BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 2 Al Sadd confi dent INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2 – 8, 28 COMMENT 26, 27 Oil prices seen against REGION 9 BUSINESS 1 – 8, 12 – 16 16,116.97 9,486.71 31.86 ARAB WORLD 10, 11 CLASSIFIED 9 – 11 surging about Al Ahli -36.57 -146.61 +1.98 INTERNATIONAL 12 – 25 SPORTS 1 – 12 -0.23% -1.52% +6.63% 50% by year-end Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

THURSDAY Vol. XXXVI No. 9988 February 4, 2016 Rabia II 25, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Sheikh Jassim attends Saudi fest Events galore In brief

QATAR | Cabinet Draft law on for Sport Day economic zones The National Sport Day falls on event. Those interested in taking The cabinet yesterday approved a February 9 part should arrive at 9am and Zum- draft law on economic zones. The ba activity runs until 10:30am. law regulates the establishment he Aspire Zone Foundation AZF will provide opportunities of an economic zone, specifying (AZF) will host a number of to get training in mountain climb- its area and borders, the Tevents such as Fun Run, Fam- ing skills under the supervision of establishment of one or more ports ily Bike Fun, Zumba, Wall Climbing, licensed climbing instructors on an attached to it whether sea, air or Come and Try and Judo Training for outdoor climbing wall. Wall climb- land port. All types of companies, the National Sport Day. ing takes place near the outdoor sharing contracts or other The National Sport Day falls on pitches behind Grand Heritage ho- legal entities can be created or February 9, next Tuesday. tel. established at the economic zone. Ali Saeed al-Fehaida, chairman, The Aspire Academy Sport Sci- These can be owned by a normal AZF National Sports Day committee, ence Department will be running a or legal person or more than one said: “We are focused on increas- series of “come and try” sport sci- person - either citizens or others ing engagement and participation Ali al-Fehaida: AZF NSD Committee ence testing activities on the Aspire without adhering to regulating laws HH Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, the Personal Representative of HH the Emir in National Sport Day through in- chairman Dome Indoor Athletics Track, tak- in this regard. Page 2 Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, novative and creative programmes. ing place from 10am to 4pm. Such King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia, during the inauguration Together with our member organi- Aspire Zone which starts at the fans activities include the 20m sprint ceremony of the 30th edition of the Jenadriyah Heritage and Cultural Festival in sations – Aspire Academy, Aspetar entrance at Aspire Dome, and cross- where visitors can see how fast they AMERICA | Religion Riyadh yesterday. The festival, one of the important cultural celebrations in Saudi and Aspire Logistics – AZF will be es the Aspire Zone precinct, ena- are compared to Usain Bolt; throw- Obama slams Arabia, was opened by King Salman. The opening was attended by many GCC organising a number of exclusive ac- bling those who take part to explore ing speed which tests whether peo- leaders and senior Saudi off icials. After the ceremony, Sheikh Jassim attended a tivities for families and all members the park. Registration begins at 7am ple can match that of a major league attacks on Islam dinner banquet hosted by King Salman for the delegations participating in the festival. of the community.” and is open for all age groups. baseball pitcher; vertical jump US President Barack Obama visited He expected thousands of people Another event is the family bike which gives people the opportunity an American mosque yesterday to take part in these activities. activity in Aspire Zone, organised to see if they can fly like Michael and declared that attacks on Islam “Many of these activities are for the second consecutive year. As- Jordan; and a 200m bike race, where were an attack on all religions, available only at Aspire. We expect pire will provide two types of bikes – participants can compete with a in an eff ort to counter rhetoric to attract thousands of sports en- a four-seater bike for families and a family member or a friend. from Donald Trump and other thusiasts, as well as individuals, single-seater bike for individuals to Upon completing each activity, all Republican presidential candidates government entities, and private ride. No registration is required for participants will receive a certifi- that has alienated Muslims. “We sector institutions, to contribute to this event. cate detailing their personal scores have to understand that an attack making this day special,” al-Fehaida In another activity, women are against those of “star athletes” to on one faith is an attack on all our added. invited to exercise to the Latin beat compare themselves. faiths,” Obama said. Page 13 This year, for the first time, AZF of Zumba classes. it will be held in People interested in visiting As- will be organising judo training for a private space at the ladies club. pire Zone on the occasion,can find boys and girls aged 8-12. Those tak- Zumba classes combine Latin danc- full details of the activities through BRITAIN | Politics ing part will be able to learn judo ing with physical exercise, help- the Life in Aspire mobile applica- Cameron urges techniques under the guidance of ing to maintain a healthy heart and tion, the Life in Aspire website – professional instructors. blood pressure as well as improve www.lifeinaspire.qa – or on any of unity on EU At the Fun Run, visitors can take fitness overall, according to Aspire. the AZF’s social media channels. Prime Minister David Cameron part in a 3-kilometre fun run around No registration is required for this Sports Page 11 yesterday fended off attacks from eurosceptics and a hostile press over proposed reforms to keep UN adjourns Syria Britain in the EU that Brussels defended as a “fair” deal for all. In a heated parliamentary debate, peace talks in Geneva Cameron urged fellow MPs to stand united. Page 17 Reuters there is more work to be done, not only Geneva by us but by the stakeholders,” he said. EUROPE | Migrants “I have indicated from the fi rst day EU approves that I won’t talk for the sake of talk- N-mediated talks to end the ing.” refugee fund war in Syria are on pause until He was speaking after meeting op- The EU said yesterday it had UFebruary 25, UN envoy Staff an position co-ordinator Riad Hijab, who agreed on how to finance a 3bn de Mistura said yesterday, claiming the had just arrived in Geneva. euro ($3.3bn) deal to aid Syrian talks had not failed but needed imme- Hijab later said that the Syrian op- refugees in Turkey, in exchange for diate help from international backers position’s High Negotiations Com- Ankara’s help stemming the flow of led by the US and Russia. mittee (HNC) would not return to migrants, after resolving a dispute “I have concluded frankly that af- peace talks in Geneva until there was a with Italy. Page 19 ter the fi rst week of preparatory talks change on the ground. Page 11 Shops ‘still to get’ directive on hoverboard sales ban

By Joey Aguilar online about the ban and asked him to Staff Reporter keep the “scooters” in the stock room. A customer service representative at a major hypermarket in Doha told mart balance wheels, also called Gulf Times that they had stopped sell- hoverboards, continue to be sold ing the items from last week. Sin many hypermarkets and shops “As far as I know, shops can still sell across Doha despite Qatar authorities their remaining stocks but it happens having reportedly issued a directive, that we have already run out of stock banning the sale of such items. and we did not order anymore,” she A supervisor at a shop in one of the said. major malls in the country told Gulf Like the hypermarkets, a number of Times that they had yet to receive a stores (including toy shops) in diff er- copy of such a directive. Smart balance wheels on display. (Picture ent malls in Doha also confi rmed they “Yes, we are still selling these items,” used for illustrative purposes only) had not received any instructions to he said, referring to dozens of smart stop displaying or selling such prod- balance wheels spread out in two areas would immediately remove them from ucts. of the shop. Prices vary depending on their shops once notifi ed by authori- But some malls had banned the use the brand. A lower-priced hoverboard ties either verbally or through a writ- of smart balance wheels and similar can be bought for about QR900. Car- ten order. items inside their premises to prevent rying of these has been banned by al- “But for now, we will continue sell- any accident. most all airlines. ing these products in all our branches However, some of the users, partic- In a leading hypermarket, about 15 to our valued customers,” he added. ularly children have taken the boards items (diff erent brands) were on dis- But in another hypermarket along to streets, raising concern on their play yesterday. Offi cials stressed that the Airport Road, a supervisor said safety. no communication from any ministry they had started removing the items Besides malls in Qatar, business had been delivered to them until late on display. establishments in the UAE have also afternoon. Asked if they have received a missive banned the use of the two-wheeled While demand for smart balance from Qatar authorities, he said the battery-powered hoverboards inside wheels remains high, he said they management had only seen a report their premises. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, February 4, 2016 QATAR Cabinet nod PM meets Chubu president for setting up economic zones in Qatar

QNA another licence, approval, per- ures to ratify an agreement on Doha mission, or registration to carry waiving visa requirements for out that work. holders of diplomatic and spe- A project underway at the cial passports between Qatar he cabinet yesterday ap- zone enjoys unrestricted trans- and Kazakhstan, a memoran- proved a draft law on fer of capital, revenues or in- dum of understanding on mu- Teconomic zones, HE the vestments out of the country. tual co-operation and infor- Deputy Prime Minister and The Economic Zones Com- mation and services exchange HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani yesterday met with President and Minister of State for Cabinet pany is to be granted a 50-year between Qatar News Agency Representative Director at Japanese Chubu Electric Power Company Satoru Katsuno and his accompanying delegation. Aff airs Ahmed bin Abdullah al- concession from the issuance of (QNA) and International News Mahmoud said after a cabinet the law, during which it solely Agency (Kazinform), a memo- meeting. becomes in charge of the man- randum of understanding be- The meeting was chaired by agement, development, op- tween the Qatar Central Bank HE the Prime Minister Sheikh eration, and maintenance of the and the National Bank of Ka- Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa zone and zones associated with zakhstan, and a memorandum Zakat Fund gives al-Thani. projects the state assigns to it. of understanding on sports Najma plot fetches QR62.6mn; According to the provi- Also yesterday, the cabinet co-operation between Qatar’s QR8.5mn in aid sions of the bill and based on approved the minister of interi- Ministry of Culture and Sport a proposal from the board of or’s decision to specify charges and Cuba’s National Institute of QNA Doha tops in real estate deals Economic Zones Company, it for towing vehicles. The minis- Sport, Physical Education, and Doha regulates the establishment of try prepared the draft ahead of Recreation. an economic zone, specifying issuing it in implementation of Additionally, the cabinet ap- he local real estate mar- week. This was due to an “ex- January 24-28 in Doha Munici- its area and borders, the estab- Provision No 89 of Traffi c Law proved a draft memorandum he total assistance pro- ket has seen an increase ceptional single deal” worth pality amounted to QR62.6mn lishment of one or more ports issued as Law No 19 of 2007 of understanding between the vided by the Zakat Fund at Tin the value of deals, but QR100mm, Ezdan Holding for a multiple-purpose vacant attached to it whether sea, air or and amended as Law No 16 of National Committee for Inter- Tthe Ministry of Awqaf and a drop in their number dur- said. plot of land of 2,326sq m in land port. 2015. The bill stipulates that the national Humanitarian Law at Islamic Aff airs for needy families ing the fourth week of January Doha Municipality topped Najma. The rate was QR26,900 All types of companies, shar- charges will be QR500 for tow- Qatar’s Ministry of Justice and throughout the country last Janu- compared with the previous the real estate deals during the per sq m. ing contracts or other legal en- ing a vehicle of 3 tonnes or more Jordan’s National Committee ary was about QR8.5mn. week, a new report has shown. period, with some 15 deals rep- A house at the Pearl-Qa- tities can be created or estab- to the assigned place, QR200 for the International Humani- The Fund said in a press state- Ezdan Holding in its weekly resenting 52.8% of the overall tar of 1,641sq m was sold for lished at the economic zone. for those less than 3 tonnes, and tarian Law. ment yesterday that the aid var- report said 40 real estate deals deals worth QR221.3mn. This QR37mn, which translates into These can be owned by a normal QR20 for each day that the ve- The cabinet also reviewed ied between emergency funds for were completed during the was followed by Al Rayyan Mu- QR22,500 per sq m. or legal person or more than one hicle is impounded. and took the necessary meas- benefi ciary families. week throughout the country, nicipality and Umm Salal Mu- Ezdan expects a revival of person - either citizens or oth- In addition, the cabinet ap- ures on a memo from HE the These expenses included compared with 57 in the previ- nicipality with 10 deals each. the real estate market for the ers without adhering to regulat- proved the hosting of the fourth minister of fi nance on the out- monthly permanent aid worth ous week, which shows a drop Completed buildings repre- upcoming weeks as more in- ing laws in this regard. international conference on come of the meeting 101 for the QR7,182,277 and cut aid worth of 29.8%. sented 76.1% of the real estate vestors and real estate develop- According to the provisions family medicine in the Middle GCC Financial and Economic QR1,300,355. The overall value of these deals, while vacant plots of ers plan new building projects of the law, a project licensed East in Doha during the fi rst Co-operation Committee, The Fund distributes the aid af- deals amounted to around land comprised 22.9%. driven by the ever-increasing to work at the zone or through quarter of 2017. which was held in Doha in No- ter carrying out a survey to ensure QR418.8mn, compared with The highest value of the real demand for residential and it, is exempted from obtaining It also took necessary meas- vember. it reaches the actual benefi ciaries. QR387.6mn for the preceding estate deal during the period commercial units. Gulf Times Thursday, February 4, 2016 3 QATAR Waste handling centre’s Ministers hold talks

HE the Minister for Administrative Development, Labour and expansion in the works Social Aff airs Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi, met yesterday with Bangladesh’s Minister of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas By Ramesh Mathew industrial and construction phase of expansion is completed. 2011, generates approximately Employment Nurul Islam. Talks during the meeting dealt with Staff Reporter locations. One of the key features of the 30MW of power. While 25MW bilateral relations between the two countries in areas of common According to the offi cial, facility is the waste-to-energy goes to Qatar General Electric- interest and means of enhancing them. workers deployed by the Min- technology. The integrated ap- ity and Water Corporation (Kah- bout 3,000 tonnes of istry also handle street cleaning proach adopted at the centre ramaa), the remaining 5MW is solid domestic waste is and transfer of waste to dump- helps it to convert 95% of trash it consumed by the facility itself. Acollected and disposed of ing stations from where it is receives into energy or recycle it The waste management cen- daily across Qatar, a top offi cial transported to domestic solid instead of being sent to landfi ll. tre, spread over 300 hectares, of the Ministry of Municipality waste management centre in The centre is designed to treat was completed in October 2011. and Environment (MME) said Mesaieed. “It is the only facility up to 2,300 tonnes of mixed This also marked the begin- Voter registration day yesterday. of its kind in the Middle East.” domestic solid waste per day. ning of the second phase of the Speaking at the Waste Man- The garbage transfer stations It comprises state-of-the-art agreement, whereby its builder agement and Recycling Sum- are located in Al Khor, Dukhan, Safar Mubarak al-Shafi speaking waste sorting and recycling Keppel Seghers, will continue to for British expats mit, Safar Mubarak al-Shafi , Doha West, Doha South and at the Waste Management and facilities, an anaerobic diges- operate and maintain the centre director general, cleanli- Industrial Area. Recycling Summit yesterday. tion composting plant, a 1,500 until 2031. he UK Electoral Com- many aspects of our lives. It is ness project and mechani- Al-Shafi said the waste man- PICTURE: Jayan Orma tonne-per-day incineration When the second and third mission has launched a so important that everyone’s cal equipment at the MME, agement centre has the capac- plant, and a sanitary landfi ll at phases of expansion are com- Tday of dedicated activ- voice is heard.” said the fi gure did not include ity to recycle green waste and centre which is handling 500 par with advanced standards pleted, the centre is expected to ity to encourage British citi- While the Overseas Voter construction and hazardous organic materials up to 750 tonnes daily now will be able to in the world. treat up to 2,300 tonnes of mixed zens living overseas to register Registration Day is not the wastes collected from diff erent tonnes a day. However, the treat more when the ongoing The Mesaieed facility, built in domestic solid waste per day. to vote ahead of the referen- only day one can register, it dum on the UK’s membership is the perfect opportunity of the European Union. for everyone to encourage his According to a statement friends, family or colleagues to from the British Embassy in check if they can take part and Doha, to reach out to the UK ask them to go online to regis- citizens living overseas, the ter from wherever they are in Islamic Da’wa carries election watchdog is hosting the world. Overseas Voter Registration To register as an overseas Day today in a bid to boost voter, UK residents overseas the numbers of UK residents must have previously been overseas on the UK’s electoral registered in a UK constitu- out water projects in registers. ency within the last 15 years. With the date of the refer- Once registered, overseas vot- endum as yet unknown, the ers can then choose how they commission is advising the UK wish to vote. They can vote by expatriates to register early so post, by proxy (voting by ap- three African nations that they can be sure they are pointing someone you trust to registered in time. British ex- vote on your behalf), or even he Organisation of Is- Qader, director-general, Qatar turning into a protracted armed patriates can now register on- in person at a polling station lamic Da’wa in Qatar offi ce of the organisation, said confl ict. line to vote in just a few min- if they have travelled to the UK Thas undertaken new that the projects aim to pro- The water projects in Africa utes at http://www.gov.uk/ on polling day. water projects in the Ivory vide clean drinking water to include drilling of wells of vari- Diversion on Al Wukair road from tomorrow register-to-vote, www.gov. It should be easier to vote Coast, Gambia and Mali. The people and animals and work ous types with a focus on dig- uk/register-to-vote. by post for this referendum projects were funded by Qatari to make these communities to ging artesian wells, excavations A traff ic diversion will be in place Authority (Ashghal) statement. The British ambassador as the timetable for postal philanthropists. stay in their regions in addition and dams of diff erent types for a year from tomorrow onwards During the period, two lanes in to Qatar, Ajay Sharma, said: votes has been extended to al- More than 30,000 people ben- to working to maintain social and sizes to save the surface on a stretch of Al Wukair main each direction will be closed for “The EU referendum will be an low postal votes to be sent out efi ted from these projects in addi- security for them. water that is available in these road. The diversion has been approximately 850m and traff ic important vote for all British even earlier than usual, giving tion to tens of thousands of live- He noted that the journey areas in autumn and make use necessitated by construction of will be redirected to an alternative citizens whether one is living overseas voters further time to stock heads on which they depend to fi nd the water often leads of them in drinking and irriga- the main carriageway as part route with the same number of abroad or at home. It will af- receive, complete, and return so much in their daily lives. to friction between displaced tion of agricultural projects in of the West Corridor Project, lanes in each direction (see the fect the UK’s relationship with their ballot pack to the UK, the Sheikh Hammad Abdul persons and residents of areas seasons of drought. according to a Public Works attached map). Europe which impacts on so statement added. Gulf Times 4 Thursday, February 4, 2016 QATAR

Loans campaign from IBQ International Bank of Qatar mini for new loans worth (IBQ) has launched loans QR200,000 and more. campaign wherein it is “This loan promotion Qatar Airways begins non-stop rewarding customers with off ers customers the either a MacBook or an opportunity to enjoy value- iPad mini. added benefits with every Customers who are eligible banking experience at IBQ. for loans and have an IBQ We are proud to off er some all of which are tailor-made to Doha-Ras Al Khaimah service credit card will receive of the best products in cater to the needs and demands a MacBook Air for new Qatar today, ranging from of our customers,” Hassan loans worth QR350,000 personal loans, vehicle al-Mulla, (pictured) head, retail atar Airways has and Haitham Mattar, CEO and more, or an iPad loans to mortgage loans - banking, IBQ, said. started non-stop of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Qservice between Development Authority. Doha and Ras Al Khaimah, Qatar Airways Group chief its fi fth destination in the executive Akbar al-Baker UAE. Ras Al Khaimah is said: “We are delighted to known to be a gateway to launch our newest route in many of the UAE’s natu- the UAE – Ras Al Khaimah. ral treasures, popular for Qatar Airways’ network ex- weekend getaways for trav- pansion will undoubtedly ellers from the GCC, and a increase the fl exibility and resort destination for long- choice for our passengers to er stays for travellers from travel to and from diff erent China, Europe, and India. Emirates in the UAE, and we Qatar Airways’ inaugural look forward to enhancing fl ight arrived on February 2 passengers’ travel opportu- with a Qatar Airways del- nities from Europe, Asia, and Representatives from the airline’s senior management being welcomed by the members of egation on board headed by the Americas to new tourist the Civil Aviation and Airport authorities of Ras Al Khaimah on arrival. chief commercial offi cer Dr destinations in the region Hugh Dunleavy. The fl ight such as Ras Al Khaimah.” the most popular tourist des- from Doha to the UAE, Abu Dhabi; and 21 fl ights a was offi cially welcomed by Ras Al Khaimah is located in tinations in the region. It of- including the new four week to Sharjah. Sheikh Salem bin Sultan al- the northern part of the UAE, fers a wide range of activities fl ights to Ras Al Khaimah An Airbus A320 operates Qasimi, chairman of the De- approximately 45 minutes such as water sports, cruises, – 105 fl ights a week to Du- the Ras Al Khaimah route, partment of Civil Aviation, from Dubai. With the open- desert camps, golf courses, bai International Airport; featuring 144 seats in a two- Ras Al Khaimah; Mohamed ing of many fi ve-star beach and mountain adventures. 28 fl ights a week to Dubai class confi guration of 12 Qazi, CEO of Ras Al Khaim- resorts and spas, the Emirate Qatar Airways now of- Al Maktoum International seats in business class and ah International Airport; has quickly become one of fers up to 200 weekly fl ights Airport; 42 fl ights a week to 132 seats in economy. Aster launches traffi c safety campaign ster DM Healthcare, tiative to be aware of risks safety measures and garner in partnership with and dangers of carelessness support across all audi- AQatar National Traf- on road use. This would be a ences. More than 130 Karwa fi c Safety Committee, Gen- model for other establish- taxis have been branded for eral Directorate of Traffi c ments and companies to the campaign,” he added. and Public Relations De- follow and help spread the The winners of the com- partment of the Ministry of safety message.” petition will be awarded Interior (MoI) has launched MoI off icials and Aster executives at the press conference. Lt Shaheen Rashid al- cash prices and attrac- a campaign to spread Atheeque, public relations tive gifts, including the awareness on traffi c safety. which started on January The MoI is partnering offi cer, extended all support. autobiography of Sachin The campaign - Aster 27 and runs until February with this event as part of its Dr Sameer Moopan, Tendulkar. The iPledge Safe Roads iPledge - has 12, targets children, college ‘One Second’ campaign to CEO, Aster DM Health- campaign brochures are the legendary Indian crick- students, working profes- make road safety a priority care, said, “The campaign available in Arabic, Eng- eter Sachin Tendulkar as its sionals as well as general in life as well as help others focuses on three main road lish, Malayalam, Hindi, brand ambassador. As part public in Qatar. make better decisions. safety messages - wearing Urdu, Nepalese, Sin- of the campaign, people Aster and MoI have or- Lt Fahad Shareedah al- seat belt, not using mobile halese and Tamil. People will have the opportunity to ganised activities including Abdullah, traffi c awareness phones while driving and can contact 50074148 or take a pledge to follow the poster making competitions offi cer, said, “The Traffi c using zebra lines for pedes- e-mail padmakumar.n@ traffi c rules along with the on road safety for schools, Department urges the par- trian crossing.” dmhealthcare.com.for cutout of the cricket star. companies, associations and ticipation of all sectors of “It aims to educate and more information on the The campaign, ‘iPledge’, other organisations. the community in the ini- create awareness about road competitions. Gulf Times Thursday, February 4, 2016 5 QATAR

Kuwait Emir meets Sheikha Moza

Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah yesterday met with HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, founder and chairperson of the Education Above All foundation (EAA), ahead of the “Supporting Syria & the Region” conference which opens in London today. Their discussions focused on the conference agenda, in particular the education of Syrian refugee children. Sheikha Moza highlighted the work of EAA in supporting access to quality primary education for millions of children across the globe in areas of conflict. The meeting was attended by Kuwait Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah. PICTURE: AR Al-Baker/HHOPL

Lecture explores ‘golden age of Islamic sciences’

he Qatar National Library QNL will host a range of engag- (QNL), a member of Qatar Foun- ing events in February starting with a Tdation for Education, Science book discussion on February 10 at the and Community Development (QF), Hamad Bin Khalifa University Student launched a public lecture series, ex- Centre. ploring the Golden Age of Islamic Sci- A collection of economic articles, the ences, the narratives of decline and book explores the hidden side of every- science and technology in the modern thing and how economics is the study Middle East and Islamic World. of incentives while demonstrating how Hosted at Georgetown University the world functions through econom- in Qatar (GU-Q) and titled ‘The His- Ahmed Ragab, professor of History ics. tory of Science and Technology in the of Science from Harvard University A social sciences training session, Middle East and the Islamic World’, the delivering the lecture. planned on February 16 will off er hands- lecture was delivered by Ahmed Ragab, on training sessions to academics and the professor of History of Science from an exciting addition to our monthly wider community while a research train- Harvard University in the US. events calendar that is aimed at ex- ing workshop will be held on February 24 Aimed at creating a bridge between ploring various themes within the for helping undergraduate students to scholars, researchers and people across science and Islamic fields while fa- hone their research skills. the Middle East and Muslim world, cilitating informative and valuable In addition, the ‘Art Makerspaces’ QNL’s public lecture series is fully in conversations.” children event will take place on Feb- line with its vision of bridging with He said “the fi rst lecture in the ongo- ruary 25 at Education City’s Recreation knowledge Qatar’s and the Arab and Is- ing series was very well received by the Centre, giving children aged between lamic world’s heritage and future. community. We look forward to featur- 4-11 the chance to unlock their creativ- Saadi al-Said, director, Adminis- ing more high-profi le speakers to high- ity and imaginations by taking part in a tration and Planning, QNL said: “The light the golden history of Islamic sci- range of interactive art and craft-mak- recently launched lecture series is ences, central to QNL’s vision.” ing activities. Gulf Times 6 Thursday, February 4, 2016 QATAR

Making cancer care accessible: minister QU workshop discusses main he Ministry of Pub- Strategy and this is a re- partners in the National efi ts of early detection of lic Health, Hamad fl ection of the collaborative Cancer Programme are cancer in Qatar. The pro- challenges in traffi c, road safety TMedical Corporation eff ort between healthcare working together to ensure gramme aims to save pre- (HMC) and Primary Health partners and organisations. that cancer support and cious lives by encouraging Brigadier Mohamed al-Malki Care Corporation (PHCC) Everyone can play a part in services in Qatar are ac- women aged 45 and above he Qatar Road Safe- vancing a culture of traffi c egies that are responsive to yesterday joined millions beating cancer – from the cessible and supportive,” with no symptoms to book ty Studies Centre safety within the commu- national priorities and chal- around the world in mark- partners in the National added the minister. breast cancer screening T(QRSSC) at Qatar nity and providing decision- lenges. It also refl ects the ing World Cancer Day 2016. Cancer Programme who World Cancer Day 2016 through a mammography. University College of En- and policy-makers with centre’s mission to highlight This year’s theme – “We are developing processes is also an opportunity for The campaign also calls gineering (QU-CENG) sustainable solutions.” ongoing developments in Can – I Can” underlines and services to facilitate members of the community on both men and women held a workshop to dis- Dr al-Khalifa said: “It is the country’s road transpor- the fact that everyone prevention, early detection to take steps to reduce the aged 50 and above with no cuss the main challenges part of a series of forums tation system as well as to in the community from and diagnosis, treatment impact of cancer. For exam- symptoms to undergo bow- in traffi c and road safety, that bring together key part- promote community aware- healthcare providers and and long-term transitions, ple choosing to eat health- el cancer screening. This is under the heading “Traffi c ners to advance dialogue on ness on the need to decrease policy-makers to members to the general public who ily, stop smoking or educate a simple test which can be Safety”. road and traffi c safety strat- accidents.” Dr Khalifa al-Khalifa of the public can play a part make a decision every day themselves on the signs and undertaken on an annual Organised in conjunc- in beating cancer. about their lifestyle.” symptoms of cancer. basis, as recommended tion with Qatar Society of “Cancer touches eve- “Together ‘We Can’ en- Another proactive way by PHCC. Engineers and the Nation- ryone in our community sures no one feels alone or is to make a pledge to take Dr Mariam Ali Abdul- al Committee for Traffi c in some way,” said HE the unsupported after a can- up breast and bowel cancer malik, managing director, Safety, the forum brought Minister of Public Health cer diagnosis. We would screening. ‘Screen for Life’, PHCC, said, “New breast together over 50 experts Dr Hanan Mohamed al- also like to remind cancer a life-saving programme, and bowel screening serv- and engineers from lo- Kuwari. “We are well ad- patients and their fami- was offi cially launched this ices are now in place so cal and international in- vanced in the implementa- lies that they can ask for year, promoting education people can be proactive in stitutions to discuss and tion of the National Cancer support if they need it. All and awareness of the ben- safeguarding their health.” fi nd effi cient solutions for road and traffi c safety challenges in Qatar. Attendees included Brigadier Mohamed al- Malki, general secretary, National Committee for Traffi c Safety; and Dr Kha- lifa al-Khalifa, director, QRSSC, as well as rep- resentatives of the Traf- fi c Department and QU faculty and staff . The programme in- cluded presentations by Dr Wael Alhajyaseen, assist- ant research professor at QRSSC; Samira Omer Mo- hammed, research assist- ant; and Dr Mohammed Ghanim, CENG civil engi- neering assistant profes- sor. They addressed topics on “Road Safety Engineer- ing”, “Road Safety Audit in Qatar”, and “Real Time Traffi c Signal Control”. Brigadier al-Malki said: “Road safety is a crucial area of interest in Qatar that requires careful plan- ning and long-term fo- cus. This can be realised through research and case studies in collaboration with government and pri- vate organisations. QRSSC is a leading centre in Qatar that contributes to ad-

Gulf Times 8 Thursday, February 4, 2016 QATAR Alfardan provides support for Qatar Masters Golf

s some of the world’s top prestigious golf championship the Commercial Bank Qatar BMW X5, as well as the latest ad- BMW 420i, BMW 650i, BMW golfers competed at this for the tenth consecutive year. Masters has evolved into a glo- dition to the X family the all-new 550i, BMW M3 Saloon LCI, BMW Ayear’s 2016 Commercial Taking place from January 27-30 bally-renowned competition, at- BMW X1, the premium Sports 3 Series, as well as a range of Bank Qatar Masters Tournament, at the Doha Golf Club, the 2016 tracting some of the world’s best Activity Vehicle that has caught BMW Motorrad models. Alfardan Automobiles once again Commercial Bank Qatar Masters golfers to Qatar year after year. the public’s attention when it The prestigious golf tournament ensured their comfort by provid- Tournament saw a luxury fl eet Alfardan Automobiles are proud was displayed at the latest Qatar has been hosted by Doha Golf Club ing a luxury fl eet of vehicles as of 40 chauff eur-driven BMW 7 to play our part and support in Motor Show this year.” Since 2006. The annual tourna- the event’s Offi cial Car. Series vehicles and 25 self-driven highlighting the achievements In between following their fa- ment is sponsored by Commercial Underlining the BMW Group BMW 5 Series models transport of the country, both in business vourite golfers around the course, Bank of Qatar and is held at the importer’s ongoing support for players, offi cials and organisers and sport. This prestigious event visitors and golf enthusiasts alike beginning of each year as part of the development of sport in Qa- throughout. was also the ideal platform for us enjoyed a display of BMW ve- plethora of established champions tar, the 2016 edition marked a Ihab Allam, General Manager to showcase some of the popu- hicles off -course, including the and up-and-comers, with prizes decade of partnership between of Alfardan Automobiles, said: lar BMW models here in Qatar, popular X model family, BMW worth up to $2.5 mn up for grabs BMW vehicles on display at the 2016 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters Alfardan Automobiles and the “Since its launch in Qatar 2006, including the BMW X6 and the Z4, BMW M235i, BMW M135i, and valuable ranking points. Tournament at the Doha Golf Club. HBKU to off er sample lectures at Open House

he Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a mem- ber of Qatar Foundation for Education Science and TCommunity Development, has invited prospective students to its Graduate Open House at the HBKU Student Centre at 6pm on February 8. During the Open House, there will be opportunities to attend sample lectures given by HBKU professors. The lec- tures will match the broad range of subjects currently of- fered at graduate level by HBKU. The lectures will off er a valuable insight into student life at the university and will cover diverse topics such as food safety and outbreak investigation, how basic science can be used to combat the spread of disease, design and innova- tion’s role in sustainability, role of translation in the mod- ern world, constitutional law, and how computing changed people’s lives. The Graduate Open House will also share information about four of HBKU’s newest planned programmes under its College of Science and Engineering: Doctorate in Com- puter Science and Engineering, and Master of Science de- grees in Bioengineering, Cybersecurity, and Data Science and Engineering. Attendees at the event will have the opportunity to pre- view the four innovative new programmes ahead of their of- fi cial launch. The new programmes have been designed to respond to ongoing advances in science and technology and refl ect local needs and global trends. Students enrolling in the programmes will be given the opportunity to work on crucial issues in their fi elds through either a research thesis or by working on an industrial project. With HBKU’s 2016 admissions deadline fast approach- ing, members of HBKU’s admissions team will be on hand to off er advice and guidance to those interested in joining the university. Dr Khaled Ben Letaief, provost of HBKU, commented: “In a relatively short period of time, we have attracted many world-class faculty to share their knowledge with our growing student body. By off ering sample lectures at our next Graduate Open House, we are giving attendees a small glimpse of the work being done by our professors in educat- ing tomorrow’s leaders.” “We are looking for students who want to broaden their intellectual depth by seeking solution to challenges that lie at the crossroads of traditional disciplines. Our pro- grammes are designed to give students the knowledge and skills needed to have a meaningful impact on their commu- nities,” he added.

A session from a previous HBKU Open House.

‘Fireman Sam’ is coming today to LuLu at Gharaff a

uLu Hypermarket, Al The legend of the Fire- Gharaff a, is all set to man Sam has originated Lhost for the fi rst time from two ex-firemen in Qatar the children’s all- from Kent (UK), Dave time hero ‘Fireman Sam’ Gingell and Dave Jones. today at 6pm. They approached Mike The visitor will interact Young, who assisted them and greet the children until to further develop the 9pm. LuLu has organised concept. the event in association The character not only with Simbo Toys Qatar, and teaches invaluable les- the Civil Defense Depart- sons on fi re safety to young ment of the State of Qatar viewers, but reinforces the has also joined the event importance of staying calm with their awareness pro- during an emergency. grammes for the benefi t of In line with the visit of the general public. Fireman Sam, LuLu outlets Fireman Sam toys are in- have arranged the display of ternationally well-accepted wide range of Fireman Sam among the children. toys. Gulf Times Thursday, February 4, 2016 9 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Hamas 3 Palestinians buries tunnel shot dead as ‘martyrs’ AFP Gaza City

amas yesterday bur- ied two fi ghters killed female Israeli Hin a tunnel collapse, as concern grows in Israel over the rebuilding of underground pas- sageways that could be used for attacks. The Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip said the two cop is killed men killed in Tuesday night’s tunnel collapse belonged to its Israeli media call it “an They were believed to be 19 to there have also been occasional armed wing, the Ezzedine al- escalation” in the more than 20 years old. shootings. Qassam Brigades. four months of violence Palestinian shopkeepers near Yesterday’s attack was the Hundreds of men, many armed the scene said they heard heavy bloodiest in Jerusalem since De- and wearing balaclavas, took part AFP gunfi re. cember 23, when at the Old City’s in the funeral. Jerusalem Security forces locked down Jaff a Gate an Israeli was stabbed Ismail Haniya, Hamas’s lead- the area afterwards as crowds to death and another shot dead, er in Gaza, called the two men gathered to see what happened or seemingly from a stray police bul- “martyrs” and praised “those hree Palestinians armed to try to return to their homes in let as offi cers fi red on and killed who work silently underground with rifl es, knives and ex- the Old City. the two Palestinian assailants. A for us to live in dignity on earth”. Tplosives attacked Israeli Damascus Gate is frequently third Israeli was wounded in that The collapse was the second police outside Jerusalem’s Old used by Palestinians to enter the stabbing. such incident since last week. A City yesterday, killing one offi cer Old City, though sometimes by Speaking about the latest vio- tunnel collapse caused by bad and wounding another before be- tourists as well. lence, police spokeswoman Luba weather on January 26 killed sev- ing shot dead. Mayor Nir Barkat told reporters Samri said there was evidence the en Al-Qassam militants. The attack outside the Old at the scene that their arrival with assailants were seeking to carry Israeli concerns increased on City’s Damascus Gate was part of weapons in Jerusalem meant that out a major attack. Friday after Haniya, in comments a four-month wave of violence, a further clampdown on access Found on their bodies were at the seven men’s funeral, high- but was among the most severe in routes from the adjoining West “(Swedish-designed) Carl Gustav lighted the growth of new tunnels. Jerusalem, where many assaults Bank should be examined. rifl es, knives and explosive devic- But Mahmoud al-Zahar, a have involved knives. “We need to tighten (restric- es which were defused by bomb senior Hamas offi cial, yesterday The policewoman who died tions) on the places from which disposal experts”, she said. toned down the rhetoric with a had been shot in the head, medi- the threat comes,” he said. Pictures released by police statement on the Hamas website cal offi cials said. According to Is- Israel occupied East Jerusalem, showed what appear to be two denying comments attributed to raeli authorities, the Palestinians where Damascus Gate is located, vintage-model submachine him that the tunnels had already were approached by border police in the 1967 Six-Day War and later guns. reached into Israeli territory. for ID checks. annexed it in a move never recog- “The arms testify to a complex “The resistance tunnels are “As one was producing iden- nised by the international com- attack that was prevented by the defensive tunnels for the protec- tifi cation, his accomplices... munity. forces who protected Jerusa- tion of our people in the face of started fi ring and stabbing and Major roads to and from the lem residents with their bodies,” any Israeli aggression,” he said. managed to wound two female occupied West Bank pass through Samri said in a statement. Israel destroyed a large number offi cers,” a police statement said. Israeli security checkpoints and a Shortly after the attack, Is- of tunnels in the 2014 Gaza war, The surviving offi cer’s injuries concrete wall runs through much raeli media were calling it “an the third confl ict to hit the Pales- were described as “moderate to of the area but the border is still escalation” in the more than four tinian enclave since 2008. serious”. porous in many places. months of violence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Offi cers opened fi re and killed A wave of Palestinian knife, gun In the aftermath, a police heli- Netanyahu has warned that “if we the attackers, police said, adding and car-ramming attacks erupted copter hovered overhead and are attacked from tunnels from that they were from the northern in October. Most of the attacks clean-up teams hosed away pools Israeli border police body-search Palestinians yesterday following the attack at Damascus Gate, a main the Gaza Strip, we will take very West Bank. have been stabbings, although of blood. entrance to Jerusalem’s Old City. strong action against Hamas”. Time for statehood vote, says Iraqi Kurd leader

AFP problems the region faces due to about their future,” said Barzani, gained international sympathy will raise tensions between the ish political parties would pose a not a practical option, Barzani’s Arbil low oil prices are another bar to who has remained in power de- from fi ghting the Islamic State autonomous Kurdish region and signifi cant challenge to the for- call could be an attempt to draw Kurdish independence. spite the expiration of his term as group, and that now “we must Baghdad, potentially complicat- mation and successful adminis- attention away from the prob- “The time has come and the president. show the world the will of our ing anti-IS eff orts. tration of a state. lems the region is facing or to aid raqi Kurdish leader Mas- conditions are now suitable for Barzani, who has made similar people (for) independence and The region offi cially includes Like Baghdad, Kurdistan is him politically. soud Barzani has declared the people to make a decision calls in the past, did not specify the right of self-determination”. three provinces, but Kurdish facing a fi nancial crisis due to “There is no on-the-ground Ithat the “time has come” through a referendum on their when the vote would take place. Iraq’s Kurds are a key US part- forces now hold parts of four plunging oil prices, on which justifi cation for a referendum for the country’s Kurds to hold future,” Barzani said in a state- Asked about the timing of the ner in the war against IS and have more over which the federal gov- they rely for the vast majority of now,” said Kirk Sowell, a Jordan- a referendum on statehood, a ment released yesterday. referendum, Ali Awni, a leader in been some of the most eff ective ernment wants to maintain con- government funds. based political risk analyst who move likely to raise tensions with “This referendum would not Barzani’s Kurdistan Democratic forces fi ghting the militants. trol. Salaries for some Kurdish gov- is the publisher of Inside Iraqi Baghdad. necessarily lead to (an) immedi- Party, said that “today is better But both the referendum on While there is broad support ernment employees are months Politics. But even if the various politi- ate declaration of statehood, but than tomorrow,” but did not give independence—which Iraq’s fed- for the idea of independence in in arrears, and some have gone on “You don’t form a state when cal challenges to independence rather to know the will and opin- a specifi c date. eral government opposes—and Iraqi Kurdistan, the sharp divi- strike to protest unpaid wages. you are in the middle of an eco- are resolved, the major economic ion of the people of Kurdistan Awni said the Kurds have the issue of which areas it covers sions among the various Kurd- With immediate independence nomic collapse,” he said.

Rouhani shakes hands with Steinmeier after their meeting in Tehran yesterday. Iran, Germany agree on joint terror fi ght

Agencies Steinmeier said he had told Tehran Rouhani he was welcome to visit Germany the next time he comes to Europe. ran and Germany agreed He said he had urged him on the need to co-oper- “to keep Germany in mind Iate against “terrorism” as a destination on his next yesterday as Foreign Minis- trip to Europe.” ter Frank-Walter Steinmeier Steinmeier’s visit comes became the latest offi cial to after a landmark deal be- visit Tehran since the im- tween Tehran and world plementation of a landmark powers to limit Iran’s nucle- nuclear deal. ar programme in return for Iran’s President Hassan lifting international sanc- Rouhani said the two coun- tions against it came into tries could “co-operate on force last month. resolving regional and inter- The German foreign min- national issues, especially on ister will next visit Saudi fi ghting terrorism”, the offi cial Arabia. Irna news agency reported. The kingdom severed all “The fl ow of arms and fi - ties with Iran last month af- nancial resources to terror- ter demonstrators stormed ism must be stopped,” Rou- its embassy in Tehran and hani said. consulate in second city After their meeting, Mashhad. Gulf Times 10 Thursday, February 4, 2016 ARAB WORLD Algeria set for constitutional reforms amid scepticism Critics say the reforms are The main political reforms boycott the vote on the reforms, little more than a show and will see the reintroduction of said the project was “nothing will do little to reduce the two-term limits on the presi- more than the continuation of influence of the powerful dency—lifted in 2008 to al- the tradition of constitutional elite low Boutefl ika to run for a third violence against the Algerian time—and a provision requir- people”. AFP ing the president to nominate a John Entelis, an Algeria expert Algiers prime minister from the largest at Fordham University in the party in parliament. United States, said the reform An independent electoral package was clearly designed to lgerian lawmakers be- commission will also be es- address public concerns. gan meeting yesterday tablished, the roles of women “Each of these newly inscribed Ato consider a package and youth will be recognised, constitutional rights is directed Omer Eltigani, a young British Sudanese pharmacist, and his relatives eat the Sudanese “Mahshi” (stuff ed vegetables) that he prepared at of constitutional reforms that and freedoms of assembly and at assuaging the discontent so his aunt’s house in Khartoum. authorities say will strengthen the press explicitly guaran- evident among Berbers, women, democracy but critics have de- teed. youth, civil society activists and nounced as window dressing. The Amazigh language spoken political opponents,” he wrote Analysts say the reforms are by the indigenous Berber popu- last month in The Washington meant to address long-standing lation will also be recognised as Post. public grievances, and possibly offi cial, alongside Arabic. “Yet given the way this docu- ment has been conceived, com- Giving Sudanese cuisine to prepare for a smooth tran- The reforms “strengthen sition amid concerns over the freedoms and enshrine the municated and constructed, health of 78-year-old leader Ab- separation of powers and the almost all of the discontented delaziz Boutefl ika. principles and values of the Al- groups remain unconvinced that The president and his inner gerian people”, Ahmed Ouyahia, the rhetoric of the state... will in fact be translated into political a place at the global table circle have held a fi rm grip on Boutefl ika’s chief of staff , said power since 1999 and, as the last week. action.” end of his rule appears to close Critics disagree, saying the Boutefl ika has rarely appeared AFP cooking until he went to Man- visiting restaurants, markets it fans around the world. in, there are fears of instability reforms are little more than a in public since suff ering a stroke Khartoum chester to study pharmacy. and museums to gather back- “What grows in the area, that in the mainly Muslim country of show and will do little to reduce in 2013 and there has been wide- “I was living at uni and I re- ground he hopes to include in defi nitely shapes what is made 40mn, a key energy producer. the infl uence of the powerful spread speculation of a behind- ally missed my Mum’s food, so the book. here,” he said, heading back to Dominated by Boutefl ika sup- elite, including Boutefl ika’s Na- the-scenes power struggle over reparing vegetables in a I would go home and ask her for “It’s about placing the food the kitchen in his aunts’ house. porters, Algeria’s lower and up- tional Liberation Front (FLN) his succession. quiet Khartoum neigh- recipes that were my favour- in its context,” Eltigani said. The importance of cooking per houses are expected to adopt party and army generals, who The president and his sup- Pbourhood, pharmacist ite things,” the lean, unshaven The book will include around with his family is that Sudan’s the reforms on Sunday. dominate the country. porters have moved in recent Omer Eltigani hopes not just 31-year-old said, taking a break 40 recipes and is aimed at for- best food is not to be found in An opening ceremony for the “This constitutional reform months to take control of the to serve up the dish an aunt is in the kitchen. eigners and also Sudanese restaurants or at food stalls lin- special session was held yester- project does not have the con- shadowy security services, dis- teaching him, but also the fi rst “I just got the idea of writing looking to learn more about ing the capital’s streets. day and the full package is to be cerns of Algeria at its heart but solving the powerful Depart- cookbook to bring Sudanese down what I was taking with their country’s cooking. “For me Sudanese cook- presented by Prime Minister Ab- only the current political regime ment of Intelligence and Securi- cuisine to the rest of the world. me and making it while I was at But his insistence on tying ing is from the home,” Eltigani delmalek Sellal today. which it is designed to protect,” ty (DRS) and jailing or sidelining Straddling Africa and the uni.” cooking to Sudan’s turbulent said after he had fi nished stuff - Parliamentary group leaders said Ali Benfl is, a former prime top offi cials. Arab world, Sudan’s cooking He learned to cook from history has caused diffi culties ing the vegetables with rice, will be able to make speeches on minister who ran against Boutef- Unlike many countries in the has not tickled foodies’ palates scratch, starting with the dish in fi nding publishers in Britain, minced meat, dried coriander the constitutional reforms but lika in 2004 and 2014. region, including its neighbours as much as its Ethiopian neigh- he missed the most—the local who would prefer just a book of and raisins. there will be no open debate. The The Front of Socialist Forces Libya and Tunisia, Algeria has bours or Levantine rivals. variant of lamb meatballs pop- plain recipes, he said. With the stuff ed vegetables package must be voted on in full, (FFS) opposition party, whose been relatively stable since the But with his aunt Salwa ular across the region, served “You can’t really not talk cooked, he carried them on a tin not amendment-by-amendment. 30 lawmakers have said they will 2011 Arab Spring. watching on from the corner in a thick Sudanese tomato and about politics and talk about dish to his young cousins and of the kitchen in his grandpar- garlic sauce. Sudan,” he shrugged. aunts sitting round a table in ents’ house as he stuff ed cour- He started sharing his reci- Mixing Arab and African in- the house’s communal court- Nigeria president warns of Libya ‘time bomb’ gettes, aubergines and toma- pes with cousins, eventually fl uences, Sudan was colonised yard in the early evening light. toes, Eltigani said he hopes to setting up a website (www.su- in the 19th century by the Ot- As the family ate from the Nigerian President Muhammadu countries. time bomb for Africa and indeed change this with his cookbook, danesekitchen.com) and found tomans and then by Britain shared tin tray, he admitted Buhari urged the international Libya has been gripped by Europe,” Buhari told MEPs in the the country’s fi rst not written people from all over the world and Egypt jointly until 1956. Its that his favourite part of Su- community yesterday to help end chaos since the 2011 revolution French city of Strasbourg. in Arabic and aimed at foreign were interested in trying his post-independence history has danese cooking will be hard to the turmoil in Libya, warning that that toppled dictator Muammar “The ungoverned south of diners. recipes. been blighted by civil war, mili- convey in his book. it was creating a “strategic time Gaddafi, with two rival southern Libya has become a (...) The project—dubbed Suda- In October, he decided to tary dictatorship, unrest and “The dishes made are made bomb” for Africa and Europe. administrations currently holding arms bazaar which threatens the nese Kitchen—was originally dedicate himself to writing the poverty. for sharing,” he said, wiping his In a speech to the European sway and the Islamic State group security of the Sahel region as born of his homesickness. book, quitting his job and trav- Each period has aff ected the fi ngers after taking a bite from Parliament, Buhari said the on the rise. well as the North Africa region Eltigani was born in Dublin, elling to Khartoum in January way Sudanese people eat, Elti- a stuff ed potato dripping with situation in lawless southern “I must express our serious and beyond. then lived in Khartoum until for a 10-day research visit. gani said, a fact he wants to be red sauce. Libya was particularly alarming concern about the alarming “We must therefore intensify our he was seven, when he moved From his aunts’ house, he has central to his book. “When you’re eating togeth- as it was creating a flow of arms situation in southern Libya eff orts to find a lasting solution to to Britain. Wherever the family been collecting family recipes, But he also hopes the rich- er you feel like you’re part of a aff ecting Nigeria and other which is becoming a strategic the Libyan crisis.” went he had his mother’s home cooking with his two aunts, and ness of Sudan’s cuisine will win community.” Retrial for 149 on death row in Egypt

AFP have to hand themselves in Cairo for a retrial. The grounds for the ap- peals court ruling were not n Egyptian appeals immediately available, but court overturned the court has overturned Ayesterday death hundreds of death sentenc- sentences for 149 pro-Is- es over the past year, to the lamists accused of killing relief of rights advocates policemen in a mob attack and frustration of some in on their station, a judicial the government who have source said. urged fast track executions. The court ordered a retrial Seven people have been for the defendants over the executed for political vio- attack, which killed 13 police- lence since Mursi’s ouster, men near Cairo on August 14, including six who were 2013, the day police shot dead convicted of belonging to hundreds of Islamist demon- an Islamist militant group. strators in the capital. The military overthrow The initial ruling in Febru- of Mursi, the country’s ary 2015 came amid a series fi rst freely elected presi- of death sentences in mass dent, ushered in the worst trials that were criticised in- domestic bloodshed in the ternationally, as the govern- country’s modern history. ment cracked down on sup- Mursi ruled for only a year, porters of ousted Islamist deeply dividing the country, president Mohamed Mursi. and his removal was met with The court had also sen- escalating protests by Islam- tenced 37 people to death ists that police dispersed with in absentia, but they would live ammunition.

Two militants die in Cairo clashes Egyptian security forces security sources said. killed two suspected They said police had Islamist militants during received information clashes in the upscale that armed militants Cairo district of Maadi were in the area. When yesterday, security security forces arrived, sources said. the militants opened fire Two police were wounded and clashes ensued, the in the clashes and another sources said. two militants escaped with Weapons and explosives security forces in pursuit, were found nearby, they said. Gulf Times Thursday, February 4, 2016 11 ARAB WORLD Syrian army deals blow to rebels, peace talks on hold Smoke rises after air strikes yesterday in Anadan city, about 10km from the villages of Nubol and Zahraa in the northern Aleppo countryside. The army, backed by Russian tory for Human Rights monitor- the smuggling of arms into Syria air strikes, makes a major ing group. from Turkey. advance against rebel forces The off ensive is one of several “Russian air strikes will not north of Aleppo, choking the government has launched cease until we truly defeat the opposition supply lines from since Moscow threw its military terrorist organisations ISIL and Turkey to the city might behind President Bashar Jabhat al-Nusra,” Russian agen- Civilians suff er as all sides al-Assad, adding to support cies quoted Lavrov as saying in AFP from Iran, on September 30. Oman. Geneva The new advance helped un- He was referring to the so- dermine eff orts in Geneva over called Islamic State group, which recent days by the UN special has overrun swathes of Syria and employ siege tactics in war yria’s army secured a major envoy to coax the warring sides Iraq and has claimed bombings battlefi eld victory yesterday into indirect peace talks to end and shootings worldwide, and to Sas Russia vowed no let-up in a war that has killed more than Al Qaeda’s Syrian branch. AFP the capital Damascus, with regime But the area was reclassifi ed The Islamic State group has its aerial bombardment in support 260,000 people. The opposition says the Rus- Beirut forces surrounding nearby towns by the UN as besieged in Janu- laid siege since January 2015 to the of the regime, helping force the Yesterday the envoy, Staff an sian strikes have almost entirely that are controlled by rebels. ary 2016 after the government eastern city of Deir al-Zor, where temporary suspension of fragile de Mistura, duly announced a targeted other rebel groups, Some of the worst aff ected in- once again tightened restrictions, more than 200,000 people live. peace talks in Switzerland. temporary suspension of the many backed by the West, Gulf n nearly fi ve years of confl ict clude Douma, Arbin and Zamalka causing food shortages. The group controls most of the In a major blow to the rebels, talks until February 25. states and Turkey, which shot in Syria, sieges have become a in Eastern Ghouta, and Moadima- Rebels have also employed siege area in the surrounding province, a military source said that Presi- “I have concluded frankly that down a Russian jet on its Syrian Ikey weapon of war employed yat al-Sham and Daraya in West- tactics, including against the Shia but the government has clung to dent Bashar al-Assad’s army cut after the fi rst week of prepara- border in November. primarily by the regime, but also ern Ghouta. villages of Nubol and Zahraa in parts of the provincial capital. the last supply route linking op- tory talks there is more work to Since the confl ict began rebel forces and the Islamic State Further afi eld in Damascus Aleppo province, as well as Fuaa Unlike in rebel areas under position forces in the northern be done, not only by us but the in March 2011 as an uprising group. province are Zabadani and Ma- and Kafraya in Idlib. government siege, the regime has city of Aleppo to the Turkish stakeholders,” de Mistura told against Assad’s iron-fi sted rule, The United Nations said last daya, which grabbed international They have sought to tie the fate been able to deliver some aid to ar- border. reporters. more than half of Syria’s popu- month that an estimated 486,700 attention recently after reports of of Fuaa and Kafraya to that of Za- eas it controls like Deir al-Zor and The source said the army had “I have indicated from the fi rst lation have fl ed their homes— people in Syria were living under starvation there. badani and Madaya, insisting any Fuaa and Kafraya by airdropping broken a three-year rebel siege day I won’t talk for the sake of many heading to Europe. siege, more than half of them in Activists accuse the govern- aid to the government-held vil- supplies. of two government-held Shia talking. I therefore have taken There has been a brutal crack- areas besieged by the regime. ment of using the sieges to force lages be matched with aid to the Russia has also fl own in aid for villages, Nubol and Zahraa, and the decision to bring a tempo- down on dissent and the econo- They are among 4.6mn people rebels to lay down arms, and in rebel-held towns. Deir al-Zor, landing supplies at taken control of parts of the sup- rary pause. It is not the end or my is in ruins. in so-called “hard-to-reach” ar- some cases the sieges have been Islamist rebels including Al the adjacent military base still ply route. the failure of the talks,” he said. World leaders will gather in eas and locations, subject to re- lifted or temporarily eased during Qaeda affi liate Al Nusra Front held by the regime. The advance was helped by Russian Foreign Minister Ser- London today for a donor con- strictions that severely limit their truces. have also laid siege since 2014 Aid has been delivered sporadi- intense bombing by Russian air- gei Lavrov said yesterday he saw ference to try to raise $9bn to access to services and humanitar- In Moadimayat al-Sham, for to the Kurdish town of Afrin in cally to many of the areas under craft in recent days throughout no reason for the air strikes to help Syrians hit by the war and ian assistance, the UN said. example, a siege that began in Aleppo province, having been siege, but humanitarian groups the area north of Aleppo city, ac- stop, while slamming “capri- neighbouring countries aff ected The areas under government 2013 was eased the following year unable to capture it from Kurdish say such piecemeal access is in- cording to the Syrian Observa- cious” elements in the HNC and by the crisis. siege are mostly clustered around after a truce. forces. suffi cient.

Lebanese troops Security barrier to kill 6 in anti-IS raid surround Baghdad

AFP ment that its “lightning” Reuters Shammari, in a statement Beirut raid was launched on the Baghdad published on the defence basis of information that ministry’s website. The the militants were plan- preparatory work on the he Lebanese army ning attacks on military raqi security forces wall started on Monday, he said its troops killed posts and to kidnap civil- have begun building said. Tsix militants and ar- ians in Arsal. Ia concrete wall sur- “The security barrier rested 16 others near the In August 2014, the army rounding the capital Bagh- around Baghdad will pre- Syrian border yesterday, clashed with militants of dad in a bid to prevent vent terrorists from in- in its largest operation IS and Al Nusra Front, Al attacks by Islamic State fi ltrating the capital or against the Islamic State Qaeda’s affi liate in Syria, militants, a military state- smuggling explosives and group. in the Arsal region, with ment said yesterday. car bombs to target inno- The soldiers launched militants kidnapping 30 Islamic State, the ex- cent civilians,” he said. the raid, in which local IS Lebanese soldiers and po- tremist group that seized Many districts in the chief Anas Zaarour was licemen as they withdrew vast swathes of territory Iraqi capital are now sur- killed, at dawn in the Arsal back along the border. north and west of Bagh- rounded by concrete region of eastern Lebanon, After long and arduous dad, claimed several at- fences dating back to the a military spokesman said. negotiations, 16 of the kid- tacks in recent months in sectarian strife that raged A “most wanted” mili- napped men were released the Iraqi capital. The last about a decade ago. tant, Ahmed Noun, was at the start of December in one, on January 11, targeted Some of these concrete among those arrested. exchange for Islamist pris- a shopping mall and killed walls will be dismantled “It was our largest op- oners held in Lebanon. at least 18 people, accord- in the districts that are eration against Daesh... The militants executed ing to police sources. no longer deemed under in terms of size and the four of their hostages while The planned security threat, and used in the number of people killed a fi fth died of wounds he barrier will surround the new wall around Baghdad, and captured,” the spokes- suff ered in the initial Arsal city from all sides, said along with surveillance man said, using an Arabic clashes, leaving nine mem- Baghdad Operations Com- camera and explosives de- acronym for IS. bers of Lebanon’s security mand’s head Lieutenant- tection devices, Shammari The army said in a state- forces still in their hands. General Abdul Ameer al- said. Gulf Times 12 Thursday, February 4, 2016 AFRICA Somali plane blast ‘points to a bomb’

AFP “Passengers were terrifi ed,” the aircraft doesn’t have any big Mogadishu said Abdiwahab Hassan, an air- problem.” port offi cial. The plane “experienced an Aviation safety expert Xavier incident shortly after take-off ,” blast that ripped a hole Tytelman said he compared im- operator Daallo Airlines said in a in a commercial airliner ages of the blast with photo- statement. Ashortly after take-off from graphs of previous explosions, “The aircraft landed safely and Somalia’s capital was probably and it had all the appearances of all of our passengers were evacu- caused by a bomb, aviation ex- a bomb blast. ated safely,” it added. “A thor- perts and the pilot who landed it It was not caused by any issue ough investigation is being con- safely said yesterday. of pressurisation, he said, for the ducted by Somalia Civil Aviation The plane, operated by Daallo blast ripped the metal outwards. Authority.” Airlines and fl ying from Mogad- “The explosion occurred at the Mogadishu airport is heav- ishu to Djibouti with 74 passen- passenger level...it clearly comes ily fortifi ed and adjoins the capi- gers, safely made an emergency from inside,” he told AFP, add- tal’s main base of the African landing on Tuesday. ing that at that part of the plane, Union mission to Somalia, the Police said two people onboard there was no major engine or 22,000-strong force backing the were injured, while the govern- electrical device to spark such a government in the battle against ment has said the blast was be- blast. Al Qaeda-affi liated Shebaab in- lieved to be caused by an issue of “In addition, the metal is bent surgents. Women cook at an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at Dikwa, Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria. The National Emergency air pressure. forward against the fl ow of air - The insurgents have lost Management Agency in collaboration with Borno State Emergency Management Agency has set up new IDP camps in Ngala, Marte, Bama The Serbian pilot has said he it is not an issue of depressurisa- ground since being routed from and Mafa councils to decongest the growing population of IDP camp at Dikwa. thought the blast, which ripped tion,” he said. Mogadishu in 2011 but con- the fuselage from inside to out, Video footage taken after the tinue to stage regular shooting had been an explosive device, ac- blast showed people having and suicide attacks. They have cording to reports in the Serbian moved to the back of the plane launched mortar attacks on the newspaper Blic. with emergency oxygen masks airport compound in the past. Nigeria ‘will not rest’ until Chibok girls are home Pilot Vladimir Vodopivec, 64, dangling down as wind rushed Last month they stormed a told a friend he thought it was around the main cabin, although Kenyan army base at El-Adde in “a bomb”, without giving more most people appeared fairly calm. southwest Somalia, in the lat- DPA In April 2014, members of the this pledge,” he added, draw- killed thousands in West Africa details. However, Somalia’s deputy est incident of an African Union Strasbourg Islamist insurgent group Boko ing a round of applause from EU since 2009 in its quest to estab- Photographs show a large hole information minister Abdullahi Mission in Somalia base being Haram abducted 276 schoolgirls legislators. lish a state with a strict inter- - about a metre in diameter - just Olad Roble, said the government overrun. from a state secondary school in Nigeria has reorganised its pretation of Islamic law. above the engines on the right does not believe it to be a bomb. The Shebaab have also staged he Nigerian government Chibok, in the eastern Nigerian armed forces to combat Boko Thousands of young women wing, with streaks of soot on the “Initial investigation results attacks in Kenya, killing at least “will not rest” until more state of Borno. The girls have Haram terrorists, he said, not- and girls have been captured in plane. suggest that there was a lot of air 67 people at Nairobi’s Westgate Tthan 200 schoolgirls not been seen since. ing that the authorities had re- past years and in some cases Vodopivec added that the inside the airplane after take off , Mall in 2013 and massacring 148 abducted in 2014 have been Buhari said he had promised captured some areas from the raped, forcibly married, and blast did not damage the navi- and that air may have caused the people at a university in Garissa freed, Nigerian President Mu- the girls’ parents that “the gov- extremist group and degraded made to participate in armed gation systems, and while cabin explosion, fi re erupted and sev- in April 2015. hammadu Buhari said yester- ernment will not rest until all its capabilities. attacks on their own com- pressure was lost, he was able eral people were slightly injured,” They have made no claim of day during a visit to the Euro- the girls are rescued alive and Buhari, who was elected last munities, according to human to guide the plane back safely to he said. carrying out a bomb attack on pean Parliament in Strasbourg, reunited with their families.” March, has promised to stop rights group Amnesty Interna- land at Mogadishu airport. “We have seen the plane... the plane. France. “I remain fully committed to Boko Haram. The group has tional.

Scholarship for ‘virgins’ in South Africa Top Zimbabwe A South African cabinet minister yesterday slammed as “ille- court cancels law gal” a new scholarship scheme for female students who must allowing arrests Zuma off ers to foot part of Gbagbo forces ‘shot pass virginity tests during the holidays to receive grant money. Uthukela municipality near Durban city last month awarded of journalists “maidens’ bursaries” to 16 university students on condition home improvement bill unarmed protesters’ they remain virgins until they completed their studies. imbabwe’s highest Beneficiaries of the cash will be subjected to regular tests, court yesterday can- traditionally conducted by elderly women. Zcelled legislation that Reuters With a crisis in Africa’s most indus- AFP Municipality mayor Dudu Mazibuko defended the grants as had allowed dozens of jour- Johannesburg trialised economy causing widespread The Hague a way to curb sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, nalists to be arrested in recent hardship, Zuma has faced rising criti- and unplanned teen pregnancies. years, declaring it unconsti- cism of his leadership since he secured a But Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini dis- tutional. outh African President Jacob Zuma second term in offi ce in 2014. he fi rst witness in the trial of former Ivorian presi- missed the tests as illegal, unhygienic and a violation of rights Four local journalists and has proposed footing part of the bill He came under fi re in December when dent Laurent Gbagbo yesterday gave a harrowing and said that the scheme would not work. the Namibia-based Media In- Sfor state-funded improvements to he changed fi nance ministers twice in Taccount of being shot at by troops loyal to the ex- “These arguments are, at best, misguided and inadvertently stitute of Southern Africa had his rural home, some of which anti-graft a week, sending the rand plummeting leader during an unarmed march after 2010 polls. provide a convenient screen for a patently harmful practice challenged the legislation, authorities said benefi ted him personally and alarming investors. The sacking of “I was dragging my leg and saw that the bone was stick- steeped in patriarchal practices that serve to oppress women,” which had allowed journal- in a report that triggered a political scandal. Nhlanhla Nene in favour of relatively un- ing out,” the fi rst prosecution witness identifi ed only as she wrote in the Daily Maverick news website. ists to be arrested on charges Zuma, who previously said he did not known and untested David van Rooyen, P-547 told the International Criminal Court. “Girls under the age of 18 cannot be subjected to virginity related to defamation. owe the state a refund, said he would who he then replaced with the experi- His face pixelated on television screens and his voice dis- testing. It is against the law,” she said, adding that women There were alternative ways allow the country’s auditor general and enced Pravin Gordhan, clouded Zuma’s guised to protect his identity, the man told how he was shot aged 18 or more must give “informed” consent before being to raise concerns over even- fi nance minister to decide how much of political reputation. Ratings agencies in the leg during a demonstration on December 16, 2010. tested. tual defamation, the institute the 250mn rand ($15mn) refurbishment have warned of credit downgrades if Pre- He was among thousands of supporters of current Ivo- Any consent can “not include coercion through making ac- argued. he should pay back. toria fails to keep prudent fi scal policies. rian President Alassane Ouattara who marched on a tele- cess to resources to study a condition for that support.” The Constitutional Court The 2013 security upgrade, which The militant opposition left-wing vision station in the economic capital of Abidjan following The amount of money available through the grants has not agreed that the law contra- included a cattle enclosure and amphi- Economic Freedom Fighters, meanwhile, a disputed November, 2010 election. been revealed. vened media freedom guaran- theatre, has been heavily criticised by has repeatedly heckled Zuma in parlia- Prosecutors say pro-Gbagbo forces killed at least 45 The minister, who is also the chairwoman of the ruling teed by the constitution. the opposition and news media. ment over his refusal to reimburse the persons, raped at least 16 women and girls, and wounded African National Congress (ANC) women’s league, described “In a struggle, any victory It also risks damaging Zuma’s govern- home improvements. It and the biggest at least 54 others on the day. virginity testing as “ineff ective, unhygienic and a gross viola- is worth celebrating,” said ing African National Congress’ showing opposition party, Democratic Alliance, “We moved towards the (television station) bare-hand- tion of a girls’ human rights.” Nhlanhla Ngwenya, Zimba- in municipal elections expected after asked the Constitutional Court to rule ed (unarmed). We could not get very close because peo- “Many first sexual encounters are unwanted... Despite this bwe director for the Media May, though the party has comfortably on whether the president is liable, and a ple were shooting at us,” said the witness, adding he was a there is a huge stigma attached to girls who ‘fail’ the virginity Institute of Southern Africa, won every election since toppling white hearing has been set for Tuesday. Zuma’s long-time Ouattara supporter. testing,” she said, calling the grant scheme akin to a “sexual which campaigns for media apartheid rule in 1994. lawyers have proposed settling the case, “I ran a bit, fell down, heard a gunshot and fell down off ense”. freedom. Zuma had proposed the solution in according to the opposition parties, who again. I saw my leg had been hit,” said the man, a Muslim, The South African Human Rights Commission told AFP it But “we have more laws order to “achieve an end to the drawn- say they want the hearing to go ahead. who worked at the time as a truck driver. would collaborate with the Commission for Gender Equality that we want struck off ” to out dispute”, the presidency said in a “President Zuma has a habit of back- Ouattara is a Muslim from the north while Gbagbo is a to investigate the scholarships. A SAHRC spokesman Isaac guarantee freedom of expres- statement late on Tuesday - a week be- ing down only when he’s in a corner Christian from southern Ivory Coast, the world’s top co- Mangena said it “has received several complaints” about the sion, he told DPA. “We will be fore the constitutional court is due to with absolutely nowhere else to go. He coa producer which was an oasis of stability in restive west bursaries. in court again soon.” rule on whether the president should did that with the fi nance minister,” NKC Africa until 1999 when disgruntled soldiers staged a coup. Mayor Mazibuko was not immediately available for com- President Robert Mugabe, reimburse the state. African Economics political analyst That was followed by a low-level civil war in 2002 pit- ment on Wednesday. About 6.8mn people live with HIV in who has ruled the southern Public Protector Thuli Madonsela Gary van Staden said. “It’s not going ting Gbagbo and Ouattara on opposite sides. South Africa, with a prevalence rate of 19% between those African country since 1980, said in a 2014 report that Zuma had to help the ANC although they’ll put a Gbagbo declared himself the winner of the 2010 elec- aged between 15 and 49. has been accused of stifl ing “benefi ted unduly” from some of the positive spin on it,” he said, referring to tions, but major powers including France, the former co- criticism of his regime. refurbishments. the municipal elections. lonial power, the US and the UN backed Ouattara, who had snatched a narrow victory. The row triggered a bitter standoff that saw Gbagbo holed up in the fortifi ed presidential palace and Abidjan turned into a war zone. Gbagbo and his former militia chief, Charles Ble Goude, deny four charges of crimes against humanity arising out of the violence which left some 3,000 dead. At the demonstration, the witness told how soldiers ar- rived and threw injured protesters into the back of a truck. The soldiers “asked me what I was doing...,” said the card-carrying member of Ouattara’s RDR party, speaking through an interpreter in his native Jula language. “I answered: ‘We are marching. We voted and we want justice’.” A soldier asked the witness: “What does Ouattara give you that you are willing to get killed for him?” “I answered: ‘It’s not about Ouattara it’s about the country, it’s about peace’,” he said. The soldiers then started to beat him saying the offi cer had “told them to beat me to death.” The soldiers eventu- ally left and asked “shall we kill him?” but were told “no, this guy is nearly dead, he won’t last.” He was eventually given fi rst aid by a Red Cross team and taken to hospital, P547 said. Yesterday’s testimony follows two days of opening statements by Gbagbo and Ble Goude’s defence teams. Gbagbo’s lawyers Monday accused Ouattara of taking power by force in Ivory Coast, aided by former colonial power France. Gbagbo was eventually arrested in April 2011 and transferred to the ICC’s detention unit in No- vember that year, while Ble Goude was handed over to the court in March 2014. Gulf Times Thursday, February 4, 2016 13 AMERICAS Trump accuses Cruz of ‘stealing’ Iowa caucuses

Reuters voting. “There is no place for this New York kind of behaviour.” The tweet contained a link to a Time magazine article published US President Barack Obama speaks at the Islamic Society of Baltimore yesterday. epublican presidential by Fortune, in which the retired candidate Donald Trump neurosurgeon’s campaign staff Ryesterday accused rival accused Cruz spreading false- Ted Cruz of stealing a victory in hoods about Carson’s campaign. the Iowa caucuses and called for Eric Jackman, an impersonator US Republican Rand Paul sus- another vote or nullifi cation of of Donald Trump, poses for a pended his 2016 presidential bid Cruz’s win. photograph before attending a yesterday after his small-gov- Trump, who fi nished sec- Trump campaign rally in Milford, ernment campaign failed to gain ond behind Cruz, lit up Twitter New Hampshire. traction with voters. GOP’s anti-Muslim yesterday with a series of posts The US senator from Kentucky saying the outcome was tainted Cruz had lied about his opin- was the second Republican can- because the Cruz campaign had ion of president Barack Obama’s didate, behind former Arkansas deliberately spread misinfor- healthcare program. governor Mike Huckabee, to drop mation about Trump’s stand on “And fi nally, Cruz strongly out of the race since Monday’s Obamacare and an erroneous re- told thousands of caucusgoers night’s Iowa caucuses. That con- port that Ben Carson was drop- (voters) that Trump was strong- test launched the parties’ proc- rhetoric fl ayed by ping out of the race. ly in favour of ObamaCare and ess to nominate candidates for Trump had gone into Mon- ‘choice’ - a total lie!” he said. the November election. day’s caucus voting ahead of the Cruz had apologised to Carson “It’s been an incredible honour Texas senator by fi ve percentage on Tuesday because of an email to run a principled campaign for points in a key poll but Cruz end- from his campaign before the the White House. Today, I will ed up winning, four points ahead caucuses, which are the crucial end where I began, ready and of the New York billionaire. fi rst vote in the US presidential willing to fi ght for the cause of President Obama “Ted Cruz didn’t win Iowa, nominating process. Liberty,” Paul said in a statement. he stole it,” Trump (@realDon- “The press is reporting that Dr. In the Republican race, the The president has that has no place in our which he said portray Mus- The president off ered post 9/11 era and aldTrump) tweeted. “That is why Ben Carson is taking time off from libertarian-leaning Paul fi nished attempted to reduce country,” he said, lauding lims in a narrow way. “two words that Muslim- their faith is con- all of the polls were so wrong and the campaign trail after Iowa and in fi fth place in Iowa with 4.5% of the hostility created by Muslim-Americans who “Our television shows Americans don’t hear often stantly linked to why he got far more votes than making a big announcement next the vote. Republican campaigners were sports heroes, entre- should have Muslim char- enough, and that is thank national security anticipated. Bad!” week,” the Cruz e-mail read, ac- Paul, who is also focused on preneurs and the architect acters that are unrelated to you”, saying they help unite and extremism.” Twitter was abuzz yesterday cording to CNN. “Please inform winning another US Senate term, AFP behind the skyscrapers of national security,” he said. the country in “one Ameri- The United morning over Trump’s accu- any Carson caucusgoers of this said he would continue fi ghting Washington Chicago. Obama had visited can family”. States is home sations. Several social media news and urge them to caucus for for limited government, criminal His comments comes as mosques in Malaysia, In- But he also called on to around 3.3mn users tweeted screengrabs of Ted Cruz.” justice reform and “reasonable” a shrill election debate has donesia and Egypt as presi- Muslims to help tackle rad- Muslims. an alleged deleted tweet from “Many people voted for Cruz foreign policy. arack Obama yester- sullied America’s image dent, but this was his fi rst icalisation. Around 81 Mus- Trump’s official account, in over Carson because of this Cruz The heir apparent to the lib- day off ered an im- abroad, and militant at- visit to one of America’s “How do we defend our- lim-Americans which he said Cruz “illegally” fraud,” Trump said in one of his ertarian-minded voters who Bpassioned rebuttal tacks in San Bernardino and 2,000-plus places of Is- selves against organisations were involved in stolen the vote. tweets. helped his father gain a standing of “inexcusable” Republi- Philadelphia threatened to lamic worship. that are bent on killing in- violent extrem- “Based on the fraud commit- Carson had tweeted his feel- in the last two presidential elec- can election-year rhetoric shatter post-9/11 religious In 2009, a freshly elected nocents?” he asked. ist plots in 2015, ted by Senator Ted Cruz during ings about the Iowa vote on tions, Paul struggled to attract against Muslims as he made solidarity at home. Obama travelled to Cairo to “It can’t be the work according to the the Iowa caucus, either a new Tuesday. support in a crowded Republican his fi rst trip to an American Six days after the 2001 call for a “new beginning” of any one faith alone. It Triangle Center election should take place or “Shameless tactics & dirty fi eld. mosque, seven years into attacks in New York and with the Muslim world. can’t be just a burden on on Terrorism and Cruz results nullifi ed,” Trump political plays defi ned yester- His withdrawal leaves 10 Re- his presidency. Washington, then Repub- Much of Obama’s foreign the Muslim community, Homeland Secu- wrote. days #iacaucus,” he said, using publican candidates in the 2016 Obama, whose grand- lican president George W policy agenda has focused although the Muslim com- rity. In another tweet, Trump said a popular hashtag to refer to the White House race. father converted to Islam, Bush visited the Islamic on improving ties with munity has to play a role.” made the short trip to the Center of Washington, de- Muslim nations, from mak- That message is a vexed Islamic Society of Balti- claring “Islam is peace”. ing a nuclear deal with Iran one for members of the more mosque, where he Today, Republican presi- to ending wars in Iraq and community, including met community leaders dential candidate Donald Afghanistan. those who oppose violence. and called on Americans Trump has wooed conserv- But the eff ort has been “I know national security not to be “bystanders to ative voters by demanding a stymied by continued con- will come up in the speech bigotry”. ban on Muslim immigrants, frontation with militant just because of the climate Hailing the tolerance while frontrunner Ted Cruz groups and military strikes of today,” said Riham Os- shown by American po- has advocated Christian- in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, man of the Muslim Public litical icons from Thomas only admissions and cham- Pakistan, Somalia, Syria Aff airs Council, an advo- Jeff erson to Dwight Ei- pioned “Judeo-Christian and Yemen. cacy group, ahead of the senhower, Obama hit out values”. Obama restated his case speech. at anti-Islamic sentiment Yesterday, Obama said: that organisations like the “It does upset me a little that is “not who we are”. “An attack on one faith is Islamic State group pervert bit that it is his fi rst time “We’ve heard inexcus- an attack on all our faiths.” Islam and do not represent coming to visit a mosque, able political rhetoric He also criticised the the vast majority of Mus- and there will be kids there against Muslim-Americans media and Hollywood, lims. who have grown up in this Clinton on Trump: ‘We were not friends’

Reuters Trump said Hillary Clinton did not “I really care about what he says Washington have strength or stamina to be presi- about other people, who don’t have the dent and he called her the worst US voice and the platform,” Clinton said, secretary of state, a post she held from referring to immigrants and American emocratic presidential candi- 2009 to 2013. Muslims. date Hillary Clinton wants to When Clinton denounced Trump “You know, what is he talking about? Dset the record straight on Don- last month as using infl ammatory Why is he doing this?” Clinton said. ald Trump: “We were not friends.” rhetoric, saying he has “demonstrated “So I’m more concerned about the tone “We knew each other, obviously, in a penchant for sexism”, Trump turned that is being set in the political debate New York,” Clinton, a former US sena- the phrase against her, using it to re- this year because the last thing our tor from New York, said in excerpts of fer to Bill Clinton’s sexual scandals as country needs right now is more divi- a People magazine interview released president. siveness, more mean-spiritedness.” yesterday. “I knew a lot of people.” Trump’s blunt and sometime outra- It was not clear when the People Trump, the real estate billionaire geous style and comments about His- interview, which included Clinton’s whose standing as Republican front- panics, women, Muslims and his rivals daughter, Chelsea, was conducted. runner was dented by a second-place for the nomination have set much of Chelsea Clinton said she has never fi nish in the Iowa caucuses on Monday, the tone for the Republican race. had a relationship with Donald Trump had long touted his friendship with Bill Clinton has accused him of being di- but remains friends with his daughter, and Hillary Clinton. People cited a 2012 visive and a bully. Ivanka. Fox News interview in which Trump “I don’t really care that much about “I do believe that friendship is more said he liked both Clintons “a lot”. what he says about me because I do see important than politics,” she told Peo- But the Clintons, who attended that as, you know, politics - not par- ple. “I would never hold anyone ac- Trump’s 2005 wedding, were fair game ticularly the brand I approve of,” she countable for what their parents or on the campaign trail. In November told People. anyone else in their family said or did.”

Georgia executes oldest death row inmate

Reuters ment of Corrections said in a statement. Georgia State Board of Pardons and Pa- Atlanta Jones’ death was delayed nearly six roles rejected his petition to commute his hours following a fl urry of appeals by his sentence to life without parole. attorneys. The US supreme court late on A federal district court overturned his 72-year-old man convicted of Tuesday denied Jones’ request for a stay death sentence in 1989 because a trial murdering a convenience store of execution. judge had allowed a Bible in the jury de- Amanager in a 1979 robbery in At- His execution was the fi fth this year liberation room, fi nding it could have im- lanta’s suburbs was executed in Georgia in the United States, and the fi rst of two properly infl uenced jurors to base their early yesterday, corrections offi cials said. scheduled this month in Georgia, ac- decision on scripture instead of the law. Brandon Astor Jones, the oldest inmate cording to the Death Penalty Information Another jury again sentenced Jones to on the state’s death row, died by lethal in- Center, which monitors capital punish- death in 1997. Jones had continued to ap- jection at 12.46am at Georgia Diagnostic ment nationwide. Texas, Alabama and peal the verdict, saying his trial lawyers and Classifi cation Prison in Jackson. Florida executed inmates last month, the failed to introduce evidence of his history He accepted a fi nal prayer and record- centre said. of mental illness and childhood sexual ed a fi nal statement, the Georgia Depart- The Georgia supreme court and the abuse. Gulf Times 14 Thursday, February 4, 2016 ASEAN

Indonesia Mahathir’s son forced out as confi rms Zika case, Najib tightens grip over party urges calm sia’s formation in 1957. Reuters Swiss say Malaysian PM not accused in 1MDB probe AFP Kuala Lumpur UMNO Sabah state liaison Jakarta committee deputy chairman Salleh Said Keruak told Reuters Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is not among those accused of he son of former Ma- that the party would have risked wrongdoing in an investigation by Switzerland’s chief prosecutor into ndonesia yesterday offi cially laysian leader Mahathir losing control of Kedah if Na- alleged corruption involving the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) confi rmed a case of the Zika TMohamed quit as chief jib hadn’t replaced Mukhriz, as sovereign fund, a Swiss off icial said. Ivirus dating back to last year minister of a northern state yes- state party leaders no longer had The Swiss Attorney General’s off ice said last Friday that it had identified but said it was prepared to han- terday, forced out by loyalists of confi dence in the chief minister. four cases of alleged criminal misconduct in the suspected misappro- dle any outbreak of the disease the country’s scandal-plagued “So the party president has priation of about $4bn from Malaysian state companies. Andre Marty, which has sparked alarm in the Prime Minister Najib Razak as no choice but to replace the spokesman for the Off ice of Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber, Americas. he battles for political survival. chief minister. If not the state is said in an emailed response to a Reuters query on Tuesday, “In the on- Government offi cials con- The ousting of Mukhriz Ma- going to fall,” Salleh said. going criminal proceeding of the OAG (Off ice of Attorney General), Mr fi rmed a single case of the mos- hathir as chief minister of Ke- The greatest threat to Na- Najib Razak is not one of the public off icials under accusation.” Lauber’s quito-borne Zika virus had been dah tightens Najib’s grip over jib’s political survival could still off ice announced last August that it had opened criminal proceedings detected in Jambi on Sumatra the United Malays National Or- come from within UMNO, if related to 1MDB, whose advisory board is chaired by Najib. Late last island. It was discovered by re- ganisation (UMNO), weaken- members decide he has become week, Lauber’s off ice issued a statement in which it said it had formally searchers studying specimens ing a rival faction in the ruling unelectable. The opposition asked the Attorney General of Malaysia for assistance in Switzerland’s taken during a dengue fever out- party. bloc split after its leader, Anwar investigation. It said the investigation related to possible bribery of for- break between December 2014 Mahathir, Malaysia’s long- Ibrahim, was jailed a year ago on eign public off icials, misconduct in public off ice, money laundering and and April 2015. est-serving prime minister, has a sodomy conviction that many criminal mismanagement and that the criminal investigation involved “We found an infected pa- been Najib’s fi ercest critic, re- Mukhriz Mahathir, the son of former Malaysian leader Mahathir observers said was politically two unnamed “former off icials” of 1MDB and “persons unknown.” tient in Jambi. The presentation peatedly calling on him to step Mohamed, quit yesterday, after being forced out by loyalists of the motivated. The febrile state of by the health minister showed down over a multibillion dollar country’s scandal-plagued Prime Minister Najib Razak. the Southeast Asian nation’s that it is under control,” senior scandal at state fund 1Malaysia politics prompted the prime litical atmosphere can become Attorney-General Abdul Gani minister Puan Maharani told re- Development Berhad (1MDB) had lost majority support in the 1MDB scandal and the 2.6bn minister’s younger brother, less toxic,” Nazir wrote in an In- Patail, who created a special porters after a high-level meet- and over deposits of $681mn state assembly. ringgit donation and the in- Nazir Razak, chairman of the stagram post on Saturday. task force to investigate 1MDB. ing convened by President Joko in the prime minister’s private “The true reason for this ac- creasing burden on the peo- CIMB Group, to draw parallels Najib sacked deputy prime The Wall Street Journal re- Widodo to discuss the virus. bank account. tion against me is due to my ple caused by GST (Goods and with HBO’s medieval fantasy minister Muhyiddin Yassin and ported last July that investiga- Zika has sparked widespread Mukhriz has also been critical criticism of the prime minister, Services Tax),” Mukhriz said. series “Game of Thrones”. several other cabinet members tors probing 1MDB had identi- alarm in parts of the Americas. of Najib, and UMNO lawmakers as he himself has admitted,” The internal strife has dam- “The parallels with GoT con- for openly questioning his han- fi ed funds worth 2.6bn ringgit It is suspected of causing grave in Kedah aligned to the prime Mukhriz said in a statement aged UMNO, which has led all tinue. The future terrifi es me: I dling of 1MDB, weeks after the that had been transferred di- brain damage in newborns and minister retaliated two weeks read out to a news conference. of the country’s ruling multi- just can’t see how our institu- scandal erupted in the middle rectly to the prime minister’s has similar symptoms to dengue ago, declaring that Mukhriz “My criticism was on the ethnic coalitions since Malay- tions can recover, how our po- of last year. He also removed bank accounts. fever. Health experts have warned Asia is particularly vulnerable to the virus, given that the Aedes aegypti mosquito — which car- ries Zika, dengue fever and the Despite ancestral links, Chinese chikungunya virus — thrives in its congested cities. Offi cials in Indonesia, a tropi- cal country of 250mn where opera struggles in Thailand urban outbreaks of mosquito- borne illnesses are common, called for calm and vigilance. AFP lation is ethnic Chinese following centuries of immi- “People must not panic and Nakhon Pathom gration and assimilation. Many more have Chinese continue to keep their surround- roots among their forebears. But the number of Thais ings clean,” said Maharani. of Chinese descent who understand the ‘Teochew’ hai performers caked in make-up belt out the dialect used by this group of singers is dwindling. piercing notes of Chinese opera - an art form There was a time when nomadic Chinese opera TOURISM Tunder threat by changing cultural habits and troupes like this were a common feature of the Thai Vietnam gets new demographics in a kingdom reshaped by centuries of landscape, travelling from village to village bringing immigration from the north. the entertaining sights and sounds of a tradition that cable car system With Chinese New Year kicking off next week, the dates back centuries. nomadic “Lau San Chia Soon” troupe, who pitch Mangkorn Supongpan, 62, whose parents founded A cable car system more than their stage wherever they are invited, are expecting a Lau San Chia Soon, says there are now fewer than 20 six kilometres long has been particularly busy few days. mobile groups like his travelling across Thailand. launched in north-west Vietnam, But this eye-catching form of musical theatre is He admits it’s hard to attract people to the lifestyle. news reports said yesterday. struggling as younger generations of Thais look for Performers raise their children, eat and sleep beneath The 6,292-metre cable car ascends entertainment elsewhere, something performers the stage, packing it up and all their belongings every 1,410 metres, taking visitors from desperately want to change. few days to move to a new venue. “It’s a hard life be- the Muong Hoa Valley to the top “The history of Chinese opera is getting forgot- cause we barely go back home, we perform all year of Fansipan Mountain in Lao Cai ten and is vanishing as new generations don’t really long, non-stop,” he says. province near the Chinese border. know much about it,” 25-year-old Natnicha Saeung, Few will see riches either. The average monthly It was built with help from Austria’s who began performing with this troupe at the age of wage for a performer is between 10-20,000 baht Doppelmayr Garaventa Group, 13, tells AFP from a recent performance in Nakhon ($280-$560) depending on their role. Most commu- Tuoi Tre News reported.At 3,143 Pathom, a province to the west of Bangkok. nities that invite operas to perform do it more as a way metres above sea level, Fansipan Her colleague Chukiat Thippan, 23, agrees. to honour ancestors than to entertain the masses. is known as the “roof of Indo- “There are not many people watching Chinese op- But some among the largely elderly crowd watch- china,” as it was the tallest peak in eras now,” he tells AFP behind a hastily erected tem- ing the troupe’s performance that night hope younger France’s former South-East Asia porary stage. “Some of the older Thai-Chinese peo- generations might be inspired to give Chinese opera a colonies.The only way to reach the ple passed away and the new generations don’t really try. “People now stay home and watch TV,” says Prasit Chinese opera artists on stage during a performance held in a village in Nakhon Pathom province, west summit previously was a gruelling continue the tradition.” About 14% of the Thai popu- Puthiprapa, a sprightly 81-year-old. of Bangkok. two-day trek on foot. Suu Kyi urges patience over Myanmar presidency decision

AFP Naypyidaw

ung San Suu Kyi tried yesterday to calm nerves over Myanmar’s tense political tran- Asition, with her choice of proxy presidential candidate shrouded in mystery days after her par- ty took up its parliamentary majority. Suu Kyi and hundreds of fellow lawmakers from her National League for Democracy (NLD) strode into the legislature on Monday with a huge man- date from November elections, carrying the hopes of a nation desperate to rebound after decades un- der the military yoke. But the democracy champion, who is herself barred from the presidency under a constitution scripted by the former junta, said it was “not yet time to form a government”. She was speaking at her fi rst press conference since the new parliament. “Don’t be anxious. You will know when the time comes,” Suu Kyi told reporters, adding that Myanmar’s National League for Democracy (NLD) chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi holds a press conference the party must “think carefully” about its choice after the new lower house parliamentary session in Naypyidaw yesterday. of a candidate and suggesting the decision would not come until next month. The NLD’s massive which under the constitution is granted 25% of tives for the roles of parliament speakers and their majority — with almost 80% of parliament’s seats parliamentary seats — giving it an eff ective veto deputies, which she said was intended to promote — gives it a clear run at the presidential selection. on charter change. “national reconciliation”. Suu Kyi, the centrepiece of Myanmar’s long de- The army has so far resisted any move to amend She also chided reporters over their over-eager mocracy struggle, is excluded from the presidency the clause that blocks Suu Kyi, and a commentary approach to news collection in recent months, by a charter clause that bars anyone with close in the state military newspaper on Monday restat- following chaotic scenes during the election and relatives who are foreign. ed this stance. huge media scrums in parliament this week. She has sought to sidestep that problem by Elected members of both houses of parliament “People should be able to move around freely,” vowing to rule “above” a proxy leader. and the military will nominate three candidates she said, but pledged to work for greater transpar- But the secrecy surrounding a potential candi- to replace outgoing President Thein Sein, who re- ency in a party that decreed recently that she alone date has sent ripples of disquiet through the na- tains his post until the end of March. could act as a spokesperson. tion. The new president will then be chosen by a vote The next government faces a daunting rebuild- There are few obvious choices since the pro- of the combined houses. ing task in one of Southeast Asia’s poorest coun- democracy movement has been dominated by Suu Suu Kyi said she was “really satisfi ed” with tries, where civil wars continue to rage in ethnic Kyi’s charismatic leadership since the 1980s. the parliamentary process so far, particularly the borderlands and public services bear the scars of The NLD also faces a still-powerful military, selection of several ethnic minority representa- junta neglect. Gulf Times Thursday, February 4, 2016 15 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

China cuts 11 prison sentences Aussie ruling paves way

Reuters Beijing

uthorities in China’s un- for infants’ deportation ruly far-western region Aof Xinjiang have reduced Reuters tiny South Pacifi c island nation ter after she was transferred to minister and the prime minister, glers will not prevail over our sent to camps on Nauru, about the sentences of 11 people jailed Sydney of Nauru. Australia for medical treatment just like other decent Austral- sovereignty,” he told parliament. 3,000km (1,800 miles) north- for threatening state security The detention centre on Nau- in 2014 and has remained there ians, can see that there is simply “Our borders are secure. The east of Australia, or on Manus after declaring success of a de- ru houses about 500 people and with her child. no excuse to take 37 babies, to line has to be drawn somewhere island in Papua New Guinea. radicalisation programme, state ustralia’s High Court has has been widely criticised by Other families with children rip children from their class- and it is drawn at our border.” The ruling will allow Immi- news agency Xinhua reported. thrown out a challenge to the United Nations and human born in Australia in similar cir- rooms, and warehouse them on Children born in Australia to gration Minister Peter Dutton Hundreds of people have been Aoff shore immigration de- rights agencies for harsh con- cumstances are now in line to be a tiny island,” HRLC director of non-citizens or parents without to fulfi l his pledge to deport the killed in violence in Xinjiang in tention camps, clearing the way ditions and reports of systemic returned to the camps. legal advocacy Daniel Webb said. legal residency are not entitled infants, as well as 54 children the past few years. for the deportation of dozens of child abuse. Lawyers from the Human “Now, the legality may be com- to citizenship until after their brought to Australia from Nauru The government blames the infants born in Australia to de- The Bangladeshi woman was Rights Law Centre (HRLC) act- plex. The politics may be com- 10th birthday, and then only if for medical treatment and more unrest on Islamist militants who tained asylum-seekers. on a boat intercepted by Austral- ing for the Bangladeshi woman plex. But the morality is simple. they have lived most of their than 150 adult family members. want to establish an independ- The court rejected a legal test ian authorities in October 2013. had argued that it was illegal It is fundamentally wrong.” lives in Australia. UN children’s fund Unicef ent state called East Turkestan case brought by an unidentifi ed She was detained on Austral- for Australia to operate and pay Prime Minister Malcolm Under Australia’s immigra- called the decision “unreasona- for minority Uighurs, a mostly Bangladeshi woman that chal- ia’s remote Christmas Island and for off shore detention in a third Turnbull defended the ruling. tion policy, asylum-seekers ble” in a statement and urged the Muslim people from Xinjiang lenged Australia’s right to deport later sent to Nauru. country. “Our commitment today is attempting to reach the coun- government not to move ahead who speak a Turkic language. detained asylum-seekers to the She gave birth to a daugh- “I hope that the immigration simply this: the people smug- try by boat are intercepted and with the deportations. Seven of the convicts had their life sentences reduced to jail terms ranging from 19.5 years to 20 years, including people con- victed of instigating “secession- ist activities” or participating in Chinese woman terror attacks, Xinhua said late on Tuesday. The other four had their jail terms cut by six months from the sole passenger initial sentences ranging from eight to 15 years, it added. Xinjiang’s governor, Shohrat Zakir, was quoted by Xinhua as on New Year fl ight saying that the region’s jails had been very successful in recent years at their de-radicalisation AFP eff orts, with a majority of con- Beijing victs becoming law-abiding citizens. Eff orts need to continue in Chinese woman heading this regard with a focus on those home for the holidays had convicted for harming state se- Aa commercial airline fl ight curity, he said. all to herself after gruelling de- Xinhua said this had been ac- lays winnowed down other pas- complished by inviting religious sengers. leaders and scholars to talk to As nearly 100,000 people prisoners about “correct reli- found themselves stranded at gious belief”. train stations in Guangzhou One of those whose sentence on Monday trying to leave, the was reduced was identifi ed as woman, surnamed Zhang, docu- Yushanjiang Jilili, the Chinese mented her unique trip to the spelling for Huseyin Celil, a Ui- city on social media. ghur-Canadian jailed in 2007 for She posted photos showing terrorism. row after row of empty seats on China considers him a Chi- the China Southern plane as it This photo taken on Monday nese citizen. fl ew from Wuhan. shows Zhang taking a selfie on “My crimes caused serious The fl ight was delayed for 10 an empty flight from Wuhan damage to my country, Xinjiang, A man sits on top of a tent as people queue yesterday outside Guangzhou Railway Station. hours, and other passengers de- to Guangzhou, after the China my family and children that can parted on earlier fl ights, leaving Southern flight was delayed for never be made up for,” Xinhua Zhang to enjoy personalised at- 10 hours. quoted him as saying. tention from the plane’s crew. In Ottawa, a Canadian offi cial The experience was “tuhao”, and overcrowded planes, trains confi rmed Celil’s sentence had Free upgrades for stranded travellers she said on her social media feed, and automobiles are the norm. been reduced. using a slang term for the nou- Many on social media envied Canadian diplomats have veau riche. Zhang’s good luck in avoiding the been unable to get consular ac- AFP jor hub for the vast numbers of Vast numbers were held up ices to destinations north of China Southern schedules enormous crowds. cess to Celil, who was deported Beijing migrant workers who leave their at two stations in Guangzhou the city to reduce the crowds, show the fl ight is normally oper- “What a fl uke that you went to China while visiting relatives homes in the countryside to la- when their outbound trains the Guangzhou Railway (Group) ated using a Boeing 737-700 air- against the big New Year’s cur- in Uzbekistan. bour in factories. were many hours late reaching Corporation said in a statement. craft, which generally seats 137 rent”, one comment said, not- Reuters was also unable to hinese rail authori- Many only return home once the city, with the crowds peak- High-speed tickets are much passengers. ing that the plane will be com- reach offi cials in Xinjiang for ties have off ered 10,000 a year, when tradition dictates ing at nearly 100,000 people at more expensive than ordinary Statistics on website Flight- pletely full on its fl ight back from comment, or any family mem- Cstranded Lunar New that all family members must one point on Monday, local po- trains but the delayed travellers radar24 show that a China Guangzhou, a city that attracts bers of the convicts to verify Year travellers free upgrades to gather before midnight on the lice said. would not be charged the diff er- Southern fl ight from Wuhan to many economic migrants. their stories. high-speed trains as they tack- eve of the Lunar New Year which Around 33,000 were still ence, it said. Guangzhou on Monday was due Over the last several days, tens Exiles and many rights groups led a huge backlog of passengers falls on February 8 this time. stranded at Guangzhou sta- Nearly 10,000 would benefi t. to leave at 0640 GMT, but did of thousands have been stranded say the real cause of the unrest is stuck in Guangzhou by snow The phenomenon puts huge tion by midday yesterday, state The Chinese government es- not do until 1639 GMT. at the city’s trains stations due to heavy-handed Chinese policies, and ice. pressure on the country’s trans- broadcaster China Central Tel- timates that 2.91bn trips will be The huge movement of Chi- weather conditions. including curbs on Uighur cul- The city is the capital of the port infrastructure and a big evision said. taken over the holiday’s 40-day nese travelling home to spend But one commenter saw the ture, and a dearth of economic southern province of Guang- freeze in north and central Chi- Rail authorities called up travel season, in what is thought the Lunar New Year with their glass half-empty: “Even under opportunity, rather than any co- dong, which as China’s manu- na worsened the situation this four high-speed trains from to be the largest yearly move- families is often described as the these conditions, they still didn’t hesive militant group. facturing powerhouse is a ma- year. other areas to run extra serv- ment of people in the world. world’s largest human migration upgrade you?”

Harry Potter gets the Neighbours warn N Korea manga treatment against satellite launch plan AFP by a Japanese design company Tokyo and went on sale last month DPA toward Japan’s security”, Prime and civil aviation issues had been adorning a collection of plas- New York Minister Shinzo Abe said during notifi ed, UN spokesman Farhan tic folders, with badges and key a parliament committee session. Haq said. arry Potter and his wiz- chains to hit stores soon. China’s foreign ministry “Right now, we are carefully arding friends have The Harry Potter movies orth Korea should aban- spokesman Lu Kang meanwhile monitoring developments and Hbeen transmogrifi ed were box-offi ce gold in Japan, don its plan to fi re a said that Beijing was “deeply are in close touch with the inter- into cartoon characters in Ja- the seven fi lms raking in almost The merchandise will be sold licensed by Warner Bros. Nrocket into space, its concerned” about the news. ested parties and international pan, a country which remains $900mn and watched by more in Japan only. Japan is obsessed with the neighbours South Korea, Japan While North Korea should organisations,” he said. bewitched by the fantasy world than 78mn cinema-goers. Hogwarts headmaster Albus British children’s adventure, and China said yesterday, af- have “the right to use the outer The US said the planned of Hogwarts and its magical in- Typically, the Japanese ver- Dumbledore, the brooding Pro- with the Wizarding World of ter Pyongyang told UN agencies space peacefully”, this right was launch would be a provocation habitants. sion of the characters get the fessor Snape and Harry’s faith- Harry Potter – an attraction at that it would carry out a satellite currently restricted under a UN and that it is continuing to work Thirteen manga-style illus- full “manga” treatment with ful owl Hedwig have also been Universal Studios Japan in Osa- launch later this month. Security Council resolution, with the international commu- trations, including Harry and shimmering hair tumbling from given a cartoon makeover, in a ka based on the movie set – at- The launch would be a “chal- Kang said. nity to weigh its actions follow- his sidekicks Hermione Granger oversized heads fi tted with large collaboration involving Japa- tracting record numbers of visi- lenge” to the international com- “We hope North Korea exer- ing a North Korean nuclear test and Ron Weasley, were created bug eyes. nese fi lm studio Shochiku and tors to the park. munity, said Cho Tae Yong, cises self-restraint and acts with last month. deputy chief of the presiden- prudence and does not take ac- “The international communi- tial offi ce of national security in tion which may lead to a further ty would regard a step like that by South Korea, according to Yon- escalation of tensions in the situ- the North Koreans as just anoth- hap News Agency. ation on the Korean peninsula,” er irresponsible provocation and “We sternly warn North Korea Kang said. a clear violation of their interna- KFC wins payout over mutant chicken rumours that it will pay a harsh price” if Kang said that China was tional obligations,” White House it goes ahead, he was quoted as “willing to maintain communi- spokesman Josh Earnest said. saying. cation and co-ordination with North Korea launched a rocket Reuters microblog, the Xuhui District yuan ($91,191), an amount that the three companies fi ned by the Japan’s Defence Minister Gen each party ... to play a construc- in 2012, claiming it had sent a Shanghai People’s Court said Yingchen- fell far short of the 1.5mn yuan court. Nakatani said the rocket was tive role in safeguarding and pro- satellite into space. anzhi Success and Culture ($227,977) Yum had asked each KFC China brought the suit projected to fl y near the south- moting the stability and devel- But the US charged the coun- Communication, Taiyuan Zero company to pay in damages. against the fi rms in June last western island of Okinawa and opment of the peninsula and the try with having secretly tested Shanghai court has fi ned Point Technology, and Shanxi “We brought suit against year for using 10 accounts on its neighbouring islands. local region”. intercontinental ballistic mis- three local tech fi rms for Weilukuang Technology had these individuals for mak- Tencent Holdings Ltd’s popular He had ordered the military The UN said it had been in- siles with nuclear capabilities. Ahelping spread rumours “damaged KFC’s reputation” ing false statements about the messaging platform WeChat to to shoot down the North Korean formed of plans to launch an North Korea says it exploded about Yum Brands Incorpo- and “caused it economic losses” quality of our food and we are spread the defamatory posts. rocket if it threatened Japan’s “Earth observation satellite” a hydrogen bomb on January 6, rated’s KFC fast food chain that by permitting the allegations to pleased with the outcome,” Food safety is a major concern territory, using a missile inter- between February 8 and 25, less but Western experts say evidence included doctored photos of de- be posted on their social mes- China-based Yum spokeswom- in China, with frequent scandals ceptor system. than a month after the reclusive suggests it was more likely to formed chickens and allegations saging accounts. an Cindy Wei said in e-mailed ranging from recycled “gut- “Forcibly carrying out a launch regime’s controversial nuclear have been a normal atom bomb. the birds had six wings and eight The companies were ordered comments sent to Reuters. ter oil” and years-old “zombie would be in clear defi ance of UN test. An H-bomb has a higher ex- legs. to make an offi cial apology and Reuters was unable to fi nd meat”, to dairy laced with indus- Security Council resolutions” Three UN agencies that handle plosive force than what was ob- In a statement on its offi cial fi ned a combined 600,000 contact numbers or websites for trial chemicals. and “a grave act of provocation maritime, telecommunication served. Gulf Times 16 Thursday, February 4, 2016 BRITAIN/IRELAND

CLAIM LAW AND ORDER OPINION CUISINE CRIME Scotland Yard ‘to close Prosecutors’ approach All Tories should be Londoners conquer their Petrol bomb thrown VIP paedophile inquiry’ to rape cases faulted shot, says union chief fear of eating snails at police off icers

Scotland Yard is on the verge of closing its Prosecutors were accused of using a flawed A firebrand union boss was yesterday branded London’s diners are more adventurous than ever A 22-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion VIP paedophile inquiry after off icers failed to approach to rape cases in London as a watchdog “disgraceful” after he said Conservatives should and are happy to tackle previously “daunting” of assault after a “petrol bomb” device was thrown find any significant evidence, it was claimed warned that innocent suspects are being be “taken out and shot”. RMT chief Steve Hedley dishes such as snails and steak tartare, according at police off icers in Liverpool. Merseyside Police yesterday. The inquiry, codenamed Operation wrongly charged in an attempt to raise the made the outburst ahead of a major strike by to chef Raymond Blanc. He also said Brits were said that the man from Anfield has been taken to Midland, was opened 14 months ago after a number of convictions. HM Crown Prosecution Tube station staff this weekend. He faced a furious becoming less squeamish and sentimental, a police station to be interviewed. Inquiries are witness known as Nick claimed he had been Service Inspectorate said a decision to put the backlash from both Tory and Labour politicians with off al and venison soaring in popularity. His still ongoing into the incident which happened abused as a child by senior politicians and same team in charge of rape and domestic who said his words were unacceptable. The senior restaurant group’s latest figures revealed 20% in Townsend Lane, Anfield. Four off icers were military figures. His testimony, described by abuse cases had led to “poor” decision making assistant general secretary was speaking live on more snail dishes than goats’ cheese salads were injured in the attack. The incident took place after detectives as “credible and true”, also included and a drop in standards. It added that some air when he compared Tube staff to junior NHS sold last summer and Blanc, 66, said: “Snails would a warrant was executed shortly before 4pm at an allegations that politicians had murdered at least cases were being handled by non-specialists as doctors saying both had a right to strike. Speaking have been very daunting. Only a few would have address in Lampeter Road in which a man made three boys. Now Met commissioner Sir Bernard a result and cited figures showing the “attrition” on LBC he called Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt an dared to take it. It has become very popular.” The his way on to the roof of the nearby Dockers Club Hogan-Howe is said to be close to issuing a rate of rape cases in London which “fail to make “absolute abysmal Tory”. He went on: “I think all restaurant group surveyed 2,000 customers and in Townsend Lane. As the off icers cordoned off the statement announcing a formal end to the it through the criminal justice system” stands at the Tories are an absolute disgrace, they should be found Londoners were the most experimental area in a bid to speak to him and persuade him to investigation. 48%. taken out and shot to be quite frank with you.” eaters, with 70% saying they were adventurous. come down, they were assaulted. Lord Lucan declared dead 42 years after disappearing

AFP The case sparked worldwide in- London terest after his blood-soaked car was found abandoned near the coast, and since then there have judge declared the infa- been dozens of supposed sight- mous Lord Lucan offi cially ings of him from southern Africa Adead yesterday, four dec- to New Zealand. ades after he disappeared follow- Bizarre conspiracy theories ing the murder of the family’s nan- abound, with one of Lucan’s old ny in a lurid tale that has gripped gambling friends claiming last Britain. week that he committed suicide “The court must make the and was then fed to a tiger in a zoo declaration that is sought on this to avoid leaving proof of death case,” judge Sarah Asplin told a and handing his estate over to es- court in London following an ap- tranged wife Veronica. plication by Lucan’s son George Public interest in the story has Bingham, who offi cially becomes been fed by tales of the playboy Ireland’s Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tanaiste Joan Burton depart the Government Buildings after announcing the beginning of the general election in Dublin, Ireland the 8th Earl of Lucan. lifestyle of Lucan, an inveterate yesterday. The Taoiseach has dissolved the 31st Dail and the election date has been set for February 26. Bingham, 48, launched a High gambler, in London high society at Court bid to obtain a death certifi - the time and the fact that several cate for his father last year, bring- of his wealthy friends have kept ing to an end one chapter in a story silent on the story. still full of unanswered questions Police issued a warrant for his that revolves around London high arrest a few days after the murder. society of the 1970s and its gam- Bingham, who is set to inherit bling underworld. the title of Lord Bingham, Earl of “I am very happy with the Lucan, began the legal process last Irish PM calls election, judgement of the court in this October by posting a public notice matter. It has been a very long time in a local newspaper. He has said coming,” Bingham told reporters the death certifi cate would “bring after the hearing. closure”. “I got married this year. I’ve He recently married Anne- started a new branch in my career. Sofi e Foghsgaard, the daughter of It was a nice moment to say fare- a wealthy Danish industrialist. economy to be in focus well to a very distant past and to But Neil Berriman, the mur- move on at a very personal level,” dered nanny’s biological son, said Reuters pendent deputies or fresh elec- than elsewhere in Europe took former for the third year running could happen as soon as June. he said. “Our family has no idea he was “shocked” to hear of Bing- Dublin tions all possible. hold. in 2016. Polls show Fine Gael with how our own father met his own ham’s application. He initially Announcing a ballot he hopes But while many voters have An inconclusive outcome sim- around 30% of votes and Labour end. Whether he did so at his own lodged an objection, which he has will make him his party’s fi rst benefi ted, others are still feeling ilar to recent national elections in at or below 10%, leaving them hand or at the hand of others.” since withdrawn. rish Prime Minister Enda two-time prime minister, Kenny the eff ects of the 2008 financial Spain and Portugal is unlikely to more than 10 seats short of a par- “It’s a mystery and it may well “I thought about objecting Kenny yesterday set parlia- appealed to voters to give his gov- crisis and a brutal seven-year derail that surge, given Ireland is liamentary majority of 80 and remain that way forever.” straight away,” he said. “I think he Imentary elections for Febru- ernment the credit for the turna- austerity programme - a disparity more vulnerable to external than with no obvious alternative coali- Mystery has shrouded the was selfi sh saying he wanted clo- ary 26, kicking off campaigning round it has overseen. the opposition was quick to high- to internal shocks. tion in view. whereabouts of Richard John sure but seemed to have forgotten for what promises to be a tight “Five years ago Ireland’s light yesterday. But investors have turned more Sinn Fein and centre-left Fian- Bingham, the 7th Earl of Lucan, about everybody else. contest dominated by a fractious economy was close to collapse. “This is a choice between cautious on the country’s sover- na Fail are battling it out for sec- since he vanished at the age of 39 “Closure for us is when we can debate over the country’s strong (Now) our public fi nances are whether you want a society that eign debt, aware that a protracted ond place just below 20% each. after his children’s nanny, Sandra actually get closure for Sandra,” he economic recovery. back on track, our economy is is fair and equal or more of the political stalemate could hamper “It is diffi cult to see any gov- Rivett, was bludgeoned to death added. “To fi nd out whether Lord Kenny’s conservative Fine Gael growing again... and there is no same,” Gerry Adams, president the fl otation of state-owned Al- ernment that does not include in 1974 at the London home of Lu- Lucan did commit the murder or if party is ahead in the polls but more bailout,” he said in a video of the leftist Sinn Fein party told lied Irish Banks, one of Europe’s Fine Gael - so the status quo in can’s estranged wife. he got somebody else to do it.” short of a majority, even with the on Twitter. reporters. biggest in the sector since the fi - terms of economic and fi nancial An inquest into the murder Berriman, who was put up for support of current junior coali- “This election is about who “.. It’s not about an economic nancial crisis. policy should be maintained,” raised the theory that Lucan may adoption at birth, only found out tion partner Labour. will keep this recovery going.” recovery, it’s about a social recov- It might also impede Ireland’s Davy Stockbrokers said in a note have mistaken the nanny for Lady he was Rivett’s son when his adop- If they fail to close that gap, Ireland exited its interna- ery.” ability to respond quickly to any to clients. Lucan, who said she fought with tive mother died and left him a a less stable outcome beckons, tional bailout mid-way through Having grown around 7% in ‘no’ vote in an EU membership “Fears of a more radical (Greek) the attacker in the dark after she brown envelope, which he opened with a minority government, a Kenny’s fi ve-year term, when a 2015, Ireland’s economy is fore- referendum in neighbour and Syriza-style (leftist) govern- heard noises in the basement. eight years ago. larger coalition including inde- quicker and stronger recovery cast to be Europe’s best per- major trade partner Britain that ment... are not plausible.” Public backs striking 007 star donates tux to ‘real-life heroes’ doctors, reveals poll London Evening Standard ill children.” The tuxedo, made be- London spoke for Craig, incorporates peak lapels, a single-button front and London Evening Standard ciation this week called for a new Yesterday’s BMG poll of 1,511 double-vented back. Other prizes London strike on February 10, but will fuel people shows 57% think doctors aniel Craig yesterday de- include fi ve-star holidays to Dubai concern in Downing Street that were “right to strike” on January scribed the Great Ormond and Corfu, a Rolls-Royce factory Hunt is losing his grip. 12, a walkout which left about one DStreet Hospital as an “ex- tour and a Tracey Emin-signed he public overwhelmingly BMG research director Dr in 10 non-emergency operations traordinary place” as he became bottle of single malt donated by backs striking doctors, an Michael Turner said: “The public cancelled. the latest star to throw his weight Richard Caring’s 34 restaurant. Texclusive poll for the Stand- are clear, they want a seven-day Only 32% thought doctors behind the Standard’s Give to ard revealed yesterday. NHS, but think the government “wrong to strike”. GOSH appeal. “Whenever I’ve visited (the The BMG Research study shows are implementing these changes A 48-hour walkout planned for The Bond actor, 47, who said hospital) I’ve met so many a majority supported junior doc- poorly. Interestingly, it is those last week was cancelled as hopes of patients and staff are “real-life he- real-life heroes — both the tors in their last walkout over pay most familiar with NHS services a deal grew, but talks failed leading roes”, donated one of his famously people who work there and, and conditions, with most also who are most likely to say that the BMA to confi rm the February sharp suits to the fourth and fi nal especially, the remarkable backing a second strike now called. they believe the fi gures on week- 10 action. online auction of the campaign, young people treated there” Worryingly for Health Secretary end deaths that the government The association did back down which started yesterday. Jeremy Hunt, who has person- claims; specifi cally women (46%) from plans to include emergency The suit is a Tom Ford tuxedo, Caring has also announced a ally been forcing reforms, the poll and those aged 65+ (47%).” care in the strike amid fears over including bow tie, cummerbund banquet at his new venue Sexy demonstrates broad disapproval He also highlighted how the poll patient safety. and shirt, worn by the actor at the Fish, for GOSH doctors and nurses over how ministers have handled showed Tory and LibDem sup- But yesterday’s poll shows 48% Governors Awards in Hollywood and those who have been involved the dispute. porters more likely to be strongly of people would have supported last year. with the campaign. Almost two thirds said Hunt is against further action, with La- another strike, even if it included All the items have been signed The previous three auctions, wrong to impose new contracts on bour and Ukip supporters strongly A&E departments, while 39% by Craig. powered by online bidding plat- junior doctors and more believe his in favour. would have opposed it. The actor said: “Whenever I’ve form Givergy Access, have raised plan will “worsen NHS services” Hunt’s battle with junior doc- Some 58% of people said the visited (the hospital) I’ve met so more than £100,000. “It’s been an than improve them. tors over new contracts, that he government is “wrong to impose many real-life heroes — both the absolute pleasure supporting such While most approve of Hunt’s claims are the key to unlocking a the changes” to junior doctor people who work there and, espe- an incredible cause,” said manag- proposed seven-day NHS service, seven-day service, has become in- contracts, with just 20% think- cially, the remarkable young peo- ing director Tim Stansbury. his stated motive for reform, many creasingly bitter. ing ministers were “right” to force ple treated there. Together with reader and cor- simply do not buy his claims that He says the BMA’s opposition is change. The poll shows 35% think “So I am delighted to support porate donations, the auctions deaths soar at the weekend due to politically motivated, while doc- the plans will actually “worsen the Give to GOSH appeal. I would have helped make Give to GOSH poorly staff ed wards. tors argue they already work seven NHS services” compared to just encourage you to do the same and the most successful seasonal fun- The BMG poll was carried out days and it is Hunt putting “poli- 30% who believe they will be im- you can help to make a genuine draising campaign in the Stand- before the British Medical Asso- tics before patients”. proved. Craig: delighted to support the Give to GOSH appeal diff erence to the lives of seriously ard’s history, raising £3mn. Gulf Times Thursday, February 4, 2016 17 BRITAIN Conservative leadership hopefuls face EU dilemma

Reuters While Cameron will allow his they will fi nd themselves cam- for the referendum which he Eurosceptic Conservatives pre- Europe will be closely watched campaigning for Britain to leave London ministers to choose whether they paigning against their own leader says could be held within a few dict four or fi ve cabinet ministers by the lawmakers and ordinary would be following a high risk support the ‘in’ or ‘out’ cam- - something that is likely to hurt months. could back an ‘out’ vote, adding members who will choose the strategy. “They are going to have paigns for the upcoming national their ambitions if they end up on Cameron reminded his min- weight to their campaign. But with new party leader. to go against Cameron and only s senior Conservatives pre- vote, those hoping to become the the losing side. isters this week that they must a leadership battle on the horizon, “The people who are thinking one of them can win,” he said. pare to take sides in a refer- next Conservative leader face a A draft deal on Britain’s future back his renegotiation eff ort until Cameron may have contained the about going for the party leader- Cameron once insisted his Aendum on European Union dilemma. published by the EU on Tuesday a fi nal deal is reached, something risk of high profi le splits. ship don’t want to muck up their ministers would have to cam- membership, some will be more If they come out in favour of still has to be accepted by the he hopes to achieve at a sum- Potential successors have been pitch,” said Simon Usherwood, a paign for a collective cabinet focussed on their own future - and Britain remaining in the bloc, other 27 member states. How- mit of EU leaders on February manoeuvring since Cameron said fellow on the UK in a Changing position in the referendum but, their chances of succeeding Prime they risk alienating the party’s ever, Cameron’s support for the 18-19, but the media are looking he would not stand again at the Europe academic research pro- faced with a likely eurosceptic Minister David Cameron - than largely eurosceptic membership. proposals has eff ectively fi red for signs of which way they will next national election in 2020, gramme. rebellion, he dropped this de- that of the country. But if they opt for a British exit, the starting gun on the campaign swing. and what they say and do on Any senior Conservatives mand. Proposals to avoid Cameron calls Brexit ‘fair’ for all, says for unity on EU Juncker

AFP London as eurosceptic

he proposed deal to keep Britain in the European TUnion and avoid a “Brex- it” after a referendum is “fair” for Britain and its 27 partners, attacks begin European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said yes- AFP leaders of Northern Ireland, the best of a bad job. Let’s wait terday. London Scotland and Wales that it not and see when this whole thing Juncker spoke a day after EU be held on June 23 - a date is agreed and try and see what it council president Donald Tusk mooted in the press. really means. Every bit of it,” he unveiled a series of proposals to rime Minister David Regional offi cials have com- said. help persuade Britons to stay in Cameron yesterday fend- plained that the date would be Former defence secretary the European Union. Ped off attacks from eu- too soon after local elections on Liam Fox has warned that up The commission, the execu- rosceptics and a hostile press May 5 but Cameron said that to five members of Cameron’s tive of the 28-nation bloc, fi rmly over proposed reforms to keep the referendum would be held at cabinet could campaign to supported the proposals, Junck- Britain in the EU that Brussels least six weeks later as agreed. leave the union after seeing the er told members of the European defended as a “fair” deal for all. At the European Parliament proposals. Parliament who will need to ap- In a heated parliamentary in Strasbourg, the head of the Newspapers yesterday heaped prove several of the plan’s most debate, Cameron urged fellow EU’s executive arm defended scorn on the plans, with popular controversial points. MPs to stand united as he faced the package, hailing it as “fair” tabloid The Sun splashing ‘Who “The settlement that has been vitriol from senior members of for the whole of the 28-member do EU think you are kidding Mr proposed is fair for the United his own Conservative Party and bloc. Cameron?’ across its front page, Kingdom and fair for the other a vicious response from several “We have addressed the prime saying the deal was a “farce”. 27 member states,” Juncker told newspapers to the plan. minister’s concerns while re- The Daily Mail called it “The the parliament in Strasbourg, “Let’s fi ght this together,” specting the (EU) treaties,” said Great Delusion” and the euro- France. Cameron told MPs, defending commission president Jean- sceptic Daily Express “A Joke” “It is also fair for the European the draft measures put forward Claude Juncker. on their front pages. parliament,” he added. by European Council president “I’ve always said I wanted the The proposals are also ex- The proposals include a four- Donald Tusk on Tuesday that are UK to remain a member of the pected to be a hard sell for some year “emergency brake” on wel- due to go before all 28 EU lead- European Union on the basis EU states that fear Cameron is fare payments for EU migrant ers. of the fair deal,” he told MEPs winning too many concessions workers, protection for coun- The measures are part of a including members of the UK ahead of a February 18-19 sum- tries that do not use the euro plan to avoid Britain becoming Independence Party that want mit. currency and a “red card” sys- the first European Union mem- Britain to leave. Ukip head Cameron begins a charm of- tem giving national parliaments ber to quit the bloc in a referen- Nigel Farage ridiculed the pro- fensive that will take him to more power. dum that has to be held by 2017 posals that were “hardly worth Poland and Denmark tomor- “We have addressed the prime at the latest but is expected the wait” and said Cameron row, then Germany next week. minister’s concerns while re- within months. would now “parade in front” But the battle will be waged specting the (EU) treaties,” The plans include a four- of EU leaders for more conces- at home too, with opinion polls Juncker said. year “emergency brake” on sions at a summit in two weeks. split on whether Britons would “I’ve always said I wanted the welfare payments for EU mi- “I find it rather humiliating back leaving the EU in their fi rst UK to remain a member of the grant workers, protection for that a British prime minister vote on the subject since 1975. European Union on the basis of countries that do not use the has to do this. But I’m certain London’s bid to transform its the fair deal,” he told the MEPs euro and a “red card” system of one thing: he won’t get an- EU membership has added to including members of the UK giving national parliaments other thing,” Farage told MEPs. turmoil in the bloc as it strug- Independence Party that back an more power to veto European In Westminster, the propos- gles with its worst migration exit by Britain from the EU. regulations. als were criticised by tradition- crisis since World War II and Ukip head Nigel Farage ridi- The reforms add up to “the ally eurosceptic Conservative the fallout from the eurozone culed the proposals that were strongest package we’ve ever MPs such as Bill Cash and John debt saga. “hardly worth the wait” and said had,” Cameron insisted. Redwood but also by a close po- US President Barack Obama Prime Minister Cameron would “I do believe that with these litical ally of the British leader waded into the debate on Tues- now “parade in front” of EU draft texts and with all the work - London’s flamboyant mop- day, telling Cameron his country leaders for more concessions at a we’ve done with our European haired mayor Boris Johnson. was best served inside the EU. summit in two weeks. partners, Britain is getting “We’ve got a lot more to do Obama spoke with Cameron “I fi nd it rather humiliating closer to the decision point,” on this,” Johnson, who oppo- by phone and “reaffirmed con- that a British prime minister stressed the prime minister. nents of Britain’s EU member- tinued US support for a strong has to do this. But I’m certain of While Cameron did not of- ship hope will head up their United Kingdom in a strong one thing: he won’t get another fer a timing for the vote, he campaign, told Sky News. European Union,” according to thing,” Farage told MEPs. Prime Minister David Cameron leaves Downing Street in London yesterday. responded to an appeal by the “The prime minister is making the White House.

Art in the park Gatecrashers knife Millions to be priced girl’s uncle at party out of London: charity London Evening Standard 35, who works in a primary London school, said: “The guests were mostly girls. Then all these London Evening Standard the cost of a roof over Lon- harder for children growing hoodlum boys came. London doners’ heads has surged up in London today than it girl’s 14th birthday party “Some were from gangs, aged to above the half-million- had been for them. turned into a bloodbath 17 or 18. There were boys who pound mark on average. Shelter’s chief executive Awhen it was gatecrashed had drugs outside, boys in hood- illions of London Moreover, commuter Campbell Robb called on the by suspected gangsters who ies and scarves across their faces parents are seeing towns within easy reach mayoral candidates to spell stabbed her uncle, leaving him smoking weed...my daughter Mtheir children forced have also spiralled in cost out plans for more homes fi ghting for life. was crying, she did not know who to move out of the capital by — including Reading, where priced in reach of ordinary Du’wayne Holness, 24, was these other people were. When I the housing shortage, a lead- prices jumped 17% last year. people. knifed six times as he tried to saw panic and horror in her face, ing charity warned yesterday. Charity worker Chris- “Parents are now cry- usher out more than 150 peo- they had to go.” Most Londoners now fear tina Manning, from Clap- ing out for the new mayor ple. Two blows to his heart were She said that as the adults that their offspring will nev- ham Junction, was forced to to give their children the stopped by his leather jacket. began to stop the party, eight er be able to afford decent move with her husband out chance of a home they can He was taken to St George’s youths — three with knives — homes nearby because of of their one-bedroom flat call their own,” he said. Hospital, Tooting, with serious tried to get in through a side ballooning prices and rents. and now commutes from a “The capital’s dras- injuries to his back, arm, side door. She said Holness, an en- Housing charity Shelter shared house in Surrey. tic shortage of affordable and chest but was said to be trepreneur, was stabbed as he warned that an entire gen- “We have both said on homes is leaving millions “stable” after surgery. tried to push them out. A boy’s eration of young Londoners various occasions that it is of Londoners stuck in their His family said he had been arm was also slashed. is in danger of being “priced unlikely we will ever own childhood bedrooms, or in set upon by three youths with “People were scream- out of their home city” un- our own home,” she said. expensive and unstable pri- knives, who had got into Satur- ing, parents were arriving and less the next mayor cre- “Trying to save for a de- vate renting with little hope day’s party in south Croydon by screaming, there was blood ates many more affordable posit while renting is almost of saving for a home to put jumping over a garden wall. everywhere, in the hallway, on homes. impossible. It’s difficult to down roots in.” Tai’ler Fraser, 14, had asked the stairs, I just didn’t know The findings come as think of starting a family He urged: “It doesn’t have her mother Shurleene to allow where it had come from,” she all the main candidates in under these conditions.” to be this way. The mayoral her to invite 60 friends and was said. “Then I saw Du’wayne and May’s election for Mayor of A YouGov poll of London- candidates must answer told she could only invite “peo- he had blood pouring from his London insist that housing ers for Shelter found 86% their calls and commit to ple she knew were good”. clothes. I was in a daze. They is their top priority — but of parents were concerned plans that can build homes The party started at 6pm, jumped him. They had tried are divided on how to tackle that their children would be Londoners on typical wages Visitors look at a sculpture entitled “At This Time” by American artist with eight adults supervising, to stab him in the heart but his it. priced out of London. can actually afford to rent or Kaws at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in Wakefield yesterday. but by 7.30pm more than 150 jacket saved him.” Official figures show that Nine in 10 thought it was buy.” people had arrived. Shurleene, No arrests have been made. Gulf Times 18 Thursday, February 4, 2016 EUROPE

Sweden’s Sami win Ukraine minister quits court case

AFP Stockholm in blow to reform hopes weden’s indigenous Sami community scored a sym- Reuters exercise control over the fl ow campaign to discredit his gov- Ex-IMF chief Strauss-Kahn joins Ukraine bank Sbolic court victory yes- Kiev of public funds,” Abromavicius ernment, and accused Abro- terday over fi shing and hunting said in an English-language mavicius of “running from the Disgraced former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been appointed rights, in a long-running legal statement. fi eld of battle”. to the supervisory board of a bank owned by Ukraine’s second-richest battle with the Swedish state. krainian Economy Min- Ukraine has struggled eco- Since coming to power in businessman Viktor Pinchuk. In an encouraging precedent ister Aivaras Abromavi- nomically since the 2014 revolt, 2014, the government has vowed Kiev’s Kredit-Dnipro Bank said the decision to accept Strauss-Kahn and for other minority communities, Ucius quit yesterday, say- which was followed by Russia’s to stamp out the systemic graft five others to the advisory body was taken on Monday. the Sami village of Girjas won ing that his ministry was being annexation of its Crimea pe- that fl ourished under former It added that Strauss-Kahn would serve as an independent committee the right to administer hunting hijacked by corrupt vested in- ninsula and by war in the east of president Viktor Yanukovych member who does not represent shareholders’ interests. and fi shing on its own territory terests, dealing another blow to the country against pro-Russian and kept Ukraine hooked on Pinchuk is the son-in-law of former Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma in a ruling by a tribunal in Gal- Western hopes that the country separatists Kiev says are sup- Russian money and cheap gas. and is believed to have holdings worth $1.43bn (€1.29bn), according to livare, northern Sweden. can reform itself. ported by Moscow. But many Ukrainians believe Forbes magazine. The decision was welcomed In his statement, Abromavi- Abromavicius is a Lithua- corruption has not improved, Strauss-Kahn led the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 2007 until with “joy, astonishment and re- cius singled out a close ally of nian-born former asset man- eroding support for the authori- his forced 2011 resignation over rape charges in a New York hotel. lief” by the Swedish Sami Feder- President Petro Poroshenko, ager who was brought in as one ties, deterring foreign invest- The scandal derailed the Frenchman’s presidential ambitions even ation (SSR), which nevertheless accusing him of blocking the of several foreign experts to help ment and causing Western back- though it was later dismissed in court. cautioned in a statement that it ministry’s work and pressing for run Ukraine’s new government. ers to question Kiev’s ability to Straus-Kahn made one of his first post-resignation public appearances in was only a “partial victory”. powerful jobs for allies, with the Abromavicius: resigning out of He said Ihor Kononenko, a deliver real change. Kiev when he spoke to students on the personal invitation of Pinchuk. Swedish authorities will likely support of the president’s offi ce. frustration. senior lawmaker close to Poro- They have warned Ukraine appeal against the ruling. Poroshenko later responded shenko, had lobbied to get his not to repeat the mistakes of The justice ministry said it by urging Abromavicius to stay, patient with the slow pace of people appointed as heads of more than a decade ago, when investors still had in the Po- driy Pyvovarsky has threatened would react after having “stud- adding that the anti-corruption change in a country into which state companies, culminating the euphoria of the “Orange roshenko administration and to resign, while Health Minister ied the judgment in close detail”. bureau would investigate the al- they have pumped billions of in an attempt to appoint one of Revolution” of 2004, an earlier Ukraine’s economic prospects in Alexander Kvitashvili tendered Girjas, a village of reindeer legations. dollars in aid. his people as Abromavicius’s popular protest movement that general”. his resignation last summer, herders whose territory covers Abromavicius’s exit could A group of envoys, includ- deputy. brought pro-Western leaders to Low approval ratings for Yat- only to have it rejected by parlia- some 5,500sq km (2,100sq miles) derail plans to privatise around ing the US, German and British A candidate showed up, de- power, eroded amid government seniuk’s government have raised ment. in Lapland, fi led legal action in 100 state-owned companies, representatives in Kiev, said that manding to be appointed, he infi ghting and a failure to stamp expectations of a major ministe- Abromavicius’s resignation 2009, supported by the SSR. which were a plank of a reform they were “deeply disappointed” said. out graft. rial reshuffl e, and the govern- must also be approved by law- The Samis are contesting a programme to turn around an by the resignation, which also After that, “I received a call The slow pace of change now ment also could face a no confi - makers, and he urged them to 1993 land reform which extend- economy which shrunk by more sent Ukrainian sovereign bonds from the President’s Adminis- threatens to derail a $40bn aid- dence vote in parliament around meet today to green-light his ed rights to non-Samis to hunt than a tenth last year. tumbling. tration, whereby I was emphati- for-reforms deal championed the middle of February. departure. and fi sh on their territory. There has been mounting Any threat of Prime Minister cally suggested to hire this indi- by the International Monetary “It is important that Ukraine’s Poroshenko said in a state- After years of stalling, the public anger that the new, pro- Arseny Yatseniuk’s government vidual, as well as another one, Fund, European Union and Unit- leaders set aside their parochial ment that Abromavicius had Gallivare tribunal found in their Western government that came collapsing would also deeply who would take the position of ed States. diff erences, put the vested in- recognised the support the pres- favour and ordered the state to power after a pro-Russian worry Ukraine’s Western part- my deputy in charge of defence “Abromavicius’ initial ap- terests that have hindered the ident had given him. to pay their legal fees of some president was toppled by pro- ners, who have backed the coali- industry. I responded by declin- pointment was made precisely country’s progress for decades “As far as I’m concerned this 7.2mn krona (€770,000). tests in 2014 has not delivered tion in order to keep the country ing to take part in this corrupt because, as a Lithuanian with no squarely in the past, and press support is guaranteed, in the fu- The Samis, who have lived in on promises to stamp out cor- from falling back into Moscow’s arrangement and by off ering to experience in Ukrainian politics, forward on vital reforms,” the ture also. I believe that Aivaras Scandinavia since the last Ice ruption. orbit. resign my post”. he came from outside a corrupt foreign envoys in Kiev said in a should stay as minister and con- Age over 10,000 years ago, “have The government’s approval “Neither me, nor my team Kononenko denied the accu- system and could credibly work joint statement. tinue reforms. He went away to an exclusive right to hunt small ratings have fallen sharply. have any desire to serve as a sations as “completely absurd”, to reform it,” said Daragh Mc- Some other cabinet members think,” he said. game and to fi sh” on Girjas’ ter- Ukraine’s international back- cover-up for the covert cor- and said that Abromavicius was Dowell of the risk analytics fi rm have also expressed frustration The statement did not ad- ritory, except for on arable land, ers, including the United States ruption, or become puppets for trying to shift blame for his own Verisk Maplecroft. at the pace of progress in their dress the allegation of his offi ce the judges said. and the European Union, have those who, very much like the failures in running the ministry. His exit “will fatally under- ministries. meddling in appointments in the “We have concluded that the also become increasingly im- ‘old’ government, are trying to Yatseniuk said there was a mine what little confi dence Infrastructure Minister An- ministry. Sami village has for long – as much as a millennium – enjoyed the use of this land for hunting and fi shing,” said judge Chris- ter Thornefors, cited by the TT news agency. Hundreds fl ee confl ict-hit The ruling is in line with Swedish law, which enshrines the principle that allows rights which have long been exercised area in southeast Turkey de facto to be made permanent. Sami elders dream of also ap- plying the principle to disputes Reuters collapsed, triggering the worst ter fresh clashes in Sur. between them and mining com- Diyarbakir violence in two decades and The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ panies keen to get their hands wrecking hopes for a peace deal Democratic Party (HDP) said on Lapland’s precious mineral in a confl ict that has killed more it had not been able to com- resources. undreds of people fl ed than 40,000 since 1984. municate for three days with a a confl ict-hit area of The chief district administra- group of people, some wounded, Hsoutheast Turkey’s larg- tor’s offi ce in Sur declared yes- trapped in a basement in the Stricken ship est city of Diyarbakir yesterday, terday the lifting of a week-old southeastern town of Cizre, un- taking advantage of the lifting curfew in Sur’s western parts. der curfew since mid-December. towed into port of a curfew to escape any further However, the eastern side At least six of the 31 people in clashes between security forces remained under a round-the- the building, which has largely The operation began yesterday and Kurdish militants. clock curfew. collapsed, have died over the to tow a stricken South Korean A Reuters witness said people The state says the curfews, past two weeks and others are cargo ship into the northern left the city’s Sur district with also in place elsewhere in the seriously wounded, the HDP Spanish port of Bilbao, days suitcases, televisions and car- southeast, are imposed so police said yesterday. after it was prevented from pets loaded onto pick-up trucks can remove barricades, explosive The government has denied crashing into France’s pictur- and handcarts, deserting an devices and ditches set up by the its forces are preventing ambu- esque Atlantic coast. area damaged heavily in fi ght- PKK, deemed a terrorist group lances from reaching the build- People wait yesterday behind a police barricade near the Sur district of Diyarbakir. Vowing to flush out The “Modern Express” was car- ing since a curfew was declared by Turkey, the United States and ing and has accused militants of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) from Turkey’s urban centres, the authorities have in recent weeks rying diggers and 3,600 tonnes there a month ago. European Union. fi ring on emergency workers. enforced curfews in three locations in the southeast to back up military operations that activists say of timber from Gabon in west “It’s always the ordinary peo- Security forces killed fi ve Separately in Istanbul, uni- have killed dozens of civilians. Africa to the port of Le Havre in ple who suff er,” said Mehmet PKK fi ghters in Sur and another dentifi ed gunmen opened fi re Normandy, France when it ran Ceylan, 45, carrying a bundle on seven in the southeastern town late on Tuesday on the premises killed and seven wounded in an were politically motivated, but of guns and explosives, media into diff iculties in late January. his back. “I’ve lived in Sur for of Cizre on Tuesday, bringing of an Islamic association, kill- Istanbul suburb after armed as- they tapped into concerns that said. The ship, registered in Panama, years, and I’ve never witnessed a the militant death toll in the two ing one man and wounding three sailants fi red on a teahouse. violence may spread to Istanbul, Anadolu said one of them was has been under tow by the scene like this.” towns to 670 since December, others, the state-run Anadolu Police detained six people in Turkey’s largest city. identifi ed as a perpetrator in the Spanish tugboat the Centaurus Hundreds of militants and se- the army said in a statement. Agency said. connection with the fi rst shoot- In the western Aegean region, 1996 assassination of a member since Monday. curity force members have been It said that two soldiers died It followed a similar attack on ing, Anadolu said. two leftist militants were de- of the Sabanci family of leading The 22 crew have been evacu- killed since July when a ceasefi re from their wounds yesterday af- Monday, when two people were It was not clear if the attacks tained on Tuesday in possession industrialists. ated by helicopter.

Hungarians protest over education Academic acquitted

Reuters over PKK question Miskolc, Hungary

AFP court ruling that the exam ques- housands of Hungar- Ankara tion and the subject taught in ians protested yester- the course did not constitute any Tday against reforms of such crime, Unlu told AFP. the education system by Prime n Ankara court has ac- Describing the case as a “blow Minister Viktor Orban’s cen- quitted a university lec- to academic freedom”, he said tre-right government that they Aturer over an exam ques- the aim was to “deter academics consider oppressive and heavy- tion on a jailed Kurdish rebel from raising political taboos such handed. chief, in a case that raised fresh as the Kurdish problem”. A protesting journalist holds placards during a demonstration The protesters say that the alarm over freedom of expression “It’s a kind of an ultimatum against planned pension reforms in front of the parliament reforms are yet another exam- in Turkey. not to raise politically-sensitive building in Athens. The placards read ‘Hands off the pension ple of what they see as Orban’s Prosecutors had accused issues,” the academic said. “I’ve funds’ and ‘No pension and wage cuts’. authoritarian style of leadership Ankara University academic also lost a whole year dealing that has drawn criticism from Resat Baris Unlu of “terrorist with court procedures, whereas Greek journalists stage walkout the European Union and the Women hold candles as thousands of people demonstrate against propoganda” after he set stu- I could have spent that time on United States as well as human the Hungarian government’s education policies in Miskolc. dents a question comparing two academic research.” Greece was hit with a news blackout yesterday as the country’s rights groups within Hungary. documents written by outlawed Opposition lawmarkers from journalists walked off the job over a controversial pension reform, a The Orban government, in conservative views on issues Teachers at the Otto Herman Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) the Republican People’s Party day before a general strike on the same issue. power since 2010, took control such as homosexuality. Secondary School in Miskolc leader Abdullah Ocalan. (CHP) and the pro-Kurdish Peo- The 24-hour labour action is directed against government plans of schools from local authori- “The government does not ignited the nationwide protests The exam question was set ples’ Democratic Party (HDP) to lower the maximum pension to €2,300 ($2,500) a month from ties three years ago and a central want educated, creative people last month when they drew up a in January 2015 at the end of a were present at the hearing in a €2,700 currently and introduce a new minimum guaranteed basic body now regulates all aspects but dumb automatons who are petition addressed to the Hun- course on Turkish politics and show of solidarity. pension of €384. of education, down to procur- easy to control,” said one pro- garian people demanding the institutions. In the paper, he asked students The leftist administration of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras also ing chalk for rural elementary tester, Marta Baliko, a retired government reverse its reforms When the trial opened yes- to “compare Abdullah Ocalan’s wants to merge pension funds and increase social security schools. teacher in the eastern town of and restore the schools’ au- terday, Unlu was faced with two 1978 manifesto entitled The Path contributions by both employers and staff . It has signifi cantly increased Miskolc, epicentre of opposi- tonomy. charges of spreading “terrorist of the Kurdistan Revolution and The plan has been criticised by a wide array of professional classes, teachers’ workload and set a tion to the reforms. “Teachers The petition has drawn the propaganda” and “praising the an article he wrote in 2012 called from lawyers and engineers to sailors and farmers, and Greek new curriculum using text- have been drained by the high support of more than 30,000 crime and the criminal”. Democratic Modernity as the unions have called a general strike – the third in as many months – books the critics say contain number of classes and by the people and more than 10% of all But the 90-minute hearing Construction of Local System in for today. factual errors and promote very uniform textbooks.” schools in Hungary. ended in an acquittal, with the the Middle East”. Gulf Times Thursday, February 4, 2016 19 EUROPE

Bulgaria breaks up gang EU approves funding for smuggling migrants Turkey to curb migrants AFP Reuters Brussels after Italy dropped its provement of living conditions eigner groups, nationalists and provided by the European Com- agree a fi gure of €3.2bn this year. Sofia Brussels opposition to the plan, which and the off ering of a positive populists. mission. The European Commission was fi rst agreed with Ankara in perspective will allow refugees to The crisis has bitterly divided The UN refugee agency UNH- refused to endorse a lump-sum November. stay closer to their homes.” EU members, as underlined by CR says more than 67,000 people up front and said that any such ulgarian police have bro- uropean Union countries The bloc’s executive European Prime Minister Mark Rutte the fact that it took the 28 states arrived in Europe via the Medi- spending would be analysed sep- ken up a gang suspected have approved a €3bn Commission welcomed the deci- of the Netherlands, the current more than two months to agree terranean Sea so far this year, en- arately after it takes place. Bof smuggling hundreds of E($3.32bn) fund for Turkey sion on Turkey, currently home holder of the EU’s rotating presi- on the funding for the Turkey tering mainly through Greece, as But yesterday Rome secured migrants through the Balkans to to improve living conditions for to an estimated 2.5mn refugees dency, said that co-operation scheme even after their leaders well as Italy. an additional declaration before western Europe, making seven refugees there in exchange for from the civil war in Syria next with Turkey on the migration approved setting it up back in Struggling with its own weak agreeing to the fund, in which arrests, offi cials said yesterday. Ankara ensuring fewer of them door. crisis would also focus on target- November. economy and large debt loads, it says it still “strongly expects” Around 40 migrants who had migrate on to Europe. “Turkey now hosts one of the ing human traffi ckers who have The EU would provide €1bn Italy unblocked the funding only Brussels will exempt from its arrived from Turkey and wanted The European Union is count- world’s largest refugee commu- arranged passage for many peo- from its own budget, twice as after Brussels said it would ex- defi cit fi gures “the full amount of to continue on to Serbia were de- ing on the deal to lower the nities and has committed to sig- ple. much as initially off ered. empt contributions to the Turkey costs” it incurred from 2011 when tained on Tuesday during a se- number of asylum-seekers ar- nifi cantly reducing the numbers Europe is saddled with its The rest is to come from 28 fund in calculating EU countries’ a confl ict in its ex-colony Libya ries of raids in towns in Bulgar- riving in Europe after more than of migrants crossing into the EU,” worst migration crisis since governments, with Germany budget defi cits. started and triggered higher mi- ia’s south and west, police said. a million streamed onto the con- said Johannes Hahn, Commis- World War II. being the top contributor at Under European Union rules, gration to Italy. The suspected smugglers – six tinent in 2015, mainly by sea from sioner for Neighbourhood Policy This has put strain on security €427.5mn in 2016. countries must keep their budget That potentially opens way Bulgarians and one Afghan living Turkey, with fi gures indicating and Enlargement. and social systems in some EU Britain would follow with shortfalls low or face disciplinary for more back and forth between in Bulgaria – were charged with little sign of the fl ow ebbing so “The Facility for Refugees in states and resolving the prob- this year’s contribution of action. Brussels and Rome as the lat- people traffi cking. far this year. Turkey will go straight to the ref- lem has become an urgent policy €327.6mn, France at €309.2mn, Italy wanted to exempt more ter seeks to win more fi nancial The network had been run- All 28 EU countries signed off ugees, providing them with edu- priority for governments since it Italy at €224.9mn and Spain at migration-related spending from breathing space from the Com- ning since January 2015, accord- on the proposal at a meeting in cation, health and food. The im- has fuelled support for anti-for- €152.8mn, according to fi gures its budget gap and sought to mission. ing to initial details from the po- lice probe. Europe is struggling with its worst migration crisis since World War II, with more than a German police million people fl eeing war, vio- lence and poverty risking life and limb to reach its shores last year. Tens of thousands of migrants say 5,000 refugee are thought to have passed through Bulgaria in the last year, on their arrival in Europe from Turkey. children missing The overland route allows migrants to avoid the risky sea crossing from Turkey to Greece. DPA rope over the past two years. Despite wintry conditions, the Berlin While some of them could al- fl ow of migrants to Europe shows ready be staying with relatives little signs of easing – in Janu- unbeknownst to the authorities, ary, almost 62,200 migrants and early 5,000 unaccom- a large number of them were at refugees entered Europe through panied refugee children risk, it said. Greece, most of them from Syria, Nwere registered as miss- Children’s aid organisation Afghanistan and Iraq, according ing in Germany as of January 1, Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk said to the UN. the Federal Criminal Police Of- that legislation approved by the Some 20,000 migrants, many fi ce BKA said yesterday. cabinet of Chancellor Angela from Syria, Iraq and Afghani- Nearly 10% of the 4,749 mi- Merkel yesterday could harm un- stan, were registered in Bulgaria nors registered as missing at the accompanied refugee children, in 2015, some voluntarily, some beginning of the year were under whom it described as “particu- after being detained by the au- the age of 13, while 4,287 were larly vulnerable”. thorities. aged between 14 and 17, a BKA The legislation foresees a spokeswoman said. waiting period of two years for The remaining 31 are over the family reunions of migrants not age of 18. deemed to be at strong risk of The fi gure marks a sharp in- persecution in their home coun- Norway crease from six months ago, tries. when 1,637 children were regis- It is intended to prevent the tered as missing. arrival of many thousands of to resume Migrants and refugees wait to cross the Greek-Macedonian border The spokeswoman said that family members as part of a re- near the northern Greek village of Idomeni yesterday. the numbers could fl uctuate by unions provision in German asy- between 300 and 500 a day de- lum law. returning pending on the number of new The organisation said that the and resolved cases. infl ux of minors could be attrib- She added that the fi gure could uted to the treacherous journey people to Macedonia restores be infl ated as the children are along the Balkan route, which sometimes registered as missing caused many to be separated in multiple places. from their families. Russia Europol, the EU’s law enforce- It said the children should rail traffi c at border ment agency, recently said that be given permission to stay and some 10,000 refugee children considered a boon to German DPA had been reported missing in Eu- society. Stockholm Reuters try’s international creditors. Idomeni, Greece/Skopje It was unclear how the taxi row was resolved, but an offi cial orway has agreed with at Macedonia’s national rail- Russia to resume return- acedonia restored way said that a train had left the German government Ning some asylum-seekers rail transport for mi- border town of Gevgelija in the whose applications were reject- Mgrants coming across morning. They included many women enia, Croatia, Serbia and Mac- ed in the Scandinavian country, its southern border with Greece “One train left this morn- and children, who the United edonia met in the Macedonian agrees on measures Norwegian public broadcaster yesterday, potentially alleviat- ing. At this point, the railway is Nations says now account for up capital Skopje yesterday to dis- NRK reported yesterday. ing a growing backlog caused closed due to some maintenance, to 60% of all those arriving by cuss how to tighten measures at Returnees that have residency by protests on either side of the but we expect another train will boat and dinghy from Turkey. their borders. AFP required to stay in an offi cial ac- permits in Russia will be trans- frontier. leave this afternoon,” Kire Di- More than 1mn people fl eeing Macedonia’s Goran Savovski Berlin commodation. ported back by plane, said Thor Trains had been halted for sev- manoski, director of passenger poverty, war and repression in told reporters they had agreed Migrants who have lost their Arne Aass, a director general at eral days as taxi drivers blocked traffi c at the railway, told Reuters. the Middle East, Asia and Africa that those without valid trav- identity documents, as well as the Norwegian justice ministry. the tracks to protest at police Dozens of buses packed with reached Europe’s shores last year, el IDs would not be allowed erlin approved yesterday a those deemed to pose a “danger “The number is about 200 to directing migrants fi rst to trains migrants, many of them refugees most heading for Germany. through, further fi ltering the package of measures aimed to security and public order”, 300 people,” he told NRK after and buses for their journey north from the Syrian war, have spent More than 62,000 arrived in fl ow. Bat making Germany less would be subject to the same talks in Moscow. to Serbia, en route to western Eu- several days parked at petrol sta- Greece last month. “We have stated today that attractive to economic migrants, condition. Norway registered over 31,100 rope. tions on the main highway run- Balkan states along the route persons without travel docu- including reducing benefi ts. The aim of centralising the asylum bids in 2015, a new high, Traffi c has been disrupted on ning north from Greece to Mac- have begun denying passage to ments, with fake passports, and The package of measures, residence of such migrants is to with many migrants entering via the Greek side as well by farmers edonia. all those not coming from con- those who cannot document which is expected to see smooth facilitate their likely expulsion the Storskog border crossing on protesting against pension re- Some set out on foot for the fl ict regions of Syria, Iraq or Af- their country of origin, will not passage through parliament, in- from Germany. Norway’s land border with Rus- forms that Athens is planning to border, where makeshift camps ghanistan. be allowed to transit on this cludes classifying Morocco, Tu- The asylum application proc- sia, high above the Arctic Circle. implement to satisfy the coun- are at full capacity on either side. Police chiefs of Austria, Slov- route,” he said. nisia and Algeria as “safe” origin ess, as well as that of appeals, is Russia has rejected transports countries – a category which to be shortened to three weeks. by bus via the land route, citing means their citizens would not Other measures include re- lack of reception centres in Mur- usually gain asylum. ducing social handouts to asylum mansk on the Russian side of the Asylum applicants of “safe” seekers, and restricting medical border. origin countries, along with grounds preventing any expul- Almost 5,500 asylum-seekers Return of EU borders could those whose fi rst applications sion of rejected asylum seekers arrived via Storskog last year. have been rejected, would be to serious and terminal illnesses. Many crossed the border by bicycle because of a border trea- Police conduct raids on organised crime ty between the two countries that does not allow people to cost France €10bn a year German police have conducted a series of raids in the western city cross the border on foot. of Cologne targeting suspects thought to be part of a North African An initial group of 200 were organised crime network. sent back by bus in January be- AFP tank, said the impact on trade, costs would rise signifi cantly But in recent months, faced The raids, conducted in a series of bars and cafes in the district of Kalk fore Russia halted that option Paris tourism and transport would with France seen losing 0.5% of with an unprecedented surge in late on Tuesday, saw more than 100 suspects mainly of North African two weeks ago. trigger losses of up to two billion GDP in 2025 – more than €10bn. migrant and refugee numbers descent searched by a police unit comprising 80 off icers. Recently, Norwegian For- euros per year in the short term, Across the same period, the from the Middle East and Af- Police arrested a 26-year-old man suspected of drug-related crimes. eign Minister Borge Brende said e-establishing European not including the cost of imple- Schengen zone as a whole would rica, several countries including A kilogramme of cocaine was confiscated at the same location. about 700 people could be re- borders as a result of the menting the new controls. lose 0.79% of GDP, equivalent to France have reimposed tempo- A police spokesman said that links to a series of sexual assaults and turned, citing people who had Rmigration crisis could cost Half of that loss would come a loss of €110bn. rary controls. thefts committed in Cologne on New Year’s Eve had been investigated. residency in Russia or multiple- France more than €10bn per year, from a loss of tourists, the study That is not all – foreign inves- The EU has put pressure on He did not go into further detail. entry visas. according to a study published said, while up to 10,000 people tors may be discouraged and fi - Greece – the arrival point for Yesterday’s talks involved yesterday. who commute across the border nancial fl ows disrupted, though most migrants – to strengthen its France bans Pegida march in Calais offi cials from the Norwegian The vast infl ux of refugees could lose their jobs. the study said such factors were border and registration process. ministries of justice and foreign and migrants has seen calls grow “In the longer run, widespread tricky to evaluate. If Greece fails to comply with France has banned protests in the refugee hotspot of Calais ahead of aff airs, and Russia’s migration for Europe’s borderless Schen- permanent border controls The Schengen area was set up the recommendations, Brus- a planned march by anti-Islamic organisation Pegida. authority, NRK said. gen zone to be abandoned and would decrease trade between in 1995, allowing passport-free sels could authorise EU member Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said he had asked local The Norwegian Directorate of tougher immigration controls Schengen countries by a factor travel through 26 countries, most countries to exceptionally ex- authorities in the northern French port to prevent all demonstrations Immigration said 42 nationali- imposed. 10% to 20%,” the study said. of them in the European Union, tend border controls within the “regardless of the organisers”. ties were registered last year at But a study by France Strat- If stringent border checks con- and is held up as one of the major Schengen area – including with He said that the ban particularly covered “all these groups that create Storskog. egie, a government-linked think tinued for a decade, the annual European achievements. Greece – for up to two years. tensions, division and violence” and would last as long as necessary. Gulf Times 20 Thursday, February 4, 2016 INDIA

PEOPLE SCHEME INFRASTRUCTURE HEALTH INVESTIGATION Former Lok Sabha Aadhar, PAN speed up Railways, states to Ayurveda drug for CBI starts fresh probe speaker Jakhar dead issue of passports: off icial form joint ventures diabetes launched into ‘staged’ killing

Former Lok Sabha speaker and Congress veteran Submission of Aadhar card, PAN and voter The federal cabinet yesterday approved the The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research The Central Bureau of Investigation is taking Balram Jakhar died in New Delhi yesterday morning, identity card will speed up the process getting proposal of the Railways Ministry to form joint (CSIR) yesterday launched BGR-34 - the country’s a relook at its probe into the sensational his son Sunil Jakhar said. He was 92. The cremation passports, an off icial said yesterday. “The venture (JV) companies with state governments first anti-diabetic ayurvedic drug designed killing of a housewife and a former insurgent will be held at his native village Panchkosi near ministry of external aff airs (MEA) has brought to mobilise resources for undertaking for Type-2 diabetes mellitus which has been in Imphal in 2009, following a confessional Abohar town in Punjab at 11am today, said Sunil in a new scheme under which a passport various rail infrastructure projects, an off icial scientifically validated for its eff icacy and safety. statement by police commando Thounaojam who is a former Punjab Congress Legislative Party applicant will get a passport within three days statement said. “The joint venture companies BGR-34 has been developed jointly by the National Herojit. CBI’s deputy inspector general M leader. Jakhar had a brain stroke a year ago. He if he/she submits Aadhar card, permanent will be formed with equity participation of the Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) and the Gogoi and other senior off icers are already in is survived by two sons and two daughters. He account number (PAN) and voter identity Ministry of Railways and state governments Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Imphal to supervise the fresh investigations. served as the speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1980 card details in addition to other documents,” concerned. Each joint venture will have an (CIMAP) which are the research units of CSIR and The probe by the CBI - which took over the to 1989 and played a key role in the automation and regional passport off icer K Balamurugan said initial paid-up capital of Rs100 crore based on located in Lucknow. BGR-34 costs Rs5 per tablet case in 2010 - comes in the wake of Home computerisation of parliamentary works. He was also in Chennai. He said police verification will be the quantum of projects to be undertaken,” the and is available at all major pharmacies in Kerala. Minister Rajnath Singh’s assurance to act instrumental in establishing the Parliament Museum. done after the passport is issued and there is statement said. The JV exercise would ensure Speaking at the launch, A K S Rawat, senior principal on the confessional statement of Manipur Jhakar served as the central agriculture minister no additional fee levied under this scheme. greater participation of state governments in scientist, CSIR-NBRI, said 60mn of the adult Indian police head constable Herojit last week who in prime minister P V Narasimha Rao-led Congress Balamurugan also said the central government implementation of railway projects both in terms population has been diagnosed with diabetes. said he had gunned down unarmed former government. He was also the Madhya Pradesh was not planning to make Aadhar card of financial participation as well as decision “We are sure that medical professionals will now insurgent Chungkham Sanjit on July 23, governor from June 30, 2004 to May 30, 2009. compulsory for issuing passports. making process, the statement said. recommend it to their patients,” said Rawat. 2009. Hyderabad biotech fi rm working on Zika vaccines Company says ready to Zika is closely related to dengue months while human trials will partner with Latin American and is spread by the same species take another four to fi ve months. countries of mosquito. No cases of the virus have been Bharat Biotech sells its vac- detected in India yet, but the Agencies cines for polio, hepatitis B, H1N1 health ministry on Tuesday is- Hyderabad and rabies, among others, to sued guidelines on the disease, more than 65 countries, accord- including an advisory that travel ing to its website. to aff ected countries be post- ndian biotechnology com- “They’ve got a lead, essential- poned or cancelled. pany Bharat Biotech said ly ... it’s certainly not a vaccine “Non-essential travel to the Iyesterday it was working on yet,” said Soumya Swaminathan, aff ected countries needs to be two possible vaccines to fi ght the the director general of the In- deferred or cancelled. Pregnant Zika virus, which has been linked dian Council of Medical Research women or ones trying to become to birth defects in thousands of (ICMR), the apex body for bio- pregnant should defer or cancel babies in Brazil. medical research in India, funded their travel to the aff ected areas,” The virus is spreading rap- by the health ministry. the ministry said. idly in the Americas, and World Swaminathan said it was pre- However, the guidelines also Health Organisation offi cials on mature to comment on the two said people whose trips to Zika- Tuesday expressed concern that vaccine candidates, but the aff ected countries were very Employees of three civic bodies stage a protest over the non-payment of salaries in New Delhi yesterday. it could hit Africa and Asia as ICMR had put together a group of important and they were with well. No vaccine has been devel- experts to examine their validity. co-morbid conditions (diabetes, oped so far. Ella said the company was hypertension, chronic respira- One of the possible vaccines is ready to partner with Latin tory illness, immune disorders, “recombinant”, which means it American countries like Brazil for etc) should seek advice from the is created by genetic engineer- the vaccine development. Some nearest health facility prior to Delhi civic bodies get Rs5.5bn ing, while the other was “inacti- Latin American companies have their travel. vated”, and will enter pre-clinical already shown interest in part- Delhi Health Minister Satyen- trials in animals in two weeks, nering with it for human trials. dar Jain too said the government Bharat Biotech managing direc- “It depends on the regulatory would carry out stringent moni- tor Krishna Ella said. system in the country,” he said toring. loan to pay workers’ salaries An inactivated vaccine is cre- when asked how long it would “Till now no case of Zika virus ated by killing a pathogen in a take for the vaccine to hit the has been found in Delhi. But as a IANS - have been protesting against Rs550 crore for loan. The Delhi onstrations on major roads in way that its ability to replicate is market in India. He said if the precautionary measure we held New Delhi the non-payment of salaries, government is facing Rs3,000 Delhi, including the National destroyed, but the immune sys- government declares Zika as a na- a meeting a few days ago and directing their ire at both the crore value added tax shortfall,” Highways that skirt it. Among tem can still recognise it. tional emergency and takes an ag- decided to conduct a stringent Delhi and central governments Kejriwal said. others, traffi c was blocked on Bharat Biotech’s announce- gressive stand, the vaccine can be monitoring in the city,” the min- elhi Chief Minister for the last eight days. “We had to postpone some of east Delhi’s Vikas Marg, incon- ment came a day after France’s developed in less than two years. ister said. Arvind Kejriwal yester- “We are giving Rs551 crore to our present commitments to the veniencing commuters. Sanofi said it had launched a Sumathy, director of research Jain said the symptoms of the Dday announced a loan of the north and east municipal next year to manage this mon- Hospitals and schools run by project to develop a Zika vaccine. and development at Bharat Bio- disease are more like fl u. India Rs5.5bn for payment of salaries corporations as loan for pay- ey,” he tweeted. civic bodies were also aff ected as Yesterday, Japanese drugmaker tech, who is heading the vaccine is prone to Zika because Aedes to protesting workers of two ment of salaries of workers,” Ke- The strike by the civic em- doctors, hospital staff , teachers Takeda Pharmaceutical also said development, with the virus aegypti mosquito is found here municipal corporations in the jriwal said in Bengaluru, where ployees entered the eighth day and school employees joined the it was investigating the possibili- spreading fast and the WHO de- which also causes dengue. national capital and urged them he is undergoing treatment at a yesterday with thousands of protest. ties of developing a vaccine for claring it a public health emer- “We have also sought direc- to call off their strike. naturopathy centre. workers blocking major roads Protesters dumped garbage the disease. gency, they will now speed up the tions from the central govern- Employees of three civic bod- The North Delhi Municipal Cor- and creating traffi c jams and in- on roads and set ablaze tyres Privately held Bharat Biotech, project. ment to deal with Zika virus. ies - North Delhi Municipal poration will also be paid Rs1.42bn conveniencing commuters. at various places. With uncol- based in Hyderabad, said it start- The inactivated vaccine has Every needed step will be taken Corporation, South Delhi Mu- against the stamp duty bill. As part of their agitation, lected garbage strewn along ed work on the Zika virus a year reached the stage of pre-clinical in accordance with the Centre’s nicipal Corporation and East “It is with great diffi culty that sanitation workers of the civic roads, an overpowering stench ago, while developing vaccines testing in animals. The pre-clin- guidelines for the disease,” the Delhi Municipal Corporation we have been able to fi nd this bodies yesterday staged dem- pervaded most municipal areas. for chikungunya and dengue. ical trials may take two to fi ve minister said. Chandy rejects charges, Make Bengaluru liveable for youngsters: Murthy

IANS ambience, weather, cosmopoli- says his life ‘open book’ tan outlook and entrepreneur- Bengaluru ship. By Ashraf Padanna for killing his wife, went to Chan- the people have appreciated. The “As most of our youngsters Gulf Times Correspondent dy, and he wanted his son Chandy people won’t support their dis- nfosys co-founder N R Naray- want to work in Bengaluru, the Thiruvananthapuram Oommen, who is studying in ruptive politics in the 11th hour ana Murthy yesterday said the state government should make Bengaluru now, to be her business (before elections),” Chandy said. Icountry’s youngsters wanted commuting easy with better partner. In Coimbatore, where she ap- to begin their career in the tech connectivity, provide healthcare erala Chief Minister Oom- Deposing before the inquiry peared before a local court in one hub of Bengaluru, and urged the facilities and access to modern men Chandy has reiterated commission, she said she would of the cheating cases, Nair said Karnataka government to make education for professionals and Kthat he will not remain in submit details of her sexual esca- she would also submit some “dig- the city liveable by improving its their children,” Murthy said. public life if an ongoing inquiry pades with the leaders in a sealed ital evidence” against Chandy to infrastructure, especially, roads, Noting that Bengaluru con- fi nds even an iota of truth in the cover. the commission today. education, healthcare and com- tributed 38% of the IT industry’s allegations against him. Communist Party of India Chandy said it was unfortunate muting. growth to the national GDP, the Chandy was reacting to a series (Marxist) leader Pinarayi Vijayan that opposition politicians and “My request to the state chief Infosys chairman emeritus said it of allegations of bribe and sleaze has warned his party would not media were now terming the al- minister (Siddaramaiah) and translated into $35bn, including against him, his family and mem- allow Chandy to venture out. Vi- legations as “revelations” while industries minister (R V Desh- $28bn in exports. bers of his cabinet by Saritha Nair, jayan is widely seen as the next they ignored claims by the same pande) is to help us make Ben- “As Karnataka state has done who is standing trial in 33 cases chief minister if the Left Demo- accused in 2014 that she was of- galuru more liveable for all, espe- a great job for the IT industry so of cheating across the state in the cratic Front wins the elections fered Rs100mn by a top CPM cially youngsters, by improving far, expectations are even more ‘solar panels scam.’ this summer. leader to defame him. its infrastructure and quality of from the state government. I “I am in public life for fi ve dec- Also yesterday, opposition “She has confi rmed it now. So, life,” Murthy said at the inaugu- believe if a proper environment ades, and my life is an open book,” leaders led by V S Achuthanan- if they believe in her allegations ral session of the global investors is provided, the IT industry has the chief minister said yesterday. dan met Governor P Sathasivam against me, they should also ad- meet (GIM) at the Bangalore Pal- potential to add great value to “The opposition is scared of and urged him not to make his mit having off ered her money,” ace grounds here. the state by fl ourishing,” Murthy (my) government’s good deeds customary address when the as- Chandy said. Though the global software said. and popularity. So they are after sembly begins its budget session “She talks about millions of major hires thousands of young The outsourcing major has cheap allegations raised by people tomorrow. rupees she used to bribe us at a techies to work at its develop- three development centres in without any credibility.” The governor however rejected time when she could not honour ment centres in cities like Bhu- the state in Bengaluru, Mysuru Nair has alleged that a por- the request saying it was his con- even a cheque for Rs6,500. An- baneswar, Thiruvananthapuram, and Mangaluru and building tion of the money she swindled stitutional duty. other one for Rs200,000 issued Indore and Nagpur, Murthy said a similar facility at Hubbali- along with her partner Biju Rad- “We will go ahead with the to the chief minister’s relief fund Chandy speaks to a villager during a mass contact programme the reality is majority of them Dharwad, about 400km from hakrishnan, now serving life term government’s good works which bounced.” at Idukki. wanted to be in Bengaluru for its here. Gulf Times Thursday, February 4, 2016 21 INDIA Sahara says set to raise $780mn to free jailed boss

Reuters arrested in March 2014 after Grosvenor House in London, Sahara has previously said it He did not name the proper- mula One racing team, Sahara Tuesday to take up a plea of the New Delhi the group failed to comply with Sahara Star hotel in Mumbai and had repaid 95% of its liability in ties, but another Sahara lawyer Force India, which would raise a markets regulator, which is seek- a court order to refund money a stake in a Formula One racing that plan, which has not been ac- told Reuters the group was close combined Rs30bn. ing redress for millions of Sahara raised from millions of small in- team. cepted by the court. to selling Grosvenor House and to The total of Rs53bn that would investors in the bond plan, to mbattled Sahara conglom- vestors by selling them bonds The group has been trying to Gautam Awasthi, a lawyer for re-mortgaging the Plaza hotel to be raised through these deals, appoint a receiver to auction off erate is close to raising later ruled to be illegal. raise funds since Roy’s arrest, but Sahara, said in a statement on raise funds. however, is far short of the Rs- some of Sahara’s properties to Eabout Rs53bn ($780mn) by Sahara, a household name in has failed in several past bids to Tuesday the group had been able Awasthi said Sahara had 360bn it needs to refund in- refund its investors. divesting assets, a lawyer for the India as the former main spon- comply with the Supreme Court’s to “formalise deals” with regard sought permission from the Su- vestors. The Sahara lawyers on Awasthi said that hearing had group said, as part of its eff orts to sor of the national cricket team, order to return Rs360bn ($5.3bn) to three foreign properties which, preme Court to sell other assets, Tuesday did not say how they now been deferred until March free its jailed founder. has some prized assets includ- to investors in the banned bond when closed, would raise about including the Sahara Star hotel plan to raise the remainder. 29 in view of Sahara’s latest Sahara chief Subrata Roy was ing New York’s Plaza Hotel, the plan. Rs23bn ($338.39mn). and its shareholding in the For- The court was expected on fund-raising proposal. Hockey team Disability activists stage protest captain under probe over sex charges

IANS yesterday that his son knew Chandigarh/Ludhiana the woman but denied they were engaged. The woman alleged she was olice in Punjab are in- “sexually exploited” by her fi- quiring into allegations ancé. Pof “sexual exploitation” She alleged she was “mental- against national hockey captain ly, physically and emotionally Sardar Singh, made by a young tortured”. British hockey player of Indian The woman was the first Sikh origin who was his live-in part- player in Britain’s Under-19 ner, an offi cial said yesterday. women’s hockey team. The inquiry is being con- Investigations in the case Disability rights activists stage a sit-in protest at the departure lounge of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata yesterday against the “denial ducted by a special investiga- have been marked to the Koom of basic human rights” to disabled citizens by airline staff following a recent incident where an air carrier’s ground crew allegedly restricted an autistic individual’s tion team (SIT) headed by ad- Kalan police station in Ludhi- movement from the airport. ditional Deputy Commissioner ana district. Police station in of Police S S Atwal, Ludhiana charge S S Nagra confirmed the Police Commissioner P S Um- matter was under probe follow- ranangal said. ing the complaint. The police have not reg- The woman alleged that istered a case against Sardar Singh got engaged to her in Singh so far. 2014 and she became pregnant In a tight spot after the last year. She said he forced 21-year-old British national her to go for an abortion and filed a complaint of “sexual began avoiding her thereafter. exploitation” against him, the The complainant said she US, India in talks on hockey team captain denied met Singh in 2012 after be- yesterday he was ever engaged coming friends through a to the woman. social networking site. She However, Singh did not deny claimed they began living knowing the woman, who hails together after their engage- from Leeds and comes from a ment. business family. In the past, Singh had posted aircraft carrier project “I will first see what report tweets and his photographs the police have writ- with the British woman. Top US navy admiral says the rier from its design to construc- Richardson said the electro- ships are under construction. But an earlier tender to buy ten. Only then will I Sources close to Singh de- two countries are making tion. magnetic launch technology Also yesterday US aircraft 126 Rafales collapsed. get back to reply all fended him, saying that he progress in aircraft carrier A high-level US-India joint that enabled a navy to fl y heavier maker Boeing Company said Plane makers are queuing up your questions. I was had withdrawn from the collaboration working group is due to meet in planes from a carrier was part of it was in a “conversation” on to fi ll the shortfall with revised not engaged (to the relationship with the New Delhi later this month, part the discussions with India. manufacturing its F/A-18 Super off ers, stressing their readiness woman),” a visibly British hockey Reuters of a series of meetings aimed at “All of those things are on the Hornet fi ghter jet in India. to locate production in India, disturbed Singh told player after New Delhi establishing broader co-opera- table, there are possibilities, it’s “We see the Super Hornet as with Saab AB of Sweden also reporters yesterday. she started tion on the design, development a matter of pacing, it’s very new an opportunity ... to tie directly pushing its single-engine Grip- “I have just come putting pres- and production of the proposed technology for us,” he said. into the ‘Make in India’ strat- en aircraft. from a game last sure on him to ndia and the US are making Indian carrier. China has one aircraft carrier egy,” Chief Executive Offi cer The twin-engine Super Hor- night. I am concen- marry her and progress in talks on the joint “We are making very good and announced last month it is Dennis Muilenburg was quoted net was eliminated in India’s trating on the next settle down in the Idevelopment of an aircraft progress, I am very pleased with building another. The Pentagon as saying on his fi rst visit to the original tender for Medium game,” Singh said, United Kingdom. carrier for India, the top US navy the progress to date and opti- said in a report last year that Chi- country. Multi-Role Combat Aircraft as he pulled himself They said admiral said yesterday, poten- mistic we can do more in the na could build multiple aircraft Prime Minister Narendra (MMRCA), however, and the fu- away from the me- Singh, who re- tially the biggest military col- future. That’s on a very solid carriers over the next 15 years. Modi’s ‘Make in India’ drive is ture of its production facility in dia questioning. mains busy in laboration between them. track,” Richardson told reporters India’s navy, which has long designed to expand India’s in- St Louis is uncertain. He is scheduled India due to his The two countries agreed to in New Delhi. considered the Indian Ocean dustrial base. “I would not say there is an to participate in commitments with work together on aircraft carrier India inducted an old aircraft its area of infl uence, has been Boeing was willing to back offi cial order. This is a conver- a match of the national team technology as well as jet engines carrier from Russia in 2014 while unnerved by Chinese naval for- the project with billions of dol- sation we are having right now,” the and HIL, did not during US President Barack an ageing British vessel is set to ays in the region and its eff orts lars in investment to India meet Muilenburg was quoted by the on- g o - want to settle in the Obama’s visit to India last year retire this year. It is building an to build port infrastructure in its operational needs, according Hindustan Times as saying. ing Hockey UK. in a strengthening of ties to bal- indigenous carrier that is ex- countries stretching from Paki- to Muilenburg’s comments in Muilenburg also fl agged the I n - dia League “She started ance China’s expanding military pected to enter service in 2018- stan to Djibouti on the African the interview with Hindustan F-22 Raptor, a fi fth-generation (HIL) today. blackmailing him power in the region. 2019. coast. Times. fi ghter jointly developed with Singh’s father through SMSes and The visiting chief of US Naval But the navy also plans a third, After years of neglect, the In- India is locked in talks with Lockheed Martin Corporation, Gurnam Singh phone calls to force Operations, John Richardson, its biggest carrier yet, for which dian government has approved France’s Dassault Aviation SA to as a future sales prospect for In- told reporters him to settle in the said the two sides had held talks it has sought US assistance, es- the navy’s plans for a dozen new buy 36 French-built Rafale com- dia, calling it “an area of future in Haryana’s UK,” a close aide of on a range of issues relating to pecially state-of-the-art tech- submarines, six of them nucle- bat jets at a price said to be close investment for which we are in- Sirsa district Singh said. the next generation Indian car- nology to launch aircraft. ar-powered. More than 40 war- to $200mn apiece. terested”.

Carmakers show off SUVs 10 soldiers missing in Siachin avalanche despite pollution crackdown Agencies Indian troops patrol the Srinagar Siachen Glacier, dubbed the AFP on registration of new diesel cars tend to capture it for ourselves.” world’s highest battlefield, in New Delhi with an engine capacity of two Jeep’s Wrangler Unlimited and Kashmir. litres or more - typical of large Grand Cherokee models will be escuers searched yes- Avalanches and landslides are SUVs or luxury cars. on sale from mid-2016, while terday for 10 soldiers common in the area during the ndia’s fl agship auto show Although the moves have rat- it plans to invest $280mn in its R feared buried in an ava- winter and temperatures there opened its doors in New Delhi tled the industry, carmakers plant in Ranjangaon that will lanche in remote Himalayas can drop as low as minus 60 de- Iyesterday with a new batch of yesterday showed off their new produce an “all-new Jeep”, the near the de facto border with grees Celsius. diesel-guzzling SUVs on proud SUVs - including many smaller, carmaker said. Pakistan, an army spokesman In January four soldiers were display, despite industry uncer- cheaper versions of the cars that India’s biggest carmaker Tata said. killed by an avalanche, while tainty about a pollution crack- can more easily navigate chaotic Motors showed off a range of new The soldiers were hit while on last year another four died down targeting motorists in the city streets, aimed at young ur- models as it tries to broaden its duty at a post on a glacier at an when their vehicle was buried capital. ban buyers. fl agging market share, including altitude of 19,000ft, Colonel S D under an avalanche near Leh, More than 80 vehicle launches Among those unveiling these two forthcoming SUVs and the Goswami said. the main city in the high-alti- were expected at the Auto Expo “compact SUVs” was Maruti Su- Zica hatchback - which it plans “In the early hours of today, 10 tude Ladakh. 2016, the biggest edition in the zuki, which was holding the glo- to rename following the spread of soldiers were hit by an avalanche An estimated 8,000 troops show’s 30-year history, with the bal premiere of its Vitara Brezza. the Zika virus. at the northern Siachen Glacier,” have died on the glacier since Fiat Chrysler-owned Jeep mak- Jeep acknowledged it faced the “We recognise the need to im- Goswami said. 1984, almost all of them from ing its India debut and hoping task of reclaiming its 75-year-old prove air quality, but when we An army statement said the avalanches, landslides, frostbite, to capitalise on the popularity of brand name in the Indian mar- look at the targets being set, they post was being manned by altitude sickness or heart failure sports utility vehicles. ket, where SUVs are often called should be set based on emissions one junior officer and nine rather than combat. SUVs pouring onto the roads simply “jeeps”. There are plans to - limits on emissions” rather soldiers when the avalanche The strategic importance of have been partly blamed for the target affl uent consumers with than restrictions on engine size, struck. the glacier is widely seen as in- Indian capital’s toxic air which its luxury 4x4s. Timothy Leverton, Tata’s head of “Rescue operations by spe- signifi cant. Until 1984, neither the World Health Organisa- “The SUV segment is poised to research and development, said. cialised teams from army and side had troops permanently tion has ranked the worst on the take a quantum leap in the coming Industry insiders say there are air force are underway to res- stationed there. planet. years in light of the emerging market fears that the ban on large diesel cue the soldiers. The rescue Both countries agree on a The Delhi government and the trends,” said Kevin Flynn, president cars could be extended to other Philipp Von Sahr, president of BMW Group India, and former operations are being closely need to demilitarise the gla- courts have announced a string and managing director of Fiat- cities also trying to combat air cricketer Sachin Tendulkar pose with the BMW 7 series car during its monitored from Leh and Ud- cier, but attempts to reach any of measures to tackle the crisis, Chrysler Automobiles India. pollution, or extended for a long- launch at the Indian Auto Expo in Greater Noida, on the outskirts of hampur,” the statement add- agreement have been unsuc- including a ban until March 31 “Jeep is our name and we in- er term. New Delhi, yesterday. ed. cessful. Gulf Times 22 Thursday, February 4, 2016 LATIN AMERICA

CRIME FALLOUT ANNOUNCEMENT INQUIRY DECISION Murder rate dips, but Bolivia truck strike Obama to propose Caracas probe sought into Peru to cut royalties in Venezuela still a hotspot leaves 11 dead: police more aid for Colombia $300bn in lost oil revenue current oil contracts

Venezuela’s murder rate fell last year to 58 per Disruptions during a strike by truck drivers President Barack Obama wants to boost US aid to Two former cabinet ministers under late Peru plans to lower the royalty payments it receives 100,000 inhabitants, the government said, in Bolivia left 11 people dead in recent days, Colombia to help with security and a peace accord Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez are from oil companies by July in order to help them but the violence-racked nation remains one of authorities said. Nine people died and 36 in the long-running war with the Farc, a plan he will seeking an investigation to trace the fate of survive the oil price crisis and might allow some the world’s most dangerous. “This indicator is were hurt when their bus crashed as it drove discuss with Colombian President Juan Manual some $300bn allegedly embezzled during to postpone part of their payments, the country’s extremely worrying because it confirms we have around a road block set up by protesters, Santos today, the White House said. US off icials the past decade. Hector Navarro, who ran five energy agency, Perupetro, said. Twenty-nine a grave problem of violent crime,” the state’s police chief Edgar Tellez said. The two other previewing the White House meeting between ministries under Chavez’s rule, will ask a state companies with exploratory contracts and three chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega told parliament, victims, a woman and a male truck driver, Obama and Santos with reporters declined to ethics council to review the operations of the with extractive rights have declared force majeure giving the figure. Though that figure was an died in separate incidents over recent days comment on how much additional aid Obama will 13-year-old exchange control mechanism. as the drop in oil price has sapped profit and improvement on the off icial murder rate of 62 during altercations at road blocks. Drivers have propose in his budget request to Congress. Obama Navarro and Jorge Giordani, a former finance financing in recent years, said Rafael Zoeger, the per 100,000 in 2014, violent crime remains an blocked roads across the country since Sunday and Santos are also expected to discuss ways the minister who was Chavez’s closest economic president of Perupetro. Perupetro would off er all-pervasive worry for Venezuela’s 29mn people, during the strike in a dispute over tax credits. two countries can co-ordinate the fight against the adviser during his 14-year rule, have made new royalties based on the conditions of each oil especially in poor slums run by gangs and rife with The government has called for talks to end Zika virus, said Mark Feierstein, the White House calculations showing the government cannot block. Zoeger called the revisions “urgent” and guns. Only Honduras has a worse murder rate the strike that has hit five regions of the South National Security Council’s senior director for the account for how it spent nearly a third of the said Perupetro would aim to finish them in the first than Venezuela, according to the United Nations. American country. Western Hemisphere. $1tn that entered its coff ers in the past decade. quarter or at latest, the second.

Airline strike causes chaos Martelly’s interim Zika alarm govt plan rejected by grows amid US opposition

Reuters Port-au-Prince sex link, rising aiti’s opposition have re- jected a proposal by out- Hgoing President Michel Martelly to form a temporary government to organise elec- tions, after a run-off presidential birth defects vote was cancelled last month amid violence and allegations of Reuters of a sexual transmission in Dal- cerned by the rapid spread of fraud. Geneva/Brasilia las adds to evidence that bod- Zika, but had not seen evidence Martelly, who heads Haiti’s ily fl uids might also transmit the of people cancelling travel. government, is due to leave offi ce disease, scientists and public Health offi cials and scientists on Sunday. larm over the Zika virus health authorities said far more are still struggling to determine A January 24 run-off to choose spread yesterday, as pub- research is needed to determine which of the cases of micro- his successor was cancelled af- Alic health offi cials inves- how much sexual contact might cephaly have a defi nitive correla- ter sometimes violent protests tigated a report that an American be needed for contagion. tion with a Zika infection. Scien- erupted against what the oppo- had been infected through sexual “If you swap enough bodily tists do not yet fully understand sition said was fraud in the fi rst contact and Brazil said 4,074 fl uid, most viruses can probably whether Zika itself is causing the round. cases of infants with severe birth be sexually transmitted to some condition or how it might other- Under a proposal drawn up by defects could be linked to the vi- extent,” Neuman said. wise be associated with it. Martelly and parliamentary lead- rus. Offi cials are scrambling to One of the key challenges in ers, Prime Minister Evans Paul The widening scare comes measure the severity of an out- terms of measuring the severity would resign and be replaced by a two days after the World Health break that began in northeast of Zika and its believed compli- candidate to be approved by par- Organisation (WHO) declared a Brazil early last year, before cations is that the illness shows liament, government-allied law- global health emergency because spreading across the country and symptoms in only one of fi ve maker Gary Bodeau said. of the growing number of Zika- into the rest of the Americas, a people who are infected with A source at Paul’s offi ce said on linked cases of microcephaly, a region that had never before suf- it. Even then, for most people Monday the prime minister had condition in which the baby is fered from Zika infections. symptoms are limited to minor, drafted a resignation letter, and a born with an abnormally small Late Tuesday, the Brazilian fl u-like aches and fever. source at the presidential palace head and an underdeveloped health ministry said the number And for babies thought to have said early Tuesday that the letter brain. of newborns with microcephaly microcephaly, a complex process had been received. Yesterday, the agency once linked to the virus had increased of waiting, lab work and therapy However, an aide to Paul said more warned regions beyond to 4,074 as of January 30, from is needed to determine whether later the letter was ultimately Latin America to be on guard, 3,718 a week earlier. the condition is in fact present never sent, and that therefore including Europe but also Af- The rising number of cases has and whether it may have coin- his resignation had not been ten- rica and Asia, the areas with the stirred alarm ahead of the Rio cided with a Zika infection. dered. world’s highest birth rates. Olympic Games in August, when In the fi gures released on Lawmaker Bodeau said the So far, the WHO said the virus Brazil’s second largest city will Tuesday, Brazil’s health min- eventual new prime minister has been transmitted in at least host tens of thousands of athletes istry said that 709 of the 4,783 would rule jointly with a coun- 32 countries, from South Amer- and tourists from around the instances notifi ed as possible cil of ministers after Martelly, a ica to the Western Pacifi c. world. Organisers of the Games microcephaly since October had former singer known as ‘Sweet There were new concerns said on Tuesday they were con- been ruled out. Micky,’ leaves offi ce and until new about the possibility of sexual elections were organised by May. transmission after health offi - Latam health ministers discuss crisis at summit But run-off candidate Jude cials in Texas said the fi rst known Celestin’s party and other op- case of Zika virus transmission Latin American health ministers Rousseff , whose country is most position groups want an interim in the US was likely contracted met in Montevideo yesterday for aff ected by the Zika virus with an government to be organised by a through sex rather than a mos- a regional crisis summit to discuss estimated 1.5mn infections. The Supreme Court judge. quito bite. the public health emergency PAHO said it needed an estimated “We reject the current initia- But the focus by public health declared by the World Health $8.5mn to help member states tive by Martelly and Parliament. offi cials in terms of stemming Organisation (WHO) over the rapid respond to the Zika virus which is It is a joke,” said Samuel Madistin, the outbreak remains the Aedis spread of the Zika virus. Ministers spreading through the Americas. spokesman for a group of eight aegypti mosquito, the tropical from 10 South American countries “We are mobilising resources and opposition parties. insect known to be the primary were joined in the Uruguayan estimate that we’ll need $8.5mn to Celestin refused to take part in source of contagion. capital by their counterparts from adequately help our members re- the January vote, which he called “Control measures need to fo- Mexico, Costa Rica and the Domin- spond to this,” Etienne told report- “a farce.” The impoverished Car- cus on the major source of Zika, ican Republic, as well as director of ers on the sidelines of the meeting. ibbean nation has been trying Passengers rest during an airline crew members strike at Congonhas airport in Sao Paulo, which is still overwhelmingly the Pan-American Health Organi- Etienne said fumigation had since the 1980s to build a stable Brazil, yesterday. Brazilian airline pilots and stewards halted work for two hours in a pay mosquitoes,” said Ben Neuman, a sation (PAHO), Carissa Etienne. limited eff ectiveness as a means democracy in the wake of the dispute, delaying and cancelling flights across the country days before the start of the virologist at Britain’s University The conference was called a week to wipe out mosquito populations, decades-long rule of the Duvalier carnival holiday season. of Reading. earlier by Brazilian President Dilma killing adults but not larvae. family. Although Tuesday’s report

Yoko Ono in Mexico Petrobras ‘must face’ US Party launches bill to oust Maduro group lawsuits over graft AFP with immediate eff ect and put a Caracas limit on re-election, its secretary Reuters “Petrobras was a massive Last April, Petrobras took a Andres Velasquez told reporters. New York company with investors around $17bn writedown to account for “Venezuela is going through an the globe,” Rakoff wrote in a 49- overvalued assets. small group of Venezue- extreme, irreversible crisis and page decision. “Notwithstanding Prosecutors have also said lan opposition lawmakers those who brought us to these US judge ordered Petro- Petrobras’s size and its numer- more than $2bn of bribes were Ahave launched a bill pro- depths show no signs of fi xing bras, the state-run Brazil- ous and far-fl ung investors, the paid over a decade, mainly to posing to oust President Nicolas things,” Velasquez said, after for- Aian oil company, to face interests of the class members Petrobras executives from con- Maduro, the latest anti-govern- mally presenting the bill to the class-action litigation by inves- are aligned and the same al- struction and engineering com- ment off ensive in the oil-rich leaders of the National Assembly tors seeking to recoup billions of leged misconduct underlies their panies. country’s tense political standoff . legislature for debate. dollars in losses stemming from claims.” The scandal has contributed The leftist Radical Cause party Constitutional law expert Juan a bribery and political kickback Class certifi cation can make to a plunge in Petrobras’ mar- said it presented a proposed con- Manuel Rafalli said if the assem- scandal. it easier for investors to recoup ket value to below $20bn from stitutional amendment to cut bly passed the reform it would In a decision made public, US larger sums than if they sued nearly $300bn fewer than Maduro’s mandate short by two then have to be endorsed by a district judge Jed Rakoff in Man- individually, though it does not eight years ago, Reuters data years and call a general election popular vote. hattan certifi ed two classes of guarantee they will be recover. show. by the end of this year. Maduro’s current mandate plaintiff s, saying their claims are Petrobras did not immediately Rakoff appointed the law fi rm Radical Cause is a minority runs until 2019 so if the reform similar enough to be pursued as respond to requests for com- Pomerantz LLP to represent both member of the opposition MUD went through he would be re- groups. ment. investor classes. It would share in coalition, which took control of quired to leave offi ce in April 2017. One class bought various Other defendants include more any recoveries. the legislature last month af- Radical Cause has four depu- Petrobras securities from Janu- than a dozen bank underwrit- Petrobras’ fraud “has eviscer- ter voters fed up with economic ties in the 167-seat assembly, ary 2010 to July 2015 and will be ers and an affi liate of the auditor ated billions of dollars in share- hardship turned on Maduro in where the MUD overall has a led by Universities Superannua- PricewaterhouseCoopers. A PwC holder value, as well as hob- elections. three-fi fths majority. The MUD tion Scheme of Liverpool, Eng- spokesman could not immediate- bled the political and economic The resulting political standoff is a broad coalition dominated by land. ly be reached for comment. structure of Brazil,” Jeremy Lie- has raised fears of violence in the big centre-right parties. The other bought debt secu- Petrobras, whose formal name berman, a Pomerantz partner, South American country, where “One thing that everyone rities from off erings in 2013 and is Petroleo Brasileiro SA, has said in a statement. “This ruling 43 people died in anti-govern- agrees on is that Maduro cannot 2014, and will be led by North been accused of infl ating the represents a signifi cant mile- Japanese musician and artist Yoko Ono, widow of John ment riots in 2014. continue at the head of the gov- Carolina’s treasurer and the Em- value of more than $98bn of its stone in Plaintiff s’ eff orts to re- Lennon, dances during an event at Zocalo Square in The party proposed to change ernment because of the risk that ployees’ Retirement System of stock and bonds through years of coup a signifi cant portion of the Mexico City. Yoko Ono is in Mexico for diverse activities. the constitution to reduce presi- poses to the stability of the coun- Hawaii. corruption. losses incurred.” dential terms from six to four years try,” Velasquez said. Gulf Times Thursday, February 4, 2016 23 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN EU lauds Pakistan for complying with UN conventions

Internews National Commission for Hu- “There is a need to address Lahore man Rights and a series of other the discrepancy between the institutions and the GSP plus implementation from province treaty implementation cells. to province, allowing those akistan has ratifi ed all the Progress made in legislation provinces who are currently UN conventions related on women and children rights is lagging behind to catch up,” it Pto generalised scheme of positively acknowledged. said. preferences (GSP) plus and the The commission said Paki- The commission reported country showed improvements stan’s intention to adopt a na- noncompliance on environ- when it comes to human and tional action plan on human mental and climate change labour rights, environmental rights is a step in the positive conventions, including lack protection, climate change and direction, “but it needs to be of compliance of the Conven- good governance, the European followed by eff ective progress.” tion on International Trade in Union has said. “The intention to develop a Endangered Species of Wild “The country outlook is policy on minorities - also in Fauna and Flora (CITES) bi- Pakistan International Airlines employees protest against the privatization of the company and the deaths on Tuesday of colleagues in positive towards its commit- line with the SC recommenda- ennial reports for 2003/04, Karachi, at the PIA off ices in Peshawar yesterday. ment under the conditions of tions - must be welcomed and 2005/06, 2009/10, the Basel GSP plus status,” the European action in this area should be Convention on the Control of Commission said in its maiden supported,” it said. Trans-boundary Movements report. However, the commission of Hazardous Wastes and Their The report said Punjab expressed concerns on some Disposal as reports for 2008, among all provinces has taken human rights violations. 2010 and 2011 and others. serious initiatives to address “Poverty, feudalism or a “(However), the country has the discrepancy on Interna- tribal culture in diff erent parts made reasonably good eff orts tional Labour Organization’s of the country, entrenched dis- to implement the commitments conventions. crimination of women, wide- under the conventions related Most PIA fl ights The EU Parliament biennially spread ethnic intolerance, reli- to environmental protection reviews the GSP plus scheme to gious and militant extremism, and climate change,” it said. assess whether GSP plus ben- and a powerful military highly “Pakistan shows a renewed efi ciaries are reaping the ben- involved in politics are some of commitment to address the ef- efi ts the scheme and adhering the root causes of human rights fects of climate change despite to their commitments for eff ec- abuses,” it said. the fact that the country is low tively implementing 27 core UN “More than 300 executions, per capita emitter of green- conventions. carried out since the lifting of house gases,” it added. hit as protesters The fi rst review by the EU the moratorium, raise questions The commission advised Parliament is expected to take … with respect to executions of amendment into the national place in January and February. juvenile defenders, denial of fair legislation to fully meet the re- The EU granted Pakistan the trial, and the systematic use of quirements for the implemen- GSP plus status in January 2014. torture.” tation of the CITES and the Under the scheme, the coun- The commission objected Stockholm Convention. try’s exports, mainly textiles, the selective transfer of civilian The report said Pakistan is enjoy duty concessions in the cases to military courts without among the fi rst few countries hold ground 28-nation EU block. clear criteria, “without infor- to sign the convention on cor- “In 2014, Pakistani exports mation about the procedures, ruption. Reuters with security personnel armed PIA’s management expressed aircraft have been cannibalised increased more than 21% or and with non-transparent “Implementation of the Islamabad with water cannons, tear gas and “deep grief and sorrow” over the to keep others fl ying. about 1bn euros,” the commis- court hearings.” commitments under the UN batons near the international air- deaths of its employees, Gilani said, Despite government attempts sion said. “Pakistani authorities should convention against corruption port in Karachi. and asked the government to launch to allay fears the privatisation This positive trend continued make signifi cant eff orts to com- has been improved,” it said. ost fl ights by Pakistan’s The two men died of gunshot an inquiry into Tuesday’s incident. could lead to mass layoff s, spo- in 2015. Grant of GSP plus sta- ply with their international ob- The report further said Pa- ailing national airline wounds, hospital offi cials said, Since January 26, the strike has cost radic protests have continued. tus has helped Pakistan’s econ- ligations lack of capacity and kistan continues its eff orts to Mwere grounded yester- though police and Pakistan’s the airline about PRs1bn ($9.6mn) Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif omy in diffi cult times. awareness continue to hinder counter drug traffi cking and day, a company spokesman said, paramilitary force have denied in losses, he added. this week extended legislation to “In 2014, Pakistan’s exports the full implementation of Pa- drug abuse by improving skills as striking employees disrupted opening fi re on the crowd of In a television interview on ban the airline’s employees from to EU increased $1.3bn. In the kistan’s international commit- of law enforcement agencies operations to protest against a several hundred as it marched Tuesday night, company chair- striking for six months, the gov- fi rst eight months of 2015, de- ments and the devolution of with international cooperation government privatisation plan. toward the Jinnah International man Nasser Jaff er said he planned ernment said in a statement. spite the depreciation of Euro, power to the provinces follow- as well as better intelligence The strike is the latest in a Airport in the southern city. to resign. The law specifi es prison terms Pakistan’s export to EU in- ing the 18th amendment has sharing in the region. months-long series of protests “Most of the PIA fl ights are not “From this day on, my con- of up to a year, and an unspeci- creased 7% in euro terms.” created challenges but also op- “Narcotics Control Division against the plan to sell off part being allowed to take off from any science does not allow me to stay fi ed fi ne, for those convicted of The commission’s report said portunities for taking action,” and the Drug Regulatory Au- of Pakistan International Air- of the airports, domestic or inter- as chairman of this organisation,” infringements. the Supreme Court of Pakistan the report said. thority of Pakistan need to work lines (PIA), among companies national,” said airline spokesman the emotional Jaff er said on Dunya Sharif vowed not to back down has played positive role in the im- The report suggested that hand in hand to monitor il- the government has pledged to Danyal Gilani, although some re- Television. “Two people lost their from the reform plan. plementation of UN human rights the government, the employ- licit activities while at the same privatise under an International turning international fl ights were lives. I don’t think anything worse “Action will be taken against conventions in the country. ers and the trade unions have time ensuring their availability Monetary Fund (IMF) deal. being allowed to land. than this could have happened.” those who have gone on strike,” The commission sees welcomed GSP Plus as a useful for medical and scientifi c pur- The grounding of fl ights fol- A spokesman for the protesters Once a source of pride for Pa- he told reporters on Tuesday. “I progress has been made in instrument and it seems to have poses,” it said. lows the deaths of two PIA em- did not immediately answer tel- kistan, the loss-making carrier believe that any concession on strengthening the institutional improved cooperation and dia- “A survey to drug abusers ployees and injuries to several ephone calls from Reuters to seek has been hit by frequent fl ight this will be a disservice to Paki- framework for human rights, logue among all parties on the needs to be carried out to assess others during clashes on Tuesday comment. cancellations, and many of its stan.” including by establishing a labour markets. the scope of the problem.” ‘Wall of Kindness’ helps Balloon boy Kabul needs poor get warm clothes in Peshawar winter ‘long-term US

Internews agement to do wonders,” said pas- Peshawar serby Shahid Ali. He proposed that apart from commitment’ warm clothes, people should drop ometime a small act of kind- food, books and whatever they ness by someone gets un- don’t need any more so that oth- Reuters inces, and the White House has Sexpected response from the ers who require these things could Washington given the military broad author- general public and encourages quietly take them away. ity to target Islamic State there. more people to follow in the foot- A couple of young volunteers The threat of attacks staged by steps. had painted the wall of the govern- he US must make a long- militant groups based in Afghan- The ‘Wall of Kindness’ in the ment-run tube-well near the lone term commitment to Af- istan and the surrounding region Hayatabad area of Pakistan’s Pe- CNG station on Phase-3 Road on Tghanistan to stop security requires continued US engage- shawar is one such gesture that is January 30 and named it ‘Deewar- there from worsening and pre- ment, Campbell said. earning praise and is being backed e-Mehrubani’. vent attacks on the West by mili- “If we think we can just stop by people from across the country. The idea was copied by Asad Ali tants based there, the outgoing and it’s going to go away, or peo- When you enter Hayatabad from and a couple of his friends from the commander of US forces in Af- ple are not going to continue to the University Road via the Phase- similar initiative in Iran where a ghanistan said on Tuesday. try to attack Europe or attack our III Chowk, you fi nd a small portion number of such walls were painted General John Campbell testi- homeland here, then we’re naive, of the roadside wall painted with by the youth in Mashhad, Shiraz, fi ed before a congressional com- we’re kidding ourselves,” he said. orange colour. Sirjan and other cities in a bid to mittee that while Afghan secu- “We have to be able to continue to It is named the ‘Deewar-e-Me- help the needy Iranians. A similar rity forces had shown “uneven” have a long-term commitment.” hrubani’ (Wall of Kindness). wall was later seen in Liuzhuo city performance and faced leader- Campbell has commanded US One also fi nds a couple of coats, of Guangxi in China. ship problems, continued US and international forces in Af- two sweaters, a jacket and other The ‘Walls of Kindness’ got an support for the Afghan govern- ghanistan for the past 18 months warm clothes hanging in the hooks unprecedented response in Iran ment was needed to defeat mili- and is expected to retire. Presi- on the wall. and China. The idea was put into tants including the Taliban, Al dent Barack Obama has chosen The clothes are dropped by peo- practice recently in Karachi by two Qaeda, and the Pakistan-based Lieutenant General John Nichol- ple who do not need these any- women. The slogan of the ‘Wall of Haqqani network. son to replace Campbell. more. These are meant for those Kindness’ is “Leave what you don’t “These are certainly not resid- A Pentagon report released in labourers, homeless, orphaned need” and “Take if you need it”. ual threats that would allow for December said the security situ- kids or anyone who cannot aff ord Passersby leave their jackets, a peaceful transition across Af- ation in Afghanistan deteriorated warm clothes to fi ght the winter coats and clothes on the hooks ghanistan,” Campbell said. “The in the second half of 2015, with chill. The needy visit the place and and those who need these things threats Afghanistan faces require the Taliban staging more attacks take whatever they need. silently take them without being our sustained attention and for- and infl icting more casualties on “This is so amazing. It’s a small noticed by anyone. ward presence.” Afghan forces. gesture but it will benefi t a large Wadaan, the volunteers who That includes fi nancial sup- The outlook prompted Obama number of deserving people every painted the wall in their Facebook port until the Afghan economy to announce in October that he day without bothering anyone or message said the idea was recom- can support the population, would maintain a force of 9,800 begging,” said Safi rullah, a Pesha- mended to them by friends in Iran. which Campbell estimated troops in Afghanistan through warite who recently returned from “It is a small step, but it is a step would be “at least” 2024. The most of 2016, instead of draw- UK. indeed. We really appreciate the US will this year require more of ing down to an embassy-based He added that this idea should be support of the people and this has the Afghan government before presence by 2017. Of 407 district followed by people in other parts of been possible because of you, It it provides funding, in order to centres in Afghanistan, 26 are Peshawar and Pakistan. was done with the help of the team spur reforms, he said. under insurgent control or infl u- “A few small steps like this make from another body, Serve Man- US defence offi cials have ence, Campbell said, with an- you feel good about our Peshawar. kind,” said the Facebook message An Afghan boy looks for customers to buy his balloons on a street in Mazar-i-Sharif. warned of a nascent Islamic State other 94 district centres viewed People here need a little encour- of those behind the novel idea. presence in some Afghan prov- as at risk at any given time. Gulf Times 24 Thursday, February 4, 2016 PHILIPPINES US says open Violence fears after to patrols with Philippines in bill passage setback disputed waters President Benigno Reuters reaction from Beijing. Manila Aquino, whose six-year Manila has asked the US to patrol term ends in June, had the area together after China lobbied hard for the passage began test fl ights from Fiery of the bill, which would have he US is open to the Cross Reef, one of three arti- granted the nation’s Muslim possibility of joint naval fi cial islands where Beijing has minority an autonomous Tpatrols with the Philip- built airfi elds. southern homeland pines in the South China Sea, “We do discuss that principle a US diplomat said yesterday, (joint patrols) with the Philip- AFP stressing it would continue to pines and so I am not discarding Manila exercise “freedom of naviga- that possibility,” US Ambas- tion” in the disputed waters. sador to the Philippines Philip China claims most of the Goldberg told reporters. hilippine lawmakers failed South China Sea, through “But we are not going to yesterday to pass a cru- which more than $5tn of world make announcements about Pcial bill aimed at ending a trade is shipped every year. Vi- that beforehand because it is decades-long insurgency that etnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the our view that we have every has claimed tens of thousands of Philippines and Taiwan have right under international law lives, igniting fears of fresh vio- rival claims. to exercise freedom of navi- lence. A US Navy destroyer sailed gation in the South China Sea Philippine President Benigno within 12 nautical miles of an and we will continue to do so.” Aquino, whose six-year term island claimed by China in the The Philippine has chal- ends in June, had lobbied hard South China Sea on Saturday lenged Beijing before the ar- for the passage of the bill, which to counter eff orts to limit free- bitration court in The Hague, would have granted the nation’s dom of navigation, the Penta- a case Beijing has not recog- Muslim minority an autono- gon said, prompting an angry nised. mous southern homeland. However he was unable to muster enough support in the CRIME lower house of Congress to even Locals reject theory of Robredo as target secure a vote by yesterday, the fi nal day of parliament before it Police have yet to identify the suspects and motive behind the car explo- adjourns ahead of national elec- sion in Tacurong City Tuesday afternoon, just minutes after the convoy of tions in May. Rep. Leni Robredo passed, leaving her unhurt, Manila Times reported. Failure to pass the bill means it The explosion, however, injured three persons, including a three-year-old can not be passed under Aquino, File photo shows protesters carrying umbrellas with slogans supporting the peace accord between the government and the Moro Islamic liberation boy. Supt. Ranie Hachuela, chief of Tacurong City police, identified the who is limited by the constitu- Front (MILF) in Manila. Philippine lawmakers failed yesterday to pass a crucial bill aimed at ending a decades-long insurgency. wounded as Freddie Tumindig, 42, Nicole Fobar, 19, and three-year-old tion to a single term, with no Patrick Pepito. They all sustained shrapnel wounds in their bodies. Hachuela certainty over whether his suc- Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the May general election. Af- vowed to continue working for told ABS-CBN television. said investigators are still gathering information on the incident from people cessor will even pursue a peace signed a peace accord with ter the collapse in 2008 of the peace with Aquino’s successor. Most political analysts say in the area where the improvised explosive device (IED) went off . The deal. Aquino’s government in 2014 to last attempt to seal a peace deal He told ABS-CBN televi- Aquino lost lawmakers’ sup- Army-led anti-crime Task Force Talakudung, based in Tacurong City, said Asked if the failure to pass the end its struggle for independ- with the MILF, hardline rebels sion there could be a feeling of port for the autonomy bill after a the IED used in the attack was planted under a black Toyota car. Mean- bill could spark violence, chief ence, which began in the 1970s. raided Christian farming villag- “repression” within the MILF police raid in MILF territory last while, Muslims, Christians and highlanders in Sultan Kudarat expressed government peace negotia- Under the accord, the rebels es, triggering fi ghting that left ranks, but the leadership was year killed a Malaysian bomb disappointment over reports insinuating that the Tuesday IED explosion tor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer told would have only given up their more than 400 people dead and countering with “massive en- maker on the US’ list of most- was meant for Liberal Party vice presidential candidate Robredo. John AFP: “That’s the danger, that’s arms after the law was passed 600,000 displaced. gagement”. wanted “terrorists”. Felix Miciano Unson, a peace advocate and former chairman of National why we are taking steps, calling creating the autonomous home- Chief MILF negotiator Mo- “We just explain to them that However the raid led to a day Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) of Cotabato City, rejected such for sobriety.” land and a regional govern- hagher Iqbal said yesterday here lies the problem in the peace of intense fi ghting with the insinuations, saying the fact that Robredo was in Tacurong City on Tuesday The nation’s largest rebel ment was elected. The vote was the rebel leadership was work- process. We will never cease en- MILF and other rebels that left before the 2pm explosion does not mean she could be the target of the group, the 10,000-strong Moro meant to take place alongside ing hard to avoid a repeat, and gaging in the peace process,” he 44 police commandos dead. Tacurong IED attack. Comelec ruling clears hurdles for Duterte’s presidential contest

By William B Depasupil tong, David and delas Nieves only had the mayor Manila Times as respondent. All four petitions principally questioned validity of Duterte’s substitution for Dino, claiming that the latter’s certifi cate of can- avao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has didacy (COC) for president was invalid. breezed through legal hurdles to his presi- The petitions fi led by Pamatong, David and Ddential run with the Commission on Elec- delas Nieves also questioned the validity of Du- tions (Comelec) junking all four petitions seeking terte’s COC.But in its 50-page ruling, the First to disqualify him. Division said it found no merit in the petitions. Voting 3-0, the poll body’s First Division threw It ruled that Dino fi led a valid COC for presi- out the complaints fi led against Duterte by vari- dent and a valid withdrawal as a candidate for ous personalities. “Mr Chairman (Juan Andres president. The division said Dino was not de- Bautista), I would like to announce that the First clared a nuisance candidate.It added that Duterte Division has ruled that the punisher will live to did not commit any material misrepresentation die another day,” Senior Commissioner Christian in his COC for president.The petitions of Castor Robert Lim said after the voting yesterday. and delas Nieves were dismissed for their failure Lim is the chairman of the First Division that to appear during preliminary conferences of their has commissioners Rowena Guanzon and Luie respective cases. Tito Guia as members. The First Division said the petitions were also Guanzon, according to Lim, wanted to fi le a fi led late.“Any question as to any material mis- separate opinion but she agreed to submit it on representation therein should have been brought another day so as not to delay the promulgation. within 25 days from October 16, 2015 or until No- The disqualifi cation cases were separately fi led vember 10 in accordance with Section 78 of the by broadcasters Ruben Castor, Rizalito David, Ely OEC (Omnibus Election Code),” it noted. Pamatong and John Paulo delas Nieves. The complaints fi led by Pamatong and David The petitioners have fi ve days to fi le their mo- were dismissed for lack of merit. tions for reconsideration (MR) with the commis- But even as it dismissed all four petitions, the sion en banc.If the en banc upheld the decision First Division said the petitioners did raise some of the First Division, the petitioners could elevate valid points on the issue of Duterte’s substitution the case to the Supreme Court, just like what Poe for Dino.“In particular, petitioners David and de- Miss Universe winner Pia Wurtzbach (left) poses with Michelle Williams during Super Bowl 50 Opening Night media day at SAP Centre. did when she was disqualifi ed by the same divi- las Nieves are correct in saying that to allow the sion. substitution is, in a way, an unlawful extension of Castro included as respondents Martin Dino, the period set in Resolutions 9981 and 9984 for Duterte and the PDP-Laban party, while Pama- the fi ling of certifi cates of candidacy,” it noted. Miss Universe Wurtzbach’s presence at Super Bowl creates excitement

By Christina Alpad The cameras caught Wurtz- their fi rst day on the job. Wurtzbach, a.k.a. Miss Universe Manila Times bach interviewing Denver Bron- In a video posted on its Face- 2015, to work her way through cos’ Kenny Anunike and receiv- book page, Inside Edition said, the chaotic scrum of players, ing lessons on how to do “The “Inside Edition’s special corre- reporters and assorted wacky iss Universe 2015 Pia Dab” (dabbin’), a new hip hop spondent Miss Universe is caus- characters at the NFL’s annual Alonzo Wurtzbach cre- dance craze. ing a big stir at the Super Bowl. media circus. Hey, the Philip- Mated a stir when she The 26-year-old beauty also Pia Wurtzbach was mobbed by pines’ representative at the started her duties as a Super joined the Carolina Panthers for reporters during the Super Bowl high-profi le pageant clearly aced Bowl 50 correspondent for US a dance fest that became an in- kick off festivities in California. that event’s Q&A session, so why television’s Inside Edition. stant online hit. Fans and players all wanted self- not have her lob some questions On Super Bowl Opening Moreover, the team shared ies.” at a few very accommodating Night, fans, NFL players and their secret Panther handshake, Even the Washington Post athletes?” members of the media lined up a.k.a the “slip and slide” with took notice of Wurtzbach’s Wurtzbach will report on be- to have a selfi e with the Filipina the pride of the Philippines. hosting debut and commended hind-the-scenes events leading beauty. “It was a lot of fun; I was able Inside Edition for having her on up to the big game on Sunday, Wurtzbach fl ew to San Fran- to talk to a lot of the players,” the fi eld. and will also take viewers on cisco after a week’s visit to the Wurtzbach told her fellow corre- “The folks at Inside Edition game day coverage, which drew Rodrigo Duterte: breezing through legal hurdles Philippines. spondent Megan Alexander after had the bright idea of hiring Pia 144mn viewers in 2015. Gulf Times Thursday, February 4, 2016 25 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Ex-chief of Lanka army joins ruling alliance AFP Colombo. “We have nothing to Rajapakse at his January 2010 Colombo hide. I feel that the allegations re-election. must be investigated.” Sirisena’s government has Fonseka led troops to victory agreed to set up special courts ri Lanka’s former army over Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009, to investigate allegations that General Sarath Fonseka, left, and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe shaking hands during an agreement signing ceremony in Colombo chief Sarath Fonseka yes- ending the 37-year war, but troops killed at least 40,000 yesterday. Sterday joined the coali- he fell out with then president Tamil civilians in the fi nal tion government which has Mahinda Rajapakse over who months of the war. High Commissioner for Human resolution on Sri Lanka adopted said the government did not rule court to probe the alleged abuses. vowed to probe allegations of deserved the credit. Fonseka has always backed Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein is in October last year, that had pre- out international involvement in Sri Lanka has opted for a do- atrocities committed during The decorated general was Rajapakse’s repeated claim that expected in Sri Lanka in coming scribed an investigating mecha- the domestic judicial process to mestic mechanism with inter- the bloody fi nale of the island’s then publicly humiliated, not a single civilian was killed days to follow up on a September nism with the participation of fi x accountability of those who national experts assisting in the separatist war. stripped of his rank, pension and during the confl ict. resolution calling for accounta- international judges, prosecutors committed rights abuses and war investigation. Fonseka declared he had medals collected in a 40-year Fonseka, whose fl edgling bility for war-time rights abuses. and investigators. crimes during the last phase of The UN rights chief has also “nothing to hide” after sign- career. He spent two years in party failed to win any seats On Tuesday, Deputy Foreign The visit assumes signifi cance the brutal 30-year civil war that cited historical attempts to cov- ing an agreement with Prime jail and lost the right to contest at parliamentary elections in Minister Harsha de Silva said the as an uncertainty prevails over ended in 2009. er-up investigations through Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe elections for seven years. August, was not given any im- UN rights chief will be in Sri Lan- the inclusion of foreign judg- Civil Society members have domestic mechanisms, rather to become part of the govern- After winning presiden- mediate role in the government ka for four days from February 6. es, after Sri Lankan President expressed concern over the con- than genuine processes to seek ment which has promised jus- tial polls a year ago, Maithri- yesterday. He will hold talks with leaders Maithripala Sirisena in an inter- tradiction and demanded a gov- the truth. tice for tens of thousands of war pala Sirisena used his execu- But sources said he was likely from the government and the view to BBC Sinhala last week ernment policy statement on the Hussein is expected to raise victims. tive powers to clear Fonseka to be nominated to a vacant seat opposition, and would also meet ruled out the participation of UNHRC resolution, which was the issues when he meets Sirise- “I have always said that I am of treason and other charges in the legislature in exchange for civil society members. foreign judges in the inquiry. co-sponsored by Sri Lanka. na, Wickremesinghe, leaders ready to face any investiga- lodged against him after he supporting the ruling party. The visit comes as a sequel to However, days later Prime Hussein in his report has ad- of main Tamil party - the Tamil tion,” Fonseka told reporters in mounted a failed bid to unseat Diplomatic sources said UN the UN Human Rights Council Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe vocated an international hybrid National Alliance.

Exhibition to celebrate 40 years of China-Bangladesh relations An ongoing photo exhibition Strategic Studies (ISIS). PM orders completion of marking Bangladesh’s 40 years “This only shows that the bond of bilateral relations with China of friendship between people has attracted record number of of Bangladesh and China has high profile visitors, including been very long standing. And academics, government these pictures will definitely N-power plant on time off icials, diplomats and have great impact on the politicians. further strengthening of ties, US ambassador in Bangladesh friendship and cooperation Nepalese army chief General By Mizan Rahman government during its 1996- Marcia Stephens Bloom between our two countries,” Rajendra Chhetri paying homage at Dhaka 2001 term had taken initiatives Bernicat, among other said Ahmed, who earlier served Amar Jawan Jyoti in New Delhi. for the execution of the project dignitaries, was also seen as ambassador of Bangladesh after holding discussions visiting the photo exhibition, to China. angladesh Prime Minister with the International Atomic Xinhua reported. Acting president of BCPFA Sheikh Hasina yesterday Energy Agency (IAEA). The exhibition of many rare and Mohammad Bashirullah said the Bdirected the authorities But, after the changeover of hitherto unseen photographs photo exhibition has paved the Chhetri concerned to complete work on power, the successive govern- has been jointly organised by way for many to know about the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant ment did not take any initiative the Bangladesh-China People’s long-term historic relationship within the stipulated time. for implementing this project, Friendship Association (BCPFA) between Bangladesh and China. made “I hope work on the power she added. under the sponsorship of the “Through this our relationship plant will go ahead speedily in After assuming offi ce again in Chinese embassy in Dhaka. of friendship will surely be line with the timeframe,” she 2009, the prime minister said, In all, 59 photos depicting strengthened.” honorary said. her government took a fresh historical events and Echoing a similar view, BCPFA Hasina was presiding over a drive for executing the project memorable moments are on secretary General Shahriar meeting of the national com- with the IAEA’s permission. display at the exhibition. Zaman Sumon said: “I firmly general mittee for monitoring and Before taking up the project, The photos in the exhibition believe that by doing this kind providing necessary directives Hasina said she had received include many rare photos of activities, we will be able to for properly implementing the assurance from Russia that Sheikh Hasina: “I hope work on the power plant will go ahead like one showing Bangladesh enhance our friendly bonding of Indian nuclear power plant project. the Russian authorities con- speedily in line with the timeframe.” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s between two countries.” Briefi ng reporters after the cerned will manage the wastes first visit to China in 1996. Her Chinese ambassador to meeting, PM’s press secre- of the nuclear power plant Earlier on December 25, tractor appointed by Russia’s subsequent visits are also on Bangladesh Ma Mingqiang also army tary Ihsanul Karim said the since Bangladesh has no such the Bangladesh Atomic En- state-owned atomic power display in the exhibition. expressed similar optimism. meeting discussed in details experience in this regard. ergy Commission (BAEC) and body, Rosatom, will construct China and Bangladesh “We have some photos of IANS the overall progress of the Through implementation of Russian company JSC Atom- the NPP at a cost of $12.65bn. established diplomatic relations historical moments and New Delhi mega project and reviewed the this project, she said, the coun- stroyexport signed a contract The nuke plant project (fi rst on October 4, 1975. memorable events between progress of the decisions taken try’s power generation capacity for construction of Rooppur phase) was approved by the “I think this is very important Bangladesh and China. We hope in its previous meeting held in will get a boost, while the Bang- Nuclear Power Plant. Executive Committee of the from various points of view. through this exhibition, mutual epal army chief Gen- August 2013. ladeshi scientists will be able to BAEC chairman Monirul Is- National Economic Coun- This is a celebratory event. understanding will be further eral Rajendra Chhetri Science and technology min- gather necessary knowledge on lam and Atomstroyexport vice cil (Ecnec) on April 2, 2013 We’re celebrating the 40 years enhanced, and we can get more Nwas yesterday conferred istry secretary Sirajul Haque nuclear power. president Vladimir N Savuskhin with an estimated cost of of Bangladesh-China relations,” strong support from public to the honorary rank of General of Khan made a presentation on Besides, she said, jobs for a signed the contract on behalf of 50.87bn taka. The fi rst phase said Munshi Faiz Ahmad, make sure our relations will get the Indian Army by President the nuclear project. huge number of people will be their respective organisations. is expected to be completed by chairman of the Bangladesh closer and closer, developing from Pranab Mukherjee at a special The prime minister said her generated in the project area. Atomostroyexport, the con- December 2016. Institute of International and strength to strength,” he said. ceremony in New Delhi. The honorary rank on Gen- eral Chhetri was conferred at a special investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan for his “commendable military prowess and immeasurable contribution Nepal’s fuel smugglers defy border blockades to fostering Nepal’s long and friendly association with India”. According to a Rashtrapati By Pete Pattisson, GNS ing with anything,” said Kumar Yadav. authorities there turned a blind eye to Bhavan release, the citation read Janakpur The protests against the new consti- the smuggling. “This problem should out on the occasion said Gen- tution began in August, led by ethnic not be solved by the police. It’s a politi- eral Rajendra Chhetri’s selfl ess Madhesi and Tharu political parties and cal problem,” he said. “If the government service, sincere devotion and he smugglers emerge out of the activists who are demanding greater rep- wants fuel it must manage it, otherwise commitment to excellence were thick morning fog that hangs low resentation in parliament and public of- the people will manage it. No one in the in keeping with the fi nest tradi- Tover Nepal’s southern plains, rid- fi ce, and the redrawing of federal bound- government is taking responsibility.” tions of military service and re- ing bicycles and motorbikes loaded with aries to better refl ect their ethnic groups. Last month, Nepal’s national human fl ect distinct credit upon himself empty petrol drums and gas cylinders. The strike and blockade have created rights commission accused the govern- and the Nepal army. They splash across a shallow stream, all the perfect conditions for a rampant ment of openly supporting the black mar- “Throughout his exemplary that marks this part of the border with black market – a shortage of basic goods ket. “It’s the money that is playing a role,” career, General Chhetri has India, and disappear again into the fog. and a surplus of young men who have said Mohna Ansari, a member of the rights demonstrated dynamic leader- An hour later they are back, petrol been put out of work by the strike. But body. “The black marketers [are making ship and outstanding profes- drums fi lled and empty gas cylinders the smugglers say the profi ts are low huge profi ts] so where is the money going? sionalism,” the citation said. exchanged for full ones, a disorderly and the risks high. Through some route it is reaching govern- It said General Chhetri con- procession doing what Nepal’s govern- “If the protesters spot you smuggling ment offi cials, so they have turned a blind tributed to promotion of the ment has largely failed to do for four fuel they may set your vehicle on fi re,” eye towards the smugglers.” existing bonds of friendship, months: provide fuel to its citizens. said a student who took up smuggling Meanwhile, the human cost of the based on goodwill and mutual Nepalese people have always freely People smuggling fuel on bicycles and scooters cross the small stream that marks when his school closed. “When they get blockade continues to mount in a coun- understanding, between the In- crossed the open border with India, but a section of Nepal’s border with India. you the fi rst time they warn you not to try devastated by earthquakes last year. dian and Nepal armies as well as since September, when the local eth- do it again. If they catch you again, they Nepal’s central bank recently estimated other armies of the world. nic Madhesi imposed a blockade on the Once back on Nepalese soil, the border are just about the only thing beat you up.” that 800,000 people had been pushed “In recognition of his com- country’s offi cial crossings to protest smugglers ride off towards Janakpur, to keeping Nepal’s economy afl oat. “They see you as a traitor,” said Ku- into extreme poverty by the blockade. “It mendable military prowess and against the new Nepalese constitution, sell the fuel for a small profi t. Some go At one notorious smuggling mar Yadav. “I support the protests … has hit low-paid workers hard, especially immeasurable contribution to fur- unoffi cial cross-border trade has soared. to local businesses and homes and some hotspot in Parsa district, on the but we are just poor people. We don’t those working in tourism and construc- ther fostering the long and friendly “At night time there are so many to dealers who ship it on to the capital, border west of Janakpur, it is es- have jobs so we have to do this thing to tion,” said Trilochan Pangeni, the bank’s association with India, the Presi- people crossing,” said a smuggler who Kathmandu, an eight-hour drive away. timated that between 100,000 put food on the table. How would we executive director. “The blockade has dent of India is pleased to confer started work shortly after the blockade Each individual load is small – a smug- to 150,000 litres of fuel are being live otherwise?” turned out to be worse than the earth- the honorary rank of General of the began. Kumar Yadav (not his real name) gler can only carry 40-50 litres of petrol smuggled every day. The smugglers have less to worry quake. The earthquake shook for some Indian army on General Rajendra added: “At least 20% of people in every at a time – but the thousands shuttling “People feel compelled to do this be- about from the local police. A senior time, but the blockade has stalled our Chhetri,” the citation said. village are doing this.” back and forth across the length of the cause the Nepal government is not help- police offi cer in Janakpur admitted that economy for four months.” Gulf Times 26 Thursday, February 4, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief : Darwish S Ahmed False alarm on economic, Production Editor: C P Ravindran

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar fi nancial crisis in China [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), The good news is that economic structure is vitally long dominant bank-centric system of run a large current-account surplus, in 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) China’s massive reservoir of important to the country’s consumer- credit intermediation – are critical to contrast to the outsize external defi cits Fax 44350474 led rebalancing strategy. Services this objective. that proved so problematic for other foreign-exchange reserves development underpins urban Yet in the aftermath of the stock- Asian economies in the late 1990s. provides it with an employment opportunities, a key market bubble, the equity-funding Still, fear persists that if capital building block of personal income alternative is all but dead for the fl ight were to intensify, China would important buff er against a generation. foreseeable future. For that reason ultimately be powerless to stop it. classic currency With Chinese services requiring alone, China’s recent fi nancial-sector Nothing could be further from the about 30% more jobs per unit setbacks are especially disappointing. truth. GULF TIMES and liquidity crisis of output than manufacturing But setbacks and crises are not the China’s institutional memory runs and construction, combined, the same thing. The good news is that deep when it comes to crises and their By Stephen S Roach tertiary sector’s relative strength has China’s massive reservoir of foreign- consequences. That is especially the New Haven played an important role in limiting exchange reserves provides it with case concerning the experience of unemployment and preventing social an important buff er against a classic the late 1990s, when Chinese leaders instability – long China’s greatest fear. currency and liquidity crisis. saw fi rsthand how a run on reserves Qatar makes he prospect of an economic To be sure, China’s reserves have and a related currency collapse can meltdown in China has been fallen enormously – by $700bn wreak havoc on seemingly invincible sending tremors through China’s institutional – in the last 19 months. Given economies. Tglobal fi nancial markets at memory runs deep China’s recent build-up of dollar- In fact, it was that realisation, history with big the start of 2016. Yet such fears are denominated liabilities, which the coupled with a steadfast fi xation on overblown. While turmoil in Chinese when it comes to Bank for International Settlements stability, that prompted China to equity and currency markets should currently places at around $1tn focus urgently on amassing the largest not be taken lightly, the country crises and their (for short- and long-term debt, reservoir of foreign-exchange reserves continues to make encouraging combined), external vulnerability can in modern history. stake in cricket headway on structural adjustments in consequences hardly be ignored. While the authorities have no desire its real economy. But, at $3.3tn in December 2015, to close the capital account after This mismatch between progress in On the contrary, even in the face of China’s reserves are still enough to having taken several important steps First mooted in 2009, the Pakistan Super League economic rebalancing and setbacks in decelerating GDP growth, urban job cover more than four times its short- to open it in recent years, they would (PSL) fi nally takes off in the UAE today amid much fi nancial reforms must ultimately be creation hit 11mn in 2015, above the term external debt – well in excess of most certainly rethink this position if resolved as China now enters a critical government’s target of 10mn and a the widely accepted rule of thumb that capital fl ight were to become a more fanfare with the promise that it would only get better phase in its transition to a new growth slight increase from 10.7mn in 2014. a country should still be able to fund serious threat. and bigger over the next few years. model. But it does not spell imminent The bad news is that China’s all of its short-term foreign liabilities Yes, China has stumbled in the Five teams representing the cities of Lahore, crisis. impressive headway on restructuring in the event that it is unable to borrow recent implementation of many of Consistent with China’s long its real economy has been in international markets. its fi nancial reforms. The equity- Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar will battle experience in central planning, it accompanied by signifi cant setbacks Of course, this cushion would market fi asco is especially glaring over a three-week period beginning today and ending continues to excel at industrial re- for its fi nancial agenda – namely, the eff ectively vanish in six years if foreign in this regard, as was the failure to with the fi nal on February 23 in Dubai, with the engineering. Trends in 2015 were a bursting of an equity bubble, a poorly reserves were to continue falling at the clarify offi cial intentions regarding case in point: The 8.3% expansion in handled shift in currency policy, and same $500bn annual rate recorded in the August 2015 shift in exchange-rate winning team taking home a million dollars. the services sector outstripped that an exodus of fi nancial capital. 2015. policy. But for the security situation in Pakistan, the of the once-dominant manufacturing These are hardly inconsequential This was precisely the greatest fear These missteps should not be taken and construction sectors, which developments – especially for a during the Asian fi nancial crisis of the lightly – especially in light of China’s tournament would have been launched years ago together grew by just 6% last year. country that must eventually align its late 1990s, when China was widely high-profi le commitment to market- and probably would have been as popular as the The so-called tertiary sector rose fi nancial infrastructure with a market- expected to follow other so-called based reforms. But they are a far cry money-spinning Indian Premier League (IPL) that has to 50.5% of Chinese GDP in 2015, well based consumer society. East Asian miracle economies that had from the crisis that many believe is in excess of the 47% share targeted in In the end, China will never succeed run out of reserves in the midst of a now at hand. - Project Syndicate become a worldwide rage with packed stadiums and 2011, when the 12th Five-Year Plan, if it does not bring its fi nancial reforms contagious attack on their currencies. mindboggling salaries on off er for the players. was adopted, and fully 10 percentage into closer sync with its rebalancing But if it didn’t happen then, it zStephen S Roach, a faculty member at Qatar will also have a huge stake in the PSL because points larger than the 40.5% share strategy for the real economy. certainly won’t happen now: China’s Yale University and former Chairman of secondary-sector activities Capital-market reforms – especially foreign-exchange reserves today are 23 of Morgan Stanley Asia, is the author it bought the Lahore franchise in a multi-million (manufacturing and construction). the development of more robust times higher than the $140bn held in of Unbalanced: The Codependency of dollar deal a few weeks ago. The team is being led by This signifi cant shift in China’s equity and bond markets to augment a 1997-98. Moreover, China continues to America and China. Azhar Ali and also features West Indian Twenty20 specialists Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo among others. Cricket is big business attracting leading corporates and it is no surprise that Qatar Airways is the offi cial airline of the tournament. “Qatar Airways has The Pakistan always championed the connectivity of Super League sport and sporting beginning today achievement. In sport, we learn to play and will have a win together, and Qatar-owned travel can also teach us and inspire us to team achieve together. This participating partnership aligns in it Qatar Airways’ vision to go places together with our passengers, and to be a part of their journey,” said the airline’s Group CEO Akbar al-Baker. Former Pakistan captain and legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram said the league was vital for Pakistan to match the fast-rising standards of other Twenty20 teams. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump addressing a campaign rally in Milford, New Hampshire. In the rich part of the world, roughly a quarter of the “Look at where Indian cricket is now because of the electorate seems to be furious, disillusioned and divorced from mainstream political parties and allegiances. Indian Premier League,” he said, referring to the brash, glitzy tournament fi rst launched in 2008 whose model has been emulated by other leading teams including The emergence of ‘Angry Quarter’ Australia and the West Indies. “By rubbing shoulders, by competing against and by sharing the dressing rooms with high profi le players, By Carl Bildt At the height of the Industrial Age, epic narrative, so did the democratic right. As those narratives have lost Stockholm the epoch of mass production was right. And, because it was often their power, the political field has all the Indian players have benefi ted and I envisage the refl ected in a politics that revolved organised in opposition to socialism, been blown wide open. The Angry same in the PSL,” added Akram. around the mass organisations the conservative narrative, too, has Quarter is set to organise around omething seems to have of society. Collectivism, not lost much of its lustre. populist ideas and follow those who The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had earlier gone wrong with politics individualism, was the contemporary These great shifts have been question the very nature of our open thought of holding the PSL in Qatar due to scheduling in the West. In the US, the creed, and the nation-state was its underway for decades, but inertia has societies. problems in the UAE which was hosting another Sbillionaire tycoon and reality- solid foundation. until recently blunted their impact, This challenge is here to stay. TV star Donald Trump may win as older generations retained old Trump might fade. French National tournament on the proposed dates. But with the the Republican Party’s presidential Politics is always and allegiances. Those participating Front leader Marine Le Pen may not PCB and the authorities in the UAE later reaching an nomination. And throughout Europe, politically for the fi rst time, however, become president. In Italy, the Five agreement on the schedule, the event was moved out populism in one guise or another is everywhere a volatile are more ready to embrace the new. Star Movement, led by the comedian running rampant. With the blurring of the old battle Beppe Grillo, may never crystallise of Qatar. We are witnessing the emergence business at times lines, politics is gradually being into a viable political party. That however is history and should not detract of what I call the “Angry Quarter.” In reshaped into a contest between But, until new narratives replace the Qatar fans from wholeheartedly backing the Lahore the rich part of the world, roughly a Today, everything is changing advocates of open, globalised societies old ones, the epochal shift in politics quarter of the electorate seems to be – and rapidly. The socialist dream and defenders of inward-looking will simply bring forth other leaders Qalandars. Who knows they could make history for furious, disillusioned and divorced has been relegated to the dustbin of tribalism. who play on the same anger and fears. Qatar and Pakistan as the inaugural champions. from mainstream political parties and history. Globalisation is transforming Tribalism has strong appeal in Defenders of open societies must allegiances. societies, and a growing middle class periods of rapid, tumultuous change, rally support for their ideas, uphold Part of this angry-voter is becoming the backbone of societies as what the political philosopher the values of the West, and prevent the phenomenon can be attributed to local that are just one or two generations Karl Popper called the “the strain of preachers of populism from expanding or temporary factors: Politics is always removed from extreme poverty. Add civilisation” exerts its pressures on the Angry Quarter. To Advertise and everywhere a volatile business at migration and the new social media society. The issue of immigration Doing so will be a diffi cult times. But it is also the result of long- landscape, and it is hardly surprising is a particularly potent one: the balancing act, because it will require [email protected] term trends that are transforming that a signifi cant share of the Western mythical tribe suddenly under attack addressing the very real fears and Display political systems in the West. population feels that society has lost by invading hordes from afar. And its unease produced by the rapid changes Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 Over the last few decades, we have its bearings. impact can be seen everywhere today. rippling across the world. It is not seen the decline and then collapse When members of society who A wall must be built against Mexico. diffi cult to understand the widening Classified of the epic narratives around which believed they were on the winning side The United Kingdom must restore appeal of tribalism; that appeal makes Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 European political structures were of history come to fear that they are control of its borders. Germany must it all the more important to make the constructed. among the losers, the result is a radical slam shut its doors. Society must case for openness. - Project Syndicate Subscription From the publication of The shift in politics. Throughout Europe, close, and quickly –the barbarians are [email protected] Communist Manifesto in 1848 the large centre-left parties that once coming. zCarl Bildt was Sweden’s foreign until the fall of the Soviet empire, regularly reaped 40% or more of the These sentiments are not new, but minister from 2006 to October 2014 signifi cant parts of the continent’s popular vote are losing ground, often in the past they could be managed by and prime minister from 1991 to 1994, 2014 Gulf Times. All rights reserved electorates were inspired and barely breaching 20%. the large political forces built around when he negotiated his country’s EU mobilised by a vision of socialism. Just as the democratic left had its the epic narratives of the left and accession. Gulf Times Thursday, February 4, 2016 27 COMMENT Hong Kong suff ocating under plastic bags

Globally plastics production demand grows, according to “The New record 5.6mn pieces of trash in just a has surged from 15mn tonnes Plastics Economy” report presented few weeks. by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation at A total 8mn tonnes of plastic ends in 1964 to 311mn tonnes in the World Economic Forum in January. up in the world’s oceans annually, the 2014 The situation in Hong Kong “New Plastics Economy” report said. is pronounced because it is “an “This is the equivalent to dumping By Liz Thomas extremely consumption-based the contents of one garbage truck into AFP/Hong Kong society”, Christensen says. “On the ocean every minute. If no action average we generate 1.36kg of is taken, this is expected to increase to domestic waste per person, per two per minute by 2030 and four per little girl shrieks with day. Tokyo, on the other hand, only minute by 2050,” it stated. excitement as she strolls generates 0.77kg.” It also warned that within 35 years along the beach: “Oh look While there has been some success there would be more plastic than fi sh Amummy. Hong Kong snow.” encouraging people to recycle paper in the ocean, measuring by weight. Despite the cold snap what she’s and some metals, the situation is International marine charity Plastic pointing to is not a meteorological deteriorating for plastics: Just 5% of Oceans describes Hong Kong as “a hot anomaly - but in fact swathes of plastic was sent for recycling in 2014 - spot for marine plastic debris”. polystyrene thrown out as rubbish. compared with 25% in 2005, according As well as fi sh and birds, recently The city is suff ocating under a film to government fi gures. green turtles, a protected species, have of plastic: “Each day the equivalent Recycling is not mandatory in washed up on its beaches after dying weight of two A380 Airbus planes is Hong Kong, but eff orts by authorities from ingesting rubbish. discarded” in domestic waste, says to push the practice have been “They found a 50cm long string Lisa Christensen, co-founder of HK undermined by media reports of trash in a turtle’s stomach Clean Up initiative. revealing items separated after use by which included nylon threads and Add to this trashed industrial and consumers have ended up being mixed plastic bags. Turtles often confuse commercial plastic, and more than up or dumped. fl oating plastic bags for one of their 2,000 tonnes of the material is thrown There is also little incentive for favourite food sources, jellyfi sh,” says out daily in Hong Kong - saturating plastics recycling contractors in the Christensen, adding that humans too landfi ll sites but also clogging up city, - their profi ts are dented by costs are at risk. country parks, coastal areas and of transport and sorting, and with “It’s not just plastic bottles waterways. low global oil prices new plastic is and pieces of Styrofoam that are “For our supermarket generation cheaper for manufacturers to buy than threatening our marine wildlife, the focus is on convenience, issues reworked material. Due to limited tiny micro plastics contained in our of pollution seem very far away,” says facilities, most items are processed in toiletries, cosmetics and washing local environmental campaigner Jo mainland China. detergents are having hugely Wilson, whose daughter highlighted People should adopt the “reduce, detrimental eff ects and making their the “Hong Kong snow” problem. re-use, recycle” philosophy argues way into our food chain.” “People produce double digit pieces Louisa Ho, executive director of The Canada and the US have moved to of trash - especially plastic - just by Nature Conservancy, Hong Kong, ban microbeads in personal care items having lunch. Hong Kong has an army calling for a wholesale change in the due to environmental concerns. of cleaners and helpers so perhaps public’s consumption patterns, and Volunteers posing with all the rubbish collected and bagged for removal at a beach in Hong Kong. The city is suff ocating A spokeswoman for the EPD said its some people are not used to taking warning the city is at “saturation under a film of plastic: “Each day the equivalent weight of two A380 Airbus planes is discarded” in domestic waste, says Lisa marine data for Hong Kong showed care,” she explains, adding a long point” with landfi ll due to reach Christensen, co-founder of HK Clean Up initiative. “levels of toxic substances did not hours culture, excessive packaging capacity in 2018. exceed” international standards, but by the food industry and lack of In 2014, an estimated 1.4mn bottles, campaigners want legislation A spokesman for the Environmental at Hong Kong’s Science Museum are local campaign group Plastic Free Seas public education are exacerbating the and 1,000 tonnes of plastic bags were restricting packaging. Protection Department (EPD) said it given plastic single-use covers for warns action is needed now to avoid problem. thrown out each day. “Plastic wrapping leaks harmful had to consider “food hygiene” when their wet umbrellas, and can only buy toxins building up. Globally plastics production has Plastic bag use has dropped chemicals into our food and bodies, setting rules. water in bottles. Overall, Wilson remains hopeful surged from 15mn tonnes in 1964 to since the government introduced a and into the environment,” argues Critics say there is a lack of joined- Christensen insists consumer attitudes are shifting: “I believe there 311mn tonnes in 2014 - the weight levy on them last year, but in a city Megan Tanner, who is petitioning up thinking on the issue of waste—for attitudes are changing. The 2015 Hong will be a time when overusing plastics of 900 Empire State Buildings - and where supermarkets routinely wrap authorities and food retailers to take example visitors to the popular “Out Kong Clean Up initiative saw tens and packaging will be seen in the same is expected to double in 20 years as individual fruit and vegetables, action. to Sea? The Plastic Garbage Project” of thousands of volunteers collect a way smoking inside is now.” Letters Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY Overuse of zAwareness campaigns should be Don’t focus on High: 22 C organised regularly to discourage the Low : 14 C plastic bags use of plastic bags. negative news Strong wind and high seas

Dear Sir, Zarna P Bhatt Dear Sir, Please send us (e-mail address supplied) FRIDAY The overuse of plastic bags poses The India pages in Gulf Times, your letters High: 22 C a serious threat to our environment. it seems, focus on only negative Low : 15 C Hypermarkets and shopping malls Remember your news these days. We know that By e-mail Sunny could play a key role in reducing the building number the current Indian government is [email protected] widespread use of plastic carriers. achieving new heights in reforms In Qatar, the plastic bags used by and the entire world acknowledges Fax 44350474 SATURDAY many shops are of very thin quality. Dear Sir, this. Or Post High: 24 C They don’t seem the biodegradable So it’s my request to editors of Letters to the Editor Low : 13 C type. The emergency response times of these pages that they should give P Cloudy Even when we buy a single item the ambulance service or Civil Defence a balanced coverage, giving also Gulf Times from a shop, it is put in a plastic bag are excellent in Qatar. prominence to positive measures and P O Box 2888 before giving it to us. We have to fi nd In emergency cases even if you save reforms that the Indian government Doha, Qatar Fishermen’s forecast an urgent way to reduce their use. It is a second, it could save a life. is undertaking. OFFSHORE DOHA said that when we bury a plastic bag, it Hence it is important for During the last few decades, Wind: NW 23-30 KT takes up to thousand years for it to rot nationals, expatriate residents and news from India often centred on All letters, which are Waves: 7-10 Feet as it decomposes quite slowly. Also, tourists to remember the street and corruption and its poor leadership, INSHORE DOHA subject to editing, should Wind: NW 15-25/35 KT they block air and water circulation in zone and number of the building but now that the Modi government have the name of the Waves: 1-3/4 Feet the soil. they reside. has almost eliminated the Steps to be considered immediately This helps the response team corruption scourge, newspapers writer, address and phone Around the region are: to reach the site in case of any must devote their space to such number. The writer’s Weather Weather zOnly if the purchase is over two emergency much faster, using developments when reporting from name and address may be today Max/min tomorrow Max/min kilos, a plastic bag may be used. Qatar’s GIS. This information can that country and give due credit Abu Dhabi M Sunny 23/16 Cloudy 23/14 zThere should be a reward system easily be found from the plate fixed to leaders responsible for such withheld by request. Baghdad Sunny 19/07 Sunny 20/05 Dubai for customers who use alternative on all buildings. initiatives. P Cloudy 22/18 Cloudy 24/15 Kuwait City P Cloudy 20/11 Sunny 20/10 methods to carry their purchase. Manama P Cloudy 19/15 Cloudy 19/16 zUse of paper bags should be Vikas Amitabh Kamal Darmora Muscat Sunny 25/18 Sunny 25/19 promoted. (Address supplied) [email protected] Riyadh P Cloudy 22/07 Sunny 20/06 Tehran Cloudy 09/01 Sunny 12/03 Live issues Secret of fi rst class: it doesn’t really pay for airlines

By Philipp Laage more upgraders sitting in there than In this market, the question of image DPA/Berlin full-price bookers,” Profr Bruetzel matters a lot. reveals. Which leaves the question, who At the German carrier Lufthansa, actually pays for a fi rst-class ticket? he predictions about fi rst- however, offi cials argue that the Bruetzel says it is often an image- class air travel could hardly question of economic viability should oriented top business executive, or be more contradictory these not measured by revenue alone. else super-wealthy private passengers. Tdays. Some people call fi rst First class also stands for the Considering the prices involved, this class an “endangered species”, while promise of delivering a great product, is no wonder. others talk about a “renaissance of of being qualitatively Europe’s leading At Lufthansa, for example, a round- luxury”. airline. So fi rst class is also a question trip fi rst class seat Frankfurt-Miami Around the world Undisputed is the fact that many of Lufthansa’s image. costs about $5,420. A round-trip fi rst- Weather Weather airlines in recent years have reduced Why has this come about? It’s about The Gulf carriers Etihad and class seat with Emirates Frankfurt- today Max/min tomorrow Max/min cabin space on jets for fi rst-class seats, money, naturally. Emirates have won attention by Dubai costs about $5,860. Athens Sunny 19/12 P Cloudy 18/09 but at the same time have bragged that According to Christoph Bruetzel, setting the standards very high in their If you book a Residence cabin suite Beirut Sunny 18/12 Sunny 20/13 M Sunny 35/22 what is left is all the more luxurious. an aviation expert at the IUBH School fi rst-class operations. on Etihad for the London-Abu Dhabi Bangkok 34/22 Sunny Berlin P Cloudy 07/01 Showers 05/01 This sets a clear delineation from of Business and Management in Bad A year ago, Etihad introduced “The route, be prepared to shell out about Cairo P Cloudy 22/10 Sunny 24/11 business class, where more comfort is Honnef, Germany, revenues from fi rst Residence” - a luxury suite where the $40,700. Cape Town Cloudy 25/18 Sunny 31/19 also being added. class have not kept up with cost of the passenger is made to feel like being First class is being forced to become Colombo Sunny 34/22 M Sunny 33/23 So the answer to the question resource. in a hotel: three rooms, including a more and more exclusive because Dhaka Sunny 28/16 Sunny 27/13 Hong Kong M Cloudy 17/14 M Sunny 18/13 whether the days of fi rst class are over “Business-wise, (fi rst class) private bathroom with a shower. The business class has gradually evolved Istanbul Sunny 15/11 Cloudy 14/06 can only be answered: yes and no. makes no sense,” he says. When an Residence is a notch higher than fi rst into a top-quality product that meets Jakarta T Storms 31/24 S T Storms 31/25 The Swiss aviation industry airline squeezes in more economy- class, which Etihad also continues to the needs of most well-heeled air Karachi Sunny 29/12 Sunny 28/15 magazine Aerotelegraph recently took class seats, it can actually sell them, off er. travellers, Bruetzel says. London S Showers 09/04 Cloudy 13/08 P Cloudy P Cloudy 32/23 a close look, observing that Qatar whereas fi rst class is such a hard sell Emirates has upgraded its fi rst- “Business class is replacing fi rst Manila 31/23 Moscow Cloudy 03/01 Cloudy 02/-4 Airways is expanding the top class that the seats tend to fl y empty. class seating in the Airbus A380 into class,” he concludes. “And what used New Delhi Sunny 22/08 M Sunny 23/08 of many of its planes, while Asiana The fact is that many of the people mini-suites which have a bed, a table, to be business class is now called New York Rain 08/09 Cloudy 11/02 Airlines has almost completely done you see wallowing in the luxury of a 32-inch monitor and a minibar. The premium economy.” Paris P Cloudy 08/04 S Showers 12/08 away with its fi rst class. fi rst class have not paid the fi rst- airline is also currently working on In summary, nominal fi rst class is Sao Paulo S T Storms 30/21 S T Storms 32/21 Seoul M Sunny 04/-4 M Sunny 05/-7 American Airlines and United class price, but have been given a providing completely private suites. indeed not as widely available as it Singapore S T Storms 31/26 T Storms 32/26 Airlines have likewise reduced complimentary upgrade from business Bruetzel says fi rst class has its used to be, but the quality of service Sydney M Sunny 27/18 Showers 23/18 their fi rst-class off erings. Ditto the class by the airline. greatest importance on routes between available has risen as the market Tokyo Clear 0 8 /0 1 Cloudy 10/-1 Australian carrier Qantas. “It is quite likely that there may be Europe and Asia via the Middle East. evolves. Gulf Times 28 Thursday, February 4, 2016 QATAR Traditional songs enthral visitors at spring festival

By JoeyAguilar Staff Reporter

he Souq Waqif Spring Festival 2016 continues Tto attract thousands of visitors who throng the various shows organised as part of the annual celebration. A number of Arab musicians enthralled a huge number of spectators with a series of tra- ditional songs using their violin and uniquely designed guitar. The 15-day festival dedicated most of the stage shows for cul- tural performances to highlight Qatar’s rich history and heritage. In festive mood for the past 13 days, Souq Waqif provided a much-needed relief for resi- dents who spent the day there with their loved ones, friends and colleagues. The event will conclude tomorrow. Long queues of visitors could Uniquely dressed stilt walkers welcome children. be seen waiting outside a huge tent set up by Sout Al Rayyan to see their favourite Arab celebri- ties perform on stage. A performer entertains young spectators. Right: Arab musicians perform on stage. PICTURES: Joey Aguilar Those outside the tent had a chance to watch the artistes on a Harlequin stilts, LED stilt walk- widescreen. ers and Stilt Butterfl ies entertain Several food outlets, which passersby. The park’s 2,400-ca- off er a variety of dishes, snacks pacity underground parking and sweets, also served as at- provides enough slots to mo- tractions to many people. torists, easing traffi c fl ow in the One of the main highlights area. From the basements, visi- – the Giant Fountain Circus – tors can take elevators or stairs captivated the crowd with vari- to reach the venue. ous stunts and acrobats. Shows Some of the visitors said they start at 3.30pm and continue used to struggle to fi nd parking until 10pm. slots before, wasting more than Other major attractions in- an hour or so before they could cluded the Souq Waqif Dome watch the shows. which screens short animated The park, which opened last fi lms such as Pangea, The Al- year, also attracts many people chemist’s Letter, Tuurngait and with its various features such as Ruin, mostly for children. fi tness machines, grassy areas Organisers have urged resi- for picnics, dancing fountain, dents to watch and take part in play area for children, eatery and some of the workshops and fo- a mini amphitheatre for small rums at the Souq Waqif Art Cen- shows and activities. tre. The Centre regularly invites Located a few metres from artists to exhibit their master- Souq Waqif, visitors normally pieces. stay at the park in the afternoon At the Souq Waqif park, a before watching the shows at the A child holding a monkey poses for a picture at the event. number of uniquely-dressed festival. The Souq Waqif Spring Festival 2016 attracts a large number of visitors even during weekdays. Gaza visit highlights ‘signifi cant progress’ on Al Fakhoora projects

he Qatar Development included schools in North Gaza Fund (QDF) has visited a currently being repaired and Tnumber of projects fund- re-equipped for the 251,000 ed by it in Gaza, to witness fi rst- students who attend UNRWA hand the impact and progress of schools in Gaza. QDF offi cials the eff orts on the people of the had the opportunity to meet enclave. with children and families served The visit came less than 18 by UNRWA schools during and months after QDF made a do- after the war, and to see how the nation of $40mn to support the programme is truly transform- people of Gaza via Education ing their lives due to the support learning environment through development and has been a cor- Above All’s Al Fakhoora pro- provided by Al Fakhoora via the reconstruction of schools and nerstone of Palestinian resilience gramme. QDF funding. universities is the best way to and aspiration over the years. The QDF delegation com- Commenting on the progress empower Gaza students and EAA’s Al Fakhoora programme prised Ali Abdulla al-Dabbagh, of the project, al-Dabbagh said: youth with quality education and support from QDF are a win- QDF executive director and Sul- “We are proud to see that Qatar’s and skills to shape the future ning partnership in making the tan Ahmed al-Asseri, QDF third support is making a real diff er- they want. We are grateful to the world a better place for youth secretary, who were accompa- ence in the lives of displaced Qatar Development Fund for its and children in Gaza.” nied by representatives of Al Fa- children and orphans in Gaza. Al generous contribution and are Capping off the visit, the khoora and EAA. Fakhoora is making signifi cant pleased to have the opportunity UNDP, represented by Valent, During the visit, QDF repre- progress in school rehabilitation to show them the funds in ac- and the Palestinian Welfare As- sentatives met with students, QDF, EAA and Al Fakhoora off icials visit the Gaza facilities. and we are pleased to be part of tion.” sociation, represented by Dr Ta- ministry offi cials, teachers and this project.” During the gala event, 82 un- feeda Jeebawy, signed a memo- school counsellors for an over- $1.25mn damages in the past. operation with the United Na- only benefi ciaries, but also ac- Fahad al-Sulaiti, CEO of Edu- dergraduates and six interna- randum of understanding on the view of how Al Fakhoora is sup- The trip included a visit to tions Development Programme tive participants in the recovery cation Above All Foundation, tional masters students gradu- Wajd programme in the Fakhoora porting the mental health ca- Ja’far Bin Abi Taleb Primary Girls (UNDP). and development process. Their reiterated the need for continu- ated, while 25 orphans were Scholarship Programme, grant- pacity of teachers and school School where four additional June Kunugi, Unicef special views and suggestions are taken ous support in providing access awarded undergraduate scholar- ing orphan students a full four- counsellors helping vulnerable classrooms are being built. For representative, explained how seriously and incorporated, ena- to quality education in confl ict ships within the Al Fakhoora Dy- year multi-faceted scholarship children. The opening ceremony the fi rst time, children’s input innovative design and a par- bling them to be part of build- zones such as Gaza. “EAA’s Al namic Futures programme. empowerment programme. aimed at launching reconstruc- is included in the recovery and ticipatory approach are distinc- ing their future while improving Fakhoora programme is the liv- Commenting on the QDF visit The Wajd programme was tion works and honouring QDF, reconstruction process, which tive features of the initiative. their psycho-social well-being, ing proof of the impact of our , Roberto Valent, UNDP special launched after the 2014 hos- was held at the Islamic Univer- is co-ordinated by a Unicef Child “For the fi rst time, children a critical element for recovery.” eff orts to support the education representative of the adminis- tilities in Gaza and is funded sity of Gaza, which incurred Friendly School architect, in co- and adolescents in Gaza are not Other projects highlighted sector in Gaza. Building safe trator, said: “Education is key to by QDF. Cebu Pacifi c’s passenger growth ‘remains strong in Middle East’

assenger growth of Cebu Pa- taking the fl ight in 2015. CEB also carried more than 150,000 and tourism in the countries we oper- fourth destination in Japan, in De- cifi c’s (CEB) Middle East fl ights Passengers fl own on CEB’s long- passengers between Manila and Syd- ate in, and enabling more travellers cember 2015. CEB offers flights to a Phas remained robust due to sus- haul routes grew by 146% year-on- ney for full-year 2015. to connect with families and friends network of over 90 routes on 64 des- tained capacity between Manila and year, on the back of increased presence Based on the latest report from around the globe,” said Mantaring. tinations, spanning Asia, Australia Riyadh, Kuwait and Dubai, and the in Australia and the Middle East, ac- Australia’s Bureau of Infrastructure, Passengers fl own to short haul inter- and the Middle East. launch of Manila-Doha in June 2015, a cording to Mantaring. Transport and Regional Economics, national destinations such as Hong It is slated to launch direct flights top offi cial has said. He said CEB fl ew a total of 18.4mn the airline remains the largest carrier Kong, Japan and China also increased. between Manila and Guam, its first In a press statement, Vice President passengers in 2015, an increase of 9% on the Manila-Sydney route with 40% Passenger volume to and from US destination on March 15. for Corporate Aff airs Atty. JR Mantar- from 16.9mn fl own in 2014. On aver- market share from November 2014 to Japan grew by 39% to more than In the Philippines, domestic pas- ing said growth in passenger volume age, CEB fl ights were 83% full during October 2015. 280,000 in 2015 as CEB successfully sengers increased by 7.41% in 2015, was largely driven by the airline’s low- the year. During this period, overall traffi c be- stimulated traffic with the launch following added frequencies between cost long-haul services and increased The Philippines’ leading airline also hai in China. “Last January 3, 2016, tween Manila and Sydney also grew by of its operations from Manila and Manila and Tagbilaran (Bohol), and frequencies in key domestic markets. posted notable passenger growth in in- the Cebu Pacifi c Air group carried a 69%. Cebu to Tokyo (Narita), and Manila Cebu and Tandag (Surigao del Sur). Flights between Manila and Dubai ternational destinations such as Hong total of 62,947 passengers – the high- “This scalable growth in our key do- to Nagoya. Both routes posted over posted the highest number of passen- Kong, Tokyo (Narita) and Nagoya in est number of travellers we have ever mestic and international markets re- The airline also mounted flights 100% in passenger growth gers with more than 230,000 guests Japan, as well as Beijing and Shang- fl own in one day,” Mantaring noted. fl ects our commitment in driving trade between Manila and Fukuoka, its year-on-year.