BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Australia deny Pakistan in gripping INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-6, 24 COMMENT 22, 23 Test fi nale REGION 7 BUSINESS 1–6, 11-12 Islamic fi nance key to 19,883.06 10,272.37 51.79 ARAB WORLD 7, 8 CLASSIFIED 7-10 +39.65 +48.24 -0.11 INTERNATIONAL 9–21 SPORTS 1 – 8 GCC funding needs +0.20% +0.47% -0.21% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10308 December 20, 2016 Rabia I 21, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Turkish cop In brief assassinates Russia envoy QATAR | Weather Strong winds, high seas expected tonight Strong winds are expected in some places by late tonight, the Qatar in Ankara Met department has said. Off shore areas, too, are likely to see strong AFP ised” in a police operation inside the winds along with high seas towards Ankara hall after 15 minutes of clashes. the north by this night. The wind Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman speed may go up to 24 knots in Soylu identifi ed the attacker as Mevlut both inshore and off shore areas, Syrian Civil Defence members hand aid to people who were evacuated from the last rebel-held pockets of Syria’s northern city of Turkish policeman shot dead Mert Altintas, 22, who had worked in with the sea level rising to 8ft in the Aleppo, as they arrive yesterday in the opposition-controlled Khan al-Assal region, west of the embattled city. Russia’s ambassador to Turkey the Ankara anti-riot police for the last north by late tonight. The detailed Aat an art exhibition in Ankara two-and-a-half years. forecast also states that hazy to misty yesterday, in what Moscow branded a “Today in Ankara as a result of an at- conditions are expected in some “terrorist act” that would be punished. tack the Russian ambassador to Turkey inshore areas in the early hours of Andrei Karlov died of his wounds af- Andrei Karlov received wounds that he the day, followed by mild daytime ter the shooting, which occurred on the died from,” Russian foreign ministry conditions with some clouds. It will Qatar warns of repercussions eve of a key meeting between the Rus- spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in be cold by night and slight to blowing sian, Turkish and Iranian foreign min- televised comments. dust is also likely in the late hours. isters on the Syria confl ict. “We qualify what happened as a ter- Dramatic television footage showed rorist act,” she added. “The murderers QATAR | Services over delay in Syria settlement the moment the veteran diplomat was will be punished.” shot as he opened a show of Russian “Today this issue will be raised at the 2mn transactions photographs at the Ankara exhibition UN Security Council. Terrorism will through Metrash2 breaches of international humanitar- tised Syrians left the rebel enclave hall. not win out.” The number of transactions Agencies ian law, besides the violation of the of Aleppo yesterday as the UN voted Images showed the ambassador The incident came after days of pro- conducted through the Metrash2 Cairo/Aleppo rights of innocent civilians in Aleppo to deploy observers there and said it standing up to speak at a lectern, before tests in Turkey over Russia’s role in application has reached 2mn in and elsewhere. planned new peace talks in Geneva in stumbling and crashing to the ground, Syria, although Moscow and Ankara 2016, which is 54% higher than He called on the Arab countries to February. lying fl at on his back as the attacker - are now working closely together to what was recorded in 2015, the E the Foreign Minister Sheikh support the move to hold an emergency “It is the intention of the United Na- dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and evacuate citizens from the battered city Ministry of Interior informed on Mohamed bin Abdulrahman meeting for the UN General Assembly tions to convene those negotiations in tie - brandishes his gun at terrifi ed on- of Aleppo. Twitter yesterday. “Use Metrash2 Hal-Thani has warned of any de- as the only choice aff orded by the UN Geneva on 8 February 2017,” UN envoy lookers. The United States condemned the and save your time,” it said. The lay to handling the current tragic situ- charter and backed by historical prec- Staff an de Mistura said after the Secu- The man shouts “Allahu Akbar” attack, while British ambassador Ri- app is available in six languages ation in Aleppo, noting that this would edents, to protect the Syrian people. rity Council unanimously adopted a (“God is greatest”) and then talks about chard Moore paid tribute to a “quietly - Arabic, English, Spanish, French, have serious repercussions on the fu- HE Sheikh Mohamed stressed Qa- French-drafted resolution to monitor pledging allegiance to jihad in Arabic, spoken, hospitable professional.” Urdu and Malayalam - and off ers ture of Syria and the fate of its people. tar’s stance that calls for an immediate evacuations from Aleppo, with Rus- the images showed. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said more than 160 services, working as Speaking during an extraordinary ceasefi re across Syria and the need for sia’s backing. Switching to Turkish, he then says: yesterday he spoke to Russia’s Vladimir an interactive platform to contact meeting for Arab foreign ministers the Arab League to take a united stance But in Moscow, President Vladimir “Don’t forget about Syria, don’t for- Putin and they both agreed the assas- various departments and report at the Arab League’s headquarters in and start working with the concerned Putin said after Russian ambassador to get about Aleppo. All those who par- sination of the ambassador was an act crimes. Cairo, the minister stressed the need to international sides to fi nd a mecha- Turkey Andrei Karlov was shot dead by ticipate in this tyranny will be held ac- of provocation by those looking to harm take serious and eff ective steps at the nism that compels the Syrian regime a policeman in Ankara that the killing countable”. relations their countries. EUROPE | Attack Arab and international levels to solve to stop attacks against civilians, lift the could “disrupt” the peace process in The state-run Anadolu news agency In a video message broadcast on the Syrian crisis. siege on all Syrian regions, allow the Syria and harm Turkish-Russian ties. said the gunman had been “neutral- Turkish television, Erdogan said Tur- Nine dead as truck He said there is no justifi cation or entrance of international relief agen- Families in Aleppo had spent hours key-Russia relations were vital for the rams crowd in Berlin logic that allows the Arab League to cies and humanitarian aid to the af- waiting in below-freezing tempera- region and those who aimed to harm One suspected attacker is dead fail to fulfi l its role towards the Syrian fected areas, and ensure that civilians tures, sheltering from the rain in ties were not going to achieve their and another in police custody after people in the midst of these heinous are allowed to safely leave Aleppo until bombed-out apartment blocks and goals. a truck ploughed into a crowded crime that the Syrian regime should the battles subside. waiting desperately for news of a new Turkey vowed it would not allow the Christmas market in Berlin, killing be held responsible for, and the grave Meanwhile, thousands of trauma- wave of departures. Page 8 assassination to damage relations with at least nine people and injuring 50 Moscow, which have dramatically im- others, police said late yesterday. proved in recent months. An amateur video aired on German “We will not allow this attack to cast TV and allegedly taken directly after a shadow on Turkey-Russia relations,” the attack showed people lying on said the Turkish foreign ministry in a the ground in the market in western statement. Berlin. Large parts of the area, which Bank trio in ‘merger’ talks Interior minister Soylu said the kill- is also one of German capital’s most ing was “a terror attack on relations popular shopping streets, have been Reuters cial position and liquidity to support Qatari regulations do not allow a between Russia and Turkey”. cordoned off . Doha/Dubai Qatar’s economic growth”, according to lender to operate both standards, so Protesters in Turkey have held Mos- a joint statement from the three banks IBQ would have to convert its business cow responsible for human rights vio- EUROPE | Trial sent to Reuters. to being Shariah-compliant should a lations in Aleppo with thousands turn- atari banks Masraf Al Rayan, The new bank, which would be run deal go ahead. ing out for protests outside the Russian IMF’s Lagarde guilty, Barwa Bank and International in compliance with Islamic banking Consolidation has long been talked Russian ambassador Andrei Karlov. consulate in Istanbul. but not punished QBank of Qatar have begun ini- principles, would have assets worth about in the Qatari banking sector French judges convicted IMF tial talks for a potential merger, the more than QR160bn ($44bn), it add- given that 18 local and international chief Christine Lagarde yesterday banks said yesterday, in a deal that ed. commercial banks serve a population Qatar condemns criminal act of negligence for a state payout would create the country’s second- Masraf Al Rayan is already the sec- of 2.6mn. made while she served as France’s largest bank. ond-largest bank in Qatar by market However, reluctance among local Qatar strongly condemned and Qatar stressed in the statement its finance minister in 2008, but If the deal goes ahead, it would be a capitalisation and the largest Qatari shareholders to cede control, given the denounced the killing of the Russian confidence in the Turkish authorities’ imposed no punishment, citing rare example of consolidation among constituent in the MSCI Emerging prestige of owning a bank, plus buoy- ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, ability to detain the assailants and her preoccupation at the time banks in the Gulf, which have previ- Markets index. ant local economic conditions in recent who was shot during an art exhibition bring them to justice. with the global financial crisis. It ously been reluctant to tie up but are It had assets worth QR87bn as of years, have prevented tie-ups. in Ankara. The statement voiced sincere condo- was unclear whether the verdict facing challenging conditions due to Sept 30, according to its fi nancial state- With state spending being In a statement issued yesterday, the lences to Russia and the family of the would force Lagarde from her the impact of lower oil prices on the re- ment. trimmed to adjust to lower oil pric- Foreign Ministry reaff irmed that the in- ambassador. position as managing director of gion’s economies. Both Rayan and Barwa Bank are Is- es, hitting banks’ deposit growth cident is a criminal act that contradicts It also reiterated Qatar’s firm stance in the Washington-based International The trio have begun initial discus- lamic institutions, but IBQ currently and revenue generation, the argu- with all divine religions, human values rejection of violence and terrorism in Monetary Fund, a job she started in sions “to create a larger and stronger follows conventional banking princi- ment for consolidation is now more and diplomatic norms. all its forms and manifestations. 2011. Page 15 fi nancial institution with a solid fi nan- ples. compelling. Helmets developed to keep SC workers cool in summer

n innovative cooled helmet de- and put through the production stage we have now developed this innovative ment it on construction sites for the workers have a constant fl ow of cooler signed and developed by leading by a group of Doha-based scientists solution for the construction sector 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. air to refresh them throughout their Aresearchers in Qatar has the po- in co-operation with the SC and As- and we believe it has the potential to “Our concept is to use a solar-pow- day.” tential to signifi cantly reduce the skin pire Zone Foundation (Aspire). More revolutionise the construction in- ered fan to blow air over a cooled mate- An additional weight of 300gm and a temperature of construction workers units have now been ordered with dustry in hotter areas of the world,” rial at the top of the helmet, which will small solar panel attached to the helmet by up to 10C, the Supreme Commit- the objective to incorporate them for said Dr Saud Abdul-Aziz Abdul-Ghani, then come down over the front of the ensures that the new product is both tee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) an- the coming summer period across SC Professor at the College of Engineering person’s face and provide a cooler mi- safe and eff ective. nounced yesterday. projects. at QU. cro-climate for the worker,” Dr Abdul- “As we continue to place workers’ This will allow for safer and more “We were approached by the SC and The researcher who previously Ghani told www.sc.qa welfare as a top priority across all our comfortable working conditions in Aspire with a challenge, and our objec- taught at British universities in Not- “We are confi dent that this technol- construction sites, we are working hard the summer months, according to re- tive was to reduce heat stress and heat tingham and Manchester has been ogy will create more comfortable and to fi nd and develop the most innovative searchers working on the new system strokes for workers in Qatar and the re- working on the project for two years safer working conditions, and there is and advanced solutions in our prepara- at Qatar University (QU), the SC posted gion during the summer months. This alongside a group of students from Qa- just a minimal increase in weight to the tions for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in on its website. type of body-based cooling technology tar, Jordan, Greece and Egypt, and is helmet. By reducing the temperature of Qatar,” said engineer Hilal Jeham al- Dr Abdul-Ghani (right) explains about The solar-powered helmet has been has been used before in the US sports co-operating closely with the SC and the head and face, the rest of the body Kuwari, chairman – Technical Delivery the innovative cooled helmet during a rigorously tested, patented worldwide for training purposes in hot states, but Aspire on the project in order to imple- will naturally follow and ensure that Offi ce, SC. To Page 3 site visit to Khalifa International Stadium. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, December 20, 2016 QATAR

PM meets UK trade secretary Official

Advisory Council holds weekly meeting

The Advisory Council yesterday held its regular weekly meeting during its 45th ordinary session under the chairmanship of HE Speaker Mohamed bin Mubarak al-Khulaifi. The Council reviewed a draft law on organising the connection of power supply and water, and decided to refer it to the Public Doha Municipality director Jamal Mattar al-Nuaimi opening a new park yesterday. Services and Utilities Committee to study it and submit a report to the Council. Meanwhile, the Advisory Council’s Public Services and Utilities Committee held a meeting within the 45th ordinary session of the Council yesterday. Two new parks The Public Services and Utilities HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met Committee examined a draft UK’s Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade Liam Fox in law on regulating delivery of Doha yesterday. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and ways of enhancing electricity and water, and decided them, especially in trade and investment fields. to continue the discussion in a opened to mark coming meeting. National Day HITC partners with Nissan Qatar oha Municipality di- rector Jamal Mattar Dal-Nuaimi opened yes- to enhance kids’ safety in cars terday a new park each at Al Thumma and Duhail on the occasion of the Qatar National amad International HITC’s unique CPS courses. ger safety,” he explained. Company said: “We are always Day. Other senior offi cials were Training Center (HITC) “The course included teaching “It is important to understand keen to take part in great initia- also present. Hrecently held its 12th participants how to select the that most times, child inju- tives that will lead to the safety The new park at Al Shamal Child Passenger Safety (CPS) right car seat for a child based on ries from car-related accidents and well-being of our most be- is to be opened today morning. technician training course in age, weight and height, and aims are preventable,” Dr Saifeldeen loved ones. The programme with The locations for the new parks collaboration with Saleh Al Ha- to educate participants about said adding: “Car seats for chil- HMC is a quest to keep children were chosen considering the mad Al Mana Company. helping parents and caregivers dren are available until the child safe when they are present in ve- high population density in the A view of one of the newly opened parks. Over a dozen people took keep their children safe in mo- reaches the weight and height hicles. There is a long way to go respective areas. part in the training course, held tor vehicles, using appropriate where they are able to safely in raising awareness in our com- Al Duhail Park, which falls Al Thumama East Park, locat- within the serenity of greenery. at Nissan’s main showroom in car seats and restraints,” said Dr use the car seat belt system de- munity about the importance of within the jurisdiction of Doha ed within the city of Doha on a Al Shammal Park is locat- Doha. The HITC CPS techni- Khalid Abdulnoor Saifeldeen, signed for adults. It is essential child safety and this course is Municipality, is located north space of 4,689 sq m, is also allo- ed within the jurisdiction of cians also provided specialised director of HITC. to select the appropriate seat for just the tip of the iceberg in what of Duhail area on a space of cated for families. Both the parks Al Shamal Municipality on a training to Nissan staff on child “This is the second time we every child depending on his or we will be doing with HMC.” 6,579sqm. The family park will have many facilities and services space of 11,930sq m. The parks passenger safety so that they have worked with Nissan Qa- her age, their height, weight and More information about child be open during the week days such as water coolers, covered have been established by the can give informed advice to tar on this programme, and stage of development.” passenger safety and the CPS from noon to midnight and on parking lots, toilets, kids play Public Gardens Department of customers and families visiting we are pleased that car dealer- Hisham Saleh al-Mana, training course is available on Fridays from 8am until mid- area, playgrounds for various the Ministry of Municipality the showrooms. So far, nearly ships are taking the initiative chairman and managing director the Kulluna website: www.Kul- night. games, and covered resting areas and Environment. 130 people have taken part in when it comes to child passen- of the Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana luna.qa. Online registration opens for VCUQatar classes Qatar Airways launches irginia Commonwealth University in Qatar’s V(VCUQatar) 2017 Spring non-stop fl ights to Tbilisi Community Education and Girl’s Holiday Programmes have opened for online registration. atar Airways this week- executive Akbar al-Baker and 132 seats in Economy, fea- Delivered three times each end celebrated the said, “We are delighted to turing individual television year, the community education Qlaunch of new direct celebrate the launch of di- screens providing all passen- programme off ers a wide range fl ights from Doha to Tbilisi, in- rect flights to Tbilisi, offer- gers in both cabins with the of art, design and craft classes creasing travel options to and ing Georgian citizens shorter next-generation interactive during an eight-week period. As from Georgia while reducing journey times to more than onboard entertainment sys- a new addition, there are several overall journey times. 150 destinations around the tem, Oryx One, with 3,000 en- craft workshops to choose from, The airline now operates world. As both an economical tertainment options. allowing participants to learn four direct fl ights to Tbilisi and a cultural hub, our new The Qatar Airways Business new techniques over one or two from Doha’s Hamad Interna- shorter flight times will at- Class is widely recognised as weekends. tional Airport (HIA), comple- tract many business and lei- an industry leader, recently Choices can be made from menting the existing seven sure passengers alike, while receiving two accolades at within course categories such weekly fl ights that operate via our tagged service via Baku the 2016 Skytrax World Air- as photography and fi lm mak- Baku in Azerbaijan. will continue to offer a quick line Awards, with passengers ing & editing, drawing, painting, Operated by a Qatar Airways and efficient link between choosing the airline as having illustration, fashion, jewellery, Airbus A320 aircraft, the new Azerbaijan and Georgia.” the World’s Best Business Class interior & graphic design, event direct scheduled fl ight takes The Doha-based carrier said and also Best Business Class design, computer aided design, just over three hours from Doha it also increased its fl ights to Airline Lounge in the Middle and various crafts. and sees overall journey times Yerevan, the capital of Arme- East. Community classes are most- VCUQatar opens registration for various community programmes drop ‘signifi cantly’ across the nia, from four to fi ve weekly In 2016, travellers have con- ly open to both genders for those airline’s global network to and services on December 15 with tinued to see Qatar Airways aged above 15 and are taught in jects. Classes start from January to the programme, VCUQatar has register and pay from Sunday from this increasingly popular an additional frequency each expand its global reach, with English. But, a selection of class- 29 onwards. partnered with Science Made Fun through Thursday from 9am to tourist destination. The airline week due to the popularity of services launched to Adelaide, es are taught in Arabic, including In addition to the community to off er several ‘ArtSci’ classes 12pm and from 1pm to 4pm. also off ers ‘seamless trans- the route, which was inaugu- Atlanta, Birmingham, Bos- several classes for children of 15 classes, the Girls Holiday Pro- together with classes in painting, Online registration is open at fers’ through its global home rated in May this year. ton, Los Angeles, Marrakech, years or younger. For the Spring gramme will start just in time for decoupage, and 3D sculpting. www.qatar.vcu.edu/communi- and hub, HIA, it said in a press The Airbus A320 aircraft of- Pisa, Ras Al Khaimah, Sydney, 2017 programme, younger audi- the term break by the independ- People can visit VCUQatar in tyclasses and www.qatar.vcu. statement. fers a two-class confi guration Windhoek, Yerevan, Krabi and ences can choose from fi ve sub- ent schools. To add more variety Education City from January 5; edu/community/girlsprogram. Qatar Airways Group chief of 12 seats in Business Class the Seychelles. Ethics summit sparks discussion of global responsibilities

exas A&M University at ally recognised business eth- international leader in ethics Qatar (Tamuq) hosted its ics stands at the foundation of research and education.” Tthree-day International corporate responsibility. Topics discussed include Ethics Summit at the Hamad “A strong ethical commit- ethical responsibility and risk Bin Khalifa University student ment, compliance with corpo- in an age of globalisation, eth- centre at Education City. rate governance, competence, ics in research and develop- The event sponsored by Ras- and eff ective business practic- ment, modern humanitari- Gas brought together leading es are strongly intertwined. An anism, and how institutional ethics scholars from around ethical organisational culture structures can shape ethical the world to discuss profes- coupled with fi t-for-purpose cultures. Several presentations sional and cultural ethics, controls and appropriate levels considered challenges unique globalisation of higher educa- of corporate governance brings to the Gulf and address the tion and Islamic approaches to signifi cant benefi ts to organi- emergence of western educa- modern ethics challenges. sation’s successful business tion in the region and its eff ects The intercultural and inter- decisions while safeguard- on society and institutions. disciplinary discussions, ing leaders and employees at Keynote addresses feature roundtables and panels fea- large.” discussions of moral responsi- tured world-class theorists Dr César O Malavé, dean Ta- bilities in a global era, 21st cen- and practitioners who dis- muq, observed that as Qatar tury ethical challenges to the cussed professional ethics in continues its transition toward humanities, and the role hu- a rapidly changing society and a technology- and knowledge- mility in politics and literature off ered approaches and solu- based economy, these ethical considering western and east- tions to challenging dilemmas issues will take a larger role. We ern traditions recommending in practice. are proud to be part of this fo- humility in leadership. Dr Has- Dr Marwan al-Musleh, gen- cus on the human side of engi- san Bashir, Tamuq associate eral counsel and corporate neering and to partner with in- professor in political science, secretary, RasGas, said the dustry leaders in Qatar so that was the event organising com- commitment to internation- we can grow into a national and mittee chair. International Ethics Summit discussed professional and cultural ethics. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 20, 2016 3 QATAR Deputy PM receives IDP football team from Darfur

QNA the framework of popular initia- Doha tives to support the Darfur peace along the lines of the Doha Docu- ment for Peace in Darfur (DDPD). E the Deputy Prime For his part, HE Ahmed bin Minister and Minister of Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mah- HState for Cabinet Aff airs moud greeted the football team, Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid stressing the importance of al-Mahmoud met a delegation sport in deepening the concepts of internally displaced persons’ of peace and spreading the spirit (IDPs) football team from Darfur, of brotherhood and solidarity. currently on a visit to Doha. HE al-Mahmoud also stressed During the meeting, the del- the State of Qatar’s keenness to egation expressed gratitude and support all the activities which appreciation for the role of Qa- would maintain peace, stability tar, under the leadership of HH and development in Darfur. the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- The meeting was attended by mad al-Thani, in ensuring peace Sudanese ambassador to Qatar and stability in Darfur. Fateh al-Rahman Ali Mohamed The delegation pointed out and a number of offi cials in the that the formation of the Darfur General Secretariat of the Coun- HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Aff airs Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud with a delegation of internally displaced persons’ (IDPs) football IDPs football team came within cil of Ministers. team from Darfur in Doha yesterday.

Ooredoo Preparatory meeting for Qatar donates QR5mn for Aleppo business forum in UK begins residents oha hosted yesterday a meeting to prepare for DQatar business and in- oredoo has donated vestment forum, which will be QR5mn to support the re- held in London and Birmingham Olief campaign for the peo- in the United Kingdom (UK) next ple of Aleppo, as a gesture of soli- March. darity with the people of Syria. Yesterday’s meeting brought The donation was made as one together senior Qatari business- of many during the National Day men and the representatives of fundraising campaign at Darb Al the public sector with UK’s Sec- Saai on Sunday. The drive raised retary of State for International more than QR238mn in less than Trade and President of the Board six hours, to support Syrians in of Trade Liam Fox. the besieged city of Aleppo. In his opening speech during Ooredoo is also providing the meeting, HE Mohamed bin HE Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi, Minister of Municipality and discounted calls to Syria, with a Abdullah al-Rumaihi, Minister HE Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi, Minister of Municipality and Environment and Chairman of the Environment, and prominent Qatari businessman Hussain Alfardan special rate of 30 Dhs per minute of Municipality and Environ- Organising Committee of the Qatar Business and Investment Forum with UK’s Secretary of State for with UK’s Secretary of State for International Trade and President of and SMS, to enable people to ment and Chairman of the Or- International Trade and President of the Board of Trade Liam Fox at yesterday’s meeting. the Board of Trade Liam Fox yesterday. reach friends and family. ganising Committee of the Qatar Business and Investment Forum, projects available for investment day’s meeting was to learn about public and private sectors. sports sectors and in all fi elds. able in his country in these areas. The donation was made said that this forum includes two in Qatar and Britain. the views of Qatari businessmen Meanwhile, UK’s Secretary of He added that his ministry On holding the Qatari British as one of many during the events. The fi rst, which Qatar He added that the forum’s as well as the representatives of State for International Trade and was created after UK voted to joint meeting in Birmingham, National Day fundraising has been organising over the past meetings will shed light on a companies, banks and various President of the Board of Trade leave the European Union in or- UK’s Secretary of State for In- campaign at Darb Al Saai on few years in a number of Western number of projects and econom- business entities before the or- Liam Fox said that trade and in- der to promote foreign invest- ternational Trade and President Sunday cities and capitals such as Lon- ic opportunities in Britain after ganisation of the Forum to fol- vestment relations between Qa- ment in the UK and develop of the Board of Trade pointed out don, New York and Berlin, will Brexit and will seek to increase low-up on them with the Brit- tar and the UK have witnessed business policies, stressing that that Birmingham is an important The discounted international be held in London. The second is co-operation between the Qa- ish partners, along with trying remarkable progress in recent the exit of his country from the industrial and economic city in calls off er applies to all mobile the Qatari-British joint meeting tari private sector and its British to meet the expectations of the years, stressing that the UK is European Union will further Britain, and it is a major hub for calls made until December 23 us- which will be held the follow- counterpart. British side in relation to the up- keen to strengthen its partner- promote the economy. British exports. ing the international code +963 ing day in Birmingham, the UK’s HE the Minister of Munici- coming meeting in Birmingham. ship with Qatar. Fox said that one of his Minis- Qatari businessmen from to Syria. This 30 Dhs rate will be second largest city, he said. pality and Environment and Al-Rumaihi deemed the Fo- The UK’s Secretary of State for try’s key priorities is to enhance various private sector entities applicable after a customer’s in- The Qatar Business and In- Chairman of the Organising rum as an opportunity to make International Trade pointed out exports and fi nd appropriate discussed during the meet- ternational allowance has been vestment Forum, he said, in- Committee added that the Qa- an investment plan and build that trade exchange between the markets, adding that current ing with the UK’s Secretary of consumed. cludes debate sessions focusing tari delegation will travel on the strong economic ties over the two countries refl ects the evolu- visit to Qatar was in this context. State for International Trade Five Qatar charities will ben- on fi nancial, energy, industry, second day of the forum to Bir- next five years for both sides tion of bilateral relations, adding The UK is home to leading global and President of the Board of efi t from the fund-raising cam- infrastructure, tourism, trans- mingham, where the British side in the two countries, pointing that Qatar National Vision 2030 fi nancial centres and hosts more Trade investment opportunities paign, including Qatar Charity, portation and information tech- will present new investment op- to the availability of a range of presents a real opportunity for than 20 banks off ering Shariah- in the UK and the State of Qatar Eid Charity, Qatar Red Crescent, nology sectors, and reviews the portunities in the Birmingham opportunities for Qatari com- British companies to participate compliant products, he said, as well as the role of the Forum Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah most important trade, econom- area and in north Britain. panies in the fields of industry, in projects that Qatar is planning calling on Qatari companies to in increasing investment in both Foundation for Humanitarian ic, investment and construction He said the purpose of yester- health and education in both to set up in health, education and explore the opportunities avail- countries. Services (RAF) and Afi f Charity.

Helmets developed to keep SC workers cool

From Page 1 and to other hot areas as part of opment phases, a number of de- This provides cooling in hot Advanced testing has already the legacy of this tournament,” tailed studies were undertaken conditions for up to four hours taken place on the cooled hel- added Dr Saud. by QU, including testing the straight. People when working met and the developers have “This is an important initia- system in climatic chambers, in the sun will get cool air com- pointed to a number of regions tive and we are proud to be in- analysing the amount of sweat ing down at the front of their where the technology could also volved in the development of per hour and adding the eff ect faces. When they go for a break, be applied once it goes into mass this technology,” said Abdulaziz of sun, air, wind and measure- they throw it into a refrigerator production. al-Mahmoud, deputy president ment of the amount of heat and pick up a cold pack and put “This type of innovative cool- for Sports Projects at Aspire that passed through the head. it into their helmets,” concluded The customs officials who were honoured are seen with GAC chairman Ahmad bin Ali al-Muhannadi ing technology will be ideal for Zone Foundation. Further considerations in the Dr Saud. and other officials. the Middle East, Asia, Australia, “Our participation in this development process were the “We did research on the best Mexico and the US, all coun- project is a demonstration of weight and price of the cooled areas to lower body tempera- tries with hot climates where our AZF’s vision to become the helmet, with as little weight ture, and it was the head and this technology can help reduce reference for sports excellence and cost as possible being added face. The additional cost is just heatstroke and regulate body world-wide by 2020, and in in order to keep the innovative $20 in comparison to a normal temperatures for construction line with our work values of in- technology accessible. passive helmet, but the results are felt immediately in terms 59kg of marijuana workers signifi cantly. Once we novation that we seek in all our “The material we use inside have fi nished development we projects.” the helmet is Phase Changing of less lost time on site due to can roll this out to the region During the testing and devel- Material contained in a pouch. heat-related complaints.” seized at airport

LuLu photo contest winners named s many as 59kg of the ille- gal drug marijuana, have Abeen seized in fi ve dif- ferent cases by the General Au- thority of Customs (GAC) at the Hamad International Airport, it was announced yesterday. The customs offi cers at Hamad international Airport doubted the conduct of the passengers con- cerned and decided to conduct a full search of their bags, lead- ing to the discovery of marijuana packets ranging from 3-7kg, all wrapped in carbon paper. The GAC chairman Ahmad bin Ali al-Muhannadi honoured Some of the seized packets of marijuana. fi ve customs offi cials who made the seizures, for their alertness the harmful consequences of il- consignment at HIA. “The in- while on duty. He also honoured licit drugs. dication is that this period has another customs offi cer at the Ajab Mansur al-Qahtani, di- seen some active smuggling ef- The winners of the LuLu Photography Contest, which was held at LuLu Hypermarket - Barwa City on December 16, have been land customs department for his rector of the Airport Customs forts. So, there should be more announced. The winners of the first, second and third prizes are Sabin Shaw Sainudheen, Lubaib Gaziv and Rodrigo M Espiritu, eff orts at work. Department, explained that out eff orts from the GAC offi cers respectively, in the above-18 category and Omkar S Bhat, Alaya Abdullah and Sanahas K Odisinghe, respectively, in the below-18 Al-Muhannadi highly appre- of the 59kg of seized marijuana, to foil any future attempts to category. Besides, 10 consolation prizes have also been given for the shortlisted entries. ciated the eff orts of GAC offi cers the haul of 30kg took place a few smuggle drugs into the country,” in protecting the country against weeks after the seizure of a 29kg he added. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, December 20, 2016 QATAR Joyalukkas opens second outlet in US ewellery retail chain Joy- alukkas has opened its Jsecond showroom in the US in Edison, New Jersey. Thomas Lankey, mayor of Edison, inaugurated the showroom on December 17 in the presence of Antony Jos, director of Joyalukkas Group; Aniyan George, Kerala Cham- ber of Commerce of North America president; Jiby Tho- mas, Federation of Malayalee Associations of Americas sec- retary; Bishop Joy Alappatt, Syro Malabar Diocese North America; Dilip Verghese; Francy Verghese, GM - Joy- alukkas US operations; and Off icials and dignitaries at the inauguration. other dignitaries. A number of local VIPs as well as com- in a press statement that the cago in the next few months”. kas Group, said: “New Jersey pany executives were also in opening of the second show- The Edison store show- is an exciting location and attendance. room in New Jersey was part cases a mix of traditional, we look forward to providing The fi rst Joyalukkas show- of the group’s “aggressive ethno contemporary and the quality of jewellery and room in the US was opened at expansion plans, which also international designs. service Joyalukkas is known Hillcroft, Houston on Novem- include the opening of a third Joy Alukkas, chairman and for to the cosmopolitan ber 19. The retailer stressed showroom in the US in Chi- managing director of Joyaluk- mix of customers here.”

Emirates to operate A380 to Morocco mirates has announced that it suites in First Class, 76 lie fl at seats with connectivity via Emirates’ hub in will operate the fi rst ever com- in Business Class and 401 seats in the Dubai. Emercial Airbus A380 fl ight to Economy Class cabin. Casablanca has become one Emir- Morocco and North Africa, when it Travellers from Morocco fl ying from ates’ most popular destinations, which takes the iconic double-decker aircraft Casablanca to Emirates’ hub in Dubai has seen steady growth since being to Casablanca on March 26, 2017. can connect to onward destinations launched in March 2002. In 2015 alone, The airline’s fl agship aircraft, will in Emirates network, particularly in Emirates carried nearly 260,000 pas- replace the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft the GCC, east Asia and Australia, with sengers and more than 10,000 tonnes currently used on the Dubai-Casa- many cities, such as Kuwait, Sau- of cargo, between Casablanca and Du- blanca route, off ering increased seat di Arabia, Doha, Beijing, Shanghai, bai. capacity across all three cabin classes Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Sydney, Bris- Emirates is the largest operator of and ‘an enhanced premium product bane and Perth, also being served by the Airbus A380, and has carried over experience.’ the A380. 65 million passengers on its fl agship The switch to the A380 off ers a to- The A380 service will also provide aircraft since 2008. Emirates is also the tal of 1,834 additional seats per week, travellers from across the Emirates’ largest A380 operator with 54 more of meeting a growing demand from trav- network, mainly the GCC and Australia the world’s largest passenger aircraft ellers on the route, with 14 private as well as India, US, and the Far East, pending delivery. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 20, 2016 5 QATAR

Infiniti Q50 recalled over malfunction in steering The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC), in collaboration with Saleh Qatar Airways enhances AlHamad AlMana Co, has announced the recall of Infiniti Q50 model year 2013-2015 over a malfunction in the steering turning from the electronic control unit. The MEC said the recall campaign comes within the mobile functionality framework of its ongoing eff orts to protect consumers and ensure atar Airways yesterday post-fl ight experience, the checked baggage tag numbers, ‘My Trips’, providing passen- been downloaded 2.3mn times that car dealers follow up on said it has enhanced its airline said in a statement. the time of baggage arriving at gers with a convenient means of since its introduction in 2012, vehicle defects and repairs. Qmobile functionality “All phases of the journey the carousel in Doha and the seeing journey details such as a according to the airline. It is The MEC will co-ordinate with over the course of 2016 by roll- have been improved on the carousel number for arrivals at timeline view, gate information, available on iTunes and Google the dealer to follow up on ing out a number of innovative mobile platform, from search Doha and many other airports. boarding time, bag tag informa- Play for both iOS and Android the maintenance and repair features. and purchase – now with even Qatar Airways also pointed tion and an interactive virtual platforms. Features specifi c to works and communicate with These have resulted in greater greater online payment options, out that it handled 99.3% of all tour of the aircraft. iOS include downloading the customers to ensure that the information available to the including using mileage from checked baggage, more than Srinivasan A T, chief infor- boarding pass to the wallet, Ap- necessary repairs are carried out. passenger during and after the the member’s Privilege Club ac- 19mn bags, without any disrup- mation offi cer at Qatar Airways, ple Pay and locally storing Priv- The MEC has urged all customers journey, and include off ering up counts – to managing the book- tion for the 2015-2016 fi nancial said: “Over the course of 2016, ilege Club details with Touch ID to report any violations to its to 12 languages on the mobile ing, including changing fl ights The airline off ers up to 12 languages year. For the few bags that are we made dozens of enhance- authentication. Consumer Protection and Anti- website for the ease and com- and purchasing extra baggage. on the mobile website. routed incorrectly, passengers ments to our mobile off ering, Android Pay will be included Commercial Fraud Department fort of the customer, the Doha- Recent improvements include will now receive push notifi ca- from adding payment options in future releases, as will profi le through the following channels: based carrier has stressed. push notifi cations for advising departures,” the statement tions telling them where their to adding 12 languages, all in management, whereby pas- Hotline: 16001, e-mail: info@mec. The measures had been tak- passengers of online check- explains. bag is, giving them peace of the sincere desire to create the sengers can link to their social gov.qa, Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, en to keep up with passengers’ in availability, fl ight open for Passengers checking in bag- mind, the airline adds. most convenience for the most media account, set their meal Instagram: MEC_Qatar, MEC need for continuous engage- boarding and even a gate change gage will now receive push no- Another key functionality people.” and seat preferences and other mobile app for Android and IOS: ment during their pre- and notifi cation for Doha fl ight tifi cations advising them of the introduced in the mobile app is The Qatar Airways app has features. MEC_Qatar Ibin Ajayan receives ‘Best Product Improvement Contribution’ award

bin Ajayan, the exclusive volumes about the processes that Africa. Top offi cials of Iveco as dealer for the Iveco range of we have put in place in order to well as Ibin Ajayan attended the Icommercial vehicles, was ensure that our operations con- award ceremony. Ibin Ajayan Trading Company off icials and employees with the award. recently conferred with the tinuously evolve towards ensur- “Our clients are our most ‘Best Product Improvement ing that our customers are off ered valuable brand ambassadors. At manager of Ibin Ajayan Trading Co. Ibin Ajayan Trading Co is the established after sales and spare has built a diversifi ed business Contribution’ award for 2016. nothing short of the best,” said Ibin Ajayan we leave no stone Iveco is a leading name glo- exclusive dealer for Iveco (trucks, parts network that includes a portfolio that covers automo- The award was announced Arun Dsouza, general manager, unturned in ensuring that all bally in light, medium and heavy vans, and buses), Ashok Ley- fully equipped workshop with tive dealerships (Skoda and during the Iveco Middle East Ibin Ajayan Trading Co. our customer touch points commercial vehicles, off -road land (trucks, buses), Mahindra more than 140 skilled employees. Seat), trading, transport serv- and Africa Dealer Meet at Turin, Ibin Ajayan was also adjudged leave a positive and everlast- trucks, and vehicles for special Pickups and SUVs, Clark Fork- Ibin Ajayan Trading Co is a ices, maintenance services and Italy. as one of the best performing ing impression on our clients,” applications such as off -road lifts, PM self-loading cranes in subsidiary of the Ibin Ajayan other services such as catering, “This special award speaks dealers in the Middle East and said Shyju Sebastian, after sales missions. the State of Qatar. It has a well- Group. Over the years, the group security and earthmoving. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, December 20, 2016 QATAR Students Singapore students visit Al-Attiyah International Foundation take part in IPE session on smoking cessation

number of students from CPH Clinical Pharmacy and A delegation of Singapore National University students yesterday visited Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah International Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development. various colleges at Qatar Practice Section head Dr Maguy The delegation, comprising 23 students, was headed by associate professor Loh Wai Lam, who co-ordinates the off shore oil and gas technology specialisation. He is also the AUniversity (QU) and two el-Hajj said smoking is one of the programme manager (subsea systems and transportation) for the Centre of Off shore Research and Engineering. HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah answered the questions other universities have partici- primary causes of mortality and and inquiries of the students on related issues. pated in the third Inter-Profes- morbidity in Qatar and rest of sional Education (IPE) activity the world. “Adopting a multidis- on ‘Smoking Cessation’. ciplinary approach that includes Organised by College of Phar- diff erent healthcare professionals macy’s (CPH) IPE Committee, can improve the eff ectiveness of the goal of the activity was to smoking cessation interventions.” Cake Festival at Safari outlets provide QU, University of Cal- College of Health Sciences Cebu Pacifi c receives gary in Qatar (UCQ), and Col- assistant professor Dr Karam lege of the North Atlantic-Qatar Adawi said the activity provided (CNA-Q) students the oppor- students hands-on experience new Airbus A330-300 tunity to develop and enhance in patient-focused care. their skills in communication, UCQ senior nursing instructor teamwork and problem-solving. Dr Jessie Johnson said “as a facili- he Philippines’ leading ies in the Philippines, such as The activity featured an over- tator, it was inspiring to see the carrier, Cebu Pacifi c Air Cebu, Clark and Iloilo,” said JR view on IPE by CPH assistant potential scope for patient care T(CEB), has received a Mantaring, vice president for dean Alla el-Awaisi and a pres- when future healthcare profes- new Airbus A330-300 aircraft, corporate aff airs, CEB. entation by CPH associate pro- sionals become truly collabora- creating more available seats With this easy connectiv- fessor Dr Ahmed Awaisu on the tive, as seen during this IPE event in time for the holiday season. ity to such hubs, CEB aims to role of healthcare professionals involving students from almost CEB will be utilising this strengthen economic trade in smoking cessation to ensure a every healthcare discipline.” aircraft for fl ights between and tourism from one of Asia’s healthier society. CNA-Q instructor of para- Manila and Hong Kong from largest fi nancial centres to the The activity included a pa- medicine Aileen Boyd said IPE today, a move that will pro- Philippines. tient-case scenario where stu- events such as the smoking ces- vide more than 9,800 available This new aircraft, confi g- dents interacted with a 65 year- sation exercise are a reminder seats per week on this route. ured with 436 all economy- old heavy smoker suff ering from that in healthcare, “we must use In a statement, CEB said class seats, will join CEB’s multiple diseases. The partici- a team approach to ensure our this upgrade refl ects a 22% existing fl eet of six A330s fl y- pants discussed the case and patients receive the most appro- increase compared to the ing on long haul and selected made a plan to help the patient priate care possible.” number of seats off ered in the regional and domestic routes. stop smoking. Second year CPH student Iqrah previous periods, which allows CEB continues to modern- “This activity highlights our Qurishi said: “We, the healthcare the airline to maintain its po- ise its current 58-strong fl eet commitment to off er our stu- practitioners, are diff erent puzzle Safari Hypermarket Group has announced the launch of ‘Cake Festival’ at all Safari outlets in Qatar. sition as the largest Philippine of fi ve Airbus A319, 36 Air- dents with a platform where pieces of the same jigsaw puzzle. The festival was jointly inaugurated at Safari Mall, Abu Hamour, by Aboobakkar Madappat, managing carrier operating the Philip- bus A320, seven Airbus A330, they can interact and exchange Alone we do not have a proper director, Safari Group of Companies; and Zainul Abidheen, director and general manager, Safari Group pines – Hong Kong market. eight ATR 72-500, and two knowledge with their peers from aim; together we form a clear pic- of Companies, in the presence of Safari management members. More than 40 varieties of cakes are “CEB also takes pride as the ATR 72-600 aircraft to further the healthcare profession,” said ture towards optimising the care on off er as part of the festival, which will continue until the end of this month. only Philippine carrier link- expand its route network and Dr el-Awaisi. provided to the patient.” ing Hong Kong to other cit- frequencies all over the world. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 20, 2016 7 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Buses ferry Iran’s president unveils Sudan workers landmark bill of rights as opposition strike fails Rouhani says authorities should respect limits on their powers AFP said, asking not to be named. Khartoum Ahead of the action, groups AFP of activists, actors, journalists, Tehran lawyers, teachers and pharma- nationwide “sit-at- cists had taken to social media to home” strike called by mobilise support after a similar ran’s President Hassan Rou- ASudanese opposition ac- three-day strike in November hani unveiled a landmark bill tivists in protest at price hikes drew a mixed response. Iof rights yesterday, guaran- failed yesterday as buses ferried Activists said workers had only teeing freedom of speech, pro- workers to offi ces and schools reported to work yesterday out of test, fair trials and privacy, say- remained open. fear. ing the achievement was “one of The one-day action is part of a “Those who had participated my oldest dreams”. “civil disobedience movement” in last month’s strike had been Although many of the rights launched by activists against a punished. Their employers had are already enshrined in Iran’s government decision in Novem- cut their salaries,” said an activ- constitution written after the ber to hike fuel prices that has led ist involved in organising yester- 1979 Islamic revolution, Rou- to a sharp rise in the cost of other day’s strike. hani said it off ered the fi rst clear goods, including medicines. “We believe that our strike list of principles that could be But Sudanese went to work today did not fail, and that our used to check the performance and traffi c in Khartoum was busy struggle against the regime is go- of state institutions. as usual, an AFP correspondent ing to be a long one.” “I’m very pleased that to- reported after touring several On December 12, President day one of my most important districts of the capital. Omar al-Bashir had vowed to promises is being delivered and “I have already made three crush any new anti-regime pro- I am achieving one of my oldest trips to downtown ferrying pas- tests as the authorities did three dreams,” Rouhani told offi cials sengers to their work places,” said years ago. in a televised ceremony. Ahmed Fadil, a minibus driver A previous round of fuel sub- However, many institutions, who operates from the main bus sidy cuts in 2013 sparked serious including the judiciary and the station. The three-wheeled rick- unrest that was only suppressed powerful Revolutionary Guards, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani signs documents as part of the landmark bill of rights that he unveiled, during a televised ceremony in shaws, a key mode of transpor- by a deadly government crack- are fi rmly in the grip of hardlin- Tehran yesterday. tation for labourers, were also down that drew international ers who do not answer to the trundling on Khartoum’s streets. condemnation. Rights groups president and say the priority is to Having promised a bill of “One of the major demands Yousef Molayi, a Tehran law- a correct interpretation.” “Everything is normal. I have say about 200 lives were lost in protect the revolution against dis- rights for citizens during his of Iranian people is citizenship yer, told AFP the bill was “a step Conservatives were quick to been taking people to work as on street clashes with security forc- senters and outside interference. 2013 election campaign, Rou- rights,” said Rouhani. forward in guaranteeing parts criticise the charter, saying it any other day,” said one driver. es, while the government puts Rouhani said the authorities hani’s announcement may mark “This bill is a call by the Irani- of the rights and freedoms that was the work of a reformist mi- Cafes, restaurants and shops the death toll at less than 100. should respect limits on their a belated eff ort to rally reformist an nation against some arrogant people should enjoy”. nority rather than the wider Ira- were open in downtown Khartoum, The authorities are deter- powers. supporters ahead of a re-elec- Western countries who think “The president is highlight- nian public. as hawkers and street vendors dis- mined to avoid any repetition of “No one is allowed to enter an- tion bid in May. they are ahead of Third World ing the importance of citizens’ “These days as people wait played their goods on pavements. unrest and have rounded up sev- other person’s house, shop or pri- Rouhani said the bill was not countries in human rights.” rights and the need to observe impatiently for the delivery of Schools across Khartoum eral opposition leaders to prevent vate workplace without the per- yet a formal law, but “must be Western rights groups and existing laws which may not be economic openings (linked to) and other cities remained open, widespread protests this time. mission of the owner in the name implemented by everyone”. governments accuse Iran of implemented thoroughly now,” the nuclear deal the government while several banks and private Khartoum has been forced to of discovering whether crimes or A new “special deputy for citi- wholesale violations, includ- he said. in its last months has remem- companies told AFP their em- progressively reduce fuel subsi- sins have been committed,” he zenship rights” will work with ing arbitrary detention with- “For example, in some trials bered the rights of people. It’s ployees had reported to work. dies since 2011 when South Sudan said, quoting the founder of the government departments to draw out trial, violent suppression of the court decides that the law- a joke,” said Osulgara News, a “It seems many people are not seceded and took with it nearly Islamic revolution, the late Ayat- up reform plans and check their dissent, and restrictions on the yer should not be present, and popular conservative social me- even aware of the strike call,” the three-quarters of the formerly ollah Khomeini. progress with annual reports. press and free speech. this bill clarifies that this is not dia channel. manager of a private hotel chain united country’s oil reserves.

Air strike destroys drilling rig

A man walks near the site of an air strike that destroyed a water well drilling rig near the northwestern city of Saada in Yemen yesterday. A Saudi-led coalition said yesterday it would stop using British-made BL-755 cluster munitions in Yemen where thousands of civilians have been killed in 20 months of conflict. “The government of Saudi Arabia con- firms that it has decided to stop the use of cluster munitions of the type BL-755 and informed the United Kingdom government of that,” Saudi news agency SPA reported.

Saudi offi cials say more professions should be open to women: newspapers

Reuters tain professions, while rules on gender Saudi Arabia’s economic plan en- Riyadh mixing in shops and businesses further visages weaning the economy off its limit job opportunities. high dependence on oil and increas- “It’s fi ne (for a woman) to work as a ing the range of jobs available to citi- senior Saudi cleric and a health paramedic, provided she’s decent and zens. ministry offi cial said women in the lawful attire,” a senior member It does not specifi cally mandate Ashould be allowed to work of the state-appointed body of clerics, more open social mores in Saudi Ara- as paramedics and opticians, Saudi the Ulama, Sheikh Abdullah al-Manea bia, but it challenges decades of con- newspapers reported yesterday, part told the Okaz daily. servative practice by seeking to open of a push to relax strict labour codes in Women are already allowed to work theme parks and cinemas to boost the the kingdom. as doctors and have volunteered as entertainment sector. The government announced an eco- medics in Makkah during the Haj pil- The plan provided few concrete de- nomic reform plan in June that aims grimage for the past few years. tails on how to boost female employ- to increase the number of women as Mohamed Bajbair, a senior health ment but said the government aims a proportion of the workforce to 28% offi cial in the Red Sea commercial hub to spend 2.78bn riyals ($741.19mn) to from 23% by 2020 and to quadruple of Jeddah, told the Saudi Gazette that improve transport options for working the number of women in senior civil women could work in opticians’ shops women. service roles to 5%. as long as they do not mix with men. The government’s newly refash- Saudi Arabia bars women from driv- “If a complaint is received by the ioned sovereign wealth fund has also ing, making it harder for them to get to health aff airs department about the invested $3.5bn in US ride-hailing work. mixed environment then the shop service Uber, a popular tool for trans- Regulations also bar them from cer- might be closed down,” said Bajbair. portation among Saudi women. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, December 20, 2016 ARAB WORLD Israel arrests diamond magnate in Guinea graft probe

Agencies and Switzerland, Israeli police He also cannot leave Israeli were initiated by the government dent in 2010 following years as world’s biggest untapped iron but “is the benefi ciary of the Jerusalem said in a statement. territory and his Israeli and of Guinea since Alpha Conde an opposition leader, prisoner ore deposit. foundation which owns BSG Re- The Israeli billionaire controls French passports have been con- came to power in 2011 to expro- and exile, Conde launched a Conde said in 2014 that a sources”. mining fi rm BSG Resources. fi scated. priate its assets,” it said. radical review of permits al- probe had cleared Vale of any In another case, Steinmetz was sraeli police placed diamond He is suspected of involve- He must also pay a bond of “BSGR has repeatedly dem- lotted under military dictator involvement in or knowledge of charged in Romania in May with magnate Beny Steinmetz un- ment in bribery of a foreign 100mn shekels ($26mn), a state- onstrated that these allegations Lansana Conte. BSGR’s allegedly corrupt obtain- “forming an organised criminal Ider house arrest yesterday as public employee and money ment from the justice ministry of bribery are not only baseless, The highest-profile victim ing of the permit. group, complicity in trading in in- part of a corruption probe in- laundering, according to Israeli said. but are a systematic attempt of a permit withdrawal was BSGR described Steinmetz fl uence and money laundering” in volving dealings in the African police. BSG Resources issued a by the current government of the VBG consortium formed as an adviser to the company, a property-related case that cost nation of Guinea, authorities Other Israelis living abroad statement calling the allega- Guinea to cover up the endemic in 2010 by Brazilian mining which is headquartered in the the state $145mn. said. are also under suspicion as part tions against Steinmetz “base- corruption which has blighted giant Vale and Steinmetz’s Channel Islands and is a min- Last week, Guinea’s former Steinmetz was arrested as part of the probe, they said. less”. Guinea.” BSGR. ing arm of Steinmetz’s business minister of mines, Mahmoud of a wide-ranging investigation Steinmetz, 60, was ordered to “This development is in the The west African nation has VBG was stripped of its con- conglomerate. Thiam, was arrested in New involving tens of millions of dol- remain under house arrest until aftermath of ongoing and what huge untapped deposits of dia- cession in Guinea’s Simandou A BSGR spokesman said that York on charges he was involved lars and including authorities in January 2 and will not be able to BSGR believes to be obsolete in- monds, gold and uranium. mountains, a southeastern re- Steinmetz does not sit on BSGR’s in bribery payments linked to Israel, Guinea, the United States visit his Israeli offi ces. vestigations against BSGR which After his election as presi- gion estimated to contain the board or have an executive role, Guinea’s mining industry. Cracks deepen in Palestinian politics as Abbas clamps down

Reuters strip them of their immunity Gaza so they could be “investigated over a number of issues”. He did not provide details, alestinian President but Palestinian media cited a Mahmoud Abbas has number of broadbrush accu- Ptightened his grip on sations. power by stripping the parlia- Three of the fi ve sought ref- mentary immunity of fi ve law- uge in the offi ces of the Inter- makers seen as opposing him, national Committee of the Red Syrians who were evacuated from Fuaa and Kafraya, two Shia villages under rebel-siege on the northern outskirts of Idlib wave and flash the sign for victory as they arrive in Jibrin weeks after being reappointed Cross in Ramallah on Sunday, on the eastern outskirts of Aleppo yesterday. chairman of the main political before police escorted them party. out of the building. The move follows a deci- They were not detained sion by a Palestinian court last since they are not wanted for week to sentence Mohamed anything, a spokesman for the Dahlan, a former Fatah party Palestinian security services member and vocal Abbas crit- said. ic, to three years in prison over Shami al-Shami, one of the the disappearance of $16mn fi ve, said the removal of his 7-year-old war symbol when he was in offi ce several immunity was an infringement years ago. of his rights. While Abbas has no imme- His association with Dah- diate challengers, he appears lan, he said, was not a crime. to be at pains to shore up his “(This) was an absolute vio- authority amid criticism over lation of Palestinian law and his rule from neighbouring the constitution,” he said. evacuated from Aleppo Arab states, from the Hamas “If I have a personal relation- movement and from Israel. ship with Dahlan, this is none of Turkish Foreign Minister comed them,” Turkish NGO the though Syrian President Bashar concern, notably fearing for her & get us out now. We are so Some Palestinians say Ab- anyone’s business. I should only Mevlut Cavusoplu says Bana Humanitarian Relief Foundation al-Assad’s regime has slammed life when tweets became less fre- tired.- Fatemah #Aleppo.” bas has achieved little during be judged by the law.” will be brought to Turkey (IHH) wrote on its Twitter ac- her and her mother’s nearly daily quent. Responding in a tweet yester- his 11-year presidency, with Dahlan, a former Fatah se- with her family count, sharing an IHH aid work- tweets as propaganda. At least 15,000 children are day, Cavusoglu wrote: “Diffi cul- no progress on peace with the curity chief, was removed er’s selfi e picture with the girl. Anadolu news agency later among the more than 300,000 ties on the ground won’t deter us Israelis. from the party’s central com- AFP An IHH spokesperson later posted a short interview with people who have been killed in sister. Rest assured that we are While Palestine has earned mittee at a party congress this Cilvegozu, Turkey confi rmed she had arrived at a Bana after her arrival, dressed in Syria’s over fi ve-year war. doing all to get you and thou- representation at the United month, the fi rst Fatah gather- camp for displaced persons in a warm coat and hat against the Tarakji Ahmad, president of sands of others to safety.” Nations, eff orts to stall Israel’s ing in seven years - a refl ection Syria’s Idlib province neigh- winter chill. Syrian American Medical Soci- Cavusoglu said yesterday that settlement building on occu- of the diffi culty of convening even-year-old Bana al- bouring Aleppo. “In Aleppo the shelling was ety, also posted a picture of Bana, a total of 20,000 people had been pied land have failed, and the delegates from around the Abed, whose Twitter ac- Turkish Foreign all over the place. We got with an aid worker. evacuated so far and eff orts were economy struggles. world and the lack of issues to Scount has off ered a tragic Minister Mevlut out from the ruins be- “@AlabedBana and many continuing. Dahlan, who frequently as- discuss. account of the war in Syria, was Cavusoplu – who cause our house was children arrived to #Aleppo Turkey is hosting some sails Abbas’s leadership from The four-day meeting re- evacuated from the divided Syr- had already inter- bombed,” she said countryside.@sams_usa@ 2.7mn refugees from the Syria his self-imposed exile in Abu affi rmed Abbas, 81, as party ian city of Aleppo yesterday and acted with Bana on shyly in Arabic, before UOSSM and partners are co- conflict but has made clear it Dhabi, was tried, convicted chairman. was set to be brought into Tur- Twitter – said later turning towards her ordinating the response plan now prefers to look after those and sentenced in absentia. In the run-up to the con- key, Turkish offi cials and aid that she would be mother. there.” recently displaced, who are not He has dismissed the sen- gress, Dahlan spoke critically workers said. brought to Turkey Bana’s account In her last tweet with her injured, on the Syrian side of tence as politically motivated of Abbas’s leadership and The young Syrian girl is one with her family, the has posted pictures mother Fatemah before the the border. and “ordered by Abbas”. urged his supporters to oppose of thousands of people evacu- state-run Anadolu of the destruction evacuation, Bana made an ap- However it makes exceptions All fi ve of those who had him. ated from once rebel-held areas news agency said. in Aleppo includ- peal to Turkish President Recep for special cases and the wounded. their immunity from prosecu- It was seen as an attempt to of Aleppo in the last days under For her 330,000 ing her rubble- Tayyip Erdogan and Cavusoglu The Islamic charity IHH is tion revoked are regarded as undermine Abbas’s rule rather a deal brokered by Turkey and followers, Bana littered street, to put a fragile ceasefi re back on playing a large role in the trans- allies or associates of Dahlan. than unseat him, and position Russia. is a symbol of while people track after frequent delays. port of aid for Aleppo as well as Hassan al-Awri, Abbas’s le- Dahlan or his allies to take over “This morning @AlabedBana the tragedy have tweeted “Dear @MevlutCavusoglu the transfer of evacuated Syrians gal adviser, said the attorney if Abbas dies or loses when the was also rescued from #Aleppo unfolding in messages of & @RT_Erdogan please please into camps in Idlib province near general had asked Abbas to next elections are held. with her family. We warmly wel- Syria, al- support and please make this ceasefi re work the Turkish border. Gunmen planned wider attacks: Jordan

Reuters Amman

our gunmen who shot dead nine people in Jordan yester- Fday had stored suicide vests and other weapons that indicated they planned wider attacks across the country, Interior Minister Salamah Hamad said. Jordanian security forces said they had killed four “terrorist out- laws” after fl ushing them out of a Crusader castle in the southern city of Karak. They had holed up there after killing a Canadian woman, three other civilians and fi ve police of- fi cers. “This was a big terrorist opera- tion but we are still in the stage of follow-up of information that relates to it,” Hamad told a news conference yesterday. Authorities have yet to say if the attack, unusual for Jordan, was Mourners carry a picture of Lieutenant Colonel Saed Mayateh, who was killed during an attack during his funeral in the city of Karak in Jordan yesterday. driven by Islamist militancy, tribal grievances or some other cause. prived outlying rural and desert The gunmen had fl ed to Karak tinuing and disclosing details at 2011, but maintains a high level of Jordan is an ally of Washington areas. after an exchange of fi re with the this stage could hamper national vigilance. and one of the Arab states that Hamad said at least fi ve suicide police, Hamad said. security. Last November three US military have taken part in a US-led air belts were found, together with Based on the quantities of The security forces were able to trainers were shot dead when their campaign against Islamic State in an ammunition store, automatic explosives and weapons, “I release around 10 tourists. car was fi red on by a Jordanian army Syria. guns and explosives in a hideout in don’t think the target was just At least 30 people were taken to member at the gate of a military base. But many Jordanians oppose a house in the desert town of Qat- Karak castle, it’s more,” he hospital. Washington disputed the of- their country’s involvement, and ranah, 30km northeast of Karak. added. Jordan has been relatively un- fi cial Jordanian version that they officials worry about the poten- Many tribal residents in the re- He gave no details on the iden- scathed by the uprisings, civil were shot at for failing to stop, and tial for radicalisation, especially gion are heavily armed and have tity or nationality of the attackers, wars and Islamist militancy that said it did not rule out political in poor urban centres and de- long resisted state authority. saying investigations were con- have swept the Middle East since motives. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 20, 2016 9 AFRICA

Seven dead, including S African peacekeeper in eastern Congo city Five rebels, a South African peacekeeper and a policeman were killed yesterday when mi- litia fighters attacked the city of Protesters and soldiers Butembo in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, UN and police sources said. The clashes between police and militia fighters, who attacked the prison in Butembo, a city of around 1mn people in troubled North Kivu province, came amid out on streets of Congo rising tension across the country as President Joseph Kabila’s Reuters mandate runs out. Kinshasa “Around 6am (0400 GMT), the assailants, who were likely Mai- Mai fighters, launched an attack rotesters gathered in Dem- against the prison and other ocratic Republic of the places,” said the spokesman for PCongo’s capital and at least the UN’s MONUSCO peacekeep- one other city yesterday amid ing force, Felix-Prosper Basse. a heavy military presence be- Mai-Mai militia have staged sev- fore protests due once President eral attacks in Butembo in recent Joseph Kabila’s mandate runs out months and though the reasons at midnight. for their return appear unclear, Hundreds of anti-Kabila some residents say they have demonstrators defi ed a ban on heard some fighters claim they marches against the president’s are seeking to oust Kabila. plans to stay in offi ce past the end The country was due to hold a of his term. presidential election this year as Security forces blocked access Kabila’s mandate ends Decem- to Kinshasa University, facing off Demonstrators in Brussels chant slogans against Kabila’s plan to stay ber 20, but the authorities failed against groups waving red cards in off ice past the end of his term. to organise the polls and there is saying “Bye, bye Kabila” as time widespread fear of protests and ticked down to midnight. Opposition activists have ac- deployed nearby in the capital, an violence. Militia fi ghters raided a jail in cused Kabila of trying to cling to opposition stronghold of 12mn Kabila is barred from a third eastern Congo’s Butembo try- power by letting his term run out people. mandate under the constitution ing to free prisoners, triggering without an election to choose the Shops shut in other parts of and the opposition has accused clashes that killed a South Afri- next leader of the Congo, which Kinshasa, where streets were the authorities of delaying the can UN peacekeeper and a police has not witnessed a peaceful largely empty. vote in the hope of reworking offi cer. change of power since independ- At least 80 protesters were the constitution to extend his Seven attackers were also ence in 1960. arrested in the eastern city of A man is arrested by a member of the military police after people attempted to block the road with rocks, tenure. killed, Kabila’s chief diplomat “Kabila’s mandate fi nishes at Goma, the UN human rights of- in the neighbourhood of Majengo in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Barnabe Kikaya told a news con- 11.59pm ... tomorrow (Tuesday) fi ce in the Congo said, mostly ac- ference in Kinshasa (see accom- it will be chaos,” said Hugue Il- tivists who were simply wearing opposition activist Franc Diongo cal and fi nancial problems for The constitutional court has aster” in a speech at the United panying report). unga, 21, as dozens of soldiers red shirts, an opposition colour. in Kinshasa, Kikaya said, after the delay in the vote, currently also ruled that Kabila, leader States Institute of Peace. Police said nine opposition Diongo’s private guards beat up scheduled for April 2018. since his father was assassinated Youth activists say that they demonstrators were detained. three of them. Some opposition leaders in 2001, can stay on. have taken inspiration from Kabila’s elite Republican The government and elections agreed Kabila can remain in of- But the main opposition bloc Burkina Faso in West Africa, Guard also arrested prominent offi cials have blamed logisti- fi ce until then. rejects the deal as a ploy, though where protests ousted Blaise it said it would not call protests. Compaore in 2014 as he was try- Talks mediated by the Roman ing to extend his 27-year rule. Catholic church failed to reach a As in Burkina, protests in the compromise. Congo are in part driven by eco- “Joseph Kabila will remain in nomic desperation. offi ce tomorrow,” Kikaya said. The Congo is Africa’s biggest Authorities have blocked most miner of copper and metals used social media and outlawed pro- in gadgets, like cobalt and coltan, tests in Kinshasa, raising fears of but a slowdown linked to falls in more violence in a nation that has commodity prices has triggered been plagued by war and insta- steep budget cuts and a 30% fall bility for two decades since the in the Congolese franc. fall of kleptocrat Mobutu Sese The country of 70mn people Seko. and more than 200 ethnic groups Diplomats fear any escala- is fragmented, though. tion could trigger a confl ict like Previous protests achieved lit- the 1996 to 2003 wars that killed tle. millions, sucked in neighbour- Former colonial master Bel- ing armies and saw armed groups gium advised its citizens to leave. clash over the Congo’s mineral The US warned against non- wealth and use of mass rape as a essential travel, telling expatri- strategic weapon. ates who remain to stay indoors. US Great Lakes envoy Tom Outside the Congo, South Af- Perriello on Thursday called Ka- rican police used stun grenades bila’s hanging on “an entirely to disperse anti-Kabila protest- Kabila: accused of trying to extend his 27-year rule. A normally-busy street in Kinshasa is mostly deserted yesterday. unnecessary fl irtation with dis- ers in Cape Town.

Six die in central AU armoured vehicle ploughs into Somali home Nigeria violence Five civilians were killed in Somalia when an village near the southern port of Merca late armoured vehicle operated by African Union on Sunday. At least six people were killed Kenya shuts down US peacekeepers hit a home, off icials said. The victims included a mother and her four in an eruption of communal The vehicle was retreating from the scene children, said Ibrahim Aden Najah, governor violence at the weekend of a landmine explosion in El-Wareegow of the Lower Shebelle region. between herders and farmers in central Nigeria, police told AFP yesterday. poll assistance NGO The violence was sparked on Saturday after the body of a herder, who had been robbed of AFP President Uhuru Kenyatta last electoral dispute resolution and the his motorcycle, was found in a Nairobi week issued a warning to foreign transmission and verifi cation of village in eastern Taraba state, countries who he accused of want- election results. the region’s police commissioner ing to infl uence the 2017 polls by Kenyatta is seeking a second term Yunana Yakubu Babas said. enyan authorities have or- funding civil society organisations. in offi ce in the August 8 presidential “The kinsmen of the deceased dered the shutdown of an “There is already money coming election. attacked the (farmers) with KAmerican NGO working on from abroad in the guise of promot- Early campaigning has already guns whom they accused of the programmes related to the coun- ing good governance or civic educa- seen politicians urging Kenyans to killing,” he said. try’s 2017 presidential election, ac- tion, however it’s true intention is shy away from the political tribal- The violence has forced hundreds cording to a letter seen by AFP. to infl uence our electoral choice,” ism that led to deadly violence in of residents to flee their homes, The missive from the ministry of he said. “I urge all Kenyans to reject 2007-08 polls that left over 1,200 according to local media reports, devolution and planning ordered such interference, this is our coun- dead. which also gave higher death the International Foundation for try and no one should ever control However, inevitably, ethnic affi li- tolls. Electoral Systems (IFES) to im- our choices for their own selfi sh in- ations will play a key role in voting, Fulani herders had accused mediately stop its $20mn (€19mn) terest.” and observers are keen to avoid a re- members of the Tiv farming electoral assistance programme, as According to its website, IFES, play of the crisis. community of banditry resulting it was not registered as an NGO in which is funded by the United Polls in 2013 were peaceful, but in loss of life and earnings, Babas Kenya. States Agency for International fl awed, with a host of hi-tech safe- said. It also said all foreigners work- Development (USAID) is involved guards – including a biometric “Calm has been restored and we ing for IFES had not obtained work in a programme to “strengthen key voter registration system – failing have been holding reconciliatory permits, and were considered to be electoral institutions, improve citi- on the day. meetings between the Fulani and working in the country illegally. zen participation in the full elec- Kenya’s election commission, Tiv community leaders on how to “The purpose of this communi- toral process, and promote dialogue accused of bias and corruption, re- bring an end to such incidents in cation therefore is to direct (IFES) and consensus-building to mitigate signed in October after violent op- the area,” he added. to immediately cease all operations confl ict”. position-led protests. Deadly violence between herders in the country ... until such time To do this the NGO seeks out local Interviews are currently under and farmers is common in that IFES shall acquire a certifi cate partners to improve issues related to way for new election commission- Nigeria. of registration,” read the letter. voter registration, voter education, ers.

Last board member resigns from scandal-hit SABC

Reuters ing by a cross-party panel of MPs of violent protests ahead of August tions of mismanagement of South Johannesburg last week, had been the sole board elections in which the ruling African African public bodies. member following the resignation National Congress (ANC) lost con- Communications Minister Faith of his colleagues this year in the trol of three cities. Muthambi denied last week that she he last board member at wake of a string of scandals. A court ruled this month that had tried to get the SABC to sup- South Africa’s state broad- The SABC is the primary news former SABC chief operating of- press news of protests and discon- Tcaster, the SABC, has quit source for South Africa’s 54mn peo- fi cer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, who in- tent, when she testifi ed to the inves- after a parliamentary investigation ple but has been mired in contro- troduced the ban on airing violent tigation. into the board’s failure to look into versy throughout most of President protest footage, should not hold In its statement, Zuma’s offi ce allegations of misspending and cen- Jacob Zuma’s seven years in offi ce. any position at the broadcaster and gave no reason for Maguvhe’s deci- sorship, the presidency said yester- At the parliamentary inquiry, barred him from the premises. sion. day. journalists spoke of an unoffi cial The court ruling was one of the The parliamentary inquiry is due Professor Mbulaheni Maguvhe, SABC focus on “sunshine news” latest examples of an ally of Zuma to deliver its fi ndings at the end of who was subjected to stiff question- that included a ban on airing footage being called to account for allega- February. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, December 20, 2016 AMERICAS Convicted wife-killer seeks money from account

Tribune News Service more than $128mn to the estate he is released in the second week an attorney for Ellen Gregory Robb pleaded guilty to man- Robb attempted to stage a rob- Robb’s plans once he is re- Philadelphia of his wife, Ellen Gregory Robb. of January, according to a court Robb’s family, wrote in a court slaughter in 2007. He told a judge bery scene as a cover-up at the leased are not disclosed in his That amount – awarded by a motion fi led by his attorney. fi ling last month. He said Robb he “lost it” when he began fi ght- home in Montgomery County court fi ling seeking $100,000, jury after a 2014 civil trial – would Montgomery county judge had previously concealed some ing with his wife over her holiday township, before he was charged which his attorney said would afael Robb, a former Uni- go to the couple’s daughter, who Thomas M DelRicci has sched- assets that he was required to re- plans. with fi rst- and third-degree cover his expenses for a year. versity of Pennsylvania was 12 when her mother died. uled a hearing on Robb’s request port to the court. His wife’s family says he had a murder. He pleaded guilty as his “Should the court not con- Rprofessor and leading Robb’s assets remain frozen as today. Robb also “has a history of history of manipulative and abu- trial was to begin in 2007. sider the release of these funds, scholar in game theory, will he appeals a judge’s ruling that Ellen Gregory Robb’s relatives, transferring assets internation- sive behaviour. They argued at Ellen Gregory Robb’s family (Robb) will have no other option complete a 10-year prison sen- nearly $2.8mn in retirement as- who say he attempted to manip- ally,” Mongeluzzi wrote, includ- the 2014 civil trial that the kill- successfully argued for the pa- but to fall back on the taxpayers tence for killing his wife that rel- sets are not exempt from going ulate his daughter from prison ing sending more than $250,000 ing was premeditated. role board to reverse its decision for public assistance and public atives of the victim considered to his wife’s estate. by threatening to withhold fi - to his sister in Israel years ago - a His wife had met with a di- to release him before the end of housing to sustain his life and far too lenient. Now, Robb wants $100,000 re- nancial support, oppose his re- transfer he acknowledged during vorce lawyer and was planning to his 10-year sentence. Their ef- needs into his later years,” his One thing Robb will need upon leased to him “for the purposes of quest for release of the money. a deposition. take her daughter out of state to forts included the passage of lawyer, Eric Levin, wrote in a his release, he says, is money. But rent, furnishings, clothing, food, Robb “has considered himself Attorneys for the family are see relatives for the holidays and state legislation that allows vic- court fi ling. Levin did not return he has to ask a judge for access utilities, phone ... and other like above the law with respect to seeking to question Robb again her 50th birthday when she was tims’ families to meet with the a message left last week. Robb is to his money, because he owes necessary items of living” once his assets,” Robert Mongeluzzi, to learn about his other assets. killed on December 22, 2006. parole board. 66. California gun sales soar as new curbs to come into eff ect

Tribune News Service the state has more than doubled Los Angeles over past year, according to the state department of justice. In the less than six months alifornia governor Jer- since the July 1 signing of the ry Brown’s approval of rifl e ban, 257,895 semiautomat- Cwide-ranging gun con- ic rifl es have been purchased, trol legislation in July has trig- eclipsing the 153,931 rifl e pur- gered a run on fi rearms in the chases reported to the state in all state, with some stores reporting of 2015, the state agency said. sales have doubled since then. Purchases of all fi rearms, in- Starting January 1, the gen- cluding handguns, have jumped eral public in California can no 40% over last year, to nearly 1mn longer buy semiautomatic rifl es this year, according to the state equipped with bullet-buttons agency. that allow for the quick removal “We expected this,” said Sam and replacement of ammunition Paredes, executive director of magazines. Gun Owners of California. “Any Guns purchased before Janu- time the government comes up Opponents of US president-elect Donald Trump demonstrate outside the North Carolina State Capitol building before the state’s electors meet to cast their electoral college ary 1 can be kept as long as the with a ban on guns, the public presidential ballots in Raleigh, North Carolina, yesterday. owners register them with the rushes to buy them to make sure state as assault weapons. they have at least one.” The state legislature approved “Any time the government the new gun control measures comes up with a ban on this year in response to mass guns, the public rushes to shootings around the nation. buy them to make sure they The new law was also in re- have at least one” sponse to a terrorist shooting in San Bernardino last year in Democrats plan Senate As a result, sales of the long which weapons, including AR-15 guns have at least doubled at rifl es, were used to kill 14 people many California gun stores, at a holiday party. owners report. Customers who are buying the “When Brown signed that bill, guns are as upset as store own- the fi rst 30 days in July were just ers, according to Pete Brown, the insane,” said Joshua Deaser, the retail sales manager at American gantlet for Trump picks owner of Just Guns, a store in Gun Works in Glendale, where Sacramento. “It died down for a he said sales are “way up.” Tribune News Service “I’m inundated, inundated priorities such as repealing hearings in committee and in ocrats hold together in opposi- while but now we are back with “People are angry,” Brown said. Washington – nominee after nominee – by Obamacare. debate on the Senate fl oor. tion. But moderate Democrats everyone trying to get what they “They are angry with the legisla- people in Michigan who are “Unless there’s some infor- Among the particularly con- in states that Trump won who can before the end of the year.” ture because (the law) doesn’t concerned,” said Debbie Stabe- mation that comes out in the tentious picks so far are Exxon face re-election in 2018 will face Terry McGuire, owner of the address crime. Nothing in the law emocratic senators know now of Michigan, a member of hearings that isn’t currently Mobil Corp CEO Rex Tillerson, extra pressure to go along with Get Loaded gun store in Grand addresses criminals. It’s another they probably can’t the party’s leadership. “It goes known, I think they’ll all be who was awarded a friendship the president-elect’s choices. Terrace, said people are clam- way of cutting back on what’s Dblock Donald Trump’s on and on and on.” confi rmed,” said Roy Blunt of medal in 2013 by Russian Presi- Joe Manchin of West Virginia, ouring to buy semiautomatic available to law abiding citizens, Cabinet picks, but they plan to No Republicans, however, Missouri, a member of the Re- dent Vladimir Putin, at state; for example, has already sig- rifl es this month, because the and that’s why they are angry.” force lengthy debate on nomi- have yet come out against publican leadership. former Goldman Sachs Group nalled his general intent to vote state background check process Alex Lopez, the owner of nees they consider radical – po- Trump’s picks, and Democrats This leaves Democrats trying Inc. banker Steven Mnuchin for Trump’s nominees. takes about 10 days. Western Firearms in Bell, con- tentially stretching well beyond cannot block a nominee with- to fi gure out how hard to fi ght to run treasury, and longtime Tillerson faces the toughest “We have people lined up out- fi rmed that gun buyers don’t like Inauguration Day. out Republican help. That’s be- Trump’s most controversial Medicare privatisation advocate road so far, says Kentucky Re- side the door and around the the direction the new laws are While the Senate tradition- cause they eff ectively changed nominees. They’re likely to lose and Obamacare foe Representa- publican senator Rand Paul, John block,” McGuire said. State offi - taking the state. ally gives presidents signifi cant the rules to bar fi libusters of all of the battles, but senators tive Tom Price to head health McCain of Arizona, Marco Ru- cials confi rmed there has been a “They can’t fi gure out how leeway to choose their own executive-branch nominations see an opportunity to highlight and human services. bio of Florida and Lindsey Gra- surge in gun sales. this is going to aff ect criminals team, many of Trump’s picks in 2013. Democrats can drag out where Trump’s picks stray fur- Three Republicans would ham of South Carolina have all The number of semiautomatic from getting access to fi rearms,” have liberal groups howling in the process, though, while Re- thest from his populist cam- need to join with Democrats to expressed skepticism about the rifl es registered this year with Lopez said. protest. publicans seek to address other paign message - both in lengthy block a nominee if all the Dem- Exxon chief’s close ties to Putin. Hollywood actress Plant visit Uber driver kills would-be robber

Zsa Zsa Gabor dies Tribune News Service Lehman Causeway. A man Miami emerged with two handguns drawn, ready to rob the Uber AFP famous for her marriages as her achieved greater acting success driver. Los Angeles triumphs on the silver screen. in the US than her sister for her n Uber driver, con- But then the Uber driver drew Like her famous great-grand- role in the 1960s hit television fronted by a robber who his own weapon, Goranitis said. daughter by marriage Paris series Green Acres. Ahad a pair of guns, shot Four shots later, the robber was sa Zsa Gabor, the Hungar- Hilton, Gabor was among the Zsa Zsa also came to be known the man dead next to a cause- dead on the scene. The accom- ian-born Hollywood siren fi rst celebrities to be famous for for her love of diamonds and fre- way near a shopping mall in plice sped away in the Dodge Zperhaps better known for her celebrity. quently was photographed drip- Aventura, police said. Caravan. The Caravan was later her prodigious love life than her Her thick Hungarian accent ping in the sparkling gems. The driver, who wasn’t im- recovered by police. movie credits, died on Sunday, was much parodied — especially During her many marriages mediately identifi ed, was not Police interviewed the Uber her husband said. She was 99. her penchant for calling eve- and a prodigious number of af- hurt in the violent robbery driver, who had a permit to An emotional Frederic von ryone she met “darling” — or fairs that made her a fi xture in attempt next to the Lehman carry a gun, but charges are Anhalt said Gabor had passed “dahlink” as she pronounced it. America’s gossip magazines, she Causeway, according to Aven- unlikely, police said. away at home, after suff ering It became her unique signature. had just one child — a daugh- tura police. According to Uber’s web- a heart attack, surrounded by “I call everyone ‘dahlink’ be- ter Francesca, fathered by hotel A passenger inside the Uber, site, the company prohibits friends and family. cause I can’t remember their magnate Conrad Hilton. who was heading to the Fort “riders and drivers from car- “Everybody was there. She names,” the socialite once said. Francesca died early last year Lauderdale-Hollywood Inter- rying fi rearms of any kind in a didn’t die alone,” he said choking Fellow actress Barbara Eden from a heart attack. She had national Airport, also was not vehicle while using our app.” back sobs. The pair married in paid tribute to the star. “Rest in been feuding with Gabor’s hus- harmed. Violators could lose access 1986, making it by far the long- peace Zsa Zsa Gabor. She and her band for years, who kept her One other suspect escaped. to Uber, the policy indicates. est of her nine marriages. sisters were lovely ladies who away from her famous mother. Detectives were talking to Over the past month, sev- Gabor, who in her heyday em- were always fun and delightful to Her romantic scorecard was a “person of interest,” police eral victims in South Florida bodied the fi lm industry’s plati- be around,” Eden wrote on Twit- a “Who’s Who” of Hollywood confi rmed. have pulled guns on robbery num blonde ideal, was a voluptu- ter. heartthrobs of her day, and her The deadly encounter at the suspects and shot them. ous former beauty queen with a Born in Hungary on Febru- kiss-and-tell book detailed ro- causeway started shortly af- In November, a resident penchant for lame gowns that ac- ary 6, 1917, as Sari Gabor, Zsa mances with screen legends ter the Uber driver picked up a heard banging on his front centuated her hourglass curves. Zsa was one of a trio of ravishing Sean Connery and Frank Sinatra. passenger in a black Toyota Co- door in Northeast Miami- Her resume includes a long sisters known for their shapely Gabor was known to be picky, rolla, Aventura police spokes- Dade. He fi red twice through list of fi lm roles in such hit mov- curves and passion for well- however, spurning the advances Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks after a tour man Chris Goranitis said. the door, killing a man on the ies as Moulin Rouge, Lili and Ar- heeled men. of John F Kennedy, Elvis Presley, of smartphone firm BlackBerry’s QNX facility in Ottawa A Dodge Caravan minivan other side, as his wife and two rivederci Baby! Her sisters were Magda, and John Huston and Henry Fonda, yesterday. cut off the Uber on the west- young sons remained inside But the actress was at least as Hollywood star Eva Gabor, who she wrote in her autobiography. bound access road next to the the home. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 20, 2016 11 ASEAN Santa’s surfing lessons Indonesian police vow crackdown on vigilantes

AFP hardliners to rally outside malls Jakarta in Indonesia’s second-largest city Surabaya at the weekend, earning a sharp rebuke from po- ndonesia’s police chief lice chief Tito Karnavian. vowed yesterday to crack “I have ordered my offi cers to Idown on any vigilantes try- arrest those doing sweeps in an ing to enforce religious rulings anarchic fashion, because it is a before Christmas, saying reli- violation of the law,” he told re- gious edicts do not amount to porters. law in the nation. He also reprimanded two po- His remarks came as religious lice units caught passing on the hardliners attempted to stop re- ruling to their offi cers, telling tail workers from wearing Santa them fatwas “are not a reference hats inside malls, saying the fes- for positive law”. tive garb is against their religion. The Islamic Defenders Front Indonesia’s highest religious (FPI), the prominent group be- council issued a fatwa — or reli- hind the weekend’s action, de- gious edict — making it sinful for fended its conduct. businesses to force their non- The FPI has urged followers on Christian staff to wear Christ- social media to report any cases mas attire. of non-Christians being forced The ruling inspired dozens of to wear Christmas attire.

A surfing instructor dressed as Santa Claus gives a lesson to orphans on Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia yesterday in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Myanmar faces pressure over Rohingya crisis

AFP its workers from going to the Yangon country. Suu Kyi also held talks with mainly Muslim Indonesia this alaysia’s top diplomat month after cancelling a visit turned the screws on following protests and an at- Protesters from the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) demonstrate outside MAung San Suu Kyi at tempted attack on the Myanmar a shopping mall in Surabaya, in a rally to stop retail workers from emergency talks in Myanmar embassy. wearing Santa hats inside malls. yesterday, warning that an army At yesterday’s talks ministers crackdown on the Rohingya warned of the risk of a “spillo- minority could spark a regional ver eff ect on Myanmar’s neigh- migrant crisis. bours in terms of security and More than 27,000 Muslim stability” from the Rakhine vio- Rohingya have fl ed northwest- lence, a diplomat said. Thai cops believe diver ern Myanmar for Bangladesh Ministers also took aim at since the start of November to Nobel laureate Suu Kyi for not escape a military counter-in- doing more to rein in the mili- with slit throat is Russian surgency operation. tary, which still has a quarter of Myanmar’s army says it is parliament seats and controls hunting militants behind deadly key levers of power in her elect- AFP colonel Apichai Krobpetch said. raids on police posts in October. ed government. Bangkok “We believe he could be Rus- But Rohingya survivors have “Her hands are tied because sian...there are witnesses who described rape, murder and ar- of the military, but she has to said they heard him earlier son at the hands of soldiers — shoulder her responsibility as diver found with his speaking Russian,” he said, add- accounts that have raised global Indonesia Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi walk after they a leader of Myanmar,” said the throat slashed and tied to ing they were seeking consular alarm and galvanised protests attended the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the Rohingya issue in Sedona hotel at Yangon yesterday. diplomat, who asked not to be Aa post in the middle of the help to identify the man. around Southeast Asia. named. sea near a seedy Thai beach re- Koh Larn is a short boat ride The exodus has sparked a rare down area, where more than causes of this problem.” Yes- The latest crackdown in My- Suu Kyi has pleaded for time sort may be Russian, police said from Pattaya — a town located a dispute within the Associa- 130,000 people have been with- terday, Amnesty International anmar’s Rakhine state has gen- and international understand- yesterday. few hours south of Bangkok and tion of Southeast Asian Nations out aid for two months. joined the condemnation, say- erated a fresh wave of public ing over the incendiary issue. The body, in a full wetsuit and notorious for its go-go bars and (Asean), the 10-member bloc He warned the crackdown ing the army’s “widespread and anger, particularly in Malaysia, The Rohingya are reviled in fl ippers, was found on Friday links with organised crime. that prides itself on consensus could trigger a repeat of last systematic attack on a civilian where tens of thousands of Ro- Buddhist-majority Myanmar, tethered to a mooring post doz- The town is popular with Rus- diplomacy and non-interfer- year’s boat crisis, when thou- population” may amount to hingya eke out lives as undocu- denied citizenship and widely ens of metres out to sea off Koh sian holidaymakers, who are ence. sands of starving Rohingya were crimes against humanity. mented workers. tagged as “Bengalis” — or il- Larn — an island near the sleazy, met with Russian-speaking staff Yesterday, Asean foreign abandoned at sea by traffi ckers Myanmar’s more than 1mn This month Malaysian Prime legal immigrants from Bang- crime-ridden beach town of in some hotels and menus and ministers held talks in Yangon as they tried to fl ee southwards Rohingya have been described Minister Najib Razak accused ladesh. Pattaya. street signs written in their lan- on the crisis. to Malaysia. as among the most persecuted Suu Kyi of allowing “genocide” In a statement after yester- The macabre case has baffl ed guage. Muslim-majority Malay- “We believe that the situation people in the world. on her watch — an unusually day’s meeting Suu Kyi said talks detectives who say they are un- But its permissive atmosphere sia called for an independent is now of a regional concern and More than 120,000 were strong rebuke by one Asean were “candid and transpar- able to ascertain how he died. and sprawling red light district Asean-led investigation into should be resolved together,” he driven by bloody sectarian state of another. ent” but also “emphasised the “The initial autopsy found his also hides a dark side. the allegations of army abuse. told the meeting, according to a clashes in 2012 into displace- Myanmar, which has vehe- importance of strengthening throat was slashed...but the fo- Pattaya is infamous as a bolt- Foreign Minister Anifah statement from Kuala Lumpur. ment camps, where they live in mently denied the allegations of Asean unity and resolving the rensic doctor said it could have hole for criminals from across Aman also urged full humani- “Myanmar must do more conditions many have likened abuse, angrily summoned Ma- diff erences between Asean fam- happened by suicide or by some- the world, including Russian un- tarian access to the locked- in trying to address the root to apartheid. laysia’s ambassador and banned ily members”. one cutting him,” Pattaya police derworld fi gures.

Floods kill 24 in Vietnam, more rains expected Rainbow snake, tiny frog among new Mekong species

Days of unseasonably torrential AFP covered species are protected.” rains have killed at least 24 peo- Bangkok The Greater Mekong region ple in central Vietnam, authorities — which includes southwest- said yesterday, inundating ern China, Vietnam, Cambodia, swathes of the region including rainbow-headed snake, a Laos, Thailand and Myanmar — the tourist draw town of Hoi An. tiny frog and a lizard with is under intense pressure from Vietnam regularly experi- Adragon-like horns are dam and road building as well as ences tropical storms and heavy among more than 150 new spe- a thriving illegal wildlife trade, downpours but it is unusual for cies confi rmed by scientists last much of it centred around the the country to see so much rain year in the ecologically diverse lawless Golden Triangle area in December, during the cooler but threatened Mekong region, where the latter three meet. dry season that is popular with researchers said yesterday. “Many collectors are willing tourists. Winding its way from the to pay thousands of dollars or Coastal Binh Dinh province Tibetan plateau through the more for the rarest, most unique reported the biggest death toll mountains and jungles of and most endangered species,” with 16 people killed since heavy Southeast Asia, the Mekong riv- Borah said. rains began on December 12, er helps sustain one of the most In total, scientists described according to an off icial online diverse regions on the planet. 163 new species in 2015 in- This handout from the WWF released yesterday shows a new species report from the national flood Each year scientists an- This handout from the WWF and released yesterday shows a new cluding nine amphibians, three of snake called parafimbrios lao in Laos. and storm control committee. nounce new species, after an species of frog called the leptolalax isos in Virachey National Park, mammals, 11 fi sh, 14 reptiles At least two more are missing in often lengthy identifi cation Cambodia. and 126 plants. Among the most development in recent decades, anguliceps) with dazzling red the province with hundreds of process, highlighting how much eye-catching are parafi mbrios scientists found a lizard (acan- and black markings that they houses in remote areas currently more there is to learn about the where rule of law is notoriously the incredible diversity of species lao, a snake found in the lime- thosaura phuketensis) with likened to a Klingon’s head from under water. The report said region. shaky and wildlife smuggling that continue to be discovered stone karsts of northern Laos a fearsome-looking ridge of the Star Trek franchise. damage totalled $32mn with But there are fears many spe- rampant. here,” Jimmy Borah, from WWF’s whose scales refl ect rainbow- horns down its head and back. In Cambodia and Vietnam, a more than 32,000 hectares of cies may die out before even be- “The Greater Mekong region Greater Mekong team said. like colours around its head. And in the country’s northern new frog species that could fi t crops destroyed. ing discovered in an area of the is a magnet for the world’s con- “They are racing against time On the Thai tourist island of Chiang Rai province research- on a fi nger tip was also discov- world that is rapidly developing, servation scientists because of to ensure that these newly dis- Phuket, which has seen huge ers found a newt (tylototriton ered. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, December 20, 2016 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA China rejects Trump claim that it stole US drone

AFP drone would be returned, Trump She gave no further details. on Saturday, Trump also accused next to a cartoon that depicted has close ties to the ruling Com- Lorenzana said Manila had been Beijing tweeted: “We should tell China The Pentagon said on Friday Beijing of theft. Trump riding a bull into a china munist Party, said. unaware of the presence of the that we don’t want the drone that a Chinese naval vessel “un- “China steals United States shop while US businessmen There are broader tensions in drone, adding the incident in- they stole back. Let them keep lawfully” grabbed the unmanned Navy research drone in interna- looked on aghast. the South China Sea, where Chi- creased chances of miscalcula- hina has rejected US it!” underwater vehicle around 50 tional waters? Rips it out of water A separate article quoted ex- na has moved to fortify its claims tions that could lead to “open President-elect Donald Trump’s accusation that China nautical miles northwest of Subic and takes it to China in unpresi- perts as calling Trump’s behav- to the region by expanding tiny confrontation”. CTrump’s claim that it had had stolen the drone was “not Bay in the Philippines. dented (sic) act,” he wrote. iour “diplomatically inept”. reefs and islets into artifi cial is- “This incident in our Exclusive “stolen” an American research accurate”, said foreign ministry China said the drone had been The state-owned China Daily Trump has already infuri- lands hosting military facilities. Economic Zone and very near our drone, as state media said his spokeswoman Hua Chunying. snatched since it might pose a rejected the claim in an editorial. ated Beijing by questioning long- Brunei, Malaysia, the Philip- territorial waters is very trou- diplomatic inexperience could “Imagine that you found safety hazard to other vessels. “What is truly amazing about standing US policy on Taiwan, pines, Vietnam and Taiwan have bling,” Lorenzana said in a state- spark a confrontation between something on the street – you It also said it “strongly op- this tweet, was the soon-to-be calling Beijing a currency manip- competing claims in the water- ment yesterday. the two nations. would need to fi rst check and posed” US reconnaissance activ- US president completely misrep- ulator and threatening punitive way. While the US takes no position Beijing’s seizure of the marine verify it before handing it back to ities and had asked Washington resented what had actually hap- tariff s on Chinese imports. The Philippines described the on sovereignty claims in South probe in international waters in someone else,” she told a regular to stop them. pened – that is more dangerous “Trump is not behaving as latest incident as troubling and China Sea, it has repeatedly the South China Sea raised ten- press conference. The US said the device was than funny,” it said. a president who will become said it might require its US ally stressed freedom of navigation. sions between the world’s two Hua said both sides are in “com- collecting information on water Trump’s behaviour “could master of the White House in a to inform it about what it called Its military has conducted sev- largest military powers. munication through military temperatures, salinity and sea easily drive China-US relations month. He bears no sense of how drone movements in Philippine eral operations in which ships On Sunday, after Beijing and channels, and we believe the in- clarity. into what Obama portrays as to lead a superpower,” the often waters. and planes have passed near the Washington announced that the cident will be properly handled”. In an earlier misspelled tweet ‘full-confl ict mode’”, it added, nationalistic Global Times, which Defence Secretary Delfi n sites Beijing claims. Top North Korean North China choking defector to expose ‘gruesome’ reality

AFP Service (NIS) that can last for Seoul months and is aimed at weed- under cloud of smog ing out possible spies. Most are then sent to a re- AFP Yesterday evening – the fourth And the relatively low number Several large hospitals in Tian- The issue is a source of endur- op-ranking North Ko- settlement centre for three Beijing day of the alert which is sched- was just a temporary reprieve, jin saw a surge in the number of ing public anger in China, where rean former diplomat months’ training, after which uled to end tomorrow – Bei- Beijing’s meteorological authori- patients with respiratory diseas- fast economic growth in recent TThae Yong-ho, whose they are free to start new lives jing’s air quality was better than ty told AFP, adding that the worst es such as asthma, according to decades has come at the cost of recent defection gifted a major in South Korean society. ospital visits spiked, feared, with PM 2.5 levels hover- haze would hit the city late in the the People’s Daily. widespread environmental deg- propaganda coup to the South, Thae said that life for high- roads were closed and ing around 200, according to data evening and likely linger until to- A red alert, issued when severe radation. vowed yesterday to devote level offi cials in North Korea Hfl ights cancelled yester- maintained by the US embassy. day. smog is expected to last more Chinese censors, who tightly himself to exposing the cruel- could be extremely insecure, day as China choked under a vast The ministry of environmental In neighbouring Shijiazhuang, than 72 hours, is the highest of control online commentary, were ties of the Pyongyang regime and it was perfectly normal for cloud of toxic smog, with fore- protection claimed anti-pollu- the capital of Hebei province, PM Beijing’s four-tiered, colour- busily removing remarks about and encouraging others to es- their homes to be bugged and casters warning worse was yet to tion measures, such as temporary 2.5 levels stood as high as 701 at coded warning system. the smog from the twitter-like cape. monitored for any hint of dis- come. factory closures and taking half noon, with levels of larger PM 10 In December last year the cap- Weibo social media platform, ac- South Korean lawmakers loyalty. At least 23 cities in the world’s of cars off the roads, accounted particles even higher. ital issued its fi rst-ever red alert cording to the website Freeweibo. who met with Thae in Seoul Lee told Yonhap that Thae most populous nation have is- for the better-than-expected In the port city of Tian- since the adoption of an emer- com, which tracks posts deleted told the Yonhap news agency had confi rmed the execution sued red alerts for air pollution numbers, Xinhua reported late jin, where readings for PM 2.5 gency response programme for from the service. that he had fl eshed out his of North Korea’s then-defence since Friday, according to the of- on Sunday. climbed over 400 early in the air pollution in 2013, despite fre- One of them showed a headline reasons for defecting and tes- minister, Hyon Yong-chol, in fi cial Xinhua news agency. But the fi gure remained eight morning, more than 131 fl ights quent bouts of serious smog. from a March 1999 copy of the tifi ed to the precarious lives 2015. A host of measures have been times the World Health Or- were cancelled and around 75 Most of China’s smog is Communist Party mouthpiece of senior offi cials in the North “The reason Hyon Yong- implemented to protect the pub- ganisation’s daily recommended delayed yesterday morning, ac- blamed on the burning of coal the People’s Daily newspaper and the “capitalist” survival chol was executed was because lic’s health from the smog, which maximum exposure level to the cording to Xinhua. for electricity and heating, which pledging to “absolutely not let techniques of ordinary North he said the wrong things at is smothering almost a ninth of microscopic particles that carry Highways in the city were also spikes when demand peaks in polluted air enter the new cen- Koreans. home,” Thae was quoted as the entire country. major health risks. closed, it said. winter. tury”. Thae was living in London saying. as the deputy ambassador to The NIS had previously sug- Britain when he escaped to the gested Hyon was purged and South with his wife and two executed for dozing off during sons in August – becoming one events presided over by Kim Artist live streams of the highest-ranking diplo- Jong-un. mats ever to defect. Thae also described how The North’s state media many ordinary North Kore- denounced him as “human ans had taken to small-sized Beijing smog to scum”, and accused him of em- market enterprise to help feed bezzling state funds, raping themselves given the failures a minor and spying for South of the state food distribution Korea in exchange for money. system. raise awareness According to lawmaker Lee “Although North Korea is Cheol-woo, Thae said he had under a socialist system, it is become increasingly aware of basically running in a capital- Reuters scenes of smog which he calls “a the “gruesome realities” of ist form,” Thae was quoted as Beijing disaster”. North Korea under leader Kim saying. “Now, rather than re- “As an artist, to discuss it with Jong-un and decided defection lying on the party, people have images is what I think we should was the only option. learned many ways for survival hinese artist Liu Bolin, do,” Liu told Reuters Television. Thae promised to devote his on their own.” known as “the invisible The artist, who is also a sculp- life to “freeing the North Kore- Thae said that more senior Cman” for using painted- tor, has won international recog- an people from repression and offi cials would defect from the on camoufl age to blend into the nition with exhibitions in Asia, persecution”, Lee told Yonhap. North if they were less con- backdrops of his photographs, Europe, the Middle East, the “I will engage in public ac- cerned about making a new life says his latest project aims to put United States and Latin America. tivities even if it threatens my in the South, and urged Seoul the spotlight on China’s air pol- Liu’s previous “Hiding in the own safety,” he quoted Thae as to off er employment and op- lution problem. City” series featured him hid- saying. portunities to encourage more As north China battled with den in plain sight against monu- Intelligence agents who had to escape. poor air quality for a third ments, murals, buildings and Artist Liu Bolin, wearing a vest with 24 mobile phones, walks on a pedestrian bridge in smog as he been debriefi ng Thae since his Rejecting the criminal straight day yesterday, Liu said scenes of daily life in Beijing, broadcasts live the air pollution in Beijing. arrival in Seoul told the law- charges Pyongyang levelled the recent pollution warnings in- Venice, New York and elsewhere. makers that he would be re- against him as “completely spired him to show live video of The invisibility theme was this way of presenting his ideas. when pollution levels are high. “I think this is pretty good. I leased from protective custody untrue”, Thae told the lawmak- the smog in the capital, Beijing. done as a protest against the His latest work is titled Today Some Beijing residents were don’t quite understand his art on Friday. ers that he had balanced out his To do that, Liu walks around demolition of Liu’s studio when Even Numbers Banned, a refer- puzzled by the sight of Liu and form, but his work can make For all North Korean defec- embassy account and taken a wearing an orange vest with 24 authorities razed an artists’ vil- ence to Beijing’s odd-even li- his smartphone vest, but they more people know about smog in tors, life in the South begins photo as proof in anticipation smartphones attached on the lage in Beijing. cence plate system for restricting approved of his eff orts to raise Beijing, right?” 27-year-old Xu with intensive interrogation of future embezzlement alle- front and back, live-streaming But then he fell in love with the number of vehicles on roads awareness of the smog problem. Chenglong remarked. by the National Intelligence gations.

Snake found in President Park’s confi dante denies charges as trial begins Christmas tree An Australian woman has found a snake curled up among the ornaments on her Christmas tree Reuters Court up to 180 days to uphold lowing Park’s orders. said in the opinion seen by Reu- at her home in Melbourne. Seoul or overturn the decision. Choi also said she did not ters. After discovering the tiger snake, In a brief hearing, Choi denied want a jury trial. Prosecutors have portrayed one of the most venomous in all charges brought against her South Korean courts normally Choi as the mastermind in sev- the world, on Sunday she called friend of South Korean by prosecutors. hold criminal trials presided eral schemes to gain fi nancial professional snake catcher Barry President Park Geun-hye Her lawyer argued that Choi over by a panel of judges, who benefi t from companies she Goldsmith. Aat the centre of a corrup- did not collude with Park or oth- deliver a verdict and sentence, controlled. “We find them in all sorts of tion scandal that led to Park’s er defendants in the case, and while defendants in select cases Choi’s friendship with Park places, but this is the first impeachment in parliament de- also denied the fraud charge. are given the choice of a jury dates to the time when Park time I have found a snake in a nied charges of fraud and abuse “I need to clarify the facts trial. served as acting fi rst lady after Christmas tree,” Goldsmith said. of power yesterday on the fi rst now,” Choi was quoted as tell- Her lead lawyer, Lee Kyung- her mother was killed in 1974 by “Tiger snakes are good climbers.” day of her trial. ing the court by Yonhap News jae, rejected the charge that Choi an assassin who had intended to Goldsmith, who runs Snake The friend, Choi Soon-sil, 60, Agency. colluded with Park and one of kill her father. Catcher Victoria, said the woman who had not appeared in public Choi spoke so softly and she the former aides to the presi- Her father was shot dead fi ve took a photo, closed the room off , since arriving at a prosecutors’ was barely audible in her brief dent, An Chong-bum, to exert years later by his disgruntled spy jammed a towel under the door offi ce on October 31, was led into comments. pressure on various “chaebol” chief. and left the room until he arrived. court by two correctional of- South Koreans have been keen conglomerates. Choi is the daughter of a re- Australia has some of the world’s fi cers, her head down, wearing to get a glimpse of the woman at “We stressed that there was Choi arriving for her first court hearing in Seoul. ligious fi gure named Choi Tae- most venomous snakes. a bulky grey prison suit with a the centre of the political storm no collusion between Choi and min, who was referred to in a US Each year a few people die due to number on her chest. and members of the public were An Chong-bum and the presi- side between a Park supporter Park’s lawyers arguing against diplomatic cable as the “Korean snake bites. She is charged with pressuring allocated seats in the court’s gal- dent, and we look forward to and opponent about whether the impeachment vote in an Rasputin” for his perceived in- With the warmer weather, snakes big businesses to pay money to lery by lottery. having an intense examination there was suffi cient evidence to opinion fi led at the Constitu- fl uence over Park. are more active, said Goldsmith, foundations that backed Park’s “I hope this becomes a turn- over this point,” Lee told report- implicate the president. tional Court have said the case The intensely private Park was who catches and releases about policy initiatives. ing point for change for the ers after the hearing. Park, 64, whose father, Park had no legal basis and was also long criticised for relying on a 400 snakes every year. Prosecutors have named Park better for our society,” said Lim The next hearing is set for De- Chung-hee, ruled the country procedurally fl awed, and that group of advisers who closely “We find the snakes under the as an accomplice, although she Soon-ja, 68, one of those who cember 29. for 18 years after seizing power the impeachment was based guarded access to her. bed, in the toilet and washing has immunity from prosecution attended. Earlier, a long queue of people in a 1961 coup, has described largely on unproven suspicion Choi Soon-sil has been por- machines, inside Ugg boots, in while in offi ce. Two former presidential aides who had won places in the gal- Choi as a friend she turned to and charges that were now under trayed in media as having inher- cars, dog kennels, cat boxes,” Park’s powers have been sus- who have been indicted along lery waited for nearly an hour to at hard times and apologised for investigation and trial. ited her father’s infl uence over he said. “People should leave pended since the December 9 with Choi did not attend the be allowed into the court. carelessness in her ties with her. “This goes against the consti- the president, who has never them be and not try to kill them, vote by parliament to impeach hearing, but their lawyers told Afterwards, an argument Park has denied any legal tutional principle of presump- married and is estranged from because it’s dangerous, illegal, her, giving the Constitutional the court that they had been fol- broke out on the pavement out- wrongdoing. tion of innocence,” the lawyers her siblings. and cruel.” Gulf Times Tuesday, December 20, 2016 13 BRITAIN

JUSTICE ACCIDENT CRIME PLEDGE CLAIM Centenarian paedophile Man dies, woman fights for Frozen body of British Ministers to clamp down Report on minorities being sentenced to 13 years life after being hit by car graduate found in Russia on foreign aid waste: Patel denied justice ‘hushed up’

A 101-year-old man was sentenced to 13 years in A car ploughed into pedestrians at high speed The frozen body of a British graduate has been Overseas Aid Secretary Priti Patel yesterday The government has been accused of “hiding” a prison yesterday after being convicted of a string killing a man and leaving a woman fighting for her found in a village outside Moscow after he was vowed to clamp down on wasted foreign aid to report that shows employment tribunal fees have of historic sex crimes against children. Former lorry life. The pair were hit on a crossing by a Mercedes reportedly drugged and robbed. Nicolas Lazareff , ensure more funds can go towards crises like hit women and ethnic minorities the hardest. Since driver Ralph Clarke was found guilty last week of C Class at about 11.30pm on Saturday in Willesden 22, a dual British-French national, disappeared after the Syrian civil war. The Cabinet minister spoke charges of up to £1,200 were introduced in 2013, 21 off ences related to the abuse of two girls and Green. The man in his thirties was thrown into the visiting a bar in the Russian capital with friends. out following a claim that more than £5mn of UK cases have fallen by 70% with the number of race one boy between 1974 and 1983. “You present as a air and died from his injuries at the scene. A woman After leaving, he hailed a lift with his brother Alexis taxpayer’s cash was being given to support a girl discrimination hearings down by 50%. Shadow fragile old man. However, what was plain to see was in her late twenties was in hospital yesterday in a and a female friend and got into a car. The driver band in Ethiopia, a figure disputed by the depart- minister for diverse communities, Dawn Butler, that, despite your guilty pleas, you have no remorse critical condition. The 33-year-old driver was taken to reportedly gave the brothers a spiked drink before ment for international development, which said believes hundreds of Londoners are struggling whatsoever,” judge Richard Bond said as he gave hospital before being arrested on suspicion of caus- robbing all three and kicking them out of the vehi- only part of the figure was allocated to the band. to access justice and claims the government has his ruling in Birmingham. Clarke is believed to be ing death by dangerous driving and drink-drinking. cle. Lazareff staggered into a forest but could not The department also faced criticism for chan- known about diff iculties with the fees for 18 months. Britain’s oldest prison inmate and his defence lawyer A passenger in the car fled the scene and has not be found by his friends and later died of hypother- nelling huge sums of money through the World In a letter to the Commons’ Procedure Committee, Darron Whitehead said the term would in eff ect be a been traced. Residents pulled the keys out of the mia. The victim studied Russian and business at Bank for development projects. Patel defended she claims the ministry of justice has been sitting “life sentence”, asking the judge to consider Clarke’s ignition as the car, which had flipped onto its roof, the University of Manchester, and visited Moscow the work done through the World Bank and other on an equality impact assessment and the review’s age and health. was leaking fuel. to find work. aid schemes supported by Britain. findings since July last year.

Walkouts a sign of Grayling’s call contempt for public, for anti-strike says May

Reuters London laws fails to get

rime Minister Theresa May criticised a wave of Pstrikes sweeping Britain as unacceptable action that showed “contempt” for ordinary people govt support in the run-up to Christmas. Among planned strikes this month are walkouts by airline Guardian News and Media pected to bring a second week of mands for action from their con- cabin staff , baggage handlers, rail London havoc to 300,000 passengers be- stituencies, although the depart- conductors and Post Offi ce coun- tween London and the south coast ment for transport has declined to ter workers. today. get involved in the long-running “If these strikes share one owning Street has dis- The RMT strikes are part of a dispute between Southern’s op- thing in common, it’s a shared tanced itself from calls by long-running dispute over the role erator, Govia Thameslink Railways contempt for ordinary people Dthe Transport Minister, of conductors, with further walk- (GTR), and Aslef and the RMT. who are just trying to go about Chris Grayling, and Tory back- outs planned for next month. Aslef Labour MPs, however, appear their daily lives,” May’s spokes- benchers for new anti-strike has joined the RMT dispute, strik- to be split over how to approach man said yesterday, adding that laws as unions plan a wave of ing for three days last week and the dispute. The shadow home parties should negotiate to avoid industrial action this week and entirely shutting down the South- secretary, Diane Abbott, has de- action. over the festive period. ern network. fended unions planning to strike. British Airways (BA) said yes- A spokesman for No 10 said the British Airways and Virgin At- “Of course these strikes are going terday it would not be cancelling laws governing industrial action lantic are also facing walkouts over to be very disastrous for the public fl ights on December 25 and 26 as cannot be changed to halt current Christmas. Talks aimed at averting if they all go ahead over Christmas, the airline, owned by Internation- disputes, which are a matter for strikes by British Airways cabin but people do have a legal right to al Airlines Group, holds talks at unions and employers. crew over Christmas were held at strike,” Abbott told the Sky News the conciliation service Acas with Grayling angered many un- Acas yesterday. Members of Unite presenter Dermot Murnaghan on the Unite union in an attempt to ion leaders last week by saying are due to walk out on Christmas Sunday. She added: “It’s not my avert walkouts by more than 2,500 he would “not rule anything out” Day and Boxing Day in a dispute role to second-guess the decisions cabin staff . when asked if he might change the over pay. of trade union leadership.” “We have been working on de- law to prevent future rail strikes. There will be talks today be- But Meg Hillier, the Labour MP tailed contingency plans to ensure Former cabinet ministers Lord tween the airport services com- who chairs the public accounts that we are able to operate our Heseltine and Lord Tebbit are pany Swissport and Unite, aimed committee, warned on the same normal fl ight programme from all among the Tory fi gures who have at averting a 48-hour strike due programme that unions could be our airports on both Christmas called on Theresa May to take a to start on Friday by 1,500 baggage “shooting themselves in the foot” Day and Boxing Day,” BA chief ex- tough line on trade unions. handlers and other airport staff in by opting for industrial action over ecutive Alex Cruz said. A Downing Street source said a dispute over pay. the festive season. “There needs to The BA strike over a pay dispute there were no plans to change The Post Offi ce is facing pos- be a wake-up call about the impact is being staged by members of the current union laws, which remain sible shutdowns of branches as on hard-working people trying to airline’s “Mixed Fleet”, Unite has under review. “Any changes to un- members of the Communication get to work or go on holiday,” she said, referring to cabin crew staff ion laws would not be able to solve Workers Union (CWU) strike in a said. who have joined the airline since the current disputes. They will be pay dispute. The RMT’s general secretary, 2010. solved by mediation and we would Last week, Grayling told the Mick Cash, was forced to deny that They make up about 15% of BA’s urge the unions to get round the BBC that he would look at all op- the union was part of a “Trot con- 16,000 cabin crew. table. tions to stop rail unions from spiracy” after the Sunday Times Unite also said over 1,500 “In this parliament, we have striking, and while he wasn’t “rul- published a video showing the check-in staff , baggage handlers already passed legislation to ing anything in” he wasn’t “ruling RMT union president, Sean Hoyle, and cargo crew at airports across provide people with better pro- anything out” either. at a rally saying trade unions were Britain will walk out for 48 hours tection from undemocratic in- Heseltine told the Sunday Tel- working together to “bring down from Friday in a long-running pay dustrial action. Of course, we egraph: “You cannot have small this bloody working-class-hating dispute. will keep under review how these groups of people holding society Tory government”. Conductors on the Southern measures are working in prac- to ransom, regardless of personal Cash said: “We are a serious railway line also began a two-day tice,” the source said. inconvenience or cost.” trade union dealing with serious strike action yesterday, the latest Industrial action by conductors It was reported that about 20 issues around safety on the rail- of over a dozen walkouts during a in the RMT union on the South- MPs had called on Grayling to take ways. That is our absolute prior- long-running dispute over whose ern rail franchise – coupled with action against strikes. ity. RMT is not party to any Trot job it is to open and close train a continuing ban on overtime by MPs in seats across Southern’s conspiracy to bring down govern- doors. Passengers seek other routes to work at East Croydon and Brixton. drivers in the Aslef union – is ex- network have faced angry de- ment.”

Support for helpline Thieves ransack Ministers urge ‘drive community cafe safe’ mode in phones London Evening Standard Jimmy’s brother Tommy London Mizen, who runs the cafe, said: “It’s a kick in the teeth. You’re Guardian News and Media ty for using a mobile phone while Nearly one-fifth admitted trying to help people out, and London driving without a hands-free to sending a text or e-mail, or he family of murdered then this happens. Until we device will double to £200. The posting on social media, while schoolboy Jimmy Mi- can get more security there, fi xed penalty notice will increase 14% filmed a video or took Tzen yesterday told of there’s not really any point re- obile phone manufac- from three to six points. a photo while driving. The their heartbreak after thieves opening. It’s up in the air.” turers and providers are Ministers are concerned by the number of drivers who thought ransacked a community cafe Mizen, 34, revealed that the Mfacing demands from number of deaths that are at least it was acceptable to take a quick set up in his memory days cafe, which raises money for ministers to introduce software partly attributed to being dis- call on a handheld phone dou- before Christmas. the foundation as well as pro- that will prevent drivers from be- tracted by mobile phones – about bled to 14%. At least £5,000 of equip- viding training for young peo- ing distracted by calls and texts. 20 a year – with “distraction in The Transport Minister Lord ment was stolen in the break- ple with autism, has been the An informal meeting in vehicle” a factor in 70 deaths an- Ahmad said the meeting would in at Ten Thousand Hands target of three separate break- Whitehall is due to take place nually. “consider safe drive modes, or Cafe in Ladywell Fields, Lewi- ins in the past two weeks. He early in the new year, the Guard- Holding a mobile phone while other practical applications, sham, in the early hours of had even been in discussions ian revealed, in which ministers driving has been illegal since De- when a person is driving”. Sunday. with private security fi rms and offi cials will tell mobile com- cember 2003, but there has been But road safety campaign- The cafe, which fl ooded af- about extra protection, he said. panies that “drive safe” modes, an alarming change in motorists’ ers said the government should ter the thieves ripped out the He added: “The thieves similar to the airplane mode that attitudes to talking to friends or compel manufacturers to in- coff ee machine, opened in don’t normally take anything has become standard, must be colleagues without using hands- clude a drive safe button, if they 2014 and is run by the Mizen as we don’t leave any money included in basic software ahead free devices. resisted ministerial pressure. family’s charitable foundation, on site. of a broader crackdown on illegal Two-thirds of the popula- A separate RAC Foundation- For Jimmy. I think they knew what they mobile phone use on the roads. tion own smartphones and the commissioned report published The teenager was killed the were going for this time. It’s Drive safe mode diff ers from vast array of apps and functions this summer found that with- day after his 16th birthday in there for a good reason, and a fl ight safe mode because it can means there are increasing dis- out a legal obligation, few com- 2008 after being attacked at a the actions of a few silly kids potentially let the driver make tractions for drivers. panies would include software bakery near his home in Lee. have caused the community to emergency calls or accept calls The RAC’s annual report on that limited the use of their He died after Jake Fahri, 19, lose out.” from certain designated per- motoring, published in Septem- equipment, because it would threw a glass dish that shat- Tommy and Jimmy’s father sons. There is also the possibil- ber, found the number of drivers put them at a commercial dis- tered on his neck and severed Barry Mizen, 65, called on ity of automatically blocking the who admitted to using a hand- advantage and they felt the Jeremy Corbyn supports the Young & Homeless Helpline as an artery and his jugular vein. Lewisham council to improve phone using GPS technology if held mobile phone on the road onus was on the driver to make he stressed that young rough sleepers in London could be Fahri was jailed for life in security in Ladywell Fields, certain speeds are reached. had increased from 8% in 2014 sure their use of technology “brilliant engineers, doctors and nurses of tomorrow”. 2009, and must serve at least which they said was open 24 In spring 2017, the fi xed penal- to 31%. complied with the law. 14 years. hours but not lit up at night. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, December 20, 2016 BRITAIN

Hunt for suspect as man stabbed in frenzied knife attack

London Evening Standard The former skip driver, who was throwing the man to the ground times in the back and two times in turned around and that’s when the remember saying anything.” the person’s “blacked-out face, London walking home from an evening at and then repeatedly stabbing him the elbow. attack happened. Trowsdale said he was wor- like with a balaclava or something”. a local working men’s club, man- as he lies helpless in the road. “I left the club at about “It just felt like a couple of ried about being attacked again. “I He added: “I just can’t believe aged to stagger to his front door Detectives say the victim is 9.30pm. I walked out of the club, punches at fi rst, but I think I real- have not been out anywhere since. I’m still here because you hear father-of-two yesterday and ring the doorbell, where his lucky to be alive after suff ering got to the end of nearby Sterry ised he was stabbing me.” I always think it may happen again about young kids getting stabbed told of his fi ght for life af- partner found him collapsed in the knife wounds to his lung, chest, Road and saw someone on my He added: “Afterwards I re- and I have problems sleeping. once and dying.” Ater being stabbed 10 times driveway. stomach, bowel and liver. He was left-hand side get out of a car member getting up and thinking I “Was it mistaken identity? I just He was discharged from hospi- in a terrifying unprovoked attack Police yesterday issued shock- rushed to the Royal London Hos- with a hoodie up, it was a black just have to walk down the middle don’t know. If I knew why, that tal after six days but had to return yards from his front door in east ing CCTV showing a man in a pital after the attack at 9.45pm on hoodie. I didn’t think anything of of the road and get home because would settle my mind. I’ve never a week later after his wounds be- London. dark hoodie creeping up behind October 28. it at the time. if I collapse on the curb no one will owed anyone money, I’ve never came infected, spending a further Steven Trowsdale, 51, was left Trowsdale as he texted a friend Trowsdale, who spent his birth- “I got down to the end of Pel- see me. done anything, I just don’t know two weeks in hospital. He had been in a coma for 48 hours after being while walking home in Pelham day in hospital, said: “I don’t know ham Avenue and started texting “I got to the front door and why.” drinking on the Friday night at knifed in the front and back four Avenue. how I’m still here. They got me my mate and the last thing I heard pushed the doorbell and just re- He said all he could remember Barking United Services Club with times and twice in the elbow. The footage shows the attacker four times in the front and four was someone behind creeping up. I member falling backwards. I don’t of his assailant was his hoodie and a friend. Deportation of Charity initiative EU nationals not practical, government told

Guardian News and Media told the committee last month that London the prime minister was seeking an “early agreement” on the status of UK nationals in Europe and EU ass deportations of nationals in the UK. He confi rmed the estimated 2.9mn the government’s view that to take MEU nationals living a unilateral position on the issue in the UK would be impracti- would not be helpful. cal and they should not be used The report recommends min- as a “bargaining chip” in Brexit isters safeguard the residence negotiations, the government is rights of UK nationals in other being warned. EU states at the outset of Brexit In a strongly-worded report pub- negotiations through a separate lished yesterday, the parliament’s preliminary agreement. infl uential joint committee on hu- UK citizens forced to return man rights (JCHR) highlighted the from overseas might have prob- Prince Harry, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and her husband Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, prepare to present an award as they attend a party at the charity ‘The Mix’, political uncertainty over the resi- lems over entitlement to ben- in London yesterday. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry joined an annual general meeting and party hosted by youth support service The Mix, to celebrate dential status of both EU citizens in efi ts, including job seeker’s al- the volunteers and counsellors who support people through tough times in their lives. the UK and the 1.2mn Britons be- lowance, universal credit and lieved to be living elsewhere within pensions because of the habitual the European Union. residence test. “The government must not Even if not formally deport- use human rights as a bargaining ed, their existence are likely to chip,” Harriet Harman MP, the become more precarious. “UK former deputy Labour leader and citizens currently benefi t from chair of JCHR, said: “The gov- a right to healthcare under EU ernment should not deport the law,” the report said. “If such large numbers of EU nationals benefi ts were withdrawn, post- currently in the UK. Brexit, it is possible that great Govt ‘had been warned “In the unlikely and unwelcome numbers of UK nationals, many event that the government sought of them pensioners, would need to deport EU nationals there could to return to the UK.” be the potential for signifi cant, Individuals’ rights will depend expensive and lengthy litigation on length of residence and other leading to considerable legal un- factors. EU nationals who have certainty for a prolonged period been in the UK for over fi ve years of prison riot threat’ of time. These cases would have may nonetheless not satisfy the the potential to clog up and over- criteria for permanent residence Guardian News and Media substances available in pris- ham, including one thought and continue to happen over the number of years, and so the fact whelm the court system.” if they have not been exercising London ons. to have played a key role in the next few months until the MoJ that we have reached this state The government, Harman treaty rights – such as working HMP Birmingham was on Fri- disorder there and said to have (ministry of justice) start listen- now shouldn’t come as a sur- pointed out, will continue to have – in the UK, the report suggests. day the scene the worst prison attacked a senior prison offi cer. ing to us properly.” prise.” obligations under Article 8 of the Family connections and resi- he government was riot since the infamous 1990 Mike Rolfe, chairman of the Nick Hardwick, chairman of Hardwick, a former chief in- European convention on human dence rights of any children will warned two months be- Strangeways unrest, as more Prison Offi cers’ Association, the Parole Board, said on Sun- spector of prisons, said govern- rights which guarantees the right be relevant; each case would Tfore a riot at HMP Bir- than 600 prisoners ran rampant said it was “only a matter of day that the situation in the ment plans to recruit 2,500 pris- to privacy, home and family life. have to be considered separately. mingham involving hundreds for 12 hours, setting fi res and time” before a prison offi cer prison system was “very grave”. on staff did not go far enough. “Any dilution of human rights “It would not be possible for the of prisoners that the prevalence battling specially trained Tor- was seriously injured or even “The levels of violence, and The number of prisoners needs standards would be extremely government to establish a rule of psychoactive drugs meant nado Squad offi cers. murdered in the violence. He suicide, and self-harm are not to be reduced to a manageable undesirable,” Harman added. that would allow the deporta- urgent action was needed to The chaos follows repeated said it was inevitable that large- merely increasing, but the rate level if more jail riots are to be The JCHR, which is made up of tion of EU nationals merely on prevent attacks on vulnerable warnings of a prison service in scale disturbances would occur at which they are increasing is avoided, he told BBC Radio 4’s both peers and MPs, stressed the the grounds that they had only prison offi cers. meltdown, with claims of sys- at other prisons in the coming accelerating, and we have now World at One. urgency of resolving the question been resident for a fi xed period A report by the independ- temic staff shortages and a surge days, weeks and months. had a succession of very serious The uncompromising report of residence rights. It is concerned of time,” the report says. ent monitoring board found in jail violence including an al- “We’re seriously concerned incidents that are unusual, and by the independent monitor- about comments made by Liam Fox, The committee revealed it was that prison officers at the jail leged murder, three large-scale about the state of prisons, not the fact that you now have this ing board, published on October the secretary of state for interna- contacted by those anxious about “feared for their personal safe- riots and the escape of two pris- just with the high levels of spate of them is a matter for the 27, urged Justice Secretary Liz tional trade, who described EU na- residence rights. It was also asked ty” and were terrified about a oners. violence, but the now regu- most serious concern,” he said. Truss to take urgent action to tionals in the UK as one of the “main to consider the impact on the hun- possible “mamba attack” by Hull prison was on the brink lar theme of rioting which is “Successive ministers cannot combat the widespread availa- cards” in Brexit negotiations. dreds of thousands of couples intoxicated prisoners. Black of serious disorder on Sunday spreading,” he said. “We’ve got say that they weren’t warned bility of psychoactive substanc- Sir Oliver Heald, the justice min- where one partner is British and the mamba is the name of one of a night after 15 prisoners were serious concerns that there’s about this. I, and others, have es at HMP Birmingham, includ- ister responsible for human rights, other from another EU country. number of illegal psychoactive transferred from HMP Birming- potential that this will spread been warning about this for a ing “spice” and “black mamba”. Family wins £150,000 Snow covered Thousands of dead for libellous column fi sh wash up on beach Guardian News and Media beach, Pentewan at St Austell. London Bad weather further out to sea, Hopkins had falsely accused rassment caused and have agreed such as this are published, and attempts by the fi sh – mostly Mahmood family, who to pay them substantial damages which caused us all a great deal of mackerel and pilchard – to es- were stopped from visiting and their legal costs.” distress and anxiety. We are very he shingle of one of the cape large predators, or dumping Disneyland by US authorities, Hopkins’ article suggested pleased that the record has been most picturesque beaches by trawlers which have exceeded of extremist links that the reason the family gave set straight.” Tin Cornwall, Marazion at their quotas have all been sug- for visiting the US was a lie, and Carter Ruck said that while St Michael’s Mount, was covered gested as possible explanations. Guardian News and Media that she would have stopped most of the coverage of the in hundreds of thousands of dead Dog walkers and other wit- London them from boarding the flight Mahmood family’s ordeal had fi sh at the weekend, the second nesses at both incidents said from Gatwick. Her next col- been fair and balanced, “there time this month there has been a the fi sh were quite fresh and not umn a week later also falsely was absolutely no basis for sug- mass beaching of fi sh. smelly, though fl ocks of gulls he Mail Online has been suggested that Mohamed Tariq gesting that any of the Mah- Katrina Slack, who visited the soon arrived to take advantage of forced to pay out £150,000 Mahmood’s son Hamza was re- moods were or are extremist, beach on Sunday intending to the feast. Tto a British Muslim fam- sponsible for a Facebook page and the family were simply go- photograph fl ocks of starlings, James Wright, an expert at ily over a Katie Hopkins column that allegedly contained ex- ing on holiday”. instead witnessed an extraordi- the National Marine Aquarium which falsely accused them of tremist material. Hopkins tweeted the apology nary sight, shoals of dead fi sh. in Plymouth, believes the fi sh extremism. The brothers said they were herself at around 2am on Sunday. She told the Plymouth Herald: washed up alive. The column, published in De- pleased that after “a great deal of She was hired by the Mail in Sep- “The fi rst thing I came across He told the BBC such strand- cember last year, said that US dragging of their heels” the Mail tember 2015 from the Sun where was a dolphin already decom- ings were more common in sum- authorities were right to stop and Hopkins had accepted the she had regularly come under fi re posing and as I approached the mer, when mackerel follow prey Mahmood Tariq Mahmood, his allegations were false. for off ensive columns, including shoreline, I was astonished. It into warmer, shallower water. brother Mohamed Zahid Mah- “Even to this day, the US au- one where she likened asylum was almost as if the waves were “It’s quite unusual for fi sh to mood and nine children from thorities have not explained the seekers to cockroaches. made up of thousands of shim- want to leave the water, it’s usu- travelling to Los Angeles for a reason why we were not permit- That article, which has since mering fi sh. ally a result of panic, because of a trip to Disneyland last year. Hop- ted to travel; we assume it was an been removed from the Sun web- “The closer I got I realised the predator, but at this time of year kins also suggested that the two error or even a case of mistaken site, drew condemnation from beach was just covered in dead that would be unusual.” brothers were extremists with identity,” they said in a statement the UN high commissioner for fi sh and more and more were He suggested the weather links to Al Qaeda. provided by their lawyers, Carter human rights, Zeid bin Ra’ad al- coming in with every wave. It could be a factor: “It is possible In a correction, Mail Online Ruck. Hussein. was a horrible but breathtaking they were all caught in particu- said: “We and Katie Hopkins “However, matters are not Mail Online did not imme- scene.” larly bad weather when they were apologise to the Mahmood fam- helped when sensationalist and, diately respond to a request for A deer and a sheep graze in a Newhaven field after snowfall. A fortnight ago the same eerie near the surface and washed up ily for the distress and embar- frankly, Islamophobic articles comment. sight was witnessed on another by the waves.” Gulf Times Tuesday, December 20, 2016 15 EUROPE IMF chief Lagarde found

Lagarde: spared from jail time guilty by French tribunal or a fine. AFP man Bernard Tapie, which ended She was not in the Paris court The court cleared her of negli- one-year prison sentence and a Coming in the middle of the bailout negotiations for Greece. Paris in a €404mn ($422mn) award for for the ruling. gence over that decision but up- €15,000 ($15,676) fi ne. global fi nancial crisis, the payout She has also worked to reform Tapie. Her lawyer Patrick Maison- held the charge over her failure to Lagarde told the court during to Tapie, a supporter of Lagarde’s the US- and Europe-dominated The court rapped Lagarde for neuve told reporters that she was contest the staggering amount of her fi ve-day trial last week that then-boss, former president institution to refl ect China’s French court has found failing to contest the massive in Washington for “professional the resulting award. she had acted in good faith. Nicolas Sarkozy, caused shock in growing global leverage. International Monetary payment, which was linked to reasons”. An investigation later showed “My sole aim was to defend the France. Her trial landed the IMF back AFund (IMF) head Christine Tapie’s sale of the Adidas sports- He welcomed the absence of a the arbitration to be fraudulent. general interest,” she said. Tapie had sold Adidas to Credit in the headlines for alleged Lagarde guilty of negligence over wear brand to Credit Lyonnaise sentence but said he “would have Tapie, who was later ordered The court noted however Lyonnais for the equivalent of wrongdoing by its bosses, fi ve a massive state payout to a tycoon bank. preferred that she be cleared out- to pay back the money, is among that her inaction allowed Tapie €315.5mn in 1993. years after Lagarde was chosen when she was French fi nance Crucially, however, the Paris right”. six people charged with fraud in and his wife to pocket €45mn The bank sold it on the follow- to succeed Strauss-Kahn when minister but spared her a fi ne or court exempted her from any The French government ex- a separate criminal case, along in “moral damages” for alleged ing year for €701mn, prompting he resigned to fi ght sexual assault prison sentence. penalty, citing her “international pressed continued support for with the boss of Orange telecoms emotional harm – a sum includ- claims from Tapie that he had charges. The ruling was a rare setback in reputation” and the fact that at Lagarde, saying that it “retained company, Stephane Richard, a ed in the arbitration award. been cheated. His case was later dropped Lagarde’s glittering career but it the time of the events in 2008 she its utmost confi dence in her ca- former aide to Lagarde. Lagarde’s voice cracked with Lagarde, who was a relative and a civil case was settled out of was not clear how it would aff ect had been busy fi ghting a global pacity to carry out her responsi- Lagarde’s case was heard by emotion as she said on Friday newcomer to government at the court. her position at the IMF, whose fi nancial inferno. bilities”. the Court of Justice of the Re- that the case had put her family time, told the court she had been Another former IMF head, Ro- board was to meet in Washington The high-fl ying 60-year-old Lagarde was tried over her de- public – a tribunal of judges – she is the mother of two sons – busy with the fi nancial crisis and drigo Rato of Spain, is currently to discuss the court’s decision. former corporate lawyer be- cision to allow the long-running and members of parliament that through a “testing” time. that the arbitration process was standing trial on charges of mis- A special court in Paris found came the fi rst female IMF chief dispute over Tapie’s sale of Adi- hears cases against ministers ac- Prosecutor Jean-Claude Marin “not a priority” at the time. using funds when he was head of against Lagarde over her han- in 2011, succeeding her disgraced das to be resolved by a private ar- cused of wrongdoing in offi ce. had described the evidence as Lagarde has won plaudits for Spanish lender Bankia. dling of a dispute between the compatriot Dominique Strauss- bitration panel instead of by the The punishment for negli- “very weak” and said he was op- her performance as IMF manag- Lagarde began her second term state and fl amboyant business- Kahn. courts. gence theoretically carried a posed to a guilty fi nding. ing director and has been key in at the IMF in July. Watchdog says most Poland president holds crisis talks journalists killed this AFP infl uential PiS leader Jaroslaw court which led to a standoff with Warsaw Kaczynski, who was visiting the the European Union. year were targeted grave of his twin brother, former Yesterday marks that last day president Lech Kaczynski who in offi ce of the outgoing presi- olish President Andrzej died in a plane crash in Russia in dent of the constitutional court, DPA Afghanistan and Burundi were Duda scrambled yesterday 2010. Andrzej Rzeplinski, a symbol of Paris particularly aff ected by the Pto defuse a political crisis Duda, who has appealed for resistance to the government. exodus of journalists. as opposition lawmakers occu- calm, launched mediation talks The question of his successor Most of those killed were pied parliament for a fourth day with opposition leaders on Sun- has become another bone of con- ost of the 74 journal- local journalists, and most to protest at an “illegal” budget day. tention between the court and ists and media pro- worked in confl ict zones. vote and plans to restrict media The president scheduled fur- the PiS-dominated parliament. Mducers killed in 2016 Thirty-fi ve per cent worked access to the chamber. ther meetings yesteray with Kac- The latest opposition outcry were deliberately targeted, in non-confl ict zones, 5% were Thousands of demonstrators zynski and parliament speaker was triggered by PiS plans to media watchdog Reporters foreign journalists and 5% were have taken to the streets since Marek Kuchcinski. grant access to the parliament’s Without Borders (RSF) said women. Friday in Warsaw and other parts Opposition leaders told the press gallery to only two journal- yesterday. The deadliest countries for of the country in the latest popu- media following the talks with ists for every media outlet, and Fewer journalists were killed journalists to work were Syria, lar action against moves deemed Duda that they had demanded ban them from shooting still pic- in 2016 than the previous year, Afghanistan, Mexico, Iraq and anti-democratic by the govern- the proposed media limits be tures or video. RSF said, but it warned that the Yemen, RSF said. ing right-wing Law and Justice dropped. The moves prevent the me- drop was largely due to jour- The head of RSF’s German party (PiS) since it took offi ce af- Kaczynski has indicated that dia from recording images of nalists fl eeing places that had branch told DPA that Afghani- ter October 2015 elections. his party is ready to discuss the lawmakers when they break the become too dangerous. stan, Yemen and Somalia were Dozens of opposition MPs new rules with journalists, and rules, for example by voting for “The violence against jour- countries where media safety seized parliament’s main cham- the offi cial news agency PAP an absent colleague. nalists is more and more de- and freedom were particularly ber and protesters blocked the quoted an unnamed member of The PiS has defended the liberate,” said RSF secretary- at risk. exits to the building on Friday in the government as saying he is measure, saying that it was general Christophe Deloire in “Afghanistan is a classic ex- a defi ant show of anger against “not happy” with the measures. seeking to ensure a comfortable a statement. “They are clearly ample, even if Germany does the government. The opposition lawmakers working environment for both being targeted and murdered not want to hear it, because Thousands of protesters – also called for re-run of a parlia- lawmakers and journalists. because they are journalists.” there are always attempts to grouped in a popular movement ment vote on next year’s budget, Yesterday Duda also approved Seventy-two per cent of portray it as being safe,” RSF called the Committee for the which they claim was approved a law lowering the retirement the 74 journalists and media Germany director Christian Defence of Democracy – rallied illegally when it was held in an- age to 65 for men and to 60 for producers killed in 2016 were Mihr said. outside parliament in support of other area of parliament after the women. murdered or deliberately tar- “This year the number of the opposition MPs until late on opposition takeover of the main The former centrist govern- geted, RSF said, while 28% emergency requests from jour- Sunday. chamber. ment had raised the limit for both were killed in the course of re- nalists in Afghanistan, who A smaller pro-government Since taking offi ce, the PiS has sexes to 67. porting. turned to us to ask for assist- rally took place outside the presi- come under fi re over a string of The new law – which the op- For the fi rst time, the watch- ance, rose clearly compared to dential palace. controversial measures includ- position says would harm the dog included citizen journal- the previous year as the state A man holds a placard with picture of PiS chief Jaroslaw Kaczynski In Krakow on Sunday, police ing tightening its control over economy – was among the ists and media contributors in no longer had control in many and words reading ‘Polish Hitler’, during a protest in Bielsko-Biala, removed protesters who laid on the media and pushing through promises made by the PiS during their annual report. regions and regional warlords Poland. the ground to block the car of changes to the constitutional its electoral campaign. When journalists fl ee place were in charge,” Mihr said. that are too violent, they also According to RSF, a total of leave behind “information 348 journalists are also cur- black holes where impunity rently being detained world- reigns”, the watchdog said. wide – a rise of 6% since last Syria, Libya, Iraq, Yemen, year. 41 die in Siberia after drinking bath oil for booze

China, Norway resume diplomatic ties Reuters below the poverty line. Measures must be taken.” fi scated with an overall volume of “The problem ... for Russia and Moscow Russian media reported that Russia’s Investigative Com- 500 litres.” its national security is roughly a Norway and China announced yesterday the resumption of the victims were poor residents mittee sent a group of experi- Among liquids that have been thousand times more important diplomatic relations, six years after Beijing froze ties with Oslo over of Irkutsk, a hard scrabble city enced investigators from Mos- used as a substitute for alcoholic than Syria, Aleppo, Ukraine and the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to a Chinese dissident. t least 41 residents of the around 2,600 miles (4,000km) cow, while Russian news agencies drinks are perfume, after-shave, Trump put together,” said Nav- The announcement means talks can now resume on a free trade Siberian city of Irkutsk east of Moscow. said the mayor of Irkutsk had de- anti-freeze and window cleaner. alny, blaming poverty and cor- pact between Norway and China. Ahave died after drinking The case underlines how hard clared a state of emergency and Alexei Navalny, a Kremlin ruption for the sale of such toxic Diplomatic relations – and the trade talks – were frozen after the scented bath oil in a desperate up a large swath of the popula- temporarily banned the sale of critic who wants to challenge surrogates. “Every year ... (such awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2010 to human rights search for an alcoholic high in tion is despite Moscow’s grow- all liquids containing spirits not Vladimir Putin for the presi- concoctions) kill more people activist Liu Xiaobo, imprisoned in his own country by authorities one of the deadliest cases of its ing profi le and clout on the global meant for human consumption. dency in 2018, said the case had than have been killed in terrorist who consider him a “criminal”. kind in years, Russian investiga- stage. “According to our latest data garnered wide attention because attacks in Russia’s entire history.” But during a surprise visit to Beijing by Norwegian Foreign Minister tors said yesterday. “It is a terrible tragedy,” Krem- 41 of 57 people who were hospi- so many people had died at the Investigators, who opened a Borge Brende yesterday, the two nations issued a joint declaration Use of counterfeit or surrogate lin spokesman Dmitry Peskov talised after drinking the liquid same time. criminal case into the poison- announcing they were unfreezing ties. alcohol is rife in Russia’s regions, told reporters. “This type of have died,” investigators said in Hundreds of people, he said, ings, said they had detained two Human rights issues were not mentioned in the two-page where two years of economic problem is well known and the a statement. “More than 2,000 died unremarked daily in unre- people suspected of distributing document. pain have pushed more people president has been informed. units of the liquid have been con- lated cases for the same reason. the deadly bath oil. Square art Istanbul school resolves controversy

AFP/DPA happy the issue had been set- considered an acceptable topic noted that three Turkish prime Berlin tled. for discussion at the elite Turk- ministers had been educated at “I expressly welcome that the ish public high school in Istan- Istanbul Lisesi and said he was responsible parties have agreed bul. confi dent Christmas customs ermany has welcomed a on an appropriate approach to “After a joint meeting be- had a secure place in the school’s decision by a German- the Christmas festivities, in- tween the Turkish school man- curriculum in the future. GTurkish school in Istan- cluding on its classroom treat- agement and the directors of Mustafa Sentop, a member of bul to allow Christmas celebra- ment and celebrations both the German department, I can Turkey’s ruling Justice and De- tions after a controversy fl ared inside and outside school,” she inform you that there is no pro- velopment Party (AKP), waded over an alleged ban of the Chris- said in a statement. hibition on discussing ‘Christ- into the controversy by claim- tian festival. She said she had followed the mas’ in classes,” according to an ing that the German-Turkish A woman poses yesterday with Christmas decorations on Aristotelous Square in Thessaloniki, Greece. The row around the Istanbul debate “with disbelief and great e-mail circulated on Monday, a school was engaged in religious Lisesi, a Turkish-German bilin- concern” and that it should be copy of which DPA obtained. activity. gual state school that is partly “self-evident” that the “Chris- The salaries of the 35 teach- “Missionary education in backed by the German govern- tian celebration of charity, hope ers in the German department state schools cannot be al- ment, had caused anger in Ger- and peace ... is particularly im- at Istanbul Lisesi are paid for lowed,” Sentop said on his Twit- many, although the school de- portant” at the school. by German taxpayers under the ter feed. nied any ban. The school had denied any terms of a cultural treaty be- He charged that Germany A day after the German for- formal ban, saying that, al- tween the two countries. does not allow Muslim-Turkish eign ministry complained about though a Christmas concert The century-old school is at- children to receive religious ed- the alleged move, its minister had been scrapped, the German tended exclusively by Turkish ucation in German state schools. of state in charge of cultural media reports on the matter did students. “Behave yourself. This here is A woman poses yesterday with Christmas decorations on Aristotelous Square in Thessaloniki, Greece. relations and education policy, “not refl ect reality”. German foreign ministry Turkey,” he said, as part of a se- Maria Boehmer, said she was In addition, Christmas will be spokesman Martin Schaefer ries of angry messages. Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, December 20, 2016 INDIA

JUDICIARY PEOPLE POLITICS AGREEMENT APPEAL HC bans Shariah court Sushma discharged Legislator runs away Ola to invest Rs1bn to End KSRTC staff woes, in Chennai mosque from Delhi hospital with speaker’s mace train 100,000 drivers Chandy urges Vijayan

The Madras High Court yesterday External Aff airs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who The Tripura Assembly yesterday witnessed App-based taxi operator Ola yesterday Former Kerala chief minister Oommen declared that a Shariah court cannot underwent a kidney transplant on December a bizarre scene when a Trinamool Congress announced plans to invest Rs1bn towards skill Chandy yesterday urged his successor function from the Makkah Masjid 10, was discharged yesterday from the All party legislator ran away with the speaker’s development in India and empower 100,000 Pinarayi Vijayan to step in to resolve the mosque in Chennai, a lawyer said. The India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), mace, stalling legislative business. The driver-partners in the next three years. After woes at the state-owned Kerala State Road court also ordered the state government off icials said. According to off icials, the incident occurred while the members signing a Memorandum of Understanding Transport Corp (KSRTC) and asked him to to ensure that such a court does not minister’s post-operative recovery was closely were debating heatedly about the alleged (MOU) with the National Skill Development honour their election manifesto promises. function. The court passed the order monitored by a team of specialists. They “womanising” issue involving ruling Corp (NSDC) in the presence of Prime Minister “The salary for the month of November after hearing a public interest litigation included transplant surgeons and a team of Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders. Narendra Modi in Kanpur, Ola said the joint was paid in instalments, while just 25% of (PIL) filed by a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), nephrologists, cardiologists, endocrinologists The Congress and Trinamool Congress project will involve identifying people from the pension for the past two months has Abdur Rahman, lawyer A Sirajudeen said. and pulmonologists, as well as anaesthetists legislators had approached the speaker’s various section of the society and skilling them been paid. The state government must step The Makkah Masjid is located on Anna and critical care experts. Swaraj underwent a podium and started sloganeering against to become driver entrepreneurs. “We are excited in,” said Chandy. “When we were in office, Salai, Chennai’s main street. According kidney transplant on December 10. The three- Forests Minister Naresh Jamatia. All of a to partner with NSDC to invest in the training and you (CPM) were always complaining. But to the petitioner, the Shariah council was hour surgery was performed at the Cardio sudden, TMC member Sudip Roy Barman skilling of drivers as this would help us realise the during our time, such a piquant situation functioning like a regular court. The high Thoracic and Neuro Sciences Centre of the seized the speaker’s mace and ran outside larger goal to skill 50 lakh drivers in the next five never arose as we always saw that 50% of court made it clear that religious places AIIMS. The 64-year-old minister, who has been abruptly putting a halt to the proceedings. years while contributing towards our mission the pension commitment was taken up by are meant to be used only for religious in and out of AIIMS for the past few months, Security officers followed Barman and after of building mobility for a billion Indians,” said the state government. Please honour your purposes. was admitted to the hospital on November 7. half-a-minute brought the mace back. Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO and co-founder of Ola. election manifesto promise,” he added.

Delhi police search JNU campus 675 suspects for Najeeb

IANS died in police New Delhi

olice yesterday reached the sprawling Jawaharlal PNehru University (JNU) campus in search of a student custody since who went missing over two months ago. Crime Branch personnel searched diff erent parts of the campus with sniff er dogs in a desperate bid to fi nd out what happened to Najeeb, whose dis- 2009: HRW appearance had led to unending protests in the university. Rights group says failure to police offi cer in Mumbai said a The next day she was told her A police offi cer said Najeeb’s follow proper procedures is suspect was beaten because he son was dead. hostel, classrooms, rooftops allowing police to get away was “a hardcore criminal” who “He didn’t die, he was killed,” and other deserted places were with murder refused to give any information she said, recalling the events of scanned. away. April 2010. “A search operation is on in Agencies “He was so weak after the “And I know the name of every various parts of the JNU cam- New Delhi beating that when he got up to policeman who did it.” pus to get clues which can help drink water, he was dizzy with K S Dhatwalia, spokesman for police locate Najeeb,” Joint pain and collapsed against the the federal home ministry said Commissioner of Police (Crime olice in India are torturing window, breaking his lower the ministry would “look into Branch) Ravindra Yadav said. suspects to death in cus- jaw,” the report quotes Atmaram the report and take necessary ac- The search began as police Ptody with impunity and Gurav as saying. tion”. have been unable to get any trace blaming suicide or natural caus- While police typically blame According to the Indian Code of Najeeb, who went missing on es, Human Rights Watch said deaths in custody on suicide, of Criminal Procedure policemen October 15 following a scuffl e the yesterday. illness or natural causes, au- are expected to prepare a memo previous night with members The rights group said a failure topsy reports examined by HRW of arrest with the date and time of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarti to follow proper arrest proce- showed injuries consistent with of arrest, ensure a medical ex- Parishad (ABVP). The ABVP has dures, such as presenting a sus- blunt force trauma. amination is carried out on the denied any involvement in Na- pect before a magistrate within accused, inform the family of jeeb’s disappearance. 24 hours, was allowing police to “The lack of accountability the arrest and present the sus- Police have raised the reward get away with murder. of police is the reason pect before a magistrate within for providing information that At least 675 people died in why there is continued 24 hours. could help locate Najeeb from police custody in India between impunity for custodial “If police follow the rules de- Rs500,000 to Rs1mn. 2009 and 2015, government fi g- deaths in India” signed to deter torture and mis- The Delhi High Court has di- ures show. treatment, deaths in custody rected the police to scan the en- An investigation by the rights Between 2010 and 2015, there could be prevented,” said Meen- tire JNU campus. group found that victims were was a conviction in just one akshi Ganguly of Human Rights The court said the police were beaten with belts or boots, or case of death in custody, that of Watch. also free to search Jamia Mil- suspended by their wrists. 20-year-old Agnelo Valdaris, “India can only boast of rule of lia Islamia where Najeeb was “Since these deaths are not who was arrested on suspicion of law when those charged with en- reportedly dropped by an auto- happening in an open domain, robbery. forcing it are held accountable,” rickshaw driver after he left the it is very hard to prove how they “The last time I saw my son she said. JNU campus. died if the other police offi cials was on April 17, 2014. He was “Police in India will learn that However, terming the Delhi who are witnesses shield their crying bitterly. He was telling beating suspects to confess is police a puppet of the central colleagues,” said Jayshree Bajor- ‘daddy save, save me. They have unacceptable only after offi cers government, the JNU Students ia, author of the report published been beating me whole night, are prosecuted for torture. Union (JNUSU) denounced the yesterday. they will kill me’,” Agnelo’s father “Our research shows that too campus search as absurd, and “The lack of accountability of Leonard Valdaris said in a video often, the police offi cers inves- their methodology clueless. police is the reason why there is interview to HRW. tigating deaths in custody are “After 65 days of Najeeb’s continued impunity for custodial “After that I did not see him. I more concerned about shielding disappearance, this is the state deaths in India,” she said. only saw his dead body the very their colleagues than bringing of aff airs. In an utter sense of HRW investigated 17 deaths in next day.” those responsible to justice.” mockery of justice earlier, the police custody and found that in Similarly, Senthil Kumar’s The group made several rec- police worked like a puppet of each case the police failed to fol- mother saw him being dragged ommendations including that the government and now to save low proper arrest procedures. off by policemen on charges of India set up a witness protec- their face in front of the court, These require suspects to have extortion. tion programme to encourage they are doing absurd exercises a medical examination after ar- Standing outside the Vada- victims of police violence to with clueless methodology,” rest so a doctor can list any pre- madurai police station in Tamil come forward without fear of JNUSU president Mohit Pandey Delhi police search for missing student Najeeb Ahmed on the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) existing injuries. Nadu, she heard him scream for retribution. said in a statement. campus in New Delhi yesterday. In the case of one death, a mercy. Telangana CM rules out CBI Religious event Modi slams opposition probe into gangster’s links for stalling parliament IANS “Even after the president Kanpur urged them not to disrupt par- IANS Renegade Maoist-turned- arms, 21 cars, 26 motorcycles liament, they did not relent and Hyderabad gangster Nayeem was gunned and Rs295,000 cash. The police continued disruption only be- down by police in an alleged also seized documents of prop- rime Minister Narendra cause they were afraid of con- exchange of fi re on August 8 in erties registered in the name of Modi yesterday attacked fronting the government. They elangana Chief Minister K Shadnagar town near Hydera- the family and friends of the Popposition parties for did so to avoid debate over de- Chandrasekhar Rao yes- bad. An AK47, a 9mm pistol and gangster. The registered value stalling parliament and accused monetisation,” he claimed. Tterday rejected the oppo- ammunition were recovered. of properties including over them of running away from a de- Lashing out at the opposition sition demand for a Central Bu- KCR, as Rao is popularly 1,000 acres of land, 27 houses bate on demonetisation to “safe- leaders, Modi said: “They even reau of Investigation probe into known, said for last two-and- and 1.67 square yard residen- guard the corrupt”. threw torn papers at the speaker a case relating to slain gangster a-half decades, Nayeem’s gang tial plots is estimated to be over Addressing his sixth Parivar- to halt parliament proceedings. Nayeem, who allegedly had links committed heinous crimes in Rs1.43bn. tan rally in poll-bound Uttar “Even municipality members with top politicians and police Telangana and was carrying out He said the gang’s involve- Pradesh, Modi said the gov- think 50 times before behaving offi cials. its activities without any hin- ment was established in 27 mur- ernment was using technology like that.” The chief minister assured the drance under the rule of the pre- der cases and it was suspected to to track black money hoarders Accusing the opposition of state assembly that those found vious governments. be involved in 25 other murder and invoked late prime minis- dishonouring parliament, he involved in the activities will not He said soon after the forma- cases. ter Rajiv Gandhi to attack the claimed that the country was be spared, irrespective of the po- tion of TRS government, it de- KCR said the police had fi led Congress for opposing demon- divided into two halves - one sitions they hold and the parties cided to contain the gang’s ac- two charge-sheets and 15 more etisation. “warring against corruption and they belong to. tivities with an iron hand. charge-sheets were ready to be “They didn’t allow parliament black money” and the other of a Stating that a Special Inves- After the death of Nayeem, fi led. to function as they were not “handful who are shielding the tigation Team (SIT) of the state people living in fear had a sigh of During the debate, Congress Workers adjust electricity cables set up temporarily on ready to debate demonetisation,” corrupt”. police is doing its job effi ciently relief and his victims came out to legislator Jeevan Reddy said an the banks of the River Ganges in Allahabad yesterday, said Modi, days after almost the Continuing to target the Con- and in an impartial manner, Rao lodge complaints, he said. Police impartial CBI probe was neces- in preparation for the annual Hindu religious fair of entire winter session of parlia- gress, Modi accused it of “ruin- said there was no need for hand- registered 174 cases. They exam- sary as politicians from all par- Magh Mela. The event is held every year on the banks of ment was virtually washed out ing the country” for the sake of ing over the case to the CBI. ined 741 witnesses and arrested ties were suspected to have had Triveni Sangam - the confluence of the three great rivers with opposition protests over the its political interest. The chief minister made a 124. links with Nayeem. He wanted Ganga (Ganges), Yamuna and the mystical Saraswati government’s November 8 deci- Encouraging people to go for statement in the assembly on the The chief minister said dur- the government to produce Nay- during the Hindu month of Magh which corresponds to sion to ban Rs500 and Rs1,000 cashless transactions, Modi ridi- activities of Nayeem and his as- ing the raids on the gang’s eem’s diary and other materials mid January- mid February. notes to curb black money, cor- culed the Congress for its oppo- sociates. hideouts, police seized 21 fire- in the court. ruption and terror funding. sition. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 20, 2016 17 INDIA Five IM activists sentenced to death over twin blasts

Agencies when two bombs strapped to act, have been awarded the death appeal the verdict, which was nounced, the convicts showed the fi rst case in which any mem- Bhatkal, once India’s most Hyderabad bicycles exploded in a crowded sentence,” a lawyer involved in passed by a special NIA court af- no emotion. ber of the Indian Mujahideen wanted man, was arrested in the marketplace in Hyderabad. the case told reporters. ter examining 157 witnesses. “They were absolutely nor- have been convicted and sen- eastern state of Bihar in August Riyaz, who allegedly orches- “The judge said that after go- The hearing was closed to the mal. They were not angry or tenced. 2013, on the border with Nepal. Hyderabad court yester- trated the explosions, is on the ing through the entire record media. Tight security arrange- showed any remorse or repent- The public prosecutor termed The banned Indian Muja- day sentenced two alleged run and remains on the nation’s that this case especially, on facts ments were made since morn- ance,” he said. the verdict a victory for investi- hideen came to public attention Aleaders of a homegrown most-wanted list while the other and circumstances, falls under ing at Cherlapally Jail, where the Earlier, the convicts submit- gations and for people who came in November 2007 following se- militant group and three others four were in court. the category of rarest of rare.” special court pronounced the ted letters to the court stating out as witnesses. rial blasts in Uttar Pradesh. to death over twin bomb blasts Apart from the 18 dead, 131 The Supreme Court says capi- judgement. that they have no confi dence They include witnesses who It has been accused of a string in 2013 that killed 18 people. people were wounded, accord- tal punishment should only be Public Prosecutor V Surender as the trial was conducted in a recorded their statements re- of attacks since then, in Mum- Yasin Bhatkal, his brother Ri- ing to the National Investigation carried out in “the rarest of rare” Rao said the court asked the hasty manner. garding the stay of the accused bai, Bengaluru, New Delhi and yaz – alleged co-founders of the Agency (NIA), which carried out cases in India, among a dwin- convicts if they have anything to After taking the letters into in Mangluru, their visit to Hy- Pune among other locations. Indian Mujahideen – and three a probe into the case. dling group of nations that still say but they just asked the judge consideration, the judge pro- derabad, stay in Qutbullapur on The group is thought to be the associates were found guilty “All fi ve, who were charged have the death penalty. to pronounce his sentence. nounced the sentence. the city outskirts, purchase of largest in a network of homeg- of the blasts in February 2013, with murder, treason, terrorist The lawyer said all fi ve would After the sentence was pro- According to the NIA, this is pressure cookers and cycles. rown Islamic militant groups. NIA indicts JeM chief over Pathankot terror attack

Agencies The presentation of a charge- New Delhi sheet to a trial court wraps up India’s investigation into the 18-hour siege at the Pathankot ndia’s top counter-terrorism air base in Punjab in which seven agency yesterday charged Pa- security personnel and the four Ikistan-based militant group assailants were killed. Jaish-e-Mohamed (JeM), its The attack, which came a week chief and three others with per- after Prime Minister Narendra petrating a deadly attack on an Modi paid an impromptu visit Indian Air Force base in January. to his Pakistani counterpart, The National Investigation Nawaz Sharif, derailed a tenta- Agency (NIA) stated that all tive thaw between the nuclear- four gunmen who stormed the armed rivals. air base on January 2 were Paki- A joint investigation into the People queue up outside an ATM in New Delhi yesterday. There was no respite in sight for the cash-strapped people. stani nationals and that Maulana attack went nowhere and ten- Masood Azhar, the top leader of sion between the neighbours has JeM, was the mastermind behind risen over the course of a year the attack. marked by protests and cross- “All the terrorists are accused border clashes in Jammu and of waging war against India. This Kashmir. was a criminal conspiracy to at- Investigators in New Delhi tack our security infrastructure,” said the charge-sheet and evi- said a senior offi cial at the NIA in dence would be off ered to Paki- RBI puts fresh curbs on New Delhi. stani authorities to take action The others named in the against the perpetrators of the charge-sheet are Mufti Abdul attack. Rauf Asghar, Shahid Latif and “We want Pakistan to arrest Kashif Jan. Maulana Masood Azhar and he Mufti Asghar is a brother of should be deported to India,” Maulana Azhar and the number said a senior home ministry of- deposits of old notes two in the JeM. fi cial who is overseeing the in- The JeM chief and others have vestigation. New rule shows the get rid of their old notes – some deposited only once between of 99% Indians with its demon- fended the scheme, saying it been accused of setting up ter- The charge-sheet cited DNA government has no direction 86% of all bills in circulation – now and December 30,” the etisation decision. will bring billions in black mon- rorist camps in Pakistan and Pa- samples, food packets from Pa- or clear policy, says ahead of next week’s deadline. ministry said. At a rally in poll-bound Ut- ey back into the formal system. kistan-administered Kashmir to kistan found in woodlands near Congress Yesterday the RBI said that “We want people to deposit tar Pradesh, Gandhi stopped “I said this at the start, and carry out terror attacks on India. the air base, a walkie-talkie set people would now only be al- old notes at one time. After De- people from hurling invective will repeat again today, these “During the training, these and a note found in a car used by Agencies lowed to make a single de- cember 30, things will improve against Modi, saying he is the diffi culties that you have been terrorists were made to undergo the militants to drive to the base. New Delhi posit amounting to more than at a great speed,” Minister of prime minister and “we must facing will start easing after De- extensive motivational, physi- One of the gunmen spoke Rs5,000 before the deadline, State for Finance Arjun Ram not say ‘murdabad’ (down with) cember 30,” he said yesterday, cal, military and tactical training to his mother in Pakistan on a and would be required to ex- Meghwal told reporters here. for anyone”. addressing a political rally in regimen to radicalise them and to mobile phone to express his last he Reserve Bank of India plain why they hadn’t deposited Opposition parties attacked He said the Congress would Uttar Pradesh. prepare them for jihad,” it said. wish and called for a feast for his yesterday imposed fresh the money earlier. the move, which comes as have assisted any move of the The prime minister also hinted “NIA investigators collected friends after his death, accord- Trestrictions on deposits “Tenders of Specifi ed Bank many people are already facing government to weed out cor- at more tax raids, arrests and suffi cient evidence in terms of ing to intercepts by the NIA. of banned currency notes into Notes (SBNs) in excess of a shortage of cash with ATMS ruption and black money from bank scrutiny in the coming days. statements of the witnesses to Nasir Hussain of Vehari in Pa- bank accounts, days before the Rs5,000 into a bank account running dry as thousands India but “the decision on In the past few weeks sev- establish that the terrorists had kistan made multiple calls to his December 30 deadline to swap will be received for credit only throng to them. demonetisation was neither eral people have been arrested been trained, motivated and handlers and relatives from the old rupee bills for new ones. once during the remaining peri- “There are elderly, house- against corruption, nor against in surprise raids, revealing the radicalised by Azhar and Rauf,” two mobile phones he and other Prime Minister Narendra od till December 30,” the central wives, poor and students who black money”. role of bank offi cials who have the statement said. terrorists snatched from two Modi unleashed chaos last bank said. were waiting for the long queues He said: “We want to root out allegedly facilitated the illegal “It has also been established locals while the group made its month with his shock move to The fi nance ministry ex- to become smaller,” the opposi- corruption from India. If the exchange of old currency notes. through legal intercepts and way to the Indian Air Force base, withdraw high-denomination plained why it took the new tion Congress Party spokesman government takes any decisions “Some people thought that statements of witnesses that according to the NIA charge- Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes from step. Randeep S Surjewala told re- against corruption, we will sup- they could get away by simply Kashif Jan and Shahid Latif had sheet. circulation, in an eff ort to tackle “It is expected that, by now, porters in Delhi. port it 100%.” depositing their unaccounted guided, equipped and launched The charge-sheet alleged that widespread corruption and tax most people would have de- “This new rule shows that The Congress leader said the (black) money in the banks. the four terrorists who carried Hussain during his 18-minute evasion. posited such old notes. Keeping Modi government has no direc- decision to pull out nearly 86% They underestimated the gov- out the terrorist attack at the conversation with a woman, The decision triggered a cash this in view and to reduce the tion or clear policy”, he added. of the country’s total currency ernment. IAF station, killing and injuring whom he addressed as his moth- crisis, with long queues mate- queues in the banks, it has been Congress vice president Ra- in circulation “was against the They are trapped and will innocent persons and destroying er, asked her to record his con- rialising outside banks across decided that amounts exceed- hul Gandhi said the government poor people of India”. now be caught using technol- public property,” it said. versation on her mobile set. the country as people tried to ing Rs5,000 in old notes can be has taken blood out of the veins But Modi has repeatedly de- ogy,” Modi warned.

EPFO cuts Elections in fi ve states likely Who’s the fairest of them all? interest rate The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation yesterday cut interest rate from February second week on deposits to 8.65% from 8.8%, said a member of its apex board of trustees. “The IANS the beginning of March, before Nagar panchayats), Bhandara Central Board of Trustees New Delhi school board examinations start. (four) and Gadchiroli (two). (CBT) has taken a decision According to the sources, the However, in terms of number to reduce the interest rate commission has sent directives of seats, both the Congress and on EPFO’s deposits to 8.65% ssembly elections in fi ve to the state governments to con- the BJP scored equally - bag- as per the guidelines of the states including Uttar sult the watchdog before decid- ging 108 each of the total 379 Comptroller Audit General APradesh and Punjab are ing on the dates of the board and seats results declared till 7pm - (CAG), which objected to most likely to be held between intermediate examinations. and another around 30 yet to be 8.8% interest rate,” CBT February and March, sources Maharashtra’s opposition declared, said a state Election member and INTUC vice said yesterday. Congress bagged the president- Commission spokesperson. president Ashok Singh They said that the Election ship of eight municipal councils The NCP came second with 77 said. Admitting that trade Commission (EC) may announce of the total 18 civic bodies as re- seats in its kitty, followed by the union leaders and cadres the dates by the last week of De- sults were announced yesterday. Shiv Sena in the third position were not happy with the cember. Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Of the other municipal coun- with 38. board’s decision to lower Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur cils where elections were held, Among the smaller parties, the interest rate on their will elect their new assemblies the ruling BJP bagged seven the Hyderabad-based All India savings, Singh said they by next year. presidentships, while its ally Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen would appeal to the finance In Uttar Pradesh, there may be Shiv Sena scored a zero. (AIMIM) bagged fi ve – two in ministry to retain the rate a four-cornered contest among The Nationalist Congress Aurangabad district’s Kannad given in the last fiscal year. the ruling Samajwadi Party, Ba- Party bagged one council presi- Municipal Council, two in Ar- “We have conveyed to the hujan Samaj Party (BSP), the dentship and the other two were dhapur Nagar Parishad and one board chairman (Labour Bharatiya Janata Party and the bagged by an independent and a in Mahoor Nagar Parishad, both and Employment Minister Congress while in Punjab, the regional party. falling in Nanded. Bandaru Dattatreya) our new entrant Aam Aadmi Party The third phase of the ongo- Independents took a signifi cant unhappiness on lowering has made the contest triangular. ing civic body elections in Ma- chunk of 28 seats, including 17 the interest rate by 0.15%, The sources said the EC is harashtra were held on Sunday in various councils in Bhandara, which has been calculated likely to go for dates between in Aurangabad (three councils), seven in Nanded, three in Gadchi- Macaques monkeys play on a motorbike in the grounds of a temple in Jaipur in Rajasthan. on the basis of the CAG the second week of February and Nanded (nine councils and two roli and one in Aurangabad. guidelines.” Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, December 20, 2016 LATIN AMERICA

PEOPLE CRIME INDUSTRIAL ACTION DISASTER MILITANCY Fugitive ex-governor has Men detained after bodies Argentina strike Ecuador quake leaves one Two soldiers killed in left Mexico, says paper found in back of truck halts flights, trains dead, serious damage alleged ELN rebel attack

A former governor of a Mexican state whose Ten men were arrested in Mexico after they were Flights, trains, buses and subways were A 5.8-magnitude earthquake followed by more Two soldiers were killed in an attack the whereabouts have been unknown since he found travelling with five bodies in the back of a paralysed in Argentina yesterday morning than 20 aftershocks rattled Ecuador’s Pacific Colombian army has blamed on National stepped down two months ago over corruption pick-up truck, prosecutors in the north-western when transportation workers went on strike coast before dawn yesterday, causing one death Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas.The soldiers, who charges had left the country by early November, state of Jalisco said. The pick-up was stopped over President Mauricio Macri’s moves and heavy damage to hotels and homes in resort were on a motorcycle patrol in Arauca, in eastern local media said yesterday. Javier Duarte, former by army and police forces after they received to block an income tax cut. Flag carrier towns, off icials said. The northwestern province Colombia on the border with Venezuela, were governor of Veracruz, left the county to “attend to an anonymous call about a convoy of trucks Aerolineas Argentinas cancelled all flights for of Esmeraldas — hit hard by a devastating gunned down by “terrorists of the ELN” travelling various issues,” according to a statement by his driven by armed men, chief prosecutor Eduardo the morning, and the Buenos Aires subway temblor in April — bore the brunt of the new in a vehicle, the army said in a statement. lawyer in a court document dated November 4, Almaguer said. The men, who were detained on and commuter train system ground to a halt quake, too. A 75-year woman died of a heart Reinforcements were rushed to the area to search Mexican daily Reforma said. The newspaper did the outskirts of the state capital Guadalajara, as the Argentine Confederation of Transport attack as a result of the quake, said provincial for the culprits, the statement added. The ELN is not say what country he had gone to. In a case that were heading to an unpopulated area to bury Workers (CATT) staged a walkout until noon. governor Gabriel Rivera. It caused a lot of Colombia’s second-largest rebel group after the has embarrassed the country’s ruling party, Duarte the bodies, he said. The victims were reportedly Buses were hit by a two-hour stoppage. damage to resort facilities in the coastal towns Farc. The ELN and the government began secret resigned in mid-October, denying any wrongdoing, wrapped in plastic bags, had had their arms tied Macri is fighting an opposition bill that would of Atacames and Tonsupa, and many homes also talks in January 2014 to pave the way for off icial in order to face charges of embezzlement, money behind their backs, showed signs of torture and substantially lower an income tax that mostly collapsed, Rivera told Radio Publica. Classes in peace talks, but the process has stumbled over laundering and organised crime. included three minors. hits the middle class. schools were suspended for the day. the issue of hostages and prisoners.

Argentina shoppers Troops guard fl ock to Chile malls streets in Reuters Santiago

hopping bags in hand, Sil- via Lopez enthusiastically Ssurveys the racks of chil- Venezuela dren’s clothes in the Costanera Centre, Chile’s largest mall, seeking Christmas presents for her grandchildren. Like thousands of her com- patriots, the pensioner from Argentina has travelled to San- after unrest tiago’s well-stocked shopping centres to search for bargains. Reuters More than 350 outlets have ro has only himself to blame for In the year to October, some Bolivar/Tachira, Venezuela been ransacked there since Fri- incompetent economic policies 2.3mn Argentines entered Chile, day, business leaders say. that have stirred Venezuelans’ up 55% from the same period last The opposition said there had anger. year, according to statistics from oldiers yesterday patrolled been fi ve fatalities in Bolivar Opponents are now calling for the tourist board. areas worst hit by violence state, citing a local newspaper Maduro to resign after having Many come to shop. Ssparked by Venezuela’s investigation, but Reuters could had their push for a referendum In the fi rst nine months of cash shortage while neighbour- not confi rm that. to remove him thwarted by elec- 2016, they spent $651mn in Chile, hood groups mounted street In the Andean highland town tion and judicial bodies who sel- representing about a third of the barricades and businessmen of La Fria, in Tachira state, rubble dom go against the government. country’s total tourist income. raked through their damaged and packages lay strewn on the The 54-year-old former bus The infl ux refl ects an advanta- shops. ground yesterday, witnesses said. driver and foreign minister, who geous exchange rate but also how More than 300 people have Eight Chinese-owned food replaced Chavez in 2013, has the economies of the two South been arrested, mainly in south- stores were among the outlets seen his popularity plunge dur- American neighbours have di- ern Bolivar state, after several ransacked, the local governor ing a three-year recession. His verged in recent years. days of protests and looting over said. Some local government of- term runs to January 2019. While Chile has one of the last week’s elimination of Ven- fi ces also were attacked, one by Meanwhile a jetload of new most open economies in the ezuela’s largest currency bill. arsonists. currency has arrived in Ven- world, with well-known re- A 14-year-old boy was shot National Guard soldiers stood ezuela. tailers from the US and Europe dead while dozens of people watch. “There are 272 crates of fi lling its malls, Argentina saw have been injured and hundreds 50,000 500-bolivar bills,” Ven- international companies leave of stores ransacked. Maduro said the currency ezuela central bank’s number- under tough protectionist meas- Some rioters targeted Chinese- measure was needed to two offi cial Jose Khan said on ures in recent years. owned shops, witnesses said, fi ght back against criminals state-run television. A year ago, business-friendly prompting concern in Beijing. he said are hoarding Khan said this fi rst shipment President Mauricio Macri was In response to the mayhem, bolivars to fuel contraband would be followed by two more, elected, promising change in Ar- Venezuela’s socialist President, and sabotage his left ist adding up to 60mn units of the gentina. One immediate eff ect Nicolas Maduro, has postponed administration 500-bolivar bill. Denominations has been an often less stringent the elimination of the 100-boli- of up to 20,000 bolivares are ex- enforcement of strict customs var notes until January 2 in order Maduro said the currency pected to follow. rules at airports, which makes it to allow time for new larger bills measure was needed to fi ght Maduro had earlier blamed the easier for shoppers re-entering to enter circulation. back against criminals he said delay in the notes arrival on “US the country to bring in goods The removal of the 100-bo- are hoarding bolivars to fuel treasury department sabotage.” purchased abroad. livar bills, before replacement contraband and sabotage his The bills were made in Sweden. The phenomenon recalls the notes were in place, caused leftist administration. Maduro’s government also 1990s, when Argentine shoppers chaos with many people unable He also accused political op- blames speculators for hoarding to Florida were known as the to pay for basic goods and trans- ponents of whipping up vio- the 100-bolivar bill. The coun- “deme dos” — Spanish for “I’ll actions in the busy run-up to lence, at the behest of US Presi- try’s borders with Brazil and take two.” Christmas. dent Barack Obama, to seek a Colombia have been shut until Chile’s natural attractions are That heaped hardship onto coup against him. January 2 in a bid to boost secu- a big draw for many people, such Venezuelans already suff ering Washington denies constant rity and put a dent in black mar- as law student Viviana Bianco, scarcities of food and the world’s accusations of meddling, al- keteering. who came to see the Atacama highest infl ation. though government supporters Analysts have warned there Desert. In Ciudad Bolivar, capital of recall US approval of a short- is a risk of unrest in Venezuela, But still she found it hard to the mineral-rich and jungle- lived coup against Maduro’s which Human Rights Watch says resist the bargains. covered Bolivar state, residents predecessor, Hugo Chavez, in is in the grips of a “humanitarian “If it’s half the price, we’re formed barricades in the streets 2002 during the George W Bush crisis.” Anti-government pro- going to end up shopping,” she Venezuela’s National Guard soldiers in riot gear keep watch on the streets of La Fria, Tachira to protect themselves and shops administration. tests in 2014 led to clashes that said. state, Venezuela. from further violence. Opposition leaders say Madu- left 43 people dead. Dissidents detained Beauty queen Ex-Brazil leader Lula to face fi fth graft trial after Castro’s death Reuters dent’s lawyers said Lula was in- Rio de Janeiro nocent of the charges. Lula is already facing a sepa- AFP the Patriotic Union of Cuba leader Berta Soler. It was a rate corruption trial before Havana (Unpacu), had called the dem- step backward for the Ladies ormer Brazilian leader Moro, who is expected to issue onstrations to demand that po- in White. They long have been Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva a verdict in late January or early litical prisoners be set free. considered the only dissidents Fwill face a fi fth corruption February. uthorities across Cuba Castro insists there are no the Cuban government allowed trial, a judge ruled yesterday, as If convicted, Lula could face have cracked down on political prisoners, just law- to march regularly; they hold charges pile up against the man more than 15 years in prison. No Adissidents, arresting breakers. Ferrer said he was one weekly protest outside a seen as a front-runner to win the dates have been set for the start dozens, keeping others from detained in Santiago, Cuba’s church in Havana. But not this 2018 presidential election. of the other trials. marching in Havana, and de- second biggest city, at a police Sunday, Soler said. Judge Sergio Moro, who has Lula is the biggest fi gure to be taining an American human unit known as Micro 9. Kimberley Motley, an Amer- overseen the bulk of Brazil’s caught up in Brazil’s anti-cor- rights lawyer, activists said. “They threatened me, and ican human rights lawyer, was biggest graft probe into a long- ruption push, which began with In the fi rst such anti-dis- said by calling the demonstra- briefl y detained on Friday along standing kickback scheme at the so-called “Car Wash” probe sident operation since Fidel tion I was facilitating public with Cuban activists Gorki state-run oil company Petro- into Petrobras nearly three years Castro’s death last month, disorder....disobedience and Avila and Luis Alberto Ma- bras, ruled that Lula, his wife ago. President Raul Castro seemed espionage,” Ferrer said. rino when they planned to visit Marisa and seven others will The unprecedented investiga- to indicate the Americas’ only Most arrests of dissidents in graffi ti artist Danilo Maldona- stand trial. tion has led to charges against one-party communist state roundups are brief. Sometimes, do, known as “El Sexto,” in jail. The latest case involves the 200 people and 81 convictions. was in no mood for dissent. the authorities prevent them Maldonado was also arrested acquisition of land that was to The charges involve at least A roundup in the country’s from leaving their homes to at- on November 26, a day after the be used for the Lula Institute, 6.4bn reais in bribes. east snared dozens and derailed tend a protest or march. death of Cuban revolutionary the 71-year-old leftist politi- Lula’s former fi nance min- street protests planned to de- In Havana, the award-win- icon Fidel Castro, after painting cian’s think tank, along with an ister, Antonio Palocci, was also mand that political prisoners ning Ladies in White group, on a wall in Havana the phrase apartment in a Sao Paulo sub- charged in the latest case, along be freed. which presses for the release of “He’s gone,” her relatives say. urb. with Marcelo Odebrecht, the “There was a joint operation jailed dissidents who are their According to online news- Prosecutors allege that Latin former chief executive of Ode- in Santiago and Palma Soriano. relatives, said that at least 20 of paper 14 y medio, Motley left America’s biggest construction brecht. They searched four homes, and its activists were “under siege,” Cuba at the request of the gov- fi rm, Odebrecht, paid 12.9mn The former CEO has turned so far we have 42 reported ar- kept from attending their ernment. She tweeted “Thanks reais ($3.8mn) for the land and state’s witness along with nearly rests — 20 in Santiago, 12 in weekly march. for all the love and support the apartment as a bribe to Lula 80 other executives from the Palma and 10 in Havana,” Jose “At least 20 homes were safely back home in the US. Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie Del Valle wins the Miss World in exchange for public con- fi rm. Their statements are ex- Daniel Ferrer said. blocking the residents to keep Will not stop fi ghting to free @ 2016 competition in Oxen Hill, Maryland, US. tracts. pected to implicate more than The 46-year-old, who heads us from marching,” said group dmmelsexto.” In an e-mail, the ex-presi- 200 politicians. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 20, 2016 19 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

Anti-polio campaign Pakistan govt under pressure over meetings with militants

AFP Maulana Mohamed Ahmed Lu- the request for a special meeting Islamabad dhianvi. to debate the report. Ludhianvi heads the political The interior minister has de- wing of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi scribed the growing criticism as Pakistani opposition militant group, which claimed “one-sided”. party yesterday sought the hospital attack along with Overall levels of violence have Aan emergency session of the Islamic State. decreased in Pakistan since the parliament after a senior judge army stepped up operations in slammed the country’s top law “The report has raised the border regions and major enforcement offi cial for holding the issue of the Interior cities in the wake of a Taliban meetings with leaders of banned Ministry inviting and school massacre of more than militant groups. holding meetings with 150 people, mostly students, in The move by cricketer- leaders of banned militant December 2014. turned-politician Imran Khan’s organisations” But the judge’s report said the Pakistani health worker administers polio vaccine drops to a child during a door-to-door polio campaign in Karachi yesterday. Paki- Tehreek-i-Insaaf (Movement government had a long way to stan is one of only two countries in the world where polio, a crippling childhood disease, remains endemic. for Justice) party is set to put the The two groups jointly also go. government under added pres- claimed an attack on a police “Proscribed organisations sure as it fi ghts a major corrup- academy in October that killed continue their illegal activities tion case against Prime Minister 61 people and one on a shrine and new terrorist organisations Nawaz Sharif. that killed 52 in November. All are proscribed after long delays,” Last week a report by Su- three attacks were in the south- it said. preme Court Justice Qazi Isa into western province of Balochistan. The resurgence of Lashkar- a suicide bombing of a hospital “The report has raised the e-Jhangvi in the southwest, PIA mocked for goat sacrifi ce in August that killed 73 people issue of the Interior Ministry together with its links to the strongly criticised the govern- inviting and holding meetings Islamic State group, are a ma- ment for failing to implement with leaders of banned militant jor blow to long-running and AFP “This is no joke: #Pakistan Before December 7 PIA But a 2014 analysis by US anti-terror policies. organisations,” a statement by partly successful eff orts to quell Islamabad invents a new safety meas- had been crash-free for 10 statistician Nate Silver based It singled out Interior Min- Imran Khan’s party said. a homegrown insurgency that ure for its crashing air car- years, and received a 7 out of on data from 1985-2014, found ister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan The speaker of parliament will sprang up in the aftermath of the rier #PIA,” tweeted user Asim 7 rating on the highly-cited the airline to have had a con- for holding meetings with cleric now decide whether to accept 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. akistan’s embattled na- Yousafzai. AirlineRatings.com, which sistently high number of what tional carrier has been Another user Rahoon Rashid launched its annual listing in he termed “near-misses” — an Pwidely mocked for sacri- said: “(Black goats) don’t keep 2013. indicator of risk. fi cing a goat next to a plane to the planes up and fl ying, effi - ward off bad luck, weeks after ciency does”. Leading newspa- one of the country’s worst air per Dawn ran a front-page story PM engages PIA for Bosnia visit Pakistani cinemas show Indian disasters. yesterday headlined “PIA: on a A Pakistan International wing and a prayer”. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will leave for a three-day visit to Airlines (PIA) turboprop plane The sacrifi ce was confi rmed Bosnia today in a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Boeing 777 air- built by European manufac- by PIA spokesman Danyal Gi- craft, putting the cash-strapped national flag carrier under additional fi lms again as tensions ease turer ATR plummeted into a lani, who said it was a “gesture financial burden. mountain in a northern region of gratitude” by some employ- Since the PIA aircraft, which carries around 400 passengers, will re- on December 7, bursting into ees before the resumption of main under the use of the prime minister for three days, it will not only Reuters The tension worsened in Indian fi lms are popular both flames and killing all 47 people fl ights of the airline’s ATR fl eet. aff ect the airline’s flight schedule but also cause millions of rupees of Karachi September after militants at the cinema and on bootlegged on board. It was not sanctioned by losses to the national exchequer. killed 18 soldiers in a raid on DVDs in Pakistan. The animal slaughter, which management, Gilani said. Interestingly, the prime minister is engaging the PIA plane at a time an Indian army base, an at- “If Bollywood fi lms are not re- took place on Sunday at Islama- PIA grounded its 10 remain- when 15 aircraft of the national airline, including A-20s, Boeing 777s akistani movie theatres tack New Delhi blamed on Pa- sumed, cinemas will be forced to bad airport and was captured in ing ATR planes in the wake of and nine ATRs (Avions de Transport Régional), have already been began screening Bolly- kistan. close down,” Gultasab said. a photograph which went viral, the disaster pending detailed grounded on technical grounds. Pwood fi lms again yester- After exchanges of fi re across Nadeem Mandviwalla, was met with derision by many inspections. The ATR aircraft were grounded soon after the plane crash near Have- day, ending an 11-week boycott the Line of Control in Kashmir whose Mandviwalla Enter- social media users — who said The airline’s chairman Mu- lian on December 7 that claimed the lives of all 47 people on board. in response to political and mili- — claimed by both countries tainment runs eight cinemas the carrier was forgoing safety hammad Azam Saigol last After the allocation of Boeing 777 aircraft for the prime minister’s visit, tary tensions with India, theatre and occupied in part by each — in Karachi and the capital, standards in favour of supersti- week tendered his resignation PIA will be left with 20 planes. offi cials said. cinema owners announced the Islamabad, said the resump- tion. citing “personal reasons”. Some theatre owners said the boycott. tion of Bollywood films was restoration was because tension a step towards warming rela- was easing, but others said it was “Someone has to take a step tions. because audiences had dropped towards bringing normalcy “Someone has to take a step so sharply since the boycott that back so we have initiated towards bringing normalcy began on Sept 30. the process to bring back back so we have initiated the Unknown gunmen kidnap Red Cross staff In Karachi, the Atrium Cin- peace and harmony” process to bring back peace ema started with a screening of and harmony,” Mandviwalla the Indian sports romantic com- Pakistan’s state censor soon said. DPA was kidnapped while others ber with them. with at least three foreigners edy Freaky Ali. Still, the screen- imposed a ban on Indian content “As for losses, everyone knows Kabul have been let go,” Danish said that they were kidnapped in the capital Kabul ings were kept low key, with no and channels on cable television. that the suspension (of the boy- Ahmad Ramin Ayaz said, kidnapped on the main Kabul- this year. publicity posters and scant at- However, the boycott has cost cott) is going to curtail huge while refusing to disclose the Kunduz highway and he added In Kunduz and elsewhere, the tendance in theatres visited by Pakistani cinemas dearly. losses on both sides.” nknown gunmen kid- nationality of the employee. that they were on the way to Taliban has been stopping hun- Reuters. “The absence of Bollywood Pakistan’s domestic fi lm in- napped a staff member Sayed Mahmood Danish, the Mazar-e-Sahrif from Kunduz dreds of vehicles for months Relations between the nu- content from theatres resulted in dustry has seen a revival in re- Uof The International spokesman for the governor of when their vehicle was stopped. now, searching them for the clear-armed neighbours have losing over 80% of customers,” cent years, but is dwarfed by In- Committee of the Red Cross Kunduz, had earlier spoken of According to the sources, employees of NGOs, members been more fraught than usual estimated Khurram Gultasab, dia’s Bollywood. (ICRC) in Afghanistan’s north- three Afghans and one inter- the incident happened at 11am of the government or security since an crackdown by Indian general manager at Super Cin- Pakistani actors have increas- ern Kunduz province, a Red national ICRC employee having (0630 GMT) in Aliabad district. forces. security forces on dissent in emas, which runs 10 cinemas in ingly been appearing in big Cross spokesman said on Mon- been kidnapped. The kidnapping of foreign Dozens have been kidnapped, Indian-controlled Kashmir be- cities across Pakistan’s Punjab budget Bollywood fi lms in the day. It is probable that the abduc- nationals has increased in Af- and some of them have been gan in July. province. past few years. “One member of the ICRC tors kept the foreign staff mem- ghanistan, killed.

Pakistan repatriation push, rising hostility alarms Afghan refugees

Reuters dation in her home, a small mud has been systematic harassment Sana, whose Afghan father Islamabad/Peshawar house. of Afghans living in Pakistan moved to Pakistan at the age of “How can I leave my children, and say their country has dem- eight, has tried but failed to gain husband and entire family of in- onstrated great generosity to a place at the University of Pe- lmost 40 years after seek- laws?” said Bibi, who asked that the refugee population, despite shawar. ing sanctuary in Pakistan, her real name not be used. severe economic problems of its “I finished college in Pesha- ANusheen Bibi lives in fear Pakistan has some 1.5mn own. war, where I was born. But the of being expelled from the only registered refugees, one of the Like Bibi, Dilshad Begum is management tells me the quota country she has ever known. largest such populations in the also facing the threat of separa- for Afghan students is full al- Bibi was only three when her world, according to the UN refu- tion from her spouse. ready, so I can’t get in,” she family fl ed the 1979 Soviet inva- gee agency (UNHCR). More than Begum was born in Mardan, said. sion of Afghanistan — some of a million others are estimated to a district of Pakistan’s north- “It is extremely disturbing for more than 6mn Afghan refugees live there unregistered. western province of Khyber Pa- me to learn that after all these who crossed into neighbouring Although repatriation is khtunkhwa. years, we are still being treated Pakistan and Iran. not compulsory, Islamabad In 2003, she married an Af- as foreigners.” They soon made a new life in has stepped up pressure to ghan man whose family migrated Many who have returned to northern Pakistan where Bibi send people back and numbers across the border. Afghanistan are struggling to re- grew up, got married and even- have risen sharply in recent But unlike foreign women, for- integrate in a country they barely tually gave birth. months as Afghan-Indian rela- eign men cannot acquire Pakistani know. But growing animosity to- tions strengthened and those citizenship through marriage. Malala’s family recently left wards Afghan refugees com- between India and Pakistan The couple grew increasingly for Afghanistan but the student, bined with a push from the Pa- soured. concerned about their future who declined to give her full kistani government to repatriate UNHCR said 67,057 refugees following brief clashes between name, decided to stay in Paki- thousands of Afghans has left were permanently repatriated Pakistani and Afghan security stan to complete her studies. the 40-year-old feeling vulner- in August, up from 12,962 the forces at the Torkham border “I’m fi nding it diffi cult to con- able. month before. crossing in June. tinue because my dad is having a Under Pakistan’s laws, a for- In all, more than 380,000 reg- “My husband sold his prop- hard time establishing his busi- eign woman can acquire Paki- istered Afghan refugees have re- erty in Afghanistan to establish ness in Afghanistan,” she said. stani citizenship by marrying turned home in 2016 so far, with his business in Pakistan,” Begum But the young woman says a local man, but Bibi has never more than 1.4mn still remaining said. she bears no ill will towards Pa- done the paperwork to change in Pakistan, UNHCR said. An Afghan family, who were living as refugees in Pakistan, carries bundles of supplies at a humanitarian “However, the government is kistan. her nationality. In September, Pakistan ex- aid station in Torkham, Afghanistan. now asking him to close down “I was born here and love this “I can’t even think about leav- tended Afghan refugees’ right his business, withdraw all the soil. No matter where I go, Pa- ing Pakistan,” the mother of fi ve to stay until March 2017, but re- increased, refugees and the UN- Many Afghans complain of for jobs and university places. money from his bank and move kistan will always have a special told the Thomson Reuters Foun- strictions and harassment have HCR say. discrimination when considered Pakistani offi cials deny there back to Afghanistan.” place in my heart,” she said. Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, December 20, 2016 PHILIPPINES Jeepney design contest Manila won’t ‘deviate from arbitration ruling on China’

Reuters Manila

he Philippines said yes- terday it will not “deviate Tfrom” an international tribunal ruling that rejected China’s extensive claims in the South China Sea but it must build trust with China before discussing “sensitive” bilateral issues. Children walk past a colourfully hand-painted jeepney designed by students of the Mapua Institute of Technology, during the sixth China rejected the July ruling Pinoy Ultimate Jeepney design competition at Resorts World Manila in Pasay City. by the Permanent Court of Ar- bitration in the Hague after the tribunal determined that China had breached the Philippines’ sovereign rights by endanger- Perfecto Yasay: hints on taking up sensitive issues ing its ships and fi shing and oil projects. such time that we achieve a trust Earlier, a former foreign min- The ruling, on a case brought level that will allow us to discuss ister, Albert del Rosario, said he President’s execution by the previous Philippine ad- the more sensitive issues in our was disturbed by the govern- ministration, soured relations bilateral relations,” Yasay said. ment’s setting aside of the tribu- with China but President Rod- The government reaffi rmed nal ruling while unwinding mili- rigo Duterte, who took offi ce in “its respect for and fi rm adher- tary dealings with the long-time the Philippines on June 30, has ence to this milestone ruling” ally the United States. plan is barbaric: critics sought to engage China, marking and would be “guided by its “The foregoing declarations a reversal in the foreign policy of parameters” when tackling the are most sadly being made after the old US ally. issue of maritime claims in the we had taken a fi rm rules-based AFP penalty in the world.” The Phil- Duterte’s remarks were alarm- A survey by Social Weather Duterte has played down the South China Sea, he said. position to defend what is ours Manila ippines abolished the death ing. Stations released yester- arbitration saying, saying it “I also wish to reiterate what — and won,” del Rosario said in a penalty in 2006 following fi erce “Setting a quota for ex- day showed while a major- would “take a back seat” during the president has stated in the statement. opposition to the penalty from ecutions is just too much. One ity backed Duterte’s drug war, talks in China in October. past that he will not deviate from “Now, we seem to be on a hilippine Catholic lead- the Catholic Church, the reli- death is too much because we 78% of Filipinos were worried On Saturday, he said he would the four corners of the ruling,” track to relinquish those gains ers and rights groups gion of 80% of Filipinos. are talking about lives,” Am- that they or someone in their “set aside” the ruling and would the minister said. that have been made to benefi t Pyesterday condemned as Before assuming offi ce in nesty International Philippines family would be a victim of “not impose anything on China”. Duterte said in a speech later our people.” “barbaric” President Rodrigo June, Duterte vowed to intro- vice chairman Romeo Cabarde extrajudicial killings. Foreign Minister Perfecto yesterday that “some day” he Del Rosario was instrumental Duterte’s plan to restore the duce executions by hanging, said. The survey also showed 71% Yasay issued a statement yes- would have to bring up the issue in challenging China’s so-called death penalty and execute “fi ve saying he did not want to waste Catholic leaders and rights said it was “very important” terday explaining that “revital- of the ruling with China but not nine-dash line on its maps, set- or six” criminals daily. bullets and believed snapping defenders have instead urged that police keep drug suspects ising” ties with China was one now. Instead, he raised the pos- ting out its extensive South Chi- Duterte, 71, has made reviv- the spinal cord was more hu- the government to reform a they arrested alive. of Duterte’s priorities and the sibility of sharing any resources na Sea claim, and fi ling the case ing the death penalty in the mane than a fi ring squad. slow and corrupt justice system Police have repeatedly said government had been working in disputed area. in The Hague. mainly Catholic nation his top Duterte said he viewed the which they said was likely to they only shot at criminals to build “confi dence and trust” “If you want, let’s just develop Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and legislative priority as part of death penalty not as a means to send innocent people to death who fought back but the na- with China. the oil there, we can share,” he Vietnam also have claims on a brutal war on crime that has deter crime but for retribution. row. tion’s rights agency has ques- “This we will continue to do said in a speech to government the waterway where about $5tn killed 5,300 people. His allies in the House of Secillano said bishops tioned this argument and has for the foreseeable future, until employees, referring to China. worth of goods passes every year. “There was death pen- Representatives quickly pushed planned to dissuade lawmak- begun investigating cases. alty before but nothing hap- for the bill and said they would ers from voting for the death Yesterday, Philippine Na- pened. Return that to me and vote on it by January. penalty and would attend tional Police chief Ronald dela I would do it every day: fi ve or The United Nations’ human congressional debates next Rosa apologised for police Fake cigarette traders arrested in Bukidnon six (criminals). That’s for real,” rights chief, Zeid Ra’ad al- month. killings of criminal suspects Duterte said Saturday. Hussein, said in a letter to the Duterte’s crime war has but insisted these were done National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Region 10 Corporation to Rabago. Similarly, Sabala’s Suzuki An offi cial at the infl uen- Philippine congress this month drawn international criticism in self-defence. agents arrested three more vendors of fake ciga- Utility Vehicle (KVW-504) used in the transport and tial Catholic Bishops’ Confer- that reviving the death penalty from the United States and “Lord, I hope you forgive us rettes in separate locations in Northern Mindanao delivery of the counterfeit items was confiscated as ence of the Philippines said the would violate the country’s in- United Nations over concerns even if the ones we kill are bad recently, Manila Times reported. Suspects Ricardo part of the evidence. Another team of NBI agents Church “totally opposed” Du- ternational obligations. about alleged extrajudicial people,” Dela Rosa said during Rabago Jr and Melodina Sabala of Gusa, Cagayan arrested a third suspect, Christian Uy of Barangay terte’s plan. But on Saturday Duterte in- killings and a breakdown in the police’s Christmas party. de Oro City were separately arrested while in the Poblacion in Valencia City, while in the act of selling “The Philippines will be sisted executions were neces- the rule of law. “If the life of a policeman act of selling 6,000 and 4,000 packs, respec- 13,750 packs of fake Mighty and Marvels cigarette viewed as very barbaric,” said sary to fi ght the drug scourge Duterte won May elections will be lost just to preserve the tively of fake Mighty and Marvels cigarette brand brand variants in his own sari-sari (variety) store Father Jerome Secillano, execu- which he said was “destroying” in a landslide on a promise to life of a criminal, that’s a great variants in diff erent areas of Barangay Poblacion, upon a complaint of Mighty Corp. The operations tive secretary at its public af- the nation. eradicate drugs in society — a injustice.” San Fernando in Bukidnon. The NBI agents also were covered by search warrants issued by Judge fairs offi ce. While his aides dismiss his mandate he often cited to de- Dela Rosa added Duterte seized sales invoice of the fake cigarettes issued Isobel Barroso of the Regional Trial Court Branch in “It’s going to make the Phil- incendiary statements as hy- fend his controversial cam- gave police hefty bonuses for by Happy Star Food Manufacturing and Marketing Malaybalay City. ippines the capital of death perbole, rights advocates said paign. leading the crime war. Survey reveals most Duterte says unfair to blame Beijing Filipinos fear killings, but approve drugs war for drug problem aff ecting nation

Reuters man rights expert to investigate. Reuters countries of origin”. “It is not cern about reports of extrajudi- Manila Duterte’s drugs war received Manila fair to blame all of China and cial executions. an “excellent” mark from an her people for the drug prob- The United States recently overwhelming majority of re- lem perpetuated by some of its acted on those concerns, saying ight out of 10 Filipinos spondents, a rating determined hilippine President Ro- nationals,” the statement said. it was shifting $5mn in funding worry they or someone by deducting the 8% of respond- drigo Duterte’s offi ce, “Not all Chinese are related to for Philippines law enforcement Ethey know might become ents who said they were dissat- Presponding to a Reuters drugs.” away from police drug-control a victim of extrajudicial killings, isfi ed from the 85% who were report, came to China’s defence Philippine drug enforcement programmes. an opinion poll published yes- satisfi ed. yesterday, saying it was unfair offi cials say that China has done Duterte seems unperturbed. terday found, although a major- “I am not surprised with the to hold Beijing responsible for little over the years to staunch “Eff orts to eliminate drugs in ity also gave President Rodrigo conundrum that people ac- the drug problem in the Philip- the fl ow of meth and its precur- the country will not stop even Duterte’s drug war an “excel- knowledge that the anti-drug pines. sors. if the United States shifts its lent” rating. campaign is fi tting, so they allow “Many of those running the In the Dec 16 report, the na- funding,” the statement said. More than 2,000 people have it. But they would like less kill- drug trade are Chinese triads, tional police spokesman told “Several countries have backed been killed by police in anti- ings,” said Ramon Casiple, exec- which are criminal syndicates. Reuters he was not aware of the president’s war on drugs. narcotics operations in the Phil- utive director of the Institute for These are not government offi - “any high-profi le drug co-op- These include China, Japan and ippines since Duterte took offi ce Political and Electoral Reform. cials,” the statement said, in re- eration between China and the Indonesia. They have off ered on July 1. Another 3,000 deaths, Martin Andanar, Duterte’s sponse to a Reuters article pub- Philippines” since the visit by us assistance, support and co- some attributed to masked men communication secretary, said lished on Dec 16 that focused on Duterte to Beijing in October. operation without any political on motorcycles or vigilantes, are the government recognised con- China’s role as the main source The statement from the com- strings attached.” under investigation. cerns among Filipinos but reit- of the drug methamphetamine munications offi ce noted that The statement also rejected Social Weather Stations erated that the killings were not and the precursor chemicals President Rodrigo Duterte gestures as he delivers a speech during an agreement to collaborate criticism of Duterte’s crack- (SWS), an independent pollster, state-sponsored. used to produce “meth” that are an awarding ceremony for outstanding Filipinos and organisations on drug control was signed by down for focusing almost ex- asked 1,500 Filipinos nation- “Rest assured that the Duterte smuggled into the Philippines. overseas, at the Malacanang Palace in Manila yesterday. Duterte and Chinese President clusively on drug users and wide if they were concerned administration respects the law “China has strict anti-drug Xi Jinping in October and some small-time pushers, rather than that either they or someone they and upholds the basic rights of laws, which carries even the In October, during a trip to mid-August 2016 were Chi- 50 Philippine police offi cers had the drug barons who supply knew could fall victim to an ex- our people, regardless of beliefs penalty of execution when Beijing, Duterte announced his nese. attended a drug control and them. trajudicial killing, and 78% said and political persuasion,” he caught,” the statement from the “separation” from the United And almost all the clandes- law enforcement training pro- It said that dozens of govern- they were either very worried or said in a statement. The survey, Presidential Communications States and his country’s rea- tine meth laboratories uncov- gramme in Yunnan province in ment offi cials linked to the drug somewhat worried. which had a margin of error of Offi ce said. lignment with China. ered by police in the Philippines October. trade had been arrested, and The SWS survey was conduct- plus or minus 3%, also found Even as he wages a brutal drug Philippine drug control of- over the past 20 years have been More than 2,000 people have that local politicians and drug ed with face-to-face interviews 71% felt it was important to keep crackdown at home, Duterte fi cials say that Chinese nation- run by, or at least involved, Chi- been killed in police raids since lords had surrendered to the on Dec 3-6, with the results those suspected of drug use or is warming to China, the main als play a pivotal role in the drug nese nationals, drug enforce- Duterte took offi ce on June 30, authorities. posted online yesterday. drug traffi cking alive. source of the methamphetamine trade in their country. ment offi cials and prosecutors and a further 3,000 deaths are The president, it said, “has a Despite those fears, the sur- A similar fi gure said the ex- consumed in his country. According to the Philippine say. currently under investigation list of drug personalities with vey also found Filipinos were trajudicial killings were a serious At the same time, he is dis- Drug Enforcement Agency, But the Duterte adminis- by the police. narcopoliticians and Chinese staunchly behind Duterte’s problem. A convincing 88% also tancing himself from the United almost two-thirds of the 77 tration defl ected blame from The killings have drawn in- businessmen, and the authori- drugs war, which has drawn in- believed there had been a de- States, the main source of for- foreign nationals arrested for China, saying in the statement ternational criticism, with ties are doing their best to in- ternational concern and a re- crease in the illicit drug problem eign aid to the Philippines in meth-related drug offences that it was a mistake to connect some countries, including the vestigate and validate this list to quest from a United Nations hu- in their communities. fi ghting drugs. between January 2015 and the drug traffi ckers with “their United States, expressing con- catch the big fi sh.” Gulf Times Tuesday, December 20, 2016 21 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Nepali girl Political pull, graft alleged dies due to banned in varsity teachers’ hiring practice AFP By Mizan Rahman tism, religious identities and lam and director Rafi qul Hasan lors, deans and heads of depart- Syed Manzoorul Islam, a pro- be appointed following three Kathmandu Dhaka localism of applicants and il- were present. ments of universities to recruit fessor of English department at steps – written test, viva test legal exchange of money get The German-based anti-graft their recommended-candidates Dhaka University, said the TIB and class demonstration. And priority, the study says, these agency conducted the study as university teachers. study fi ndings are true. we must go ahead with these 15-year-old girl has died ffi liation to political par- illegal means create impedi- on 13 public universities dur- Besides, the study reveals “If poor quality teachers steps to appoint competent in Nepal after she was ty and illegal payment ments to ensuring equal scopes ing January to December 2016. that the vice-chancellors, pro- are appointed to universi- teachers at universities,” he Abanished to a shed be- Aof money are two ma- for effi cient applicants in re- It examined the requirement vice-chancellors, deans and ties, they’ll cause harm to the said. cause she was menstruating, jor factors that have prevented quirement of lecturers to public process of these universities heads of departments also hire universities for 40 years be- Manzoorul said the govern- under an ancient Hindu practice Bangladesh’s public universities universities. from 2001 to 2016. their followers or political af- cause students are deprived ment is going ahead to pass the that has been banned for over a from having talented teachers, a Rezaul Karim and Dipu Roy, The study found irregulari- fi liates to increase vote bank in of getting quality education,” National Accreditation Coun- decade, police said yesterday. TIB study has found. programme managers, Trans- ties in every stage of teacher favour of them. he said. cil Bill, and once it is enacted, Some Hindus view menstru- The study by the Trans- parency International Bang- requirement to public universi- Allegations are also there There are debates that problems over university teach- ating women as impure and in parency International ladesh (TIB), jointly revealed ties, saying the actual demand that teachers have been ap- whether university teachers er recruitment will get solved.” parts of Nepal they are forced Bangladesh (TIB), released the fi ndings of the study, of teachers and pattern of verbal pointed to eight universities out will be appointed through writ- Iftekharuzzaman said like to remain in a hut or cowshed in Dhaka, said recruit- “Lecturers’ Recruitment at examinations are often changed of 13 through illegal exchange ten test or not, the TIB member other sectors, corruption in for days, a practice known as ment of teachers to public Public Universities: Good in teacher requirement while of money – minimum 300,000 said, adding that now private university teacher requirement chhaupadi. universities are these days Governance Challenges and results are engineered to create taka and maximum 1.6mn taka. universities are hiring teach- is getting institutionalised. “We are investigating the case. done based on political af- Way Forward”, at a conference job opportunities for ‘chosen- A section of vice-chancellors, ers through written test and the He stressed the need for an- We suspect that she died of suf- fi liation, nepotism, religious at its offi ce. candidates’. teacher leaders, staff of regis- time is not far away that pub- nouncing an integrated and focation from the smoke of a fi re identities and illegal ex- TIB executive director Political leaders, ministers, trar’s offi ces, student leaders, lic universities will have hold complete policy for teacher ap- she lit to keep herself warm,” change of money, depriving Iftekharuzzaman, deputy ex- infl uential teachers and local public representatives and po- written test to recruit quality pointment to public universities local district inspector Badri meritorious applicants. ecutive director Sumaiya Khair, leaders put pressure on vice- litical leaders are involved in the teachers. and forcing all universities to Prasad Dhakal said. As political ideology, nepo- member Dr Syed Manzoorul Is- chancellors, pro-vice chancel- corruption. “University teachers should follow it. Under the practice, women are banned from taking part in normal family activities during menstruation and after child- birth, and can have no contact with men of the household. The government outlawed Dahal says Nepal backs chhaupadi in 2005, but Mohna Ansari of Nepal’s National Hu- man Rights Commission said local leaders must do more to enforce the ban. ‘One-China’ policy “We have a legal ban but the law enforcement forces have not been strong about implementing IANS its own. No US president has spo- forts with Nepal to implement the it,” she said. Kathmandu ken to Taiwan’s head in almost four two leaders’ consensus, expand bi- “It is crucial for us to work to decades. lateral pragmatic co-operation, and change the attitudes of the peo- Nepal’s political parties expect fi gure out the common destiny of ple and raise awareness against epali Prime Minister Push- to conduct closer exchanges and the two countries, he said. this practice.” pa Kumar Dahal yesterday co-operation with the Communist The CPC stands ready to enhance There are previous reports Nsaid his country will stick Party of China (CPC) and push the inter-party co-operation with po- of chhaupadi leading to deaths, to the “One-China” policy, media Nepal-China relations forward, litical parties of Nepal, and promote attacks by wild animals, snake- reported. Xinhua quoted Dahal as saying. the development of ties between bites, diseases, rapes, poor men- In a meeting with a visiting sen- Liu said ties between China and the two countries, he added. tal health, and infants dying of ior Chinese offi cial Liu Qibao, Da- Nepal have achieved continu- Liu arrived in Kathmandu on pneumonia. hal said Nepal will push forward ous and steady development since Sunday heading a CPC delegation. In recent years, some women various co-operation programmes the two countries established During the visit, Liu attended have turned their back on the with China solidly, Xinhua news diplomatic relations. the ceremony of the release of the ritual: a few burnt their sheds, agency reported. Liu is member of the Political Nepali edition of Chinese President and some villages are known as US president-elect Donald Bureau of the CPC Central Com- Xi Jinping’s book The Governance “chhaupadi-free zones”. Trump angered China by talking to mittee and head of the CPC Central of China and inaugurated the sev- Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari, right, shakes hands with Liu QiBao, a member of the A 2011 UN report estimated President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan Committee’s publicity department. enth China Festival in the Nepali Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, at the presidential that 95% of women in Achham - an island which Beijing claims as China is willing to make joint ef- capital. residence in Sheetal Niwas in Kathmandu. district follow it. Protest against TV serial PM cancels Seylan Bank foreign deal, orders probe

Reuters only to cancel the transaction, the deal, said they were wait- Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Colombo but also to take action against ing for more clarifi cation on the rupee slipped yesterday on mild those who (are) involved in reversal. importer dollar demand, as the it,” Finance Minister Ravi Shares in Seylan Bank were market braced for declines in ri Lankan Prime Minister Karunanayake said. up 5.5% at 89.70 rupees at 0818 the local currency with the cen- Ranil Wickremesinghe The order comes at a time GMT, while the broader stock tral bank raising the spot refer- Shas ordered a reversal and when President Maithripala index was down 0.23%. ence rate following a hike in US a probe into the 1.3bn rupees Sirisena’s coalition is facing Stockbrokers said the market interest rates, dealers said. ($8.7mn) Seylan Bank foreign criticism from opposition led was confused after the prime The US Federal Reserve deal as it failed to follow proper by former president Mahinda minister’s order. raised interest rate by 25 basis procedure, the country’s fi nance Rajapakse that his successor’s “Till a clear picture comes, points on Wednesday and sig- minister said yesterday. administration has been pri- market will be concerned and nalled a faster pace of increas- On Friday, 13mn shares or 7% vatising or selling state assets confused. The deal was posi- es in 2017 as central bankers stake in Seylan Bank owned by to foreigners while it was not tive at a time when there was adapted to the incoming Donald state-run Bank of Ceylon were taking strong action against no market-moving news,” said Trump administration’s prom- sold to a foreign fund at 100 corruption. Hussain Gani, deputy CEO, ises of tax cuts, spending and rupees each, a 17.6% premium Offi cials from the Co- Softlogic Stockbrokers. deregulation. to the stock’s closing price lombo Stock Exchange were The bourse has reversed one Rupee forwards were ac- that day. not immediately available for transaction before this in the tive with spot-next forwards “It has not taken approval comment. last fi ve years due to a suspected at 149.55/60 per dollar, com- from the Bank of Ceylon board Murtaza Jaff erjee, CEO, JB corrupt deal by a state-owned pared with Friday’s close of of directors. So the order is not Securities, the stockbroker of bank. 149.40/70.

Ban on import of fake cinnamon Ceremony for last ruler ri Lanka has banned the import of cinnamon sub- Sstitutes in a bid to safe- Members of Bangladesh’s Federation of TV Professionals Organisation shout slogans and hold placards guard the reputation of its legen- as they stage a protest in front of the off ices of a television channel which broadcasts the Suleiman the dary spice “Ceylon cinnamon,” a Magnificent serial in Dhaka yesterday. Bangladeshi actors and directors are demanding a ban on the government minister said yesterday. steamy Turkish period drama Sultan Suleiman, saying the show’s “rampant sex” was destroying the Primary Industries Minister local television industry and fuelling divorce. Daya Gamage said the cabinet had ratifi ed his proposal to outlaw the import of a cheaper variety known as “cassia cinnamon.” He said he took the step after several container loads of the fake cinnamon that had been import- No open space celebration on Dec 31 ed from Madagascar were found. “Cassia looks similar to the real thing, but it is inferior in By Mizan Rahman ers at the secretariat after a meet- ment agencies will be deployed quality and cheaper than Cey- Dhaka ing on law and order situation. in church areas to enable the lon cinnamon,” the minister Additional forces will be de- members of the Christian com- said in a statement. “When it is ployed in the capital and else- munity to celebrate Christmas re-exported as real cinnamon, it he Bangladesh home min- where in the country to ensure across the country, including the damages our reputation.” ister yesterday said the security on December 25 and capital, he said. The aromatic spice - used in both Tgovernment has decided December 31, he said. Besides, close circuit cameras savoury dishes and desserts - was to ban all kinds of events in open The minister said additional will be installed in some impor- native to Sri Lanka. Dutch invaders places after 6pm for security members of law enforcement agen- tant churches in Dhaka, he added. grew it on a commercial scale in the The remains of Jigme Dorje Palbar Bista, the last king of former Himalayan kingdom of Mustang, reasons on December 31. cies will be deployed in the dip- All kinds of fi recracker blasts 17th century for export. arrive for a ceremony at monastery at Bauddha in Kathmandu yesterday. The last king of the “Security measures will be lomatic area and some important will be restricted on December The commodity which isolated Himalayan region of Upper Mustang died on December 16 in Kathmandu, eight years beefed up across the country points of the capital to ensure smooth 31 night. The members of Nar- brought in over $150mn in the after he lost his royal title when the centuries-old Buddhist monarchy was abolished. Jigme Dorje ahead of Christmas and the De- celebrations of the December 31 cotics Control Department will fi rst 10 months of this year is Palbar Bista, who was 86, reigned over the arid kingdom high on the Tibetan plateau for more cember 31 night celebrations,” night and Christmas Day. conduct drives as well to prevent known by the country’s colonial than half a century before stepping down in 2008 when Nepal abolished its own monarchy. Asaduzzaman Khan told report- Members of law enforce- drug abuse on the occasion. era name “Ceylon.” Gulf Times 22 Tuesday, December 20, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko Qatar telecoms market

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] to come under review Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Qatar has the highest rates of To promote a knowledge-based as well as products and services of 2016 and November 2016 where its Fax 44350474 access to mobile operator in economy, al-Mannai said that the information technology. has successfully been able to allocate basis of the competition is to provide Al-Mannai explained that there frequencies for 13 visits. the world, where the mobile better services and not only to provide is a strong competition between In a similar context, the CRA numbers that have been services at the lowest price and there mobile communication vendors in paid large attention to allocate must be a balance between price Qatar, however the competition is temporary frequencies for sport allocated reached more than reductions for consumers in the short weak between fi xed communication events such as World Touring Car 5mn, in addition to about term and the provision of appropriate vendors. Championship, Qatar Ladies Open, GULF TIMES stimulus for innovation to enable In 2010, Qatar National Road World Championships Doha 1.4mn fi xed numbers competitiveness and investment Numbering Plan was implemented 2016, the two Grand Prix motorcycle capacity in new technologies in the where the fixed and mobile racing “MotoGP” and “Motocross”, QNA long term. phone numbers increased from Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, Doha He also revealed that Qatar has seven numbers to 8 digits which Tour of Qatar, Qatar ExxonMobil the highest rates of access to mobile in turn increased the available Open, and Qatar Total Tennis Open, A perfect year operator in the world, where the numbers to meet future demand of where the Authority allocated more he Communications mobile numbers that have been communication services, hence the than 500 frequencies for these Regulatory Authority allocated reached more than 5mn, CRA does not hold plans to increase events. (CRA) has revealed that it in addition to about 1.4mn fi xed the number of digits in this time. In terms of permanent and annual for Ronaldo and Twill make a review of the numbers. On the topic of Internet domains licences CRA managed to issue 850 telecommunications market in the Regarding the telecommunications registry, Al-Mannai stated that frequencies and 3040 licences for State of Qatar, which will allow it sector’s contribution in the national the CRA launched Qatar Domains radio stations. to prepare a new strategy for the economy, he said that telecoms and Registry which promotes competition With regards to complaints and Real Madrid sector and take the necessary steps to information technology are a key and innovation in the market, and has submitted to the CRA on develop it. component to build a knowledge- licensed 17 local and international telecommunication service providers Regarding the existence of the based society based on multiple companies to off er domains registry in Qatar, al-Mannai stated that the As far as football is concerned, 2016 will go down in authority’s future plan to open the electronic services such as health services to the public, where the co-operation of the service providers history as a year which Ronaldo ruled. With a plethora telecommunications market in Qatar and education services in addition number of registered domains have has resolved many of the complaints, for a third operator, CRA President to smart cities, as the prosperous reached 22,000 domains so far, noting adding that the CRA received 1,305 of trophies for both Portugal and Real Madrid, Mohamed Ali al-Mannai said in an telecommunications sector and that an increase in number of Qatari complaints between January and Ronaldo put his great La Liga rival Lionel Messi in the interview with Qatar News Agency information technology support the domains is an increase in Qatari November 2016 and 85% of them have (QNA) that the ideal number of economic diversifi cation away from presence and content on the Internet. been resolved, explaining that both shade by winning the Ballon d’Orr, the award for the telecom service providers depends oil-based economy in accordance with Al-Mannai further added that Qatar entities are still working on resolving world’s best player of the year. on the nature of each area and the the objectives of Qatar National Vision is among the fi rst countries in the the rest. market’s needs. 2030. world to be able to off er domain names He further stated that the authority On Sunday, the Portuguese heartthrob ensured he About the prices of Qatar’s telecom The CRA chief added that there is a in Arabic. received 3000 inquiries from the fi nished the year in spectacular fashion by scoring services, al-Mannai explained that lot of evidence of the positive impact The Telecommunications Law of public within the same time period. the prices of mobile and Internet of Information and Communication the State of Qatar of the year 2006 Statistics show that most of the a hat-trick to lift Real Madrid to a 4-2 victory over services in Qatar are in line with the Technology (ICT) on the development mandates that every person/entity complaints against mobile service Japanese side Kashima Antlers in the fi nal of the Club rest of the countries in the region, as the ICT is enabling us to accomplish that intends to operate any radio providers were about bills, service adding that according to a report matters with more eff ective communication equipment or make interruption, network coverage, World Cup. of the Arab Advisers Group on the and effi cient ways, and create use of frequencies must possess a and value-added services, whereas It was a perfect end to a year which also saw Ronaldo Internet services through fi bre cables, opportunities for new projects and Radio Spectrum Licence or a Radio complaints against fi xed phone service Iraq ranked fi rst in the rising prices in business. frequency authorisation. providers where about delay in the lead Portugal to victory in the Euro 2016, helped Real the region where the rate of 100 Mbps An example of that in 2011, As per the provisions of the law, it is installation or removal of the service. Madrid win the Champions League and Super Cup costs $350 a month, while Qatar was Facebook applications provided more the CRA’s responsibility to issue radio He stressed that the placed at the penultimate with a cost than 182,000 jobs around the world spectrum licences or radio frequency authority’s consumer protection as Messi and Barcelona fell behind in the footballing of $144 a month. and the total value of the application authorisations to authorise operation department must monitor service sweepstakes. Al-Mannai pointed out that with exceeded $12bn. of any wireless station or network in providers’ conformity to the respect to mobile broadband, a report Therefore there was no reason not Qatar. Telecommunications Law and its In contrast to Ronaldo’s moment in the sun there published by the CRA in June 2016 to develop such an application in The Spectrum management regulations, rather than following was heartbreak for Messi’s Argentina as they lost a showed that mobile home broadband Qatar if the appropriate conditions are department of the CRA issues their own regulations, through prices in Qatar are among the lowest available. various licences including scrutinising complaints that are raised major fi nal for the third consecutive year in the Copa prices in the region and much Al-Mannai noted that the level of temporary and permanent to the authority. America Centenario on penalties to Chile. lower than the average according to the telecoms sector in Qatar is perfect licences as well as approval Lastly, the authority is committed the standards of the Organisation as the country ranked 27th among on 270 commercial activities to organise the postal sector, in order So devastated was Messi at missing a spot-kick for Economic Co-operation and most networked nations in the world using radio communications to ensure that the public receive in the shootout that the temporarily announced his Development (OECD). and second among Arab countries, and 18480 approvals on custom good postal services at aff ordable But he said that the prices of on the 2016 edition of the Global clearance on radio equipment and prices, hence the CRA collaborated decision to retire from international football. leased lines and services provided Information Technology Report Telecommunications Terminal with the Ministry of Transport and The Barcelona star to companies are relatively high (GITR). Equipment imported for the country Communications in drafting the new compared to global standards, and But the reasonable cost issue through land, sea and air ports. postal law. Rarely has any quickly changed his therefore one of the main concerns remains a challenge which was Al-Mannai said that part of the In addition the CRA is working mind, but Argentina of the authority is the strengthening highlighted in the digital scene CRA’s Spectrum Management’s on developing the organisational football player of the presence of competitively report issued by the Ministry of continuing eff orts, it eff ectively framework which is compatible with still face a battle to priced solutions for businesses and Transport and Communications in allocated temporary radio frequencies the Emir’s law; which will improve dominated a qualify for the World thus supporting the Qatari economic June 2016 which showed companies’ to cover important visits to the the quality of service provided to diversifi cation. dissatisfaction of the cost of Internet country in the period between January customers. year as Ronaldo Cup in Russia next year did in 2016 as they lie fi fth in South American qualifying. However, Ronaldo was living a fairytale as he notched up one honour after the other and he was not The tragic fate of Aleppo one to be modest about his achievements either.

“The stats don’t lie, as always,” Ronaldo sniff ed after By Dr Cesar Chelala the Club world Cup win, referring to last week’s Ballon New York d’Or award, which put him one behind fi erce rival Lionel Messi’s record fi ve. leppo was a large and terrifying town,” wrote the “People criticise me often but I’m used to it,” added American writer Frederic the 31-year-old. AProkosch in his famed novel The Asiatics. This has been never truer Indeed, Ronaldo has often been a subject of than now. criticism, mostly because of his fl amboyance – both Relentless air strikes leave in their wake an even more devastated city, on and off the field. once a pride of the Middle East, from Much like movie stars showing off his gelled hair and where some of my ancestors went to Argentina. six pack in social media photos is quite the norm for No party which participates in this him and occasionally his habit of playing to the gallery brutal war is totally innocent. One can easily imagine the has led to embarrassing situations on the fi eld. following scenario as narrated by a On Sunday in the fi nal of the Club World Cup, he 10-year-old child having taken place in that ravaged city: even tripped over the ball after attempting one of his “We were all huddled in a back trademark stepovers, a move aimed at confusing the room of our house. We had been asked to leave, since most of our defence. neighbours had already left, but my “People always expect more of Cristiano,” he added, grandma yelled at what she thought were intruders, ‘How can I leave when People gather to be evacuated from a rebel-held sector of eastern Aleppo, Syria. speaking of himself in the third person. my husband is unable to move!’ The “It has been an unforgettable year – winning the men fi ghting outside our house left, old, so I tried to help them as much as naturally sweet nature of my mother however, wouldn’t stand still. At perhaps realising that they could I could. Without my brother’s help, had totally changed from a good fi rst she asked and then she yelled to Champions League, the Super Cup and the Euros with win a battle but they would lose however, I wouldn’t have been able to humoured, optimistic person, always my mother that they couldn’t leave Portugal. And to score three more goals and to have the war against my grandmother’s do it. singing or humming an Arabic song to somebody, anybody, to die all alone, determination. Now, even if we “While I was thinking about what a person I almost didn’t recognise. A like an abandoned animal. I couldn’t such a perfect end to this dream year, it’s incredible.” wanted, we couldn’t leave. was going on, we heard an awful noise. once proud woman, carefully dressed, contain my tears. Indeed, rarely has any football player dominated a “I looked at my grandfather, sitting I looked through one of the doors she now seemed dishevelled, speaking “Finally, seeing that she would in his wheelchair, looking beyond into towards the front of the house. Part harshly not only to us, but even to her be unable to contain grandma, my year as Ronaldo did in 2016. space not understanding what was of the ceiling had fallen down, totally own mother, something that she had mother relented and went with my going on. He made a signal to my sister crushing the piano, which in normal never done before. brother to the door, where they both and asked for milk. She just moved times my brother used to play in his “As I was having those thoughts we pulled the young man in. Grandma To Advertise her head until my older brother came free time after school.” heard the steps of someone running brought a wet towel, and cleaned him. to her rescue and told grandpa, ‘Wait “I said to myself ‘normal times’ and towards our house and then a big He slowly opened his eyes, painfully, [email protected] a little, grandpa, I will bring it to you realised that I may never know again noise against the front door. We were full of terror.” Display later.’ what those times were really like. paralysed with fear, all of us except These thoughts come back to Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 “In the meantime the noise became Times when we said good by to our my brother who ran towards the me when I see the images of a once deafening. The front of our house father at the door when he was going door, opening it slightly and seeing a proud and vibrant city almost totally Classified was almost destroyed and plaster to work in the morning, and then young man totally covered with blood, destroyed, its inhabitants fl eeing in Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 continued falling down in chunks from my brother leaving for school; the screaming with pain. Seconds later the terror from their own homes. the walls. My father was nowhere to times when we all came back, getting man fainted and fell on the fl oor. My Subscription be found, so my Mother became the together for lunch, lovingly prepared brother immediately closed the door zDr Cesar Chelala is a co-winner of [email protected] reluctant head of the family. Since she by my mother and my grandmother. and came back to the back room where an Overseas Press Club of America wasn’t used to that role, she found it Only grandpa was absent, I mean, not we were all sitting, terrifi ed. Award and two national journalism diffi cult to manage my brother, who physically, just mentally, living in his “He described what he saw but my awards from Argentina. In 2015, he also 2016 Gulf Times. All rights reserved was 11-years-old and my two sisters, own world. mother refused to do anything for received the Cedar of Lebanon Gold four and two years old. I was 10 years “After a few days, I saw how the the young man at the door. Grandma, Medal in Tucuman, Argentina. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 20, 2016 23 COMMENT Bad news for America’s workers

The only way Trump will cut: federal government employment Higher interest rates will undercut square his promises of higher as a percentage of the population is construction jobs and increase the lower today than it was in the era of value of the dollar, leading to larger infrastructure and defence small government under President trade defi cits and fewer manufacturing spending with large tax cuts Ronald Reagan some 30 years ago. jobs – just the opposite of what Trump With so many former military promised. and defi cit reduction is a offi cers serving in Trump’s cabinet or Meanwhile, his tax policies will be heavy dose of what used to as advisers, even as Trump cozies up to of limited benefi t to middle-class and Russian President Vladimir Putin and working families – and will be more be called voodoo economics anchors an informal alliance of dictators than off set by cutbacks in healthcare, and authoritarians around the world, education, and social programmes. By Joseph E Stiglitz it is likely that the US will spend more If Trump starts a trade war – by, New York money on weapons that don’t work to say, following through on his vow to use against enemies that don’t exist. If impose a 45% tariff on imports from Trump’s health secretary succeeds in China and to build a wall on the US s US president-elect Donald undoing the careful balancing act that border with Mexico – the economic Trump fi lls his cabinet, what underlies Obamacare, either costs will impact will be even more severe. have we learned about the rise or services will deteriorate – most Trump’s cabinet of billionaires could Alikely direction and impact of likely both. continue to buy their Gucci handbags his administration’s economic policy? During the campaign, Trump and $10,000 Ivanka bracelets, but To be sure, enormous uncertainties promised to get tough on executives ordinary Americans’ cost of living remain. As in many other areas, who outsource American jobs. He would increase substantially; and Trump’s promises and statements is now holding up the news that the without components from Mexico and on economic policy have been home heating and air conditioning elsewhere, manufacturing jobs would inconsistent. While he routinely manufacturer Carrier will keep some become even scarcer. accuses others of lying, many of his 800 jobs in my home state of Indiana To be sure, a few new jobs will be economic assertions and promises – as proof that his approach works. Trump will take charge of an economy on a strongly upward trend, with third-quarter GDP growing at an impressive annual created, mainly in the lobbying shops indeed, his entire view of governance Yet the deal will cost taxpayers rate of 3.2% and unemployment at 4.6% in November. along K Street in Washington, DC, – seem worthy of Nazi Germany’s “big $7mn, and still allow Carrier to as Trump refi lls the swamp that he lie” propagandists. outsource 1,300 jobs to Mexico. This and the hedge funds will assume the undertaken by Speaker of the House Trump’s angry, displaced Rust Belt promised to drain. Indeed, America’s Trump will take charge of an is not a sound industrial or economic profi ts. Paul Ryan and his staff – giving the voters. Unhinged budgetary policies bog of legal corruption is likely to reach economy on a strongly upward trend, policy, and it will do nothing to help The debate just eight years ago rich the less progressive, more capital- will induce the US Federal Reserve a depth not seen since President Warren with third-quarter GDP growing at raise wages or create good jobs across about “shovel-ready” infrastructure friendly tax system that Republicans to normalise interest rates faster. G Harding’s administration in the 1920s. an impressive annual rate of 3.2% and the country. It is an open invitation seems to be a distant memory. If have long sought. Some see incipient infl ation (given And there really is no silver lining unemployment at 4.6% in November. for a shakedown of the government Trump chooses shovel-ready projects, With the abolition of the estate tax, the low unemployment rate); some to the cloud that now hangs over By contrast, when President Barack by corporate executives seeking the long-term impact on productivity the Republicans would fi nally realise believe the long period of ultra-low the US and the world. As bad as his Obama took over in 2009, he inherited handouts. will be minimal; if he chooses real their long-held ambition of creating interest rates has distorted capital administration will be for America’s from George W Bush an economy Similarly, the increase in infrastructure, the short-term impact a dynastic plutocracy – a far cry from markets; and some want to “replenish economy and workers, its policies sinking into a deep recession. And, infrastructure spending is likely to on economic growth will be minimal. the “equality of opportunity” maxim their ammunition,” so that the Fed on climate change, human rights, like Bush, Trump is yet another be accomplished through tax credits, And back-loaded stimulus has its the party once trumpeted. can lower interest rates should the the media, and ensuring peace Republican president who will assume which will help hedge funds, but own problems, unless it is managed Large tax cuts and large expenditure economy slow down again. and security are likely to be no less offi ce despite losing the popular vote, not America’s balance sheet: such extremely carefully. increases inevitably lead to large defi cits. Trump has argued that the Fed damaging for everyone else. – Project only to pretend that he has a mandate programmes’ long track record If Trump’s pick for US Treasury Reconciling this with Trump’s promise should raise interest rates. The Fed, Syndicate to undertake extremist policies. shows that they deliver little value Secretary, the Goldman Sachs and to reduce the defi cit will probably entail which took the fi rst step toward The only way Trump will square for money. hedge-fund veteran Steven Mnuchin, a return to Reagan-era magical thinking: normalisation in early December, will zJoseph E Stiglitz, a Nobel laureate his promises of higher infrastructure The cost to the public will be is like others from his industry, the despite decades of proof to the contrary, almost certainly deliver – and Trump in economics, is University Professor and defence spending with large tax especially high in an era when the expertise he will bring to the job will this time the stimulus to the economy will soon regret what he wished at Columbia University and Chief cuts and defi cit reduction is a heavy government can borrow at near-zero be in tax avoidance, not constructing a brought by tax cuts for the rich will be for. There’s a good chance that the Economist at the Roosevelt Institute. dose of what used to be called voodoo interest rates. If these private-public well-designed tax system. so large that tax revenues will actually monetary contraction will outweigh His most recent book is The Euro: How economics. Decades of “cutting the partnerships are like those elsewhere, The “good” news is that tax reform increase. the fi scal stimulus, curbing the Obama a Common Currency Threatens the fat” in government has left little to the government will assume the risks, was inevitable, and was likely to be This story doesn’t end well for growth spurt currently underway. Future of Europe. Letters Weather report Three-day forecast Questions on Trump historical security guarantees given Worst humanitarian and make more eff orts to put an end to TODAY to them. the Syrian crisis with the help of the High: 26 C pro-Russian stance Also speeches made by leaders of crisis in Aleppo UN. India, which has cordial relations Low : 17 C Strong wind and high sea by night North Korea and the Philippines have with Russia and Iran, two major at north Dear Sir, put pressure on American security Dear Sir, players in Syria, can also take steps to analysts. bring an end to the human suff ering In a bitterly contested US election, Interestingly, the fi ery salvos of The battle for Aleppo, one of the in Syria. WEDNESDAY Republican Donald Trump’s North Korea have abruptly stopped oldest continuously inhabited cities in High: 23 C shocking victory has been marred by after Trump’s victory. the world, is the worst humanitarian Ramesh G Jethwani Low: 16 C controversies of Russia’s involvement Trump has hinted a friendly disaster after World War II. The civil Bangalore Sunny in the campaigning and the president- approach towards Russia in his recent war in that country has been going on elect’s pro-Russian stance since he speech. for over 2,000 days, almost the same declared his candidacy. He has picked pro-Kremlin period as the World War II lasted. THURSDAY The attention-grabbing election fi gures to lead America’s important Civilian targets have been heavily Please send us High: 24 C was greatly infl uenced by Kremlin’s departments like energy, and Exxon bombarded leading to a catastrophic Low: 17 C support to candidate Trump and the CEO Tillerson, a “friend” of Russian situation and the loss of thousands of your letters Sunny release of tonnes of hacked e-mails President Putin, has been chosen for innocent lives. Thousands of Syrians of former secretary of state Hillary the post of secretary of state. have migrated to Europe and many By e-mail Clinton. Trump’s pro-Kremlin stance has have died while trying to cross the [email protected] Fishermen’s forecast Hillary’s mishandling of the Libyan given Putin the upperhand in world Mediterranean to reach safer lands. Fax 44350474 OFFSHORE DOHA crisis was also debated during the aff airs. It is most unfortunate that the Or Post Wind: NW-SW 3-10 KT election. Putin has been declared the most world powers, particularly the US, Waves: 2-4 Feet The hotly contested election’s powerful man in the world by Forbes. the European countries and the Letters to the Editor INSHORE DOHA Gulf Times Wind: SW-SE 5-12 KT results made waves in the fi nancial Among challenges, the Trump UN have taken no action even after Waves: 1-2 Feet markets from Japan to Wall Street. administration will not fi nd it easy to heartbreaking images of death and P O Box 2888 Questions are now being raised deal with China on trade relations and destruction following devastating Doha, Qatar Around the region about the confl ict of interest, as disputes related to South China Sea. air strikes have been shown on Weather Weather Trump is a real estate moghul, who Europe, particularly America’s international television channels. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min All letters, which are subject will be holding the highest offi ce in most trusted ally UK, is worried about Now that Aleppo has fallen into Abu Dhabi Sunny 25/18 Sunny 25/19 the land. the pro-Russian lobby in Trump’s the Syrian government hands, to editing, should have the Baghdad P Cloudy 11/-1 M Sunny 13/01 Dubai Sunny administration. name of the writer, address Sunny 27/16 27/18 Trump was also accused of running the survivors are in an extremely Kuwait City M Cloudy 16/06 Sunny 14/06 separate communication servers with Finally, the Russian waves have hit distressing situation where their very and phone number. The Manama Sunny 24/16 M Sunny 20/14 Kremlin. American shores! existence is threatened. It is time the writer’s name and address Muscat M Sunny 25/18 Sunny 26/19 Riyadh M Sunny On the geopolitical front, Trump’s world should unite and help in ending may be withheld by request. Sunny 26/07 17/09 speeches have made the Japanese Mohamed S this humanitarian crisis. Tehran P Cloudy 06/-1 Sunny 08/-1 and South Koreans worry about (Address supplied) GCC countries should join hands Live issues Are you too old to fi nd success?

By Oliver Burkeman welcoming to the achy-kneed. Something similar happens in New York Personality also infl uences the age romance: we fret about whether at which success strikes. partners should have similar The economist David Galenson personalities, or whether opposites t what age are you too old splits creative geniuses into attract – when in fact, psychologists to achieve breakthrough “conceptual” prodigies such as argue, neither plays a big role in success in your fi eld? That Picasso – who burst on to the predicting relationship success. Around the world Aquestion fascinates so many scene with a radical new viewpoint Then there’s childrearing. As a new Weather Weather people, I suspect, because almost – and “experimental” ones such parent (of which more, doubtless, in today Max/min tomorrow Max/min nobody considers themselves already as Cezanne, whose brilliance future columns), I’ve been buff eted by Athens P Cloudy 13/05 P Cloudy 11/04 entirely successful. emerges through trial and error. endless contradictory advice on what Beirut M Sunny 13/09 Rain 14/12 Bangkok P Cloudy 34/24 P Cloudy 35/26 The unpublished novelist longs to (In his podcast Revisionist History, works, so I was pleased to stumble Berlin P Cloudy 01/-1 Sunny 03/-1 be published, the published one yearns Malcolm Gladwell applies the across Do Parents Matter?, a new book Cairo P Cloudy 19/08 Sunny 19/10 for bestsellerdom, the bestselling Cezanne model to Leonard Cohen’s by Robert and Sarah LeVine. Cape Town Sunny 24/16 P Cloudy 23/17 superstar craves the Booker prize. song Hallelujah, which sounds as if On all sorts of fractious debates Colombo S T Storms 31/24 S T Storms 31/23 M Sunny 27/17 (Also, everyone always thinks they’re it popped into existence as a perfect (sleep training, attachment parenting) Dhaka 27/16 M Sunny Hong Kong M Cloudy 24/22 Showers 25/21 just a few years from being “over the A physicist’s highest-impact work gem, yet went through years of being they show how neither side holds the Istanbul M Cloudy 07/03 S Showers 07/03 hill”. The web is cluttered with listicles “could be the fi rst publication, mid- turgid.) But even Galenson’s work key: cultures around the world take Jakarta P Cloudy 32/25 P Cloudy 32/26 off ering the supposedly reassuring career, or last publication”. What implies age matters little. every kind of approach, and most kids Karachi Sunny 30/16 Sunny 30/16 information that, say, JK Rowling counted more was productivity. He once polled literary scholars turn out OK. London P Cloudy 07/03 Rain 11/03 Manila P Cloudy 31/24 P Cloudy 31/23 wasn’t a publishing sensation until, If you want to publish a celebrated to make a list of America’s 11 most In short: you’re probably not too old Moscow P Cloudy -9/-9 Cloudy 02/-1 well, her early 30s.) physics paper, the crucial thing isn’t important poems, then looked up the to fi nd success. New Delhi Sunny 25/12 Sunny 25/10 But a huge new study, examining to be young and energetic, nor old and ages at which they’d been composed: a You don’t need to worry about New York Sunny 02/-1 P Cloudy 07/02 the careers of nearly 3,000 physicists wise. wide span, from 23 to 59. “romantic compatibility”. And your Paris Cloudy 06/-1 S Showers 06/03 Sao Paulo T Storms S T Storms 30/19 from 1893 on, reaches an unexpected It’s to publish a lot of papers. We’re back in the world of the parenting style probably won’t end in 30/19 Seoul P Cloudy 13/02 S Showers 12/08 result. It’s not that youth wins out, nor To be fair, other studies show age “focusing illusion”, whereby we disaster – though that last one might Singapore T Storms 32/25 S T Storms 33/24 that years of experience lead to late does matter sometimes: maths favours exaggerate the importance of one be wishful thinking on my part. Sydney M Sunny 31/18 P Cloudy 24/18 triumphs. the young; and physical pursuits, such variable (in this case, age) merely by Tokyo Clear 14/04 Cloudy 15/05 Rather, age just isn’t much of a factor. as ballet or athletics, aren’t exactly thinking about it lots. [email protected] Gulf Times 24 Tuesday, December 20, 2016 QATAR

Al Fakhoora scholarship recipients at the ceremony. Al Fakhoora’s new scholarships to spur youth education in Gaza This programme of This will enable young peo- Assistance to the Palestinian cational infrastructure and education. Greater investment An award ceremony, held in in the job market, such as engi- EAA, has reached over ple to attend university, build People programme in Gaza. provide psychosocial support in education is vital for a peace- Gaza City on December 18 and neering. To date, Al Fakhoora’s 870 students in Gaza a better future for themselves In the past year, Dynamic and health services to the most ful future in Gaza, the Middle 19 was attended by over 1,000 Dynamic Futures programme through its Dynamic and their families, and lead their Futures has also expanded to marginalised. Dynamic Futures East, and all communities dis- people, including students, their has enrolled over 605 students in Futures scholarships and communities toward a more reach additional students in enables talented young people rupted by confl ict. We are ex- families, academics, representa- universities in Gaza and in some programmes to rebuild peaceful future. These schol- Gaza and the West Bank and to attend university and pro- panding our Dynamic Futures tives of international organisa- cases, abroad. educational infrastructure arships are described as an East Jerusalem, as well as Syr- vides them with leadership and scholarship programme in areas tions and community leaders. The scholarships are rigor- and to provide psychosocial unprecedented investment in ian refugees and internally dis- professional skills training. of the most need.” During the ceremony, Basil ously based on merit and lead- support, health services to higher education in Gaza. placed persons in Syria, Jordan, EAA programme director for “We are calling for the inter- Nasser, head of UNDP Offi ce in ership potential. To select the the most marginalised It is the largest ever intake Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq. Al Fakhoora Farooq Burney said national development commu- Gaza emphasised that education most deserving students, 4,124 for Al Fakhoora’s scholarship Since 2009, Al Fakhoora, EAA was founded on the belief nity to support us in our eff orts is a basic human right, critical applications were reviewed, ducation Above All (EAA), programme, Dynamic Futures, a programme of EAA, has that education is a driver of hu- in Gaza and in areas aff ected by to the future of the Palestinian 706 home visits conducted, through its programme which is operated through an reached over 870 students man development. the Syrian civil war. Now is the State. and 504 students were invited EAl Fakhoora, awarded 265 implementation partnership in Gaza through its Dynam- “Al Fakhoora supports this time to invest in educating our These scholarships are dis- to a leadership camp before the new scholarships to young lead- with the United Nations Devel- ic Futures scholarships and belief by enabling thousands of young people. A more peaceful tributed over diff erent academic 265 scholarship recipients were ers in the Gaza Strip. opment Programme’s (UNDP) programmes to rebuild edu- young people into quality higher future depends on it,” he added. specialties according to demand selected.

Qatar Airways adds Mercurys Award to growing achievements

atar Airways has announced that it has been honoured with the Best Premium Service Concept 2016 award for “exceptional Qonboard catering innovation” at the Mercurys Awards. The accolade was presented to the airline during a ceremony held in Abu Dhabi as part of the SIAL Middle East and On-board Catering show. The Mercurys is a long-established international travel catering award that recognises exceptional food and beverage services de- livered throughout the travel industry. Qatar Airways was commended for pro- viding its premium passengers with healthy and nourishing menu choices using the freshest of ingredients. Qatar Airways serves an “award-winning on-board menu of- fering premium pas- sengers extraordinary cuisine” designed by world-renowned chefs as well as on-demand a la carte service, the airline said in a press WCM-Q symposium focused on assessment skills. statement. Qatar Airways sen- ior vice-president (Customer Experi- ence) Rossen Dimitrov said: “It is an honour WCM-Q symposium shines spotlight on to be named as the Best Premium Service Concept provider at the Mercurys Awards assessment skills to promote learning 2016. This prestigious industry award recog- nises the commitment eill Cornell Medi- healthcare policy and research. Hanson, director, Educational and what they did wrong. struments, and how to apply that Qatar Airways has cine-Qatar (WCM- The speakers used a series of Research and Development in “This is why assessment frameworks for evaluation to to providing its travel- WQ) scholars presented interactive sessions to explain the Department of Paediatrics tools are so valuable. If we can judgments about learners. The lers with the very best a series of workshops recently the latest assessment methods at the University of Colorado provide learners with com- skills and knowledge taught by service and is testa- explaining the most eff ective and instruments to faculty, School Of Medicine, said tra- prehensive feedback, whether the workshops were applica- ment to our invest- new methods for assessing physicians, nurses, pharma- ditional methods of assess- narratively or using other ble to both classroom-based ment in innovation, learners in health professional cists, interns, residents and ment have often been based methods, they can understand and clinic-based learning ex- and our dedication to exceeding our passengers’ expectations.” education. allied health professionals. upon awarding grades and what they need to do to im- ercises. The symposium used This latest award joins a number of accolades the airline has recent- The three-day symposium at Effective assessment tools have tended to provide little prove, which not only helps workshops, small and large ly won, having been named Airline of the Year by the CAPA Centre WCM-Q, titled ‘Assessment in are essential learning aids for or no narrative feedback to them target their learning but group discussions, role-play for Aviation, Best Full Service Airline in Western Asia at the FTE Asia Health Professional Education’, health professionals who rely learners. also boosts morale and moti- and hands-on activities to al- Expo, Middle East Airline of the Year at the Aviation Business Awards was led by Dr Janice Hanson on comprehensive feedback “This might be effective vation,” added the official. low participants to gain a thor- and Best Business Class as well as Best Middle Eastern Airline at the and Dr Amal Khidir, associ- from tutors to ensure they at communicating whether The learning activity ex- ough practical understanding of Business Travellers Awards, to name a few. ate professor of paediatrics. have gained the advanced someone has passed or failed plained the strengths and assessment tools. Qatar Airways operates one of the youngest fl eets with an average Other speakers were Dr Mai skills and knowledge they an exercise, but it is extremely weaknesses of several differ- The event was open to par- age of fi ve years. With a rapidly growing network of more than 150 des- Mahmoud, assistant profes- need to provide quality care to ineffective at explaining the ent methods of learner as- ticipants from WCM-Q and tinations across six continents, the airline connects passengers glo- sor of medicine and Dr Ziyad patients. reasons why someone passed sessment, ways to determine from other health educational bally through its hub at Hamad International Airport in Doha. Mahfoud, associate professor of Visiting expert Dr Janice or failed, what they did right the validity of assessment in- institutions in Qatar.