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BUSINESS | 21 SPORT | 32 QTerminals to Xavi, Al Khater to manage operations feature at Soccerex at Hamad Port Forum

Wednesday 30 November 2016 | 1 Rabia I 1438 Volume 21 | Number 6996 | 2 Riyals

Emir announces $1.25bn for Tunisia

Mohammed Osman in Tunis and that would contribute to solving The Peninsula the unemployment problem and pre- venting negative co-related mir H H Sheikh Tamim bin phenomena, such as despair and Hamad Al Thani said yester- Qatari support for Tunisia is extremism,” said the Emir. day that Qatar has allocated increasing steadily and Qatar will The Emir said the Qatari support $1.25bn as a contribution to for Tunisia is increasing steadily and support the Tunisian economy continue to back Tunisia's efforts to Qatar will continue to back Tunisia's Eand promote its development drive. achieve the desired development. efforts to achieve the desired Addressing the opening session of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani development. the International Conference in support “We have people in Tunisia who of economic, social and sustainable decided to build their country on the development in Tunisia (Tunisia 2020), People of Tunisia have much hope basis of pluralism, human dignity and being held in the Presidential Hall, the on this conference as it gives a freedom, as well as on the basis of the Emir stressed the need to support the strong message to all parties to common denominator between the Tunisian experiment in "good govern- open promising investment political forces, i.e., the interests of ance and organisation of political life Tunisia, away from tyranny. Are we under pluralism.” prospects and create real going to help them to make their exper- Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi economic partnerships. iment a success or to stand idly by to attended the session, along with a Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi watch them facing difficulties alone and number of heads of states, senior offi- to come later to look into the reasons cials, businessmen, investors and for despair and frustration and their representatives of a number of Tunisian ensuing destructive results? The coun- and international companies and tries that decided to attend, have institutions. answered this question correctly and The Emir said , "At the outset I am responsibly, and we commend them pleased to extend my sincere thanks to by Tunisia in the region and the world, for that,” said the Emir. His Excellency President Beji Caid and the extent of interest in its prom- The Emir said the conference was Essebsi, the people and the Government ising experiment, as well as the a paradigm of what should be done by of the sisterly Republic of Tunisia, for keenness to support and help it cope the international community to lend a the hospitality, warm reception and with the economic challenges, which helping hand to make the promising remarkable organisation of this impor- could be decisive in determining the experiments a success, instead of lob- tant conference, which is taking place fate of this experiment. bying for consultation in the aftermath with the aim to support Tunisia amid “The success of the development of disasters. very delicate conditions and major programs in Tunisia is a goal in itself “We remind our friends, and friends political and economic challenges at to achieve a better life for the broth- of the Tunisian people in the world, that the regional and international levels, erly people of Tunisia and secure the best and safest way to confront which double the significance of con- success of their experiment in good extremism and violence is protection, vening this conference.” governance and organisation of polit- because there is no guaranteed remedy The Emir said that the wide inter- ical life under pluralism. In addition, when the phenomenon becomes wide- Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani addressing the conference in national participation in this conference economic development leads to creat- spread,” said the Emir. Tunisia's capital Tunis yesterday. reflected the status and respect enjoyed ing job opportunities for young people → Continued on page 4

Workers Ooredoo fibre hospital to Genome pilot project a success: Sheikha Moza links 300,000 Fazeena Saleem homes open in 2017 The Peninsula QNA The Peninsula atar is preparing to develop regulations to oredoo reached another THE Private Engineering Qgovern research in historic milestone in Office (PEO), the government genomics and personalised ONovember, successfully agency that oversees high- medicine as the pilot phase of passing the milestone of more profile development projects the country’s groundbreaking than 300,000 homes con- in the country, handed over initiative to map the genetic code nected to the nationwide the workers-only hospital of citizens has been completed, Ooredoo Fibre Network. project at Industrial Area to said H H Sheikha Moza bint This achievement was Hamad Medical Corporation, Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar recorded on November 20, yesterday. The hospital is Foundation (QF) opening the 2016, and marks another expected to become opera- World Innovation Summit for important step in Qatar’s tional by next summer. Health (WISH 2016) yesterday. progress in becoming one of The facility is one of the The opening session was the best-connected nations in three hospitals dedicated to also attended by H E Sheikha the world. A new report expatriate single workers. Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice- showed that Qatar is one of → Continued on page 7 Chairperson and CEO of QF, the world’s leading fibre Princess Lalla Salma, chairper- nations, with 99 percent of son of Lalla Salma Foundation households in areas covered for Cancer Prevention and by Ooredoo Fibre. Treatment and Princess Ghida → Continued on page 7 WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT bint Talal, chairperson of the Carmakers to juice Europe with e-charging network

AFP any manufacturer using the Combined worldwide. Meanwhile, higher-end Charging System (CCS) standard will manufacturers like BMW and Daim- erman carmakers BMW, be able to use the stations, in a move ler, which owns Mercedes, face a Daimler, Porsche and aimed at boosting growth of electric challenge from newcomers like Tesla, board of trustees of the King Audi and US competitor car use on the continent. which has a head start in autonomous Ford said they would German carmakers have lagged driving as well as electric power. cooperate on a Europe- behind some competitors when it Daimler chief Dieter Zetsche was Gwide network of electric charging comes to introducing electric a surprise keynote speaker at the Ger- stations. models. man Green Party conference this year, The move is an "important step The technology remains little- and has promised 10 new all-electric towards facilitating mass-market bat- used in Europe, hobbled by high models in the next few years. tery electric vehicle adoption", the prices, the short range of the vehicles BMW has so far limited its elec- manufacturers said in a joint state- and a lack of recharging tric ambitions to its BMWi range. Hussein Cancer Foundation ment, and comes as German infrastructure. This year the Munich-based man- carmakers rev up their offers of elec- But recent months have seen a ufacturer said it would go further, with tric cars for the coming years. fresh commitment from the industry, plans to offer an all-electric version "We intend to create a network a pillar of Europe's largest economy, of its iconic Mini by 2019 and a BMW that allows our customers on long- to speed up the introduction of elec- X3 4x4 by 2020. H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco during the opening of distance trips to use a coffee break for tric cars. Beyond Tesla, German carmak- (KHCF), HE Dr Hanan Al Kuwari, Public Health WISH 2016 in Doha yesterday. Pic: AR Al-Baker SPONSORS Today’s edition Minister of Public Health and 'Screen For Life' EEndocrinology and Program diabetes clinic at extends Al-Ahli Hospital outreach offers expert care

MAIN SPONSOR other dignitaries. PAGE | 3 PAGE | 6 includes an 8-page SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016 Sheikha Moza said that the Project, which seeks to genet- sequenced 3,000 genomes. In overarching framework for all Overwhelming response supplement on first phase of the Qatar Genome ically sequence the local addition, the Qatar genome map health-related research insti- to vaccination campaign

Also 21 cases of Mumps and seven The National cases of Rubella have been detected in 2015. Immunisation 163,000 The Ministry ensured that the Campaign is part More than 163,000 highest standards were followed of Qatar’s efforts to children have been in quality and administration of Project was launched in Septem- population, in order to even- was established to help identify tutes in Qatar. the vaccine. This has had a great Wheels vaccinated as of Nov 27. eliminate mumps, impact on the fact that no signif- measles and rubella icant adverse events have been by 2020, which is recorded even with the high in line with World 1-13 number of children being vacci- nated daily. Health Organisation’s The national campaign The national immunisation is aimed at immunising all targets. part of Qatar’s efforts to eliminate children between the age mumps, measles and rubella by ber 2015 as part of a tually move beyond the the different gene variations "The research institutes are of 1 and 13, except those 2020, which is in line with World have special medical health Organisation’s targets. he national immunisa- conditions. The Ministry organised an tion campaign, which open vaccination day at the Paki- ends today, aimed at stan Education Center, on vaccinating around minimum. It will protect the child November 19, which saw huge 294,000 children 95 percent, the third one — a attendance. A team from the Min- Tagainst measles, mumps and boost vaccine is important, to istry inoculated children who had comprehensive national pro- traditional ideas of clinical care and disorders impacting the also working on building a net- rubella (MMR). Some 163,000 cover the remaining five percent,” not taken the vaccine at schools children have been vaccinated as said Dr Sheikh Mohammed bin or health facilities. of November 27 as part of the Hamad Al Thani, Director of Pub- To signify the importance of campaign, which began on Octo- lic Health, at the Ministry. He gave vaccination against measles and ber 17, the Ministry of Public example of an outbreak of mea- vaccination campaigns, WHO, Health announced. The Ministry sles among 30 children in a class Unicef, CDC and GAVI in a joint initially held the campaign of a private school in the past. press release stated that despite between October 17 to Novem- At least six cases of measles a 79 percent worldwide decrease ber 14 at schools, health centres of the State of Qatar’s efforts to up to 13 years. That will be per- The national campaign aimed were confirmed over the last in measles deaths between 2000 gramme to map the genetic code and into applying customised local population. Moreover, the work of specialised researchers and private clinics. Owing to huge eradicate measles by 2020. Qatar formed by teams comprising at immunising all children three months. The disease was and 2015, nearly 400 children still demand, the Ministry later is keen on providing a healthy well-trained medical cadres between the age of 1 and 13, detected in those who had not die from the disease every day. extended the campaign until environment free from the tar- (around 400 people) including except those have special medi- taken the MMR vaccine. The Min- The statement also stressed November 30. geted diseases through the physicians, nursing, pharmacists cal conditions. By the first week istry stressed that such cases on the importance of mass vac- The ministry received a vaccination. In 1979, the National and various logistic support of November 120,000 children could be prevented and measles cination campaigns clarifying that number of requests asking for the Immunisation Programme was teams to ensure that all targeted were vaccinated as part of the be eliminated in Qatar if parents mass measles vaccination cam- extension of the campaign, established and it contained the groups have taken the vaccina- campaign, according to the Min- ensure their children take the two paigns and a global increase in according to officials. The drive latest and most efficient tions,” said Dr Abdulmalik. istry of Public Health. routine doses of MMR vaccina- routine measles vaccination cov- was a success with huge demand approved vaccines within the Parents took their children Though according to Qatar’s tion and also the booster dose that erage saved an estimated 20.3 of citizens for better diagnoses care. When medical practition- Qatar Genome Project, Qatar who can analyse the pool of data from parents to vaccinate their immunization programme for to get vaccinated in all primary vaccination schedules, children is given for free as part of the million young lives between children. Added to this, the vac- children and adults. The pro- healthcare facilities in Qatar, should be given two MMR shots ongoing MMR campaign. 2000 and 2015. In its commit- cination unit at MoPH received gramme had a great impact on Qatar Petroleum medical cen- at 12 and 18 months of age, a few This year 22 cases of measles ment to ensure the wellbeing and high volume of phone calls eradicating a number of infec- tres, the RasGas health facilities of the children do not develop has been reported. However the safety of all children and in line

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT Corporate Social Responsibility WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016 and treatment of various dis- ers understand a person's BioBank, and the Ministry of from the Qatar genome project,”

The weekly supplement issued by The Peninsula to enhance the role of companies and institutions in society development. eases, first of its kind in the biological map, it will enable Public Health are working she added. Sheikha Moza also Included with today’s MAIN SPONSOR SPONSOR region. them to better diagnose and to together to draft the regulations emphasized the importance of Included with today’s edition is an 8-page "Building on the launch of treat disease individually, or as that will govern research in protecting confidentiality of special supplement on edition is a 4-page Qatar's Bio bank in 2011, at the I call it, Customized Medicine,” genome sciences and person- patient information on moral supplement on CSR inaugural WISH summit I she said. alized medicine. "These will and religious grounds. Public Health launched the Qatar Genome "During this pilot phase, we constitute a national and → Continued on page 5 02 HOME WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016 Hamad Port to start operations from tomorrow

Irfan Bukhari route. Hamad Port will start full oper- etary cost of about QR2bn. Department had decided to restrict the received first commercial ship, it has The Peninsula ations from tomorrow and Doha Port The Minister said the Ministry of movement of trucks inside Doha dur- received cars and livestock to gradually will be closed to all commercial ves- Transport and Communications would ing peak hours. build operational capability. The port is s after its inauguration sel traffic but will continue to receive execute two main parts of Doha Port’s As operations at Doha Port will be expected to become fully functional as per tomorrow, Hamad Port only cruise ships. After March 31 next development project including the main shut down from tomorrow for com- its maximum-designed-capacity by 2020. will be handling all com- year, Doha Port will be totally closed. canal and the port maintenance. After mercial vessels, container ships will Once completed, Hamad Port will cover mercial shipments The Minister of Transport and Com- redevelopment, Doha Port will serve as go to QR27bn Hamad Port in Umm Al- a site of around 20km² and will be able entering or leaving the munications H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti a destination of cruise ships and tour- Houl, Mesaieed. Hamad Port went to handle a combined annual capacity country,A the rush of trucks on Corniche has recently said the drilling and devel- ism only. through a soft launch two years ago in excess of six million containers per road is also expected to fall providing opment works on Doha Port site will Previously, to tackle the problem of in December 2014. year through its three container relief to motorists commuting on the start early April next year, with a budg- trucks on Doha roads, the Traffic Since July 2015 when the port terminals.

QC opens refugee simulation exhibition

Sanaullah Ataullah The Peninsula Refugees' lives The exhibition aims n a unique move, Qatar Char- to educate visitors ity (QC) yesterday opened a on sufferings of refugee simulation exhibition I refugees, fighting for showcasing life of Syrian refu- survival, due to lack gees and those displaced internally in shelters.The of basic amenities. exhibition,”below zero,” at Gulf Mall, aims to educate visitors on Ahmed Saleh, (left) Director, Information Department sufferings of refugees, fighting the pavilion, demonstrating plight at QC and Faisal Al Fahidi, Manager of Operation for survival, due to lack of basic of refugees including poor facil- Department at Qatar Charity, during the launching of requirements of life. ities and lack of basic necessities "Syria-cold and hunger'' campaign at Gulf Mall yesterday. The initiative is part of a mas- and medicines. Live description Pic: Kammutty VP/ The Peninsula sive campaign to collect over QR of living conditions of those in 100m to cover needs of 3.5 mil- conflict areas are run at each tent. winter season in particular. The QR200, a bag of bread that lasts lion Syrian refugees and those Visitors are asked to put them- exhibition that opened yesterday a family for a day at QR10, meals displaced, world wide. The cam- selves in place of Syrian refugees will continue until December 4 for one person a day QR10, drink- paign “Syria...cold and hunger” and think about their needs at from 10am to 10pm. ing water for a person a day QR5, hopes to provide beneficiaries such situations. The campaign “Syria...cold cleaning kit for a family hygiene winter clothes, food items and The exhibition focuses on and hunger” aims at providing at QR150. Other requirements shelter among the others. students and the public in gen- shelter, clothing, food, medicine also include heaters, blankets, “State-of -the -art technol- eral, urging them to stand by and sanitary materials. Through winter clothing bag (including ogy and innovative methods are Syrian people who are experi- the donations, QC also hopes to winter clothing, children jackets being put to use in charity sec- encing harsh winter conditions establish health facilities and and woolen socks, hats and tor for the first time, here. This where they currently live. provide medical equipment and gloves) worth QR300. is to embody the sufferings of Qatar Charity has urged pub- ambulances. The second phase will the Syrian people,” said Faisal lic and students of schools and The first phase of campaign include tents at the value of Alfahidh, QC’s Executive Direc- universities to visit the exhibition will provide 10 products, which QR2500 and fitted caravans tor of Operations. and understand magnitude of the includes a “food basket” which worth QR27,000. The later Visitors are being taken in tragedy suffered by Syrians in has basic food supply for family phases of the campaign will batches to various tents, inside general and in during to last a month at the cost of covered more items. WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016 HOME 03 04 HOME WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016 Emir attends Tunisia 2020

Emir and Algerian President discuss bilateral relations Continued from page 1 “War on terrorism is required, necessary, and una- QNA voidable, but it is not a cure, as proved by trial since the emer- mir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Pres- gence of this phenomena and the ident Abdelaziz Bouteflika of the People's Democratic ensuing practices,” he added. ERepublic of Algeria discussed relations between the The conference has brought two countries and means to develop them further, partic- together about 1000 delegates , ularly in the fields of economy, investment and energy. 150 leaders and decision-mak- The meeting, which was held at the Presidential Palace ers including representatives of in the Algerian capital yesterday evening, also dealt with a 70 countries, and 50 speakers. number of regional and international issues, particularly Qatar is sponsoring the con- the situation in Libya , where the two sides agreed on the ference jointly with France, importance of supporting the Presidential Council of the Canada, and Algeria and is par- Government of National Reconciliation in its quest to achieve ticipating with a big delegation security and stability in Libya. consisting representatives of pri- The meeting was attended by Their Excellencies mem- vate sector, businessmen and bers of the delegation accompanying the Emir. media personalities. On the Algerian side, it was attended by Prime Minis- Tunisian President Beji Caid ter Abdelmalek Sellal , President of the People's National Essebsi in his opening address Assembly Mohamed-Larbi Ould Khelifa, and a number of said that the people of Tunisia ministers. have much hope on this confer- ence as it gives a strong message to all parties to open promising operational in 2018. Work on the every year and will change part and Africa which is a very posi- Qatar’s private sector is in investments in Tunisia in areas investment prospects and create project started in 2013 with a of its loans into investment in tive matter for us as GCC investor Tunisia to explore the upcoming of banking, tourism, real estate real economic partnerships. $80m investment, said CEO of development projects. s, “ Ali Al Musnid, member of investment opportunities and and some industries. There are Many countries have Qatari Diar Khalid Mohammed Numan Kurtulmu, Deputy board of directors of business models that more opportunities in energy, announced plans to invest and Al Sayed, on the sidelines of the Prime Minister of Turkey Qatar Chamber told Tunisia offers to inves- telecommunications and support Tunisia to achieve its conference. announced a deposit of 100 min The Peninsula on the tors, he added. infrastructure five-year development strategy The European Development Euros at the Central Bank of sidelines of the He said currently But to do this “we need seri- 2015-2020. Bank announced that it has a Tunisia and said his country’s conference. there are Qatari ous Tunisian partners,” said Al Saudi Arabia said it will plan to invest 2.5 bn Euro in five support to Tunisia during this Musnid . “We are looking for- invest $800m, of which $100m years, while Kuwait announced transition period will continue. ward to holding a meeting of is to support Qatari Diar compa- a soft loan of $ 500m “Tunisia is developing the “We have people in Tunisia who decided to Qatari –Tunisian Business Coun- ny’s first luxury resort project in Prime Minister of France necessary regulations that can cil which to find out the available Tunisia – Antara Tozeyr Resort- Manuel Valls said that his coun- attract investors to the country. build their country on the basis of pluralism, investment opportunities in light which is expected to be try is going to invest 250 Euros Tunisia is a gateway to Europe human dignity and freedom, as well as on the of the conference outcome,” he basis of the common denominator between added. Mohammed Frikha, a the political forces, i.e., the interests of Tunisia, member of the Tunisian Parlia- ment and director general of an away from tyranny. Are we going to help them IT company lauded the Qatari to make their experiment a success or to stand support, saying, “Tunisia has idly by to watch them facing difficulties alone succeed in political transition and to come later to look into the reasons and now it is looking for eco- nomic support, and Qatar is our for despair and frustration and their ensuing major supporter and partner.” destructive results? The countries that decided Today the conference will to attend, have answered this question discuss in three sessions issues correctly and responsibly, and we commend related to industry, logistics serv- ices, green economy, sources of them for that.” renewable energy, agriculture Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and food industries and management. Qatar Fund for Development and Tunisia sign MoU

Tunis hosted yesterday the signing Minister Khamis al-Jehinawi. QNA ceremony of a memorandum of The MoU aims at enhancing understanding (MoU) between bilateral cooperation through ithin the framework Qatar Fund for Development the support extended by the of the participation of (QFD) and the Government of State of Qatar to the Republic of WEmir H H Sheikh Tunisia on the opening of a QFD Tunisia by opening a QDF office Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in office in Tunis. in Tunis which will allow the the International Conference in The MoU was signed by For- Fund to finance development support of economic, social and eign Minister H E Sheikh projects and undertake quality sustainable development in Mohammed bin Abdulrahman investments in different fields Tunisia, the Carthage Palace Al Thani and Tunisian Foreign to be determined by the QDF. WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016 HOME 05 WISH summit discusses nine healthcare issues

Continued from page 1

During the two-day summit WISH discusses nine important areas related health care such as Accountable Care, Autism, Behavioural Insights, Cardiovas- cular Disease, Genomics in the Gulf Region and Islamic Ethics, Health Professional Education, Healthy Populations, Investing in Health, and Precision Medicine. Sheikha Moza said that Qatar is determined to benefit from WISH’s global and regional expertise by integrating its rec- ommendations and research into the country’s healthcare system. Pics by A R Al Baker "Since the launch of WISH in 2013, our vision is to have a mod- the complimentary pillars of Sheikha Moza and dignitaries policymakers, academics and never been greater. WISH is a the Lord Darzi of Denham, Exec- ern health care system capable education and health and this is toured WISH 2016 Innovation professionals from 100 countries unique platform that brings utive Chair of WISH. of tackling potential challenges supported by scientific research, Showcases which represent discuss of healthcare innovation together ministers, industry lead- Professor Dame Sally Dav- through a proactive process,” she innovation, sustainable devel- some of the world’s most excit- and best practices. ers, policy makers academics , ies delivered a keynote speech said. "Turning this vision into opment, and human ing healthcare innovations. “You are the leaders of health share our ideas, celebrate our on ‘Review on Antimicrobial reality requires that we continue development,” she added. Fol- At WISH 2016, during two reform and you recognize the success and confront the com- Resistance: Tackling Drug Resist- to strive to improve lowing the opening session days more than 1, 400 high-level need for health innovation have mon difficulties,” said Professor ance Infections Globally.’ WISH releases ‘Genomics in The Gulf region and Islamic Ethics’ report

Fazeena Saleem include that patients should be Also WISH policy briefings The Peninsula informed of previously undiag- were held on health affairs-using nosed medical conditions found evidence based policy solutions orld Innovation Sum- during the genomic mapping, to address health challenges and mit for Health (WISH) rigorous research on Islamic eth- learning from international Wyesterday released a ics in order to properly indigenise collaborations. specialised report from an genomics in the Gulf region. The report on ‘Precision Islamic perspective on ethical WISH 2016 in its first day Medicine: A Global Action Plan questions surrounding genom- yesterday also released reports for impact’ has identified four ics — a discipline seeing and held panel discussions on major challenges as patient and increased interest in the region. autism, health professional edu- public engagement, evidence ‘Genomics in The Gulf region cation, precision medicine, generation, implementation, data and Islamic Ethics’ report accountable care and behav- ownership, privacy and includes policy recommenda- ioural insights. sharing. tions, on how to create culturally sensitive guide- lines regarding genomics. Genomics is the study of genes and their function and examines genetic factors which play a role in the dis- ease and helps in its treatment. As interest in the field increases in Qatar, other Gulf and Muslim countries use of morality and ethics are poised to gain further atten- tion, said Dr Mohammed Ghaly, Professor of Islam and biomedical ethics at the cen- tre for Islamic legislation and ethics, Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies at the Hamad bin Khalifa University. “Given the foreseeable scientific leap in genomics in the region, the need for a strong scientific research in Islamic ethics is more urgent than ever,” he said in a panel discussion. Dr Ghaly is also the editor of the report on ‘Genomics In The Gulf region and Islamic Ethics.’ The report has made six recommendations aiming to improve discussions on the issue, propel them towards maturity and develop cultur- ally sensitive policy guidelines and jurisdictions. The recommendations 06 HOME WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016 PM attends meeting of GCC interior ministers

The Peninsula 35th meeting the land of the Kingdom of Bah- rain the GCC Joint Drill - the rime Minister and Inte- The 35th meeting of Arabian Gulf Security One, which rior Minister H E the GCC interior is a bright model and practical Sheikh Abdullah bin ministers was held in application of the GCC joint secu- Nasser bin Khalifa Al Riyadh, where Saudi rity as well as unity of Thani participated in Crown Prince determination and seriousness Pthe opening session of 35th Mohammed bin Naif of negligence or dereliction." meeting of the GCC interior min- bin Abdulaziz He pointed that the GCC isters which was held in Riyadh delivered a speech. security is surrounded by sev- yesterday. eral security threats in light of The opening session was variables in the world, intellec- The opening session attended by GCC Secretary-Gen- tual and sectarian conflicts and was attended by GCC eral Dr Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al terrorist phenomena supported Zayani and a number of senior Secretary-General Dr by countries and organisations Abdul Latif bin Rashid security officials in GCC seeking to carry out their goals, Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani countries. Al Zayani and other saying "we are able to fend off (third left) and other dignitaries at in the opening session of 35th meeting of the GCC interior Saudi Crown Prince Moham- senior security these risks and maintain the ministers in Riyadh yesterday. med bin Naif bin Abdulaziz officials in GCC. security of our countries and delivered a speech in which he peoples." welcomed the interior ministers The Crown Prince expressed comprehensive security vision and deter any aggressor. stressed importance of enhanc- of the GCC. Agency, the Crown Prince said: importance of concerted efforts and professional strategy to The GCC Secretary-General ing the GCC security action Quoted by Saudi Press "We have recently witnessed on in accordance with a maintain the GCC joint security delivered a speech in which he among the GCC states.

QA announces Indian envoy meet Prime Minister Over 163,000 children partnership with Roux vaccinated in MMR drive

Scholarship The Peninsula in the children and to put check on the diseases. QATAR Airways has he Ministry of Public At least six cases of measles announced a three-year Health (MoPH) will con- were confirmed here over the partnership with the pres- Tclude one of its biggest last three months and early this tigious Roux Scholarship. national immunisation drives year, 22 other cases of measles The airline will sup- here, National Measles, Mumps were reported. However the port the culinary and Rubella (MMR) Vacciantion incidence rate and number of competition, established Campaign, today. Some 163,000 measles cases in Qatar have more than 30 years ago, children have been vaccinated dropped rapidly during the last which offers young chefs until Sunday, as part of the cam- few years, from 160 confirmed from across the United paign which began here on cases in 2012 to 18 cases in 2015. Kingdom the chance to October 17. As per Qatar’s vaccination win an all-expenses-paid, The ministry has appealed schedules, children should be three-month placement at to the parents of children aged given two MMR shots at 12 and a three-Michelin-starred 1 to 13 years' old who have not 18 months of age, a few of the restaurant of their choice, yet received this booster dose children do not develop suffi- Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani along with a cash prize. to take their children to any of cient immunity against the Since launching the met with Ambassador of the Republic of India to Qatar P Kumaran yesterday. Talks during the participating health facili- diseases after the first or the professional development the meeting dealt with cooperation between the two countries and ways of developing ties get the free vaccine before second dose. Hence the third programme in 1984, them and issues of mutual interest. the end of the campaign. This is MMR booster dose is important, brothers and world- to ensure maximum immunity according to MoPH officials. renowned chefs Albert and Michel Roux OBE have sought to inspire a new generation of chefs, offer- ing an opportunity to work Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation to be announced on Dec 13 with some of the industry’s most accomplished culi- Sidi Mohamed institutions like Forum for Arab translation. It also develops Arab translators from around the world “Among the problems faced nary personalities. The Peninsula & International Relations (FAIR) thought through new concepts,” last year to discuss the problems by translation in the Arab coun- The 2017 Roux Schol- and Arab Center for Research and he added. of translations and to suggest tries is the multiple translations arship judging panel will he winners of Sheikh Hamad Policy Studies based in Qatar have “There is a serious attempt to solutions. of one book and randomness of be led by cousins Alain and Award for Translation and issued a number of good transla- advance and to develop transla- In his speech Dr Imad, pro- choice, usually they end up miss- Michel Roux Jr, who will TInternational Understand- tions in humanitarian and social tion in Qatar, especially through fessor at Qatar University, said ing the books which need to be be supported by celebrity ing will be announced on field," Dr Mujab Al Imam, head of the FAIR, which annually holds a that translation enhances knowl- translated," he added. chefs, including James December 13 at the Translation English section at FAIR, said in a conference for the best transla- edge and development and during According to the Unesco, Martin, David Nicholls and Conference, which will be held at symposium. tors across the world to meet, the last 15 years there are many there is only one Arab country in Brian Turner, along with The St. Regis Doha. "Translation achieves com- discuss, criticise and find solu- advancements in the translation the list of top 50 countries in the first Roux scholar “Qatar has an important role, munication between nations and tions to various issues, which will field and there is a considerable translations, which is led by Ger- Andrew Fairlie and previ- especially in the recent decade, enrich knowledge, and all the cul- help the Arab culture," he said. increase in the number of books many where more than 200,000 ous winners Sat Bains, in translation field as several tures started its renaissance by FAIR invited 100 top which have been translated. books were translated. André Garrett and Simon Hulstone. The judges will select the best 18 recipes and invite chefs to cook their dish as well as per- WCM-Q’s Your Health First form a ‘mystery box’ dessert challenge at regional finals to be held in Birmingham and Lon- campaign and QGBC sign deal don on March 23 next year. The successful chef can fly as a guest of the airline as The Peninsula QGBC, which was held at Qatar health that is intrinsically linked he embarks on a journey National Convention Center dur- to respect for our environment. to begin the three-month ahtak Awalan - Your Health ing Qatar Sustainability Week. If we care for our environment, scholarship. First, the public health cam- Commenting on this collab- it will care for us by providing Qatar Airways Senior Spaign of Weill Cornell oration, Engineer Al Shamari, fresh, organic fruits and vegeta- Vice-President for Cus- Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q), has said: “We are delighted to be bles to nourish us and our young tomer Experience, Rossen signed a Memorandum of Under- partnering with Sahtak Awalan people. Dimitrov said: “Qatar Air- standing with the Green Life as it is fully in line with the objec- "With this MoU we will be ways is extremely excited initiative of Qatar Green Build- tives of our newly launched able to work collaboratively to to become the official air- ing Council (QGBC). Green Life initiative. The Green create projects that encourage line partner of the Roux Your Health First and Green Life is world’s first sustainability appreciation of fresh, healthy Scholarship to support Life will work together to raise loyalty programme, which is produce while simultaneously Nesreen Al Rifai, WCM-Q’s Chief Communications officer, and young chefs to nurture awareness of the impact that the designed to help people consider underlining the importance of Meshal Al Shamari, QGBC Director, after signing the MoU. their talent by working built environment has on public sustainability as a lifestyle and to sustainability to safeguard the alongside some of the health, promote sustainable show them that a few little environment for future world’s greatest culinary health and environmental prac- changes can make a huge impact” generations.” Greenhouse, which has so far the environment of the canteens mentors.” tices, and collaborate on joint Al Shamari continued: Sahtak Awalan – Your Health gifted greenhouses and seeds to with bright colors and strong The Roux family said: research projects to improve “Together with Sahatak Awalan, First is an innovative, integrated 82 elementary schools in Qatar, branding promoting the benefits “The Roux family is proud understanding of the link we will have numerous activities public health campaign that aims giving thousands of children the of good health. to announce that multi- between the environment and across the country in the near to promote and facilitate healthy chance to grow and eat their own Additionally, the Your Health award winning Qatar good health. future to spread awareness and lifestyles across the whole of the fresh and nutritious vegetables First Yalla Natural initiative uses Airways will be the Roux The five-year MoU was help residents achieve healthier community, with a special and herbs. Another initiative a traveling roadshow to bring the Scholarship’s exclusive signed by Engineer Meshal Al lifestyles and environments.” emphasis on young people. Your brought healthy menus to Qatar benefits of eating fresh, natural international airline spon- Shamari, QGBC Director, and Al Rifai said: “Your Health Health First initiatives empha- Foundation secondary schools produce and exercising regularly sor until 2019.” Nesreen Al Rifai, WCM-Q’s Chief First and Green Life share a deep sise the link between health and and encouraged children to make to the community at public events Communications officer, at the commitment to sustainable sustainability, such as Project: healthy food choices by adapting across Qatar. WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016 HOME 07 Exhibition to display works of Picasso Ministry seizes 8,968

The Peninsula moments, both personal and First of its kind professional. high-glow lamps ver 120 works by Qatar Museums The exhibition is organised Pablo Picasso and under the patronage in six sections, evoking differ- The Peninsula consumer protection laws. Alberto Giacometti, of its Chairperson, H ent aspects of each artist’s The decision to ban the two of the most E Sheikha Al Mayassa production, including the he Ministry of Economy import and sale of high-glow important artists of development of their work as and Commerce has con- lamps is aimed at preserving bint Hamad bin Othe 20th century, will be shown young artists through to their fiscated 8,968 high-glow the country’s energy resources, Khalifa Al Thani, in T for the first time in the Middle modernist creations, showing lamps for not meeting the promoting sustainability and East at a major exhibition at the collaboration with the correspondences between standers of the country. protecting the environment in Fire Station-Artist in Residence the Muséenational their works, the influence of The lamps were seized dur- line with the Qatar National next year. Picasso and the the surrealist movement, and ing an inspection campaign Vision 2030. The decision is in Qatar Museums (QM), under Fondation the return to realism during the targeting electrical appliances implementation of the stand- the patronage of its Chairper- Giacometti, will post-war period. stores to ensure their compliance ards imposed on goods and son, H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint present the The exhibition includes key with a decision banning import products manufactured or One of the works by Pablo Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, in exhibition to be held works by each artist, such as: Self and sale of high-glow lamps. imported from abroad, in order collaboration with the Muséena- from February 23 to Picasso which to be exhibited. Portrait (1901), Woman Throw- The campaign was to protect the health and safety tional Picasso and the Fondation May 21 next year. sketches, photographs and ing a Stone (1931) and The She launched to ensure compliance of individuals and society. Giacometti, will present this interviews with the artists. Goat (1950) by Picasso and of electrical appliance stores The Ministry stated that it first-f-its-kind exhibition which The exhibition reflects two Flower in Danger (1932), Tall across the country with a deci- is determined to protect con- will run from February 23 to May Picasso’s and Giacometti’s years of research undertaken Woman (1960), and Walking sion barring import and sale of sumer rights and will intensify 21 next year. works from the collections of by the Fondation Giacometti Man (1960) by Giacometti, pre- high-glow lamps. its inspection campaigns to The exhibition, curated by the Muséenational Picasso and and the Muséenational Picasso, sented alongside rare and fragile The electrical appliance crack down on all violations of Catherine Grenier, Director of the Fondation Giacometti in which reveals for the first time casts, some newly discovered stores that violated the decision the consumer protection law. the Fondation Giacometti, with Paris, as well as exceptional the previously unknown rela- drawings and photographic were penalised in line with arti- The Ministry also said it will Associate Curators, Serena loans from French and other tionship between these two archives as well as some repli- cle 6 of law number (8) of 2008 refer violators of laws and min- Bucalo-Mussely and Vir- international collections, cov- artists, who, despite an age gap cas of Giacometti’s works for on consumer protection. The isterial decrees to the giniePerdrisot, brings together ering paintings, sculptures, of 20 years, shared many visually impaired visitors. law prohibits sale, display and competent authorities, who will promotion of substandard and take appropriate action against fraudulent products. A product perpetrators in order to protect Exchange offer is considered fraudulent if it the rights of consumers. Minister receives ambassadors' credentials fails to meet standards or has The ministry urges all con- expired, said a release. sumers to report to the on Shafaf to Violations of law number (8) Consumer Protection and Anti- of 2008 are penalised by admin- Commercial Fraud department end on Dec 31 istrative closures and fines ranging through Call Centre: 16001 or between QR 3,000 and QR 1 mil- Email: [email protected] if they The Peninsula lion, in line with applicable come across any violation.

QATAR Fuel company (Woqod) clarified yesterday that its exchange offer on Shafaf cylinders will end on New parameters for December 31, as scheduled. However, it is committed to refill its metal cylinders until at least mid-next year. metabolic syndrome Reacting to some newspa- per reports, the company said The Peninsula of metabolic syndrome. it has no plans to offer a free “Due to lack of data in the exchange of metal cylinders recent research has Middle East, the IDF actually with the Shafaf ones. helped devise a new set recommends using European “ We understand your con- Aof Qatar-specific param- waist measurement cut-off cerns, however, please take note eters for assessing metabolic points for assessing metabolic the fees are very reasonable syndrome. Qatari men with a syndrome in Middle Eastern compared to high cost of man- waist circumference of 102cm populations,” said Dr. Ravinder ufacturing Shafaf Cylinders in Minister of State for Foreign Affairs HE Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi yesterday received or more, and women with 94cm Mamtani, Senior Associate accordance with current inter- a copy of credentials of Japanese Ambassador to Qatar Seiichi Otsuka.The minister also or more are at higher risk of Dean for Population Health and national standards.” received a copy of the credentials of Iranian Ambassador to Qatar Mohammad Ali Sobhani. having metabolic diseases, Capacity Building, WCM-Q. The company said He wished success to the two ambassadors in their posts and hoped for further progress according to the study by Weill “We realised that there is exchange of metal cylinders and prosperity to ties between Qatar and both countries. Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM- actually some very good data with Shafaf cylinders is being Q) researchers. available in Qatar so we rolled out gradually in a sys- Using the Qatari-specific decided to look at it closely and tematic way. It will continue cut-off points, the WCM-Q team devise a set of waist measure- even after end of promotional found that approximately 28% ment parameters for assessing offer at end of this year. How- of Qataris satisfy the criteria for metabolic syndrome that is tai- ever, Woqod is committed to 'Ooredoo provides best data experience' metabolic syndrome – a con- lored specifically to the Qatari refilling metal cylinders until siderably lower level than the population,” said Sheikh Dr. Continued from page 1 at least mid-2017. Woqod also success of Ooredoo Fibre is one Fibre in reaching homes across estimate of 37% calculated Mohamed Hamad Al Thani, denied reports that it fills sha- Ooredoo’s achievement in of the key pillars of our Super- the nation has stimulated the using the European cut-off Director of Public Health, Min- faf cylinders with 5 kg of gas. connecting more than 300,000 net strategy." rapid take-up of IPTV, 4K and points recommended by the istry of Public Health, and a “Our stations only homes is another stage in "Enabling ultra-fast inter- other smart services in Qatar, International Diabetes Feder- principal member of the exchange empty metal cylin- ensuring every household in net speeds of up to 1Gbps and with Ooredoo enjoying the high- ation (IDF). research team. ders for empty Shafaf cylinders. the country enjoys the full ben- providing access to a world of est proportion of 4K television Metabolic syndrome is a “This has given us a better Refill cylinders are available in efits of the Ooredoo 4K entertainment, Ooredoo customers of any operator in the serious condition linked to dia- understanding of the prevalence two sizes of 12 kg and 6 kg to Supernet. Fibre is proving to be one of world. betes, heart disease and stroke. of metabolic syndrome among accommodate various house- Waleed Mohamed Ebrahim the most popular services ever Ooredoo’s nationwide roll- By analysing large amounts Qataris and we believe it will hold requirements. The Al Sayed, Chief Executive offered in Qatar, and we con- out of fibre also supports the of data collected by earlier help health professionals target amount of gas capacity in Sha- Officer, Ooredoo Qatar, said: tinue to expand and enhance Qatar National Vision 2030, health surveys conducted in interventions more accurately to faf is equal to that in the metal "We continue to strive to the network to meet the grow- enabling the development of a Qatar, the WCM-Q team found address the growing problem of cylinders of the same sizes, and ensure that Ooredoo provides ing demand of the people," he knowledge-based economy that waist circumference was obesity and related conditions, can be refilled at the same the best data experience for added. built upon a strong infrastruc- the best predictor of the pres- which is a very pressing concern cost,” said the statement. everyone in Qatar, and the The success of Ooredoo ture foundation. ence of the other determinants throughout the region.” Hospital includes primary health center Al Rawabi Mega Gold promo Continued form page 1 intensive care unit, out-patient parking facilities for 710 vehi- It includes a 118-bed hospi- department, dental, burns, reha- cles including 200 covered winners awarded prizes tal, along with a primary health bilitation and physiotherapy parking and 26 dedicated for center and medical commission clinics. people with special needs. services. HMC will soon begin The second floor will have The construction of simi- furnishing and equipping the the operation theaters, 16-bed lar facility in Ras Laffan will be facility to be opened next year, intensive care, administration completed during first quarter Qatar News Agency reported section and a 102-bed ward of next year followed by Mes- yesterday. along with four isolation saieed in the second quarter. The hospital, with an area of rooms. The hospitals once opera- 132,000square metres will have The facility has three tional will have major positive a basement, ground floor and entrenches apart from one ded- impact on health services. It two storeys above. The capac- icated for ambulances,a central will cater to the healthcare ity of the facility can be kitchen and laundry, and mor- needs of the labour population; increased to 210 beds if needed. tuary. The facility also has being conveniently located, Authorities expect some 30,000 helipads for emergency cases to they will reduce the need for Management officials with winners of Mega Gold Promotion 2016. patients to be seen at the facil- be flown in. There will be patients to travel for care and ity monthly. 30-bed emergency department reduce the burden on hospi- The project includes a pri- and facility for tals in Doha. The Peninsula the function held at Rawabi Ismail VP; Senior Manager, mary health center covering minor-operations. HMC said that the hospital Food Centre, Al Wakra. Shiju; Business Development over 7,200sqm and medical The project that took three is due to start operating during l Rawabi group, one of the The promotion conducted Manager and outlet managers commission services, aimed to years to complete also includes summer of 2017 which will con- leading business groups in six hypermarkets ended on Noufal and Hashim were also reduce pressure in neighboring a mosque with a capacity of tribute to alleviating the Apresented gifts to the November 20. “The customers present at the function. facilities. 400 people and a cafeteria pressure on the emergency winners of Mega Gold Promo- response to the promotion was “Currently exciting offers are First floor of the project will over 1300sqm to accommodate department at Hamad General tion conducted by them. About awesome and we are very running and special winter pro- facilitate health center, a day high number of labour popu- Hospital, which often receives hundred people including for- happy that our customers are motion is also arranged in the care emergency unit, laboratory, lation expected. The project up to 900 patients per day in the eigners and native and happy,” said Mr Muhammad outlets” said the Al Rawabi pharmacy, radiology service, also has green spaces and see- and –treat clinic. management officials attended Jamsheer; Admin Manager. Group Management. 08 MIDDLE EAST WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016 Govt aims to retake Aleppo before Trump comes in

Beirut Syrian Conflict states to take action in the Secu- Reuters rity Council against Damascus. The next phase of the Accounts from eastern he Syrian army and its Aleppo campaign Aleppo, where the United allies aim to seize all could be more Nations says at least 250,000 eastern Aleppo from difficult as the army civilians are trapped with no rebels by the time US and its allies seek to access to the outside world, point President-elect Don- capture more densely to a dire humanitarian situation. Tald Trump takes office in People have been forced to scav- populated areas of January, sticking by a Russian- enge in the garbage for food as the city. backed timeline for the operation aid supplies have run out, and all after big gains in recent days, a the hospitals in eastern Aleppo senior official in the military alli- have been repeatedly bombed. ance fighting in support of the offensive for more than a The civil defence rescue Damascus said. year thanks to Russian and Ira- service that operates in eastern The official who declined to nian military support. Aleppo said on Monday it had be identified in order to speak Capturing rebel-held east- nearly run out of fuel to power freely indicated however that the ern Aleppo would be the biggest the equipment it has been using next phase of the Aleppo cam- victory to date for Assad in the to pull people from the rubble of paign could be more difficult as conflict that has killed hundreds bombed-out buildings. the army and its allies seek to of thousands of people since it Pummelled by air strikes, capture more densely populated arose out of protests against his artillery and ground attacks, the areas of the city. rule nearly six years ago. rebels were forced on Monday The rebels have lost more As Russia and Iran have stuck to withdraw to more defensible than a third of the area they held steadfastly by Assad, the rebels lines along a highway that runs in eastern Aleppo in the last few say their foreign backers includ- through Aleppo, hoping that it days of a government assault that ing the United States have left would be harder for the govern- has killed hundreds of people them to their fate in their Residents escape regime bombardment in Al Moyaser neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria, ment side to make further gains. and uprooted thousands more. besieged enclave of eastern yesterday. The rebel official with one of For the rebels, it is one of the Aleppo, Syria’s biggest city before the main Aleppo rebel groups gravest moments of the war. the civil war. had said was drawn up to miti- aid including military support to anything”, he said. said the opposition fighters had Rebels meanwhile fought Government forces backed gate the risks of any shift in US some rebel groups under Presi- France, another backer of the managed to stabilise new front- fiercely to stop government by Shia militias from Iran, Leb- policy towards the war in Syria. dent Barack Obama, though the opposition, called for an imme- lines, but were fighting to stop forces advancing deeper into the anon and Iraq punched into the Trump has indicated that he rebels have always said this diate UN Security Council pro-government militias that opposition-held enclave yester- rebel-held area from the north- may abandon support for Syrian backing has fallen well short of meeting to discuss Aleppo. sought to advance from the day, confronting pro-Assad east last week. The senior, rebels who have received mili- what they need against better “More than ever before, we south. militias who sought to move into pro-Assad official said the rebel tary aid from states including the armed government forces. need to urgently put in place “There is no progress but the the area from the southeast, a lines had collapsed more quickly United States, Turkey, Saudi Ara- The rebel official said the means to end the hostilities and bombardment and battles rebel official said. than expected. bia and Qatar, and could even outgoing US administration was to allow humanitarian aid to get remain fierce, particularly in The attack on eastern Aleppo “The Russians want to com- cooperate with Russia against paying little attention to Syria. through unhindered,” French Aziza” in southeastern Aleppo, threatens to snuff out the most plete the operation before Trump Islamic State in the country. Assad and his allies were “try- Foreign Minister Jean-Marc said the official with the Jabha important urban centre of the takes power,” said the official, He will be inaugurated as ing to exploit the current Ayrault said in a statement. Shamiya rebel group, which revolt against President Bashar repeating a previous timetable president on January 20. circumstances, unfortunately, Russia has consistently fights under the Free Syrian Al Assad, who has been firmly on which pro-Damascus sources The United States has offered and the Western states can’t do blocked attempts by Western Army banner.

Turkey has many other Families struggle for food in battle for Mosul Baghdad/Mosul Iraqi government and Kurd- Mosul could double “in the short alternatives to Reuters ish forces surround the city from term”, said a humanitarian the north, east and south, while worker, who declined to be full siege is developing in Popular Mobilisation forces — a identified. EU: Erdogan Mosul as poor families coalition of Iranian-backed Shia Some 100,000 Iraqi govern- A struggle to feed them- groups — are trying to close in ment troops, Kurdish security Istanbul selves after prices rose sharply from the west. Retail prices rose forces and mainly Shia militia- AFP following the US-backed offen- sharply last week, after Popular men are participating in the sive on the Islamic State-held Mobilisation fighters cut the sup- assault on Mosul that began on urkish President city in northern Iraq, humani- ply route to Mosul from the October 17, with air and ground Recep Tayyip tarian workers said yesterday. Syrian half of the self-styled support from a US-led interna- Erdogan yesterday Some of the poorest families caliphate, declared by Islamic tional military coalition. said his country has are finding it hard to feed them- State two years ago over Sunni- The capture of Mosul, Islamic not yet given up on selves while others are hoarding populated parts of Iraq and Syria. State’s last major urban strong- Tits ambition to join the Euro- and hiding food as they expect More than a million people hold in Iraq, is seen as crucial pean Union but has "many prices to rise further as the bat- are still believed to live in parts towards dismantling the other alternatives" if the tle that started six weeks ago of Mosul under the control of the caliphate. Iraqi forces moving stalled process goes nowhere. takes hold of the city. Islamic State fighters, who seized from the east have captured "We have not yet closed “Key informants are telling the largest city in northern Iraq about a quarter of Mosul, trying the European Union book us that poor families are strug- as part of a lightning advance to advance to the Tigris river that A Kurdish Iraqi woman inspects her destroyed kitchen after right now," Erdogan told an gling to put sufficient food on across a third of the country in runs through its centre, in the international conference in returning to her house in the town of Bashiqa which was their tables,” UN Humanitarian 2014. biggest battle in Iraq since the Istanbul. "But nobody should retaken by Kurdish Peshmerga fighters following a battle with Coordinator in Iraq, Lise Grande, With the last supply route cut 2003 US-led invasion that top- forget that Turkey always has Islamic State militants, north of Mosul, yesterday. said. “This is very worrying.” off, basic commodity prices in pled Saddam Hussein. many other alternatives." Last week the European Parliament backed a freeze in Turkey's membership talks, angering Erdogan who threat- Abbas re-elected party leader Hadi accuses rebels of ened to retaliate by rupturing a migrant deal curbing the flow of refugees to Europe. The deal has substantially as Fatah holds rare congress dashing peace hopes helped reduce the wave of migrants since it was signed in March. Ramallah president has intensi- Aden "stubbornness" in pursuing a Erdogan said the non- AFP fied. He has not publicly AFP deadly war against them with binding vote at the European designated a the support of a Saudi-led coa- Parliament "upset" Turkey, alestinian President successor. emeni President lition since March last year. adding it did not currently Mahmoud Abbas's Some analysts see Abdrabuh Mansur The war of words comes as have "positive" feelings on the PFatah re-elected the congress as an Hadi accused Shia the UN envoy for Yemen shut- accession talks. him party head yester- attempt by Abbas to rebels and their allies tles between the two sides in an If the EU path is blocked, day as the movement marginalise political yesterday of dashing effort to revive a US-backed Erdogan said, "we'll continue opened its first congress opponents, including hopesY for peace after they ceasefire that collapsed after our road by evaluating one of since 2009 with talk longtime rival Moham- unveiled a new government in just 48 hours early last week. those alternatives," without mounting of who will med Dahlan, currently areas under their control. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, naming them. "I don't find it eventually succeed the in exile in the United Hadi said that Monday's who has been attempting to right to say it here but we are 81-year-old. Arab Emirates. formation by the Iran-backed persuade the two sides to agree of course continuing our talks Abbas was re-elected Observers have seen rebels of a government of to a government of national with those alternatives." by consensus, party the reduced number of national salvation showed their unity, met rebel representatives Earlier this month, spokesman Mahmud officials to vote — determination to "spread chaos in Oman on Saturday and is Erdogan again floated the Abu Al Hija said, and was Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks down from more than and destruction" and "destroys scheduled to hold talks with idea of joining Russia and due to address the con- 2,000 in 2009 — as any chance of dialogue and Hadi in Aden. during the congress in Ramallah, West Bank, China in the Shanghai Coop- gress. Some 1,400 part of a move to peace". The president, who is usu- yesterday. eration Organisation (SCO). delegates were exclude Dahlan Speaking through a spokes- ally based in neighbouring The SCO is a loose secu- attending. supporters. man from Yemen's second city Saudi Arabia, flew into Aden on rity and economic bloc. Other The election of members of Fatah's parlia- Dimitri Diliani, elected to Fatah's revolution- Aden, the seat of his belea- Saturday on his first visit in a members are Kazakhstan, ment and its central committee over the five-day ary council, or parliament, in 2009, said he was guered government, Hadi called year. Fierce fighting has raged Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. conference will signal the direction the oldest Pal- not invited to the congress like dozens of others on the international commu- on the ground since the cease- But Turkey's Prime Min- estinian party will take at a time when Abbas is because "we bring a different voice." nity to "condemn this move and fire collapsed. ister Binali Yildirim told a weakened by his own unpopularity and internal He said a press conference set for a refugee hold the militia responsible for The rebels launched an televised interview last week dissent. camp near Ramallah yesterday with those recently the collapse of peace efforts." attack on loyalist positions in that the SCO was not an alter- While the ageing leader has said he has no dismissed from the party had been called off after Announcing their new gov- Dhaleh province north of Aden native to Ankara's EU intention of stepping aside anytime soon, talk of threats "from the security services," including ernment, the Houthi rebels said yesterday but were repulsed, a accession talks. who will eventually succeed him as Palestinian death threats. it was a response to Hadi's military official said. WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016 ASIA / AFRICA 09 South Korea President willing to resign Seoul Park's latest remarks are a have intensified over the past AFP Political move possible bid to de-fang that month, with up to 1.5 million Park said she will effort, critics say, with the pres- people braving freezing temper- leave the issue of her ident hoping that she can cut a atures in Seoul Saturday to outh Korea's scandal-hit departure, including deal that would avoid -- or demand Park's resignation, President Park Geun- the (possible) lessen -- formal sanctions. according to organisers. Hye said yesterday she reduction of her term But opponents rubbished her Park has been hemorrhag- was willing to resign offer. "Our stance to seek Park's ing allies, with her justice in office, to a early and let parliament impeachment remains minister stepping down and decision by the Sdecide her fate, a move critics unchanged," Choo Mi-Ae, leader staunch supporters within her said was a bid to delay impend- National Assembly. of the main opposition Demo- own party calling for her to go. ing impeachment. Opponents rubbished cratic Party, said, describing Park -- in her third public Park has been engulfed in her offer and stood Park's remarks as "a trick" apology over the scandal -- tried allegations of influence peddling firm on their stance designed to distract attention. Tuesday to distance herself from and claims that tens of millions to seek Park's Three opposition parties, Choi, who was charged earlier of dollars have changed hands, impeachment which jointly hold 55 percent of this month with coercion and sparking widespread anger describing Park's seats in parliament, and some abuse of power. across South Korea and bring- members of Park's party are She said the huge sums of remarks as "a trick" South Korean President Park Geun-Hye speaks during an ing hundreds of thousands of seeking to collect a two thirds of money that had changed hands designed to distract address to the nation, at the presidential Blue House in Seoul protesters onto the streets attention total votes to pass the bill as early had been directed towards demanding her ouster. yesterday. as Friday. If the motion passes, projects that were for "the pub- "I will leave the issue of my Park would immediately be sus- lic good". "I have not sought any departure, including the (possi- power vacuum and chaos in gov- ing Samsung. insurrection or treason, but she pended from official duties and personal gain there" she said, but ble) reduction of my term in ernance, I will step down," she Park has been named as a could be charged once she steps her prime minister would take added: "It was my fault that I office, to a decision by the said. Park's presidency has gone suspect in the growing investi- down. Huge protests calling for over as interim head of govern- failed to keep my personal ties National Assembly", she said in into a tailspin, with accusations gation, making her the first her impeachment have rocked ment. But the impeachment (with Choi and Choi's associates) a speech carried live on that Choi Soon-Sil -- a secretive sitting president to be subject to Seoul every weekend for the would not be finalised until the under control." Park had earlier television. confidante dubbed "Korea's Ras- a criminal probe while in office. more than a month, and oppo- Constitutional Court approves it promised to submit to a judicial "Once lawmakers come up putin" -- elicited more than $60 While she retains the presi- sition parties say they expect to -- a process that could takes six probe, as well as to a separate with measures to transfer power million in payments from some dency, she cannot be charged vote to remove her as early as months. investigation by an independent in a way that minimises any of the country's top firms, includ- with a criminal offence except this week. Massive weekly protests special prosecutor.

NEWS BYTES Thailand House invites Crown Uganda tribal king charged Prince to become new king with murder Bangkok Bhumibol's death that the prince ascension was "proceeding step- UGANDAN prosecu- AFP had asked to delay his official by-step" according to the tors charged a tribal proclamation so he could country's arcane succession king with murder yes- hailand's parliament on mourn. rules. According to protocol, the terday, accusing him yesterday invited Crown "I will invite the Crown assembly speaker will now seek of backing a separatist TPrince Maha Vajiralong- Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to a royal audience with the prince militia in his kingdom korn to become the next king, succeed to the throne and to invite him to ascend the where weekend fight- resolving lingering anxiety over become king of the Thai peo- throne, the last step before being ing between his guards his accession following his ple," Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, proclaimed the new monarch. and security forces left father's death last month. head of the rubber stamp Prawit said that would likely South African President Jacob Zuma gesturing as he at least 87 people dead. The country has been National Legislative Assembly happen "either tomorrow or the The Rwenzururu King plunged into mourning since said. day after". arrives at the inauguration of the Women's Living Heritage Charles Wesley Mumbere widely revered King Bhumibol Lawmakers then stood up Vajiralongkorn, 64, has been Monument at Lilian Ngoyi Square. is accused of commanding Adulyadej died on 13 October, and replied: "Long live the king". the named successor to Bhumi- a militia from his palace ending a remarkable seven-dec- The parliamentary endorsement bol for more than four decades. with the aim of creating ade reign and removing a key came after Thailand's cabinet He spends much of his time out- an independent state pillar of unity in a bitterly officially submitted Vajiralong- side the kingdom, particularly Jacob Zuma survives straddling Uganda and divided nation. Tuesday's move korn's name earlier in the day. in southern Germany where he the neighbouring Dem- ends a period of uncertainty Prawit Wongsuwan, deputy owns property. A military ocratic Republic of Congo. sparked by the junta making the prime minister and the junta's source told AFP the prince was "Court sat this surprise announcement after number two, said the prince's still currently in Germany. attempted ousting afternoon. He has been charged with mur- Johannesburg general, told reporters. "All der," Uganda's judiciary AFP members of the (executive spokesman Solomon committee) had an opportunity Muyita told AFP, with- outh African President to raise, in the meeting, the out giving further details. Jacob Zuma survived an issues they feel are hurting the Police and army offic- Sattempt to oust him from movement and the country." ers stormed Mumbere's office only after a "robust" and Local media said the meet- palace in the western "difficult" debate within the rul- ing -- which was extended into town of Kasese on Sun- ing ANC party, an official said Monday evening -- was tense, day in a hail of gunfire and yesterday. Zuma has been with tempers flaring and some explosions, dragging him weakened by corruption alle- ministers threatening to resign out and placing him under gations, but his supporters were if Zuma stayed, a claim the arrest after he failed to taken by surprise at the plot to party denied. "We are not accept an ultimatum to unseat him at a weekend meet- aware of anyone who has said disband his royal guards, ing of the African National they are going to resign," ANC the authorities have said. Congress's executive commit- deputy secretary general Jessie tee. The rebellion, led by at least Duarte insisted. four ministers, was the most Reports also claimed the Sri Lankan serious threat to Zuma's hold president launched a fierce on power since he became defence of his position, and his Tamil Tiger president in 2009. loyalists eventually headed off It also shook the ANC party, the attempt to oust him. warlord held which has ruled since the end "The president told us that SRI LANKAN police on of apartheid in 1994 but he will never step down, as it yesterday arrested a top recently suffered a sharp set- would be like handing himself Tamil warlord on corrup- back in local elections. over to the enemy, and that tion charges nearly two "Following robust, honest, there are people who want to years after the defeat of candid and at times difficult see him in jail," an unnamed his main ally, former pres- discussions, the (ANC national source at the closed-door meet- ident Mahinda Rajapakse. executive committee) did not ing told the News24 website. Police said the support the call for the presi- Zuma left South Africa early on Thailand's Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn (right) walks with Royal Consort Princess Financial Crimes Inves- dent to step down," Gwede Tuesday to attend the funeral tigation Division arrested Srirasmi after greeting foreign royalty in Bangkok, yesterday. Mantashe, the ANC secretary of Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Vinayagamoorthy Mura- litharan, better known by his nom de guerre Karuna, for misappropriating an unspecified amount of Top aide to Burundi president escapes assassination bid state money and other assets."Karuna was ques- tioned about state vehicles Nairobi returning to his home in the cap- Nkurikiye told a press confer- destabilise the government. and financial transac- AFP ital Bujumbura on Monday night ence on Tuesday. He said two Nyamitwe is one of the most tions," a police official when assailants attacked with conspirators had been arrested prominent voices in Burundi, an said on condition of ano- top advisor to Burundi's gunfire and grenades. Nyamitwe and one had admitted the mis- active tweeter who frequently nymity. The 50-year-old president and the most suffered minor wounds to his sion was sponsored by Rwanda, criticises the West for interfer- Karuna was number two A public face of the govern- arm in the attack in which one with whom Burundi has fraught ing in the central African nation. of the separatist Libera- ment has escaped an bodyguard was killed. Police relations. "It is the same enemy, "I thank those who wish me tion Tigers of Tamil Eelam assassination attempt blamed on spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye said they are criminals based in a speedy recovery. I am doing when he led a breakaway Rwanda, the latest political neighbouring Rwanda was Kigali," said Nkurikiye. Burundi well but saddened by the death faction and sided with the attack in the crisis-wracked behind the assassination attempt. has repeatedly accused Rwanda of a best friend, the policeman then-government. nation. Willy Nyamitwe, the gov- "Rwanda's role in the current of meddling in its affairs, sup- Gasongo," Nyamitwe tweeted ernment's top spokesman, was crisis in Burundi is undeniable," porting rebels and seeking to after the attack. 10 VIEWS WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL A strong foundation Obama’s Middle East legacy ducation and health care are the bedrocks on which the foundation of a country is laid. A strong educational structure coupled with an Eefficient health care system can propel a coming under scrutiny country into the league of successful nations fairly fast. Qatar understood pretty early that it is important to lay a strong foundation for both. It is in this context that the role of Qatar Foundation (QF) for Education, $250bn of foreign investment is expected investment is projected to soon flow into Science and Community Development has to be Ovunc Kutlu, Mustafa Keles, to flow into Iran, and more than 800 Iran annually, according to observers. appreciated. Bringing in foreign universities to Qatar to Betul Yuruk energy projects are estimated to be imple- After sanctions were lifted, Germany, set a benchmark for educational excellence is just one Anatolia mented in the next 20 years, according to France, the United Kingdom, Russia, China of the roles that the organisation under the the Economic and Trade Impact Analysis and Japan led investment interests in Iran, guardianship of H H Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser has on Iran after Embargo report prepared in in order to gain shares in the country’s played. In fact, QF is a super structure that aims at cooperation with the audit firm KPMG, For- newly opened market. innovating in the field of education, scientific research, S President Barack Obama has been eign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) and But the biggest concern surrounding health care by harnessing the creative potential and criticised for Mideast policies that Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM). foreign investment is the uncertainty cre- ideas of youth. many claim have left Iran with Some sectors in Iran, however, such as ated by Trump, and whether he would WISE— World Innovation Summit for Education, increasing influence in the region. banking, law and bureaucracy, have been scrap the nuclear deal after taking office one of the world’s largest educational conferences, After eight years in the White slow to adapt to the post-sanctions envi- early next year. launched in 2009 is a success story by itself. In the UHouse, those polices, particularly the Iranian ronment and regulations in those areas While campaigning for president, the words of QF Vice-Chairperson and CEO of Qatar nuclear deal Obama considers to be a major need to be expedited in order to attract Republican candidate described the Foundation, H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, part of his legacy, have come under scrutiny. foreign investors. nuclear deal as “one of the worst deals ever WISE now occupies a At the beginning of the Arab Spring near the Iran has reintegrated into the Society negotiated” and called it a “disaster”. prominent position as an end of 2010, hopes for democracy in the Mid- for Worldwide Interbank Financial Tele- His fellow Republicans also international forum which dle East were curtailed by the Syrian civil war, communication (SWIFT) system and has harshly criticised the Obama admin- seeks to build the future of Yemeni crisis and a coup in Egypt. begun to access its overseas frozen assets istration in 2015, claiming the deal education through “Early in his administration, he failed to sup- that are estimated to be increased Iran’s political and eco- Qatar Foundation’s innovation and creativity. port the people of Iran in their revolt against around $150bn and nomic influence in the Middle East, role in education Wise hosts some of the their government’s oppression,” Peter J. Walli- expected to be gradually threatened Israel’s security and wors- leading education experts, son, a senior fellow at the Washington DC-based released in coming years. ened the US’s relations with its and health care is educators and think tank American Enterprise Institute, told Between $30bn and long-time ally, Saudi Arabia. unparalleled. policymakers in the world. Anadolu Agency. $40bn foreign direct The Obama administration indicated When it comes to “That error foreshadowed all the errors that earlier this month that $50bn worth of Ira- health care, QF is in the were to come,” he said. “It’s safe to say that the nian assets are to be unfrozen as a result forefront of latest research world is in immeasurably worse condition after Trump’s policies toward of the nuclear agreement. led by scientists whose Obama’s eight years than it was before he Iran and the Middle East The Treasury Department announced expertise in the field is assumed office.” in September that it granted licenses for remarkable. World Innovation Summit for Health Also joining the chorus of criticism is Pres- will be closely watched, aircraft companies Airbus and Boeing to (WISH) is another of QF’s achievements. It is one of the ident-elect Donald Trump who claimed during and his stance on the sell planes—a total of nearly 200 — and best examples of multi-disciplinary cooperation a presidential debate last month that Iran has nuclear deal will become help Iran’s aging air fleet. among the international health care community. increased its influence in the Middle East dur- much clearer after taking Trump’s policies toward Iran and the With Education City setting the benchmark for ing Obama’s years in the Oval Office. Middle East will be closely watched, and excellence in higher education, and WISE and WISH “Iran is taking over Iraq, something they’ve office. his stance on the nuclear deal will become blazing the trail in education and health care research, wanted to do forever, but we’ve made it so easy much clearer after taking office. Qatar is marching steadily towards setting examples for them,” he said. “Iran should write us a let- for other nations to follow in these fields. ter of thank you.” As revealed by Sheikha Hind in a recent interview, Zalmay Khalilzad, a former US ambassador WISH’s contributions are not only local but also to Afghanistan, Iraq and the UN, noted in a March international. Wish helping Apollo Hospitals in India to 2015 article for The National Interest magazine enhance patient safety is a case in point. that Iran “moved quickly and decisively ... to fill QF’s role in the development of the country the security vacuum” in Iraq, stating that there encompasses commitment to the concept of lifelong is “a significantly increased Iranian presence in learning and to provide an ecosystem where education Iraq and growing domination by Tehran over can impact the life of every person. the Baghdad government.” Sheikha Mozah yesterday opened WISH 2016, In a separate article four months later, he another of QF’s attempts to translate health care said, “Iran is well on its way to achieving regional expertise into the realm of society. domination through its gains in Syria, Lebanon, The unparalleled role that QF has been playing in Iraq and Yemen. the development of the country is set to see Qatar “The Obama administration hopes that the leapfrog into the trajectory of nations in the forefront nuclear deal will moderate Iran’s regional pol- of a progressive society. icies,” he added. The concern about Iran’s ability to grow its influence is predicated on Tehran’s access to funds and investments not allowed under dec- QUOTE OF THE DAY ades-long sanctions. After the nuclear deal and removal of sanc- tions, Iran’s struggling economy and energy sectors began to show progress. We have not yet Having the world’s second largest oil reserves and the fourth biggest natural gas closed the European reserves, the easing of sanctions enabled Iran Union book right now. to significantly increase its crude oil production But nobody should and exports. It also opened the country’s forget that Turkey untapped gas resources to foreign investment. At the time the nuclear deal was signed in always has many July 2015, Iran produced an average of 2.9m other alternatives. barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil. That figure rose to 3.7m bpd last month, according to OPEC’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan Monthly Oil Market reports. Tehran has said it Turkish President wants to increase it further to pre-sanction lev- els of more than 4m bpd. US President Barack Obama addressing a press conference in the East Room Including its energy industry, approximately of the White House in Washington. WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016 OPINION 11 Young immigrants who came forward now worried about future

undreds of thousands of young priority,” said Krikorian, whose think tank When the program started, the Obama immigrants living in the country Alicia A Caldwell describes itself as low-immigration, administration suggested that application illegally willingly came out of the AP pro-immigrant. files would not generally be used for shadows and identified them- President Barack Obama initiated the enforcement efforts. US Citizenship and selves to the Obama program to shield from deportation young Immigration Services addressed the concern Hadministration on the promise that they’d be immigrants, some of whom don’t even in its published “frequently asked ques- safe from deportation and allowed to work. remember their native countries. It didn’t tions,” saying information would be shared Some may now regret that decision. she’s worried she may eventually be forced give the immigrants legal status, only with enforcement officials only if someone President-elect Donald Trump has to return to Mexico, a country she left when “deferred action” — meaning they wouldn’t “meets the criteria” for deportation promised to immediately scrap the program she was 9. face deportation while they participated. proceedings. that protected these immigrants. If he does, “I knew it was the only way to have bet- There was never a guarantee that it But revoking the deportation protection it’s not clear whether he would take action ter opportunities,” Villas said. “I took the risk would last beyond Obama’s term as presi- would make those young immigrants almost against the more than 741,000 participants. without thinking that somebody would want dent. A former immigration official who immediately eligible to face deportation. But if he decides to pursue them, the gov- to take it away.” helped craft the program, John Sandweg, Sandweg said going after participants ernment now has their addresses, Trump made illegal immigration the cor- said the White House and the Homeland would be a massive logistical undertaking photographs and fingerprints. nerstone of his campaign, promising to build Security Department considered the reality that would only worsen backlogs in an Twenty-year-old Nancy Villas was a massive wall along the Mexican border and that a future president could end it. But at already overburdened immigration court among the first to apply for the Deferred deport millions of people living in the coun- the time, he said, it appeared that revoking system where many people wait years for a Action for Childhood Arrivals program in the try illegally. Once he takes office, Trump can already-approved protections would be final decision. summer of 2012, waiting in line hours at a almost immediately rescind the promised politically difficult. Adding about 750,000 to the court sys- sign-up site at Chicago’s Navy Pier. Since protection and, with it, likely void the “These are the kinds of kids you should tem “would do nothing for public safety,” then she’s been working part time at a child accompanying work permits. bring out of the shadows,” said Sandweg, a Sandweg said. care center to pay for college classes. Now But there is little to suggest that he would former acting director of Immigration and Nonetheless, the mere prospect of that move swiftly to deport program partici- Customs Enforcement. “I don’t think anyone has prompted some Democratic lawmakers pants. In a post-election interview with CBS’ envisioned a President Trump when this to ask Obama to protect these immigrants “60 Minutes,” Trump said he would focus was created.” with pardons before he leaves office. And Trump made illegal immigration the initially on criminal immigrants living ille- Trump wasn’t subtle about his opposition advocates for the young immigrants have cornerstone of his campaign, promising gally in the US He said that could be about 2 to the program. He called it an “illegal pledged to keep up their fight to win public to build a massive wall along the Mexican million to 3 million people, though that fig- amnesty” and promised to “immediately ter- and political support for overhauling immi- border and deport millions of people living ure is likely inflated. minate” the program. And since winning gration laws. “We organized across the Mark Krikorian, executive director for office, Trump has said he will nominate country, we shared our stories publicly and in the country illegally. Once he takes office, Center For Immigration Studies, said the immigration hardliner Sen. Jeff Sessions as we came together. We took direct actions Trump can almost immediately rescind the fears of program participants may be attorney general. As he considers other Cabi- and held politicians accountable,” said Cris- promised protection and, with it, likely void overblown. net vacancies, Trump has met with Kansas tina Jimenez, executive director and the accompanying work permits. “Unless there’s a crime issue or some- Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who led his co-founder of United We Dream. Under a thing specific that’s going to draw attention state’s court fight to prevent an expansion of Trump administration, Jimenez said, that to an individual, I can’t see how they’d be a the deportation protection plan. won’t change. National Front gears up for risky campaign against “French Thatcher”

Ingrid Melander Reuters

D-RING ROAD POST BOX: 3488 epending on who you ask, centre-right presidential nom- DOHA - QATAR inee Francois Fillon is either [email protected] the perfect candidate to defeat the National Front, or the man Dwhose economic radicalism will let EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE France’s far right pose as protector of TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 working class rights. FAX: +974 4455 7758 The French presidential election, with a first round in April and a run-off in May, MANAGING EDITOR is on course to turn into another test of the TEL: 4462 7505 rage of Western voters against traditional elites, after Britain’s shock vote to quit the DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR EU and the US election of Donald Trump TEL: 4455 7743 as president. Pollsters predict Fillon, a former prime minister who clinched the nomination of LOCAL NEWS SECTION Francois Fillon, former French prime minister and member of Les Republicains political party, delivers his his Les Republicains party on Sunday, will TEL: 4455 7769 face the far National Front’s Marine Le Pen speech after partial results in the second round for the French center-right presidential primary election in in the run-off, casting him as the cham- Paris, France. BUSINESS NEWS SECTION pion of the entire establishment against a TEL: 4462 7535 surging far right that wants to follow Brit- said in a video sent to party supporters and eliminated in a first round earlier this month. ain out of the EU. posted on his Twitter feed. The online campaign In the Var area, a National Front stronghold where SPORT NEWS SECTION But Fillon, a staunch Catholic conserv- targeted Fillon’s plans to shrink the public work- Le Pen’s campaign director Rachline is mayor, Fillon TEL: 4455 7745 ative on social policy who models himself force, the sort of criticism that might normally attracted 79.4 percent of the votes in the second round after Britain’s Margaret Thatcher on eco- come from the left. of the primaries, compared to 66.5 percent ONLINE SECTION nomic issues, is hardly typical of the But attacking simultaneously from the right, it nationwide. TEL: 4462 7501 French ruling elite, presenting unexpected questioned his credibility on immigration, calling Opinion polls, which had failed to predict Fillon’s vic- [email protected] challenges for Le Pen, but also him the “the establishment’s new star”. tory in the primaries until just days before the vote, are opportunities. Pollsters had expected the centre-right would likely to evolve as the presidential campaign heats up On the one hand, Fillon won some nominate a different former prime minister, the and voters look in more detail at Fillon’s economic PUBLIC RELATIONS of his best results in the primaries on more traditional centrist Alain Juppe, setting up a reform plans. TEL: 4455 7613 Sunday in National Front (FN) strong- conventional battle between the centre and the far A survey by Odoxa showed that Fillon is doing well [email protected] holds. His social conservatism and right. among voters with high-end jobs but struggling with work- tough stance on immigration steal The mild mannered Juppe might have had an ing-class voters and public officials who are open to Le Pen, a ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT some of the far right’s thunder. Le easier time attracting centre-left votes in a future weakness that could become a real issue for him during the TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 Pen’s personal approval ratings fell run-off against Le Pen. campaign. FAX: 4455 7870 on the day. But Fillon’s late surge in the nomination contest A majority of leftwing voters, wary of Fillon’s economic [email protected] On the other hand, Fillon’s hardline saw him easily dispatch Juppe, creating a new and social views, would not turn up to polling stations at all economic reform plan, which includes dynamic. in the case of a Fillon-Le Pen second round, the poll said, a CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT raising the retirement age, increasing the The first survey published after the primaries, by further difficulty for him. TEL: 4455 7857 sales tax and lengthening working hours, Harris Interactive, sees Le Pen qualifying for the “I voted for Fillon because he will never get leftwing vot- [email protected] could give Le Pen a chance to win over run-off and losing it to Fillon. But it showed her ers on board,” 68-year old pensioner Denis Achard, an FN working class and even centre-left voters attracting just 24 percent of the votes in the first voter, said as he took part in the primaries on Sunday, tacti- SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION with an appeal to economic principles round, behind Fillon’s 26 percent, her lowest rating cally voting for the candidate he thought would be the easiest TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 seen as traditional in France. in months. target for the FN. Which of these two sides of Fillon’s “Part of the FN electorate wants more protec- Under the leadership of Marine Le Pen, who took over FAX: 44557819 platform will be more important to voters tion from the state. But there is a part of the FN from her father Jean-Marie in 2011, the FN has switched from [email protected] could decide whether France follows Brit- electorate that is very right wing, traditionalist, and an economically liberal, pro-small business party to one that ain and the United States in delivering an Fillon can encroach on that electorate,” said Sylvain promises to lower the retirement age and guarantee France’s election surprise that overturns the estab- Crepon, a specialist on the FN at the French univer- generous welfare safety net. All thoughts and views lished order. sity of Tours. Fillon’s victory in the primaries risks exacerbating the expressed in these columns The anti-migration, anti-Europe Jerome Fourquet of Ifop pollsters said that while tensions between that line, backed by Le Pen and her FN, which bills itself as the protector of the FN had scored its strongest increase in regional deputy Florian Philippot, and a pro-business, anti-big are those of the writers, not the working classes, hit at both angles elections last year amid the traditional Catholic state line spearheaded by Le Pen’s niece Marion Mare- of the newspaper. on Monday with the launch of its electorate, surveys Ifop did on the first round of the chal-Le Pen. online campaign under the hashtag primaries showed that those traditional Catholic While Philippot told Reuters Fillon is a “great candi- All correspondence #TheTrueFillon. voters who took part in the primaries massively date” for the FN because of his economic plans, regarding Views and “Francois Fillon in power would backed Fillon. Marechal-Le Pen raised the possibility of him being a Opinion pages should be bring a terrible economic and social The Les Republicains primaries were open to all tougher candidate to beat. decline for families and for middle- voters. According to Fourquet, the small number of “We should have been alerted by the signals he sent to mailed to the class and working-class French,” Le FN voters who took part backed Fillon ahead of the Catholics and the non-mainstream right,” French media [email protected] Pen’s campaign director David Rachline Juppe or ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy, who was quoted her as saying. 12 ASIA / PHILIPPINES WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016

NEWS BYTES Bomb hits Duterte's security team Militant group Manila Planned attack linked to Reuters Duterte said he would Daesh: Duterte defy his advisers and roadside bomb in the still go to Butig town THE Philippines president southern Philippines today to visit has officially acknowl- on yesterday wounded soldiers. edged that a group wounded seven battling the military in a members of the town in the south is con- president’sA security team, a day nected to Daesh. Seven wounded in the ahead of his planned visit to an Analysts have long bombing a day ahead area gripped by intense fighting linked both the Maute between Islamist militants and of his visit to an area Group and related mili- government troops. gripped by intense tant outfit the Abu Sayyaf Rodrigo Duterte said he fighting. to Daesh, but Duterte's tel- would defy his advisers and still evised comments late go to Butig town today to visit air-and-ground assault on an old Monday are the first offi- wounded soldiers, despite the municipal building they have cial recognition. bombing that hit his security staff occupied since Saturday, said “We are not good and also wounded two soldiers. military spokesman Colonel today because finally, “The truck carrying the presi- Edgard Arevalo. finally, intelligence com- dent’s advance security detail Twenty soldiers have been munity advised me that was hit by an improvised explo- wounded in the fighting, which ISIS [Daesh] has finally sive device,” Defence Secretary continued to rage yesterday. connected with the group Soldiers carry a wounded member of the security group after being hit in a roadside bomb Delfin Lorenzana told reporters The defence secretary said in the Philippines called in Manila. “There was no fire- he would advise the president to attack in Lanao del Sur, yesterday. the Maute," President fight.” The men injured in Lanao cancel his visit. “It’s still not Rodrigo Duterte said in del Sur province were immedi- under control,” Lorenzana said, postpone. I said no, I will go embassy in Manila National sweeper discovered the bomb, a televised speech late ately airlifted to safety. Members adding the military was trying to there. And if possible, take the police chief Ronald dela Rosa which police safely detonated. Monday. of the president’s official media validate links between local same route,” he said in a speech. showed reporters a sketch of a Dela Rosa said the device team were also in the convoy but groups and Islamic State. “Maybe we can have a little suspect and appealed to the pub- had components similar to a were unharmed. Duterte, known for ignoring gunfight here, gunfight there.” lic to help identify and locate September 2 bomb in Duterte’s Govt historian Some 40 militants from the his ministers and security Police believe the Maute him. Police said a man driving a home city of Davao, which killed Maute Group, which has pledged experts, said he would still go Group may also be responsible taxi stopped near the embassy 14 people and wounded dozens. resigns over allegiance to Islamic State, have and the situation was under con- for the planting of a homemade during the night and placed Authorities believe the Maute dictator's burial been killed during an trol. “The advice was to bomb on Monday near the US something in a trash bin. A street group was responsible. THE Philippine gov- ernment's top historian resigned yesterday to protest the president's Rescue drill Rohingya abuse may be decision to allow the burial of dictator Ferdi- nand Marcos in a heroes' against humanity: UN cemetery, in a grow- ing political storm over the entombment. Maria Yangon sectarian violence in 2012, Serena Diokno said in a AFP where they are denied citizen- statement that she will ship, healthcare and education join protests against the yanmar's Rohingya may and their movements are heav- Nov. 18 burial, including be victims of crimes ily curbed. one scheduled at a pro- Magainst humanity, the "The government has democracy shrine today. UN's rights agency said yester- largely failed to act on the rec- Diokno, who was day, as former UN chief Kofi ommendations made in a chairwoman of the Annan arrived in the country report by the UN Human Rights National Historical Com- for a visit that will include a trip Office... (that) raised the possi- mission of the Philippines, to northern Rakhine. bility that the pattern of said Duterte could have The army has carried out a violations against the Rohingya blocked Marcos's burial bloody crackdown in Rakhine, may amount to crimes against in the cemetery despite a and thousands of the Muslim humanity," the OHCHR said in Supreme Court decision minority have flooded over the a statement. that dismissed petitions border into Bangladesh this Amid the mounting crisis, against the entombment. month, making horrifying former UN chief Annan on claims of gang rape, torture and Tuesday began a week-long A Taiwan Coast Guard ship (left) extinguishes a fire on a cargo ship during a rescue drill murder at the hands of security visit to Myanmar that will Court rejects near the coast of Itu Aba, which the Taiwanese call Taiping, at the South China Sea, forces. Some 30,000 have fled include a trip to northern yesterday. their homes and analysis of sat- Rakhine. Suu Kyi in August bid to protect ellite images by Human Rights appointed her fellow Nobel lau- Watch found hundreds of reate to head a special prized forest buildings in Rohingya villages commission to investigate how have been razed. to mend bitter religious and AN Indonesian court has Myanmar has denied alle- ethnic divides that split the rejected a case brought Philippines slams UN envoy's warning gations of abuse, saying the impoverished state. Annan has by Acehnese community army is hunting "terrorists" expressed "deep concern" over leaders who want one of Manila David Scheffer, the UN Sec- The UN, the United States behind raids on police posts last the violence in Rakhine, which the country's most prized AFP retary-General's envoy to the and the European Union have month. The government has has seen thousands of angry tropical forests to be pro- tribunal, said leaders in coun- warned against alleged extraju- lashed out at media reports of Muslims take to the streets tected from exploitation he Philippines criticised tries such as the Philippines, as dicial killings and a breakdown rapes and killings, and lodged across Asia in protest. by mining and planta- yesterday as "irresponsi- well as the Islamic State (IS) in the rule of law. Duterte won a protest over a UN official in But Aye Win, a Muslim tion companies. Nurul Tble and alarming" a UN group, must "take note" of the May elections by a landslide Bangladesh who said the state member of the Rakhine com- Ikhsan, chief lawyer for envoy's warning that life sen- verdict. "Mr Scheffer's remarks after vowing to kill 100,000 was carrying out "ethnic mission, defended Suu Kyi's the plaintiffs, said the tences meted out to two are irresponsible and alarming criminals and rid the country of cleansing" of Rohingya. handling of the crisis. Central Jakarta District ex-Khmer Rouge leaders should since these are directed at the illegal drugs in six months. Foreign journalists and "What she has inherited is Court rejected the case serve as a warning to Manila leadership of a democratic Since he took office in June, independent investigators have a dump of rubbish, a junk yard," yesterday because the over human rights abuses. country with a functioning crim- 1,900 have died in police oper- been banned from accessing the he told AFP, pointing out the Aceh province bylaw at Last week, a United Nations- inal justice system," the ations and another 2,900 were area to probe the claims. army retains control of secu- issue caused no mate- backed court in Cambodia Philippine foreign ministry said killed in unexplained circum- The UN OHCHR said Myan- rity and defence under a rial losses to them. upheld life sentences for crimes in a rare statement. stances, according to official mar's treatment of the Rohingya constitution written under the Nine community leaders against humanity for two sen- "His remarks are unjustified figures. could be tantamount to crimes former junta. filed the lawsuit in Janu- ior leaders of the Khmer Rouge and without basis." President After the verdict in Cambo- against humanity, reiterating "Her hands are tied -- she ary, asking the court to regime, which was responsible Rodrigo Duterte, 71, has drawn dia last week, Scheffer said the the findings of a June report. can't do anything. What she is order the Home Affairs for the death of up to two mil- a wave of international criticism decision showed world leaders More than 120,000 doing is trying to talk and nego- Ministry to revoke the lion Cambodians from for his drug war that has left can be held accountable for Rohingya have been crammed tiate and build trust" with the bylaw. 1975-1979. more than 4,800 people dead. atrocities. into displacement camps since army, he added. Record coral kill-off due to bleaching on Great Barrier Reef

Sydney northern third bearing the brunt. "This region escaped with draining them of their colour. prevent further bleaching disas- coral-eating crown-of-thorns AFP Follow-up underwater surveys, minor damage in two earlier Algae are vital to the coral, which ters. "This is the devastating price starfish, committing more than backing earlier aerial studies, bleaching events in 1998 and uses the organic products of pho- we are paying for the Australian Aus$2.0bn over the next decade. mass bleaching event on have revealed a 700km stretch 2002, but this time around it has tosynthesis to help it grow. government propping up the coal Scientists estimate the northern the Great Barrier Reef this of reefs in the less-accessible been badly affected." Further The loss of algae makes the industry," said Greenpeace Aus- region, which teems with marine Ayear killed more corals north lost two-thirds of shallow- south over the vast central and host vulnerable to disease and tralia reef campaigner Shani life, will take at least 10-15 years than ever before, scientists said water corals in the past eight to southern regions, including means it will eventually die. Tager. "A credible plan to pro- to regain lost corals, but are con- yesterday, sounding the alarm nine months. major tourist areas around However, coral can recover tect the reef must address cerned that a fourth major over the delicate ecosystem. "Most of the losses in 2016 Cairns and the Whitsunday if the water temperature drops climate change and start with a bleaching event may occur The 2,300km long reef -- the have occurred in the northern, Islands, there was a much lower and the algae are able to recol- ban on new coal mines." before that, hampering the world's biggest -- suffered its most-pristine part of the Great toll. Bleaching occurs when onise them. Environmentalists Canberra insists it is doing recovery. The reef studies cen- most severe bleaching in Barrier Reef," said Terry Hughes, abnormal environmental condi- blame the burning of fossil fuels more than ever to safeguard the tre warned earlier this year that recorded history, due to warm- head of the Centre of Excellence tions, such as warmer sea for global warming and repeated reef, which is also under pres- if greenhouse gas levels keep ris- ing sea temperatures during for Coral Reef Studies at James temperatures, cause corals to calls Tuesday for Australia to sure from farming run-off, ing occurring every two years by March and April, with the Cook University. expel tiny photosynthetic algae, abandon coal mining to help development and the the mid-2030s. WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN 13 Panama: PTI gives SC more proof on Sharifs

Islamabad land registry department was Internews Yet another blow approached for a certified copy Document offered of the actual ownership of these he Pakistan Tehreek- some clues that properties. e-Insaf has presented Prime Minister’s “The official copy of the title before the Supreme family was in deed can be obtained from the Curt yet another doc- land registry,” he said. possession of their ument offering some A senior PTI leader said the London flats before Tclues that Prime Minister Nawaz land registry department would Sharif’s family was in posses- 1999. only provide records to the sion of their London flats before extent that these properties are 1999. Legal experts, however, The Supreme Court is owned by two offshore compa- claim the freshly submitted doc- currently hearing a nies Nielsen Enterprises Limited ument still falls short of being slew of petitions and Nescoll Limited that bought concrete proof of the ruling fam- primarily seeking flats number 16, 17, 17A of Park Outgoing Army Chief Gen. Raheel Sharif (right) hands over a ceremonial baton to his successor ily’s ownership of the expensive PM’s disqualification Lane, London, in the names of properties. in the wake of these offshore companies. Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa during the Change of Command ceremony in Rawalpindi, yesterday. The Supreme Court is cur- Panama Papers He said the land registry rently hearing a slew of petitions revelations. department would refer the primarily seeking Premier Shar- matter to British Virgin Island if’s disqualification in the wake purportedly pledged Flat 16, Flat for details of the owners of these Outgoing army chief sends warning of the Panama Papers revela- 16A, Flat 17, Flat 17A in 1999. companies. According to the PTI tions. The PTI is one of the major The four defendants in the leader, offshore companies pro- parties in the case. case were Hudabiya Paper Mills tect the real owners and hardly to India over violence in Kashmir A treasure trove of classified Limited, Mian Muhammad provide any such details to indi- documents leaked from a Pan- Sharif [PM’s father] and Shah- viduals, unless it is ama-based law firm Mossack baz Sharif and Abbas Sharif communicated through a state. Islamabad small arms fire. Both sides accuse Bajwa, who once com- Fonseca, the Panama Papers in [PM’s brothers]. Along with the When the PTI legal team on Reuters each other of instigating the manded the Pakistani military April revealed that three scions UK court’s decision, the PTI has Nov 17 apparently failed in shelling. corps deployed on the Line of of the Sharif family were among also submitted a two-page doc- pleading its case against the akistan’s outgoing army “I want to make it clear to Control, will be seeking to address dozens of powerful people who ument which is based on a Sharif family, a judge pointed chief issued a stern warn- India, that taking our policy of the conflict with India, as well as owned offshore businesses in communication of a lawyer of the towards two documents present Ping to India over violence patience (in Kashmir) as a sign manage Pakistan’s ongoing fight international tax havens. Sharif family’s opponent party in the PTI’s petition that impli- in the disputed region of Kash- of any kind of weakness will against Islamist militants in the Earlier in its response to the and the UK’s land registry. cate the PM’s daughter, Maryam mir yesterday as he handed over prove to be dangerous to it,” said tribal areas bordering Afghani- PTI allegations, the Sharif fam- The document said these Safdar, as “ultimate beneficial command, saying patience General Raheel Sharif, who stan and elsewhere. ily had claimed before the properties were already pledged owner” of offshore companies should not be mistaken for handed over the reins to Gen- He was appointed by Prime Supreme Court that the London in the court and could not be as revealed by the Panama weakness. eral Qamar Javed Bajwa at a Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sat- flats were acquired in 2006 as sold by the owners. The com- Papers. Tension between the ceremony full of military pomp. urday, and has now taken part of a business deal with the munication is sent by Solicitor The documents are pur- nuclear-armed neighbours has “Unfortunately in recent command of the world’s sixth- Qatari royal family. Kearns. However, legal experts ported ‘confidential’ ratcheted up in recent months, months, the rising state terror- largest army by troop numbers. The PTI’s new evidence is say this document has no worth communication between Brit- leading to almost daily cross- ism in Kashmir and India’s As well as controlling security, related to a UK high court deci- to deny the claim of the Sharif ish Virgin Islands’ Financial border shelling at the Line of aggressive steps have put the army operates a vast busi- sion in the Hudaibiya Paper family. A UK-based solicitor Investigation Agency and Mos- Control. Dozens of people, regional peace at risk,” added ness empire in the country and Mills loan default case. In this Muzzammil Mukhtar said the sack Fonseca’s Money including soldiers and civilians, Sharif, who many viewed as the often dictates key areas of for- case, the Sharif family, which document might not be compel- Laundering Reporting Officer J have been killed on either side most powerful man in Pakistan eign policy, including relations owned the mills, had ling evidence unless the UK’s Nizbeth Maduro. of the border in artillery and in his role as army chief. with India and Afghanistan.

Afghan Taliban offers Up in arms Pakistan PM may expand to protect projects federal cabinet Kabul directs all its Mujahideen to AFP help in the security of all Lahore national projects that are in the Internews he Afghan Taliban yester- higher interest of Islam and the day pledged to protect country.” The statement comes he federal cabinet of Tbillions of dollars worth after Afghan and Turkmen Pakistan is likely to be of infrastructure projects leaders on Monday inaugurated Texpanded in a couple of throughout the country, many a railway line connecting weeks as the Pakistan Mus- of which have been stalled for Afghanistan to Europe through lim League-Nawaz has begun years due to militant violence Turkmenistan. implementing its election and insecurity. The militant “They inflicted more than strategy with the inclusion of group, which has been repeat- two billion dollars worth of 11 more ministers in the Pun- edly accused of conducting damage to public and private jab cabinet. attacks against aid workers and properties and infrastructure The other ingredients of infrastructure projects, made during two months of their vio- the approach include a crea- the surprise gesture. lent campaign in Afghanistan,” tion of a “flood of lower-scale “The Islamic Emirate (Tal- Shahhussain Murtazawi, a jobs” in the near future as well iban) not only backs all national spokesman for Afghan presi- as accommodating several projects which are in the inter- dent Ashraf Ghani, said. “How “leftover” biradaries against est of the people and result in could we trust them now? They posts of chairmen/mayors of the development and prosper- have to prove their promises in local governments in Punjab. Students of the private PakTurk International schools and colleges hold placards during ity of the nation but are also action,” he added. Decades of “The federal cabinet is most committed to safeguarding war have destroyed much of a protest in Lahore, yesterday, against the Pakistani government's ordered deportation likely to be expanded in 12 them,” the statement said. Afghanistan’s basic of 130 teachers. days as representation of var- “The Islamic Emirate infrastructure. ious biradaries in the present federal and Punjab cabinets is being considered,” a senior party leader privy to the development said. Afghanistan takes on the rich & powerful in war on graft Admitting that the cabi- net expansion was overdue and the party leadership had Kabul “It is a very important special police and the anti-drug of appeal. “Whoever they are, diverted from Kabul Bank in been facing pressure for fill- AFP moment that will put an end to units. “I see two types of threats: they have been checked and 2010, a massive scandal that ing portfolios lying vacant for impunity. One hopes to reach the within the government, some do cleared,” the spokesman for highlighted how deep the roots the past three and a half years, fghanistan’s anti-corrup- highest levels of the state, to the not want the centre to work; and Attorney General Jamsheed of corruption go in Afghanistan— he said the job was being done tion court has held its former ministers and important the Taliban, they do not want the Rasooli said. but it is a start. “The sum is small now as a part of the 2018 elec- Ainaugural public hearings people who were never held to government to be strong,” he To date, they have taken 55 but the accused is a two-star tion strategy. in Kabul, the first steps on the account until now,” says Yama said. cases and 31 suspects are behind general,” said Urfani. “We He said the election strat- long road to transparency in one Torabi, chairman of the Inde- A father of two young chil- bars, with “five ministries” in proved that we can bring high- egy was being discussed to of the most corrupt countries in pendent Committee for the dren, Urfani is guarded by two their sights, as well as “the Cen- ranking officers to justice.” make both cabinets maximum the world — and expectations are Observation of Corruption. soldiers and one member of the tral Bank of Afghanistan and the “We know that the pop- possible representative. Those immense. The anti-corruption centre, Afghan intelligence service. “I issuing authority of identity ulation and the international left out in the process would Afghans hope the Criminal the fulfilment of a promise made have not received any direct cards”, he says, but gives no fur- community are scrutinising us,” be accommodated in the dis- Justice Centre against Corrup- by President Ashraf Ghani to the threats, but this is just the begin- ther details. Earlier this month says the young judge, the only tribution of chairmanship of tion, created by presidential international community last ning. The pressure will inevitably the court handed down its first person in his village to learn to district councils, municipal decree, is destined to prosecute May, is armed with prosecutors, increase when the biggest cases sentence: two and a half years in read and write. Today his child- corporation/committees, etc, the rich and powerful behind judges and police criminal inves- are reached,” he says, citing prison for military prosecutor hood friends watch when he he added. When asked why major cases of graft. tigators, and had a war chest of threatening phone calls received General Abdul Haye Jurat. appears on television. Lahore had been “over-rep- These, according to anti-cor- half a million dollars for its first by police officers who arrested He was caught red-handed He regrets the “impatience” resented” with five ministers, ruption NGO Transparency four months. a three-star general at the Min- as he pocketed 50,000 Afghanis of Afghans: “Some cases take including the chief minister, International, are numerous. It is headed by a 32-year-old istry of Defence. ($760) from a prisoner’s family, years: when you want to bring a in the provincial cabinet from Afghanistan is at the very bot- judge, Mohammed Alif Urfani, Thirty-five people, including demanded to secure the man’s minister to justice, you need the district, he said the com- tom of their authoritative global who sits in prefabricated offices 14 judges, have been assigned to release at the end of his sentence. proof and to arrest the people pulsion was to create a ranking, alongside North Korea in a heavily guarded compound the centre, which comprises a The offence appears minor in involved. If you go too fast, you balance in the Arain and and Somalia. between the headquarters of the court of first instance and a court view of the billion dollars will lose.” Kashmiri biradaries. 14 INDIA WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016 Income Tax amendment bill passed in Lok Sabha

New Delhi Taxation law opposition was adamant over its IANS demand for a debate on the con- The bill, which has tentious issue under a rule mid several adjourn- been labelled a money governing adjournment motion ments and ruckus bill, can become law that entails voting in the end. created by the oppo- even without it being Opposition members raised sition yesterday, the approved by the Rajya slogans against the Centre's deci- Lok Sabha passed by Sabha. sion to scrap Rs500 and Rs1,000 voiceA vote a bill to amend the currency notes, which led to cash income tax laws to provide for The bill is trying to plug crunch across the country. The stiffer penal tax in the wake of the loopholes in the first adjournment came soon the November 8 demonetisation. existing Acts to ensure after the house met at 11 a.m. The bill, which has been labelled that tax evaders are when Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's A notice board of Paytm acceptance is placed at a roadside vendor's stall as he arranges a money bill, can become law attempts to proceed with Ques- not able to legalise vegetables in Mumbai, yesterday. even without it being approved tion Hour failed. their black money. by the Rajya Sabha. The house was first adjourned for consideration and passage, the of the rich will be used for the Congress leader Mallikarjun The amendment bill — passed till 11.30am, then till noon and opposition objected. Jaitley said welfare of the poor," Jaitley said. Kharge said the debate on amid opposition protests and slo- credit deposited in banks after the further till 2pm. The scene was the bill is trying to plug the loop- The bill proposes a scheme demonetisation should be taken gan-shouting against the November 8 demonetisation. no different after lunch, paving holes in the existing Acts to ensure for declaring undisclosed up first while Trinamool Con- government —will facilitate levy The lower house of Parlia- the way for another adjournment that tax evaders are not able to income, stringent penalties and gress leader from Bengal Sudip of 60 per cent tax apart from addi- ment was disrupted repeatedly till 2.30pm At 2.30pm, as Union legalise their black money. higher tax rates. A part of the Bandyopadhyay suggested club- tional surcharge as well as yesterday as the opposition cre- Finance Minister Arun Jaitley "The aim is to ensure this proceeds from this scheme are bing the debate on the bill and additional penalty on undisclosed ated a ruckus over the fiscal moved the Taxation Laws (black) money comes into the aimed to be used for the welfare demonetisation, which the income or investment or cash chaos after demonetisation. The (Second Amendment) Bill, 2016, mainstream. The black money of the poor. Speaker rejected.

Seven soldiers dead in terror NEWS BYTES strike at army base in Jammu Cash van driver in Bengaluru Jammu unit and a BSF camp - both on formation that acts as a nerve heist arrested IANS the outskirts of Jammu city - centre against militancy and to were the latest in a series of defend the border with Pakistan. even soldiers, including two escalating militant violence in Lt Col Mehta told reporters that DOMINIC Selvaraj, the officers, were killed yester- Jammu and Kashmir after the the militants entered the field van driver of a logistics Sday after suicide bombers September 29 surgical strikes at regiment camp around 5.30 a.m. firm who drove away with armed with guns and grenades terror launch pads by the Indian They fired indiscriminately and Rs1.37 crore in cash from stormed a military base near Army in Pakistan-administered lobbed grenades at the Officers' a Bengaluru bank, was Jammu, officials said. Three Kashmir. Mess. arrested here, police said attackers were also gunned It was the highest casualty "The terrorists entered two yesterday. down while three more militants the Indian Army suffered in a buildings occupied by officers, Selvaraj was caught died in a shootout with security single terror attack after the families and men. This led to a at K.R. Puram when he forces near the International September 18 killing of 19 sol- hostage like situation. returned from Salem in Border with Pakistan. diers at a military base in the Uri "The situation was very Tamil Nadu and alighted At one stage, the gunmen at border town in the Kashmir quickly contained and ... all were from a bus, Deputy Com- the army base in the garrison Valley. successfully rescued, which missioner of Police N.M. town of Nagrota, some 15 km Army spokesperson Lt. Col included 12 soldiers, two ladies Anucheth told IANS here. from Jammu, also took 12 sol- Manish Mehta said militants dis- and two children." "We were tracking his diers, two women and two guised in police uniform Mehta said two officers and movements after his wife children hostage. But the army targeted the Nagrota camp, close five soldiers were killed and (Evelyn) surrendered on Soldiers taking position during a gun battle with armed said they were safely rescued. to the headquarters of the Indian "bodies of three terrorists were Sunday night with around militants at an army base at Nagrota, yesterday. The attacks at the military Army's 16 Corps, a military also recovered". Rs79 lakh of the booty," the officer said. A court remanded Selvaraj for five days till December 3 and Evelyn for three BJP and Congress excel in Maharashtra civic elections days in police custody for interrogation. Selvaraj abandoned New Delhi Centre and state, Shiv Sena, at 727 seats. The Nationalist Con- its candidates were elected elections, the BJP virtually made the cash van in a residen- IANS coming second on this count. gress Party fared less than municipality presidents, fol- it a prestige issue as Chief Min- tial area in the city with The Hyderabad-based All expected by notching 615 seats lowed by Shiv Sena's 25, ister Devendra Fadnavis and BJP Rs45 lakh cash and a rifle xceeding expectations, the India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Mus- and the Shiv Sena stood fourth Congress' 23 and NCP just 18. state President Raosaheb Danve of the security guard on Bharatiya Janata Party per- limeen (AIMIM) recorded a in the seats tally at 529. Independent civic body pres- campaigned in many areas. November 23. Eformed well in Sunday's spectacular performance by bag- Raj Thackeray-led Mahar- idents are 11, while other smaller Meanwhile, Despite a lot of elections in 164 Municipal Coun- ging 40 seats, Independents ashtra Navnirman Sena notched regional parties bagged 19 top speculations over the possible cils and Nagar Panchayats across scored in 510 seats and local or a single-digit performance with posts in the elections. political impact+ of demonetisa- Kerala temple Maharashtra while the Congress regional parties cornered 305 win of only seven candidates The elections to 164 Munic- tion on BJP's prospects in Gujarat, came second in the seats tally, seats, said an official of the State across the state, in the elections ipal Councils and Nagar the party had a clean sweep in relaxes women as per official results declared Election Commission. widely touted as 'mini-assem- Parishads spread across 25 dis- two municipalities and one block yesterday. Of the total 3,727 seats con- bly elections' after tricts were conducted on Sunday panchayat elections and by-elec- dress code The BJP also topped the tally tested by more than 15,000 post-demonetisation. and the final results declared tions in 11 municipalities, seven in bagging posts of municipality candidates, the BJP bagged 893 The BJP secured control over yesterday by the election panel. district panchayats and 15 taluka THE administration of president, with its ally at the seats, followed by the Congress 51 civic bodies, where In the keenly contested panchayat seats. the Sree Padmanabhas- wamy temple here has informed the Kerala High Court that it had decided to let women wearing Women enter Haji Ali 'churidar' enter it. Executive Officer K N Satish said the high shrine after legal battle court had asked him to take the decision based New Delhi would set a strong precedent on a petition. AFP for similar cases. "I informed the court "We are very happy the ban yesterday that women can ozens of women entered against women's entry into the enter the temple in chu- the inner sanctum of a shrine was lifted," she said. ridar," he said.The famed Dhistoric mosque in India "Credit must be given temple that shot into inter- yesterday after winning a bit- where due and the trustees national fame since 2011 ter legal battle for a ban on ensured our visit to the inner after it was found to have a female worshippers to be lifted. sanctum of the mosque was treasure estimated to be in The Haji Ali Dargah trust peaceful... We even had chai excess of one lakh crores, agreed last month to lift the ban (tea) with them after the visit." stacked in five vaults. on women entering the land- Haji Ali Dargah is one of The customary dress mark mausoleum off the coast Mumbai's most recognisable code for women entering of Mumbai after a group of landmarks and receives tens of the temple is they should women campaigners launched thousands of not only Muslims cover their dress using a a legal case. but Hindu devotees and sight- dhoti or a saree and this The trustees put the ban in seeing tourists every week. was challenged by woman place in 2011 arguing that The mosque is located on advocate Riya Raji. allowing them near the tomb an islet accessible via a cause- A few years back, of a revered saint was a "griev- way at low tide. It was built in the Sree Krishna tem- ous sin". memory of a wealthy Muslim ple at Guruvayoor also Campaigner Noorjehan who gave up his worldly pos- allowed entry of churi- Niaz called it a "victory for sessions and went on a dar-wearing women. Women leaving after visit the inner sanctum of the Haji Ali Shrine in Mumbai, yesterday. women's rights" and said it pilgrimage to Mecca. WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016 EUROPE 15 Brexit issue dominates local vote in London

London High hopes very strongly about Heathrow meeting commuters outside Brexit-cheerleading UKIP par- support around Richmond. AFP expansion, lots more people feel Richmond railway station. ties are giving him a clear run. “There’s a lot of loyalty to Zac Liberal Democrat much more strongly about The 39-year-old accountant Goldsmith won Richmond round here,” said Jane McCready, local by-election for challenger Sarah Brexit,” Olney told reporters. joined the Lib Dems last year and from Lib Dems in 2010 and 52, who sat enjoying a hot drink parliament in posh Olney, whose party “That’s really alarmed and was rapidly selected as their next retained it in May 2015 general overlooking the River Thames. London suburb of wants a second upset people and they want to Richmond Park candidate for the election with 58 percent of the But she added that Brexit was Richmond tomorrow referendum on use this opportunity to send a House of Commons. vote. Wealthy, suave, affable and an issue: “I do have friends who is threatening to turn Brexit, is hoping the message.” Former Lib Dem leader Paddy soft-spoken, 41-year-old Gold- are using this as another vote for intoA a mini-referendum on Brexit, In the well-heeled borough Ashdown, 75, said tomorrow's vote smith is Brexit royalty. ‘Remain’ (in the EU) by voting Lib result will shock with defending MP a Brexiteer in of Richmond in southwest Lon- could “send a message right to the He is the son of late tycoon Dem.” Downing Street, as a pro-EU heartland. don, 69 percent voted to remain heart of Downing Street”. financier Jimmy Goldsmith, However, Freddie Gates, 79, Liberal Democrat challenger the government in the bloc, the 19th highest of “Richmond can speak for whose high-spending Referen- from Richmond, said he had voted Sarah Olney, whose party wants ploughs on towards 326 voting areas. people of Britain, millions who dum Party, calling for a vote on in June to stay in the EU but now a second referendum on Brexit, the EU exit door. The centrist and unambigu- want the government to change UK-EU relations, got the anti-EU would be backing Goldsmith. is hoping the result will shock ously pro-EU Lib Dems, reduced course and don’t want a hard bandwagon rolling. “The majority of the country Downing Street, as the govern- to a rump in the 2015 general Brexit. If they vote Liberal Dem- Zac Goldsmith made a bid for said out, so you go along with it,” ment ploughs on towards the EU backed expanding the nearby election, are eyeing a comeback ocrat, that’s a message Downing London mayor in May but he was he said. exit door. Heathrow Airport. by filling the void for disgruntled Street will hear,” he said on the beaten by Labour’s Sadiq Khan But local surveyor Roy Olney is running against Zac He is now standing as an ‘Remain’ voters. campaign trail. and was criticised for the tone of McClure, a lifelong Conservative, Goldsmith, who held the seat for independent candidate. “The things people want to However, the Lib Dems face his campaign, often focusing on was so furious about the lack of Prime Minister Theresa May’s “Speaking to voters, what talk about in this campaign are a tough task in overturning Gold- Khan’s Muslim faith. a Tory candidate that he consid- Conservative Party but quit in was becoming increasingly clear things we’ve had a very clear smith’s majority. Both the And his understated, local ered standing himself, before protest after the government was that while some people feel position on,” said Olney, Conservative and approach seems to have won him backing Olney.

Walk on a white blanket Dutch parliament votes to ban face veils in some public places Amsterdam Stringent move culturally alien or a symbol of Reuters the oppression of women. The law bans veils and France and Belgium have he Dutch parliament voted other items that hide the completely banned wearing face yesterday to ban face veils face such as ski masks veils in public and some other Tin some public places, a and helmets, in places European countries have local law the government said was where identifying the or regional restrictions. Violat- essential for security but which wearer is considered ing the Dutch law would incur opponents said pandered to essential, including a fine of €405 ($430). anti-Muslim sentiment. “Everyone has the right to government buildings, The law, passed by lower dress as he or she wishes,” the public transport, schools house but still requires senate’s government said in a statement approval, bans veils and other and hospitals. announcing the law. items that hide the face such as “That freedom is limited ski masks and helmets, in places only where it is essential for where identifying the wearer is Freedom Party which is leading people to see each other, for considered essential, including ahead of elections in March. example to ensure good service government buildings, public Full and partial face veils or security.” transport, schools and hospitals. such as burqas and niqabs Opponents of the law have Few women in the Nether- divide opinion in Europe, set- accused centre-right Prime Min- lands wear face veils, but a ban ting religious freedom advocates ister Mark Rutte of pandering to A man walks in a park during a snowfall in Sofia, Bulgaria, yesterday. has long been a demand of Geert against secularists and those the anti-Muslim vote in a bid not Wilders’ anti-Islam opposition who say that the garments are to be outflanked by Wilders.

Afghan boy World’s oldest person marks 117th birthday thanks Merkel as Verbania, Italy apartment in the northern town man she did not love. sisters, including one who died at partyman asks Reuters of Verbania, on the shores of “’Either you agree to marry 102. She has thrived despite an Lake Maggiore, to mark the lat- me or I will kill you’,” Morano unorthodox, unbalanced diet. her to resign mma Morano (pictured), est milestone, presenting her said, recalling his proposal. “I “When I first knew her she thought to be the world’s with a large white birthday cake. was 26. We got married.” used to eat three eggs a day. Two Eoldest person and the last “My life wasn’t so nice,” she It was not a happy marriage. raw, and one fried. Today she Heidelberg, Germany to be born in the 1800s, cele- said as she sat by her window, a They had a boy in 1937, but the has slowed down a bit, reducing Reuters brated her 117th birthday white shawl over her shoulders. baby died after just six months to two some days because she yesterday , still swearing by her “I worked in a factory until I was and the following year Morano says three can be too much,” her GERMAN Chancellor Angela diet of two raw eggs a day. 65, then that was that.” kicked out her abusive husband. doctor Carlo Bava said. Merkel received two con- Morano was born in Novem- In an interview with La “I separated from him in 1938. I “She has never eaten much trasting reactions to her ber 1899, four years before Stampa newspaper five years think I was one of the first in Italy fruit or vegetables. Her character- immigration policy: a tearful Wright brothers first took to the over 90 Italian governments. ago she said her fiance had died to do that.” istic is she always eats same thing, thank-you from an Afghan air. Her life has spanned three Friends, neighbours and her in World War I and that she had Morano lives alone and has every day, every week, every boy, and a call from a party centuries, two World Wars and doctor gathered in her small then been forced to marry a outlived all her eight brothers and month and every year.” member for her to resign. More than a million migrants have come to Ger- many since the start of 2015. At a regional conference of Merkel’s Christian Demo- A reindeer’s perilous journey crats (CDU), party member Ulrich Sauer urged Merkel - who said on November 20 she wanted to run for a fourth in Swedish Lapland term in next year’s election - to resign. Dikanäs, Sweden 30-year-old Sami said. herders lay reindeer down and “With your truly unpar- AFP Every autumn, the reindeer hold them still as they mark and alleled ‘laissez-faire’ refugee are taken to their winter pasture vaccinate them. The herders then policy you have burdened us herd of reindeer moves in the plains by their owners, the load them onto trucks to take them with something that we will silently down the moun- Sami—formerly called Lapps— to their winter pasture, 200 km east. not get rid of any time soon,” Atain, their silver coats and the only people authorised to In Dikanas, reindeer herding Sauer said. “Step down now majestic antlers blending into the herd reindeer in Sweden. is no longer done the traditional before the damage you have Swedish tundra as their herder In Dikanas, helpers on snow- way, on foot: the animals’ journey done becomes even greater.” leads them to their winter graz- mobiles and quad bikes prepare through wilderness full of peat Moments later another ing grounds in the plains below. for the move by leading thousands bogs, dense forests and lakes has CDU supporter, who helps The annual pilgrimage, of the animals into an enclosure. become too perilous. refugees, introduced a young called transhumance, takes on There the fawns are marked, With global warming, the Afghan boy called Edris, almost sacred meaning for Swe- and the adults are separated. The crossing has become more treach- Reindeers belonging to Vilhelmina Norra Sameby run during whose father lifted him up so den’s indigenous Sami reindeer fattest are sent to slaughterhouse— erous as ice on the lakes is not a reindeer herding near the village of Dikanaess. he could see Merkel. herders nowadays, as they face their meat is considered a delicacy thick enough to walk on yet. “I would like to thank modern-day threats to their live- in Nordic countries—while others “The water (current) is strong you, Mrs Merkel,” Edris said, lihood from wind turbines, global are sent to forests in the plains teem- and therefore impassable, or the all prey on the reindeer. herding faces other challenges. speaking in German. “I am warming, logging, and mining. ing with lichen, a type of moss that ice is too fragile. A farmer from Fjellstrom estimates her Climate change has brought very, very happy.” “It’s a painful life, but most makes up reindeer’s main diet. a Sami village a little further losses in 2015 at €23,400, despite thicker layers of ice that prevent Merkel praised him for beautiful there is,” says Margret They need to move quickly. north drowned in early Novem- damages paid by local authori- reindeer from reaching lichen, having “learned a lot of Ger- Fjellstrom, who owns several Night falls before 3 pm this far ber,” Fjellstrom recalls. ties to compensate for her forcing herders to supplement man already” and urged him hundred reindeer in Dikanas, a north, the semi-domesticated This leaves the herders no reindeer lost to predators. their diet with costly fodder. to keep practising. village in Sweden’s mountains reindeer are getting stressed and other choice than to take to the “Sweden has decided to pro- The reindeer are also fright- When Edris said he 800km north of Stockholm. herders are exhausted from a road, even though it costs more. tect its species to diversify its ened by roar of wind turbines wanted to touch the chancel- “My identity depends on this hard day’s work. Forty percent of fawns die wildlife. That’s good, but is it fair and din of machinery used in lor’s hands, she walked over life. When a fawn is born, we for- Under watchful gaze of a from the cold, while wolverines, that I have to pay for it?,” she asks. encroaching logging and mining and Edris wiped away tears get all of our troubles,” the group of fascinated children, the bears, wolves, lynx and eagles The Sami practice of reindeer industries. as they shook hands. 16 EUROPE WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016 Giant safety dome over Chernobyl unveiled

Chernobyl, Ukraine Radioactive fallout from the AFP Nuclear cover-up site of the world’s worst civil The gigantic arch nuclear accident spread across kraine yesterday soars 355 feet into three-quarters of Europe and unveiled the the sky—making it prompted a global rethink about world’s largest taller than New the safety of atomic fuel. moveable metal York’s Statue of Work on the previous dome structure over the Liberty—while its began after a 10-day fire caused UChernobyl nuclear power by explosion was contained but weight of 36,000 plant’s doomed fourth reactor radiation still spewed out of the tonnes is three times to ensure the safety of Europe- stricken reactor. ans for future generations. heavier than the “It was done through the The gigantic arch soars 355 Eiffel Tower in Paris. super-human efforts of thou- feet into the sky—making it sands of ordinary people,” the taller than New York’s Statue of The $2.2bn structure Chernobyl museum’s deputy Liberty—while its weight of has been edged into chief Anna Korolevska said. 36,000 tonnes is three times place over an “What kind of protective heavier than the Eiffel Tower in existing crumbling gear could they have possibly Paris. had? They worked in regular dome that the New Safe Confinement covering the destroyed fourth block of Chernobyl Nuclear power plant The €2.1bn ($2.2bn) struc- construction clothes.” Soviets built in haste ture sponsored by the European About 30 of cleanup work- during the inauguration ceremony, yesterday. Bank for Reconstruction and when disaster struck ers known as liquidators were Development (EBRD) has been three decades ago. killed on site or died from over- believes the figure may be closer dust inside the structure is being magnitude—a strength rarely edged into place over an exist- whelming radiation poisoning to 100,000. Authorities maintain blown out through cracks,” Sergiy seen in eastern Europe—and tor- ing crumbling dome that the in the following weeks. a 30km-wide exclusion zone Paskevych of Ukraine’s Institute nados that strike the region only Soviets built in haste when dis- “Many people had doubts The United Nations estimated around the plant in which only a of Nuclear Power Plant Safety once every million years. Kiev has aster struck three decades ago. and refused to believe this was in 2005 that around 4,000 peo- few dozen elderly people live. Problems told reporters. complained that European assist- Ukrainian President Petro possible,” Poroshenko told the ple had either been killed or were One of the main problems of Paskevych added the existing ance was slow to materialise. Poroshenko was proud at his festive ceremony held in front left dying from cancer and other the Soviet-era response was it structure could crumble under A French consortium of two impoverished and war-torn of the gleaming new dome. related diseases. only had a 30-year lifespan. Yet extreme weather conditions. companies known as Novarka fin- country’s ability to deal with one “But my friends, I congrat- But the Greenpeace envi- its deterioration began much The new arch should be able ished the designs in 2010 and of worst vestiges of its Soviet past. ulate you—yes, we did it!” ronmental protection group sooner than that. “Radioactive to withstand tremors of 6.0 began construction two years later.

Over 800 Freeze under bridge 1,400 migrants saved flights hit as Lufthansa pilots in Mediterranean Rome group ships, along with com- resume strike AFP mercial vessels, helped rescue migrants from 11 inflatable din- Frankfurt escuers saved some 1,400 ghies and two small boats. Reuters migrants off the coast of Authorities in Italy said they RLibya as Italy announced had recorded a record number GERMAN airline Lufthansa a record number of people arriv- of arrivals by sea this year, with cancelled hundreds of flights ing this year after crossing the one month still to go in 2016. yesterday as its pilots started Mediterranean, authorities said. Over 171,000 migrants have two days of strikes amid a “It was a very difficult day arrived, which beats the previ- long-running pay dispute that but thanks to work of units that ous annual record of 170,100 has cost the German flagship helped out, all the migrants from 2014. carrier hundreds of millions were rescued,” a spokesman for Majority of migrants in Italy of euros since early 2014. Italian coast guard, which coor- come from Africa and begin their The walkout affects short- dinates the operations, said. sea crossings from Libya, paying haul flights departing across The unseaworthy condition traffickers several hundred dol- Germany, forcing Lufthansa to of migrant boats and sheer lars for the journey. With Italy’s cancel 816 out of around 3,000 number of people packed onto neighbours having tightened planned flights. The pilots have them make the journey danger- their borders, the numbers being also announced plans to strike ous even in summer, but colder housed in reception facilities on short- and long-haul flights A frozen lake is seen at the so-called Rakotzbruecke bridge of Rhododendronpark Kromlau months add increased risk of across have risen over 176,000, today. landscaped park in Kromlau near Cottbus, eastern Germany,yesterday. hypothermia and rough seas. prompting howls of protest from Lufthansa has offered to Italian, Irish and charity some local authorities. increase the pilots’ pay by 4.4 percent in two instalments and make a one-off payment worth 1.8 months’ pay. Union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) Germany ramps up warning of Russia cyber attacks wants an average annual pay rise of 3.7 percent for 5,400 pilots over a five-year period Berlin service chief Bruno Kahl told was a hacking attack,” Arne Sch- time—the attack didn’t work Russian hacking group Sofacy, backdated to 2012. AFP Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily. oenbohm, head of Federal Office properly,” he said. which targeted the German par- VC rejected the latest pay There are indications that for Information Security, told the While it managed to knock liament in 2015, the newspaper offer from Lufthansa late on ermany warned yesterday “cyber attacks are taking place newspaper group Funke. targeted router offline, the mal- said, adding the telecoms assault Friday and has also rebuffed of a rise in cyber attacks with no reason other than to sow “That is organised crime,” he ware failed to install properly could be a dry run before a wider a bid for mediation. Gorchestrated by Russia in political uncertainty,” said Kahl. said, adding the hackers used so- and was destroyed when the attack when Germany hosts the “For mediation you need a bid to disrupt next year’s elec- The spy chief’s assessment called Mirai malware to infect router was rebooted. G20 summit next July. an offer that can be basis of tion, a day after Europe’s top came a day after Germany’s big- routers, preventing them from While it remained unclear Russia has been fingered as negotiations,” VC board economy suffered its biggest gest telecommunications group connecting to main network. who might be behind telecoms being behind major hacking oper- member Alexander Gerhard- hacking strike. Deutsche Telekom said hackers The attack could have caused attack, Tagesspiegel, quoting ations, with Washington last Madjidi told Deutschlandfunk “Europe is in focus of these knocked almost one million of far more destruction, Schoen- unnamed security sources, drew month formally accusing it of try- radio yesterday. “Lufthansa disturbances, and Germany par- its clients offline. bohm told Die Welt daily. a link to Russia. ing to “interfere” in the 2016 White has not made such an offer.” ticularly so,” foreign intelligence “It was quickly clear to us it “We were lucky this Mirai was developed by House race with online attacks.

Europol closes 4,500 websites Military honour

French peddling fake brands President Francois The Hague anonymity make it possible to sell from “luxury goods, sportswear, Hollande AFP nearly anything to anyone at any spare parts, electronics, phar- (centre), time,” Europol said. maceuticals, toiletries and other flanked n a crackdown, police and law “Counterfeiters know it and fake products,” Europol said. enforcement agencies across are increasingly exploiting An operation run in collabo- by senior IEurope seized more than unlimited opportunities” the ration with US Immigration and defence 4,500 website domains trading internet offers. But Europol Customs Enforcement and officials, in counterfeit goods, often via warned “despite these products Homeland Security, there was “a reviews social networks, officials said. looking like a bargain, they can significant increase in number of troops during The operation came as pose serious risks to health and seized domain names compared a military Europol, Europe’s police agency, safety of buyers.” to last year,” said Europol direc- ceremony unveiled its newest campaign In the crackdown, agencies tor Rob Wainwright. at the Hotel to stop scam websites selling from 27 countries mostly in Dutch anti-fraud police des Invalides fake brand names online. Europe but including from the US arrested 12 people across The in Paris, “The internet has become an and Canada, joined forces to shut Netherlands over past two weeks yesterday. essential channel for e-com- down over 4,500 websites. as they searched homes and merce. Its instant global reach and They were selling everything warehouses. WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016 AMERICAS 17

‘Dronejacking’ Ohio campus attacker is Somali student may be the

Columbus just a few minutes—from the car he spoke of the lack of Muslim jumped out wielding a large next big AFP Probe widens careening into the crowd until prayer rooms on campus. knife. “We could tell that the sus- Identifying the the suspect was shot dead—but Artan, who was identified as pect was in the car by himself,” cyber threat university student, assailant as Abdul triggered a tense lockdown on a third-year transfer student said Craig Stone, chief of police reportedly of Somali Razak Ali Artan, the university’s main campus in studying logistics management, at the university, describing a Washington descent, rammed his officials said he Columbus, with panicked stu- told the paper he was uncom- review of surveillance camera AFP car yesterday into a appeared to have acted dents hiding in bathrooms before fortable with praying on campus. footage of his grey sedan. crowd of people at alone in what was the scene was declared secure. “If people look at me, a Muslim A fire alarm, which investi- A BIG rise in drone use is OhioA State University and Officials said 11 people were praying, I don’t know what gators believed to be unrelated, likely to lead to a new wave being investigated as a attacked them with a butcher being treated at local hospitals they’re going to think, what’s had caused students and staff to of “dronejackings” by cyber- possible terror attack. knife, injuring 11 before police for stabbing wounds and injuries going to happen,” he said. evacuate a building prior to the criminals, security experts fatally shot him. from the motor vehicle, but none The rampage comes two attack. “(The attacker) exited the warned yesterday. Identifying the assailant as Officials also said they of their injuries were life threat- months after a Somali immigrant vehicle, and used a butcher knife A report by Intel’s McAfee Abdul Razak Ali Artan, officials so far had no indication ening. Columbus police chief stabbed 10 people at a mall in to start cutting pedestrians,” Labs said hackers are in the northern US state said he of a motive. Kim Jacobs said earlier in the day Minnesota, before he was fatally Stone said. “Our officer was on expected to start targeting appeared to have acted alone in they were considering the “pos- shot by an off-duty police officer. scene in less than a minute and drones used for deliveries, law what was being investigated as sibility” that it was terrorism The Minnesota assailant, he ended the situation in less enforcement or camera crews, a possible terror attack. tendency sometimes for people related. US media reported that 20-year-old Dahir Ahmed Adan, than a minute. He engaged the in addition to hobbyists. But officials said they so far to put people together and cre- Artan was of Somali descent, but was described as “radicalized” suspect, and he eliminated the “Drones are well on the had no indication of a motive, ate other kinds of theories,” he officials did not confirm that. and the Islamic State group threat,” he added. way to becoming a major tool and Ohio State president Michael told a news conference. They did not release his exact claimed the attack as the work After the suspect was shot for shippers, law enforcement Drake cautioned against jump- “We don’t know anything age, saying only that they of an IS “soldier.” dead by the responding officer, agencies, photographers, ing to conclusions when asked that would link this to any com- believed he was born in 1998. An Monday’s attack unfolded identified as 28-year-old Alan farmers, the news media, and about a possible connection to munity. We certainly don’t have OSU student named of the same just before 10:00 am (1500 GMT), Harujko, university officials sent more,” said Intel Security’s the Somali community. any evidence that would say name was profiled in the August when police were alerted that a out a campus-wide alert to ini- Bruce Snell, in the company’s “We all know when things that’s the case,” Drake added. issue of student newspaper The car had struck pedestrians on tiate a lockdown due to a possible annual threat report. like this happen that there’s a The whole incident lasted Lantern, for an article in which campus, and that the driver had active shooting incident. Snell said the concept of dronejacking was demon- strated at a security conference last year, where researchers showed how Castro’s allies join grieving someone could easily take control of a toy drone. “Although taking over a kid’s drone may seem amus- Cubans for farewell ing and not that big of an issue, once we look at the increase in drone usage Havana monument to Cuban independ- 92-year-old Mugabe said. “We potential problems starts to AFP ence hero Jose Marti on Tuesday followed him, listened to him and arise,” he said. morning. tried to emulate him.” The report noted that steady stream of Cubans “All this sadness that has Other African leaders were many consumer drones lack paid homage to late com- accompanied us since Novem- flying in along with the presi- adequate security, which Amunist icon Fidel Castro ber 25 (when Castro died) has dents of Mexico, Central makes it easy for an outside for a second day yesterday as reminded us of the battles of American nations and Colom- hacker to take control. Latin American and African pres- recent history that revolution bia’s Juan Manuel Santos, whose Companies like Amazon idents joined them for leader Fidel Castro and our government negotiated a peace and UPS are expected to use commemorations shunned by comandante Hugo Chavez expe- deal with the Marxist FARC drones for package deliver- several world leaders. rienced,” Maduro said. “We have rebels in Havana. ies—becoming potential Encouraged by the govern- come to pay tribute to this great There will be at least one targets for criminals, the ment, grieving islanders lined up giant,” said Maduro, Chavez’s European leader at the cere- report said. “Someone look- again at the central monument handpicked successor. “Today mony, as Cuban authorities said ing to ‘dronejack’ deliveries of Havana’s Revolution Square we remain united more than leftist Greek Prime Minister could find a location with reg- to view a memorial to the man ever with Fidel.” Alexis Tsipras was on the list. ular drone traffic and wait for who ruled the island for nearly Chavez had a special bond But a slew of countries were the targets to appear,” the A Cuban woman hangs a poster of late revolutionary leader half a century. with Fidel Castro and shipped oil sending lower-ranking repre- report said. “Once a package Hundreds of thousands, to the island while Cuba returned sentatives, a list of absences that Fidel Castro from a window of her home in Havana. delivery drone is overhead, many in tears, had already the favor by sending a large highlights the divisive legacy of the drone could be sent to the streamed across the square late number of doctors to Venezuela. a major player in the Cold War. Donald Trump could upend the Hollande, who made a historic ground, allowing the crimi- into the night on Monday to Castro—who ruled from 1959 Castro spent decades feuding rapprochement. visit to Cuba last year, German nal to steal the package.” salute the picture of a young, until an illness forced him to with the United States, brought the The president-elect renewed Chancellor Angela Merkel and The researchers said black-bearded Castro in military hand power to his brother Raul world to the brink of nuclear war a threat to end the thaw unless British Prime Minister Theresa criminals may also look to fatigues during the revolution in 2006 — died of undisclosed during the 1962 missile crisis, Havana makes concessions on May are also sending others to steal expensive photographic that brought him to power in reasons on Friday at age 90. backed guerrilla movements in human rights and opening up its represent their countries. But equipment carried by drones, 1959. “Fidel isn’t dead. He’s a Some 25 leaders from Latin Latin America and deployed his economy. “If Cuba is unwilling leaders from some friendly to knock out surveillance world symbol and his ideas America, the Caribbean and army to conflicts in Africa. to make a better deal for the nations were also staying home, cameras used by law enforce- spread not only in Latin Amer- Africa were expected for the US President Barack Obama, Cuban people, the Cuban/Amer- with Chinese President Xi Jinping ment. Intel said it expects to ica but all around the world,” massive rally at the square on who along with Raul Castro ican people and the US as a sending his vice president. see dronejacking “toolkits” said Roberto Hernandez Rosa- Tuesday night, the second day of ended decades of enmity to whole, I will terminate deal,” he After yesterday’s ceremony, traded on “dark web” mar- bal, a 47-year-old anthropology a week-long commemoration. restore diplomatic relations, is said on Twitter on Monday. the urn holding Castro’s ashes ketplaces in 2017. professor. Zimbabwe’s longtime ruler, not attending the ceremony and Canadian Prime Minister Jus- will be taken on a “caravan of “Once these toolkits start Castro’s leftist admirers in Robert Mugabe, praised his “dear the White House has not yet said tin Trudeau, who visited Cuba freedom” across the country, making the rounds, it is just a Latin America—Venezuelan brother” after landing in Havana. who will represent Washington. this month, is not going but his retracing the route his guerrilla matter of time before we see President Nicolas Maduro and “He was not just your leader. While Raul Castro has reached country will be represented by movement took to celebrate the stories of hijacked drones Bolivian President Evo Morales— He was our leader and the leader out to the United States, the elec- its governor general. toppling of dictator Fulgencio showing up in the evening joined them inside the of all revolutionaries,” the tion of Republican billionaire French President Francois Batista in 1959. news,” the report said. Moise wins Haiti presidential vote in first round Texas announces first

Port-au-Prince Haitian law offers candidates local Zika case AFP the opportunity to challenge the results from the presidential and usinessman Jovenel Moise legislative election in electoral Miami Texas health officials said appealed for unity late courts, before final results are AFP there are no other cases of sus- Byesterday after official published on December 29. pected local transmission at this preliminary results showed he Moise reached out to his exas has announced its time, but vowed to continue won Haiti’s presidential election opponents in appealing for unity. first case of local Zika surveillance. in the first round. “This evening, I have a special Tvirus, making it the sec- “We knew it was only a Provisional Electoral Coun- thought for each of my compet- ond US state after Florida to say matter of time before we saw a cil president Leopold Berlanger itors, for each citizen who was it likely has mosquitoes spread- Zika case spread by a mosquito cautioned that the results were a candidate because they have ing the disease that can cause in Texas,” said John Hellerstedt, preliminary and final results a project for Haiti,” he said. birth defects. Department of State Health would not be confirmed until “My brothers and sisters, it’s The case involves a woman Services commissioner. December 29. together that we will change who is not pregnant and has not “We still don’t believe the Three of the council’s nine Haiti, it’s together we must work recently traveled anywhere that virus will become widespread members refused to sign the to enable every Haitian man and Zika is spreading, according to in Texas, but there could be results announced yesterday, woman to live better.” the Texas Department of State more cases, so people need to signalling a potential conflict The nation was on edge as Health Services. protect themselves from mos- over the outcome. the results were announced, after The case is considered quito bites, especially in parts Moise, a 48-year-old busi- past episodes of sometimes “likely” a result of local trans- of the state that stay relatively nessman who was backed by bloody violence in a desperately mission, until officials find warm in the fall and winter.” former president Michel Martelly Jovenel Moise addresses the media next to his wife Martine poor country marred by repeated evidence of mosquitoes carry- Florida was the first state to but has never held political after winning 55.67 percent of the vote in the November 20 episodes of political upheaval. ing the disease. report the local spread of Zika, office, appealed to Haitians to presidential election. Interim leader Jocelerme Priv- The woman was “was con- and has reported 238 such unite behind him. ert called for calm ahead of the firmed last week by lab test to cases as of last week, as part of “I appeal to the country’s results were announced. Candidate Moise Jean result announcement. “Resorting have been infected,” said the more than 1,200 infections youth, to all Haitians who live The election council’s exec- Charles got 11.04 percent and to acts of violence can only spoil statement. statewide so far this year. abroad, to all the country’s pro- utive director Uder Antoine said Maryse Narcisse of the Fanmi the fruits of the beautiful day we “She reported no recent The virus has swept mainly fessionals, to stand by my side to Moise won 55.67 percent of the Lavalas party 8.99 percent. Any had on November 20,” Privert said travel to Mexico or anywhere across Latin America and the raise the country up, because Haiti votes. Jude Celestin, candidate candidate who wins more than at the presidential palace in Port- else with ongoing Zika virus Caribbean, and can cause birth is on its knees,” he said, speaking of the opposition LAPEH, was half of the votes cast in the first au-Prince, referring to the vote transmission and no other risk defects if pregnant women are at a luxury hotel minutes after the next with 19.52 percent. round is the victor. held earlier this month. factors.” infected. 18 AMERICAS WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016 Trump taps Obamacare critic to overhaul health system

New York New faces familiar with the decision. to help replace Obamacare. Price Verma worked with Pence, Trump winner of Reuters Trump, a Republican, cast said there was much work to be the Indiana governor, on a plan Republican Price and Verma as a “dream done “to ensure we have a to expand Medicaid coverage for presidential vote Representative Tom team” to help him once he takes healthcare system that works for the state’s poor with federal S President-elect Price, an orthopedic office on Jan. 20 with his cam- patients, families, and doctors.” funding. The Indiana program in Michigan Donald Trump surgeon from paign pledge to repeal The 2010 healthcare over- requires beneficiaries to make named a vociferous Georgia, will be Obamacare, Democratic Presi- haul, aimed at expanding monthly contributions to health critic of Obamacare Trump’s Health and dent Barack Obama’s signature insurance coverage to millions savings accounts. Verma told the and a health policy Human Services (HHS) health law formally known as the more Americans, triggered a long, Times of Indiana earlier this year Uexpert yesterday to help him Affordable Care Act. bitter fight between the White that Pence fought for the “per- secretary. overhaul the healthcare system Senate Democratic Leader House and congressional Repub- sonal responsibility” aspect of that Republicans have targeted Chuck Schumer denounced the licans, who said it created the program. Consultant Seema since Democrats enacted sweep- choice of Price, calling him “far unwarranted government inter- Price, an early Trump sup- ing reforms in 2010. Verma will lead the out of the mainstream” in his vention in personal healthcare porter in the US House of Republican Representative Centers for Medicare stance on government efforts and private industry. Trump has Representatives, leads the budget Tom Price, an orthopedic surgeon and Medicaid Services. such as Obamacare and Medi- said he will replace Obamacare committee and has long cham- from Georgia, will be Trump’s care, the insurance program for with a plan to give states more pioned a plan of tax credits, Health and Human Services the elderly and disabled, and on control over the Medicaid health expanded health savings (HHS) secretary, and consultant in New York, promised a “busy Planned Parenthood, a women’s plan for the poor and allow insur- accounts and lawsuit reforms to Seema Verma will lead the Cent- day” as the team continues fill- health organisation. ers to sell plans nationally. replace Obamacare. ers for Medicare and Medicaid ing key positions. “Nominating Congressman Both Price and Verma will Obama has acknowledged Services, a powerful agency that The president-elect plans to Price to be the HHS secretary is need Senate confirmation in the law could use improvements MICHIGAN on Monday declared oversees government health pro- announce his choice of former akin to asking the fox to guard their positions, and the Trump but has credited Obamacare with President-elect Donald Trump grams and insurance standards. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao to the hen house,” Schumer said. administration will need con- cutting the number of uninsured the winner over Hillary Clinton Vice President-elect Mike serve as secretary of transpor- Trump, in a statement, called gressional approval to repeal and Americans from 49m in 2010 to in its razor-thin contest, officially Pence, arriving at Trump Tower tation, according to two sources Price “exceptionally qualified” change the health law. 29m in 2015. placing the state’s 16 electoral votes in Trump’s column three weeks after the election. “Trump leads Clinton by Trump summons Romney for 2nd look 10,704 votes” after certification by the Michigan Board of State New York Trump’s choices, particularly the guilty last year to a misdemeanor Canvassers, Secretary of State AP prospect that Trump could tap charge of mishandling classified Ruth Johnson said. Romney for the top-tier diplo- information relating to documents Trump’s victory in the north- onald Trump’s hunt for a matic post. he had provided to his biographer, ern state gives the Republican secretary of state is veer- In an unusual public airing of with whom he was having an Trump 306 electoral votes to Ding into dramatic terrain, internal machinations, Trump affair. Clinton’s 232. Michigan was the with the president-elect summon- senior adviser Kellyanne Conway Pence, who is heading the final state to certify the presiden- ing Mitt Romney back for a second warned that the president-elect’s transition effort, is said to be tial outcome. look as a top aide leads a public supporters would feel “betrayed” among those backing Romney for Green Party candidate Jill pressure campaign against the if he tapped Romney as secretary secretary of state. Romney was Stein is expected to seek a pick. of state. Exiting Trump Tower on fiercely critical of Trump through- recount in Michigan, as she has Trump has a follow-up meet- Monday night, Vice President- out the campaign but is interested done in Wisconsin. She has until ing Tuesday with the 2012 GOP elect Mike Pence simply teased “a in the Cabinet position, and they Wednesday to file her request. presidential nominee, who has number of very important discussed it during a lengthy Such requests are not auto- become a symbol of the internal announcements tomorrow.” meeting earlier this month. matically granted, and Trump divisions agitating the transition While other staffing decisions Other top Trump allies, nota- would have seven days in which team. He also plans to sit with were being made, the search for bly Conway, have launched a to object to the recount request, Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, the secretary of state was still under- highly unusual public campaign potentially pushing the process chairman of the Senate Foreign way. Petraeus said he spent about against a Romney nomination. toward mid-December. Relations Committee. On Monday, an hour with the president-elect Conway’s comments stirred spec- The Electoral College, whose Marion C Blakey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Trump spent an hour with retired and praised him for showing a ulation that she is seeking either members officially vote accord- Rolls-Royce, arrives at Trump Tower during another day of Gen. David Petraeus, a new “great grasp of a variety of the to force Trump’s hand or give ing to statewide results from the meetings with President-elect Donald Trump in New York contender. challenges that are out there.” him cover for ultimately passing election, meets on December 19 yesterday. Aides were divided over The former CIA chief pleaded over Romney. to cast its votes for president. WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016 HOME 19

PRAYER TIMINGS

FAJR 04.41 am 4th Ajyal Youth Film Festival opens tonight SHOROOK 06.01 am The Peninsula carpets, exhibitions and fam- ZUHR 11.22 am MAGHRIB 04.45 pm ily activities. ASR 02.23 pm ISHA 06.15 pm The fourth Ajyal The themes of the films Youth Film Festival, range from women presented by the empowerment to the global WEATHER TODAY Doha Film Institute displacement crisis, the loss (DFI), opens tonight of loved ones, financial Twith the screening of the dependence, separation and o o Kazakh film The Eagle every day struggles, presented 21 C 28 C Huntress. with an underlying spirit of Minimum Maximum The event rolls out with a optimism and hope that will red carpet ceremony featur- warm the hearts of the ing the film’s director Otto Bell viewers. and actress Aisholpan Nurgaiv During the six-day event, among others. the festival will also introduce Tonight’s opening cere- three sessions of insightful mony will also host over 550m discussions under ‘Ajyal Talks’, young Ajyal jurors from headlined by three eminent around the world, who will social influencers: Omar evaluate the films in compe- Hussein, who works with tition in three categories Syrian refugees through the namely Mohaq, Hilal and United Nations High A still from the film The Eagle Huntress Bader. With the theme of pos- Commission for Refugees itive social change, the festival (UNHCR) as well as with AJ+, sees the participation of 70 Al Jazeera’s online news and open for free to the public, and inspire critical thinking in digital media, tomorrow at thought-provoking films that current affairs channel; are aimed at promoting among them. With topics 7.30pm at the Katara Opera will inspire the youth and Mohammed Al Hajji, a intercultural dialogue to foster ranging from the refugee cri- House. He will discuss on stimulate discussions about doctoral student and teaching original thinking and positive sis to digital media and youth ‘When 1 Thousand > 1 Million,’ relevant issues that affect assistant in the social and action. empowerment, we are con- which will highlight the dif- them globally. The line-up behavioural sciences at Fatma Al Remaihi, Festi- fident that these interactive ference between passively includes 24 features and 46 Temple University in val Director and DFI CEO, discussions will have a posi- watching and being affected short narratives/documenta- Philadelphia; and Khaled said: “Through Ajyal Talks, we tive impact on the minds of by digital content – and how ries, from 33 countries. There Khalifa, UNHCR Regional aim to engage the youth our youth.” that content can spur people Hazy to misty at places at first be- comes Moderate temperature with will be 42 public screenings, Representative to the States meaningfully, promote The first Ajyal Talks will to action rather than simply some clouds, relatively cold by 18 jury screenings, interactive of the Gulf Co-Operation debate and dialogue on glo- be by Omar Hussein, a Saudi gathering a larger night. panels and master-classes, red Council. All Ajyal Talks are bal and regional issues, and public figure who specialises viewership. HIGH TIDE 05:45 - 16:30 LOW TIDE 12:30 - 22:45

Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department

ONLINE CHART BUST Katara’s Fine Art contest winners announced

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com The Peninsula prize was awarded to Ahmad his happiness and gratitude to Al-Zahed. participants, saying: “Partici- he sixth edition of Katara This award ceremony was pating illustrations carries new MOST READ Traditional Dhow Festi- held in the presence of HE Dr. ideas, creativity, and innova- Tval announced ‘The First Khalid bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti, tion. Katara supporting this Five Winners’ of Katara’s Fine General Manager of the Cultural Fine Art Competition reflects Emir pledges $1.25 bn to sup- Art contest in an honoring cer- Village Foundation-Katara, its essential role in spreading 1 port Tunisia economy emony this Sunday. The first Ahmad Al-Sayed, Deputy Gen- awareness and knowledge as Petrol to cost 5-10 dirhams prize of this year’s fine art com- eral Manager for operation the paintings replicate commu- 2 more from December 1 petition was grabbed by the affairs and Dr Nadia Al- nication to all languages and One in seven with HIV in Europe artist Iman Abdullah Jassim Al Madahka, Director of the cultures which conveys the art- 3 unaware of infection: study Haidous, the second prize went Research and Studies depart- ist’s message to the world.” to Mahesh Kumar Panara ment. The competition juror of “Katara is keen on boost- Buraijl. Fahid Ali Ahmed Al this year edition were also ing the number of Qatari, Maedeed won the third prize present during the event. Arabic, and international art- TWEET OF THE DAY Katara General Manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti and Salem Abdullah took the Speaking on the occasion, ists to display their creative (left) giving prize to one of the winners. fourth prize. Finally, the fifth Dr. Khalid conveyed works and best contributions. Doha fifth among top 10 cities to live

The Peninsula to respondents. Over a third of Doha respondents believe that oha ranks fifth among career growth (38 percent), the Top Ten Cities to live competitive salaries (38 per- Din based on a new sur- cent) and benefits for working vey by Bayt.com titled ‘Top parents (33 percent) are good Cities in the Middle East and or excellent. Close to half of North Africa’. The ranking was Doha residents believe that based on several factors includ- their end of service benefits (41 ing economic, environmental, percent), vacation allowances standard of living, socio-cul- (41 percent) and social security tural, and entrepreneurship systems (59 percent) were factors. excellent or good. The majority (71 percent) of Nearly two thirds of Doha citizens in Doha were happy residents believe that they have about their current city of res- good or excellent availability Reading campaign in progresss. idence, according to the study. of healthcare facilities (61 per- The survey further revealed 47 cent), and that the quality of the percent claimed to be ‘some- healthcare facilities (65 per- what happy’, while 24 percent cent) is good or excellent. Reading campaign entertains crowds said that they were ‘very What’s more is that over three happy’. According to the sur- quarters of the city’s residents The Peninsula Red Riding Hood, Pinoc- children to become excited vey which included 19 cities, rate their water, electricity and chio, Alice in Wonderland, about reading, as we firm- the top 10 cities in the MENA sewage systems (76 percent) as ducation City recently Joha, Little Lulu, and ly believe it’s fundamental are: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, either good or excellent. played host to the Sinbad. to most cognitive learning Eastern Province, Doha, Riy- On socio-cultural factors ENational Reading The event forms part of processes.” adh, Marrakech, Rabat, Jeddah, Doha performs really well with Cam-paign’s ‘Characters’ a nationwide collabo-rative “We created separate and Kuwait City. its respondents feeling that the Village’, with over 12,500 effort to foster a book-lov- zones for each of the cam- Of the key economic ele- stability of the political environ- visitors enjoying a range of ing culture in Qatar. paign’s six characters. ments addressed in this study, ment (65 percent) is either good ‘edutainment’ activities in- Khalifa E. Al Kubaisi, Utilising a ‘learning through 75 percent of respondents or excellent. Over half of Doha spired by the campaign’s six Head of Press Office, Qatar play ’ approach, the event believe that availability of jobs residents feel a sense of secu- iconic storybook characters. Foundation, said: “This was specifically designed to is the most important factor. rity and stability (59 percent). For five days, Qatar Foun- weekend’s ‘Characters’ Vil- engage the imaginations of Affordable housing (72 per- Almost half of Doha respond- dation’s Ceremonial Court lage’ has proven invaluable local children by strength- cent), followed by ents feel that the availability of and Green Spine were in reinforcing the National ening the message that reasonably-priced day to day sports and outdoors activities transformed into mini Reading Campaign’s pri- reading can be fun, exciting necessities (70 percent) and (47 percent) and of family- worlds of fantasy and fun, mary objective, to cultivate and informative, and not career growth (70 percent) friendly activities (46 percent) with separate character a book-loving culture in only academic,” Khalifa were also of high- importance is either good or excellent. zones built around Little Qatar. We want to inspire concluded. 20 HOME WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016

Amal Al Mannai, CEO of Qatar Foundation for Social Activities and Acting Executive Director of Shafallah; Mohamed Sharif Al-Mushiri, Chief Commercial Officer of ORYX GTL, and other officials pose for a picture in front of new buses. Shafallah Center unveils new identity

Amna Pervaiz Rao The Peninsula

hafallah Center for Children with Special Needs launched its new identity yesterday Sunder the title ‘Hopes Immune’. The logo was unveiled by two children of the center. Shafallah Center has been changed into ‘Shafallah-Integration for the Disabled’. The logo consists of a flower ‘Shafallah' plant, which means the flower thrives in conditions of dry desert and burning sun, to give a great example of the opti- mism of people with disabilities and the spirit of hope they have. Mohamed Sharif Al-Mushiri, Chief Commer- cial Officer at ORYX GTL announced at the event that his company was donating ten new buses manufactured specifically for people with disa- bilities. These buses provide safety and comfort to the students while traveling to the center and of H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. back home. These buses are designed and Amal Al Mannai, CEO Qatar Foundation for equipped to accommodate wheelchairs and meet Social Activities and Acting Executive Director of the needs of the disabled. Shafallah said: “The center will start new projects The center gave students an impressive pres- during the next phase, the new logo for the center entation on the occasion of the launch of the new maintained its old identity, "flower SHAFALLAH" identity, followed by unveiling of the new visual which is considered essential to the identity based identity. The new identity carries the vision of the on the work that the center does for the disabled center established in 1999 under the patronage children.”