem- The Pakistan Peoples Party because Achakzai feels that he is dissolved. some who consider them “land- vote before the upcoming gen- bers of his cabinet hail from the (PPP) too, it is believed, is ig- being sidelined. “If Bizenjo writes to the gover- lords”. eral elections. Nawaz faction. norant about Baluchistan, even This is in spite of the fact that nor to do so, the latter will have to Retracing the steps of his fa- The Supreme Court is al- For the erstwhile ruling party, though they are closer to the since the 2013 general elections, abide by the CM’s advice,” Noor- ther Abdul Majid Bizenjo – who ready seized with petitions this is a major shake-up and politics here. Achakzai and his party have been zai maintains. was elected thrice from insur- moved by a group of citizens – lends credence to the impression On the streets, people are dis- the primary benefi ciaries – get- Although Bizenjo has rejected gency-stricken Awaran district – on behalf of Solicitor Moham- that as a party, PML-N is only appointed with mainstream par- ting fi rst choice of development these rumours, political observ- Quddus Bizenjo commenced his mad Dawood Ghazanvi, Farhat seen when it is in power. ties, but they are curious about projects for Pakhtun-dominated ers are not convinced. political career from his home- Javed and others – stating that Indeed, following the ouster developments in the province, areas and enjoying several seats But whatever happens, one town. denying overseas Pakistanis of their government, it suddenly and the subject is discussed at in the cabinet, as well as the cov- thing is clear: Bizenjo’s appoint- He won a provincial assembly the right to participate in the Khan: his party enjoys a great seems as if the party does not ex- every restaurant and barber shop. eted position of the provincial ment means the PML-N will get seat for the fi rst time in 2002 and democratic process would deal of support among ist in Baluchistan anymore. Whatever their individual po- governor. fewer seats in Baluchistan at the served as minister for livestock constitute a refusal by the gov- expatriate Pakistanis. “The province has slipped litical allegiances, most agree However, there is a sense that time of the Senate elections. until 2007. ernment to carry out its con- out of PML-N’s control,” argues that these parties have done his party has not delivered on the “Nawaz Sharif is fi ghting hard In 2008, he was re-elected on a stitutional obligations. exercise their right of franchise Sabauddin Saba, an Urdu col- nothing for the province; core ground, and districts such as Qila to win a majority of seats in the PML-Q ticket and joined Nawab The petition highlighted that no matter where they live. umnist based in Quetta. “This is issues have not been addressed Abdullah – from where most of Senate polls, but he is currently Aslam Raisani’s cabinet as min- Pakistani expatriates consider The application highlight- the beginning of the end for the and nothing has changed over the their leadership hails – contin- the underdog,” says Sabauddin ister for livestock, successfully the country their homeland ed that the judgment in the Nawaz league.” past four years. ues to be one of the poorest in the Saba. completing his fi ve-year tenure. and contribute nearly $18bn Chaudhry Nasir Iqbal case was But party leaders have a clear In fact, Zehri was so isolated country. The eldest son out of fi ve sib- In the 2013 general elections, in remittances to the national in line with Khan’s earlier con- idea about why this is happening. in his fi nal days that even Prime A far cry from his outspo- lings, Bizenjo was born in 1974 he won his provincial assembly economy every year. tentions, who had pointed out “The main purpose behind Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi ken past, Sardar Akhtar Mengal and completed his early edu- seat with a mere 544 votes – the The case came up for hearing that under Article 189 of the removing (Bizenjo’s predeces- – who spent some time in Quetta seems to be playing the role of a cation from his native town of lowest ever received by a provin- last week before a three-judge Constitution any directions sor) Nawab Sanaullah Zehri was while the crisis was brewing – silent spectator this time, divid- Shindi Jhao, later earning a cial assembly candidate – and Supreme Court bench, headed passed by the apex court was to punish former prime minister was unable to convince members ing his time between Karachi and master’s degree in English from also served briefl y as deputy by Chief Justice Mian Saqib binding on all courts of Paki- Nawaz Sharif,” a PML-N member of his own party to get behind the Dubai rather than playing the role the University of Baluchistan in speaker of the Baluchistan As- Nisar, but the court decided stan, as well as executive and said on condition of anonymity. former chief minister. of an eff ective opposition leader. 2000. sembly. to take up the matter again af- judicial authorities, including ter stakeholders, including the the ECP. Election Commission of Paki- The petition argued that stan (ECP), came up with con- the ECP could also exercise its crete proposals in this regard. powers “in anticipation of an Imran Khan, Dr Arif Alvi, ill that might have the eff ect of International organisations fear loss of funding Sardar Azhar Tariq and others rendering the election unfair”, have now moved a fresh ap- adding that it was legally em- plication before the Supreme powered under Article 218(3) to Internews the detriment of more than 8mn of 11 PHF members is that more more than 6,000 with only 0.5% departments and provincial au- Court, asking for the imple- exercise its powers pre-emp- Islamabad possible benefi ciaries. than $124mn funding committed being international staff . thorities are directed to facilitate mentation of its own 2014 tively to avoid a violation of According to Nargis Khan, to Pakistan will be lost and more “The PHF members work in INGOs for their work. judgment in the Chaudhry these standards. policy and communications ad- than 8mn benefi ciaries will not close co-ordination with the “We welcome ongoing dia- Nasir Iqbal case, where the They contended that there he Pakistan Humanitarian viser at the PHF, which repre- be reached in 2018,” Khan added. government and receive no ob- logue with the interior ministry ECP was directed to make all was no legal bar keeping the Forum (PHF) has appreci- sents 63 INGOs working in the “These 11 organisations directly jection certifi cates to implement and transparency on the imple- possible eff orts to ensure that commission from implement- Tated the recent decision of country, eleven PHF members employ more than 800 and also projects. They all have strict fi - mentation of the INGO registra- expatriates could participate ing the earlier judgement of the the federal government to allow are in receipt of non-approval work through several national nancial systems and submit reg- tion policy and appeals process,” in the general elections and ex- apex court, but regretted that international non-governmental letters from the interior ministry. partners and the cumulative re- ular progress and audit reports to she said. “We recognise and re- ercise the fundamental rights the ECP failed to comply with organisations (INGOs) to con- “The PHF members have dem- sult would be loss of thousands the government,” she said. spect the full authority of the conferred by Article 17(2) of the the apex court’s judgement. tinue working on humanitar- onstrated strong support for the of jobs.” Khan said that as most of the Pakistani government to vet, Constitution. The PTI enjoys a great deal ian assistance and development government’s oversight of the The PHF representative said PHF members in receipt of non- register and monitor the service Moved jointly by senior of support among expatriate projects until the fi nal decision NGO sector and its regulation. in 2017, the forum’s member or- approval letters are in the appeal provision of INGOs.” counsel Anwar Mansoor Khan Pakistanis and has a strong is made on their appeals against However, the lengthy approval ganisations collectively raised process, the PHF has asked the “Ultimately, our purpose is to and Chaudhry Faisal Hussain, support base in countries such registration cancellation. processes and lack of clarity are $438mn, reached 34mn people government to ensure that the work in collaboration with the the application asks the apex as the UK and US, and his move It however said that the non- restricting the NGOs’ ability to with humanitarian relief and appeal process is fair and trans- government of Pakistan to en- court to declare that overseas is ostensibly aimed at expand- approval of its members’ reg- deliver valuable services to Paki- development projects together parent, that the organisations sure that services and assistance Pakistanis are also citizens of ing his own party’s voter base istration requests threatens stani communities,” she said. with the government of Pakistan are given the reasons for appeal reach those most in need,” Khan Pakistan and, as such, could before the 2018 polls. $124mn of funding in 2018, to “The impact of non-approval and local partners, and employed rejection, and that the relevant added. Gulf Times 20 Monday, January 15, 2018 PHILIPPINES More Filipinos reject plan for ‘revolutionary government’

By Catherine S Valente ly opposed to a revolutionary Manila Times government. Sixty-three percent of re- spondents believed Duterte ore Filipinos reject wanted to change the gov- President Rodrigo ernment into a revolution- MDuterte’s threat to ary one, while almost half or establish a “revolutionary 48% of the respondents said government,” according to a revolutionary government the latest survey by the Social was possible under the 1987 Weather Stations (SWS). Constitution. SWS pointed The poll, conducted from out that there were no pro- December 8 to 16, showed that visions for a revolutionary 39% of 1,200 Filipino adults government under the Con- surveyed said they disagreed stitution. with the establishment of a A revolutionary govern- revolutionary government. ment was established in the Thirty-one percent agree Philippines in 1986 by Presi- while the remaining 30% dent Corazon Aquino to re- were undecided. Duterte has instate democracy and draft repeatedly warned that he a new constitution, after the would declare a revolution- ouster of strongman Ferdi- ary government if his enemies nand Marcos. destabilise his administration. Ramon Casiple, executive The SWS said opposition to director of the Institute for a revolutionary government Political and Electoral Re- was “stronger” among those form, said Filipinos’ attitude Residents wait for a military truck as they flee home for safety after the Mayon volcano erupted in Camalig town, Albay province, south of Manila, yesterday. who were dissatisfi ed with, or toward a so-called revolu- have little trust in Duterte. tionary government affirmed Only 16% of them agreed public satisfaction with Du- with the idea, while 60% disa- terte’s performance. greed. Sought for comment, “A real revolutionary gov- Palace spokesman Harry ernment comes with support Roque Jr said: “We respect the of the people. Why would people’s verdict as being con- they support it when they sistent with PRRD’s (President are satisfied with the Duterte Volcano alert level raised Rodrigo Roa Duterte) position performance so far?” Casiple that he will resort to it only told Manila Times. when the State is threatened.” The SWS survey was con- Duterte’s idea of a revolu- ducted using face-to-face tionary government got sup- interviews of 1,200 adults port from his base in Mind- nationwide, with 300 each as eruptions spew ash anao, which registered a net from Metro Manila, Balance agreement score of +16. Luzon, Visayas and Mind- Reuters people experiencing ashfall to Other areas were negative. anao. Manila cover their noses and mouths Metro Manila registered –7; It had sampling error mar- with a damp, clean cloth or dust Balance Luzon, –16 and the gins of + or – 3% for national mask. It also said aircraft must Visayas, –17. percentages, and + or – 6% he Philippines raised the avoid fl ying close to the volca- The older population, aged each for Metro Manila, Bal- alert at its restive Mayon no’s summit. 45 and above, and those with ance Luzon, Visayas and Tvolcano by one notch Those within the slope of the higher education were strong- Mindanao. early yesterday, citing signs of volcano, but outside the six kilo- rising magma that could lead to metre danger zone, were told to hazardous eruptions. take precautionary measures Residents were evacuated against possible roof collapses from two villages near the vol- due to accumulated ash and cano, a tourist attraction in rainwater. Phivolcs chief Renato Group vows to block Albay province because of its Solidum said the volcano ap- near-perfect cone shape, fol- peared due for another eruption lowing a “phreatic or steam- as it has been displaying abnor- death penalty bill driven eruption” on Saturday, mal behaviour since late last and there was a further eruption year. yesterday. But Cedric Daep, head of the By Ashley Jose mante, executive secretary of Saturday’s eruption unleashed Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Manila Times the CBCP-Episcopal Com- ash, rocks and sulphuric odour, Reduction and Management mission on Prison Pastoral and was followed by rumbling Offi ce, said those in evacuation Care, said in a statement. sounds and a faint glow in the centres may be allowed to return he Catholic Bishops’ The CBCP released the crater, the Philippine Institute to their homes later in the day, Conference of the statement following reports of Volcanology and Seismology unless Phivolcs raises the vol- TPhilippines (CBCP) that the Senate will continue (Phivolcs) said. cano alert level further. has vowed to continue its ef- holding public hearings on Phivolcs raised the alert to Mount Mayon erupts in Legazpi City, in this still image obtained from social media. He said not all residents evac- forts to block the passage of the death penalty this month. level 2, which means that the uated live inside the 6-km dan- the death penalty bill. Diamante expressed his current activity is “probably of recorded before noon yesterday, when lava fl ows buried a town vised to be vigilant and desist ger zone. “We have not reached “We will not give up in en- disappointment that the magmatic origin, which could but Phivolcs said in a subsequent and killed 1,200 people. from entering the six kilometre the critical level,” he said in a gaging lawmakers in work- hearings will be led by lead to more phreatic eruptions bulletin that it was maintaining It last erupted in 2014, spew- radius Permanent Danger Zone radio interview. “Alert level 3 is ing for justice that heals and Senator. Manny Pacquiao, or eventually to hazardous mag- alert level 2. ing lava and forcing thousands of to minimise risks from sudden what we considered critical, 4 is respects the dignity of the who is known to be a Chris- matic eruptions.” Mayon’s most destructive people to evacuate. explosions, rockfall and land- when eruption is imminent, and human person,” Rodolfo Dia- tian. A second ash eruption was eruption was in February 1841, “The public is strongly ad- slides,” Phivolcs said. It advised 5 is eruption in progress.” Festive celebration Another child dies after dengue shot in Paranaque

By Jeff erson Antiporda rensic to conduct examination PAO Forensic Laboratory Di- Pimentel insisted, however, Manila Times on the victim to determine if rector Erwin Erfe said that in that the Health department the death is linked to Dengvax- the seven examinations they should not just ask for a refund ia,” Jimenez said. have conducted, the common on unused vaccines, but for the nother child who had The PAO has already ex- findings were extensive organ cost of the entire contract. been inoculated with amined seven victims, whose bleeding and enlarged organs. “All the vaccines were de- ADengvaxia, the world’s deaths were believed to have The Health department fective from the very begin- fi rst anti-dengue vaccine, died been caused by the anti-den- during the administration ning. Therefore, under our laws, in Paranaque City yesterday, the gue vaccine produced by phar- of former President Benigno we should demand the whole Volunteers Against Crime and maceutical giant Sanofi Pas- Aquino launched the school- P3.5bn we paid them and not Residents of Pandacan, Manila dance during the Buling-Buling festival to celebrate the feast of Corruption (VACC) said. teur. based anti-dengue vaccina- just part of it,” Pimentel said. the Santo Nino, the district’s patron saint. Dante Jimenez, chairman tion programme in April 2016. He noted that under the Civil of the anti-crime group, said “We will request the The programme only covered Code, the government could the latest victim was a student PAO (Public Attorney’s nine-year-old public school have a defective product re- between 9 and 11 years of age. Offi ce) forensic to conduct students in the National Capi- placed or refunded and since If tests confirmed dengue was examination on the victim tal Region, Central Luzon, and there is no possible replace- the cause of death, the child to determine if the death is Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, ment for the vaccine, refund is would be the second reported linked to Dengvaxia” Batangas, and Quezon). the only option. Call to save Filipina on death row Dengvaxia victim in Metro Ma- About 850,000 school chil- The Senate chief added nila. The first victim was Chris- dren have been inoculated with that even if Sanofi pays the “The victim died today in tine Mae de Guzman, a the Dengvaxia. full amount, it will still have Manila Times weekend following a decision by the appellate Paranaque, but we could not 10-year-old pupil from Bataan In November last year, Sanofi to face all liabilities that may Manila court disallowing Veloso’s testimony against her give further details about the who died six months after re- issued a statement admitting arise from putting more than recruiters, who allegedly tricked her into trans- child out of respect to the fami- ceiving the initial dose of the that Dengvaxia could increase 800,000 children at risk. porting illegal drugs to Indonesia in 2010. ly,” Jimenez said in an interview vaccine in 2016. Her body was risk of hospitalisation for den- The Senate blue ribbon he Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the The prelate argued that Veloso should be al- with Manila Times. exhumed recently for further gue and severe dengue on indi- committee is currently inves- Philippines (CBCP) has called anew on lowed to testify instead of the CA giving her re- The child, Jimenez said, died examination. viduals who have not been pre- tigating the procurement of TPresident Rodrigo Duterte to save the life cruiters “leeway”. “The president, through So- several months after being in- In December, 10-year-old viously infected by the disease. Dengvaxia. of overseas worker Mary Jane Veloso who is on licitor General Jose Calida, could question the jected with Dengvaxia under Anjielica Pestillos of Quezon The government had de- The Senate health committee death row, after she was convicted of drug smug- decision of the CA not to allow Mary Jane’s depo- the massive immunisation pro- City died of lupus after receiv- manded a refund from Sanofi chaired by Sen. Joseph Victor gling in Indonesia. sition. Through the Solicitor General, it should be gramme of the Department of ing Dengvaxia vaccine. The Pasteur, adding that the com- Ejercito is considering con- Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos, chairman of elevated to the Supreme Court,” Santos said. Health (DoH). other victims were from the pany should also defray the cost ducting a separate hearing into the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Migrants Insisting that she was tricked by her recruiters, “We will request the PAO provinces of Bataan, Laguna, of tests for the vaccine’s recipi- the issue to focus on the health and Itinerant People, made the appeal over the Veloso was given a last-minute reprieve. (Public Attorney’s Office) fo- Cavite and Bulacan. ents. Senate President Aquilino aspect. Gulf Times Monday, January 15, 2018 21 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Strong Bangladesh, Myanmar meet winds damage over 300 over Rohingya return today houses in Reuters triation agreement. The group Today’s meeting in statement on Thursday that two to help with the process have gent attacks on police and army Dhaka/Yangon is made up of civil servants from Naypyitaw will be the fi rst temporary “repatriation and not been taken up by the two posts, has been described by both countries. for a joint working group assessment camps” and one countries. the United States and UN as Lanka Two senior Bangladesh of- set up to hammer out the other site to accommodate re- “Further measures are need- ethnic cleansing. Myanmar re- ffi cials from Bangla- fi cials who are involved in the details of the November turnees had been set up. Myint ed to ensure safe, voluntary jects that, saying troops did not desh and Myanmar are talks acknowledged that much repatriation agreement. Kyaing, permanent secretary at and sustainable repatriation of target civilians. IANS Oto meet today to discuss was left to be resolved and it was The group is made up of Myanmar’s ministry of labour, refugees to their places of origin “You can have all the agree- Colombo how to implement a repatria- unclear when the fi rst refugees civil servants from both immigration and population, and to address the underlying ments in the world, and set up tion deal, signed on November could actually return. One of countries told Reuters earlier this month root causes of the crisis,” said all the reception centres and 23, on the return of more than the key issues to be worked out that Myanmar would be ready Caroline Gluck, a spokeswoman everything, but it won’t make a ore than 300 houses 650,000 Rohingya who have es- was how the process for jointly portant – we can learn from to begin processing least 150 for UNHCR in Cox’s Bazar. diff erence unless the conditions have been damaged caped an army crackdown since verifying the identities of re- the experiences, good or bad,” people a day through each of the The UNHCR says refugees it in Myanmar are such that peo- Mdue to strong winds late August. turnees would work, they said. he said. two camps by January 23. has surveyed want guarantees ple feel confi dent that they can in the Gampaha district of Sri Buddhist-majority Myanmar “Any return is chaotic and Bangladesh offi cials said As well as checking their cre- that international agencies will go back and live in peace, and Lanka, according to the Disaster has for years denied Rohingya complex,” said Shahidul Haque, they would begin the proc- dentials as residents of Myan- be involved in overseeing the have equal rights,” said a Management Centre (DMC) in citizenship, freedom of move- Bangladesh’s top foreign minis- ess this month by sharing with mar, he said, authorities would process and more information Western diplomat in Dhaka. Colombo. ment and access to many basic try offi cial who will lead Dhaka’s Myanmar authorities a list of check returnees against lists of about the security situation in The second Bangladesh of- Gale force winds lashed across services such as healthcare and 14-member team in the talks. 100,000 Rohingya, picked at suspected “terrorists”. their home areas. fi cial, Refugee Relief and Reha- Walpita, Katukirinda and several education. They are considered “The challenge is to create an random from among registered Myint Kyaing declined to While many Rohingya say bilitation Commissioner Mo- other areas and houses in Badal- illegal immigrants from mainly environment conducive for refugees. comment on how long the re- they want to go back to Myan- hammed Abul Kalam, said the gama, Katukenda, Alugolla, Muslim Bangladesh. their return.” Haque said Myanmar offi cials patriation would take but con- mar, most of the more than a “Rohingyas’ reluctance to go Dicklanda and Heeralugedera ar- The authorities have said re- Myanmar government would vet the names against ceded the process after the 1992 dozen who spoke to Reuters said back” was an issue that needed eas have been damaged by fallen turnees could apply for citizen- spokesman Zaw Htay said re- their records of residents before agreement had taken more than they were scared to do so now. to be addressed. trees and other debris, a DMC ship if they can show their fore- turnees would be able to apply the August exodus, and those 10 years. “I am not going back. No He said the repatriation proc- offi cial said. bears have lived in Myanmar. for citizenship “after they pass approved would then be asked if United Nations agencies one’s going back,” said Hafi - ess would cost “millions of dol- Trees that have been fallen But the latest deal – like the one the verifi cation process”. they wanted to go back. working in the camps clus- zulla, a 37-year-old Rohingya lars” but funding details had onto the streets were removed in 1992 – does not guarantee Zaw Htay added that My- Refugees without documents tered around Cox’s Bazar, in man. “We are scared to go back not yet been agreed and were with the assistance of the army, citizenship and it is unclear how anmar had proposed that a would be asked to identify southeastern Bangladesh, have without any UN intervention. not expected to be discussed at the offi cial added. many would qualify. group of 500 Hindus who fl ed streets, villages and other land- voiced scepticism about the re- They can accuse us later, they today’s meeting. Ravi Jayaratne, deputy direc- Today’s meeting in Myan- to Bangladesh and have already marks near their former homes settlement plans. can arrest us. They may accuse Japan, one of Myanmar’s big- tor, Disaster Management Cen- mar’s capital Naypyitaw will agreed to be repatriated, along- as proof of their right to return, The UN High Commissioner us of helping the militants.” gest aid donors, said on Friday it tre, said that no deaths have been be the fi rst for a joint working side 500 Muslims, could form said Haque. for Refugees (UNHCR) and The military off ensive the was giving an emergency grant reported but several people have group set up to hammer out the the fi rst batch of returnees. A Myanmar agency set up to the International Organisation refugees fl ed, which was of around $3mn to help with the been hospitalised with injuries. details of the November repa- “The fi rst repatriation is im- oversee repatriation said in a for Migration said their off ers prompted by Rohingya insur- return of the Rohingya. The National Insurance Trust Fund has deployed 12 teams to estimate the damages to grant insurance compensations for the victims, state radio reported. Return journey A Ceylon Electricity Board Cold wave claims spokesman said that additional workers have been deployed to repair the damaged power six more lives in supply. Nepal; toll at 50 Lanka cabinet approves new Agencies in the southern Saptari dis- visa norms Kathmandu trict alone, the Kathmandu Post reported. The Sri Lankan Cabinet has In a separate incident, fi ve approved a proposal to collect ntense cold weather in people were killed in a jeep visa charges in US dollars instead Nepal’s southern region accident in Sankhuwasa- of Sri Lankan rupees. Ihas claimed six more bha district of eastern Nepal The proposal to regularise and lives, taking to 50 the death yesterday. update the present method toll due to severe winter Makalu Rural Munici- of visa issuing forwarded by conditions in the Hima- pality chairperson Khadga Internal Aff airs and Cultural layan nation, police said Katuwal was among the de- Aff airs Minister S B Navinna yesterday. ceased, according to chief was approved by cabinet last Three people, including district offi cer Shivaraj Joshi. week. The proposal includes two septuagenarians, died The accident took place at recommendations to charge in Rautahat district while Samatar of Bhotkhola Rural a fine of $500 in addition to another three, including a Municipality in the district. visa charge from foreigners two-year-old child, died in The ill-fated jeep en route whose visa period has expired; Saptari district on Saturday, to Dovan of Bhotkhola Rural provide a residential visa for they said. Municipality from district foreign students covering the Life has been severely af- headquarters Khandbari met whole academic period; issue fected by the cold waves that with the accident at residential visas of up to 10 years hit mainly southern Nepal around 12pm. for foreigners who remit more districts over the past one It is learnt that the jeep than $500,000 to Sri Lanka; issue week. carried a team of staff be- a permanent residence visa for About 50 people have longing to National Recon- former Sri Lankans who have Overcrowded train leaves Tongi rail station after the final prayer of “Bishwa Ijtema”, the world congregation of Muslims, on the banks of died of cold wave across the struction Authority. The already obtained the citizenship the Turag river in Tongi, near Dhaka, yesterday. country this winter, with 27 reason for the accident is not of another country who cannot of these deaths taking place known yet, the offi cials said. apply for dual citizenship. Nine sentenced to death for Former Indian president in Dhaka killing ruling AL leader

By Mizan Rahman The convicts have been ing on February 1, 2017 at Mir- rights campaigners demanded Dhaka identifi ed as Bhadrabila Un- para Bazaar in Narail town. replacement of death sentence ion Council chairman Shahidur The Khulna Speedy Trial Tri- with other punishments. Rahman Mina (52), Ilias Mina bunal sentenced 410 persons to They urged the government to court in southwestern (56), Ashiqur Mina (22), Russel death on charges of murders and ban death sentence. port city of Khulna yes- Mina (30), Bashar Molla (30), violation of the explosives sub- They said that human rights Aterday sentenced nine Robiul Molla (25), Enayet Molla stance act in 2017, the highest preconditions prohibit end- people, including a former Un- (53), Yasin Molla (24), and Ma- ever for any year since 2009. ing life by anyone including the ion Parishad chairman, to death mun Mina (28). The death row convicts were state. in connection with the murder All the convicts were present accused in 171 cases, offi cials in During the past nine years of Narail town Awami League in the dock. Supreme Court registrar gen- of the Awami League govern- leader Probhash Roy. According to the charge- eral’s offi ce told newsmen. ment’s rule, the High Court Khulna Speedy Trial Tribunal sheet, Roy, president of Expressing concern over the received 887 death references judge Rab Hawladar also fi ned each Bhadrabila Awami League, was high number of accused get- from the trial courts, court of the convicts with 50,000 taka. hacked to death during a meet- ting capital punishment, human offi cials said. Post-fl ood recovery aid for Nepal

IANS Yu Hong and the United Na- sive damage and displace- happy to partner with China Kathmandu tions Development Programme ment caused by the fl oods and receive the generous con- (UNDP) Nepal country director in the country’s southern tribution for the recovery of Renaud Meyer. part. A post-fl ood assess- people after the fl oods. We are ore than 31,800 “We hope that we could help ment conducted by the gov- very grateful for their will- households in the fl ood aff ected people to get ernment of Nepal found ingness to provide additional Msouthern Nepal’s Te- back to their normal lives,” Hong that 1.7mn people were funding to the work that UNDP rai region, which was aff ected said. aff ected by the disaster. has been doing.” by severe fl oods in August last She noted that the Chinese The China funded project Meyer said since the people year, will receive humanitar- government has already provid- will be implemented by the in Terai region are severely af- ian aid from China, according ed assistance to Nepal for disas- UNDP and is expected to com- fected by poverty, the project Bangladesh Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali receives former Indian president Pranab to an agreement signed last ter relief right after the massive plete within three months. The will enable them to resume Mukherjee at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka yesterday. Mukherjee will week. fl oods last year. project will be eff ective from their work while the chil- attend a special convocation of Chittagong University tomorrow where he will be conferred The agreement was signed by The Chinese aid comes early next week. dren will be able to get back to honorary DLit degree. Chinese ambassador to Nepal in response to the exten- Meyer said, “We are very schools. Gulf Times 22 Monday, January 15, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko

P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Mediterranean-style diet may lower risk of prostate cancer

The fi ndings of a latest study that men who closely followed a Mediterranean-style diet (including fi sh, boiled potatoes, whole fruits, vegetables, legumes, olive oil, and minimal juices) had signifi cantly lower risk for aggressive prostate cancer (PCa) throw up a new option for a preventive strategy. The results of the Spanish study have to be read in conjunction with the fact that the four most common cancers occurring worldwide are lung, female breast, bowel and prostate cancer. These four account for around four in 10 of all cancers diagnosed worldwide, according New debt crisis looms to Cancer Research UK. Lung, breast and bowel (including anus), stomach and prostate cancers have been amongst the most commonly diagnosed worldwide since 1975. More than 1.1mn cases of prostate cancer were recorded in 2012, accounting for around 8% of all new cancer cases and 15% in men, according to the World Cancer Research Fund for developing world International. Going by the latest study published in The Journal of Western bank loans for modernisation. And in the years generated no meaningful revenue. what happened during the debt crisis Urology, men who closely followed a Mediterranean-style immediately after the 2008 fi nancial At least a quarter of the money is of the early 1980s (when the windfall diet had signifi cantly lower risk for aggressive PCa (Gleason projects in Africa were crisis investing in Africa was attractive. unaccounted for, with some suspicion gains from oil producing countries were score above 6 or clinical to be paid off via rising Debt relief and better financial that it was spent on military equipment. recycled into loans to Latin America) action should be taken now. Cancer is one stage T2b to T4 disease) commodity prices. At least management meant African Jamie Drummond, the director of the than men adhering to countries looked more stable. The development campaign group One At the international level, there of the leading that was the theory money creation process known as says that it is not clear the money ever needs to be better monitoring of how a “prudent” diet or quantitative easing meant western turned up in Mozambique after being vulnerable countries are to rising debt. causes of Western diets. In the banks and other financial institutions sent to two off shore companies in Abu There is a certain complacency about Multicase-Control Study By Larry Elliott were awash with funds. Ultra-low Dhabi. the fact that most of the current debt morbidity on Common Tumours in Guardian News and Media interest rates in the developed world For sure, though, not a single tuna is owed to the private sector; history Spain case-control study, meant investors were scouring the has been landed. shows that ultimately it will end up as and mortality world for higher yields than they Mozambique has paid a heavy price public debt. researchers compared the lobal interest rates are rising. could obtain at home. Many African for defaulting on the debt, which has For years, there has been a campaign worldwide diets of 733 patients with Poor countries are fi nding countries were also exporters of been sold on to vulture funds. The IMF, for a bankruptcy system that would histologically-confi rmed it tough to pay back money commodities that were in high miff ed at being lied to, has suspended treat countries like companies. This, PCa and 1,229 healthy men (mean age 66 years) from seven Gborrowed from banks in demand due to China’s rapid growth. its programme and the loss of fi nancial though, has been relentlessly opposed provinces in Spain. After completing a 154-item food anticipation of a commodity windfall Deals were done in which western support has meant public services by countries such as the US and the UK, that never materialised. Stir in some banks lent money for projects in are being cut. The scandal has rightly where the powerful fi nancial sectors frequency questionnaire, men’s dietary intake and habits dirty dealing that has seen funds stolen African countries, with the debt to attracted the attention of the FBI, make money out of bad debts. were graded according to how closely they matched the 3 and what do you have? That’s right: the be paid off by the proceeds of rising which is investigating whether the Not only should western dietary patterns. Western diets commonly contain high- makings of another debt crisis. commodity prices. banks facilitated corruption. governments back a sovereign debt fat dairy products, refi ned grains, processed meat, high- Poor country debt was supposed to That was the theory. In practice, Although this is a particularly bankruptcy scheme, the should also calorie drinks, sweets, convenience foods and sauces, and have been sorted back in 2005. Now, some ropey deals were done, of which egregious example of a deal that has insist that all new debt include clauses a low intake of low-fat dairy products and whole grains. A 13 years later, debt is back albeit in a a prime example is the one made in gone badly wrong, Mozambique is that off er protection from vulture diff erent form. Last time, the focus London fi ve years ago between Credit not the only country in diffi culty. The funds, companies that seek to make a prudent diet centres on low fat dairy products, whole grains, was on public debt, money that poor- Suisse and Russia’s VTB bank to lend Jubilee debt campaign said that at the profi t on debt they have bought on the vegetables, fruits, and juices. country governments owed to the $2bn to two companies in Mozambique end of 2017, 28 countries were rated as cheap. High adherers to a Mediterranean-style diet had a signifi cant International Monetary Fund, the World backed by the government in Maputo. in debt distress or at high risk of debt Developing countries need to do mean 33% lower risk for PCa above Gleason score 6 and a Bank and individual rich nations – and The money was supposed to be distress, up from 22 at the end of 2016, more – a lot more in some cases – to 51% lower risk for clinical stage T2b to T4 disease. The other which was mostly forgiven as a result of for a tuna fi shing fl eet and for a navy and 15 in 2013. The number of countries tackle corruption, but so do the banks. the Gleneagles G8 agreement in 2005. to protect the boats operating in classifi ed as low risk has more than One idea is a Transparent Lending dietary patterns showed little or no signifi cant associations These days, the issue is private-sector Mozambique’s territorial waters. Credit halved – from 24 in 2013 to 11 currently. Covenant, under which banks would with aggressive disease. “Our results show that a diet debt and while as yet only a handful Suisse and VTB trousered $200mn This is not yet a full-blown debt make the full details of loans public. oriented towards the prevention of aggressive tumours in the of countries – mostly in sub-Saharan between them in fees, but the loans crisis but it could easily become one. Interestingly, the idea is being pushed prostate should probably include important elements of the Africa – are in serious trouble, the were never revealed to the Mozambique The commodity boom is over, China by Tidjane Thiam, who took over as Mediterranean diet such as fi sh, legumes, and olive oil, and warning signs are there. The IMF and parliament, the IMF, the fi nancial is growing less rapidly and the cost of chief executive of Credit Suisse after the the World Bank both know it. markets or the Mozambique people. servicing loans taken out in foreign Mozambique loan was agreed. It’s not suggest that a high intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains Africa needs more private-sector A report into the deal by the currencies is becoming more expensive hard to see why. The tuna deal stank in might not be enough,” explained lead investigator Dr Beatriz investment because debt relief and corporate investigations company Kroll as interest rates rise in the developed every way. It was bad for Mozambique, Perez-Gomez, of the Cancer and Environmental Epidemiology western aid have not been enough on concluded that the two companies world. bad for the City and bad for Credit Unit at the Instituto de Salud Carlos III in Madrid, according their own to bring about economic were inadequately managed and had To lessen the threat of a rerun of Suisse. to a news release from the American Urological Association, which publishes The Journal of Urology. According to the World Health Organisation, cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with about 14mn new cases in 2012. The number of new cases is expected to rise by about 70% over the next two decades. Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, and was responsible for 8.8mn deaths in 2015. Globally, nearly one in six deaths is due to cancer. Approximately 70% of deaths from cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries. Around one-third of deaths from cancer are due to the fi ve leading behavioural and dietary risks: high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, tobacco and alcohol use. So the message is loud and clear – cut unhealthy habits and adopt a healthy diet.

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© 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Gulf Times Monday, January 15, 2018 23 COMMENT Polls key to bridging LatAm’s social divide

Despite a brightening October as unemployment starts to people safe, aid workers said. fall and harsh recession ends in the Violence, corruption, hunger and economic picture, many country shaken by the “Car Wash” water shortages in the “Northern countries need to do more bribery case that nearly toppled its Triangle” of El Salvador, Honduras and president and ensnared politicians and Guatemala are expected to continue to reduce the huge gap elites across Latin America. forcing people to migrate north, between rich and poor in Colombians will vote for the fi rst despite increasing deportations from time since a 2016 peace deal with the the United States. the world’s most unequal Marxist Revolutionary Armed Forces Walter Cotte, Americas director region while ramping of Colombia (FARC), which is fi elding a for the International Federation candidate for the May poll. of Red Cross and Red Crescent up spending on critical Votes are also scheduled for Costa Societies (IFRC), warned that US Rica, Paraguay and Venezuela. President Donald Trump’s decision infrastructure, health and “It’s kind of 50/50 at this point, to end temporary protected status for education some (countries) are really moving 200,000 Salvadorans in 2019 could forward — people’s lives are improving create a “dangerous situation” as greatly — and then you have these remittances dry up and returnees put By Sophie Hares other countries that are of real pressure on El Salvador. Tepic, Mexico concern,” said Kate Schecter, chief More widely, as shown by last year’s executive of World Neighbours, a string of disasters — from earthquakes, non-profi t group working with poor hurricanes and fi res to fl oods and lections across Latin America communities in Latin America and the droughts — the majority of Latin could help clean up rampant Caribbean. American nations still lack eff ective corruption fuelling the Many fear the humanitarian crisis in plans for disaster risk reduction and Eregion’s deep social and Venezuela could deepen even further recovery, he said. economic divide as millions vote this this year as sanctions grip and its oil- While the Caribbean has vowed to year, while Venezuela’s crisis poses the based economy continues to crumble become the world’s fi rst “climate- biggest humanitarian threat, analysts after years of painful recession. resilient region” in 2018 after last and aid workers said. Thousands have left the country year’s devastating hurricanes, only “Corruption is the scourge of Latin where crippling food shortages, the about 10 countries in the region America. The average person might world’s highest infl ation rate and a have robust disaster prevention and see corruption as something elites near-collapse of the health system management capacities, said Cotte. do,” said Jason Marczak, director of are compounded by violence, which Ecuador is making strides but Peru the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht has made Caracas the world’s most and Brazil both need more systemic Latin America Center. dangerous city. approaches to managing disaster risks, “More dramatically, it aff ects those “The prognosis for 2018 is he said. who are less well off . Pilfering of state People take part in a demonstration in defence of democracy and the right of former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) further deterioration, humanitarian Some 15 countries “are really in resources for corrupt reasons means to be a candidate in the next national elections, in Porto Alegre in southern Brazil on Saturday. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will emergency, and an increased exodus the nursery”, lacking the resources, less money is available for public be tried by the Supreme Court on January 24 in connection with acts of corruption in his government. of Venezuelans,” Robert Malley, chief systems and experience to cope with a schools or for transportation.” executive of International Crisis predicted rise in disasters, he added. A report by anti-corruption group unequal region while ramping up of human capital formation in Latin more targeted at those who have Group, said in a report. “Resilience isn’t happening if Transparency International last spending on critical infrastructure, America,” said Hugo Nopo, research been “left behind”, said the Atlantic “Sustained domestic and you don’t have better leadership in October showed roughly one-in-three health and education, experts said. economist at GRADE, a Lima-based Council’s Marczak. international pressure — as well as policies,” said Cotte. Latin Americans paid a bribe in the With poverty levels expected to development analysis organisation. Leftist front-runner Andres Manuel guarantees of future immunity — will With Latin America increasingly previous year to a public employee, remain broadly stable, they urged “The problem now is that every single Lopez Obrador has vowed to tackle be required to push the government “at the end of the queue” for aid and from police offi cers to teachers and governments to increase longer-term additional reduction in poverty is corruption and boost social spending toward credible presidential elections.” investment dollars, more money for hospital workers. investment in skills development going to be harder to get.” in Mexico if he wins the July vote In Central America, the gang projects to boost resilience needs to Despite a brightening economic to make sure Latin Americans can This year’s six main polls could to govern the country, where cartel violence and migrant crisis plaguing come from within the region and be picture, many countries need to do maintain their livelihoods and improve see more anti-establishment leaders violence has pushed murder rates to a the disaster-prone region, together better co-ordinated to help vulnerable more to reduce the huge gap between living standards. coming to offi ce, and socio-economic record high. with the growing impacts of climate communities, he noted. - Thomson rich and poor in the world’s most “There is a big challenge in terms policies in countries including Mexico Brazilians will cast their vote in change, are making it harder to keep Reuters Foundation Accelerating Africa’s energy transition Three-day forecast

TODAY struggled to maintain consumption improve food security, and increase rural regions, moreover, such policies Maximum Temperature : 260c By Charlotte Aubin Minimum Temperature : 140c Paris levels. farmers’ earning capacity. would help bring communities out of This is a needless cycle. Integrating In the drive to rebalance Africa’s darkness and lead to the installation TUESDAY cleaner power into national energy energy mix, the continent maintains of other critical infrastructure that Maximum Temperature : 240c or much of Africa, the systems would not only raise local one crucial advantage over developed economic growth requires. Minimum Temperature : 150c transition from fossil fuels capacities; it would also free up economies: a clean slate. The relative But while renewables hold the key WEDNESDAY to cleaner forms of energy hydrocarbons for export. The resulting absence of legacy investments is the to Africa’s long-term prosperity, Maximum Temperature : 220c Fis seen as an environmental revenue could then be invested into principal reason why green power is the continent’s transition to Minimum Temperature : 130c new forms of greener power. Such Africa’s best energy option. Although cleaner power should not lead to an imperative. With fossil fuels Fisherman's forecast comprising a majority – as high as a transition, which would require every country must balance its own immediate, full-scale repudiation 70% in some cases – of the energy cooperation with the oil sector, energy needs, reliance on renewable of hydrocarbons. The oil sector will WARNING sources, and solar power in particular, still have an important role to play. Inshore : Poor horizontal visibility mix, the situation on the continent is promises to boost socioeconomic expected at places at indeed ecologically dire. progress. is the most cost-effi cient strategy for The industry’s experience on the first. But Africa’s energy transition is Among the biggest benefi ts would fostering rapid economic development continent will be needed to navigate economically urgent as well. Each be the electrifi cation of areas that, throughout the continent. the energy transformation. And, Offshore : Expected poor visibility at places at first. year, oil subsidies consume 1.5% of under current distribution systems, Evidence of this potential can be because fossil fuels will remain part the continent’s GDP – roughly $50bn. are literally in the dark. Today, just found in the few photovoltaic power of the continent’s energy mix, the oil WEATHER That is enough money to provide 30% of Africa has access to reliable plants that have begun operating in sector must be encouraged to clean up Inshore : Hazy to misty/foggy at- places at first, becomes solar power to some 300mn people. electricity. But, with a total capacity Africa. For example, the Senergy 2 its own act. mild daytime and cold If the continent could rebalance its estimated at around ten terawatts, solar plant in Senegal sells electricity This may sound like an impossible by night. energy portfolio, moving away from installed solar capacity in Africa could to the Senegalese power utility at a alliance. But as policymakers across WIND Inshore : Southwesterly-North- hydrocarbons slowly, those subsidies broaden access dramatically. In fact, price that lowers the cost of the energy the continent seek to secure adequate westerly 05-15 KT could be reallocated in ways that according to some estimates, the mix by 50%. Similar solar solutions supplies of clean energy to ensure Offshrore : Northwesterly 05-15 KT would yield both environmental and increase in solar generation by 2030 are being implemented by African rapid, inclusive economic growth economic benefi ts. could range from 15 to 62 gigawatts. telecoms to electrify communication and environmental sustainability, VISIBILITY : 4-8 KM/2 KM Today, neither oil exporters nor Fossil fuels are not destined to be towers. they are likely to fi nd that there is no SEA STATE importers are adequately insulated phased out anytime soon, but an The best way to accelerate the alternative. Cooperation between Offshore : 1-3 FT, rises from 2-4 FT from price shocks. When oil prices energy mix that included a signifi cant transition from hydrocarbons to old and new energy industries may by evening. be the only engine that is capable of declined rapidly in 2015, for example, increase in solar power would have greener forms of energy would be Around the region Africa’s energy importers spent less major economic advantages for to redirect a portion of national oil powering Africa forward. – Project Weather on oil, while exporting countries Africa, especially in areas where subsidies to renewables. This would Syndicate Weather tomorrow suff ered fi nancially. When prices agriculture is the largest economic create stronger incentives to reduce today Max/min Max/min M Sunny rebounded, the relationship switched: sector. Electrifying agricultural fossil-fuel consumption, while zCharlotte Aubin is CEO of GreenWish Baghdad Sunny 19/06 19/07 Sunny energy-exporting countries’ revenues areas would facilitate the storage and encouraging investment and growth Partners, a renewable-power producer Kuwait City Sunny 23/09 21/08 Cloudy inched up, while importing countries transportation of farmed products, in green-energy output. For Africa’s dedicated to Sub-Saharan Africa. Manama Sunny 23/17 22/15 Muscat Sunny 24/18 Sunny 25/18 Tehran P Cloudy 12/00 M Sunny 08/01 Live issues Clearing up nutrition questions

By Barbara Quinn dietary fi bre he found on several types The Monterey County Herald of bread: 1 gram in white bread, 1.5 to 2 grams in two brands of 100% whole wheat and 3 to 5 grams in two brands Around the world y goal for today is to of multigrain whole grain breads. Weather Weather clear up questions and More research prompted this reader today Max/min tomorrow Max/min comments from readers: to conclude that “almost all beans are Athens M Cloudy 12/07 P Cloudy 16/08 M Alana writes: “Thank a better source of fi ber than bread. And Beirut Showers 16/14 P Cloudy 16/13 you for your article on beans. whole grain or whole wheat does not Bangkok P Cloudy 30/22 M Sunny 32/22 Question: Does bringing beans that assure higher fi bre content.” Berlin M Sunny 03/01 Showers 05/-1 have been soaked overnight in water to Dear Terence, Cairo P Cloudy 21/09 Sunny 20/11 a boil before discarding the water and You are correct that beans are Cape Town S Showers 21/17 Cloudy 27/19 adding fresh water for cooking destroy generally a better source of dietary Colombo M Sunny 33/23 P Cloudy 33/23 substantial nutrition? This method fi bre than bread. And that whole grain Dhaka P Cloudy 23/13 M Sunny 25/14 seems to me to decrease gas. But products have varying amounts of Hong Kong Sunny 20/17 M Sunny 22/17 should I be concerned about the loss of fi ber. (Remember that whole grains Istanbul P Cloudy 07/03 S Showers 09/08 vitamins or anything else?” contribute many more nutritional Jakarta T Storms 29/24 S Showers 31/24 Dear Alana, benefi ts than just fi ber content.) Karachi Sunny 29/13 Sunny 27/16 According to food and nutrition Dried beans Part of the confusion about fi bre London Rain 11/04 S Showers 07/02 experts at North Dakota State on the food label may be that dietary Manila P Cloudy 31/24 Cloudy 31/24 University, the preferred method to beans in a large pot and add 5 cups of me to do a little research at the grocery fi bre is still not well-defi ned. The Moscow Cloudy -3/-6 P Cloudy -5/-10 prepare dry beans is the “hot soak” water for every 1 cup of beans. Heat which suggests that the advice may USDA Food and Drug Administration New Delhi Sunny 23/07 Sunny 23/06 method which reduces cooking time. to boiling and boil for 2 to 3 minutes. be nearly irrelevant. This is because of currently includes soluble and New York P Cloudy -1/-3 Rain & Snow 04/-2 (Less cooking time means less loss of Remove from heat, cover and let stand the way the food industry manipulates insoluble carbohydrates in its Paris Rain 09/08 Showers 09/04 water soluble vitamins such as folate). for 4 to 24 hours. Drain beans and nutritional information labels, defi nition of dietary fi ber. But food Sao Paulo S T Storms 30/21 S T Storms 29/20 This method also eff ectively releases discard soak water. Rinse with fresh sometimes making them meaningless. manufacturers are not required to list Seoul P Cloudy 05/-5 S Showers 03/-2 gas-producing compounds from beans cool water. Then add fresh water to It isn’t clear to the consumer whether both types on the Nutrition Facts label Singapore M Cloudy 29/23 S T Storms 30/24 into the soaking water which we are cook. they are reporting total fi bre or soluble unless they make a health statement Sydney Cloudy 24/18 Cloudy 22/16 wise to discard. From Terence in Washington: “Your fi bre.” about either of these types. - Tribune Tokyo Clear 12/-1 Clear 13/02 Here’s the hot soak method: Place advice about whole grains prompted Terence then notes the content of News Service Gulf Times 24 Monday, January 15, 2018 QATAR Local farm grows biggest organic tomato in Qatar

By Joey Aguilar “This is the fi rst time that a urally more resistant to many tomer basis) in Italy due to their Staff Reporter natural species of an old Italian parasites, but noticeably diffi cult sweet and delicate taste. These tomato is successfully grown in to be grown outside their original types of tomatoes also have few Qatar in a plain organic manner, habitat, according to al-Khalaf. seeds and an abundant juicy fi rm Qatari farm near Al Khor i.e. without any genetic modi- “This is the challenge that Ag- pulp that make them ideal for br- has produced what could fi cation or the use of pesticides rico won, growing a fi rst batch uschetta and many other recipes, Nasser al-Khalaf shows the 1.34kg organic tomato. Abe considered as a nation- and chemicals to protect the of 30 ancient plants, which are he added. “Their concentration al record for the biggest organic plant,” Agrico owner and manag- now all full of tomatoes,” he said. in healthy minerals and nutrients I thought he had lost his mind, after a few attempts, I am the fi rst in the country. “By harvesting a tomato in the country, weighing ing director Nasser al-Khalaf told “This very type of plant usually is much higher than average.” even more when he added that to be positively astonished by the 1.34kg traditional tomato, Agrico 1.34kg and six times bigger than Gulf Times. produces tomatoes, which weigh With the help of food and agri- the tomatoes weigh more than incredible size and taste of the sets a new record in Qatar and the average-size tomato. After a few trials and errors, he 600 to 900gm each, although it business enthusiast Dr Salvino half kilo each,” al-Khalaf said. jumbo tomatoes,” he added. demonstrates that the challenge The ‘giant’ tomato was grown noted that he and his team man- is not uncommon to harvest 1kg Salvaggio, plans to grow ‘ancient “But he is a respected profes- Agrico plans to take “this proof of food security can also be tack- by Agrico, a private Qatari agri- aged to grow traditional species or even 1.5kg single tomato.” vegetables’ pushed through. sional at Qatar Foundation, so I of concept” to the next stage by led in a very pragmatic way by cultural development company of tomatoes, originally found in The farm owner stressed that “When I was approached by trusted him.” growing more of these species growing organic ancient vegeta- producing organic vegetables Tuscany, Italy in the 19th cen- Tuscany jumbo tomatoes are in my friend Salvaggio to grow a “I also thought that this could of organic tomatoes to meet the bles, which are richer in taste and and fruits, and aims to help the tury, from seed to fruit. Ancient high demand among starred res- 19th century species of Italian be a stimulating challenge for our demand in the market, especially healthier than many imported al- country to achieve food security. vegetables are known to be nat- taurants (and an expanding cus- tomatoes in my farm in Al Khor farming company Agrico. Now, for restaurants and customers ternatives,” al-Khalaf explained. Sidra to become global beacon of patient care

By Joseph Varghese Staff Reporter

idra Medicine will become an international beacon of best healthcare practice and high- Squality, academically-driven patient care, noted Prof the Lord Darzi of Denham, vice chair, Board of Governors, yesterday. Speaking at a press conference to announce the opening of the inpatient facility at Sidra Medi- cine, Lord Darzi said, “It is a memorable day for me personally and for all others at the hospital. I have worked at hospitals in the UK and across the globe. But I never had the opportunity to be part of the opening of such a unique healthcare facility which Qatar is and will be very proud of.” “As part of Qatar Foundation and its vision, Sidra Medicine is a true embodiment of the country’s wider and long-term eff orts to build a world-class healthcare and research infrastructure in Qatar. It also refl ects the focus of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chair of Sidra Board of Governors in transforming the care for women and children’s services in Qatar,” noted Lord Darzi. “Sidra Medicine is a fi rst-of-its-kind facility in the Middle East and will become a resource for the entire Gulf region in terms of specialty care for women and children supported by an impressive research infrastructure that will help lead the way in personalised medicine,” pointed out the offi cial. According to the offi cial, medical care at Sidra Medicine is supported by research aimed at ad- vancing the understanding of the epidemiology and mechanisms of diseases for the people of Qatar. It will help develop personalised, preventative, diag- A CT-Scan facility at Sidra Medicine. Prof the Lord Darzi of Denham speaking at the event. nostic and therapeutic tools and improve the health outcomes of the women, young people and children of Qatar. Sidra Medicine to deliver about 9,000 babies a year During the press conference, Sidra Medicine of- fi cials highlighted that the hospital has adopted Sidra Medicine will handle about Research Center. We have a workable at present. However, referral for this results and the quality of the care will urology, including procedures for breakthrough technologies to enhance the patient 9,000 deliveries a year, once it is fully plan to make sure that the deliveries facility will be extended to other reflect on the position of the hospital treating structural and congenital experience and underpin the highest standards of operational, said an off icial of the will take place at both the facilities,” health facilities soon. Moreover, by the and you can compare it with any top heart diseases, valve replacements care and patient safety. hospital yesterday. he told a press conference. end of the summer this year, all the hospitals in the world, “ said Morris. and bladder exstrophy. The high-tech devices at Sidra Medicine include “Around 500 deliveries a month In addition, once fully operational, primary health centres in the country Sidra Medicine will also accept “Sidra Medicine not only stands palm vein recognition technology – a biometric will take place at the hospital in the Sidra Medicine will handle 275,000 will be able to refer delivery cases to regional and international referrals for for medicine today, but medicine technology that identifi es patients by capturing beginning. By the middle of this year, outpatient appointments, 11,000 Sidra Medicine,” added Dr Konje women, young people and children tomorrow, which is why our tripartite their vein pattern and which connects with pa- we will be able to handle about 750 procedures and 100,000 emergency According to Peter Morris, CEO of who need its specialist expertise. focus on patient care, biomedical tients’ individual medical records automatically, deliveries per month. In total, we attendances. The hospital will include Sidra Medicine, the hospital will be An international referrals off ice research and medical education is and a 3D printer which provides models of a pa- will handle about 9,000 deliveries 10 operating theatres, 400 beds, among the top healthcare facilities of has already handled 117 cases from so important. Researchers at Sidra tient’s organs such as the heart or the brain to help yearly,” explained Dr Justin Konje, 100% percent single rooms with a the region and the world soon. “Sidra Bahrain, Egypt, Ghana, Greece, Iran, Medicine are looking for ways to with treatment planning. chair, Women’s Services Clinical private bathroom, a birthing centre Medicine has started the inpatient Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Nigeria, personalise care for every child, The technology at Sidra Medicine has been de- Management Group, Sidra Medicine, and emergency department. services from today. The entire Oman, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Sudan young person and mother who walks veloped to ensure patient data, patient experience while answering a query from Sidra Medicine also off ers the In Vitro children’s services will be operational and the UAE since Sidra Medicine through our doors by focusing on and patient care are all maintained at the highest Gulf Times. “We will be working in Fertilisation (IVF) facility. “The referral by the end of May while the women’s opened its Outpatient Clinic in May specific aspects of their condition standards, while enabling healthcare professionals co-ordination with Hamad Medical for the IVF facility is prescribed by Al services will be fully rolled out by 2016. The most highly sought-after and personal circumstances,” added to spend more time with patients. Corporation’s Women’s Wellness and Garaff a and Al Rayyan Health centres the end of December this year. Our services have been cardiology and Morris. German Encounters rolls into fi nal week

rt lovers and culture fans have just one week left to Avisit the German Encoun- ters exhibition, on show at the Garage Gallery at the Fire Sta- tion, before it concludes on Janu- ary 20. The exhibition is a major high- light of the Qatar Germany 2017 Year of Culture, which showcases some of the very best in German contemporary art. German Encounters features a selection of incredible artworks from the Deutsche Bank Col- ‘German Encounters’ highlights some of the very best in German contemporary art. lection, one of the world’s most The exhibition showcases more than 100 exemplary works. important corporate collections stract acrylic works by Katharina oped with the Goethe-Institut future amongst artists, local col- Qatar’s continued development of contemporary art. More than the present day. The fi rst-rate dida Hofer, and Thomas Ruff ; Grosse and photographs by An- has provided local audiences lectors, and the viewing public. as a cultural hub,” QM’s chief 100 exemplary works on pa- selection of contemporary art and hugely infl uential post-con- nette Kelm. The exhibition has valuable insights into the exhibi- “This wonderful exhibition is strategic planning offi cer Khalid per including photographs, and features works by Joseph Beuys ceptual artists such as Isa Genz- proven to be hugely popular with tion. a truly memorable celebration al-Ibrahim said. “I urge as many paintings by 27 artists provide an and by the neo-expressionist ken, Rosemarie Trockel and Mar- the public, attracting positive Hosting such exhibitions is of the infl uence and signifi cance people as possible to take advan- informative overview of the de- painters such as Georg Baselitz tin Kippenberger. reviews and widespread interest an important feature of Qatar of German culture and art. At tage of this last opportunity to velopment of German art – and and Markus Lupertz; photogra- The collection also includes across the community. Museums’ (QM) commitment to QM, we’re focused on off ering a see such an incredible selection thus also of the history of the phers of the Dusseldorf School, renowned fi gurative paintings A full and dedicated educa- nurturing emerging talent and world-class programme of exhi- of art over the next few days,” he country – from the 1960s up to including Andreas Gursky, Can- by Neo Rauch, as well as ab- tional programme jointly devel- inspiring an exciting, creative bitions and activities, supporting added.