BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Rosberg wins Formula One title INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-8, 28 COMMENT 26, 27 in Abu Dhabi REGION 9 BUSINESS 1–5, 11-12 QIMC-led JV in deal for 19,144.00 9,734.18 46.06 ARAB WORLD 10, 11 CLASSIFIED 6-10 +90.00 +19.25 -1.90 INTERNATIONAL 12–25 SPORTS 1 – 12 calcium chloride plant +0.47% +0.20% -3.96% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

MONDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10286 November 28, 2016 Safar 28, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Emir meets GCC chief Hamad Port In brief to start full

QATAR | Communication Post offi ces to have operations self-service kiosks Qatar Postal Services Company (Q-Post) and Malomatia, the leading national IT service and solution provider, have reached an agreement for introducing from Dec 1 Electronic Point of Sales (E-POS) systems and self-service kiosks By Pratap John nual handling capacity in Qatar to 2mn at post offices across the country. Chief Business Reporter twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) The signing ceremony that from the 750,000-TEU capacity at the took place at Q-Post head office existing port. was attended by chairman and HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met at the Emiri Diwan yesterday with GCC Secretary General Dr Abdullatif atar’s multi-billion dollar Once the fi rst phase is operational, managing director Faleh al-Naemi bin Rashid al-Zayani. During the meeting, the GCC chief briefed the Emir on the latest preparations for the 37th GCC Summit state-of-the-art Hamad Port the government will evaluate the time- and Malomatia managing director due to be held in Bahrain in December. Talks during the meeting also dealt with a number of topics relating to the march of Qwill start full operations on lines for the other two phases, which and board member Yousef al- the GCC’s joint action and means of enhancing it in addition to the latest developments in the region. December 1, the Ministry of Transport would bring the total handling capacity Naama. Page 5 and Communications has announced. to 6mn TEUs once completed. Consequently, the existing Doha In an earlier interview with the Ox- REGION | Politics Port will be closed to commercial ves- ford Business Group, HE the Minister sel traffi c from December 1, although of Transport and Communications, Kuwait opposition in it will continue to receive cruise ships Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti said Ha- strong election showing for some time. Doha Port will be totally mad Port was strategically located to Opposition groups and their allies closed from March 31, showed the an- handle the expanding trade in the Gulf secured nearly half of the Kuwaiti Ambulance alert system nouncement by the ministry and the and beyond, into the hinterland of Qa- parliament’s seats, off icial election New Port Project Steering Committee. tar and neighbouring GCC countries. results showed yesterday. The The Hamad Port Project was The facilities will feature cutting- opposition and its allies won 24 launched in June 2007 with the rec- edge technology and associated sys- of the assembly’s 50 seats, the ognition that Qatar’s import demands tems that will cater to all types of ves- electoral authority announced on way for motorists were set to rise dramatically in the sels, cargo handling and clearance, following Saturday’s snap election coming years. and throughput rates that will set the called after a dispute over the hiking Located on a 26.5-sq-km area facility apart from the region’s existing of petrol prices. Page 9 amad Medical Corporation’s further ahead,” stated executive direc- campaign was to give way to ambu- south of Doha, the multi-billion dol- ports. (HMC) Ambulance Service is tor, Healthcare Co-ordination Service, lances on the road in order to ensure lar project is one of the world’s larg- Environmental protection strate- ARAB WORLD | Confl ict Hcurrently testing an interna- Thomas Reimann. our teams to arrive at their destina- est greenfi eld port developments, and gies – such as sustainable resource tional FM radio over-broadcast system When activated by the ambulance tion as quickly as possible,” he point- will include a new port, a new base for use, waste management and sustain- Thousands flee regime which will allow ambulance crews to driver or crew member, the system ed out. the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces and the ability certifi cation for buildings – will advance into east Aleppo alert surrounding drivers of their ap- overrides the FM radio channel inside HMC’s Ambulance Service consist- Um Alhoul Special Economic Zone, a ensure the port achieves a sustainable Thousands of civilians have fled proach. cars within the signal vicinity and re- ently meets or exceeds its National report by the Oxford Business Group balance between economic growth, rebel-held east Aleppo after The new system, Radiolert Mobile lays the message ‘Warning, ambulance Health Strategy response targets. showed. social development and environmental government forces, determined FM80, is an internationally used soft- approaching. Give way.’ Throughout 2015, the service Its facilities include a general cargo protection. to retake all of Syria’s second city, ware that enables ambulance crews “Depending on the registered lan- reached 91.8% of calls within Doha terminal, multi-use terminal, off shore The transfer of operations from the seized its largest rebel-controlled to send a message to cars up to 200m guage of the FM radio channel be- in under 10 minutes. This impressive supply base, coast guard facility and existing Doha Port to Hamad Port has district and advanced into two other ahead. ing broadcast, the Radiolert system performance has been achieved de- marine unit, as well as a centralised involved the transfer of staff employed areas. The capture on Saturday of “The technology we are currently will play the warning message in one spite an increase in the number of calls Customs area, administrative district by Qatar Ports Management Company Masaken Hanano - which had been testing off ers us a highly advanced way of four languages: Arabic, English, received by the service. and multiple maritime facilities. (Mwani), government agencies, stake- the biggest rebel-held district of of alerting drivers that an ambulance Hindi and Malayalam,” Reimann ex- In recent years, the Ambulance On completion of all construction holders and service providers, al-Su- Aleppo - was a breakthrough in a is approaching,” said Ahmed al-Bakri, plained. Service has expanded the LifeFlight phases, Hamad Port will off er capacity laiti said. 13-day regime off ensive to retake operations manager at the Ambulance Al-Bakri recalled the 2012 national service, introduced a new state-of- for 6mn twenty-foot equivalent units a While these organisations have the entire city. Yesterday, regime Service. campaign, ‘Help us Help you’, designed the-art ambulance fl eet and built year, as well as 1.7mn tonnes of general worked effi ciently and eff ectively at forces also took control of two “Our ambulance lights and sirens to educate the public about practical dispatch points around the country. goods, 1mn tonnes of food grains and Doha Port, the early operational phase neighbouring areas, Jabal Badra and can be seen or heard by drivers up to ways in which they could assist the These steps have enabled the service 500,000 vehicles. has allowed the integration of their ac- Baadeen, the Syrian Observatory of 50m away, but the Radiolert system Ambulance Service. to reach patients quickly, regardless of Once the fi rst phase becomes fully tivities in the improved working envi- Human Rights said. Page 10 allows us to forewarn drivers much “One of the key messages of the their location. operational in 2016, it will increase an- ronment off ered by Hamad Port. Thundery downpour leaves Motorist rescued several Doha roads fl ooded

late-afternoon downpour left tered rain are also expected in off shore a number of roads fl ooded in areas. ADoha yesterday as the country A minimum temperature of 20C is experienced another day of rain and expected in Mesaieed, Wakrah and thunder. other places today, while in Doha it will More showers are expected in Qatar be 21C. today, the Met department has said. Yesterday, a minimum temperature While thundery rain was reported of 19C was recorded in Al Sheehaniya, from across the country through the Karana and Turayna. In the capital, a day, the capital remained largely dry minimum of 20C was recorded in the until around 4pm yesterday. For about Qatar University area. 45 minutes since then, heavy rain – ac- Meanwhile, the Ministry of Munici- companied by strong winds – lashed pality and Environment (MME)’s rain diff erent parts of the city, catching emergency teams continued to drain commuters unawares and resulting water from areas lying in diff erent mu- in waterlogging that led to long traffi c Emergency teams continued to drain nicipalities in the country yesterday, queues along several roads. rainwater from areas in diff erent with forecasts indicating that the rain The areas aff ected by yesterday’s municipalities in the country. this year could be heavier than last year downpour included Najma, Mansoura, in most regions of the country, the of- Personnel of the General Directorate of the Civil Defence rescued a motorist on Saturday from drowning as his vehicle Mamoura, Abu Hamour, Doha Jadeed, received heavy rain on Saturday, too, fi cial Qatar News Agency (QNA) re- got stranded in an underpass for camels at Rawdat Al Rashid. Local Arabic daily Arrayah reported yesterday that the Al Hilal and several others, according which caused fl ooding in a number of ported early yesterday evening. motorist’s SUV was submerged in the rainwater that flooded the unpaved underpass. The Civil Defence team rushed to reports. Vehicular movement was areas. The emergency teams had drained to the spot after receiving a call for help. A Civil Defence personnel was lowered into the underpass with the help of slow at a number of places, such as The Met department has said thun- out some 17mn gallons of water in a crane and he rescued the man. A video of the rescue operation has gone viral on various social media platforms. the Doha-Industrial Area road, Salwa dershowers and strong winds are once the municipalities of Doha, Al Wak- Accordingly, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has tweeted that the underpass is designated only for camels. It is Road, Al Waab signal, Mannai tun- again expected in diff erent parts of rah, Umm Salal, Al Rayyan, Al Khor, located under Salwa Road 2km north of exit 29 towards Abu Samra. nel, Corniche and February 22 Road, the country today. It has also issued a Al Khor & Al Thakhira, Al Daayen, Al among others. warning for strong winds and high seas Shamal and Al Sheehaniya, the report The Ministry of Interior urged peo- in off shore areas. said, quoting Mohamed Saif Tashal al- Further, al-Hajri said the teams were morning until 9pm yesterday, and the rains are expected. Co-operate with ple to be patient and follow instruc- The wind speed may go up to 25 Hajri, head of the rain emergency team. continuing to exert eff orts to remove operations were still under way. the authorities and stay safe,” the MME tions, noting that traffi c patrols had knots in both inshore and off shore ar- The offi cial stressed that there has water from roundabouts, major streets Similarly, 320,000 gallons of wa- tweeted. been stationed at various locations eas, with the sea level rising to 8ft to- been there has been co-ordination with and tunnels. Large quantities of water ter were drained out in Al Sheehaniya While the authorities continued to ease vehicular fl ow. It also advised wards the north. emergency teams in diff erent munici- were drained out and the process con- Municipality until 8pm yesterday, with their eff orts to remove rainwater motorists not to take the risk of driv- The detailed forecast for inshore palities and relevant state entities since tinued round the clock. while more than 11mn gallons had been across the country, residents yesterday ing through fl ooded stretches as they areas also says cloudy conditions are the start of rainfall in diff erent parts of An update issued by the MME later pumped out in Al Rayyan Municipality said several internal roads were still could be unaware of the water depth or likely today and there is a chance of the country, with vehicles and water in the evening said nearly 7.5mn gal- since Saturday. fl ooded and it was diffi cult to access the presence of obstacles therein. scattered rain, which may become suction trucks instructed to swiftly re- lons of water had been drained out in “Tireless eff orts continue all over homes and other buildings due to wa- Doha and other parts of Qatar had thundery at times. Clouds and scat- spond to calls from the public. Al Wakrah Municipality from Friday the state to remove rainwater. More terlogging. Page 28 Gulf Times 2 Monday, November 28, 2016 QATAR

Emir receives credentials of new ambassadors Official

Emir issues two decrees

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday issued the following decrees yesterday: 1. Decree No 51 of 2016 ratifying a Memorandum of Co-operation (MoC) in the legal field between the Ministry of Justice of Qatar HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani received the copies of credentials of three new ambassadors to Qatar at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. Ambassadors of Finland, The Bahamas and Burundi – Riitta and the Ministry of Justice in Swan, Tony Joudi, and Issa Ntambuca, respectively, presented their credentials to the Emir. The Emir welcomed the new ambassadors and wished them success in their missions and further progress and Jordan signed in Amman on prosperity for the relations between Qatar and their respective countries. Earlier, on arrival at the Emiri Diwan, the ambassadors were accorded an off icial reception ceremony. 21/02/2016 annexed to this Decree. The MoC shall have the force of law in accordance with Article 68 of the Constitution. 2. Decree No 52 of 2016 ratifying an agreement for co-operation in the legal field between the QSL apologies to fans governments of Qatar and Kenya QU launches new French signed in Doha on 23/04/2014 annexed to this decree. for ticketing error Instruments of ratification language programme QNA individuals will be contacted Doha in order to compensate for the damage, whether the price of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin atar University (QU) yes- in French speaking institutions tickets or free tickets for fur- Hamad al-Thani yesterday issued terday held a ceremony or to work in a professional set- atar Stars League CEO ther QSL games. the following instruments of Qto launch a Minor in ting where French may be re- Hani Taleb Ballan has Ballan said the error is “con- ratification: French Language and receive a quired. Qassured that an inter- sidered a joint one between the 1. Approving an air services donation of around 100 French Basic French is the fi rst course nal investigation is underway employee responsible for the agreement between the books, DVDs and magazines and main entry-point for this under his direct supervision system and the QSL Marketing governments of Qatar and Benin from the French embassy. programme. It became avail- over the mistake relating to & Communications Depart- signed in Doha on 12/11/2014. The Minor in French Language able for the fi rst time in Fall 2016 misprinted time on sold tickets ment’’. 2. Approving a Memorandum of was created by QU College of and it is currently attended by 22 for the Al Arabi versus Al Sadd Moreover, Ballan didn’t ex- Understanding (MoU) between Arts and Sciences (CAS) Depart- students. match on Saturday evening. clude himself from the liabil- the governments of Qatar and ment of English Literature and The event was attended by The QSL CEO also stressed ity in his capacity as the CEO Greece in the field of health and Linguistics with the aim to give QU president Dr Hassan al-Der- that the mistake proved to of the Qatar Stars League, medical science signed in Doha QU students access to another ham, French ambassador Dr Eric be an inadvertent error on repeating his apologies to all on 26/10/2008. foreign language and culture be- Chevallier, QU vice-president the behalf of a staff member QSL stakeholders and affi li- 3. Approving the accession of sides English. for Academic Aff airs Dr Mazen working on the system. He ates from the QFA, clubs and Qatar to the Nagoya Protocol On The Minor programme com- Hasna, representatives of the also expressed his apologies fans. Ballan also promised that Access To Genetic Resources And prises 24 credit-hours and tar- French Institute, Lycée franco- to everyone who was aff ected such errors will be avoided in The Fair And Equitable Sharing gets students who are beginners qatarien Voltaire and Lycée Bo- by this error, pointing out that future. Of Benefits Arising From Their or low intermediates in French. naparte, as well as QU faculty, Utilisation To The Convention On It is currently off ered only to students and staff . Biological Diversity. female students. The number of The event featured an over- Qatar, Moldova sign air service pact applicants for the fi rst year is 38, view on the Minor in French Emir ratifies most of them Qataris. Language by QU CAS associate Qatar and Moldova yesterday finalised the signing of the air services Graduates from this pro- professor of French Language Dr agreement between the two countries. Cabinet decision gramme will reach a level of Paula Bouff ard, an overview on The agreement allows assigned carriers in Qatar and Moldova to competency that is functional the donated books by QU Library operate any number of passenger and cargo flights between the HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin enough to travel to French director Dr Imad Bashir, and a two countries. The agreement was signed by Abdullah bin Nasser Hamad al-Thani yesterday ratified speaking countries. They will presentation by QU French Club Turki al-Subaey, Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority, and Moldova’s Cabinet Decision No. 32 of 2016 also stand in a good position president Maytha Mohamed al- Dr Eric Chevallier receiving a memento from Dr Hassan al-Derham Deputy Minister of Transport and Roads Infrastructure Sergei issuing the Executive Regulations to pursue their studies abroad Mansoori. yesterday. Bucataru. for the Human Resources Law. Gulf Times Monday, November 28, 2016 3 QATAR

WCM-Q signs Prime Minister holds talks with UAE leaders agreement QNA with QGBC Abu Dhabi

E the Prime Minister ahtak Awalan - Your and Minister of Inte- Health First, the pub- Hrior Sheikh Abdullah bin Slic health campaign of Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani held Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar separate meetings with leaders (WCM-Q), has signed a Memo- of the United Arab Emirates here randum of Understanding with yesterday. the Green Life initiative of Qatar Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Green Building Council (QGBC). al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Your Health First and Green Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Life will work together to raise Commander of the UAE Armed awareness of the impact that Forces met HE the Prime Minis- the built environment has on ter at Yas Marina Circuit. public health, promote sustain- At the outset of the meet- able health and environmental ing, the Prime Minister and practices, and collaborate on Minister of Interior conveyed joint research projects to im- the greetings of HH the Emir of prove understanding of the link Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- between the environment and mad al-Thani to Sheikh Khalifa good health. bin Zayed al-Nahyan, President The fi ve-year agreement was of United Arab Emirates and to signed by Meshal al-Shamari, him and his wishes of further HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani with Sheikh HE the Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani QGBC director, and Nesreen progress and prosperity to the Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE with Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai al-Rifai, WCM-Q’s chief com- people of the UAE. Armed Forces, at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid al-Maktoum. munications offi cer, at the Qa- For his part, Crown Prince tar Green Buildings Conference, of Abu Dhabi reciprocated the bai Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid The Prime Minister and Min- held during Qatar Sustainability Emir’s greetings and wished al-Maktoum met at Zabeel Pal- ister of Interior attended a part Week. further prosperity to the Qatari ace with HE the Prime Minister of the fi nal race of the Formula 1 Al-Shamari expressed de- people. and Interior Minister Sheikh Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand light to be partnering with Sa- Talks during the meeting dealt Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Prix held in Yas Marina Circuit htak Awalan as it is fully in line with relations between Qatar al-Thani. in Abu Dhabi and hosted by the with the objectives of the newly and the UAE and means of en- The Prime Minister conveyed United Arab Emirates. launched Green Life initiative. hancing them along with issues to Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid The closing was attended by a “The Green Life is world’s of common concern. al-Maktoum the greetings of number of several leaders, senior fi rst sustainability loyalty pro- The meeting was attended HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin offi cials and heads of delega- gramme, which is designed to by Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Hamad al-Thani and the UAE tions, and guests of the Formula help people consider sustain- Zayed al-Nahyan, UAE Deputy vice-president reciprocated the 1 Grand Prix. ability as a lifestyle and to show Prime Minister and Minister of Emir’s greetings. Later HE the Prime Minister them that a few little changes the Interior. During the meeting, they re- and Minister of Interior Sheikh can make a huge impact” HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nass- viewed the relations between the Abdullah bin Nasser bin Kha- Al-Shamari said, “Together er bin Khalifa al-Thani also held two countries and ways of en- lifa al-Thani left Abu Dhabi con- with Sahatak Awalan, we will a separate meeting with Lt Gen- hancing them in various fi elds, cluding a short visit. have numerous activities across eral Sheikh Saif bin Zayed al- especially on the economic and The Premier and Minister of the country in the near future to Nahyan. security levels. Interior and the accompany- spread awareness and help resi- Talks dealt with the existing From the UAE side, the meet- ing delegation were seen off at dents achieve healthier lifestyles relations between Qatar and the ing was attended by Crown Abu Dhabi International Air- and environments.” UAE and security issues in par- Prince of Dubai Sheikh Ham- port by Deputy Prime Minister Al-Rifai said ‘Your Health ticular. dan bin Mohamed bin Rashid and Minister of Interior of the First and Green Life share a deep The Prime Minister attended al-Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of United Arab Emirates Sheikh commitment to sustainable a luncheon banquet hosted by Dubai Sheikh Maktoum bin Mo- Saif bin Zayed al-Nahyan, UAE health that is intrinsically linked Lt General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed hamed bin Rashid al-Maktoum Minister of State for Foreign Af- to respect for the environment. al-Nahyan. and Deputy Prime Minister and fairs Dr Anwar Mohamed Gar- “With this MoU we will be able Later, Vice-President and Minister of Interior Lt General gash and Qatar’s ambassador to to work collaboratively to create Prime Minister of the United Sheikh Saif bin Zayed al-Nahy- UAE, Hadi bin Nasser Mansour HE the Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani holding talks with Lt General Sheikh projects that encourage appreci- Arab Emirates and Ruler of Du- an. al-Hajri. Saif bin Zayed al-Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, in Abu Dhabi yesterday. ation of fresh, healthy produce.” Gulf Times 4 Monday, November 28, 2016 QATAR

Armed Forces to hold National Day parade training

The armed forces will be the armed forces will out parachuting shows at Emir meets outgoing envoy of S Africa holding a military parade hold parachuting an altitude of 1,000-5,000 QRCS holds disaster training for the National training on December feet and a radius of 500 Day on December 17 18 from 6am to 1pm metres from 2.30-8pm and from 6am to 1pm that at an altitude of paramotoring shows at an management course includes parachuting and 1,000-5,000 feet and altitude of 660 feet and a paramotoring shows from paramotoring shows at radius of 2km. 2.30-10pm, the general an altitude of 660 feet The general command QNA command of the armed and a radius of 2km. of the armed forces has Doha forces said. On the same day in Katara, cautioned visitors to these In the Corniche area, the armed forces will carry areas. atar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has concluded a fi ve-day basic disaster Qmanagement training course for 30 vol- unteers from QRCS and other Qatari organisa- tions. The purpose of the course is to build the capacity of volunteers in disaster response, through a set of topics that comply with inter- national standards. During the event, the participants were in- troduced to QRCS’s mission and activities, the history and components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and the seven Fundamental Principles. Other topics covered by the course included the Disaster Management Unit, the Interna- tional Humanitarian Law, Sphere Project, as- sessment, health, water and sanitation, food, camp management, psychological support, media relations, registration, distribution, logistics, co-ordination, and restoring family links. HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met the outgoing South African ambassador to This course is part of a larger disaster pre- Qatar, Saad Cachalia, at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. The Emir wished the outgoing ambassador paredness programme conducted by QRCS to success in his future assignments and further progress and prosperity for bilateral relations enhance community preparedness skills, under between Qatar and South Africa. The ambassador expressed thanks and gratitude to the Emir the supervision of disaster management spe- and the off icials in Qatar for the co-operation he received during his tenure. cialists.

Qatar Biobank study points to high obesity levels

indings from the study organised by Middle East port to health strategies at samples of the Qatari popu- to enable healthcare provid- of the fi rst 3,000 sam- Molecular Biology Sources, both national and individual lation, with the goal of mov- ers to use that genetic infor- Fples collected by Qatar was attended by leading levels to fulfi l the delivery of ing towards more personal- mation to better serve their Biobank have found high doctors, healthcare policy- personalised and precision ised and effi cient medicine. patients through preventa- overweight and obesity lev- makers, researchers and healthcare.” Dr Ismail opened the tive and curative measures. els, as well as a 17% rate of students from Qatar and presentations with a look “No more will medicine be diabetes in the adults sur- around the world. “We believe that our at the Qatar Genome Pro- one-size-fi ts-all. Instead, veyed. “We believe that our cur- current fi ndings will gramme’s ongoing eff orts each genomic group will Qatar Biobank and the rent fi ndings will help de- help design guidelines to create a reference map have its own approach to Qatar Genome Programme sign guidelines for preven- for prevention of of the Qatari genome us- medical issues,” he said. presented the fi ndings on tion of diabetes and other diabetes and other ing samples provided by the Qatar Biobank and the collecting and profi ling ge- noncommunicable diseases, noncommunicable population. By doing so, the Qatar Genome Programme nome samples of the Qatari and plan future strategies diseases’’ Qatar Genome Programme are part of Qatar Foundation population at the third Mid- and educational activities is already off ering valuable for Education, Science and dle East Molecular Biology for our local community,” Dr Afi fi and Dr Said Is- opportunities for local re- Community Development Congress and Exhibition said Dr Nahla Afi fi , acting mail, manager of the Qa- searchers to study various working towards developing held recently at Qatar Uni- director of Qatar Biobank. tar Genome Programme, diseases within the popula- healthcare in Qatar by ad- versity. “We are confi dent that our discussed their eff orts to tion. vancing personalised medi- The four-day congress, data will be of great sup- collect and profi le genome The goal, said Dr Ismail, is cine through vital research. Gulf Times Monday, November 28, 2016 5 QATAR HBKU Press to hold information sessions at Doha Book Fair

amad Bin Khalifa Uni- writing for the unique market editor at HBKU Press, will hold versity (HBKU) Press of young adults. a session to examine the de- Hwill be participating in As the renowned author velopmental process of how to the Doha International Book of the best-selling titles, Ce- publish an academic book with Fair (DIBF) to be held at the saran’s Treasure, Cesaran’s HBKU Press. Doha Exhibition and Conven- Treasure -The Gate of Katara Dr Alwaleed will go through tion Centre from November 30 and Delmun’s Riddles and the defi ne academic publish- to December 10. Shawk Al Kawadi, Abdullah will ing, explain step-by-step the “The aim is to support the delve into the specifi cs of char- submission and publishing vibrant scholarly and literary acter development and tone of process, explore the concept culture in Qatar by empowering voice regarding this ever-ex- of open access publishing, and local talent and by focusing on panding niche market. demonstrate how and why the ingenuity of the Qatari and Another forum will centre HBKU Press is the number one Arab population,” Fakri Saleh, around the critical biography, choice in Qatar and the Gulf for head of Arabic Publishing at Saladin, written by Dr Abdul authors and researchers looking Q-Post’s Faleh al-Naemi (right) and Malomatia’s Yousef al-Naama exchange documents at the signing ceremony. HBKU Press, said. Rahman Azzam. to get published. “We hope to attract and in- Saladin was one of the most HBKU Press will also hold a spire new authors to see HBKU famous players in Islamic history. book signing and meet and greet Press as the leading choice for This ground-breaking biog- with best-selling Qatari author, publishing in Qatar, and as a raphy uncovers the real Saladin, Abdulaziz al-Mahmoud. cornerstone of Qatar’s knowl- placing him in historical con- The critically acclaimed au- edge-based economy.” text against the backdrop of the thor of The Corsair and The Holy This year, HBKU Press will ac- 10th and 11th-century Sunni Sail, will launch his new chil- tively participate in the DIBF by revival, a powerful sweeping dren’s graphic novel Arhama, an Post offi ces to have holding open forums for those intellectual renaissance that epic tale of an adventurer who interested in a variety of topics. would ultimately transform comes to appreciate the value of Author Eissa Abdullah is to every fi eld of Islamic thought. learning and being prepared in self-service kiosks hold a session that will explore Dr Alwaleed AlKhaja, senior order to succeed. Page 7 Safari picks first winners of promotion atar Postal Services reflects one of most ambitious Al-Naemi also said working governmental sectors in taking Company (Q-Post) and IT projects for Q-Post, which with Malomatia on this project and executing vital IT national The winners of ‘Safari Win QMalomatia, the leading will ultimately support its ob- was in fact based on Q-Post’s projects in Qatar. 10 BMW 5 Series Cars’ national IT service and solution jectives of implementing an trust on the leading national “Our commitment is to de- promotion’s first lucky provider, have reached an agree- advanced technology project company for executing nation- ploy our experts and techno- draw, Udayakumar Golpala ment for introducing Electronic that meets the company’s cur- wide major projects in various logical capabilities by teaming Pillai (coupon number Point of Sales (E-POS) systems rent and transformation future sectors. up with worldwide partners, to 0125724) and Pradeep and self-service kiosks at post needs. “We are proud to work with help fulfil Qatar National Vi- (1293391) receive the key offi ces across the country. “It will help improve customer Qatar Post for delivering this sion 2030 by working towards from Safari Group director/ The signing ceremony that experience signifi cantly. Q-Post strategic project in achieving a greater knowledge-based general manager Zainul took place at Q-Post head of- is eager to provide the latest the set objectives of Qatar Post economy”. Abideen and operations fi ce was attended by chairman postal technological services by by providing advanced tech- For the execution of this manager Shahid Khan. The and managing director Faleh al- transforming their traditional nology services,” al-Naama project, Malomatia has teamed second lucky draw for the Naemi and Malomatia manag- ways of business operations. said. up with some of the well-known next two BMW cars will ing director and board member The introduction of E-POS He felt with the milestone technology suppliers of auto- be held at Safari Mall on Yousef al-Naama. systems and self-service kiosks project their company demon- mated retail postal systems and December 20. Al-Naemi said the signing is one of such initiatives.” strated its commitment towards solutions in the world. Gulf Times 6 Monday, November 28, 2016 QATAR WISH to focus locally on three WISH names winners of young innovators major health issues in 2017 showcase competition

By Joseph Varghese Egbert Schillings, CEO, WISH told Gulf “The demographic scenario is diff erent aged by the interest on the part of the he World Innovation Another WISH 2016 Staff Reporter Times. in each country. In the Middle East, the local community for translating more of Summit for Health Young Innovator, Abder- “The day after the summit, we will be demographics is still quite young. But the our policy research into practical public T(WISH) has an- rahim Bourouis, was a fi- hosting a meeting with technical assist- idea for any health system is to get ahead education and awareness-raising,” he nounced the winning partic- nalist in season eight of he World Innovation Summit for ance from World Health Organisation of a challenge, rather than wait until it noted. ipants for this year’s Young the Arab world’s leading Health (WISH) will be focusing on on the challenges posed by dementia to becomes a crisis. We have a great work- According to the offi cial, WISH has Innovators competition. The scientific ‘edutainment’ Tautism, dementia and precision health systems in the region with repre- ing relationship with the department of been very fortunate to work with great winners will showcase their TV programme, Stars of medicine among other topics for its local sentatives from several countries in the mental health and substance abuse at the organisations locally and globally to healthcare inventions at the Science. His Smart Au- community outreach in 2017. region,” he explained. WHO, under the leadership support from create impact together. “We will con- 2016 WISH Summit on No- tism Shirt is set to be- “We will be focusing to help raise “We will be convening the dementia Dr Shekhar Saxena, director, Department tinue the collaborations with our exist- vember 29 and 30 in Doha. come one of the projects awareness among the local public on leads from the Eastern Mediterranean of Mental Health and substance abuse at ing partners such as with The Carter The innovations include that will benefit Qatar’s topics such as dementia and autism.We Region to support regional and global WHO,” he maintained. Center on mental health journalism and devices, applications, pio- healthcare sector. will collaborate with World Health Or- collaboration on a health condition that “We plan to have a lot of local pro- our partners here in Doha and in the US neering delivery models and Bourouis said: “I am proud ganisation (WHO) to address the chal- will likely touch all of us during our life- grammes along the lines of our recent to provide patient safety training to stu- design-based solutions that to be showcasing ‘Won- lenges in dementia in the region imme- time, either as patients or caregivers for a dementia community event with Hamad dents and faculty of the local health sci- aim to improve the quality of derKit’ and to be a part of diately after the WISH Summit 2016,” loved-one diagnosed with dementia. Medical Corporation. We were encour- ences colleges,” he added. care and patient experience, the WISH Young Innovators while also reducing costs. programme 2016. My hope The winning innovators is to have ‘WonderKit’ out include: Israa Nasir and Ka- in the market and to achieve mil Shafi q for ‘Ammi Serv- the goal of improving the ice’, a voice messaging serv- daily lives of families with ice to educate women in rural autistic children, using this areas about maternal health; wearable technology.” Vasundhra Khanna for ‘Bac- Attending the WISH 2016 Kits’, a home-based testing Summit will provide a gate- HMC off icials receive an award. kit for bacterial infections; way for the Young Innova- Costa Carlos for the ‘OT- tors to network and pro- TAA Project’, a communi- mote their ideas to leading cation platform for people health experts and delegates with speech impairments; from around the world. This HMC honours Abderrahim Bourouis for once-in-a-lifetime oppor- ‘Wonder Kit’, a multimedia tunity will allow the Young shirt for monitoring children Innovators to directly com- employees with autism; Said Alfarei for municate with senior global ‘Baseer’, an interactive board healthcare policy and deci- that helps blind people read sion makers. amad Medi- based on their perform- and write English and Ara- Egbert Schillings, CEO cal Corporation ance against key criteria bic; Haris Aghadi and Ab- of WISH, pointed out that H(HMC) awarded such as the application dulla ElKhenji for ‘Meddy’, the founder of WISH, HH top honours to 29 win- of international best an online network of doctors Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, ning projects at the practice, evidence of in Qatar and Malaz Moha- has a long record of cham- seventh annual Stars of direct improvements re- mad and Hannah Anderson pioning the cause of children Excellence staff award sulting from the project, for developing a teaching and young adults. ceremony. The event was and how the project has device to train patients and “That is why this pro- attended by more than impacted patient care caregivers about proper dia- gramme showcases the tal- 500 members of staff . and the overall patient betic wound care. ents of young innovators This year, the win- experience. HE the The WISH 2016 Young In- from Qatar and around the ning projects were se- Minister of Public Health novators represent diverse world. This year’s cohort lected from a total of Dr Hanan Mohamed al- backgrounds, coming from Pa- has impressed us with their 303 submissions, one Kuwari said the awards kistan, Argentina, Qatar, Unit- ingenuity and entrepreneur- of the highest number ceremony is an important ed States, India, Oman and Al- ship, but most of all with of submissions received platform to recognise and geria. They will showcase their their commitment to the in recent years. Each reward the hard work of innovations in the Gallery Area, fundamental human value of year, winners are chosen all HMC staff . as part of the WISH Summit. health for all.” Gulf Times Monday, November 28, 2016 7 QATAR NBK Automobiles sponsors Grazia Style Awards asser Bin Khaled (NBK) gional Designer’ award while stars from the past 12 months. Khalid Sha’aban, general Automobiles, the au- Alexandra Goodwin conferred During the event, NBK Au- manager at NBK Automobiles, NBK Automobiles announced the new platform of Mercedes-Benz - ‘She’s Mercedes’ - during the event. Nthorised distributor of the ‘Best Shopping Destination’ tomobiles announced the new said ‘She’s Mercedes’ targets Mercedes-Benz in Qatar, has award. platform of Mercedes-Benz self-made and self-reliant, driv- best in design talent to favour- ternational fashion weeks and by sponsoring these prestigious sponsored the inaugural Grazia The awards by Grazia maga- - ‘She’s Mercedes’ - which is en businesswomen, fashionistas ite shopping destinations”, the events in Qatar over its history. Awards organised by one of the Style Awards. zine, the only international “dedicated to inspiring, con- and trendsetters”. “Our aim is statement further points out. The brand found that collaborat- most recognised magazines in NBK Automobiles, exclusive women’s monthly in Qatar and necting and empowering women to empower women and create a Sha’aban added, “We are ing on the fi rst fashion event of the fashion world”. automobile partner of the event, one of 25 international edi- to be their best”, the statement personalised platform for them proud to have partnered with its kind in Qatar was a natural fi t. The two awards highlight also sponsored two award cat- tions of the leading fashion title, notes. The primary aim of this to exchange their experiences the Grazia Style Awards in Qatar “Mercedes-Benz is now a ma- “Mercedes-Benz’s commitment egories and presented the tro- showcase the best that Qatar platform is to create a dialogue and ideas.” to showcase the best that Doha jor ambassador for fashion and to developing talents from Qatar phies to the winners. Daniela has to off er and welcomes the that is embedded in a mix of The Grazia Style Awards, held has to off er. Mercedes-Benz style brands in the world, and and the region and aiding them in Frings, brand marketing execu- who’s who of the international formats and engage exceptional in Qatar for the fi rst time, aim has strong ties with the fashion we are happy to complement our pursuing their careers by provid- tive at Mercedes-Benz Middle industry to an awards ceremony women from diff erent fi elds and to “celebrate everything that world and developed signifi cant Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week ing them with optimal support East, bestowed the ‘Best Re- to honour the standout style industries. is great in fashion – from the partnerships across major in- that we organise here in Qatar and exposure”. Luxury brand Moncler opens store at HIA QNB is platinum sponsor of

atar Duty Free (QDF) global travellers with unrivalled and luxury French-Ital- levels of quality and luxury, and I Doha International Book Fair Qian brand Moncler have am thrilled to be able to off er our launched a pop-up boutique re- travellers this exciting boutique tail space at Hamad International store, followed by Qatar’s fi rst-ev- he 27th Doha International international footprint,” it was institutions in GCC states. Airport (HIA), providing shoppers er permanent Moncler store, which Book Fair will have QNB as announced in a statement. The event provides the par- with the “fi rst-ever dedicated” will be unveiled in 2017.” Tits platinum sponsor, the The fair, held this year under ticipating publishers and par- Moncler store in Qatar. The addition of the Moncler leading fi nancial institution in the theme ‘Read’ will showcase ties with a chance to showcase Located in the main departures pop-up store “complements the Middle East and Africa. over 100,000 books in Arabic and their latest publications to the hall of HIA, and situated behind QDF’s well-established luxury Organised by the Ministry of other foreign languages as well as Qatari community. the Lamp Bear, the pop-up Mon- retail experience at HIA with a Culture and Sports and Dar Al host daily seminars and profes- QNB Group’s presence cler boutique takes visitors on a range of premium stores stock- Kutub, the event will be held at sional workshops by specialised through its subsidiaries and as- journey through the French Alps, ing leading brands to surprise the Doha Exhibition and Con- institutions such as the Arab sociate companies extends to in a setting reminiscent of some The Moncler pop-up store at HIA. and delight the discerning travel- vention Centre (DECC) from Publishers Federation, Katara’s more than 30 countries across of Europe’s most luxurious snow ler”. The statement added, “With November 30 to December 10. Arab Novel Award, and others. three continents providing a resorts. The luxury shopping expe- ning of a permanent and much globally renowned brand that’s a number of fl ights to the world’s “QNB’s sponsorship of this The fair will see the partici- comprehensive range of ad- rience houses Moncler’s men’s and larger presence for Moncler in synonymous with quality and style, most sought-after winter and ad- event comes as an important pation of over 490 publish- vanced products and services. women’s ready-to-wear and ac- QDF, with the brand’s permanent and it is this same brand synergy venture destinations, Qatar Duty part of its corporate social re- ing houses from 33 countries The total number of employ- cessory collection, along with the standalone store scheduled to that forms a natural partnership Free’s dedicated Moncler boutique sponsibility (CSR) programme from across the Arab world ees is more than 27,300 operating luxury brand’s famous down jack- open at the airport in early 2017. between Qatar Duty Free and Mon- is a welcome and timely addi- and the bank’s eff orts to sup- and beyond, as well as partici- through more than 1,200 loca- ets, according to a press statement. Luis Gasset, senior vice-pres- cler. Both brands share the same tion to what is one of the world’s port cultural events both in pation from some ministries tions. QNB has an ATM network The boutique marks the begin- ident of QDF, said: “Moncler is a vision for adventure and provide leading airports for shopping.” Qatar and abroad across its and academic and cultural of more than 4,300 machines. Gulf Times 8 Monday, November 28, 2016 QATAR

Sony’s new QIB hosts students of Rawdat headphone launched

ifty One East, Qatar’s lead- ing department store, and Rashid Independent School FSony launched the MDR- 1000X, industry-leading noise atar Islamic Bank (QIB) has specifi c products and services and were cancelling headphones. hosted a group of students from informed on how investments in tech- “The premium headphones of- QRawdat Rashid Independent nology made it possible to off er the fer the most responsive cancella- Secondary Boys School at its Al Rayyan bank’s services any time and through tion of ambient sound frequency branch. diff erent channels such as ATMs, QIB’s range on the market,” it was The school visit aimed to educate mobile banking application and the call claimed in a statement yesterday. the students on the important role of centre. While extending the range of banks in the daily lives of individu- The visit concluded with a series wireless and noise cancelling als and businesses as well as for the of observations by the students re- headphones already available country’s economic development and garding banking transactions, Islamic from Sony, the 1000X is the fi rst growth. fi nance and products off ered by the to off er a ‘Personal NC Optimiser’ The students toured the branch and bank as well as questions about em- function and a ‘Quick Attention’ visited its Affl uent Banking (Tamayuz) ployment opportunities for Qatari mode that lets the user place the centre to get a fi rst-hand experience youths in the banking sector. palm of a hand to the outside of and understanding of the numerous QIB representatives answered all the the right headphone ear cup to operations taking place in diff erent sec- questions and emphasised the posi- have a conversation with some- tions of the branch to provide the re- tive role that banks play as businesses one, without taking the headset quired fi nancial services to people and in their own right through job crea- off . These unique listening expe- companies in Qatar. tion, fi nancial education and continue riences are realised by the newly Senior bank representatives briefed innovation. developed Sense Engine feature. the students on the vast spectrum School teachers and students com- These are also the fi rst head- of products and services off ered by mended the visit and expressed their phones with the DSEE HX built banks in general and QIB in particular thanks and appreciation to QIB for giv- in to upscale compressed music to improve the quality of life of citi- ing them the opportunity to take a clos- from any source to near High- zens and residents, and fuel economic Students with bank off icials. er look at banking and understand the Resolution Audio sound quality, growth. Examples of how the bank is broader role of the fi nancial sector in even in wireless mode. supporting building of Qatar’s infra- strong private sector in accordance est in knowing more about the principles of Shariah-compliant supporting and stimulating economic ‘Personal NC Optimiser’ anal- structure as well as the government’s with Qatar National Vision 2030 were specifi c nature and mechanism banking. and social progress. yses the shape of the user’s head objectives for the economy’s diver- discussed. of Islamic banking, with QIB rep- The group of students had the op- The visit was organised as part of and how the headphones are sifi cation and the development of a Students expressed an inter- resentatives explaining the basic portunity to learn more about QIB’s QIB’s social responsibility role. worn. Making the most of noise cancelling, the ‘Ambient Sound Mode’ setting changes the sound condition so that one can enjoy listening to music while catching the ambient sound outside. Sony has removed the need for Skyline Automotive is offi cial a wired connection while ensur- ing the same great sound qual- ity. Bluetooth technology allows quick connection. The 1000X wireless and noise distributor of Hyundai Motor cancelling headphones have a 20 hour battery life. With a swivel and folding structure, the 1000X yundai Motor Company brand to the Qatari market from on the promise we make to our can be easily stowed away in a bag. has announced that this month. Its fi rst showroom customers. We believe we have Available in black or gray beige, HSkyline Automotive is is now open on B-Ring Road, found the right partner in Qa- the new 1000X headphones its offi cial distributor for Qatar, and more sales and service cen- tar.” come with their own durable underlining a “determination to tres will open at convenient As Hyundai’s offi cial dis- leather case and will be available increase its share of the local car locations across Qatar in the tributor, Skyline Automotive at Fifty One East store located in market”. coming months, the statement will off er “some of the safest, Al Maha Center on Salwa Road in “Skyline Automotive has am- notes. most innovative, stylish and addition to all branches of Vir- bitious plans for growth, bringing “We are very impressed by reliable cars available, designed The showroom on B-Ring Road. gin Megastore as well as major together a leadership team with Skyline Automotive’s dedica- and built to the highest speci- retailers in Qatar. extensive experience working in tion due to their understanding fi cations and standards by the brand specialists Interbrand. brand ethos. We have a clear and the motor industry in Qatar, as of the market and their rapidity world’s fi fth-largest car manu- “We are proud to represent focused plan for growth matched well as across the wider GCC and in establishing sales and after- facturer”. the Hyundai brand in Qatar and with the expertise, skills and am- Middle East,” Hyundai said in a sales facilities,” said Mike Song, Further, the statement stressed excited by the huge opportu- bition to succeed. We look for- press statement yesterday. Hyundai’s head of operations that the appointment was a clear Paiman El Malla, managing nity ahead of us,” said Paiman ward to building a very strong The new distributor is re- for Africa and the Middle East. signal of Hyundai’s confi dence in director, Skyline Automotive. El Malla, managing director of partnership with Hyundai in the sponsible for sales and service “Hyundai has achieved success the market and its strong com- Skyline Automotive. “The vision years to come.” of the full Hyundai 2017 model by setting high standards, and mitment to growth in Qatar and name was recently ranked the for Skyline Automotive is to be El Malla has previously held range, from small hatchbacks we look for partnerships that in the region more generally. As world’s sixth most valuable car a truly service-led and custom- senior positions with BMW and sedans to SUVs. It will also match those standards, and well as being the number fi ve car- brand, and the 35th most valuable er-focused organisation, which operations in Saudi Arabia and introduce the luxury Genesis that will consistently deliver maker by volume, the Hyundai brand in all industries, by global aligns perfectly with Hyundai’s the UAE. The new MDR-1000X headphone.

Main Jaran awarding the championship cup. AAB sponsors futsal tournament

bdullah Abdulghani & Bros Co tournament will go to the educational lutions in the construction industry (AAB), the exclusive distribu- and sports facilities of the school in Sri and a division of AAB’s Commercial & Ator of Toyota and Lexus in Qa- Lanka. Industrial Solutions, represented AAB tar, was the main sponsor of the fi rst The event was successfully held during the awarding ceremony of the Hameedian’s Fantastic 5 Futsal Tour- with 24 teams participating in the winners. nament 2016. one-day-event at the Pearling Inter- The sponsorship falls under AAB’s The event was organised by Hameed national School in Doha. corporate social responsibility initia- Al Husseini Colombo - Old Boys’ As- Main Jaran, general manager, Elec- tive of building and developing com- sociation in Qatar. Proceeds of the tro Trade, a provider of electrical so- munities through sport. Gulf Times Monday, November 28, 2016 9 REGION Kuwaiti opposition win big in anti-austerity vote

Reuters Analyst Ibrahim al-Hadban said At least two cabinet members failed Ghanem, who retained his seat, said Kuwait City the election campaign had shown that to win parliament seats this time, ap- political stability was crucial for Ku- some of the decisions taken by the gov- parently an indication of popular dis- wait to focus on economic develop- ernment were not popular among citi- content with the government’s aus- ment in what he described as a “sensi- pposition candidates are esti- zens, including raising gasoline prices. terity plans. tive, critical and important stage”. mated to have won around 20 “MPs who were in the assembly did The parliament had been due to run “As I pointed out to all political Oseats out of 50 in Kuwaiti elec- not object to these decisions. So, in until July 2017, but the emir, Sheikh blocs, progress or development must tions that saw most parliament mem- my view, they were blamed and pun- Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, dissolved have a base and the base is political bers replaced, in a vote analysts said ished,” Hadban, who teaches politi- it in October, saying “security chal- stability,” Ghanem told Reuters after refl ects anger at austerity measures to cal science at Kuwait University, told lenges” in the region — an apparent polls closed on Saturday night. curb a budget defi cit. Reuters. reference to wars in Iraq and Syria — Campaigning had focused mainly The results of Saturday’s vote are With no political parties, it was dif- should be met by consulting the pop- on austerity measures adopted in likely to make it harder for the govern- fi cult to pin down precisely how many ular will. the past year after offi cials forecast a ment to work with the new assembly opposition MPs had been elected. More than 290 candidates, includ- defi cit of 9.5bn dinars ($31bn) for the to pass further reforms. But some estimates put the number ing 14 women, were standing in an 2016/17 fi scal year. State news agency KUNA said at between 17 and 24. assembly that enjoys legislative pow- Although the defi cit is likely to be that 30 new MPs gained seats in the The opposition, including the Mus- ers but has often been at odds with smaller than forecast as it was based 50-member parliament, including lim Brotherhood, liberals and pan- the government of Kuwait, one of the on an oil price of $25 a barrel, many several younger men and one woman, Arabists, had boycotted the election world’s wealthiest countries, thwart- Kuwaitis fear the government will try after a turnout estimated at around in 2012 to protest against changes to ing attempts to strengthen fi scal dis- to raise prices further and cut many of Former Kuwaiti parliament speaker Marzouq al-Ghanem celebrates with supporters 65% for the Gulf’s most outspoken election laws they saw as favouring cipline. the perks they have enjoyed for dec- following his victory in the parliamentary election in Kuwait City yesterday. legislature. pro-government candidates. Former speaker Marzouq al- ades.

UN Yemen envoy in new bid for peace

AFP serving as Yemen’s temporary capital 37,000 since March last year. Muscat since coalition-backed loyalists recap- The Houthi rebels overran the tured it from the rebels. capital Sanaa and other parts of the “I am ready to visit President Hadi in impoverished country in September he UN envoy for Yemen has Aden if need be,” Ould Cheikh Ahmed 2014. announced a new bid for said, in a statement carried by Oman’s A Yemeni offi cial said yesterday Tpeace talks between the gov- offi cial ONA news agency. 12 civilians were killed when a ernment and rebels, after the latest He said he found “a lot of serious- coalition air strike hit two makeshift ceasefi re failed to end the 20-month ness” in talks with representatives of wooden houses sheltering displaced confl ict. the Huthis and their allies from the families in the western province of Ho- The peace eff ort by Ismail Ould party of former president Ali Abdullah deida. Cheikh Ahmed came as dozens were Saleh. The offi cial said the raid late on reported killed in fi ghting at the week- The envoy also said he had been in Saturday had apparently targeted the end. contact with US Secretary of State two houses “mistakenly”, adding that Envoy Ould Cheikh Ahmed said he John Kerry who “sees a historic chance a rebel position 300m away was un- was heading to Riyadh and Kuwait to achieve peace in Yemen”. touched. “to prepare for a new round” of talks, A previous round of peace talks held In northwest Yemen, the sources as he left Muscat late Saturday after in Kuwait collapsed in August. said, 40 soldiers and 22 rebels have discussions with representatives of A 48-hour ceasefi re declared by the been killed since Friday in heavy Yemen’s Shia Houthi rebels and their coalition ended last Monday with lit- clashes for control of a road linking the allies. tle success in reducing violence in the Red Sea port city of Midi and nearby Riyadh has been the base of Yemeni war-torn country. Haradh. President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi Both parties traded blame for the Elsewhere, two women were killed since the rebels forced him to fl ee his numerous violations of the ceasefi re in rebel bombing of the south- country in March 2015 and prompted that came into eff ect after Kerry inter- western city of Taez, military offi cials Saudi Arabia to lead an Arab coalition vened. said. in a military campaign against the in- It was the latest international at- Clashes raged on the outskirts of the surgents. tempt to end a confl ict which the fl ashpoint city, killing four rebels and Hadi fl ew to Aden on Saturday for a United Nations says has killed more three government soldiers late on Sat- surprise visit to the southern port city than 7,000 people and wounded nearly urday, they said. Gulf Times 10 Monday, November 28, 2016 ARAB WORLD Hundreds abandon Aleppo Pension woes as Syrian army advances

Reuters victory for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad He was waiting with his wife, mother and three children Beirut after fi ve and a half years of fi ghting that has at a minibus stop, hoping to travel on to government-held killed hundreds of thousands of people and west Aleppo. displaced 11mn others. He said Hanano had contained about 200-300 families, undreds of residents of rebel-held The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, but they had come and gone throughout the war depending eastern Aleppo fl ed shifting front- which monitors the confl ict, said about 400 on the intensity of strikes. Hlines, sources said yesterday, after an people travelled into government-controlled A 13-month inquiry by the global chemical weapons advance by the Syrian army and allied forces Hanano from neighbouring rebel-held dis- watchdog and the United Nations concluded that Syrian that rebels fear could split their most impor- tricts, from where some were transferred to government forces, including helicopter squadrons, were tant urban stronghold in two. government-held western Aleppo. responsible for the use of chlorine barrel bombs against The army and its allies took control on Some are also crossing into an Aleppo dis- civilians. Saturday of the large Hanano housing dis- trict held by the Kurdish YPG militia, which Syrian authorities deny having used chemical weapons trict, on the northeast frontline of the be- has largely avoided fi ghting the Syrian gov- in the confl ict. sieged eastern part of Aleppo. ernment and has been spared air attacks. Aleppo, which was Syria’s biggest city before the war Yesterday, they said they had captured the The Observatory said about 30 families began in 2011, is divided between the government-held neighbouring district, Jabal Badro. entered this district, Sheikh Maqsoud. west and rebel-held east. Neither area was heavily populated but the Russian news agencies, citing the Defence UN offi cials say at least 250,000 people are under siege advance, accompanied by Russian and Syr- Ministry, said yesterday more than 900 ci- in the east. ian air strikes, has raised fears among the in- vilians, including 119 children, had left Jabal There were fi erce clashes in areas adjacent to Hanano, surgents that the northern part of east Alep- Badro in the last 24 hours. the Observatory, rebel sources and Syrian state media said. po could be cut off from the southern part. “We left Hanano because of the bombard- Rebel sources say they are fi ghting back with diffi culty in That would weaken their control over ment from the Syrian army during their ad- the face of sustained aerial bombardment. the east and bring more residents closer to vance, and the chlorine gas,” Mohamed, who “The revolutionary forces are reinforcing their defence Algerian trade union members shouts slogans outside the People’s National Assembly frontlines. declined to use his full name out of fear for lines on the edges of Hanano, steadfast in the defence of in Algiers to protest pension reforms being debated by deputies. Capturing all of Aleppo would be a major his safety, told Reuters. our people in Aleppo... But the planes have destroyed everything, stones, trees and people, in a systematic policy of destruction,” said Yasser al-Yousef, from the political offi ce of the Nour al- Din al-Zinki rebel group. People are also being displaced internally within east Aleppo. Hundreds are moving south within the besieged sector to avoid being trapped in the smaller northern part should the government split it in two. “Many people are being displaced from the eastern to the western neighbourhoods of besieged Aleppo. There were about 300 families which moved, but there are fami- lies who are exhausted and the army is advancing in a very big way,” Ibrahim Abu Laith, an offi cial at the civil defence rescue organisation in east Aleppo, told Reuters from the city. He said the civil defence was giving aid to those dis- placed, but the service was coming under extreme strain because of the bombardments and displacements. It has said its supplies and equipment are running very low, with few if any medical centres left to take people for treatment.

Strike over fuel subsidies quietens Khartoum streets

AFP Khartoum

everal public transport buses stayed off the streets in Khartoum yesterday and many shops shut in a mixed Sresponse to opposition calls for a nationwide strike against fuel subsidy cuts. The call for a three-day strike came after the authori- ties announced a 30% hike in petrol and diesel prices that has led to a sharp rise in the cost of other goods, including medicines. Several key squares and roads in Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman were deserted yesterday morning, the start of the working week in the Muslim country, as many public transport buses remained off the streets, AFP cor- respondents reported. Schools in Khartoum were open but many parents pre- ferred to keep their children at home fearing clashes be- tween protesters and security forces. “My son’s school urged parents to send only grown up boys. My fi ve-year-old son is at home,” Mohamed Khalid, a resident of south Khartoum, told AFP. The capital’s squares were free of the normal traffi c jams, while many shops, cafes and restaurants in downtown Khartoum and Omdurman remained shut. “There are not many people on the roads, which has im- pacted my business since I opened in the morning,” said Ahmad Saleh, an owner of a grocery shop in downtown Omdurman. Restaurant owners said they had told their workers to prepare less food, anticipating a drop in business. “There is at least a 40% drop in business. My usual customers are other shopkeepers and many of them have closed their shops today,” said Ibrahim Mohamed, who runs a restaurant in north Khartoum. “Some of my workers have also not reported to work today.” However, state employees turned up for work, trans- ported by government buses to their offi ces. The authorities are determined to avoid any repetition of 2013 unrest that was sparked by a similar round of fuel subsidy cuts. It was suppressed only by a deadly crackdown by secu- rity forces that drew international condemnation. Rights groups say that crackdown left about 200 people dead, while the government put the death toll at less than 100. President Omar al-Bashir’s regime has been forced to progressively reduce fuel subsidies since 2011 when South Sudan seceded and took with it nearly three-quarters of the formerly united country’s oil reserves. The latest fuel price hike coupled with a sharp fall in the Sudanese pound has triggered sporadic protests. Groups of protesters have staged rallies in Khartoum, which have been swiftly dispersed by anti-riot police. “Before the price rise we needed 30 pounds ($ 4.60) to buy our daily vegetables,” said Fatima Ibrahim, a resident of Khartoum. “Now we need 100 to 150 pounds to buy the same amount of items. What will people do?” Prices of medicines have shot up on the back of a sliding pound on the black market. The Sudanese pound has dropped by more than 60% to the dollar in the past six months. “The fall in the currency has defi nitely aff ected the prices of medicines, especially those imported by private companies,” Health Minister Bahar Idris Abu Garda told AFP. The authorities are working to ensure that medicines are available at reasonable prices, he said, as the country yes- terday received the fi rst batch of medicines from the UN Development Programme under a $60mn deal. Gulf Times Monday, November 28, 2016 11 ARAB WORLD After IS hell, displaced Iraqis face winter freeze

By Rouba El Husseini, AFP “We are dying from the cold, Some of the displaced now also expressed concern about the woman, wearing a black abaya Khazir, Iraq our hands are getting dry and are housed in the camps dotting the health of her 71-year-old cousin and yellow head scarf. “I went to covered in fungi,” she said, wash- Mosul region were battling tem- Mariam Safar. the person in charge of the camp ing a few dishes with ice-cold peratures of over 40 degrees Cel- On the other side of the wire and asked him to let us leave. I fter enduring two years of water. sius just a few weeks ago. mesh ringing the sprawling don’t want my children to die of tyranny under the Islamic Warda Maraebi, a 71-year- Northern Iraq gets cold weath- camp, vendors selling food to the exposure,” said the young woman. AState group and surviving old woman helping her with er in the winter however and even displaced people above the fence The United Nations said it the war that liberated them, dis- the dishes, said: “We can’t even snowfall in some areas, includ- are now also off ering clothes. started delivering winter assist- placed civilians in northern Iraq stretch our fi ngers because of the ing regions of the Kurdish region Bushra Talal, whose husband ance to 4.6mn displaced Iraqis face a new enemy: the cold. cold, how are the children going housing many of the country’s was killed by militants in their and Syrians but it said its plan With the fi ghting raging inside to handle this?” more than 3mn displaced. Mosul neighbourhood of Al Sa- was only partially funded. Mosul where hundreds of thou- More than 70,000 people have Fatima was given a heater but mah two years ago, broke into The UN’s refugee agency said sands of civilians still live, an early been displaced in the Mosul area the device was still in its box in- tears when she spoke about the it was specifi cally targeting 1.2mn winter and sub-zero temperatures since Iraqi forces launched a ma- side her tent because she had no conditions in the camp. displaced Iraqis, including many have brought an added challenge. jor off ensive to retake the IS bas- An Iraqi boy, who fled Mosul with his family, carries a ball at the UN- kerosene to make it work. She said her daughters, aged of those aff ected by the Mosul of- “At night we have to keep our tion on October 17. run Al Hol refugee camp in Syria’s Hasakeh province. “Yes they gave us a heater but 13, 10 and eight called at night fensive. Diff erent camps get dif- heads under the blanket and Despite the fact that larger num- it’s never been used. No fuel, no complaining about the cold. ferent quality aid and, with winter curl into a ball to stay warm,” bers were initially expected, aid Fatima Omar, 38, fl ed her home ing, it felt like the wind was going electricity. What are we sup- “We are suff ering from the barely started, many displaced said Alya Zannun, a 56-year-old organisations have been racing east of Mosul earlier this month to blow it away,” she said. “If the posed to do with it?” she said. cold, my daughters are getting families are suff ering already. woman living in a tent in Khazir against time to build enough camps with her six children. weather gets any worse, the tent She said her youngest child sick...The water is so cold I can’t “When the rain comes, I will camp, southeast of Mosul. and provide basic assistance. “At night, the tent was shak- will just collapse.” was suff ering from diarrhoea and let them have a bath,” said the die,” said Mariam Safar. Fatah readies rare congress as succession talk builds

By Hossam Ezzedine, AFP Ramallah is expected to be key for the Bank – and Hamas have been at log- two most powerful forces in Gaza – Ramallah future of the secular party and the gerheads since the latter seized the have never joined the PLO. Palestinian Authority it controls. Gaza Strip in a near civil war in 2007. Recent opinion polls have sug- It is to include elections for Fa- Dahlan fell from grace in June gested most Palestinians would like alestinian President Mah- tah’s central committee – in which 2007 after the humiliating rout of Abbas to step down. moud Abbas’s Fatah party Abbas serves as president – and its his forces by Hamas in week-long Political analyst Abdel Majid Abu Ptomorrow holds its fi rst con- revolutionary council, considered street battles that saw the Islam- Sweilam says that, beyond staving gress since 2009 as the 81-year-old Fatah’s parliament and which has ists expel Fatah from the coastal off Abbas’s rivals, the congress also leader seeks to close ranks and fend more than 120 members. enclave. aims to reinforce Fatah’s hold within off a key rival. The 1,400 Fatah offi cials invited The Gaza-born politician was the institutions of the Palestinian While Abbas’s advisers insist the to attend the congress are to vote for expelled from Fatah in 2011 over al- Authority. congress is being held because it is 18 members of the central commit- legations of fi nancial corruption and The congress will also address the overdue, some analysts see it as an tee and 80 seats on the revolution- murder. The Palestinian high court Israeli-Palestinian peace process, opportunity for him to sideline al- ary council, while the rest are to be in 2015 upheld a presidential decree stalled since early 2014. lies of his exiled longtime rival Mo- nominated. lifting Dahlan’s parliamentary im- It will be Fatah’s seventh congress hamed Dahlan. Observers see the reduced number munity, sparking condemnation since its founding in 1959 and the Talk of who will eventually suc- of offi cials to vote – down from more from civil society activists. fi rst since 2009. ceed Abbas as Palestinian president than 2,000 in 2009 – as part of a That “cannot be taken out of The 2009 meeting saw younger has intensifi ed, with the ageing move to exclude Dahlan supporters. context: one of political infi ghting offi cials enter the central committee leader not having publicly designat- Now in exile in the United Arab within Fatah around the person of including Marwan Barghouti, cur- ed a successor. Emirates, Dahlan was expelled from lawmaker Dahlan,” political analyst rently imprisoned, as well as Jibril A recent hospitalisation for a heart Fatah in 2011 and has faced a series Jihad Harb said of the lifting of his Rajoub and Dahlan. test has only added to such talk, but of legal cases since. immunity. Polls have shown that Barghouti Abbas has maintained that he has no Abbas’s term as Palestinian presi- Fatah has become increasingly would win if an election for Pales- intention of stepping down anytime dent offi cially ended in 2009 but intolerant of dissent from the party tinian president were held today, soon. there has been no election since due line, Harb said. but he is jailed for life for murder by Arab nations have reportedly been to an ongoing dispute between his The party is the main component Israel over his role in the second Pal- pressuring Abbas to allow Dahlan to party and its main rival, Islamist of the Palestine Liberation Organi- estinian intifada. return in hopes that it will help lead movement Hamas. sation and led the movement to sign Rajoub, a former head of intelligence, to a smooth transition. The Palestinian parliament has the 1993 Oslo Accords that gave now leads the Palestinian Football As- The congress to last up to fi ve days not met since 2007. birth to the Palestinian Authority. sociation and has been an advocate for in the occupied West Bank city of Fatah – which controls the West Hamas and the Islamic Jihad – the the Palestinian cause within the sport.

Israel douses fi res that forced mass evacuations

AFP There were no deaths but tries could be seen sloping left,” fi re and rescue service pose and linked to the Is- Jerusalem some 122 people were treat- low over the hills of the oc- spokesman Yoram Levy told raeli-Palestinian confl ict. ed for injuries, mainly due to cupied West Bank and Israel AFP. “Since last night it’s Defence Minister Avigdor smoke inhalation, medical dropping tonnes of water pretty calm. We have no new Lieberman said yester- irefi ghters have ex- offi cials said. Around 700 and retardants. activity.” day that 17 of 110 fi res in tinguished blazes that homes were damaged or de- At one point last week, According to Levy, fi re- the West Bank were so far Fravaged Israel and the stroyed as the blazes fed by fl ames towered over an area fi ghters dealt with about determined to be arson, occupied West Bank for fi ve high winds and dry condi- near Jerusalem, and residents 2,000 fi res in Israel and the without providing further days and forced tens of thou- tions ripped through thou- were left surveying their West Bank, 20 of them major. details. sands to fl ee, authorities said sands of hectares. charred homes and busi- The Israeli authorities Speaking at the Israeli yesterday, blaming arsonists In recent days, fi refi ghting nesses yesterday. suspect that some of the settlement of Halamish in for some outbreaks. planes from a list of coun- “There are no active sites fi res were set alight on pur- the West Bank, where doz- ens of homes were dam- aged at the weekend, he said Israel should respond to any arson by building more settlement homes. Police have arrested 23 people suspected of light- ing fi res and interrogated another seven. However, Palestinian authorities also joined in the massive international eff ort to douse the fast- spreading fi res and have pointed to damage to their crops and land. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a rare phone call to Pales- tinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday to thank him for those eff orts. Lieberman also thanked the Palestinians. Levy noted forces were still “on high alert” due to dry conditions and high winds that were not ex- pected to change prior to rainfall expected on Wednesday. In an example of the risks, a forest fi re was ex- tinguished yesterday near Kiryat Malakhi in southern Israel. Israeli fi refi ghters had since last Tuesday been battling wildfi res through- out the country which on Thursday hit major city Haifa, forcing tens of thousands to evacuate their homes. Around 1,000 residents of Halamish near Ramallah in the West Bank had to fl ee at the weekend. Some 45 homes there were damaged or destroyed by fi re, police said. Gulf Times 12 Monday, November 28, 2016 AFRICA

Madonsela accused ANC slams ratings over leaked Zuma interview: paper

AFP agencies’ comments Johannesburg Reuters/AFP Gordhan (below) has been working very hard to he new head of South Af- Johannesburg avert a ratings downgrade, according to Fitch, while rica’s anti-corruption Zuma (right) has been focused on removing Twatchdog has fi led a crim- the finance minister and maintaining his grip on inal complaint against her pred- outh Africa’s ruling African power. ecessor for leaking an interview National Congress (ANC) she conducted while probing Shas lashed out at debt rat- corruption allegations against ing agencies, calling their refer- President Jacob Zuma, according ences to political risk in recent to media reports. reviews of the country as mis- The current public protector chievous and unscientifi c. Busisiwe Mkhwebane has laid a A case has been opened to look On Friday, Fitch kept the credit charge against Thuli Madonsela into whether the leakage of score of Africa’s most industrial- for allegedly breaking the law as Madonsela (pictured)’s interview ised economy one notch above the latter investigated Zuma’s with Zuma happened in violation junk status but changed its out- links to an infl uential business of the law. look to negative from stable, family after the president com- warning that political risks could plained, the Sunday Times paper huge contracts on favourable hurt growth. reported. terms with state companies and The agency said that ANC in- Madonsela has said she re- that they were able to choose fi ghting was likely to continue at leased the recording of an inter- cabinet ministers. least until the party’s electoral view she conducted with Zuma In power since 2009, Zuma has conference in December next after he accused her of not giving been engulfed by graft scandals year and this would distract poli- him the opportunity to respond and several humiliating court cymakers and undermine the in- changed on Friday but said po- political skirmishes combined rating could trigger a downgrade. last year to calm panicked inves- to her allegations. rulings. vestment climate. litical uncertainty was hurting with weak economic growth had “If they change this to nega- tors when Zuma sacked two fi - “A case has been opened ... Increasing numbers of anti- “This will distract policymak- business confi dence and without raised the chance of downgrades tive on account of the political nance ministers within four days. because there is an investiga- apartheid veterans, activists of ers and lead to mixed messages fundamental structural reforms in 2017. tensions concerning the fi nance Gordhan and deputy presi- tion that needs to happen (into) the ruling African National Con- that will continue to undermine to support higher medium-term “Zuma has focused on remov- minister and concerns over the dent Cyril Ramaphosa have been whether the leakage happened gress (ANC), trade unions, civil the investment climate, thereby growth a downgrade was likely. ing Gordhan and maintaining his broad direction of economic pol- pushing for reform of loss-mak- in violation of the law,” the paper groups and business leaders have constraining GDP growth,” Fitch The threat of downgrades has grip on power, while Gordhan icy, then they could downgrade ing state companies, including quoted Mkhwebane as saying. called for Zuma to resign in re- said. focused the spotlight on Presi- (has) been working very hard to us,” le Roux said. power company Eskom and na- The watchdog’s offi ce did not cent months. The ANC, which in August dent Jacob Zuma and his admin- avert a ratings downgrade,” Fitch S&P’s cut state-owned power tional airline South African Air- respond to AFP calls yesterday. Another Sunday paper, the suff ered its heaviest electoral istration. said. utility Eskom’s credit rating a ways. Madonsela’s report, released City Press, reported that during losses since coming to power in This month an anti-graft “The risk of a downgrade has further notch into subinvest- A recent watchdog report in- earlier this month just before she a weekend meeting of ANC fi g- 1994, said rating agencies’ con- watchdog alleged infl uence- clearly risen,” Stanlib chief ana- ment on Friday, raising fears this cluded allegations that Zuma stepped down, made allegations ures, the Tourism Minister Derek cerns about political uncertainty peddling in Zuma’s government. lyst Kevin Lings said. “Without was a precursor to a sovereign ensured one business family won over Zuma’s relationship with Hanekom had tabled a motion were curious given that politi- Also worrying investors was structural reforms to lift growth rating downgrade. huge preferential contracts to the Guptas, an Indian business calling for Zuma to step down. cal disagreements were a regular the decision by state prosecu- and ensure more political sta- Gordhan had been due to ap- supply Eskom with coal. family accused of wielding un- The party could not be reached feature of democracy. tors last month to charge Finance bility, Moody’s will be forced to pear in court earlier this month Zuma said on Friday he would due political infl uence. for comment. “The conference’s impact on Minister Pravin Gordhan with downgrade South Africa.” on graft charges that many ana- launch a court challenge to the It also ordered a judicial in- Zuma still commands loy- governance and macroeconomic fraud, a move seen by many as Old Mutual economist Rian lysts saw as an attempt by Zuma report and its order to set up a ju- quiry into the allegations. alty among ANC lawmakers and performance is an untested and a ploy by people linked to the le Roux said Standard & Poor’s, associates to oust him. dicial inquiry. Zuma has said he would many party members. unscientifi c observation,” ANC president to seize control of the which ranks South Africa one The charges were dropped at The ANC is due to elect a new launch a court challenge against Zuma is due to appear this spokesman Zizi Kodwa said in a Treasury. notch above junk with a negative the last minute, exposing ten- leader at the end of next year, the report as well as to oppose a week before the party’s integrity statement. Zuma has denied any wrong- outlook, and is due to publish a sions in the ANC as several min- ahead of the 2019 general elec- judicial inquiry. committee, which was formed in Moody’s kept its Baa2 rat- doing. review next Friday, said that the isters came out in his support. tion when Zuma must stand The report alleged that Zuma 2013 to protect the ANC’s image ing for South African debt un- Analysts said the ongoing agency’s institutional strength Gordhan was appointed only down after serving two terms. ensured the Gupta family won from allegations of misconduct.

Enthusiasts lose 34 civilians one vintage plane killed in Congo but press on south AFP Goma Reuters/AFP when a vintage Boeing Stearman Nairobi suff ered an engine failure and made a forced landing north- t least 34 civilians were west of Nairobi. killed yesterday in a fl are- viators fl ying vintage The plane was “written off ” Aup of ethnic violence in planes the length of Afri- but the crew were fi ne, Ruther- restive eastern Democratic Re- Aca were showing them off ford said. public of the Congo, authorities in the skies over a Kenyan game The vintage Boeing Stearman said, following a week of soaring park yesterday, a day after one were fl own by an Irish father and tensions. of the aircraft was wrecked in a daughter team. “The provisional toll is 34 ci- forced landing. “Team Eagle in a Boeing vilians killed,” said local offi cial The Vintage Air Rally, includ- Stearman have suff ered total Joy Bokele, referring to an attack ing biplanes built in the 1920s engine failure and made a forced by a Nande ethnicity militia on and 1930s, has fl own from Eu- landing. We are happy to say and the Hutu village of Luhanga. rope past Egypt’s pyramids and terribly relieved that both crew “They started by attacking the through Sudan and Ethiopia, are uninjured, but the aircraft is FARDC (Congo military) posi- where participants were briefl y irreparably damaged,” the Vin- tion. While they were attack- detained because of a dispute tage Air Rally said on its Face- ing the FARDC, another group over whether they had proper book page. was executing the population authorisation. The rally also briefl y lost track with bladed weapons or bullets,” “They are tough conditions of veteran pilot Maurice Kirk, Bokele said. for the aeroplanes. It’s hot, it’s 72, and his plane after the stop in Bokele added that the attack high and in the afternoons we Ethiopia last week. A plane flies over spectators during the Vintage Air Rally at the Nairobi National Park yesterday. was carried out by a Nande mili- get the thunderstorms,” rally After being released from tia group and that one of the at- organiser Sam Rutherford told Ethiopia he landed up in con- British embassy in Juba,” organ- 1920s and 1930s are taking part tection from the elements. pia, the teams made it to Kenya tackers was killed in the clashes. reporters as the planes fl ew over fl ict-torn South Sudan instead isers said on their Facebook page in the 13,000km (8,000-mile) The teams became the fi rst where they fl ew their vintage Tensions between the Nande a game park on the outskirts of of Kenya. on Saturday. journey from the Greek island group of aircraft to land at planes yesterday above Nairobi’s and Hutu peoples have been Nairobi. “Locals found him and called Kirk and his plane are no long- of Crete to Cape Town – an ex- Egypt’s Giza pyramids in 80 famed National Park, where li- running high in the restive east, “We did lose an aircraft,” he a Brit in Juba they recently er part of the rally. traordinary bid in aircraft with years. ons, zebra and giraff e roam in the shaken by two decades of fi ght- said of Saturday’s incident, worked for. He contacted the About a dozen planes from the no autopilot, automation or pro- After the problem in Ethio- shadow of the city. ing over land, ethnic tensions and mineral riches. The Nande accuse Congo- lese Hutus of abetting the FDLR Rwandan rebel group. The Hutus, in return, say they Ugandan tribal king held after deadly clashes are looking for land where they can settle for farming and ac- cuse the Nande of trying to expel AFP straddling Uganda and the Demo- he said, adding that fi ghting be- Ugandan President Yoweri Mu- them. Kampala cratic Republic of the Congo. tween militants – not all of them seveni offi cially recognised the Yesterday’s killings are the “We took time to talk to the king royal guards – armed with guns kingdom in 2009. worst inter-communal violence to get those people out but the and spears and security forces had However unrest has continued in a year. gandan police stormed the king was non-compliant. The only continued until late in the evening. to simmer in the complex ethnic Dozens of people have died palace of a tribal king and option was to storm the palace The Rwenzururu kingdom is a and political confl ict, as many in since the start of the year in Uarrested him yesterday af- and get those people out and get traditional monarchy based near the region still feel marginalised fi ghting between the Nande and ter fi erce clashes between security him out for his own security and the Rwenzori mountains which by authorities in distant Kampala. the Hutus. forces and a separatist militia they safety,” Kaweesi told AFP. “He has straddle Uganda and the Demo- Some in Uganda, with the sup- “If the army had not inter- believe is linked to him killed 55, to explain his involvement in these cratic Republic of the Congo, of port from their sister tribe in the vened, there would have been police said. incidents. He will be charged with the Bakonzo people – with sup- Congo, have taken up arms and many more dead,” said a military Heavy fi ghting broke out on inciting violence and brought to porters among those who share are agitating for the creation of the source. Saturday in the western town of Kampala.” the same culture and language in Yiira Republic which would cover It is thought that the attack Kasese, home to King Charles Violence has been simmering in the Congo. territory in Uganda and part of on the Hutu village was carried Wesley Mumbere of the Rwen- the region all week, with four mil- The monarchy started out as a North Kivu in the Congo. out by the Mai-Mai Mazembe, a zururu kingdom, when his royal itants killed when they attacked a separatist movement of the same The Banande in the Congo and Nande “self-defence” militia. guards attacked patrolling secu- police post on Thursday, a police name when the Bakonzo – tired the Bakonzo in Uganda, have the “The militia was searching for rity forces, killing 14 police offi c- spokeswoman told AFP. of being subjected to the rule of same culture and language and are members of the Hutu commu- ers and 41 militants, said police Kaweesi said that members of another tribe under colonial rule believed to stem from one people nity and wreaked carnage before spokesman Andrew Felix Kaweesi. the royal guard threw an impro- – declared their own kingdom in known as the Ba-Yira. burning down the village en- President Yoweri Museveni vised grenade at patrolling offi cers 1962. Though Mumbere has distanced tirely,” said a local rights group, phoned the king yesterday morn- on Saturday, prompting them to The move led to years of blood- himself from the cause, authori- the Centre for the Promotion of ing and ordered him to disband the open fi re and kill four of the “at- shed until a settlement was ties accuse his royal guards of Peace, Democracy and Human guards, who are believed to be part tackers”. reached in 1982 in which the training in the mountains along- Rights (CEPADHO).”The attack- of a militia agitating for the crea- “That incident set off an ex- movement laid down arms in re- side separatist militia forces to at- ers were there for more than an tion of an independent republic plosion in all local sub-counties,” turn for local autonomy. tack government installations. hour.” Gulf Times Monday, November 28, 2016 13 AMERICA

Four inmates rappel from California jail, Trump calls Green two still at large

Reuters tions, among other counts. San Francisco The inmates cut through the window’s bars on Wednesday night. Party vote recount our California inmates The statement did not say cut through the bars how the prisoners got their Fof a second-story jail hands on tools to remove window and rappelled down the bars. the building’s side in an Authorities said no cut- overnight escape bid, au- ting tools were found in the thorities said. cell after the escape. Two of the inmates who The sheriff ’s department request a ‘scam’ broke out of the Santa Clara said the inmates are be- County jail in San Jose were lieved to have escaped from The Clinton campaign has belatedly Marc Elias, the Clinton campaign coun- Pennsylvania is Monday. Evergreen Islamic Center in the Northern caught immediately, but the an established containment joined the recount drive sel, said the campaign would take part in The voting margins make it highly un- California city of San Jose, Ayloush said. others remain at large, the zone around the jail, citing the recount in Wisconsin as well as in the likely any recounts would end up giving They are signed anonymously as Santa Clara County Sheriff ’s surveillance footage that Reuters other battleground states of Pennsylvania Clinton a win in all three states, which “Americans for a Better Way” and say that Offi ce said in a statement. captured the fl eeing men. Florida and Michigan if recounts were mounted would be needed for the overall election Trump would “cleanse America and make Offi cials said a massive KNTV, an NBC affi liate, there. result to change. it shine again” and would carry out a gen- search that includes dogs quoted a sheriff ’s spokes- Elias said in a statement on the Medium Trump beat Clinton in Pennsylvania by ocide against Muslims. and a helicopter was un- man as saying they escaped S president-elect Donald Trump website that the Clinton campaign had not 70,010 votes, in Michigan by 10,704 votes “You Muslims would be wise to pack der way for inmates Rogelio using clothing to climb on Saturday called a request for planned to seek a recount since its own in- and in Wisconsin by 27,257 votes. your bags and get out of Dodge,” the let- Chavez, 33, and Laron down the side of the build- Ua recount of votes in Wisconsin a vestigation had failed to turn up any sign Experts urged extra scrutiny of the three ter said. Campbell, 26. ing. “scam” by the Green Party and said even of hacking of voting systems. states, Stein told CNN on Friday, because Ayloush said he has counselled the three The two were jailed on A deputy on patrol no- his Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton “But now that a recount has been initi- their voting systems were seen as vulner- mosques to work with their local police charges of false imprison- ticed the clothing hanging had said the election results should be ac- ated in Wisconsin, we intend to participate able. departments to have the letters investi- ment and fi rearms viola- from the window, it said. cepted. in order to ensure the process proceeds in a z Hateful letters sent anonymously to gated as hate crimes. “This is a scam by the Green Party for an manner that is fair to all sides,” Elias said. three mosques in California with a warn- The San Jose police department in a election that has already been conceded, Clinton’s campaign should be legally ing that President-elect Donald Trump statement said that, following a report and the results of this election should be represented in Wisconsin to be able to would “cleanse” the United States of Mus- about the letter, it sent offi cers to Ever- respected instead of being challenged and monitor the recount, he said. lims have stirred fears among congregants, green Islamic Center on Thursday and that abused, which is exactly what (Green Par- In a statement, Trump said the three a community leader said on Saturday. a unit that handles hate crime investiga- Four dead in Alaska ty leader) Jill Stein is doing,” Trump said in states had been won by wide margins, Hussam Ayloush, executive director of tions will conduct the probe. a statement about the recount. including by more than 70,000 votes in the Los Angeles chapter of the Council on Trump’s name has been mentioned in “This recount is just a way for Jill Stein, Pennsylvania. American-Islamic Relations, said the let- some hateful graffi ti markings that sur- hotel room who received less than one % of the vote The recount is a “scam by the Green ters were identical and were postmarked as faced since his election. A representative overall and wasn’t even on the ballot in Party for an election that has already been being sent from Santa Clarita just north of of Trump’s transition team could not be many states, to fi ll her coff ers with money, conceded,” he said. Los Angeles. reached immediately for comment. Reuters gunshot wounds,” the Fri- most of which she will never even spend The $7mn Stein has sought to raise for Ayloush said his group is considering Last year, as a candidate in the Republi- Alaska day statement said. on this ridiculous recount,” Trump said. the recounts is a way “to fi ll her coff ers asking the Federal Bureau of Investigation can presidential primary, Trump called for The victims were iden- Hillary Clinton’s campaign will take with money, most of which she will never to look into the letters, which he believes a temporary ban on Muslims entering the tifi ed as Linda Hutton, part in a recount of Wisconsin votes in the even spend on this ridiculous recount”, he were sent to other mosques aside from the United States. our people, includ- 54; Emily McDonald, 22; US presidential race, an eff ort Republican said. three that received them earlier this week. Trump this year pledged to suspend im- ing a 8-week-old girl, McKay Hutton, 22; and winner Donald Trump called “ridiculous” Although Trump won the Electoral Col- Civil rights groups have signalled alarm migration from countries where Islamist Fhave been found shot Teagan Hutton, 8 weeks. on Saturday. lege tally, Clinton will have won the na- over attacks targeting minorities, includ- militants are active but did not say he still to death in an Alaska hotel The shooting apparently Wisconsin’s election board on Friday tional popular vote by more than 2mn bal- ing Muslims, since Republican Trump won wanted to ban all Muslims. room in what authorities took place shortly before approved the recount requested by Green lots when the fi nal results are in. the presidential election on November 8. Following his election, Trump, who are investigating as a mur- offi cers arrived. Party candidate Jill Stein. Stein has raised $5.8mn of the $7mn There have also been reports of harass- takes offi ce on January 20, promised to be der-suicide, police said. The deaths are under in- She has said she wants to guarantee the needed to cover fees and legal costs for the ment toward Trump supporters. a president for all Americans. Fairbanks police were vestigation. integrity of the US voting system since three recounts, according to her campaign The letters were sent earlier this week CAIR has tallied more than 100 inci- called to a Hampton Inn on There was no sign of computer hacking had marked the No- website. to the Islamic centers of Long Beach and dents targeting Muslims in the United Friday afternoon and found drugs or alcohol being in- vember 8 election. The deadline for fi ling a recount bid in Claremont in Southern California and to States since Trump was elected. a man sitting in a second- volved, the police state- fl oor hallway, crying, police ment said. said in a statement. The identity of the man “The male directed the in the hall was not released. offi cers to a nearby room. Police in Fairbanks, a city Offi cers entered the room of 32,000 people about 250 and found four individu- miles north of Anchorage, als deceased from apparent said he was not a suspect.

One dead in New Orleans shooting

Reuters tims to hospitals, where one New Orleans man died. Another victim was taken to a hospital by a private vehicle, shooting in New Or- the statement said. leans’ Bourbon Street The victims were eight men Atourist quarter killed and two women, and the cause one man and wounded nine of the incident is under inves- other people early yesterday, tigation. and police have arrested two Offi cers arrested two peo- people on weapons charges, ple at the scene on weapons authorities said. charges, including one who Dozens of offi cers who re- was wounded. sponded to reports of gunfi re The shooting took place as at about 1:30am New Orleans has deployed found people aged between extra police patrols during 20 and 37 wounded at the the Bayou Classic weekend, scene, police said in a state- which features a football game ment. between Grambling State and Ambulances took the vic- Southern universities.

A family from the Cheyenne River tribe plays together near Turtle Island during a protest against plans to pass the Dakota Access pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota. One ticket wins Anti-pipeline protesters told to $421mn lottery Reuters The largest ever US lottery Tennessee prize of $1.6bn was split be- tween three winning tickets in January. leave their camp by December 5 lottery ticket sold in Powerball, one of several Tennessee had the games run by the Multi- A winning numbers for State Lottery Association, a Reuters tribal leaders on Friday. about the decision in a letter from Colonel The companies say the pipeline would a $421mn Powerball jackpot, non-profi t owned and oper- Cannon Ball Organisers told a news conference on John Henderson, an Army Corps district carry Bakken shale oil more cheaply and one of the biggest on record, ated by member states’ lot- Saturday at the main protest site where commander. safely from North Dakota to Illinois en offi cials said after Saturday’s teries, is played in 44 states, about 5,000 people are camped that they Archambault said the best thing the route to US Gulf Coast refi neries. draw. the District of Columbia, ctivists protesting plans to run an had no intention of moving. federal government could do for safety is The 1,885km project is mostly complete The winning numbers se- Puerto Rico and the US Vir- oil pipeline beneath a lake near the “We are staying here committed to our deny the easement for the pipeline. “We except for the segment planned to run un- lected were 17, 19, 21, 37, 44, gin Islands. AStanding Rock Sioux reservation in prayer,” said Dallas Goldtooth, an organ- have an escalating situation where safety der Lake Oahe less than half a mile north of with the Powerball 16. Players can either buy North Dakota said on Saturday they have iser with the Indigenous Environmental is a concern for everybody.” Standing Rock. No one as yet had stepped $2 tickets using their own no intention of leaving a protest camp af- Network. “Forced removal and state op- Archambault said he did not see the let- The Obama administration in Septem- forward to claim the prize, numbers or have them ran- ter US pression? This is nothing new to us as na- ter as a forced eviction and the tribe would ber postponed fi nal approval of a permit which grew in size since Sep- domly generated by a com- authorities warned it must be vacated tive people.” continue to exercise its First Amendment required to allow tunnelling beneath the tember 17, the last time any- puter. by December 5. There are smaller camps on land not rights to free speech. lake, a move intended to give federal offi - one matched all six numbers. The Mega Millions lottery, The US Army Corps of Engineers, which subject to the planned restrictions, in- The tribe is working on a location on cials more time to consult with tribal lead- The jackpot soared from also off ered by the associa- manages the federal land where the main cluding an area south of the Cannonball reservation land should people choose to ers. $403mn to a reported tion, produced the country’s camp protesting the Dakota Access pipe- River where the Corps said it was estab- go there, he said. But the delay also led to escalating ten- $420.9mn on Saturday due to second-largest-ever prize, line is located, said it would close public lishing a free-speech zone. “I don’t think it will ever be an eviction sions over the project. a spate of late ticket-buying. worth $656mn, in a 2012 access to the area north of the Cannonball North Dakota governor Jack Dalrymple, where forces just come in and push people Last weekend, police used water hoses The prize is paid out over drawing. River, including to protesters. a Republican, on Saturday said he sup- out,” Archambault said. in subfreezing weather in an attempt to 30 years, with the option of For every $1 worth of It said this was partly to protect the ported the decision and the federal gov- Demonstrators have protested for disperse about 400 activists near the pro- a lump sum payment, which Powerball sales, half goes to general public from violent confrontations ernment, which allowed the protesters months against the $3.8bn Dakota Access posed tunnel excavation site. offi cials said would add up to prizes, 40% to state govern- between protesters and law enforcement to become entrenched, must lead in the Pipeline, owned by Energy Transfer Part- Demonstrators plan a march at noon about $254.7mn. ments for causes such as ed- that have occurred in the area. camp’s peaceful closure. ners LP, saying it poses a threat to water Sunday in Washington, from the Depart- The odds of winning the ucation, and 10% to retailers Those who stay could face prosecution Standing Rock chairman Dave Archam- resources and sacred Native American ment of Justice to the Washington Monu- Powerball jackpot are 1 in who sell the tickets and other for trespassing, the Corps said in a letter to bault said he received notice on Friday sites. ment. 292mn. administrative costs. Gulf Times 14 Monday, November 28, 2016 ASEAN

Cop in Sky thrills trouble over gun, suicide message online

Agencies Satun

police offi cer is in the hot seat with his superiors af- Ater posting an image on- line of him pointing a gun at his head with a message about tak- ing his life in protest at a com- mander’s orders. The image of Pol Sub Lt Jet- sada Saleemin, of Muang po- lice station, was posted on the Muang district police opera- tions centre’s Line group on Nov 25, Bangkok Post reported. It quickly spread to other Line chat groups and drew a mixed reaction. Some people felt pity for him, while others saw it as be- A Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 leaves contrails over the sky above Adelaide, Australia yesterday. ing inappropriate for the offic- er to point a gun at his head and post the image with a message about shooting himself online. Satun deputy police chief Pol Col Jeerawat Payungtham said Pol Sub Lt Jetsada had been ordered by his superior to per- form a duty in lieu of a junior officer who was on leave. Pol Najib cools snap election talk as Sub Lt Jetsada was asked to handle the work for two shifts of 12 hours each. But Pol Sub Lt Jetsada might have not read the entire order and he may have assumed that Malaysia lacks ‘feel good factor’ he was being punished by being moved to handle the work of a Reuters in The Star daily yesterday, Na- denied wrongdoing and has porters and many observers be- was important to create jobs, lower-ranked officer. Kuala Lumpur jib, who has led the country consolidated power by sacking lieve were politically motivated. investment and wealth. After the image of Pol Sub since 2009, suggested he was in critics within his ruling party Looking ahead, Najib said he US President-elect Donald Lt Jetsada pointing a gun at no hurry to call for a vote, and and cracking down on dissent. expected some recovery in oil Trump has said he would with- his head spread online, Pol alaysian Prime Min- remarked on the current lack of His fi ercest critic is former and gas revenues to help the na- draw the United States from the Maj Gen Thattongsak Pupan- ister Najib Razak said a “feel good factor” among Ma- premier Mahathir Mohamed, tional mood. multi-country Trans Pacifi c thatchasee, chief of Satun po- Myesterday that he will laysians. who is over 90 years old. “After that I think that the Partnership (TPP), which ex- lice, asked him to explain his “not necessarily” call a snap “Not necessarily...it can be Mahathir joined hands with price of oil will likely be at a cludes China. action, according to Thairath election next year, amid talk later,” Najib replied when asked Najib’s sacked former deputy slightly higher level, not at the And Najib said if the TPP is Online. that he would seek an early vote whether an election could be Muhyiddin Yassin to form a all time high, but something be- a non-starter, he would hope Pol Col Phumsit Nawong, as splits in the opposition have called sometime next year. Najib Razak: set to delay election new party. But the main Islam- tween $60 to $70 per barrel, will that agreement can be reached chief of Satun police station, hobbled eff orts to oust him over “With today’s economic situ- ist party’s failure to join eff orts be a comfortable level for us,” he on the Regional Comprehen- said subordinates should talk a long-running fi nancial scan- ation, it’s going to be a challenge Development Berhad (1MDB). by other opposition parties said. The Malaysian economy sive Economic Partnership to their superiors first if they dal. because you don’t see the world The US Justice Department campaigning against Najib, has has been hit hard by the slide (RCEP), a China-backed trade have any work-related prob- The multi-ethnic Southeast economy on a rising trend. fi led lawsuits in July alleging made it hard for them to whip in oil prices. A recent slump in deal which excludes the United lems. Asian country is due to hold an It’s going to be much more the misappropriation of over $3.5bn up more support among ethnic the ringgit currency to a near States.“If the TPP is a no-go, He said an investigation election by August 2018, and same next year, as the year be- from the fund and that some of Malays. 14-month low has also raised then RCEP must be brought would be launched into the a government offi cial has told fore,” Najib said. those fl owed into the accounts Anwar Ibrahim, the most concerns. to a conclusion, the earlier the leaking of the image from the Reuters that Najib could call for Najib has been battling calls of “Malaysian Offi cial 1”, whom charismatic opposition leader, In the interview with The better and I think realistically police operation centre’s Line a poll in the second half of 2017. to step down over a scandal in- US and Malaysian offi cials have is serving a fi ve-year sentence Star, Najib also said a free trade we are talking about the end of group. But in an interview published volving state fund 1Malaysia identifi ed as Najib. Najib has on sodomy charges that sup- deal for the Asia Pacifi c region 2017,” Najib said.

Police make more arrests in foiled bomb plot

AFP Jakarta

ndonesian police arrested a third Islamic State-linked Imilitant yesterday accused of plotting to bomb the Myan- mar embassy in Jakarta, as anger grows at a violent military crack- down on Rohingya Muslims. The militants – all from a domestic cell affiliated with the Syria-based group – had amassed enough explosives to create bombs more powerful Monkeys eat fruit at an ancient temple during the annual “monkey buff et” in Lopburi province, north of Bangkok yesterday. than those used in the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed 202 people, police say. “They were helping plan a bomb attack against par- liament, the national police Thailand town lays on monkey banquet headquarters, the embassy of Myanmar and several televi- sion stations,” national police AFP of a horde of distantly related most striking landmarks. spokesman Rikwanto said in a Lopburi, Thailand human onlookers armed with “It’s pretty awesome to see so text message. cameras. many wild monkeys just roaming Anger is growing in Indone- While Thailand is an over- around the streets,” said Aman- sia and other parts of the world t is a feast fi t for a monkey whelmingly Buddhist nation, da, a tourist from the United over what has been described king. it has long assimilated Hindu States. as the “ethnic cleansing” of I Yesterday, the central Thai traditions and lore from its pre- “They were eating over there Rohingya in Myanmar’s Ra- town of Lopburi put on a fi ve- Buddhist era. and lots of food to choose from khine state. star banquet for its hundreds of As a result monkeys are af- and they were attacking each Refugees fleeing into Bang- macaque inhabitants, sparking a forded a special place in Thai other and running around and ladesh say Myanmar’s military mass simian food fi ght. hearts thanks to the heroic Hin- jumping on people,” she said. has been leading a campaign Lopburi has been laying on an du monkey god Hanuman, who The regular feeding has left of rape and murder against the annual feast – part merit-mak- helped Rama rescue his beloved Lopburi’s monkey population homeless ethnic group. ing tradition and part unabashed wife Sita from the clutches of an notoriously unafraid of humans. Thousands of Muslims ral- tourist attraction – for its mon- evil demon king. “The monkeys are crazy,” said lied in capitals across Asia on keys since the late 1980s. But the inhabitants of Lopburi Fang Xi, a 36-year-old sales Friday demanding an end to the This year’s feast featured a take their love for monkeys to a manager from China. violence. smorgasbord of fruit that was whole new level. “One of the monkeys wants In Indonesia, the world’s quickly demolished by the hun- The festival takes place on the to steal my hair clip and doesn’t largest Muslim-majority coun- gry guests who squawked and ruins of Phra Prang Sam Yot, an want to get off my shoulder. Two try, protesters urged their gov- tussled as they gulped down 800-year-old Khmer-era Hindu other girls were afraid and ran Monkeys climb on tourists during the annual Monkey Buff et Festival at the Phra Prang Sam Yot temple ernment to cut diplomatic ties their feast, much to the delight temple and one of the town’s away.” in Lopburi province, north of Bangkok. with Yangon. Gulf Times Monday, November 28, 2016 15 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

Repurposed to spit fire Surging homeowner loans in China raise alarms over debt

AFP to overall lending hit 67.5% in Beijing the third quarter of 2016, more than twice the share of the year before. hinese household debt But this surge has raised has risen at an “alarm- fears that a sharp drop in prop- Cing” pace as property erty prices would cause many values have soared, analysts new loans to go bad, causing a say, raising the risk that a domino eff ect on interest rates, real estate downturn could exchange rates and commodity send shockwaves through prices that “could turn out to the world’s second largest be a global macro event”, ANZ economy. Loose credit and analysts said in a recent note. changing habits have rapidly While China’s household transformed the country’s fa- debt ratio is still lower than mously loan-averse consumers advanced countries such as into enthusiastic borrowers. the US (nearly 80% of GDP) Skyrocketing real estate and Japan (more than 60%), prices in major Chinese cities it has already exceeded that of in recent years have seen fami- emerging markets Brazil and lies’ wealth surge. India, and if it keeps growing at But at the same time they its current pace will hit 70% of have fuelled a historic boom GDP in a few years. in mortgage lending, as buyers The ruling Communist party race to get on the property lad- has set a target of 6.5 to 7% der, or invest to profi t from the economic growth for 2017, and phenomenon. the country is on track to hit it Now the debt owed by thanks to a property frenzy in households in the world’s cities and a fl ood of easy credit. second largest economy has China’s total debt — in- surged from 28% of GDP to cluding housing, fi nancial and more than 40% in the past fi ve government sector debt — hit years. 168.48tn yuan ($25tn) at the “The notion that Chinese end of last year, equivalent to Spectators watch Aboriginal dancers and acrobats perform with a 50-tonne Arcadia spider, constructed from used repurposed military hardware, during a laser and pyro- people do not like to borrow 249% of national GDP, accord- technics show in Perth, Australia. is clearly outdated,” said Chen ing to estimates by the Chinese Long of Gavekal Dragonomics. Academy of Social Sciences, a The share of household loans top government think tank.

Toll rises in Australia Youths moved to jail ‘thunderstorm asthma’ AFP spokesman said in a statement. Sydney “Five patients are continuing to receive specialist ICU (in- tensive care unit) care in hos- he death toll from Aus- pitals in Melbourne, with three tralia’s “thunderstorm still in a critical condition.” ‘unfi t for children’ Tasthma” episode has A further 12 people were risen to six and three others are being treated for respiratory The prison was the scene of a announced by the government as an in- and doing really well, to being locked in a teachers on site as well as health services in critical condition, authori- and other health problems, he violent murder of an inmate terim measure while sections of the concrete box for up to 23 hours each day. and a visitors centre for family visits. ties said yesterday, as they as- added. Parkville facility damaged during rioting “There’s no doubt the government has a Standard management does not involve sessed the fallout from the un- No further details were re- Guardian News were rebuilt. policy challenge on its hands, but cruelty 20 hours of lock-down per day, sources precedented event. leased about the two latest vic- London The children are being sent to the Gre- can never be a justifi able response. said. Four victims — ranging from tims. villea unit of Barwon prison as a tempo- The nation rallied in response to Don But Barson said that: “They haven’t the ages of 18 to 35 — were last Victorian Health Minister rary measure, entirely separate from the Dale and Victorians should also rally seen the sky for close to a week”. week linked to the unusual Jill Hennessy said Thursday the uman rights lawyers say that chil- adult population, however it is unclear against the inhumane treatment of [these] “They’re fearful and reported being weather phenomenon, where demand for ambulances was so dren being kept in a maximum how long they would be kept there for. children.” threatened with the use of dogs, a thunderstorm coincided with acute at one point that “it was Hsecurity prison in Victoria are be- But the director of legal advocacy at Most of the children held at Barwon restraints and gas,” she said. a high pollen count and sent like having 150 bombs going off ing held in solitary confi nement, denied the Human Rights Law Centre, Ruth Bar- were only 16 years old and were being On Wednesday, the Victorian Aborigi- more than 8,500 patients to right across a particular part of access to fresh air, threatened by staff and son, said she spoke to several of the chil- subject to solitary confi nement, lawyers nal Legal Service will argue in the supreme hospital emergency depart- metropolitan Melbourne”. kept in conditions that are “unequivocally dren being held in Barwon on Saturday who visited the children over the weekend court that the transfer of children to Bar- ments. The government has unfi t for children”. Up to 40 children were evening, and that a number of them had said. won was unlawful and an abuse of their The rare event in Australia’s launched a review into how transferred to a secure unit of the Barwon not been involved in the rioting. Many have a registered disability, have human rights. southern state of Victoria trig- emergency and health services prison, a high-risk, maximum security “Most of the children in Barwon are on been exposed to family violence and are in The minister for families and children, gered respiratory problems for can better respond and manage prison for men, located near Geelong, fol- remand so they’ve not been found guilty the child protection system. Jenny Mikakos, told Guardian Australia asthma and hay fever suff erers. such rare events. lowing ongoing rioting by youth in the of the crimes they’re being detained for,” They have been cut off from access to yesterday: “We will defend this matter “There have now been six The phenomena occurs Parkville and Malmsbury juvenile prisons. she said. education or treatment programmes, vigorously in court”. “The steps taken by deaths that may have occurred when rye grass pollen gets wet, Barwon is the prison where notori- “One young man who came from lawyers said, which they would nor- the Government are consistent with rel- as a result of conditions re- breaks into smaller pieces and ous gangland criminal Carl Williams was Parkville and who had not been involved mally receive in youth detention. evant legislation and Victoria’s charter of lating to the thunderstorm enters people’s lungs, causing beaten to death by another inmate in 2010. in the rioting there has now gone from at- However, Guardian Australia has been Human Rights and Responsibilities,” she asthma events on Monday,” them breathing issues. The move to send children there was tending school every day while at Parkville told by government sources that there are said. Victoria’s health department Celebrity Coverage of Castro charged in Korea scam

AFP Choi, 60, is accused of meddling Seoul in a wide range of state aff airs in- cluding the country’s preparations for the 2018 Winter Olympics. prominent K-pop music Prosecutors last week for- video director was charged mally charged her with abuse of Ayesterday as part of a cor- power and coercion, saying Park ruption scandal rocking South Ko- was a “co-culprit” who had col- rea and engulfi ng president Park luded with Choi to strongarm Geun-hye. top firms into giving cash to Cha Eun-Taek, who has worked non-profit foundations Choi with “Gangnam Style” star Psy and controlled. boy band megastars Big Bang, used Park — now the fi rst South Ko- his ties to a secret confi dante of rean president to become a crimi- Park to win lucrative projects from nal suspect while in offi ce — has state agencies and private fi rms, rejected a series of requests from prosecutors say. prosecutors to answer their ques- That confi dante — Choi Soon-Sil tions. — has been labelled Park’s eminence As a sitting president, Park can- grise, a shadowy fi gure who is be- not be charged with a criminal of- lieved to have leveraged her close fence except insurrection or trea- relationship with the president to son, but she can be investigated extract more than $60mn from top and potentially charged once her fi rms, including Samsung. term is over. Prosecutors say Park herself or- Park is faced with growing pub- dered her former economic adviser lic calls to resign and a push by to help Cha pressure offi cials and lawmakers to impeach her, with private fi rms so that he would win her job approval ratings diving to contracts. record lows of four %. Cha, 46, has been charged with Hundreds of thousands have abuse of power, coercion and em- taken to the streets in recent weeks bezzlement and becomes the latest to call for her ouster, with organis- Front pages of Japan’s major news papers report the death of Fidel Castro in Tokyo yesterday. public fi gure to be embroiled in the ers claiming the latest rally on Sat- snowballing scandal. urday in Seoul drew 1.5mn people. Gulf Times 16 Monday, November 28, 2016 BRITAIN Labour will not win a general election as Ukip-lite: Abbott

Guardian News and Media ian, the shadow home secretary us seats is I think misconceived,” were “incrementally beginning to hoped immigration would fall. ing people complaining about im- needed to hold its nerve following London said Labour’s priority should be to she said. Abbott claimed that wonder whether they did the right But she rejected the idea, mooted migration, but it is simply not the Donald Trump’s victory in the US push for Britain to remain a part of the toxic atmosphere since the thing”. “I think there’s a little bit by prominent Labour backbench- case that immigration has driven election. the single market after Brexit, and EU referendum, fuelled in part of Bregret, and because the Tories ers including Stephen Kinnock, down wages, or that immigration “Colleagues are entitled to abour will not win a gen- that politicians must be honest by newspaper coverage, had left don’t have a plan, because their Emma Reynolds and Rachel has created the insecurity or in- speak up for their constituents. eral election if it lurches to with voters and tell them the only many Britons feeling frightened approach is so chaotic, I think Reeves, that the party must be stability they perceive,” she said. My point is, particularly in the Lthe right to become “Ukip- way to achieve that is to accept about their futures and wanting we’ll see more Bregret as time goes willing to advocate limits on im- How to respond to such con- wake of Trump, the Labour party lite”, Diane Abbott has said, as continued freedom of movement. people to speak up on their behalf. on,” she said. migration to meet the concerns cerns has been a source of conten- has to off er resistance to a general she called on her party to hold its “We can’t fi ght and win an elec- She also suggested that parts of The Hackney North MP con- of its voters, particularly in post- tion for Labour since the referen- rightward trend on race and im- nerve over the issue of immigra- tion in 2020 as Ukip-lite. The idea the country dependent on the EU ceded that many voters who industrial areas. dum, with voters in many of the migration because I think it could tion. that moving right on immigration for business but in which people voted to leave the EU in June’s “It is absolutely fair to say that party’s northern and Welsh seats be a downward spiral. We have to In an interview with the Guard- in post-industrial Britain will save voted overwhelmingly for Brexit referendum did so because they on doorsteps colleagues are fi nd- opted to leave. Abbott said Labour speak up for people.” LibDems eye Selfridges plans largest accessories hall pro-EU voters in Richmond by-poll push

Guardian News and Media targets. “Unprompted, they London raise Brexit as the deciding issue for them and they are positively engaging with our campaign on he Liberal Democrats are to this issue,” the documents state. target pro-EU Labour sup- “How they break and whether or Tporters and “soft Tories” not the Labour vote drops anoth- who backed Remain, in a fi nal er 2-3% will decide the result.” canvassing blitz ahead of Thurs- The contest has been in- day’s Richmond by-election, creasingly dominated by issues amid growing confi dence in their around Brexit. While Goldsmith camp that they are within striking has a strong local following, hav- distance of winning the seat. ing fought a long if ultimately Party documents obtained by unsuccessful campaign to stop the Observer, laying out their Heathrow expansion, he is at strategy for the fi nal days, sug- odds with the majority of his Selfridges bosses have unveiled what they claim will be the world’s largest “handbag hall” as part of a £300mn overhaul of the store. The designer handbag and gest undecided Labour voters constituents over the EU. Seven- accessories department is being tripled in size and when finished in 2018 will be 380ft long – 35ft longer than the pitch at Wembley Stadium. The first phase, which was will be key, and failure to per- ty percent of people in the con- opened this week, is part of a four-year project to transform the department store’s eastern wing in Duke Street, overseen by designers David Chipperfield Architects. The suade enough of them to vote stituency voted for remain. expansion of the handbag department follows a decade of growing sales of so-called “It bags”, costing hundreds or thousands of pounds, that have replaced shoes as tactically may prevent the Lib- The LibDems’ own internal status symbols. Dems pulling off one of the big- polling now puts Goldsmith on gest by-election upsets of recent 46.7%, the LibDems on 43.3% years. and Labour on 9.5%. Internal polling by the Lib- Even if the LibDem candi- Dems suggests they have closed date, Sarah Olney, was to come the gap on former Tory MP Zac a good second to Goldsmith, it Goldsmith, a hardline Brexiter would give a signifi cant boost to who quit to stand as an inde- the party, which suff ered a dev- pendent over the government’s astating general election result decision to expand Heathrow last year after fi ve years in coali- airport, from about 20% at the tion with the Tories. Their total Govt mistaken on social start of the campaign, to under number of MPs fell from 56 to 4% with fi ve days to go. just eight. The LibDem strategy papers Tim Farron, the leader of the say undecided Labour voters LibDems, has highlighted the have to switch if Goldsmith is risk that Brexit and the loss of to be ousted. “Canvass returns EU workers would represent to show that about a third of the re- the local health service, claim- care funding: top Tory maining Labour support is open ing that about 250 doctors and to us – winning this will be key,” over 1,000 nurses in the area Guardian News and Media because of shortages in social There have been numerous Hammond did not mention so- campaign on Saturday. the documents say. “There are were from other countries inside London care provision. warnings in recent months that cial care once during his Com- “The Conservatives are fail- still too many LibDem/Labour the EU, and might have to return Dorrell said told the BBC’s the NHS is at a tipping point be- mons speech. ing our health service, which waverers ... and these Labour home. At Kingston hospital over Andrew Marr Show he was “very cause many hospitals are unable Jonathan Ashworth, the has been pushed into fi nan- voters could hand victory to Zac a third of nurses and almost one hilip Hammond made a disappointed” the chancellor to discharge elderly patients to shadow health secretary, said it cial crisis and soaring defi cits,” Goldsmith if we cannot persuade in fi ve doctors are EU migrants, mistake in failing to give dismissed calls for further fund- social care arrangements. was unbelievable the issue could he said. “Patients are facing them to vote tactically.” he said. Pmore funding to social ing of social care in the Autumn Senior fi gures in the medi- be ignored. “Everyone has been longer waits, with hospitals Support for Labour, which de- “A hard Brexit would stretch care in the Autumn Statement, Statement. “It was a mistake in cal profession, together with pointing out that the social care overcrowded, understaff ed and cided to run a candidate, Chris- the NHS to breaking point,” Far- Stephen Dorrell has said. my view not to make an invest- Tory, Labour and Liberal Dem- sector is in crisis, on the verge of threatened with closure. Labour tian Wolmar, despite pressure ron said, “blowing a hole in the The former Conservative ment in social care,” he said. ocrat leaders in local govern- tipping points, lots of organisa- will stand up for the NHS. We from senior fi gures in the party to public fi nances and risking an health secretary and chair of the “There is no good going into ment, wrote to the Observer this tions including the chief execu- will always make sure the NHS give the LibDems a free run, has exodus of EU nationals on which NHS Confederation joined other this winter saying it is all going weekend demanding a U-turn tive of the NHS has been calling has the funding it needs and fallen from the mid-teens at the our health service relies. Hos- senior Tories, including former to be all right when we already on funding, as they argued that for extra investment in social will join up services from home start of campaign to just 9% now pitals around Richmond, where health secretary Andrew Lansley have lengthening queues in A&E the safety of millions of elderly care and he’s done absolutely to hospital with a properly in- according to the LibDems. hundreds of doctors and over a and Sarah Wollaston, the chair departments, we already have people was at risk because of an nothing. Nowt. Zilch,” he said. tegrated health and social care These people and pro-EU “soft thousand nurses come from Eu- of the House of Commons health problems with hospitals unable to acute fi nancial crisis. It prompted Jeremy Corbyn, service. Labour created the NHS Tories” are concerned about rope, would be particularly badly select committee, in expressing discharge people because of inad- Labour MPs reacted with fury the Labour leader, to launch a to care for us all, now it’s time to Brexit and are therefore prime hit.” fears that the NHS is suff ering equate provision of social care.” to the Autumn Statement after national “Care for the NHS” care for the NHS.”

Runway plan backed using Sinkhole swallows old pollution data: minister part of bus in London Guardian News and Media gradually dissolves soluble bed- London Evening Standard our re-analysis (on air quality).” Ministers insist the govern- London rock, forming a cavity under the London However, committee chair- ment’s 2015 Air Quality Plan and ground over thousands of years. woman Mary Creagh said: “We new measures around Heathrow Loose sedimentary rock closer to will want to hear from the minister will ensure London will not be irefi ghters rescued passen- the surface gradually falls into the ransport Secretary Chris how the government can meet air breaking nitrogen dioxide levels in gers in south London after hole, until the surface is no longer Grayling admitted the gov- quality standards given what we the mid 2020s when the new run- Fa sinkhole caused by ma- able to support itself and collapses. Ternment backed a third now know about real-world emis- way is due to open. jor fl ooding swallowed part of a South London was hit by a simi- runway at Heathrow without fully sions, which are higher than used But the government was de- coach. lar incident earlier this year when a understanding the implications of in the government’s business case feated earlier this month for the Onlookers said the road looked 13ft sinkhole opened above a sewer ground-breaking new evidence on (for a third runway). second time in the courts over this like a river after the hole opened in Forest Hill, causing major dis- vehicle emission standards. “We are also concerned that the blueprint. on Lewisham’s Lee High Road on ruption to commuters due to dam- Ministers insist the west Lon- plans for low-emission vehicle The ruling in the Judicial Re- Saturday, following a burst wa- age to rail tracks. don airport can expand within EU uptake and improvements in pub- view, brought by environmental ter main. Footage on social media More sinkholes have been ap- limits on air pollution, which are lic transport are over-ambitious.” lawyers ClientEarth, called the showed the emergency services pearing around the UK in recent currently being widely breached in Lord Deben, chairman of the plan “woefully inadequate”. dealing with the vehicle, which years. In 2014, scientists recorded the capital. committee on climate change, also “We are carefully considering was stuck in several inches of wa- a fi ve-fold increase in the number But a study for the government, raised doubts over whether anoth- what this means for the airport ter. of sinkholes occurring over a par- supporting its third runway deci- er runway could be built without capacity programme,” Grayling Police declared a major inci- ticularly rainy winter. sion, was not based on the latest breaching Britain’s legally binding added in his letter. dent, cordoned off roads and asked Although sinkholes are closely international analysis by experts, carbon targets. The Cabinet minister empha- residents to avoid Lewisham town linked to rainfall, humans can ex- which showed emissions from The Tory peer said these could sised that fi nal consent for another centre. Homes in the surrounding acerbate the process. Anything some diesel vehicles are worse be met if levels of aviation emis- runway would only be given if the area were left without water and that has the potential to divert than previously claimed. sions were the same as in 2005 but government believed it would not a temporary shelter was set up on water to weak points beneath the “Further work is needed to un- the department for transport had breach the UK’s compliance with Bonfi eld Road for those displaced earth will accelerate the creation derstand the implications of this “left open” for them to rise. pollution limits. due to fl ooding. of sinkholes. evidence,” Grayling told MPs in a “What is not possible is to have A government spokeswoman Thames Water said repairs were Earlier this month, a 20-metre letter ahead of his appearance in a business plan that suggests that, said: “Improving air quality is a “complicated and taking longer sinkhole opened up in the centre front of the Commons environ- overall, aviation would increase priority and we are determined to than normal”. Transport for Lon- of the Japanese city Fukuoka. Peo- mental audit committee this week. the emissions by 15%,” he added. cut harmful emissions. Our plans don said the road closures meant ple were forced to evacuate nearby “But our initial assessment sug- Other sectors such as the steel have always followed the best 18 bus routes were on diversion buildings as the sinkhole fi lled gests that revised forecasts would industry would fi nd it “practically available evidence – we have al- yesterday but that there were no with water, but there were no inju- be likely to be within the range of impossible” to make suffi cient ex- ways been clear that we are ready excessive delays. ries and the hole was fi lled in a two scenarios already considered by tra cuts to off set such a large rise. to update them if necessary.” Grayling: ‘further work needed’ Sinkholes occur when water days by authorities. Gulf Times Monday, November 28, 2016 17 BRITAIN

Huge rise in hospital beds taken up by people with malnutrition

Guardian News and Media Offi cial fi gures reveal that peo- elderly and inadequate social care ticularly the elderly, to go hungry diagnosis of malnutrition rose because lasts an average of 22 to 23 lunch clubs on which so many vul- London ple with malnutrition accounted support, especially for older peo- and undernourished so much so from 128,361 in 2010-11, the year days. nerable elderly people relied and for 184,528 hospital bed days ple. Jonathan Ashworth, the shad- that they end up in hospital. the coalition came to power, to Simon Bottery, the director of reducing the numbers who receive last year, a huge rise on 65,048 in ow health secretary, unearthed the “Our research reveals a shocking 184,528 last year – a 61% rise over policy at the charity Independent home care visits.” he number of hospital beds 2006-07. The sharp increase is fi gures in a response to a recent picture of levels of malnutrition in fi ve years. Age, said: “These new fi gures on Freedom of Information re- in England taken up by adding to the pressures on hospi- parliamentary question submit- 21st-century England and the im- Such patients only account for malnutrition are genuinely shock- quests submitted to local coun- Tpatients being treated for tals, which are already struggling ted to the Health Minister Nicola pact it has on our NHS. This is un- one in 256 of all hospital bed days, ing. As a society there is no excuse cils in England early last year by malnutrition has almost trebled with record levels of overcrowding. Blackwood. acceptable in modern Britain.” or 0.4% of the 47.3m total, but the for us failing to ensure that older the then shadow care minister Liz over the last 10 years, in what Critics have said the upward “These fi gures paint a grim The department of health fi g- fi nancial cost is considerable as people are able to eat enough food, Kendall found that 220,000 fewer charities say shows the “genu- trend is a result of rising poverty, picture of Britain under the Con- ures showed that the number of each bed costs the NHS an aver- of the right quality, to stay healthy. people were receiving meals on inely shocking” extent of hunger deep cutbacks in recent years to servatives,” he said. “Real poverty bed days accounted for by some- age of £400 a day to staff and given “Yet we have been cutting back wheels in late 2014 than in 2010, a and poor diet. meals on wheels services for the is causing vulnerable people, par- one with a primary or secondary the condition each spell in hospital the meals on wheels services and fall of 63%.

Kiefer artwork Residents fume as cycle lane Uproar over roadworks bring chaos top architect’s

London Evening Standard London

ngry residents say the ex- call to abolish tension of London’s fl ag- Aship cycle superhighway is making life “unbearable”. Months of roadworks at Lan- caster Gate to extend the segre- gated track north of Hyde Park has led to traffi c gridlock, according to social housing locals. The road has been reduced to one lane between Brook Street London Evening Standard worked alongside Hadid since ard: “One of our biggest and Lancaster Gate, causing daily London 1988, said: “The fact that strengths as a city is our di- jams. Locals described motorists somebody has enjoyed the versity, with Londoners from shouting and swearing as they privilege of a subsidised cen- different backgrounds living jostled for space. top London architect tral location for some time in side by side. One resident of a multi-mil- has triggered a storm by my view does not and should “So whether these out-of- lion-pound house overlooking Acalling for “free-riding” not establish ownership over touch comments were de- Hyde Park said it took 40 minutes council tenants to be moved out this public resource. signed to shock or not, anyone to drive a mile on Bayswater Road. of central London and aff ord- “Is it not fair that now it’s who thinks abolishing af- Balil Mohamed, 55, said: able housing to be abolished. somebody else turn to enjoy fordable housing altogether, “There’s a lot of traffi c in the In a hugely controversial this central location? Espe- supporting ‘buy-to-leave’ morning especially. I’m not speech Patrik Schumacher, di- cially if it is those who really empty properties and build- against the cycle lane, but it’s rector and principal of Zaha need it to be productive and ing on Hyde Park is the answer caused havoc on the road. And Hadid Architects, also praised better able to produce the to London’s housing crisis they’re taking their sweet time. London’s foreign second-home support required for those doesn’t understand the first Most times when I drive (past) owners – “even if they’re here who have been subsidised all thing about our great city. they’re sitting there chatting.” only for a few weeks” – and along and will continue to be “I was elected mayor due to A resident of nearby Sussex suggested that “80% of Hyde subsidised.” my commitment to tackle the Gardens, who gave her name as Park” should be built over. He said it made more housing crisis. I know – and Saba, said she had lived in the area The “starchitect” succeed- sense for his own employees most Londoners agree – that for 40 years and had never experi- ed Dame Zaha, the London “who are working very hard this means building more new enced so much disruption. Aquatics Centre designer, as and generating value, hav- and affordable homes for citi- She added: “The works them- head of the world-renowned ing to commute and having zens to rent and buy and pro- selves have created too much Clerkenwell practice follow- flat shares” to occupy central tecting our public squares and noise, too much dust. But it’s ing her death in March. London areas at present “left parks. I’ll listen to any ideas what they have done – how can I In his address to the World to people who are free-riding people have about tackling bring stuff to the house? And af- Architecture Festival in Berlin and backed by the police for the housing crisis, but in this terwards, when it’s a bicycle lane, he said the UK capital’s hous- decades and supposedly for case Schumacher is just plain where can I stop my car?” ing crisis was the result of “in- decades to come.” wrong.” A black cab driver said it had tellectually bankrupt” plan- In a seven point “urban pol- A video of the speech on the taken him 10 minutes to travel 170 ning departments and only icy manifesto” for solving the Dezeen architectural maga- yards. He said: “It’s not just the the free market can provide housing crisis, Schumacher zine website provoked hun- pollution, it’s the noise pollution.” “housing for everyone”. said one demand would be to dreds of comments, most The largely segregated route But it is his comments on “abolish all forms of social critical, though some were is due to be completed between social housing that have pro- and affordable housing”. supportive. Paddington and Tower Hill next voked the most furious re- He also said: “Foreign in- Simon Elmer, co-founder summer, more than a year behind sponse, with one critic dub- vestment capital coming of The Architects for Social schedule, once a “half-mile gap” bing him “the Donald Trump into town should and would Group, called the views “pret- is completed in front of Bucking- of architecture”. be great news. I know a lot ty crude social engineering” ham Palace. The German-born designer, of people who have second and challenged Schumacher to Earlier this month, mayor Sadiq 55, said social housing ten- homes in London and I’m so a London public debate on the Khan axed plans to extend the cy- ants in gentrifying central glad they do. Even if they’re issues raised, which he has ac- cle superhighway west to Acton areas should not expect to be here only for a few weeks cepted. using the A40 Westway fl yover. Artist Anselm Kiefer has transformed the White Cube gallery for a show including huge new able to carry on living there and throw some key parties, After the conference Schu- Transport for London bosses paintings and sculptures. The German artist, whose work often concerns his country’s troubled when their council estates are these are amazing multiplying macher called his speech said they were “conscious of the past, has dimmed the lights in the Bermondsey gallery and filled it with a series of beds covered demolished and should be re- events.” “brainstorming” and later need to minimise disruption for in metal sheets and named after famous figures who have influenced him. The Walhalla show placed by more “productive” Sadiq Khan branded the said on Facebook the views local people” and were “work- also includes a rusty spiral staircase hung with clothes and his trademark images of towers in residents – such as his own comments “out of touch” and were his own and did not rep- ing hard” to fi nish work by next desolate wastelands. staff. “just plain wrong”. resent the policies of the prac- month. Schumacher, who had The mayor told the Stand- tice he leads.

Howzat Bletchley Park to become Whirlpool ‘must ban’ school for ‘codebreakers’ faulty tumble dryers London Evening Standard Fire Brigade and Which? that London these machines should be imme- Reuters perts, as part of an initiative to visitors, some of its build- diately taken out of use, to prevent Bletchley establish a UK national cyber ings are in need of work, with any further events like the devas- security hub. smashed windows and peeling London MP has made a tating Shepherd’s Bush fi re.” “Bletchley Park we felt was a paint. fresh call to ban the use of On August 19, more than 100 t was once the home of Brit- natural home for a cyber secu- Among those who have Afaulty tumble dryers that families were evacuated from the ain’s codebreakers during rity college because it’s building helped save it from disrepair sparked a spate of house fi res, Shepherds Court tower block after IWorld War II. on the innovation and the work is Margaret Sale, whose late including a major blaze in Shep- a fi re broke out in the kitchen of Now more than 70 years later, that took place in World War II, husband Tony led the rebuild- herd’s Bush. Sharna Defreitas’s seventh-fl oor Bletchley Park is preparing to bringing it up to date and mak- ing of a replica of Colossus, the Five million Whirlpool tumble fl at. No one was injured. London host the UK’s first national col- ing it relevant again,” said Tim world’s first electronic compu- dryers in the UK will be replaced or Fire Brigade identifi ed her Indesit lege of cyber education, with a Reynolds, deputy chairman of ter, used to decipher codes sent repaired but MP Andy Slaughter tumble dryer as the cause of the first intake of students starting the National Museum of Com- from the Lorenz Cipher, a ma- wants the company to issue a no- blaze and has also put pressure on in September 2018. puting and a director of Qufaro. chine used by the Nazis. tice telling customers to stop using Whirlpool to issue an immediate Work is under way to revamp Selection for places will be The 84-year-old, who still them at once. ban. several derelict buildings on the through talent spotting and an volunteers at the National Mu- Twelve months after Whirlpool Faulty Hotpoint dryers have site where mathematician Alan entrance exam. seum of Computing, hopes the put out a safety warning about been the cause of several house Turing cracked Nazi Germany’s Qufaro expects 90% of stu- new college will help preserve its Hotpoint, Indesit and Creda fi res in the past two years. Doug “unbreakable” Enigma code. dents to board at the school. the Bletchley Park legacy. machines, the Hammersmith MP McTavish, 39, and Bernard Hender, The new school for 16- to “What we are looking to do Asked about the difference has labelled its attempts to pro- 19, from Conwy, north Wales, died 18-year-olds, which will sit is to wrap around all of the ex- between the site’s codebreak- tect customers as “inadequate” in October 2014 after a Hotpoint beside the historical attraction pertise that currently exists ing past and the college’s future and has written to chief executive dryer in their kitchen caught fi re. and the National Museum of along with the educational sup- work, she said: “It will have a Maurizio Pettorino demanding Last May, mother Melissa Doo- Computing, will take 100 stu- port that they are going to need, different feel because the world action. ley had to run from her Notting- dents in its first year. to ensure that they’re either is so different. He said: “A year on from Whirl- ham home after her dryer burst Forty percent of their curricu- industry ready or university Now we know what is in peo- pool’s decision not to tell their into fl ames. Katrina and Matthew lum will consist of cyber studies. ready,” Reynolds said. ple’s speeches before they even customers to stop using their Draper’s Rhondda Valley home The plan for the school, “This will be a one-stop- sometimes know it themselves.” faulty tumble dryers, it is clearer was destroyed by a fi re in July. which will be part publicly and shop where the outcome, or “So much has changed... than ever that this advice is wrong Currently Whirlpool has issued part privately funded, was un- output in terms of students, But basically it’s still the same and potentially dangerous. a safety product warning advising veiled by Qufaro, which calls will be ready for whatever path thing. It’s making sure that you Prince Harry warms up before a friendly game of cricket “There is a clear and growing people not to leave the dryers un- itself a not-for-profit body they choose to take.” are one step in advance of your in Gros Islet, St. Lucia. consensus of expert and profes- attended and to clean the lint fi lter formed by cyber security ex- While Bletchley Park attracts enemies.” sional opinion from the London after each cycle. Gulf Times 18 Monday, November 28, 2016 EUROPE Swiss against quick exit from nuclear power Reuters tem of direct democracy giving “We’re very happy Swiss vot- 2022, a response to the 2011 dis- Zurich citizens a fi nal say on important ers are giving such an explicit re- aster in Japan that also prompted Supporters of the nuclear exit follow the vote on a TV screen in Bern, Switzerland. The measure was issues. sult,” said Heinz Karrer, a former the Swiss initiative. defeated. Swiss reactors Muehleberg and head of the utility Axpo and cur- Switzerland has a 2050 energy wiss have voted in a refer- Beznau I and II would have been rent president of the pro-busi- strategy in which it would gradu- ment, aiming to challenge it with sary time to transform our energy atomic capability, with Beznau endum to reject a speedy shuttered next year, followed by ness group Economiesuisse, in an ally replace nuclear power that a separate referendum on the system,” Leuthard told reporters. I the oldest operating nuclear Sexit from the nation’s fi ve Goesgen in 2024 and Leibstadt interview on state-run television now supplies about one-third grounds it is too expensive. “The people are in agreement – power station in the world, hav- nuclear power plants, as con- in 2029, had the initiative passed. SRF. of the country’s electricity with Swiss energy minister Doris this is something that won’t hap- ing been started in 1969. cerns over losing energy inde- The Swiss government and “Switzerland’s people don’t renewables, including wind and Leuthard, at a press conference in pen overnight.” That reactor and Leibstadt, pendence outweighed safety industry fought the plan, say- want a radical solution,” he said. solar. Berne following the vote, said she Swiss utility BKW AG already the largest Swiss atomic power worries raised by the measure’s ing it could have led to black- “It would have caused uncer- The strategy calls for eventual would counter any SVP-led ref- plans to shutter Muehleberg in station, have been offl ine for proponents. outs, higher costs and the loss tainties about our energy sup- closure of the Swiss reactors, but erendum with arguments simi- 2019, citing the high costs of months following maintenance Nearly 55% of voters turned of energy independence because ply, something Swiss people were without a deadline. lar to those that she used when maintenance and operations. issues, including the discovery of down the initiative yesterday, the country would have become unwilling to risk.” That plan is under threat, fi ghting yesterday’s initiative. Swiss Green Party advocates discolouration in eight cladding with the rest favouring it in a vote more dependent on coal-fi red Germany plans to shutter its however, with the Swiss People’s “I’m relieved by this outcome, for a quicker atomic power exit tubes used to encase Leibstadt’s that was part of the Swiss sys- power from Germany. remaining nuclear plants by Party (SVP), the largest in parlia- because it allows us the neces- have cited worries about an aging fuel rods. Giant new dome set to keep Chernobyl safe

AFP Chernobyl

he world’s largest metal moveable structure will People walk past an information Tbe unveiled tomorrow sign with Lufthansa logo at the over the Chernobyl nuclear airport in Duesseldorf. power plant’s doomed fourth reactor in Ukraine to ensure the safety of future generations across Europe. The giant arch – nearly as long Pilots as two football pitches and taller than New York’s Statue of Lib- erty – will edge into place over union an existing crumbling dome that the Soviets constructed in haste when disaster struck three dec- open to ades ago on April 26. Radioactive fallout from the site of the world’s worst civil talks with nuclear accident contaminat- ed Ukraine and spread across three-quarters of Europe. Lufthansa Work on the previous safety This undated handout picture from Russian news agency Tass shows a military helicopter spreading dome began after a 10-day fi re stuff supposed to reduce the contamination of the air full of radioactive elements above the Chernobyl caused by the explosion was nuclear plant, days after its No. 4 reactor’s blast, the world’s worst nuclear accident of the 20th century. Reuters contained but as radiation still Frankfurt spewed. Right: This file photo taken on December 15, 2000 shows leading engineer of Chernobyl’s nuclear power “It was done through the su- plant Sergey Bashtovoi turning the key of the emergency stop as he shuts down the plant’s third reactor. per-human eff orts of thousands erman pilots union VC of ordinary people,” the Cherno- 30km (19-mile-wide) exclusion began construction two years said yesterday that it was byl museum’s deputy chief Anna zone around the plant in which later. Gopen to further talks with Korolevska told AFP. “What only a few dozen elderly people The shelter was edged toward Lufthansa to try to fi nd a com- kind of protective gear could live. the fourth reactor in just under promise over a long-running they have possibly had? They Concerns over the safety three weeks of delicate work this pay dispute that caused a four- worked in regular construction of the disintegrating concrete month that was interrupted by day strike last week, adding the clothes.” shelter – built by 90,000 people inclement weather and other airline needed to present a new About 30 of the clean-up in just 206 days – prompted the potential dangers. off er. workers known as liquidators European Bank for Reconstruc- It will later be fi tted with radi- “It will become clear in the were killed on site or died from tion and Development (EBRD) ation control equipment as well course of the day how the dis- overwhelming radiation poison- to spearhead a €2.1bn ($2.2bn) as air vents and fi re protective pute will continue,” a spokesman ing in the following weeks. project to install a new safety measures. for VC told Reuters. The toll from the accident dome. That equipment inside the Lufthansa said earlier that all caused by errors during an ex- The numerous problems with arch is due to start working by fl ights would start on schedule perimental safety check remains the Soviet-era solution includ- the end of 2017. today, November 28, as there had under dispute because the So- ed the fact that the protective “And only then will we begin been no further strike call from viet authorities did their best to structure only had a 30-year to disassemble the old, unstable VC so far. cover up the tragedy. lifespan. structure,” the head of Ukraine’s Lufthansa cancelled nearly Kiev held a May Day parade as Yet its deterioration began State Nuclear Regulation In- 2,800 fl ights during a four-day invisible contamination spread much sooner than that. spections agency Sergiy Bozhko strike from Wednesday that af- over the city while then-Soviet “Radioactive dust inside the told AFP. fected more than 350,000 pas- leader Mikhail Gorbachev only structure is being blown out But he said no timeframe had sengers, the 14th walkout in a admitted on May 14 that some- through the cracks,” Sergiy yet been set for the truly hazard- dispute since early 2014 that has thing had gone terribly wrong. Paskevych of Ukraine’s Institute ous work of removing all the re- cost the carrier hundreds of mil- A United Nations estimate in of Nuclear Power Plant Safety maining nuclear fuel from inside lions of euros. 2005 said around 4,000 people Problems told AFP. This file handout photo taken on August 5, 1986 by Russian news agency Tass shows repairs being the plant or taking apart the old Germany’s biggest airline ear- had either been killed or were He added that the existing carried out on the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Russia, following a major explosion on April 26, 1986. dome. lier urged VC to resume talks. left dying from cancer and other structure could crumble under “Those decisions will be made “We have to talk,” Bettina related disease. extreme weather. withstand tremors of 6.0 mag- but Kiev complains that Eu- build a moveable dome the likes based on future studies,” Bozhko Volkens, Lufthansa’s board But the Greenpeace environ- “This would especially be a nitude – a strength rarely seen rope’s help took a long time of which the world had never said. member in charge of human re- mental protection group be- potential problem if there was in eastern Europe – and torna- coming. seen. Novarka believes that its arch sources, told Bild am Sonntag. “I lieves the fi gure may be closer to a tornado or an earthquake,” dos the likes of which strike the The EBRD found 40 state A French consortium of two will keep the continent safe from hope very much that (VC) fi nally 100,000. Paskevych said. region once every million years. sponsors to fund a competition companies known as Novarka nuclear fallout for the next 100 changes its uncompromising The authorities maintain a The new arch should be able to Chernobyl’s dangers are real in 2007 to choose who should fi nished the designs in 2010 and years. stance. This cannot be forced via strikes.” VC rejected the latest pay of- fer from Lufthansa late on Friday but lifted the threat of extending its strike beyond Saturday. Saakashvili urges uprising against Ukraine government It said on Saturday that more strikes were possible, and would be announced at least 24 hours in AFP of state of Georgia from 2004 to supporting Saakashvili. advance. Kiev 2013, resigned because he was “We haven’t found a person Lufthansa has off ered to in- being held back in his eff orts to like this in Ukraine,” she said. crease wages by 4.4% in two fi ght corruption among high- “They are all corrupt.” instalments, plus a one-off pay- ome 2,000 people gathered ranking offi cials. Saakashvili was a supporter ment worth 1.8 months’ pay. in central Kiev yesterday Protestors brandishing fl ags of Ukraine’s 2014 pro-EU revo- The union wants an average Sto support a call by former of Ukraine, Georgia and the Eu- lution that ousted the Russian- annual pay rise of 3.7% for 5,400 regional governor Mikheil Saa- ropean Union chanted “Glory backed president and set the pilots over a fi ve-year period kashvili – also a former president to Ukraine!” and “Mikheil!” as former Soviet republic on its backdated to 2012. of Georgia – to rise up against the Saakashvili addressed the crowd, westward course. Pilot strikes cost Lufthansa Ukrainian government. an AFP reporter saw at the scene. But he had repeated run-ins €222mn ($235mn) in 2014, ac- Known for pro-Western re- “They steal everything they with some members of Ukrainian cording to the IW Cologne In- forms in his native Georgia, Saa- can reach,” Saakashvili said on President Petro Poroshenko’s in- stitute for Economic Research, kashvili, who quit as governor stage, referring to Ukrainian of- ner circle and was frequently ac- while in 2015, walkouts by pilots of Ukraine’s Odessa region this fi cials. “They are afraid of me be- cused of having outsized political and cabin crew cost the airline month, was one of the foreign cause I know how to destroy their ambitions of his own. €231mn. technocrats appointed to top house of cards. They are afraid of Saakashvili also vowed to form Lufthansa said it had taken Saakashvili addresses supporters during the rally in Kiev. Some 2,000 people gathered in central government positions to put the me because I’m not silent.” an opposition political move- another €20mn hit over the fi rst Kiev to support Saakashvili, known for pro-Western reforms in his native Georgia, in his call to rise up country on a pro-European path. Pensioner Valentyna Gerash- ment that could oust Poroshenko two days of the latest strike. against the Ukrainian government. But Saakashvili, who was head chenko, 80, was among those and force early elections. Gulf Times Monday, November 28, 2016 19 EUROPE PM Valls keeping his options open Former PMs vie for Reuters get down to serious campaigning Paris against the far-right. A run-off vote to choose the centre-right Les Republicains rench Prime Minister candidate, with former prime Manuel Valls kept open minister Francois Fillon seen Fyesterday the possibility likely to win, was under way conservative ticket that he could challenge his boss yesterday with a result expected Francois Hollande as the Social- later in the evening. Reuters ists’ candidate in the 2017 presi- Polls suggest no candidate Paris dential election, risking a further of the left would reach a sec- splintering of a fractured left. ond round run-off in next May’s In past weeks, the message election, where the Les Repub- wo former prime ministers from the Valls’ camp has been licains candidate chosen in yes- went head-to-head yes- that he would wait for President terday’s vote would probably face Tterday in a run-off vote for Hollande’s decision on whether far-right National Front leader France’s centre-right presiden- to seek a second term, and would Marine Le Pen. tial nomination, with the vic- make a presidential bid of his Hollande has scored the low- tor expected to face a showdown own only if Hollande decided to est popularity ratings of mod- against a resurgent far-right in step aside. ern times in a fi ve-year mandate May. However, in an interview pub- marked by high unemployment The winner, either Francois lished yesterday in the Journal and a series of Islamist militant Fillon or Alain Juppe, will most du Dimanche newspaper, Valls attacks on French soil. likely represent the entire French did not rule out running against His authority has also been put political mainstream against Hollande in the Socialist party in question by the publication in the National Front’s Marine Le primaries in January. October of the book written by Pen, in another test of the anti- “I will make my decision while journalists from Le Monde news- establishment anger in Western Fillon leaves the voting booth in a polling station in examining my conscience ... paper. countries that saw Britain vote to Paris yesterday. whatever happens, the best in- In interviews for the book, leave the EU and Americans elect terests of the country will infl u- Hollande was shown as criticis- Donald Trump as president. Right: Juppe leaves the polling station in Bordeaux. ence my decision,” he said. ing many of his own allies, spoke Opinion polls show Fillon, a Asked if he was putting pres- of “problems with Islam” and social conservative with a deep line Fillon more convincing in a candidate to stop the National Germany’s Angela Merkel centred on the economy. sure on Hollande, Valls replied: revealed details of conversations attachment to France’s Catholic head-to-head debate on Thurs- Front could help the more cen- faces a fi ght for re-election next Fillon proposes to cut twice as “This is a very serious and his- between state leaders. roots, as the clear favourite after day. trist Juppe, particularly if many year. many public sector jobs as Juppe, toric moment for the country. “We need to state that over stunning his more centrist chal- “He’s not ashamed of being on voters from outside the ranks of French President Francois lower corporate taxes, take on Each of us must be aware of that. the last few weeks, the context lenger with a surge in support the right, and even less of being the centre-right take part. Hollande is so unpopular and his trade unions and reduce the role I am putting pressure on every- has changed. The publication just before the November 20 par- Catholic,” Fillon backer Valerie “I voted for Alain Juppe be- Socialists so divided that poll- of the state, like his hero, Marga- one.” of that book created real disar- ty nomination fi rst round. Sonnard, a childminder in her cause I fear Francois Fillon’s eco- sters say he would be unlikely ret Thatcher. Valls was also openly critical ray amongst the left-wing,” said Voting opened at more than forties, told Reuters at a polling nomic programme, too rightist even to reach the run-off should Fillon’s photoshopped face of Hollande’s conduct with re- Valls, who also warned that the 10,000 polling stations across station in Toulouse, southern and too conservative, will divide he decide to run. wearing the former British prime gard to the publication of a con- Socialist party risked getting France at 8am (0700 GMT) and France yesterday. society too much,” said Daniel With France still under a minister’s distinctive hairstyle troversial book on his presidency wiped out in next year’s vote. was set to close at 7pm, with the “My choice is Francois Fillon Dunia, a Toulouse-based re- state of emergency since Islam- graced the front page of a left- based on interviews throughout Referring to Valls’ interview, fi rst results likely up to an hour because I don’t want a right that searcher in his forties who con- ist militant attacks over the past leaning national newspaper last the fi ve-year term conducted by Hollande told an audience in and a half later. is tainted by the left,” said Harold siders himself a left-wing voter. two years, cultural tensions in a week. two journalists. Madagascar, where he was at- Organisers from the centre- Bakinsian, a 51 year-old architect Pollsters say the winner of the country that hosts Europe’s big- “You think I look like Margaret A Valls versus Hollande sce- tending a gathering for French- right party, which took the name voting in Frejus on the Mediter- centre-right primary will be the gest Muslim community have Thatcher?” he joked in English to nario could divide the Socialists speaking countries: “The most Les Republicains last year, said ranean coast. favourite to enter the Elysee pal- been central to the election de- reporters yesterday. further, just as their centre-right important thing is that we all get that by midday the participation As the two candidates voted, ace, likely to place in the top two bate. Voters say that they are fed up opponents pick a candidate and behind one another.” rate was 10-15% higher than in Fillon told reporters: “It is the alongside Le Pen in a fi rst round Juppe praises France’s diver- with France’s near double-digit last week’s fi rst round. voters who are talking now, not in April and defeat her in a run- sity. rate of unemployment – nearly A 62-year-old racing car en- the candidate.” off in May. Fillon says immigrants should double that of some European thusiast who lives in a Loire Juppe meanwhile said he was While polls show either Fillon assimilate to French cultural val- peers – and sluggish job creation valley chateau, Fillon promises proud of his campaign, but also or Juppe would beat Le Pen, Ju- ues. in an economy that is forecast to radical reforms to France’s reg- complained over the way he had ppe would do so by a more com- “I think Juppe hasn’t been fi rm grow an anaemic 1.4% in 2016. ulation-encumbered economy, been cast on social media as soft fortable margin. enough on immigration ques- Hollande now has two weeks vowing to roll back the state and on Islamist militancy – a sen- But the shock results in the tions and on the attacks,” said in which to decide whether to run slash government’s bloated costs. sitive subject in France, where British referendum and US presi- Sonnard, the childminder in for re-election. Scrambling to regain momen- more than 230 people have died dential contest mean forecasters’ Toulouse. A win for Fillon and his hard- tum, Juppe, 71, a soft-mannered in Islamist militant attacks since assumptions are being treated There are also diff erences on line economic platform would moderate who is now mayor of January last year. with caution. foreign policy, with Fillon’s pro- give the 62-year-old Hollande a Bordeaux, has attacked the “bru- “Some truths came out too Voter anger is sweeping aside Russia stance raising eyebrows in target to attack and could con- tality” of his rival’s reform pro- late,” he said. establishment fi gures in West- Germany. vince him to make a bid for a sec- gramme and says the Paris law- Any registered voter can take ern countries, with Italy’s Prime On social policy, Fillon wants ond fi ve-year mandate against maker lacks credibility. part in the primary, making its Minister Matteo Renzi forecast to curb adoption rights for same- the odds. But in a blow to Juppe, televi- outcome diffi cult to predict. to lose a referendum on constitu- sex couples. The Socialist primaries are due Valls with Hollande: potential rivals. sion viewers found the harder- The search for a consensus tional reform on December 4. Much of the arguments have to take place in January.

Serbia’s EU’s Juncker: Renzi’s reforms are ‘good’ soldiers By Alvise Armellini, DPA against the entire history of Eu- Rome rope,” he said. But Juncker also reacted to hold fi rst Renzi’s frequent bashing of EU he constitutional reforms institutions. due for a December 4 “I struggle to accept these protest Treferendum in Italy are acerbic remarks about the Com- “good”, European Commission mission [...] I’d like some politi- President Jean-Claude Juncker cians to look at us more fairly,” he AFP said in an interview yesterday, said. Belgrade adding that he hoped they will be Renzi has already won the approved. backing of outgoing US President Proposed reforms would re- Barack Obama and key business round 1,000 Serbian duce the veto powers of the upper leaders. army soldiers and sup- chamber of parliament and those Such endorsements, however, Aporters took to the streets of regional administrations, to are double-edged sword, as they of Belgrade yesterday to pro- the benefi t of the government. allow the opposition to depict test low wages and poor work- Supporters say this would Juncker: I don’t know if it will be useful to [Italian Prime Minister Renzi as following the agenda of ing conditions, in the fi rst-ever make Italy more stable, while Matteo] Renzi if I say that I hope for a ‘yes’ win. I will only say that I foreign powers and big corpora- public protest of the kind, local critics fear a weakening of demo- hope that the ‘no’ will not win. tions. media reported. cratic checks and balances. A member of the far-right The protest, held in front of “I don’t know if it will be use- campaign, claimed on Thursday The relocation plan has been Northern League, which is cam- the defence ministry in down- ful to [Italian Prime Minister that Italy will have greater in- opposed by Poland, Hungary, the paigning for a “no” vote, said town Belgrade, was organised Matteo] Renzi if I say that I hope fl uence on key European Union Czech Republic and Slovakia. that Juncker would receive an- by the military trade union and for a ‘yes’ win. I will only say policies like migration if reforms Renzi has proposed to punish other disappointment from Ital- backed by their police counter- that I hope that the ‘no’ will not are approved, because the coun- them by curtailing EU regional ian voters, after the Brexit ref- parts, the state-run Tanjug news win,” Juncker told the La Stampa try will be less prone to govern- funding, which disproportion- erendum and Donald Trump’s agency reported. newspaper. ment crises. ally benefi ts newer central and victory in the United States. “If a Serbian soldier cannot “The referendum is key to de- Juncker said frontline coun- eastern EU nations. “All these political and fi nan- feed his family ... it is a problem,” fi ne Italy’s institutional set up tries like Italy and Greece re- The head the EU executive said cial leaders have not yet under- union leader Novica Antic was for the next years. I do not want ceived insuffi cient help from EU “some countries’” refusal to take stood that if they suggest one quoted telling the crowd. to interfere in the debate. But it is peers on migration issues. in refugees was unacceptable, thing, people do exactly the op- The union claims that more obvious that Italy must continue A plan was agreed last year to as well as preferences for non- posite, because they have had than three-quarters of the ar- Demonstrators hold a banner picturing Renzi with a prohibition its reform process. And it is good move 160,000 refugees from the Muslim migration, expressed by enough of them, Renzi and eve- my’s employees have monthly sign and placards reading ‘PD (Democratic Party) go home, I vote that Renzi is tackling institution- two countries to other EU states, several eastern European capi- rybody else who do their bid- wages lower than Serbia’s na- NO’ during a ‘C’e chi dice NO’ (‘Some say no’) rally in central Rome al architecture issues,” he added. but only about 7,500 have been tals. ding,” the League’s Roberto Cal- tional average, which was €370 yesterday. Renzi, who leads the “yes” relocated so far. “These kind of sentences run deroli said. ($389) in October. This year 1,000 people left the Balkan country’s armed forces due to low salaries and poor working conditions, Antic said. The protesters, carrying Ser- Dutch kill 190,000 ducks to contain outbreak bian and union fl ags, later de- livered a letter to the offi ce of President Tomislav Nikolic, also AFP 1km radius, the Dutch food and safety Earlier this month the Netherlands month, local news reports said. the supreme commander of the The Hague watchdog NVWA said. shuttered petting zoos and banned The H5N1 strain of bird fl u has country’s armed forces, calling “There are three other poultry duck hunting as it stepped up meas- killed more than 420 people, mainly on him to “protect” them. farms within a three kilometre radius ures to stem a bird fl u outbreak blamed in southeast Asia, since fi rst appear- Serbia’s army has undergone a utch offi cials have culled and they are being monitored,” the for killing scores of poultry and more ing in 2003. series of reforms since the ouster 190,000 ducks on a central NVWA added in a statement. than a thousand wild birds in the Another strain of bird fl u, H7N9, of late strongman Slobodan Mi- DNetherlands farm where in- Authorities have also imposed a ban country. has claimed more than 200 lives since losevic in 2000. spectors have confi rmed the presence on poultry and poultry product trans- In the western port of Rotterdam, emerging in 2013, according to World The armed forces are fully of a highly infectious strain of bird fl u, port within a 10km radius, the state- a park closed its animal section after Health Organisation (WHO) fi gures. professional since 2011 and offi cials and local media said yester- ment said. several aquatic birds were found to Avian fl u hit the Netherlands in now estimated to number some day. Tests indicated that the birds were have died from the H5N8 virus. 2003 with health authorities destroy- 30,000. The outbreak was detected at a killed by an H5N8 variant of the dis- Others still not aff ected have been ing some 30mn birds in an eff ort to Military experts estimate that farm in Biddinghuizen, about 70km ease “which is highly infectious” for penned in. quash an outbreak. about 2.5mn of Serbia’s popula- (43 miles) west of Amsterdam, where poultry – killing about 30% of infect- And on the banks of Lake Marker- Around 106mn chickens are raised An NVWA worker in protective gear gets tion of 7.1mn could be called up about 180,000 ducks were put down ed birds – but not “very dangerous to meer, close to Amsterdam, about 1,250 on Dutch poultry farms, according to ready to cull ducks as part of measures for service if needed. together with another 10,000 within a humans”, public newscaster NOS said. wild birds were found dead earlier this the latest Dutch statistics. against bird flu at a duck farm in Hierden. Gulf Times 20 Monday, November 28, 2016 INDIA

Tamil Nadu ‘I am sacrifi cing my life to trigger concern about plastic’ Roundup Guardian News and Media have approved of the dark to jump off unless Thanjavur en- In the self-recorded video, cycle plastic, manage waste, Vijaya said: “Jawahar was By Umaima Shafiq Chennai house,” said Vijaya. “He thought forced the plastic ban. the religious Jawahar wears holy or replant trees cut for laying fi ghting alone and growing an- fi recrackers were polluting, and On both occasions, it was the ash on his forehead. Speaking in highways. Soon, he began to grier with the world. When all environmentally disastrous.” police that called Kumaran and Tamil he says, “I am sacrifi cing stage dramatic protests. “He you can think of is how to pro- n late October, the streets Jawahar, a young commu- Vijaya, asking them to take their my life in the hope that it will used to say that people are dull tect the environment, just seeing of the temple town of nity activist in Tamil Nadu, had boy home after he had been de- trigger serious concern about and lazy, and one must shock to a person use a plastic cover can Film director IThanjavur were abuzz with killed himself less than a month tained. In many other instanc- plastic use in India. Since all attract attention to important perhaps push you over the edge.” Diwali festivities, the skies earlier. es, the parents had found out of my peaceful means of pro- issues,” said Elavaenil. Jawahar had taken on a gar- missing since glittering with fi reworks. One He had left home after break- about Jawahar’s public protests test failed, I’m forced to choose Offi cials in the police station gantuan problem. India is a May arrested home, however, was cloaked in fast on October 10, and did not through the local newspapers. suicide. To save the lives of mil- of Thanjavur remember Jawa- relatively new user of plastic, darkness. return or call home all day. But after a day had passed this lions of people aff ected by toxic har as a passionate boy. which has only really come into Film director S Madhan “We aren’t celebrating Diwali “At fi rst, we didn’t think it time and there had still been no plastic, I don’t think it’s wrong “He was a known face, always circulation since the economy of Vendhar Movies, an because we are in mourning this was unusual,” said Kumaran, word from their son, Kumaran to kill myself.” in the Collector’s offi ce, fi ght- was liberalised in the early nine- entertainment company owned year,” said K Kumaran, just back sighing. Jawahar had been a fi led a missing person’s com- As a teenager, Jawahar had ing about this or that,” said In- ties. Indians consume a rela- by the Chennai-based SRM from his 10-hour shift as a se- strenuous activist, often out on plaint, on Vijaya’s insistence. shown a keen interest in envi- spector R Rajendran, who once tively small amount of plastic education conglomerate, who curity guard at a private college. protests around the area. That evening the police found ronmental issues, especially the convinced the young man to per person – a fraction of the went missing on May 27, was In the corner of the living room, Earlier this year, he had gone on him; he had drowned in the ca- indiscriminate use of plastic. climb down from the roof of the amount consumed in the US arrested from a house in Tiruppur his wife Vijaya fi xes the wick on a hunger strike; he sat on the road nal. No one suspected suicide He quit school in the 10th grade building. and China estimated at 9.7kg in city, about 450km from Chennai a fl ickering oil lamp that stood outside a central tourist spot, until, on the day of the crema- and watched the news obses- “His heart was in the right 2013, far below 109kg in the US last week. in front of a framed photograph demanding that city offi cials tion, a cousin found a video in sively. From 2014, every few place, but what he didn’t un- and 45kg in China. But plastic Madhan began his career of their 19-year-old son, Jawa- confi scate all plastic bags. Before Jawahar’s phone. weeks, he had fi led petitions at derstand is that making the use has been growing at 10% a by allegedly ‘selling’ SRM’s har. that, he had climbed the Collec- “It was a declaration of sui- the town municipality demand- town a zero-plastic zone cannot year, and consumption is ex- professional seats for hefty sums. “If he was here, my son would tor’s offi ce building, threatening cide,” said the cousin, K Elavaenil. ing an action plan to ban or re- happen overnight.” pected to double by 2020. Soon after Madhan’s disappearance, more than 120 applicants to medical seats in SRM University complained that he had collected Rs840mn on promise of giving them seats. Meanwhile Madhan’s wife and mother also filed a habeas corpus petition in the Madras High Court. Top militant, This led to the arrest of SRM founder/chairman T R Pachamuthu and five others. Madhan’s family accused Pachamuthu of lynching him, but was granted bail with a heavy fine and after he promised to fi ve others reimburse the money collected by Madhan. Meanwhile police continued to search for Madhan based on his last note that he was going to the Hindu city of Kasi to attain salvation. However they escape from could not locate him in Kasi or other holy cities in north India. Finally they got a tip-off about Geethanjali, a woman with whom Madhan kept in touch through WhatsApp. They arrested Geethanjali in Punjab jail Chennai and she admitted to have helped Madhan lease a Reward of Rs2.5mn off ered Unconfi rmed local media re- and other morning chores, jail house in Varanasi with bogus for information on the ports said the attackers num- sources said. documents. By further tracking prisoners bered around 20. Witnesses heard several Madhan’s cell phone, whose SIM A senior police offi cer said rounds of fi ring around 9am. card he changed frequently, Agencies the swift assault took guards by “I was going on my motorcycle police located him hiding inside Nabha, Punjab surprise as the attackers moved when I saw two-three cars with the loft of another girlfriend’s quickly through the complex, armed men inside. They were fi r- house in Tiruppur. indicating they knew the jail lay- ing in the air and were in police He was sent to Puzhal prison in t least 10 armed men dis- out. uniform,” a villager told reporters Chennai. Police also found out guised as policemen at- “We are trying to figure out near the jail. that despite having two wives Atacked a high security the connection between the Sukhbir Badal spoke to Na- and three children, Madhan had prison yesterday and freed a top gangsters and the militant lead- tional Security Adviser Ajit Doval spent the past six months touring Sikh militant commander and er. Did he flee by fluke?” the of- and updated him on the steps north India with many women, fi ve others in Punjab offi cials ficer said. taken to apprehend the prisoners buying property and living said. Offi cial sources said the secu- and attackers. luxuriously. The attackers travelled in cars rity in the jail did not retaliate, In a related development, and stormed Nabha Jail after raising suspicion. a woman was killed as police stabbing a guard at the main gate Jail offi cials told police that fi red at a vehicle on the Patiala- Aged couple and fi ring rounds of live ammu- the attackers entered the prison Cheeka road after it failed to stop claim Dhanush nition before fl eeing with the in- by telling the outer security they at a barricade set up to catch the mates. had brought a prisoner for verifi - escaped prisoners. is their son “We have sounded an alert cation. Police sources said it was a An old couple have claimed in the state and formed special Their vehicles were allowed case of mistaken identity. that popular Tamil film star teams to nab them,” H S Dhillon, entry. Punjab Congress president Dhanush is their son and a court Punjab director general of police Four offi cials, including the Amarinder Singh said “the in- in Madurai has accepted their for law and order, said. Punjab prison chief and jail su- cident had exposed a complete petition and ordered the actor to Two more guards were in- perintendent, have either been breakdown of law and order in appear on January 12. jured in the attack in Patiala suspended or sacked because of the state, while triggering fears Kathiresan and Meenakshi district. the jailbreak, authorities said. of revival of terrorism ahead of produced childhood photos and Police identifi ed one of the fu- A reward of Rs2.5mn ($36,000) assembly elections. a birth certificate to prove that gitives as Harminder Singh Min- has been off ered for information “This has happened with the Dhanush was their son. They too, chief of the Khalistan Lib- on the escaped prisoners. connivance of the Punjab gov- added that his real name was eration Force (KLF) – a militant Punjab Deputy Chief Minis- ernment. They have got these Kaliselvan and he studied up to group fi ghting for a separate Sikh ter Sukhbir Singh Badal, who people out to use them in elec- Class X at Melur town in Madurai. homeland in Punjab. is also the home minister, and tions. The shocking manner in He reportedly ran away in 2002 Mintoo was arrested in 2014 Punjab Director General of Po- which the gangsters walked into over poor academic record. and is on trial for “terror attacks lice Suresh Arora reached the the high-security jail and freed The couple requested and funding”. Nabha jail. a dreaded Khalistani terrorist visitation rights and a monthly The others are part of a local The attack took place when along with other convicts clearly maintenance of Rs65,000 from criminal gang and were on trial the prisoners were brought out shows complicity at the highest Dhanush. A policeman and onlookers stand near the gate of the Nabha jail yesterday. for murder. of their barracks for breakfast levels,” Singh said. Dhanush is the younger son of film distributor Kasturi Raja and is married to superstar Rajnikanth’s elder daughter Aishwarya. He is an award- Freedom run winning actor, producer, Rights activists demand playback singer and scriptwriter whose production Visaranai is India’s entry for foreign language films for 2017 Oscar judicial probe into killings Awards.

Medical students By Ashraf Padanna According to the police there gitimise an illegal act of a brutal Thiruvananthapuram were 12 armed men who fi red at killing by ordering an inquiry suspended for them and escaped. But in the by a junior government offi cial. exchange of fi re Dhanraj and This is not acceptable to us,” torturing monkey uman rights activ- Ajita, both from Tamil Nadu, said Pouran. Four students of the Christian ists in Kerala yesterday died. The Communist Party of India Medical College (CMC) were Hrejected a magisterial “It was a cold-blooded mur- (CPI), the second largest coali- suspended for torturing and and police probe that the state der. The autopsy reveals that tion partner, had immediately killing a female bonnet macaque government has ordered into the police shot them from be- after the killings also said the po- monkey that had wandered into the alleged killing of two Mao- hind infl icting a dozen bullet lice theory was unbelievable. their campus in Vellore. ist rebels. wounds,” PA Pouran, secretary Following this, the police The incident came to light Alleging it was a ploy to jus- of the Kerala chapter of the came out with the explanation when another student sent tify the police version that the People’s Union for Civil Liber- on Saturday and Chief Minis- a video clip to an animal rebels died in a gunbattle when ties (PUCL), alleged. ter Pinarayi Vijayan, who also rights activist in Mumbai, security forces surrounded “They came out with an ex- holds the home portfolio, or- who alerted his colleagues in their hideout, the rights activ- planation only after three days dered an inquiry by a sub-col- Chennai. ists wanted an independent with some cooked up pieces of lector yesterday, saying that it The activists’ team reached judicial inquiry by a retired or evidence. The chief minister or was indeed an encounter. Vellore and with the help of serving judicial offi cer. the police chief had not held a But the CPI stuck to its po- police exhumed the monkey’s Dhanraj, 60, and Ajita, 45, formal press conference and sition, even after the leader of carcass. They found out believed to be leaders of the explained things so far.” opposition and Congress leader that Samuvel, Rohitkumar outlawed Communist Party There were seven bullet Ramesh Chennithala, a former Yenukutti, Arun Luvis and of India (Maoist), were shot wounds in the body of the man, home minister, justifi ed the po- Aleks Selkaleyal had caught dead in the Nilambur forests in and the woman had 19. lice action. the monkey with a blanket, hit Malappuram district last week. The police also exhibited 16 “They were not holding any it with sticks and stones and Three days after the incident, mobile phones, two laptops arms except a small pistol. strangled it. police revealed details of the and other gadgets, books, ban- There is a mystery shrouding Two months ago, two medical encounter However, reporters knotes of half a million rupees the episode, which the govern- students were caught flinging have not been allowed to visit and food they seized from the ment should solve,” said senior People participate in the ‘Freedom 10K Run’ in Hyderabad yesterday. The event is an initiative to two dogs from the terrace of a the area where the gunbattle rebels. CPI leader Pannyan Raveen- promote running as the primary form of fitness. house in Chennai. took place. “They are now trying to le- dran. Gulf Times Monday, November 28, 2016 21 INDIA

INVESTIGATION HONOUR PEOPLE E-TRANSACTION TAX COLLECTION Two more arrested in Toonz Media Group’s ‘Will write about defence Digital payment for State revenue has gone child traff icking case film wins Unesco award ministry stint in memoirs’ airport car parking up, says Himachal govt

Two more people, including a doctor, have been Toonz Media Group’s short film Magical Piano has Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar yesterday said In the wake of the cash crunch following demon- The Himachal Pradesh government yesterday arrested in the inter-state child traff icking case, bagged a Unesco film award. The film was created his post-retirement memoirs will include detailed etisation, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said the state revenue had recorded remarkable police said in Kolkata yesterday. Tapan Biswas, in association with the Toonz-Disney collaborative and specific accounts of the goings-on in his min- yesterday announced it has put in place a digital increase in the wake of eff ective steps for trans- associated with the Baduria nursing home, one of venture Kahaani Masters, a story-writing contest istry, whose charge he took over two years back. “I payment system for car parking charges at all parent tax collection and extension of various the hubs of newborn child traff icking in West Ben- organised to find out the finest story masters in the will not spell out everything now. After retiring, when its airports that would commence e-transactions concessions/facilities to diff erent industries. The gal’s North 24 Parganas district, was arrested from country. The film follows the story of a child who I write my memoirs, I will be more specific...” he told from tomorrow. Consequently, free car parking Excise and Taxation Department collected the a relative’s house at Burdwan district’s Memari receives a magical piano for his birthday. Using a meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party women services provided from November 14 will end highest 65% of the state’s revenue, with collec- on Saturday night. Biswas was on the run since the magic of music, the child goes on to clean the workers in Panaji. Parrikar also said Prime Minister tonight at all airports, the AAI said. “In the wake tions in the last three fiscal years totalling Rs- the police conducted the raid in Baduria. Basanti whole planet and then the whole universe making Narendra Modi’s government had empowered of new currency crisis arising due to demonetisa- 150bn. The target for this fiscal year is Rs65bn. All Chakraborty was also arrested from Thakurpukur this a cleaner and happy place to live in. The story army commanders to retaliate if an enemy attacked. tion of Rs500 and 1,000 notes, AAI has evolved a registered traders and dealers are being brought region in South Kolkata on the same night for her was written by Mayul Verma, an upper primary stu- “When our soldiers were attacked, our armed forces digital payment mechanism through e-payment under the cover of a Group Accident Insurance links with the old age home in Thakurpukur. She dent from Agra. The award was handed over at the have responded appropriately. The government transactions using debit/credit cards, Paytm, Scheme by relaxing annual business limit this was allegedly involved in the traff icking of 10 baby COP 22 Green Zone in the Unesco Pavilion recently has empowered army commanders and has given Freecharge and other digital payment methods year. The insurance premium will be borne by the girls, who were recovered by the off icials, from held at Morocco, said a Toonz press release issued them power to retaliate if attacked. As a result coun- with eff ect from the midnight of 28th November, state and the insurance cover has been increased the home. in Thiruvananthapuram yesterday. try’s border is safe,” he said. 2016,” it said. to Rs300,000 from Rs200,000. Too early to gauge impact of notes ban, say experts

AFP combat corruption, we doubt Mumbai that this currency reform will have lasting benefi ts,” said Sum- mers in a blog post denouncing rime Minister Narendra the move. Modi’s shock decision to “Corruption will continue Pscrap most of India’s cur- albeit with slightly diff erent ar- rency was hailed by some as a rangements.” masterstroke against endemic Most experts agree it is too corruption, but signs are emerg- early to say what the impact ing that it may hit the economy will be on India’s gross domes- hard. tic product, which expanded The sweeping overnight aboli- 7.1% year-on-year in the three tion of all high-value notes was months from April-June, out- supposed to bring billions in pacing China. black money back into the for- “The fall-out of the policy People queue outside an ATM of State Bank of India to withdraw cash in Ahmedabad yesterday. mal system. is unfolding now. So the next But experts are warning the month will be critical to deter- ensuing cash crunch could have mine what people fi nally think a dramatic impact on growth just of this move,” political analyst as the economy was beginning to Devdan Chaudhuri said. take fl ight. But ratings agency Fitch has India runs largely on cash, but already said it is revising down that is still in short supply, nearly its India growth forecast for the three weeks after Modi’s shock fourth quarter of the calendar Modi allays concerns announcement that 86% of its year, saying it would “almost currency would be withdrawn certainly” be weak. from circulation. Yes Bank chief economist Many ATMs remain empty and Shubhada Rao said it would take banks have been forced to ration until the middle of next year for cash as they face huge queues. growth to recover. Many people have still not “We are seeing disruption to over currency move been able to change their old growth in the near term, but once currency. liquidity is restored, demand will Embrace cashless “The world may have ques- through mobile banking, debit “Educate them on how to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh That has left farmers unable return. By the second quarter of transactions, says prime tions or doubts, but India has and credit cards. download apps, how to spend said. to sow their crops and produce the next fi nancial year, GDP will minister faith in its people. Our country “Learn the different ways money using mobile phones, “The Bharatiya Janata Party markets all but empty, while return to normalcy,” he said. will emerge glowing like gold you can use your bank ac- how to make payments, how to has spread the misinformation small traders like the tea sellers Experts say the move was a from the fi re. The main reason counts and Internet banking. do business. that the Congress and other op- that dot India’s streets say busi- contributing factor to the ru- Agencies behind this confi dence is our Learn how to effectively use “More importantly, if you position parties have called for a ness has fallen off a cliff . pee hitting an all-time low of New Delhi people,” he said. the apps of various banks on could teach a push-cart vendor ‘bandh’. The country is already On Thursday former prime 68.8625 against the dollar on Modi’s comments come days your phones. Learn how to run or your vegetable vendor, there shut from November 9, a day minister Manmohan Singh, a re- Thursday, although the main after his predecessor, Manmo- your business without cash. is no reason we cannot move to- after the prime minister an- spected economist, told parlia- reason was an expected US rate rime Minister Narendra han Singh, considered the archi- Learn about card payments wards a cashless India.” nounced the demonetisation ment the surprise decision would rise next month. Modi said yesterday he tect of India’s economic reforms, and other electronic modes of Senior offi cials admit the move move. That’s why we don’t want shave at least two percentage The uncertainty has contrib- Pwas confi dent India would said the country’s gross domes- payment,” Modi said. will disrupt economic activity a ‘Bharat bandh’,” he added. points off growth and slammed uted to huge outfl ows of foreign emerge “glowing like gold” fol- tic product (GDP) would fall by “A cashless economy is secure, but argue it will be benefi cial for Ramesh said the decision to the government for what he said capital from India, although N lowing the government’s deci- about 2% because of the deci- it is clean.” the economy in the long-term. demonitise the Rs1,000 and was shoddy implementation. SVenkatesh, a currency special- sion to scrap high-value currency sion. Modi asked the youth of India Opposition parties have called Rs500 notes was to hide the cen- The rupee shake-up had been ist at IDBI Bank, said this could notes. A number of economic think- to take a pledge to make this ini- for a nationwide protest today tral government’s own failure a “a monumental management reverse in time. Bank notes of Rs500 and tanks have also revised down tiative a success and urged them against the decision to withdraw to deliver on Modi’s promise of failure” and “a case of organised “Foreign investors are waiting Rs1,000 ceased to be legal tender their growth outlook for India. to teach their families, neigh- the notes. bringing back black money from loot and legalised plunder”, said to see how the demonetisation from midnight on November 8, Over the past weeks, Indians bours and small business own- However, the Congress Party abroad, made during the 2014 Singh, who belongs to the oppo- drive will play out in the near hours after Modi announced the have been struggling to get new ers how to go cashless and make said it has not called for a ‘Bharat general elections. sition Congress Party. term. If it stabilises, all the cash move to fi ght corruption and tax Rs500 and 2,000 notes, form- electronic payments. bandh’ or a countrywide shut- “It is a political move be- More worrying still for the could come back to the Indian evasion. ing queues outside banks and “You have a leadership role to down but ‘Jan Aakrosh Diwas’ to ing projected as a fi ght against prime minister, experts includ- economy,” he said. “Almost every economist is ATMs. play in taking India towards an hold protests over demonetisa- corruption,” said the Congress ing former US treasury secretary Modi, who won a landslide analysing the move. The whole Businesses have also suff ered increasingly digital economy. tion. leader. Larry Summers have questioned election victory in 2014 on a world is watching whether 1.25bn due to the liquidity crunch. Your father or mother or even “There will be protest rallies; “People who actually have whether the scheme will even promise to tackle endemic cor- Indians will be successful even Modi has said the cash crunch elder brother at home may not we have not called for a ‘Bharat black money are still leading a achieve its core aim of cutting ruption, has strongly defended after enduring hardships,” Modi will be over by the end of De- know. But you know how to book bandh’ (shutdown). Misinforma- luxurious life whereas honest tax evasion. his move, which still enjoys said in his monthly radio address cember and appealed to Indians train tickets online, you know tion has been spread by the BJP, people are facing hardships,” he “Without new measures to widespread popular support. ‘Mann Ki Baat’. to embrace cashless transactions how to buy things online. which is ill-informed,” senior added.

SYL issue can trigger return NCC day Man held for allegedly of terror in Punjab: Amarinder raping Japanese tourist AFP have been informed about the IANS Party alliance will be pitted against The Supreme Court on No- Thiruvananthapuram incident, he said. New Delhi the opposition Congress and the vember 10 held as “unconstitu- The woman came to India two emerging Aam Aadmi Party. tional” the 2004 law passed by weeks ago and arrived in the beach “Denial of water to residents of the Punjab assembly which was man was arrested yes- town on Saturday, hours before the unjab Congress president Malwa and other regions of south- intended to deny Haryana its terday for allegedly rap- alleged assault took place. It was un- Amarinder Singh has warned ern Punjab, in particular, can lead share in the river waters through Aing a Japanese tourist at clear how the two met, police said. Pthat the construction of the to violence, given the past violence the SYL canal. a popular beach resort in Kerala, Sexual attacks on tourists in controversial Sutlej-Yamuna Link in the region which saw the onset Singh was the chief minis- in the latest case of sexual assault India are widespread, with sev- (SYL) canal to provide water to of terrorism with the passing of ter when the Punjab assembly against a visitor. eral Western countries warning neighbouring Haryana can trigger Anandpur Sahib resolution in 1973 passed the Punjab Termination The 35-year-old woman was visitors about the risk. the return of Khalistani terrorism in (by the Akalis) and also the spread of Water Agreements Act, 2004. found bleeding by hotel staff in the Last year a Japanese woman the border state. of Naxalism,” the 74-year-old In case the Congress returns to town of Kovalam early yesterday was drugged and raped by a There are Khalistani elements senior politician said. power in Punjab, Singh said, he and is undergoing treatment at a tourist guide in Jaipur, less than a across the border (in Pakistan) Singh, who resigned as Lok will again take legal recourse by hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. month after six men gang-raped who are waiting for an opportune Sabha member after the Supreme bringing in proper legislations in The woman sustained inter- a 22-year-old Japanese tourist in moment to once again unleash Court ruling on a Presidential the state assembly on the sharing nal injuries but doctors have de- the eastern city of Kolkata. terror on Punjab’s soil, the senior Reference on sharing of river wa- of river waters. clared her out of danger. A court in June convicted fi ve Congress leader and former chief ters with Haryana, also said that “I will do it once again when Members of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) prepare for Police identifi ed the accused men for gang-raping a 52-year-old minister said in an interview. the demonetisation of Rs500 and I am in power with two-thirds their turn prior to performing in a cultural programme as a 25-year-old whose fam- Danish tourist in New Delhi in 2014. Peace in Punjab was marred from Rs1,000 currency notes had also majority in the assembly. I had during the 68th NCC day celebrations in Secunderabad, ily runs a handicrafts store in the They were jailed for life. the late 1970s till 1993 by militants’ emerged as an important issue in earlier also done all I could legally the twin city of Hyderabad, on Saturday. The NCC, tourist hotspot. India is facing intense scrutiny demand for an independent state of Punjab due to hardships it caused to prevent even a single drop of a voluntary organisation which recruits cadets from “He has been sent to judicial over its eff orts to curb violence Khalistan for the Sikh. the people. water from fl owing out of Punjab. secondary schools and colleges, was formed in 1948 custody and we are waiting for against women in general fol- Elections to the 117-member Singh on November 23 handed I can promise one thing: water of to develop social service and leadership skills among the victim to recover to record lowing the fatal gang-rape of an Punjab assembly are to be held in over his resignation to Lok Sab- Punjab will remain with the state’s participating youth under the auspices of the defence her full statement,” police offi cer Indian medical student in New early 2017, where the ruling Shi- ha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to people, who need every single ministry. Vipin Kumar said. Delhi in December 2012, which romani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata protest over the SYL canal issue. drop of it for their own survival. Japanese offi cials in New Delhi sparked a global outcry. Gulf Times 22 Monday, November 28, 2016 LATIN AMERICA Farmer sues German energy giant over climate change

AFP Saul Luciano Lliuya argues travelled to the western German court it “could not be made li- It is unclear if a ruling would Pointing to a 2013 climate should therefore be obliged to Essen, Germany that RWE, as a major historic city of Essen to attend the hear- able for general and global de- be expected at that date, or if study, she said the company pay 17,000 euros ($18,000) — a emitter of greenhouse gases, ing. velopments such as climate the judge would seek “proof of was responsible for 0.5% of the pro-rata sum towards the costs should share in the cost of pro- Luciano, who is also a moun- change”. evidence”, meaning the court total emissions “since the be- of eliminating the risk of fl ood- German court has begun tecting his hometown Huaraz tain guide, is being advised by “There is no legal basis for would plunge into the question ginning of industrialisation” ing,” Verheyen said. hearing a complaint by a from a nearby glacial lake that is pressure group Germanwatch the applicant’s request,” RWE of climate change and its causes — making it at least partly Besides seeking the sum to APeruvian farmer who ac- at risk of overfl owing from melt- which said the case was the fi rst spokesman Guido Steff en said. in proceedings that could last responsible for the Peruvian help pay for fl ood defences, Lu- cuses energy giant RWE of con- ing snow and ice. of its kind in Europe and could Observers had expected the months. farmer’s plight. ciano is also asking RWE to re- tributing to climate change that “We hope that the court will set a legal precedent. court to reject the David versus Luciano’s German lawyer, “We’re not saying that RWE is imburse him for 6,300 euros he has caused glacial melting in the rule in our favour, so as to save But Germany’s second-largest Goliath case very early, but the Roda Verheyen, claimed that responsible for climate change himself has spent on protective Andes, threatening his home and our world, our Earth, in some energy producer said the case judge has instead set a new hear- RWE is the “top single-greatest as a whole, but we’re saying that measures, according to a sum- livelihood. way,” said Luciano, who had was “unfounded”, telling the ing date for December 15. CO2-emitter in Europe”. RWE is a major contributor and mary of the case. Cubans fret over life after Castro with Trump next door

Reuters Trump would call for more politi- Havana cal freedoms from the Cuban gov- ernment, and that if he did not get this he would roll back Obama’s he death of Fidel Castro has opening. added to worries among “There isn’t going to be a one- TCubans that US President- way relationship from the US to elect Donald Trump will slam the Cuba without some action from door shut on nascent trade and the Castro administration,” Prie- travel ties, undoing two years bus said on Fox News Sunday. of detente with the US under After the death of the 90-year- Obama. old Fidel Castro on Friday, Obama Many Cubans believe they called him a “singular fi gure,” could do with their late leader’s while Trump described him as a charisma and way with words to “brutal dictator.” counter Trump’s bombast. Castro began his career as a “With ‘El Comandante’ gone, revolutionary by toppling a US- I am a little fearful of what could backed government, repelled a happen because of Trump’s way of CIA-backed counter-revolution- thinking and acting,” said Yaneisi ary invasion in 1961, and faced off Lara, a 36-year-old Havana street against president John F Kennedy vendor and fl ower seller. “He in the Cuban missile crisis a year could set back and block every- later. thing that’s been going on, all the During 49 years in offi ce, he things Obama has done. And he crossed swords with 10 US presi- A coco-taxi drives past a Cuban flag at half mast in Havana, Cuba, yesterday. did a lot, managing to get the US dents. And while he took a lower closer to Cuba,” she said, admit- profi le after offi cially retiring in ting she would consider moving to 2008, Castro never stopped warn- the US herself. ing Cubans that the American Trump has struck a very dif- government was not to be trusted. ferent tone from Obama, who Although moving closer to the reached an agreement two years US, Raul Castro has not given up ago with Castro’s younger brother, much ground to the Obama ad- President Raul Castro, to end half ministration in terms of liberal- Cuba readies for four-day a century of hostilities. ising Cuba’s one-party political Late in his election campaign, system. Trump sought to reassure Cuban- Obama did not succeed in American voters in Florida that convincing Congress to lift the he was fi rm in his opposition to US’ tough economic embargo on the Castros, and pledged that, if Cuba, but he personally opposed elected, he would close down the the sanctions and used executive Castro funeral procession newly re-opened US embassy in actions to allow more contact and Havana. commerce. AFP A titan of the 20th century nine days of national mourning. was the scene of Castro’s ill- mourning began. “What can I Earlier on, in the primary con- The fi rst US commercial fl ight Havana who beat the odds to endure into There was no offi cial confi rma- fated fi rst attempt at revolution say? Fidel Castro was larger than tests to pick the Republican presi- to Havana in about half a century the 21st, Castro died late Friday tion of whether that had yet hap- in 1953 — six years before he suc- life,” said a tearful Aurora Men- dential nominee, Trump said he is due to arrive today. after surviving 11 US administra- pened. ceeded in ousting the US-backed dez, 82. thought restoring diplomatic Trump could easily review such uba mourned its revo- tions and hundreds of assassina- Havana was unusually quiet dictator Fulgencio Batista. She recalled a life in pov- ties with Cuba was fi ne, but that measures. lutionary leader Fidel tion attempts. No cause of death after alcohol sales were restricted Castro ruled Cuba from 1959 erty before Castro’s revolution Obama ought to have cut a better He has included Mauricio Clav- CCastro yesterday as it was given. and shows and baseball matches with an iron fi st until he hand- in 1959. “Fidel was always fi rst deal. er-Carone, a leading advocate for prepared a four-day funeral pro- “It is a great loss. The most suspended. No offi cial events ed power to his brother Raul in in everything, fi ghting for the Now that Trump has won the maintaining a tough economic cession for the giant fi gure of important thing is that he died were held yesterday but a series 2006 due to his ailing health. downtrodden and the poor,” she presidency, it is hard to know ex- embargo, in his transition team. modern history, loved by many when he chose, not when all the of memorials will begin today, Ordinary Cubans hailed him said. actly what his approach to Cuba Without giving any specifi cs, but branded a tyrant by others. counter-revolutionaries want- when Cubans are called to con- for providing free health and Indiana Valdes and her hus- will be. Trump said on Saturday that his After the stunned commo- ed,” said Carlos Manuel Obregon verge on Havana’s Revolution education. But he cracked down band Maykel Duquesne, who “None of that has been de- administration would “do all it tion triggered by Saturday’s an- Rodriguez, a 43-year-old taxi Square. “Today will be great. It harshly on dissent, jailing and work at a state-run bank, wor- cided,” Trump’s senior adviser, can” once he takes offi ce to help nouncement that Castro, 90, driver in Havana. “It may not be will go down in history,” Obregon exiling opponents. ried about life after Castro. “Fi- Kellyanne Conway, said on NBC’s increase freedom and prosperity had died, yesterday was a day of painful for everyone, but it is for said. Even in retirement, Castro del was the island’s protector, he ‘Meet the Press’ yesterday. “The for Cuban people after the death preparations ahead of a fl urry of a lot of people. I was born under Castro’s ashes will then go on a wielded infl uence behind the was everywhere,” said Valdes, 43. president-elect will make those of Castro. events to mark his death. this revolution and I owe Fidel a four-day island-wide procession scenes and regularly penned Fidel Castro, who came to decisions once he takes offi ce.” “Trump is the polar opposite Students left lighted candles lot.” before being buried in the south- diatribes against American “im- power as a bearded, cigar- However, Reince Priebus, who of Obama,” said burly Havana taxi next to a portrait of the black- President Raul Castro said his eastern city of Santiago on De- perialism” in the state press. chomping 32-year-old, adopted will be Trump’s chief of staff when driver Pablo Fernandez Martinez, bearded communist leader dur- older brother’s remains would be cember 4, the government said. Havana was unusually si- the slogan “socialism or death” he takes offi ce on January 20, said 39, as he hustled for work. ing a vigil at Havana University. cremated Saturday, the fi rst of Santiago, Cuba’s second city, lent as the nine offi cial days of and kept his faith to the end.

Nephews’ drug conviction Anger at abuse Ultimatum issued to ‘US imperialism’: Maduro Peru’s ex-fi rst lady AFP its European headquarters. Reuters The case has been an embar- But compliant state media have Lima Peru’s foreign ministry has said Caracas rassment for the leftist leader amid barely touched on the case amid a it complained to the FAO’s repre- an economic crisis in the oil-rich wider offi cial silence. sentative in Peru “against a deci- nation that has left millions going Franqui Francisco Flores de judge gave Peru’s ex-fi rst sion that could be interpreted as enezuelan President Nico- hungry because they cannot fi nd Freitas, 31, and Efrain Antonio lady Nadine Heredia 10 interference in a judicial investiga- las Maduro said the US or aff ord food. Campo Flores, 30, nephews of Adays to return to her coun- tion in Peru.” Vconvicted his wife’s neph- Cilia Flores, Maduro’s wife and a try, where she is under investiga- Heredia had been forbidden to ews on drug charges last week to big player in the country’s politics, tion, or face preventative deten- leave Peru while the courts inves- weaken his leftist government. were convicted by a federal jury in tion. tigated, but a judge recently lifted Two nephews of Venezuela’s Manhattan of conspiring to import “This is a request specifi cally the travel ban against her. fi rst lady were found guilty ear- cocaine into the US. for Nadine Heredia, who is being Humala, who left offi ce in July lier this month in a jury trial on The pair were arrested in Haiti investigated for money launder- after his term ended, was ordered charges that they tried to carry out in November 2015 and fl own to ing, to return to Peru within 10 not to leave the country as of last a multi-million-dollar drug deal “You think it’s just by the US following a sting operation days and to quit her job at the FAO; week. to obtain a large amount of cash to chance that the imperialists orchestrated by the US Drug En- in the event she does not return, Prosecutors believe the laun- help their family stay in power. created a case that had as forcement Administration. she could face preventive deten- dered funds came from the gov- In his fi rst comments since the its only objective to attack Prosecutors said the two men tion,” judge Richard Concepcion ernment of Venezuela’s then- conviction, Maduro blasted what the First Lady” plotted to use a Venezuelan air- said in an order. president Hugo Chavez and two he said was a clear sign of “US im- port’s presidential hangar to send The FAO is the UN Food and large construction fi rms in Brazil. perialism.” The high-profi le case was one 800kgs of cocaine to Honduras for Agriculture Organisation. If found guilty, the couple face “You think it’s just by chance of several in which US prosecutors shipment into the US. Heredia is accused along with between eight and 10 years in that the imperialists created a have linked individuals tied to the The US and Venezuela have had her husband, former president prison. case that had as its only objective Venezuelan government to drug a diffi cult relationship since the Ollanta Humala, of laundering On Friday, a UN spokeswoman to attack the First Lady, the First traffi cking. late Hugo Chavez was elected to $1.5mn allegedly given to fund his said privileges and immunities are Combatant, the wife of the presi- Venezuela’s opposition has power in 1998. Thousands of people take part in a rally to demand 2006 and 2011 presidential cam- extended to staff of all UN agen- dent?” Maduro said in an hours- seized the case as evidence that Maduro routinely blames the the end of violence and abuse against women in paigns. cies, and staff members of spe- long speech during a “Women’s top echelons of the government US for waging an “economic war” Quito. The protest was prompted by a series of With the investigation under cialised agencies in the exercise of March” in Caracas, accusing are involved in narcotics, and has against Venezuela. The US gov- brutal murders which stoked outrage over a long- way, the Rome-based FAO ap- their functions. Washington of seeking to weaken demanded a full explanation and ernment did not immediately re- smouldering problem in the region. pointed Heredia to head its liaison Heredia is believed to be in his administration. investigation. spond to a request for comment. offi ce in Geneva, where the UN has Rome. Gulf Times Monday, November 28, 2016 23 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN Qamar Bajwa: The general with extraordinary abilities

Internews The BBC says some of the worked with him, say that sit-in of Imran Khan. Lahore offi cers, who have previously he not only has solid opinion Gen Bajwa, again just like worked with Gen Bajwa, are of on political issues but also Gen Raheel, takes keen interest the opinion that discussion on doesn’t hesitate expressing in matters related to the army’s akistan’s new army chief every topic could be held with them. training and has played an vital General Qamar Javed Ba- him at any time. According to the BBC, Gen role as the head of the army’s Pjwa is known as an offi cer This quality makes him popu- Bajwa is recognised as an offi cer training branch. with extraordinary abilities, says lar and exceptional among his having an extraordinary deci- Gen Bajwa has not only led the BBC. associates. sion-making ability. Pakistan’s largest 10 Corps but The new army chief, Gen Ba- The senior army offi cers, in This characteristic is also also severed in it twice. jwa, and his predecessor Gen their quest for keeping them- shared by both Gen Bajwa and He designed the recently held Raheel Sharif have several com- selves above political affi liations, Gen Raheel. military exercises. monalities in personal and pro- are generally seen avoiding dis- The outgoing army chief Previously, he served as com- fessional respect. cussing political issues not only had expressed his qual- mandant of the Infantry School Just like Gen Raheel, he is with their close friends but also ity by launching the North in Quetta. known among his colleagues as at private gatherings. Waziristan operation – Gen Bajwa belongs to the in- open-minded offi cer and is al- But Gen Bajwa has quite dif- which had been delayed for fantry’s Bloch Regiment and has ways desirous of training and ferent attitude in this respect. several years – and playing a served in the UN peace mission Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif talks with Qamar Javed Bajwa, Pakistan’s newly designated Army enhancing the expertise of army. Some of the officers, who decisive role during the 2014 in Congo. Chief, at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad, on Saturday. Walking for a cause Six oil fi rm workers kidnapped Reuters “They were sub-contractors Areas (FATA) bordering Afghan- Dera Ismail Khan providing works for Geofi zyka istan. Krakow, a company which is Geofi zyka Krakow has a long now in liquidation. They were history of seismic survey work in ix Pakistanis working for not Polish,” a PGNiG spokesman Pakistan. a Polish oil and gas sur- said. In 2008, a Polish engineer Sveying company have He declined to give any more working for the fi rm was kid- been kidnapped in northwest- details. napped by the Pakistani Taliban ern Pakistan, military sources near the northwestern city of said, years after a Polish engi- “They were sub-contractors Attock, and beheaded several neer from the same company providing works for months later. was beheaded by Pakistani Geofi zyka Krakow, a Overall security in Pakistan militants. company which is now in has improved over the last few The six Geofi zyka Krakow liquidation. They were not years but many of the north- Citizens Against Weapons (CAW) group volunteers carry signs during a campaign ‘Walk a cause’ demanding to deweaponise the city, in workers were snatched from Polish” western areas bordering Af- Karachi, Pakistan, yesterday. their vehicles on Saturday after- ghanistan remain volatile and noon on a road near the village of A Polish foreign ministry dangerous, especially for for- Drazinda, about 80km from the spokeswoman tweeted that eigners and those working with city of Dera Ismail Khan, two of- there were no Polish citizens in foreign companies. fi cials with security forces in the the group and that the Polish The frontier regions, deeply area said. embassy in Islamabad is moni- conservative and hard to access One of the offi cials, who spoke toring the situation. due to rough terrain, have long Islamabad and Pakistan’s census not anytime on condition of anonymity as No militant group has claimed been the sanctuary of fi ghters they are not authorised to speak responsibility for the kidnap- from Al Qaeda, the Taliban and Kabul resume to media, provided Reuters with pings. other militant groups. soon if tensions persist with India the names and national identity In the past, militants from the Most of the myriad mili- high-level card numbers of the workers. Pakistani Taliban group have tant groups that stage attacks Geofi zyka Krakow, a subsidi- kidnapped people in the region inside Pakistan are trying to contacts Internews decision to conduct census from the armed forces. ary of Poland’s state-run gas for ransom or to bargain for the overthrow the government to Islamabad with support from the army Asked about the fate of the fi rm PGNiG, could not be imme- release of prisoners. establish an Islamic theocracy was taken in the CCI meeting census, the offi cial said it was diately reached for comment. The area where the workers and impose a stricter interpre- Internews held in March 2016. up to the CCI to decide whether On its website, the PGNiG lo- were kidnapped is close to South tation of the religion than is Islamabad he Pakistan Bureau of The bureau has completed its to go ahead without the army or cal unit said it had gone into liq- Waziristan, part of the lawless practised in much of the coun- Statistics (PBS) has not preparations, he said, adding not. uidation in August 2016. Federally Administered Tribal try. Tbeen able to come up with that it was now up to the CCI But he was of the opinion akistan and Afghanistan a concrete time frame for con- to decide and give the bureau a that the involvement of army have resumed high-level ducting the long-awaited sixth roadmap moving forward. personnel would make the cen- Pcontacts rekindling hopes population and housing census Asked when the CCI meeting sus results more acceptable and for normalisation of their bilat- in the country. would be convened next, the of- transparent. eral relationship. A meeting was convened by fi cial said it was not their man- However, the political govern- Pakistani opposition demands Yesterday, Prime Minister Na- Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to date to summon a meeting. ment would decide the mode of waz Sharif met Afghan President review PBS preparations for the Following the decision to in- the census, the offi cial said. Dr Ashraf Ghani in Ashgabat on census yesterday. volve the army in the census An official statement issued the sidelines of the Global Con- Several such meetings have exercise, the PBS estimated it after the meeting said PBS severing trade ties with India ference on Sustainable Trans- been held since the Council of would need around 167,000 Chief Statistician Asif Bajwa port and the outgoing army Common Interests (CCI) de- army personnel to go door-to- gave an overview of the prepa- chief, General Raheel Sharif, cided to postpone the census in door. rations, apprising the meeting Agencies Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif bouring country, Dawn online spoke to Afghan Chief Execu- March 2016. In addition, the bureau esti- that the necessary prepara- Islamabad is fond of Indian bananas and reported. tive Dr Abdullah Abdullah on the But given the non-availability mated it would need an addi- tions on the civilian side had Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Tension between India and phone. of army personnel due to esca- tional 20-30,000 personnel to been completed, including the who should have been at the Pakistan is again at a peak. The prime minister and the lating tensions along the Line of supervise the census operation. release of funds for logistical akistan Tehreek-e-Insaf border to defend the country, “Indian forces are killing in- army chief contacted the Afghan Control with India, it looks like A PBS offi cial said that the arrangements, procurement of vice chairman Shah Me- has been defending the prime nocent civilians and our army leaders at a time when Islama- the census will remain in limbo army had estimated the to- hardware and appointment of Phmood Qureshi has urged minister in the Panamagate case, personnel along the LoC but our bad has stepped up eff orts to until the CCI revises its decision. tal manpower for the census at field staff for the census opera- the government to immediately Qureshi said on Saturday. Prime Minister is fondly eat- encourage the Taliban to join the The last census was held 17 around 300,000, but given the tion. sever trade ties with India over Qureshi told the media in ing bananas imported from the peace process. years ago. prevailing conditions on the Line The fi nance minister ex- the killing of ten of its civil- Umerkot that despite cross- neighbouring nation. It was learnt that there had “We are ready to hold the of Control (LoC), it would be pressed satisfaction with the ians and three soldiers in fir- border fi ring along the LoC the It is high time we sever trade been some diplomatic eff orts census,” a senior PBS official next to impossible to spare such preparations made on the civil ing along the Line of Control Pakistani government had not ties with India and unite on one this month when a three-mem- said, but maintained that the a large chunk of human resource side for holding the census. (LoC). broken trade ties with the neigh- platform,” Qureshi said. ber Taliban delegation was in Pakistan’s capital to explore peace prospects. “The Taliban’s Qatar offi ce is now considering a strategy for possible political negotiations,” a member of the Taliban offi ce in Kabul police raid shisha cafes in crackdown Qatar said. Nawaz and Ghani discussed peace prospects and the former Reuters spots for Afghan men. trucks full of confi scated shisha ‘appreciated’ Afghan govern- Kabul The Afghan authorities, how- pipes. ment’s efforts for peace and ever, say the cafes can be breed- Teams of police offi cers yes- stability in the strife-torn ing grounds for petty criminals. terday walked from one cafe to country. fghan police and health Led by the health ministry, the next, confi scating pipes and ‘‘[He] also expressed sup- offi cials raided cafes and authorities plan to go through ripping down pictures advertis- port to the peace deal between Arestaurants in Kabul yes- each Kabul neighbourhood this ing shisha smoking. Afghan government and Hizb- terday, confi scating shisha wa- week to enforce, for the fi rst Many cafe owners and cus- e-Islami Afghanistan,” the PM ter pipes and paraphernalia in a time, a two-year-old law ban- tomers were taken by surprise, offi ce said in a statement. campaign to halt “debauchery ning indoor smoking in restau- with a few racing out covering The prime minister said a po- and vulgarity”. rants. their faces. litically negotiated settlement Critics say the campaign will “We have to have control over Some angry customers said through an Afghan owned and only distract police from the shisha cafes, which promote that police should be focusing Afghan led peace process is the Afghan capital’s deteriorating debauchery and vulgarity in so- more on protecting the commu- most viable option for lasting security situation, while doing ciety,” Kabul police chief Abdul nity from suicide bombers and peace in Afghanistan. little to change the pervasive Rahman Rahimi told reporters kidnappings. “Pakistan will continue its smoking culture in the long- outside one of the many restau- “The police cannot even se- serious eff orts for facilitating term. rants raided by police. cure the safety of their people the peace process, including Shisha cafes, where cus- “This is a religious and Islamic and are instead wasting their through the Quadrilateral Co- tomers inhale fruit-flavoured society and our young genera- time on grabbing some water operation Group (QCG) of Af- tobacco using pipes that draw tion should not waste their en- pipes from these small busi- ghanistan, China, Pakistan and the smoke through water, ergy in a wrong way,” he added nesses,” said Saboor Bayat, a the US,” he told Ghani. are popular public gathering while standing near two pick-up customer at Kabulistan cafe. A policeman confiscates shisha water pipes from a shisha cafe during a raid in Kabul yesterday. Gulf Times 24 Monday, November 28, 2016 PHILIPPINES Farmers aff ected by typhoon get aid packages in Cagayan

By Leander C Domingo recorded that at least 56,000 Manila Times/Solana hectares of rice fi elds, 9,000 hectares of corn fi elds and 2,000 hectares of vegetables uper typhoon Lawin-af- plantations were destroyed. fected farmers in Cagay- Contributing almost 30% San got a much-needed to the country’s rice and corn boost as they make the transi- needs, tion to ecologically viable ag- Cagayan and its nearby riculture after the devastation provinces of Isabela, Nueva wrought by Lawin on their Vizcaya and Quirino in Ca- crops and lands. gayan Valley (Region 2) are the This came in the form of top food production areas of seed and fertiliser response the country. packages from the Green- A two-day seminar on In- peace Southeast Asia (GSA)- tegrated and Diversifi ed Or- led People’s Food Movement ganic Farming System before (PFM). The food campaign the seed distribution was network distributed organic also conducted here by Jon- seeds, fertilisers and other jon Sarmiento of Pambansang farm inputs to 150 farmers in Kilusan ng mga Samahang the municipality. Magsasaka (Pakisama) along The PFM’s activity here is with Lerma Matus, a typhoon in collaboration with Green Yolanda farmer-survivor. Meadows Foundation and During the seminar, Solana Ecological Agriculture Sarmiento said, the farm- Group, Solana town’s local ers were trained to practice government and Greenpeace climate-resilient agriculture, Troops fire their 105mm howitzer cannons towards enemy positions from their base near Butig town in Lanao del Sur province on the southern island of Mindanao yesterday. Philippines. self-suffi ciency by preserving GSA Executive Director Yeb the seeds, and making their Saño said the response pack- own fertilisers sourced from ages include vegetable seeds, materials that are abundant vermicast, molasses, palay and readily available in their seeds, bokashi and various areas, so that they will not concoctions that were sourced have to resort to loans to re- from farmers practising eco- build their farms. logical agriculture in Nueva Ramon Padilla, national Ecija and nearby provinces. co-ordinator of the Cen- Troops fi re artillery Sano said that whenever ex- tre for Health Initiatives and treme weather events such as Management of Ecosystems droughts and super typhoons (CHIMES), said Lawin brought hit an area, the agriculture devastation to the livelihood of sector always suff ers the most. small holders and producers “The impact of these ex- but it also opened up opportu- treme weather disturbances nities to start the conversation bury our farmers further in on the seeds as the core of life at militants in south an endless cycle of debt, our and food. food production and supply “We want to reclaim own- AFP in the distance as an MG-520 Armed forces spokesman “They have long been pro- month, accused of the Septem- decrease, and food prices in- ership and control of the food Butig helicopter gunship flew over- Brigadier General Restituto fessing allegiance to the foreign ber bombing that left 15 people crease. All of us are aff ected. system for the small hold- head, a reporter in the town Padilla, citing what he called terror group. This is still part dead in Davao, Duterte’s home We need to empower our ers and household produc- said. “intelligence sources”, said 11 of the Maute group’s agenda in town and Mindanao’s largest farmers to be able to help the ers, in consideration with the roops yesterday fi red ar- Most of the 17,000 residents of the militants had been killed courting support and encour- city. whole nation,” Sano said. consumers’ right to safe and tillery at positions held of the largely Muslim town on and five wounded. aging similar-minded individ- Government forces captured He explained that events like healthy food,” Padilla said. Tby a militant faction in Mindanao island fled to evacu- Padilla said their bodies had uals to support ISIS,” he said a Maute training camp in the Lawin, aggravated by climate Padilla added that through the southern Philippines as more ation centres in neighbouring not yet been recovered. in a statement, using another town in June after a 10-day change, has wrought havoc seed response work, the PFM soldiers deployed against the towns or to relatives elsewhere Two soldiers were wounded acronym for IS. gunbattle that left four soldiers on the lives and livelihood of hopes to help address the group, which staged a deadly after the Maute incursion on in the battle, he added. The Maute group is one of and dozens of militants dead, farmers in the Philippines. looming hunger among farm- bombing in President Rodrigo Saturday, said Mayor Dimna- Reporters in Butig said the several armed organisations in according to an army account. He added that Lawin caused ers aff ected by typhoon Lawin Duterte’s home city. tang Pansar. military had obtained pho- Mindanao which have pledged The Maute group, once de- at least P10.2bn damage to and slowly ease their way out Troops used 105mm artil- “We can’t fight the Maute tographs showing the Maute allegiance to Islamic State scribed by the military as a agriculture, P3.4bn to infra- of the cycle of indebtedness. lery to blast the positions of with only 20 policemen,” he group flying the black IS flag fighters in Iraq and Syria. small-time extortion gang, at- structure, and aff ected more He said the activity also the Maute group in the nearly said, appealing for more sol- over the old town hall. In past clashes with troops, tacked a remote army outpost than 49,000 farmers in diff er- aimed to show the farm- deserted town of Butig in the diers to be assigned there. However they themselves its members were seen carrying in Butig in February, triggering ent provinces in Luzon. ers that there is an alterna- second day of fighting since Only a few residents stayed were not allowed to get close black IS flags and bandannas a week of fighting that the mil- Lawin was classifi ed as a tive way of farming that will the gunmen — who claim al- in their homes as armoured enough to verify this. bearing the militants’ insignia itary said left six soldiers and 12 Category 5 storm with maxi- provide them, their families, legiance to the Islamic State vehicles and military snipers Another military spokes- were found in their base, the militants dead. mum sustained winds of 165 and the whole nation with group — occupied Butig’s fanned out through the town man, Colonel Edgard Arevalo, military said. The group also beheaded two miles per hour. healthy food that are produced abandoned town hall. streets, slowly advancing on said this symbolic action was Three members of the Mau- employees of a local sawmill in In Cagayan province, the through safe, sustainable and Mortar bombs could be heard the Maute group’s position. expected. te group were arrested last April, the military has said. Department of Agriculture has climate resilient agriculture.

Homemade bomb explodes De Lima to face ombudsman probe outside Catholic church

DPA the main entrance of the over links to illegal drug trade Manila church which helped to block the impact of the explosion, but two of the car’s passengers By Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino Police said Augustine and This will also counter the homemade bomb ex- were injured. & Jaime G Aquino Cristina Dingcog had confi rmed statements of Dayan during the ploded in front of a Superintendent Romeo Manila Times that Dayan slept in their house House inquiry on November 24 ACatholic Church in the Galgo, a regional police at Sitio Bato in Barangay Lacong. that he had no cellphone while southern Philippines yester- spokesman, said the device The farmers gave the Sam- he was in hiding, and had no day, injuring two people, local was believed to have been trig- ormer Justice secretary sung Galaxy Y with a Smart communications with de Lima offi cials said. gered by a mobile phone. and now Sen. Leila de Lima SIM card and the Festina silver and his wife Norilyn or other The blast occurred as peo- Galgo said intelligence of- Fis facing a fact-fi nding in- watch to Lacong Barangay chair- relatives. ple were coming out of the fi cials believe the bombing vestigation in connection with man Dominador Lilan at around Dayan’s supposed friends Our Lady of Hope Parish in was meant to divert atten- her alleged involvement in the 10.30am on November 25, police Daniel Dingcog and Reynal- the town of Esperanza in the tion from a military off ensive illegal drug trade, Ombudsman said. do Espe told Manila Times de southern province of Sultan against the Maute group, Conchita Carpio Morales has Earlier, the couple found Day- Lima’s ex-bodyguard, whom Kudarat after a mass. which has pledged allegiance said. an’s gun, a calibre .40 Glock 22 they knew as “Dodong,” was Local mayor Helen Latog to the Islamic State terrorist “Well there is a pending case Gen 4 with a magazine and 15 always busy answering his cell- said a car was parked across organisation. fi led before the deputy ombuds- live ammunition. Police are still phone, especially when he was man of the Visayas and that is determining if the gun was li- already drunk. against de Lima … so we are con- censed. “We often heard him (Dayan) ducting fact-fi nding,” Morales The couple told Manila Times talking to a certain ‘Ma’am’ and told reporters in an interview Dayan’s wife Norilyn visited his ‘love’ to his cellphone, ask- Vice mayor killed in on Friday on the sidelines of the him at least six times at a hut in ing for help and advice about his annual homecoming of the Uni- a farm owned by a resident of problem, but we did not ask him versity of the Philippines College Barangay San Felipe in San Juan, what his problem was,” Daniel daring attack at home of Law. Leila de Lima: under scrutiny La Union. said in the Ilocano language. “Because there have been The cellphone and the wrist- Daniel also claimed he saw By Moh Saaduddin bility for the killing of Sindatuk some leads so we gave it due to drug traders, even as several said the payoff s occurred in 2015, watch were then turned over by red and white cars believed to Manila Times/Kidapawan City who only recently took the seat course by conducting fact-fi nd- inmates of the New Bilibid Pris- but Dayan said money changed Lilan to Police Offi cer 3 Joff re be owned by Dayan, which were of the town’s vice mayor, when ing,” Morales said. on had testifi ed that they gave hands in 2014. Uluan, chief investigator of the used by Dayan’s wife and neph- Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom Morales was criticised in Oc- money to the former Justice sec- Espinosa himself fl ed to the San Gabriel police station. ew Jomar each time they visited he newly-installed vice was killed last month during tober for saying an investigation retary through her driver-body- United Arab Emirates after he Uluan told Manila Times him in his hideout in September, mayor of Datu Saudi an alleged shootout with police on de Lima was “not going to guard, Ronnie Palisoc-Dayan. and his late father Rolando Sr, Dayan’s phone contained con- October and in the fi rst week of TAmpatuan town in operatives in Makilala, North happen” as there were no leads. After weeks in hiding, Dayan mayor of Albuera town, were tact numbers of some prominent November. Maguindanao province was Cotabato. A complaint had been fi led at on Thursday testifi ed before the linked to the drug trade by government offi cials like sena- He also claimed he had heard killed in a daring attack car- Mayor Dimaukom was re- the Offi ce of the Ombudsman in House of Representatives that he President Rodrigo Duterte. The tors, congressmen, board mem- Dayan talking to “Ma’am” ask- ried out by unidentifi ed in- placed by his wife, the then the Visayas by Police Chief Insp. received money from Espinosa younger Espinosa was repatri- bers, police offi cers and others. ing for money. dividuals yesterday morning, vice mayor Anida Dimaukom. Jovie Espenido of Albuera, Leyte on de Lima’s behalf. ated to Manila last November 18. The inbox contained text mes- Daniel said he used to accom- authorities here said. Based on the law of succession, against de Lima and several oth- The testimony also revealed On Saturday, Senior Insp. sages sent to his family and other pany Dayan to Bacnotan town to An initial police report said Sindatuk was then sworn in as ers. details of the seven-year roman- Ronald Allan Rupisan, chief of personalities. buy rice and groceries and to get Vice Mayor Anwar Sindatuk vice mayor. In his complaint, Espenido tic aff air between de Lima and police of San Gabriel, La Union, Police said the cellphone of money from the ATM. Dayan al- was killed by unknown men Sindatuk was elected as the accused de Lima of receiving Dayan, a native of Urbiztondo, said a farmer-couple had turned Dayan could serve as evidence ways wore a jacket and a cap. who barged into his house at fi rst ranking municipal coun- protection money from alleged Pangasinan. over a mobile phone and a wrist- of recent transactions with a He said he had also accom- around 8.20am. No individual cillor of Datu Saudi Ampatuan Eastern Visayas drug kingpin But Dayan’s testimony clashed watch left by Dayan in their number of personalities while he panied Dayan to the Bacnotan or group has claimed responsi- town in the May elections. Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr. with that of Espinosa. At the house before his capture last was hiding in the mountains of cockpit arena, bringing along De Lima has denied any links Senate on Wednesday, Espinosa November 22. San Gabriel. fi ghting cocks. Gulf Times Monday, November 28, 2016 25 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL 7 killed, 18 injured in Lanka leader seeks Nepal crash

DPA Trump help to drop Kathmandu even people were killed and 18 others were injured Swhen an overcrowded jeep crashed in central Nepal, local police said yesterday. The jeep veered off a dirt war crimes charges track late Saturday and fell into a stream 100m below the road AFP legations) and allow us to start Tiger rebels in 2009, a period January 2015 presidential election. in Batasedanda, about 150km Colombo afresh.” when Sirisena’s predecessor Having led three anti-Sri Lan- south-west of Kathmandu, local Sirisena said he was making a and strongman leader Mahinda ka resolutions at the UNHRC be- police spokesman Bishnu Hari similar appeal to the incoming Rajapakse was in power. tween 2012 and 2014, the Barak Koirala said. ri Lanka’s President UN Secretary-General Antonio Sirisena said he had been able Obama administration adopted a “Six died on the spot and one Maithripala Sirisena has Guterres. to “tone down” a US-initiated softer line on Sri Lanka since the died on the way to hospital,” Sasked Donald Trump to However, during a visit by censure resolution soon after pro-west Sirisena was elected as Koirala said. “Three people, in- pressure the UN Human Rights outgoing Secretary-General defeating Rajapakse and coming president. cluding the jeep’s driver, were Council to drop war crimes al- Ban Ki-moon to Sri Lanka last to power in January 2015. But The rights council has asked seriously injured.” legations against the country’s month, Sirisena had asked for he was keen to secure Trump’s Sri Lanka to ensure credible in- All 18 injured passengers were troops. more time to investigate war help to have the allegations vestigations into war crimes, pay taken to two hospitals in Bharat- Sirisena’s offi ce said yester- crimes, a sensitive political is- against Sri Lanka dropped. reparations to victims and their pur, the town nearest to the site, day he had sent a “special mes- sue in the majority-Sinhalese President Sirisena said: “I families and ensure reconciliation he said. sage” to President-elect Trump country. was able to save the former after 37 years of ethnic war which Maithripala Sirisena: “I am asking Donald Trump to help completely clear In September, 18 people were seeking US intervention at the Sri Lanka has said it will set President Mahinda Rajapakse claimed at least 100,000 lives. my country (of war crimes allegations) and allow us to start afresh.” killed when an overcrowded council, where Sri Lanka faces up special courts to address is- and our valiant soldiers by Troops still have a large pres- passenger bus crashed on a nar- censure for wartime atrocities. sues of accountability, but the giving the UN Human Rights ence in the former confl ict well with the SLFP cadres and armed forces against the West- row mountain road in northern “I sent a special message to promised judicial mechanisms Council necessary messages.” zones in the north and east and leaders who fear that in the ern nations’ accusations, disre- Nepal. Donald Trump asking him to have yet to be established. He was referring to the leni- keep a close watch on the local forthcoming local bodies elec- garding the fact that the armed Poorly maintained vehicles support us at the (council),” There have been allegations ency shown by the US and the Tamil population, seven years tions, the faction led by former forces had rid Sri Lanka and the coupled with reckless driving the president said. “I am ask- that troops killed up to 40,000 international community af- after the end of the war. president Rajapakse will score world of one of the most deadly and bad roads lead to numer- ing him to help completely clear minority Tamils during the fi nal ter he came to power defeating Sirisena hopes that his re- because it has been portray- terrorist groups - the Tamil ous fatal road accidents in Nepal my country (of war crimes al- battle against separatist Tamil the anti-west Rajapakse in the marks at Galle will go down ing itself as the protector of the Tigers. every year. Flight carrying Militant outfi t chief, 9 others Hasina makes charged under terror law

By Mizan Rahman Saiful Islam alias Prince, Abu rorism Act with Mohammad- suspects were plotting against Dhaka Hanif, Ali Azad, Jahidur Rah- pur police station in Dhaka. Bangladesh’s sovereignty and emergency halt man, Kazi Dewan, Naimul On September 8, 2014, an- attempting to tarnish the image Hasan, Junnun, Aminul Islam other DB police inspector Abdul of the government. Dhaka court yesterday and Abdullah Al Asadullah alias Latif submitted a charge-sheet The trial was stalled as the DPA made an emergency landing at framed charges against Piyas. against 10 ABT men, including home ministry’s clearance Dhaka Ashgabat International Air- A militant outfi t Ansarul- Among the accused, Rahm- Jasimuddin Rahmani. was needed. On November port after the fuel pressure of lah Bangla Team (ABT) chief ani, Saiful Islam alias Babu and Prime suspect Rahmani is 8 this year, the court took one of the Boeing 777’s engines Sheikh Hasina was aboard the Mufti Jasimuddin Rahmani and Abu Hanif are now in jail, while now serving a fi ve-year prison the police chargesheet into n international fl ight car- dropped. Boeing 777 along with her en- nine others in a case fi led under Ali Ahad secured bail. The oth- term for involvement in the cognisance. rying Bangladeshi Prime “All passengers of the fl ight tourage as she was on her way the Anti-Terrorism Act. ers remained fugitive. 2013 murder of blogger Ahmed The charge-sheet details sus- AMinister Sheikh Hasina are safe,” he added. to Budapest. Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Earlier on November 8, the Razib Haider. picious fi nancial transactions to Hungary made an emergency Hasina was aboard the plane Judge Qamrul Hossain Mollah court issued an arrest warrant In 2013, police fi led the case involving Rahmani. landing in Turkmenistan after along with her entourage as she repaired, and the fl ight with 99 framed charges against them against the fugitives after tak- under the Anti-Terrorism Act It said Rahmani transacted technical problems, offi cials said was on her way to Budapest for passengers and 22 crews mem- and also fi xed January 4 to start ing the charge-sheet into cog- accusing Rahmani of inciting 24.8mn taka from diff erent yesterday. the International Water Summit bers left for Budapest from the trial in the case. nisance. terrorism through his sermons. branches of Al Arafah Islami Civil Aviation and Tourism 2016 to kick off today. Ashgabat after a test run. Rahmani is known to be a top On August 24, 2013, Detec- In September next year, po- Bank across the country. Minister Rashed Khan Memon Shakil Meraj, Biman Bangla- Hasina waited at the Ashga- fi nancier of militant activities tive Branch (DB) police inspec- lice pressed charges against 10 Investigators say they believe told reporters that the fl ight desh Airlines spokesman, said bat airport for nearly four hours, in Bangladesh. tor Nibaran Chandra Barman persons. the funds were used to fi nance operated by the national airline the technical problems were said a foreign ministry offi cial. The other accused include fi led a case under the Anti-Ter- The documents claimed the militant activities.

Opposition disinclined Handicraft Trade Fair opens towards statute changes Nepal uses

Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is in a tight spot as he prepares to table in parliament token system the second amendment to the constitution in the next few days but the opposition seems not to be supporting him, the media reported yesterday, IANS reports. for vehicles As the country marks the tenth anniversary of the peace accord this week, Dahal assured the Madhesi parties that he would deliver this time, but they are not entering China satisfied with his promise, the Nepali Times reported. The Communist Party of Nepal IANS As the traditionally main trade (United Marxist-Leninist), the Kathmandu route - Tatopani-Khasa (Zhang- second largest party in the Nepali mu) route - has remained closed Parliament, has told the Prime since last year’s quake, the trad- Minister that it will not support epal has introduced ers have started shifting to Rasu- the bill. a token system for its wagadhi border for their export The Nepali Congress, the coalition Ncargo containers en- and import requirements. partner of Dahal’s Communist tering the bordering Kerung The new route was formally Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), is (Geelong inland port) in China opened for international trade letting him stew. through Rasuwagadhi region, only in December 2014. But Dahal told the Nepali Times the only operating interna- According to Adhikari, this week that he does not feel tional border point between the new system will ease the burdened by his work. the two countries. movement of vehicles across CPN-Maoist-Centre politburo “We have implemented the the border. member Bodh Raj Upadhyay said: token system starting from But, the Nepali offi cials “The chairman (Dahal) has lost his Saturday. Now, only 50 con- also fear whether entry and charisma, the cadre are frustrated Nepal Vice President Nanda Kishor Pun (second right, front) inaugurates the 14th Handicraft Trade Fair and 12th Craft competition tainers can enter China at exit of 50 containers would be and our party is on the verge of in Kathmandu. The Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) in co-operation with Ministry of Commerce, Nepal Trade once for importing goods from enough for the growing trade collapse. He needs to make a bold Integration Strategy (NTIS Programme) Trade and Export Promotion Center organised the fair which will run till November 29. the country,” Xinhua news through this route. and quick move. If he succeeds, agency quoted Krishna Prasad “Currently, around 200 it will revive our party and his Adhikari, chief district offi cer containers are returning at political career.” of bordering Rasuwa district, once from China bringing Dahal is trying to make as saying. goods,” Kedar Paneru, Chief the Constitution “broadly “After these containers re- Customs Offi cer at Rasuwa acceptable” to all by pushing turn to Nepal, another 50 will district, said yesterday. four amendments - tinkering US puts off trade meet with Bangladesh be given tokens to enter China.” According to Paneru, the with federal boundaries, easing According to Adhikari, shipment of containers is taking restrictions on the rights of By Mizan Rahman (TPP) and other deals with ment would assume in offi ce, the against the principle of the WTO. vehicle movement on the place twice a week currently. naturalised citizens, ensuring Dhaka foreign countries. US Trade Representative (USTR) “Bangladesh would benefi t after Nepali side of the border has “If it takes place twice a week proportional representation in Commerce Minister Tofail would also be changed … So, we the cancellation of TPP.” been diffi cult due to parking with 50 containers at a time in- Parliament and recognising more Ahmed announced the postpone- have to wait for the new offi cials.” Turning on the generalised sys- of hundreds of trucks on the stead of most of the days in a off icial languages. he United States has ment yesterday after a meeting with Mentioning that Bangladesh tem of preferences (GSP), the com- road, which remains fragile week, it will create a big prob- But the CPN-UML is opposing the put off the third round US ambassador Marcia Bernicat. and the US had signed TICFA to merce minister said the US is not after the April 25 earthquake lem in bilateral trade and rev- Prime Minister’s proposals, saying Tmeeting of the Trade and He said it was postponed for strengthen trade co-operation, providing the facilities to Bangla- last year. enue collection of the Nepali these are not in the interest of Investment Co-operation Fo- installation of the new govern- he said Bangladesh is yet to reap desh due to political grounds. Due to traffi c jams on the government,” said Paneru. Nepalis and are directed by a rum Agreement (TICFA) with ment in the United States after the benefi ts of the agreement. “Our commitment would road, several hydropower Although Nepali traders have foreign hand. Bangladesh, scheduled to be the recent election. Congratulating President- continue to strengthen trade projects being developed been increasingly using the The Federal Alliance has rejected held in Dhaka on December 13 “The meeting would be held in elect Donald Trump, Ahmed said and commercial co-operation near the border are fi nding it Rasuwagadhi-Kerung route after the amendment bill, and even in view of President-elect Don- March or April on the availability he (Trump) has declared that TPP with Bangladesh,” said Bernicat hard to transport necessary the closure of Tatopani-Khasa the Madhesi Front is lukewarm ald Trump’s decision to scrap of suitable time,” Tofail Ahmed would be cancelled under his while speaking at the briefi ng construction materials, said border point, the new route has towards it. the Trans-Pacifi c Partnership said. “While the new govern- 100-day activities as it is totally about the TICFA meeting. Nepali offi cials. not been as busy as the old one. Gulf Times 26 Monday, November 28, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Production Editor: C P Ravindran General keeps his word,

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] bequeaths strong legacy Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Going by the more recent under immense political pressure Fax 44350474 - and subsequently, under General history, it would have been Ashfaq Kayani, whose reluctance to convenient for Army Chief launch a military operation in North Waziristan (the hotbed of militancy) Raheel Sharif to enjoy and the shocking US raid that snared an encore on the basis Osama bin Laden from near a premier military academy had brought the GULF TIMES of current form institution’s morale to an all-time low. Musharraf benefi ted from two By Kamran Rehmat extensions - in all, three successive Doha terms - that he gave himself after ousting the second-time elected government Retreating glaciers in of Nawaz Sharif; and Kayani one - eneral Raheel Sharif will amounting to two full terms. have a bracketed affi x from Gen. Sharif, on the other hand, tomorrow, the one that arrived with a sense of direction and West Antarctica may Gsignals career-end: retired. purpose. Even though he reportedly In hanging his uniform at the end of took a unilateral decision in pursuing his three-year term, he has revived a the military operation Zarb-e-Azb cause a sea change tradition that ought to have been the - claims of the Sharif government standard but was tinkered with by his notwithstanding - the rich dividends more power-hungry predecessors. gave him a certain authority that In a very interesting twist to the theories about the If the outgoing strongman deserves would otherwise have been lacking. climate change saga, it has been found that the enormous plaudits it is for something else: The political downside for the glaciers of West Antarctica appear to be retreating in an turning around Pakistan’s existential civilian Sharif is that he has been fi ght against terrorism and extremism largely walking in the shadows of the ‘unstoppable’ way. The process, if it continues, could with unrelenting commitment and THE LAST STAND: General Raheel Sharif’s decision to retire on time, the first khaki Sharif since coming into power ultimately turn the West Antarctic ice sheet into an area dare, giving a weary nation credible army chief to do so since 1996, has reinforced a desirable tradition. a third time in 2013 - something that of wide open ocean and raise global sea levels by 10ft. hope of better tomorrows. rankles him no end. It is an open secret Though it has long been assumed that this But his retirement or otherwise on his terms, a legacy untouched by lifeline, which enjoys the kind of that the PM did not fancy giving his (read coerced or willing extension) a civilian chief executive. Ideally, it normalcy today it has not seen in the namesake the leeway to prolong his destabilisation of West Antarctica was caused by remained the focus of the only entity would be the chief executive’s call last two-and-a-half decades. It gave own ‘second fi ddle’ agony. Perhaps, human-induced climate change, a new study published that has an even larger-than-life signed by the president. birth to that famed Twitter hashtag the General saved the PM his blushes in the journal Nature last week may have just made that footprint than the men in khakis Gen. Sharif’s decision to exit the - #ShukriaRaheelSharif (Thank you by default in sticking to a ‘principled story considerably more complicated, The Washington - Pakistan’s chatterbox electronic door on schedule has been welcomed Raheel Sharif) - that is used by both decision’! media. That kind of shebang obviously by both the government and the his indulgent supporters and sarcastic Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Post reported. takes its toll on the government and opposition. Going by the more recent detractors! a confi dante of the PM, had long The new research, led by researchers with the British so it remained just as wary despite history, it would have been convenient While there is still time to analyse been giving the media to believe that Antarctic Survey but with accompaniment from an early call from the General about for him to enjoy an encore on the his redoubtable contribution, the neither the issue of extension was stacking to the retirement plan. basis of current form, and few among decision to hang up his boots offers under consideration nor was any such scientists at US, German, Dutch, Swiss, and British In most democracies, the the critics would probably have even several ponderables, none more fi le on the PM’s table. Knowledgeable universities, focuses on Pine Island Glacier, one of the appointment and retirement of a broken a sweat had the army chief compelling than the raison d’etre: circles however, contend it had been largest and most threatening in West Antarctica. It military commander is a routine aff air, been handed what has been a done Did he do it out of conviction more than a passing worry for the is dumping nearly 50bn tonnes of ice into the oceans not some national issue of the scale deal in the country’s peculiar power premised in a rich family tradition government, and Asif, sort of gave the that would keep a fretting stakeholder matrix for the last two decades. (his brother laid down his life on game away in pointedly praising the each year – more than any other glacier on the globe or two up at night and, as a result, In keeping his word, Gen. Sharif the war front and is a recipient army chief for “introducing a healthy except for its next door neighbour, Thwaites – and could entail the kind of media circus it does breaks path from two of his immediate of Nishan-e-Haider, the highest trend in the country”. ultimately raise ocean levels by close to 2ft all on its own. in Pakistan. But then, the country has predecessors, who didn’t quite cover gallantry award)? Was it a calculated Where the timely arrival of a new This is happening because the glacier has been been ruled directly by the military for themselves in glory in securing decision after not getting favourable army chief - a decision the prime nearly half its existence and few, if extended terms that, in eff ect, brought vibes from the civilian Sharif and minister once again laboured over right retreating backwards and downhill – the marine-based ever, question the sweeping trajectory Pakistan to a sorry pass, especially growing unease that the extension until the end - has reinforced a desirable glacier rests in very deep waters, and the terrain behind of its power even when it stays behind in the global war on terrorism. The issue may have compromised his tradition, it has also raised the stakes for where it currently touches the ocean gets even deeper the constitutionally elected chief incumbent has not only cleared the declared mission of eliminating General Qamar Javed Bajwa to at least inland. It is an unstable confi guration, and scientists executive. messy ground he inherited, but is also terrorism this year in Pakistan? May meet the benchmark set by the outgoing That the khaki chief announced credited with setting desirable goals in be a bit of both? commander. Those are indeed big shoes have long suspected that warm ocean waters created the the decision in January this year to pursuing the fi ght against terrorism. Some giveaways can be to fi ll, not in the least, Gen. Sharif’s problem by eff ectively un-grounding the glacier from a retire on time - through the Director The measure of success is evident contextualised on the basis of unfailing ability to strike a chord with roughly 800m deep undersea ridge, upon which it was General Inter-Services Public not only in how the khakis blitzed performance and perception. The popular sentiment thanks to action on resting in a more stable Relations on Twitter - itself betrayed militants and their hideouts in the image of the army had eroded a great the fi eld and optics off it. the extent of civil-military imbalance. badlands up north, but restoring peace deal in the last years of General Pervez Pine Island alignment. It demonstrated his desire to go out to Karachi, the country’s economic Musharraf - who was forced to resign zThe writer is Community Editor. The surprise from Glacier is the new study, though, is the suggestion that dumping nearly the un-grounding may 50bn tonnes have started all the way back in the early to The stakes of Italy’s referendum of ice into the mid-1940s – while there were no satellite images oceans each By Mario Margiocco house) of two-thirds of its members of Antarctica. The early Milan and much of its legislative authority, year 1940s were hot for a very making it merely a talking shop akin particular reason – a to the second chamber of Germany’s n the last 68 years, Italy has held Bundesrat, and return some of strong and long-lasting Pacifi c El Nino event spanning 17 general elections and a few the regions’ powers to the central from 1939 to 1942. This mega-El Nino, a precursor to referendums. government. the massive El Ninos since seen in 1997-1998 and 2015- I But only three times has an Changes like these have been 2016, aff ected the circulation of the atmosphere all the Italian vote claimed centre stage discussed for 30 years. internationally: in 1948, when the The lack of movement could way down in Antarctica, where stronger winds in the choice was between the West and benefi t Renzi, if voters conclude that Amundsen sea region can allow warmer deep waters, communism; in 1976, when voters they should not waste such a rare called “circumpolar deep water,” to move in towards the faced a similar choice, between the opportunity to do something to reform glaciers. There is general agreement that these waters are Christian Democrats and Enrico their sclerotic system. Berlinguer’s “Eurocommunism”; and President Sergio Mattarella is responsible for West Antarctic retreat. now, with the upcoming referendum impartial, but he would prefer that the Through the new study researchers conclude that a on constitutional reforms. reforms go forward. little after the El Nino of 1939 to 1942, an “ocean cavity” The implications of the upcoming His predecessor, Giorgio vote are enormous. Napolitano, is also strongly in favour opened up behind the ridge, one that warm waters could Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has of the reforms, which he says would be get into – a fi rst sign of destabilisation. However, the staked his political future on the vote, “great news for Italy.” ice did not lift fully off the ridge until around 1970, the pledging to step down (though not But the reforms have also faced stiff researchers believe. immediately) if the reforms are rejected. opposition. Such an outcome that would Some state institutions dislike the The unavoidable question is what this sequence of irreparably weaken the centre-left idea of delivering more powers to events says about our own responsibility for destabilising government coalition as well: Renzi’s the executive branch; magistrates, Pine Island (and, perhaps, other West Antarctic glaciers). Democratic Party (PD) is already roiled for example, fear a loss of judges’ The world was less warm in the 1940s, after all, and the by infi ghting over the reforms. extensive and unchecked powers. In fact, the PD may not be able to Then there are the new populists, role of human-caused global warming on El Nino events avoid a split even if the vote goes the several PD old-timers, and plenty of remains debated. prime minister’s way. other establishment fi gures, including According to James Smith, a glaciologist with the A defeat for Renzi will be read as a several former members of the British Antarctic Survey and the fi rst author of the study, victory for Italy’s two major populist constitutional court, who generally parties: the Lega Nord and the larger fear change. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has staked his political future on the vote. the 1940s is potentially a few years before the really big Five Star Movement, led by the Former Prime Minister Silvio spike in anthropogenic-forced warming but it is certainly comedian Beppe Grillo. Berlusconi, ever the opportunist, is arguments, and no credible vision for is capable of distinguishing between within the realms of human-induced change. Arguments The two parties are not allied, also opposing the reforms. the future. policy and comedy. are sure to fl ow back and forth. But one thing is clear but both are nurtured by anti- The opposition, as usual, benefi ts He blames Europe for Italy’s As in the United Kingdom and the establishment sentiment and favour considerably from its simple message. mistakes, such as piling up massive United States, change is the magic – we are changing the planet in myriad ways with our “national solutions” to Italy’s To vote “no” is to vote against the public debt, which now amounts to word in Italy today. greenhouse gas emissions. problems – beginning with a return to “system” and all of its corruption. 132% of GDP. Nobody wants to be against change. the Italian lira. Who is not against corruption? Add And he makes unfeasible promises, Instead, opposition to reform is If Renzi is defeated, Lega Nord and to that rising Euroskepticism, and the such as a guaranteed income for all framed as support for better reforms. the Five Star Movement could join result is an intoxicating political brew. citizens without other means. Don’t just change the constitution, To Advertise forces to support a new government Opinion polls now indicate a Juan Peron, the consummate the No campaign implores voters: and hold a new referendum – this time 5-6-point majority for No, with 20% populist, proved just how fl awed change everything! As in Giuseppe [email protected] on the euro. of voters still undecided. such giveaways can be when he took a Tomasi di Lampedusa’s great novel Il Display If Italy – one of the world’s largest If a general election follows the similar tack in Argentina. Gattopardo (The Leopard), changing Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 public debtors – decided to go it alone, referendum, Grillo will be running And that is not even the only everything could be just the way to the entire European project could be neck and neck with Renzi’s PD. Argentinian mistake Grillo may be set keep it all the same. Classified dealt a mortal blow. Given the huge premium accorded to make. That is the last thing Italy needs. – Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 In the age of Donald Trump and to the winner by Italy’s new electoral He also supports the Argentinian Project Syndicate Brexit, that outcome is far from law (Renzi was sure he would be the model of dealing with the debt by Subscription unthinkable. one to benefi t), such a prospect is truly defaulting on it. zMario Margiocco’s most recent book [email protected] The issue at stake in the referendum frightening. It is such an absurd proposition is Il disastro americano. Riuscirà is not inconsequential, but it should Grillo – much like Lega Nord’s – Italy has never defaulted, though Obama a cambiare Wall Street e not decide the fate of Europe. Matteo Salvini – has scant political it did, under Mussolini, try to go its Washington? (The American Disaster: 2016 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Italians will vote on whether to strip experience, little knowledge of “own way,” with disastrous results Will Obama Change Wall Street and the Senate (the parliament’s upper European history, few refi ned – that one wonders whether Grillo Washington?). Gulf Times Monday, November 28, 2016 27 COMMENT Masters of war in Syria and Iraq

The lack of order in the Arabs and Kurds and their American advisers most likely worked for international order is months to anticipate issues and to greatly complicating the ensure success before the fi ghting began. task of bringing Mideast But it is already clear that there is far confl icts to an end more at stake in the Mosul campaign than the eradication of IS. By Christopher R Hill Depending on how it ends, we Denver will know whether Iraq emerges as a multi-sectarian state or a set of sectarian and ethnic enclaves. he Middle East’s tragic tale of Sunnis seem to want no part of two cities – Aleppo in Syria the Shia-majority government in and Mosul in Iraq – speaks Baghdad, even though the Iraqi army Tto a fundamental lack of (along with the Kurds) is playing the consensus in the region and within the largest role in the fi ght against IS. broader international community. As if the Sunni-Shia divide within The lack of order in the Iraq were not diffi cult enough, a international order is greatly deeper and even more problematic complicating the task of bringing fi ssure has now emerged – Turkey’s these confl icts to an end. own struggles with its identity and its When the bloody confl ict fi nally externally imposed borders. ends in Syria, there will be no victory The statement by Turkish President parades, no moment of national Recep Tayyip Erdogan that his catharsis. country has not reconciled itself to its More likely than not, what there 100-year-old southern border with will be is a political arrangement that Iraq’s Nineva Province has greatly leaves Syria within its current borders complicated Turkey’s ability to play a but with local autonomy that refl ects role in Iraq’s healing process. the diversity and – at least for the Arabs have long harboured deep time being – the mutual distrust of its A man eats food that was distributed as aid in a rebel-held besieged area in Aleppo, Syria. suspicion that the Turks want more than various ethnic and religious groups. just to protect the Turkmen minority No one will be happy. war produced a similar number of to Europe and elsewhere, causing Russia’s direct participation in the other members of the international and Sunni Arabs in the confl ict. The accoutrements of a civil casualties and refugees, and when all political tensions in countries far fi ghting, the crisis has deepened. community and with the combatants Now, Erdogan has confi rmed these state do not exist, and there are no is said and done, probably a similar removed from the confl ict. Russia’s intervention on behalf of themselves. suspicions. institutions around which to build number of unsuccessful ceasefi res. The huddled masses of refugees Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has Only when the combatants can How the fi ghting in Aleppo and social consensus or the rule of law. The Syrian civil war is not yet crossing one European frontier after also caused further deterioration in envision the post-war future can a Mosul ends will help clarify the tasks Until these broad principles can be even half the length of that horrifi c another soon became a metaphor for US-Russian relations, which could ceasefi re work. ahead. articulated, the war will never be truly struggle; but nor is there any sign that what angers so many Europeans in this fuel danger elsewhere in the world. Nobody wants to be the last person But until Russia, the US, Turkey, over. the various combatants are fatigued globalised age. US Secretary of State John Kerry to die fi ghting when the future is Saudi Arabia, and others (Europe, is Ceasefi res work best – and hold the by it. The lack of international consensus and his Russian counterpart Sergey already known. anyone home?) can come together longest – when the combatants fi nally The international community will on Syria, refl ected in the failure of the Lavrov have so far failed to fi nd any In Mosul, the fi ghting is not a civil around a set of principles that steer understand that a set of principles likely be aff ected by Syria’s civil war United Nations Security Council’s workable way forward to end the war. the region toward peace, the carnage agreed by the broader international more than it was by Lebanon’s, owing permanent players to agree on a way fi ghting. Unlike in Syria, where there must will continue. —Project Syndicate community will be the basis for to its greater global impact. forward, has caused the situation on One longs for the day that Kerry be tradeoff s among the combatants, shaping the future of their country. The refugee tide was at fi rst the ground to worsen. and Lavrov emerge from a negotiating in Mosul the struggle against the zChristopher R Hill, former US The Syrian war is not contained within the neighbourhood, Fueled by continued support of the room to announce to the world that so-called Islamic State (IS) is a war of Assistant Secretary of State for East unprecedented in the region. especially in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, combatants by Middle Eastern states they have agreed on a set of principles annihilation. Asia, is Dean of the Korbel School of The Lebanese Civil War was even and even Iraq. (which seem to have no confi dence in that will guide Syria’s future and will And, in contrast to the Russian and International Studies, University of longer: from 1975 to 1990, that But soon refugees began to fl ow the international system), and with work to achieve consensus among Syrian off ensive in Aleppo, the Iraqi Denver, and the author of Outpost. Weather report The politics of job polarisation Three-day forecast TODAY only a high school education. robust recovery in stock prices and to higher infl ation and higher interest High: 26 C By Simon Johnson Low : 21 C Washington, DC A leading symptom – but only a high-end real estate. rates – does not typically help lower- symptom – is the disappearance of In this environment, with so many income people (remember the 1970s). Expected strong wind and high sea well-paid factory jobs. people insecure about their economic Trump’s main substantive promise has core problem in the United Employment in manufacturing fell prospects, the push by President been to bring back middle-class jobs, States today – refl ected in by more than 2mn from 2004 to 2014, Barack Obama’s administration for the particularly in manufacturing. TUESDAY Donald Trump’s victory in and now accounts for just over 8% of Trans-Pacifi c Partnership (TPP) was a But nothing in his policies or the High: 26 C the presidential election total employment – continuing a long tone-deaf approach, at best. broader Republican program will Low: 21 C A Sunny earlier this month – is that too many decline since the 1950s. The administration argued that TPP address the underlying issue of Americans feel helpless and insecure This technology-driven trend has would create some good jobs – and that technological change. in the face of the job polarisation that been compounded by the eff ects people who lost jobs as a result could be And the next wave of technology, has resulted from globalisation and of decreased transportation and “compensated.” But such compensation including driverless vehicles, will WEDNESDAY new technology. communication costs, making it always proves to be minimal and is have a major negative impact on High: 26 C While highly educated people at the cheaper to move goods over long widely viewed as meaningless. the incomes and opportunities of Low: 21 C top of the income distribution are doing distances. That’s why Trump racked up large everyone who currently delivers goods Sunny better than ever, people with only a Growing networks of sophisticated majorities in so many working- or transports passengers by car. high school education face declining suppliers make it easier to move class bastions that had previously Moreover, the rapid advance of incomes, living standards, and prospects manufacturing activity overseas to supported Obama. artifi cial intelligence and robotics Fishermen’s forecast for themselves and their children. lower-wage locations. Unfortunately, life is about to get means that even if manufacturing OFFSHORE DOHA The middle class is being torn apart. Many US companies have made worse for these voters. output in the US stabilises or ticks Wind: NW 12-22/25 KT Trump won largely because he this a signifi cant part of their business With control of the presidency and upwards, it will not involve anywhere Waves: 04-07/08 Feet persuaded voters in Pennsylvania, strategy, with the resulting decline of Congress, the Republicans are likely to near the number of middle-skill jobs INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW 05-15/25 KT Michigan, Wisconsin, and elsewhere US manufacturing going hand in hand pursue three main economic policies. that it did in the past. Waves: 1-3 Feet that his policies will yield better with a decline in unionisation. Lowering personal and corporate Likewise, automation will erode the outcomes in communities where When people lose a relatively taxes will primarily help richer number of currently well-paid jobs in Around the region manufacturing is declining. high-wage and high-benefit union Americans. the service sector. Weather Weather In fact, his administration, backed job, they often are reemployed at a Repeal of Obama’s signature healthcare Given the role of technology in today Max/min tomorrow Max/min by Republican majorities in both lower wage and without the same reform will have a severe impact on displacing workers, protectionism Abu Dhabi M Sunny 31/22 M Sunny 29/22 houses of the US Congress, will likely level of benefits. many lower-income people as they lose – tearing up trade agreements and Baghdad Sunny 20/02 Sunny 21/08 Dubai M Sunny The 2008 fi nancial crisis exacerbated aff ordable insurance coverage. imposing tariff s on Chinese and P Cloudy 29/22 28/23 only make things worse for hard- Kuwait City P Cloudy 23/13 P Cloudy 23/14 pressed Americans. income inequality and economic And fi nancial deregulation will Mexican goods – won’t bring back Manama Rain 24/19 Sunny 24/19 The underlying problem is new insecurity in part by accelerating the mostly favour large global banks, high-paying manufacturing jobs, and Muscat Sunny 27/21 Sunny 28/22 technology, specifi cally information loss of manufacturing jobs. encourage reckless risk-taking, and set Trump has no plan B. That means the Riyadh T Storms 20/15 S Showers 22/15 technology, and the way it has Arguments that it was necessary, the stage for another large-scale crisis. polarisation of America that brought Tehran Sunny 11/01 Sunny 13/03 transformed the nature of work. or even “optimal,” to skew fi nancial In addition, the confrontational Trump to power will only become far As David Autor and David Dorn have support from the government toward trade measures that Trump has more severe. – Project Syndicate shown, many middle-skill, middle- banks and their executives are not proposed are likely to make the income, middle-class jobs have persuasive (at least, not outside Wall employment situation worse. zSimon Johnson is a professor at MIT’s disappeared. Street). Yes, well-off Americans At the same time, the extent of any Sloan School of Management and the The new jobs that have emerged are experienced a big plunge in wealth eff ective stimulus to the economy is co-author of White House Burning: well paid for highly educated people when asset prices tanked. likely to be very small. The Founding Fathers, Our National and poorly paid for people who have But they have since benefi ted from Overheating the economy – leading Debt, and Why It Matters to You. Live issues How to talk to strangers

By Oliver Burkeman (if you aren’t up for talking, don’t wear empathetic ones instead – not to shut The other problem is “pluralistic New York a badge). The main objection seemed down the whole idea, which feels ignorance”, whereby we follow a Around the world to be how excruciating it would be rather like capitulating to the creeps. rule because we assume everyone Weather Weather to have to listen to other passengers’ Done right, she says, encounters else supports it, when really they’re today Max/min tomorrow Max/min know I risk having my British stumbling attempts at dialogue. between strangers create “beautiful assuming likewise. Athens Rain 19/11 S Showers 14/06 citizenship revoked for saying And when you’re that horrifi ed and surprising interruptions in the And so the carriage remains mute, Beirut Sunny 22/16 M Sunny 23/18 Bangkok M Sunny 32/23 M Sunny 32/22 this, but I admired how by the prospect of humans willingly expected narrative of your daily life… even though many might be secretly Berlin Sunny 03/-4 M Sunny 02/-2 Jonathan Dunne – the American engaging in mundane activities in You fi nd questions whose answers you yearning to talk. Cairo M Sunny 25/15 P Cloudy 25/17 I Cape Town M Sunny Cloudy 24/16 behind those “Tube chat” badges, public, isn’t it possible the problem thought you knew”. Can moaning ever I don’t expect the curmudgeons 24/16 encouraging conversation on the isn’t with them? make you happy? reading this to buy the argument. Colombo P Cloudy 30/23 P Cloudy 29/24 M Sunny 29/21 London Underground – responded to Because the truth – according to an Read more Legitimate fears of I barely buy it myself, which is Dhaka 28/20 M Sunny Hong Kong P Cloudy 21/17 S Showers 20/17 the hostility his project provoked. accumulating body of research, and harassment aside, we probably why my recent attempts to talk more Istanbul Rain 13/08 Rain 08/04 He ordered twice as many badges, now a book, When Strangers Meet, by hate the idea of striking up such to strangers have been so faltering. Jakarta T Storms 30/24 S T Storms 32/25 recruited volunteers, and plunged back the American educator Kio Stark – is conversations because it combines (Also, I’m still traumatised by Karachi Sunny 32/16 Sunny 30/16 into the fray. that people really are happier when two ubiquitous stumbling blocks on trying it on a recent trip to Sweden, London Sunny 08/-1 Sunny 06/-2 Manila P Cloudy 32/25 M Sunny 32/25 Don’t get me wrong: true to my they talk to strangers, even when they the path to happiness. apparently the only country worse Moscow S Showers 0/-11 Cloudy -10/-12 nationality, my fi rst instinct is that predict they’ll hate it. One is how bad we are at “aff ective at public small talk than the Brits.) New Delhi Sunny 29/12 Sunny 28/13 anyone proposing more conversation This topic quickly gets derailed by forecasting”, or predicting what But that’s the thing about affective New York M Sunny 12/09 Rain 17/12 between strangers should be questions of street harassment, but will make us happy: when asked by forecasting: we can’t trust our own Paris Sunny 06/-2 Sunny 04/-3 Sao Paulo T Storms T Storms 27/18 imprisoned without trial. Stark is clear she’s not excusing that. researchers to imagine talking to predictions. 31/21 Seoul Sunny 05/-4 M Sunny 08/-2 But on refl ection, that reaction’s But her book suggests that the right someone on the train or bus, plenty So you’re certain you’d never wear a Singapore T Storms 31/24 T Storms 31/24 odd. way to combat a culture of obnoxious of people are appalled; when asked Tube chat badge? Maybe that’s just a Sydney I T Storms 27/18 P Cloudy 22/16 After all, Tube chat isn’t interactions between strangers actually to do it, they report enjoying sign you should. Tokyo Clear 15/10 Clear 13/06 encouraging unwanted conversation is to foster a culture of sensitive, the journey more. [email protected] Gulf Times 28 Monday, November 28, 2016 QATAR

The gathering at Kahramaa’s Annual Planning Forum. Kahramaa forum discusses ways to meet challenges of utilities sector

atar General Electricity of Kahramaa. The corporate Vision 2030. Speaking at the & Water Corporation strategic plan which has pri- meeting, Dr al-Sada said Q(Kahramaa) has held its marily six major objectives Kahramaa’s Corporate Stra- annual planning forum with namely asset excellence, op- tegic Plan (2017- 2021) has the theme, “ Efficiency To- erational excellence, people embodied in it the philoso- wards Excellence”. excellence, community, social phy of QNV 2030, ten-point The corporation’s corporate excellence and commercial strategy of the second phase strategic plan (2017- 2021), the excellence, would be achieved of National Development roadmap to Qatar National Vi- through a number of Key Per- Strategy (2017- 2022) and re- sion (QNV) 2030 and plans of formance Indicators (KPIs). marks made in the speech of the different departments for All the departments’ busi- HH Emir Sheikh Tamim bin the same planning cycle fea- ness plans have been aligned Hamad al-Thani during the tured prominently in the delib- with their KPIs to achieve set opening of 45th Shura Coun- erations. parameters and targets. cil. The event had the presence The forum discussed the Kahramaa launched its of HE the Minister of Energy business plans (2017–2021) of transformational journey and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Kahramaa’s directorates and in the beginning of 2014 by Saleh al-Sada, Kahramaa’s departments and the road- adopting the general strate- president and senior engineer map to meet the challenges gies and objectives which it Essa bin Hilal al-Kuwari, di- of the utility sector and cus- aimed to achieve over the next rectors, department manag- tomer service to help achieve five years, and a long-term Minister for Energy and Industry HE Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada (right) and Kahramaa president Essa bin Hilal al-Kuwari. ers and senior functionaries the goals of Qatar National roadmap until 2030. Traffi c slows after heavy downpour

By Ramesh Mathew As on the fi rst day, Muaither clearing fi rm said more than 50 Staff Reporter and its surroundings and the vehicles belonging to their com- Doha Industrial area were heav- pany were at work both on Sat- ily aff ected with waters flood- urday and yesterday at a location ith Qatar receiving ing some of the streets in these in Muaither. heavy downpour for places. There was similar or even Wthe second day run- According to information re- greater demand for tankers, for ning in the afternoon yesterday, ceived from residents of these clearing rainwater from the In- many roads, including those on areas, the situation that followed dustrial Area streets as well. the western side of Doha were the rains yesterday was similar to Their activities are expected to reportedly fl ooded. what these localities had experi- continue even today. There were also reports of se- enced on Saturday. Vehicular movement was vere waterlogging in other areas. Representatives of a sewage abysmally slow on the Doha- Industrial Area road, Salwa road, Al Waab signal and surround- ings, Corniche and Shamal Ex- pressway among others, inquir- Some of the high-rises in Doha’s West Bay are reflected in the rainwater that flooded an open ground. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil ies found. Waterlogging continued for the second successive day in many of the inner roads of Doha, too, especially in Doha Jadeed, Mansoura and Farij Abdul Azeez. The roads surrounding Souq Waqif were marooned and no traffi c was seen in the area for a while. Visibility fell considerably across the country in the wake of the rains and it had its eff ect on traffi c fl ow. Fishermen also informed that Halul and other places experi- enced good rains between 3pm and 4pm. Some of the boats which left Doha for fi shing in those areas are now berthed in Halul and are expected to return only when weather conditions Tankers continued to be deployed at many areas to alleviate flooding yesterday. improve. While cautioning the resi- dents on the necessity of driving carefully, the Ministry of Inte- rior has tweeted that traffi c pa- trols were stationed at a number of locations to ease vehicular movement. Though there were reports of electricity disruption on Satur- day in parts of Doha, and even outside the city, there were no such reports yesterday. How- ever, there were reports of water leaking through the roof of some of the new buildings, including shopping centres. Later, Qatar Meteorology di- rector Abdulla al-Mannai re- vealed that the rains may be Traff ic slowed down due to the downpour. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil weaker today (Monday). Motorists negotiate a flooded street during the downpour. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam