BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 10 Federer outlasts Nadal for INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-7, 24 COMMENT 22, 23 18th grand REGION 8, 9 BUSINESS 1-5, 11-15 20,01200 10,884.70 53.17 ARAB WORLD 9 CLASSIFIED 6-11 Qatar, Montenegro sign -39.00 -105.06 -0.61 INTERNATIONAL 10-21 SPORTS 1-11 slam -0.19% -0.96% -1.31% air transport agreement Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

MONDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10349 January 30, 2017 Jumada I 2, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Golf: Korea’s Wang makes history Prosecution In brief

QATAR | Visit offi ce opens Yemeni president due in Doha today HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will meet today at the Emiri at airport to Diwan with Yemeni President Abd- Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who is due in Doha for a working visit. HH the Emir and the Yemeni President will discuss means of promoting bilateral relations in addition to a host of issues of common concern. collect fi nes

QATAR | Weather he Public Prosecution has He noted that the offi ce can only Strong winds and opened an offi ce at Hamad In- process travel bans issued by the Pub- Tternational Airport (HIA) to lic Prosecution and not by any other cold night forecast process transactions of departing pas- state authority. A travel ban issued by Strong winds are expected in parts of sengers and enable them to pay the any entity in the country other than the the country today along with slight to fi nes they have incurred. Public Prosecution will be out of the blowing dust at times, the Qatar Met South Korea’s Wang Jeunghun receives the winner’s trophy from Commercial Bank of Qatar CEO Joseph Abraham (right) and Located in the Departures Lounge at scope of the new offi ce. department has said. Mild daytime Qatar Golf Association president Hassan al-Nuami after his victory in the 20th Commercial Bank Qatar Masters yesterday. Wang HIA, the centre enables those banned Al-Marri also announced his depart- conditions have also been forecast along held his nerve in a tense, three-way play-off to secure a hard-fought victory over South Africa’s Jaco Van Zyl and Sweden’s Joakim from leaving the country by the Public ment’s intention to open another offi ce with a cold night. Off shore areas, too, Lagergren after the trio had all finished at 16-under par to force the tie-breaker. “It feels really fantastic for me, it’s really, really Prosecution on account of not paying at the Abu Samra Border crossing, and are likely to see strong winds and high great,” said a jubilant Wang after becoming the first player from an Asian country to win the event in its 20-year history. Sport fi nes and others who have outstanding may be another exit point such as the seas until midnight, and slight dust is Pages 2,3 fi nancial liabilities. Those who are un- seaport. “However, the main focus now also expected, according to the weather der a travel ban for issuing dud cheques is on HIA and the Abu Samra border off ice. A minimum temperature of 16C can also pay the amount at the counter crossing due to the large numbers of is expected today in Abu Samra and and earn the right to leave the country. people using these points of exit.” Dukhan, while in Doha it will be 19C. The Meanwhile, Brigadier Issa Arrar al- maximum, on the other hand, will range “The main focus now is on Rumaihi, director of the Airport Secu- from 19C in Ruwais to 24C in Doha. HIA and the Abu Samra rity Department, pointed out that the border crossing due to the opening of the offi ce was the result of REGION | Unrest 30% rise in passengers large numbers of people close co-ordination between the Public using these points of exit” Prosecution and the Ministry of Inte- Commando dies in rior, with a view to speeding up travel- US raid in Yemen A self-service machine has also been related processes. Besides, the offi ce A US commando died and three others installed for the convenience of pas- can handle simple cases of transit trav- were wounded carrying out a deadly passing through HIA sengers. The travel ban will be lifted ellers through HIA. dawn raid on the Al Qaeda militant automatically and immediately af- Turki Rashid al-Muhannadi, a sen- group in southern Yemen yesterday, in ter paying the outstanding amount ior offi cial at the Public Prosecution, the first military operation authorised by QNA an annual rise of 14.9% and 15.4% re- annual decrease of 29.6% compared to through the self-service machine, said the new offi ce at HIA can inves- President Donald Trump. The US military Doha spectively. December 2015, where the total number which has a multi-language interface tigate minor off ences that fall under said it killed 14 militants in a raid on a The demographic statistics show was 10,317. and is user-friendly. It works round the Civil Aviation Law. “Off ences such powerful Al Qaeda branch that has been that Qatar’s population reached more Total broad money supply (M2) re- the clock and inquiries can be made as smoking on board, causing trouble a frequent target of US drone strikes. he number of passengers passing than 2.5mn at end of December 2016 corded about QR498bn during Decem- through it as well. or noise, or not following the instruc- Medics at the scene, however, said through Hamad International compared with about 2.4mn in Decem- ber 2016, showing a monthly increase Besides, a number of prosecutors tions of the cabin crew, or any such around 30 people, including 10 women TAirport increased 30.3% year- ber 2015, an annual increase of 7.3%. of 1.9% compared to November 2016. and other employees are available to crime that can take place on board the and children, were killed. Page 8 on-year, offi cial data showed yesterday. The total number of births reached On the other hand, cash equiva- take the necessary steps to accomplish aircraft can be investigated by the of- The Ministry of Development Plan- 2,198 in December 2016, whereas the lents (including deposits) accounted the process and lift the travel ban, so fi ce, which can be settled at the air- EUROPE | French primaries ning and Statistics has released the number of deaths reached 217. for QR727bn during December 2016, a that people can travel without any de- port itself without the need to transfer 36th edition of ‘Qatar; Monthly Statis- There were 347 marriages and 118 di- monthly increase of 5.2% compared to lay, a release issued by the Public Pros- the suspect to the police station and Socialist Hamon earns tics’ which off ers detailed statistics on vorces during December 2016. November 2016 which recorded about ecutor’s offi ce said. then to the headquarters of the Public shot at presidency Qatar. Traffi c violations reached 178,565 QR691bn. HE the Attorney General Dr Ali bin Prosecution.” Hard-left Socialist Party candidate The total number of arrivals reached during December 2016, a monthly de- In contrast, total broad money sup- Fetais al-Marri said any person who The new offi ce is the latest step by Benoit Hamon was heading for an more than 1,662,000 passengers dur- crease of 2.3% compared with the pre- ply (M2) recorded an annual decrease fi nds out that he is banned from leaving the Public Prosecution in executing emphatic victory in French presidential ing December 2016, while the total vious month. The total number of new of 4.6%, while cash equivalents (in- the country can approach the offi ce and swift justice and help process some of primaries yesterday, with off icial results number of departures totalled more vehicles registered reached 7,259 in cluding deposits) recorded an annual pay any outstanding fi ne at the airport the verdicts that might prevent pas- showing him taking nearly 60% of the than 1,693,000 passengers, recording December 2016. The fi gure shows an increase of 11.8%. offi ce. sengers from leaving the country. vote. Hailing his win, Hamon said the results signalled a desire to modernise and reinvigorate the leftist party, which has suff ered from the term of highly unpopular President Francois Hollande. “Tonight, the left raises its head, it turns Trump faces tide of criticism, protests toward the future, and it wants to win,” Hamon, 49, said. Page 15 Agencies Confusion persisted over details of Abul Gheit urged the Trump admin- Washington/Cairo implementation, in particular for green istration to revise these restrictive pre- BUSINESS | Aviation card holders who are legal residents of cautions because they are threatening the United States. families’ union, interaction between Emirates changes In his most sweeping action since the Arabs and the American nation and pilot, crew rosters S President Donald Trump taking offi ce on Jan. 20, Trump, a Re- depriving many young Arabs of attain- Emirates airline has changed pilot and fought back yesterday amid publican, put a 120-day hold on al- ing higher education in the US. flight attendant rosters on flights to the Ugrowing international criticism, lowing refugees into the country, an The Arab League chief expressed United States following the sudden US outrage from civil rights activists and indefi nite ban on refugees from Syria alarm at “existence of indications that travel ban on seven Muslim-majority legal challenges over his abrupt order for and a 90-day bar on citizens from Iran, there is trend to make religion as an of- countries, highlighting the challenges a halt on arrivals of refugees and people Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and fi cial criterion with regard of accepting facing airlines to deal with the new from seven Muslim-majority countries. Yemen. or not accepting the refugees. rules. The world’s largest long-haul He and senior aides defended the Meanwhile, Arab League Secretary “This in particular constitutes a carrier, which flies daily to 11 US cities, policy and one administration offi cial General Ahmad Abul Gheit yesterday form of indiscrimination that con- has made “the necessary adjustments said Friday’s order could be expanded expressed deep concern toward new travenes with international laws on to our crewing, to comply with the to include more countries, even as bor- US measures including “unjustifi ed human rights and the 1951 Geneva latest requirements,” an Emirates der and customs offi cials struggled to restrictions” on entry of Arab citizens Convention Relating to the Status of HE the Attorney General Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri and other senior off icials at the spokeswoman said. Business Page 2 put it into practice. into the US. Refugees.” Pages 9, 11 newly-opened Public Prosecution off ice at HIA. Central lab adds new procedures to ensure food safety atar’s Central Food Laboratory and inspection and therefore the prob- compliance with the GCC standards, One of the most signifi cant recent clearance process of food items. For- No 4 of 2014, which gives the Ministry will soon be able to tell if the ability of any item that is unfi t for hu- she said. scientifi c achievements of the labora- eign countries have also been requested of Public Health the direct responsibil- Qsource of meat in a food product man consumption reaching the public One of the new procedures intro- tory was publishing a research paper in to nominate liaison offi cers to interact ity to implement the law based on GCC is from Halal animals or not, Director of does not exceed 0.01%. “This is one of duced at the Central Food Laboratory the Drug Testing and Analysis journal with Qatari authorities in the fi eld of technical regulations and standards. Food Safety and Environmental Health the best global records.” includes checking the presence of any on fi nding the residues of 120 pesti- food safety. The department is also responsible Wasan al-Baker has said. The Ministry of Public Health has drug residue in a food product. The cides in cucumbers and apples. Moreover, she said specialists from for monitoring environmental health “Future plans in this area include more than 80 inspectors who are work- lab will also adopt new procedures to The offi cial said the Joint Human the department are currently engaged issues such as air pollution. Besides, it the development of analytical ways ing round the clock at the border posts identify the presence of unknown com- Food Control Committee accepted on in three Arab initiatives to develop a is in charge of ensuring compliance by to make sure that the animal has been to ensure the highest level of safety for pounds in food products. December 14, 2016 a proposal to allow unifi ed system for food safety, which kitchens in workers’ housing facilities, slaughtered according to the Islamic food imported from abroad. The Food She said the lab, ranked among the the private sector to operate laborato- will help facilitate early warning, issu- canteens, desalination plants, reser- method,” al-Baker told Qatar News Safety and Environmental Health de- best 15 such facilities in the world, con- ries for human food testing in Qatar. ing unifi ed certifi cates for export and voirs and water distribution networks. Agency (QNA) in an interview. partment comes under the ministry. ducts around 350,000 tests annually She also said an integrated electronic risk assessment at the Arab level. The Water Quality Monitoring Unit According to her, all human food In 2016, about 3,000 tonnes of food on about 22,000 samples. Its results are network was being set up to connect all Al-Baker said imported food is regu- also monitors the water used in manu- entering Qatar through various border items were rejected and not allowed accepted by the most competent inter- stakeholders, including the Customs lated according to the provisions of facturing diff erent food items such as ice crossings are subjected to strict control to enter the country because of non- national centres. department, which will help in the Law No 8 of 1990 as amended by Law cream, dairy products, juices and soda. Gulf Times 2 Monday, January 30, 2017 QATAR

Lebanon president PM meets Greek defence minister Qatar-Greece defence ties reviewed hails bilateral ties with Qatar

President of Lebanon General Michel Aoun said that Qatar’s support for his country has contributed to building the Lebanese State, praising the relations between the two countries. Aoun added, during an interview with LCI, the French TV news channel, responding to a question about his visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, that the visit aimed to restore Lebanon’s relations with Qatar and Saudi Arabia. “We are working on returning relations to their previous status, and we should work with confidence,” he said. HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met HE the Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah met the Minister of Aoun explained that this is the Minister of National Defence in Greece Panos Kammenos in Doha yesterday. Talks dealt with National Defence in Greece, Panos Kammenos, and the accompanying delegation in Doha Lebanon’s last opportunity for relations between Qatar and Greece and ways of developing them, as well as regional and yesterday. They reviewed co-operation between both countries, especially in the military field, rebuilding a strong country international issues of mutual interest. and ways of developing them. The meeting was attended by a number of military off icials. through building the state institutions. UN hails Qatar’s eff orts in Medical supplies provided for 150,000 Syrians in Aleppo preventing crimes, genocide elief work is in progress under the fi rst phase of the Aleppo support campaign, called for Rby HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- QNA international areas of confl ict, in nese government and the Sudan He noted that there is a Thani, during the Qatar National Day celebrations Doha addition to its continued support Liberation Movement/Army steady increase in religious in December 2016. to the UN organisations in the ef- (SLMA) on the basis of the Doha and ethnic conflicts in differ- The campaign is conducted under the supervi- forts aiming to halt the terrible Document for Peace in Darfur, ent regions of the world, which sion of the Regulatory Authority for Charitable pecial Adviser to the UN crimes and genocide, he said. affi rming the signifi cant role of requires more attention and re- Activities with the participation of fi ve charities Secretary General on the He pointed out that the recent Qatar in establishing peace in solve urgently. – Qatar Red Crescent (QRCS), Qatar Charity, Eid SPrevention of Genocide meeting held in Doha refl ected Sudan in general, and in Darfur On the issue of Rohingya Charity, Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Foundation for Adama Dieng hailed the eff orts the GCC’s signifi cant role in in particular. Muslims in Myanmar, the UN of- Humanitarian Services, and Afi f Charity. of Qatar in support of the in- preventing serious violations He highlighted the remark- fi cial stressed that there are real Last Thursday, QRCS noted that 20 kits of medi- QRCS staff distributing medical aid for Aleppo ternational community to pre- and stopping genocide in war able eff orts exerted by the Qatari concerns about how to address cations and medical consumables have been deliv- health facilities. vent the perpetration of terrible and confl ict zones, mainly in the offi cials to end the confl ict, and the ongoing violence in north- ered to health facilities in Aleppo and Idlib. crimes and genocide in many Middle East. hailed Qatar’s contributions to western Myanmar. Some 17 kits have been given to hospitals and years, and refer serious cases to specialist centres. parts of the world. He also praised the GCC’s the eff orts of development and On Syria, the offi cial demand- health centres while another three hospitals are The two clinics have so far helped around 700 Speaking in two interviews important role in achieving sus- reconstruction of Darfur and ed demand holding Bashar al- expected to receive the remaining supplies to serve families (3,500 people). with Qatari dailies, Al-Sharq and tainable development in those other provinces in Sudan. Assad and the offi cials in his re- more than 150,000 patients. Aid convoys also moved from Gaziantep, south- Arrayah, the UN offi cial said that areas, stressing the need to work The UN offi cial said that the gime accountable for the crimes Two mobile clinics have been deployed from ern Turkey towards Aleppo through three Turkish- the United Nations highly appre- with the international commu- eff orts of relief and preventing and serious violations they have Anjara Health Centre to Atarib town while the Syrian border crossings. ciates Qatar’s role and humani- nity institutions to put an end to genocide come as part of com- committed. other from Darat Izza Health Centre to Maarrat Al The fi rst phase of the campaign is providing tarian contributions in the con- the abuses of vulnerable groups pliance with legal and ethical ob- He called for extensive inves- Ikhwan. A number of physicians, nurses, midwives, QR25mn worth of humanitarian aid, including food, fl ict-hit areas around the world. such as children, women and the ligations, noting that the United tigations into the crimes com- and community health workers visited the house- tents, clothes, and medical aid for tens of thousands “Doha has made signifi cant elderly. Nations has put many plans and mitted in Syria, and demanded holds, which host internally displaced people, to of Syrians who fl ed Aleppo City towards the northern contributions to “The Respon- Meanwhile, the UN offi cial mechanisms to develop these ef- the transfer of the Syrian fi le off er primary healthcare, survey medical needs, and western rural parts of the governorate. Each Qatari sibility to Protect (R2P)” com- hailed Qatar’s role in the peace forts so as to ensure the preven- to the International Criminal distribute medications for free, identify malnutri- charity is assigned to do its part of the relief interven- mitment in many regional and agreement between the Suda- tion of mass crimes. Court. tion cases among children ageing six months to fi ve tion, depending on their humanitarian mandates. Gulf Times Monday, January 30, 2017 3 QATAR

Nakilat holds blood donation drive MoI dept working on 13 e-services projects

he Information Systems grade of the organisational a 54% increase in the number munity Policing Department Department (ISD) at registry system to comply of transactions conducted and Criminal Investigation De- Tthe Ministry of Interior with the new requirements through the MoI’s Metrash2 partment, as well as those re- (MoI) is currently working on of the General Directorates of application over the previ- lated to residency permits and 13 projects related to electronic Passports. This will help re- ous year. Also, the number of others. services. duce crowds and also provide online enquiries amounted to Meanwhile, the service for This follows the completion an e-link with the Ministry of 7mn, while the ministry’s web- registering minor traffi c acci- of some 20 vital projects in 2016 Economy and Commerce. It site received some 12mn visi- dents on Metrash2 was used to in addition to other accom- is expected to be launched in tors. register 20,352 accidents reports plishments, according to a press February. in 2016. statement. A third project involves de- The service for registering Also, Metrash2 subscribers The projects that are being de- veloping a system for the Search minor traffi c accidents amounted to 300,000 in 2016 veloped currently include a ‘se- and Follow Up Department, on Metrash2 was used to with more than 2mn trans- Nakilat recently organised a blood donation drive for its employees in collaboration with the Blood curity permits’ project that will which will link all its sections register 20,352 accidents actions conducted last year Donation Unit of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). Held at the company’s headquarters in Doha be used to issue such permits at and streamline its work. reports in 2016 through the online applica- and the Erhama bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard in Ras Laff an Industrial City, the one-day campaign the entry points of vital facilities Meanwhile, the statement tion. was well received and saw active volunteer participation by Nakilat employees and others working such as Hamad International notes that the department has Captain Abdulaziz al-Ru- The most important e- in the Al-Shoumoukh Towers, as well as those working in the shipyard. All volunteers were screened Airport and Hamad Port. Ap- made signifi cant progress in waili, ISD assistant director, projects accomplished last year by healthcare professionals from HMC as part of their quality control procedure to ensure the plications will be received and providing e-services to the pub- explained that the newly added included a new fi nancial system general health and suitability of donors prior to the start of the blood donation process. The drive processed there to issue permits lic, with 250 such services on of- 96 online services included 20 project, an upgrade of the MoI comes as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility programme, which focuses on giving to the persons concerned. fer until now. on Metrash2 and 76 on the MoI website and the unifi ed commit- back to the society via four primary areas: health, education, community and environmental causes, Another project under de- In 2016, 96 new online serv- website, covering services of tee to select candidates for the according to a press statement. velopment involves an up- ices were added and there was the Traffic Department, Com- Police College. Slump in registration of new vehicles, issuance of licences

By Santhosh V Perumal Qatar Monthly Statistics bul- on-year basis respectively. 548 (about 4% of total), a The bulletin also found that Airport (56), Industrials Area in Al Rayyan, 52 in Al Daayen, Business Reporter letin. The export of ‘clearing ve- 1.6% fall month-on-month there were a total of 178,565 (35) and Dukhan (26). 39 in Umm Slal, 25 in Al Wak- Of the 7,259 new vehicles reg- hicles’ amounted to 1,475 in but a marginal 0.4% increase traffic violations in December The demographic statistics rah, 21 in Al Khor/Thakhira istered, private numbered 4,590; December 2016, a 19% plunge year-on-year. 2016, which showed a 2.3% of the bulletin showed that Qa- and 6 in Al Shamal. atar witnessed a decel- followed by private transport month-on-month but a 7.4% fall on a monthly basis but a tar’s population reached more Doha witnessed 16.5% and eration in the registra- (1,803), heavy equipment (239), increase on a yearly basis. MDPS found that the 25.2% increase year-on-year. than 2.5mn in December 2016, 6.6% decline month-on-month Qtion of new vehicles and trailer (235), others (214) and pri- MDPS found that the overall overall driving licences Much of the traffic violations showing an annual increase of and year-on-year in the proper- the issuance of driving licence, vate motorcycles (178). driving licences issued in the issued in the country were related to over speeding 7.3%. ties sold in December 2016, Al particularly to expatriate pop- The renewal of vehicles regis- country were 8,625 in December were 8,625 in December or radar (about 68% of overall MDPS said the number of Rayyan (9.6% and 43.6%) and Al ulation in December last year tration was 60,711 in December 2016, showing a 12.3% and 11.1% 2016, showing a 12.3% and violations), followed by others sold properties reached 280 in Wakrah (26.5% and 45.7%). both on monthly and yearly 2016, showing an 8.7% decline slump month-on-month and 11.1% slump month-on- (14%), traffic signs violation December 2016 with total value In the case of Al Daayen and basis, according to official sta- month-on-month, although it year-on-year respectively. month and year-on-year (9%) and violation of traffic in- amounting to about QR2.9bn. Umm Slal, they plummeted tistics. was fl at on a yearly basis. The driving licences is- respectively structions (8%). The number of properties sold 43.5% and 18.8% on monthly The number of new vehicles The transfer of owner- sued to non-Qataris stood The total number of traffi c had witnessed 21.1% and 23.5% basis but grew 10.6% and 8.3% registered in December 2016 ship, which largely indicates at 8,077 (about 94% of the In December 2016, of the to- accident cases fell more than plunge month-on-month and on a yearly basis. stood at 7,259, a 12.2% decline the trend in the second hand total licenses) in December tal licences issued, 81% of them 3% month-on-month to 586 in year-on-year respectively. Al Khor/Thakhira and Al month-on-month and 29.6% market, were 19,858 in De- 2016, declining 12.9% and were for non-Qatari males, December 2016, of which South On a geographical basis, of Shamal witnessed 16.7% and year-on-year, the Ministry cember 2016, which showed 11.7% on monthly and year- 13% (non-Qatari females), 5% and Madina Khalifa reported 105 the total properties sold in 20% expansion on a monthly ba- of Development Planning and a 3.3% and 4.4% decline ly basis respectively; while (Qatari males) and 1% (Qatari cases, followed by North (92), Al December 2016, as many as 71 sis; while it fell 38.2% and 40% Statistics said in its latest month-on-month and year- those issued to Qataris were females). Mamoura (85), Al Rayyan (82), were in Doha, followed by 66 respectively year-on-year. Gulf Times 4 Monday, January 30, 2017 QATAR QDA launches 17th Al Bawasil children’s camp

he 17th Al Bawasil Interna- dan, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Ku- with their peers from other coun- tional Spring Camp for chil- wait, Afghanistan, Oman and Iran. tries.” Tdren with diabetes kicked off The QDA camp has a variety of ini- The intensive programme is designed on Saturday at Aspire Academy with tiatives supported by Qatar Foundation to create a spirit of co-operation and children from 12 countries partici- that promote healthcare and well-being affi nity among the participants through pating in a range of fun-filled edu- in Qatar through education and aware- education, physical exercise and mo- cational activities. The camp will run ness of prevalent health problems, in rale-building social activities and en- until February 1. addition to providing eff ective ways to tertainment. Organised by Qatar Diabetes As- deal with them. Educational elements in the camp in- sociation (QDA), a member of Qatar “The objective of the camp is to clude workshops that deal with diabetes Foundation for Education, Science create a safe and loving environment and its management, such as insulin in- and Community Development, Al for children with diabetes, teach jections, dietary advice and psychosocial Bawasil camp has brought together them how to self-control diabetes adjustment for those living with diabetes. 60 children between the age of sev- and avoid complications in order to Additionally, the camp will incorporate Some of the participants in the programme. en and eleven for a week-long pro- reach their full potential,” said Dr simple sports activities with entertain- gramme of education, activities and Abdulla al-Hamaq, executive direc- ment programmes where artistic and entertainment to help them cope with tor of QDA. “The camp will enable creative sides are explored. There will diabetes. The children come from Qa- the participants to exchange views, also be a number of visits to local recrea- tar, Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan, Su- share experiences and make friends tional and cultural sites in Qatar. Leaders programme participants engage with ministry offi cials

atar Leadership Centre’s (QLC) pants, a select group of Qataris drawn participants reconnoitre many insti- Government Leaders Pro- from the public and semi-public sec- tutions critical to Qatar’s development Qgramme participants engaged tors. In particular, the visit provided over the 12-month long programme. with senior offi cials at the Ministry of an in-depth look into the ministry’s The diverse cohort of Qataris enhances Economy and Commerce (MEC) yes- policymaking, which aims to attract important skills that allow them to terday to gain a deeper understanding investment, boost trade, and support contribute to the country’s National of the ministry’s role in bolstering sus- national development. Development plans in innovative ways. tainable economic growth as well as its Key subjects of the discussions in- “QLC’s learning visits to important policies to develop the business and cluded how the ministry has stream- organisations like the MEC have given trade sectors. lined business licensing to create a me invaluable insight into how eco- Dr Abdulla bin Ali al-Thani, manag- favourable climate for small and me- nomic prosperity is attained in Qatar,” ing director and member of the Board dium-sized enterprises. Participants noted Maha Ali al-Fehaidi, head of Rail of Directors of QLC, noted, “Facilitat- also surveyed the MEC’s improved Projects at Ministry of Municipality ing a constructive dialogue between suite of e-government services to bet- and Environment. senior policymakers and other deci- ter protect consumers and regulate lo- Participants in Qatar Leadership sion makers across ministries and cal markets. Centre’s three programmes, the Gov- public institutions is of utmost im- Hissa Omar al-Amri, head of fi nance ernment, Executive, and Rising Lead- portance to Qatar Leadership Centre. at Qatar Development Fund said: “I ers programmes, will convene at an Engagement leads to collaboration learned today about several MEC ini- Honouring Ceremony on March 13. and drives us closer to achieving our tiatives that inject renewed vigour into At the ceremony, 107 Qatari profes- common goals – this is what binds us Qatar’s strong economy. These are sionals who successfully completed together as we pursue Qatar National spearheaded by the passionate and the programmes will be recognised in Vision 2030.” skilled experts at the ministry, who are the presence of distinguished guests, The high-level visit was a valuable tireless advocates for Qatar’s residents peers, and managers. Applications will learning opportunity for QLC’s Gov- and citizens.” open in the fall of 2017 for the Centre’s ernment Leaders Programme partici- Government Leaders Programme 2018-19 programmes.

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Gulf Times 6 Monday, January 30, 2017 QATAR 19 violations found during Nominations open for Oryx raid at Central Market GTL student he Ministry of Econ- clearly indicate on the pack- omy and Commerce aging or container the type, T(MEC) has detected 19 nature, ingredients and other violations of consumer pro- information relating to the awards tection regulations during an commodity in the manner inspection campaign at the specifi ed in the executive Central Market in Doha. bylaw hereof. ominations are now tre and professor of Chemical The campaign targeted “Where the use of the open for the fourth Oryx and Petroleum Engineering at fruit and vegetable shops, commodity involves a certain NGTL Student Awards Texas A&M University at Qatar. covering some 70 outlets, risk, the consumer shall be for the Advancement of Post- Applications are to be sub- and was aimed at ensuring clearly warned against such Graduate Education in Qatar. mitted to Brian Cozzolino at their compliance with Law risk. The supplier shall be The awards recognise out- briancozzolino@gulfintelli- No.8 of 2008 on consumer prohibited from describing, standing Masters and PhD stu- gence.com protection. advertising or displaying the dents in the energy fi eld who are The PhD award criteria are The violations pertained commodity in a manner that instrumental to the country’s as follows: Qatari national to not posting adequate in- involves false or deceptive transformation into a knowl- or Qatari-based and Qatar- formation about the items on information.” edge economy in line with Qatar educated for a period of 10 display, which is a violation Such violations are penal- National Vision 2030. consecutive years, near-com- of Article No.7 of the con- ised with fi nes ranging from February 23 is the dead- pletion of PhD or a recent PhD sumer protection law. QR3,000 to QR1mn, in ad- line for nominations for the graduate in an energy-related The article states, “Where dition to the administrative awards, the organisers have fi eld, demonstrating potential a supplier displays any com- closure of outlets for varying said in a press statement. to be a future thought leader in modity for trading, he shall periods. An MEC off icial inspecting a vegetable shop. The awards highlight the the energy industry in Qatar, importance of building a larg- PhD dissertation should be er and stronger post-graduate relevant to Qatar, extra weight community of energy spe- given to doctorate research cialists in Qatar. Oryx GTL that would have a clear impact is welcoming high-quality on the advancement of indus- Diabetics advised check-up at podiatry clinic nominations from stakehold- try, and demonstrating an in- ers and students in industry tention of working in Qatar. and academia, along with an The Masters award criteria Hamad Medical Corpo- of Podiatric Services at HMC. making one more susceptible to notice the injury or feel any dis- to damage to the blood vessels. explanation of how the can- are Qatari national or Qatar- ration (HMC) offi cial has Hamad General Hospital’s injury. comfort from the wound, leav- Nerve damage can also create didate’s research supports based and Qatar-educated for a Areminded diabetics about Podiatry Clinic sees around 70 ing it to worsen. The podiatry deformities of the foot that can Qatar’s national goals. period of 10 consecutive years, the importance of inspecting patients a day, including a large Most patients can prevent clinic can also help patients with be painful. Dr Talal explained “We are delighted to call for near-completion of Masters their feet every day, adding that number of diabetics. serious foot problems by special requirements, such as that treatment can vary from nominations for the awards and or a recent Masters graduate annual check-up with the po- According to Dr Talal, most following simple steps such the need for protective shoes or using special insoles to support look forward to exploring the in an energy-related fi eld (de- diatry clinic is an important part patients can prevent serious foot as examining their bare feet shoes that will address specifi c the foot’s form to surgeries that potential of the Qatar’s youth, gree must have been complet- of managing diabetes. problems by following simple daily, remaining physically deformities,” says Dr Talal. fi x the bone structure. who are eager to learn and ed within the past two years), “Inspecting your feet every steps such as examining their active, avoiding smoking Diabetes damages the small Regular podiatric check- contribute to Qatar’s national demonstrating potential to be day, and seeking care early if you bare feet daily, remaining physi- and not crossing their legs blood vessels that feed the nerves ups from 15 years after diag- growth,” said Khloud Mohamed, a future thought leader in the do get a foot injury, is essen- cally active, avoiding smoking for long periods of time in the extremities, particularly nosis with Type 1 diabetes and ITT manager, Oryx GTL. energy industry in Qatar, cur- tial for good diabetes manage- and not crossing their legs for in the legs and feet. This leads to from fi ve years after diagno- “The Oryx GTL Student rent or planned involvement in ment. Make sure your healthcare long periods of time. Diabetics “If patients are unable to see a loss of sensation, which leaves sis with Type 2 diabetes are Awards represent a unique op- energy-related research in Qa- team checks your feet at least are also advised to wear protec- the bottom of their feet, we ad- diabetics with a condition called recommended. portunity to support the ex- tar, demonstrating an inten- once a year – more often if you tive shoes that are comfortable vise them to use a mirror, or to diabetic neuropathy. Diabetic neu- The third Gulf Diabetic Foot ceptional graduate students in tion of working in Qatar, extra have foot problems. Your phy- and cover the whole foot. Heels have a family member complete ropathy can prevent an individual Conference will take place in Qatar,” said Dr Nimir Elbashir, weight will be given to those sician can also explain the do’s and sandals should be avoided the checkup. Any small cut or from sensing cuts, blisters or abra- Doha from March 3 to 4 with chair of the Oryx GTL Excel- with intent to pursue a PhD, and don’ts of good foot care,” since they expose the foot and wound can lead to serious in- sions on their feet. Once a wound the participation of over 500 lence Programme, director of and exemplary undergraduate said Dr Talal Khader Talal, head don’t provide a level platform, fections and patients might not forms, it is often slow to heal due delegates. the Gas & Fuels Research Cen- and graduate grades.

Intercol Dyarco wins two awards

Intercol Dyarco, a Qatar-based company specialising in security and communication system integrators, has won two awards from Bosch Middle East for ‘Best Performance 2016 Video Systems’ and ‘Best Performance 2016 Product Business’. The awards were presented by Hakan Ozyigit, regional director of Bosch Middle East, to Ullattil Achu, general manager at Dyarco International Group, and Mahesh Gowda, divisional manager at Intercol Dyarco. “We are honoured to be recognised for having one of the best performances for video systems and product businesses. This couldn’t have been done without the dedication, excellence and commitment of the entire Intercol Dyarco team and the strong support extended to us by Bosch Middle East,” Achu said. Microsoft Dynamics 365 introduced for businesses

icrosoft Qatar Microsoft Qatar said in a that enable organisations and fi nancial management. yesterday host- press statement. to transform their business Designed to enable great- Med a ‘First Look’ Dynamics 365 gives or- models”. er productivity, deliver event to introduce Qatari ganisations, regardless of As economic outlooks deeper insights and adapt to businesses to Microsoft scale, access to advanced remain positive with in- business needs, Dynamics Dynamics 365. artifi cial intelligence tools creased investments, Mi- 365 helps accelerate organi- The event brought to- and hosts a complete set of crosoft Dynamics 365 – the sational transformations to gether decision-makers ERP tools that boost busi- next generation of intelli- meet the changing needs of from across Qatar to wit- ness productivity for enter- gent business applications customers and capture new ness the union of custom- prises, equipping depart- in the cloud – will help business opportunities, er-relationship manage- ments such as operations, businesses capitalise on this Microsoft Qatar adds. ment (CRM) and enterprise sales, customer service and positive future, the state- “The Dynamics 365 cloud resource-planning (ERP) fi nance with global scal- ment notes. It will do so by service allows your ERP technologies that will ability and digital intelli- “unifying traditional capa- and CRM functions to grow “accelerate organisations gence to boost growth, the bilities into new purpose- with your business. So, if in their journey towards statement explains. built applications that work you meet a sudden scale- digital transformation, The applications provide together seamlessly” to up requirement, you are enabling them to engage “greater visibility across manage specifi c business not held back by traditional customers, empower em- systems and allow opera- processes across sales, cus- software procurement cy- ployees, optimise opera- tions to become more con- tomer service, fi eld serv- cles,” said Yehia Nabil, Dy- tions, and reinvent prod- nected, and deliver strate- ice, operations, marketing, namics Lead, Microsoft ucts and business models, gic, data-driven insights project service automation Qatar. Gulf Times Monday, January 30, 2017 7 QATAR

Vodafone announces Novo Cinemas to open grand prize winner odafone has named prize of QR500,000. At Vo- the winner of the dafone, we continuously VQR500,000 Grand look for ways to reward our Prize as part of its World of customers with unmatched Prizes competition. experiences that add great at Msheireb Downtown Kurniah BT Warim par- value. Hence, we have de- ticipated in the fi rst 90 days cided to extend our World sheireb Properties and talised urban downtown area, of World of Prizes, which ran of Prizes competition to Novo Cinemas, a sub- is easily accessible from sur- from October 11, to January 8. give the opportunity to a Msidiary of Elan Group, rounding pedestrian and driving In a statement yesterday, lot more customers to par- have signed an agreement to routes and together with Novo Vodafone said it decided to ticipate and win,” Vodafone open a new “innovative” cinema Cinemas, it will off er residents extend the SMS-based com- Qatar said. complex at Msheireb Downtown and visitors a “premium enter- petition until April 8 due to Throughout the extended Doha (MDD). tainment destination, right in its “success and popularity”, 90 days, Vodafone cus- Novo Cinemas at Msheir- the heart of the city”, the state- giving customers the chance tomers can join World of eb Downtown Doha will of- ment notes. to win more, including an- Prizes for free by sending an fer standard state-of-the-art Novo Cinemas will be the ex- other grand cash prize of SMS with the code FREE to screens as well as a new VIP clusive cinema provider in the QR500,000. 98895. 7-star off ering, according to a MDD development and is ex- Vodafone gave out cash Moreover, World of Prizes is statement. The luxury 7-star ex- pected to open doors to the pub- prizes of QR750,000 during off ering a premium edition to perience includes a private VIP lic this year itself. the fi rst phase of the competi- Vodafone customers through lounge, personal butler service, Debbie Stanford-Kristiansen, From right: Abdulla Hassan al-Mehshadi and Jaber al-Ansari signing the agreement. tion. The monthly cash prize which they can compete for a fi ne-dining menu selection and CEO of Novo Cinemas, said: “As winners of the fi rst phase of chance to win the “ultimate” fully reclining automated seats. we continue to expand our pres- the community and its individu- already operational in Qatar, in- footprint to a total of 175 screens the competition are Prasanna cash prizes of QR500,000 or The new Novo Cinemas mul- ence in the Middle East, Novo als is of paramount importance cluding the 19-screen Megaplex across the region. By 2018, Novo Premathilaka Gedara, Ahmed monthly QR100,000 at QR5 tiplex at MDD is due to open Cinemas in Msheireb Downtown to our development and we are in Mall of Qatar, the cinema at Cinemas aims to have seven Imax Mohamed Elshami and Jassim per day. within The Galleria, a retail des- Doha will be a unique addition to confi dent that Novo Cinemas’ MDD “confi rms Novo’s position screens, including three Imax Almhimid. Additionally, customers tination that Msheireb Proper- our collection.” premium cinematic experience as market leader in Qatar”, the Laser and the largest Imax Laser “We’d to like to congratu- joining the premium edition ties envisage as ‘Home to Qatar’s Abdulla Hassan al-Mehshadi, will refl ect our aims to deliver statement adds. in the Middle East, helping them late all of our winners and of the competition will get an New Lifestyle’. The shopping CEO at Msheireb Properties, exceptional entertainment.” Msheireb Downtown Doha will attain a total of more than 220 particularly Ms Kurniah BT extra daily bonus of 10 local mall, set within the city’s revi- added: “Enriching the lives of With three prime locations increase Novo Cinemas’ brand screens by the end of 2018. Warim on winning the cash minutes.

LuLu-Abu Issa promotion winner named Renowned curator to speak at VCUQatar

nternationally re- no consideration for their require not only smart de- nowned architecture environmental, ecologi- signs, but also engrained Icurator, critic, educa- cal, cultural, geographical knowledge to conceive tor, author and consultant or social settings. The rich comprehensively sustain- Dr Hassan Radoine will architectural diversity and able projects. present a lecture titled, uniqueness of the region, This lecture is about “Exploring Architectural which once off ered the exploring architectural Frontiers – Contemporary world architectural won- frontiers on how these Design in the Middle East”, ders, has frequently been environments to be com- Dr Hassan Radoine at VCUQatar on February 1. substituted with monoto- prehended, and about The lecture will take nous designs. how contemporary design He has worked as an expert place at VCUQatar’s Atri- Architecture in the Mid- considers their contextual for Unesco, UN-Habitat, um at 6pm and is free and dle East is trapped between meanings. ICCROM, MCC, and the open to the public. corrective measures of its Dr Hassan Radoine is an Aga Khan Award for Archi- The internationalist own tradition, and import- architecture curator, critic, tecture. His coming book standardised vocabular- ed forms. Therefore, the educator, author and con- with Wiley International ies and forms of architec- complexity and diversity sultant, and is the direc- is entitled “Architecture in ture plague all of the cities of the region’s cultural and tor of the École Nationale Context: Designing in the in the Middle East, with geographical environments d’Architecture in Morocco. Middle East.”

The winner of the LuLu-Abu Issa Perfumes Festival promotion, Thomas (coupon number 034627), is seen receiving the symbolic key of an Audi Q3 (2016) car from Mohamed Basheer, general manager (hypermarket operations), and Rafi V S, administration manager of LuLu Hypermarket Group. Also present on the occasion were other off icials from LuLu Group and Abu Issa Marketing. AJCS ranked fi fth among most infl uential think tanks in Mena

or the second consec- ary 25. AJCS’s ranking pro- appropriate policies and region’s aff airs and rapid utive year, Al Jazeera gressed in 2015 after being procedures to realise such developments. Thanks to FCentre for Studies ranked sixth in 2014 and standards. its fruitful cooperation with (AJCS) has been ranked fi fth eighth in 2013 and 2012. “This recognition of Al Jazeera Media Network’s in the category of the most It has thus maintained its AJCS’s regional and inter- channels and digital plat- infl uential think tanks in ranking among the top 10 think national infl uence is due forms, AJCS has managed the Middle East and North tanks over the last six years. to the fact that its research to reach out to millions of Africa (Mena) region in the Apart from maintaining activities are, fi rstly, up to viewers and readers across Global Go-to Think Tank its advanced ranking in the date with political develop- the world,” a statement is- Index of the Think Tanks Mena index, AJCS has been ments in the Middle East sued by the centre said. and Civil Societies Pro- ranked among the most in- and the Arab world. AJCS received the direc- gramme of the University of fl uential think tanks in the “Furthermore, its diverse tor general of Al Jazeera Pennsylvania. world outside the US. output – which range from Media Network, Dr Mostefa Global Go-To Think Tank It has also been classifi ed research to events and in- Souag, who joined the cen- Index of 2017 included 400 among the think tanks that teractive programmes – has tre’s team to pass his con- classifi ed think tanks and apply quality and integ- contributed to deepening gratulations and celebrate was announced on Janu- rity standards and pursue the understanding of the the event.

AJCS celebrates the achievement.

Venus, Moon to be near each other tomorrow oon and Venus will position over other GCC Called both the morning Qatar residents will be seen near each and Arab countries as well and evening star by astrono- be able to see Venus and Mother over the Qa- where Venus will be at 4.1 mers, Venus is visible after Moon after sunset over the tar sky tomorrow, leading degree north to Moon’s sunset when it is over the western horizon tomorrow astronomer Dr Beshir Mar- centre at 5.34pm. western horizon, and it is at 5.18pm. Venus and the zouk said yesterday. It will be the best time to the last luminary that can be Moon can be observed until These heavenly bodies see and observe Moon and Ve- seen before sunrise when it moonset at 8.38pm over the could be seen in a similar nus by the naked eye, he said. is over the eastern horizon. Doha sky. Gulf Times 8 Monday, January 30, 2017 REGION Iran rights charter ‘has no power over judiciary’

AFP spent three years compiling the outrage around the world. Watch and Amnesty Interna- Tehran document. Aminzadeh said she hoped the tional of picking on Iran and Asked about the continued charter might one day be made ignoring rights abuses in other house arrest without trial of into law by parliament and ex- countries — saying this was ran’s new charter of rights opposition leaders since anti- tended to all branches of govern- “double standards”. outlining freedoms of government protests in 2009, ment, but she indicated this was Reformist commentators in Ispeech, protest and fair trials she said: “It is not very related not a pressing concern. Iran have given a mixed response does not apply to the detention to the executive or administra- “In comparing to other coun- to the charter. of opposition leaders and dual tive power. It is something else. tries, I think (the human rights An editorial by the Asso- nationals, the bill’s architect I cannot answer to this.” situation in Iran) is good, but it ciation of the Reformists, pub- says. On the trials of dual nationals, can be better,” she said. lished on social media network The Charter of Citizens’ who have recently been jailed in Aminzadeh denied the charter Telegram, said the charter was Rights, released last month by closed-door courts, Aminzadeh was just an attempt to win votes “good but not enough”. Rouhani the offi ce of President Hassan said: “Security prisoners have ahead of Rouhani’s likely bid for “should form a committee with Rouhani, embodies freedoms in- a special process inside the ju- re-election in May. representatives of all branches of cluding the right to trial in open diciary.We cannot say anything It had been a key campaign power and endeavour to execute court without arbitrary deten- about special security prisoners. promise in 2013. this bill so it does not look like an tion. “We talk to the judiciary, but “It’s not a slogan...It is not just election gesture to the public,” it But Elham Aminzadeh, special just talk and notifying — nothing for the Rouhani government, it is said. assistant to Rouhani on citizens’ more,” she added. for the next 100 years,” she said. But Mohamed Fazeli, an offi - rights, said in an interview that Recent months have seen sev- Pressed on the detention of cial with the Centre for Strategic the bill has no power over the eral cases such as that of Brit- dissidents and journalists, and Studies think tank, which comes judiciary or parliament and only ish-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari- other allegations of rights vio- under the president’s offi ce, covers the civil service and other Ratcliff e, sentenced to fi ve years lations, Aminzadeh said these Elham Aminzadeh, special assistant to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on citizens’ rights, talks during an said: “Words are not neutral”. parts of the executive. in prison for “sedition”, and US- were largely invented by the for- interview discussing a new charter of rights, in the capital Tehran yesterday. “They will gradually pierce “I cannot put an article in this Iranian Siamak Namazi and his eign media and NGOs. the hard planks of resistance,” he charter for the judiciary or leg- father, both given 10 years for “I don’t know why of the violations around the world, on discussing them,” she said, weapons by Iraq in the 1980s. wrote in a column for reformist islative,” said Aminzadeh, who espionage, which have caused many diff erent human rights the foreign media is not keen highlighting the use of chemical She accused Human Rights paper Arman. US forces in deadly raid on Al Qaeda

AFP nocent peoples across the Aden globe,” Votel said. A statement from US Cen- tral Command said that an lite US forces launched aircraft used in the raid had to a dawn raid against be “intentionally destroyed”. EAl Qaeda in Yemen A US defence offi cial later yesterday, killing at least 14 said that “no prisoners had suspected militants in an op- been taken” during the op- eration in which an American eration. soldier also died. A civil war in Yemen be- The assault marked Wash- tween Iran-backed rebels ington’s fi rst major military and pro-government forces action in Yemen under Presi- has killed more than 7,000 dent Donald Trump, who has people since March 2015 and vowed to step up the US fi ght allowed extremists including against extremism. AQAP and the Islamic State group to gain ground in the “We are deeply impoverished nation. saddened by the Fierce clashes between loss of one of our elite Yemeni loyalists and the service members” rebels have killed more than 100 fi ghters in the past 24 The US military said the hours on Yemen’s west coast, raid in the Yakla region of offi cials said yesterday. Baida province killed 14 Yesterday’s US raid was members of Al Qaeda in the said to have targeted the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), houses of three tribal chiefs which Washington views as linked to Al Qaeda. the global network’s most The provincial offi cial said dangerous branch. Apache helicopters also hit a A Yemeni provincial of- school, a mosque and a medi- fi cial gave a higher toll of 41 cal facility which were all presumed militants and 16 used by Al Qaeda militants. civilians killed in the raid, The three prominent tribal including eight women and fi gures with known Al Qaeda eight children. links killed in the attack were Washington did not spec- identifi ed as brothers Abdul- ify how the US soldier died. raouf and Sultan al-Zahab and It said three more Ameri- Saif Alawai al-Jawfi , the offi - can servicemen were injured cial and other sources said. in the raid along with a fourth Among the children killed who was hurt in a “hard in the raid was the daughter landing”. of the late US-born preach- “We are deeply saddened er Anwar al-Awlaqi, Nura, by the loss of one of our elite who lived with the fam- service members,” said Gen- ily of her maternal uncle, a eral Joseph Votel, command- relative said. Awlaqi him- er of US Central Command in self was killed in September Tampa, Florida. 2011 in a drone strike and his “The sacrifi ces are very son Abulrahman was killed profound in our fi ght against two weeks later in a similar terrorists who threaten in- attack.

TENSION Gunfire kills Bahrain policeman

A Bahrain police off icer has been shot dead in a village in the Gulf country, the interior ministry said yesterday, denouncing what it called a “terrorist” attack. Lieutenant Hisham al-Hammadi was killed in Bilad al-Qadim near the capital Manama, and a preliminary investigation indicated he died as a result of a “terrorist attack”, the state news agency BNA quoted the ministry as saying. The ministry did not say when he was killed, nor did it specify the circumstances surrounding his death. Yesterday, a court in Manama sentenced six people accused of involvement in an attack on security forces to life in prison, while a seventh suspect was given a three-year sentence, BNA said. They were accused of attacking security forces with explosives in February last year. A number of other suspects have been acquitted.

POLICY UAE visas on arrival for Russians

The United Arab Emirates will off er Russian visitors visas on arrival in the country in a bid to boost tourism and trade, state news agency WAM reported yesterday. Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid al-Maktoum has approved a cabinet decree recommending Russians be granted visas as soon as they arrive, WAM reported. The report did not say when the change would come into eff ect. The UAE, home to global tourism hub Dubai, is keen to bolster trade and tourism as visitor numbers from once core markets, including Russia, have declined due to economic slowdowns and a strong dollar. The UAE’s dirham is pegged to the dollar. Last September, the UAE granted visas on arrival to holders of Chinese passports. Over 600,000 Russian tourists have visited the UAE over the past two years, according to WAM. Gulf Times Monday, January 30, 2017 9 REGION/ARAB WORLD

‘I got handcuff ed and just started crying,’ claims Sudanese student

Trump order dashes dreams A Sudanese student with US legal residency said on Saturday she was briefly handcuff ed at a New York airport, following President Donald Trump’s order restricting entry into the United States for people from seven of Iraqi family bound for US Muslim-majority nations. Nisrin Elamin, 39, a Stanford PhD Reuters mediately what does this mean? Another 58,000 Iraqis have student in anthropology who has Cairo/Erbil It is just like Saddam Hussein’s been awaiting interviews under lived in the United States since decisions. Yeah without going the Direct Access Programme 1993, said she landed at John F back to the Congress, I don’t for US-affi liated Iraqis, accord- Kennedy International Airport on uad Sharef and his fam- understand.” ing to the International Refugee Friday night and was detained for ily waited two years for a Sharef said he was employed Assistance Project. about five hours. Fvisa to settle in the United by a pharmaceutical company Sharef’s friend Mona Fetouh Elamin said she had been in States, selling their home and before leaving Iraq, but had said she had worked with him Sudan for academic research quitting jobs and schools in Iraq worked on projects funded by on a USAID-funded local gov- and boarded a plane on Friday before setting off on Saturday US organisations such as USAID ernance and civil society project morning. After presenting her US for a new life they saw as a re- in the years following the 2003 in 2004. Fetouh, a US resident, green card, a designation of legal ward for working with US or- US-led invasion and occupa- said she gave Sharef a recom- permanent residence, at JFK, she ganisations. tion of Iraq. The family applied mendation for his SIV appli- said she was questioned, patted for a US visa in September 2014 cation.Originally due to fly down and handcuff ed. Sudan summons US as security conditions in Iraq on Feb 1, the family decided to “It was an uncomfortable pat charge d’aff aires deteriorated, with Islamic State travel earlier after news leaked down, they touched my breast insurgents seizing swathes of of Trump’s plan to issue new area and my groin area,” Elamin Sudan summoned the US charge the country and carrying out immigration restrictions. said in a phone interview.” Then I d’aff aires yesterday to complain mass killings. But they were too late. got handcuff ed and I just started about an order by President Sharef’s work with the United “My plan was to go to Nash- crying.” Elamin said the hand- Donald Trump that temporarily States made him particularly ville, Tennessee. I have friends cuff s were soon removed and it bans the entry of its citizens to vulnerable to attack by militants there. I have arranged with appeared authorities were using the United States. The Suda- who view him as a traitor. them and they are preparing them to escort people between nese foreign ministry said in a “I am broken, I am totally house and finding house for areas of the airport. Elamin was statement the decision sent a broken, I don’t understand how me, jobs,” said Sharef. released, but she worried about “negative message”, coming two he rewards those people who “A lot of dreams, yeah...Fi- leaving the country again and weeks after the United States an- helped him. I don’t understand nancially this journey cost me about her parents in Sudan, nounced it would ease economic this. When we worked with $5000 and all went down the whom she hoped one day to sanctions on Sudan. It urged the them, we put our lives, my life, drain.” Sharef, father of two help immigrate to America. United States to reconsider the my family’s life, in jeopardy,” girls and a boy, said the family “It scares me that I’m not able to decision. said Sharef. was still in shock and did not see them if I want to,” said Elamin, “And we were easy target eve- know what steps to take next. who lives in New Jersey. Fuad Sharef Suleman and his family push their luggages after returning from Cairo to Erbil, after US ry day for terrorist groups. Eve- They would be staying tem- Trump’s executive order means But Sharef, his wife and three President Donald Trump’s decision to temporarily bar travellers from seven countries, at Erbil International ryone who works with Ameri- porarily with Sharef’s brother legal permanent residents who children were prevented from Airport, Iraq yesterday. cans is regarded as an infi del.” in Erbil.“I don’t know. Maybe have passports from the seven boarding their connecting fl ight Sharef applied to emigrate via I will send an e-mail to the countries have to be cleared to New York from Cairo airport offi cers,” Sharef told Reuters by guard the United States from dreams in an instant, even a programme known as Special American embassy in Baghdad back into the United States on on Saturday. telephone from Cairo airport. terrorists. though their papers were in or- Immigrant Visa, which was cre- asking for an explanation,” he a case-by-case basis, a senior They were sudden victims of “I feel very guilty towards my The travel curbs took eff ect der. ated by US lawmakers to help said. US administration off icial told US President Donald Trump’s wife and kids. I feel like I’m the immediately, wreaking havoc He likened Trump’s decision the tens of thousands of Iraqis Asked if he feared for his reporters. new travel ban on seven Mus- reason behind their dismay.” and confusion for would-be to the dictatorship of former who risked their lives helping life returning to Iraq, he said: The Department of Homeland lim-majority countries. In the most sweeping use of travellers with passports from Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Americans after the 2003 inva- “Maybe it’s less dangerous in Security, which overseas entry Their passports confi scated, his presidential powers since the seven countries. “I believe it is a terrible error sion. light of the relative regression at airports, in a statement later the distraught family was de- taking offi ce a week ago, Trump Sharef and his family were in the US, terrible error in the At least 7,000 Iraqis, many of Islamic State influence in said it will “treat all of those we tained overnight at Cairo air- signed an order on Friday sus- among the fi rst victims. history of the United States. of them interpreters for the Mosul, but during my years of encounter humanely and with port and forced to board a fl ight pending the entry of people Sharef and his family arrived I thought America is an in- US military, have settled in the work, my life and the lives of professionalism.” The executive back to the northern Iraqi city of from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, at Erbil International Airport stitution and democracy,” said United States under SIV aus- my family were constantly in order also upended the plans of Erbil yesterday morning. Sudan, Syria and Yemen for at looking demoralised, wonder- Sharef. pices since 2008, while some danger and I’m now at risk of some people planning to leave “We were treated like drug least 90 days. ing how Trump could sign a “I see (it is) like autocracy, 500 more are being processed, being at threat at any moment. the United States. dealers, escorted by deportation He said this would help safe- document that shattered their someone signs and eff ective im- State Department fi gures show. There are no guarantees.”

Iran’s Oscar-winning director to skip awards

AFP He said hardliners in both Iran and Tehran the United States acted with the same mentality. “For years on both sides of the scar-winning Iranian direc- ocean, groups of hardliners have tried tor Asghar Farhadi said yes- to present to their people unrealistic Oterday he will not attend next and fearful images of various nations month’s Academy Awards, comparing and cultures in order to turn their dif- President Donald Trump’s visa ban on ferences into disagreements, their seven Muslim countries to the actions disagreements into enmities and their of hardliners in his own country. Asghar Farhadi enmities into fears. Farhadi, nominated for Best Foreign “Instilling fear in the people is an Language Film for The Salesman, said try and the Academy of Motion Picture important tool used to justify extrem- in a statement carried by Iranian news Arts and Sciences are opposed to the ist and fanatic behaviour by narrow- agencies that he had initially planned fanaticism and extremism which are minded individuals,” he said. to attend the ceremony in Los Ange- today taking place more than ever,” His lead actress, Taraneh Alidoosti, les, but had been forced to change his Farhadi said in his statement. had already announced last week that mind. “However, it now seems that the she would boycott the awards over “I neither had the intention to not possibility of this presence is being ac- Trump’s “racist” visa ban. attend nor did I want to boycott the companied by ifs and buts which are in Farhadi won the best foreign lan- event as a show of objection, for I know no way acceptable to me even if excep- guage Oscar in 2012 for his fi lm A that many in the American fi lm indus- tions were to be made for my trip.” Separation.

Troops kill Palestinian in West Bank: medics

AFP the camp by Israeli forces Nablus sparked clashes with young Palestinians, Palestinian se- curity offi cials said. Palestinian was shot An Israeli army spokes- dead yesterday and woman said the soldiers Afi ve others were had opened fire after en- wounded by Israeli soldiers tering the camp and being at the Jenin camp in the oc- attacked with explosive cupied West Bank, Palestin- devices. ian medical sources said. None of the soldiers were The person who was killed hurt, she added. at the camp located in the A wave of Palestinian at- northern West Bank was tacks that erupted in Octo- identifi ed as 19-year-old ber 2015 has resulted in the Mohamed Abu Khalifa, the deaths of 252 Palestinians, sources said. 40 Israelis, two Americans, The shooting occurred a Jordanian, an Eritrean after an incursion into and a Sudanese.

UNREST Syrian military recaptures valley

Syrian government forces have recaptured all towns and villages in the Wadi Barada valley near Damascus, the Syrian military said yesterday, in another blow to rebels who have fought for years to unseat President Bashar al-Assad. “Units of our armed forces, together with...allied forces have achieved their mission in returning security and stability” to the area, the military said in a statement read out by a spokesman on Syrian state television. The military’s off ensive, launched last month, aimed partly to seize control of a major spring and water pumping station which supplies most of the capital’s water. Fighting and damage to the site caused acute water shortages in Damascus this month. State TV broadcast foot- age of Syrian soldiers standing in the water pumping station in the village of Ain al-Fija. The recapture of Wadi Barada signals the fall of another rebel-held area in western Syria. Gulf Times 10 Monday, January 30, 2017 AFRICA

Ready for kick-off! 47 killed in A Democratic Republic of the Congo supporter cheers for his team ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations quarter- final football match between Madagascar DR Congo and Ghana in Oyem yesterday. crash: police

AFP Twenty-two others were in- Antananarivo jured. The police have blamed the driver for taking too many pas- t least 47 people, includ- sengers on a truck meant to carry ing 10 children and a new- only goods. Aly-wed couple, were killed “According to our hypothesis, when a truck carrying a wedding the truck driver, cognisant of party and guests veered off the the off ence he was committing, road and plunged into a river in which was transporting too many Madagascar, police said yester- passengers in a vehicle meant for day. carrying goods, drove fast to es- Police said the accident oc- cape traffi c police checks.” curred on Saturday outside the “The driver lost control of his town of Anjozorobe, around vehicle after having negotiated a 90km from the capital. wrong turn and ended up in the The truck was transporting Mananara river,” said Andriana- passengers who had attended a tisaona. wedding the day before. It is common practice for Mozambique accused There were “a total of 47 trucks to carry passengers on the deaths, including 10 children” large Indian Ocean island. and the newly-wedded couple, They are usually capable of police spokesman Herilala An- manoeuvring the island’s bad drianatisaona told AFP. roads. of ‘violating ceasefi re’

By Adrien Barbier, AFP long truce he had declared in late De- still planning to kill Dhlakama?” asked has been in power since the former Portu- Maputo cember — a move welcomed by Mozam- the 64-year-old rebel, who often speaks guese colony’s independence 40 years ago. Tanzania miners rescued bique’s President Filipe Nyusi. about himself in the third person. Dhlakama has accused the army of not Worsening clashes between the rul- “Are they trying to fi nd the river where only targeting Renamo members but ci- ozambique’s rebel leader Afonso ing Frelimo party government and rebel Dhlakama is drinking from to poison it, or vilians too. “The armed forces go to the anzanian rescue workers on the ground, wrapped in blankets, Dhlakama has accused gov- group Renamo last year had revived the the roads we use to plant anti-personnel villages, open fi re to disperse the popula- yesterday saved 15 min- before being taken to hospital. Mernment forces of violating a spectre of Mozambique’s civil war that landmines?” tion, and then ransack the houses mak- Ters who were trapped 35m “We are continuing making ceasefi re his armed group Renamo had ended more than 20 years ago. Dhlakama, whose Renamo party is the ing off with chickens and goats, which is underground for at least two days them stable and put them under declared following a surge in deadly vio- Dhlakama’s Renamo is an armed in- main opposition in Mozambique, re- typical of Frelimo,” he claimed, adding when their makeshift gold mine supervision. We hope that we lence last year. surgent group that led a 16-year rebel- treated in October 2012 to his hideout in that women had been beaten and houses collapsed, a witness and local will start discharging them to- Dhlakama, who only gives rare in- lion and an opposition political party that Gorongosa with 800 former guerrillas torched. “Either Frelimo does not know media reported. morrow,” Joseph Kisala, a medi- terviews by phone from the central took up arms again in 2013. demanding a greater share of power. how to control its troops or there is a clear “They are all alive,” witness cal offi cial in the northwestern Gorongosa mountains where he has been The death toll in the confl ict is unknown In 2013 tensions resurfaced with Rena- lack of will,” he said. Elias Makundi, who said he had province of Geita, was quoted as holed-up since October 2015, claimed the but Dhlakama claims that “hundreds and mo fi ghters again taking up arms against Abuses have also been reported to in- accompanied a relative of the saying in the Daily News. government was not taking its ceasefi re hundreds of people have died between the Frelimo, accusing the ruling party of en- ternational organisations by Mozam- miners to the site of the accident, The men — 14 Tanzanians aged overtures seriously. start of 2015 and the end of 2016”. riching itself at the expense of the south- bicans who have sought refuge in neigh- told AFP by phone. 19 to 33, and a Chinese national The army “ambushes, kidnaps and de- While admitting the army has not ern African country. bouring countries. “Thankfully no-one died in — were trapped without food or tains” rebels and Renamo supporters, he staged any off ensive against his bush On the eve of the October 2014 general Authorities in December said more the accident, although some (of water when a shaft in the Chi- told AFP. military base for a month, Dhlakama cas- elections Renamo and the government than 3,000 people fl eeing the confl ict the survivors) look very weak.” nese-run mine collapsed. “There have been deaths,” he claimed tigated what he described as “reconnais- signed a ceasefi re. now live in government camps, while the Media showed pictures of the res- The incident happened on ei- but gave no details. sance missions” around the camp where But Renamo refused to accept the results UN refugee agency says another 8,600 cued men, covered in mud and being ther Thursday or Friday, accord- On January 3, Dhlakama announced a he is hiding. of the 2014 elections when it was beaten have been forced to cross the border to helped by rescue workers, or lying ing to confl icting reports. two-month ceasefi re, extending a week- “What are they doing there? Are they once more at the polls by Frelimo, which Malawi and Zimbabwe. Nigeria car import ban hits Benin sellers hard

By Sophie Bouillon, AFP Cotonou

urveying his sprawling car deal- ership on the fringes of Be- Snin’s commercial hub Cotonou, Kassem Hijazi alternates between chainsmoking cigarettes and puffi ng on a hookah. He and his colleagues don’t have much else to do. There hasn’t been a single customer since December, when neighbouring Nigeria banned car imports by land as part of a wave of protectionist policies that are strangling Benin’s economy. “We spend our days smoking, it’s our life now,” Hijazi sighs, sitting in a gazebo beside his stock of thousands of cars steadily accumulating the dry winter dust. This afternoon, Hijazi — who, like the vast majority of car dealers in Ben- in, is Lebanese — called in his Beninese accountant to help close up shop. Debts are accumulating and the stress is becoming too much. “I lost in one year what I have earned in 16,” Ali Assi, another car dealer, told AFP. Of the 2,500 Lebanese dealers in Co- tonou, 1,600 have packed up and left in the last six months, shutting down businesses that employed dozens of drivers, cleaners and security staff . A man sits on a motor bike at the car park at the exit of Cotonou. “Unemployed people used to come here to fi nd work,” said Vincent Gou- gling, it’s back to square one,” Gouton takes two years to get oil from trees. It’s ton, who represents a group of car said. a mess,” Obikili told AFP. “And this will dealership managers in Cotonou. Several agreements were signed in encourage illegal trade.” The Benin car market began its free the past between Benin and Nigeria to It isn’t just Benin which is hurting. fall last year when neighbouring Ni- facilitate legal trade. Nigerian car dealer Olabanji Akinola geria entered its fi rst recession since But Nigeria accuses Beninese cus- said he had to fi re half of his employees 1994. toms of failing to monitor the exported last week as a result of the ban. Nigeria, an economic behemoth of goods and collect taxes. Business used to be brisk at Akino- 190mn people, gobbles up “99% of car Buhari hopes that closing land bor- la’s car dealership, located on the out- exports” in Benin, according to Gou- ders will revitalise Nigerian industries skirts of Lagos. ton. and attract business to the port at La- Yet now he can’t pay any wages. Benin, a tiny country with scarce gos, Nigeria’s economic capital and “In Cotonou, they tax 35% of the natural resources, relies on its port largest city. value of an imported car. In Lagos, it’s business to survive. Today over 20 products — the list 70%”, Akinola said. “It’s killing the From the port city of Cotonou, im- has never been offi cially published — business. ported cars, fabrics, and food from all are banned from being imported over- “The price of cars will go up, and the over the world get distributed across land. smuggling will increase. There are 200 west Africa. “For the past 18 months, we have roads through the bush to come to Niger- But since the Nigerian economy seen a lot of policies that are not mar- ia, the borders are porous,” Akinola said. crashed following the collapse in glo- ket friendly”, said Nigerian economist “This morning, customers begged bal oil prices, Benin has been suff ering Nonso Obikili. me on my knees to lower my prices, but knock-on eff ects. “The self-suffi ciency policy has led I cannot.” Nigerian President Muhammadu the government to create all sorts of Ultimately, it may only be the Nige- Buhari’s protectionist policies — his hostile environments around import”, rian government who benefi ts from the government has banned a slew of items Obikili said. import ban. including cars imported by land — has “The government wants to ban palm In 2016, customs seized 307 contra- only aggravated the situation. oil (imports) but our plantations are band vehicles, worth nearly 5bn naira. “This decision will encourage smug- not ready to meet local demand, and it The fi gure is expected to rise in 2017. Gulf Times Monday, January 30, 2017 11 AMERICAS Bannon elevated to White House security council

AFP bers of the president’s inner cir- chairman now will only be scribed as a haven for the “alt- Bannon was part of “an unbeliev- intelligence he needs,” Spicer president’s fi nal analysis will be, Washington cle. present at meetings “where is- right” anti-mainstream move- able group of folks that are part of said, explaining the shuffl e. is crucial.” In an executive memorandum sues pertaining to their respon- ment. the NSC”. Bannon, “is a former naval of- Bannon had a blue-collar up- signed on Saturday, Trump el- sibilities and expertise are to be The site ignited controversy “The president gets plenty of fi cer with a tremendous under- bringing, but he quickly became onald Trump’s contro- evated Bannon, while downgrad- discussed”, the memorandum during the presidential campaign information from the chairman standing of the world and the part of the very establishment he versial senior adviser ing the status of the Director of said. because of its alleged alignment of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and geopolitical landscape we have rails against. DSteve Bannon will have a National Intelligence (DNI) and Bannon, 63, credited in large with white supremacists, white gets briefed and what they’ve now”, he said, adding: “Having He began his career as a Gold- permanent seat at White House the chairman of the Joint Chiefs part with successfully orches- nationalists and anti-Semites. done is modernise the National the chief strategist for the presi- man Sachs banker, then became National Security Council (NSC) of Staff on the security council’s trating the billionaire’s upset White House spokesman Sean Security Council, so it’s less bu- dent in those meetings who has a a producer in Hollywood before meetings, solidifying his role as principals committee. presidential election victory, led Spicer said in an interview yes- reaucratic and more focused on signifi cant military background taking over the Breitbart news one of the most powerful mem- The DNI and Joint Chiefs the Breitbart News website de- terday with ABC television that providing the president with the to help make, guide what the platform. Trump rejects global outcry Reuters/AFP nationals from European Union East have been executed in large been aff ected by the order, 109 of Washington countries and at least initially numbers. We cannot allow this whom were in transit and were green card holders already on the horror to continue!” he tweeted denied entry to the United States. path to US citizenship. Canadian to his nearly 23mn followers. Another 173 were stopped by S President Donald and US dual passport holders “Our country needs strong bor- airlines before boarding. Trump fought back yes- were allowed through. ders and extreme vetting, NOW. “The US government retains Uterday amid growing in- Travellers were detained at US Look what is happening all over its right to revoke visas at any ternational criticism, outrage airports, splitting families – such Europe and, indeed, the world – time if required for national se- from civil rights activists and as a father unable to reach his a horrible mess!” curity or public safety,” it said in legal challenges over his abrupt son’s wedding, and a grandmoth- But his chief of staff Reince a statement. order for a halt on arrivals of er unable to meet her grandchil- Priebus did backpedal over the The partial stays – ordered by refugees and people from seven dren – and offi cials warned it was inclusion of green card holders federal judges in New York and Muslim-majority countries. a “gift to extremists”. telling NBC television that the Virginia – did not broach the In his most sweeping action Six Syrians were turned away ban “didn’t aff ect them”. constitutionality of Trump’s or- since taking offi ce on January from Philadelphia International But he did stress that anyone – der, which could ultimately set 20, Trump, a Republican, put a Airport and sent back to Leba- US citizens included – travelling up a battle in the Supreme Court, 120-day hold on Friday on allow- non, an offi cial at Beirut airport back and forth to countries on which has not ruled on this type ing refugees into the country, an told AFP yesterday. the list would be subject to fur- of immigration issue since the indefi nite ban on refugees from The ban was criticised by for- ther screening upon arrival. 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. Syria and a 90-day bar on citi- eign allies and sparked angry “This is something that 75%, The American Civil Liberties zens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, So- demonstrations at airports in 80% of Americans out there Union (ACLU) had gone to court malia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Washington, Chicago, Minne- agree with,” he insisted. after two Iraqi men, one of whom Yesterday the United States apolis, Denver, Los Angeles, San Trita Parsi, president of the had worked as an interpreter for was hit by a second day of pro- Francisco and Dallas – before two National Iranian American the US military after the 2003 tests after the ban. federal judges ordered temporary Council, called for greater clarity, US-led invasion, were detained Protesters gathered outside stays. telling AFP that there was a “tre- on arrival at JFK. the White House and in New But Trump – the real estate mendous amount of confusion”. US Senate Majority Leader York’s Battery Park, across the billionaire turned Republican There are more than 1mn Ira- Mitch McConnell, a Republican, harbour from the Statue of Lib- commander-in-chief – was un- nians living in the United States. voiced muted criticism. Trump: Our country needs strong borders and extreme vetting, NOW. Look what is happening all over erty – America’s famed beacon of repentant yesterday, defending The order – seemingly imple- Speaking on ABC’s This Week Europe and, indeed, the world – a horrible mess! freedom and immigration – and his policy in the face of grow- mented without prior co-ordi- programme, he said it was a good more were expected at airports ing outrage across the globe and nation with airport authorities idea to tighten the vetting of im- reminded him that the Geneva Yemen, including those with dual They said the order sent a nationwide. from Americans at home. and foreign allies – sparked cha- migrants, but “it’s important to Conventions require the inter- nationality that includes one of “negative message”, coming two Also aff ected were foreign dual “Christians in the Middle- os, leading to around 300 travel- remember that some of our best national community to take in those countries. weeks after Washington an- lers being stopped or detained sources in the war against radical war refugees on humanitarian Trump said that his order, nounced it would ease economic worldwide after taking eff ect. Islamic terrorism, are Muslims, grounds, the spokesman added. which indefi nitely bans refugees sanctions on the country. On Saturday night, a federal both in this country and overseas Steff en Seibert said that Mer- from Syria, was “not a Muslim Trump’s executive order on judge in New York said US au- ... we need to be careful as we do kel had reminded the US billion- ban”, though he added he would Friday took eff ect immediately, thorities could not deport refu- this.” aire of his human rights respon- seek to prioritise Christian refu- wreaking havoc and confusion gees or other people detained on A Republican colleague in the sibilities. gees fl eeing the country. for would-be travellers with arrival. Senate, John McCain, was more “The Geneva Refugee Conven- Washington’s Arab allies, passports from the seven coun- Slowly, some of those detained critical, saying that the order tion calls on the international including the Gulf states and tries and plunging America’s im- were released. had been a confused process and community to take in war refu- Egypt, were mostly silent. migration system into chaos. Democratic Senator Chuck could give the Islamic State (IS) gees on humanitarian grounds,” The government in Iraq, which Trump, a businessman who Schumer said he had been told group propaganda material. he said. “The chancellor stressed is allied with Washington in the successfully tapped into Ameri- 42 people remained in detention Condemnation of the order this policy in yesterday’s phone battle against Islamic State and can fears about militant attacks yesterday. poured in from abroad, includ- call with the US president.” hosts more than 5,000 US troops, during his campaign, had prom- Top Trump aides downplayed ing from traditional allies of the Merkel’s sentiments were ech- also did not comment on the ex- ised what he called “extreme vet- the number as “a couple of doz- United States. oed in Paris and London. ecutive order. ting” of immigrants and refugees en”. In Germany – which has taken “Terrorism knows no na- But some members of the par- from areas that the White House The Department of Homeland in large numbers of people fl eeing tionality. Discrimination is no liament said Iraq should retaliate said the US Congress deemed Security agreed to comply with the Syrian civil war – Chancellor response,” said French Foreign with similar measures against the high risk. court orders not to deport peo- Angela Merkel said that the glo- minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, United States. He said on Saturday of his or- ple, but said it would otherwise bal fi ght against terrorism was while his British counterpart In Baghdad, infl uential Shia der: “It’s working out very nicely. People chant as they gather at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport continue to enforce the order. no excuse for the measures and Boris Johnson tweeted: “Divisive cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said You see it at the airports, you see to protest the travel ban imposed by Trump’s executive order. It said about 375 travellers had “does not justify putting people and wrong to stigmatise because American nationals should leave it all over.” of a specifi c background or faith of nationality.” Iraq, in retaliation for the travel The travel curbs, however, also under general suspicion”, her Along with Syria, the US ban of curbs. drew criticism from several other spokesman said. at least 90 days aff ects travellers “It would be arrogance for countries around the globe. She expressed her concerns to with passports from Iran, Iraq, you to enter freely Iraq and other In Jakarta, Indonesian Foreign Trump during a phone call and Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and countries while barring to them Minister Retno Marsudi said the the entrance to your country Muslim-majority nation deeply ... and therefore you should get regretted Trump’s plans for “ex- your nationals out,” he said on treme vetting” of people from his website. some Muslim countries. There was no immediate re- Italian Prime Minister Paolo action to the curbs from Islamic Gentiloni said “open society, State, although in the past it has plural identity, no discrimina- used US monitoring of Muslim tion” were the “pillars of Eu- foreigners to stoke Muslim anger rope”, while the Danish, Swedish against Washington. and Norwegian governments also The Tehran government vowed registered their opposition. to respond in kind to the US ban Danish Foreign Minister An- on visitors from Iran, but yester- ders Samuelsen tweeted: “The day Foreign Minister Mohammad US decision not to allow entry of Javad Zarif said on Twitter that people from certain countries is Americans who already hold Ira- NOT fair.” nian visas can enter the country. Canadian Prime Minister Jus- “Unlike the US, our decision tin Trudeau said his country is not retroactive. All with valid welcomed those fl eeing war and Iranian visa will be gladly wel- persecution, even as Canadian comed,” Zarif said. airlines said they would turn back Authorities in Sudan, which US-bound passengers to comply is also targeted by the ban, sum- with an immigration ban on peo- Demonstrators hold signs during a rally against a ban on Muslim immigration at San Francisco Protesters are seen outside of the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse moned the US charge d’aff aires in ple from seven Muslim-majority International Airport. where a judge heard a challenge against Trump’s executive order. Khartoum. countries.

Trump originally asked for ‘Muslim ban’

Donald Trump originally dubbed his executive order suspending I Don’t Feel at Home wins top prize at Sundance refugee arrivals and barring visas for travellers from seven Muslim- majority countries a “Muslim ban”, according to the US president’s aide Rudy Giuliani. AFP and Paul Thomas Anderson. overtly political than in previous wrongly convicted of a crime. go on to receive critical acclaim “When he first announced it he said, ‘Muslim ban’,” the former New York Los Angeles The Netfl ix-fi nanced mov- years. The US documentary direct- and Hollywood awards season mayor told Fox News late on Saturday when asked whether the ban was ie co-stars Melanie Lynskey Fittingly, Sundance’s awards ing prize went to Peter Nicks glory. connected to religion. (Heavenly Creatures) as a nurs- show opened with a sideways for The Force – a portrait of the Last year, the crop of mov- “Show me the right way to do it legally,” Giuliani – who Trump has Don’t Feel at Home in This ing assistant worn down by dig at President Donald Trump’s Oakland police department – ies shown at the festival yielded tapped as his cyber security guru – said the US president told him. World Anymore, a movie people’s unkindness who even- order suspending the arrival of while the US documentary au- Manchester by the Sea, which is The 72-year-old said he and a team of legal experts “focused on – Ilong on ambition and longer tually snaps when her house is refugees and tough new controls dience award went to Chasing up for six Oscars next month, instead of religion – danger!” when they drafted the immigration in title, came away with the top burglarised. on travellers from Iran, Iraq, Coral, which sounds the alarm including best picture and best crackdown that has sparked a global outcry and mass protests. prize as the Sundance Film Fes- It won the grand jury prize in Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria on the decline of coral reefs. actor for its star Casey Affl eck. Giuliani said that those predominately Muslim countries were targeted tival wrapped on Saturday. Sundance’s “US dramatic com- and Yemen. Tarik Saleh’s Swedish thriller “This has been one of the because they are “the areas of the world that create danger for us”. Starring Elijah Wood, it was petition” section. Sundance Institute head Keri The Nile Hilton Incident came wildest, wackiest and most “Which is a factual basis, not a religious basis,” he said. announced at its world premiere Dan Sickles and Antonio San- Putnam told the audience that away with the grand jury prize rewarding festivals in recent in the Utah mountains last week tini’s Dina, described by crit- she wanted to “acknowledge the for world drama while Feras memory,” said Sundance direc- as the only festival entrant with ics as a “non-fi ction rom-com” artistes from Muslim majority Fayyad’s Last Men in Aleppo, tor John Cooper. Trudeau welcomes all immigrants a grammatical sentence as its won best US documentary. countries who joined us at the about the Syrian confl ict, won “From a new government to title. The fi lm follows an eccentric festival this year”. the world cinema documentary the independently organised Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed Canadian immigrants in a Green Room actor Macon suburban woman and a Walmart The US dramatic audience competition. Women’s March on Main, to sunny Twitter message written in stark contrast to Donald Trump’s order Blair’s directorial debut is a door-greeter as they navigate award – the second prize to The Sundance Film Festival power outages, a cyber attack temporarily banning all refugees and many Muslims from travelling to bloody crime comedy with an their evolving relationship in an the grand jury award – went to founded by actor Robert Redford and snow at record levels, the the United States. escalating body count in the best unconventional love story. Matt Ruskin’s Crown Heights, is considered a showcase for in- work of our artists rose above it “To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, traditions of Quentin Tarantino, Many critics have pointed out the story of a man fi ghting to dependent and documentary all and challenged and changed regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada,” Guy Ritchie, the Coen brothers that this year’s festival was more clear his name after having been fi lms and festival winners often us these last 10 days.” Trudeau posted on Twitter. Gulf Times 12 Monday, January 30, 2017 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

ACCIDENT EPIDEMIC MISHAP TRADITION WINDFALL Canadian wingsuit jumper Thailand issues dengue Tiger kills man at China zoo Divided Koreans pay Cockfighters reap New found dead on cliff in China warning after floods as horrified visitors watch respect to ancestors Year bonus in Thailand

A Canadian man has died after attempting a Thailand’s Public Health Ministry yesterday A tiger killed a visitor to a wildlife park in eastern On the frozen banks of the Imjin river, South Prized birds faced off in front of thousands of wingsuit jump in China, state media reported, the issued a warning over increasing cases of China yesterday after the man apparently Koreans divided from their families decades spectators at a stadium near Thailand’s capital as latest fatality in the extreme sport that involves dengue fever and leptospirosis as floodwaters entered its enclosure, the second such attack in ago by war gathered on Saturday to pay celebrations for the Year of the Rooster brought leaping from a plane or mountain while wearing recede in the south. Jetsada Chokedamrongsuk, just six months, media reports said. respects to their ancestors. Mostly elderly men a windfall for some. Although cockfighting is a bodysuit with wings. The body of 28-year- the head of the Department of Disease Control, The incident occurred at the Youngor Wildlife – according to tradition, Korean ceremonies banned in many countries on grounds of animal old Graham Dickinson, a wingsuit specialist, asked residents in the flood-battered region Park in the city of Ningbo, about 200km south for the lunar new year must be carried out by cruelty, it is a lucrative business in Thailand as was found on a cliff in the Tianmen Mountain to clear garbage and drain water, the likely of Shanghai, according to media reports which the eldest son — they lined up before an altar well as a popular pastime. Yesterday’s top bird National Forest Park in the central province of breeding grounds of mosquitoes that carry added that one tiger in the enclosure was piled with off erings of rice cakes, fruit and fish. sold for over $70,000. “This year is a very good Hunan. The region is renowned for its impressive dengue and the zika virus. Dengue fever killed a shot dead as a result. Video emerged online Shoeless despite the bitter cold, they each year for us. It’s the year of the golden rooster. sandstone pillars and attracts many wingsuit 4-month-old and a 7-year-old, and was found in showing a tiger mauling a man in black clothing placed a flower on the stone, poured an off ering The value of the roosters has gone up,” said enthusiasts. Dickinson, who finished third in the 1,454 other people during January 1-21, according as visitors screamed in horror and two other of soju — rice wine — and burned incense Banchej Changyai, 55, who was running the 2016 World Wingsuit League China Grand Prix at to the department. Outbreaks of leptospirosis tigers stood close by watching. The tigers were before prostrating themselves twice, forehead contest south of Bangkok on the second day of Tianmen Mountain, had been given permission — a bacterial disease that can lead to kidney eventually driven away by park staff using with to the floor, and bowing deeply. Some walked celebrations for the Lunar New Year. Each fight to train in the area earlier this month. damage, meningitis and liver failure. firecrackers and water cannon. away in tears. involves two roosters facing off in a pit. Top lawyer shot dead in Myanmar Indonesia deeply regrets

AFP There were no reports on Yangon possible motives behind the murder. Myanmar’s border regions have simmered for prominent Muslim decades with ethnic minority Trump immigration ban lawyer and member of insurgencies. Yet it is rare for A Myanmar’s ruling par- prominent political fi gures to Reuters about the policy.” In December any problems so far. She said US to honour refugee deal with Australia ty was shot dead along with a be murdered in Yangon, the Jakarta 2015, Trump called for a ban on there were “hundreds of thou- taxi driver outside Yangon’s country’s booming and large- all Muslims entering the United sands” of Indonesians in the international airport yester- ly safe commercial hub. States. The idea drew fi re for sug- United States. US President Donald Trump Barack Obama’s administration day, offi cials said. But in recent years My- ndonesian Foreign Minister gesting a religious test for immi- A statement on the web- has confirmed that his had said the United States Ko Ni, a member of Aung anmar has witnessed a surge Retno Marsudi said yesterday grants that critics said would site of the Indonesian embas- administration will honour a would take a substantial San Suu Kyi’s National of anti-Muslim sentiment, Ithe Muslim-majority nation violate the US Constitution and sy in Washington (http://bit. refugee resettlement deal with number of the 1,200 asylum League for Democracy party, fanned by hardline Buddhist deeply regrets President Donald later evolved into a proposal for ly/2kdBJs1) urged its citizens in Australia, a source close to the seekers, who are held in the was gunned down as he got nationalists. Trump’s plans for “extreme vet- “extreme vetting”. the United States to stay calm, Australian government said procession centres on remote into a taxi outside arrivals Ko Ni, a long-time member ting” of people from some Mus- Most of Indonesia’s 220mn but keep vigilant. yesterday. Pacific islands in Papua New around 5pm by an assassin of the NLD and legal advisor lim countries entering the United Muslims practise a moder- It said Indonesian citizens Trump spoke by telephone Guinea and Nauru, after who also killed the driver. to the party, often spoke out States under new immigration ate form of Islam, although the should respect US laws and with Australian Prime Minister Turnbull agreed to resettle “According to our initial in favour of religious toler- orders. country has some vocal Islamist help ensure public order in their Malcolm Turnbull earlier refugees from Guatemala, information, Ko Ni and the ance and pluralism. In a far-reaching order that groups and has suff ered in the neighbourhoods, but also that yesterday, off icials in both Honduras and El Salvador. taxi driver were killed,” a se- In late 2015 Suu Kyi’s NLD caused chaos and confusion af- past from attacks by militants. they should understand their countries said, one of a number US Homeland Security off icials curity source at the airport party won a landslide elec- ter it was signed late on Friday, Indonesia has close rela- rights in case of any issues and of conversations the new US have begun assessing the told AFP, asking not to be tion victory, ending decades Trump put a four-month hold on tions with the United States and directed them to the website of president held with world asylum seekers, although it named. “An unknown man of military-led rule. But in allowing refugees into the United many of its citizens think highly the American Civil Liberties Un- leaders, including Russian was unclear when those found shot him in the head while he what analysts widely saw as States and temporarily barred of former US President Barack ion (ACLU). (www.aclu.org). President Vladimir Putin, to be genuine refugees would was hiring a taxi. He was later a sop to Buddhist hardliners travellers from Syria and six oth- Obama, who spent part of his The ACLU sought and won a German Chancellor Angela be resettled. Many of those in arrested,” the source added. the party fi elded no Muslim er Muslim-majority countries. childhood in Jakarta. temporary stay on Trump’s or- Merkel and Japanese Prime Australia’s off shore camps have Zaw Htay, a spokesman at candidates, despite boasting Indonesia, which has the Indonesian President Joko der to restrict travellers with Minister Shinzo Abe. fled conflict in Afghanistan, the president’s offi ce, said Ko many prominent Muslim fi g- world’s largest Muslim popu- Widodo said after Trump’s inau- passports from Syria, Iran, Iraq, The Australian government Iraq, Iran, and elsewhere. Ni had just returned from a ures in its ranks. lation, is not among the seven guration he was optimistic that Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and source told Reuters Trump Confirmation the deal would government delegation trip to Suu Kyi has also faced in- nations whose citizens face re- relations between the countries Yemen. confirmed the deal to resettle proceed came less than 24 Indonesia. ternational censure for her strictions. However, when asked would strengthen, to the benefi t Trump told reporters in the asylum seekers currently held hours after Trump signed an “He (Ko Ni) was shot while failure to criticise an ongoing about Trump’s plans for “ex- of both. White House’s Oval Offi ce on in off shore detention camps executive order that put a he was waiting for a car out- army crackdown against the treme vetting”, Marsudi said in Foreign Minister Marsudi said Saturday that his order was to the United States would go four-month hold on allowing side the airport. Ko Ni died on Rohingya minority in western social media message sent to Indonesians seeking visas to go “not a Muslim ban” and said the ahead. Former US President refugees into the United States. the spot,” he said. Rakhine state. Reuters: “We have deep regrets the United States had not faced measures were long overdue.

Red-letter day Oscar buzz dead, China clips Hooligan Sparrow wings

AFP took power in late 2012, au- To change Chinese hearts Beijing thorities have carried out a and minds, she is going to “try brutal crackdown on civil soci- to better understand people and ety, which has seen hundreds of fi nd language that they can ac- e Haiyan, one of China’s lawyers, activists and academics cept”. “I’m even willing to work most prominent women’s detained and dozens jailed. “It’s with the Communist party,” she Yrights activists, huddled diffi cult to know for sure how added. in her unheated apartment on the government will behave,” The government, however, the outskirts of Beijing, waiting she said. Since the fi lm’s release, does not seem interested in the to learn if the documentary that Ye has been forced to reevaluate off er: local offi cials have shut propelled her to international her often sensationalistic tac- off her utilities in an attempt to fame would receive an Oscar tics. drive her from her home, this nod. Things were “quite danger- time for posting an article about Last month, Hooligan Spar- ous” for a while, she said, as the the party’s founding father Mao row, a documentary following government upped its surveil- Zedong. her activism on behalf of sexual- lance. After she criticised a small ly abused children, made a short “After Hainan and Nanfu’s but vocal resurgence of praise for list for the Academy Awards. Chinese women’s rights activist Ye Haiyan in Beijing. fi lm, I thought: ‘My God, our the leader whose failed policies Last week, local authorities country is so rotten. The author- killed tens of millions, govern- killed her gas, water, electricity also attracted the attention of er to ever be nominated for an ities are capable of anything,’” ment censors closed her social and Internet. the country’s police, who ruth- Oscar. Wang was disappointed she said. “Before, I’d been so na- media accounts and local police When she learned the fi lm lessly persecuted the single the fi lm was not included among ive. I thought as long as I made threatened to lock her in her was not included among the fi - mother for her role in organis- the fi nal fi ve nominees. “A nomi- noise, the government would home if she did not leave. nal fi ve nominees announced ing protests over the school rape nation would have been big news hear me and change.” “We might have to jump out last week, she breathed a sigh of case. in China — the kind of news that Living under constant scru- the second-storey window,” she relief. “If many people started The director of Hooligan state censorship would struggle tiny, she said, has forced her to said. paying attention to me because Sparrow, New York-based Nan- to manage,” Wang said. fi nd a balance between speaking But while Ye may bend to the of the fi lm, I suspect I wouldn’t fu Wang, captured the drama Greater exposure might mean out for her beliefs and keeping a party’s will, she refuses to break. be able to stay in China much of intimidation, detention and greater protection for Ye from low-enough profi le to avoid be- She has turned her predicament longer,” she said. “I don’t want evictions Ye suff ered in the sum- authorities bent on muzzling coming further entangled. Her into performance art, hanging to stand up and become an even mer of 2013, weaving the tense civil society, but it could also previous tactics, inspired by a red lantern on her staircase more prominent dissident here.” footage into a thriller-esque end in increased harassment, Western-style activism, fell on for every day she goes without Her work drew the attention narrative. she said. Wang has not returned deaf ears in China, she said. power. of internationally renowned The fi rst-time director’s doc- to China since the fi lm debuted, “People wouldn’t listen to an- “As long as they allow me a Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, who umentary would have become unsure of the consequences that ything you said, thinking you’d small space in this country to People celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year in the Chinatown of posed with her in a controversial one of only a handful of movies might await her. been brainwashed by Western survive and speak, I won’t leave Yangon, Myanmar. photograph. But the spotlight by a mainland Chinese fi lmmak- Since President Xi Jinping universal values,” she said. or give up being a critic.” Three dead, five missing in Malaysia boat tragedy

Three Chinese passengers The boat had left Saturday died and five are missing morning from the Sabah after a tourist boat sank state capital Kota Kinabalu in rough seas off eastern en route for Pulau Malaysia, off icials confirmed Mengalum, an island known late yesterday, with 22 for its pristine beaches and people rescued following dive sites. The boat owner the shipwreck. The sinking reported it missing on of the catamaran on Saturday evening. Saturday, the first day of The skipper and one of the the Lunar New Year holiday, two crew members were sparked a major air and sea found alive earlier yesterday search covering some 400 off a nearby island, before nautical square miles. The the discovery of the other operation would continue survivors. overnight to try to save “According to the skipper, five missing, said Shahidan the boat was ‘broken’ after Kassim, minister in the Prime being hit by waves and Minister’s Department. “We sank,” said Ahmad Puzi will deploy search assets Kahar, head of the Malaysian that can operate at night, Maritime Enforcement and continue our rescue Agency. The tourists were operations to locate those tied together and were who are still missing,” he carried away by the current, told a press conference in Puzi said, without specifying Malaysia’s eastern state of whether they were wearing Sabah on Borneo island. life jackets. Gulf Times Monday, January 30, 2017 13 BRITAIN Iraqi-born MP says Trump’s ban is ‘demeaning’

Agencies ellers from seven Muslim nations and by reporters on the ban, insisting it It was a developing story. Zahawi called for President Trump US airports when they arrived. London all refugees. was up to America to devise its own “I think her being careful is a good to “think again” about the “hugely But, as tensions rose, a top US The Stratford-on-Avon MP told policy. thing, but she was also very candid discriminatory” policy. judge defi ed Donald Trump’s contro- BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show: “I But amid a growing backlash, with President Trump.” It comes as thousands of protestors versial Muslim ban bringing a tem- Conservative MP has said he don’t think I have felt discriminated Downing Street issued a midnight He added: “I am reassured by my gathered at airports across the US in a porary halt to people being detained feels “demeaned and discrimi- since little school when the kids were statement saying May did not agree prime minister, Theresa May’s state- series of demonstrations against the at airports. Anated against” after learning very cruel, as a young boy coming with the move and would make rep- ment, because quite clearly says she president’s so-called ‘Muslim ban’. Up The ruling from US district judge he will be hit by Donald Trump’s bor- from Iraq of Kurdish origin. resentations to the US if it hit Britons. disagrees with this.” to 200 people including refugees and Ann Donnelly in New York has der clampdown. “For the fi rst time in my life last The Conservative MP said he felt de- But he warned that “anyone who visa-holders of the blocked countries brought a temporary halt stopping the Nadhim Zahawi, who was born night I felt discriminated against, it’s meaned and discriminated against (PA) turns the other way” was an appeaser. are currently being detained at air- US removing people with approved Baghdad in Iraq, has been advised by demeaning, it’s sad.” Mr Zahawi told the programme: “I “I don’t think we should look away ports, the ACLU said. refugee applications, valid visas and lawyers that he will be barred from the The prime minister refused to criti- think my prime minister, quite rightly, when president Trump makes a mis- Many who were already in the air at other individuals “legally authorised United States under the ban on trav- cise President Trump when pressed was being cautious. take,” he added. the time of the order were detained at to enter the United States”. Squatters Tough Guy race facing attacks by ‘fascists’

Guardian News a disturbance involving a group London outside a non-residential property. The suspects made off before quatters who have oc- offi cers arrived. Offi cers have cupied a £15mn prop- conducted local searches and Serty in Belgravia, central are patrolling the local area. London, bought by a Russian There have been no arrests. In- oligarch, Andrey Goncharenko, quiries continue.” have come under physical at- Despite the attack, the oc- tack from a group they de- cupiers say they have received scribed as fascists. A group of huge support from members people gathered outside the of the public and many dona- property and hurled bricks, tions of food which has been bottles and poles through the used to feed the homeless peo- windows on Saturday after- ple currently living in the fi ve- noon. storey,Grade II-listed accom- The squatters have created modation. a shelter for homeless people Miller said: “Following the at the property. At the time of incident we have reinforced Competitors scramble up a muddy slope as they take part in the ‘Tough Guy’ adventure race near Wolverhampton, central England. The Tough Guy event, which is being held the attack, there were more the property against further for the final time in its 30th year, challenges thousands of competitors to run a gruelling course whilst negotiating over 200 obstacles including: water, fire, and tunnels. than a dozen homeless people attacks. As far as we are con- there along with the occupiers cerned it’s business as usual and some visiting families with here. We are continue to feed children. and accommodate homeless We have been keeping the people and hold events like fi lm property clean and tidy and screenings.” trying to look after it for Gon- The squatters — Autono- charenko, Jed Miller, law mous Nation of Anarchist Lib- student and occupier of the ertarians, known as Anal — said property. The squatters posted they entered through an open a series of SOS messages on window on 23 January. May criticises US Twitter calling for human re- Tom Fox, 23, one of the inforcements to fend off the at- squatters, said: “It is criminal tackers. “We are being violently that there are so many home- attacked by fascists, get to 102 less people and at the same Eaton Square immediately. time so many empty buildings. Lives are at risk,” said one com- Our occupation is highlighting ment. this injustice.” “The mansion is being se- New rough sleeper fi gures president over ban cured from inside after attacks published last week have re- by fascists, children are being vealed an increase of 16% from Premier May has faced strong to a political storm in London late on Sat- we think it’s wrong,” he told BBC TV on ton, a member of the ruling Conserva- moved upstairs, no reports of last year, to more than 4,000. criticism for soft-pedalling on the urday, coming under fi re from within her Sunday. tive Party. injuries,” said another post. More than 200,000 homes issue own party, her spokesman said Britain Britain will make representations to She said Trump should be snubbed by Then: “Fascists fought/ have been empty for more than disagreed with Trump’s ban. the United States on behalf of any Brit- parliament when he comes to Britain for scared off , police liaised and six months. Reuters “Immigration policy in the United ish nationals aff ected by the policy, he a planned state visit this year. content. We would still appre- A banner above the front London States is a matter for the government of said. “I don’t care how special the rela- ciate numbers here to display door reads “USA anti-govern- the United States, just the same as immi- Trump’s executive order plunged tionship is, some lines just shouldn’t be that we will resist.” ment in exile”, and a black fl ag gration policy for this country should be America’s immigration system into crossed,” Conservative MP Heidi Allen Jed Miller, 25, a law stu- displays the words rime Minister Theresa May said set by our government,” he said. chaos, with legal US tweeted. “Strong leadership means not dent and one of the occupiers, “Antifaschistische Aktion”, a Britain did not agree with US “But we do not agree with this kind residents being turned away at air- being afraid to tell someone powerful praised the police who attend- European anti-fascist network. PPresident Donald Trump’s curbs of approach and it is not one we will be ports, and drew criticism from Western when they’re wrong. ed the incident and thanked The squatters face eviction on immigration after coming under taking. allies including France and Germany. It’s an ethos this country is proud of.” them for their support. proceedings at Central London criticism from lawmakers in her own We are studying this new executive The US ban aff ects travellers with Another Conservative lawmaker, Na- “The police have been very county court tomorrow. Gon- party for not condemning his executive order to see what it means and what the passports from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Soma- dhim Zahawi, said he would be banned good. I have spoken to the in- charenko bought the property order when initially questioned. legal eff ects are, and in particular what lia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. from the United States as a British citi- spector on the phone and he in 2014 but has not lived in it On a visit to Turkey on Saturday, she the consequences are for UK nationals.” According to state department guid- zen of Iraqi origin. “A sad sad day to feel just wants to make sure that so far. was asked three times to comment on Britain’s disapproval sharpened yes- ance, travellers with dual nationality like a second-class citizen,” he tweeted. everyone is safe. We are very When Westminster council Trump’s move to put a four-month hold terday when foreign secretary Boris will also be aff ected. “Sad day for the USA.” annoyed that the attackers granted him planning permis- on allowing refugees into the United Johnson said in a tweet: “Divisive and May had been enjoying a positive Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main caused damage to the property sion for various changes in- States and to temporarily bar travellers wrong to stigmatise because of nation- response at home for revitalising the opposition Labour Party, said it should by breaking some of the win- cluding a basement swimming from Syria and six other Muslim-major- ality”. “special relationship” between Britain sadden Britain that May chose not to dows. We have been keeping pool they decided that it was ity countries, which he said would pro- “We will protect the rights and and the United States, which could be a stand up to Trump. the property clean and tidy and not a suitable property to in- tect Americans from violent Islamists. freedoms of UK nationals home and vital trading partner after Britain exits He reiterated his total opposition to have been trying to look after it clude social housing. May — who had fl own to Turkey from abroad,” Johnson added. the European Union. the ban and said Trump’s planned state for Mr Goncharenko.” So instead, in line with plan- the United States where she was the fi rst Government minister David Gauke ear- But her response while in Ankara for visit should be put on hold. “We need to A spokesman for the Met- ning law, Goncharenko made foreign leader to meet the new US presi- lier defended May’s initial refusal to voice talks with Turkish President Tayyip fi nd out exactly what his intentions are ropolitan police said: “Police a payment of £816,000 to the dent for talks she called successful — re- any criticise, saying she was not a “shoot Erdogan triggered criticism from her in the long run and how much the US were called to Eaton Square, council when planning permis- plied that Washington was responsible for from the hip” politician and wanted to take party. parliamentary system is going to pro- SW1, just after 16:15hrs on Sat- sion was granted, to use for so- its policy on refugees. a considered view. “The important thing is “Trump really is a sickening piece of tect fundamentals of rights and free- urday, 28 January, to reports of cial housing. But after the prime minister fl ew back we are saying that we disagree with it and work,” tweeted lawmaker Sarah Wollas- dom,” he told ITV television.

Khan distances himself from Corbyn claims Haggis throwing contest

Evening Standard the European Union. One of these is inverted commas, an off shore tax ha- countries is shameful and cruel. London intended to help avoid Britain becom- ven, because the implication is that “The USA has a proud history of ing a “bargain basement” tax haven off would lead to a dilution of workers’ welcoming and resettling refugees. the coast of Europe. rights” The president can’t just turn his adiq Khan appeared to cast doubt The party is expected to add it wants Sadiq Khan has condemned Donald back on this global crisis — all coun- on Labour’s Brexit policy as he to secure workers’ rights. Trump’s ban on people from certain tries need to play their part. Ssuggested claims by Jeremy Cor- However, Davis, who has prom- countries entering the United States “While every country has the right byn that government plans threatened ised “London’s voice will be heard” in as “shameful and cruel”. The mayor of to set its own immigration policies, the rights of workers were unfounded. monthly Brexit talks with the mayor, London released a statement yesterday this new policy fl ies in the face of the The mayor said he did not believe has met with the TUC and other work- slamming the president’s controversial values of freedom and tolerance that that Brexit Secretary David Davis had ers’ rights advocates. policy which blocks entry to refugees the USA was built upon.” any intention to weaken those rights Khan told the London Assembly: and immigrants from seven Muslim- p Late on Saturday night Down- despite the Labour leader’s concerns. “To give credit to the government, I majority countries. ing Street announced the PM Theresa He said: “I’ve seen no evidence from don’t think they want to weaken work- President Trump’s executive order May “does not agree” with President the conversations I’ve had with senior ers’ rights.” banned Syrian refugees indefi nitely Trump’s divisive ban. members of the government that that’s However, he added: “I’m hoping and included a 90-day block on trav- Khan said: “I’m pleased that the their aspiration or their intention or that what we have now is a fl oor, not a ellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, prime minister has now said she and Competitor Bill Boyd in Robert Burns era costume prepares to throw a haggis something they want to do.” ceiling. What none of us want to see is Yemen and Somalia. the government do not agree with during the 2017 World Haggis Hurling Championships at Burns Cottage in Labour is ready to set out four a dilution of workers’ rights or a race to But Khan,, said the new policy “fl ies president Trump’s policy, which will Alloway, Ayrshire, Scotland. The Haggis Hurling world championships are held amendments to the government’s Ar- the bottom. in the face of the values of freedom”. aff ect many British citizens who have every year around the time of Robert Burns’ birthday in his former home town ticle 50 bill that sets out the two-year “That’s why there’s been some anxi- He said: “President Trump’s ban on dual nationality, including Londoners of Alloway, 60km from Glasgow on the south west coast of Scotland. framework for Britain’s departure from ety with comments about us being, in refugees and immigrants from certain born in countries aff ected by the ban. Gulf Times 14 Monday, January 30, 2017 BRITAIN

ACCIDENT SCARE BRAWL Mobility scooter falls on Streets on lockdown Train driver ‘pulled from tracks at station after ‘package’ found train and attacked’

An elderly man tumbled onto railway tracks Roads surrounding Tooting Broadway Tube A train driver was pulled from his train and after he fell from the platform in his mobility station were placed on lockdown as police attacked late last night at a London suburban scooter in front of shocked passengers. investigated a “suspicious package”. Streets station. A man was arrested in the early hours Panicked witnesses activated emergency including Tooting High Street, Garratt Lane and yesterday morning after the attack at Epsom rail alarms at Crossharbour DLR station after Garratt Terrace were evacuated just before station in Surrey. Off icers from two police forces the man landed on the rails just after 12pm 8.30pm as a sea of police vehicles descended Streets surrounding Tooting station were closed. – Surrey and British Transport Police – raced to on Saturday. Transport for London later near the station. A Scotland Yard spokesman the scene following reports which came in at revealed the rider suff ered no serious injuries. confirmed off icers were investigating a suspect had a phone call from a friend to say he couldn’t get around midnight. A Surrey police off icer working One witness said they struck an emergency A man fell from the platform in his mobility package. Police cordons were lifted just before down my road because it was blocked off . “From in the Mole Valley said on Twitter a “drunk male” button after the elderly man plunged from the scooter at Coldharbour station on Saturday. 9.30pm as roads were reopened. Witnesses told what I could see there was a bus inside the cordon pulled a driver from a train and assaulted him. platform. how bars and restaurants were cleared and shops so maybe it was something found on that but drunk male #epsom has pulled a driver from a A spokesman said the rider misjudged the edge Quay and Crossharbour for nearly an hour shut amid a heavy police presence at the Tube thankfully this wasn’t a serious incident. “I was really train & assaulted him!! @BTP In attendance... as he manouvered himself out of a lift. DLR as police were called to the scene. The station. Daniel Hamilton told the Standard: “I live impressed with the quick response. As a Londoner it someone wants 2 get home #custody it’s warm trains were suspended between West India incident caused some delays on the line. around a hundred metres from the station and gives me reassurance were anything to happen.” there! Teen girls Sunset over St Paul’s attacked on buses

Evening Standard same description made her London feel uncomfortable by engag- ing in a conversation. At 5.50pm a 15-year-old olice are hunting for a boarded a 171 bus at Catford man after a string of train station. P“despicable” sex attacks The suspect sat opposite her on teenage girls on buses in and touched her knee, the Met south east London. Police said. The schoolgirls – one who Frightened, she got off the is aged as young as 13 – said bus but the man pursued her they were assaulted on buses and groped her before she in Lewisham and Southwark in managed to fl ee, offi cers add- the past few days. ed. Police investigating the Two previous attacks were string of fi ve south east Lon- on two women, aged 22 and 17, don assaults are warning there on a number 12 bus in Dulwich could be even more attacks at around 9.30pm on January which have not yet been re- 24. ported. The suspect is described as a A string of attacks took black man in his 20s with short place on Friday, January 27, black hair and stubble. starting with a girl, 17, board- He wore blue baggy jeans ing a 176 bus at 3.15pm, offi cers and a black bomber jacket with said. a white fur trim on the hood. The suspect sat opposite her Detective Constable Alex A view of St Paul’s against an evening sky. and struck up a conversation Price said: “We are keen to before intentionally falling trace the suspect carrying onto her and groping her, the out these despicable attacks force said. on young girls and women in At around 5pm on the same public. day, a girl, 13, reported being “Five victims have been tar- sexually assaulted on a 363 geted by this man and we be- bus. lieve there could be many more Later another girl, also 13, victims who are yet to come reported a man matching the forward.” Labour MPs in bid to Motorbike thieves raid Michael Kors throw out Brexit bill Lewisham MP Alexander is ing the phrase “customs union” Her motion is said to be backed (Notifi cation of Withdrawal) Bill. both directions, and very strong- worried about the economic before the referendum — and by Tulip Siddiq, who resigned The 137-word legislation, ly in both directions. and iSmash shop impact yet we were fed a daily pack of from the shadow cabinet on which was tabled on Thursday, “I say to everyone, unite lies about money which would Thursday, former leadership will allow Theresa May power to around the important issues of Evening Standard automatically become available candidate Owen Smith and Stella trigger the two-year countdown jobs, security, economy, rights, Evening Standard London for the NHS, Turkey joining the Creasy. to leave the EU. justice, those issues, and we will London EU and the “swarms” of refugees Labour leader Jeremy Cor- Siddiq said she had to rep- frame that relationship with Eu- heading for our shores. byn has sparked fears of a re- resent the views of her north rope in the future outside the abour MPs have put for- “Leave campaigner after leave volt among his own MPs after London constituents, who voted EU, but in concert with friends, designer boutique and ward a commons motion campaigner took to the airwaves he imposed a three-line whip overwhelmingly to Remain. whether those countries are out- phone repair shop were Lto throw out a government to say this wasn’t about leaving to support the Government’s “I have always been clear — I side or inside the EU. Araided in two smash- bill which would pave the way the Single Market. bill. do not represent Westminster in “That’s the message we’re and-grab motorbike burglaries for Britain to leave the European “Page 72 of the Conservative The government’s European Hampstead and Kilburn, I repre- putting out and I’m asking all our on Chelsea’s exclusive King’s High-end designer shop Union. manifesto said they would “safe- Union (Notifi cation of With- sent Hampstead and Kilburn in MPs not to block Article 50 and Road. Michael Kors on King’s Road. Lewisham MP Heidi Alexan- guard British interests in the Sin- drawal) Bill is due to be debated Westminster,” she wrote in her make sure it goes through next High-end shop Michael der, who resigned from the shad- gle Market” and then last week, by MPs tomorrow and could clear resignation letter, reported by week.” Kors was broken into at around the vigil, which happened ow cabinet in June, has tabled an an unelected prime minister an- the Commons on Wednesday. the Guardian. There was better news for Cor- 10pm on Friday, leaving glass outside Chelsea Town Hall on amendment with the support of nounces she is pulling us out of It will then move to the House “I feel that the most eff ective byn as shadow business secretary shattered across the street and Kings Road. 18 backbenchers which could see the world’s largest trading bloc. of Lords. place for me to counter Theresa Clive Lewis, who has previously expensive handbags scattered One man in his 20s has the bill scrapped. “That might be what democ- Theresa May announced the May’s hard Brexit is from the said the prime minister’s plans on the pavement. been arrested on suspicion of Writing for the Huffi ngton racy means to some, but it is not Government would provide fur- backbenches.” for Brexit are not in the best in- Just a few hundred metres burglary in relation to the i- Post, M Alexander said she de- what it means to me. ther details of its Brexit plans She added: “I do not support terests of his constituents or the down the road, phone repair Smash incident — but no one cided to act as she described “I acknowledge the result of in a formal policy document on the triggering of Article 50 and country, said he will not rebel on shop iSmash was burgled at has yet been arrested in con- Theresa May’s Brexit strategy the referendum but don’t expect Wednesday. cannot reconcile myself to the the issue because he would “re- around the same time, police nection with the Michael Kors as a “slow motion car crash”. me to respect the process which Tulip Siddiq has sensationally frontbench position.” spect the result of the referen- said. break-in. She said she was also motivated led to it. quit the Labour frontbench af- Explaining his stance, Cor- dum”. Lewis said he would vote The two smash-and-grabs, A spokesperson from the over fears people could lose their “I feel like I am watching a ter Jeremy Corbyn ordered MPs byn said: “I fully understand the for the Bill at second reading, but involving motorbikes, hap- Met Police said: “Property be- jobs and the wider impact of the slow motion car crash and I have to back the Government’s Brexit pressures and issues members stressed that Labour would seek pened at the same time that lieved to relate to the burglary economy and argued voters were to try to do something about it. bill. are under — those who represent to amend the legislation. hundreds of motorcyclists at Michael Kors was recovered unaware Brexit meant quitting “If my amendment is select- Siddiq resigned from her job Leave constituencies and those “I have been clear throughout gathered nearby for a candlelit nearby — there have been no the single market. ed for debate, I will vote for my as shadow education minister as who represent Remain constitu- that I respect the result of the vigil in memory of a biker. arrests.” Alexander wrote: “The words amendment. she could not “reconcile” herself encies. referendum and will, therefore, Police say they are making I-Smash off ers services to single market weren’t on the bal- Irrespective of whether that to her position after Corbyn im- “Labour is in the almost join my colleagues in voting for inquiries to fi nd out whether repair and personalise phones, lot paper. happens or not, I will vote against posed a three-line whip for MPs unique position of having MPs the Bill on its second reading,” he the break-ins were linked to tablets and computers. “I can barely remember hear- triggering Article 50.” to support the European Union representing constituencies in said.

Princess Diana statue to be unveiled at Kensington Palace

Evening Standard We hope the statue will help all those who former private secretary Jamie Lowther- permanent tribute to the late princess. London visit Kensington Palace to refl ect on her Pinkerton. The Diana, Princess of Wales Memo- life and her legacy,” their joint statement The committee members are John rial Fountain in Hyde Park, was designed added. Barnes, Gerry Farrell, Diana’s sister Lady to express Diana’s spirit and love of chil- rince William and Prince Harry The royal brothers have convened a Sarah McCorquodale, Guy Monson and dren. have arranged for a statue of the late committee to commission and privately Julia Samuel. The fountain south of the Sepentine PPrincess Diana to be erected in the raise funds for the creation of the statue. Princess Diana died in a car crash in Lake had its cornerstone laid in Septem- grounds of Kensington Palace on the 20th This committee will advise on the se- 1997 in Paris along with her boyfriend ber 2003 and it was offi cially opened on 6 anniversary of her death. lection of the sculptor. Dodi Fayed and the driver Henri Paul. July 2004 by the Queen. The brothers, who want to pay tribute They will also work with historic royal After her death there was a huge public Also present were Diana’s younger to the “positive impact” of their mother’s palaces on the statue’s installation in the outpouring of grief with a carpet of fl ow- brother Charles Spencer, her ex husband life, will raise money for the statue pri- public gardens at Kensington palace. ers laid outside her London home, Ken- The Prince of Wales and her sons. vately. Sculpting of the statue will begin soon sington Palace. Shortly after its opening and after three William and Harry said: “It has been but it is not currently known when the Eventually a memorial was created hospitalisations caused by people slip- twenty years since our mother’s death statue will be unveiled. dedicated to her memory. ping in the water, the fountain was closed. and the time is right to recognise her It is to be before the end of 2017, the The “moat without a castle”, by Ameri- It reopened in August 2004, surround- positive impact in the UK and around the 20th anniversary of her death. can architect Kathryn Gustafson, was ed by a new fence, and people were pre- world with a permanent statue. The Diana, Princess of Wales Stat- chosen from hundreds of entries by a vented from walking or running in the Princess Diana with her two sons Harry and William in 1995, two “Our mother touched so many lives. ue Committee will be chaired by their government-appointed committee as the water by six wardens. years before she died. Gulf Times Monday, January 30, 2017 15 EUROPE

Greek, Turkish warships French Socialists vote in brief face-off as Fillon fi ghts scandal AFP Reuters/AFP head-to-head vote, even though on voting intentions since the Athens Paris the outcome remains uncertain scandal broke. given that any voter can take Whichever Socialist wins, part. opinion polls show the party reek and Turkish war- new chapter opened in By midday, the high turnout destined for a humiliating fi fth ships were involved yes- France’s closely contest- Valls has been calling for looked place in the April 23 fi rst round Gterday in a brief face-off Aed presidential election likely, with more than half a mil- of the election itself, behind Fil- near a group of disputed Greek campaign yesterday as Socialists lion people taking part by mid- lon, Le Pen, centrist Emmanuel islets in the Aegean, coinciding voted to choose their champion day, according to the organisers, Macron, and the far left’s Jean- with renewed tensions between and conservatives fought to keep up from around 400,000 in last Luc Melenchon. Athens and Ankara. their scandal-hit campaign on week’s fi rst round. Nevertheless, the poll out- The Greek defence ministry track. Neither man has much chance come is important to the elec- said a Turkish navy missile boat, Polling opened at 0800 GMT of winning the presidential race tion, and for the future of the “along with two special forces in a primary run-off that pits itself, though, after fi ve years of Socialist party, unpopular after rafts”, entered Greek territorial pro-business former prime unpopular Socialist rule. fi ve years of high unemployment waters near the Imia islets. minister Manuel Valls against Until Fillon tripped up over under President Francois Hol- Located just off the Turkish hard-left lawmaker Benoit Ha- his British wife Penelope’s pay, lande and split by a pro-busi- coast and claimed by Ankara, mon for the Socialist ticket. prompting the opening of an of- ness policy u-turn that angered Hamon leaves after casting his ballot in the second round of the the uninhabited rocky specks are A result was expected by the fi cial inquiry into the matter, he its left-wingers. French left’s presidential primary election in Trappes. a historic fl ashpoint in a long- end of the day. was favourite to move into the Hamon is one of those left- running demarcation dispute. Meanwhile, Francois Fillon Elysee presidential palace. wingers. presidential election, this is how supporters gave Fillon and his Greek coastguard vessels and – chosen as conservative can- Opinion polls showed him He wants to give a “universal it’ll end,” Fillon told the paper. wife a standing ovation as the a navy gunboat shadowed the didate last year by his party The beating far-right National Front income” to all citizens at a cost It was the satirical weekly Le couple arrived. Turkish group, notifying them of Republicans but hurt last week (FN) leader Marine Le Pen in of €350bn and impose a tax on Canard Enchaine that threw his Though it is legal in France the violation, and the Turks left by a newspaper claim that his a run-off vote on May 7 with a robots. campaign off track last week. for parliamentarians to employ the area after about seven min- wife was paid for fake work – comfortable two-thirds of the Analysts say that if he wins Its report said Fillon’s wife family members, fi nancial pros- utes, it said. held a rally on the outskirts of vote. the ticket, that would boost had received a total of around ecutors have opened an investi- Valls leaves after voting at a In Turkey, the local media Paris. Popularity polls since have Macron’s chances of the presi- €600,000 ($640,000) for em- gation into suspected misuse of polling station in Evry. initially reported that the Turk- Hamon is favourite to beat shown his rating slip slightly, al- dency, potentially pushing Valls’ ployment by him and his suc- public funds. ish warship – with Chief of Staff Valls in the Socialist primary’s though there have been no polls centre-left pro-business sup- cessor in parliament, and later as The aff air has dented a whole- which was planned long before General Hulusi Akar onboard – porters into former investment a literary reviewer for a cultural some image that Fillon, 62, a de- the allegations were published, was blocked by Greece from ap- banker Macron’s arms. journal. vout Catholic with 30 scandal- is meant to show that supporters proaching the islets. It could also hasten a break- Fillon, who says that as presi- free years in politics, has sought are not discouraged by the scan- The private Dogan news up of the Socialist party, analysts dent he would slash public sec- to project. dal, one aide said. agency reported that there were say. tor jobs and tax on companies, An opinion survey on Friday Speaking at the rally, Fillon “tense moments” for half an Macron, Valls’ economy min- has not denied the fi gures, but suggested it might be harming said his critics should “leave my hour before the Turkish ship re- ister until he resigned last year he has denied the jobs were fake, Fillon’s popularity but support- wife out” of the election. turned to the Turkish peninsula to launch his own presidential saying that his wife for years ers at the rally dismissed its im- “If someone wants to at- of Bodrum. campaign, has spurned the So- proof-read his speeches and pact. tack me they should attack me But Turkish armed forces, cialist primaries and is standing prepared press reviews. “They all do the same any- straight on, but leave my wife quoted by the state-run news instead for his own centrist po- He has said he would not give way, so why target him?” said out of this political debate,” he agency Anadolu, denied that the litical movement. up his presidential bid unless he 74-year-old Danielle Cambour- said. ship had been blocked, and said The latest polls show him was himself put under formal nac, referring to the fact that “I want to tell Penelope that I a small Greek coastguard vessel breathing down the necks of Fil- investigation. French lawmakers are given a set love her and that I will never for- had watched from afar. lon and Le Pen. It is unclear who would re- amount of money to spend on give those who tried to throw us It added that General Akar Yesterday Fillon sought to get place him in that case. their parliamentary assistants. to the wolves,” he told the crowd, was onboard the ship to “review his campaign back on track with Last week, investigators “I really don’t mind, he spends to chants of “Penelope, Pene- and inspect” Turkish vessels in an interview in the Journal du searched the headquarters of the the money (given to lawmakers) lope!” the Aegean. Dimanche newspaper. cultural journal that employed as he likes. And nothing’s been “They’re trying to take me The Imia islets – called Kardak Muck-racking against main- Penelope Fillon. proven,” 70-year-old Francoise down, through Penelope,” he in Turkey – lie just 7km (4.5 stream candidates could end up They also seized fi les on Fran- Desenfants said. told the crowd of mostly older, miles) from Bodrum. propelling Le Pen into power, he cois Fillon held by France’s offi - Aides to Fillon said there were white supporters in a Paris hall, A row over their sovereignty said. cial anti-corruption watchdog. more than 13,000 supporters at who interrupted his speech pe- islets fl ared in January 1996, “If we continue to try to de- At the campaign rally yester- the rally. riodically with shouts of “Fillon, when the two countries sent Fillon and his wife Penelope arrive for the rally in Paris. stroy credible candidates in the day, a crowd of several thousand Continuing with the event, President!” marines to two neighbouring islands in a sign of an imminent armed confrontation. They then withdrew their troops after heavy diplomatic pressure by the United States, Schulz vows to shake up German elections Greece’s a fellow member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato). Reuters Democratic) Union,” he said. top daily Yesterday’s incident comes Berlin “We’ve come to the end of what amid fresh tension between the we can achieve with a divided two countries, after the Greek conservatives.” folds due Supreme Court on Thursday ormer European Parlia- Yesterday German news blocked the extradition of eight ment President Martin magazine Der Spiegel portrayed former army offi cers who had FSchulz vowed yesterday Schulz as the party’s saviour, to debts fl ed to Greece after the failed July to shake up German elections carrying a photograph on its 15 coup. and unseat Chancellor Angela front cover of a beaming Schulz Turkey lashed the ruling as Merkel with a campaign aimed with the headline “Saint Mar- AFP “political” and threatened to at overcoming “deep divi- tin”. Athens scrap a “readmission agree- sions” that he said had fueled A poll carried out last week ment” under which Turkey has populism in Germany in recent showed Merkel’s Christian been taking in migrants landing years. Democrats would get 34% of wo historic Greek news- illegally in Greece. Schulz, nominated to lead the the vote if the election were papers, including the Social Democratic Party (SPD), held today, while the SPD Tcountry’s best-selling told more than 1,000 people at would win 23%. daily, will cease publication, the its Berlin headquarters that he The AfD would become the debt-ridden Lambrakis Press Boar injures three would fi ght for fairer tax rules, third largest party in parliament Group announced on Saturday. in Berlin rampage better education and to ensure with 13% of the vote, the poll “To Vima weekly and Ta Nea that people in rural areas had conducted by Ipsos showed. daily are forced to cease their A wild boar has gone on the the same benefi ts as in big cit- The Greens would win 11%, publication within days due to rampage in a northern Berlin ies. with the Left party seen win- fi nancial reasons,” the company park causing minor injuries to But Schulz will be hard ning 10%, a slight increase from said in a statement. three people, authorities have pressed in this year’s elections previous polls. Lambrakis Press Group (DOL) confirmed. to unseat Merkel, who has led Schulz: A jolt is going through the SPD. We want to build on this momentum. The Social Democrats want “is lacking any available re- A sounder of boars showed up Germany since 2005 and is Eu- to form a coalition with smaller sources and as a result it can’t near the city’s Tegel Airport about rope’s most powerful head of formalise the decision in Berlin gious minorities, people with Schulz to replace current party parties on the left, but most support the printing of its news- 2pm (1300 GMT) on Saturday, government. on March 19. disabilities and others. leader Sigmar Gabriel, who said analysts still think that another papers and, of course, can’t en- before one of the male boars She also remains very popu- Schulz called for greater soli- And he took aim at the an- he was standing aside to en- right-left coalition is the most sure the unhampered operation moved away from the group to a lar despite discontent over her darity in Europe on the migrant ti-immigrant Alternative for hance the party’s chances in the likely outcome of September’s of the other media outlets it nearby park, local police said. immigration policies. issue and described the actions Germany (AfD) party and its September 24 election. election. owns”, it added. The boar then proceeded to “A jolt is going through the of Hungarian Prime Minister support for France’s far-right Gabriel said the SPD was se- Merkel’s conservatives have Besides the two papers, DOL attack people, injuring a woman SPD. We want to build on this Viktor Orban, who has resisted National Front party, saying rious about ending its role as a been bleeding support to the owns magazines, news sites and and two other men. momentum,” Schulz, 61, said attempts by the EU to co-ordi- that Germans had experienced junior partner to Merkel’s con- AfD since the chancellor’s de- the Vima FM radio. Police shot the animal dead in after the party’s executive nate migration, as an aff ront to during the Nazi era where servative Christian Democrats cision in August 2015 to keep DOL failed to pay its €99mn order to prevent it from injuring committee voted unanimously European unity. “blind nationalism” would in the “grand coalition” that Germany’s borders open to debt obligations in December, any further passers-by. for him to become the party’s He criticised US President lead. has ruled since 2013. refugees, a policy that has seen Antonis Karakoussis, director of By that stage, the rest of the top candidate in the September Donald Trump for what he The centre-left party in a “Germany needs a new start more than 1mn migrants en- the Vima newspaper and Vima animals had already moved on, election. called “outrageous and danger- surprise move on Tuesday had that cannot happen with the ter Germany over the past two FM radio said on January 11. police said. Party members will vote to ous” attacks on women, reli- announced it would nominate (conservative CDU, Christian years. He added that this situation was the result of the economic crisis Greece has faced since 2010 which has already led to the closure of many media outlets. In Saturday’s statement DOL Germany’s Schaeuble admits ‘mistakes’ in refugee policy accused the creditor banks of putting the press group in a spe- cial management regime with- Reuters Schaeuble told the newspaper parliament in September na- benefi ts than most European That will not only have good re- Union (CDU) in a Berlin state out providing for the continua- Berlin Welt am Sonntag. “We politi- tional elections. countries. That’s why so many sults,” he said. election, Merkel said she wished tion of its publications. cians are human; we also make The issue has also divided want to come to Germany,” he A poll this month showed that she could turn back the clock on DOL says that the creditor mistakes. But one can at least the European Union, with many told the newspaper. refugee policy would be the big- the migrant crisis, although she banks are withholding all its ermany made mistakes learn from them.” countries balking at taking in a Schaeuble also said he was gest issue for voters in the Sep- stopped short of saying that her earnings “whether these come with an open-door pol- Schaeuble is a member of proportional share of refugees. sceptical about the leadership tember election. policy was a mistake. from newspaper sales or from Gicy that saw more than Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Schaeuble said Europe needed style of the US President Donald Merkel, who is seeking a Merkel has rejected calls from advertisements”. 1mn migrants enter Germany conservative Christian Demo- to harmonise its social benefi ts Trump, who has sparked con- fourth term in offi ce, spoke by the CDU’s Bavarian sister party DOL’s statement added that over the past two years, Finance crats, who have lost support to to achieve a more equitable dis- cerns among European leaders telephone on Saturday with to set an upper limit on migra- “the employees, those that have Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble the anti-immigrant Alternative tribution of migrants among EU with executive orders on immi- Trump, who has described her tion, but is now pressing for served and are serving the val- acknowledged yesterday, but for Germany (AfD) party over members, a subject that he said gration, as well as his decision to August 2015 decision to keep more aggressive steps to send ues of free journalism, keep and he said that Berlin was trying to the migration issue, after several had thus far been considered cancel trade agreements. Germany’s borders open to refu- back migrants who are refused will keep fi ghting for the rescue learn from those missteps. attacks carried out by migrants. “taboo” in Germany. “In America, we can now see gees as a “catastrophic mistake”. asylum, as well as action to pre- of the Press group, of the historic “We have tried to improve The AfD is now poised to be- “We have much higher stand- how someone is acting as if he In September, after a defeat vent a similar fl ood of migrant newspapers and its other publi- what got away from us in 2015,” come the third largest party in ards when it comes to social can do everything very quickly. for her Christian Democratic from Africa. cations”. Gulf Times 16 Monday, January 30, 2017 INDIA

CLAIM VIOLENCE DECISION CRIME ANGER Pak shelling, climate Two kidnapped workers of Probe into Meghalaya Women gang raped near Tax off icers to protest change ‘causing avalanches’ dam project found dead ex-governor ruled out Gurugram during robbery GST Council decisions

Army chief General Bipin Rawat yesterday said Two of the three workers of the Maphou dam Union Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju, A group of eight to 10 robbers stormed into Tax off icers and employees across the country will climate change and heavy shelling from Pakistan project in Manipur’s Senapati district who were yesterday ruled out a probe into the alleged a casting factory and poultry farm near a wear black bands to work today to protest against are responsible for the increase in avalanches kidnapped by unidentified armed Kuki cadres “inappropriate behaviour” of V Shanmuganathan, village in Gurugram, gang raped two women certain decisions taken by the Goods and Services that have claimed lives of at least 15 army men were found shot dead yesterday while the third who was forced to resign as governor of labourers and took off with Rs42,000, police Tax (GST) Council. The Central Board of Excise and since last week. The army chief was speaking was rescued unharmed, the state police said. A Meghalaya. “As of now, there is nothing in the said yesterday. During the four-hour heist, they Customs off icial’s associations said that they are after laying wreath at the mortal remains of Major Kuki tribal alleged to be one of the kidnappers has form of documentary evidence against the also cooked themselves chicken using gas protesting the erosion in central government’s Amit Sagar, who lost his life in an avalanche that been arrested. The police said that the workers former governor to investigate the allegations. stoves of the labourers. Police said that eight to authority to levy and collect taxes through this struck an army camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s – Kangujam Thoi, a helper, JCB driver Kangujam Nothing is in our hands (central government),” he 10 men armed with pistols and sharp weapons token gesture. The members of Indian Revenue Gurez sector on Wednesday. “Ceasefire violations Tompok, and truck driver Khumukcham Bije from said. The resignation of Shanmuganathan, who stormed into the premises in Mandpura village Service (Customs and Central Excise), All India and use of heavy weapons by Pakistani troops Itham – were kidnapped from the project site on was also the governor in-charge of Arunachal near Pataudi, some 30km from Gurugram early Association of Central Excise Gazetted Executive is leading to loosening of soil, hereby creating January 26 by armed Kukis. The police added Pradesh, was on “moral grounds,” he said. “I yesterday morning. Police said the robbers took Off icers, All India Central Excise Inspectors’ danger of a landslide... There have been a lot of they are trying to establish identity of the outfit. cannot comment on whether the government will two women to diff erent rooms and sexually Association and All India Central Excise and Service ceasefire violations and heavy weapons too are The three were held captive in the Monroi village institute an inquiry into the allegations. It is too assaulted them at gunpoint. They tortured the Tax Ministerial Off icers Association will participate being used,” the army chief said. in neighbouring Ukhrul district. premature for me to do so,” the minister added. labourers and raped the women. in the protest.

BJP had Beating the Retreat key role in attack on EC orders Bhansali: Congress charges be IANS Panaji

he attack on ace fi lmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali in TJaipur, during the shooting fi led against of his fi lm Padmavati, was carried out at the instance of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Rajasthan, Con- gress general secretary Digvijaya Singh alleged yesterday. “This (the attack) has been done deliberately at the instance of the ruling party in Rajasthan,” Singh Kejriwal told a press conference in Panaji. “Why does these things hap- IANS tion commission directs Kejriwal jectionable activity,” it said, add- pen in Bharatiya Janata Party-led New Delhi/Panaji not to make such statements and ing it was “concerned” about Ke- states only? What was the Rajas- does not convey that any criminal jriwal’s conduct, utterances and than Police doing? I also saw that case has been registered against demeanour. video, not a single policeman was he election commission him. “Even after being reprimanded there. Usually when a fi lm shoot- yesterday pulled up Delhi It added that since it was a non- by the commission and directed ing takes place there is strict secu- TChief Minister Arvind Ke- cognisable off ence, no charge- not to incite the voters, you are rity,” he added. jriwal for targeting it and told Goa sheet can be registered over the still continuing with your state- A group of Rajput Karni Sena offi cials to fi le a charge-sheet matter. ments of instigating voters to take workers vandalised the sets of against him for telling voters to “However, it is being reported money from other parties. Padmavati in Jaipur on Friday. take money from other political that some order has been passed “Instead of making wild allega- The Karni Sena activists were parties but vote for the AAP. by the election commission for tions you are most welcome to ad- upset at what they called distor- The Aam Aadmi Party claimed registration of charges/complaint. duce any evidence of distribution tion of historical facts in the fi lm, it was a non-cognisable off ence But no such order has been com- of money by any person or party which is about Alauddin Khilji, and hence no charges can be reg- municated to Kejriwal,” the AAP and help the commission to take the medieval-era Delhi ruler, who istered over the matter. said in a statement. necessary action against them and fell in love with Rajput queen Pad- Taking notice of a media re- It said the party will avail le- stop corrupt practices. mavati. Bhansali was slapped and port wherein the AAP leader at- gal remedies if such an order was “Your statement also casts as- assaulted by the Karni Sena activ- tacked the election commission passed by the poll panel. persion on the integrity of the ists who staged a protest at Jaigarh wondering if it was taking orders In all his four speeches at vari- voters as if they are gullible and Fort in Jaipur where he was shoot- from the Prime Minister’s Offi ce ous rallies in Goa, Kejriwal said corrupt. Your statement is based ing the fi lm. (PMO), the poll panel called the people should not just accept Rs totally on fallacious logic and pre- In a video that went viral on so- remarks “baseless”, “scurrilous” 5,000 but demand Rs 10,000 from sumption,” it said, directing Kejri- cial media, protesters were seen and “highly depreciable”. politicians keen on off ering mon- wal to refrain from further making running amok, damaging cameras “The substance, tone and ey but vote for the AAP instead. such statements and warned of and other shooting equipment tenor of the address/interview “These statements are probably stern action. while raising slogans and hurling are not only baseless and scurril- wrong and indefensible as per the The AAP is making a major abuses. ous but also unethical and highly provisions of law on bribery and pitch for power both in Punjab Meanwhile actor Sushant Singh depreciable against the election is not acceptable to the commis- and Goa. Both states vote on Feb- Rajput dropped his surname on commission, a constitutional au- sion,” the panel said. ruary 4. social media platform Twitter as a thority,” the commission said in The commission had censured But the AAP-controlled Delhi mark of protest against activists of a strongly-worded letter to Ke- Kejriwal on January 20 on the government’s media adviser Na- Rajput organisation. jriwal. same issue. Kejriwal had defended gendar Sharma wondered if it On being reached for a com- Taking umbrage to Kejriwal’s himself saying he was not asking was a mere coincidence that the ment, Sushant explained why he remarks made during his cam- people to vote for the party which election commission’s reprimand dropped his surname from his paign for the Goa assembly polls, give money and thus committing came within 24 hours after Prime Twitter account. the election commission direct- no bribery off ence. Minister Narendra Modi said that He said: “I did it to show that ed that a charge-sheet be fi led “You are repeatedly violating criticism of the poll panel was not the unfortunate action is not what against him. the model code of conduct and acceptable. everyone with that surname en- “We have been asked to fi le not adhering to your assurance to “Is election commission im- dorses. They do not represent the charges and send a compliance the election commission,” the let- partial and independent? One of entire Rajputs. There are ways to Republic Day celebrations came to a close with the Beating the Retreat ceremony at Vijay report by January 31,” an offi cial ter yesterday stated. the commissioners was chief sec- express your ideas, but violence is Chowk in New Delhi yesterday. Sixteen military bands, 16 pipe and drum bands from source said in Panaji. “lnstead of taking the EC’s ad- retary of Gujarat before he retired never an answer, and that too just regimental centres and battalions participated in the ceremony. The AAP said the communi- visory in the right spirit, you have in 2013,” Sharma tweeted. The on a mere speculation.” cation received from the elec- been persistently indulging in ob- tweet was shared by Kejriwal. CPI-M looks to resolve Highway pile-up Haryana on alert as Jats resume agitation law school strike row IANS requisitioned 55 companies of Chandigarh central police forces and ordered the deployment of 7,000 Home IANS plot of land in the heart of the city, However, Jakes C. Thomas, Guards, besides the Haryana Po- Thiruvananthapuram where it has built a commercial president of the state unit of the ith bitter memories of lice personnel, in districts where complex with a private builder. Students Federation of India, the large-scale violence trouble was expected. With Narayanan Nair now old, student wing of the CPI-M, said Wfresh in the minds of Central forces and Haryana s the Kerala Law Academy his daughter, Lekshmi Nair, runs there was no question of any dilu- people, Haryana was on high alert police carried out fl ag marches students’ protest contin- the show in “a very brash manner” tion in their protests. yesterday as a section of the Jat in Rohtak and some other places Aued for the 19th day yes- students allege. “Our main demand is that the community started fresh protests on Saturday to instill confi dence terday, the ruling Communist This is the prime reason all principal step down and there’s in some districts. among people. The Jat agitation Party of India-Marxist fi nally in- quarters and parties, barring the no going back on our demand,” he Paramilitary forces and Harya- in February last year left 30 people tervened, calling institute director CPI-M, are demanding the state said. The issue has dented CPI- na Police were monitoring the sit- dead and over 200 injured. Narayanan Nair and his brother government take over the institu- M’s image as this is perhaps the uation in Jat-dominated districts Rohtak, Sonipat, Panipat, Jhaj- and three-time former party leg- tion. The students have also de- fi rst time that the party has failed of Rohtak, Jhajjar, Jind, Bhiwani, jar, Jind, Hisar and some other islator, Koliyakode Krishnan Nair, manded Lekshmi Nair’s resigna- to intervene in a student protest, Sonipat, Panipat and others. districts were the worst aff ected to the state party headquarters to tion as principal of the institute. which by now has become the The call to resume the protests during the Jat agitation. discuss the issue. However, her brother Nagarajan state’s most talked-about event. has been given by the All India Jat Government and private prop- CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Narayanan, speaking to the media Those opposing the manner in Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AI- erty worth hundreds of crores was Balakrishnan met Narayanan Nair, after the meeting at the CPI-M which the academy is being run JASS) headed by Jat leader Yashpal damaged and set on fi re. Large- his advocate son Nagarajan Naray- headquarters, rejected the demand point out that when it was set up Malik in 19 districts. scale looting of commercial and anan and Krishnan Nair, a day af- for her resignation. in 1968, there was a committee The Jats are demanding fulfi l- business premises as well as at- ter former chief minister and party “The right to work is a funda- that had the state governor as its ment of demands like release of tacks on motorists was reported veteran, V S Achuthanandan, mental right and she has been a patron, besides the chief minister, youths arrested during the Jat agi- from the 10 worst aff ected dis- strongly condemned the manner teacher for the past 27 years and ministers and judges as members. tation last year, jobs to kin of Jats tricts. in which the academy was being it’s her right to work, so the de- However, now it is run by the fa- killed in the agitation and action In a communication to senior run and demanded immediate in- mand for her resignation is not ac- ther-daughter duo. against offi cials responsible for offi cers in districts, the Haryana tervention of the Pinarayi Vijayan ceptable,” Narayanan said. The academy’s alumni include fi ring on Jat protesters. government last week directed government. “A petition is coming up in the many leading politicians, judges, One person was killed and 40 injured in a massive “Security agencies are keeping that security of all major critical The private college, set up here high court tomorrow and even lawyers, high-ranking police of- 35-vehicle highway pile-up near Rajasthan’s capital city a close watch on some Jat leaders, points like drinking water supply in 1968, has till now enjoyed ab- though we have been given po- fi cers and bureaucrats and this of Jaipur yesterday. The accident took place in dense especially those owing allegiance to Delhi in Karnal and Sonipat, solute support from successive lice protection, it’s not enough. is seen as the reason the father- fog around 8.30am near Kanota, about 15km from to the AIJASS,” a senior police of- traffi c movement on the G T Road state governments, enabling it to Now we will wait to hear from the daughter duo has so far been able Jaipur, on the Agra-Jaipur highway. fi cer said here yesterday. (National Highway No 1) and road- an 11-acre campus besides a prime court,” he said. to ignore all earlier protests. The Haryana government has ways depots should be secured. Gulf Times Monday, January 30, 2017 17 INDIA Opposition to keep close eye on govt’s ‘poll-eve’ budget

IANS lead to disruptions. While the wash-out of the entire winter ses- nouncing any new schemes. all issues raised by the opposition entire process of its passage be- the state assemblies, said they have New Delhi government is hoping for a peace- sion of parliament. Minister of State for Parliamen- as per rules and with the permis- fore the end of fi scal year. This has their eyes fi xed on the budget. ful budget session, with around Opposition leaders, which had tary Aff airs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, sion of the chair,” Naqvi said. been done to allow ministries to Asked about the session, Con- 24 new and pending bills on its sought that the budget be post- said the government has 24 new The budget session starts on make better use of their budget al- gress leader Kapil Sibal said much ith the government agenda, the opposition parties poned in view of the polls to the as well as pending bills, includ- January 31 with president’s address locations and start spending those will depend on the budget. “We set to present the Un- have said that they will raise the fi ve state assemblies, expressed ing the bill on Goods and Services to a joint sitting of both Houses. from the beginning of upcoming will analyse the budget and then Wion Budget 2017-18 demonetisation issue again. apprehensions that incentives may Tax (GST), which it hopes to get The budget, which will have the fi scal year, government sources decide as to what will be our strat- on February 1 despite protests, Demonetisation of Rs500 and be announced for the poll-bound passed. railway budget merged in it, will be said. The opposition parties, egy. We do not know how the the opposition parties say they Rs1,000 currency notes, an- Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Pun- “I am confi dent that the parlia- presented on February 1. which had approached the elec- budget is going to be,” Sibal said. will have their eyes set on the nounced by Prime Minister jab, Goa and Manipur even though ment will run smoothly and there The government has also de- tion commission over the govern- He added that demonetisation budget, indicating that any sops Narendra Modi on November 8 the election commission has will be debate and discussion. The cided to advance the date of budget ment move to present the budget will also be one of the major issues for election-bound states may last year, led to an almost complete barred the government from an- government is prepared to discuss presentation so as to complete the on February 1, ahead of polling for in parliament. Congress leader Krishna resigns from party after being sidelined

IANS letter. No change in the decision to Bengaluru quit,” Krishna said. Krishna was the external af- fairs minister in the second United ormer external aff airs min- Progressive Alliance government ister and former Karnataka from 2009 to 2012 after his stint Fchief minister, S M Krish- as the Maharashtra governor from na, yesterday quit the Congress, 2005 to 2008 and Karnataka’s claiming he was being sidelined chief minister from 1999 to 2004. by its leadership. Krishna was also a Rajya Sab- “I have resigned from the Con- ha member from the state from gress to protect my self-respect 2009-2016. and dignity after serving it for 46 Expressing gratitude to Sonia years, as the high command has Gandhi for having confi dence in sidelined me because of my age,” him and respecting him for his age an emotional 84-year-old Krish- and seniority in the party, Krishna na told reporters here. said he prayed for her health. Clarifying that he was not re- “Sonia gave me lot of respect tiring from politics, Krishna said and I am grateful to her for repos- he had resigned from the party’s ing faith in me,” said Krishna, ad- primary membership through a dressing the media in Kannada letter to Congress president Sonia and English. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi (left) and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav wave to supporters during a joint roadshow through the Gandhi on Saturday. Recalling his nearly fi ve dec- streets of Lucknow yesterday. “I am herewith tendering my ades of association with the party, resignation (from) the Congress which began with Indira Gandhi Party,” said the letter. and continued with Rajiv Gandhi Asserting that age was a state of and Sonia, Krishna said he had mind, Krishna regretted that the seen lots of ups and downs in his high command had removed him political career, including winning as the external aff airs minister in and losing elections. 2012 without any valid reason. “I think the Congress is in cri- “Age is a state of mind. It should sis now, as it does not have lead- Congress-SP will bag not be the criterion for decid- ers of the stature of Nehru, Indira ing one’s capacity to continue to and Rajiv. It is now managed more work. A politician never retires. by managers than experienced He fades away like a soldier,” noted leaders and grass-root workers,” Krishna. “I did not consult anyone pointed out Krishna. on leaving the party. And except Noting that generations could my wife, I did not tell anyone that change but values do not, Krishna 300 seats: Akhilesh I was resigning from the party, regretted that his sincerity and though it is a painful moment in long association with the party did IANS true, the 43-year-old chief min- work together to defeat commu- an asset to the Congress. ruled the state and made a few my life,” he said. not matter to those now managing Lucknow ister said the new alliance was nal forces and the “politics of an- Asked if Priyanka Gandhi will mistakes but my respect for her Krishna said eff orts were made the party at the national and state needed to “take ahead the good ger”. Later, Gandhi and Akhilesh campaign in the staggered Uttar is intact. by the party’s leadership in Delhi levels. work”. Yadav took out a joint roadshow Pradesh election, Gandhi said: “There are a lot of diff erences to change his mind. “I am not re- “The Congress does not need ttar Pradesh Chief Minis- “We were and are sure of cross- here. “Priyanka has been of tremen- between Mayawati and BJP,” he tiring from politics though I have people like me. It depends on ter Akhilesh Yadav yester- ing the majority mark on our own. Amidst cheering by party dous help to me and I have been added. quit the Congress, as its future is managers to manage the party Uday predicted more than But now with the ‘hand’ joining workers, the two leaders stood to her. Whether she campaigns or “The BJP spreads anger and not bright. Disillusionment with and not on time-tested leaders 300 seats in the assembly election the ‘cycle’, we are confi dent of atop a specially improvised ‘char- not is her choice. She is an asset to makes people fi ght. There is a the party started 2012 onwards. or workers like me. Hence, I have to the Samajwadi Party-Congress crossing the 300 seats mark,” he iot’. Congress.” threat to the nation from their There is way of getting rid of po- taken the decision, however pain- alliance. added. Congress activists were clearly Asked if Congress President (BJP) ideology. There is no threat litical leaders. The party should ful, I am going out of the house Addressing a joint press con- Gandhi said the Congress and outnumbered by Samajwadi Par- Sonia Gandhi and Samajwadi to the nation from Mayawati’s learn the art of being graceful. with which I have been so familiar, ference with Gandhi, Akhilesh Samajwadi Party were akin to the ty supporters as they raised slo- Party patriarch Mulayam Singh ideology. There is no comparison They (party leaders) could have including its doors and windows,” said the people of Uttar Pradesh two wheels of a cycle which was gans hailing Akhilesh. Yadav will campaign, he said: between the two.” told me I am not required. It would lamented Krishna. had made up their mind and were moving ahead in complete har- The 12km roadshow began “The campaign strategy will not Rahul Gandhi said the Sama- have been a graceful exit,” added Asked on his future plans, the backing the newly-forged alliance mony. from Hazratganj and took the two be divulged now.” jwadi-Congress alliance “stood Krishna. veteran leader said he would spell to the hilt. The Congress leader endorsed leaders to various parts of Luc- Speaking about Bahujan Sama- for three Ps – Progress, Prosperity “I am indebted to the leadership them out after deliberating and Asked why he had tied up with Akhilesh’s prediction of winning know. jwadi Party chief Mayawati, the and Peace – to fi ght the politics of which became aware of my exist- consulting his supporters and the Congress if his claims of work over 300 of the 403 seats and said Earlier, Rahul Gandhi said his Congress leader said: “I person- anger, creating divide and making ence after I sent the resignation friends. done in his fi ve-year tenure were the two parties would now on sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was ally respect Mayawati. The BSP false promises.” Modi cites Pak threat to Odisha CM stance in river row draws fl ak swing votes in Punjab to it,” Pradhan said. IANS Bhubaneswar He added the Centre had IANS bine, which has been in power in litical life he had held two lead- convened meetings of the chief Kotkapura (Punjab) Punjab since 2007, the Congress ers, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Par- ministers and chief secretaries and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). kash Singh Badal, in high regard day after Odisha Chief to resolve the water dispute, but Modi warned people in Punjab as they never spoke ill of anyone. Minister Naveen Pat- every time the Odisha govern- rime Minister Naren- against being misled by the Con- “We should learn from these Anaik rejected the Cen- ment had changed its opinion dra Modi yesterday cited gress. leaders how to conduct in public tre’s negotiation committee after the meetings. Pthreats from Pakistan to “Congress leaders painted all life. We have also fought against role to resolve the Mahanadi “A meeting of the chief sec- urge people to vote for the Akali Punjab Sikh youth as terrorists. the Congress. But we do not say we water dispute with Chhattis- retaries of Odisha and Chhat- Dal-BJP alliance in Punjab to Now the Congress has called all will send so and so to jail,” he said. garh, Union Petroleum Min- tisgarh had been convened by provide a strong government in Punjab youths drug addicts. Save The prime minister said the ister Dharmendra Pradhan the water resources ministry. the border state. Punjab from people who will drag AAP leadership, instead of fi nd- yesterday accused Patnaik of Although the Odisha chief sec- Modi warned people not to the state back to the dark days,” ing faults with the election com- creating hurdles to serve his retary agreed to the decisions vote for parties who were eyeing Modi warned. mission and alleging that the political ends. at the meeting, he changed his forming the government for their In an obvious reference to the EC was dancing to his (Modi’s) “The chief minister has given mind after talking to some- vested interests. Congress and the AAP, Modi la- tunes, should focus on its work. precedence to his party’s inter- one else, most probably, one of “Punjab a border state. Paki- mented the declining standard of “They (AAP leaders) will lose est ignoring Odisha’s interest the clerks in the chief minis- stan always looks for opportu- language being used during cam- in Punjab and Goa because of with regards to the Mahanadi ter’s offi ce,” the union minister nities to destabilise Punjab. If a paigning in Punjab. their own actions,” Modi said. water issue,” Pradhan told re- claimed. weak government or a govern- “I am pained to hear things be- Lauding Badal for public serv- porters here. He said that Patnaik also ment of outsiders or a govern- ing said to describe Punjab Chief ice in the past seven decades, He also criticised the “double changed his mind even though ment of those indulging in luxu- Minister Parkash Singh Badal,” Modi said: “Badal only thinks standard” of the state govern- he had agreed to the proposal for ries comes, this will be bad for Modi said. and talks of Punjab and its people ment. the formation of a committee Punjab and the country,” Modi “Very wrong words are being and farmers.” “As per the Inter State Water at the chief ministers’ meeting said. used for him (Badal). This is dic- The prime minister dwelt at Dispute Act, there is a right to presided over by Union Water “We have to ensure that we tatorial language. Can democ- length on the new schemes and form a tribunal. Let a tribunal Resources Minister Uma Bharti. have a strong government. You racy work like this? If democratic policies introduced by his gov- be formed. Prior to the forma- “The meeting has been re- have to ensure that you vote traditions are broken, it will be ernment at the centre for the tion of the tribunal, the Centre corded and it will be put out as properly.” bad for the country. People who benefi t of farmers. These include has gone a step forward with the proof. The chief minister, who Elections to 117 assembly seats have done injustice to Anna Haz- micro-irrigation, crop insur- formation of a negotiation com- had agreed to the proposal at the in Punjab take place on February are, do you think that they will ance from natural calamities, mittee to resolve the Mahanadi meeting, also changed his mind 4 with the main contest being show regard for Badal?” modernising agriculture through Prime Minister and BJP leader Narendra Modi addresses a rally in issue. However, the Odisha gov- later at the instance of a subor- among the Akali Dal-BJP com- Modi claimed that in his po- technology and others. Faridkot, Punjab. ernment is in no mood to agree dinate staff ,” said Pradhan. Gulf Times 18 Monday, January 30, 2017 LATIN AMERICA Mexico rebukes Netanyahu over wall tweet Reuters prompted an unusually blunt said on Twitter Netanyahu had “So you like walls @netan- Mexico City statement from Mexico’s foreign been referring to his country’s yahu? Here you have a couple ministry. “specifi c security experience” of nice designs,” said Mony de “The Foreign Ministry ex- and that Israel was not voicing Swaan, a former head of the exico’s government pressed to the government of Is- an opinion on US-Mexican rela- Mexican telecommunications rebuked Israel on rael, via its ambassador in Mex- tions. regulator, posting images of walls MSaturday for a tweet ico, its profound astonishment, Mexico’s government and commemorating Bergen-Belsen, by Prime Minister Benjamin rejection and disappointment Trump have been locked in a bit- the Nazi concentration camp Netanyahu that appeared to over Prime Minister Netanyahu’s ter dispute over his election cam- where diarist Anne Frank died, applaud US President Donald message on Twitter about the paign promise to build a wall on and the Warsaw Ghetto. Trump’s plan to build a border construction of a border wall,” the US southern border that he On Thursday, Mexican Presi- wall with Mexico to keep out il- the ministry’s statement. says Mexico will pay for. dent Enrique Pena Nieto can- legal immigrants. “Mexico is a friend of Israel Mexico has repeatedly said it celled a visit to meet Trump next Netanyahu said on Twitter and should be treated as such by will not pay for the wall. week after the American advised earlier on Saturday: “President its Prime Minister,” it said, not- The Central Committee of him to forgo the trip if he was not Trump is right. I built a wall ing that Foreign Minister Luis the Jewish Community in Mex- willing to pay for the wall. along Israel’s southern border. It Videgaray expressed his deep ico issued a statement saying The leaders pledged to work stopped all illegal immigration. aff ection for Israel in an event it “forcefully rejected” Netan- out their diff erences in a call on Great success. Great idea.” marking Holocaust memorial yahu’s comment, while several Friday morning, and the Mexi- The comment was swiftly day on Friday. prominent Mexicans of Jewish can government said the two had rejected by leaders of the Jew- Israeli Foreign Ministry origin sharply criticised the Is- agreed not to discuss the issue of ish community in Mexico, and spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon raeli leader on Twitter. payment for now. An artist paints a part of a section of the wall separating Mexico and the United States, in Tijuana, Mexico. El Toro! Death toll climbs to 11 in Chile forest fi res

AFP More than 4,500 volunteer fi re- According to the latest report re- Santiago fi ghters and members of the coun- leased on Saturday by Chile’s na- try’s national forest brigades plus tional forest service, Conaf, there some 4,600 police offi cers and are a total of 110 separate fi res, 50 of orest fi res ravaging south- other public offi cials are battling which are under control, while 60 ern Chile have now killed 11 the blaze. are still being fought. Fpeople, President Michelle The fi res have forced more than Fires are common in Chile’s Bachelet said Saturday, as fi refi ght- two thousand people into shelters, parched forests during the southern ers waged an all-out battle to extin- and have damaged or destroyed hemisphere’s summer. guish the raging infernos. more than 4,000 dwellings. Most are caused by human activ- Bachelet told reporters that more Among the countries that have ity. than 9,000 fi refi ghters and other re- dispatched aid to help put out the More than 35 people have been sponders have been enlisted to bat- infernos are Argentina, Spain, arrested and accused of playing a tle the fi res, which have destroyed France, Portugal and Mexico. role in starting or propagation the almost 1.2mn acres in seven regions A Russian aircraft with a 42-ton fi res. of the South American nation. water-carrying capacity is due to Fire activity this year was worse “We are fi ghting the fi re with- arrive and Brazil and Peru were also than usual because of a drought at- out pause and without precedent,” expected to send fi refi ghting air- tributed by environmentalists to cli- Bachelet declared. craft. mate change.

Colombian bullfighter Juan de Castilla performs during a bullfight at La Macarena bullring in Medellin, Colombia.

Decapitated bodies of policemen found

Reuters signs of torture, were found Choapas on Friday, the offi - lantic port, Veracruz suff ered Mexico City in the municipality of Hui- cial said. a surge in violence in 2016, manguillo in Tabasco state Although the motive was with murders leaping by 123% near its border with Ver- unclear, the perpetrators to 1,258 from the previous uthorities found the acruz state, said the official, were believed to be part of a year, offi cial data showed. decapitated bodies of who spoke on condition of criminal gang. Javier Duarte, the previous Athree municipal police anonymity. Veracruz and Tabasco lie state governor, is wanted on offi cers on Saturday in a sus- One of the three was a on Mexico’s Gulf Coast, an corruption charges and has pected gang-related slaying woman, the offi cial said. area long ravaged by drug been a fugitive since shortly in southeastern Mexico, an The three victims were smugglers and people traf- before his term was due to offi cial from the area said. kidnapped from the nearby fi ckers. fi nish at the end of Novem- The bodies, which showed Veracruz municipality of Las Home to Mexico’s main At- ber. People walk among the remains of burnt houses after a wildfire in Santa Olga, in Chile’s central-south regions, on Saturday. Nicaragua tobacco thrives thanks to US consumers

By Blanca Morel, AFP big here, with a lot of fl avour and to work for the tobacco industry band for the past 18 years. Esteli, Nicaragua a great aroma that smokers like.” in northern Nicaragua, including Nicaragua is one of Latin Some 27 big companies owned by many entire families. America’s main tobacco produc- US, European and Nicaraguan capi- The deleterious health eff ects ers, according to the Nicaraguan uba’s cigars may be more tal and 60 smaller local ones operate of smoking are not a considera- Chamber of Tobacco Growers. famous, but Nicaragua in the area, growing, curing, fer- tion for people who otherwise Last year, it exported $200mn Chas its own growing rep- menting and producing cigars. would have not enough to eat. worth of tobacco products, a rise utation as a tobacco producer, The activity has attracted The infl ux has driven a boom in of 10% over the previous year. boasting a sector that is a big workers from across the coun- construction, shops and tourism, They went to 78 countries, the exporter and employer, thanks try, among them Isabel Ramos, turning Esteli into one of Nicara- lion’s share to the United States. mainly to US demand. whose family left the impover- gua’s most important economic The plantations sprawl mostly Esteli, a region in the north of ished village of Murra to work in hubs. across the cooler valleys of the the Central American country, Esteli 17 years ago. “Here we have a chance to mountain range that surrounds has the dark soil and tropical cli- Now, she, her parents and work and get enough money to Esteli, where a “Puro Sabor” fes- mate propitious for growing the three brothers bring in $900 per build a house,” says Sergio Gadea, tival is held in mid-January each big leafy tobacco plants. month to support the family. 25, who arrived a year ago with year to celebrate the crop. And there’s a lot of Cuban “If it weren’t for the tobacco, I his 16-year-old wife. This year, the event attracted know-how on the farms. would be working as a cook” for a Naksara Ochoa, 24, says eight 400 representatives of cigar fac- Many of the fi rms here are paltry $50 a month, the 31-year- members of her family work in tories and buyers. owned by families that emigrated old mother of two teenagers said the industry, making cigars in a Nestor Plasencia, a plantation from Cuba, says Juan Ignacio Mar- as she counted out dried shells factory while reggae music plays owner of Cuban origin, boasts tinez, the head of the Nicaraguan used to make cigars for the US over employees too busy to raise about the region’s product dur- Chamber of Tobacco Growers. company Oliva Cigars. their eyes. ing the festival. In Nicaragua, “the soil is of “Tons of people” fl eeing pov- Yasmina Cruz, 47, says her “Nicaragua’s cigars are very volcanic origin and well suited for erty have come to fi nd employ- family is there to “get enough well received,” he says, “with a any sort of crop,” he says, “espe- ment in Esteli, she said. money to make a home.” She has spectacular aroma.” Workers spray tobacco plants on a farm near Esteli, a city some 150km from Managua. cially tobacco leaf, which grows Around 35,000 are estimated been working here with her hus- Gulf Times Monday, January 30, 2017 19 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

LIFESTYLE BOURSE DRAFT BILL ASSISTANCE WILDLIFE Pakistani stock market Govt to set up regulatory W Bank promises support Stranded snow leopard enjoys record-breaking week authority for healthcare for Sindh infrastructure rescued in Pakistan

The outgoing week was memorable for the Pakistan is set to table a draft bill for a Federal The World Bank has agreed to finance a $100mn Five men trekked for several hours through Pakistan Stock Exchange in more ways than one. Health Regulatory Authority (FHRA), also known project to restore the old areas of the country’s heavy snow in Gilgit-Baltistan’s (GB) Naltar valley The benchmark KSE-100 index for the first time as the healthcare commission, in parliament largest city Karachi from Pakistan Chowk to in Pakistan’s mountainous northern to rescue crossed the incredible barrier of 50,000 points during its next session. National Health Services Empress Market, Sindh Chief Minister Murad a captive snow leopard, off icials and rescuers on Thursday while the market capitalisation (NHS) Secretary Ayub Sheikh says the bill was Shah has said. The project includes renovation say. The leopard, who has been in the custody topped Rs10tn ($93bn). finalised in January 2015, but has yet to be of roads, water supply, drainage lines, buildings of wildlife conservationists ever since it was a The rally lost steam in the last hour on Friday passed by parliament, even though the FHRA and parks, along with the construction of some cub who had gotten separated from its mother due to profit-taking as the fright of height is the only hope to address the federal capital’s roads in Korangi and Malir neighborhoods. nearly three years ago, had recently been shifted unnerved individual investors and caused healthcare issues. There are currently no federal- Besides agreeing to support the reconstruction from Dhee in Khunjerab to a remote section institutional investors to tread with caution level regulations regarding the functioning of or rehabilitation of the Sukkur barrage, the World of Dishkir in Naltar. However, owing to the ahead of the rollover week. The State Bank’s hospitals and diagnostic laboratories, despite Bank also committed $63mn to the Sindh Nutrition recent snowfall, access to the area was cut off . monetary policy statement released on a number of complaints regarding healthcare Programme. A high-powered delegation of the Employees of wildlife conservation department An Afghan shepherd herds his sheep along a dirt Saturday and the uncertainty surrounding the institutions’ failure to properly treat and World Bank, visiting Pakistan this week, met the trekked for nine hours through heavy snowfall road in the Kandahar province on Sunday. Panamagate case were other factors. diagnose patients. chief minister over the weekend. to rescue the wild cat.

Stage set for Palestinian president’s visit Second missing blogger found, leaves country

Reuters rights of religious minorities, not return calls or text messages Islamabad had each gone missing sepa- seeking comment. rately since Jan 4. Saeed, who is Haider said Aasim returned to Singapore-based and works in his house briefl y on Saturday but akistani blogger Aasim the IT department of the Ger- then left quickly, and messaged Saeed who went miss- man Merck Group, disappeared the family on Sunday morning to Ping earlier this month has on Jan 4 while visiting the east- inform them that he was safe and been found but has quickly left ern city of Lahore. would call soon. the country fearing for his life, “It was no one other than the Haider said Saeed had either his family said yesterday. state agencies who took him,” returned to Singapore or was in Saeed’s father said his son Aasim Saeed’s father, Ghulam Germany. was detained by “state agencies” Haider, told Reuters, referring to It is not known how the fi ve while visiting Pakistan from Pakistan’s intelligence agencies. activists went missing, but some Singapore, though he did not He said Saeed was picked up rights groups and newspapers name which one. over a social media post intelli- have asked whether state or mil- Pakistan’s government and gence agencies deemed “objec- itary agencies were in any way Federal Investigation Agency tionable.” involved. Pakistani pedestrians walk past a welcoming billboard featuring visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in Islamabad have denied holding any of fi ve The Interior Ministry has re- yesterday. Abbas will arrive in Islamabad along with a 17-member delegation which includes five ministers, today for a three-day visit, liberal activists who went miss- “The only instruction peatedly said it was doing all foreign off ice said. ing this month. Aasim got from the it could to recover the missing The military and other state agencies was that he men. agencies have declined to offi - could not give any media Shortly after the activists’ cially comment. interviews” disappearances, blasphemy al- The army’s media wing did legations against them appeared not reply to questions and phone “My son is not against any on social media and in a com- calls yesterday. agency, he is not against the mil- plaint to police. Pakistan Saeed’s recovery comes a day itary or government and he is not Friends, family and support- PM’s intervention sought after poet and activist Salman against Islam,” Haider said.”The ers of all fi ve men deny they Haider, who disappeared from fact that he was set free means have blasphemed and have de- lifts ban the capital Islamabad on Jan 6, that he has been cleared of all nounced the campaign to press was recovered, according to his charges.” that charge, which could endan- to defuse political tension family. “The only instruction Aasim ger their lives were they to reap- on Indian Five liberal activists, some of got from the agencies was that pear. whom have posted blogs criti- he could not give any media in- In Pakistan, conviction under Internews parties had convened their joint mood and posture”. On the one cising the political infl uence of terviews,” Haider added. the blasphemy laws can carry a movies Islamabad meeting on Monday before begin- hand, he said, the speaker and the military and speaking for the The military’s media wing did death sentence. ning of the National Assembly ses- the opposition were trying to sion to devise future strategy. amicably resolve the issue and, DPA pposition parties in Pa- He said he personally be- on the other, the ministers, Islamabad kistan want National lieved that attending the as- particularly Water and Power OAssembly Speaker sembly session would be a fu- Minister Khawaja Asif and his Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to seek direct tile exercise if the speaker could deputy Sher Ali, were making Court acquits 112 accused akistan yesterday lifted intervention of Prime Minister not prevent the ministers from threatening statements against a ban on the import Nawaz Sharif to defuse the pre- spoiling the environment. the PTI members. Pand screening of mov- vailing tense political situation, The opposition parties, When contacted, Khurshid ies from neighbouring India indicating that they might boy- he said, would decide in the Shah said he had talked to the in Lahore arson case after months of suspension cott parliament proceedings if meeting whether they should speaker by telephone and asked amid tension over the dis- ministers continued their “as- participate in the proceedings him to stop the ministers from puted region of Kashmir. sault” on them. without seeking any guarantee using “foul language” against Reuters ing in the neighbourhood. A road sweeper in his late Minister for Information This was conveyed to speaker or they should stay away. the opposition members as it Lahore Two churches and dozens of twenties, Sawan Masih told po- and Broadcasting Marriyum by the Leader of Opposition in Qureshi said the speaker had could further raise political Bibles were also desecrated in lice after his arrest on blasphemy Aurangzeb announced that the the National Assembly Khur- assured him that he would take up temperature. the attack. charges that the real reason for government would uphold a shid Shah and Vice-Chairman the matter with the prime minis- Shah said he had approached Pakistani court acquitted the blasphemy allegation was a 2007 decision to lift a ban on of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf ter. “The speaker also expressed the speaker after receiving a tel- 112 suspects in the 2013 “They were acquitted by property dispute between him importing Indian fi lm content, (PTI) Mehmood Qureshi during displeasure and shock over Thurs- ephone call from Qureshi, who Atorching of hundreds of the court because of lack of and a friend who spread the ru- adding in a statement that “the separate telephonic conversa- day’s incident in which members complained about the use of Christian homes in the eastern evidences against them” mour. Pakistani fi lm industry has been tions with him, source here say. from treasury and opposition coarse language by certain min- city of Lahore over a rumour that In Pakistan, conviction under revived and strengthened” by When contacted, Qureshi benches scuffl ed during the as- isters in their media talk and on one of the residents there had Defence lawyer Ghulam Mur- the blasphemy laws can carry a Indian cinema. said he had requested Sadiq to sembly proceedings.” social media over the weekend. blasphemed, a lawyer said yes- taza Chaudhry said an anti- mandatory death sentence. Nasar Khan from Hum ask Sharif if the ministers were Replying to a question, the Shah, who was talking from terday. terrorism court in Lahore had Masih was sentenced to death Films, which imports and issuing threatening statements PTI leader said he had told the his hometown Sukkur, said the In March 2013, more than 125 acquitted 112 people accused of in 2014, a decision he has ap- screens Indian movies, wel- as part of the ruling party’s pol- speaker that Thursday’s inci- speaker had made the phone homes in Lahore’s Josep Colony torching and ransacking hun- pealed. comed the announcement. icy or it was their individual act. dent happened after the treas- call to Qureshi at his request. were burned by a mob of more dreds of houses. This month, the Pakistani Khan told DPA that his He said if the ministers were ury members crossed the aisle, He said the PTI leader had than 3,000 people responding “They were acquitted by the Senate’s human rights panel said distribution company has doing it under a plan then the which was evident from the particularly drawn his attention to rumours that a local Christian court because of lack of evi- it would debate how to prevent applied for a so-called non- speaker could do nothing and fact that the scuffl e took place to a “threatening statement” of man, Sawan Masih, had made dences against them,” Murtaza the country’s blasphemy laws objection certifi cate, re- the opposition could consider in front of the opposition’s Ali on Twitter. Responding to blasphemous remarks. said. “The state witnesses could being applied unfairly, the fi rst quired for all fi lms screened the option of staying away from benches. a tweet of Qureshi, the minis- No one was killed in the inci- not identify the accused and time in decades that any parlia- in Pakistan, for the latest fi lm the assembly, which would at He alleged that the situation ter has stated: “You and (PTI dent but there was widespread their statements were also con- mentary body had considered Kaabil, adding that he hopes least help maintain the deco- turned ugly when Petroleum Chief) Imran (Khan) would be damage to the property of the tradictory.” All 112 suspects were a formal proposal to stop the it would be cleared on Mon- rum of the parliament at least. Minister Khaqan Abbasi came on my radar in NA session. Get mostly destitute Christians liv- already out on bail. abuse of the blasphemy laws. day. Qureshi said the opposition to their side in an “aggressive ready to face PML-N lions.” Pakistan steps up preparations for general elections

Internews the requisite number of polling with the stakeholders. An exercise to verify exist- to be a better tool minimising the Infrastructure at the secretar- proached for creation of 141 new Islamabad staff . The Federal Election Academy ence and status of these poll- discretion in respect of change of iat, provinces and offi ces of the posts for the Monitoring Wing They are required to be below has started trainings of the regu- ing stations is in process in col- the polling station by unauthor- district election commissioners along with fi nancial and logistic 55 years in age, computer literate lar staff and offi cers of the ECP laboration with the concerned ised offi cials. is being installed. allocations. he Election Commission and have ability to use smart- in rented premises of Postal Staff provincial and local government Existence of the approved All these offi ces will be con- The ECP is conceiving use of of Pakistan (ECP) has phones and enjoy good reputa- College, Islamabad. departments. polling station would further be nected through dedicated intra- multiple electoral technologies Tstepped up preparations tion. It has been planned that all linked with the public informa- net service after which applica- during the next elections. for the next general elections to It says names of 50,000 of- the 1,649 offi cials/offi cers of “The ECP would try to get tion system available on dedi- tions for registration of fresh Pilot tests of mobile apps for avoid any last-minute problems ficers had been received from the ECP from Grade 8 to Grade the requisite number of cated cellphone number 8300. votes and/or change will be effi cient and eff ective commu- in the gigantic exercise. provinces and the federal 21 would be trained much before 700,000 offi cials and start The paper says proposed draft entertained in the district con- nication of poll results under the It plans to start training government by December 31, the 2018 general elections. their training by June of the election bill is expected to cerned by the registration of- improved Result Management 700,000 polling staff by June. 2016. A dedicated training wing 2017 onward” be fi nalised and passed during fi cer/DEC and forwarded to the System (RMS) were used during According to a paper titled A databank has been created has been actively coordinating the year 2017. system through the dedicated the by-elections in the year. “Road to General Elections — indicating the details and status with the training institutes in As of December 31, 2016, a to- It is hoped that promulgation service for updation of the da- A server having a capacity 2018” placed by the ECP on of the offi cers, who could be uti- the country and abroad and re- tal of 11,081 polling stations have of the Election Act, 2017, would tabank. of 200GB is operational for the its website, all provincial chief lised as per plan. search in the fi eld would hope- been verifi ed, their coordinates simplify the laws and strengthen A dedicated Monitoring Wing purpose. secretaries, secretary of the Es- “The ECP would try to get the fully bring optimum improve- and locations/maps uploaded to the electoral process. has been established in the ECP It says process for purchase of tablishment Division and heads requisite number of 700,000 of- ment in the capacity-building of the ECP website through GIS for Registration and correction of to monitor the electoral activi- 400 electronic voting machines of federal entities were asked in fi cials and start their training by the staff . public interest. votes through the Computerised ties. and 300 biometric verifi cation July 2016 to provide a list of of- June 2017 onward,” it reads. Approximately 75,000 polling It is hoped that this exercise Electoral Rolls System Terms of reference of the wing machines is in the fi nal stage. fi cers who might be available in Preparation of training mate- stations were established dur- would be completed by June 30 (CERS) was initiated by the cover monitoring of pre-poll, These machines would be those departments in January rial and logistic arrangements ing the recent local government this year. ECP on Jan 1, 2017 after estab- poll-day and post poll activities. used for pilot tests during the 2018, in order to obtain and train are under way in consultation elections in the country. Use of technology would prove lishment of its own CERS. The government has been ap- bye-elections up to 2018. Gulf Times 20 Monday, January 30, 2017 PHILIPPINES Watchdog plans charges against Morales over killing inaction

By Dempsey Reyes Kidapawan Bishop Jose Baga- Manila Times foro on Friday echoed the call of the Catholic Bishops’ Confer- ence of the Philippines (CBCP) n impeachment com- for the reopening of the inves- plaint is being drafted tigation and the creation of a Contestant Le Hang (right) of Vietnam in her long gown poses with other candidates during the preliminary competition of the Miss Universe Aagainst Ombudsman “truth commission.” “There pageant at the Mall of Asia arena in Manila. Conchita Carpio-Morales for should be a closure on the Ma- her failure to hold former presi- masapano case… Those respon- dent Benigno Aquino to account sible should be brought to an- for the killing of 44 police com- swer their deeds,” said Bagaforo mandos in the botched Mamasa- in an interview with the Church- pano operation in January 2015, a run Radyo Veritas. Bagaforo also demanded that Miss Universe fever fuels lawyer of the families of the vic- tims said on Saturday. the families of SAF 44 be prop- The complaint, which will erly compensated. be backed by 20 congressmen, A similar call was made earlier will cite culpable violation of by CBCP president and Lingay- en-Dagupan Archbishop Soc- obsession with pageants the Constitution and betrayal of Aquino: favoured by ombudsman? public trust as grounds, Ferdi- rates Villegas, Lipa Archbishop nand Topacio of the Volunteers guilty among Napenas and Puri- Ramon Arguelles and Marbel DPA Some of the spectators wore you know, that’s life.” Tour- sults of the preliminary com- Against Crime and Corruption sima,” Topacio claimed, citing Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez. Manila sashes with the countries of the ism Secretary Wanda Teo said petition would determine the (VACC) said in a forum in Que- the reports of the PNP Board of “There were inconsisten- beauty queens they support. the Philippines stands to gain Top 12, who will then be pared zon City. Inquiry and the Senate. cies in the whole tragic aff air. Most were wearing a Miss from hosting the 65th Miss down to the Top 9 after the Carpio-Morales’ “lack of ac- Napenas however should not Even the role of the US needs he suspense over who Philippines sash, but others had Universe pageant, the third swimsuit segment today. tions” and “unfair treatment” go scot-free in the botched Ma- to be clarifi ed,” said Arguelles, will be the next Miss Miss Thailand, Miss Venezuela time the South-East Asian Only six contestants will delayed the fi led cases against masapano anti-terrorist op- a former bishop of the Military TUniverse has people on or Miss Indonesia. country of more than 100mn move on to the final question Aquino, he said. eration even as he was the “least Ordinariate of the Philippines, in edge in the Philippines, a coun- Fans have also expressed people has become the venue round after the evening gown “If the case had nothing to do guilty,” he said. a statement. try obsessed with beauty pag- their support for the candidates of the contest.“Everybody will segment. against former president Aqui- In July 2016, Topacio fi led a Villegas for his part called eants, ahead of today’s corona- on Twitter and Facebook. be looking at us because dur- Judges will then chose the no, the Ombudsman will take complaint of reckless impru- for a “full and satisfactory ac- tion. A Facebook page dedicated to ing the contest, all the beautiful Top 3, who will be ranked after sudden action, but if it’s a case dence resulting in multiple counting” of the incident and Filipinos have been in a beauty pageants in the Philip- places, the destinations will be a “final look.” against someone who appointed homicide against Aquino, Puri- the creation of a credible truth frenzy for the past two weeks, pines had updates, memes and featured,” she said. Gabriela, a women’s rights her, she will take no further ac- sima and Napenas. commission, independent of thronging events attended by trivia. More than half a million group, has criticised the host- tion,” he said. Topacio said 20 lawmakers the other government probe the 86 contestants. Three women from the Phil- people were expected to tune ing of the Miss Universe pag- “Since the Ombudsman is not from the House of Representa- bodies, so as not to compro- Even the acerbic and tactless ippines have won the Miss Uni- in to watch the coronation, eant as “yet another attempt doing any further action on the tives will support the complaint mise the objectivity and result Philippine President Rodrigo verse title since 1969, includ- which will be broadcast on to package the Philippines cases against Aquino, our chair- against Morales. of the investigation. Duterte was tongue-tied when ing the reigning Pia Wurtzbach Sunday night in the United as a lurid tourist destination man in the VACC Dante Jimenez, Former Negros Occidental The bloody Mamasapano in- the women visited the Malaca- who won in December 2015. States. for cheap, easily exploitable will take action on it to give jus- congressman Jacinto Paras, now cident was secretly carried out nang presidential palace days Many are hoping for a back- Donald Trump, now US women.” “Gabriela opposes tice for the slain SAF (Special a “proud member” of the VACC, on January 25, 2015 in Baran- before the fi nale. to-back win, but former Miss president, has dabbled in en- pageants and other festivals Action Force) members,” he will lead the legal panel that gay Tukanalipao, Mamasa- “I wish this day will never Universe Gloria Diaz lamented tertainment and media in- that exploit women as these added. will prepare the impeachment pano, Maguindanao to capture end,” Duterte said. “I must say that Philippine candidate Max- vestments, including the Miss are tools to commodify wom- Last Tuesday, Morales fi led complaint, Topacio said. The terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias that God is really good.” ine Medina might not be suc- USA and Miss Universe beauty en,” said Congresswoman Ar- charges of graft and usurpa- complaint will be fi led against “Marwan” and two other high- Outside the venue of the in- cessful. pageants. lene Brosas, a representative tion of offi cial functions against Morales before she ends her profile terrorists. ternational competition, where “The host country cannot Security has been tight- of the women’s group. former SAF director Getulio non-renewable seven-year term Duterte also wants Aquino to a huge replica of the Miss Uni- win,” Diaz, the fi rst Filipino to ened at the venue, the Mall of But Duterte, who has banned Napenas and former Philippine in 2018. be held accountable for “feed- verse crown is on display, ex- be crowned Miss Universe, said Asia Arena, where hundreds swimsuit competitions in his National Police (PNP) chief Alan Aquino appointed Morales to ing the policemen to the lion’s cited Filipinos have been taking during a television interview.”I of police officers have been home city of Davao where he Purisima before the Sandigan- the Offi ce of the Ombudsman in den.” photographs every day. cannot serve lechon (roast pig) deployed and several check- was mayor for more than 23 bayan for bypassing the police 2012. “Let it be brought in the “It’s such a great honour and bring it back to my kitch- points set up. years, said he believed beauty chain of command. Despite irreconcilable dif- open. It was an American ad- that the pageant is being held en.” “There is no direct threat pageants such as Miss Universe The Ombudsman spared ferences on a number of issues, venture, with the co-operation here in our country,” said Re- Diaz likened winning the title to the staging of Miss Uni- advance women’s empower- Aquino, who authorised the op- Church leaders are supportive of some,” Duterte said when gina Sanchez, who dropped by to taking for yourself a popular verse, but we are not com- ment. eration and allowed Purisima of President Rodrigo Duterte’s he met with the families of the with friends during their lunch dish usually served at special placent,” said Oscar Albay- “More importantly, this is to direct it despite the latter’s search for truth and desire to victims in Malacañang. break. occasions instead of sharing it alde, a regional police chief. chance for you to make an im- suspension because of a graft give justice to the relatives and The president said he will “We’re not just celebrat- with guests. On Thursday evening, the 86 pact, to inspire change, and charge. families of the 44 fallen mem- create a seven-man commis- ing beauty that is skin-deep, “I hope I’m proven wrong contestants showcased their even be the change that you “In the case of the slain mem- bers of the SAF and other vic- sion to conduct an investiga- but beauty that comes from for the fi rst time in my life,” swimsuits, evening gowns and wish to see in the world,” he told bers of SAF, former president tims of the Mamasapano mas- tion into the Maguindanao the heart, which Filipinos are she added. “I want her to win. national costumes in the pre- the contestants who visited the (Aquino) is found to be the most sacre two years ago. tragedy. known for,” she added. I want us to be so proud, but liminary competition. The re- presidential palace. Drug war ‘good cover for rogue police’ Troops kill 15 IS

By Dempsey Reyes Tokhang” which they also branded supporters; rebel Manila Times as “a legitimised massacre operation that allows state forces to kill and ex- tort under the guise of drug elimina- he Commission on Human Rights tion.” leader still critical (CHR) has stressed the need to “The recent scandal on the killing T“revisit” the government’s war on of a Korean national has shown that illegal drugs, saying the campaign has the PNP is brutal, corrupt, and rotten Reuters ment, he may die,” Ano said. provided a good cover for rogue police- to its core. This is part of the culture Manila Philippine forces on Thurs- men as proven by the kidnapping and of impunity that the agency has em- day dropped bombs and fired killing of a Korean business executive ployed to spread fear among the peo- shells at rebel positions in the last year. ple,” said LFS national spokesperson hilippine soldiers killed mountains of Lanao del Sur in a The CHR said the killing of Jee Ick-Joo JP Rosos. 15 militants and seri- bid to flush out Hapilon. is alarming because it “depicts the wors- Members of the Bagong Alayansang Pously wounded their The province is a stronghold ening culture of impunity” in the country Makabayan (Bayan) lined-up at the leader, believed to be the Is- of the Maute rebel group, which amid the spate of summary executions as camp’s gate while holding a huge tar- lamic State’s representative in has also pledged allegiance to the Philippine National Police (PNP) car- paulin imprinted with: “End Impu- the country, following air and Islamic State. ries out a bloody campaign against illegal nity! Fight State Terror.” artillery strikes in a southern Hapilon is on the Federal drugs. Others were holding placards say- province, a senior military of- Bureau of Investigation’s most “The allegation that the kidnap for ing: “Stop the killings” and “Rage ficial said yesterday. wanted list for his role in the ransom is linked to the drug campaign of against impunity” referring to the Isnilon Hapilon, also known kidnapping of 17 Filipinos and the PNP highlights the imperative to re- drug-related killings. as Abu Abdullah and a lead- three Americans in 2001 and visit the campaign,” the commission said “The human rights situation in our er of the Philippine militant carries a bounty of $5mn. in a statement. country has gone from bad to worse. group Abu Sayyaf, might die One of those killed is an In- “Amidst the rising toll of extra-judi- With impunity, our state forces have as he needed immediate medi- donesian but Ano said they cial killings in the country, the so-called been slaughtering the people and cal treatment, military chief were still “digging and doing “war on drugs” has become a convenient sowing fear in every communities in General Eduardo Ano told re- more investigation” about the cover for rogue elements within the PNP the country. Infuriatingly, they are porters, citing intelligence and foreigner’s background. to commit other crimes, such as kidnap- able to get away and they can still communications intercepts. Hapilon was with two other ping for ransom of foreign nationals,” it hold their head high even after count- “He needs blood transfusion. foreigners whose nationality added. less deaths in their trail,” Rosos said. Without proper medical treat- was uncertain, he said. Jee’s house help, Marisa Morquicho, Choi Kyung-jin, wife of late South Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo, who was murdered “The remorseless killings under who testifi ed at the Senate on Thursday, allegedly by suspected policemen, taking her oath at the start of Senate hearing in Manila. the Duterte regime’s crusade against identifi ed SPO3 Ricky Santa Isabel as one drugs must be put into an end. The LAW & ORDER of the policemen who abducted her em- member that the national police must joined the “Black Friday” rally called on youth and the poor are the most vul- Ilocos Norte crime rate ‘drops by 60%’ ployer. promote and protect human rights. the government to stop killings under nerable in Oplan Tokhang’s police The CHR also backed National Human “The PNP must promote and protect the guise of “Oplan Tokhang.” operations. Civil liberties and human The crime rate in Ilocos Norte has gone down by 60%, the drop being Rights Commission of Korea chairper- human rights because this task lies at Policemen shut the camp’s Gate rights are not being upheld. There is attributed to the provincial government’s relentless drive against crime in son Lee Sung-ho’s call on the Philippine the very core of maintaining peace and 1 along Edsa as members of vari- no due process. It is an utter madness partnership with the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Off ice (INPPO), Manila government to respect and abide by the order, ensuring public safety, and up- ous militant groups stormed Camp that must be strongly condemned,” he Times reported. Police Provincial Director Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr said principles of due process. holding the rule of law in the country,” Crame. added. from 1,500 reported index crimes in 2015, only 600 were reported at the “The right to life is a fundamental and it said. The militants also slammed the ap- Members of Gabriela who joined end of 2016, a 60% decrease. He noted that the decrease in crime rate in primordial right regardless of race, gen- On Friday, hundreds of activists parent breakdown of discipline in the the protest also raised the rape of the province is a good indicator that they have eff ective measures in the der, religion and status, among others,” held a rally in front of the Philippine PNP and the failure of its leadership a woman by an intelligence officer prevention of crimes. “On our crime solution eff iciency, the INPPO’s inves- it said. National Police (PNP) headquarters to go after rogue policemen. based in Southern Tagalog. tigation eff orts have also increased from 65% to 80% this 2016,” Nartatez The CHR reminded the PNP to “strict- in Camp Crame in Quezon City to de- Members of the League of Filipino Joms Salvador, Gabriela secretary said. He added that the INPPO continues to strengthen the competence ly adhere” to its Police Operational Pro- nounce the culture of impunity and Students (LFS) described the killing general, said that the culprit, Insp. of the off icers through the Capability Enhancement Programme (CEP) cedures and the United Nations Code rising human rights violations in the of Jee as “a scandal that has exposed Aaron Cabillan, should be sacked and and to the higher number of focused police operations and to crime of Conduct of Police Offi cers and to re- government’s war on drugs. Those who the true nature of the regime’s Oplan jailed. prevention eff iciency. Gulf Times Monday, January 30, 2017 21 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Nepal parties Yunus dismisses PM’s announce fresh protests on Feb 5

allegations as untrue Agencies liament on January 8, is cur- Kathmandu rently in a state of limbo, as By Mizan Rahman from lectures and royalty from invited him to my offi ce, off ered the main opposition CPN-ML Dhaka books are remitted to Bang- him tea and gave him business,” a has opposed it and the Mad- ladesh through proper bank- miff ed prime minister said, add- adhesi parties yes- hes-based parties themselves ing channels and the details are ing he did not pass on the prof- terday said they will have expressed dissatisfac- angladesh Nobel laure- documented with the banks its from the telecoms venture to Mhold fresh protests in tion over the content and have ate Muhammad Yunus and also submitted to the tax Grameen Bank. The statement Nepal’s southern Terai region demanded a revision. Bhas described Prime Min- authorities. said that GP is a joint venture next week to exert pressure The Madhesi parties say ister Sheikh Hasina’s state- Yunus keeps his money in fi xed with Norway’s state-owned on the government of Prime they would not let the polls to ments made in the parliament as deposits with banks and has no Telenor as the lead partner and Minister Pushpa Kamal Da- parliament and local bodies ‘incorrect and untrue.’ investments, the statement said Grameen Telecom, a non-profi t hal to address their demands take place before the consti- The Yunus Centre, which citing that taxes on those are paid entity with no private owners through an amendment to tution is amended to address claims to be an organisation at source. and registered under the Com- the new constitution, a media their demands. aimed at ‘promoting and dis- Hasina also said that Grameen pany Act, was the second owner. report said. The government’s silence seminating Yunus philosophy’, Bank enjoys a tax benefi t, but The Yunus Centre claimed The Joint Democratic Mad- on the constitution amend- in a rejoinder, claimed that most there are 40 to 50 other sister that profi ts from GP that come hesi Front (JDMF), an alliance ment bill has also irked the of these allegations have been concerns, which also do not pay to Grameen Telecom are used for of seven Madhes-based par- Front. made repeatedly since 2011. tax. “Why will they not pay tax- projects that ‘support the welfare ties, decided to stage mass The governing Maoist Cen- “They have been thoroughly es? The NBR has those reports.” of the common people’ through protests at the headquarters of tre and the Nepali Congress responded to on each occasion,” Finance Minister AMA Muhith Grameen Telecom Trust. Terai districts on February 5, had reached an agreement it read. followed up the statement and It said all GP documents are demanding the implementa- with the Front to form a task- In her address in the parlia- told the media the next day a available with the government. tion of a ‘three-point’ agree- force to revise the amendment ment on Wednesday, Hasina probe has been launched into it. “Yunus never owned any share ment it had signed on August proposal. claimed Yunus used his connec- The statement described it as a of Grameenphone at any stage of 3 the day Dahal took over as The taskforce held discus- tions with former US Secretary ‘completely baseless accusation.’ the company, nor does he own prime minister. sions on Thursday, but only to of State Hillary Clinton to block Muhammad Yunus ... facing prime minister’s ire It said all organisations created any share now. Therefore, the As per the agreement, the fail to fi nd a point of compro- the $1.2bn World Bank funding by Yunus pay tax, VAT and none question of his selling shares to Front had extended support mise. The next meeting of the for the Padma bridge project. egorically rejected’ the claim in Hasina also said that the of them enjoys any tax benefi t. anyone does not arise. to the CPN Maoist Centre- taskforce has been scheduled “He (Yunus) and the edi- the past. sources of Yunus’ income are un- On Wednesday, an angry “Similarly, since Grameen Nepali Congress alliance to for tomorrow. tor of a renowned newspaper in “He had repeated many times, known. Hasina went on to describe Yu- Bank did not own any share of elect Dahal as the prime min- Madhesis, mostly of Indi- our country went to meet the and repeats it again in this rejoin- The Yunus Centre dismissed nus as a ‘cheat’ over Grameen- Grameenphone at any time, the ister. In return, Dahal prom- an-origin, had launched a six- World Bank president. “The der that Padma Bridge is a dream the allegation of tax evasion as phone as he breached the prom- question of Grameen Bank selling ised to address the Front’s month-long agitation during World Bank stopped funding of the people of Bangladesh and ‘completely false’. ise he made before setting up the shares of GP does not arise either. demands through an amend- K P Sharma Oli’s premiership, the Padma bridge project after that he would dedicate all his en- The statement said Yunus’ in- telecom entity. Grameen Telecom never sold any ment to the constitution. from September 2015 to Feb- all of them including America’s ergy to realise this dream,” it read. comes come from three sources “This lobbying that he did of its shares to anyone except in The major demands of the ruary last year, in which more Foreign Secretary Hillary Clin- The prime minister had told – fee for lectures at conferences, ... at that time he obtained the the case of selling shares to gen- Madhesis include redrawing than 50 people were killed. ton lobbied for it,” she said in the legislature that Yunus did not royalties from books and from Grameenphone (GP) licence from eral public, as agreed by all part- of the provincial boundary The agitation had also crip- response to a question. pay taxes against fi xed deposit fi xed deposits generated from me. Ask him, did he even off er me ners of Grameenphone and the and the citizenship issue. But pled the landlocked country’s The Yunus Centre statement with banks and sued authorities those incomes. a cup of tea for the licence? government of Bangladesh,” the a constitution amendment economy as supplies from said the Nobel laureate ‘has cat- when asked to pay tax. It said that his earnings “On the contrary, it was I who statement added. bill, which was tabled in par- India were blocked.

17 BNP-led alliance leaders Driving through rain face arrest Bangladesh CJ for A Dhaka court yesterday issued warrants for arrest of 17 leaders and activists of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, including BNP leader M K Anwar, in an arson expediting hearing case filed with a police station in Dhaka. Metropolitan Magistrate Quamrul Hossain Mollah passed the order after on 7-murder case accepting the charge-sheet in the case. The court also asked the police By Mizan Rahman talion offi cers Tareq Sayeed for preparing paper book off icial concerned to submit a Dhaka Mohammad and M M Rana of the case. If Chief Justice report on the compliance of the and nine others to diff erent Sinha gives approval, we will order on March 22. jail terms. take steps for preparing pa- BNP vice-chairman Barkatullah n a move seen as expe- On April 27 in 2014, seven per book for hearing the death Bulu, Shamsur Rahman Shimul diting execution of lower persons, including councillor reference,” he said. Biswas, Maruf Kamal Khan, Mir Icourt verdict on sensa- Nazrul Islam of Narayanganj It may take two months Sarafat Ali Sapu, Shirin Sultana, tional seven-murder case of City Corporation (NCC) and to prepare the paper book, Salauddin Ahmed, Khairul Narayanganj, the Bangladesh lawyer Chandan Sarker, were Sabbir said. Kabir Khokon were among the chief justice (CJ) yesterday abducted from Dhaka-Naray- The government too wants accused. ordered the High Court (HC) anganj Link Road. quick implementation of On January 30, 2015, a group to prepare paper book for The bodies of six of them the verdict as ruling Awami of people set a bus on fire hearing the death reference were recovered from the Shita- League general secretary after hurling petrol bomb on quickly. lakhya River three days after the Obaidul Quader described the it at the Hanif Flyover during Chief Justice S K Sinha will abduction, while another from verdict of the much-talked- a general strike and blockade assign an HC bench to hear the same river the next day. about case as an evidence of programme enforced by the the death reference after the If a lower court sentences justice and said justice is en- BNP-led 20-party alliance. paper book is prepared, said any person to death in a case, sured in the country. The police filed a case under Sabbir Foyez, additional reg- its judgment is examined by “Off enders won’t be spared the Special Powers Act against istrar, HC. the HC through hearing argu- however powerful they are,” 16 identified and a number The paper books include ments for confi rmation of the Quader said. of unidentified leaders and FIR (fi rst information report), death sentence. The case doc- He said that none will activists of the alliance. case details, trial proceedings, uments and judgment reaches get privilege after commit- On July 24, 2016, the evidence, verdicts and other the HC as death reference ting crimes under the rule of investigation off icer of the documents. from the lower court in seven the incumbent government case submitted the charge- Earlier, the death refer- days after the latter delivers and the verdict of the seven- sheet against 34 people. Of ence of the sensational case the verdict. murder case is its proof. them, 15, including BNP leader reached the HC on January 22. Offi cials of the Narayanganj “The verdict proves that Amanullah Aman, have already On January 16, the Naray- court brought the documents of the country’s judiciary is secured bail in the case. anganj court sentenced 26 the seven-murder case, includ- now enjoying full independ- Incidentally, almost all leaders people to death, including ing the judgment, to the HC. ence,” said Quader, also the Sri Lankan commuters drive through heavy rain in Colombo yesterday. The Sri Lankan capital has of BNP and its 20-party alliance Nur Hossain, main accused “We will now pray to the road transport and bridges been lashed by heavy rains causing major traff ic jams throughout the city. are now facing criminal cases in the case, Rapid Action Bat- chief justice for his approval minister. with party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir speculating that such mass arrests of opposition leaders are aimed at paving the way for smooth return of Awami League of Sheikh Hasina Hasina for retaining public exams before school fi nals to power in 2019 general elections. By Mizan Rahman Out of that thought, she said, This year’s National Primary should be infused in students Dhaka “We have decided to introduce Education Week has begun from early age in addition to let- Dhaka received the new examination system with the slogan – “Shikkar Alo ting them know the country’s and give scholarships to the Jalbo, Digital Bangladesh Gor- history to grow self-confi dence $94.98bn remittance angladesh Prime Minister students based on their results”. bo” (Let us illuminate light of and aff ection for the country in seven years Sheikh Hasina yesterday She made the remarks while education, let us build digital and people.” Bfavoured continuation inaugurating the National Pri- Bangladesh). “Teaching is a great profes- Bangladeshis working abroad of two public examinations in mary Education Week-2017 in Pointing out the steps taken sion. You have come to the pro- remitted home $94.98bn between Class-V and Class-VIII saying Dhaka yesterday. by her government for develop- fession by choice. So you have to 2010 and 2016, Prime Minister those are playing crucial role in The prime minister said in ment of primary education, the perform your duty very sincere- Sheikh Hasina said. building confi dence of students the previous system a student prime minister said there is no ly as the government has taken “Bangladesh sent 757,731 overseas for fi nal secondary school cer- had to wait 10 years for a cer- alternative to groom the chil- all measures for your salary hike workers, including 118,158 women, tifi cate examinations (SSC). tifi cate. But getting a certifi cate dren with proper education as and status,” she said. to 162 countries and received “The main objective of in- in between is matter of great they are the country’s future. In this regard the prime min- $13.61bn as remittance in 2016,” troducing the new system in pleasure for them and guardians “Standard primary education ister urged the teachers to fol- the state-run media quoted 2009 was to ensure equal op- also, she said. can build solid foundation of an low proper methods to increase Hasina as saying. portunity to every student for The prime minister distrib- educated nation.” students’ attention to education Hasina said her Awami learning, build up their con- uted prizes among the winners Prime Minister Hasina called instead of always telling them League party government fi dence, remove fear in public of sports and cultural events of upon the teachers to render for learning, which is “never ac- had undertaken various examinations and give schol- Inter-primary School Competi- their services sincerely to build ceptable to them”. programmes for development arship to students based on the tion-2016. the foundation of the future The government has intro- and modernisation of migration results. She also distributed the generation from very tender age duced the student council in pri- procedure along with welfare of “But, suddenly I am observ- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina awarding a medal to a student at a National Primary Education to create them as ideal citizens mary schools from 2015 to grow the expatriate workers. ing some criticism on the issue function in Dhaka yesterday. Award-2016 among 19 offi cials, of the country as dreamt by the leadership quality in students, She said the government had and as a section of people came PTI superintendent, instructor, Father of the Nation. she said, adding cub scouting a plan to open labour wings at up with the suggestion to stop She said previously a few amination only for scholarship education loving social worker “You have to give attention has been expanded in all pri- Bangladeshi missions where the examinations. But, their number of students would have in Class-V and Class-VIII, and and teachers for their outstand- to the kids to pursue their edu- mary schools to prepare the more than 10,000 workers were claim doesn’t suit the reality,” been selected for extra care from in that case other students were ing contribution to develop- cation attentively,” she said, students to play constructive living. the prime minister said. schools to prepare them for ex- neglected. ment of primary education. adding the spirit of patriotism role in the society. Gulf Times 22 Monday, January 30, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko For Trump even park staff

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar are enemies of the state [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), Brutal policies accompanied 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) by suppression of the facts Fax 44350474 are sure signs of an autocracy

By Sarah Kendzior London

GULF TIMES ast Tuesday, for a few hours, Badlands National Park defi ed presidential orders. “Today, Lthe amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is higher than at As Trump stresses any time in the last 650,000 years #climate,” it tweeted. The account went on to discuss ocean acidity, carbon dioxide and the founding ‘America First’, China mission of the century-old National Parks Service, which included an obligation to “leave [the parks] unimpaired for the enjoyment of plays the world leader future generations”. In Trump’s America, where national parks are forbidden from China is calmly mapping out global leadership communicating through Twitter, aspirations from trade to climate change, drawing this constitutes an act of radical distinctions between President Xi Jinping’s steady hand subversion. This is not the America I The Redwall section of the Grand Canyon National Park. PICTURE: Alamy was living in a week ago. and new US President Donald Trump, whose fi rst days Following a pitiful inaugural balm to his fragile ego. He has claimed end sanctions on Russia despite presidents have protected the national have been marked by media feuds and protests. turnout, Trump, the most unpopular record turnout at his inauguration and Russia’s continued authoritarian parks; even Reagan, the notorious Just days ahead of Trump taking offi ce, a self-assured president ever to take offi ce, issued an insisted his talk at the CIA brought imperialism; reinstating torture and opponent of big government, passed Xi was in Switzerland as the keynote speaker at the World unprecedented order, stating that US more applause than Peyton Manning black sites; banning refugees from laws that protected the parks, along institutions including the National winning the Super Bowl. This is several Muslim majority countries with environment regulations. That Economic Forum in Davos, off ering a vigorous defence Parks Service, the Department of alarming as it shows a president either and constructing a wall against Trump’s fi rst orders include suppression of globalisation and signalling Beijing’s desire to play a Agriculture, and the Environmental not in full control of his faculties or so Mexico that will initially be paid for of information about the environment bigger role on the world stage. Protection Agency were forbidden to narcissistic that creating an alternate with taxpayer money. and prohibiting scientists and parks Even on the thorny issue of the South China Sea, independently communicate to the reality to serve his ego overrides These moves feel shocking and employees to speak suggests he sees Beijing did not rise to the bait of White House remarks public. his desire to serve the public. But predictable: shocking, because they America as little more than territory to The diktat was in part a reaction the president’s ceaseless need for are being accepted so blithely by strip down for parts. about “defending international territories” in the to tweeted photographs showing the adoration is nothing compared to the those with power to stop them – In order to profi t from national disputed waterway. discrepancy between the massive brutality of his policies, which require both Democrats and Republicans are lands, he must discredit and silence Instead, China stressed its desire for peace and issued a crowds that attended President suppression and manipulation of facts approving some cabinet members those most likely to protect them: restrained call for Washington to watch what it says. Obama’s 2009 inauguration and in order for them to be carried out. who they concur are corrupt or environmentalists, scientists and Trump’s, one of which was retweeted It is hard to create a convincing grossly unqualifi ed – but predictable, parks employees. That is why such a “You have your ‘America fi rst’, we have our ‘community by the National Parks Service’s alternative reality in the social media because they were part of the platform benign and beloved institution as the of common destiny for mankind’,” Retired Major-General primary account. The NPS was forced era, when it can be deconstructed by of Trump’s campaign, and both the national parks became an object of Luo Yuan, a widely read Chinese military fi gure best to apologise to Trump and delete the the public as it is built. But the Trump kleptocratic payout and apathy about administrative wrath. known for his normally hawkish tone, wrote on his blog. tweet. The Badlands followed suit. administration’s actions are less about the suff ering these moves will cause Losing the parks would be a “You have a ‘closed country’, we have ‘one belt, one “Rogue” national parks accounts soon the power of narrative than a narrative are in keeping with behaviour Trump tragedy and it is a sign of the appeared, off ering scientifi c facts in of power. This is something dissidents has displayed his entire life. administration’s malice that it seems road’,” he added, referring to China’s multi-billion dollar anonymity. in authoritarian regimes have always As scholars of authoritarianism relatively minor only because other new Silk Road trade and investment programme. Trump’s rise to power was enabled known, as their documentation of have long advised, believe the threats are so dire: destabilisation And while China has repeatedly said it does not want by elite denial and blind faith in daily life is fi rst rebutted with state autocrat when he speaks. The in the international order that may the traditional US role of world leadership, a senior eroding institutions. He would not win fabrications and then suppressed by problem is that too few Americans lead to world war; severe rupture the primary, pundits said; he could not threat and force, as employees of the believed in the concept of an in the national economy due to the Chinese diplomat accepted this week it could be forced win the general, they proclaimed; and EPA and the NPS learned last week. American autocrat. Pundits ignored elimination of federal positions and upon China. once he was in, politicians assured us, America has become a country of the threat of Trump enacting these the Affordable Care Act; and the “If anyone were to say China is playing a leadership checks and balances could keep his involuntary dissidents, where those policies through executive power. potential use of nuclear weapons. role in the world I would say it’s not China rushing to the authoritarian proclivities at bay. who seek to stay employed respond Enjoy hindsight while you can, (Trump is the first US president What Americans have learned is to illusions with allusions. (“If you’re Americans, the administration of to express enthusiasm for using front but rather the front that our system of checks and balances part of a group that’s paid to applaud, “alternative facts” may rewrite your nuclear weapons; as a result of this, runners have stepped is so weak that even parks employees you’re a ‘claqueur’,” Merriam-Webster regrets as applause. nationalist extremism and Trump’s “You have a back leaving the place can become enemies of the state. They dictionary slyly tweeted after Trump’s While the fi rehose of dramatic policy objection to research on climate to China,” said Zhang are learning their rights as they lose CIA visit, which allegedly included an changes is intended to blast Americans change, the Doomsday Clock, a ‘closed country’, Jun, director general them, grieving for what they once entourage who clapped on command.) into submission, there is one issue scientific measure of how close took for granted. Fear is matched by The media are “the opposition” where the administration may fi nd Earth is to annihilation, was moved we have ‘one of the Chinese Foreign incredulity that hundreds of years of and should “keep its mouth shut”, bipartisan challenge and that is the to reflect we are closer to destruction Ministry’s international imperfect democracy could cede into according to Trump’s chief strategist, issue of the environment, in particular, than ever.) belt, one road’” economics department. autocracy with such ease. Trump’s Steve Bannon. But in a digital age, the national parks. Though Trump fi rst The fact that Trump targeted the That message was win was followed by debate over what where it is increasingly hard to classify targeted NPS because it controls the parks is signifi cant in that it displays it means to live in a “post-facts” who counts as “the media”, anyone public area where his small inauguration total disregard for public opinion. His reinforced when Trump formally withdrew the United world. This was a fatuous debate: if who seeks to inform the public is crowd gathered, he did so after administration is not even making a States from the Trans-Pacifi c Partnership trade deal, facts did not matter, then Trump and potentially under attack. Congress proposed to give away park pretence of assuaging the public that distancing America from its Asian allies. his team, whose threats of punishment In one week, the Trump land, which contributes an estimated it is acting in their interest, as even Several remaining TPP members said they would and litigation long preceded his offi cial administration has proposed policy $646bn each year in economic stimulus authoritarian states often do. Instead, now look to include China in a revised pact, or pursue lock on power, would not work so changes that threaten to cause from recreation, 6.1mn jobs, but most it is acting quickly and brutally, hard to suppress them. The idea of a suffering to masses of Americans importantly, a core part of America’s leaving fundamental questions about Beijing’s alternative free trade agreements. fact always mattered – it simply had and destroy the post-Second World identity and pride. citizens’ health, safety and national “At many important multilateral forums, China’s to be the Trump administration’s War international order. These Few things bring Americans of security unanswered. leader has put forward Chinese proposals, adding facts that counted. Trump’s adviser, include gutting funding to federal diff ering political views together like America was a superpower; we were positive impetus to world development,” Su Xiaohui a Kellyanne Conway, made this blatant agencies that protect everything love for the national parks. It is hard always big and loud and brazen. As an last weekend when she stated that from civil rights to the arts to to fi nd an everyday American whose autocracy, it seems, we shall be so as senior researcher at the Foreign Ministry-backed China the administration would proff er economic development; stripping dream includes having our purple well. – Guardian News & Media Institute of International Studies, wrote of the US TPP “alternative facts” that justifi ed its millions of citizens of health mountain majesties and fruited decision in the overseas edition of the People’s Daily. political aims. insurance; threatening to withdraw plains sold off to the highest bidder. zSarah Kendzior is an author and “In the economic integration process of the Asia Pacifi c, For Trump, “alternative facts” are a the US from the UN and Nato and Both Democratic and Republican journalist compared to certain countries who constantly bear in mind their leadership role, what China pays even more attention to is ‘responsibility’ and ‘stepping up’,” Su said. China’s hosting of an international conference on its “One Belt, One Road” initiative in May is one An iPhone made in America? Not that simple opportunity for Beijing to showcase its leadership of global infrastructure and investment. AFP commonsense move than a political that situation with US workers Not all analysts were convinced. Another area where China is keen to be seen as leading San Francisco one. without using “more robotics and less It was seen as more likely that the way is climate change. “You need to manufacture local workforce,” undermining the political Apple would make a symbolic move products in local markets,” Chowdhry aim of creating jobs here, according to to appease Washington, such as Trump has in the past dismissed climate change as s US President Donald reasoned. Endpoint Technologies analyst Roger investing more in making Mac Pro a “hoax” and vowed during his presidential campaign Trump pushes hard for goods Making things locally gives Kay. computers here, or in a facility for to pull the United States out of the Paris Climate to be “made in America,” better control of distribution Exacerbating the challenge, “it higher-priced, limited-edition Agreement. Ahow realistic is it to expect networks and lets manufacturers makes no sense to make phones here devices such as an “anniversary Apple to stop manufacturing its iconic customise goods for local markets, if you have to ship all the components edition iPhone” to mark the Li Junhua, head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s devices in China? the analyst noted. from China,” said technology analyst handset’s 10th birthday this year. Department of International Organisations and The freshly installed president Whether politically motivated or Jack Gold of J Gold Associates. “I would be very surprised to see Conferences, said world was worried about climate vowed while campaigning that he not, Apple is not in the same position The MIT Technology Review in a major production shift to the US,” change and whether countries would honour their Paris would force Apple to bring production as automakers which relocated June considered several scenarios, Gold said while discussing Apple. commitments. to US soil. US factories overseas to cut costs, from simply bringing assembly to Breaking the US technology star’s Yet, as other big companies according to IHS manufacturing the US to simultaneously shifting the successful business model should “As far as China is concerned, my president has made have sought to appease the new processes chief analyst Dan Panzica. manufacture of parts here. be out of the question for the Trump it extremely clear, crystal clear, China will do its part,” Li administration with promises of jobs Apple never moved jobs off shore, it The Review estimated the extra administration, and there is likely to told reporters. or investments in the United States, created them there. manufacturing cost of an iPhone 6S be a compromise such as “fi nancial Apple has stayed low-profi le. “The Apple jobs were never here,” Plus at $30 to $100 as a result of those incentives,” according to Ovum Major Apple contractor Foxconn Panzica said. moves. analyst de Renesse. this month confi rmed that it is “The entire supply chain grew in It is diffi cult to imagine that Apple Foxconn is already trying to get US To Advertise considering a $7bn investment to China.” would risk its status as the world’s states to woo it with grants of land, make fl at panels in the US in a joint Apple benefi ts in Asia from most profi table company to absorb cheap energy, or tax breaks. [email protected] project with Japan’s SoftBank. a network that goes beyond such a hike in manufacturing costs. Apple could seek tax amnesty for Display “I have discussed with my major subcontractors assembling “Apple will never lower its margins the $200bn or so in profi ts it keeps Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 clients about going to (the US) smartphones, tablets or laptops. on its fl agship product, the iPhone,” overseas in exchange for increasing and they are also willing to invest, The California-based fi rm relies on said Ovum consumer technologies local manufacturing. Classified including Apple,” Foxconn founder a dense ecosystem of companies that analyst Ronan de Renesse. The economic equation would Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 Terry Gou told reporters in Taipei. make components and spare parts for Apple is under pressure from change if Trump went on the off ensive Taiwan-based Foxconn has given its devices as well. investors to keep its high margins, by imposing heavy customs duties on Subscription no details, and Apple declined to China also off ers sources of and already faces slowing growth of Chinese imports. [email protected] comment. important raw materials, along with iPhone sales. Given Apple’s dependencies on Global Equities Research analyst cheap, fl exible and abundant labour to So, would US consumers put their partners in China, and its keen desire Trip Chowdhry believed that moving keep iPhone assembly lines cranking money where the political talk is and to gain traction in that market, Apple 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved manufacturing to the US, where along. pay more for iPhones stamped “Made could fi nd itself an early casualty in a many customers are, was more of a It would be “very hard to replicate” in the USA”? US trade battle with Beijing. Gulf Times Monday, January 30, 2017 23 COMMENT Data Protection Law in Qatar

By Emma Higham, Kellie Blyth handled. Article 2 provides that Data subjects have a right to access Doha the requirements shall apply where and review their personal data at any personal data (being data which time (including an option to obtain a identifi es an individual or which can copy of their data for a fee) as well as n November 3, 2016, the be used in combination with other to receive information regarding how legislative framework for data to identify an individual) is their personal data is being processed. data protection in Qatar electronically processed, or obtained, Owas overhauled by Law No. gathered or extracted in preparation Data breach notifi cation 13 of 2016 Concerning Personal Data for electronic processing, or where Any data controller who suff ers Protection (the DPL). a combination of electronic and a data security breach which would The DPL incorporates concepts traditional processing is used. cause ‘gross harm’ to the data subjects familiar from other international The regulator responsible for concerned must notify both the MoTC privacy frameworks and enshrines implementing and enforcing the DPL as regulator and the aff ected data an individual’s right to have their in Qatar is the Ministry of Transport subjects. In addition, the DPL requires personal data protected. It mandates and Communications (MoTC). The that any data processor who suff ers a that any party who processes such DPL does not specify any geographic breach of its security measures notify data adhere to the principles of limitations on its application. the data controller as soon as the transparency, fairness and respect for However, the MoTC’s ability to data processor becomes aware of the human dignity. It will require prompt bring enforcement action against breach. action to ensure compliance, both for organisations with no legal presence in “Gross harm” is not expressly governance reasons and given that Qatar will be limited. defi ned in the DPL. However, the the law introduces material fi nes for Companies operating in Qatar DPL does identify a category of data breach. have been given a six month grace known as “special personal data” The DPL will help build consumer period (until May 3, 2017) to achieve which warrants a greater degree of trust in Qatar in the online compliance with the DPL. We protection. “Special personal data” environment and may encourage anticipate that this period may be includes data relating to race, children, consumers to engage with innovative extended to refl ect the scale of the health, physical or psychological technologies in confi dence that changes and cultural shift required. would infl ict “gross harm” (discussed a notifi cation to the data subject Eff ective management of third conditions, religious beliefs, sexual life their data will be protected. It comes Failure to comply with requirements below) on the data subject) (the person to whom personal data parties and employees or crimes. In our view “gross harm” at a time when the rapid pace of of the DPL may give rise to a fi ne relates), which specifi es the identity A data controller is responsible for would include (but may not be limited technological change means that more of up to a maximum of QR5mn Lawful grounds for processing of the data controller, the purposes for identifying all parties who process to) any breach concerning special personal data than ever before is being (equivalent to about $1,375,000). Personal data should not be which the data will be processed and personal data on its behalf. As personal data. processed electronically, including due Specifi c penalties apply to breach of processed without the approval of the a comprehensive description of the defi ned in the DPL, the term ‘data The level of fi nes is undoubtedly to the advance of big data and Internet the diff erent fundamental articles of data subject, unless the processing processing activities. processor’ includes both third party designed to drive compliance and of Things technologies. the DPL. is necessary to achieve a legitimate organisations as well as the data to deter irresponsible personal data This article is based on unoffi cial purpose. The legitimate purpose Compliant information controller’s own employees. handling practices. It also highlights translations into English of the Requirements of the DPL referred to may be satisfi ed by handling practices Both the data controller and data how seriously the Qatari government original Arabic text of the DPL. Where the DPL applies, a company reference to the purpose of the data The DPL obliges the data controller processors are required to take the is taking the protection of an However, In the event of any will be obliged to comply with certain controller or a third party to whom to: (i) process personal data honestly necessary steps to protect personal individual’s right to privacy. inconsistency between the English restrictions and obligations relating the personal data is sent. It remains and in accordance with the law; (ii) data from loss, damage, alteration, The concepts and requirements translation and the original Arabic to the collection, disclosure and to be seen how narrowly the term put in place appropriate measures disclosure or from being accessed or of the Data Protection Law will text, the original Arabic text will safekeeping of personal data. The “necessary” will be interpreted in to safeguard the data; (iii) comply used accidentally or unlawfully. As be clarifi ed in further ministerial prevail. principal requirements can be split practice. with the privacy protection policies an example, for data controllers this decisions. However, early indications into the six categories which are set issued by the MoTC from time to time; includes providing training to data are that the Data Protection Law is Scope of application of the DPL out below. Fair processing notices (FPNs) (iv) review existing data protection processors and putting appropriate likely to transform the regulatory The DPL applies to: (i) personal It is important to note that unlike To achieve transparency, the measures before introducing new security measures and systems landscape for privacy in Qatar. data, being data relating to identifi able many other jurisdictions, the data controller (the person who products / services relating to in place to ensure that the data is individuals; and (ii) any personal data DPL does not impose any specifi c determines, individually or jointly, personal data; (v) ensure that the protected. zIf you would like further information, that is processed electronically. restrictions or requirements that the purposes for which and the personal data collected is relevant and please contact either Kellie Blyth (kellie. The DPL will apply in most apply to international transfers of manner in which the personal data is accurate; and (iv) not keep the data for Effi cient handling of subject [email protected]) or Emma Higham instances where personal data is personal data (unless such transfer to be processed) is required to issue longer than required. access requests ([email protected]). Weather report Three-day forecast Reviving the land of riches TODAY High: 24 C colonisation, which cannot be marked producer. Since large amounts of eggs and make them dependent on Low : 19 C By Harun Yahya Strong wind and high seas till Istanbul off as completely over. It is worth are shipped to Africa and distributed foreign help. However, if the sponsor midnight. mentioning that France still gets for free, the local egg producer could countries and institutions focus on colonial tax from its former colonies not sell his products and after a while encouraging entrepreneurship and nce upon a time, Africa in Africa, which is around $500bn he shut down. However, when the creating talents in Africa, there is no TUESDAY was the land of riches, each year. Considering that the total charities did not send egg the next doubt that the aid will be much more High: 21 C a continent of powerful amount of aid Africa has received years, people were left completely eff ective. Successful planning will Low: 17 C Okingdoms, happy in the 60 years since the end of helpless as there was neither free eventually create the desired eff ect Sunny inhabitants, fertile lands, rich wildlife colonisation is only twice this amount, egg this time, nor the possibility to and help African people achieve the and unique cultures. Especially after the reasons for the poverty at the buy it locally. This is a real example life standards they deserve. Islam entered the continent, Africa continent becomes quite clear without and similar incidents happen in all One African country decided to WEDNESDAY thrived and built great civilisations. need for much investigation. sectors. In short, such aids that are take a completely diff erent approach High: 25 C For example, many people don’t know Indeed, despite its rich natural sent without careful planning and and the results have been impressive. Low: 17 C that Timbuktu was once a hub of trade resources, today 75% of the world’s management may impair people’s After Eritrea won its independence in Sunny and culture and housed world’s fi rst poorest countries live in Africa. In ability to produce and provide for 1993, it walked away from millions of university that had 25,000 out of city’s 2010, 414mn people were living themselves. Therefore, it is important dollars of aid, including those from 100,000 inhabitants as its students. on $1.25 or less a day in sub- that the aid is provided in a careful the UN, World Bank and international Fishermen’s forecast charities. Instead it has pursued a The colonial powers of the time Saharan Africa. Almost one in three and planned way to support the local OFFSHORE DOHA needed cheap labour and vast sources people in sub-Saharan Africa are producers and economy. “self-reliance programme” for almost Wind: NW 15-25/30 KT to feed their ravenous industrial undernourished and 589mn people in Furthermore, the so-called agro- a decade and albeit slow, the results Waves: 6-8/12 Feet endeavours. And very conveniently, the same area live without electricity. imperialism is crippling Africa’s have been promising in food, health, INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW 10-20/25 KT social Darwinism provided the The list goes on. Fortunately, the ability to produce its own crop and infrastructure and education. Waves: 2-4 Feet fake justifi cation for the slavery of world isn’t what it used to be a century compels it to buy instead international Although this is one way to create African people and the exploitation ago and many people do everything supply. In addition, most Western development, foreign aid is not Around the region of their lands. In now what is called they can to help the people of Africa. countries are renting the lands of unhelpful as long as it is planned Weather Weather the “scramble for Africa”, 90% of Indeed, since 1960s, more than $1tn in Africa for agriculture, and they are carefully. On the contrary there is today Max/min tomorrow Max/min the continent came under European humanitarian aid were transferred to usually held exempt from taxes for no doubt that it helps greatly to Abu Dhabi Sunny 23/16 Sunny 22/15 control between 1881 and 1914. The Africa. But how did it fare? a long time, while their produce is those that need it. However, to really Baghdad Sunny 12/02 Sunny 15/03 Dubai large African diaspora today is the Not so well. Although people are mostly exported. They set aside a create the desired eff ect and help the Sunny 24/15 Sunny 24/16 Kuwait City Sunny 16/07 Sunny 20/09 legacy of millions of Africans taken acting with good intentions, most little amount for the domestic market, African people, it is crucial to support Manama Cloudy 18/12 Sunny 21/16 out of their lands as slaves. of the time, unplanned aids that do which causes disadvantage for African and encourage the growth of local Muscat Sunny 26/19 Sunny 26/19 What is the situation today? At the not take into consideration various people in competition. This practice economy, entrepreneurship and local Riyadh Sunny 18/09 Sunny 26/12 moment, most countries of Africa are economical, social and environmental therefore makes Africa even poorer. talents with these aids. Once this is Tehran Sunny 07/0 M Cloudy 08/03 struggling with civil wars, confl icts, factors fail to create the desired eff ect. All these problems prevent the done, the results will be more eff ective diseases and poverty. Unsurprisingly, A common example to illustrate the African countries from creating their and benefi cial to both the African this is mostly due to the crippling problem is the story of a local egg own economies, sectors and industries people and the world. Live issues Alternative treatments for chronic pain

Tribune News Service Americans than diabetes, heart thin needles through your skin at called SAMe. It’s been studied for its Washington disease and cancer combined. Chronic strategic points on your body to ability to reduce infl ammation and pain is the most common cause of reduce pain. How often you need this relieve arthritis pain. The second is disability in the US. treatment depends in large part on the curcumin, a substance found in the UESTION: What are the Traditionally, the fi rst step in type and severity of your pain. spice turmeric, which also may help best alternative treatments treating chronic pain has been Massage therapy can help reduce reduce infl ammation. Initial research for chronic back and neck medication, including strong pain, too. Several studies suggest seems to point to a benefi t in people Around the world Qpain? I am not able to painkillers such as opioids. But these massage can be eff ective as part of an with some forms of chronic pain who Weather Weather take pain medication. Are there any drugs can be problematic. Not only overall strategy for managing chronic use these supplements. Be careful if you today Max/min tomorrow Max/min supplements that are safe and known are opioids powerful drugs, they neck and back pain. Mayo Clinic has take supplements, though, and don’t Athens M Cloudy 09/04 P Cloudy 09/01 to work? can have serious side eff ects and conducted more than a dozen clinical start taking anything before you discuss Beirut M Sunny 13/08 Showers 12/07 M Sunny 34/22 A: Alternatives to medication for pose a signifi cant risk for addiction trials on massage and found it valuable it with your healthcare provider to make Bangkok 34/23 Sunny Berlin M Sunny 03/01 Showers 03/-1 chronic pain exist. Research shows when used long term. The problems for a wide variety of pain conditions. sure it’s right for your situation. Cairo M Sunny 18/08 P Cloudy 18/09 that, when they’re included in a associated with using opioids for Mayo Clinic now regularly off ers Although all of these treatments Cape Town P Cloudy 22/15 Cloudy 23/16 comprehensive treatment plan, those pain relief make it crucial that other massage therapy to patients. may help lower chronic pain, none Colombo T Storms 31/23 M Sunny 33/22 techniques can be quite eff ective strategies be considered when Clinical trials have shown mind- provides a cure. Instead, they help Dhaka Sunny 27/15 Sunny 28/15 Hong Kong P Cloudy 23/17 P Cloudy 19/18 in lowering pain. Together, these managing chronic pain. body therapies are another approach control pain symptoms. To be most Istanbul Cloudy 04/0 P Cloudy 03/-2 approaches to pain management often In some situations when medication that can signifi cantly aff ect chronic eff ective, they should be integrated Jakarta S T Storms 30/24 T Storms 30/24 are referred to as integrative medicine. wasn’t a good option, surgery was pain. The purpose of these treatments into an overall treatment plan that Karachi M Sunny 25/15 P Cloudy 28/14 Talk with your primary healthcare recommended as the next step. is to help you relax and improve the includes conventional approaches to London Showers 11/08 Showers 13/08 Manila T Storms S T Storms 31/24 provider about possibilities for pain Fortunately, there now are a wide communication and connection pain management, such as physical 31/24 Moscow M Sunny -10/-16 Cloudy -8/-9 control beyond medication. If he or range of choices available beyond between the state of your mind and therapy, exercise and balanced New Delhi Sunny 22/10 M Sunny 23/10 she is not familiar with integrative medication and surgery that have been the health of your body. Yoga, tai chi, nutrition. When placed in the New York S Showers 03/-3 S Showers 03/01 medicine, ask for a referral to a shown to be useful in easing chronic meditation and guided imagery fall context of this type of integrated Paris Showers 11/09 Showers 11/07 healthcare provider who specialises in pain. under this category. approach, many people see signifi cant Sao Paulo T Storms 27/19 T Storms 26/18 Seoul M Cloudy -1/-7 P Cloudy 0/-11 pain management. One common form of integrative You also asked about supplements. benefi ts from using evidence-based Singapore S T Storms 31/24 P Cloudy 32/24 Chronic pain is a common problem. medicine that’s used frequently at There are two in particular that show alternatives to medication for chronic Sydney M Sunny 36/27 Cloudy 34/21 According to the National Institutes Mayo Clinic is acupuncture. The promise for easing pain. The fi rst pain management. – Mayo Clinic Tokyo Cloudy 18/07 Clear 10/02 of Health, chronic pain aff ects more technique involves inserting extremely is S-adenosylmethionine, usually News Network Gulf Times 24 Monday, January 30, 2017 QATAR

Chinese embassy and HBKU off icials along with the performers. HBKU, Chinese embassy celebrate Spring Festival amad Bin Khalifa Uni- and was treated to a range of versity (HBKU), a mem- colourful live performances by Hber of Qatar Foundation, Chinese singers, instrumental- collaborated with the embassy ists and dancers. Traditional and of China to present a Chinese contemporary Chinese music Spring Festival at the HBKU Stu- accompanied most of the per- dent Centre in Education City. formances, with one song per- The entertainment included formed in Arabic. performances by an artistic Ambassador Chen said: “This troupe and marked the beginning event, jointly held by our em- of the Chinese New Year, which bassy and TII, rendered a warm this year has been designated as festive family atmosphere among the Year of the Fire Rooster. our audience from various local Hosted by the Translation communities. It has also refl ect- and Interpreting Institute (TII) ed the friendship and strategic within HKBU’s College of Hu- relations between China and Qa- manities and Social Sciences, tar consolidated right after the which currently off ers classes in China-Qatar Year of Culture.” Mandarin Chinese among a wide Dr al-Malki added, “Learning range of community-focused a new language helps us establish language programmes, the event meaningful relationships with was attended by the ambassador other cultures. Opening up to of China Li Chen and the found- other cultures allows us all to be ing dean of HBKU’s College of more appreciative of other ways Humanities and Social Sciences, of doing and looking at things. Dr Amal al-Malki. Celebrating the Chinese New A crowd that included mem- Year with the Chinese embassy bers of the local and Chinese in Qatar is an example of how community in Qatar fi lled the diff erent languages can bring HBKU Student Centre cinema cultures together.” One of the programmes at HBKU, Chinese New Year celebrations. Another cultural programme at the event.

Insight Philippine Airlines to start non-stop Manila-Doha service from March 26

By Joey Aguilar benefi t from this growing competition with Staff Reporter lower airfares off ered by diff erent carriers.” Qatar Airways currently fl ies to Manila twice daily and also has a daily fl ight to hilippine Airlines (PAL) will start Clark International Airport while Cebu Pa- its non-stop Manila-Doha-Manila cifi c fl ies thrice a week to Doha. PAL started Pfl ights from March 26, according to a its Manila-Doha via Abu Dhabi fl ights in circular sent by the airline to travel agencies March 2016. in Doha. PAL’s new service to Doha is part of the The circular announced that PAL would 2,745), but “fare is not guaranteed until fi nal fl ag carrier’s expansion plans to the Middle operate its fi rst-ever direct route to and purchase”, bookings on its website showed. East, in addition to Abu Dhabi and Dubai in from Hamad International Airport four The fl ight will leave Doha at 8pm (local the UAE, Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah in times a week — Monday, Wednesday, Friday time) for a nine-hour journey, and depart Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. and Sunday — to serve the growing Filipino Manila at 1.30pm for a nine-and-half hour The carrier currently uses an Airbus 330 population in Qatar. PAL’s non-stop opera- fl ight back to Doha, according to the circu- for its Manila-Doha via Abu Dhabi serv- tion will be in addition to its current thrice- lar. ice, which also off ers free Wi-Fi and wire- weekly Manila-Doha service via Abu Dhabi, The PAL circular also reminds passengers less entertainment to allow passengers to scheduled every Tuesday, Thursday and that two pieces of luggage (each not exceed- stream in-fl ight movies, TV shows, music Saturday. ing 23kg) are allowed for check-in. and magazines using their personal devices HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, chairman of the Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah International For a ‘budget economy’ airfare of QR885 Speaking to Gulf Times, Alpha Travel through the app ‘myPAL’ player. Foundation for Energy & Sustainable Development, delivers a speech during a board of directors (subject to change) on a March 26 booking general manager Khaled Rustom said that PAL is the second commercial airline in meeting of the German Near and Middle East Association (NUMOV) held recently in Berlin. HE from Doha to Manila, passengers will enjoy the new PAL route will give Filipinos, as well the Philippines to mount direct service to al-Attiyah, former deputy prime minister and former minister of energy and industry, is a member free meals, Wi-Fi connection, blanket use as other Philippine travellers, more options Doha after Cebu Pacifi c, which launched of the Board of International Management Association, which also includes prominent figures from and a maximum of 46kg baggage allowance. in selecting their preferred fl ights. its twice weekly fl ights in June 2015. After several other countries in the region. PAL also off ers ‘regular economy’ (around “Our customers will have access to a wide a year, it increased its frequency to thrice QR1,380) and ‘premium economy’ (around range of products,” he said. “They will also weekly.

Commercial Bank hosts exclusive dinners for Sadara customers

ommercial Bank, Qatar’s fi rst ship manager.” Commercial Bank said: “I would like to thank Commer- private bank, has hosted two AGM, Head of Sadara Wealth Man- cial Bank and wish them more pros- Cexclusive dinners for its key agement, Bouchra Sebbata said: “Sa- perity; our presence here today re- Sadara clients at Sharq Village and dara is a core service off ered by Com- fl ects the good relationship between Spa. The men’s dinner and the ladies’ mercial Bank that provides our VIP the bank and its clients.” dinner were held to build customer customers with special personalised Sadara customer Shoua al-Mus- relationships and to thank Sadara treatment where they can discuss limani said: “Commercial Bank is a clients for their loyalty. their individual banking needs with leading bank in serving its clients. Commercial Bank CEO Joseph us face-to-face. Our meeting today proves the bank’s Abraham said: “Client experience Commercial Bank is committed excellence and leadership in com- is a differentiator that sets Com- to supporting our male and female municating with its clients as one mercial Bank apart. Since launch- Sadara customers and these dinners family.” ing Sadara, it has been our overrid- were also an opportunity to provide Another Sadara customer Sulaim- ing objective to provide our most feedback on the exclusive high-end an Haidar al-Haider said: “I would valuable and important clients with banking services provided by each like to express my thanks and grati- a high-end banking experience customer’s own Sadara relationship tude to Commercial Bank for their through highly tailored banking manager.” customer support. We look at Com- solutions and outstanding personal Sadara customer Ali bin Sultan mercial Bank as our success part- service from a dedicated relation- al-Maadid, who attended the event, ners.” Commercial Bank CEO Joseph Abraham, Bouchra Sebbata and a section of the Sadara members at the appreciation event.