PHILIPPINES | Page 15 SPORT | Page 2 Late strikes rock Sri Lanka INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2, 3, 20 COMMENT 17, 18 as Kiwis REGION 4 BUSINESS 1 – 7, 9 – 12 Recurring fl ood nightmare 17,232.04 9,912.92 34.68 ARAB WORLD 4 – 5 CLASSIFIED 8 – 9 -263.80 +50.89 -0.27 INTERNATIONAL 6 – 16 SPORTS 1 – 12 in typhoon-battered nation fi ght back -1.51% +0.52% -0.77% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

SATURDAY Vol. XXXVI No. 9941 December 19, 2015 Rabia I 8, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief

OFFICIAL | Diplomacy Emir and Eritrean president hold talks HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani left Asmara yesterday after a short visit to Eritrea. During the visit, the Emir held talks with President Isaias Afewerki at the presidential palace. They reviewed co-operation between the two countries and ways of developing them in various HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad fields and discussed a number of bin Khalifa al-Thani arrive to watch the National Day parade on the Corniche. HH the Emir and HH the Father Emir interact with people after the parade. regional and international issues of common interest. Later, the Eritrean president hosted a luncheon in honour of the Emir. The Emir and his accompanying delegation later left Asmara. They were seen off by Afewerki, a number of ministers and Qatar’s ambassador to Eritrea Mohamed Rashid al-Humaidi. Page 2 A proud day for Qatar QATAR | Football Al-Thawadi rejects By Joseph Varghese its regular course, several dhows, in- Staff Reporter cluding some equipped with advanced Zwanziger criticism facilities, sailed across the Doha Bay. Secretary General of the Supreme A number of patrolling vessels of the Committee for Delivery and Legacy atar yesterday celebrated the coastguard also joined the celebra- (SC) Hassan al-Thawadi yesterday National Day with grandeur tions. dismissed a former FIFA off icial’s Qand gaiety. The celebrations After the parade, HH the Emir and criticisms of Qatar’s human rights included a large number of events and HH the Father Emir walked along the record. He said Theo Zwanziger entertainment programmes across the parade route and greeted the crowd. of Germany had never visited country. They shook hands with people, hugged Qatar to see what was going on A ceremonial parade, cultural and children and waved to the crowd. for himself. Al-Thawadi said Qatar sports activities by several expatriate Meanwhile, diff erent areas such as had announced changes to the groups, festivities at several locations Darb Al Saai, Katara, and places where kafala system. “We therefore reject and fi reworks were some of the high- expatriate communities organised comments made by Theo Zwanziger lights. events attracted a large number of peo- that are misleading and not based In the morning HH the Emir Sheikh ple. At Darb Al Saai, which opened on on first hand knowledge of Qatar,” Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, HH the December 8, the heritage of the coun- he said. “We have met Zwanziger Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa try is on display at several booths of the and personally invited him to come al-Thani, HH the Emir’s personal rep- participating organisations. The fes- to Qatar so that he can gain an resentative HH Sheikh Jassim bin Ha- tivities on the historic ground will con- understanding of the eff orts we are mad al-Thani and a number of other clude tomorrow. making to improve the environment dignitaries and ministers attended the The Ministry of Interior in co-ordi- A cavalry contingent takes part in the Qatar National Day parade yesterday. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam for workers in the country. Unlike parade on the Doha Corniche. nation with several expatriate commu- some German experts who have The stretch where the parade took nities organised a number of cultural visited Qatar to form their own place was fi lled with thousands of citi- and sports events at four diff erent lo- opinion of our construction sites, he zens and residents who had converged cations of the country, ensuring wide has never visited Qatar.” there early in the morning. participation and involvement of tens The National Day parade started of thousands of spectators. ECONOMY | Shake-up with the national anthem, a recitation The events were held at Al Wakrah Saudi Arabia plans from the Holy Qur’an followed by an Sports Complex, Al Rayyan Sports 18-gun salute. Complex, Barwa’s Al Khor Workers’ economic reforms The splendid parade that began Sports Complex and Asian Town in the Saudi Arabia’s deputy crown prince at 8am with the entry of a colourful Industrial Area. has privately outlined plans to cavalcade of thorough-bred Arabian Some of the events started on Thurs- reshape the economy to withstand horses and camels also featured a set day while most of the competitions and low oil prices, sources said, in what of paratroopers who descended on entertainment programmes were con- could be the biggest policy shake-up the Corniche after performing aerial ducted yesterday. According to MoI, since the kingdom’s economy was stunts. more than 40,000 people attended the last hurt by cheap oil over a decade The parade also showcased the mili- events. The participating schools and ago. The strategy was presented by tary strength of the country, display- workers presented a number of por- Mohamed bin Salman at a meeting ing an impressive array of sophisti- traits inspired by nature in Qatar. They this week with senior off icials, cated arsenal of the army, air and naval also performed a number of songs businessmen and economists. It forces. in celebration of the National Day. includes state spending reforms While the parade was progressing on Pages 2, 3 and 20 and privatisations in the world’s top oil exporting country, the sources said. The plans are expected to be made public in the next few weeks. Business Page 1 Fireworks light up the night sky over Doha Corniche yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma

US | Confl ict Obama cites steady progress battling IS President Barack Obama yesterday said there were signs of steady progress in the US-led campaign against Islamic State militants and that they would eventually be defeated. “We’re going to defeat ISIS and we’re going to do so by systematically squeezing them, cutting off their supply lines, cutting off their financing, taking out their A traditional dhow approaches the Katara beach yesterday as part of the leadership, taking out their forces, celebrations. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil taking out their infrastructure,” Obama said at a news conference.

Working hours The Ministry of Interior yesterday announced the working hours for tomorrow, which has been declared a national holiday. The ministry said authorities such as Passports and Expatriates Aff airs, Traff ic Department and Criminal A military helicopter flies past Doha Corniche Evidence and Information carrying the Qatar National Flag and another flag Department will work from 8am bearing the picture of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim to 12noon. An aerobatic show leaves a smoke trail in the Qatari colours of maroon and white Yachts with their sails in the Qatari colours were a treat for the eyes bin Hamad al-Thani during the National Day parade yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma during the National Day parade. PICTURE: Najeer Feroke yesterday. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil Gulf Times 2 Saturday, December 19, 2015 QATAR

Niger president Emir in Eritrea Teach For Qatar makes learning congratulated HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani sent a cable of fun and engaging at Darb Al Saai congratulations to the president of the Republic of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, on the occasion of his each For Qatar is partici- By making learning an en- about their experience at the country’s national day. pating in the Supreme gaging experience, the activity Teach For Qatar space and Qatar HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh TEducation Council’s as a whole aims to remind the National Day using a hashtag. Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani also tent at Darb Al Saai to celebrate public of the vital role a pas- By training young leaders to sent a cable of congratulations Qatar National Day. sionate teacher can have in im- positively impact students inside to Niger President Mahamadou Off ering visitors a glimpse pacting student learning, the the classroom, Teach For Qatar is Issoufou on the occasion of his of the country’s educational statement notes. a local non-government organi- country’s national day. history, the tent is reminiscent Teach For Qatar’s corner in sation that provides passionate The Prime Minister and Interior of school days from the past, the children’s play area at Darb graduates and young profession- Minister HE Sheikh Abdullah according to a statement. Al Saai, which concludes to- als with an opportunity to give bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani Decorated with old teaching morrow, includes colourful and back to the country by placing sent a cable of congratulations materials and desks, the Teach interactive oversized letters them in independent schools for to Mahamadou Issoufou on the For Qatar classroom contains and numbers where kids can a two-year teaching and leader- occasion of his country’s a 3D projection of a teacher play, climb and have fun while ship development programme. national day. who conducts a science les- participating in a challenging Applications for the Teach son through a fun, interactive educational competition. For Qatar 2015-2017 Fellowship experiment. Visitors are encouraged to post are now open. Health centres’ working hours HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani with Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki in Asmara yesterday. Teach For Qatar’s corner in the children’s play area at Darb Al Saai. tomorrow

he Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has Tannounced the schedule of its health centres for tomorrow. All the health centres in Doha - Al Rayyan, Madinat Khalifa, Al Muntaza, Um Ghwelina, Abu Baker Siddiq,West Bay, Omar Bin Khattab and Messaimeer will be working from 7am to 2pm and 4pm to11pm. Dental services in these health centres will be operated in two shifts from 7am to 2pm and from m 4pm to 10 pm. The dental clin- ic in Messaimeer Health Centre will not operate tomorrow. Leabib, Al Khor, Al Shamal and Al Wakra health centres will be working from 7am 11pm. Al Khor and Al Shamal health centres will be closed from 2pm to 4pm. Al Shehaniya Health Centre will be open from 7am to 9pm. Al Jamiliya, Al Kaaban, Um Bab and Al Ghwairiya will be op- erating according to the on-call HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani participated in celebrations held on the occasion of National Day. HH the Deputy HH the Emir’s Personal Representative HH Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad system around the clock. Emir visited celebration events held across the country by several tribes. al-Thani at the National Day celebrations. Al Shehaniya, and Al Shamal health centres will provide den- Choppers in tal services from 7am to 2pm. Dental services in Al Khor Health formation Centre will be available in two shifts from 7am to 2pm and from n line with the 4pm to 10pm and at Al Wakra celebrations of Health Centre from 7am to 2pm IQatar National and from 3pm to 9pm. Day, Gulf Helicop- Um Salal, Al Daayen, Al Ka- ters company fl ew rana, Abu Nakhla, Airport and a formation of its Al Gharafa health centres will re- helicopters carrying main closed tomorrow. the biggest photo of All the specialised clinics such HH the Emir Sheikh as ophthalmology, ENT and der- Tamim bin Hamad matology clinics will also be closed al-Thani, right, along in all health centres. There will also with the biggest be no services at the Premarital HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani with other dignitaries at the National Day celebrations. fl ying fl ag of Qatar. Examination Clinics. Students present cultural and thematic shows

By Joey Aguilar munity members and students home to around 300,000 overseas tries attended the celebrations. the ideals and visionary aspira- Members of the Indonesian expatriate community entertain the Staff Reporter dressed in colourful costumes. Filipino workers (OFWs), known Some of the schools who par- tions that this country was found- crowd with a traditional song. PICTURES: Joey Aguilar The thematic shows present- to be the third largest expatriate ticipated in the thematic shows ed on and pays homage to the great ed by each group of perform- community in the country. include the Philippine School men and women who participated ultural and thematic per- ers enthralled a large number Fos said Qatar and its peo- of Doha, Ideal Indian School, in building the nation.” formances led by hun- of spectators from the Indone- ple continue to provide lots of Philippine International School, Hadi added that Qatar has be- Cdreds of students from sian, Philippine and Malaysian opportunities to Filipinos like Scholars International, and the come a top destination for many the Philippine and Indian schools expatriate communities. him. Like other expatriates from Shantiniketan Indian School. international conferences and highlighted the Qatar National “The Filipino community feels countries such as India and Ne- Members of various groups sport competitions. Day (QND) celebrations at Al the celebration to be as if ours pal, among others, he noted that from the three expatriate commu- Associated QND events at Asian Rayyan Sports Club yesterday. and we fully support the Qatar Filipinos form part of Qatar’s nities also performed on stage with Town (Industrial Area), Wakra After reciting verses from government without reservation various achievements, develop- song and dance numbers as part Sports Stadium and Barwa Work- the Holy Qur’an and singing in this momentous event,” Unit- ments and even challenges. of the cultural shows. Indonesian ers’ Recreation Complex in Al Khor the Qatar national anthem, the ed Filipino Organisation in Qatar A number of MoI offi cials, com- ambassador Deddy Saiful Hadi also hosted a slew of cultural and programme proceeded with a vice chairman Ressie S Fos said. munity leaders, embassy and school congratulated Qatar on its Nation- stage shows, sports competitions National Day parade of com- Qatar is considered a second offi cials from participating coun- al Day saying the event “embodies and activities organised by MoI. Indian students take part in the thematic shows.

MoI off icials, joined by a group of students, led the singing of Qatar’s National anthem yesterday at Al Rayyan Students from the Philippine International School Qatar sing a popular song from Disney’s “Frozen.” Sports Club. PICTURE: Imelda Enrile Gulf Times Saturday, December 19, 2015 3 QATAR

Armed Forces personnel march during the Qatar National Day parade at the Doha Corniche as military vehicles move in the background. Aircraft flying in formation during the parade. On the march — and fl ying high

A captivating performance by military personnel on motorised paragliders. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil and Jayan Orma

Motorised paragliders descend close to dhows moored near the Doha Corniche. A military helicopter flies past carrying the national flag.

Jets zoom past Doha Corniche while creating streaks of the national colours of maroon and white. People queue for seats in the viewing galleries ahead of the parade. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, December 19, 2015 REGION/ARAB WORLD Khomeini’s grandson seeks election to top body

Reuters litical establishment. Some say he Khamenei told him: “There is will be held on the same day. football matches rather than the friendship with reformists, espe- political activist close to both said. Dubai has his eyes eventually on the top no problem (with your nomina- Rouhani and Rafsanjani, vet- VIP section. cially former president Mohamed Hassan Khomeini declined job. tion), only be careful not to dam- eran members of the assembly, Last year, Khomeini made a Khatami, now out of favour with some reformists’ demand to be- Hassan Khomeini, 43, a politi- age Khomeini’s name and re- hope an alliance they appear to be rare appearance on state televi- Khamenei. come a presidential candidate in grandson of Ayatollah cally moderate cleric, registered spect,” the source said. forming with the young Khomeini sion’s most popular football pro- Khatami sided with protesters 2012, but now his candidacy for Khomeini is seeking elec- for the election yesterday. Khamenei is 76, so the new as- will bring a breath of fresh air to gramme, and showed a detailed who staged unprecedented street the Assembly of Experts suggests Ation early next year to the With powerful backers he is sembly is expected to play a sig- their camp. knowledge of Iran’s league. He demonstrations following disput- his political ambitions are focused body that chooses Iran’s supreme well-placed to win a seat on the nifi cant role in choosing his suc- “Hassan Khomeini is a progres- was a passionate football player ed elections in 2009. on wielding infl uence at a high leader and is said to have the cau- 88-member assembly. cessor since its members are only sive theologian, especially when it until 21, when his grandfather in- Hassan Khomeini does not level. tious blessing of the incumbent, With both Khomeini’s sons elected every eight years. comes to music, women’s rights sisted that he must go to city of side publicly with the reformists, “What you see is a clear rivalry Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. now dead, Hassan Khomeini, who Hassan Khomeini is close to and social freedom,” one of his Qom to study Islamic theology. but in defi ance of the wave of ar- between Hassan Khomeini and Registration opened on Thurs- has close links with reformists, is the pragmatic, centrist President close friends said on condition of “I was good in defence and if rests that followed the protests, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the day for the election that will see seen as the main family heir, and Hassan Rouhani, whose popular- anonymity. I had continued football I might he met political prisoners Alireza current supreme leader,” a poli- the fi rst member of the family of his decision to enter politics has ity has risen thanks to a nuclear “He closely follows trends on have achieved something,” he said Beheshti and Mohammadreza tician said on condition of ano- Iran’s revolutionary founder test set Tehran’s political world abuzz. deal his government struck with social media and reads the pa- last week, meeting Iran’s top foot- Jalaeipour shortly after their re- nymity. his popularity at the ballot box. A source close to Khomeini world powers in July. pers. He is interested in Western ballers in his offi ce. lease in 2009. “They both want to succeed Hassan Khomeini’s candidacy said he had received the approval Rouhani and his powerful ally, philosophy as much as Islamic Hassan Khomeini has four “The Khomeini family has close Ayatollah Khamenei, so they have in February’s vote is already caus- of Khamenei at a meeting last Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, are thoughts,” he added. children and his son Ahmed has ties with the reformists through both started teaching Kharej in ing a heated row between hardlin- week at which the supreme leader hoping to cash in on that popular- The friend said Khomeini had become an Instagram celebrity in several marriages. Hassan Kho- Qom, the advanced courses of Is- ers and moderates, since mem- cautioned that he should be care- ity to help like-minded politicians spent time in Malaysia in order to Iran, with almost 200,000 follow- meini and Khatami have been lamic jurisprudence that is neces- bership of the assembly would ful not to bring his grandfather’s win a majority in the assembly and improve his English. At home, he ers. The unusually private photos hangout buddies for a long time, sary to become an ayatollah,” he place him at the top of Iran’s po- name into disrepute. in a parliamentary election that used to sit in the ordinary seats at he posts show his father’s close hiking and swimming together,” a explains. Yemen truce left in tatters amid clashes, missile fi re The coalition says Saudi He said dozens of renegade which he declared the provisional air defences intercepted a troops loyal to ousted president capital. ballistic missile fired from Ali Abdullah Saleh and allied Under cover of coalition war- Yemen and that a second with the Iran-backed Shia Houthi planes and backed by Arab sol- Vendors wait for clients in a main street in Bethlehem. missile struck a desert area rebels had been killed. diers and heavy weaponry, The advancing force has pro-government fi ghters have re- AFP reached just a few kilometres captured four southern provinces Aden away from the Red Sea port of and Aden since July. Midi, which has been under But the rebels still hold the rebel control since 2010, military capital and attempts by pro-Hadi Unrest spells ‘depressing’ Yemen ceasefi re appeared sources said. forces to retake the strategic prov- to have collapsed yesterday Also yesterday, pro-Hadi forc- ince of Taez have failed. Aas government forces cap- es captured Jabal al-Salb area in In Switzerland, the two sides on tured two towns from rebels and Nihm district, sources in the pro- Thursday agreed a deal to imme- an allied Arab coalition accused government Popular Resistance diately resume humanitarian aid Christmas for Bethlehem insurgents of escalating the con- militia and witnesses said. to Taez city, the United Nations fl ict by fi ring ballistic missiles. It was the loyalists’ fi rst territo- said. The truce has been repeatedly rial advance in Sanaa province. UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh AFP Bethlehem, usually considered airport outside Tel Aviv. this week to visit. violated and the Saudi-led coali- The coalition, meanwhile, said Ahmed welcomed the agreement Bethlehem a safe destination. With no airport in the Pal- “Pilgrims should not be tion warned it was close to aban- Saudi air defences had intercept- as “a major step forward that will Even so, clashes between estinian territories, tourists afraid to come,” Fuad Twal, the doning the agreement, aimed at ed a ballistic missile fi red from ensure immediate action to alle- stone-throwing young Pales- headed for Christian sites there Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, helping parallel UN-sponsored Yemen and that a second missile viate the human suff ering of the ear the church in tinians and Israeli troops have must start their visit in the said in his Christmas message. peace talks which opened on struck a desert area east of the Yemeni people”. Bethlehem’s Manger raged outside Bethlehem ho- Jewish state. “Despite the tense situation Tuesday in Switzerland. Saudi city of Najran. “A large UN convoy, carrying NSquare, tour guides tels, already badly hit by a drop “They tell tourists that there in this land, the pilgrim route is Delegates at the peace talks be- It warned that the ceasefi re essential humanitarian supplies, pace back and forth, waiting in in guests since Israel built a are only terrorists in Bethle- safe and they are respected and ing held behind closed doors did would not hold if such violations reached the most aff ected dis- vain for tourist buses that fail West Bank separation wall that hem, and many of them say to appreciated by all sectors in the not meet yesterday as the rebels persisted. tricts of the city of (Taez) and will to show. forces visitors from nearby Je- themselves, ‘We’d be better off Holy Land.” snubbed a morning meeting. Although the alliance wants the start distributing assistance to Hisham Khamis, a guide for rusalem to go through a mili- buying our souvenirs from the Nigerian tourist Sherwood “Last night, they already ex- Switzerland peace talks to suc- those in need in the coming days,” 10 years, stands forlorn under a tary checkpoint to get to the Israelis rather than in Bethle- N’Guma, taking photos in front pressed reservations,” said a ceed, “it will not adhere to the he said. huge Christmas tree decorated town. hem’,” Shehada says. of the Church of the Nativity, member of the government del- truce for long given the threat to But a local relief group, the Hu- in the black, white, red and On a recent day, the smell He adds that the army has agreed. egation, requesting anonymity. the kingdom’s territory”, it said. manitarian Relief Coalition, said green colours of the Palestin- of teargas and a foul-smelling increased the number of road- “We were told to always Forces loyal to President Abd- A spokesman for troops loyal no UN aid had reached the city, ian fl ag. spray known as “skunk”, which blocks around Bethlehem, move around with the group,” Rabbo Mansour Hadi and allied to Saleh acknowledged fi ring two accusing rebels of blocking aid In recent years “at least 60- the Israeli army uses against where streets once teem- said N’Guma, adding that he tribesmen yesterday captured ballistic missiles. delivery to areas where Hadi loy- 70 buses would arrive every protesters, still hung heavy in ing with tourists during the would not have cancelled the Hazm, the capital of northern Jawf Clashes have been common alists are holed up. morning”, he said. “These the air. Christmas period are now tour for anything. province, after making signifi cant along the border with Saudi The UN said issues on the agen- days... there are four or fi ve, Palestinian offi cials say empty. His companion, Douglas gains in the neighbouring region Arabia, where rebel strikes have da at the talks in Switzerland over occasionally 10.” Bethlehem hotels that are usu- That has been in response to Saba, said: “Those who come of Marib, tribal sources said. killed more than 80 people since the coming days would include Bethlehem is preparing ally 80-90% full at this time of the violence that erupted at the in peace bring peace.” On Thursday, government March when the coalition cam- developing a plan for a sustain- for the traditional midnight year have not reached even half beginning of October, includ- But because peace seems so troops captured the border town paign in support of the govern- able ceasefi re and further prisoner Christmas mass at the Church that level. ing Palestinian gun, knife and far away, Palestinian authori- of Haradh after crossing over from ment began. releases. of the Nativity, but the atmos- The drop is a major concern car-ramming attacks targeting ties, including those with the Saudi Arabia, where they have In 2014, the Houthis advanced On Thursday, pro-government phere this year is less than fes- for a city that lives largely on Israelis. municipality of Bethlehem, been trained and equipped, mili- from their northern strongholds forces and rebels completed an tive. tourism and where unemploy- The violence has killed 120 have drastically scaled down tary sources said. before occupying government exchange of hundreds of prisoners A wave of violence and pro- ment exceeds 20%. on the Palestinian side, several Christmas festivities. About 1,000 soldiers are in- buildings in Sanaa in September in the southern province of Lahj. tests has deterred many tour- Jamal Shehada, who runs of them in and around Bethle- “Before the world came to re- volved in the operation in Haradh, that year and forcing Hadi into More than 5,800 people have ists from making the annual a shop selling Santa hats, hem, as well as 17 Israelis, an joice and sing with us in Beth- an offi cial said, adding that “in- exile in Saudi Arabia months been killed in Yemen—about half pilgrimage to the ancient city rosaries and other souve- American and an Eritrean. lehem. Today there is nothing,” tensive fi ghting took place” in the later. of them civilians—and more than in the Israeli-occupied West nirs, blames Israeli guides Nonetheless, the senior said tour guide Khamis. “This town, which has a population of In mid-November this year, 27,000 wounded since March, ac- Bank, though much of the un- who meet tourists from their Roman Catholic cleric in the year, Christmas in Bethlehem around 25,000. Hadi returned to second city Aden cording to the UN. rest has occurred away from flights at the international Holy Land urged Christians is sad and depressing.”

Two Palestinians shot dead by Turkey says deal is close on troops in West Bank and Gaza normalising ties with Israel

Reuters with him in the car. during a car-ramming at- AFP aid ship headed for the nal accord soon. Jerusalem In central Gaza, Pales- tempt at the West Bank Ankara Gaza Strip. “We hope it will not last tinians massed near the checkpoint of Qalandia, a A senior Turkish govern- long” before there is an fenced-off border with police spokeswoman said. ment offi cial, who asked agreement, said the offi - sraeli soldiers shot Israel, throwing rocks In Ramallah, medics said urkey and Israel are not to be named, told re- cial. dead a Palestinian at troops beyond. Gaza a Palestinian was wound- nearing agreement porters that progress had The offi cial did not con- Iwho tried to ram them medics said Israeli army ed by Israeli army gunfire Ton a deal to nor- been made on Turkey’s fi rm Israeli media reports with a car in the occupied gunfire killed one pro- during a protest. malise ties after “positive key demands of lifting the that Turkey will prevent West Bank yesterday, the tester and wounded 37. The surge in violence progress” was made on blockade on the Gaza Strip senior Hamas operative military said, and Israeli Israel maintains a no-go has been partly fuelled Ankara’s key demands in and compensation over the Salah Aruri from enter- army fire killed another buff er zone near the Gaza by Palestinian frustra- closed-door negotiations, 2010 raid. ing its territory and acting Palestinian during a bor- fence in what it describes tion over the collapse of a Turkish offi cial said yes- “We are close to a fi - from there. der protest in the Gaza as a precaution against US-sponsored peace talks terday. nal framework” for a deal “We did not discuss spe- Strip, medics there added. Palestinian infi ltration in 2014 and the growth Israeli offi cials had the on the normalisation cifi c names. If Israel has The army said a motor- or ambush attempts. The of Jewish settlements on day earlier revealed that of ties, said the offi cial. that demand it will be dis- ist tried to run over Israeli army said it discovered land they seek for a future Israel and Turkey in secret “There is tangible, positive cussed,” said the offi cial. soldiers during a demon- and defused two impro- state. talks in Switzerland had progress.” Once the normalisation stration by Palestinians vised explosive devices on Palestinians are also reached “understandings” The official emphasised was agreed, individual is- near the West Bank town the fence yesterday. angry over stepped-up to normalise ties that were that no final agreement sues could be discussed of Silwad. An Israeli po- Another Palestinian Jewish visits to Jerusa- downgraded following the had yet been signed but such as Turkey importing lice spokeswoman said was shot and wounded lem’s Al Aqsa mosque deadly 2010 Israeli com- said Ankara hoped the two gas from Israel, added the the Palestinian had a knife by Israeli police yesterday compound. mando raid on a Turkish sides would come to a fi- offi cial. Gulf Times Saturday, December 19, 2015 5 ARAB WORLD 5 powers agree on UN Syria US Secretary of State John Kerry talks to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov before the start of the meeting on Syria at a hotel in New York yesterday, as UN Secretary General Ban resolution Ki-moon looks on.

The draft asks the United ernment in 2012, won the Nations to convene backing of more than two representatives of the thirds of the 34 delegates Syrian government and of opposition groups sum- opposition for formal moned to Riyadh by world negotiations with a target powers in a bid to unite them start date of January and settle long-standing ri- valries. Agencies The new body includes United Nations representatives of fi ghting groups such as the powerful Islamist Ahrar al-Sham and he fi ve UN Security Free Syrian Army units. Council veto powers Hijab said the body had Thave agreed the text of formed a negotiating del- a draft resolution to endorse egation and committees that an international road map for would deal with legal issues a Syria peace process and the and international aff airs and 15-member body was expect- support, Saudi state news ed to adopt it later in the day, agency SPA reported. diplomats said. He said that before any US ambassador to the negotiations, Assad’s forces United Nations, Samantha must implement trust-build- Power, was phoning each of ing measures like releasing the remaining 10 members prisoners, especially women of the council to brief them and children, stopping barrel on the text, said diplomats, bombings and allowing hu- speaking on condition of ano- manitarian aid. nymity. “We will not accept any The four-page draft backs a pressure. The aims of the rev- nationwide ceasefi re in Syria olution and the international to come into eff ect “as soon resolutions, we cling to them, as the representatives of the and we will not give them up,” Syrian government and the Hijab said. opposition have begun initial “I call it a battle in terms of steps towards a political tran- the negotiation process and sition under UN auspices”. the political process. It is in It also asks UN Secretary tandem with what is happen- General Ban Ki-moon to re- ing on the ground,” he added. port back within one month “Our fi rst option is the on options for a ceasefi re peaceful option. But if it’s monitoring, verifi cation and not complete, the other op- reporting mechanism. tion will continue and will not The draft asked the United stop ... until it fulfi ls the aims Nations to convene repre- of toppling the illegitimate sentatives of the Syrian gov- regime.” ernment and opposition for The Syrian Observatory for formal negotiations with a Human Rights said yesterday target start date of January. suspected Russian air strikes It “demands that all par- have killed 46 civilians, ties immediately cease any mostly women and children, attacks against civilians and in northern Syria. civilian objects” and “stresses Observatory head Rami that the Syrian people will Abdel Rahman said war- decide the future of Syria.” planes had bombarded Raqa, The opposition wants a the Islamic State group’s de political transition without facto Syrian capital, as well Assad, the co-ordinator of an as the towns of Azaz and Al opposition negotiating body Bab in Aleppo province, on in the planned peace talks said Thursday. yesterday. Six children and 11 wom- Riad Hijab, elected on en were among the dead, Thursday as co-ordinator by and dozens of people were an opposition body set up in wounded, the Britain-based Saudi Arabia last week, said monitor said. Security Council resolutions The toll in Raqa also in- and the Geneva 1 road map cluded two rescue workers, drawn up in 2012 provided for according to Abdel Rahman, a political transition in Syria but he said no suspected mili- without the president and a tants were killed in the three transitional governing coun- areas hit. cil with full executive powers. In the northwestern Idlib “We are going into nego- province, air raids on Jisr al- tiations on this principle, we Shughur town “probably by are not entering talks (based Russian planes” killed at least on) anything else. There will 14 people—seven children be no concession,” he told re- and seven women—according porters yesterday. to Abdel Rahman. On Thursday, Hijab, who The town is controlled by defected from Assad’s gov- Islamist rebels. Air strikes kill nearly 200 IS militants: US

AFP by last count,” Warren told Washington Pentagon reporters in a video call. “So, a signifi cant blow ome 200 Islamic State to this enemy. And then, of militants were killed by course, ground forces. We SUS-led coalition air- don’t have a good count yet craft during an intense battle for how much damage the in Iraq this week, a US mili- pesh (peshmerga) were able tary spokesman said yester- to infl ict on this enemy dur- day. ing the course of this fairly Baghdad-based Colonel long battle. But we know it Steve Warren, who rep- was signifi cant.” resents the US-led coali- The multi-pronged IS of- tion that is attacking the fensive saw militants target IS group in Iraq and Syria, several areas including a base said about 500 militants housing Turkish soldiers that had carried out an off ensive has been at the heart of a bit- against Iraqi Kurdish pesh- ter dispute between Baghdad merga forces in the north- and Ankara. ern province of Nineveh on Peshmerga forces repelled Wednesday. co-ordinated attacks in Coalition aircraft from Nawaran, Bashiqa, Tal As- fi ve nations responded and wad, Khazr and Zardik, the dropped nearly 100 bombs Kurdistan Regional Security during the overnight fi ght, he Council (KRSC) has said. added. Warren said much of the “Air power alone killed fi ghting took place in Tal As- nearly 200 of them, about 187 wad. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, December 19, 2015 AFRICA

Seychelles holds presidential run-off

Seychelles President James Michel urged voters yesterday to Niger’s president announces foiled coup attempt respect results in an unprecedented second round run-off against opposition leader Wavel Ramkalawan on the final day of polls. Residents in the Indian Ocean archipelago voted yesterday in the AFP eve of the country’s independ- liament speaker Hama Amadou Lieutenant Colonel Idi Abdou Niger in the face of widespread third day of polling, with Michel facing the first serious challenge to Niamey ence celebrations. “The main joined the opposition in 2013, Dan Haoua, commander of the opposition to the poll calendar his decade-long rule. perpetrators behind this crazy becoming Issoufou’s main rival. air force base in the capital Ni- drawn up by the country’s elec- Michel, 71, who is seeking a third five-year term, was forced into a plot have all been identifi ed and Amadou was later accused of amey; and Nare Maidoka, head of toral commission. second-round run-off against Ramkalawan after falling short of an iger’s government has arrested, with the exception of a being part of a group that traf- the 1st Artillery Battalion in the Opposition groups have criti- outright majority in the first round in early December, when he won “foiled” a coup plot, single person who is on the run.” fi cked newborn babies from Ni- western town of Tillaberi. cised the constitutional court, just under 48%. Nresulting in a number A prominent opposition fi g- geria, a charge he maintained was The president had announced which validates candidacies and Ramkalawan, 54, an Anglican priest who took 35% of the vote on his of arrests, President Mahama- ure in Niger yesterday rubbished politically motivated. the thwarting of another coup election results, for its apparent fifth run at the country’s top job, now has the backing of the second dou Issoufou said in an address the government’s claim, saying it “We have got used to being plot in a similar message to the “allegiance” to Issoufou. runner-up, Patrick Pillay, a former foreign and health minister, who broadcast on national radio and had provided no evidence of the manipulated. The moment that nation in 2011. The UN has called for “peace- won almost 15%. television late on Thursday, add- alleged plot. the government faces problems, Ten military fi gures were ar- ful and credible” elections in or- “The choice is easier this time round,” Michel said after voting, ing that the situation was “under Amadou Boubacar Cisse, who they look for ways to wriggle out. rested at the time, accused of der to ensure stability in a coun- according to the Seychelles News Agency, noting the options were control”. is running against Issoufou in They know that they can’t win an attempting to overthrow the re- try whose southern fl ank has himself or Ramkalawan. “I am asking everyone to come down to The announcement came af- presidential elections due in Feb- election so they’re trying to force gime and “attempted assassina- been wracked by attacks by the exercise their rights ... and choose the person they believe has ter local media and social media ruary, said he had “the greatest it,” Cisse said. tion of the head of state”. extremist Boko Haram group. worked and can do a better job for his country.” reports on Monday said at least reservations” about the alleged “The only thing threatening Issoufou was himself fi rst Boko Haram, which pledged Voting on the most remote islands began on Wednesday and four senior military offi cers had plot. democracy in Niger is the gov- elected in 2011 in a vote organised allegiance to the Islamic State continued on Thursday, with the main vote yesterday on the been arrested, information that “He has not provided any ernment,” he said. by a military junta which in 2010 group in March, has stepped up main islands of Mahe, Praslin and La Digue, home to most of the was not immediately confi rmed proof,” Cisse told AFP, speaking According to local reports, overthrew president Mamadou attacks on areas of Niger, Chad Seychelles’ estimated 91,000 citizens. by the Niger authorities. from Abidjan, Ivory Coast’s main those arrested included air force Tandja, who was seeking to stay and Cameroon that border Ni- Polls opened at 7am (0300 GMT), and close 12 hours later, with “The government has foiled an city. “We don’t know anything General Souleymane Salou; in power beyond the two-term geria while also continuing a results expected today. unfortunate attempt to destabi- for certain.” Salou Djibo, a former chief of limit set by Niger’s constitution. devastating campaign of suicide “I hope that the vote is peaceful,” Michel added. “I am also calling lise our institutions,” Issoufou The political climate in Niger staff of the armed forces under Political tensions have been in and shooting attacks on home on everyone and political parties contesting the election to respect said in his annual address on the has been tense since former par- Niger’s previous military regime; the air for the past two years in soil. the results when this is announced.” AU deploying troops to keep Burundi peace Reuters Security Council approved the lowed in without government his supporters pointed to a court Addis Ababa force late on Thursday, a dip- permission. ruling allowing his bid. lomat said – a decision which “They can’t invade a country if Much of the latest violence would still need to be backed by the latter is not informed and al- appears to be along political di- he African Union (AU) said the UN Security Council to come low it,” he said on state radio. vides. But diplomats fear a pro- it was ready to send 5,000 into eff ect. “It would be better if they go longed confl ict could reopen old Tpeacekeepers to Burundi It also asked for a list of peo- to those camps in Rwanda where ethnic rifts. A picture taken in Nairobi yesterday shows a man leaving flowers on placards during a protest against to protect civilians caught up in ple who could face sanctions for troublemakers train,” Nzobon- The civil war pitted the army, killings in Burundi by government forces in a crackdown against public dissent to a third-presidential term a growing crisis, the fi rst time the compounding the crisis, he add- ariba added. which was at the time led by by the incumbent. bloc has invoked powers to de- ed, without going into further The government has accused minority Tutsis, against rebel ploy troops to a member country details. Rwanda of supporting rebels re- groups of the Hutu majority, to try to halt the bloodshed. against its will. “We have authorised the de- cruiting Burundian refugees – a including one led by Nkurun- Burundi’s presidency said Burundi said yesterday that no ployment of a 5,000-man force charge Rwanda denies. ziza – an ethnic split mirrored in the same day that it was open troops would get in without its for Burundi whose mandate in- The United Nations says at Rwanda. to “broad-based inclusive dia- permission. But its neighbours cludes the protection of civilians least 400 people have been killed The AU diplomat said the mis- logue”, though opponents have have grown increasingly alarmed ... this resolution marks the fi rst since April when President Pierre sion would be called the African dismissed similar pledges in the about the violence in the central time the African Union decided Nkurunziza’s decision to seek a Prevention and Protection Mis- past. African state which the United to invoke its charter’s Article 4,” third term in offi ce triggered pro- sion in Burundi and would be Other African leaders are also Nations says is on the brink of the diplomat added. tests and a failed coup. made up of troops from the ex- pushing to extend their terms civil war. Under that article, the bloc has Hundreds of thousands have isting the East African Standby beyond constitutional limits, Tensions have been running the right to intervene in a mem- also fl ed the worst violence to Force. despite criticism by the United particularly high since gunmen ber state “in respect of grave cir- hit the country since it emerged The United Nations High States and other Western donors. attacked military sites in the cumstances, namely: war crimes, from an ethnically charged civil Commissioner for Human Rights Rwandans voted yesterday in capital Bujumbura last week, un- genocide and crimes against hu- war in 2005. accused Burundi’s authorities on a referendum on changing the nerving a region where memories manity”. Demonstrators said the presi- Thursday of dragging the coun- constitution that would allow of the 1994 genocide in neigh- Burundi’s government spokes- dent’s decision to stand in an try towards full-blown civil war President Paul Kagame to extend bouring Rwanda are still raw. man, Philippe Nzobonariba, said election he eventually won broke and called for travel bans and as- his term in offi ce, possibly until Nkurunziza: his decision to seek a third term in off ice triggered The African Union’s Peace and that the force would not be al- constitutional term limits, while set freezes targeting key offi cials 2034 (see report below). protests and a failed coup. Rwanda starts counting the votes allowing extra terms for Kagame

AFP with 6.4mn registered to vote. Provisional results are ex- ity, when an estimated 800,000 Tutsi to the current glitter that it Kigali Polls closed at 3pm (1300 pected later in the day, with fi - people were massacred, the vast is,” it said. GMT) with counting beginning nal results to be announced be- majority of them Tutsis. The amendments brought almost immediately, an AFP re- fore Monday, National Electoral The issue of long-serving rul- criticism from the United States wanda began counting porter said. Commission (NEC) executive ers clinging to power has caused and the European Union as well votes yesterday after polls “Yes, yes, yes,” election offi - secretary Charles Munyaneza turmoil in Africa, where some as the country’s tiny opposition Rclosed in a referendum to cials said as they read the votes has said. leaders have been at the helm for Green Party. amend the constitution allowing out to count. Some voters said they were not decades. With the referendum an- President Paul Kagame to rule “We want our president to clear about the exact constitu- Rwandan lawmakers, however, nounced just a little over a week until 2034, with few expecting continue to lead us. Look how tional changes they were vot- insist the proposed changes are ago, the Green Party protested the changes to be rejected. the country is safe,” Emmanuel ing on, describing the ballot as a the result of popular demand, al- that it was impossible to organise The proposed amendments Ntivamunda said, among those simple choice about whether to though Kigali has been criticised a counter campaign at such short have been denounced by Wash- who thanked the president for endorse Kagame or not. for stifl ing freedom of speech and notice. ington and Brussels as under- the country’s economic growth, “What interests me is that the the RPF has a pervasive presence Some Rwandans said they had mining democracy in the central which is over 6% a year accord- president is reelected,” said Saidi at all levels of society. boycotted the vote as the out- African country. ing to the World Bank. Alfred, one of hundreds who vot- In response to criticism, Kag- come was already known. But Kagame, 58, who could be “Paul Kagame has brought ed in a school in Kigali. ame has said that “other nations” “We decided not to go to vote in power potentially for another peace,” said Eridigaride Niwe- The amendment would allow should not interfere with internal because we know the results al- 17 years, told reporters after cast- mukobwa, 67, holding up her Kagame to run for a third seven- aff airs or his people’s wishes. ready, so we should not waste ing his vote earlier yesterday that voter card proudly, while admit- year term in 2017, at the end of In an editorial yesteray, Kiga- our time,” said a young Rwandan “what is happening is the peo- ting she did not know for how which the new rules take eff ect li’s pro-government New Times in Uganda, where those abroad ple’s choice”. long Kagame could run Rwanda if and he will be eligible to run for a newspaper said it expected the could vote on Thursday. “I did not apply for this. You go the constitutional changes pass. further two fi ve-year terms, for a changes to pass. Carina Tertsakian from Hu- and ask Rwandans why they want Kagame declined to say total of 17 years. “The referendum vote can only man Rights Watch (HRW) noted me,” said Kagame, who has run whether he plans to run again if Kagame has run Rwanda since position him (Kagame) toward that after “years of government the country since 1994. the changes to the constitution his ethnic Tutsi rebel army, the a path of choosing to continue intimidation ... open expressions Long queues formed during are passed. Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), stewardship of the country that of dissent are rare” and that ap- Kagame: I did not apply for this. You go and ask Rwandans why they polling, some arriving before “We will see when the time ended a 1994 genocide by ex- he has shaped from the ashes of proval of the referendum was ex- want me. centres opened soon after dawn, comes,” he said. tremists from the Hutu major- the 1994 genocide against the pected.

90% of Bangui residents vote yes to new constitution

About 90% of voters in the capital of the Central The rebels later handed power to a transitional African Republic have said yes to a proposed new government charged with steering the landlocked Tanzania court jails four Chinese smugglers constitution, in a referendum that will pave the way nation to a vote scheduled for December 27. for elections this month, authorities said yesterday. Religious and inter-communal violence has Results from this week’s vote are yet to come in continued, killing about 100 people since Reuters rhino horns, part of a crackdown pledged to root out poaching as ments seen by Reuters. from other parts of the country. September, despite the eff orts of two interim Dar es Salaam in sub-Saharan Africa on lucra- part of a wider war on corrup- Song Leo, 33, Xiao Shao- About 10% of the population of nearly 5mn lives in governments, a UN peacekeeping force and a tive illegal poaching of protected tion. dan, 29, Chen Jianlin, 34, and the capital Bangui. French mission. wildlife. The Mbeya Resident Magis- Hu Liang, 30, were charged last Central African Republic has been mired in conflict Violence in the capital during the referendum anzania has sentenced The East African country, trate’s Court in southern Tanza- month for smuggling 11 rhino for nearly three years, since mostly Muslim rebels killed five and wounded 34 people, according four Chinese men to 20 which relies heavily on revenues nia handed the prison terms to horns into Tanzania from neigh- from a coalition called the Seleka seized power in to the Red Cross. Turnout was around 30% of Tyears in jail each after they from safari tourism and new the Chinese nationals on Thurs- bouring Malawi. They denied the the majority Christian country. registered voters. were convicted of smuggling President John Magufuli has day, according to court docu- charges. Gulf Times Saturday, December 19, 2015 7 AMERICAS

Sanders campaign accused of US House passes $1.1tn voter data breach spending bill for 2016 Reuters AFP Congress before year-end holi- Speaker Paul Ryan said after that duce carbon emissions. funding for research into gun The bill includes 56 exten- Washington Washington days. chamber’s vote. The bill reforms the US visa violence, a major point of con- sions, among them nearly two It now goes to President The bill increases defence waiver programme in the wake tention for Democrats. dozen that would be made per- Barack Obama, and the White spending, which Republicans of deadly attacks in Paris and It also failed to provide assist- manent in part to help families he campaign of Demo- nited States lawmakers House has signalled he will sign said was critical given the level San Bernardino, California, and ance for debt-crippled Puerto still struggling in the aftermath cratic presidential can- have approved a com- the legislation into law. of unrest in the Middle East and intensifi es US cyber-security ef- Rico, which left top House of the fi nancial crisis. Tdidate Bernie Sanders Upromise $1.1tn spending Architects of the deal and the increased spectre of terror- forts. Democrat Nancy Pelosi fuming Several Democrats, including was accused of breaching voter package that funds the govern- congressional leaders worked ism. It does not, however, include although she ultimately backed party leaders in the House, op- data from rival Hillary Clinton’s ment through September next overtime this week cajoling “The legislation strengthens a controversial measure tem- the deal. posed the bill, warning it is not campaign, adding intrigue to year, while also tightening the rank-and-fi le members on both our military and protects Amer- porarily halting the programme And it includes a two-year paid for and will only deepen US a debate featuring the two this nation’s visa waiver require- sides into backing the $1.149tn, icans from terrorist threats, that allows Syrian and Iraqi ref- moratorium on the so-called debt. weekend. ments, ending a longstanding catch-all bill which came in at while limiting the overreach of ugees to enter the United States. medical device tax, a provision Their opposition puts them The breach of Democratic Na- oil export ban and reforming the more than 2,000 pages. intrusive government bureauc- Senator Rand Paul, a Republi- of Obama’s healthcare law that at odds with the White House, tional Committee (DNC) fi les led International Monetary Fund Known as an “omnibus”, the racies like the Internal Revenue can presidential candidate, op- angered Republicans and Demo- which on Wednesday announced to the fi ring of a top Sanders data (IMF). fi scal year 2016 spending bill in- Service and the Environmental posed the “reckless” spending crats alike. its support for the tax bill as well staff er and prompted the DNC to The sprawling measure, which cludes priorities of both parties, Protection Agency,” Ryan said. bill, saying that it will do “noth- The Senate also passed a as the spending bill. cut off the Sanders campaign’s also extends several tax exemp- and left out some pet projects The omnibus lifts the ing to stop the fl ow of refugees sweeping package extending tax Senator Ron Wyden, the top access to its voter data. tions worth more than $600bn that made it diffi cult for some 40-year-old ban on US crude oil from terrorist countries” and breaks and credits worth $629bn Democrat on the Finance Com- The incident comes at an in- and that critics warn will in- lawmakers to sign on. exports, for years a Republican just “adds debt on top of debt aimed at providing greater cer- mittee, hailed it as “the biggest auspicious time for Sanders, the crease the national debt, easily But ultimately, “the House priority, while extending solar and enables President Obama’s tainty for businesses and mil- anti-poverty plan Congress Democratic socialist who is try- passed the Senate 65 votes to 33 came together to ensure our and wind energy tax credits that lawlessness”. lions of Americans. has moved forward in decades” ing to stop the heavily favoured shortly after clearing the House government is open and working Democrats say will create more The omnibus retained the The House approved the and said it will provide relief for Clinton from running away with earlier as the last major acts of for the American people”, House renewable energy jobs and re- decades-long ban on federal measure on Thursday. 50mn Americans. the party’s 2016 presidential nomination. Sanders has been lagging be- hind Clinton, with 29% support to her 60% in recent Reuters/ Ipsos polling. Marriage, movie Sanders, Clinton and a third candidate, former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley, are to meet for a debate at St Anselm marathons as College in Manchester, New Hampshire, tonight. The Sanders campaign breach occurred for a brief period on The Force Awakens Wednesday when staff at Sand- ers’ campaign were able to view confi dential information from Reuters/AFP 16-hour marathon of the fi rst the Democratic National Com- Washington six movies in the Star Wars mittee, the DNC said. franchise to set the mood for In a statement yesterday, the seeing The Force Awakens later Sanders’ campaign said that the n Australian couple got in the day. breach of the fi les, which contain married on Thursday as “Part of it is like the mythol- voter information such as past Athey waited in line for ogy of it, the religious aspect of support and donation history, the fi rst US public showings of it,” fan Matt Shavers said. The was an isolated incident and Above: Children dressed as Jedi knights participate in an event held for the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, storytelling is so amazing. It’s blamed it on the DNC’s software the film Star Wars: The Force Awakens at a movie theatre in San Salvador, El Salvador. while movie theatres around gorgeous. It’s the greatest saga vendor, Washington-based NGP the country held marathons of ever written.” VAN, media reports said. Left: Fans dressed as C-3PO and R2-D2 line up to watch the movie outside of AMC Loews the previous fi lms in the fran- Although The Force Awak- The campaign blamed it on Kips Bay 15 in New York City. chise. ens has several strong female an “incompetent vendor who Caroline Ritter, 34, a truck characters and marketing for on more than one occasion has Below, left: A fan dressed as Darth Maul poses in front of a movie theatre in Tokyo. driver, and fi refi ghter Andrew the movie has been directed at dropped the fi rewall between the Porters, 29, were among about women more than ever, some various Democratic candidates’ Below: A Darth Vader cosplayer from The Twin Suns Star Wars Club serves popcorn to 100 die-hard fans who camped 68% of those buying tickets in data”. fans at the Brenden Theatres, inside Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. outside Hollywood’s Chinese advance are male and the ma- Stu Trevelyan, chief execu- Theatre since December 5 for jority are people over the age tive of DNC software vendor the opening of The Force Awak- of 30, according to data from NGP VAN, acknowledged the ens. Movietickets.com. breach in a statement but said Ritter was walked down the The Force Awakens is ex- that his company is not aware of aisle by another fan, dressed pected to take some $200mn at any previous reported incidents as Darth Vader, and a violin- the North American box offi ce of data being “inappropriately ist played the Star Wars theme over its opening weekend, ac- available”. music as the couple exchanged cording to box offi ce analysts, He called the breach a “brief vows. They plan to celebrate by making it one of the biggest isolated issue” that was fi xed seeing the movie afterward. openings of all time. and is now being reviewed. Online ticket seller Fandan- Industry experts said yester- A liberal group, Democracy go said on Thursday that the day that Star Wars: The Force for America, rushed to Sanders’ new movie, which has received Awakens has already set a new defence. glowing reviews, has already opening night record in the US “The Democratic National broken its record for the most and Canada, raking in $57mn. Committee’s decision to attack tickets sold for any fi lm’s entire “This represents a new the campaign that fi gured out theatrical run. record for the industry and the problem, rather than go after “It is Fandango’s top-selling portends a massive and poten- the vendor that made the mis- movie of all time, even before tially record-breaking opening take, is profoundly damaging to it has even hit theatre screens,” day and weekend for the fi lm,” the party’s Democratic process,” said Fandango president Paul said Paul Dergarabedian, of box said Charles Chamberlain, De- Yanover. offi ce tracker Rentrak. mocracy for America’s executive But movie studio Walt Dis- The previous opening night director. ney Company says millions of record of $43.5mn was set by He said that DNC leaders tickets are still available this Harry Potter And The Deathly “should immediately reverse weekend as theatres add ca- Hallows: Part 2 in 2011. this disturbing decision before pacity to meet demand. The Harry Potter fi lm also the committee does even more Scarf-wearing cheetah on the loose in Canada At the fi rst set of screenings holds the all-time record for to bring its neutrality in the race on Thursday at Universal City, opening day at $91mn. for president into question”. near Hollywood, fans were The seventh Star Wars mov- Many liberals have concerns AFP stopped to photograph it. indoors and residents have been just below freezing, Caravetta dressed in characters ranging ie has also smashed records that the DNC has made deci- Ottawa “It was wearing an orange asked to mind their small pets, a said a cheetah can probably last from Jedi knights to Storm- overseas, where it opened in sions aimed at helping Clinton scarf or collar, suggesting it’s spokesman for the Royal Cana- only a few days in the Canadian troopers. many markets before the Unit- become the nominee, such as a domesticated animal. So dian Mounted Police said. wilds. Carol Vasquez, 24, from ed States, according to indus- staging fewer debates and hold- anadian conservation of- we don’t believe it’s a serious Ownership of exotic animals The driver who spotted the South Gate, California, who try watchers. ing them on weekends when fi cials and federal police threat,” British Columbia con- is allowed in British Columbia animal told public broadcaster came in costume, said she was Variety magazine said Brit- fewer people will be watching. Cwere on the lookout yes- servation offi cer Joe Caravetta with a special permit, but no CBC: “My fi rst thought was, excited to see the return of ain led the way with $14.4mn, The Washington Post fi rst re- terday for a cheetah wearing a told AFP. permits have been issued to an- ‘that’s a cheetah. What’s it do- Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. followed by France’s two-day ported the data breach late on bright orange scarf and wander- He said cheetahs are typically yone living in the area where the ing there?’” “It’s something so incredible total of $7.8mn and Germany Thursday, citing several party ing through the snow-covered shy and less aggressive than cheetah was spotted, Caravetta She described it as panting that I can’t even describe. It’s with $7.1mn. offi cials. outback. other large cats, and “this one is noted. and seemingly in distress. like family, this is family here The Force Awakens picks up Sanders’ campaign told the The big African cat was spot- probably used to being around Three conservation offi cers She said she tried to “coax it right now,” she said. the intergalactic story of good NBC that none of the accessed ted crossing a highway near people”. have been sent to track the chee- over” but the animal just kept In San Antonio, Texas, sev- versus evil 30 years on from data had been downloaded or Creston, British Columbia on But as a precaution, local tah, helped by a fresh snowfall. walking up the road until it dis- eral dozen fans stood in line at The Return of the Jedi, the fi nale printed. Thursday by a motorist who schoolchildren have been kept With temperatures hovering appeared over a snow bank. dawn on Thursday to watch a of the original trilogy. Virginia county closes schools as Islam assignment prompts backlash

Reuters located in Virginia’s Shenandoah ifornia by a married couple who district’s approximately 10,000 world geography class at River- ing to indoctrinate students with “No lesson was designed to Richmond, Virginia Valley about 150 miles (240km) killed 14 people and were said students. heads High School in Staunton, Islam and are calling for her to be promote a religious viewpoint or southwest of Washington. by authorities to be inspired by A rash of e-mail and phone local news reports said. fi red. change any student’s religious But the volume of calls and militant Islamism, and attacks in threats of violence hit schools As part of a study of the Mid- “I do not trust her to teach my belief,” the school district state- chools in a Virginia county e-mails related to the high Paris by Islamic State (IS) mili- across the country this week. dle East, a teacher instructed her son and regardless of the out- ment said. closed yesterday as a safety school class lesson and concerns tants on November 13 that killed Most were deemed not credible students to copy a Muslim state- come he will not sit in her class- LaPorte said she had received Sprecaution after a class- over their “tone and content” 130 people. and schools opened. ment of faith written in Arabic room,” mother Kimberly Hern- overwhelming support from room assignment asking stu- prompted the school closures, “We regret having to take Los Angeles offi cials closed the and intended to show the com- don said in a Facebook post that former students, colleagues and dents to practice Arabic callig- according to a statement on the this action, but we are doing so country’s second largest public plexity of calligraphy, the school has been shared more than 300 others in the community. raphy using a Muslim statement district’s website. based on the recommendations school system on Tuesday after superintendent told the News times. “All I want now is time for our of faith sparked an angry outcry The outcry over a lesson based of law enforcement and the Au- receiving e-mailed threats that Leader newspaper. The school district said in its community to heal,” she said in from parents and threats from on a brief Muslim text appeared gusta County School Board out were later deemed a hoax, a move The statement translates as statement that students would an email to Reuters. outside the district. to refl ect a current mood of of an abundance of caution,” the that was criticised by some as “There is no God but Allah, and continue to learn about world In an unrelated closure, Fran- Augusta County Public anxiety and distrust of Muslims school district statement said. overreaction. Mohammad is the messenger of religions as required by the state klin Community Schools in In- Schools offi cials said no specifi c among some Americans. Extracurricular activities on The backlash in Augusta Allah”. but a non-religious sample of diana were shut yesterday after a threat of harm had been made That follows a December 2 Thursday and through the week- County, Virginia, was triggered Some parents have accused the Arabic writing would be used in high school was evacuated a day against students in the district, shooting in San Bernardino, Cal- end were also canceled for the by an assignment last week in a teacher, Cheryl LaPorte, of try- the future. earlier due to a threat. Gulf Times 8 Saturday, December 19, 2015 ASEAN

LGBT students Hundreds of weapons bullied into quitting seized after Bali rioting school in AFP/DPA jail – which is not far from areas It is not yet clear what trig- Cambodia Denpasar popular with foreign tourists – gered the clash. others on the outside arrived and Wiyanto has said that the demanded entry. fi ghting was triggered a dispute Reuters olice on Indonesia’s Bali Police tried to disperse them between members of two rival Bangkok island said yesterday that but the gang members ended up local gangs. Pthey had seized hundreds fi ghting on the streets in nearby British grandmother Lindsay of spears, machetes and arrows Denpasar, the Balinese capital, Sandiford, who was sentenced hree out of fi ve LGBT after fi ghting between gangs in- where two others were killed and to death for drug smuggling, is people in Cambodia say side a prison and on the streets two injured. awaiting the fi ring squad in Ker- Tthey have been bullied at outside left four dead. All those killed and injured obokan while Australians from school, with many being tor- The brawl started late on were Indonesian. the “Bali Nine” narcotics ring are mented by teachers and drop- Thursday in Kerobokan jail, a Bali police spokesman Heri also housed in the notorious jail. ping out as a result, rights advo- high-security facility on the re- Wiyanto told AFP that police had Bali, a pocket of Hinduism in cates have found. sort island that houses many for- confi scated hundreds of spears, Muslim-majority Indonesia, is The Cambodian Centre for eigners, where two inmates were machetes and arrows from the a popular holiday destination Human Rights surveyed 245 les- killed and two others injured. prison as well as from gang with foreigners due to its palm- bian, gay, bisexual and transgen- “There was a clash in prison members outside the jail. fringed beaches and nightlife. der (LGBT) people, aged 15 to 72, involving the inmates, there were Police also transferred 59 in- But the island has a darker side around the country and found stabbings,” Bali police chief Sug- mates linked to the gangs to other in the form of its violent gangs, that 63% had been bullied as eng Priyanto said. prisons on the island overnight who style themselves after mili- students. One of those who died had se- and the two sides struck a deal to tary personnel or members of Of those who were bullied, rious stomach wounds, while the prevent a repeat of the violence, biker groups, and sometimes 42% suff ered often or on a dai- other had cuts on his back, ac- he said. clash violently on the streets. ly basis, while 17% said their cording to reports. Kerobokan was still locked Kerobokan, like many other teachers were the perpetrators, In this photo taken on Thursday, riot police prepare to secure the premises following clashes inside As members of Bali’s two big- down yesterday as police ques- Indonesian prisons, is notorious the survey found. Kerobokan prison in Denpasar. gest gangs clashed inside the tioned more than 50 people. for overcrowding. “I raised the issue with my own teacher regarding his inap- propriate speech,” a transgender man studying for a bachelor’s degree in the capital Phnom Penh was quoted as saying. Widodo rebukes minister over ride-hailing crackdown “My teacher said, ‘You are to- tally diff erent than others in the class. You are not a man, please Reuters act and present yourself as a real Jakarta girl’.” Another transgender man, a 19-year-old student in Kampong ndonesia’s president has Chhnang province northwest of publicly rebuked one of Phnom Penh, told researchers Ihis cabinet ministers for that he was a good student, but a clampdown on ride-hailing was frequently punished by his services such as Uber and Go- teacher. Jek, which triggered outrage on “My teacher often scolds or social media in a country where blames me. I am not comfortable public transport options are lim- in school as a transgender man. ited. I am not discriminated much by Transport Minister Ignasius my friends, but my teacher bul- Jonan’s restriction, which sent lies me,” he said. shares of taxi companies soar- Although same-sex activities ing in morning trade, will be seen are not illegal in Cambodia and as another embarrassment for there is little overt persecution President Joko Widodo, who has of LGBT people, they are not struggled to keep cabinet mem- Widodo: Don’t let the people be burdened because of regulations. protected by laws or policies, ex- bers in line since he took offi ce perts say. last year. Widodo is “unable to fully con- Gojek was the top trending topic Those surveyed across 11 Just months ago he invited trol his ministers”, Firman Noor, on Twitter in Indonesia. Cambodia’s 25 provinces by the dozens of motorbike drivers em- a political analyst at the Indone- “Thanks to President @Jokowi non-governmental Cambodian ployed by Go-Jek, whose lime- sian Institute of Sciences, told for his support to 200 thou- Centre for Human Rights re- green colours are now ubiquitous Reuters by telephone. sand Go-Jek drivers and 8mn of ported verbal bullying, social in the traffi c-clogged streets of “There seems to be relative our application users,” Go-Jek exclusion, violence and sexual Jakarta, to lunch at his palace. independence at the ministries founder Nadiem Makarim said harassment. “Don’t let the people be bur- to make their own internal deci- on Twitter. Some respondents ended dened because of regulations,” sions that may not be commu- College student Damianus up avoiding or dropping out of Widodo said on his offi cial Twit- nicated to the president,” Noor Andreas said that the transport school. ter account, adding that regula- said. “In some cases they contra- ministry was “reckless” in its ban The authors noted the fi nd- tions “need to be managed” and dict the president’s stand.” attempt, adding that the govern- ings were limited by the fact that he would “immediately” sum- Jonan is no stranger to contro- ment should be more fl exible in A biker and his passenger, part of the Go-Jek ride-hailing service, are seen on a busy street in central the people surveyed were openly mon Jonan for talks. versy. dealing with new inventions. Jakarta. Indonesia’s president publicly rebuked one of his cabinet ministers yesterday for a LGBT, and the research did not Innovation by the younger This year the transport minis- As the furore grew, transport clampdown on ride-hailing services such as Uber and Go-Jek, which triggered outrage on social reach LGBT people who were not generation should not be re- ter introduced a “positive equity ministry spokesman JA Barata media in a country where public transport options are limited. known to community leaders. strained and applications such rule” for airlines that compelled told a briefi ng the government as Go-Jek exist because they are carriers, including the Indone- would be a laughing stock if it needed by society, Widodo told sia affi liate of AirAsia Berhad, to was legal for dangerous vehicles Thai court grants bail to activist detained over Facebook posts criticising junta reporters at the palace yesterday. bulk up on equity. to carry the public. “People will The Kompas newspaper re- Shares of Indonesian taxi op- laugh at us.” A Thai military court has granted bail to a medical check as soon as he was released. criminal code – the equivalent of sedition – ported on its website late on erators PT Express Transindo GrabTaxi, another online rides student activist arrested while in hospital Since taking power in a coup in May 2014, and the wide-ranging Computer Crime Act Thursday that Jonan’s ministry Utama Tbk and PT Blue Bird Tbk service, said it respected regula- over Facebook posts criticising the junta and Thailand’s ruling junta has stifled dissent, for criticising the junta and its off icials on his had banned the use of personal surged as much 33% and 16.4%, tions and was taking steps to im- its off icials, his lawyer said. banned political gatherings and detained personal Facebook page, Police Colonel Nasa vehicles for public transport. respectively, yesterday after the prove safety for passengers, but Rights groups including Human Rights activists, journalists and opposition Svettalekha told Reuters. The minister rowed back yes- reported ban. was in any case not even a trans- Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International had politicians at military camps for days of He also re-posted a graphic on Facebook terday, saying in a statement They pared gains by afternoon, port operator. called for the immediate release of 25-year- “attitude adjustment sessions”. linking some top government off icials to that online ride-hailing services however, when Express stood “GrabCar and GrabBike are old Thanet Anantawong to receive medical Thanet had been held at a military base since alleged corruption involving the financing could continue to operate until a 5.5% higher, and Blue Bird was technology partners to licenced attention. Sunday. of a park built by the military to honour past solution to meet public transport up 2.1%. transportation companies, and “Thanet will be released from the Bangkok He had been taken from hospital by kings, Nasa said. needs is found. He gave no fur- The attempt to cripple ride- do not own any vehicles nor is Remand Prison this evening,” his lawyer, undercover police off icers while awaiting an Thanet will have to report to the court every ther details. hailing services provoked an on- a transport operator,” a spokes- Anon Numpa, said. operation, Human Rights Watch said. 12 days, beginning on December 29, Anon This episode shows that line outcry: within hours #Save- woman said in an e-mail. Anon said that he would take his client for a Thanet was charged under Article 116 of the said. Authorities claim large ivory hauls in Vietnam, Thailand

AFP container that was marked as sell ivory dating from before the Hanoi carrying hair wigs, adding the ban. shipment had been sent from Police have made frequent, Singapore and was on its way to hefty seizures of dozens of early three tonnes of Laos. tonnes of tusks, rhino horns and ivory have been seized Tusks and other body parts of pangolin scales this year. Nin Vietnam and Thai- elephants are prized for deco- In Thailand, the country’s land, offi cials said yesterday, ration as talismans and for use junta is cracking down on the highlighting the still thriving in traditional medicine across lucrative trade. black market trade for illegal parts of Asia, with China being In August it incinerated more animal parts in southeast Asia. a major market for such prod- than two tonnes of confi scated Vietnamese offi cials said 2.2 ucts. ivory, the fi rst time the kingdom tonnes of tusks, originating The international trade in has taken steps to destroy part from Mozambique, had been ivory, with rare exceptions, has of its stockpile. discovered on Thursday buried been outlawed since 1989 fol- It has also ordered all Thais among sacks of beans, a cus- lowing the drop in the popula- to register any ivory they own, toms offi cial from northern Hai tion of African elephants from warning that those who fail to Phong port told AFP, asking not millions in the mid-20th cen- do so will have their items con- to be named. tury to just 600,000 by the end fi scated. In Thailand, wildlife offi cials of the 1980s. They have also made a series displayed more than 700kg of But that has not stopped of high profi le hauls, including ivory items that were seized criminal gangs seeking to ex- four tonnes of ivory found hid- last week on the island of Koh ploit the continued demand for den in containers in April that Samui. the material in Asia. originated in the Democratic Wildlife off icials weigh elephant tusks at the customs department in Bangkok after more than 700kg of ivory items – 113 tusks and 168 pieces – A customs offi cial told AFP Vietnam outlawed the ivory Republic of the Congo and were were seized last week on the island of Koh Samui. the tusks were found in a cargo trade in 1992, but shops can still destined for Laos. Gulf Times Saturday, December 19, 2015 9 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA Canberra welcomes plain cigarette packaging ‘win’

AFP smoking giant Philip Morris. lung and heart disease, and hurting trademark intellectual property. anywhere else,” Philip Morris’ senior trol objectives, governments are still Sydney “Plain packaging is a legitimate families.” The Permanent Court of Arbitra- vice president and general counsel accountable if they choose to use un- public health measure, which is con- In 2012, Australia became the fi rst tion, established to settle international Marc Firestone said in a statement lawful means.” sistent with Australia’s international country to mandate plain packaging disputes, declined to comment on its yesterday, adding that his fi rm was re- Philip Morris launched the challenge n Australian law requiring ciga- legal obligations,” said Rural Health for cigarettes, in a bid to reduce smok- decision to refuse jurisdiction for the viewing the decision to determine its in 2011 after plain-packaging legisla- rettes to be sold in plain packag- Minister Fiona Nash, who is responsi- ing rates, and has since been followed arbitration proceedings in Singapore. response. tion was passed, using a 1993 trade Aing has received a boost after an ble for tobacco policy. by other nations including France and Philip Morris accused Australia of “This case has never been about a deal between Australia and Hong Kong international tribunal said it would not “We welcome the unanimous deci- Britain. using a procedural issue to avoid ad- government’s undeniable authority to that included foreign investment pro- hear a tobacco company’s legal chal- sion by the tribunal agreeing with Aus- But big tobacco fi rms including dressing the legality and eff ectiveness regulate in the public interest. Nor has tections. lenge. tralia’s position that it has no jurisdic- Philip Morris International, British of plain packages, calling the move there ever been any question that to- Four tobacco fi rms including Philip The government in Canberra yester- tion to hear Philip Morris’s claim,” she American Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco “regrettable”. bacco products merit strict oversight,” Morris in 2012 lost a legal challenge day welcomed the decision by the Per- said in a statement. and Japan Tobacco International have “There is nothing in today’s out- Firestone added. against the laws in the High Court of manent Court of Arbitration to refuse “Smoking does untold harm to Aus- launched legal challenges against such come that addresses, let alone vali- “In our view, the real point is simply Australia, which found they did not jurisdiction over a case brought by tralians, causing deaths from cancer; laws, arguing they impinge on their dates, plain packaging in Australia or this: even when pursuing tobacco con- breach the nation’s constitution. Glamour Beijing issues second ‘red alert’ over smog

Reuters last week following criticism on Tuesday. The offi cial Xin- Beijing that previous bouts of smog hua news agency said the smog had failed to trigger the highest would be worse than last week. warning level. “Parts of north China will see hina warned residents Beijing’s second red alert the worst smog so far this year across a large part of its comes after a landmark climate from Saturday,” it said, citing the Cnorth yesterday to pre- agreement was reached in Paris National Meteorological Centre. pare for a wave of choking smog earlier this month, setting a Xinhua put blame for the smog arriving over the weekend, the course to move away from a fos- on the over-reliance of much of worst of which is expected over sil fuel-driven economy within northern China on coal for its Beijing, prompting the capital to decades in a bid to arrest global energy needs and the heavy in- issue its second ever “red alert”. warming. dustries surrounding cities. The National Meteorologi- A red alert is triggered when “From a long-term perspec- cal Centre said the smog would the government believes air tive, the improvement in air stretch from Xian, home to the quality will surpass a level of quality cannot just rely on tem- world-famous Terracotta War- 200 on an air quality index that porary production suspensions riors, across part of central measures various pollutants for or limitations for certain com- Miss World China, Lu Yuan performs during the dress rehearsal a day before the Miss World Grand Final in Sanya, in southern China’s China, through Beijing and up at least three days. The US gov- panies,” it said. “Fundamentally Hainan province yesterday. The 65th edition of the Miss World Grand Final will kick off in Sanya today. into Shenyang and Harbin in the ernment deems a level of more it needs to come from an ad- frigid northeast. than 200 “very unhealthy”. justment in industry and energy The air pollution would be- In Beijing, a red alert means structure, as cutting emissions gin rolling in from about today around half the vehicles are re- from the source is the perma- evening and last until Tuesday, moved from the roads with an nent solution.” with visibility in the worst af- odd-even licence plate system Beijing is not the only city to fected areas such as Beijing likely enforced. Schools are recom- have a coloured alert system, to fall to less than 1 km, it said. mended to close and outdoor and the restrictions rolled out in North Korea girl band concert The pollution index would construction is banned. the most severe cases are broadly probably exceed 500 in Beijing “I’m very concerned about the similar. and parts of Hebei province, pollution, I think the govern- Hebei’s environment protec- which surrounds the capital, ment needs to put more eff ort tion bureau said it was issuing cancelled over ‘anti-US lyrics’ it said. Residents are encour- into solving this,” said Cheng an orange alert, the second- aged to remain indoors at levels Xianke, a 34-year-old Beijing highest, starting from Friday. higher than 300, according to software developer. Schools will not close and there Reuters “China was of the view that the lyrics day, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman government guidelines. The Beijing environment bu- will be no vehicle restrictions Beijing would unnecessarily provoke the US”. said he had nothing to add to the brief Xin- The Beijing city govern- reau said the red alert would but it recommends no outdoor China has tried to act as an honest bro- hua story. ment issued its fi rst “red alert” last from 7am today to midnight activities and that people use ker between the US and North Korea and Asked about what the source said, the public transport. North Korean all-female pop group has repeatedly attempted to get the rivals ministry’s news division referred Reuters to Hebei’s Baoding city has al- cancelled their Beijing concert last to cool their rhetoric as it seeks to promote the answer given on Monday. ready begun enforcing rules Aweek when Chinese authorities ob- harmony in the region. China and North Korea were allies in the even stricter than a red alert, jected to “anti-American” lyrics in the The Moranbong Band is North Ko- Korean War against a US-led coalition and an offi cial surnamed Liu at the show, a source with ties to North Korea and rean leader Kim Jong Un’s pet project South Korea and some of the people invited city’s environment protection China told Reuters yesterday. as he tries to put his personal stamp to the concert were Chinese veterans of that bureau told Reuters, including a The Moranbong Band was visiting China on North Korean arts, and the short war. December-long enforcement of along with North Korea’s State Merited haircuts of the group’s young women The North Koreans considered the Chi- odd-even licence plate restric- Chorus and was due to perform at Beijing’s members are trend-setting in the capital, nese offi cials invited to the event to be too tions and total ban on outdoor National Centre for the Performing Arts on Pyongyang. low-ranking, the source added. construction for the month. Dec. 12. The ensemble, whose members were re- After the censor disapproved of the lyrics, After decades of unbridled eco- Chinese censors did not approve of a line portedly handpicked by Kim, was formed the North Korean side protested, refused to nomic growth, China’s leadership which referred to the US an “ambitious in 2012, and the China show was to be their change them and returned home after di- has vowed to crack down on severe wolf”, and lyrics which glorifi ed the 1950-53 fi rst overseas. rectly consulting North Korean leader Kim, levels of air, water and soil pollu- Korean War, according to the source. China’s offi cial Xinhua news agency has the source said. tion, including the heavy smog “China did not ask that the lyrics be said the performance could not be staged China invited the group to thank North that often blankets major cities. changed but it did not pass screening by because of “communication issues at the Korea for hosting senior Chinese offi cial City residents have previously censors,” said the source, who declined to working level”. Liu Yunshan at a military parade marking A woman wearing a protective mask rides a bicycle as China warned criticised authorities for being too be identifi ed due to the sensitivity of the Asked repeatedly about the reasons for the 70th anniversary of the ruling Workers’ residents across a large part of northern China to prepare for a wave slow to issue red alerts for heavy subject. the cancellation at a daily briefi ng on Mon- Party in Pyongyang, the source said. of choking smog. smog.

CRIME Celebrity bird rescued aft er Taiwan Govt carries out train adventure first execution Japan, Australia seek closer ties after jury sentence A rare crane that has become a celebrity in Taiwan after getting Japan yesterday executed two lost on its journey from Siberia death row prisoners, including last year had to be rescued the nation’s first of a condemned after a new misguided foray to despite discord over whaling inmate sentenced by jurors, of- a subway station. The beautiful ficials said, as campaigners called white bird had made wetlands for the country to abolish capital in northern Taiwan its home Reuters they have diff erences? They lay oped tight ties with Abe, in punishment. The two execu- for almost a year since last Tokyo them out openly and honestly, September. tions for multiple murders bring December, after taking a wrong and in that way, perhaps over- He faces a balancing act to 14 the total number of death turn on a migratory route from time, we’ll be able to resolve between Australia’s largest sentences carried out since Prime Siberia to China. apanese Prime Minister them,” he said. trading partner China and its Minister Shinzo Abe took power in Separated from its flock, locals Shinzo Abe and Austral- Turnbull, who faced do- oldest regional ally and sec- late 2012. Sumitoshi Tsuda, 63, was have welcomed the young Jian counterpart Malcolm mestic opposition pressure to ond-largest trading partner, hanged for killing three people in Siberian crane — the farmer Turnbull agreed yesterday to speak out on whaling, said ear- Japan, with which it has been the city of Kawasaki, near Tokyo, who owns the wetlands where drive their security co-opera- lier on the day the row should bolstering strategic relations. in May 2009, a justice ministry the bird now lives has stopped tion further, despite Australia’s not be allowed “to erode the In the joint statement, off icial said. It was Japan’s first using pesticides to ensure it can “deep disappointment” in Ja- good will and the rest of the re- Abe and Turnbull expressed execution of a death row inmate eat untainted food. And it even pan’s restart of whaling activi- lationship”. strong opposition, without sentenced by so-called lay judges, has a security guard during ties. In the summit meeting naming countries, to any co- the ministry confirmed. Japan in daylight hours to protect it from Japan’s whaling fl eet set out with Abe, Turnbull welcomed ercive or unilateral actions 2009 launched a jury system in stray dogs. But on Thursday for the Antarctic this month to Japan’s bid to win a contract that could altar the status quo which citizens deliberate with pro- night, wanderlust gripped the resume a hunt for the mam- to build a new fleet of Aus- in the East China Sea and the fessional judges in a bid to boost crane once more — taking it at mals, ending a year-long hia- Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull speaks as his Japanese tralian submarines and said South China Sea. the role of the citizenry in the least 30 kilometres away to tus following an International counterpart Shinzo Abe listens during their joint news conference at the decision will be made by China has overlapping judicial process. Under the system, Songshan railway station in the Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling the Akasaka Palace state guesthouse in Tokyo yesterday. the middle of next year, a Jap- claims with Vietnam, the Phil- a total of 26 people have been north of the capital Taipei. that Japan should stop. anese official told reporters. ippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and sentenced to death, according to Passers-by and commuters The resumption prompted Abe said. Abe made the com- Turnbull told the same news A state-backed Japanese Brunei in the South China Sea. public broadcaster NHK. were stunned when the tall, criticism from Australia as well ment in a joint news confer- conference that he had ex- consortium led by Mitsubi- Beijing’s reclamation work “Lay judges made the very grave elegant bird landed outside the as Tokyo’s ally, the US. ence that followed their sum- pressed Australia’s “very deep shi Heavy Industries and Ka- and building of airfi elds on judgement and I took it seriously,” station and stayed there, seem- “I am glad we have shared mit meeting. disappointment with Japan’s wasaki Heavy Industries is artifi cial islands in the Spratly Justice Minister Mitsuhide Iwaki ingly unafraid of the crowds. understanding that co-oper- Abe and Turnbull aim to resumption of whaling,” to competing with Germany’s archipelago have sparked re- told a news conference. It was pictured standing on the ation between Japan and Aus- reach an agreement that would Abe, but added their friendly Thyssenkrupp and French gional tension. The news made the front pages street as two officials looked on. tralia is a cornerstone of peace facilitate their militaries’ joint ties make it all the more im- state-controlled naval con- For its part, Japan has been of Japanese evening papers, with After an emergency call to and stability in the Asia-Pa- operations and exercises as portant to address disagree- tractor DCNS. mired in a territorial spat with the top-selling Yomiuri Shimbun animal rescuers, it is now in a cifi c region, and that we have soon as possible, the joint ment candidly. Turnbull was on his first China over a group of tiny, saying that consideration for the temporary shelter. agreed to speed up our co- statement issued after the “We are very good friends. visit to Japan since replacing uninhabited islets in the East psychological well being of jurors operation in the security fi eld,” summit meeting said. What good friends do when Tony Abbott, who had devel- China Sea. is necessary. Gulf Times 10 Saturday, December 19, 2015 BRITAIN

VERDICT PEOPLE LEGAL TRANSPORT ANGER Npower to pay £26mn for Sexism row scientist Tube driver faces jail 200,000 oppose private Government plan to cut ‘unacceptable’ bills bungle moving to Japan for 1994 sex attacks cab hire regulations plan solar subsidies criticised

Npower must pay a record £26mn to customers Nobel prize winning scientist Sir Tim Hunt, who A Tube driver is facing a “substantial” jail A petition created by taxi app Uber in response MPs yesterday criticised the government’s after sending inaccurate and late bills to over half was forced to resign over sexism allegations, sentence after being found guilty of raping a to proposals to tighten private hire regulation decision to reduce renewable energy subsidies, a million of them for more than a year. The fine, is leaving the UK for a new life in Japan. The woman in an underpass and attempting to rape in London has reached 200,000 signatures. saying it would damage investor confidence. the largest sanction ever imposed on one of the 72-year-old quit his honorary professorship another just two days later. Russell Chandler, Transport for London (TfL) is consulting on a series The government cut more renewable energy big six energy suppliers by industry regulator at University College London earlier this year then 19, attacked his first victim, 34, as she of measures that would aff ect minicab drivers in subsidies on Thursday, after months of Ofgem, follows more than 2mn complaints about following a storm of criticism over comments walked home from Mill Hill Broadway station the capital. The suggestions - which TfL say could reining in spending on all financial support for the German-owned firm. If it does not make he made about working with women. At the after work in May 1994 — pinning her face- “improve and inform” the regulations that govern renewables since it took power in May. Among significant improvements to customer service in time, Sir Tim said he had been “hung out to down to the ground. He attempted to rape the London’s private hire trade - include enforcing an other measures, it cut the tariff for small-scale the next six months, the regulator says it will halt dry” and was forced to resign, despite an second victim, then 22, near Barnet Copthall interval of at least five minutes between a booking solar and capped spending on a renewables all its sales and advertising activity. Npower has internal inquiry noting the self-deprecating Leisure Centre. Chandler, now 41, admitted and the start of a journey to allow drivers to plan support scheme. In the letter to Amber Rudd, already seen an exodus of 200,000 disgruntled tone in which he delivered the speech. He will indecently assaulting both women in 1994 but an appropriate route. But more than 202,000 have the parliament’s energy and climate change customers tempted by off ers from rival suppliers. move to Japan with his wife Mary Collins, who denied rape and attempted rape. Recorder signed a petition warning TfL that the proposals select committee said investor confidence in Ofgem said the “chaotic” firm’s treatment of is leaving her UCL professorship to start a five- Peter Guest said he faced a “substantial” jail will make it harder for people “to get a convenient the renewables sector was being damaged by customers was “completely unacceptable”. year job at a Japanese university. term when he is sentenced next month. and aff ordable ride at the tap of a button”. sudden and unpredictable announcements. China tycoon Prince George to start at nursery buys £80mn London home

London Evening Standard As well as the £700mn One London Nine Elms scheme, which in- cludes a 56-storey residential skyscraper, Wang owns the Dor- hina’s richest man has set-based Sunseeker luxury mo- bought a 10-bedroom tor yacht business. Cmansion on London’s It was reported this year that most exclusive “billionaires’ row” he has been in talks to buy the in a spectacular £80mn deal. Tour de France as part of a bid to Property and “Chollywood” build one of the world’s biggest movie tycoon Wang Jianlin, sports empires. whose wealth is estimated at Wang already owns a 20% more than £20bn, took a long stake in Spanish football club lease from the Crown Estate on Atletico Madrid, which he the residence at Kensington Pal- bought for £32mn in April. ace Gardens, according to prop- In 2013 he hosted a star-stud- erty market sources. ded red carpet event attended by The former Chinese army Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, commander is now expected to Catherine Zeta-Jones, John Tra- spends tens of millions pounds volta and Leonardo DiCaprio to A handout picture obtained in London yesterday shows Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and their two children Prince George (left) and Princess more — with one estimate sug- launch a £5bn Chinese rival to Charlotte at Kensington Palace in London. Prince George will start attending nursery from early next year, royal officials announced yesterday. The two-year-old gesting a bill as high as £50mn — Hollywood — dubbed Cholly- son of Prince William and wife Kate is set to attend Westacre Montessori School Nursery in Norfolk near the family’s home at Anmer Hall. on a lavish refurbishment of the wood — in China’s north- east- mid-Victorian property. ern city of Qingdao. Wang, who chairs the Dal- His only son Wang Sicong, ian Wanda property group that who was educated at Winches- is building the One Nine Elms ter College and University Col- luxury fl ats development in lege London, attracted criticism Vauxhall, will have Chelsea earlier this year when he re- owner Roman Abramovich and vealed he had bought two £800 the Norwegian embassy as his Apple Watches for his dog Wang immediate neighbours when he Keke. moves into the property. Top-end property buyer Farage blasts Carswell Other owners and residents Giuliana La Pera is believed to on the street — also the most have acted for Wang in fi nd- exclusive in Europe — include ing the fi ve-storey property, Formula One heiress Tamara Ec- which is protected by high gates clestone, steel magnate Lakshmi and has eight bathrooms and a Mittal, Foxtons founder Jon swimming pool in the basement. Hunt and the French ambassa- The sale could trigger one for ‘fresh face’ remarks dor Sylvie Bermann. of the biggest stamp duty bills The private road — which runs in British history — more than Reuters Ukip leader Nigel Farage, who interview broadcast yesterday. sion where none exists,” he told focused on Cameron’s renego- next to Kensington Palace, the £9.5mn. London casts himself as a man of the peo- “Sometimes a start-up needs the BBC. “He must put up or tiation discussions with other London home of the Duke and The house was fi rst sold in ple, has helped turn Ukip from a to change gear and to change shut up.” EU leaders in Brussels. Duchess of Cambridge — is con- 1856 for £7,000 to Kensington fringe movement into a political its management if it’s to go the Ukip has often been criticised Matthew Goodwin, professor sidered one of the most secure in businessman Peter Carthew and he anti-EU UK Inde- force that came third in May with next level and the Oldham by- as a one-man band and during a of politics and international re- London, with a round-the-clock was occupied by the Nigerian pendence Party (Ukip) more than 12% of the vote. election to me said, very clear- power struggle in May the par- lations at the University of Kent armed police presence at both High Commissioner in the Six- Tneeds a fresh face as But under Britain’s fi rst- ly, that I think we need a fresh ty’s then campaign chief accused and an author of books on Ukip, ends. It is also the location for ties and Seventies. leader, its only lawmaker said past-the-post electoral system face,” added Carswell, who de- advisers of creating a “personal- said Carswell’s comments were the Russian and Israeli embas- It last came on the market in yesterday, highlighting divi- it emerged with just one law- fected from the Conservatives ity cult” around Farage. likely motivated by concern sies. 1999 when the Crown Estate, sions in a party which will play maker and this month failed to last year and has ruled himself Farage kept a pledge to resign over the direction of the refer- The 20,000 sq ft home was which owns the freehold to all a key role in the campaign for make expected inroads in a vote out of the top Ukip job. as party leader in May after fail- endum and the “leave” camp’s previously occupied by the the properties on the half-mile- Britain to leave the bloc at an for a parliamentary seat in Old- Farage, an outspoken 51-year- ing to win a seat in parliament failure to establish a clear lead Ukrainian-born businessman long street, sought £35mn but it upcoming membership refer- ham. old former commodities trader himself but reversed the deci- in the polls so far. Leonid Blavatnik, who rented did not sell. endum. “It is not for me to decide and member of the European sion three days later saying he “I suspect that this is refl ect- it during lengthy works on his The Crown Estate, which pro- Prime Minister David Cam- who the leader of the party is Parliament, dismissed Carswell’s had been persuaded by party ing an attempt to perhaps push house opposite. vides the income for the Queen eron promised that vote in part but I think it is fair to say that comments, saying Ukip voters offi cials to stay on. Farage out of the way, some- It is the latest major invest- from its profi ts, then decided to due to pressure from the rise in we all need to think very care- were behind his leadership. He is now involved in one of body who many Eurosceptics ment in Britain by the Chinese let the property before off ering a popularity of Ukip, which won fully as to whether or not we “We have one person who the main ‘out’ referendum cam- view as being toxic and damag- billionaire, who this year over- 125-year lease this year. 2014’s European elections in can build beyond the base that disagrees with my leadership. paign groups, and said it was ing to the leave side, ... to clear took online retailer Alibaba La Pera, the Crown Estate and Britain and posed a threat to we have now got without that Carswell is completely out on “inappropriate” for Carswell to the path for a more moderate founder Jack Ma to become his a spokesman for Dalian Wanda his Conservative Party ahead of change,” Ukip lawmaker Doug- a limb, and we cannot allow be making such comments on and perhaps more mainstream country’s richest man. all declined to comment. May’s national election. las Carswell told the BBC in an somebody to go on sowing divi- a day when the party should be euroscepticism,” he said. Deep coal mining era ends Police shooting case as Kellingley Colliery shuts stirs echoes of ’11 riots Reuters Baker died from a single gun- AFP coal power stations by 2025, sig- service-driven economy, leading London shot wound during the police London nalling the end for an industry to chronic unemployment. operation, the IPCC said. He was that fuelled the British empire The Kellingley closure ended in a car in which there appeared and the industrial revolution. a vital source of income in the police offi cer has been to be a “non-police issue fi re- iners at Britain’s last “The closure of Kellingley area around the nearby village of arrested following the arm”, the watchdog said. remaining deep coal Colliery marks the end of an in- Knottingley, and families have Ashooting dead of a sus- With tensions mounting, a Mmine worked their fi - credibly signifi cant period in our been left questioning their fu- pect which is being treated as a community meeting was held in nal shift yesterday in a historic country’s social and economic ture. possible murder, in a case with Tottenham on Thursday, attended milestone for what was once one history,” said Philip Lawrence, Many of the mine’s employ- marked parallels to that which by the police and IPCC. Baker’s of the country’s most important the chief executive of the Coal ees began work at 15 and fear sparked days of riots and looting family have appealed for calm. industries. Authority. they may struggle to fi nd other across the country in 2011. “A fi rearms offi cer has been At 12.45GMT miners fi led work. The shooting of Jermaine arrested and interviewed under out of the Kellingley Colliery in “The closure of Kellingley “Some of the miners have al- Baker, 28, happened during an caution,” IPCC commissioner Yorkshire, which employed 450 Colliery marks the end of ready found alternative employ- alleged attempt to help two men Cindy Butts told the meeting. miners to dig coal out 800 me- an incredibly signifi cant ment, some of the miners are go- escape from a prison van near “The evidence we have at tres (2,600 feet) below ground. period in our country’s ing to retire, some of the miners Wood Green Crown Court in this stage does not mean that “I thought that I would see social and economic are looking for jobs,” McLough- north London, the capital’s po- the offi cer defi nitively commit- out my career here but it is not history” lin told Sky. lice chief has said. ted a criminal act and nor does to be,” coal mine manager Shaun “It’s very sad but it’s the eco- The 2011 Summer riots were it mean he will necessarily be McLoughlin said. The industry is remembered nomic truth of it.” sparked when police shot dead charged with a criminal off ence.” “This is a very sad day for eve- for the bitter 1980s struggle by The area is surrounded by a man, a known criminal, in ap- The local police commander ryone connected with the mine miners to stop the Conserva- three coal-fi red stations includ- parently similar circumstances said he understood the con- but I am proud that we have done tive government of Margaret ing Drax, which produces be- and in the same general area of cerns of the local community in the job safely and profession- Thatcher shutting their work- tween seven and eight percent London. the wake of the shooting. “This ally,” he said. places - a deeply symbolic defeat of Britain’s electricity - but only Baker’s death last Friday is is a very diffi cult time for eve- Known as the dirtiest fossil for the unions that helped usher Drax is set to remain operational being investigated by the po- ryone aff ected by the death of fuel, coal has fallen out of fash- in the liberal British economy of after 2016. lice watchdog, the Independent Jermaine,” chief superintendent ion as world governments look today. Earlier this month, 195 na- Police Complaints Commis- Victor Olisa said after the meet- to limit emissions and switch to Like many post-industrial tions sealed a landmark deal to sion (IPCC), who have said it is a ing. “It is only right and proper clean energy. areas of Britain, former coal- curb greenhouse emissions and criminal homicide inquiry, while that any offi cer who has made The government plans to mining regions have often limit climate change at a United Coal miners finish the final shift before closure at the Kellingley the fi rearms offi cer involved has the decision to use lethal force phase out the most polluting struggled to adjust to the new Nations conference. Colliery in Yorkshire yesterday. been suspended from duty. fully accounts for their actions.” Gulf Times Saturday, December 19, 2015 11 EUROPE

Denmark defends plans to UN: Record number of confi scate migrants’ displaced people in 2015 valuables AFP ple having crossed the Mediter- profoundly aff ecting our times,” The main contributor is the shot up 78% compared to the nally displaced people (IDPs), Geneva ranean as refugees and migrants UN refugee chief Antonio Gu- ruthless confl ict in Syria, which fi rst half of 2015 to nearly 1mn, subtracting those who have re- so far this year, and confl icts in terres said in a statement. “Nev- by June this year had created the report showed. turned home, swelled by 2mn AFP Syria and elsewhere continuing er has there been a greater need 4.2mn refugees, the UNHCR Germany was the world’s big- over the six month period to Copenhagen he number of people who to generate staggering levels of for tolerance, compassion and said. gest recipient of asylum claims, about 34mn, the report said. have been forced to fl ee human suff ering, 2015 is likely solidarity with people who have Without this factor, the glo- clocking 159,000 during the six War-ravaged Yemen alone Twar, violence and perse- to exceed all previous records for lost everything.” bal increase in refugee numbers months leading to June – close saw 933,500 new IDPs in the fi rst he Danish government cution looks set to soar in 2015 global forced displacement,” the During the fi rst six months from 2011 to mid-2015 would to the total for all of 2014. half of the year, while the war in has defended plans for past last year’s record of nearly UNHCR said. of the year, at least 5mn peo- have been just 5%, the agency But the situation has escalat- Ukraine displaced 559,000 in- Tpolice to search asylum- 60mn, the United Nations said Last year, the number of dis- ple were newly displaced, with said. ed dramatically since then, with ternally, and the Democratic seekers’ luggage for valuables yesterday. placed soared to a record 59.5mn 4.2mn of them remaining in- The UNHCR meanwhile Germany now expected to take Republic of the Congo counted and cash after they prompted The UN refugee agency re- worldwide, and yesterday’s re- side their country and 839,000 pointed out that Europe’s mi- in 1mn asylum-seekers by the 558,000 new internally dis- international outrage and drew leased a report showing rock- port indicated that this year the crossing borders – the equiva- gration crisis – its worst since end of the year. placed. comparisons to Nazi Germany. eting numbers of people living fi gure “has far surpassed 60mn”. lent of 4,600 people becoming World War II – is only partially Russia came in second place The UNHCR meanwhile “I can see that some foreign as refugees, asylum seekers or That basically means that one refugees every single day, the refl ected in the new numbers, in terms of asylum applications, warned the global IDP numbers media are pouring scorn over displaced within their countries in every 122 people on the planet report said. since arrivals have escalated receiving 100,000 in the fi rst were likely higher, since the re- (the fact) that we in the future during the fi rst half of the year, is today someone who has been By the end of June, 20.2mn dramatically in the second half half of 2015, mainly from people port only covers internally dis- may withdraw asylum-seekers’ and indicated that the full-year forced to fl ee their home, the people were living as refugees of 2015, a period not covered by fl eeing the ongoing confl ict in placed people under UNHCR valuables and demand that they fi gures would be devastating. agency said. worldwide, marking a 45% jump the report. Ukraine. protection, and not those cared should pay for their stay in asy- “With almost a million peo- “Forced displacement is now since 2011. Global asylum applications The overall number of inter- for at a national level. lum centres themselves,” Inte- gration Minister Inger Stojberg wrote on Facebook. “There is no reason to criti- cise, since it is already the case that if you as a Dane have valu- Suspense as Spain’s election campaign draws to a close ables for more than 10,000 kro- ner ($1,450, €1,340) it may be required that this is sold before AFP mains a mystery as the main op- Iglesias strummed a guitar you can receive unemployment Madrid position Socialists are expected on TV, Rivera posed in Glamour benefi ts,” she added. to come neck-and-neck with magazine and even Rajoy dis- Stojberg, an immigration two upstart parties, the centrist carded his long-held suspicion hardliner of the ruling right- arked by an acrimoni- Ciudadanos and anti-austerity of the media when he appeared wing Venstre party, added that ous debate, a punch Podemos. on a chat show to discuss his “in Denmark you have to try for Min the face, star turns Jose Pablo Ferrandiz, head of personal life. yourself if you can”. on TV and four very diff erent polling group Metroscopia, says The campaign also took on an Items of personal signifi cance, main contenders, Spain’s elec- that at the last elections in 2011, aggressive turn, particularly in such as wedding rings, as well as tion campaign comes to an offi - the PP’s absolute majority win its last week. mobile phones will be exempt cial close yesterday ahead of this came as no surprise. A debate between Rajoy and while cash amounts over 3,000 weekend’s general election. “But now, just two days ahead Sanchez on Monday went sour kroner will be confi scated, ac- For two weeks, incumbent of the election, one in four voters when the prime minister’s rival cording to the government’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy remains undecided,” he adds. accused him of not being a de- proposal. and his rivals have criss-crossed And that is the main change cent person, demanding to know The plans have sparked inter- the country on a mission to se- in this campaign – from a long- why he had not resigned over re- national outrage, especially in duce voters whose disillusion- standing bi-party political peated corruption scandals that the US, where the Washington ment over corruption and aus- scene, Spanish voters now have hit the PP since 2011. Post on Thursday said confi scat- terity measures has fuelled the four very diff erent groupings to “Miserable wretch,” Rajoy re- ing jewellery from refugees had rise of dynamic new parties that choose from as well as the usual sponded angrily, losing his leg- “a particularly bitter connota- could make a splash in tomor- spattering of smaller-scale con- endary calm. “I am an honest tion in Europe” where the Nazis row’s polls. tenders. politician.” seized gold and valuables from “There’s a lot more enthusi- Sky-high unemployment, Then on Wednesday, as the Jews and others during World asm for politics than four years rising inequalities, corruption premier mingled with crowds War II. ago, and everything indicates scandals and an independence in Pontevedra city in his north- Danish Prime Minister Lars that ... there will be high levels of movement in Catalonia are just western fi efdom of Galicia, a Lokke Rasmussen, whose gov- participation,” the centre-right some of the issues broached People pass by a poster of Rajoy for the general election tomorrow, displayed at the entrance of the PP teenager suddenly punched him ernment rules with the backing El Mundo daily wrote in an opin- during the campaign. headquarters in Madrid. in the face, knocking off and of the anti-immigration Dan- ion piece ahead of the legislative Rajoy, 60, has positioned breaking his glasses. ish People’s Party (DPP) in par- election. himself as a safe pair of hands Socialist chief Pedro Sanchez, forward a single employment All four party leaders are set to Rajoy was not badly hurt and liament, accused the media of Polls predict that Rajoy’s rul- who dragged the country away 43, has promised to reinstate contract system to get rid of pre- close their campaigns in Madrid the 17-year-old was quickly de- painting “an incorrect picture of ing, conservative Popular Party from economic collapse and put the rights of workers and im- cariousness in the workplace. and the eastern city of Valencia tained, but the incident made Denmark”. (PP) will win the largest share of it on the path of recovery, as evi- migrants whom he says the PP Podemos, which had lost later in the day before an obliga- headlines into yesterday. Many Americans simply do the vote but without an absolute denced by Christmas shoppers trampled on with its spending steam after a highly-publicised tory “day of refl ection” ahead of “I was going to ask the Three not understand how generous majority, which will force it to vying for space in the centre of cuts, tax rises and controversial rise on the national scene in tomorrow’s vote. Kings for new glasses, but I’m the Danish welfare state is, he get into bed with another politi- Madrid. health reforms. 2014, appears to be gaining But candidates in this year’s told they have been found,” told Danish journalists in Brus- cal grouping to wield any kind of “We have overcome a lot ... it Pablo Iglesias of Podemos, 37, ground again and could even re- campaign may be remembered the premier tweeted yesterday sels, according to the daily Poli- power. would be a shame to throw all promises to defend “the low- place the Socialists as the coun- more for their star turns on tel- above a picture of Earth seen tiken. But whether it will manage these eff orts out of the window,” er classes” while Ciudadanos try’s main left-wing party, polls evision and in glossy magazines from space, with a pair of glasses “It is in that context you to do so – and with whom – re- he pleaded yesterday. leader Albert Rivera, 36, has put suggest. than for their policy proposals. fl oating nearby. should understand that we in Denmark say that before you get these welfare benefi ts you must, if you have a fortune, pay your- self,” he said. An online petition in Denmark Russia opens black box of jet against the bill, which will be debated in parliament in Janu- ary, had yesterday garnered over 6,000 signatures. fi ghter downed by Turkey A former chief rabbi of Den- mark, Bent Melchior, said the government partly had itself to AFP data could have been lost. “The ignored repeated warnings, while blame for coming under criti- Moscow commission will discuss the sit- Moscow insisted it did not cross cism since it had not immedi- uation calling upon international over from Syria and accused An- ately made clear that items of observers.” kara of a planned provocation. personal signifi cance would be n the presence of foreign The military said the black box “We have suffi cient evidence exempt from the searches. experts, Russian offi cials had sustained damage, including that proves that the Russian air- The initial proposal looked Iopened yesterday the dam- multiple scratches and dents, but craft did not violate Turkish air- “like it had the character of what aged black box of a warplane had not been exposed to the fi re space,” said Dronov, adding that was actually in force during the shot down by Turkey last month, at the crash site. the downed plane had been fl ying Nazi’s persecution of minori- promising a transparent probe The black box’s fi ndings will be in Syrian airspace 5.5km from the ties”, he told news agency Ritzau. into the incident. revealed on Monday, the air force border with Turkey. Compared to neighbouring Offi cials warned that the said. Dronov said the black box pre- Sweden, Denmark has seen a memory card sustained dam- Sergei Dronov, deputy head sented to the public yesterday relatively modest rise in asy- age as they opened the orange- commander of the Russian had not been touched since it was lum applications this year, after painted fl ight recorder, with air force, for his part said that recovered from the crash site. shortening residence permits, British and Chinese experts ob- the device was being analysed The air force commander said delaying family reunifi cations serving the procedure, an AFP “openly for the Russian and in- 14 countries had been invited to and placing adverts in Lebanese A Russian military off icial gestures at the flight recorder from the Russian Sukhoi Su-24 bomber which correspondent saw. ternational public” after Presi- monitor the investigation but newspapers aimed at discourag- was shot down by a Turkish jet on November 24, as he addresses the media during a briefing on the Wearing lab coats and gloves, dent Vladimir Putin had ordered only China and Britain had ac- ing migrants. start of the black boxes decoding in Moscow. technicians used screwdrivers, that it be opened in the presence cepted the offi cial off er. drills, and even a vacuum cleaner of foreign specialists. Some US experts were also as they opened the device un- Moscow and Ankara have present when the black box was der the watchful eyes of military been locked in a spat over Tur- opened. personnel and dozens of journal- key’s downing of the Su-24 jet Putin has said an analysis of ists in a live national television on November 24, which led to the black box would help deter- Ukraine halts payment on $3bn debt broadcast. the deaths of a pilot and another mine the downed jet’s fl ight path “Our specialists extracted the serviceman in a rescue attempt. and position, which Ankara and memory card, but unfortunately They were Russia’s fi rst com- Moscow have furiously disagreed AFP Speaking at a government access to international fi nancial nancial markets and subject to it sustained mechanical dam- bat casualties of the Syrian cam- upon. Kiev meeting, Prime Minister Ar- markets”, although it was dif- terms agreed with other credi- age,” said Sergei Bainetov, the paign, which it launched on Sep- But the Russian leader also seniy Yatseniuk said Ukraine fi cult to tell to what extent, said tors. deputy head of fl ight safety in tember 30. warned that no black box fi nding “is imposing a moratorium on Oleg Kuzmin, the economist in Kiev had reached a restruc- the Russian armed forces, with- Turkey says that the Russian could assuage Moscow’s anger kraine announced yes- repaying the so-called Russian charge of Russia at the CIS at turing deal in August with its out elaborating on whether fl ight jet strayed into its airspace and over the incident. terday that it would not debt”. Renaissance Capital investment private creditors – including Umake payment on its “From today we are halting bank. major banks and investment $3bn debt to Russia due this payments on this debt,” he said. Moscow and Kiev have been funds – who agreed to a 20% cut New Polish authorities raid Nato spy centre, fire senior staff weekend, deepening a row with “I stress, once again, that we are locked in a bitter showdown in their claims. Moscow. ready for a legal process with the over Russia’s $3bn loan granted Moscow however maintains Poland’s new conservative government continued they left, I asked the police to put seals on the door,” The announcement essen- Russian side.” to the pro-Moscow regime of that the loan cannot be consid- yesterday a controversial drive to replace senior Dusza told public television, adding he had informed tially confi rmed that Kiev will Russian President Vladimir ex-president Viktor Yanuko- ered private debt and has re- off icials with its own appointees when it raided a Slovakia “and other foreign partners”. default on the bond come to- Putin last week ordered his vych in December 2013, not long fused such conditions, instead Nato counter-espionage centre in Warsaw and fired The defence ministry issued a terse statement on morrow and unleash a pro- government to sue Ukraine if it before he was ousted and fl ed to off ering to spread out the pay- its senior staff . the incident, saying only that it had installed a new tracted legal battle, though the defaults on the bond, after Mos- Russia. ment over three years and ask- Colonel Krzysztof Dusza, the sacked head of the interim director, Colonel Robert Bala. immediate implications for its cow said that Kiev has rejected Ukrainian authorities in- ing the IMF to pitch in. Counter Intelligence Centre of Excellence, said In off ice since November, the new administration has much-needed bailout package its off ers of debt restructuring. sist it is not a sovereign loan by The IMF this week agreed defence ministry off icials and military police raided already sparked uproar with its attempts to replace from the International Mon- Ukraine’s default “could ob- one state to another, but rather with Moscow that the bond the joint Polish-Slovak centre in early yesterday. constitutional judges, a move that triggered mass etary Fund (IMF) were unclear. viously complicate Ukrainian a transaction made via the fi - consists of an offi cial loan. “I told them their presence here was illegal. When protests. Gulf Times 12 Saturday, December 19, 2015 INDIA

VERDICT CONTROVERSY OFFBEAT ENTERTAINMENT LAW AND ORDER Angry postman jailed Kerala govt probe sought Akhilesh, wife stranded Protests fail to Arrested Al Qaeda suspect for tearing up letter into ‘Chennithala letter’ in assembly lift deter moviegoers ‘got money from London’

A postman has been sentenced to two years in The Congress’ Kerala unit has decided to In a major security breach, Uttar Pradesh Chief The release of Bollywood superstar Shahrukh The Odisha Police yesterday said suspected prison for tearing up a letter that he had failed ask its government to conduct a probe into Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his wife were stuck Khan’s Dilwale and Ranveer Singh and Deepika Al Qaeda terrorist Abdul Rehman, who was to deliver, a news report said yesterday. In 2009, a controversial letter which has appeared in in a lift in the state assembly for over 20 minutes Padukone starrer Bajirao Mastani yesterday met arrested in Cuttack on Wednesday, had received Samuel John, a postman working in Kerala, the media in the name of state Home Minister yesterday due to a technical snag. The incident with protests across various cities in the country money in his bank account from London. Police assigned a colleague to deliver letters without Ramesh Chennithala. The letter, purportedly left his security off icials and police in a tizzy. for diff erent reasons. However, both movies drew commissioner Rajendra Prasad Sharma said the postmaster’s permission. Some mail had written by Chennithala to the Congress high Akhilesh and wife Dimple Yadav, a Lok Sabha crowds pan-India. A Pune multiplex cancelled five Rehman had received a substantial amount from remained undelivered and John tore a letter in command seeks an “urgent overhaul” in the member from Kannauj, were returning from a scheduled shows of Bajirao Mastani following London this year. “We are examining the account a fit of anger when he was questioned about party after the civic polls’ rout. Chennithala has function at the Vidhan Sabha building when the a protest by BJP workers who claimed the film details of Rehman and trying to find out who has this by the postmaster. A Kerala court handed denied writing the letter. Congress state party lift came to a halt between two floors. The chief “distorted historical facts of the Peshwa era”. sent the money from London,” said Sharma. The John the “maximum punishment since he had chief V M Sudheeran said “it is for the government minister’s personal security off icer was also with Meanwhile, angered by Shahrukh’s statement on police has seized all bank accounts of Rehman, committed a “serious off ence” under the Indian to conduct an appropriate probe to learn more the couple inside the lift. The couple and the “religious intolerance” in the country, Bajrang Dal who was arrested in a joint operation by Odisha Post Off ice Act, public prosecutor Aromal Unni about the letter.” Asked for his comments Chief security off icer emerged from the lift only after activists opposed the screening of his Dilwale in and Delhi police in Cuttack on Tuesday night. told the Hindustan Times daily. The postman is Minister Oommen Chandy said: “He (Chennithala) engineers’ services were requisitioned and the Araria and Patna districts of Bihar. Protests also Rehman is currently in 12-day custody of the on bail and his lawyer will appeal the decision. has already said he has not written it.” snag was attended to. took place in Ghaziabad, Varanasi, andJabalpur. Delhi police. Modi Moscow Shimla shivers visit to boost nuke, chopper deal prospects

Reuters ward with the Make-in-India New Delhi programme,” the Russian govern- ment source said. Moscow, which has main- rime Minister Narendra tained close ties with India since Modi is expected to pro- the Cold War, has in recent years Pmote deals for Russian nu- slipped behind the US and Israel clear reactors and military heli- in securing orders in the Indian copters worth billions of dollars defence market, estimated to be on a trip to Moscow next week, worth $130bn over the next seven attracted by promises to transfer years. technology that Western nations Now Russian President have been slow to make. Vladimir Putin is banking on Russia and India will manufac- India’s drive to manufacture at ture 200 Kamov-226T helicop- home to regain market share. ters in a joint venture, a Russian “The objective is that whatever and an Indian government offi cial we do with Russia, that will have said, in the fi rst big step for Mo- a ‘Make-in-India’ component,” Popular tourist destination Shimla in Himachal Pradesh saw the season’s lowest temperature so far yesterday with the minimum temperature recorded at 0.9 degrees. di’s campaign to build a domestic said Amitabh Kant, the top In- Fresh snowfalls also led to traff ic jams in Kufri. industrial base and reduce the dian bureaucrat leading the push military’s dependence on expen- to turn the country into a global sive imports. manufacturing base. Modi, who heads for Moscow Under an inter-government on December 23, will also off er agreement to be signed during Russia a site in Andhra Pradesh to Modi’s trip, Moscow will set up a build six nuclear reactors of 1,200 production line for the light heli- megawatts (MW) each, the same copters that will supply the In- sources added. dian military but also eventually That is in addition to the six Russia, the Russian offi cial said. Russia is constructing in neigh- State-run Hindustan Aeronau- Delhi gang-rape convict bouring Tamil Nadu, said the of- tics and Anil Ambani’s Reliance fi cials, who spoke on condition Defence are in the running as lo- of anonymity because they were cal partners for the deal for the not authorised to speak to the 200 twin-engined helicopters, press. estimated at $1bn, to replace the New Delhi has turned to Rus- country’s ageing fl eet of Cheetah sia as US fi rm General Electric and Chetak helicopters. to walk free tomorrow and Westinghouse, a US-based “The choice of the Indian part- unit of Japan’s Toshiba, are still ner has been left to the govern- Reuters soft on youthful off enders. to comment. In 2012, the man “I want every woman to pro- the public outcry over the rape weighing an entry into India’s ment. We will work with anyone New Delhi The court was hearing a peti- and fi ve adult companions lured test on the streets of the country by fast-tracking tougher laws nuclear energy sector because of the government nominates,” the tion by a ruling-party politician the 23-year-old trainee physi- to stop his release,” Asha Devi, against sex crimes, and members a law that makes reactor suppli- offi cial said. demanding a longer sentence otherapist and her male friend the victim’s mother, said. “There of the Prime Minister Narendra ers liable in case of an accident. The government is also turning he youngest of six men for the man, who was 17 at the onto a bus in the capital, where is no way that society can allow a Modi’s government have pushed Modi’s ‘Make-in-India’ push to Russia to secure overseas ener- convicted of the 2012 time of the crime, after he had they repeatedly raped the wom- dangerous man to walk free.” to change the juvenile law and for a military that has been the gy assets to help fuel its economy. Tgang-rape of a woman, in received the maximum punish- an and beat both with a metal “This is a setback for the en- reduce the age of attaining world’s biggest importer for the Indian Oil Corporation and Oil a case that shocked the coun- ment of three years from the Ju- bar before dumping them on to tire country. The court said that adulthood to 16, from 18. last four years has also made lit- India, both state-owned, are in try, moved closer to being freed venile Justice Board. a road. as per current legislation, he The petition was fi led by BJP tle headway, with negotiations talks with Russia’s Rosneft to buy tomorrow, after a court said it The Delhi high court judges The woman died two weeks cannot be remanded for more (Bharatiya Janata Party) politi- stalled over issues including up to a 29% stake in a Siberian oil could not extend his three-year said they could not halt the later of her injuries. Four of the than three years,” Anil Soni, one cian Subramanian Swamy who technology transfer and the local project, two sources said yester- sentence. man’s release because his sen- adults were sentenced to death of the lawyers in the case, told called for the law to be reinter- assembly of equipment. day. The case turned a global tence complied with existing while the fi fth hanged himself in reporters. preted. For Russia, India off ers an al- The helicopter deal would be spotlight on the treatment of law. prison. The death sentences have “The terror that we had faced The fi nal call on the man’s re- ternative, fast-growing outlet for the fi rst major contract under women in India, where police “We don’t want to interfere in not yet been carried out. a few years back will be back on lease would be made by a man- its exports as sanctions imposed Modi’s drive to build weapons at say a rape is reported every 20 the Juvenile Justice Board,” the Police accused the teenager of our streets on December 20,” he agement panel of the Juvenile by the West squeeze the economy. home that has excited local de- minutes, and the sentence for two judges said in their ruling being violent, and said he pulled added, referring to the release Justice Board after assessing “While others are making fence companies but failed to de- the young man sparked debate yesterday. out part of the woman’s intes- date. if he had been “socially main- promises, Russia is moving for- liver any signifi cant tenders. over whether the country is too A lawyer for the man declined tines with his hands. The government responded to streamed”, Swamy said. Pope Francis approves Leopard attack Hospital ‘refuses to Mother Teresa sainthood release’ child’s body IANS treated but could not be saved. She Gurgaon died yesterday. Reuters Archbishop Thomas allegations, saying, for exam- The hospital then refused to Vatican City D’Souza of Kolkata said the ple, that most of those helped hand over her body to Ujma until news from Rome was “the best in the Kalighat Home for Dy- private hospital in Gurgaon she paid the Rs453,000 bill. Christmas gift,” adding, “her ing Destitutes in Kolkata were yesterday refused to hand The social workers then went other Teresa of Kolka- entire life and work was for the non-Christians with just a few Aover the body of a child, to the district collector’s offi ce to ta, the Nobel laureate poor. Now it is in a way offi - days left to live and noting that who had fallen off a building, to seek help and also informed the Mknown for dedicating cially recognised.” conversion is a lengthy proc- her mother, a domestic help, until police commissioner’s offi ce about her life to helping the poorest ess. she paid Rs450,000 in treatment the matter. of the poor, will be made a saint The order has also denied al- cost, a government offi cial said. The body was subsequently of the Roman Catholic Church, legations of fi nancial misman- Fortis hospital allowed the body handed over to the mother. the Vatican said yesterday. agement of the huge sums it of Nabha, a girl who would have A Fortis hospital spokeswoman Pope Francis has cleared the received from donors. turned three in two months, to be told the media that there had been way for sainthood by approv- Known as the “saint of the claimed by her mother only after some delay in handing over the ing a decree. gutters”, the diminutive nun is social workers informed the po- body because of police formalities. Mother Teresa, who died in expected to be canonised - for- lice, he said. “We immediately started treat- 1997 at the age of 87, become mally made a saint - in early The hospital has denied the ing the child without any advance an international icon of charity September. It was not clear if charge and claimed that police deposit. We did not charge even a in the 20th century but has also “Her whole life was the ceremony would take place formalities caused the delay in rupee for the child’s treatment,” been criticised for trying to dedicated to the poor and in Rome or if the Pope would handing over the body to mother she said. convert people to Christianity. there was nothing else travel to India to preside over Ujma, who works as a domestic Meanwhile, Jitender Kumar, In Kolkata, Sunita Kumar, in her mind than service. it. help and is a widow. one of the people who helped car- spokeswoman for Mother Ter- Everyone was accepted Mother Teresa was born An- Nabha was admitted to Fortis ry the girl to Fortis, also had a har- esa’s Missionaries of Charity and there was no jeze Gonxhe Bojaxhiu of Alba- hospital here on Thursday after rowing time at the hospital. Hav- religious order said the nuns obstruction in her work” nian parents in Macedonia in she fell off the fi rst fl oor of her ing carried the injured child to the were “over the moon” when 1910 in what was then part of home in Wazirabad, near Sector 52 hospital, Kumar took ill and had to they got the news. In the years since her death, the Ottoman Empire. of Gurgaon. be treated too, running up a bill of “Her whole life was dedi- some critics accused her and She founded the Missionar- Her mother Ujma fell un- Rs7,000. cated to the poor and there was the order of having ulterior ies of Charity to help the poor A policeman is helped by a colleague after being attacked conscious on seeing her injured “Kumar was held hostage by nothing else in her mind than motives, saying their real aim on the streets of Kolkata and by a leopard in the Maligoan area of Guwahati yesterday. daughter, some of the social work- hospital security guards for nearly service. Everyone was accept- was to convert people to Chris- the religious order later spread Two people were injured in the attack before the animal was ers who helped her said. fi ve hours as he didn’t have enough ed and there was no obstruc- tianity. throughout the world. She won tranquillised and taken to Assam state zoo. The bleeding child was rushed money to pay the bill,” a social tion in her work,” she said. The order has denied the the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. to the hospital where she was worker said. Gulf Times Saturday, December 19, 2015 13 LATIN AMERICA Venezuela fi rst lady’s nephews deny US drug charges

Reuters pleas in federal court in Manhat- Cilia Flores, whom the president ews met a US Drug Enforcement Honduras. The charges came posted in Germany, people fa- “Venezuela totally rejects New York tan, fi ve weeks after they were refers to as the “First Combat- Administration informant in just weeks before an election in miliar with the matter have said. US foreign policy which, arrested in Haiti. ant” and is highly infl uential Honduras in October and asked which Maduro’s opposition took Reverol, the former head through judicial and police Their case was the latest in a under the government of her for help sending 800kgs of co- a more than two-thirds super- of Venezuela’s anti-narcotics terrorism from national agen- wo nephews of Venezue- series of enforcement actions husband. caine to the US through an air- majority of the nation’s legisla- agency, would be one of the cies and using global media la’s powerful fi rst lady brought by US authorities link- She worked on the legal team port on the Honduran island of ture. highest-ranking Venezuelan campaigns, pursues, threat- Tpleaded not guilty to US ing individuals connected to the of late socialist leader Hugo Roatan. US prosecutors are also plan- officials to face US drug charg- ens and pressures the exercise charges that they conspired to Venezuelan government to drug Chavez, working to secure his According to the indictment, ning to unveil drug traffi cking es. of authority in Venezuela,” a import cocaine into the US. traffi cking. 1994 release from prison after a the pair also participated that charges against Nestor Reverol, The Venezuela government statement said. Franqui Francisco Flores de Sources have said both are failed coup attempt. month in meetings in Venezuela the head of Venezuela’s Na- accused the US of “judicial ter- Reverol had a distinguished Freitas, 30, and Efrain Antonio nephews of Venezuelan Presi- According to a US law en- regarding a shipment of cocaine tional Guard, and Edylberto Mo- rorism” and double standards in record in the drug fi ght, the Campo Flores, 29, entered their dent Nicolas Maduro’s wife, forcement source, the two neph- that was to be sent to the US via lina, currently a military attache the indictment against Reverol. communique added. Mexico City Anti-Macri protest seeks to tame wild streets with stiff fi nes

AFP company get his licence because Mexico City “it will be more complicated if he has to take a test” because he doesn’t speak Spanish. n ID, proof of address The driver’s test was scrapped and $40 is all you need to 12 years ago by then leftist mayor Aget a driver’s licence and Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a navigate the concrete jungle of two-time presidential candidate Mexico City. Who needs a road who argued that it would end the test anyway? bribes people paid to avoid the It can take as little as half an exam. hour to walk out of a city gov- “It was very unfortunate be- ernment offi ce with a licence and cause there’s almost no road join the mess of 7mn drivers in training in Mexico. Most driv- the metropolis of 21mn people. ers learned to drive by observ- Residents of the mega-capital ing others, with a friend or a People demonstrate against Argentine President Mauricio Macri’s decree seeking to change the Media Law - which regulates the distribution of television and radio have not needed to pass a driv- relative,” said Gerardo Gutierrez, licences in Argentina and was an emblematic legislative victory of ex-president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner - outside the National Congress in Buenos Aires. er’s exam since 2003, but that is director of the Imperial driving about to change as the city gov- school, one of 30 registered in ernment, fed up with the ram- the city. pant traffi c accidents, is cracking Only minors between the ages down on bad driving. of 15 and 17 are required to take a New traffi c rules with heavier driver’s test to get a licence. fi nes came into force on Tuesday, Across the rest of Latin Amer- and offi cials plan to restore the ica, tests are usually required for driver’s test next year. all drivers. The rules seek to protect pe- The new road rules have fi nes destrians and cyclists in a city ranging between $40 and $200 Brazil’s Levy ‘tipped where the mayhem has prompt- -- a large sum in a country where ed citizens to take to the streets the daily minimum wage is about dressed as superheroes or wres- $4. tlers to teach drivers to be more The regulation bans turning civil. right on red, and toughens fi nes Between two to three people for infractions such as failing die each day in traffi c accidents, to wear a seatbelt, using a cell- to leave government’ according to fi gures from Mayor phone while driving, exceeding Miguel Angel Mancera’s offi ce. the 50km per hour speed limit or Reuters quested anonymity, said Levy’s Levy has suff ered a series of whether Rousseff had decided He added that his path now is “Whoever drives in Mexico laying on the horn. Brasilia departure could take place in defeats since he took offi ce this to replace Levy or if she had one of “inner peace.” City can drive anywhere in the To prevent corruption, the the coming days. In newspaper year and tried to implement an candidates for the post. In a separate interview with world,” claims a local saying, city government installed 40 interviews published yesterday, aggressive fi scal adjustment Brazil’s Bovespa stock index newspaper O Globo, Levy again though pedestrians, cyclists and surveillance cameras at key in- razilian Planning Minis- Levy hinted at his own exit. plan to head off a widening defi - slid more than 2% in early trad- mentioned that the legislative other drivers who face near ac- tersections to keep an eye on ter Nelson Barbosa may Another government source cit that could reach 10% of gross ing on speculation of Levy’s im- year was ending and said he cidents and annoying honking transit police. A smartphone app Breplace Joaquim Levy as with knowledge of the matter domestic product in 2016. pending departure and concern would stay in the ministry as each day would beg to diff er. called “Mi Policia” (My Police) fi nance minister, three govern- said many in Rousseff ’s admin- Barbosa, a former fi nance about the ongoing impeach- long as the government signals “Most of us learn as we was created so that people can ment sources said yesterday, as istration were pushing for Bar- ministry offi cial during Rous- ment process against Rousseff it will implement needed eco- go, some more than others,” fi le complaints. speculation grows about immi- bosa to replace Levy, “but the seff ’s fi rst term, pushed for on charges of breaking spending nomic reforms. said Maria Teresa Ramirez, a “It will help to avoid any di- nent changes to President Dil- president has not yet decided.” more fl exible budget targets as rules to secure her re-election “It is evident my permanence 67-year-old government worker gressions from officers,” the ma Rousseff ’s economic team. Speculation about Levy’s the economy fell into recession, last year. will depend on an indication who stood in line this week to re- undersecretary of transit con- Barbosa, who has kept a low possible resignation has in- although he has reiterated Brazil An interview with Levy of reforms, or an indication of new her licence. trol, Fernando Martinez Ba- profi le in recent months, has the creased this week since Fitch should take measures to stabi- yesterday fanned speculation willingness to do them,” O Glo- “Some drive so fast that it dillo, said. backing of several government became the second ratings lise its growing public debt. about an imminent cabinet bo quoted Levy as saying. “That looks like they’re in a hurry As for drivers, while they don’t insiders and advocates temper- agency to strip Brazil of its cov- To try to calm fi nancial mar- change. is very important.” to collect an inheritance,” she have to take a test yet, their driv- ing an austerity drive on which eted investment grade. kets, Rousseff ’s chief of staff , Asked when he planned to Brazil’s overall budget defi cit said. ing will get better and accidents Levy has staked his reputation, The decision, though widely Jacques Wagner, told journalists leave, Levy told newspaper O soared to 9.5% of GDP in Octo- Maria, a 25-year-old Chinese will drop as they realise that they one of the sources said. expected, marked the sharp re- yesterday the president was the Estado de S. Paulo: “I’d say the ber from 5% in the same month woman in the same line, said she will be punished “if they don’t A senior member of Rous- versal in the fortunes of Latin ultimate arbiter of economic end of the legislative year (this a year ago. That compares with was helping her boss at a textile respect the rules.” seff ’s economic team, who re- America’s largest economy. policy. He said he did not know week) gives me more options.” a defi cit of 4% in Mexico.

Official visit Canadian kills Brit 12 charged in SBM in Peru’s Amazon

Off shore graft scheme Reuters according to a police source in Lima Iquitos familiar with the case. The source, who spoke on Reuters executive offi cers, were charged statement saying that, based on condition of anonymity, said Rio de Janeiro with racketeering and corrup- what it has heard so far, it be- Canadian man killed a Gomes apparently used a knife tion, as was Robert Zubiate, a lieves the latest allegations are British man after the from the kitchen of the alter- former senior vice president. without merit. Atwo took a hallucino- native health centre Phoe- razilian prosecutors have Earlier on Thursday, police SBM, which supplies and op- genic plant brew known as nix Ayahuasca to attack Ste- charged 12 people with a carried out raids and arrests in erates fl oating production, stor- ayahuasca together at a spir- vens. Stevens ended up killing Bbribery scheme involving “Operation Black Blood” in Rio age and offl oading vessels, is ne- itual retreat in the Peruvian Gomes with the same knife, Dutch fi rm SBM Off shore NV, de Janeiro, Angra dos Reis and gotiating a leniency agreement Amazon, authorities said. stabbing him in the chest and the world’s top leaser of oil pro- Curitiba, police said. with the Brazilian government, Witnesses told police the stomach, he said. duction ships, and state-run oil The alleged bribery in the sources said. Canadian man, 29-year-old Phoenix Ayahuasca did not company Petroleo Brasileiro SA. SBM probe in Brazil predates the The latest charges came after Joshua Andrew Freeman Ste- immediately respond to re- Police said they executed four better-known “Operation Car Petrobras formally invited SBM, vens, killed the British man, quests for comment. Its Fa- arrest warrants as part of an Wash,” which is focused on graft which had been banned from Unais Gomes, 26, in self-de- cebook page describes it as a investigation known as “Op- involving engineering fi rms and participating in Petrobras ten- fence after Gomes attacked safe place to “experience plant eration Black Blood.” Two of the Petrobras between 2003 and 2014. ders because of the “Car Wash” him with a knife during an medicines and explore the true suspects are already in jail in the Between 1998 and 2012, there investigation, to bid for new ayahuasca ceremony near nature of the self.” southern city of Curitiba, the were “undue payments” in Swit- work. the jungle city of Iquitos on Ayahuasca tourism in Peru epicentre of a broader investiga- zerland of at least $46mn relat- Petrobras said in a statement Wednesday night, said Nor- has surged in recent years, tion into price fi xing and bribery ing to contracts for fl oating oil that it has been co-operating mando Marques, a police chief with dozens of jungle retreats involving Petrobras contracts production, storage and offl oad- closely with prosecutors who in the region. off ering the traditional indig- with engineering fi rms. ing ships, prosecutors said. have called its assistance “fun- Ayahuasca is a combina- enous brew to visitors under Former Petrobras executives They said Duque, who is in jail damental” to the charges in tion of an Amazonian vine and the supervision of a guide or Pedro Barusco, Jorge Zelada and on corruption charges in Curit- “Operation Black Blood.” dimethyltryptamine (DMT) shaman. Renato Duque were charged with iba, asked SBM sales agents for The company settled with - containing plants that give Many tourists seek the drug corruption, along with former $300,000 for the ruling Work- Dutch authorities in November users psychedelic experiences out because of its reputation as SBM sales agents Julio Faerman ers’ Party to fund its 2010 elec- 2014 for a record $240mn, end- when combined. It is not nor- a way to help ease depression and Luis Eduardo Campos Bar- tion campaign. ing a more than two-year inquiry mally associated with violence. and other mental troubles. bosa da Silva, according to a state- An SBM representative in Bra- into improper payments to gov- Costa Rica’s President Luis Guillermo Solis (left) and his The Canadian citizen was in Amazonian tribes in Peru and ment from federal prosecutors. zil said none of the company’s ernment offi cials in Angola, Bra- Honduran counterpart Juan Orlando Hernandez leave a news police custody, Marques said. Brazil use ayahuasca, or yage, Anthony Mace and Didier offi ces in Brazil had been raided. zil and Equatorial Guinea by sales conference at the presidential house in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Witnesses said Gomes tried as an important spiritual and Keller, both former SBM chief The company, though, issued a agents between 2007 and 2011. to stab Stevens during a bad trip, medicinal tool. Gulf Times 14 Saturday, December 19, 2015 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN Pentagon chief in Afghanistan as violence escalates

AFP “(Carter) has landed” in Af- istan’s acting defence minister The Taliban briefl y captured Obama said the United outreach to Pakistan aimed at Kabul ghanistan, the Pentagon said in Masoom Stanekzai accompanied the strategic northern city of States will maintain its current reviving peace talks with the a brief statement that off ered Carter on his surprise visit to Kunduz in September in their force of 9,800 in the country resurgent group. no details on the purpose of Nangarhar, which comes after a most spectacular victory in 14 through 2016. Pakistan, which wields con- S Defence Secretary his visit. brief stopover in Iraq. years, dealing a stinging blow to After that the United States siderable infl uence over the Ashton Carter arrived in Two Afghan security offi - This month marks a year since Afghan forces as they battle the will leave a force of 5,500 troops Taliban, hosted a milestone fi rst UAfghanistan yesterday cials said that Carter was set the US- and Nato-led mission in insurgents on multiple fronts. in place to train Afghan forces round of peace negotiations for meetings with military com- to meet Afghan military com- Afghanistan transitioned into an The Taliban have since then and conduct counter-terrorism in July. manders, as the security situa- manders and American troops Afghan-led operation, with al- threatened several other pro- missions. But the talks stalled when the tion deteriorates with a surge in at a US base near Jalalabad lied nations assisting in training vincial centres—from Lashkar Obama’s decision recognised Taliban belatedly confi rmed the Taliban attacks and the creeping city in the eastern province of local forces. Gah in the south to Maimana in Afghan forces “will require more death of longtime leader Mullah emergence of the Islamic State Nangarhar. President Barack Obama in the northwest—raising concerns time and assistance to develop Omar, sparking a power struggle group. The volatile province faces October announced that thou- that Afghanistan was on the into a capable, credible and in- within the movement. The unannounced visit comes an emerging threat from loyal- sands of US troops will remain brink of a security collapse. dependent force”, the Pentagon Western offi cials have also just days after a Pentagon report ists of the Islamic State group, in Afghanistan past 2016, back- Fuelling those fears is a new report stated. warned that the Islamic State presented a grim portrait of the which is making gradual inroads pedalling on previous plans to Pentagon report released this The Taliban have stepped group, attracting disaff ected war that has infl icted a grow- in Afghanistan, challenging the shrink the force and acknowl- week detailing a surge in Tali- up attacks on government and Taliban fi ghters, is an emerging ing number of casualties on Taliban on their own turf. edging that Afghan forces are ban attacks in the second half foreign targets despite Presi- threat in Afghanistan’s eastern US Defence Secretary Ashton hard-pressed Afghan forces. The two offi cials said Afghan- not ready to stand alone. of 2015. dent Ashraf Ghani’s diplomatic badlands bordering Pakistan. Carter. Troops retake New political group poses Helmand district from Taliban challenge to Ghani govt Reuters has carried echoes of the cam- Kabul paign that led to the fall of Reuters Kunduz, when Taliban fi ghters Kabul established themselves in the fghan forces drove Tali- surrounding district before ban militants out of the moving on the city itself. group including fi gures Acentre of a district in the In Helmand, where the in- from Afghanistan’s anti- southern province of Helmand surgents have threatened the ASoviet Mujahideen of yesterday, as they fought back provincial capital, Lashkar the 1980s yesterday launched a against insurgents who have Gah, they have already seized new political bloc likely to in- threatened a series of districts the districts of Musa Qal’ah crease the pressure on President over recent months. and Now Zad in the north of Ashraf Ghani’s struggling unity Deputy Interior Minister the province before taking government. Ayoub Salangi said security Khanishin last week. The so-called Council for forces had retaken the district Since then, they have come Protection and Stability in of Khanishin in the south of close to taking the district of Afghanistan, many of whose Helmand, after it fell to the Marjah, about 35km (21 miles) members are close to former Taliban this month. from Lashkar Gah, and the president Hamid Karzai, aims “The district of Khanishin focus of a major off ensive by to push Ghani to meet com- is cleared of enemies and Af- US-led Nato troops in 2010. mitments to hold parliamen- ghan forces infl icted heavy Afghan police and army units tary elections next year as casualties,” Salangi said. have complained bitterly that well as a Loya Jirga, or grand Helmand, a traditional they have received inadequate assembly, on constitutional Afghan former Mujahideen leader and hardline Islamist, Abdul Rasul Sayaf, second left, stands as the national anthem is played during the stronghold of the Taliban and support and supplies from the reform. inauguration of the Afghanistan Protection and Stability Council in Kabul yesterday. one of the biggest centres of government in Kabul and suf- Though the group, which will opium production, has been fered high rates of desertion. not function as a formal parlia- Abdul Rab Rasoul Sayaf, a vet- The group also intends to year’s inconclusive elections, commitment and instead seek the scene of fi erce fi ghting International partners have mentary opposition party, says eran of the fi ght against the Sovi- pressure Ghani’s government a Loya Jirga, bringing together to continue their power-sharing over recent months as the mil- looked on with mounting it wants to encourage reform ets in the 1980s who later joined not to pursue peace talks involv- representatives from all over agreement. itants have pressed their in- alarm. and has no intention of trying to the Northern Alliance move- ing Pakistan, which many in Af- Afghanistan, must be held next “If they think that the alter- surgency following the with- The New York Times re- bring down the government. ment fi ghting the Taliban, said ghanistan accuse of sponsoring year to decide on constitutional native to a Loya Jirga or elec- drawal of most international ported this week that US spe- But it could serve as a focus the government had to honour the Taliban. changes that would allow the tion is consent between two forces last year. cial forces had taken part in for discontent with Ghani’s Na- its pledge to hold the Loya Jirga “Mr president, don’t take creation of the post of prime individuals and extension of The Taliban have been fi ghting in Helmand, a rare tional Unity Government, which next year. your begging bowl to Islama- minister. the contract, it will be wrong, seeking to build on last Sep- venture into active combat has struggled to implement all “The government must call bad and beg for peace because Parliamentary elections must illegal, a huge mistake and con- tember’s brief capture of the that underlined the grav- its reform pledges and has come the Loya Jirga on time and if it we have tried in the past and it also be held by the middle of next trary to the will and expecta- northern city of Kunduz, their ity of the situation facing under growing pressure as the doesn’t happen, the people will didn’t work,” said former interior year but there has been wide- tion of the people,” said Younus biggest success since they government forces. Taliban insurgency has spread look for alternatives,” he said at a minister Umer Daudzai. spread suspicion that Ghani Qanooni, fi rst vice president were driven from power by a The report has not following the withdrawal of for- gathering in Kabul to launch the Under the power-sharing and Chief Executive Abdullah under former President Hamid US-led intervention in 2001. been confi rmed by Nato eign troops last year. new group. agreement reached after last Abdullah may not honour the Karzai. The fi ghting in Helmand headquarters in Kabul.

Pak ‘bank must Protest against killing boost steps against Air strikes money-laundering’ A major Pakistani bank and its New York branch must boost measures to prevent money laundering after regulators kill 23 rebels found “significant breakdowns” in the bank’s compliance with federal and state laws, New York’s AFP been killed and 710 arrested financial regulator has said, Peshawar after the Pakistani authorities Reuters reports from New York. launched the National Ac- Habib Bank in Karachi and the tion Plan (NAP) following the New York branch must put a series akistani fi ghter jets terror attack on an army-run of reforms in place, including killed 23 militants yes- public school in Peshawar on hiring an outside professional Pterday in air strikes December 16 last year. to review the bank’s policies for carried out in the country’s The Pakistan ministry of in- preventing illicit money transfers remote tribal belt near the Af- terior yesterday informed the and submitting plans to regulators ghan border, the military said Senate about the success of for enhancing those policies, the in a statement. the anti-terror operation. New York Department of Financial The strikes were in the Sha- The ministry said 373 ter- Services (NYDFS) said. wal area of North Waziristan rorists were killed in the Fed- Habib’s New York branch is in and Khyber tribal district, it erally Administered Tribal Ar- Shias take part in a protest against the killing of Shias in Pakistan and Nigeria, in Lahore yesterday. Hundreds of supporters of the the process of addressing the said. eas (FATA), 98 in Balochistan, pro-Iranian Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) marched through the streets of Kaduna’s Unguwar Nupawa area, calling for the regulators’ concerns and “will be “As a result of precise air 55 in Punjab, 36 in Sindh, and release of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, who has been detained by the military since December 13. taking several steps to remediate strikes, 6 terrorists’ hide- one each in Islamabad and the issues,” said Manochere outs were destroyed in which Gilgit-Baltistan this year. Alamgir, branch general manager. 23 terrorists were killed and On December 16, Tehreek- Federal and state laws require more than 10 injured,” the e-Taliban Pakistan militants financial institutions to have statement said. attacked the Army Public policies and procedures in The strikes were part of School in Peshawar, the pro- place to detect and prevent a major off ensive aimed at vincial capital of Khyber- illicit money transfers. The clearing Taliban and Al Qaeda Pakhtunkhwa, and killed over Rare Jinnah speech recovered measures include everything strongholds that began last 150 people, mostly children. from screening customers and year in North Waziristan, one of A day later, all political par- reporting suspicious transactions seven Pakistani tribal districts ties of Pakistan united in the Internews own, he recently retrieved Jin- ban. The poetry was narrated by school syllabi have nothing for to regulators. bordering Afghanistan. fi ght against terrorism and Lahore nah’s address for BBC radio its author Mian Bashir Ahmed them to make sense of our his- On December 1, New York Governor The confl ict zone is remote unanimously approved the from December 13, 1946. “I at the historic March 23, 1940 tory and culture, and the vision Andrew Cuomo proposed rigorous and off -limits to journalists, National Action Plan. recovered Quaid-e-Azam’s public gathering in Lahore. of our founding fathers.” new regulations for banks in New making it diffi cult to verify the The Senate was also in- ocial activist and histo- speech from the British The song that became an an- The socialite has also ex- York State to prevent money army’s claims, including the formed that Al Qaeda, Ba- rian Yousaf Salahuddin, government’s library,” he them over the years has been tended the scope of his work laundering and the financing of number and identity of those lochistan Republican Army, Smore commonly known reveals. recomposed and sung by Rahat to Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi’s terrorist groups. killed. Lashkar-e-Balochistan, as Mian Salli, shares a special Yousaf is set to release the Fateh Ali Khan, with Jovi helming religious poetry, sung and Cuomo’s proposed regulations The military began the of- Islamic State, Tehreek-e- connect with Pakistan’s herit- speech that narrates Jinnah’s the project as the director. composed by Hadiqa Kiani and would, among other things, fensive in Khyber in October Jaff aria Pakistan, Lashkar-e- age, which is manifested in the rationale for the creation of Pa- The video comprises a mon- directed by Omer Gulzari. require a bank’s chief compliance 2014, carrying out air strikes Jhangvi, Sipah Muhammad projects he undertakes every kistan in the form of a video on tage of almost 300 of Jinnah’s “I chose to produce this vid- off icer to certify whether a bank and using artillery, mortars Pakistan, Jaish Muhammad now and then to preserve and the founder’s birth anniversary rare pictures, which are among eo because Persian has been an maintains the types of systems and ground troops. and Sipah Sahaba Pakistan revive culture. on December 25. Yousaf’s most prized posses- integral part of our history and outlined in the rule to detect and The army then intensifi ed have been included in the list Music and video production Yousaf was dismayed that sions. They have been col- literature. Iqbal was greatly in- prevent illicit money transfers. and expanded its off ensive of banned organisations. has occupied most of Yousaf’s no Pakistani government in the oured and developed for a more fl uenced by Rumi. Rumi gave The most recent examination after the Taliban massacred Tehreek Nafaz-e-Shariat time over the last six years. past made an eff ort to obtain modern representation. him answers to questions that of Habib’s New York branch by more than 150 people, the Muhammadi, Tehreek-e-Is- This year, he has put together the tape from the UK and the Yousaf shared the genesis of prominent scholars failed to NYDFS and the US Federal Reserve majority of them children, lami Pakistan and Shia Talaba four diff erent music videos incumbent government too was the aforementioned, “All the answer,” he said. Bank of New York “identified at a school in the northwest- Action Committee were also and arguably the fi nest of the not involved in the project. work I do is for my country. It is The fourth video that was out significant breakdowns” in the ern city of Peshawar last among the 61 banned organi- works is his retrieval of an This extraordinarily rare like a duty to me to revive Iqbal on the fi rst anniversary of the bank’s anti-money laundering December. sations. Jamaat-ud-Dawa of iconic Muhammad Ali Jinnah speech is accompanied by an- and Jinnah’s ideologies and use harrowing Army Public School, compliance eff orts, the NYDFS Anti-Terror Operation: A Hafi z Sayeed has been included speech. other video of the very popular the media to pass on the mantle Peshawar attack is called said. The nature of those total of 637 terrorists have in the watch list as well. Initiating the cause on his patriotic song Millat Ka Pas- to the younger generation. Our Muhafi z Aman Ke Hain Hum. breakdowns is unclear. Gulf Times Saturday, December 19, 2015 15 PHILIPPINES

Militants ambush army convoy

Reuters Manila

aoist rebels in the Phil- ippines exploited the Mhavoc unleashed by a typhoon to attack an army relief convoy yesterday, authorities said, as the death toll from the storm rose to 41. Melor, a category 3 typhoon when it made landfall in the cen- tral Philippines this week, died out in the South China Sea on Thursday, but left a trail of de- struction of agriculture and in- frastructure. The guerillas attacked the army relief convoy early yes- terday, wounding two soldiers, a disaster management offi cial said. “An army convoy was am- bushed after delivering relief goods in typhoon-hit areas,” said Alexander Pama of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. An army spokesman blamed Residents ride on a truck over floodwaters to evacuate to higher ground in Candaba, Pampanga, north of Manila yesterday. Maoist-led rebels for the attack. The communist New Peo- ple’s Army has waged a guerrilla campaign in the region for more than four decades, and the at- tack came just fi ve days ahead of a unilateral ceasefi re declared by the rebels. Reuters could not reach a rebel Recurring fl ood nightmare spokesman for comment. Later, President Benigno Aquino ordered government troops to suspend off ensive op- erations against the guerrillas to mark the Christmas and New Year holiday despite the attack, in typhoon-battered nation his spokesman, Herminio Co- loma, said. AFP Flooding was expected to makeshift rafts made from re- Security forces in the mostly Candaba spread to other parts of the frigerator doors. Christian country would, how- country with a tropical depres- Others showed commitment ever, continue law enforcement sion, locally dubbed Onyok, on to their daily routines, eating at operations and would protect ens of thousands of peo- course to hit coastal villages roadside canteens waist-deep vital installations during the 12- ple struggled yesterday on the main southern island of in fl ood waters. day truce, beginning on Dec 23, Tthrough waist-deep Mindanao later. “We’re used to this, but it Coloma said. fl oods in typhoon-battered In Surigao del Sur province, doesn’t make it any less diffi - Media reported 41 people had farmlands near the Philippine where Onyok was expected to cult,” said Candelaria Balagtas, been killed in the storm by fall- capital, as yet another storm make landfall fi rst, authorities a 68-year-old retired police- ing trees, drowning and electro- threatened to dump more rain. prepared for possible evacu- woman. cution, as well as being buried in Large parts of four farming ation and readied trucks and The country is ravaged by an landslides. provinces on the main northern excavators to clear landslide de- average of 20 major storms a Four people were miss- island of Luzon have been sub- bris, governor Johnny Pimentel year, many of them deadly. ing, with 20 injured and nearly merged in water since Wednes- said. Balagtas said she risked trig- 750,000 moved to evacuation day due to Typhoon Melor, “We are prepared for this gering her arthritis by wading centres. which left at least 27 people storm... the biggest threat here through the frigid waters to the About a third are still in shel- dead in its wake. is the fl oods,” he said. market to buy rice and sardines ter areas, expecting to spend Hundreds of thousands of While Onyok will hit land for her daughter after they ran Christmas next week homeless people there had yet to recover about 700 kilometres from the out of food. and without power. from Typhoon Koppu, which farming regions currently en- “I’m lucky I have my pension, More than 935mn pesos claimed 54 lives while causing during fl oods, it could still bring but the people here, their farms ($19.71mn) worth of infrastruc- fl ooding that lasted for more rain to those areas, said Esper- were destroyed, the fi shermen ture and farmland were devas- than a week and destroyed vast anza Cayanan, a state weather can’t go out to fi sh,” she said. tated as up to 300 mm of rain swathes of rice crops just before bureau forecaster. The islands of the Philippines inundated rice paddies on the harvest in October. The weather misery comes are often the fi rst major land- main island of Luzon and strong President Benigno Aquino Vendors eat their lunch as they wait for customers at a flooded market in Candaba, Pampanga. a week before Christmas, the mass that storms hit after they winds uprooted trees, the disas- yesterday declared a “state of most celebrated holiday in the emerge over the Pacifi c Ocean. ter agency said. national calamity” to hasten small bungalow he shared with Candaba, around 50 kilometres to go out because we’ve run out predominantly Catholic nation In November 2013, Super Domestic fl ights and ferry the government response, his 15 relatives submerged. north of Manila. of food in the house,” he said. of 100mn people. Typhoon Haiyan, one of the services have resumed but some spokesman, Herminio Coloma, “The fl oods mean no work Mariano, who used to earn Mariano said he had spent the “We should not be in holiday strongest storms on record, schools stayed shut. Commu- told reporters. and no money for me,” the 500 pesos ($10) driving, was on last two nights sleepless, anx- mode,” Cayanan told reporters. fl attened entire communities in nications and power returned Truck driver Roberto Mari- 51-year-old said, trying to his way to his parents’ house to iously watching as the waters In the Candaba town centre, poor farming and fi shing com- to some areas while roads have ano, who has been out of work keep his balance as he walked borrow money to buy rice. nearly submerged the children’s residents with groceries in hand munities, leaving 7,350 people been cleared of debris. since Koppu, again found the through strong fl ood currents in “It’s very hard out here. I have wooden beds. rode small wooden boats and dead or missing.

CRIME Underwater Santa Police arrest Comelec clears Duterte gunman over Korean’s killing for presidential race Police agents arrested the leader of a dreaded gun-for-hire group, also a suspect in the killing of a By William B Depasupil Among those that the First Di- Korean businessman in Pampan- Manila Times vision will tackle at the hearing ga, on Tuesday in Mabalacat City. are Duterte’s notarised COC for The police seized the suspect, mayor and president, the date identified as Victor Rivera, during a avao City Mayor Ro- he withdrew his COC for mayor raid on a house on San Bernardo drigo “Rody” Duterte and the date he fi led his COC Street, Villa Teodora, Dau, Mabala- Dwon the fi rst round of for president and the notarised cat City, Manila Times reported. his legal battle for a slot in next contents of the two COC, among City Police chief supt. Rudy Laca- year’s presidential elections, others. din said Rivera is the alleged after the Commission on Elec- Under the leader of a gun-for-hire group tions (Comelec) accepted his process of operating in Pampanga and An- certifi cate of candidacy (COC) as substitution, geles City, victimising prominent a substitute candidate of PDP- Duterte has families and foreign nationals. Laban. to withdraw Police said Rivera is also the Round 2, however, is set to his COC for prime suspect in the killing of unfold later when the Comelec’s mayor of Park Youn Jae, owner of Royal First Division tackles a disquali- Davao City, Hotel at Royal Garden Estate in fi cation case against the tough- take his oath Duterte: poll boost Angeles City, last September. The talking mayor. as member Korean businessman was in his The disqualifi cation case had of the PDP-Laban and submit office with another Korean na- been submitted for resolution a certifi cate of nomination and tional at Moggongwa Building in last Tuesday after the petitioner, acceptance or CONA from his Angeles City when a lone assas- broadcaster Ruben Castor, failed political party. Just hours af- sin shot him in broad daylight. to appear before the Comelec ter Duterte’s COC for president With the arrest of Rivera, police for preliminary conference and was fi led, Castor, represented said, two cases of murder have marking of evidence in prepara- by lawyers, Oliver Lozano and been solved. However, no details tion for oral arguments the fol- Evangeline Lozano Endriano, about the other killing incident lowing day. immediately fi led a petition was given. Rivera’s arrest was The First Division, headed by seeking to nullify the mayor’s covered by a search warrant Commissioner Christian Rob- COC. issued by Judge Celso Baguio ert Lim with Commissioners In seeking the disqualifi cation of RTC Branch 34 of Gapan City, Rowena Guanzon and Luie Tito of Duterte, he claimed that the Nueva Ecija. Regional Intelli- Guia as members, is set to hear COC of Martin Dino was not for gence Division-Special Concern the case. In his petition, Cas- president but for mayor of Pasay Unit 3 (RID-SCU3) also confis- tor questioned the validity of City (Metro Manila), thus he can cated several high-powered Duterte’s COC, claiming it was only withdraw his candidacy for A diver wearing a Santa Claus costume entertains visitors during a Christmas show at an aquarium of the Ocean Park in Manila. firearms, ammunitions and “defective.” mayor, not for president. explosives from Rivera’s house. Gulf Times 16 Saturday, December 19, 2015 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL/MALDIVES

Jamaat member Six wounded in blasts at admits to attacks Bangladesh navy mosque on temple, AFP cocktails were detonated at the pastor Dhaka mosque. The military added the wounded suff ered minor inju- By Mizan Rahman wo bombs exploded at ries and were given fi rst aid. Dhaka a mosque inside a navy “One person was arrested Tbase in the Bangladesh with unexploded explosives,” port city of Chittagong yester- the military said, adding a probe suspected member of the day, injuring six, police said, had been launched. outlawed militant outfi t adding that two people had Bangladesh has been roiled AJamaat-ul Mujahideen been arrested. by rising unrest which has seen Bangladesh (JMB), arrested in Police said the mosque inside four atheist bloggers and a pub- connection with Dinajpur tem- the Isha Khan naval base in the lisher hacked to death this year. ple attack, reportedly confessed southeastern city was packed Two foreigners have also to his involvement in the attacks with Muslim worshippers at- been shot dead — a Japanese on Eskon temple and Italian pas- tending Friday prayers when farmer and an Italian aid worker tor Dr Piero Picham Parolari in several bombs were thrown. — while several minority Sufi Dinajpur district district. “Of the fi ve bombs thrown at Muslim leaders and two police- Arrested JMB member Shari- the mosque, two exploded. They men have been killed. ful Islam made his confessional looked like small grenades. Six Police blame an outlawed statement before the court of people were injured,” Deputy Islamist militant group, Dinajpur Additional Chief Ju- Commissioner of the Chittagong Jamayetul Mujahideen Bang- dicial Magistrate F M Ahsanul Metropolitan Police (CMP) ladesh, for the recent violence Haque on Thursday night over Harun Ur Rashid Hazari said. while Prime Minister Sheikh his involvement in temple attack Two people were arrested at Hasina’s government accuses and shooting the Italian pastor, the scene but no group has yet the main opposition party and the detective branch of police claimed responsibility for the its Islamist ally of trying to trig- Redwanur Rahim said yesterday. attack, he said. ger anarchy. In his statement, Shariful con- Chittagong police chief Ab- The parties deny the claims. fessed that he along with two dul Jalil Mandal confi rmed the Analysts say Islamist mili- other people opened fi re on the attack, saying the bombs were tants pose a growing danger in Italian pastor. He said they used thrown towards the end of the conservative Bangladesh and the same motorcycle and pistol weekly prayers. that a long-running political in the two attacks. The country’s armed forces crisis has radicalised opponents The law enforcers are now in a statement said two Molotov of the government. Onlookers gather outside the Isha Khan naval base where two small bombs exploded at a mosque in Chittagong yesterday. trying to arrest the two other attackers, added the Detective Branch (DB) offi cial. On December 10, two people were injured as miscreants ex- ploded crude bombs and then 219 in mayoral race fi red gunshots in Eskon temple Lanka plans to extend $1.5bn and Dahochi Jagannath tem- ple, run by International Soci- face criminal cases ety for Krishna Consciousness under Dabar union in Kaharole sub-district of the district when Indian currency swap: FM By Mizan Rahman cially with respect to the can- the temple committee was in a Dhaka didates’ annual incomes. meeting inside. Raising his doubts about the Local people chased Shariful Reuters fore November 2016, central neutrality of the EC for holding and caught him from the spot. Colombo bank data showed. Bangladeshi civil society fair elections, he said the coun- Later, he was handed over to Karunanayake also said forum has expressed its try witnessed election-related police. there had been $750mn of in- Adoubts over fair munici- bitter experiences under the Police also arrested another ri Lanka plans to extend fl ows since the budget was pal elections scheduled for De- commission on three occasions suspected JMB member Mosab- a $1.5bn currency swap announced on November 20 cember 30 as it has found more in the past – national election birul Haque in this connection Swith the Reserve Bank mainly from remittances. than 24% mayoral candidates on January 5, 2014, sub-dis- from Singra village in Birganj of India (RBI) by one year, its The government has decid- are facing criminal charges in trict (upazila) election and city sub-district on December 11. fi nance minister said yesterday. ed to borrow $350mn from diff erent courts of the country. corporation polls. On November 18, Dr Piero Pi- Sri Lanka’s balance of pay- Turkey Exim Bank funds for Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik He said the EC failed to take cham, who works at a Catholic ments (BOP) is estimated to development projects. (Citizens for Good Govern- stern and eff ective measures church in the district town, sus- have recorded an overall defi cit Analysts said higher im- ance) - Sujan- said it had in response to allegations of tained bullet injuries in an attack of $2.32bn during the fi rst three ports, foreign borrowing due checked profi les of 904 can- electoral code of conduct vio- by unknown miscreants at Mir- quarters of 2015 compared with to low interest rates and de- didates nominated by diff erent lation by some groups. zapur bus stand in the town. a surplus of $2bn recorded a fending the currency had political parties and independ- “But, the Commission re- Meanwhile, unidentifi ed mis- year earlier. Deterioration in depleted reserves. The cen- ent candidates in the key local peatedly sought submission creants damaged seven idols in a the overall BOP has come from tral bank sold a net $1.1bn in government poll and out of of formal allegation to the EC. temple at Talma Bazar in Nagar- loan repayments and higher the three months through them 219 face criminal charges. I think it (EC) is making such kanda sub-district of Faridpur imports. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake: “We expect to extend the November. According to the report, 221 reply only to avoid its respon- district early yesterday. The International Monetary $1.5bn Indian swap by one year.” Offi cials at the central bank, candidates have been nominated sibility, which is not a good in- The incident came to light Fund (IMF) last week warned however, said dollar selling was by ruling Awami League, 206 dication at all,” he said. yesterday when a cleaner went of an uncertain economic out- India’s central bank entered $6.1bn. The central bank data to facilitate oil imports and for- by BNP, while the rest are inde- The analysis with respect to to the temple for cleaning and look, loose monetary and fi scal into the swap agreement with showed the reserves have fallen eign outfl ows from government pendent candidates and nomi- professions of the would-be found seven idols damaged. policies and urged appropriate its Sri Lanka counterpart in over a quarter from $8.2bn by securities. nated by other political parties in mayors said some 652 out of Bikash Chandra Saha, presi- actions to safeguard economic March last year. Sri Lanka re- end of last year mainly due to Apart from the RBI swap, Sri the country’s fi rst ever partisan 904 candidates (72.12%) are dent of the temple committee, stability. ceived $400mn in April and debt repayment. Lanka has borrowed $2.15bn elections at the municipal level. businessmen and the percent- alleged that the attack looked “We expect to extend the $1.1bn in September. The country’s foreign cur- through two 10-year sovereign Citing the report, Badiul age rate is 78.64 (162 out of like a planned onme to destroy $1.5bn Indian swap by one Karunanayake told parlia- rency reserves are under pres- bonds and more than $1.7bn Alam Majumder, general sec- 206) for Bangladesh Nationalist communal harmony. year,” Finance Minister Ravi ment that the island nation’s sure as $4.75bn is expected to from development bonds this retary of Sujan, said although Party followed by ruling Awami Karunanayake said. reserves were at “a healthy” be repaid on foreign loans be- year. there is a provision that people League 74.66 (165 out of 221). implicated in criminal cases will Releasing the report, Sujan Tourists killed in not be allowed to contest the central coordinator Dilip Ku- boat collision elections, unfortunately 219 as- mar Sarker said 634 candidates pirants are accused in criminal (70.13%) showed their annual Two tourists were killed in a charges, including murders. incomes at 0.5mn taka or less collision between a speedboat According to the report, than the amount while only eight and a diving boat near Kaafu Four-party Madhesi alliance seven mayor contestants from individuals have shown annual Maafushi, in the Maldives, a media ruling Awami League, 15 from income of more than 10mn taka. report said yesterday. BNP and 14 other candidates Regarding educational The deceased have been are facing charges of murders. background of the candidates, identified as a Malaysian woman, Majumder said they have the Sujan analysis found 16, and a Chinese woman, 42, to launch fresh agitation doubts about authenticity of around 25% mayor candidates Xinhua reported. the information submitted by not completing high school The diving boat carried six people the candidates to the election education and 40 candidates while the speedboat had four. IANS forth come to Madhes for talks. of the two-day meeting of the ernment and the Nepali Con- commission (EC), which was from Awami League and BNP None of others aboard suff ered Kathmandu The Morcha’s announcement Morcha, the alliance decided gress (NC) - the largest political also asked by the platform to each did not pass the high any serious injuries in Thursday’s said the sit-in protests, general to go in for a fresh stir, saying parties in Nepal’s parliament. scrutinise information espe- school level education. accident. strike, peaceful demonstra- their agitation was now 126 Similarly, the alliance will ith no headway in tions and public disobedience days old during which 55 people hold torch-light rallies in dis- resolving the four- will continue - it, however, had died. trict headquarters. It will hold Wmonth-old anti-con- made no mention whether the mass rallies and protests in dis- stitution agitation in Nepal’s ongoing blockade of key Ne- “The failure of successive trict headquarters and boycott Terai region even after 15 rounds pal-India entry points would rounds of talks with government programmes or of talks with the government, continue. the government in government-sponsored pro- Maldives slams EU for the Samyukta Terai Madhes The Madhesi political parties Kathmandu was proof grammes of ministers, leaders Loktantrik Morcha, an alliance and indigenous groups of the that it was not serious and lawmakers. of four parties based in the Te- Nepal Terai have been agitat- about the demands raised “We sat in talks while main- rai-Madhes region, yesterday ing against the country’s new by the Madhesis and the taining fl exibility,” said Thakur, announced launch of a fresh stir Constitution which they deem indigenous groups of the accusing the government of sanctions resolution to achieve their demands. discriminatory. Nepal Terai” taking the talks lightly. The Morcha said the failure of They are demanding, among The new phase of agitation successive rounds of talks with others, a redrawing of the “But there is no change in the will be Terai-centric and all the IANS Yameen, and calling for targeted having committed those off enc- the government in Kathmandu boundaries of the provinces in mindset of the rulers in Kath- protests will focus on the Terai, Male sanctions to be imposed on his es,” the government said. was proof that it was not serious the Himalayan nation as pro- mandu based on one ethnici- he added. offi cials and supporters in the “Democracy will be consoli- about the demands raised by the posed in the new Constitution; ty-based blind nationalism,” The major agitation demand business community, Xinhua dated by upholding and by en- Madhesis and the indigenous and restoration of rights grant- said Thakur pointing to the is for the formation of two he Maldives govern- reported. couraging to uphold the rule of groups of the Nepal Terai. ed to Madhesis in the interim discrimination the Madhesis provinces in the Nepali Terai — ment yesterday criticised Media reports citing the Mal- law.” The Maldives government, It further announced that constitution of 2007 which the have traditionally suff ered at the Madhes extending from the Tthe European Union for dives government said the reso- however, assured the EU that it any future talks would be new charter has snatched away. the hands of the Kathmandu- Mechi river in the east to the adopting a resolution seeking lution contains a number of in- would continue to work closely held in the Terai and not in The also demand representa- centric ruling elite that has Narayani river in mid-western imposition of sanctions on the accuracies, misrepresentations with the organisation. Kathmandu. tion in Parliament on the basis comprised predominantly Nepal and Tharuhat pradesh country and described the ac- and baseless allegations. “The government takes note “We will move to Mad- of population - the Nepal Terai the Brahmins (Bahuns) and from the Narayani to the tion as “inappropriate” and “ir- “It is quite inappropriate and of the statement given by the hes here onwards,” Mahantha has almost 51% of the country’s Chhetris of the Nepal hills. Mahakali river in the west. responsible”. indeed irresponsible for an in- European External Action Serv- Thakur, chairman of the Terai population yet gets only one- The stir programme includes The Morcha said the NC and European Parliament on stitution such as the European ice (EEAS) at the European par- Madhes Loktantrik Party, said third of seats in Parliament; and burning in district headquar- the government looked de- Thursday passed a resolution parliament calling for the release liament, and agrees that the way at a press conference in Kath- proportional representation in ters copies of the new Nepal termined to put the amending condemning, what it called, of detainees and prisoners who forward is working closely on mandu yesterday, adding that government jobs. constitution amendment bill, bills to vote in Parliament for “the human rights abuses” com- have committed serious criminal issues of mutual concern,” the the government should hence- Announcing the decisions proposed jointly by the gov- endorsement. mitted by President Abdulla off ences and publicly admitted government said. Gulf Times Saturday, December 19, 2015 17 COMMENT How Boko Haram is killing off farms The future of many rural Ahmadu Buba, who escaped a Boko Many farmers who have tried to communities in northeastern Haram attack earlier this year along return home are still unable to replant with his family, now farms some 20km their fi elds due to landmines. Nigeria is, at best, uncertain, away on the outskirts of the border They are forced to seek other at worst, unsustainable town of Mubi. Though he was “lucky employment until their land has been enough” to survive, he saw many of cleared. his neighbours slaughtered, and fears a Others aren’t so lucky. By Ibrahim Abdul’Aziz similar fate for himself. Yandum Kwageh spent almost a Yola “I was on my way to work on the year in an IDP camp after Boko Haram farm with my four children when tore her from the land she called home I caught sight of fi ve men,” he told in Michika. A long-time farmer, she ulama Buba Kadai once owned IRIN. “Their faces were covered with said the only thing that helped her 20 farms and more than 100 turbans and they were carrying AK-47 survive the hardships of camp life was head of cattle near Gwoza in rifl es. They killed some of our most the dream of returning to her farm. Bnortheastern Nigeria. A year prominent farmers.” But in April, when troops fi nally ago, when Boko Haram attacked his Buba said many farmers who stayed recaptured her village and she was village, Kadai’s land and all but two restrict their movements to “safe allowed back, she returned to fi nd cows were destroyed. He also lost areas” and work limited hours in the destroyed, fallow fi elds, which, his two sons - the sole heirs of any fi elds to minimise the risk. He worries unbeknownst to her, were riddled with property he may one day leave behind. about the impact this would have on landmines. After weeks of digging “I think most of us are going back to food supplies and feared the timing out weeds and replanting corn, she our graves,” Kadai told IRIN. of previous attacks could mean food stepped on a mine left behind by Boko Ongoing attacks have destroyed shortages this year. Haram while tending her crops. land and killed thousands of young Bulama Modu, a rice farmer from Kwageh came to in a hospital bed. men since 2009, and, in some Gwoza who has since taken refuge at a Now, unable to farm and grow food for cases, wiped out or displaced entire camp for internally displaced persons her family, she hopes to be able to take generations of farmers and herders. (IDPs) in Malkohi, told IRIN: “Boko out a small loan to start a business. The future of many rural communities Haram has prevented farmers from The Commander of the 28 Taskforce in northeastern Nigeria is, at best, tilling their fi elds. They have been Brigade headquarters in Mubi, General uncertain, at worst, unsustainable. attacking us and many farmers were V O Ezeugwu, told IRIN that there Kadai, and some 500 other farmers killed, mostly youth. We had to run have been “many” similar explosions from his former community have without tilling our rice.” in farm fi elds in recent months as taken refuge in Malkohi, on the At first, the militants imposed refugees and IDPs return to their land outskirts of Yola, the capital city and levies and taxes on the farmers in in greater numbers. administrative capital of Adamawa exchange for not burning their crops, The government says Nigerian State. Some of them were temporarily he said. In one village in the Chwawa troops are working to clear landmines allotted a small piece of land by the area of Madagali, a community from recaptured areas, but that the local government earlier this year, but leader, who wished to remain Bulama Buba Kadai feeds his remaining two cows. The rest of his herd, which included more than 100 head of cattle, was work is “both dangerous and very yields were poor. anonymous, said these “fines” destroyed by Boko Haram. time-consuming.” He, and many of the others, say they ranged from between 1mn and 3mn “The troops focus mostly on dream of going back to Gwoza, but fear naira ($6,000-$18,000), depending since 2012, according to Nigeria’s taken refuge, are expected to remain as (a) high risk going to such places as schools, (health) clinics and roads,” there is also no future there. on the size of the village. National Emergency Management “in crisis” until at least March 2016. Maiduguri to carry farm produce.” Mohamed Bindow Jibrilla, a governor “In the rural north, the youth are “But later, they started slaughtering Agency. Food prices have also been aff ected. He cited the example of an attack in Adamawa State, told IRIN. “Farms the pillars of agriculture, tending to people and this situation forced us all The Famine Early Warning Systems Inusa Daudu, who sells onions at on the popular Baga fi sh market in are not considered a high priority.” farms and cattle,” said Yakubu Musa, to fl ee,” Modu said. Network (FEWS NET) says food the Mile 12 Market in Lagos, said that Borno State, which was attacked one Back in Malkohi, Kadai has given up a farmer from Askira. “Now, six years His village has since been production throughout the region will since Boko Haram began attacking morning by Boko Haram gunmen. hope that his farming community near of Boko Haram violence has left farms recaptured by soldiers, and while he be below average this year, and that farmers the prices of beans and onions “Many food stores are locked and Gwoza will be able to get back on its idle and animals dead or stolen.” hopes to farm again one day, he is still areas of western Yobe State, northern have risen by up to 70%. whatever is inside is perishing,” Daudu feet. “What is the use when the youth Like Kadai, Musa lost everything, too scared to start replanting. Adamawa State and most of Borno “Most of our traders are now afraid said. “It is not only the farmers that are all gone?” he asked IRIN. “How including his sons, during a Boko More than 17,000 farmers have fl ed State, along with areas in and around to go to the food markets up north,” are running away, (but) the food sellers can we cope when all we had is gone?” Haram raid last year. from northeastern Nigeria to the south Maiduguri, where many IDPs have Daudu told IRIN. “Transporters see it and transporters too.” — IRIN Weather report LEGAL HELPLINE Three-day forecast

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Department within seven days from loan agreements with the borrowers by the other claiming loss of SUNDAY By Dr Nizar Kochery High: 25 C Doha the date of any such notifi cation. If which usually set out specifi c terms earnings. Please advise. the department cancels the decision and conditions, signed cheques, etc; GY, Doha Low : 18 C of the employer or evaluates a lesser for repayment of loan or recovery M Sunny Question: I have fi led a criminal compensation, the employer shall in the event the borrower loses his A: With regard to compensation for lost case against a person and the return to the worker the amount employment or any other source of earnings and loss incurred as a result judgment was issued in my favour. deducted in excess in seven days’ time. income based on which the bank had of not being able to utilise the amount, MONDAY The person was sentenced to disbursed the loan or otherwise. Banks Article 268 of the Civil Law stipulates High: 24 C four months’ imprisonment. But may try to invoke all the conditions that when the object of an obligation Low : 17 C the execution of the judgment Claims for for securing repayment of the loan is the payment of a sum of money and M Sunny is getting delayed. Can he loan repayment set forth in the loan agreement in the debtor fails to pay after he was infl uence the court to avoid the event of a default which may formally summoned while he is able to the imprisonment other than Q: I have a bank loan against include encashment of the cheque do so, the court may order the debtor to Fishermen’s forecast through an appeal? It seems he has my salary. Due to manpower issued by the borrower in favour of pay a compensation as required by the OFFSHORE DOHA contacts with people in court. Can reduction I lost my employment. the bank against the loan along with law if the creditor proves that the loss Wind: SW-NW 05-15/18 KT anybody help him? I am trying to get another job but any other securities provided by the is caused to him due to such a failure. Waves: 2-4/5 Feet BN, Doha yet to be confi rmed. Job off ers borrower. Negotiate with bank for a Accordingly, if the subject matter of INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW-NE 03-12 KT are there. By mistake I have review of the repayment terms or off er the obligation is an amount of money, Waves: 1-2 Feet Answer: According to Article 164 informed the bank and expressed further guarantees till such time the and the defendant fails to pay such an of the penal laws, any public officer, my inability to pay the loan borrower has a new source of income amount upon being notifi ed to do so Around the region who infringes upon the provisions instalments till I confi rm my or employment. and provided the creditor can prove Weather Weather of the law with the intention to new employment. Please advise that it incurred damage due to such today Max/min tomorrow Max/min protect a person from serving or the legal procedure that will be nonpayment, the court may order Abu Dhabi M Sunny 26/16 Sunny 27/17 executing due sentence by reducing followed in such circumstances. Compensation for the defendant to pay damages. The Baghdad Sunny 19/06 M Sunny 18/06 Dubai M Sunny 25/19 Sunny the imposed penalty or delaying its FT, Doha compensation includes two elements, 26/19 loss of earnings Kuwait City P Cloudy 21/11 P Cloudy 18/11 execution or to protect any asset loss incurred and the earnings lost at the Manama M Sunny 23/18 P Cloudy 23/19 from confiscation, seizure or any A: Claims for loan repayment shall Q: Is there a provision under assessment and discretion of the judge Muscat M Sunny 27/19 Sunny 27/18 restriction set by the law on the said subsist irrespective of whether the Qatar contracts law for the court based on the available facts. Riyadh P Cloudy 23/11 M Sunny 26/11 asset, or to delay its confiscation or borrower is employed or not. In granting compensation for loss of Tehran Sunny 09/01 P Cloudy 07/00 seizure, or to impose or execute any general, prior to disbursement of earnings? In a pending payment zPlease send your questions by e-mail restriction on it shall be punished loans, all banks enter into specifi c issue, we received a case fi led to: [email protected] (Mobile:55813105) with an imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years and a fine not exceeding QR10,000 or both. LEGAL SYSTEM IN QATAR

Damage to No setoff shall be made after the the value paid to the bankruptcy if, machinery issue of the judgment order between at the time of making the negotiable the rights and obligations of the instrument, he was aware of the Q: The newly-purchased bankrupt unless there is a connection cessation of payment by the bankrupt. machinery of our company got between them. In particular, As per Article 638, where a judgment damaged and the supplier refuses correlation exists where the said rights is entered for the non-validity of a to grant warranty coverage as the and obligations have the same cause or disposal against the body of creditors, damage was due to a fault in the are comprised in a current account. the recipient of the disposal shall be operation. 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Payment of the maintenance Singapore S T Storms 32/26 P Cloudy 33/26 may appeal against the decision of to the adjudication of bankruptcy: (1) person in whose account the negotiable shall cease when an order ratifying the Sydney Cloudy 29/18 Sunny 31/22 the employer on the valuation of All donations, except for customary instrument was drawn shall refund scheme of composition becomes fi nal. Tokyo Clear 1 2 / 0 3 Cloudy 12/02 the compensation to the Labour Gulf Times 18 Saturday, December 19, 2015 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief : Darwish S Ahmed Production Editor: C P Ravindran Corruption fuelling

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] South Sudan confl ict Telephone 44350478 (news), Diff erent factions spar with 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) each other for control of Fax 44350474 wealth

By Karin Zeitvogel Washington

GULF TIMES outh Sudan is an oil-rich country with fertile soil and a wealth of untapped mineral Sriches. Pilfering money is easy for those who are so inclined, and the Political slugfest attraction of diverting revenues for personal benefi t is a key reason why the young country has been mired in a deadly, destructive two-year confl ict. could derail key “There are many ways to make money through corruption in South Sudan,” the Enough Project’s John Prendergast told IRIN at a hearing Indian reforms in Washington about the failure of leadership in South Sudan. “Offi cials literally divert money There are unlikely to be any outright winners in the latest from the treasury. They make money confrontation between India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party off contracts: you contract for a (BJP) and the opposition Congress over the now defunct road to be built, the company never National Herald newspaper case which entails a legal battle does the work but gets the money involving party president Sonia Gandhi and her son and vice for building the road and gives half president Rahul Gandhi. to offi cials. And offi cials manipulate Rebel soldiers in Nyal, Unity State, South Sudan. What is more, there will be an unsavoury twist to the case the exchange rate - they feed off the with less than comforting implications for the BJP if the diff erential between the market rate contracts,” Prendergast told IRIN. nothing to lose because corruption has But former US Special Envoy to Congress’s crown prince carries out his threat of courting and the rate set by (the) central bank.” “In my view, what descended the not allowed resources to trickle down” Sudan and South Sudan, Princeton Two years of confl ict have helped country back into war in 2013 is that to create jobs for them and give them a Lyman, told IRIN he is not convinced imprisonment when the two leaders appear in court today. to enable this corruption. Since the paramount faction, led by the future, he told IRIN. that Kiir and former vice president Even if the ruling party dubs such an act as theatrical, it will be the start of 2015, the black market president today, threw its rivals out of Around 80% of South Sudan’s turned rebel leader Riek Machar would aware that the sight of Rahul Gandhi behind bars cannot but be rate for South Sudan’s currency has the government.” working-age youth are unemployed or be fully committed “to the kind of embarrassing for the BJP. soared to 18 pounds to the dollar. He was referring to the fi ring by underemployed. transformation that is called for in the Such a dramatic turn of events may fuel speculation that the The central bank in Juba still trades President Salva Kiir of the entire Jok argues that the billions of dollars peace agreement, that is that you have absence of a sound legal defence has compelled the Congress to at a rate of around three-to-one. A cabinet in July 2013, fi ve months of foreign aid pouring into South a real change in the political structure, turn the encounter into a political duel. But such tricks of the report published in 2012 by Oxford before a confl ict erupted that has now Sudan is also enabling corruption and, economic management, a much more trade are an acceptable part of democratic politics. For the BJP, University, Professor of Development killed tens of thousands, displaced by default, fuelling the confl ict, which, democratic system.” the immediate problem will be the future of the crucial Goods Economics Christopher Adam and millions and shut down the economy. in spite of a peace deal that was signed “If you have a court that goes for and Services Tax (GST) Bill since the Congress is bound to use the then Oxford Policy Management Deputy Chief of Mission for South in August, continues to seethe. accountability, if you have a new charge of being a victim of political vendetta to stall parliament. consultant Lee Crawfurd warned Sudan in Washington, Baak Wol, told “Foreign aid pays for what the constitution that prevents people that the dual exchange rate system IRIN after the hearing that the sacking leaders are supposed to be paying for. from hijacking the system, if you have If the fate of the GST Bill is sealed for the time being, the BJP was a door to corruption waiting to of the cabinet in 2013 was just one way So that local money, oil money, and security sector reforms and can’t have may wonder whether the penchant of the maverick in its ranks, be opened, and that those who even that President Kiir was “trying to do other resources, can still be stolen,” he your own militia - all these things run Subramanian Swamy, to involve his adversaries in court cases before the confl ict were buying and something about corruption.” explained. “Donor money is used to against what they’ve been doing and may have backfi red. The BJP may argue that Swamy has been reselling foreign exchange, were Prendergast says the fi red offi cials show something is happening. Foreign probably would make it very hard for acting on his own in pursuing the National Herald case and that “often… government offi cials and felt they had to go to war to get back aid is a kind of alibi for the failure to them to seek power in the future,” it is mean-minded of the Congress to mix up the GST Bill with closely linked to the political elite.” into a position where they could invest revenues from natural resources Lyman said. its own legal diffi culties. The victims, meanwhile, are “those once again exploit loopholes and use in the welfare of the people.” “Peace, if it serves their interests, yes, The Congress who would otherwise have benefi ted South Sudan’s resources to enrich Anti-corruption NGO Global but real transformation - they wouldn’t For all practical meanwhile has found from public expenditure.” In other themselves because there are no legal Witness says one of the best ways to have enough of a stake in that.” a supporter in Mamata words, ordinary South Sudanese. avenues for offi cials to go down to seek end corruption in South Sudan would An off -shoot of the Enough Project, purposes, it is Banerjee, the chief Prendergast says those in power redress. That’s because South Sudan’s be to fully implement the peace deal the Sentry, is tracking the money minister of West Bengal in South Sudan today recognised all offi cials never set up institutions. that was signed in August. coming out of South Sudan and has going to be a Tom the possibilities available to them to While corrupt offi cials are now the “The Peace Agreement recognises gathered “reams of evidence on a state. Besides, both the make a quick buck 10 years ago, back generals and commanders in South that for there to be a sustainable whole network of people that have and Jerry show Congress and Banerjee’s when the Comprehensive Peace Deal Sudan’s ongoing war, corruption, in a peace in the country, the Transitional benefi tted remarkably as a result of Trinamool Congress party was signed, ending the long civil war diff erent way, also provides a steady Government (which was supposed the confl ict,” Prendergast told IRIN. with neither have a point in saying in Sudan and sowing the seeds for the supply of footsoldiers to fi ght on the to be up and running as of November He refused to name names but said that the interest which birth of the new nation. After years in frontlines. but has already been delayed until Sentry would release a full report emerging with the central government the bush, liberation fi ghters with no “The war may have been triggered January) must fundamentally overhaul early next year on corruption in South has shown in the National fi nancial or governance experience by the confl ict at the top, but where the way the state is run - including, Sudan, including who’s involved and fl ying colours Herald case is not visible were given unsupervised access to the does the momentum come from to critically, how oil dollars are collected, who in the international community is in scams in Madhya riches of southern Sudan. Diff erent keep the confl ict going?” said Loyola- accounted for and spent,” Global enabling the embezzlers. Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, both states governed by the BJP. factions sprang up like toadstools Marymount University’s professor of Witness said in a recent report. Several NGOs contacted by IRIN for Nothing demonstrated the extra interest that the authorities and quickly began sparring with each African Studies, Jok Madut Jok. “Why “The Peace Agreement is a 30-month this story declined to comment, saying other for control of the wealth. do all these unemployed youths fl ock reform programme which seeks to create they feared they might be expelled have taken in the National Herald case more clearly than the “One group got kickbacks from oil. to the confl ict?” a transparent and accountable South from South Sudan, or worse, if they transfer of an investigating offi cial who had dismissed the charges Another group got kickbacks from “They join because they have Sudanese state by 2018,” it said. did. — IRIN against the Congress leaders. The transfer was quickly followed by the appointment of another offi cial and the revival of the case after Swamy had accused the previous incumbent of having been favourably disposed towards the Congress. It is now up to the judiciary to address the nitty-gritty of the aff air. But public interest will be focused more on how the political skirmishes unfold than in the details of the case. As Sonia Gandhi’s comment that she is Indira Gandhi’s China’s institutional challenge daughter-in-law shows, she and her party have in mind the blunder committed by the Janata government in 1977 when it costs, clear and enforceable property capital, and knowledge; this, together not Party ideologues - to design its tried to implicate the doughty former prime minister in legal By Andrew Sheng and Xiao Geng Hong Kong rights, and other shared rules and with advances in digital and robot development roadmap. tangles. Indira Gandhi’s spirited response paved the way for the norms. technology, has brought down Chinese This approach was fortified last Congress’s return to power in 1980. North observed that institutional transaction costs. summer, when despite serious History may not always repeat itself, but even if the Congress ast month, the Nobel laureate change is extremely diffi cult, as Moreover, having built the needed market turmoil, the CCP upheld its under Sonia Gandhi is not what the Congress was under Indira economist Douglass North, it requires overcoming not only physical infrastructure in the last commitment to allow the market Gandhi, the BJP also is not as much of a winner as it was last who applied economic theory vested interests, but also outdated decade (perhaps to excess), China to play a “decisive role in resource year, as its massive defeats in Delhi and Bihar state elections have Lto history to gain insight into belief systems and mental models. is now emphasising the software allocation.” There could be no clearer shown. institutional and social change, died The breakthrough, he noted, comes infrastructure needed to sustain the indication that China is willing For all practical purposes, therefore, it is going to be a Tom and at his home in Michigan. But his ideas when institutions go beyond trade growth of its burgeoning services to upgrade its belief systems and Jerry show with neither emerging with fl ying colours. Each side will live on, particularly in China. within local communities to permit sector. In 2014, services’ share of mental models in order to achieve will try to hit the other where it hurts the most - the Congress Though North never focused explicitly anonymous and impersonal exchange GDP already exceeded 50%, more high-income status. on China’s institutional development, across time and space. Sustainable than the manufacturing and primary Nonetheless, China still has rivers by creating a ruckus in parliament even if it earns the reputation his theoretical framework could prove institutions are those that learn and sectors combined. to cross, particularly when it comes of being petty-minded, and the BJP by arguing that none in the invaluable to the country’s leaders adapt, overcoming their own biases While the government has not to adaptive effi ciency. Here, it is Congress’s fi rst family - Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and the party as they navigate the next phase of and limitations. pursued adequate reform of state- important to note that whereas formal chief’s son-in-law Robert Vadra - is above the law. institutional change. North’s work goes a long way owned enterprises, it has deliberately rules can be altered quickly, informal The endless slugfest, however, between the two “national” In his Nobel lecture in 1993, towards explaining the dramatic allowed new, largely private-owned cultural norms are diffi cult to change parties (although neither has a presence in all parts of the North identifi ed three lessons that institutional and economic changes technology giants to compete against in the short run. New formal rules country) carries the threat of not only derailing the reforms - policymakers should draw from his that have occurred in China over state-owned banks and fi nancial can confl ict with established norms, Swamy has suggested that the GST can be dumped for the sake research. First, what determines the last three decades, as well as institutions. And no one predicted the causing bureaucratic incentives of fi ghting corruption - but also of fostering the impression that economic performance is the mix illuminating the challenges that it intensity of the CCP’s campaign to to become distorted, with adverse the parliamentary system is becoming unworkable. of “formal rules, informal norms, will face over the next decade. In fact, root out corruption, including in the eff ects on institutional behaviour and It is unfortunate that at a time when Prime Minister Narendra and enforcement characteristics.” it should temper the pessimism that military, the fi nancial sector, and the performance. Modi adopted a conciliatory tone in parliament, a member of his Second, polities have a major impact pervades most current discussion of highest levels of the party itself. China’s leaders must cope with an on economic performance, because China’s prospects. China’s market-oriented shift will asymmetry between what they can party acted in a manner which introduced fresh complications they “defi ne and enforce the economic For starters, intense competition be reinforced by the commitments deliver and what consumers demand. in the relations between the BJP and the Congress. It is almost rules.” And, fi nally, adaptive effi ciency is alive and well in China. Its that its leaders made to the According to North, institutional as if the right hand does not know what the left is doing. (how the rules are changed), not major cities (including Shanghai, International Monetary Fund when under-capacity is a short-term allocative effi ciency (the most Guangdong, Tianjin, and Xiamen) the renminbi was added to the basket allocative problem, or sunk cost, for eff ective rules right now), is the key to are still competing vigorously with of currencies that determine the value which the state can compensate with long-term growth. one another, and a new breed of of the Fund’s unit of account, Special greater adaptive effi ciency, or better To Advertise These lessons are refl ected in technologically innovative companies Drawing Rights. The need to cope with mechanisms for bringing about the North’s assessment of Western (such as Huawei, Tencent, and trade pressures after the Trans-Pacifi c exit of less effi cient institutions. [email protected] Europe’s institutional and economic Alibaba) are battling to open up new Partnership encompasses most of North’s theoretical legacy could Display development, in which he attributed markets in goods, services, talent, China’s neighbours will have a similar prove vital for China’s policymakers Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 the Industrial Revolution to two key capital, and knowledge. disciplining eff ect. in the coming years, because it gives factors: varying belief systems and The ruling Chinese Communist The CCP is judging itself not them specifi c guidance about how to Classified intense competition between and Party (CCP) has dedicated itself to against the Western benchmark cross the river of rapid institutional Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 within the emerging sovereign powers. creating a more effi cient, services- of liberal democratic governance, change. The alternative is to continue Specifi cally, the English and the Dutch driven economy, subject to the market but against the ancient Chinese relying on what Deng Xiaoping, Subscription created diverse political/economic and the rule of law. For example, it legalist tradition of strong, central the father of China’s institutional [email protected] units that evolved institutions has committed to ease market access authority that maintains legitimacy breakthrough more than three decades nurturing specialisation and division by loosening entry requirements for by upholding meritocratic standards ago, called “feeling the stones.” That, of labour. These institutions delivered both domestic and foreign investors. of accountability. Perhaps more as North would put it, may not be the 2014 Gulf Times. All rights reserved superior economic and political It has also strengthened property important, it has relied on seasoned most effi cient way to get to the other outcomes through lower transaction rights relating to land, labour, intellectuals and policymakers - side. — Project Syndicate

Gulf Times 20 Saturday, December 19, 2015 QATAR

Members of a contingent of special forces march during the parade. Right: A battle tank displayed during the Qatar National Day parade. PICTURES: Anas Khalid Qatar’s heritage and military might showcased at parade By Joseph Varghese along with minor fireworks. Staff Reporter Another highlight was the display of the military might of the country which included he National Day parade the Army, Navy and Air Force. that lasted for about 45 All the three contingents dis- Tminutes at the Doha Cor- played their sophisticated artil- niche yesterday morning was lery, the most modern weapons not just a treat to watch but also and other equipment. Battle an overview of the country’s tanks, personnel carriers, rocket military prowess and heritage as launchers, mine detectors, anti- well. aircraft guns, fi re extinguishers, The parachuters and the pa- infantry vehicles, anti-pirate ragliders who descended onto frigates, interceptors, monitor- the Corniche, draped in the col- ing sensors, surveillance equip- ours of the national fl ag as well ment, propellers and coast- as holding huge Qatari fl ags, cre- guard vessels were among the ated a riot of colour in the sky. attractions. They also brought charm and The colourful cavalcade of excitement to the enthusiastic thoroughbred Arabian horses crowd who had thronged the and camels was yet another at- venue in the wee hours of the traction on the occasion. The morning. bands from the armed forces en- The ceremonial parade started tertained the crowds with an ar- spot on at 8am, with the arrival ray of songs which was popular of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim among the citizens ahead of the bin Hamad al-Thani, who wit- start of the parade. nessed the entire parade along A group of children dressed with HH the Father Emir Sheikh in the Emiri Guard uniform Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani as took part in the parade and well as a galaxy of ministers and classic cars, dhows were also other dignitaries. on display. A helicopter displaying a huge After the parade, HH the national fl ag as well as the im- Emir and HH the Father Emir age of HH the Emir hovered over walked through a stretch of the Corniche area, as the parade Children in the Emiri Guard uniform participate in the celebration. the parade route greeting the started with the rendition of the crowd. They later shook hands national anthem and an 18-gun Contingents from the Army, Heritage Police, Coast and of Qatar Leadership Academy of the paragliders as well as the ics. They also sprayed the sky with people, hugged children salute to mark the National Day. Navy and Air Force, Emiri Border Security, Traffic and were part of the parade. parachuters. The paragliders lit with myriad colours. The para- and waved to the crowd while This was followed by a recitation Guards, Internal Security Force personnel of Police College, One of the major highlights up the Corniche sky with a riot chuters who followed created many tried for a photo oppor- of verses from the Holy Qur’an. (Lekhwiya), Civil Defence, national service and students of the parade was the heroics of colour and various acrobat- different formations in the sky tunity with them. Katara events draw large crowds

large number of visitors trate their leadership skills,” said participated in the Qatar Brigadier General Ali Ahmad al- ANational Day (QND) pro- Kuwari, director at Qatar Lead- grammes at Katara —the Cul- ership Academy. tural Village yesterday. The ‘temporary cultural vil- The celebrations featuring lage’ at Katara for the QND cele- more than 48 events conclude bration attracted a large number today. of visitors including those from Katara is collaborating with expatriate communities. diff erent institutions, authori- The shops showcased the ties and associations in Qatar to country’s rich culture and her- host the celebrations. itage, off ering ethnic pieces of The military parade by the electronics equipment, leather 50-member Emiri Guard musi- goods, tele-printers, cameras cal band at the esplanade was and many items which link visi- greeted by hundreds of well- tors to “the glorious past of Qa- wishers and served as one of the tar.” Other stalls sold hand-wo- key attractions. ven shawls and caps. “I am really pleased to honour The eateries at the village Qatari musicians who gave hom- served traditional Qatari cuisine age to their homeland,” said Ka- and dishes that are popular in tara general manager Dr Khalid diff erent parts of the world. bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti. Like in the previous years, The band led the musical pro- Katara has given priority to chil- gramme which refl ected patriot- dren who want to perform in ic fervour, and they also received various events. loud applause from the crowd at Many visitors also expressed the amphitheatre. their loyalty and gratitude to Qa- Katara also honoured three tar by writing their greetings on band members who composed the ‘Loyalty Book’ set up at the the music for the renowned A band performing at Katara. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil beach-front of Katara. Qatari traditional song, “My Other events included horse- Beloved Qatar.” These include Mohamed al-Saai. sailors at the Qatar Leadership students who have made these back tours at the esplanade, in- lyricist Abdullah Abdul Karim Highlighting the rich tradi- Academy. initiatives to revive our heritage ternational, national musical al-Hamadi, musician Abdulaziz tion, a ceremonial military re- “I am really very proud to that stresses the sense of be- shows and para-jumping show Army personnel present a synchronised performance in motorised Naser al-Obaidan and singer ception was also given to student witness the achievement of our longing of our identity and illus- by the Qatari Armed Forces. paragliders at Katara yesterday.