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TUESDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 11043 December 25, 2018 Rabia II 18, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Amir sends message to Kuwaiti leader In brief Qatar ‘highest QATAR | Offi cial Amir holds phone talk with Pakistan PM His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim performer’ in bin Hamad al-Thani held yesterday evening a telephone conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. During the phone call, the two leaders reviewed bilateral relations and ways GCC education to boost them, and discussed issues of common concern. SPORT | Competition sector: report Sheikh Joaan honours winners of camel race By Pratap John petitiveness Report, Qatar ranked 5th HE the President of Qatar Olympic Chief Business Reporter for its quality of higher education and Committee (QOC) Sheikh Joaan bin training, 10th for quality of primary Hamad al-Thani awarded the winners education, and 6th for the quality of its of the day three of the Founder His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has sent a written message to Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad atar remains the “highest per- higher education and training. Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed bin al-Jaber al-Sabah, pertaining to the brotherly relations between the two countries and peoples, as well as the latest regional former” in primary and higher Total student enrolments in Qatar Thani Camel Festival Competitions and international developments. Qatar’s ambassador to Kuwait Bandar bin Mohamed al-Attiyah handed over the message Qeducation segments compared grew at a CAGR of 8% between 2011 for local purebred Arabian camels, during a meeting with the Amir of Kuwait yesterday. to other GCC nations, Alpen Capital and 2016), witnessing the highest which was held in Al Shahaniya has said in a new report. growth across the GCC. racetrack and will run until January The progress made within Qatar’s The overall Gross Enrolment Ratio 2019. The silver blade went to education sector has “attracted” the (GER) in the country stood at 62.2% in Mohamed Saeed al-Jarbawi, owner of attention of private sector participants, 2016, driven by high enrolments rates ‘Muhemma’, who won the first race which has led to a number of private in the primary and secondary seg- in the two to three-year-olds camel schools establishing a base across the ments. category and the silver dagger to Aly Advisory Council approves country to meet the growing demand Between 2011 and 2016, pre-primary Tinan al-Athba, owner of ‘Ghazi’. across the K-12 segments, Alpen Capi- schools witnessed a CAGR of 9.3%. tal noted in its report on ‘GCC Educa- This can be attributed to the grow- BRITAIN | Airport tion’. ing awareness among nationals of the Police fi eld tip-off s in draft law on Media City The government of Qatar has in- importance of pre-primary education. troduced several reforms and made Although education is not manda- Gatwick drone probe investments in the education sector. tory for children below the age of three British police probing the Gatwick QNA aging and developing media activity of companies licensed to work in the The country has initiated its National years, the segment reported a GER of Airport drone mystery that grounded Doha and attracting international media, Media City and that it be governed by Vision 2030, which deems education 60.1% in 2016. lights last week have received around technology companies, research and a code of ethics. as a basic foundation for the progress Primary and secondary schools ac- 30 pieces of “useful information” in the training institutions in the fi elds of After extensive discussions, the of society. counted for over 83.8% of the student last 24 hours, a police-backed charity he Advisory Council held its media and digital media. Council approved the draft law and As part of its long term strategy, the enrolments in the K-12 education sys- said yesterday. The tip-off s came after weekly meeting yesterday un- Its terms of reference also include decided to submit its recommenda- SEC plans to provide continued fi nan- tem and recorded a GER of 103.7% and the airport on Sunday began off ering Tder the chairmanship of HE the granting licences for television and tions to the Cabinet. cial and human resources support to 92.5%, respectively, in 2016. a £50,000 ($63,000) reward for Speaker Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid radio broadcasting as well as licences Also, the Speaker briefed the mem- advance education for the purpose of Enrolments at primary and second- information. Page 8 al-Mahmoud. for the publishing and distribution of bers about the outcome of his meet- sustainable development. ary education levels increased at a The Council discussed the report newspapers, magazines and books to ing last Monday with the President of “The Qatari government has priori- CAGR of 7.9% and 6.2%, respective- ASIA | Disaster of the Financial and Economic Aff airs eligible companies. the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) tised the development of the education ly, between 2011 and 2016. The total Committee on Decree Law No 18 of In its recommendations, the com- Gabriela Cuevas Barron, where they sector, which is important for achieving number of K-12 enrolments grew at a Hunt for survivors as 2018, on amendment of some provi- mittee called for creating technical and discussed the preparations made by the economic diversifi cation and the CAGR of 7.5% between 2011 and 2016, tsunami death toll rises sions the of Law on Tenders and Auc- professional standards and controls to the council to host the 140 General plan to become an education hub of the whereas the share of K-12 enrolments Dozens of filled body bags were tions, issued by Law No 24 of 2015. attract high-quality media companies Assembly of the IPU and the accom- region. The sector has been expanding to total enrolments declined from hauled away from buildings flattened The Council approved the said decree and encouraging Qatari investors to in- panying meetings in Doha from April at a rapid pace to meet the rising de- 92.8% in 2011 to 91.0% in 2016. The by Indonesia’s volcano-triggered law and decided to submit its recom- vest in the Media City. It also said care 6-10, 2019. They also reviewed the mand from nationals and expatriates tertiary segment recorded the fastest tsunami yesterday, as the death toll mendations to the Cabinet. has to be taken to ensure that the Media co-operation relations between the on the back of the back of government growth, growing at a CAGR of 13.2% climbed to 373 and search teams After discussing the report of the City does not aff ect the rights and gains Advisory Council and the IPU in vari- led growth across economic sectors. from 2011 to 2016. pushed on with the grim hunt Cultural and Information Aff airs of existing investors in the media fi eld ous areas of parliamentary work. “Qatar is also witnessing a shift to- In the same period, student enrol- for corpses. Experts warned that Committee on the draft law on Media and employing Qatari graduates and The IPU president has ex- wards increasing preference for private ments almost doubled from 15,352 to more deadly waves could slam the City, the Council approved it and de- giving them priority with the appropri- pressed her deep satisfaction with education, which is resulting in an in- 28,480 students in 2016. devastated region. Page 7 cided to submit its recommendations ate privileges. the progress made in arrangements fl ux of international institutions. Such “However, the GER of 15.4% at the to the Cabinet. During their discussions, the mem- for the meetings. The Speaker also institutions off er diverse curricula and tertiary education segment contin- AMERICA | Court Under the draft law, the Media bers of the Council stressed the im- briefed the members on the reports are particularly benefi cial for the expat ues to be the lowest in the GCC due City has a moral personality and an portance of respecting the principles, of its delegations participating in a population,” Alpen Capital noted. to a preference for students to study N Korea to pay $501mn independent budget aimed at man- values and ethics in the programmes number of external meetings. The quality of education in Qatar has abroad,’ Alpen Capital noted. to parents of US student continued to maintain its high stand- The total K-12 private school market A US court yesterday ordered ards, “ranking among the highest” in segment grew at a CAGR of 10.2% be- Pyongyang to pay $501mn in Over 36,000 firms registered under Wage Protection System almost all education parameters for tween 2011 and 2016, while the public damages for the torture and death 2017-2018. school segment grew at a CAGR of 4% US college student Otto Wambier, As many as 36,193 companies and their salaries through bank transfers The source explained that MADLSA The establishment of international during the same. who died shortly in 2017 after being establishments have registered under amounted to 1,277,029, according Inspection Department conducted 52,560 schools in Qatar, fuelled by an increase Enrolments at private schools in Qa- released from a North Korea prison. the Wage Protection System (WPS) in to a report published yesterday. inspection visits last year, comprising in demand for private schools, has fa- tar across all levels have continued to Warmbier’s parents sued North the country, a source at the Ministry of The source pointed out that WPS is 28,226 work inspections targeting 20,851 cilitated access to high quality educa- grow rapidly during the fi ve-year pe- Korea in April over their son’s death. Administrative Development, Labour regularly updated by MADLSA with facilities and 24,334 visits to check on tion and has led to an improvement in riod, on the back of rising expatriate The 22-year-old student died in the and Social Aff airs (MADLSA) told local the information supplied by the safety and occupational health at 7,210 education infrastructure across the community and increasing preference US days after being released from Arabic daily Arrayah. participating entities after confirming facilities. During the same period, 13,159 country. among nationals for private schooling, captivity in a coma. The number of workers who got the authenticity and transparency. field surveys were conducted. As per the 2017-2018 Global Com- Alpen Capital said. Cruise ship’s maiden voyage from Qatar to Oman, Kuwait soon

By Joey Aguilar aimed at contributing to Qatar’s eff orts to Staff Reporter further strengthen relations with the two countries by taking more people there. The ship’s captain, Manolis Mout- V Grand Ferry, a roll-on/roll- satsos, joined al-Sulaiti during a tour off luxury cruise ship which of the 145m-long vessel, which was Mcan carry more than 870 pas- attended by HE the Minister of Trans- sengers and a large number of vehicles, port and Communications Jassim Seif is set to launch its fi rst voyage from Ahmed al-Sulaiti. Qatar to Oman and Kuwait soon, it was “It has not been done in the Gulf be- announced. fore, this will be the fi rst,” said Faisal, Speaking to reporters yesterday , MV adding that they aim to become a pio- Grand Ferry owner Faisal Mohamed neer in this type of business in the re- al-Sulaiti said this new off ering gives gion. Qatar residents the opportunity to visit He expressed confi dence that such two neighbouring GCC countries with endeavour will succeed due to the huge fl exibility and ease. demand for cruise passengers, espe- “The aim is to bring passengers, who cially in the GCC market. Luxury cruise ship MV Grand Ferry, docked at Doha Port, is set to make maiden often have limitations on other forms “We anticipate this one will be very voyage to Oman and Kuwait soon. of transportation, to Kuwait and Oman, successful, and we also have cargo to and even Iran, with their own cars,” he balance revenue and to reduce running entire voyage while cruising from Qa- at every port of destination. added. “They can disembark and they cost,” he pointed out. tar to Oman, for example, will take Faisal said they plan to buy another HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti (right) can drive around.” According to the ship owner, it will between 20 and 25 hours, apart from cruise ship if the demand will continue with Faisal Mohamed al-Sulaiti (centre) and Capt Manolis Moutsatsos at the launch of Al-Sulaiti said the venture is also take around 2.5 days to complete an disembarkation and other procedures to increase in the future. To Page 16 MV Grand Ferry at Doha Port yesterday. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, December 25, 2018 QATAR

Chief of Staff meets UK defence attache Qatar-Ivory Coast judicial ties reviewed Justice minister meets Kuwaiti delegation

QNA Doha

E the Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of HState for Cabinet Aff airs Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi yesterday met a judicial del- egation from Kuwait, headed by President of the Court of Appeal and Director of Institute for Ju- dicial and Legal Studies Owayed al-Thowaimer. The meeting dealt with strengthening Qatari and Ku- waiti legal co-operation, partic- HE the Chief of Staff of the Qatar Armed Forces, Lieutenant-General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen ularly in the areas of training and al-Ghanem yesterday met UK’s Defence Attache to Qatar Colonel (Pilot) Simon Blake. During the exchange of expertise and expe- meeting, they discussed the bilateral relations between Qatar and the UK, and the ways to boost and Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara met HE the Attorney-General Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri in riences, as well as co-operation develop them in diff erent military fields. The meeting was attended by acting head of International Abidjan. The meeting discussed a number of issues of common concern and means of in the fi eld of legal services pro- Military Co-operation Authority Brigadier (Navy) Yousef Saleh al-Hurr. strengthening legal and judicial co-operation between Qatar and Ivory Coast. vided by the Centre for Legal and Judicial Studies and the Institute for Legal and Judicial Studies in the Ministries of Justice in both countries. The Kuwaiti delegation is vis- Vegetable yards’ iting the country to learn about the legal and judicial experience ninth week sales of Qatar and discuss areas of joint co-operation. total 433 tonnes Separately, HE the Chairman Qatar and Turkey tie up in of the Supreme Judiciary Coun- QNA cil and President of the Court of Doha Cassation, Dr Hassan Lahdan Saqr al-Mohannadi also met the delegation headed by President he yards for local vegeta- of Kuwait’s Court of Appeal and bles and fruits at Al Maz- smart manufacturing tech Director of Institute for Judicial Trouah, Al Wakrah, Al Khor and Legal Studies Owayed al- and Al Thakhira, and Al Shamal joint research workshop water, polymers and petro- Thowaimer. has achieved sales totalling 433 aimed at introducing and chemicals, agriculture and food, The chairman of the Supreme tonnes during the ninth week of Adeveloping innovative basic materials, and biomedical Judiciary Council assured the the season, from December 20 smart manufacturing practices devices and implants. visiting Kuwaiti delegation to 22. in Qatar has been held ahead of Addressing the workshop, that the Council is keen to acti- The yards, which come under the launch of a joint funding call Dr Orkun Hasekioglu, vice- vate judicial co-operation pro- the Ministry of Municipality in early 2019 by Qatar National president, Tubitak, said, “Three grammes between Qatar and and Environment’s Agriculture Research Fund (QNRF), a mem- years ago, QNRF and Tubitak Kuwait. Aff airs Department, are open ber of Qatar Foundation, and signed an agreement to spon- Thursday to Saturday. the Scientifi c and Technologi- sor joint research and develop- The sales of local fi sh during cal Research Council of Turkey ment projects in areas of mutual the same period amounted to – Tubitak, the country’s leading interests. This partnership is a 3,750kg, according to an offi cial research agency. manifestation of the solidarity Ministry launches statement. Similarly, 687 trays of The collaboration will see between the Turkish and Qatari local eggs were sold, in addition QNRF and Tubitak combine governments. music festival to 2,700 poultry birds, 277kg of their resources and insights to “There is a profound impact milk, and 116kg of honey. drive the innovation and devel- of science and technology on the for communities Besides, 385 heads of sheep opment of new smart manufac- economic and industrial devel- and goats were sold and 327 of turing technologies. The joint opment, wealth, and strength these were handled at Al Mazr- initiative aims to foster public- of both countries. Therefore, he Ministry of Culture ouah slaughterhouse. private partnerships and pool among many other collabora- and Sports’ centre of mu- the knowledge, expertise, and tions we have with Qatar, this Tsic aff airs announced yes- resources of Qatar and Turkey joint program between QNRF terday the launch of its monthly to address the two countries’ and Tubitak is of particular im- music festival on December 26 Ministry recalls shared priorities. portance.” and 27 in Dahl Al Hamam. In preparation for the joint During the workshop, Dr The festival will focus on BMW X5, Honda funding call, the ‘Smart Manu- QNRF and Tubitak off icials at the workshop. Munir Tag, senior programme refl ecting the importance of facturing Workshop’ was held manager for ICT, QNRF, out- cultural diversity of the com- Odyssey models at Qatar National Convention ufacturing, ICT for manufactur- cybersecurity, under which the digital technologies, robot- lined the role of smart manu- munities residing in Qatar. The Centre, where representatives ing, sustainable manufacturing, joint funding call ‘Academia- ics, artifi cial intelligence, aug- facturing in the context of Qatar Sudanese and Palestinian com- from the Ministry of Transport production systems, organisa- Industry Cooperation on Cyber- mented reality, 3D printing, and and highlighted its importance munities are set to participate in he Ministry of Com- and Communications, the Gulf tion, and logistics and supply security’ was launched last year. the Internet of Things to boost for the nation’s society, econo- the festival’s opening. A number merce and Industry, in Organisation for Industrial Con- chains of products. Presenta- Speaking at the workshop, Dr manufacturing and production, my, government, and industry. of Qatari and Yemeni artists will Tcollaboration with Al- sulting, Siemens Qatar, and the tions and discussions identifi ed Abdul Sattar al-Taie, executive by reducing production cost “The QNRF-Tubitak collabo- also participate. The festival, fardan Automobiles, has an- wider academic, research, and the need for state-of-the-art director, QNRF, said: “Our col- and time. It is therefore key to ration will contribute signifi - which will see all communities nounced the recall of BMW X5 industrial community of Qatar techniques, and research and laboration with Tubitak is built improving product quality, en- cantly to strengthening Qatar’s living in Qatar take part, refl ects model of 2018 due to a software discussed the importance of the innovation in advancing Qatar’s upon a shared commitment and hancing operational effi ciency industrial prowess and its ex- the ministry’s vision of stressing error in the intelligent battery concept. Members of leading smart manufacturing infra- belief in the importance of sup- and strategic growth, assuring pertise in the fi eld of manufac- the importance of opening up to sensor. Turkish research institutions, structure. porting science and technology customer retention, and in- turing,” he said. other cultures. Separately, the ministry, in industries, and universities ex- The bilateral agreement be- initiatives, in order to strength- creasing profi tability.” The call for proposals and de- The centre was established in collaboration with Doha Mar- changed views on matters of tween QNRF and Tubitak to en and develop a lasting RDI Experts who participated in tails for submission will be an- 2016, and aims to promote music keting Services Company (Do- mutual interest with their Qatari collaborate on projects of mu- partnership between research- the workshop explored the ap- nounced under the ‘Thematic as a culture among the diff erent masco), recalled Honda Odyssey counterparts. tual interest was established in ers, industries, and end-users in plication of smart manufac- and Grand Challenges Research segments of society. The cen- model of 2018 due to a potential The workshop addressed December 2015. The inaugural both countries. turing practices in industries Programme,’ section at www. tre also to maintain the cultural defect in the brake pedal. themes including additive man- theme of the partnership was “Smart manufacturing uses including gas, clean energy and qnrf.org. identity of Qatari music. - QNA Oryx GTL organises heritage ceremony

heritage ceremony or- loric dance), which impressed ganised by Oryx GTL was everyone. The Young Volunteer Aattended by the executive Centre also participated with management and a large number Oryx GTL in the celebration. of employees. The ceremony included an The event at the Diplomatic amazing show of the pearl diver Club began with the national an- singer “Al-Nahham”. Ali al- them, followed by a video for the Marri impressed everyone with company’s staff from more than his melodious voice and master- 34 diff erent nationalities. ful performance of various kinds The celebration featured a va- of the art of pearl diver singing. riety of heritage events and activ- Qatar’s elders sang these ities through which the company songs when they were on their aimed to introduce the employees fi shing trips or pearl-diving ex- to the diverse cultures of Qatar. cursions, it was pointed out. A group of students from Qa- The ceremony also included tar Primary School for Boys pre- a series of competitions for the sented the Ardha Parade (folk- audience. A scene from the heritage ceremony organised by Oryx GTL.

100,000 people vaccinated against seasonal fl u

he Ministry of Public 45 hospitals, health centres and According to the ministry, the importance of the initiative Health announced that a private and semi-government there has been a rise in vac- to receive the seasonal infl uenza Traffi c diversion on Orbital Road T100,000 people have clinics. cination coverage this year vaccine, especially with the start been vaccinated as part of the The vaccination teams at the compared to previous years, of the winter season and the re- national campaign for vaccina- Ministry of Public Health have thanks to the significant ef- cent dramatic drop in tempera- here will be a tempo- During the closure, which is main on the main carriageway, tion against seasonal infl uenza, also carried out several cam- forts made by the ministry tures, where vaccination helps rary traffi c diversion at put in place in co-ordination follow the same route and use which started three months ago paigns for workers in many in- and all relevant authorities prevent complications from in- Tthe southeast ramp near with the General Directorate of the fi rst exit loop at Umm Al Ju- and is still continuing. stitutions and bodies, includ- in both the government and fl uenza, especially among popu- Umm Al Afaei Interchange on Traffi c, motorists coming from washin Interchange in order to According to the ministry, the ing the Public Works Authority, private sectors to ensure that lation groups with high risk fac- the Orbital Road for a month Salwa Road and heading towards access the petrol station. campaign has succeeded in vac- Qatar General Electricity and vaccinations reach the en- tors. from today. Doha can continue straight until Ashghal has installed road cinating 100,000 people of dif- Water Corporation (Kahramaa) tire population, especially In this context, the health The diversion will facilitate reaching Umm Al Juwashin In- signs advising motorists of ferent age groups in the health and Qatar Post, as well as the as awareness has increased ministry advised all citizens the Qatar General Electricity terchange, and take the south- the change and urged them to facilities of the Hamad Medi- vaccination of employees in among people about the im- and residents most at risk of and Water Corporation (Kah- east free right exit towards Doha abide by the speed limit which cal Corporation (HMC) and at Nakilat and Milaha companies portance of vaccination and developing infl uenza com- ramaa) to carry out excavation (as shown on the map). remains at 80kph along the the health centres of the Pri- as well as in a number of Uni- its effectiveness in preventing plications to consider tak- and maintenance works of the Motorists heading to Umm Al route and follow the road signs mary Health Care Corporation versities and educational insti- seasonal influenza. ing the seasonal fl u vaccine. water pipes in the area. Afaei petrol station, should re- to ensure safety. (PHCC,) as well as in more than tutions. The health ministry stressed – QNA Gulf Times Tuesday, December 25, 2018 3 REGION/ARAB WORLD UN ceasefi re Christmas cheer in Bethlehem monitor head visits key Yemen port

Agencies dah from the rebel-held capital al-Maliki said yesterday that the People attend Christmas celebrations at Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Hodeidah, Yemen Sanaa, after meeting with gov- Houthi rebels have violated the Bank, yesterday. The Palestinian town is enjoying its busiest Christmas in years, with hotels nearly fully booked and the security situation ernment offi cials in Aden. truce agreement 138 times since relatively calm. Lines of pilgrims squeezed through a narrow sandstone entrance to the Church of the Nativity to visit the grotto where Yemen’s warring sides agreed it came into eff ect. Christian faithful believe Jesus was born. he head of the United Na- on the ceasefi re to halt a devas- The latest Security Council tions team tasked with tating off ensive by government resolution on Yemen “puts the Tmonitoring a fragile forces and an allied Saudi-led Houthi militias under interna- ceasefi re in the fl ashpoint city coalition against rebel-held Ho- tional pressure”, he said during a Kuwait appoints of Hodeidah yesterday visited its deidah at peace talks in Sweden press conference in Riyadh. 4 new ministers lifeline docks, a port offi cial said. this month. According to the UN The UN monitoring team aims Retired Dutch general Patrick Cammaert will chair a meeting of to secure the functioning of Ho- Israel to hold early elections Kuwait has appointed four new Cammaert called on Saudi- the joint committee tomorrow. deidah port and supervise the ministers including Khaled backed government forces and That meeting will be “one of withdrawal of fi ghters from the al-Fadhel as the country’s oil Iran-linked Houthi rebels to the priorities” of Cammaert’s city. AFP name of budgetary and nation- “We ask for a clear mandate minister, the state news agency respect the hard-won truce, mission, UN spokesman Stephane The text approved by the Se- Jerusalem al responsibility,” a statement from the voter to continue to Kuna reported yesterday. Hodeidah port deputy director Dujarric said on Sunday. curity Council “insists on the issued on their behalf said. lead the state of Israel in our Fadhel previously held the title of Yehya Sharafeddin said. “General Cammaert is en- full respect by all parties of the The government was prepar- own way.” undersecretary at the ministry of “The (UN) offi cial promised us couraged by the general enthusi- ceasefi re agreed” for Hodeidah. srael’s government de- ing a bill to dissolve the Knesset, The decision comes with the commerce, and was a professor that the war will end,” Sharafed- asm of both sides to get to work, It authorises the United Na- cided yesterday to hold or parliament, and hold elec- coalition struggling to agree on at Kuwait University’s Faculty of din said after Cammaert visited immediately,” he added. tions to “establish and deploy, Iearly elections in April tions on April 9, Justice Minis- a key bill related to ultra-Ortho- Engineering and Petroleum. the docks, through which the The UN Security Council for an initial period of 30 days with Prime Minister Benjamin ter Ayelet Shaked said. dox Jews serving in the military Fadhel was appointed as minister majority of imports and human- unanimously approved a reso- from the adoption of this reso- Netanyahu struggling to keep Elections were not due until like their secular counterparts. of Oil and Electricity and Water, itarian aid enter Yemen. lution authorising the deploy- lution, an advance team to begin together a one-seat majority November, but there had long Ultra-Orthodox parties hold Saad Ibrahim al-Kharaz as “He said the Yemen war had ment of observers to Hodeidah monitoring” the ceasefi re, under in parliament as he also faces been speculation the coalition 13 seats out of the coalition’s minister of Social Aff airs, Fahd Ali been forgotten for years but that to monitor the truce. Cammaert’s leadership. potential corruption charges in would not last that long, espe- 61, giving them signifi cant in- Zayed as Islamic Aff airs minister the international community is Sharafeddin said that Cam- Around 10,000 people have the months ahead. cially in recent weeks. fl uence over policy. and Maryam Hashem as minister now adamant about ending it,” maert “stressed the importance been killed since the coalition Despite Netanyahu’s recent Netanyahu, speaking to Netanyahu’s coalition was of State for Economic Aff airs, Sharafeddin added. of implementing the agreement” intervened in 2015, according legal and political troubles, journalists, laid out what he left with a one-seat majority in Kuna said. The cabinet accepted Cammaert is heading a joint and will visit “battlefronts (in to the World Health Organisa- polls have indicated he would sees as his achievements and parliament following defence the resignation of Fadhel’s committee including members of the city) at a later time”. tion, although rights groups say remain prime minister after said he hoped for a similar coa- minister Avigdor Lieberman’s predecessor, Bakhit al-Rashidi, the government and the Houthi The ceasefi re, the result of in- the death toll could be fi ve times new elections, putting him in lition to the current one, seen resignation in November over and three other ministers, the rebels, in charge of monitoring tense diplomatic eff orts led by higher. line to become Israel’s longest- as the most right-wing in Is- a controversial Gaza ceasefi re agency said. Rashidi’s departure the truce in the vital Red Sea city the UN, has remained shaky with The confl ict has unleashed a serving premier. rael’s history. deal. is unlikely to imply any change and its surroundings that began both sides accusing each other of major humanitarian crisis and Heads of parties in Netan- “The current coalition is, in His resignation removed in Kuwaiti oil policy, which on December 18. violations in Hodeidah province. pushed 14mn Yemenis to the yahu’s coalition agreed to hold my eyes, the core of the next his Yisrael Beitenu party’s fi ve is decided by the country’s Cammaert arrived in Hodei- Coalition spokesman Turki brink of famine. the polls in early April “in the coalition,” Netanyahu said. seats from the coalition. Supreme Petroleum Council. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, December 25, 2018 AMERICA Congress goes on leave, with govt partially shut Democrats say Trump pany would be permitted to im- shutdown negotiations. ‘plunging country into chaos’ pose on or disrupt the lives of Trump has put off vacation their employees in such a man- plans in Florida due to the shut- AFP ner,” the federation said in let- down and has been frequently Trump: tweeted ‘I am all alone Washington ters to the Senate and House of posting his thoughts on Twitter. (poor me) in the White House’. Representatives. Yesterday he attacked the About three-quarters of the Federal Reserve, which is tradi- S Democratic leaders government, including the mili- tionally shielded from political charged yesterday that tary, is fully funded through pressure, over a sharp downturn UPresident Donald Trump September 2019 but the shut- on the stock market, and de- Trump was “plunging the country into down forced several other ma- fended his decision to pull all US chaos” with multiple crises and jor agencies to cease operations troops from Syria, which led to said he was off ering no way to from Saturday. the resignation last week of De- says he’s end a government shutdown. A deal to end the funding fence Secretary Jim Mattis, often Nancy Pelosi, who takes over shortfall appears a distant pros- considered the most respected next month as House speaker, pect as Congress adjourned on member of his cabinet. ‘all alone’ and Chuck Schumer, the top the weekend for Christmas. The president has dug in on Democrat in the Republican-led “It’s very possible that this his demand for $5bn for the bor- Senate, complained that White shutdown will go beyond the der wall, a signature campaign in ongoing House aides were giving incon- 28th and into the new Congress” promise which he says would sistent messages on what Trump which takes its seat in early Jan- help curb illegal immigration would accept to restart the gov- uary, White House budget direc- and crime. crisis ernment. tor Mick Mulvaney said. “The only way to stop drugs, “It’s Christmas Eve and Presi- But while trying to pin the gangs, human traffi cking, crimi- dent Trump is plunging the blame on opposition Democrats, nal elements and much else from AFP country into chaos,” the two Mulvaney, speaking on Fox News coming into our Country is with Washington said in a joint statement. “The Sunday, acknowledged that a Wall or Barrier,” he said early stock market is tanking and the Trump’s adamant stance on the on Sunday on Twitter, before president is waging a personal wall played a role. repeating essentially the same n angry and bitter Presi- war on the Federal Reserve – af- “This is what Washington message in a tweet at the end of dent Donald Trump ter he just fi red the secretary of looks like when you have a presi- the day. Acomplained yesterday defence.” dent who refuses to sort of go “It really is in the president’s that he was “all alone” in the They warned that they saw along to get along,” Mulvaney hands to decide. He says it’s an White House as the US govern- little solution to the three-day- said. issue of border security. I think ment shutdown hit a third day, old shutdown so long as Trump It is the third government we know better. It’s an issue of even plunging the nation’s main aligns himself with hard-right shutdown of the year, even his own political insecurity,” Christmas tree into darkness. Republicans in the House of Litter spills out of a public dustbin near the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, though Trump’s Republican Dick Durbin, the second-high- With Congress out of town Representatives. DC. US lawmakers headed home for Christmas, leaving the government partially shut for a third day in Party still controls both the est ranking Senate Democrat, and the debate over Trump’s “The president wanted the an impasse over Trump’s demand for border wall funding. House of Representatives and said on NBC’s Meet the Press. demand for a $5bn US-Mexico shutdown, but he seems not to the Senate, but it comes as even “When the right-wingers border wall at an impasse, the know how to get himself out of a $5bn wall on the Mexican bor- which means the partial shut- salaries, while nearly 400,000 Trump’s closest Republican al- start screaming at him, he just president sat holed up, tweeting it,” they said. der, a top election promise as he down may continue until a new others were “locked out of work lies begin to question some of his backs off and dissembles in front no less than 10 times by early af- Trump has refused to sign railed against unauthorised im- Congress takes over in January. with no pay”, the American Fed- policy stances. of us. We now have reached a ternoon to lash out at opponents a bill to authorise spending to migrants. More than 400,000 federal eration of Government Employ- Democrats will take control depth of dysfunction that I’ve and reject responsibility for a keep the government function- Yesterday US lawmakers employees reported to their jobs ees union said. of the House on January 3, giv- never seen in Washington,” he plummeting stock market. ing as he demands funding for headed home for Christmas, yesterday but won’t get their “No private business or com- ing them greater leverage in the added. “I am all alone (poor me) in the White House,” tweeted Trump, who had to delay his annual Christmas holiday in Florida because of the crisis in Wash- Military continues to track Santa ington. Trump said he was “waiting for the Democrats to come back AFP nance of the Christmas tree out- more than 1.2bn gifts. and make a deal on desperately Washington side the White House. In addition to tracking St needed Border Security”. “In the event of a govern- Nick, volunteers donning mili- However, the Democrats – ment shutdown, NORAD will tary garb and Santa hats also and some Republicans – have he US government shut- continue with its 63-year tra- respond to tens of thousands made clear they will not vote for down may have dimmed dition of NORAD Tracks Santa of calls and e-mails from eager Trump’s cherished border wall. TWashington’s National on December 24,” the agency children hoping to probe for de- In retaliation, Trump is refus- Christmas Tree but never fear, tweeted of the tracker, the Pen- tails including their Christmas ing to sign a broader spending Santa Claus is still comin’ to tagon’s largest public outreach wish lists. bill, triggering a stand-off that town – and the military is still programme. “Military person- The Santa tracker presented has left swaths of the US govern- tracking his path. nel who conduct NORAD Tracks by NORAD dates to 1955, when ment temporarily without fund- Just as it has since the 1950s Santa are supported by approxi- a Colorado newspaper adver- ing. the Canadian and American mately 1,500 volunteers who tisement misprinted a phone Outside the White House, defence agency NORAD (North make the programme possible number to connect children Washington’s National Christ- American Aerospace Defence each and every year.” with Santa and mistakenly di- mas Tree became a forlorn sym- Command) is delivering live up- The 3-D, interactive website rected them to the military nerve In this photo released by the US Air Force, volunteers work in the 2018 NORAD Tracks Santa Operation bol of the dysfunction gripping dates on the man in the red suit’s at www.noradsanta.org showed centre hotline. Centre on Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Trump’s presidency two years international gift delivery route. Santa on his delivery route, al- To avoid disappointing the after his surprise election. NORAD eased the fears of lowing users to click and learn eager children, NORAD’s direc- Decades later volunteers are up heat from lead reindeer Ru- “Historical data and more The National Park Service good little boys and girls con- more about the various cities tor of operations at the time, armed with a 14-page playbook dolph’s bright red nose, which than 60 years of NORAD track- tweeted that it would remain un- cerned the tracker might be along the way. Colonel Harry Shoup, ordered with talking points to respond “gives off an infrared signature ing information lead us to be- lit and closed to the public “until down, after US lawmakers failed Just before 1500 GMT Father his personnel to check the radar to queries from excited children. similar to a missile launch”, ac- lieve Santa Claus is alive and well further notice”, with checks be- agree on a budget, triggering Christmas’s reindeer-powered to see where Santa might be and The Defence Department is cording to Politico magazine. in the hearts of people through- ing made for damage following a partial shutdown of federal sleigh was headed for Hong update the children on his loca- able to follow Santa’s journey And for those kids sceptical of out the world,” the Pentagon’s an attempt by an intruder on services, including the mainte- Kong, having already delivered tion. thanks to satellites that pick Santa’s existence? handbook reads. Friday to climb the tree. The parks service is one of the many state institutions suff ering from the funding suspension. The government shutdown adds to uncertainties spook- US school shooting survivor is ing global stock markets after a tumultuous week in which re- spected Defence Secretary Jim Mattis resigned and the presi- headed for Harvard University dent stepped up attacks on the supposedly-independent chair- man of the Federal Reserve. DPA He earned international atten- mid-term elections while also being Yesterday the Dow Jones New York tion for sharing real-time video of open about some of the college re- dropped more than 650 points, the attack and his subsequent me- jections he’d received. or 2.9%. dia appearances, during which he The move drew mockery from Fox But Trump, who has repeat- avid Hogg is Harvard- would often take on the National New’s Laura Ingraham, who poked edly taken credit for good days bound. The 18-year-old Rifl e Association (NRA) and the fun at the fact that Hogg did not get on the markets, blamed the Fed DParkland, Florida, shoot- politicians who leaned on the pro- into four of the colleges where he for the growing sense of disarray. ing survivor announced his college gun group for support. applied. Last week, the central bank plans to his 900,000 followers with In the months after the attack, The activist fi red back on Twit- hiked rates, infuriating Trump a tweet on Saturday morning. Hogg and his fellow classmates ter with a list of her advertisers and who has ignored a traditional “Thank you all for the well wish- sparked a fi ery campaign aimed at called on his followers to boycott. respect for the Fed’s independ- es, I’ll be attending Harvard in the gun safety and legislative reform. In the end, more than a dozen ence, calling it “crazy”, “out of fall with a planned major in Politi- The Stoneman Douglas stu- companies pulled their ads – in- control” and a greater economic cal Science,” he said. “I love y’all so dents most notably helped organ- cluding Johnson & Johnson, Nestle threat than China. much.” ise the “March for Our Lives” rally and Hulu – prompting Ingraham to In a tweet yesterday, Trump Hogg graduated from Marjory in Washington, DC – an event that tweet an apology. compared the Fed to a blunder- Stoneman Douglas High School drew thousands of activists and an- And Hogg may not be the only ing golfer “who can’t score be- earlier this year, just months af- ti-gun violence demonstrators. Parkland survivor headed for Har- cause he has no touch – he can’t ter student gunman Nikolas Cruz Hogg previously announced his vard – earlier this month Jaclyn putt!” killed 17 teachers and students in a intent to take a gap year so that he Corin also revealed she’d been ac- Trump’s Treasury Secretary mass shooting on February 14. would be better able to focus on the cepted to the Ivy League school. Steven Mnuchin had spent much of the weekend in damage con- trol mode following reports that Trump had privately asked cabi- net members whether he has the authority to fi re Fed Chairman Spacey to be charged with sex assault Jerome Powell. Mnuchin on Saturday quoted Trump as denying any plan to AFP The Cape and Islands, Massa- issued a criminal complaint for the remove Powell. New York chusetts, district attorney said that charge “against Kevin S Fowler, also And domestic issues are Spacey is due to be arraigned at known as Kevin Spacey”, at a hear- just part of the far from merry Nantucket District Court on Janu- ing on December 20, the newspaper Christmas picture, with Trump S actor Kevin Spacey is fac- ary 7 on a charge of indecent assault reported, citing District Attorney also juggling a trade war with ing a felony charge for sexual and battery, according to the Boston Michael O’Keefe. China and fallout from his Uassault of a teen in a bar in Globe. Spacey is an Oscar award-win- abrupt decision to pull US troops 2016, US media reported yesterday. Clerk Magistrate Ryan Kearney ning actor. from Afghanistan and Syria. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 25, 2018 5 AFRICA DRC preparing for vote Togo leader’s party wins majority in parliament

A worker of Congo’s National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) tests a voting machine ahead of the postponed presidential AFP to the wishes of the Togolese who were thus below its target but election, at the CENI off ices in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, yesterday. The elections will be held on December 30. Lome didn’t take part,” he added. it will be supported by its main “The struggle continues and ally, the Union of Change Forces will get even tougher after these (UFC) of former opposition lead- ogo President Faure elections.” er Gilchrist Olympio, who has six Gnassingbe’s party won The provisional fi gures will MPs. Tmost seats in parliamen- now head to the Constitutional Other independent MPs can tary elections, according to Court, which will have a week to also lend support. provisional results yesterday, proclaim defi nitive results after A total of 850 candidates for 12 Ivorian cocoa farmers hope for in polls overshadowed by pre- discussing any challenges. political parties, plus independ- ballot clashes and an opposition The vote went ahead last ents, took part in the election. boycott. Thursday after a year of political The offi cial turnout was about But the party will need sup- upheaval which saw demonstra- 60% of registered voters. more rain as dry winds advance port from other legislators to tors demanding Gnassingbe step Before the vote, opposition secure a fourth-fi fths majority down during dozens of marches, parties had called for an over- for constitutional change giving sometimes with a large turnout. haul of the electoral commission, Reuters er beans. Several farmers said mattan won’t be strong,” said which includes the town of Bouafl e, Gnassingbe the chance of staying Gnassingbe has been in power more transparency and con- Abidjan yesterday the Harmattan had Honore Bayou, who farms near was 3.2mm last week, 0.2mm in power beyond 2020. since 2005 after succeeding his stitutional reforms to limit the reached their regions. Soubre. above the fi ve-year average. His Union for the Republic father, General Gnassingbe Eya- number of presidential terms. Although the winds remain Data collected by Reuters Rainfall was below average (UNIR) won 59 of the 91 National dema, who ruled the country Observers from the African armers in Ivory Coast’s moderate for now, they said more showed rainfall in Soubre, which in the western region of Man, Assembly seats in the December with an iron fi st for 38 years. Union (AU) and the Economic cocoa-growing regions rain was needed to improve soil includes the towns of Sassandra in the southern regions of Ag- 20 legislative polls, the provi- Earlier this month, at least Community of West African Fsaid yesterday that more moisture and boost the main crop. and San Pedro, was 7.2mm last boville and Divo, and in the sional results said. four people were killed when States (ECOWAS) said the elec- rain was needed to sustain the Farmers said that in January week, 0.2mm below the fi ve- eastern region of Abengourou. The closely-watched election opposition supporters and secu- tion had been held properly. October-to-March main crop, they would focus on the fi nal year average. But farmers said crops would in the small West African state rity forces clashed in the capital From the Nigerian capital as dry Harmattan winds de- stage of the main crop and the In the centre-western region of not suff er if the Harmattan and saw the 14-party opposition co- Lome and several other cities. Abuja, regional leaders on Sat- scended further into the coun- beginning of the April-to-Sep- Daloa, which produces a quarter dry season remained mild. alition, C-14, refuse to take part, The opposition put the fi gure urday commended the “free and try last week. tember mid-crop. of national output, farmers said In the central region of condemning the playing fi eld as at six dead. transparent” nature of the vote, Ivory Coast, the world’s top In the western region of Sou- they hoped for rain to help trees Yamoussoukro, rainfall was skewed. UNIR previously held 62 seats which corresponded with their cocoa producer, is in the dry bre, farmers said soil moisture survive the dry season. 9.1mm above average at 11.3mm, “The coalition and the peo- and had hoped to secure 73, the roadmap to end crisis in Togo. season, which runs from No- would be suffi cient to sustain “With the Harmattan blow- and 1.1mm above average in the ple have rejected any notion of threshold for passing laws un- But they added they “strongly vember to late February. the crop if the Harmattan re- ing, we need strong rainfall for central region of Bongouanou, elections in the prevailing condi- challenged, including changes to regretted” the opposition’s boy- Harmattan winds sweep in mained gentle. trees to yield well in January,” at 3.3mm. tions,” Nathaniel Olympio, head the constitution paving the way cott, which took place “in spite of sand from the Sahara, which “We still have crops to har- said Raphael Kouame, who Average temperatures in the of the Party of the Togolese, told for Gnassingbe to run for offi ce in the considerable eff orts made by can ravage cocoa pods and sap vest and there are small pods on farms near Daloa. cocoa growing regions ranged AFP. 2020 and 2025. facilitators to promote inclusive soil moisture, leading to small- trees for later. We hope the Har- Rainfall in the region of Daloa, from 26.2 to 28.4 degrees Celsius. “The results don’t correspond The ruling party’s 59 seats elections.” Gunmen kill 17 in Nigeria village attack: witnesses

AFP Another resident, Umaru operation by the Nigerian district, in a clash in which Kano, Nigeria Bawa, confi rmed the attack, Armed Forces, Police, De- 16 policemen were killed. saying “the bandits pursued partment of State Services Early this month, an infl u- people like chickens and and the Nigerian Security ential traditional ruler in the unmen at the week- shot them dead as they ran and Civil Defence Corps, is state called for civilian militia end killed 17 people into the bush.” being considered to restore members to be given assault Gin the latest attack on State police spokesman peace and stability in the re- rifl es to defend themselves. villages in northern Niger- Mohammed Shehu said his gion,” the statement said. The continued raids by ia’s Zamfara state, witnesses operatives would arrest and Farming and herding com- cattle thieves in Zamfara and police said yesterday. “bring to justice the perpe- munities in Zamfara have for and the resource confl ict be- The assault came just days trators of this dastardly act”. years been wracked by cattle tween farmers and herders in after 25 people were killed in On Wednesday, 25 people rustling and kidnapping for central Nigeria have added similar raids on two villages were killed when gunmen ransom, prompting villagers to Nigeria’s security chal- in the region. raided two villages in Birnin to form vigilante gangs as a lenges as the military battles Gunmen on motorcycles Magaji district. protection force. Boko Haram jihadists in the stormed Magami village in Nigerian President Mu- However the villagers too northeast. the Maradun district area hammadu Buhari con- are accused of carrying out Late Friday troops fought on Saturday, shooting indis- demned the latest attacks. extrajudicial killings, leading off a militant attempt to over- criminately as residents fl ed. “These horrendous acts of to tit-for-tat violence. run a base in Damasak on the “After the attack, we col- violence are crimes against In April, troops were de- border with Niger after an lected 17 bodies, which we humanity. This violence ployed to Zamfara to fi ght the hours-long fi ght in which one buried,” Magami resident must stop,” Buhari said in a gangs and police banned the civilian was killed. Kasimu Bello said. statement. civilian militia in an attempt On Saturday, troops foiled “The gunmen entered the He said reinforcements to curb the cycle of reprisals. attempts to seize two bases village on several motorcy- would be deployed “to pro- Last month the police in Logomani near the bor- cles, shooting people as they tect local populations.” claimed to have killed 104 der with Cameroon and the tried to fl ee,” he said. “To this end, a major outlaws in Birnin Magaji town of Gajiram.

Journalists alarmed Elite force to protect over govt ‘hostilities’ Ethiopian leaders

AFP AFP “We’ll weaponise the case to Addis Ababa Monrovia go and deal with mistruths and falsehoods in the media,” Toweh said. n elite force has been created in Ethiopia ournalists in Liberia sounded The minister of state for presi- responsible for protecting offi cials in- the alarm on press freedom dential aff airs, Nathaniel McGill, Acluding Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, after Jyesterday after two ministers hit out at the paper’s editor. a deadly blast while he addressed a crowd in June, mounted an attack on a paper “I think Rodney Sieh, the press Fana radio said on Sunday. that ran an article about alleged and the FrontPage Africa is a Troops in the new Republican Guard unit be- top-level corruption. criminal entity bent on tarnish- gan training six months ago for “protecting high- In a statement, the Press Union ing the good reputation of peo- er government offi cials and their family, from of Liberia said it was concerned ple,” he said. any form of aggression by ill-intentioned forces,” about “reinforced hostilities” “Rodney Sieh will go to jail be- Fana announced on its website. against the media “from within cause I will not allow people to The formation of the specialised unit followed the power (circle)” of President tarnish my reputation.” the explosion of a hand grenade in the middle of a George Weah. The journalists’ association huge crowd of people who had gathered in the capi- At the weekend, Finance Min- called on Weah to fulfi l his prom- tal Addis Ababa to hear Abiy speak on June 23. ister Samuel Toweh, a close ally ise, in the run-up to his election Two people were killed and scores injured. of the president, lashed out after this year, to uphold freedom of Some observers believe the prime minister was the daily FrontPage Africa ran a the press. the intended target of the grenade attack, but he story implying government cor- It also urged Weah “to advise was not harmed. After taking offi ce in April, Abiy ruption lay behind settlement his assistants to end their in- gained public support with promises of reform to of a $182,000 debt to a building fl ammatory comments and ac- promote national unity after years of hardline rule. company. tions against the media.” He has freed thousands of jailed dissidents The paper found that the com- “These negative energies un- and journalists and cemented peace with neigh- pany that was owed the money dercut the country’s democratic bouring Eritrea, after a 1998-2000 war that left a had ceased to exist in 2003. gains,” it said. legacy of distrust. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, December 25, 2018 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Protests hit Bangladesh’s clothing manufacturers as poll nears

Reuters about three hours north of Dha- Dhaka ka, and towns around the capital where textile factories are con- centrated, three garment export- angladesh’s clothing man- ers told Reuters. ufacturers, which domi- The garments industry gener- Bnate the southern Asian ates around $30bn of exports a nation’s economy, are worried year, about 80% of Bangladesh’s sporadic violence that has af- merchandise export earnings, fected some factories ahead of making it the second largest in Sunday’s election will spread. the world behind China. The Workers have been demand- government said in September ing higher minimum pay than the minimum wage for garments proposed in September by the workers would rise by up to 51% government of Prime Minister from December, payable in Janu- Sheikh Hasina, who is seeking ary, to 8,000 taka ($95.60) a her third straight term in power. month, the fi rst increase since Bangladesh Army soldiers stand guard at a temporary base set up She has the support of many tex- late 2013. Workers, though, say in Dhaka yesterday. tile factory owners, and that can that’s not enough. also make them a target for those “We want at least 12,000,” ment industry’s busiest time. “I violence. The BNP’s leader and opposed to the government. Meem, who goes by just one have buyers from countries like former Prime Minister, Khaleda Around the last election in name, said outside the Dhaka Bangladeshi ruling party supporters hang election camping posters in Dhaka yesterday. Japan, France and Portugal. They Zia, is in jail on what the party 2014, which the main opposi- factory where she works, as co- are placing smaller orders than calls trumped-up corruption tion party boycotted, months of workers gathered around her by in the sector, but that won’t be to make representations about until recently but due to politi- normal for this time of year,” charges. violence hit operations at many the dozens. “There’s ever in- possible as we are alert,” police wages to the government af- cal reasons they are doing this,” Mukul said, blaming opposition Several workers outside the factories, leading to millions of creasing work pressure on us but spokesman Mohammad Sohel ter the election, instead of each Shahidul Haque Mukul, another groups for the trouble. six-storey building of Mukul’s dollars in lost sales. Many foreign our wages do not rise as fast.” Rana said, without elaborating. company negotiating with em- Awami League supporter, whose Mahmud Hasan Khan, a tex- Adams Apparel in Dhaka told buyers curbed orders at the time. Police say they are ready for The Bangladesh Garment ployees. Its president, Siddiqur factory was vandalised on Mon- tile factory owner and a leader of Reuters they would continue to In recent days, workers have gone trouble. “We have a defi nite in- Manufacturers and Exporters Rahman, said he backed Hasina’s day morning, told Reuters by the opposition Bangladesh Na- press for higher wages but were on strike and taken to the streets telligence report that a section Association has asked workers Awami League. “I am really wor- phone. tionalist Party (BNP), declined not involved in stone pelting that in places including Mymensingh, of people want to create unrest to remain calm and promised ried because everything was OK December is typically the gar- to comment on the protests or smashed windows yesterday.

Myanmar court hears arguments in jailed Reuters reporters’ appeal

DPA Yangon

Myanmar court heard arguments yesterday in the appeal of two Reuters reporters sentenced to seven Ayears hard labour for breaching the Offi cial Secrets Act. Lawyers for the reporters and the government both presented arguments to the judge, Aung Naing, for over an hour before the hearing was adjourned. No date was given for a decision by the court. While the prosecution argued that the reporters col- lected and kept confi dential documents with the “inten- tion to harm national security and the national interest,” the defence said there was a lack of proof that a crime had been committed. In a statement, Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen J Adler said that they were “looking forward to demonstrating to Myanmar’s High Court why it should re- verse the convictions of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo due to the egregious errors committed by the trial court.” In September, Wa Lone, 32 and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were found guilty in a Yangon district court after a landmark trial seen as a litmus test for Myanmar’s progress in democracy and the freedom of speech and the press. The trial and the ensuing sentence sparked an international outcry from hu- man rights organisations, diplomats and activists. They were investigating the massacre of 10 Rohingya men by Myanmar security forces when they were arrested by plain clothes police offi cers in what a former police captain de- scribed in court as a “trap” to ensnare the two reporters. During a military campaign, Myanmar security forces drove out more than 730,000 Rohingya Muslims into Bang- ladesh in what the UN called a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.”

Scores evacuated after ‘loud crack’ in Sydney tower

Australian police evacuated thousands of people in west Sydney late Christmas Eve, after residents reported hearing a “loud crack” from a 38-storey building. About 3,000 people from inside the tower and in nearby buildings were told to leave late yesterday, with engineers investigating after the apartment complex moved “one or two millimetres”. “Police received a call to a loud crack on level 10 of the building located behind us,” New South Wales Fire and Rescue acting superintendent Greg Wright said from outside the Opal Tower complex. Police “identified there was a crack in the building”, he added, alerting emergency services. An AFP photographer at the scene said following an inspection of Opal Tower by engineers and firefighters, police were allowing residents of the surrounding buildings to return to their homes. Some residents of Opal Tower were also allowed to return, although not those living in the section of the building where the crack had been found. It was unclear when those residents would be allowed back into the building, with a temporary shelter set up at a nearby hall. “I have been told by engineers it (the building) has moved one or two millimetres,” detective superintendent Philip Rogerson told reporters, without going into detail. A police spokesperson said the building was 38 storeys high.

US citizens held after dumping body in Philippine river

Two US citizens have been arrested in the Philippines after allegedly dumping an American woman’s body in a river in the capital, police said yesterday. The suspects — aged 21 and 22—were caught Sunday after the driver of the car they booked with ride-hailing company Grab reported the incident to police. With the driver’s help, police found the body of 23-year-old American Tomi Michelle Masters, in Manila’s Pasig River in the slum district of Tondo. The body was wrapped in a garbage bag with duct tape and placed in a box, said Senior Superintendent Vicente Danao Jr, chief of the Manila police district. The victim was believed to be the girlfriend of the 21-year- old suspect, Danao said, adding that the Grab car had picked up the two suspects from a condominium in the Manila suburban city of Mandaluyong. They had booked the ride to a mall in Manila, but asked the driver to pass by a slum community called Baseco in Tondo, where they threw the box into the river. Police said the driver found the incident suspicious and reported it to police. The suspects were arrested in a unit rented by the 22-year-old suspect. The three Americans were in the Philippines as tourists, police said. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 25, 2018 7 ASIA

Damaged buildings and cars are seen in Anyer, Serang, after the area was hit by a tsunami following an eruption of the Anak Krakatoa volcano. Indonesia hunts for tsunami survivors, toll close to 400

Reuters to populations,” said Eddie Demp- Labuan sey, lecturer in structural geology at Britain’s University of Hull. “The interval between the volcanic col- ndonesian military and res- lapse and the arrival of the waves is cue teams fanned out across a minimal.” Istretch of coastline yesterday, The timing of the disaster over hoping to fi nd survivors of a tsu- the Christmas season evoked nami triggered by a landslide from memories of the Indian Ocean tsu- a volcano that killed at least 373 nami triggered by an earthquake on people. Dec 26, 2004, which killed 226,000 Thick clouds of ash spewed from people in 14 countries, including Anak Krakatau, a volcanic island more than 120,000 in Indonesia. where a crater collapse at high tide Families streamed out of the late on Saturday set off waves that area yesterday for fear of further smashed into coastal areas on both tsunami, jamming roads already sides of the Sunda Strait between blocked by debris. Fishermen told the islands of Sumatra and Java. how a light breeze was followed by Rescuers used heavy machinery a huge wave that smashed together and bare hands to dig bodies out of wooden fi shing boats moored off mud and wreckage along a 100km the coast and pulled down the trees stretch of Java’s west coast. they were tied to. More than 1,400 people were in- Excavators were being used to jured, and about 12,000 residents move debris including piles of had to move to higher ground, with steel roofi ng tangled like spaghetti. a high-tide warning extended to Medics were sent in with the mili- Wednesday. The vast archipelago, An Indonesian woman identifies a body in Carita, in the district of Pandeglang in Banten province yesterday. tary, while groups of police and which sits on the Pacifi c “Ring of soldiers reached remote areas. One Fire”, has suff ered its worst annual and hotels. It took just 24 minutes tau (Child of Krakatau) was still The high waves isolated hun- team used sniff er dogs to search for death toll from disasters in more after the landslide for waves to hit erupting on Sunday night, belching dreds of people on Sebesi island, survivors at the beach club where a than a decade. land, and there was no early warn- white smoke and ash into the sky. about 12 km from the volcano. tsunami washed away an outdoor Earthquakes fl attened parts of ing for those living on the coast. The meteorology agency that an “We are completely paralysed,” stage where the Indonesian rock the island of Lombok in July and Vehicles were crushed by waves area of about 64 hectares, or 90 Syamsiar, a village secretary on the band Seventeen were performing at August, and a double quake-and- that lifted chunks of metal, felled soccer pitches, of the volcanic is- island, told Metro TV, calling for a party for about 200 guests. They tsunami killed more than 2,000 trees, wooden beams and house- land had collapsed into the sea. food and medicine. had already pulled out nine bodies people on a remote part of Sulawesi hold items and deposited them on In 1883, the volcano then known President Joko Widodo, who is that day. island in September. “At least 373 roads and rice fi elds. Nurjana, 20, as Krakatoa erupted in one of the running for re-election in April, At a village 20km away, district people have died, while 128 peo- ran uphill after the tsunami hit. Her biggest blasts in recorded history, told disaster agencies to install early chief Atmadja Suhara said he was ple are currently missing,” Sutopo beachside snack stall was washed killing more than 36,000 people warning systems, but experts said helping to care for 4,000 refugees, Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for away. in a series of tsunami, and lower- that, unlike with tsunami caused by many of them now homeless. “Eve- the disaster mitigation agency, said “I opened the door straight away ing the global surface temperature earthquakes, little could have been rybody is still in a state of panic,” he on Monday evening. and saved myself. I jumped over the by one degree celsius with its ash. done to alert people that waves said. “We often have disasters, but Saturday’s tsunami destroyed wall,” she said. “Everything is de- Anak Krakatau is the island that were coming. “Tsunamis from vol- not as bad as this.” more than 700 buildings, from stroyed.” emerged from the area in 1927, and canic fl ank collapse are generated “God willing,” he said, “we will small shops and houses to villas Out in the strait, Anak Kraka- has been growing ever since. right at the coast and often close rebuild.” Funerals held for pop group killed in tsunami

AFP us a miracle.” On Sunday, the band’s lead Jakarta singer posted a picture online of he and his wife in Paris with the Eiff el Tower in the background. unerals were held yesterday for sev- “Today is your birthday — I want wish eral members of an Indonesian pop you a happy birthday in person. Come Fband killed when a tsunami slammed home soon, honey,” he wrote in the caption into a stage where they were performing an of the photo. The funerals were among doz- open-air concert. Relatives of Muham- ens of services held across the country for mad Awal Purbani — bassist for the group some of at least 281 people killed by Satur- Seventeen — sobbed and hugged each other day night’s disaster. at a service in Indonesia’s cultural capi- With no warning, the powerful tsunami tal Yogyakarta, including a three-year-old swept over popular beaches on southern daughter and his wife who was several Sumatra and the western tip of Java and months pregnant. inundated tourist hotels and coastal settle- The group’s road manager Oki Wijaya, ments. guitarist Herman Sikumbang and crew The band was playing Saturday night to a member Rukmana Rustam were also bur- crowd at a company-sponsored event at the ied yesterday in separate services in their Tanjung Lesung Beach Resort on the west- hometowns. ern tip of Java when the wall of water hit. Local media have reported that Wis- Dramatic video posted online showed nu Andi Darmawan, the band’s missing A worker holds guitars belonging to a rock band Seventeen at a resort which was hit by a the tsunami smashing into the concert, drummer, had been found dead yesterday. tsunami in Tanjung Lesung, Banten province, Indonesia. hurling band members from the stage and Seventeen’s frontman Riefi an Fajarsyah — slamming into the audience. On the video, whose wife is still missing two days after released a half dozen albums and com- been an honour and a pride to share a stage fans can be seen clapping and cheering be- the disaster — posted a picture of the band mands a large fan base in their native coun- with you. We were not just work partners, fore a wave rips under the stage, sending online and suggested that Darmawan had try. “So long my beloved drummer Andi we were family in life and death.” A visibly the band members and their equipment been killed. Seventeen, Allah loves you,” he wrote. “Be distressed Fajarsyah told local broadcaster crashing into the men and women dancing That would leave Fajarsyah as the only at peace my friend. Endless prayers for you, NET TV that was praying his wife would be at the front. surviving member of the group, which has Bani (bassist) and Eman (guitarist). “It’s found alive. “Please pray so Allah can give The shocking video then suddenly stops. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, December 25, 2018 BRITAIN/IRELAND

Fox hunt Sussex Police backtrack on ‘no drones at Gatwick’ claim

Agencies Sussex Police deputy chief interest” but would not reveal if London constable Jo Shiner said: “We police were close to making any can unequivocally state that further arrests. there have been numerous il- He added there is no video olice have blamed “poor legal drone sightings at the air- footage available. communication” for con- port over three days from De- Meanwhile the couple who Pfusion over the Gatwick cember 19 to 21. were arrested and released Airport chaos after saying it was “There were numerous re- without charge over the Gat- Master huntsman and his hounds from Meath Hunt club chase the scent of a fox in a fox hunt during a meet near Kells, Ireland. possible there was never a drone ports clustered around 37 oc- wick drone incident have said at the airport. casions where a drone or drones they feel “completely violat- It comes after ministers were were seen and I am keen for ed” and are receiving medical briefed on the latest situa- those responsible to be brought care. tion at the airport in an hour- to justice.” Paul Gait and Elaine Kirk said long conference call yesterday, The force listed sightings of in a statement outside their chaired by Transport Secretary the drone as it appealed for in- home in Crawley, west Sus- Chris Grayling. formation relating to the drone. sex, that they had been deeply Tory policies may be cause of On Sunday, Sussex Police said Shiner added: “The impact of distressed by what they called it was a “possibility” that there this criminal and reckless be- their “disgusting” treatment in might never have been a drone haviour has been enormous sections of the media, after they despite the massive disruption and we are determined to locate were detained in relation to the in the run-up to Christmas. those responsible to bring them drone fl ights. rising homelessness: minister Detective chief superintend- to justice. We are investigat- Their pictures appeared on ent Jason Tingley told the BBC: ing this under the Aviation and a number of Sunday newspa- “Of course, that’s a possibil- Maritime Security Act which per front pages, one of which Guardian News and Media spice, growth in the number of lapsed in a stairwell outside par- der way with the Work and Pen- ity. We are working with human carries a maximum sentence of asked: “Are these the morons London non-UK nationals on the streets liament. The Labour MP David sions Secretary, Amber Rudd, to beings saying they have seen life imprisonment. who ruined Christmas?” The and family breakdown. Lammy tweeted: “There is some- assess where problems were. something. There were more than 200 television presenter Piers Mor- But yesterday, speaking to the thing rotten in Westminster when The interview appeared to “Until we’ve got more clarity drone sightings, and police had gan apologised after describing he Housing Secretary, website Politico, the minister MPs walk past dying homeless contradict his remarks earlier around what they’ve said, the taken 67 statements, including the pair as clowns in a tweet, James Brokenshire, has acknowledged that Tory poli- people on their way to work.” this month, when the minister detail – the time, place, direc- from police offi cers and airport and said the situation was a fi - Tadmitted Conservative cies may have played a role in the A fundraising appeal set up by said rising homelessness was not tion of travel, all those types of workers. asco. policies may be to blame for ris- huge increase in rough sleeping staff on the parliamentary estate a political failure. things – and that’s a big task.” It comes as detectives ex- Speaking from the couple’s ing levels of homelessness, ap- since 2010. to support the charity StreetLink “I don’t see it in those terms,” However, following the call, a amine a damaged drone found doorstep yesterday afternoon, pearing to row back on a state- Brokenshire said the Con- in memory of Remes has already Brokenshire said. “I see it as a government source said police nearby while Gatwick Airport Gait, 47, a window fi tter, said: “As ment he made earlier this month. servatives “need to ask ourselves raised more than £10,000. combination of concerning el- accepted that there had been has off ered a £50,000 reward, you can probably imagine, we are In an interview with the some very hard questions” about The number of people sleep- ements in terms of addiction, “poor communications”. through Crimestoppers, and feeling completely violated. Our Guardian, Brokenshire had pre- why so many more people are ing rough has more than doubled family breakdown issues. The In a new statement yesterday, another £10,000 has been put home has been searched and our viously claimed rising rough now living on the streets than since 2010 to 4,751, according to thing that struck me over recent Sussex Police said there had up by the charity’s chairman privacy and identity completely sleeping in Britain was not the when the party came to power, government fi gures. months in speaking to some of “unequivocally” been numer- Lord Ashcroft to catch those re- exposed. Our names, photos and result of government policy, and admitted “changes to poli- Brokenshire did not deny cuts the LGBT charities in terms of ous sightings of unmanned air- sponsible. other personal information has but was instead being driven by cy” were needed. to welfare may have played a part young people, because of their craft over three days in the run Tingley also said on Sunday been broadcast throughout the factors including the spread of The comments follow the in the growing problem of home- sexuality, being thrown out of up to Christmas. there were some “persons of world.” psychoactive substances such as death of Gyula Remes, who col- lessness, and said work was un- home.” Gulf Times Tuesday, December 25, 2018 9 BRITAIN £590,000 of foreign aid ‘spent on baroness’ palatial offi ce’

Daily Mail oness Scotland. Some £325,836 used as the venue for a number She was nicknamed ‘Baroness amazed they think this is a prop- process by which Venuprasad According to the Common- London of aid money was used to fund of independence negotiations Brazen’ and ‘Baroness Shame- er issue for a secretary general of was removed from his job ran wealth Secretariat website: ‘the security provision, mainte- and Commonwealth confer- less’ after she spent £338,000 an international organisation to against both secretariat rules “The fi ne rooms of Marlborough nance and upkeep of Marlbor- ences, including the Common- refurbishing her nearby grace- be consumed by.” and natural justice. House contain exquisite murals, ore than half a million ough House’ in 2016. A further wealth Heads of Government and-favour apartment in May- In October, a senior offi cial The Commonwealth Secre- tapestries, paintings and sculp- pounds of the foreign £263,936 was spent last year. Meeting earlier this year. fair. who was hounded out of his tariat was set up to support the 53 tures which relay the history of Maid budget has been The funding, which was It is also used by Baroness The baroness, a former Labour Commonwealth Secretariat job member nations to achieve devel- the building and its various oc- lavished on a royal palace used as handed over by the department Scotland to host a glitzy annual attorney general, has also been while working under Baron- opment, democracy and peace. cupants over many centuries.” offi ces by Baroness Scotland, it for digital, culture, media and reception to mark Common- attacked for appointing political ess Scotland was handed nearly Marlborough House was com- The gardens, which retain was revealed. sport, was counted towards the wealth Day, although the Queen allies to key posts in the secre- £300,000 in compensation. pleted in 1711 after Sir Christo- their 18th century layout of Offi cial fi gures show that controversial 0.7% foreign aid stayed away from the most re- tariat. Ram Venuprasad was pushed pher Wren had been commis- gravel paths and grass lawns, £589,772 of taxpayers’ money spending target. cent party in March in what was She denies the accusations of out after he was wrongly blamed sioned to draw up the plans for feature Queen Mary’s thatched has been spent on Marlborough The Queen made the London interpreted as a snub over her wasteful spending and insisted for leaking documents to the it. Its occupants have included revolving summer house and the House in two years. property available to the Com- displeasure at the way the secre- no procurement rules were bro- Daily Mail. fi ve Dukes and Duchesses of royal pet cemetery of Queen Al- The building, located on Pall monwealth after the secretariat, tariat was being run. ken. In an interview last August, He was Lady Scotland’s former Marlborough, three Dowager exandra. Mall next to St James’s Palace, is the body’s civil service, was es- Baroness Scotland 63, has she told The Guardian: “It’s un- head offi ce deputy when a disci- Queens, three Princes of Wales Figures show that last year the international headquarters tablished in 1965. faced a torrent of criticism since fair to refer to me as Baroness plinary board ruled against him who later became Kings, and Britain’s foreign aid budget of the Commonwealth Secre- As the secretariat’s interna- taking over as secretary-general Brazen on a false premise that while he was on sick leave. Prince Leopold, who became soared to a record £14.1bn for the tariat, which is headed by Bar- tional headquarters, it has been of the secretariat in April 2016. I have been profl igate… “I am A tribunal ruling found the King of the Belgians. fi rst time.

Nuclear Meat auction archive fi les Corbyn told withdrawn abruptly supporting Guardian News and Media London

housands of archive fi les relating to Britain’s nu- Tclear weapons and atomic Brexit to cost energy programmes have been withdrawn without warning from public view. A vast cache of material dat- ing from 1939 until the 1980s and including more than 1,700 fi les about the creation of Brit- Labour seats ain’s fi rst nuclear bombs at Al- dermaston has been unexpect- Guardian News and Media Lewis’s posting resulted in a if the government is confi dent edly withdrawn by the National London furious exchange with George it has negotiated a good deal, it Archives within the last week, Galloway, the Brexiter and a should put it to the people. Why researchers have reported. friend of Corbyn for 30 years. would that principle not apply to The fi les were withdrawn at omentum activists and The former Respect MP wrote a Labour government?” the instruction of the govern- MPs from Labour’s left to Lewis on Twitter: “I think In the Guardian, Corbyn in- ment’s Nuclear Decommission- Mwho have consistently you’re the slippery two-faced sisted his party would not try to ing Authority, according to the backed Jeremy Corbyn have intruiging (sic) scheming plot- overturn the result of the 2016 National Archives. They range warned the leader’s decision to ting coup-enabling deeply referendum. “You’d have to go from the private papers of Sir support Brexit even if there is a deeply untrustworthy mate.” back and negotiate, and see what John Cockcroft, the Nobel Prize- second referendum could demo- Lloyd Russell-Moyle, the the timetable would be,” he said. winning physicist who split the tivate campaigners and cost the Kemptown and Peacehaven MP “I think we should vote down atomic nucleus, to reports of party seats. and Corbyn backer, warned La- this deal; we should then go atomic bomb tests carried out as Their comments follow Cor- bour would lose his and other back to the EU with a discussion part of the creation of Britain’s byn’s interview with the Guard- seats in southern England if it about a customs union.” nuclear deterrent in Australia ian on Saturday, in which he said supported Brexit. Reinforcing these comments, and the Pacifi c. he would recommend the party “I’ve had hundreds of e-mails Corbyn told the Sunday Mirror Attempts to access them on- advocates Brexit in the event of of good left Remain voters, life- he did not foresee support for line are met with the message: a fresh vote and criticised EU long Labour who will not vote for a second referendum in parlia- “This record is closed whilst ac- laws on state aid, which he said us now,” he wrote on Twitter. ment. cess is under review.” blocked investment. “If we back Brexit I’m gone When asked how he would Neither the National Archives While Corbyn has already in Brighton, it really is that bad, vote in one – he voted to Re- at Kew nor the NDA were able faced criticism from the centrist and it’s worse for other south- main in the EU referendum – he to comment about why they wing of his party, which has long ern seats, we have hundreds that told the newspaper: “It would had been removed. Specula- been sceptical of his approach to are abandoning us already and I depend what the question was tion among academics who rely Brexit, the expressions of dismay had Ukip councillors in my area, – but we’re quite far from that on the papers for their research from his base will raise concerns but even those areas are wanting anyway and I’m not sure there’s ranged from whether the NDA of broader disillusionment with us to fi ght for remain. We need the support for it in parliament. had realised there was some- his strategy. all seats to form a government.” “The issue is protecting jobs, thing in the fi les that shouldn’t Labour passed a motion at its With Theresa May’s Brexit deal manufacturing and the rights have been made public to more party conference in September due to come back to parliament and conditions we’ve got – not prosaic suggestions such as a re- that it would seek a general elec- for a vote in the week beginning making us the bargain basement organisation of the fi les or a shift tion as its fi rst choice, but left January 14, anti-Brexit cam- of Europe.” in location. open the option of supporting a paigners have used Corbyn’s lat- He also said he will make sure The papers are in two sec- second referendum. est statement to call for a special May’s Brexit blueprint is defeat- tions. The records of the Atomic Responding to the interview, conference to discuss the party’s ed in the Commons. “I’m deter- Weapons Establishment (AWE) Clive Lewis, the shadow Treas- next steps. mined to hold this government and its predecessors concern the ury minister who nominated Alena Ivanova, a Momentum to account, vote the deal down research, development and test- Corbyn in 2015, wrote on Twitter activist and organiser for the and reopen those negotiations,” ing of Britain’s atomic weapons that he has become increasingly anti-Brexit pressure group An- Corbyn said. including bomb trials, feasibil- worried by the number of left- other Europe is Possible, said A poll last week appeared to ity reports on new systems and leaning party members saying the party’s policy passed at con- show Labour’s young supporters notes on the theoretical physics they could not campaign for a ference was the result of an un- would leave the party in droves behind nuclear weapons. party manifesto off ering Brexit precedented wave of support for if it votes to back a compromise They include fi les with titles at a snap election. a fresh referendum at Labour’s Brexit deal. such as “structural vulnerabil- Retweeting comments from grassroots. According to a YouGov poll of ity of aeroplanes to blast from one campaigner in his con- “It was a compromise, but the more than 5,000 people com- atomic bomb” and “measure- stituency in Norwich, he wrote: spirit of the policy is absolutely missioned by the People’s Vote, ment of air blast using petrol “Have known this member for a not for Labour to implement Labour’s support among 18 to cans and toothpaste tubes”. good while. Solid comrade and Brexit if it comes into offi ce – it 29-year-olds is currently at The records of the United local community campaigner. is to reject anti-migrant narra- 60%. However, if Labour backed Kingdom Atomic Energy Au- A butcher holds up a cut of meat during an auction in Smithfield market in London She’s not the fi rst member to say tives and fi ght for a socialist Eu- a form of Brexit, support for thority largely concern the civil- yesterday. this to me and it’s becoming a rope,” she said. Corbyn’s party among the young ian nuclear energy programme. genuine concern.” “The policy clearly states that would halve to 33%.

Charity chief quits after complaints

Thomson Reuters Foundation tions earlier this year that Oxfam staff Forsyth and ex-policy chief Brendan London used sex workers in Haiti after the Cox between 2012 and 2015. 2010 earthquake kicked off a series of The panel found most staff had not sexual misconduct scandals. suff ered inappropriate conduct while he chairman of Save the Chil- Mark Goldring has said he will step working at the charity, but 28% re- dren UK has resigned after staff down as Oxfam’s chief executive at ported in a staff survey that they had Tcomplaints he was not serious the end of this year. experienced either discrimination about tackling sexual harassment, the Last week the UN refugee agen- or harassment within the last three charity said, in the latest blow to the cy (UNHCR) said it had sacked Ali years. scandal-hit sector. Khamis, a British aid worker, for hav- Many of the issues related to be- Peter Bennett-Jones will leave next ing an aff air with a woman he em- ing ignored or belittled, with a small month after investigators upheld ployed as a domestic worker in Ugan- number saying they had suff ered gen- complaints about remarks he made da. der-based harassment and unwanted during a review into workplace cul- UNHCR spokeswoman Cecile sexual remarks and innuendo. ture at the charity, which has been Pouilly said in e-mailed comments An exclusive survey by the Thom- criticised for its handling of sexual the group found no evidence that son Reuters Foundation in February misconduct reports. Khamis had exploited or abused the found more than 120 staff from lead- An independent investigation woman, but that he had “failed to up- ing global charities were fi red or lost found he had made remarks that hold the standards expected of an in- their jobs in 2017 over sexual miscon- “could have been perceived as being at ternational civil servant”. duct. odds with the organisation’s response Save The Children ordered an inde- The United Nations has been rocked to a review of its working culture”, the pendent review of its workplace cul- by dozens of cases since early 2017 as charity said in a statement. ture earlier this year after it was criti- the #MeToo campaign has embold- The aid world has seen a number of cised for its handling of complaints ened women to speak out against their high-profi le departures since allega- against former chief executive Justin abusers. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, December 25, 2018 EUROPE

11,000 listed as Barcelona on terror alert missing in AFP tions, transportation hubs, and ures in areas of high concentra- Barcelona other public areas.” tion of people” was in place. Asked about the warning dur- Spain has kept its terrorist Germany ing an interview with Rac1 radio alert unchanged at the second- arcelona was on alert yes- yesterday, Catalonia’s regional highest level despite the US State terday after the US State interior minister Miquel Buch Department warning, although DPA BDepartment warned of said that the police “are working security measures were boosted Berlin the risk of a terrorist attack in on this threat”. in December for the Christmas Spain’s second-largest city dur- “We take seriously all threats, holiday period, a Spanish inte- ing the Christmas holidays. all of them are investigated,” he rior ministry spokesman said. ore than 11,000 people Several police vehicles were said, without giving further de- Spanish police arrested a are listed as missing parked on both ends of Bar- tails. 33-year-old Moroccan man on Min Germany, including celona’s central Las Ramblas Top-selling Spanish news- Friday in Barcelona who had some 7,000 who are under the boulevard, which was targeted paper El Pais, citing anony- fought in Syria for the Islamic age of 18, federal law enforce- last year by a deadly van attack mous police sources, said that State group. ment offi cials said. claimed by Islamic State (IS) the authorities are looking for a On August 17, 2017 a van Around half of the missing militants. Moroccan man with a licence to rammed into crowds on Barce- minors are unaccompanied refu- Some 30 police offi cers pa- drive buses. lona’s tree-lined Las Ramblas gees. trolled the boulevard, which is Catalan daily El Periodico said boulevard, killing 14 people and As of October 1, around 3,500 popular with locals and tourists, that the Catalan regional police injuring more than 130 others. of them were unaccounted for, as well as a Christmas market in had circulated an internal note The 22-year-old Moroccan including 902 under 13 years of the nearby Plaza Catalunya, the that the man, who was born in driver then stole a car after kill- age. city’s main square. Casablanca, could try to drive ing the driver and fl ed. However, these fi gures could “Exercise heightened caution a bus or other large vehicle into Several hours later fi ve of his “only serve as an approxima- around areas of vehicle move- crowds in Barcelona. accomplices mowed down pe- tion”, a spokeswoman for the ment, including buses, in the Las It is unclear if the suspect is in destrians on the promenade of Federal Criminal Police Offi ce Ramblas area of Barcelona dur- Spain, according to the reports. the seaside resort of Cambrils, (BKA) told DPA. ing Christmas and New Year’s,” Contacted by AFP, a spokes- south of Barcelona before stab- Several factors make it diffi cult the US State Department’s Bu- man for the regional police force bing a woman to death. to arrive at the exact number, in- reau of Consular Aff airs said in Catalonia did not confi rm that The Islamic State group cluding refugees who are listed in a tweet on Sunday. “Terror- the police were seeking a Moroc- claimed responsibility for the multiple times due to diff erent ists may attack with little or no can man, but said a “temporary attack, Spain’s deadliest in over spellings of their name. warning, targeting tourist loca- reinforcement of security meas- a decade. Catalan regional police off icers are seen at the pedestrian entrance to the Ramblas boulevard. The list includes those miss- ing for just a few days and others who haven’t been seen in dec- ades. “Experience has shown that about 50% of missing cases are EU Parliament polls the next battle for populists closed within the fi rst week,” the BKA spokeswoman said. Armin Gartelmann, head of DPA Bannon’s reception among Their rhetoric is laced with but are still staunchly anti-EU. deals and big corporations, but it the missing persons unit at the Brussels European populists has so far warnings of the “EU super state” Nicolai von Ondarza, EU ex- has dropped its opposition to the Bremen police department, said: been mixed. and the “dictates of the EU”. pert at Germany’s Institute for euro currency. “There are people who go to hos- But it does point to a larger So why do these parties wield International and Security Af- For his part, the 5-Star’s Luigi pital for a week and don’t tell an- teve Bannon, the former question: Will 2019 mark the relatively little infl uence in the fairs, points to two reasons why di Maio has proposed European yone. Others go on vacation and far-right strategist for US next big breakthrough for the parliament despite holding populist gains in 2019 may have alliances on environmental and don’t tell anyone.” SPresident Donald Trump, EU’s populists? about 20% of its 751 seats? limits. social aff airs – where the party According to BKA data, after a surprised many earlier this year This question is overshadow- Internal diff erences are one One is that British parliamen- leans left – rather than on na- month, more than 80% of cases when he announced plans to ing elections for the European reason. tarians who might otherwise tionalistic interests. are settled. help populists ahead of Euro- Parliament in May, as some pro- Another is that they are dis- join with eurosceptic forces will Meanwhile, the League, under The share of people miss- pean Parliament elections next jections foresee eurosceptic and persed across three blocs. leave after their country’s exit Matteo Salvini, is more focused ing for more than a year is only May. right-wing parties getting any- For example, the European from the EU on March 29, 2019. on issues such as crime and im- Salvini: the destiny of Europe is around 3%. Bannon presented his new where from 20% to 30% of the Conservatives and Reformists – As a result, these parties’ migration. in the hands of Europeans and initiative, The Movement, as a vote. the third-largest parliamentary combined total may still not ex- Salvini’s position on migra- not in the hands of somebody support network for European That kind of result could make faction – has many moderate ceed 20%. tion diff ers from some of his else. Turkey working to anti-establishment parties, and them the strongest force in the eurosceptic parliamentarians Another is that cross-party far-right colleagues in Europe, proclaimed he will spend “80%” new parliament – if they join to- and includes British Conserva- co-operation is “unlikely to in that Salvini wants other EU have reacted coolly to his eff orts. carry Khashoggi of his time on the cause. gether. tives and members of Poland’s continue in the future” due to countries to take in more mi- This past week, Salvini said he probe to UN level While that degree of collabo- Law and Justice party. substantive diff erences, notes grants – while others, most no- fi nds Bannon “stimulating”. ration is seen as unlikely due to It voted to expel German AfD Ondarza. tably Hungarian Prime Minister “But the destiny of Europe is Turkey is working with divergent agendas, mainstream members in 2016, who have This may explain why many of Victor Orban, staunchly opposes in the hands of Europeans and other countries to carry the parties are open about their con- since migrated to a more right- their leaders have been reluctant any distribution scheme that not in the hands of somebody investigation into the killing of cern. wing bloc. to discuss such alliances. would have Hungary accept else,” he added. Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi The election is about “the soul Meanwhile, the Europe of When it comes to populism, them. If the populists do unite, the to the United Nations, Foreign of Europe”, warns Frans Tim- Freedom and Direct Democracy Italy off ers an example of how Orban, for his part, says his consequences for the EU would Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said mermans, (EFDD) group is more focused on populist governing can work, as Fidesz party should continue to be unpredictable. yesterday. European Commission vice- Brexit, as it is home to the United two very diff erent eurosceptic stay in the centre-right bloc, the As Ondarza points out, such a He made the comments president and top candidate for Kingdom Independence Party. parties have formed a coalition. European People’s Party, even grouping could become the larg- during a news conference in the EU’s socialists. But it also includes Italy’s The divisions within Italy’s though pressure is growing for est bloc in parliament. Tunis alongside his Tunisian Far-right parties such as Ger- 5-Star Movement, which is ide- governing coalition highlight its expulsion. And if that happens, the EU’s counterpart. many’s Alternative for Germany ologically eclectic. some of the challenges European Moreover, it is diffi cult for a critics would reach the highest He also called on Saudi Arabia to (AfD), Italy’s League, Austria’s Then there is the Europe of populists face. populist party to off er a compel- posts in Brussels. share its findings on the case with Freedom party, and France’s Na- Nations and Freedom group, As Caroline Kanter of the ling message to a pan-European Salvini has already raised the the international community. tional Rally have all made clear which includes most of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in audience, says Ondarza. prospect of serving as commis- Khashoggi was killed inside the that they no longer want the EU dominant far-right parties on Rome points out, both the anti- Nationalism can override a sion president, telling La Repub- Saudi consulate in Istanbul nearly in its present form. the continent. establishment 5-Star Movement party’s eurosceptic message, blica newspaper that “friends in three months ago. Indeed, some want no EU at These include Italy’s League, and right-wing League attack making broader coalitions dif- several European countries are Khashoggi, an opinion writer for all. Germany’s AfD, and the other Brussels for political gain, but fi cult. asking for it”. the Washington Post who was Orban: staunchly opposes any These politicians have also far-right nationalist parties they serve diff erent groups of These reasons can explain “I have not had time to evalu- at one time a Saudi royal insider migrant distribution scheme found that broadsides against noted above. voters. why Bannon has yet to breathe ate the proposal yet,” he added. before becoming a critic of the that would have Hungary accept Brussels resonate with many Finally, another 23 are unaf- The 5-Star Movement is pop- life into a unifying movement - “It is still a long way to May. leadership, was killed by a group them. voters. fi liated with any of these groups, ulist in its criticism of free trade and why most far-right parties Let’s see, I will think about it.” of Saudis sent from the kingdom.

An Italian toy story: retiree carves old favourites Collino, aka ‘Prezzemolo’ (‘Parsley’ in English) plays with a puppet in By Claudine Renaud, AFP his workshop in Busca, near Cuneo, northern Italy. Cuneo, Italy “I ask them if it matches up Nothing in his grotto is bought and then ask their permission to or sold. ith his portly frame, put their name on it,” he said. All that is needed is a penknife, bushy white beard and His bag of antiquated tricks a diagram and a vast trove of dis- Wtwinkling eyes, Italian now runs to 138 toys, puppets carded objects, from umbrella toymaker and puppeteer Mario and assorted curiosities which he canes to springs, plastic pulleys Collino could be a stand-in for uses in performances in schools, and wire brushes, to create a Father Christmas. retirement homes and on street toy collection to rival any high- However, while he too carts markets that leave viewers, street superstore. Smoke rises over the city of Catania during an eruption of the Mount Etna, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. around bags of toys made in his young and old, entranced. His performances, which reg- workshop, Collino, who per- Spinning tops, jumping jacks, ularly take him across the border forms under the name “Prez- a tea towel that becomes a rabbit to France, are free of charge for zemolo” (Mister Parsley), is more with fl apping ears, a piece of pa- spectators, with any compen- of a Mister Geppetto, the fi ction- per that, after a few folds, turns sation coming from festivals or Mount Etna eruption causes airspace closure al carver and father of the fairy- into a frog – the tools of Collino’s other host institutions. tale hero Pinocchio. trade are simple objects brought Such is his inventiveness that Collino, a retired Michelin to life by his wizardry. he was invited to give a seminar AFP (INGV) counted more than 130 only four landings per hour yes- volcano in Europe, with fre- tyre factory mechanic, has spent Every toy comes with a story for aspiring architects at Turin’s Rome seismic shocks in the zone, with terday afternoon at the eastern quent eruptions recorded in the nearly 30 years touring old-age or fairytale in Italian or Pied- Polytechnic University. the strongest reaching a magni- Sicilian airport of Catania. past 2,700 years. homes in his native Piedmont montese, the Romance language A devout man, who regularly tude of 4.0. Visibility was still too poor to Its most recent eruptions oc- region, asking residents to share of his region. embarks on pilgrimages to the he Mount Etna volcano “The eruption occurred on determine whether the eruption curred in the spring of 2017, and memories of their childhood Some are set to the strains of Santiago de Compostela shrine erupted yesterday, spew- the side of Etna,” Boris Behncke, was accompanied by lava, Beh- its last major eruption in the playthings. a homemade barrel organ, with in Spain, Collino sees it as his Ting ash as several minor a vulcanologist at INGV, told ncke said. 2008/2009 winter. He sketches the objects they a monkey wrench serving as a Christian duty to nurture his in- earthquakes hit the region, and AFP. “It’s the fi rst lateral erup- At any rate, both the seismic At the end of March, a study describe, builds them from odds handle. ner child. prompting a partial closure of tion in more than 10 years, but it activity and ash production ap- published in the Bulletin of Vol- and ends in his Aladdin’s cave of Not for Collino the Xboxes and “The Lord said if you do not the Sicilian airspace around the doesn’t seem to be dangerous.” peared to be diminishing in the canology said that Etna is slowly a workshop near Cuneo in north- other new-fangled, high-tech become like little children, you mountain. Due to bad visibility because afternoon, he said. sliding towards the Mediter- ern Italy, and then goes back to gizmos that many children to- will never enter the kingdom of Italy’s national institute for of the ash, the authorities re- Mount Etna, at a height of ranean – at a constant pace of the retirement home with the day have on their Christmas wish heaven. I took that at face value geophysics and vulcanology stricted local airspace, allowing 3,300m, is the biggest active 14mm per year. fi nished product. lists. and so I’m still playing!” Gulf Times Tuesday, December 25, 2018 11 INDIA Modi releases Rs100 coin in memory of Vajpayee

IANS 2018 inscribed to mark the years oxygen...they can’t live without must have happened. But he or comprising on ideology, he birth anniversary – to reiterate special occasion or to mark a New Delhi of the Bharatiya Janata Party it...A long part of Atalji’s ca- never compromised. left Janata Party and formed the his commitment to the ideology special event. They also have veteran’s birth and death. reer was spent in the opposition “He was among those who Bharatiya Janata Party” which and path shown by the leader. been issued as a mark of respect On the reverse side, the coin benches, but he spoke about na- could die for the nation, but “has become among the largest Lok Sabha Speaker Sumi- towards some distinguished in- rime Minister Narendra has the Lion Capital of the tional interest and never com- would never compromise on the of political parties”, Modi said. tra Mahajan, Finance Minister dividuals or monuments. Modi yesterday released Ashoka Pillar with “Satyameva promised on the ideology of the ideology,” Modi said. Hailing Vajpayee, a Bharat Arun Jaitley, Minister of State The coin, Modi said, is a small Pa commemorative Rs100 Jayate” inscribed below. party,” Modi said. Vajpayee wanted democracy Ratna recipient, as “the best for Culture Mahesh Sharma, BJP eff ort to show “our respect to the coin in honour of late premier Addressing a gathering at the “For long, the voice of Atalji to be supreme. He built the Jana orator”, Modi said “the mind is president Amit Shah and veteran former prime minister, whose Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the eve Parliament House Annexe, Modi was the voice of the nation,” Sangh but when time came to not ready to believe that Atalji is BJP leader and Vajpayee’s con- life is a message for all of us”. of his birth anniversary. said Vajpayee never compro- Modi said. rescue democracy, he and others no longer with us. He was a stal- temporary L K Advani were also Vajpayee passed away on Au- The coin weighing 35gm with mised on the ideologies of the “I assume that there must went to the Janata Party, Modi wart, was loved and respected present at the event to release gust 16 at the age of 93 at the All Vajpayee’s image has his name party and always spoke about have been invitations from other added. across all sections of society.” the coin. India Institute of Medical Sci- inscribed in Hindi and English. national interest. ideologies for joining hands to “Likewise, when the choice Modi said he would be going to Commemorative coins are ences (AIIMS) here following It also has the years 1924 and “For some people, power is remain in power. Such things was between remaining in power Vajpayee’s memorial today – his usually issued to celebrate some prolonged illness. Lawyer challenges Delhi gasps snooping order in top court for breath as

IANS New Delhi

lawyer has challenged in air quality the Supreme Court the Aconstitutional validity of a government order empowering intelligence agencies and Delhi police to snoop on all computers. A public interest litigation (PIL) fi led by M L Sharma has sought deteriorates quashing of the December 20 order. Sharma said that the order Reuters lution levels hit 654 yesterday, said a task force headed by the was “illegal, unconstitutional New Delhi among the worst recorded this CPCB. and ultra vires to the law” and year, and visibility in some parts Steps this year have failed to expressed apprehension that of the city was just 200m, the make much diff erence and instead citizens may be penalised for ollution levels in New Del- weather department said. there has been fi nger-pointing expressing views opposing those hi have hit their worst this Environmentalists said that between Prime Minister Naren- of the government. Pyear in the past two days inaction by the authorities was dra Modi’s administration, the The order by the Ministry of – earning a “severe” to “emer- inexcusable and a concerted city government run by the Aam Home Aff airs (MHA) author- gency” rating and indicating effort was needed to reduce Aadmi Party and the governments ised 10 central agencies, includ- conditions that can spark a pub- pollution from vehicles and in- of states around the capital. ing the Intelligence Bureau (IB), lic health crisis. dustry. The apparent lack of concern Enforcement Directorate (ED), Christmas Day in the Indian “If this is not an emergency, about the toxic air among ordi- Central Bureau of Investigation capital is also forecast to be then what is?” asked Delhi- nary folk gives federal and local (CBI) as well as the Delhi police bleak. based environmentalist Vim- politicians the cover they need to “intercept, monitor and de- Senior government offi cials lendu Jha. for failing to address the prob- crypt any information gener- said the main reasons for the lem, say pollution activists and ated, transmitted, received or surge in the amount of toxic “We are defi nitely seeing social scientists. stored in any computer”. smog trapped over New Delhi an increase in the number During October and Novem- The order also binds subscrib- were unusually cold air, includ- of patients with respiratory ber, the federal government had ers or service providers or any ing fog, and a lack of wind. problems” blamed neighbouring states person in charge of the computer This mean that vehicle fumes, for failing to curb the burning resource to extend all facilities and pollution from coal-fi red power The “severe” to “emergency” of stubble in fi elds, but Delhi’s technical assistance to the agen- plants and industries, as well as ratings mean that the air is not air worsened in December, data cies and a failure to do so would smoke from fi res being burned only hazardous for citizens with showed. attract penalty with a seven-year to keep people warm hangs over existing respiratory problems India’s toxic air claimed imprisonment and fi ne. the city. but can also seriously aff ect 1.24mn lives in 2017, or 12.5% of “The order has been issued to Data from the government’s healthy people. total deaths, according to a study fi nd political opponents, think- Central Pollution Control Conditions are likely to re- published in Lancet Planetary ers and speakers to control the Board (CPCB) showed the air main severe today, a holiday for Health this month. entire country under dictator- quality index, which measures Christmas. “We are defi nitely seeing an ship to win the coming general the concentration of poison- The PM 2.5 level may aver- increase in the number of pa- election under an undisclosed ous particulate matter, was an age above 400 and hit a high of tients with respiratory prob- emergency as well as slavery average of 449 yesterday, only 534 in some places, CPCB data lems,” said Desh Deepak, a doc- which cannot be permitted,” slightly better than the 450 on showed. tor at the government-run Ram Sharma said in his petition. Sunday. CPCB announced measures Manohar Lohia Hospital. “The blanket surveillance or- The index measures the con- such as shutting factories and A damning report by the der must be tested against funda- centration of tiny poisonous construction sites in heavily World Health Organisation this mental right to privacy,” it said. particulate matter, or PM 2.5, polluted areas until tomor- year said India was home to the The petition also asked the court that are less than 2.5 microns in row along with an advisory to world’s 14 most polluted cities, not to allow the agencies from diameter, which can be carried avoid using diesel-powered with Delhi the sixth worst. launching criminal proceedings or deep into the lungs. vehicles. For a second year, Delhi Chief investigation against anybody un- The previous highest record- “The situation might improve Minister and AAP leader Arvind der the provisions of the Informa- ing this year was 447 on June 15, slightly but is likely to continue Kejriwal has likened the city to a tion Technology Act based on the when there was a dust storm. in severe category until after- “gas chamber”. order and expressed fears of serious Anything above 100 is consid- noon of December 26, when A city government spokesman threat to the freedom, life and lib- ered unhealthy. wind speeds will pick up and im- was not immediately available erty of the citizens. Women walk with their children amid a dense fog near India Gate in New Delhi yesterday. In some parts of Delhi, pol- prove dispersion of pollutants,” for comment.

Police rescue women from GST may have single protesters at Sabarimala standard rate: Jaitley IANS tionalisation by phasing out the Agencies 2km of the temple when they arrested after clashes around New Delhi highest slab except in luxury and Thiruvananthapuram were spotted by devotees com- the temple in October. sin goods. ing down after off ering prayers The Supreme Court is to hear “The sun is setting on the 28% at the temple,” the offi cer add- challenges to its decision to inance Minister Arun Jait- slab... Today, barring tobacco olice yesterday rescued ed. overturn the ban from January ley yesterday hinted that products and some luxury goods, two women who tried Devotees who were climbing 22. FIndia may eventually have almost all items had been trans- Pto reach the Sabarimala uphill behind the two women Many Hindu groups and a single standard rate of Goods ferred from 28% slab to 18% and temple in Kerala after they were also took part in the angry Prime Minister Narendra Mo- and Services Tax through merg- 12%. Only cement and auto parts surrounded by devotees deter- scenes and surrounded the di’s Bharatiya Janata Party op- ing of 12 and 18% slabs, adding are items of common use which mined to keep women out of women. pose the court ruling. that the 28% slab will soon be remain in 28% slab. Our next the shrine. Police rushed to the scene to Kerala police chief Loknath phased out, except in luxury and priority will be to transfer ce- Police launched the op- escort them away to safety. Behra said every eff ort was be- “sin goods”. ment into a lower slab. All other eration a day after protesters “The situation turned tense. ing made to ensure the imple- He said the country should building materials have already forced 11 other women to call Police had no choice but to tell mentation of the court order. eventually have a GST structure been transferred to 18 and 12%... off a bid to reach the temple the two women not to make the “The police did not do any- which would have only slabs of The 28% slab is now a dying which has been ordered by the climb because of law and order thing to unsettle law and order zero and 5% and a standard rate, slab,” he said. Supreme Court to end a long- problems,” the offi cer said. situation there,” said Behra. with luxury and “sin goods” as Attacking the Congress and standing ban on women of One of the two women told Congress leader Ramesh an exception. other opposition parties, Jaitley child bearing age. journalists they would make a Chennithala, criticised the “A future roadmap could said their criticism of the GST Supporters of the ban have new attempt. Kerala government for its dou- well be to work towards a sin- was “ill-informed” and “moti- been on alert around the hilltop Hundreds of thousands of ble standard. gle standard rate instead of two vated”. temple since the court ruling in people – men, young girls and “It’s most unfortunate that standard rates of 12% and 18%. He said during the pre-GST September. elderly women – normally all this happening during the It could be a rate at some mid- regime, a large number of com- But the two women who make the four-hour trek to the most hallowed time of the point between the two. Obvi- modities were taxed heavily and made the attempt yesterday temple during the end of year ‘Mandala Puja’. It’s sad the ously, this will take some rea- that the Congress legacy was a kept their plans secret. Hindu festival period. government has not learned sonable time when the tax will 31% indirect tax. “Unlike other women who Since the court order how- anything from the massive pro- rise signifi cantly,” Jaitley said in “Those who oppressed India tried to get to Sabarimala, these ever, Sabarimala has become tests yesterday when a group of a Facebook post. with a 31% indirect tax and con- two arrived without notice, so a major battleground between women had to return. The gov- Regarding the highest tax slab sistently belittled the GST must hardly anyone knew of their devotees and gender activists, ernment for some reason is ad- of 28%, the minister said with seriously introspect. Irrespon- presence,” a police offi cer post- sparking protests across the amant that they want to break Police clash with hardline Hindu activists during a protest against the GST transformation com- sible politics and irresponsible ed at the temple said. southern state. the traditions and customs of women devotees attempting to reach the Sabarimala temple from pleted, India was close to com- economics is only a race to the “They managed to get within More than 2,000 people were the temple.” Pamba in Kerala yesterday. pleting the fi rst set of rate of ra- bottom,” he added. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, December 25, 2018 LATIN AMERICA Brazil prosecutors charge 12 in Vitol bribery case

Reuters Petrobras said in an e-mailed ate with investigators. Those charged include former Caribbean, had full knowledge of deals with them, seeking testi- Brazilian and US prosecutors Sao Paulo response to Reuters that it had A spokesman for Glencore de- Petrobras employees and mid- the scheme. mony against the executives at have worked closely in the past suspended oil trades with Vitol, clined to comment, and Trafi g- dlemen who prosecutors allege Neither Loya nor Maarraoui the foreign fi rms they allege are on Car Wash cases. along with other massive trading ura did not immediately reply to worked directly with top execu- was charged. involved. Loans to the companies could razilian federal prosecu- fi rms Trafi gura and Glencore, requests for comment. tives at Vitol. Neither of the executives has The stakes are high for the dry up if the corruption allega- tors have charged 12 peo- which also face accusations in Last week, Vitol and Glen- Brazilian prosecutors last replied to repeated requests for trading fi rms. tions stick, according to a sen- Bple in connection with an the same probe. core said they would work with week levelled corruption charges comment. Brazilian prosecutors allege ior banking executive at a major alleged bribery scheme meant to Petrobras said it demanded an investigators, while Trafigura against two former Trafi gura ex- Brazil’s unprecedented some of the crimes were carried global bank who declined to be benefi t oil trader Vitol Group at explanation from the fi rms about said it was reviewing the alle- ecutives. sprawling graft investigations out by Petrobras traders based identifi ed. the expense of Brazil’s state-led what actions they are taking to gations. In the charging document, have been built on plea-bargain in Houston and that some illicit Since the 2008 financial cri- oil fi rm Petroleo Brasileiro SA. address the allegations lodged Trafi gura and Vitol said they prosecutors said one of Vitol’s testimony. funds moved through the US and sis, big banks have faced in- Prosecutors say at least by Brazilian investigators. have zero-tolerance policies for top executives, Mike Loya, head Prosecutors said they will ag- European banking systems, rais- creased scrutiny from regula- $2.85mn in bribes were involved, A Vitol spokeswoman de- bribery and corruption, while of the fi rm in the US, and Anto- gressively use the same tactics in ing the chance that jurisdiction tors to crack down on money but have called their discoveries clined to comment, but said the Glencore said it takes ethics and nio Maarraoui, the company’s this case: charge smaller fi gures for investigating the case would laundering and other financial so far the “tip of the iceberg.” company would always co-oper- compliance seriously. head for Latin American and the involved and work to reach plea widen. crimes.

Cuba’s tourism UN demands inches up

Reuters Havana inquiry into ourism to Cuba inched up to a new record this Tyear, government offi - cials said, although the gain was largely due to greater arrivals on cruise ships, which analysts girl’s death in say contribute less than regular travellers to the island nation’s economy. A boom in tourism to the Car- ibbean’s largest island over the last few years has helped off set weaker exports and a steep de- US custody cline in aid from key ally Ven- ezuela. Guardian News and Media bodies had repeatedly warned inquiry would not be satisfac- But even tourism took a hit in London that children should not be kept tory.” late 2017 from the devastation in detention based on their mi- The tragic last hours of Jakelin wrought by Hurricane Irma and grant status. have become a lightning rod for tighter US travel restrictions im- he United Nations moni- “Detention of children has unease about increasingly hard- posed by the Trump administra- tor who acts as global such a severe impact on them line policies being pursued by tion. Twatchdog on the treat- that we have repeatedly warned Trump at the southern border. Tourism only started recov- ment of migrants is calling for of the risks,” he said. After a perilous journey of more ering in the second quarter this an in-depth independent inves- The UN monitor stressed that than 2,000 miles from her indig- year, the tourism ministry’s tigation into what happened to the Trump administration was enous community in Guatemala, commercial director, Michel Jakelin Caal Maquin, a seven- bound by international laws it she and her father, Nery Gilberto Bernal, told a news conference in year-old Guatemalan girl who could not shirk. “When a person, Caal, arrived at the US border on Havana’s sea-front Hotel Haba- died while in the custody of the especially a child, is in the custody December 6. na Riviera, built by US mobster US government. of a state, that state has to ensure They were among 163 migrants Meyer Lansky on the eve of Cu- Felipe Gonzalez Morales, the their rights. States have an obli- detained by CBP agents at Ante- ba’s 1959 revolution. UN’s special rapporteur on the gation to care for migrants who lope Wells in New Mexico, includ- As a result, the growth in ar- human rights of migrants, has arrive at the border, they cannot ing 50 unaccompanied children. rivals is expected to have slowed sent a formal complaint to US treat them as animals in inhuman Jakelin was reported sick as she to 1.3% in 2018 from 16.8% Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, conditions. I’m not saying this and her father were being trans- last year, albeit reaching a new via offi cials in Geneva, in which happened in this case, but the US ported in a bus to the Lordsburg record of 4.75mn visitors — up he sounds the international has a duty in this regard.” border patrol station, from where nearly 60% from four years ago. alarm about the death. Jakelin The intervention of the main in- she was helicoptered to a hospital Arrivals by cruise ships likely died on December 8, less than ternational watchdog on the human in El Paso, Texas. She died in the grew by 48%, largely from the US. 48 hours after she was detained rights of migrants adds to pressure early hours of December 8. As of December 13, the by Customs and Border Patrol for the Trump administration to go Many key facts have been dis- number of US visitors was the (CBP) at a remote border cross- beyond the routine inquiry that is puted. CBP claims it properly same as in 2017, with growth in ing in New Mexico. being carried out by the department cared for the girl, providing her US arrivals in 2018 expected to Gonzalez is demanding a full of homeland security’s offi ce of the and her father with water and be around 1%, despite increased independent inquiry into the inspector general. food and doing everything they travel restrictions. tragedy, to be led by judges and Lawyers for the girl’s family as could to save Jakelin’s life when The number of total arrivals lawyers and in which the girl’s well as several members of Con- her sickness became known. by plane, however, is expected family is legally represented and gress have decried such an inter- Her father has insisted no water to have dropped 6% — meaning given access to language trans- nal investigation as a grossly in- was off ered to them. He has said fewer tourists stayed at Cuban lation. As a measure to prevent adequate form of self-policing. his daughter was in good health hotels and bed-and-breakfasts. more deaths, he also calls for an “Something as serious as the when they entered US detention. Canada remained Cuba’s top immediate end to detention of death of this girl should not be Gonzalez told the Guardian he tourist market, although the migrant children in the US and left to administrative authori- wanted the investigation to de- number of Canadian visitors is es- urges the Trump administration ties,” Gonzalez told the Guard- termine whether the Guatemalan timated to have fallen 2% to 1.1mn. to address “failings within the ian. “I want to make sure that family had been placed in “hieleras” Arrivals from Cuba’s main immigration system to prevent judges and public attorneys car- – holding cells at the border patrol European markets — Britain, similar situations”. ry out the investigation fully in stations where for years migrants France, Italy, Spain and Ger- In an interview with the an independent manner without have complained they are kept in many — will likely have dropped Abdel Caal, brother of Jakelin Caal, holds a picture of his sister outside their home in San Antonio Guardian, Gonzalez said numer- any pressure from the immigra- freezing temperatures with only between 10% and 15%. Secortez village in Guatemala yesterday. ous international human rights tion authorities. An internal CBP aluminium blankets for heat. Brazilians’ optimism Pact signed Bolsonaro shuns Nicaragua govt over economy ‘soars’ is among the top 10 in the world, AFP Brasília has enthusiastically embraced AFP interests over environmental survey published on Decem- Bolsonaro’s positions. Rio de Janeiro concerns. ber 13 by another polling fi rm, These include encouraging He also won voter support IBOPE. razil is excluding repre- foreign investment while taking by railing against the left-wing Analysts say that pub- sentatives of Nicaragua a cautious position toward Chi- razilians’ optimism that Workers Party which ruled Bra- lic backing could help Bol- Bfrom the January 1 inau- na, its biggest trading partner, their economy, Latin zil from boom to bust between sonaro push economic reforms guration of new president Jair which Bolsonaro has repeatedly BAmerica’s biggest, will 2003 and 2016, and which has through Congress, where he Bolsonaro because of “viola- said is trying to “buy Brazil.” soon improve has shot up dra- been marred by multiple cor- is relying on ad-hoc alliances tions” against its own citizens, Political oppression and vio- matically, according to a poll ruption scandals. with deputies sharing his base’s the country’s incoming foreign lence have surged in Nicaragua released just over a week before The Folha de Sao Paulo news- views. minister said. since April this year as left-wing a new far-right president, Jair paper said the optimism rating Those lobbies represent “The inauguration of President President Daniel Ortega has tried Bolsonaro, takes offi ce. was the highest recorded since agribusiness, a burgeoning Bolsonaro will mark the start of a to extinguish protests against his The Datafolha survey showed Datafolha started polling on it evangelical movement and government with a fi rm and clear rule. At least 320 people have 65% of respondents believed in 1997. pro-gun interests. stance defending freedom,” Er- been killed, according to rights the economy — which is still It added that while public But analysts say expec- nesto Araujo tweeted. “Because groups. limping after a record-busting optimism usually spiked be- tations are so high for Bol- of this and given the violations of Ortega has ordered police recession that ended two years fore a new president took over, sonaro’s presidency that he (Daniel) Ortega’s regime against raids on the offi ces of an op- ago — would be doing better the sense of buoyancy ahead could face a precipitous drop the freedom of Nicaragua’s peo- position newspaper and rights within months. of Bolsonaro’s presidency was in public support if he stum- ple, no representative of that re- groups, and on Wednesday he That was a huge jump over higher than for his predeces- bles politically. gime will be received in the event expelled an expert mission from the Brazilian polling fi rm’s last sors. The 63-year-old former on January 1.” the Inter-American Commission survey in August, when only Datafolha polled 2,077 peo- army captain, an admirer of US Bolsonaro, a far-right politician on Human Rights. 23% thought an improvement ple across the country on De- President Donald Trump, is re- aligned with the worldview of US The US in November im- was coming. cember 18 and 19 for the survey. lying heavily on a free-market President Donald Trump, has al- posed sanctions on Ortega and The survey was released The margin of error was two advocate, Paulo Guedes, to ready said the left-wing leaders his wife, Vice President Rosario ahead of the January 1 inaugu- percentage points. implement the reforms at the of Cuba and Venezuela are not in- Murillo, as well as his national ration of Bolsonaro. According to the survey, head of an economy ministry vited to his inauguration. security adviser. The formerly obscure poli- two-thirds of Brazilians believe with sprawling powers. He has said he will do eve- Ortega fi rst came to power tician found electoral success their personal fi nancial situa- Yet a third of Bolsonaro’s rything “within democracy” to in 1979 as a leader of the leftist in October on a pro-business tion will improve in 2019 and Cabinet is made up of ex-mili- counter the Cuban and Venezue- Sandinista rebels that toppled agenda promising to cut Bra- nearly half reckon unemploy- tary men, who traditionally ob- Paraguay’s President Mario Abdo Benitez and Brazil’s lan governments. the US-backed Somoza family zil’s towering debt, usher in ment will decline. ject to changes that could allow President Michel Temer attend an agreement-signing Araujo, a mid-ranking foreign dictatorship. privatisations and back pow- Bolsonaro enjoys 75% popu- key state assets to come under ceremony in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil. ministry employee tapped to After leaving offi ce in 1990 he erful agricultural and mining larity in Brazil, according to a foreign control. head a diplomatic network that returned to power in 2007. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 25, 2018 13 PAKISTAN Backlog of cases in apex court rises to 40,254

Internews es on November 30, 2017 was Nisar said that unnecessary Last December, the chief jus- public interest matters. In the coming 14 years from 10,000 cases of criminal nature Islamabad 38,129. adjournments and customary tice initiated judicial activism by When the judicial perform- 2003 to 2016, the numbers of since 2014. This shows that 2,125 more delay tactics severely hamper the taking steps for enforcement of ance of the top court in the last pending cases had been, respec- Presently, a total of 943 crimi- cases were added to the backlog process of clearing the backlog of fundamental rights. fi ve years – from 2013 to 2018 – is tively: 20,031, 27,614, 14,984, nal appeals are pending. hief Justice of Pakistan in one year. cases. One section of lawyers also al- reviewed, it transpires that pen- 13,724, 15,186, 17,754, 18,359, Another senior Supreme Court Saqib Nisar has followed a This rapid increase in the “These menaces should be leges that the court has exceeded dency of cases has literally dou- 20,234, 20,228, 20,314, 20,480, offi cial said that when the special Cpolicy of judicial activism. number of pending cases is the seen as nothing less than poison, its jurisdiction for enforcement bled. 22,979, 27,639, and 32,744. bench got active, many crimi- However, during his term, par- biggest challenge faced by the top and should be treated as such: of fundamental rights but has not In 2013, a total of 20,480 cases In August 2017, the number of nal appeals which were fi led in ticularly during the past year, the court which is already criticised removing it from the body of the taken concrete steps for judicial were pending but the fi gure has pending cases reached 36,344. 1990s, were still pending. number of cases in the apex court for being more interested in deal- bar and bench is vital for survival reforms. risen to 40,254 cases, showing In 15 months, around 4,000 The bench cleared the backlog pending a decision has jumped ing with political matters. of the justice system.” The lawyers have also com- almost a 100% rise. cases had been added to the al- and now it is hearing appeals of up from 38,129 to 40,254. There are diff erent views about However, critics say that in- plained about not being given In 2001, the number of pend- ready massive pile of pending 2018. According to the fortnightly the increase in the pendency. stead of clearing the cases, the proper right of hearing in the ing cases was 13,070. cases. During the 8th Judicial Con- Summary Statement of Case In his address to the ceremo- Nisar mainly focused this year apex court, especially in the This fi gure has multiplied sev- Amid ever-increasing pen- ference on May 5, Justice Khosa Institution, Disposal and Pen- ny that marked the start of the on public interest litigation like courtroom No 1 in the ongoing eral times since. dency of cases in the Supreme said that there is a need to con- dency, 40,254 cases were pend- 2018-2019 judicial year, the chief building of water reservoirs, year. Historical trends suggest that Court, there is some good news sider the “bar of fi nality” about ing decision in the apex court on justice had said that the major bringing reforms for the better- It has also been witnessed that the number has increased each too – a special bench led by in- adjudication on facts and only November 30. contributing factor to the back- ment of education, health, and many senior lawyers avoided ap- year since 2001: 17,370 cases were coming top judge Justice Asif points of law should be brought The number of pending cas- log of cases is frivolous litigation. controlling population. pearing on behalf of any party in pending in 2002. Saeed Khosa has decided over before the superior courts.

Judicial panels Ex-PM sent to prison for resolves 6,208 seven years, fi ned $25mn cases

Reuters/DPA/AFP Internews Islamabad Peshawar

ormer prime minister Na- he Dispute Resolution waz Sharif was sentenced Councils (DRCs) estab- Fto seven years in prison Tlished in Khyber Pa- yesterday and fi ned $25mn on khtunkhwa for resolution of dis- corruption charges that he says putes received 8,828 complaints were politically motivated. in the current year related to Yesterday’s conviction, cen- various types of disputes. tred on family businesses in the The DRCs resolved 6,208 of Middle East, is his second stem- disputes peacefully, while 1,423 ming from a corruption inves- disputes were sent to the con- tigation spurred by the Panama cerned forum for legal action. Papers leak. Another 1,197 disputes are be- The anti-corruption court in ing proceeded with. Islamabad said in its ruling that Sharif: sentenced to seven years in prison for corruption. According to available docu- the former prime minister was ment, a council was established unable to prove the source of in- announced at the court. Security was tight at the initially in Peshawar for resolv- come that had led to his owner- Sharif denied the charges. court, with some scuffl es break- ing small disputes of common ship of a steel mill in Saudi Ara- He accused the military and ing out between PML-N sup- people amicably. bia. courts of working together to porters and security forces, who After experiencing success, Under Pakistani law, this is end his political career and responded with tear gas. with eff ective results in resolu- taken to prove corruption. destabilise his Pakistan Muslim Before the verdict, hundreds tion of disputes and the growing Sharif had already been sen- League – Nawaz (PML-N) party. of Sharif supporters threw public confi dence in them, its tenced by the same court to 10 Sharif was once a favourite of stones outside the courthouse at jurisdiction was extended to the years in prison on charges re- Sharif supporters gather around his car on his arrival in the anti corruption court in Islamabad Pakistan’s powerful generals but police, who fi red teargas. entire province. lated to the purchase of upscale yesterday. fell out with them. Five months ago, Sharif’s To date, DRCs have been apartments in London, after the The military has denied exert- PML-N lost a general election formed all over the province. Supreme Court removed him and history will not accept this countability courts 165 times Al-Azizia Steel Mills in Saudi ing any infl uence over the court to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-In- More people are approach- from power. decision.” since September 2017, according Arabia, set up by Sharif’s father proceedings. saf (PTI) party of Imran Khan, ing these councils for resolving He was freed from custody in Sharif was ousted and dis- to the English-language Dawn in 2001, and Flagship Invest- Daniyal Aziz, a former law- the new prime minister whose small issues and disputes. September pending an appeal. qualifi ed from holding offi ce by newspaper. ments, a company established maker from Sharif’s party, anti-corruption campaign and The basic purpose of these Sharif’s supporters said that the Supreme Court in July 2017, Sharif was arrested on July 13 by his son, Hasan Nawaz, that criticised the National Ac- street protests spurred the cases councils for resolution of dis- he would also appeal against his and convicted in absentia a year on returning from London. owns luxury properties in Brit- countability Bureau (NAB), the against Sharif. putes is to provide the common latest conviction. later. He was in London at the time ain. watchdog that charged Sharif, The PML-N and other op- people with swift and immediate “Appeal is our right, we will The apex court also directed as his wife received cancer treat- Sharif, a three-time premier, and described the verdict as “the position politicians allege that justice, free of cost. protest but will remain peace- an anti-corruption body to in- ment, but returned to Pakistan was found to have been unable weaponisation of anti-corrup- the election was rigged to favour Another purpose is to fi nd a ful,” former prime minister Sha- vestigate three diff erent charges days ahead of the election, only to demonstrate that his fam- tion”. Khan, who is seen as close to the peaceful resolution to disputes. hid Khaqan Abbasi, who had regarding his family’s properties to be arrested and imprisoned on ily had acquired the steel mill “With each passing day an ex- army. In addition, the public – espe- succeeded Sharif last year, told and businesses. arrival. legitimately, but was acquitted pression of a double standard is Both Khan and the military cially the poor – would no longer reporters outside the court- The months-long saga has The court ruled on two charg- on the second charge, relating coming forward from the NAB,” have denied colluding against need to approach police stations house. “The people of Pakistan seen him appear before ac- es related to Sharif’s assets: the to Flagship, judge Arshad Malik Aziz said. Sharif and the PML-N. and courts, but rather focus their skills and resources on positive and constructive work. Health cards programme being extended nationwide This would enable society to embark on a path of develop- Federal Minister for National Health Services and relief to the people and bring noticeable changes ment and prosperity. Government plans national Regulation Aamir Mehmood Kiyani has said that in their lives. Among these councils, the health cards are being extended to the whole Kiyani said that the change would be visible to following number of cases were country on the direction of the Prime Minister everyone in months, and not years. resolved: 444 cases in Peshawar Imran Khan. He also said the government is trying to create job district, 1,086 in Mardan, 256 survey of populace’s IT skills Speaking to the media after holding a kutchery opportunities for the youth in diff erent sectors by in Nowshera, 129 in Charsadda, (open assembly) in his constituency, he said the bringing foreign investments in the country. 1,392 in Swabi, 315 in Swat, 259 government is issuing health cards with an aim to The minister listened to the problems of the in Kohat, 128 in Karak, 150 in Internews cided that chief executive offi cers of the China-Pakistan Economic provide best healthcare facilities to the people of people of his constituency and assured to resolve Hangu, 134 in Lakki Marwat, 310 Islamabad or other executives in the private Corridor (CPEC) for stimulat- lower socio-economic background. their problems. in Buner, 115 in Upper Dir, 42 in sector should not be made part of ing investment in IT and related The minister said the government is paying Earlier, in a statement last month, Kiyani said lower Dir, 14 in Chitral, 175 in the task force. services. special heed to improve facilities at public sector that the government is going to start a health Shangla, three in Tor Gar, 118 in he government has decid- However, now, it has agreed The planned SEZs include hospitals in the country. insurance programme, under which 25mn health Abbotabad, 292 in Haripur, 283 ed to conduct a national to expand scope of the task force the China Special Economic He added that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) insurance cards would be distributed among poor in Mansehra, 26 in Batagram, Tsurvey in a bid to gauge in- for seeking better input from the Zone at Dhabeji (Thatta), Al- government is working day and night to provide people. 167 in Dera Ismail Khan, and 370 formation technology (IT) skills private sector in order to frame a lama Iqbal Industrial City (M3) in cases in Bannu. of the country’s human resourc- policy for attracting investment Faisalabad, Rashakai Economic es, and establish a mechanism for and training youth. Zone along M-1 in Khyber-Pa- better utilisation of IT potential That came after the IT and khtunkhwa, and model ICT zone in Pakistan. Telecom Division requested that in Islamabad. In that regard, the federal cab- the cabinet allow for representa- Groundbreaking of the model inet has given its approval for the tion from the private sector. ICT zone will be held soon, which Health institute resumes vaccine production formation of the prime minister’s The government has decided is part of strategy to increase the task force on IT and telecommu- to appoint scientist and former share of IT and related services’ nications. science and technology minister exports in total shipments from Internews was producing enough vaccines WHO offi cial lauds Pakistan’s health measures Sources have said that the Dr Attaur Rehman as co-chair- the country. Islamabad to meet the country’s require- government had decided that person of the task force. In order to implement the ments, and was also looking to The World Health Organisation (WHO) has commended the strong com- the terms of reference of the Microsoft (Pakistan) chief strategy, the cabinet has allowed export them. mitment of Pakistan in attaining universal healthcare coverage, Radio task force would be amended to executive Abid Zaidi and Inbox the Higher Education Commis- he National Institute of The institute stopped pro- Pakistan reported. include a national survey of IT (Pakistan) chief executive Mir sion (HEC) to ink a deal with Health (NIH) of Pakistan ducing vaccines after that. According to details, the remark came from the WHO’s regional director skills of human resources in the Nasim have also been included in Huawei Technology Pakistan for Thas fi nally retuned its fo- Ikram said that the produc- for Eastern Mediterranean Dr Ahmed al-Mandhari, at the conclusion of country. the task force as members. the ICT talent development pro- cus on vaccine manufacturing, tion of a number of vaccines, his first off icial visit to Pakistan. The task force will also suggest According to offi cials, the gov- gramme aimed at boosting IT- which is its key responsibility. including for measles, tetanus a way forward to bring improve- ernment is working to exploit the related exports. It is expected that the insti- and diphtheria, has now been ment in the use of IT. potential of youth in the IT sec- Under this programme, Hua- tute will be able to meet half started and that it has been de- soon be launched. This will en- “Two million more doses will According to offi cials, the task tor. wei will expand the scope of the country’s requirement for cided that the private sector will able us to export vaccines, and be manufactured by June 2019, force has been asked to establish It seeks to set up a model in- youth training in the IT sector, antivenin for snake bites by June be involved in the production of will encourage the private sec- which will be provided to the a mechanism and set timelines formation and communications which would also create employ- 2019 via local production. vaccines. tor to invest in the industry,” he Expanded Programme of Im- for better utilisation of IT poten- technology (ICT) Special Eco- ment opportunities. “We are currently producing “Technology is changing rap- said. munisation,” Ikram said, adding tial in Pakistan. nomic Zone (SEZ) in Islamabad Sixty per cent of the country’s around 40,000 doses annually, idly for which engaging the pri- The NIH head claimed there that the institute will provide Earlier, the government de- under the industrialisation phase population is under the age of 30. which is almost one-fi fth of the vate sector will be better, with will be huge improvements 2.5mn packets of oral rehydra- country’s requirement, and the input from us in vaccine pro- in the institute by 2019, as a tion supplements to the pro- remaining vaccines are import- duction,” he said. number of projects which have gramme during the current fi s- 16 Christmas bazaars, 11 fair price shops set up in Lahore ed. However, we have started Ikram added that although been in the pipeline will be cal year. eff orts for manufacturing more the NIH was manufacturing started. Rabies vaccines will be made Lahore Division commissioner Dr Mujtaba Piracha Piracha said that in Lahore, Christmas bazaars are of the vaccines,” NIH executive vaccines in the past, it had not He said that the institute available in the local market has said that 16 Christmas bazaars and 11 fair price in operation in Yuhannaabad, Kot Lakhpat, Railway director Dr Aamer Ikram said. made a policy for good manu- started the production of mea- by the end of this month, and Christmas shops have been set up in the division. Headquarters, Jallo Mor Batapur, and China Scheme. One of the key functions of facturing practices (GMP). sles vaccines in June this year laboratories in which allergy, He said that five Christmas bazaars in Lahore, six The off icial said that all items, including meat, are the institute is to manufacture “We cannot export vaccines after a hiatus of six years, and typhoid and diarrhoea vaccines in Sheikhupura, four in Kasur, and one in Nankana available in abundant quantity at subsidised, fixed vaccines. without GMPs, so we have pre- that 2mn doses have been man- are being manufactured will be Sahib have been established. prices. In the 80s and 90s, the NIH pared a draft policy which will ufactured since. upgraded. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, December 25, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Messi, Ronaldo overshadowed by Mbappe, Modric One of the enduring images from 2018 will remain Kylian Mbappe consoling Lionel Messi in the Russian city of Kazan, just after the fi nal whistle in France’s 4-3 win over Argentina in the last 16 of the World Cup. This was to a large extent Mbappe’s year, as the teenage superstar exploded on the world stage by scoring twice in that game, the fi rst World Cup brace by a teenager since Pele in 1958. Still just 19 at the time, Paris Saint-Germain forward Mbappe also became the fi rst teenager to score in a World Cup fi nal since Pele as France won the trophy for the second Decision time for time by beating Luka Modric’s Croatia 4-2 in the fi nal on a dark and damp Sunday in Moscow. The World Cup itself was a joy to watch, a richly entertaining tournament full of memorable games and concluding with the highest-scoring fi nal since 1966. From Spain’s 3-3 draw with Portugal in the group stage, European Union featuring a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick, to Belgium’s 2-1 quarter-fi nal win over Brazil and Croatia’s epic semi- fi nal defeat of England in extra time, it was studded with By Carl Bildt travelling to Europe has since fallen slowing – and that was even before pursue stronger actions against them. If Stockholm substantially, but fears of a return to the eruption of mass protests in the US responded in kind, the casualties memorable matches. 2015 continue to haunt voters. And, France and Italy’s confrontation with would pile up quickly. But it was much more than that. “Maybe this is one of the more broadly, there is a growing the EU over its proposed budget. One also cannot forget the mounting weirdest World Cups,” said Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic. ay what you will against awareness of how confl icts in the Whereas Italy’s populist government geopolitical and humanitarian His team’s remarkable run to the fi nal and the premature the European Union, but Middle East and demographic trends has sought to blame the country’s challenges on the EU’s periphery. exits of Germany, Spain and Argentina showed that it does not lack ambitions in Africa could threaten European problems on the EU bureaucracy in Trump, driven by an obsession with international football can still be unpredictable. Sor plans for realising them. stability. Brussels, Macron has responded to Iran, seems intent on aggravating Almost immediately after the June Now comes the third challenge: public concerns by calling for even ongoing confl icts in the Middle East. It will also probably be remembered as the tournament 2016 Brexit referendum, the EU’s 27 the UK’s impending withdrawal stronger EU institutions. And it would be absurd to think that marked the end of Messi and Ronaldo’s dreams of lifting other member-states agreed to the from the EU. With Prime Minister But both perspectives elide the fact that Russian President Vladimir the World Cup. “Bratislava Roadmap,” charting the Theresa May having so far failed to that change will depend on politically Putin will refrain from interfering They were eliminated on the same day in the last 16, and course for a future without the United secure parliamentary support for her painful domestic reforms. And besides, in Ukraine’s upcoming presidential 2018 could be remembered as the year when the Messi- Kingdom. One year later, EU leaders negotiated exit deal, Britain is in the regardless of how long Chancellor and parliamentary elections. Russia’s Ronaldo era ended. reconvened in Tallinn and adopted a midst of a full-scale political crisis, and Angela Merkel remains in offi ce, it is blockade of the Kerch Strait – the entry Both enjoyed “Leaders’ Agenda” to “guide EU action EU leaders have no choice but to watch already clear that German backing for a point to the strategically important A thrilling year of up until the European Parliament from the sidelines as the drama unfolds. “transfer union” is not in the cards. The Sea of Azov – and military buildup on prolifi c years, with elections in May 2019.” And now, the A country that once led the world now danger now is that political uncertainty Crimea indicate that Europe cannot let football ends, but the Argentine driving EU is preparing for a summit in Sibiu, cannot even lead itself. in Germany, France, Italy, and the UK down its guard. Barcelona to a Spanish Romania, that same month, where With the European Parliament will create an opening for populists and To manage these and future 2019 also holds league and cup double these blueprints will be fi nalised. election fast approaching, this is no self-declared “illiberal” democrats such challenges, the EU will have to and Ronaldo winning Still, the EU ultimately will be judged time for complacency. After the horrors as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor redefi ne itself, starting in 2019. In an promises another Champions on results, not resolutions. Over the of the Brexit referendum and Donald Orbán to build more walls (physically increasingly dangerous geopolitical League with Real past decade, the bloc has faced two Trump’s election in 2016 came a as well as metaphorically) and mobilise environment, the EU can no longer profound challenges, and it is now in renewal of hope with French President the ghosts of nationalism. rely solely on soft power. And, as is the Madrid before moving to Juventus in the transfer of the year. the process of confronting a third. The Emmanuel Macron’s election in 2017. Moreover, Europe’s external case for all governments, it must start However, their numbers are down on the phenomenal fi rst was the euro crisis, which could But in 2018, Europe’s prospects reverted environment has become more preparing for the digital revolution, or fi gures of past years, and instead it was the impish playmaker have ended with the demise of the to a state of deep uncertainty – nowhere dangerous. Though the world’s risk punishing costs over the near and Modric who won the Ballon d’Or, and FIFA’s best player common currency. Instead, a series more so than in France itself. There can attention is currently fi xed on the risks long term. award, on the strength of his role in Madrid’s Champions of summits were held, and Europe be no telling what 2019 will bring. of an escalating Sino-American trade The Bratislava Roadmap, the Leaders’ League triumph and Croatia’s World Cup run. He was also managed to muddle through. With What we do know is that governance war, the threat of an equally destructive Agenda, and the upcoming Sibiu the best player in Russia. time, member states’ economies started across the EU is becoming more transatlantic confl ict cannot be summit are all well and good – even to recover, and new instruments for co- challenging as large mainstream ignored. Trump seems genuinely necessary. But whereas 2018 was a Ronaldo and Messi had shared the Ballon d’Or between ordinating economic policy within the political parties lose support to upstart to believe that German cars on the year of confusion, 2019 will be year for them for the last decade, winning fi ve each. Ronaldo was eurozone were adopted. parties and movements of both the streets of New York pose a threat to decision-making. European leaders second this time, while Messi was fi fth, behind Antoine But just when the EU was starting to left and the right. In this increasingly US national security. Should he wake must face up to the brutal realities of a Griezmann and Mbappe. regain the public’s trust, it was hit by fragmented and polarised political up one morning and decide to impose changing world. Only then will voters Crowned the best young player, Mbappe will hope the the 2015 refugee crisis, which aff ected landscape, the process of forming heavy import tariff s on European cars, trust them to forge a new path toward a future belongs to him. some countries far more than others, national governments has become long things could get very ugly, very fast. future of peace and prosperity. - Project At club level, his PSG side are among the teams desperate exposing glaring inconsistencies and arduous; even Sweden is following Many European policymakers, already Syndicate to end Real’s run of three straight Champions League titles. in the application of common rules this unfortunate new pattern. convinced that the US-based tech concerning the movement of people. Making matters worse, economic giants are a threat to European security, zCarl Bildt is a former prime minister The Spaniards beat Liverpool in this year’s fi nal in Kyiv The number of asylum seekers growth across the EU appears to be would welcome the opportunity to and foreign minister of Sweden. with Gareth Bale scoring twice, and will hope to retain the trophy next year with the fi nal in Madrid. Meanwhile, there is lots to look forward to at international level in 2019. The new UEFA Nations League has been an instant hit. It will conclude with the four-team fi nals in Portugal in June, with the hosts facing Switzerland and England playing the Netherlands in the last four. However, the main international events in 2019 are elsewhere. The fi rst 24-team Asian Cup takes place in the UAE in January and February, before Brazil hosts the Copa America and the United States defend the CONCACAF Gold Cup. France are hoping to win another World Cup, as they host the 24-team women’s tournament in June and July, with the USA the defending champions. There’s surely a lot to look forward to.

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© 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Europe’s new challenge: the UK’s impending withdrawal from the EU. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 25, 2018 15 COMMENT Reviving civil disobedience

By Jan-Werner Mueller That invocation of love should And in semi-authoritarian contexts Princeton not be taken to mean that civil like Orbán’s Hungary, media are now disobedience must be non- completely dominated by government- confrontational. A highly sanitised friendly actors. Under such conditions, ith populism and and sentimental historical accounting most appeals to what Rawls called authoritarianism on of the 1950s and 1960s might seem to a “public sense of justice” will be the rise around the suggest that the civil-rights movement sidelined, severely distorted, or Wworld, there has been succeeded merely by appealing to silenced altogether. considerable talk of “resistance,” arch-American political principles of Accordingly, potential practitioners especially in the United States. A rather freedom and equality. In reality, part of civil disobedience should not broad term, resistance could refer to of the movement’s strategy was to allow themselves to be caught in a everything from supporting opposition seek out confrontations with police trap of politeness and respectability. candidates to the life-threatening and defenders of white supremacy. When opposition politicians recently work of those who went underground These clashes generated images of disrupted the proceedings of the to sabotage Nazi occupations during white brutality that made at least some Hungarian parliament by blocking World War II. Such vagueness is whites reconsider their unconditional access to the speaker’s podium and helpful, if one wants to appeal to defence of “law and order” under Jim heckling Orbán to his face, they were as many citizens as possible; but it Crow. accused of attempting a putsch. can also cloud one’s thinking when In a recent study of protest In fact, they were merely shining a weighing how best to achieve concrete movements spanning more than spotlight on the fact that the national goals. a century, social scientists Erica assembly is no longer a normal As it happens, there is a more Chenoweth and Maria J Stephan representative body passing legitimate precise alternative to “resistance” show that tough but nonviolent laws. that is rarely mentioned nowadays: confrontation has been twice as Still, aspiring disobeyers will civil disobedience. In theory, civil likely as violent alternatives to bring have to account for the increasingly disobedience should be an eff ective about its stated goals. According to fragmented and polluted nature weapon against populists. But, in their data, sustained participation of the public sphere. Sometimes, practice, it faces two formidable by a mere 3.5% of a population can that will mean engaging fellow challenges. First, there is a be enough to achieve fundamental citizens directly on the street, in widespread misunderstanding of political change. the marketplace, or even through what civil disobedience actually Yet the history of the US civil- door-to-door canvassing. In other entails. And, second, changes in rights movement also points to a situations, it will mean live-streaming the media landscape have made it novel problem in our age. Rawls, acts of civil disobedience and hoping harder to convey the message of civil King, and other defenders of civil that authoritarians’ brutal methods disobedience to a broad and diverse disobedience took it for granted will be exposed to a large enough audience. American civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. argued that one who breaks the law in the name of civil disobedience “is that the message – an appeal to audience through social media. And The American philosopher John in reality expressing the very highest respect for the law,” by highlighting its fundamental injustice in such a way as not to principles of justice – would reach on still other occasions, it will mean Rawls off ered the classic defi nition foreclose on future co-operation with one’s fellow citizens. Picture courtesy: Biography.com a majority of citizens undistorted. pushing for structural changes, such of civil disobedience in the early But today, the public spheres in as a return to the Fairness Doctrine by 1970s. Simply put, it means overt “uncivil” or too “divisive” for an Minister Viktor Orbán’s increasingly King, Jr., who argued that one who many countries have become so broadcasters in the US. law-breaking, but in a conscientious, already polarised society. When authoritarian government have been breaks the law in the name of civil fragmented and partisan that King’s Civil disobedience would certainly nonviolent manner aimed at citizens confronted politicians during dismissed as “liberal anarchists.” disobedience “is in reality expressing idea of “national opinion” now be more eff ective in a less distorted persuading fellow citizens that a law US Supreme Court Justice Brett In each case, the “civil” in civil the very highest respect for the law,” by seems nonsensical. media landscape. But it still represents ought to be changed because it is Kavanaugh’s confi rmation hearings, disobedience has been confl ated with highlighting its fundamental injustice As a recent groundbreaking study one of the most eff ective forms of unjust. In Rawls’s formulation, those they were derided as a “mob.” Even civility, as in politeness or general in such a way as not to foreclose on by three Harvard University scholars democratic “resistance” available. – who commit acts of civil disobedience fellow liberals have admonished the respectability. future co-operation with one’s fellow shows, the US has become home to Project Syndicate should be prepared to accept the Black Lives Matter movement for For his part, Rawls was adamant citizens. Thus, King believed that, a deeply insular “right-wing media penalties for doing so. being too aggressive. And the noisy that any law-breaking be undertaken “one who breaks an unjust law must ecosystem” in which all “news” is zJan-Werner Mueller is professor of Today, even protests that do not demonstrators who have gathered “within the limits of fi delity to the do so openly, lovingly, […] and with a immediately reframed to confi rm the Politics at Princeton University. His break any laws are often decried as in Budapest to protest against Prime law.” He was echoing Martin Luther willingness to accept the penalty.” identity of right-leaning citizens. latest book is What is Populism?

HIV and the SDGs Three-day forecast TODAY Tanzania’s HIV-prevention eff orts, Maximum Temperature : 230c By Christine Stegling Minimum Temperature : 170c Brighton any threat to their members’ human rights is also a threat to the HIV WEDNESDAY response. Maximum Temperature : 240c hirty years ago, when the Nor is Tanzania the exception. On Minimum Temperature : 160c international community the contrary, as a recent report by my THURSDAY marked the fi rst World Aids organisation highlights, the situation Maximum Temperature : 230c TDay, we thought we would is especially dire in the Middle East Minimum Temperature : 170c and North Africa, where forced sex never turn the tide against HIV. But Fisherman's forecast after millions of deaths and years of within and outside of marriage is fear, we now have eff ective strategies pervasive. These coercive and often WARNING violent encounters increase women’s Inshore : Strong wind expected to prevent transmission and bring at places noon time testing and treatment to those in need. risk of exposure to HIV. And yet, despite the remarkable Those on the frontlines of the Aids Offshore : Strong wind and high progress made during the last three response have always recognised sea WEATHER decades – or perhaps because of that the disease cannot be overcome Inshore : Moderate temperature it – we must avoid the temptation to in isolation; rather, it must be daytime with slight dust declare the fi ght against Aids almost addressed through an interconnected at places and scattered clouds, cold by night. over. In many parts of the world, the set of social, cultural, economic, Offshore : Scattered clouds to hardest work is just beginning. and legal challenges. That is why partly cloudy at times Since the turn of the century, activists have spent years working to WIND Inshore : Northwesterly 10-20/25 many of the advances against HIV repeal discriminatory laws, develop KT were enabled by the Millennium education programmes to improve Offshrore : Northwesterly-12-22/32 Development Goals (MDGs), a but if people cannot access medicine ways to close these gaps. sexual and reproductive health, KT 15-year policy roadmap that made or preventive services, even the best- Above all, that means integrating and build networks of supporters Visibility : 4-8 KM reducing the spread of the virus a top designed initiatives will fail. What’s the struggle against HIV more fully who understand that HIV does not priority. This led to an unprecedented more, the obstacles to treatment often into sustainable-development discriminate by nationality, sexuality, Offshore : 3-7/12 FT expansion of prevention and treatment have nothing to do with healthcare, planning. When governments work or economic status. As we continue to tackle the disease, we must not forget services, particularly in developing but rather, are tied to political, to implement the SDGs in areas like Around the region countries. Progress was swift and economic, and social marginalisation. social protection, food security, and the inclusive approach that brought us Weather when the Sustainable Development For example, it can be diffi cult to lower gender-based violence, HIV responses to this point. Weather tomorrow Max/min Goals (SDGs) succeeded the MDGs rates of infection in countries where must also be part of their plans. Only The mantra of the SDGs is “leave no today Max/min P Cloudy 17/11 in 2015, ending Aids was no longer gender inequality prevents women by linking HIV strategies to the issues one behind.” At the moment, however, Baghdad Sunny 16/06 M Sunny 20/13 a standalone goal. Rather, further from making decisions about when, that predispose people to infection – many of those most vulnerable to HIV Kuwait CitySunny 20/10 M Sunny 22/16 progress had become one of 169 where, and even with whom they have such as poverty, education, and gender are being forgotten and will be left Manama Cloudy 22/17 P Cloudy 25/17 targets that the SDGs are supposed to sex. bias – can we hope for a future free behind. Today, HIV infection rates are Muscat Sunny 24/18 Sunny 13/05 achieve by 2030. To be sure, in many parts of the from Aids for everyone, everywhere. highest among the poor and socially Tehran Sunny 11/02 But the transition from a “goal” to a world, HIV is now considered a We have a long way to go before that marginalised, underscoring the fact “target,” combined with steep declines chronic disease manageable with happens. For example, just last month that as long as the SDGs are unmet, in Aids-related deaths, has lulled us medication and lifestyle changes; that in Tanzania, hundreds of lesbian, gay, the “goal” of ending the scourge of into a false sense of accomplishment. fact alone is worthy of celebration. bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) HIV/Aids will remain elusive. – Project Today, many argue that Aids is nearing Nonetheless, millions of people still do people were forced into hiding after a Syndicate its end. Unfortunately, nothing could not know their HIV status or cannot city offi cial in Dar es Salaam warned be further from the truth. get the support they need when they that a taskforce was being created to zChristine Stegling is Executive HIV is a complex issue. Biomedical test positive. If the world is ever to identify and punish gay people. With Director of the International HIV/Aids responses are vital to disease control, overcome HIV/Aids, we must fi nd LGBT groups on the frontlines of Alliance.

Live issues Around the world Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Athens Rain 12/04 M Cloudy 08/03 Beirut Sunny 20/15 Rain 18/13 Tiny box in the chest to zap away worries Bangkok P Cloudy 34/23 P Sunny 34/23 Berlin Cloudy 06/04 Cloudy 07/06 Cairo P Cloudy 22/12 M Sunny 22/12 tiny box implanted in the through the body to help us cope in a thoughts and encouraged to do the The vagus nerve aff ects a range of Cape Town P Cloudy 23/19 Showers 22/17 chest could be a radical new crisis — the so-called ‘fi ght or fl ight’ things they would normally avoid functions, from breathing and heart Colombo T Storm 30/23 S T Storms 29/23 treatment for anxiety. The response. because they fear it might trigger rate to our sense of taste, and is an Dhaka Sunny 26/14 Sunny 25/13 Adevice, around the size of a However, problems arise when anxiety. important pathway from the body to Hong Kong P Cloudy 20/17 Sunny 21/16 matchbox, generates a mild electric this response is disproportionate to Patients may also be off ered the brain. Istanbul Rain 07/03 Cloudy 04/02 current to stimulate the vagus nerve, the situation or occurs when there is antidepressants known as selective Zapping the nerve with electricity Jakarta S T Storms 31/24 T Storm 31/24 running from the chest to the brain. no danger at all. Symptoms include serotonin reuptake inhibitors. alters levels of key brain chemicals Karachi Sunny 26/16 M Sunny 27/12 Scientists believe zapping the a racing heartbeat, shortness of Although eff ective in some, they can and vagus nerve stimulation London M Cloudy 09/06 P Cloudy 09/03 nerve dampens feelings of anxiety breath, a tight chest, nausea, tremor cause side-eff ects. The new implant (VNS) has become an increasingly Manila I T Storms 31/24 P Cloudy 31/24 by increasing ‘feelgood’ chemicals and sweating. Feelings of fear and looks similar to a pacemaker and is popular treatment in recent years Moscow S Showers -8/-12 Snow -9/-11 in areas of the brain that control the detachment are common and can also placed just beneath the collarbone for conditions including epilepsy, New Delhi Fog 21/05 Fog 21/06 emotion. lead to generalised anxiety disorder on the left side of the chest, in an depression, Crohn’s disease and New York M Sunny 06/0 Sunny 07/0 At least 6mn people in Britain will, — feeling anxious all the time for no hour-long procedure done under local tinnitus. Paris P Cloudy 06/-3 P Cloudy 03/-2 at some point in their life, suff er from reason. anaesthetic. In tests on rats, animals given a VNS Sao Paulo Cloudy 24/18 Cloudy 25/18 anxiety so severe they fi nd it disabling, GPs usually treat anxiety with A connecting lead under the skin treatment similar to the new implant Seoul M Cloudy 05/-7 Sunny -1/-14 according to the charity Anxiety UK. so-called ‘talking therapies’, such is wrapped around the vagus nerve in were much less likely to freeze on Singapore S T Storms 31/26 S T Storms 31/26 Anxiety is a normal response to as cognitive behavioural therapy the left side of the neck — this delivers hearing loud noises — a sign of fear Sydney Sunny 27/18 Sunny 27/18 stress or danger and occurs when (CBT). Here, patients are helped bursts of low-dose electricity every and anxiety — than those that were Tokyo Clear 10/02 Cloudy 11/02 the hormone adrenaline is pumped to question negative or anxious fi ve to ten minutes. not treated. – Daily Mail Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, December 25, 2018 QATAR Difi participates in inaugural UN youth forum in Morocco

he Doha International sive narrative for young people number of subjects, includ- Family Institute (Difi), a in the Arab region.’ Bringing ing: family, education, work, Tmember of Qatar Foun- together young people from 22 culture, health, immigration, dation (QF), participated in an different countries, the work- security, justice, women, and event titled ‘The Youth Forum shop addressed the current and community and political par- in the Arab Region’, held in Mo- future status of the youth in ticipation. The workshop con- rocco from December 19 to 21. families and society. cluded with the adoption of The inaugural forum was Dr Ben Brik presented frame- new and comprehensive ele- organised by United Na- works for promoting renewed ments to develop a proposed tions Population Fund and and inclusive dialogues on the new narrative on youth in the A moment from the forum participated by Difi in Morocco. the World Organisation of the youth in the Arab world, in- Arab region. Scout Movement, in partner- cluding successfully shifting Difi is a global policy and ship with the Ministry of Youth from school to the labour mar- advocacy institute working to Cruise ship’s maiden voyage from Qatar to Oman, Kuwait soon and Sports in Morocco and the ket, family formation, and fa- advance knowledge on Arab Mediterranean Forum for Youth cilitating the youth’s participa- families through research and From Page 1 vehicles such as cars and trucks, “It also has a clinic, along with freight forwarders and shipping – Morocco. tion in the development of their promote evidence-based po- among others. a competent medical team, to companies will handle cargo. Dr Anis Ben Brik, director respective nations. lices at a national, regional, Citing MV Grand Ferry’s “We have a good facility inside, take care of passengers.” The “We assure them that we will of Family Policy Department, Additionally, within the and international level. The in- capabilities, Capt Moutsatsos it is a French-made ship with ship also has a helicopter facility. off er good services and very Difi, moderated a workshop at workshop, attendees discussed stitute has special consultative said the 10-deck cruise ship has cinema, lecture/meeting room, Faisal noted that travel agencies in competitive prices (rates). They the forum titled ‘Elements of the views, priorities, and as- status with the United Nations over 270 rooms and can carry salon, coff ee shops, recreation Qatar will handle all reservations can travel with or without their the envisaged new and inclu- pirations of Arab youth on a Economic and Social Council. passengers and various types of and children’s room,” he said. for passengers with car while vehicles,” he added. NTC launches drive to attract Indian tourists atar is now being pro- First-ever joint campaign with Cox & to the destination,” he noted. Kings’ 5-day travel agent training moted by Cox & Kings “Qatar introduced many new camp. At the camp, tourism pro- QIndia as the group’s new Kings to target potential visitors; 260 tourism products and our staff fessionals had an opportunity to preferred destination, the Na- travel agents from India have experienced them fi rst hand experience fi rst-hand the unique tional Tourism Council (NTC) to promote the destination in the experiences Qatar has to off er. has announced. The marketing attended training camp in Qatar Indian market.” Following this mega familiri- and promotion campaign comes The integrated marketing sation trip, numerous initiatives as part of a strategic partnership offi cial, said in a press statement. explore both the traditional and campaign will use online and will be rolled out over the com- with NTC aimed at boosting the “India is a priority market for contemporary sides of Qatar. traditional media tools to tar- ing 12 months including a golf destination’s profi le to attract us and we look forward to wel- “Qatar has a lot to off er and get travellers both directly and tournament in Doha, a master luxury, business and independ- coming Indian visitors in Qatar NTC has been very proactive in through travel and tourism trade. chef travel series, as well as oth- ent travellers to visit Qatar. to discover our destination’s promoting the destination. Ini- In addition to creating a special er training and incentives pro- “We are pleased to be partner- authentic experiences all while tiatives such as free entry visas landing page on the Cox & Kings grammes. ing with Cox & Kings group for enjoying our famed Arabian hos- for Indians will encourage more website, proactive marketing Every week, there are 176 the destination’s fi rst-ever inte- pitality,” he added. people to travel to Qatar in large and promotion activities will be fl ights connecting Indian cities to grated campaign in India. Qatar Established in 1758, Cox & numbers,” Karan Anand, head carried out through digital cam- Doha off ered by Qatar Airways as is an easily accessible destination Kings Ltd is headquartered in of relationships at Cox & Kings, paigns in targeted cities as well as well as Indian airlines Indigo, Jet within a few hours from most India and the UK with a global said. advertising in national media. Airways and Air India Express. Indian cities making it attractive presence across North America, “Direct air connectivity from As part of the campaign’s focus Since January of this year, Qatar for travellers looking for short Europe, Asia & Oceania. As part metropolises and secondary cit- on trade – and coinciding with welcomed more than 335,000 In- city getaways or a convenient of this campaign, it is off ering In- ies to the destination is an added the group’s 260th anniversary dian visitors, representing a 25% stopover when heading further dian travellers itineraries to tour- advantage and we will focus on celebrations — 260 travel agents increase compared to the same Rashed al-Qurese West,” Rashed al-Qurese, NTC ism hot spots and activities that these markets to boost numbers came to Qatar to attend Cox & period last year. DFI selects 38 projects for Grants programme

he Doha Film Institute this cycle, including 150 ap- The Earth Doesn’t Move (Tuni- (DFI) has selected 38 plications from non-Mena sia, France, Italy, Qatar) by Yosr Tprojects by emerging countries. Eight non-Mena Gasmi. Feature Documen- and established Qatari and in- post production projects have tary: We Are Inside (Lebanon, ternational directors, includ- been awarded this cycle – a Qatar) by Farah Kassem. ing Mena directors from over record number – and eight ex- Web Series: Zyara (Leb- 15 countries for its Fall 2018 perimental or essay projects by anon, Qatar) by Muriel Aboul- Grants programme. Mena and non-Mena filmmak- rouss; The Closet Sessions (Jor- For the first time, DFI grants ers have also been selected. dan, Qatar) by Ahmad Satti are also being awarded for TV The films chosen for devel- Ibrahim. and web series helmed by Mena opment grants are: Feature Short Narrative: Al-Sit scriptwriters and directors, Narrative: Beirut 1931 (Pales- (Sudan, Qatar) by Suzannah with two projects supported in tine, Qatar) by Kamal Aljafari; Mirghani; Border (Qatar) by each category. In Vitro (Palestine, Switzer- Khalifa al-Thani; The Bath (Tu- “By elevating original voices land, France, Denmark, Qatar), nisia, France, Qatar) by Anissa The Forbidden Strings in cinema, promoting creative the first feature by Larissa San- Daoud; The Bystander (Leba- interaction and providing crea- sour; Mama, Where Are You? non, Qatar) by Rachel Aoun. tive support throughout the (Kuwait, France, Qatar) by Short Experimental: This filmmaking cycle, we intend to Meqdad al-Kout; Where Did Haunting Memory That Is Not establish a robust film ecosys- I Leave My Face? (Palestine, My Own (Lebanon, Germany, tem in the Arab world,” said DFI France, Germany, Qatar) by Qatar) by Panos Aprahamian. CEO Fatma Hassan al-Remaihi. Ramzi Maqdisi. The film projects in post- Of the 38 projects selected, Feature Documentary: production stage chosen for three are by Qatari filmmakers Femmetasia (Morocco, Bel- the Grants are: Feature Narra- – for two short narratives and gium, Qatar) by Mouhssine El tive: Sanctorum (Mexico, Qa- one feature documentary. In Badaoui; You Don’t Die Two tar) by Joshua Gil; Sirena (Bo- all, 18 women filmmakers will Times (Algeria, Qatar) by Ager livia, Qatar) by Carlos Piñeiro. receive the grants this cycle. Oueslati. Feature Documentary: There are also five returning TV Series - TCA186: The Froth (Russia, Qatar) by Ilia Po- filmmakers who will receive Tarmac Year (Lebanon, Qatar) volotskiy; Loving Wallada (Tu- Movement the grants, highlighting the In- by Mohamed Berro; The Vibes nisia, Qatar) by the established stitute’s commitment to long- (Tunisia, Switzerland, Qatar) filmmaker Nacer Khemir: term relationships. Marking by Erige Sehiri. Movement (Morocco, Lebanon, DFI’s commitment to support The winners of the DFI Fall Qatar) by Nadir Bouhmouch: powerful projects by estab- 2018 Grants for projects in the The Forbidden Strings (Afghan- lished filmmaker, in this cycle, production stage are: istan, Iran, Qatar) by Hasan a new film project by Nacer Feature Narrative: Barzakh Noori; The Marriage Project Khemir has been selected for (working title – Palestine/Ger- (Iran, France, Qatar) by Atieh the grants. many/Qatar) by Laila Abbas; Attarzadeh and Hesam Eslami; As the Palestine Film Unit Costa Brava Lebanon (Lebanon, The Waiting Bench (Sudan, marks its 50th anniversary, six France, Sweden, Norway, Qa- France, Germany, Chad, Qatar) To The Ends of The Earth selected Palestinian projects tar) by Mounia Akl; by Suhaib Gasmelbari. demonstrate the industry to be Happy Holidays (Palestine, Feature Experimental as prolific as ever. Germany, France, Qatar) by or Essay: Mother, I Lebanon is also strongly rep- Scandar Copti; Mediterranean Am Suffocating. This Is My Last resented with seven grantees Fever (Palestine, France, Qa- Film About You. (Lesotho, Ger- while projects from Mexico, tar) by Maha Haj; Severed Head many, Qatar) by Lemohang Jer- Lesotho and Russia have been (Tunisia, France, Qatar) by emiah Mosese; Speak So I Can awarded for the first time. Lotfi Achour; The Alleys (Jor- See You (Serbia, Croatia, Qatar) Grants are also awarded to dan, France, Qatar) by Bassel by Marija Stojnic; To The Ends filmmakers from Afghanistan, Ghandour. Of The Earth (Qatar) by Hamida Algeria, Bolivia, Iran, Jordan, Feature Experimental or Issa; What We Left Unfinished Kuwait, Morocco, Serbia, Su- Essay: It’s Far Away Where (Afghanistan, US, Qatar) by dan, and Tunisia. I Must Go (Morocco, Belgium, Mariam Ghani. The DFI Fall 2018 Grants Qatar) by Karima Saidi about Short Narrative: Me, Myself, programme saw the highest Aicha; The Dam (Lebanon, and A I (Qatar) by Maha al-Je- number of applications at 467 France, Qatar) by Ali Cherri; fairi. In Vitro Sirena