BUSINESS | Page 12 SPORT | Page 1 Xavi-less Al Sadd on edge ahead of INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 3 – 5, 23, 24 COMMENT 21, 22 Aviation industry REGION 6 BUSINESS 1 – 4, 10 – 12 Mesaimeer 17,017.00 9,912.92 34.55 ARAB WORLD 7, 8 CLASSIFIED 5 – 9 targets 1.5% fuel -339.00 +50.89 -0.40 INTERNATIONAL 9 – 20 SPORTS 1 – 12 -1.95% +0.52% -1.14% effi ciency a year clash Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

SUNDAY Vol. XXXVI No. 9942 December 20, 2015 Rabia I 9, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals New Star Wars shines Opposition In brief sceptical REGION | Confl ict Heavy casualties in Yemen fi ghting Fierce fighting between government forces and Iran- over Syria backed rebels in Yemen produced heavy casualties yesterday amid UN alarm at ceasefire violations ahead of a final day of peace talks in Switzerland. At least 68 people were killed near the northern town of Haradh, which was overrun by peace plan loyalists on Thursday, military and tribal sources said. The casualties The plan was described as group hinges on a peaceful settlement were 28 troops and 40 Shia Houthi unrealistic by the Istanbul-based in the civil war. rebels, with another 50 Houthis National Coalition, the main Syrian “We know that Daesh can never be and 40 loyalists wounded. The UN Star Wars fans raise their lightsabers during Lightsaber Battle LA in Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. Star opposition grouping allowed to gain control in Syria so we confirmed that today would be the Wars: The Force Awakens raked in an estimated $120.5mn in its first full day in US and Canadian theatres, setting an industry have a global imperative here to deal last day of the talks. Page 6 record, Disney said yesterday. The movie is likely to become the highest grossing film in an opening weekend, Disney added, AFP with a terrorist entity but also to end while reporting that it had already made $250mn globally. Page 10 Beirut the civil war,” he said, using an Arabic acronym for IS. ARAB WORLD | Unrest He said Assad had “lost the abil- Turkey announces UN-backed roadmap to end the ity, the credibility” to unite and govern Iraq troop pullout Syrian war was met with scepti- Syria. Acism yesterday by members of But experts nevertheless see a nar- Turkey yesterday said it would the country’s fractured opposition who rowing of diff erences between the ma- “continue” to pull its troops Talks on seeking release of insist President Bashar al-Assad must jor powers. out of northern Iraq after US go to achieve peace. “The West and Russia’s position are President Barack Obama urged The US and Russian initiative, unan- coming closer together,” Alexander President Recep Tayyip Erdogan imously approved by the UN Security Baunov, a political analyst at the Carn- to do so in order to de-escalate kidnapped Qatari citizens Council on Friday, foresees talks be- egie Moscow Center, said. tensions with Baghdad over the tween the rebels and the regime and “Russia would not have voted for a deployment. “Taking into account a rapid ceasefi re, perhaps even next resolution in which it would have been the sensitivities on the Iraqi side... QNA his hope of securing the release of the that these eff orts will contribute to month. written that Assad needs to step down. Turkey will continue the process Doha/Baghdad Qatari citizens as soon as possible. their release as soon as possible. But the plan was described as unre- The absence of Assad is a form of com- it has already begun to withdraw For his part, Prime Minister al- For his part, the Iraqi Prime Min- alistic by the Istanbul-based National promise to get the resolution through.” its troops stationed in Mosul Abadi stressed that Iraqi security was ister stressed that the competent se- Coalition, the main Syrian opposition Karim Bitar, head of research at the province,” the foreign ministry said E the Prime Minister and working on releasing the Qatari citi- curity agencies are working hard for grouping. Institute for International and Strate- in a statement. Minister of Interior Sheikh zens. their release. The resolution “undermines the gic Aff airs, described the UN-backed HAbdullah bin Nasser bin Kha- Meanwhile, al-Abadi met in Bagh- The meeting was attended by Iraqi outcome of the meetings of revolution- plan as “a very signifi cant fi rst step” lifa al-Thani held yesterday a tel- dad with Qatar’s Assistant Foreign Interior Minister Mohamed Salem ary forces in Riyadh and waters down but added that “many ambiguities and AMERICA | Obituary ephone conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister HE Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Ghabban, Iraq’s National Security previous UN resolutions concerning ulterior motives remain”. Musical maestro Minister Dr Haider al-Abadi. al-Rumaihi. Adviser Faleh al-Fayad, and a number a political solution in Syria,” coalition “Sunni regional powers still fear that They discussed developments in Discussions during the meeting of Iraqi offi cials. head Khaled Khoja said on Twitter. this pragmatism perpetuates the status Kurt Masur dies the kidnapping of Qatari citizens in dealt with the kidnapping of Qatari On the Qatari side, the meeting was Fellow coalition member Samir quo and allows Assad to stay too long Kurt Masur, the German conductor Iraq. HE the Prime Minister of Qatar nationals in Iraq, where HE Assistant attended by Qatar’s ambassador to Nashar said bombing by the regime during a transition period,” he said. who revitalised the New York expressed his appreciation to the ef- Foreign Minister expressed apprecia- Iraq Zayed bin Saeed al-Kharyeen and and Russia must stop for there to be a The Security Council resolution calls Philharmonic and played a forts of the Iraqi government in deal- tion of the eff orts of the Iraqi govern- the delegation accompanying HE the sustainable ceasefi re, otherwise “the for “free and fair elections” supervised key role in peaceful protests in ing with the situation. He expressed ment to follow up the matter, hoping Assistant Foreign Minister. agreement is absolutely not applicate”. by the UN within 18 months in which Leipzig that paved the way for The Security Council met after the all Syrians would be eligible to vote. the 1990 reunification of postwar latest round of talks by the Interna- More than 250,000 people have died Germany, died in Greenwich, tional Syria Support Group (ISSG), since the confl ict erupted in March Connecticut yesterday at age 88. which had gathered in New York to re- 2011, and millions more have fl ed their Masur’s distinguished musical new its push for peace. homes. career saw him rise from an Beijing on “In January we hope and expect to be Regime troops backed by Russian orchestra coach at a theatre in at the table and to be able to implement warplanes have sought to wrest back communist East Germany to a full ceasefi re,” US Secretary of State ground from Assad’s opponents in re- roles including music director of red alert John Kerry said. cent weeks. the New York Philharmonic and “And that means all the barrel bombs They suff ered a setback yesterday as principal conductor of the London will stop, all the bombing, all the rebels managed to recapture a hilltop Philharmonic Orchestra. AFP shooting, all the attacks on either side.” overlooking a strategic highway in As- Beijing The US and Arab allies remain con- sad’s coastal heartland, Latakia, just vinced Assad must leave offi ce as part days after they were forced to retreat. EAST ASIA | Pageant of the process, but his allies Moscow The Britain-based Syrian Observa- Spanish model claims eijing issued its second-ever and Tehran insist this is a decision for tory for Human Rights said 18 pro- Miss World crown red alert for smog and put its the Syrian people. government fi ghters and several rebels Bemergency response plan into The resolution does not touch on were killed. Spanish model Mireia Lalaguna action once again as severe pollution this vital issue. It also reported that Kurdish fi ghters was crowned Miss World 2015 after hit China’s capital yesterday. “We often hear the argument that from the People’s Protection Units yes- beating out 113 contestants from The notice from the capital’s envi- without resolving the Assad question, terday agreed a ceasefi re with Islamist across the globe last night at a ronmental bureau ordered factories to it is impossible to truly co-ordinate in militants in the Sheikh Maqsud neigh- coastal resort city in south China’s close and pulled half of all private cars the fi ght against terrorism,” Russian bourhood of Aleppo after three weeks Hainan Province. The pharmacy off the streets, among other measures, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. of clashes. student from Barcelona claimed as bad air fl ooded into the city for the Steam rises behind a wall of the Forbidden City, once the home of China’s “This is a dangerous logic, a danger- Dozens of people on both sides have the illustrious crown after winning third “airpocalypse” of the month. emperors, on a polluted day in Beijing yesterday. ous approach,” RIA Novosti news agen- been killed in the fi ghting, which also over the contest’s judges during The red alert, the highest tier of a cy quoted him as saying. involved Al Qaeda’s Syria affi liate, Al the 65th edition of the world four-colour warning system, will last ronmental Protection Bureau’s web- level alert has been issued since the Kerry, who has “agreed to disagree” Nusra Front, in the northern city’s famous pageant in China’s Sanya. until Tuesday, according to a state- site. city established a pollution warning with Moscow on Assad’s fate, empha- mostly-Kurdish district since it erupt- Page 13 ment on the Beijing Municipal Envi- It is the second time the highest system in 2013. Page 13 sised that victory over the Islamic State ed at the end of November. GCC visitors among National Day revellers

By Ayman Adly the Qatari fl ag, along with images of and patriotic songs fi lled the air. Traditional Arabic coff ee was served Staff Reporter HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- A fi reworks display lit up the night to guests along with exquisite varieties mad al-Thani and HH the Father Emir sky over the Corniche, enthralling the of dates. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani as large crowds that had gathered there. The tribesmen stressed the progress large number of citizens, ex- well as verses expressing their pride in The revellers expressed joy at par- achieved by the country in recent years patriates and foreign visitors taking part in the celebrations. ticipating in the celebrations at the due to the wise leadership of HH the Athronged the Corniche from the A number of vehicles bearing number Corniche and elsewhere in the country. Emir. afternoon until late at night on Friday plates of the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Sau- The festivities took place at various lo- Meanwhile, expatriate communities to express their love and loyalty for Qa- di Arabia and Kuwait could be seen on cations and highlighted the culture and and government and private entities tar on the occasion of the National Day. Corniche Street. heritage of Qatar. took part in the celebrations with many Earlier on Friday, the Corniche Traffi c, meanwhile, was slow as hun- The tribes of Qatar organised dis- of them holding special events in order played host to the annual National Day dreds of vehicles jostled for space along tinguished events to mark the occasion to express their love and gratitude for parade, attended by VVIPs, dignitaries the road. However, this did not deter and express their pride at being part of the country. and a number of Qatar inhabitants. the crowds from participating in the this country. Their celebrations were “Despite the traffi c jams, it was a Among those who fl ocked to the festivities. held in pavilions set up especially for great occasion that affi rmed the love Corniche on Friday were several visi- Cars could be seen slowly making the occasion and included recitation of the people for this country and their tors from neighbouring GCC states. their way through the congested stretch Traff ic along the Corniche on Friday. Seen in the picture is a vehicle specially of patriotic poems and the traditional strong confi dence in its leadership,” a They came in vehicles decorated with even as children waved the Qatari fl ag decorated for the occasion. PICTURE: Thajudheen sword dance. resident said.

Gulf Times Sunday, December 20, 2015 3 QATAR

Ooredoo Group selects GoSwiff as global mobile payments partner

oredoo Group has se- boarding in emerging mar- lected GoSwiff , a global kets, we are confi dent that Omobile payments and our partnership with GoSwiff marketing solutions provider, will enable us to broaden our as its partner for the imple- off er and engage even more mentation of its international eff ectively with our custom- mPOS (mobile point of sale) ers,” said Ooredoo Group CEO platform. Sheikh Saud bin Nasser al- The partnership will cover Thani. some nine markets cover- ing Algeria, Indonesia, Iraq, “We are proud to have Kuwait, Myanmar, Maldives, been selected by Ooredoo Oman, Qatar and Tunisia. It Group as its global will include recruiting mer- partner as the company Executives from public and private organisations in Qatar and the Middle East complete training programme on eMarketing in tourism recently. chants to the platform, from introduces its off er of large corporates to micro- mobile payments to nine merchants. exciting markets across GoSwiff will provide an in- North Africa, Middle East tegrated multi-payment solu- and South East Asia” tion including mPOS, mobile money and airtime top-up “We are proud to have been Tourism sector executives attend for Ooredoo’s merchant cli- selected by Ooredoo Group as ents. The service will also its global partner as the com- include value added services pany introduces its off er of including merchant reward mobile payments to nine ex- programmes, to encourage a citing markets across North eMarketing training programme greater volume of transac- Africa, Middle East and South tions, and consumer loyalty East Asia. We already have ore than 70 executives to equip tourism sector offi cials as the regional hub for tourism case-study in developing tour- for developing an eMarketing tools that will enable Ooredoo a presence in each of these from public and private and professionals across Qa- education in the Gulf. ism through marketing and so- strategy in tourism, in addition to better engage with its cus- regions and, with this new Morganisations in Qatar tar and the Mena region with cial media. to a selection of tools available to tomers. partnership with Ooredoo, and the Middle East have com- knowledge, capacity and skills in “Our aim is to empower the UNWTO studies show that them as eMarketers to succeed in As part of the agreement, look forward to serving local pleted the Regional Executive eMarketing. private sector and equip the expansion of new technolo- their role. Ooredoo Group is outsourcing merchants even better,” said Training Programme on eMar- Mohamed al-Mahmeed, head them with tools such as best gies has transformed the tourism “This is the second time I managed services for mPOS to GoSwiff CEO Simone Ranucci keting in tourism held recently. of Tourism Investment Promo- practices and a platform sector in unprecedented ways, have done a training course on GoSwiff , including merchant Brandimarte. Organised by Qatar Tour- tion at QTA, said they had jointly for knowledge sharing, so presenting immense opportuni- this topic. The subject this time profi ling, segmentation and “Our focus will be on ism Authority (QTA) and con- trained close to 600 industry pro- that they are better able to ties as well as great challenges around is a lot more interesting, engagement with diff erent in- long term value creation, ducted by the United Nations fessionals from across the region diversify and promote a for the public and private tour- as there is more emphasis on so- dustry verticals. offering a seamless buy- World Tourism Organisation in various aspects in tourism. sustainable tourism sector” ism sectors that need to keep up cial media as the new marketing “With its comprehensive ing experience to custom- (UNWTO) and its Themis Foun- “Our aim is to empower the pri- with constantly changing and tool, and the professors had a range of services and inter- ers, benefiting Ooredoo’s dation, the three-day training vate sector and equip them with Faisal al-Nuaimi, director competitive environment. wealth of knowledge to share,” national experience, GoSwiff customers both online and provided participants with in- tools such as best practices and a general of Tourism Development The course provided a plat- said Tamara Khalil, corporate is a strong partner to help at the point of sale. We look ternational expertise in tourism platform for knowledge sharing, at the Tourism Development De- form for participants to examine director of Marketing Commu- Ooredoo build our mPOS forward to developing new eMarketing. so that they are better able to di- partment of Ajman, UAE, noted the latest developments and best nications at Katara Hospitality. platform. Combined with its services jointly in the future The programme also includ- versify and promote a sustainable that the course has shown how practices in eMarketing, includ- “The course is also more diver- global footprint and extensive and bring innovation into ed a conference and two-day tourism sector,” he said. much Qatar is doing to support ing social media and content sifi ed, with participants from capabilities in outsourcing the countries we operate in workshop held in both English Al-Mahmeed added that QTA the tourism sector with UN- marketing. They were also intro- all over the region and diff erent the deployment, merchant together,” said GoSwiff COO and Arabic. The course aimed is also working to position Qatar WTO taking the country as a duced to a step-by-step process parts of the industry.” acquisition and merchant on- Stefano Diemmi. Gulf Times 4 Sunday, December 20, 2015 QATAR

Hamad Hospital Trauma Centre anniversary

Leaders and multidisciplinary staff from across Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) recently gathered to celebrate the 8th anniversary of the Trauma Centre at Hamad General Hospital (HGH). The participants also attended the 4th Trauma Multidisciplinary Critical Care Educational Day, which highlights the importance of teamwork among multi-disciplinary professionals providing care to severely injured patients.

Qatar’s missions hold special events to mark National Day

QNA velopment process in the man Harbash attended the sador said that December Doha State. Thus, Qatar has suc- event. 18th was the day that every- ceeded in making signifi - In Turkmenistan, Qatar’s one refl ects on the achieve- cant achievements in eco- ambassador Khalifa bin ments of those who founded atar’s embassies and nomic, social, health and Ahmed al-Suwaidi held a the State of Qatar led by diplomatic mis- educational fi elds, based on ceremony that was attended Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed Qsions abroad con- Qatar National Vision 2030. by Minister of Oil and Gas bin Thani. tinued celebrations to mark In Amman, Qatar’s am- of Turkmenistan Muham- The ambassador added the country’s National Day, bassador to Jordan Bandar metnur Halylov. He praised that celebrating National which falls on December bin Mohamed Abdullah Turkmen-Qatari relations. Day was crucial to Qatari 18 to commemorate the al-Attiyah hosted a recep- In Mexico, Qatari ambas- youth as it helps maintain founder Sheikh Jassim bin tion, attended by Jordan’s sador Ahmed bin Abdullah their link to the traditions of Mohamed bin Thani. Senate president Faisal al- also held a ceremony that the country. Qatar’s ambassador to Fayez, Speaker of the House was attended by a number In Tokyo, Qatar’s ambas- Lebanon hosted a reception of Representatives Atef of Ministers and diplomats. sador Yousif Mohamed Bilal in the capital Beirut to cel- Tarawneh, Interior Min- In Djibouti, ambassador held a ceremony at Imperial ebrate the Day. ister Salamah Hammad, Jassim bin Jaber Jassim So- Hotel, attended by Chair- The ceremony was at- Minister of Awqaf and Is- rour held a ceremony that man of the General Coun- tended by Lebanese Dep- lamic and Sancitities Aff airs was attended by many rank- cil of Japan’s ruling council uty Prime Minister and Hayel Abdul-Hafeez, and ing offi cials from Djibouti, Toshihiro Nikaio, who is Minister of Defense Samir several other high-ranking led by Minister of Foreign also the president of Japa- Moqbel, representing the offi cials, dignitaries, lead- Aff airs Mahamoud Ali Yous- nese Parliamentary Asso- Prime Minister Tammam erships, businessmen, rep- souf. Minister of Higher ciation for Friendship with Salam and Speaker of the resentatives of regional and Education Nabil Mohamed the State of Qatar and the Parliament Nabih Berri, international organisations Ahmed also attended along Minister of Economy, Trade along with ministers, depu- and heads and members of with Minister of Transport and Industry Motoo Hay- ties, ambassadors of Arab the diplomatic corps ac- Ahmed Hassan. ashi in addition to diplo- and foreign countries ac- credited to Jordan. In Brussels, Ambassa- mats, businessmen, public credited to Lebanon, as well In a speech on the occa- dor of Qatar to Belgium HE fi gures and representatives as representatives from the sion, the Qatari ambassador Sheikh Ali bin Jassim al- of Japanese media. fi eld of politics, culture, art highlighted the important Thani, who is also the head In his speech, the ambas- and media, religious fi gures achievements of Qatar un- of Mission to the European sador congratulated HH the and military personnel. der the leadership of HH the Union, held a ceremony to Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- In a speech on the oc- Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- celebrate Qatar National mad al-Thani, HH the Fa- casion, the ambassador mad al-Thani. Day. A number of offi cials ther Emir Sheikh Hamad bin extended heartfelt con- In Vienna, Qatar’s am- from Belgium, European Un- Khalifa al-Thani and the Qa- gratulations to HH the Emir bassador to Austria Ali ion and Nato attended the tari people. The ambassador Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Khalfan al-Mansouri, who ceremony. Arab and foreign praised the Qatari-Japanese al-Thani, HH the Father is also the country’s per- ambassadors as well as Qa- relations which were estab- Emir Sheikh Hamad bin manent representative to tari citizens in Belgium also lished in 1972. Khalifa al-Thani, and to all the International Organi- attended the ceremony. In Colombo, Qatar’s citizens and residents of sations in Vienna, held a In his speech, the am- embassy held a ceremony Qatar. ceremony to celebrate the bassador congratulated HH which was attended by the He underlined that the National Day. Prominent the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Sri Lankan Minister of Ur- leadership of Qatar was Austrian politicians and Hamad al-Thani, HH the ban Planning and Water keen on unlocking the hu- the director-general of the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad Supply Rauf Hakeem and a man potential as the basis Opec Fund for Interna- bin Khalifa al-Thani and the number of Sri Lankan min- of the comprehensive de- tional Development Sulei- Qatari people. The ambas- isters and offi cials.

Commercial Arbitration Law due in first half of 2016: Minister

Qatar’s commercial arbitration law will be due in the first half of 2016, HE Minister of Justice Dr Hassan Lahdan Saqr al-Mhannadi said yesterday. Speaking at the annual conference of lawyers and arbitrators, which is taking place in Doha, the Minister said that the investment environment in the GCC will see many developments.

Minister attends inauguration of Kuwaiti stadium

HE Qatar’s Minister of Youth and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali yesterday participated in the inauguration of Jaber al- Ahmed International Stadium, under the patronage of Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al- Ahmed al-Sabah. The Minister of Youth and Sports wished the Kuwaiti leadership and people further progress. He expressed his hope that the new stadium will host many prominent sporting events in the future. His Excellency also extended his congratulations to Kuwait’s Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Aff airs Sheikh Salman al-Hamoud al-Sabah. The 400,000-sq-m stadium can take up to 60,000 spectators. Gulf Times Sunday, December 20, 2015 5 QATAR QF Radio inspires children at National Day celebrations

F Radio, the in- house broadcast- Qing station of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development’s (QF), is giv- ing children the opportuni- ty to act as radio presenters as part of National Day cel- ebration at Darb Al Saai. Taking place in a special- ly-designed booth set up in QF’s tent, school children learn how to be radio pre- senters and get the chance to interview visitors. The activity is designed to boost the participants’ confi dence and enhance their methods of self-expression, as well as think about potential career paths, which is in-line with QF’s overarching mission of Young boys send a message to Qatar on National Day at the QF Radio booth at Darb Al Saai unlocking human potential. tent. Below: Children from the English Modern School participate in the QF Radio activity at Jawaher F al-Mana, Ara- Darb Al Saai tent bic Station Supervisor, QF Radio, said: “One of our ob- jectives at QF Radio is to in- vest in people and help them realise their full potential. And we are doing just that here in Qatar Foundation’s Darb Al Saai tent as we are providing local children and youth with a unique op- portunity to learn how to be radio presenters and media personalities.” Catering to both Arabic and English speakers, the activity has proved popular amongst both children and parents alike. Mohammed al-Kaabi, an 11-year-old Qatari student at Oxford English School, said: “This is the fi rst time I have ever spoken on the radio. It is re- ally interesting to know that ternoon throughout the as well as hosting interviews ting from QF Radio at Darb everybody can hear your National Day celebrations, with visitors, including QF Al-Saai. Young men and voice, it almost feels like I QF Radio has been broad- management, families, and women are lining up guests, am on television. Now I am casting special live coverage VIPs. conducting interviews with thinking about being a re- from Darb Al Saai, high- Furthermore, students them, which are then edited porter when I grow up.” lighting the activities tak- from various universities and presented as in-depth Additionally, every af- ing place within QF’s tent, across QF are also benefi t- reports on QF Radio. Gulf Times 6 Sunday, December 20, 2015 REGION Iran to ship out enriched uranium within days

Reuters be used in nuclear weapons, Once the United Nations veri- the amount that Iran must export January, to boost pro-govern- Nevertheless, the economy to the United Nations’ Interna- Dubai was at the heart of the deal Iran fi es those steps, international to bring its stock down to the re- ment candidates in February 26 has stagnated since the deal was tional Atomic Energy Agency said reached in July with a group of six sanctions will be lifted, giving quired level. elections to parliament and the reached, as consumers hold off Iran was working to complete the world powers. Iran access to global markets for He said the enriched uranium Assembly of Experts, the clerical on spending until the market requirements in the next two to ran will export most of its en- Under its terms, Iran must cut the fi rst time in years and open- would be taken out of Iran on body that chooses the supreme opens up. three weeks, after the UN watch- riched uranium to Russia in its stockpile to around 300kg and ing a lifeline for its ailing econo- board a Russian ship. Iran has leader. With no concrete improve- dog closed its investigation of Ithe coming days as it rushes mothball most of the centrifuges my. already received a shipment of Iran is set to reap an economic ment to voters’ quality of life, the Iran’s past nuclear activities. to implement a nuclear deal and that produce the enriched fuel. “In the next few days around yellowcake, an unenriched ura- windfall once sanctions are lift- government risks losing its ‘nu- IAEA chief Yukiya Amano, secure relief from international It must also remove the core of a nine tonnes of Iran’s enriched nium compound, from Russia in ed. The government has pledged clear dividend’ if sanctions have responsible for verifying that sanctions, Tehran’s nuclear chief heavy water reactor at Arak so it uranium will be exported to Rus- exchange for the stockpile. to quickly boost oil production, not been lifted before the elec- Tehran has taken the necessary was quoted as saying yesterday. cannot be used to produce pluto- sia,” nuclear chief Ali Akbar Sale- President Hassan Rouhani’s and foreign companies are jock- tions; hardliners opposed to the steps, said in an interview that Drastically reducing its stock nium, another potential bomb- hi was quoted as saying by state government is aiming to get eying to enter the market of some deal would stand to gain. it is “not impossible” that sanc- of enriched uranium, which can making source. news agency Irna. That is roughly sanctions lifted by the end of 80mn people. On Wednesday, Tehran’s envoy tions could be lifted in January. Yemen forces press advance against rebels Government forces are Ghayl and Al Maton districts, ac- It was issued after a fourth day now heading west, toward cording to sources in the pro-Hadi of rocky peace talks, during which the contiguous rebel Popular Resistance militia. the special envoy “held several strongholds of Amran and The two areas fell after clashes sessions with the participants”, the Saada provinces, which lie between advancing forces and statement added. immediately to the north of rebels and renegade troops loyal The discussions “focused mostly the capital to former president Ali Abdullah on security issues in Yemen, in light Saleh, said Ameen al-Ukaymi, a of the alarming developments on AFP tribal chief of the Popular Resist- the ground”, it said, stressing that Aden ance. both sides had “renewed their com- Government forces are now mitment for a ceasefi re”. heading west, toward the contigu- “A co-ordination and de-esca- ighting raged between Yem- ous rebel strongholds of Amran lation committee was created to eni government forces and and Saada provinces, which lie strengthen adherence to the ces- FIran-backed rebels yesterday immediately to the north of the sation of hostilities,” the statement as the UN voiced alarm at ceasefi re capital, Ukaymi said. said. violations but insisted that peace Military sources said pro-Hadi The UN announced a fi rst talks in Switzerland are still alive. forces, which are supported by a breakthrough in the talks on Loyalists were within 40km Saudi-led Arab coalition, brought Thursday, saying the sides had A woman wears a facemask as she walks in a heavily polluted area in Tehran yesterday. of the rebel-held capital as they reinforcements to Hazm yester- agreed to “allow for a full and im- pressed their advance against the day, including tanks and armoured mediate resumption of humani- Shia insurgents, military sources vehicles. tarian assistance” in the fl ashpoint said. The operations took place despite city of Taez. Pro-Hadi forces supported by a ceasefi re that has been repeatedly But a local relief group, the Hu- a Saudi-led coalition were keep- violated since it entered into force manitarian Relief Coalition, said Schools shut in Tehran as ing up pressure in Nihm district, on Tuesday, as UN-sponsored talks no UN aid had reached the city, Sanaa province, after signifi cant began in Switzerland. accusing rebels of blocking aid de- gains in Marib province, east of the The UN Yemen envoy was livery to areas where Hadi loyalists capital. “deeply concerned at the numer- are holed up. The forces loyal to President ous reports of violations of the On Thursday, pro-government air pollution levels soar Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, and cessation of hostilities”, his offi ce forces and rebels completed an ex- allied tribes in the area, have laid said late Friday. change of hundreds of prisoners in siege to Nihm’s Fardha military His comments came after the the southern province of Lahj. Agencies The offi cial Irna news agency Peak pollution hit 180 in snow-capped Alborz range that base, northeast of the capital. pro-government forces seized Yemen’s confl ict began in Sep- Tehran said that schools will also shut some areas of Tehran, where overlooks Tehran. Despite the proximity, the two northern towns and the rebels tember 2014, when the Houthis ad- in Alborz province, west of Te- poor air is worsened due to Iran’s government has tried to roughly 40km separating Nihm fi red two ballistic missiles at Saudi vanced from their northern strong- hran. high altitudes—between 1,100 cut pollution by supplying lower from Sanaa is mostly rugged Arabia. holds to occupy the capital Sanaa. ran is to close schools for two Authorities have asked state and 1,700m above sea level—in emission fuel in large cities, Ma- mountainous terrain. He “urges all parties to respect It has escalated dramatically days in Tehran, an offi cial employers to grant mothers time a basin surrounded by moun- soumeh Ebtekar, a vice president On Friday, loyalists seized this agreement and allow unhin- since Saudi-led air strikes against Isaid yesterday, following air off to look after children who tains. responsible for environmental Hazm, capital of Jawf province, to dered access for the delivery of the rebels began in March, with pollution three times the ac- will be unable to go to school Visibility was low yesterday protection, said this week. the northeast of Sanaa. humanitarian assistance to the more than 5,800 killed and more ceptable level that has blanketed and urged the elderly, children as a grey fog blanketed the capi- In 2012, pollution contrib- By yesterday, they had extended most aff ected districts of Yemen”, than 27,000 wounded since then, the city in smog. and sick people to avoid going tal, a megacity of an estimated uted to the premature deaths their gains in Jawf, capturing Al the statement said. according to the UN. Air quality in Iran’s capital outdoors. 14mn people, and authorities of 4,500 people in Tehran and this week was the worst for at Emergency services have also said they expect pollution to about 80,000 in the country, the least nine months, media said, been mobilised. worsen in the coming days. health ministry said. Rivals agree to set up truce monitor: source and airborne particles from car In December 2014, almost Exhaust fumes from 5mn cars According to the offi ce in Negotiators taking part in Yemen peace talks in The negotiators met at a hotel in the northwestern emissions were at “seven times 400 people were hospitalised and almost as many motorcycles charge of monitoring air quality, Switzerland agreed yesterday to create a “neutral” Swiss city of Biel for a fifth day of talks yesterday. the standard level”. with heart and respiratory prob- that ply Tehran’s roads each day the air in Tehran was “pure for committee to monitor the country’s fragile cease- But sources close to both delegations said yester- “All schools will be closed on lems caused by heavy pollution make up 80% of its pollution, only 219 days” during the past fire after new clashes left it in tatters, a source day afternoon that the talks had ended for the day Sunday in Tehran and in the... in Tehran, with nearly 1,500 which increases in winter as 16 years. close to the talks told AFP. with little progress. towns of Shahr-Rey and Islam- others requiring treatment. emissions fail to rise above cold President Hassan Rouhani’s “There is an understanding over forming a neutral A source close to the delegation representing Shahr (both south of the capi- The Air Quality Index on air. government has pledged to military committee tasked with monitoring the President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s government tal),” said environment offi cial Monday showed an average “We cannot breathe. My eyes tackle pollution and introduced ceasefire,” a source close to the government said there had been no agreement on the general Mohamed Hadi Heydarzadeh. reading of 162 - a “red status” are itchy and my head hurts,” measures such as converting ve- delegation said. framework for the talks and no agreement on the “If the pollution continues, warning that the air is unhealthy said a taxi driver who only gave hicles to cleaner fuel. The off ice of UN special envoy for Yemen Ismail opening of humanitarian corridors. schools will also be closed on for everyone, according to World his fi rst name, Khosro. Last month, Supreme Leader Ould Cheikh Ahmed said the negotiating parties In a letter submitted by the government del- Monday,” he said on state televi- Health Organisation standards. “Traffi c is getting worse each Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a had created “a co-ordination and de-escalation egation to the talks yesterday a lawyer in Taez sion. Yesterday it had dropped day, it is stifl ing. It is like there set of environmental policy di- committee ... to strengthen adherence to the ces- accused the rebels of confiscating aid sent by the Traffi c will be limited in the slightly to 148, still well above is a grey haze hanging over the rectives and called for the gov- sation of hostilities”. UN World Food Programme. city centre and some factories the normal healthy level of be- city. We can’t see the moun- ernment to support investments will be closed, media reported. tween zero and 50. tains,” he said referring to the in clean energy. Gulf Times Sunday, December 20, 2015 7 ARAB WORLD

Two hurt Bewilderment in Israel stabbing after shooting attack AFP Jerusalem

Palestinian youth stabbed of Palestinian and wounded two Israelis Anorth of Tel Aviv yester- day before being apprehended, police said. “A man is badly wounded and a woman lightly injured,” a statement said. The alleged as- teenaged girls sailant was caught by forces in the area, it added. Security camera footage The Israeli police offi cer who tacks by Palestinians, as well The 20-year-old from the from the incident on shot the teenagers has been clashes between Palestinian northern West Bank, who had November 23 appears to placed under investigation—the youths and Israeli soldiers. entered Israel illegally, was found show the two girls in school fi rst such probe since a wave of Over half of the Palestinians hiding in the yard of a house near uniform chasing a man with violence began on October 1. killed have been alleged attack- the scene of the attack in the scissors before being shot Security camera footage from ers. Israeli town of Raanana, police the incident on November 23 This week a UN spokeswoman said. AFP appears to show the two girls in voiced deep concern over the Israeli rescue services said Qalandiya, West Bank school uniform chasing a man “unacceptable” wave of attacks, that the wounded man was in with scissors before being shot. as well as “reports of excessive his 40s and the woman about 60 Police said the girls had use of force by Israeli forces”. years old. alestinian mother Maleeha stabbed and lightly wounded a “The response from Israeli A wave of violence since the Awwad still cannot ex- 70-year-old Palestinian nearby, security forces has resulted in start of October has claimed the Pplain what happened the apparently mistaking him for a alleged attackers, protesters and lives of 123 on the Palestinian day her 14-year-old daughter Jew. even bystanders being killed side, 17 Israelis, an American and stabbed a man with scissors and The footage shows both girls and injured,” said Cecile Pouilly, an Eritrean. was shot dead by police. shot and on the ground. The po- spokeswoman for the UN human Many of the Palestinians As far as she knew Hadeel had liceman runs back towards one rights offi ce. Relatives of Hadel Awwad mourn during her funeral in Qalandiya refugee camp on Friday. killed have been alleged attack- walked to school with her cousin of them—apparently Norhan— Amnesty International’s ers, while others have been shot Norhan, 16. Instead the two girls and opens fi re despite her being Philip Luther welcomed the The Israeli police dismissed assaults, including the demoli- ment, more anger and is a driv- dead by Israeli security forces went to Jerusalem’s central mar- curled in a ball. probe by the justice ministry the criticism. tion of the homes of some at- ing force behind individual cases during clashes. ket and carried out the attack. Norhan was seriously wound- as a positive development but “What does Amnesty under- tackers and withholding their of revenge”, she said. On Friday, two Palestinian Nearly a month later, Is- ed, but survived and has been warned other cases did not ap- stand about split-second deci- bodies. “When you kill somebody’s drivers tried to run down Israeli raeli authorities fi nally released charged with attempted murder. pear to be getting the same sions that police offi cers have to Some politicians have also friend, cousin, sister... there are security forces in separate at- Hadeel’s body on Friday to en- Lawyers for the policeman treatment. make when there is a terrorist encouraged Israeli Jews to carry people who will go out and seek tacks in the occupied West Bank, able the family to bury her. have said he was concerned that “The fact that this is the fi rst holding a 30cm knife in front guns at all times. revenge,” she added. with one attacker shot dead and “I still don’t understand what the girls may have been wearing such investigation into kill- of their face, just about to cut Critics say many of the sus- Hadeel’s brother was shot in the other wounded, Israeli offi - happened,” Awwad said at her explosive belts. ings by police since... October their throat?” police spokesman pects could be tasered and ar- the head and killed two years cials said. home on the edge of the Qaland- Suicide bombings were com- is deeply troubling, particularly Micky Rosenfeld said. rested—as was done this month ago during a protest against the Troops later shot dead a iya refugee camp near Ramallah, mon during the second Pales- given the strong indications that “Each attack is diff erent in London when a man stabbed Israeli occupation of the West man in clashes northeast of shaking her head and close to tinian Intifada from 2000-2005, many Palestinians were killed and each diff erent scenario is a three people in a train station. Bank. Ramallah, while in the Gaza tears. but have not occurred in the cur- when they were not posing an split-second reaction,” he said Prominent Palestinian politi- Palestinian President Mah- Strip, soldiers shot dead a The United Nations and hu- rent unrest. imminent threat to life or of se- when asked about the November cian Hanan Ashrawi said Israel’s moud Abbas has said that the Palestinian protester and man rights groups have voiced At least 120 Palestinians and rious injury,” Luther said. shooting. reaction to attacks is worsening surge of attacks since October wounded 41 others during concern that Israeli security 17 Israelis have been killed in Earlier this year Luther ac- The case has also turned the the situation. was a refl ection of anger at Is- clashes along the border with forces are responding to attacks over two months of stabbing, cused Israel of carrying out “ex- spotlight on a series of meas- Israel’s “shoot-to-kill” policy rael’s occupation and the failure Israel, the Palestinian health with excessive force. shooting and car-ramming at- trajudicial executions”. ures adopted by Israel to quell actually “creates more resent- of the peace process. ministry said. Gulf Times 8 Sunday, December 20, 2015 ARAB WORLD At least 14 killed in Libya clashes

Reuters Thursday in the town of Ajda- obey the new government. Some In a separate incident, two The offi cial prime minister and Benghazi biya, the same day as Libya’s brand it a UN-imposed deal. guards were wounded when an parliament have been based in the warring factions signed a United Casualties in the Ajdabiya unknown group attacked the east since a rival group seized the Nations-brokered agreement to fi ghting included civilians or military intelligence building in capital Tripoli. Its government t least 14 people have been form a unity government. West- members of groups supporting the western town of Sabratha, the has been working from hotels in killed and 25 wounded ern powers hope the deal will the Libyan National Army, said mayor said. the city of Tobruk, about 270km Aduring clashes in east- bring stability and help to combat the sources who asked not to be IS has exploited a growing se- from Ajdabiya. ern Libya between armed groups a growing Islamic State presence. named. They added that casual- curity vacuum in Libya, where Both sides have several former loyal to offi cial government and However, the agreement faces ties from the other side were not two administrations - each with anti-Gaddafi rebel groups fi ght- Islamist groups, two medical questions from critics about how treated in the town’s hospitals. its own government and parlia- ing for them. After Gaddafi ’s sources said yesterday. representative the proposed gov- It was unclear whether the Is- ment - are fi ghting for control ouster, the various factions split The fi ghting, which was con- ernment will be, and whether lamist fi ghters were affi liated to four years after the toppling of along political, regional and trib- Iraq’s Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi speaks during a tinuing yesterday, erupted on armed factions on the ground will Islamic State (IS) militants. Muammar Gaddafi . al lines. news conference in Baghdad yesterday. Iraq set to retake Ramadi: minister

An off ensive in Al offi cials. IS fi ghters attack- Tameem this month ing from northwest of Ra- marked a significant madi with suicide car bombs step in long-delayed attempted to retake control eff orts to recapture the of the key Palestine bridge in city recent days but Iraqi forces still have the upper hand. AFP “The city of Ramadi has Baghdad now been fully isolated, and the Iraqi security forces are beginning to conduct their raq’s defence minister clearing operations,” the predicted yesterday that coalition’s Baghdad-based Isecurity forces backed by spokesman, Colonel Steve US-led coalition air strikes Warren, told reporters on would retake full control of Friday. the city of Ramadi by the end He said that IS had been of the year. using the Euphrates river “I met with the Joint Op- that runs through Ramadi to erations Command and they supply its fi ghters inside the confi rmed to me that we will city with men and military regain all of the city of Rama- equipment. di by the end of this month,” Control of both sides of Khaled al-Obeidi told re- the river banks in key areas porters in Baghdad. has signifi cantly reduced the Earlier this month, forces militant organisation’s abil- led by Iraq’s elite counter- ity to resupply, Warren said. terrorism service retook Al The defence minister Tameem, a southwestern also said yesterday Iraq has neighbourhood of Ramadi, opened an investigation into from the Islamic State group. the circumstances that led to IS took full control of Ra- the death of 10 Iraqi soldiers madi in mid-May, in what in a coalition air strike west was Baghdad’s most sting- of Baghdad. ing defeat since it launched “We lost 10 of our sol- a counter-off ensive to regain diers,” Obeidi said, adding the large regions the mili- that “an investigation into tants captured in the summer the incident was opened.” of 2014. A statement from the Joint The off ensive in Al Operations Command on Tameem this month marked Friday mentioned that 10 had a signifi cant step in long- been “wounded or killed” delayed eff orts to recapture but Obeidi and another sen- the city, around 100km west ior military source clarifi ed of Baghdad and capital of the yesterday that 10 troops were vast province of Anbar. killed. “The reason the battle According to the joint took so long was to avoid command, the incident oc- casualties among our forces curred when two coalition and also to avoid civilian cas- strikes allowed Iraqi ground ualties,” Obeidi said. “There forces to advance rapidly are still many civilians in the towards positions held by city.” IS fi ghters south of their Militants still holed up stronghold of Fallujah. in the city centre and using A third air strike came tunnels to avoid air strikes when the two sides were in may number no more than close combat, resulting in 300, according to military casualties to both, it said.

Ankara says Baghdad undermining IS fi ght

Reuters that are unauthorised in United Nations Iraq,” he said. Turkey deployed around 150 troops in the Bashiqa urkey accused Iraq on area earlier this month with Friday of undermining the stated aim of training an Tthe global fi ght against Iraqi militia to fi ght IS. Tur- Islamic State militants by key withdrew some troops taking its complaint about this week, moving them to the deployment of Turkish another base inside Iraq’s troops in northern Iraq to the Kurdistan region, but Bagh- UN Security Council. dad said they should pull out The 15-member council completely. met on the issue on Friday Turkey’s UN ambassador at the request of Iraq, and Halit Cevik said the deploy- Foreign Minister Ibrahim ment had been taken out of al-Jaafari asked the body to context and that additional adopt a resolution demand- troops had been sent to the ing Turkey withdraw its camp to provide force pro- troops immediately. tection due to increasing Jaafari signalled the re- threats. quest for council action was He said Ankara believed it a last resort. “Iraq has spared had taken suffi cient meas- no eff ort to exhaust all diplo- ures to de-escalate the situ- matic channels and bilateral ation, so eff orts could be negotiations with Turkey, in refocused in combating IS order to withdraw its forces militants. Gulf Times Sunday, December 20, 2015 9 AFRICA Uganda to Rwanda vote grants start fresh Kagame extra terms Burundi AFP porters after casting his vote on his ethnic Tutsi rebel army, the Kigali Friday. Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), The amendment allows Kag- ended a 1994 genocide by ex- peace talks ame to run for a third seven-year tremists from the Hutu major- wanda has overwhelm- term in 2017, at the end of which ity, when an estimated 800,000 Reuters always been open to talks and ingly voted to change the new rules take eff ect and he people were massacred, the vast Kampala was waiting for an invitation. Rthe constitution to allow will be eligible to run for a fur- majority of them Tutsis. “It’s an inter-Burundian President Paul Kagame to po- ther two fi ve-year terms. The issue of long-serving rul- dialogue and only Burundi- tentially rule until 2034, election The US and European Union ers clinging to power has caused ganda said yesterday ans will determine what to offi cials said yesterday citing have denounced the proposed turmoil in Africa, where some it would resume me- discuss,” he said. partial referendum results. amendments as undermining leaders have been at the helm for Udiating peace talks for Nzobonariba, however, “We have seen the will of the democracy in the central African decades. Burundi after violence that ruled out holding talks with people. It’s clear that what the country. Kigali’s pro-government New has pushed the Central Afri- anyone it accused of being be- people want, they can achieve,” On Friday, the EU delegation Times newspaper said in an edi- can country close to civil war hind the May attempted coup. said National Electoral Commis- in Kigali said there had been a torial on Saturday that Rwan- and led the African Union to “It may be an occasion to sion chief Kalisa Mbanda, an- lack of “suffi cient time and space dans had spoken out “regardless prepare for the imposition of a put our hands on them as they nouncing 98.1% had voted “yes” for debate” on the issue, with the of the lame attempts to pour wa- peace keeping force. are sought by Burundi justice,” with preliminary results in from date for the referendum only an- ter on the process by Rwanda’s Both the government and he said. some 70% of the country. nounced on December 8 and the closest ‘development partners’” Rwanda President Paul Kagame casts his vote in Rwanda’s capital Kigali. Burundi’s largest opposition Pancrace Cimpaye, spokes- “They called for the change of draft of the changes “only pub- in an allusion to US and European coalition welcomed the move man for Burundi’s largest the constitution and they have lished publically less than one criticism. ment on Saturday, adding the after “years of government in- to restart talks. opposition coalition known made it,” the pro-government day ahead of the vote.” The country’s tiny opposition party “will not give up on the timidation... open expressions On Friday, the African Un- as CNARED, welcomed the New Times newspaper quoted “The short time between the Green Party also protested that struggle to make Rwanda a of dissent are rare,” and that ap- ion said it was preparing to resumption of talks, though him as saying. announcement and the holding it was impossible to organise a vibrant democracy.” proval of the referendum was no send 5,000 peace keepers to he said the group was yet to Kagame, 58, could now be in of the referendum left little or counter campaign at such short Some Rwandans said they surprise. Burundi to protect civilians, receive an invitation. power potentially for another 17 no opportunity for all parties to notice. had boycotted the vote as the “As one man told us: It would for the fi rst time using powers “For us talks are between years. present their arguments,” the EU “The opposition would have outcome was already known. be stupid to vote ‘no’ because to deploy troops to a member two parties in confl ict, and “What is happening is the said. won,” Green party president Carina Tertsakian, of Human it won’t change anything,” she country against its will. the two warring parties to- people’s choice,” he told re- Kagame has run Rwanda since Frank Habineza said in a state- Rights Watch (HRW), noted that added. Tensions have been running day is Nkurunziza and his particularly high since gun- government on one side, men attacked military sites in and CNARED on the other”, the Burundi capital Bujumbura he said. last week, unnerving a region The talks will resume in where memories of the 1994 Uganda on December 28 and genocide in neighbouring thereafter move to Arusha in Car bomb kills Rwanda are still raw. northern Tanzania. Arusha Burundi slid into crisis in is the headquarters of the re- April when President Pierre gional bloc East African Com- Nkurunziza announced plans munity (EAC), to which Bu- for a third term in offi ce. rundi belongs. In July the EAC three in Somali The United Nations says at appointed Uganda’s president least 400 people have been Yoweri Museveni to medi- killed since April when Nku- ate in the confl ict and initial Reuters launched frequent attacks in runziza’s decision triggered meetings were held in Burun- Mogadishu Mogadishu in their bid to topple protests and later a failed di’s capital Bujumbura in the the Western-backed govern- military coup. same month. ment, including a major assault Uganda’s defence minister, In the worst clashes since car bomb exploded yes- on a hotel used by government Chrispus Kiyonga, told a news the failed coup in May, insur- terday on a busy street offi cials and lawmakers in No- conference in Kampala the gents attacked military camps Ain the Somali capital vember, in which more than a security situation in Burundi in the capital Bujumbura last Mogadishu, killing at least three dozen people were killed. had been deteriorating. week and nearly 90 people people and wounding at least A Reuters reporter said the ex- “It is now considered ap- were killed. eight, a police offi cer said. plosion yesterday was followed propriate and critical that the Rights groups have reported The number of casualties is by gunfi re, and smoke could be dialogue resumes,” Kiyonga violent clashes between pro- likely to increase, police Major Nur seen rising from the scene. Part said. testers and authorities, gun Farah said at the scene of the blast, of a supermarket and a number Security forces inspect the site of a bomb blast near Makka al-Mukarama Road in the Somali capital He said about 14 groups attacks and detentions of which was claimed by Al Qaeda- of cars were destroyed. Mogadishu yesterday. representing various sections government critics. The gov- linked Al Shebaab militants. “We were behind the blast of Burundian society, includ- ernment dismisses reports of “The place is busy with hotels operation. Some government Mohamed Ismail, a nurse at two decades of confl ict. Al Shebaab own strict interpretation of Islam ing the ruling party, opposi- rights abuses. and supermarkets. Most of the offi cials and soldiers died and Madina hospital, said they had ruled much of Somalia until 2011, on Somalia. It has been driven tion parties and civil society Hundreds of thousands casualties are pedestrians. The others were injured,” Sheikh Ab- received 21 wounded people, before being driven out of Mogad- out of other major strongholds in would attend the talks. have also fl ed the worst vio- casualty number is sure to rise,” diasis Abu Musab, an Al Shebaab mostly civilians. ishu by African and Somali troops. Somalia but continues to launch Burundi government lence to hit the country since Farah told Reuters by phone. spokesman, said, without giving The government is battling to The group wants to overthrow bomb and gun attacks against spokesman Philippe Nzobon- it emerged from an ethnically Al Shebaab fi ghters have details of the number of dead. rebuild Somalia after more than the government and impose its offi cials and politicians. ariba said the government has charged civil war in 2005.

Mercy for Nigeria troops facing death Nigerian military has “They were tried, commuted the death discharged on some War criminals return to serve out sentences in Congo sentences handed to 66 charges but found guilty soldiers for mutiny over and convicted on other claims they refused to fight charges—which included Reuters 2003, mostly from hunger and tenced to 12 years’ imprisonment. Boko Haram Islamists, a mutiny,” he said. Kinshasa disease, and the area is fi lled with The duration was reduced on appeal spokesman said yesterday. “Out of that number, 66 dozens of armed groups. and he will be released in Jan. 2016. Instead, each soldier will were found guilty on “Thomas Lubanga Dyilo and Human rights groups expressed serve a 10-year prison term. some of the charges and he International Crimi- Germain Katanga were handed concern about the transfer. “The death sentences by sentenced to death, while nal Court handed over two over ... in the morning to the quali- “Our prisons are in bad condi- firing squad passed on 66 five were discharged Tconvicted war criminals to fi ed authorities,” said Justice Min- tion,” said Dolly Ibefo, executive soldiers in January and and acquitted and one Congolese authorities yesterday, ister Alexis Tambwe Mwamba in a director of Voice of the Voiceless, March 2015 by separate was given 28 days the justice minister said, the fi rst statement read on public radio and adding that it was not clear wheth- general court martials imprisonment with hard time it has entrusted enforcement television. Both men had indicated er the pair could be kept safe. have been commuted to 10 labour,” he said. of its sentences to a country. a preference to serve the remain- Jean-Claude Katende, presi- years imprisonment each,” The military said in May that Thomas Lubanga Dyilo and der of their sentences in Congo, dent of the African Association Colonel Sani Usman said in 579 off icers and soldiers Germain Katanga will complete the Court said in a statement. for the Defense of Human Rights a statement. were facing two separate their sentences in Democratic Re- Lubanga, who was found guilty of (ASADHO), said he believed the The sentences were trials over indiscipline. The public of Congo’s central prison recruiting child soldiers, was sen- move complied with internation- commuted following a 66 had been condemned to of Makala in Kinshasa for crimes tenced in 2012 to a 14-year sentence al norms but feared the inmates review by the military die by a military tribunal in committed during the brutal war including time already served. He is would not be properly monitored. authorities. two batches in September in the central African country’s due for release in fi ve years. “I only fear that Germain Ka- Usman said 71 soldiers and December 2014, with northeastern region of Ituri. Katanga, who was convicted last tanga and Thomas Lubanga can were arraigned on several their death sentences Millions of people died in re- year for murder, pillaging and at- escape. If they escape, they are charges, including criminal confirmed by a military source-rich eastern Congo’s two tacking a civilian population in a going to constitute a danger for the conspiracy and conspiracy council in January and regional wars between 1996 and 2003 attack on a village, was sen- victims,” he said. Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga, left, and militia chief Germain Katanga. to commit mutiny. March this year. Eritrean boat survivor dies in hospital ‘escape’ bid An Eritrean man who survived a perilous Seychelles president journey across the Mediterranean by boat to Italy has died after falling from a hospital window in a night-time escape scrapes third-term win bid, Italian media reported yesterday. The 24-year-old, who was rescued from his rickety vessel by the Italian coastguard AFP dian Ocean archipelago, com- earlier in December and brought to the Victoria pared to opposition leader Wavel island of Sardinia, was being treated for Ramkalawan’s 49.85% with 31,319 scabies in the infectious diseases ward of votes, according to offi cial results. a hospital in Cagliari. eychelles President James “At this point in time, it is neces- In the early hours of Saturday he knotted Michel won a third term in sary, more than ever, that we con- his sheets together and tried climb down Spower by the narrowest of tinue to create more unity in our the side of the building from his third-floor margins of just 193 votes, with the country. Today, more than ever, we room, before falling and hitting his head, opposition calling for a recount, the need to work together as Seychel- dying on the spot. election commission said yesterday. lois, we need to ensure we bring our It was not clear why the man was determined “Today the people made their people together,” Michel added. to leave undetected. Hospital staff insisted choice. The people have said that they But Ramkalawan, 54, an Anglican his room was not locked and his treatment wish that I continue on the path that I priest, said there were “several ir- was almost complete, after which he would have commenced ... for me to contin- regularities”, according to the Sey- have been free to go, the reports said. ue to lead Seychelles forward in sta- chelles News Agency (SNA), and Eritrean migrants picked up from boats bility, peace, and prosperity,” Michel referring to reports of cash being and brought to Italy face relocation along said in a broadcast on national SBC given to voters ahead of the polls. with Syrians and Iraqis to other European television. “The election has tested “We do not accept the results of countries as part of a controversial the maturity of our democracy.” the elections because we thought we programme to share the refugee burden, Michel, 71, won 50.15% with were participating in an election— which has proven unpopular with people 31,512 votes in the unprecedented but it turned out to be an auction,” hoping to join family members elsewhere. second round run-off on the In- Ramkalawan said, according to SNA. Gulf Times 10 Sunday, December 20, 2015 AMERICA

Sanders, DNC reach deal aft er data breach uproar The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has agreed to restore access to a key voter database to the campaign of US presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders following uproar over a breach. The DNC had on Thursday temporarily suspended the campaign’s access to the database after at least one of its staff ers took advantage of a com- puter glitch to peek at crucial voter data for rival Hillary Clinton. Clinton and Sanders The suspension was a slap to Sanders’ hopes of scoring an upset over Clinton for the Democratic nomination because the database features information on voters nationwide, and candidates use it to plan strategy as they vie to replace Barack Obama. DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz said access was being restored after the campaign complied with a request for information, but said an investigation would continue to ensure the data has been erased. “The fact that data was accessed inappropriately is completely unaccept- facing off in debate able,” she said in a statement early yesterday. As tensions mounted over the matter, the Sanders team filed a 12-page Reuters of working to protect Clinton, lawsuit with the US Court for the District of Columbia against the DNC Manchester, New Hampshire pointing to the party’s limited over breach of contract on Friday. debates at low-viewership peri- The Vermont senator’s campaign also fired one staff er and the party ods like Saturday nights as an- blamed NGP VAN, the technology company that provides campaigns S Democratic front- other example. with access to the data, for allowing the intrusion. runner Hillary Clinton Clinton campaign manager In its statement on renewed access, the Sanders campaign claimed the Uand rival Bernie Sand- Robby Mook accused the Sand- DNC had “capitulated” and said its “about face” came as a deadline ap- ers square off in a potentially ers campaign of stealing parts of proached for a hearing on a motion for an emergency injunction. combative debate this weekend, its “strategic road map” for voter “Clearly, they were very concerned about their prospects in court,” said one day after their presidential turnout in the primary battle. Jeff Weaver, Sanders’ campaign manager. campaigns erupted in a bitter The moderators of the ABC Sanders, an independent who calls himself a democratic socialist, is feud over an improper breach of News debate will no doubt try to running a distant second in national polls behind Clinton, who has a more Clinton voter fi les by a Sanders get the two candidates to renew Sanders: trailing Clinton in the than 20 point lead in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. staff er. that fi ght on the stage at the de- polls. The glitch – in which a firewall protecting proprietary data was lowered The rising tension at the de- bate, where Sanders already had briefly on Wednesday – made voter data unique to the Clinton campaign bate between two rivals who have signaled his intention to turn up edge in Iowa, which kicks off the viewable for outside eyes. largely refrained from attack- the heat on Clinton on foreign race on February 1. The dismissed staff er, Josh Uretsky, told CNN he had not been trying to ing each other comes at a cru- policy issues. She narrowly trails the US sen- spy on Clinton. cial moment for Sanders, who is The debate is the party’s fi rst ator from Vermont in neighbour- Rather, Uretsky said he had become aware of the breach and just poked trying to erase Clinton’s lead in since the deadly December 2 at- ing New Hampshire, the second around in the Clinton data for a while to see how exposed the Sanders the November 2016 Democratic tacks in San Bernardino, Califor- state to vote. campaign was. White House race just six weeks nia, and Sanders also is eager to Sanders likely needs a win in Then the firewall protecting the data went back up. before the fi rst nominating con- explore his diff erences with the both states to mount a serious “To the best of my knowledge, nobody took anything that would have test in Iowa. former secretary of state on is- challenge to Clinton, who will Clinton: just needs to stay on point. given the campaign any benefit,” Uretsky told CNN. On Friday, Sanders fi led a sues like her support for a no-fl y be heavily favoured in the next Although Uretsky was the only staff er fired, the New York Times reported lawsuit to force the Democratic zone in Syria and her 2011 advo- state contests in Nevada, South will participate in the debate in Martin O’Malley. She’s just going that during the time that Clinton’s data was exposed, searches were car- National Committee to restore cacy for regime change in Libya, Carolina and in a “Super Tues- Manchester, New Hampshire, to deliver her message and stay ried out by four user accounts associated with the Sanders campaign. access to his voter fi les, which his campaign said. day” round of voting in 11 states which begins at 8pm EST (0100 on point,” Sullivan said. Sanders’ campaign spokesman Michael Briggs said it was not the first the DNC had blocked after the “She comes off as more hawk- on March 1. GMT today) and will be televised The television viewership is time the technology company has dropped the firewall. Sanders campaign improperly ish on some of her foreign policy “The reality for Sanders is he’s nationally by ABC News. almost certain to be relatively He said the Sanders team had learned of such glitches months ago and accessed fi les generated by the ideas,” said Michael Briggs, a only got a couple more shots to As an experienced front- small, given its timing on the told the DNC that campaign data, including Sanders material, was being Clinton campaign. spokesman for Sanders. “He is change the dynamic of the race,” runner, Clinton is unlikely to get Saturday before Christmas. made visible to other campaigns. The DNC and Sanders reached going to point out those diff er- said Democratic strategist Chris drawn into a fi ght, said Kathleen Less than 9mn viewers “Unfortunately, yesterday, the vendor once again dropped the firewall a late-night deal restoring access ences very clearly.” Kofi nis. “The only choice he’s got Sullivan, a former chairwoman of watched last month’s Democrat- between the campaigns for some data,” Briggs said late on Thursday. for Sanders (see report on the Sanders could be running out is to shake the race up.” the New Hampshire Democratic ic debate on a Saturday night. “After discussion with the DNC, it became clear that one of our staff ers right). of time to catch Clinton, who Clinton, Sanders and former Party and a Clinton supporter. The Republican debate earlier accessed some modeling data from another campaign. That behaviour is Sanders campaign manager holds a double-digit lead in na- Maryland governor Martin “She’ll be fi ne. She isn’t go- this week drew more than 18mn unacceptable and that staff er was immediately fired.” Jeff Weaver accused the DNC tional polls and a smaller polling O’Malley, who lags badly in polls, ing to focus on Bernie Sanders or viewers.

Obama feels ‘the Force’ during Star Wars surges toward record press conference President Barack Obama, 55 minutes into his year-end press Reuters/AFP wielding Jedi as the movie took in The company’s shares dropped Critics lavished praise on Force conference, finished answering a Los Angeles $57mn at domestic theatres. 3.8% on Friday, however, after Awakens, which features new- question about US incarceration That surpassed the previous BTIG analyst Rich Greenfi eld comers Daisy Ridley, John Boyega rates and seized an opportunity opening-day record of $43.5mn cut his rating on Disney to “sell” and Oscar Isaac alongside origi- to make his own escape – like tar Wars: The Force Awak- for the fi nal Harry Potter movie from “neutral”. nal stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Darth Vader fleeing the Death ens hurtled toward $120mn in 2011. Greenfi eld said the success of Ford and Carrie Fisher. Star. Sat the US and Canadian box Interest extended to interna- Force Awakens would not off set The movie scored a 95% posi- “OK, everybody, I gotta get to offi ce on Friday and a potential tional markets, where the movie the impact of subscriber losses tive rating on review aggregation Star Wars,” Obama said Friday record-breaking $215mn today, brought in $72.7mn in 44 coun- at ESPN. website Rotten Tomatoes. afternoon. giving the long-awaited movie tries. Nomura Securities analyst Disney said 47% of Thursday’s The room erupted with a a shot at the biggest opening At the White House, a beeping Anthony DiClemente, who rates domestic ticket sales came from cacophony of reporters shouting weekend of all time. R2-D2 and two Stormtroopers Disney a “buy”, said that he was higher-priced 3D tickets. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest appears in the briefing additional questions, but Obama The ticket sales fi gures from surprised reporters with a quick more confi dent after seeing the Strong reviews plus a decades- room with Stormtroopers and R2-D2 after Obama finished his end of just smiled, said: “Thank you”, Walt Disney Co late on Friday appearance in the briefi ng room. movie that it could become the long aff ection for the Star Wars the year news conference at the White House. and slipped out of the room to indicated that the fi lm could First Lady Michelle Obama top-grossing fi lm of all time. franchise are driving interest, join the expected tens of millions eclipse the $208.8mn record hosted a screening for children The record is held by Avatar said Paul Dergarabedian, senior a perfect storm of Star Wars en- Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess of filmgoers watching the newly set by dinosaur adventure fi lm of families that lost members to with $2.8bn. media analyst at box offi ce track- thusiasm. Leia (Carrie Fisher), leader of released sequel, Star Wars: The Jurassic World in June. war. Jeff Bock, box offi ce analyst at ing fi rm Rentrak. The Force Awakens picks up the the rebel alliance, and her twin Force Awakens. Disney said movie theatres The new Star Wars fi lm is the Exhibitor Relations, said: “As far Disney’s carefully planned re- intergalactic story of good versus brother Luke Skywalker (Mark White House spokesman Josh were continuing to add screen- seventh installment in the series as breaking records go, it’s the lease of fi lm trailers and tidbits of evil 30 years on from The Return Hamill) – are all back and played Earnest later appeared at the ings to meet “unprecedented de- created by George Lucas in 1977. strongest candidate we’ve seen information over several months of the Jedi, the fi nale of the origi- by the actors that Star Wars fi rst press room dais flanked by two mand”. Disney bought Star Wars pro- in a long, long time. It might join also boosted ticket sales, Derga- nal trilogy. made famous. Stormtroopers, along with chirpy Fans fl ocked to theatres on ducer Lucasfi lm for $4bn in 2012 the $2bn club worldwide, and rabedian said. The trio of heroes who ap- The fi lm is being screened in droid R2D2. Thursday evening, many dressed and spent more than $200mn to maybe, just maybe, be the high- “That worked the audience peared in the fi rst of the block- 4,134 theatres in North America, Obama had earlier warned as Stormtroopers or lightsabre- produce Force Awakens. est grossing fi lm of all-time.” into a frenzy,” he said. “It’s just busters in 1977 – smuggler Han a record for a December opening. the press corps that they were not the droids he was looking forward to. “Clearly, this is not the most important event that’s taking place in the White House today,” President meets families of most Obama said to start the press conference. “There is a screening of Star Wars for Gold Star families and children (of US soldiers killed San Bernardino shooting victims in combat) coming up. So I’ll try to be relatively succinct.” Meanwhile, Obama’s foes in the Reuters try,” Obama told reporters. Mayor Carey Davis and County Su- imperial Congress were trying to San Bernardino, California Fourteen people died in the pervisor James Ramos, made the use the Force against him. shootings in San Bernardino, Cali- visit on their way to Hawaii, where Paul Ryan, speaker of the fornia on December 2, when radi- they will spend the holidays. opposition-led House of resident Barack Obama met calised Muslims Syed Rizwan Fa- On Thursday, federal authorities Representatives, touted that with the families of most of rook and his wife Tashfeen Malik charged Enrique Marquez with pro- wasteful spending “a long time Pthe San Bernardino shooting opened fi re on Farook’s co-workers viding material support to Farook ago – in a Congress far, far victims on Friday for nearly three at a holiday party. and Malik. Marquez allegedly pur- away” had been halted by his hours, and said he was moved by The president and his wife chased two rifl es used in the attack conservative Republican Party. their emphasis on tolerance follow- Michelle spent nearly three hours and had plotted to carry out attacks He blasted Obama for signing ing the December 2 attacks. off ering their condolences to the with Farook in 2011. past budgets laden with wasteful “As diffi cult as this time is for family members of victims and fi rst Federal Bureau of Investiga- spending. them and for the entire community, responders in the library of Indian tion Director James Comey said on “This was the Dark Side of out-of- they also represent the strength and Spring High School. Wednesday that there was no in- control Washington spending and the unity and the love that exists in The Obamas, who were greeted dication that Farook or Malik were backroom deal-making,” Ryan this community and in this coun- on arrival in San Bernardino by part of an organised cell. said in a press release.

Famed conductor California shooter’s visa request was Kurt Masur dead Conductor Kurt Masur, who missing key information: politician helped bring a worldwide reputation to the New York Philharmonic while seizing on the AFP Malik, a 29-year-old Pakistani to have married – were a statement power of music on key moments Washington national, came to the United States by Farook and pages from their of history, has died. He was 88. last year on a fi ancee visa, which passports. The New York Philharmonic Goodlatte said was issued despite a However, the exit month and date announced yesterday the death member of the US Congress lack of proof that she had ever met on Malik’s passport was illegible, of Masur, one of its longest- has accused immigration of- her US-born husband, Syed Farook, Goodlatte said, citing a translation serving music directors who led Afi cials of allowing California 28. provided by the Congressional Re- the orchestra from 1991 to 2002. attacker Tashfeen Malik into the “The immigration offi cial re- search Service. A German born in what is country despite critical missing in- viewing Malik’s application re- Furthermore, Malik had a visa today Poland, Masur won formation in her request for a fi an- quested more evidence to ensure that was valid for only 60 days, wide praise for polishing the cee visa. the two met in person but it was which showed her entering Saudi musical bona fides of the New “After reviewing Tashfeen Ma- never provided and her visa was ap- Arabia in early June 2013 while Fa- York Philharmonic and raising lik’s immigration fi le, it is clear that proved anyway,” Goodlatte said. rook’s passport indicated that he its global profile with 17 tours immigration offi cials did not thor- He added that the only pieces of did not arrive until October 1, cast- around the world including a oughly vet her application,” House evidence provided to show that the ing further doubt on whether they first trip to mainland China, now Judiciary Committee chairman Bob couple had been in Saudi Arabia at were in the country at the same a key country for the orchestra’s Goodlatte said in a statement. the same time – where they are said time. overseas activities.

Gulf Times 12 Sunday, December 20, 2015 ASEAN

Jakarta to deploy 150,000 security staff for celebrations

Reuters mantyo told reporters Cilangkap at the national military headquarters on the out- skirts of the capital Ja- ndonesia will deploy karta. more than 150,000 “Some of the youth or- Isecurity personnel ganizations have stated and several religious or- their readiness,” he add- ganisations to safeguard ed. churches and public Indonesia also recog- places around the coun- nises five other religions try during Christmas and including Catholicism, New Year’s Eve celebra- Hinduism, and Bud- tions, the military chief dhism. Police in Indone- said late on Friday. sia will be on their highest Indonesia, with the alert level between Dec world’s largest Muslim 24 and Jan 2, national po- population, has already lice chief Badrodin Haiti stepped up security and told reporters earlier this surveillance in some ar- week. eas in the wake of attacks Military and police in Paris last month that troops will be on standby killed nearly 130 peo- at airports, train stations, ple and for which mili- houses of worship, and tant group Islamic State public celebrations, Haiti claimed responsibility. said, as millions of people “We call on all com- travel across the archipel- munities, such as Islamic ago for the holidays. and Hindu youth organi- The government has sations, to participate in warned that Indonesians safeguarding churches fi ghting for IS in Syria and during Christmas,” armed Iraq could attempt to re- Children swim in a swollen creek under a flyover in Manila yesterday. forces chief Gatot Nur- turn and mount attacks.

Rescuers struggle to reach Indonesian ferry Death toll climbs to 41 as

Reuters Roki Asikin, head of the Jakarta local Search and Rescue Agency, said his team of rescuers could not reach Philippine fl oods spread igh winds pre- the vessel because of the vented rescuers bad weather but at day- AFP banks, local disaster offi cials said. tober. “Almost the entire Philip- rain per hour in the central islands Another river in Davao del Norte Hfrom reaching a break today larger ships Manila The storm, locally named pines is experiencing rains. More of Cebu, Negros and Bohol, while province, roughly 100 kilometres ship with more than 100 and air force helicopters Onyok, had weakened into a low fl oods are possible,” state weather residents were advised to be on away, also burst its banks, forc- passengers that was adrift and aircraft would join the pressure area after hitting land late forecaster Robert Badrina said. alert for possible evacuation. ing residents out of their homes, in rough seas off the coast search. eavy rains pummelled the Friday but continued to bring more “We expect the rains to peak to- The three Visayas islands, with provincial disaster offi cer Romulo of Indonesia’s Sulawesi News website Detik. entire Philippines yester- rains to Mindanao and the central day. The weather will start to im- a combined population of 7.4mn Tagalo said. island yesterday, offi cials com earlier said 108 peo- Hday, fl ooding more areas as Visayas islands. prove tomorrow,” he said. people, are home to major tourism, In Luzon, 140,000 people dis- said. ple were on board the ship the government declared a “state Cold monsoon winds blowing President Benigno Aquino or- trading and agricultural hubs. placed by fl oods and landslides Earlier, local media said which left from Kolaka, on of national calamity”. from the northeast brought rains dered state agencies to “hasten the Close to 10,000 people were triggered by Melor remained in the vessel had sunk. Police the southeastern side of The death toll after a week of to Luzon, the main northern is- rescue recovery, relief and reha- evacuated from the poor farming evacuation centres. and rescue authorities de- the island, and was head- devastating weather has risen to land, where large farming com- bilitation eff orts,” in a statement region of Caraga in Mindanao be- The Philippines, a nation of nied these reports and said ing across the Gulf of Boni 41, according to confi rmed reports munities have been submerged in declaring a state of “national ca- fore the latest storm. 100mn, is battered by an average it was still afl oat, but with for South Sulawesi when it from national and local disaster mostly waist-deep fl oods from lamity”. In Agusan del Sur province, large of 20 typhoons per year, many of a broken engine and out of sank. monitoring agencies. Typhoon Melor, which hit at the The government will control portions of the national highway them deadly. radio contact. Another report that it Poor farming communities in start of the week. prices of basic goods in aff ected were inundated after a nearby river In 2013, Super Typhoon Haiyan “The ship has not sunk,” went down, on Kompas. the main southern island of Mind- Areas inundated by Melor have areas, the statement read. burst its banks, regional civil de- wiped out entire fi shing commu- a South Sulawesi police com, said 122 people were anao were fl ooded yesterday af- barely recovered from fl oods The weather bureau issued a fence offi cer Manuel Ochotorena nities in the central islands, leav- spokesman said by phone. on board. ter at least two rivers burst their brought by Typhoon Koppu in Oc- warning of up to 30 millimetres of said. ing 7,350 people dead or missing. Asean air safety regulator may still be decades away

Reuters member states, and the diffi culty in achiev- “Malaysia is open and ready, but some Bangkok/Jakarta ing it illustrates the challenges in taking it a other countries are not ready,” a senior Ma- step further and creating common aviation laysian offi cial involved in the Asean talks regulatory and safety standards, experts say. told Reuters, declining to be more specifi c. t could take Southeast Asia, one of the Unlike Europe, Asean has no legal or ex- Airline executives, too, are divided on how fastest growing air travel markets, two ecutive body to push through liberalisation to regulate the industry. Idecades to set up a regulatory body to or create regional organisations that oversee In contrast with Fernandes’ call for a oversee safety in an industry blighted by dis- safety and air traffi c control. cross-border regulator, Arif Wibowo, chief asters in recent years, say national regulators This is mainly because member coun- of the Indonesian National Carriers As- and airline executives. File photo shows passengers walk towards tries are reluctant to give up their sovereign sociation and CEO of fl ag carrier Garuda, The need for tougher regulations gained a Lion Air passenger plane on the tarmac of rights, say industry experts. believes aircraft safety should be left to na- urgency following this month’s report by Tjilik Riwut Airport in Palangkaraya, central “Given the (diff erent) speed of develop- tional regulators. Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Kalimantan, Indonesia. ment in each country, I don’t think it will be “Each inspector should intensify air- Committee (NTSC) into the crash of an In- done anytime soon and may take at least 20 craft maintenance and ensure a high level of donesia AirAsia A320 passenger jet last year AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes has him- years to take shape,” Chula Sukmanop, di- scrutiny. Second, regulators in each country that killed all 162 on board. self led calls for the Association of Southeast rector of the Offi ce of Civil Aviation in Thai- should be able to check all airlines in an inte- Investigators found no single cause for Asian Nations (Asean) to forge a common land, told Reuters. grated way. There’s no need to raise it to the the crash, but listed a combination of factors aviation regulator, saying Asean institutions A lack of consensus among stakeholders Asean level,” he told Reuters. including a glitch-prone rudder compo- should “step forward, for commonality, and is delaying the process, even as more of the Air safety standards have improved in nent and pilots’ response when things went for standardisation, and for quality”.. region’s 600mn population take to the skies, much of Southeast Asia, including Indone- wrong. But the 10-nation group is already strug- aided by robust growth of low-cost carriers sia. In 2007, safety standards were so bad The 200-page report has been hailed as a gling to implement an Open Skies initiative, such as AirAsia and Indonesia’s privately- that the European Union barred all Indone- potential turning point as pressure grows for or single aviation market, to liberalise air held Lion Air. sian airlines from fl ying to its member states. stronger regulation to keep pace with ram- services by the end of 2015. Both airlines have placed record orders That ban was lifted in August 2009 for all the pant growth in aviation in Southeast Asia. That will slip due to diff erences among the with the main plane makers. country’s airlines except Lion Air. Gulf Times Sunday, December 20, 2015 13 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

Crowning glory Presidential hopeful apologises over racist joke

AFP from 27 countries as well as 50 Seoul young members of the Saenuri Party. “Your face colour is the he frontrunner to be same as the briquettes’ col- South Korea’s next our,” the 64-year-old said to a Tpresident has apolo- Nigerian student while laugh- gised after sparking a public ing. uproar for jokingly likening The student, Babalola the skin colour of an African Joushua Adekunie, said he did student to coal. not take off ence. Kim Moo-Sung, the leader “I don’t give any special of the country’s ruling con- meaning to it,” Adekunie told servative Saenuri Party and local news outlet Focus News. the leader in polling ahead of “He said it jokingly. He was December 2017 elections, is- laughing.” sued the apology in the face of “Personally I’m a black public criticism over the gaff e. man... It’s nothing that I am “I failed to realise that ashamed of.” showing friendliness this way Asked whether he thought could hurt someone’s feel- Kim should apologise to him, ings,” Kim wrote on his Face- Adekunie replied in Korean: book page on Friday. “Guenchanayo (No problem)”. “I am really sorry and there The 26-year-old student is is no excuse. I sincerely apolo- attending a local university on gise from the bottom of my a South Korean government heart.” scholarship. He made the quip while Kim topped a Real Meter delivering coal briquettes to survey published last week the needy in Seoul alongside a on support levels for various group of foreign exchange stu- presidential hopefuls with dents earlier on Friday. 22.5% of respondents backing The event was part of a him. Moon Jae-In of the main charity programme which opposition party was second drew around 40 students on 16.1%. Mireia Lalaguna Rozo (centre) of Spain waves after winning the new title at the Miss World Grand Final in Sanya, next to Miss Russia, Sofia Nikitchuk (left) and Miss World Indonesia, Maria Harfanti in southern China’s Hainan province yesterday. Contestants from over 110 countries competed in the final of the 65th Miss World competition. Angry single men stage anti-Christmas rally

China criticises ‘provocative’ the organisation, formally AFP Tokyo called Kakumeiteki Hi-mote Domei, or the Revolutionary Losers’ League. nti-Christmas protest- “Christmas is the most ers calling themselves symbolic event for this,” he US fl ypast over disputed sea A“Losers with Women” added. The man, who iden- marched through Tokyo’s tified himself only by the AFP Nansha islands and nearby areas newspaper. Washington said and is critical of China building “The Chinese army will streets yesterday, bashing the pseudonym MarkWater, said Beijing without authorisation,” Beijing’s Saturday it routinely conducts artificial islands there. take all necessary measures upcoming holiday as a capital- the rally was also in support defence ministry said, using the training missions in the region, It has flown other B-52 to defend the sovereignty and ist ploy that also discriminates of unloved men. Chinese name for the Spratly Is- including the South China Sea, bombers and sailed a guided- the security of the country.” against singletons. “Unpopular men, who wo US B-52 bombers fl ew lands. adding that it was investigating missile destroyer near some China’s military conducted The group of about 20 don’t have a girlfriend or are close to islands in the “This behaviour is a seri- the reports of the bomber near of the constructions in recent war games in the area this -- part of the Communist- not married, are overly dis- Tfl ashpoint South China ous military provocation which the Spratly chain. months. week, with warships, subma- inspired group that routinely criminated. We want to break Sea this month in a “serious mil- complicates the general situ- “The Chinese have raised In October, Washington in- rines and fighter jets deployed protests Western holidays -- this barrier,” he said amid the itary provocation”, Beijing said ation in the South China Sea, concerns with us about the furiated Beijing when the USS over a “range of several thou- marched under angry banners shouting protesters. yesterday, as tensions simmer in (contributing) to the militarisa- flight path of a recent training Lassen guided missile de- sand kilometres”, the People’s that read “Smash Christmas!” In Japan, Christmas is not the disputed waterway. tion of the region,” the ministry mission. We are looking into stroyer sailed within 12 nauti- Liberation Army Daily said. in Tokyo’s Shibuya district, an official holiday and is China insists it has sover- said in a statement. the matter,” Pentagon spokes- cal miles of at least one land Beijing’s claims in the sea where couples and families mostly celebrated informally eignty over virtually all of the During the mission by the two man Mark Wright said. formation claimed by China conflict with those of its re- strolled for holiday shopping. as a romantic event for cou- resource-rich sea, confl icting B-52 bombers, one of the aircraft “I will also say that for this in the disputed Spratlys. gional neighbours Vietnam, The scrooges — mostly ples, while the New Year’s with the various claims of sev- unintentionally fl ew within two mission there was no inten- “The US has continuously Malaysia, the Philippines, single men — said they were day is an occasion for family eral neighbouring nations, and nautical miles of an artifi cially tion of flying within 12 nautical sent military ships and planes Taiwan and Brunei. against capitalism and were reunion. US activity in the area has pro- constructed island, the Wall miles of any feature,” he added. to make a show of force and This week, Australia said opposed to the commerciali- The Christian population voked Beijing’s ire several times Street Journal quoted Pentagon “This was not a Freedom of create tensions in the waters one of its military surveillance sation of Christmas. remains small in the Asian in recent months. offi cials as saying Friday. Navigation Operation.” and airspace” of the South planes had flown near disputed “In this world, money is country, stores offer spe- “In the morning of December This may have been because The US has previously argued China Sea, Beijing’s defence areas of the South China Sea. extracted from people in love, cial holiday sales and people 10, two US B-52 bombers en- of bad weather conditions, ac- for its right to freedom of navi- ministry said earlier yester- The crew reportedly heard and happy people support decorate Christmas trees at tered air space over the Chinese cording to offi cials quoted in the gation in the South China Sea day. warnings from China’s navy. capitalism,” said the head of home.

Murdered Beijing on highest pollution alert children’s but smog not as bad as forecast kin attend Reuters memorial Beijing hina’s capital Beijing was DPA bracing for four days of Sydney Cchoking smog starting yes- terday, but residents said the haze was less severe than forecast, with elatives of eight children some questioning why the govern- stabbed to death in their ment had issued its highest air pol- Rhome in northern Aus- lution alert. tralia gathered yesterday to mark China had warned residents the fi rst anniversary of the trag- across a large part of its north on edy, the motive for which is still Friday to prepare for severe smog not clear. arriving over the weekend, the worst Raina Thaiday, 38, has been of which would hit Beijing, prompt- charged with the murders of her ing the capital to issue its second seven children and a niece. She ever “red alert”. is currently under assessment to A red alert is triggered when the determine whether she is men- government believes air quality will A visitor wearing a protective mask walks at the Temple of Heaven park as tally fi t to stand trial in June. surpass a level of 200 on an index Beijing braces for four days of choking smog. The victims were aged be- that measures various pollutants for tween 2 and 14 years old. at least three days. The US govern- moved from the roads, with an odd- of north China will see the worst What happened inside the ment deems a level of more than 200 even licence plate system enforced. smog so far this year, starting Sat- house in Manoora, a suburb of to be “very unhealthy”. Schools are recommended to close urday. Cairns in tropical far north Aus- On Saturday morning the Beijing and outdoor construction is banned. But it only issued a yellow alert tralia, remains a mystery. Local Municipal Environmental Monitor- Wang Bin, head of the emergency for the city and many surround- pastor James Gela told broad- ing Center was showing an air qual- response division of the Beijing ing areas on Saturday. Yellow is the caster ABC the community was ity reading of 104. “Today I have Municipal Environmental Protec- second level on China’s four-tier supporting the relatives of the to work. And where is the smog?” tion Bureau, said that measures colour-coded pollution alert sys- victims. A “healing” concert was posted one Beijing resident on Wei- were taken in advance to reduce tem. The weather observatory said being held in a nearby park for the bo, China’s Twitter equivalent. the impact of the pollution and that areas including southern Bei- extended indigenous family from “The smog is not so bad. Why do help people to prepare, the official jing, central Hebei, north Henan the Torres Strait Islands. they have driving restrictions?” said Xinhua news agency reported. and west Shandong would be af- “Twelve months on, it’s a posi- another Weibo user in the capital. The red alert issued earlier this fected by heavy smog, which would tive gesture and part of that heal- The Beijing city government is- month prevented further dete- start to dissipate from Wednesday. ing process,” Gela said. sued its fi rst “red alert” last week rioration of air quality, the report It advised the public to take The house was demolished six following criticism that previous added, citing the authorities. protective measures and those months ago and the property has bouts of smog had failed to trigger Beijing’s latest red alert is due to who suffer from respiratory dis- become a little park, with fruit the highest warning level. last until midnight on Tuesday. eases were urged to stay indoors trees planted as memorial to the In Beijing, a red alert means The National Meteorological or to wear face masks if they need child victims. around half the vehicles are re- Center said Thursday that parts to go out. Gulf Times 14 Sunday, December 20, 2015 BRITAIN/IRELAND UK premier cornered on

EU migrants Cameron: wants to force migrants from EU countries who have jobs in Britain to wait four years before they can claim state benefits.

AFP would follow British local elec- of movement and non-discrimi- to Britain in their hundreds of benefi ts in a bid to make the than answers but it looks like “I believe 2016 will be the year London tions in May. nation were not up for debate. thousands. country – which saw record net everyone now has their sights we achieve something really vi- It looks like Cameron will This left Cameron talking of a “Cameron has made a rod for migration last year – a less at- on reaching a deal in February,” tal, fundamentally changing the however have to give ground on “tough” road to a deal at the next his own back with his promise” tractive destination. said Stephen Booth, co-direc- UK’s relationship with the EU ritish Prime Minister David his demands on curbing welfare summit in February after Thurs- on benefi ts, said Professor Simon With other European lead- tor of think tank Open Europe. and fi nally addressing the con- Cameron is rolling over his payments for citizens from other day’s crunch dinner dominated Hix of the London School of Eco- ers pushing back against that, “Whether that’s the case will cerns of the British people about BEuropean Union renego- EU countries arriving in Britain, by the issue. nomics. sources and commentators sug- likely depend on whether this our membership,” the British tiation bid into 2016, as member in the face of opposition from a EU President Donald Tusk said “He may now have to concede gest several alternative ways for broad political impetus is suffi - prime minister said. nations seek a deal on the con- string of other European lead- other leaders had “voiced their on that issue in return for a com- Cameron to address the issue. cient to see the process through.” Opinion polls suggest the Brit- tentious issue of welfare hand- ers who see his proposals as dis- concerns” but were willing to promise deal.” One could be to impose an In his closing press confer- ish public is fi nely balanced on outs for migrants. criminatory. “compromise”. While Cameron is pushing for emergency brake on migration ence on Friday, Cameron insisted whether they want to remain in Cameron hinted after a Brus- French President Francois “Cameron faces deadlock over reforms of Britain’s relationship into Britain, allowing Cameron to that “good progress” had been the EU or leave. sels summit on Friday that he Hollande warned Cameron that EU benefi t plan” was the Guard- with the EU in four areas, it is limit migration from the 27 other made at the Brussels summit and Seven months after his May wants to hold Britain’s long- the plan was “unacceptable”. ian newspaper’s headline on Fri- the issue of benefi t payments to EU states if its public services seemed to suggest that the refer- election victory which ensured awaited in-out referendum on While German Chancellor An- day, while the Sun ran with “Cam European migrants which is the were overwhelmed or welfare endum could be held in 2016. the EU referendum would be- membership of the European gela Merkel is seen as generally pole-axed”. most problematic. system was being abused. Reports in Britain suggest June come a reality, Cameron now Union next year. supportive of Britain’s position, That was a pun on the oppo- He wants to force those mi- Another is to withdraw such next year is his preferred date. faces another long, hard slog in Press reports yesterday sug- she has stressed that “the funda- sition to his plans from Poland, grants from EU countries who benefi ts from young Britons as No date has been offi cially set, 2016 if he is to secure the result gested that Cameron was eyeing mental achievements of Europe- one of the eastern European na- have jobs in Britain to wait four well as EU migrants. though it must by law happen he wants – Britain staying in the a June/July referendum, which an integration” such as freedom tions whose citizens have moved years before they can claim state “There are still more questions before the end of 2017. EU, but with reforms.

£560mn plans to overhaul Bank station Youth who died in a freak Police

By Ramzy Alwakeel 40% more people by the time work is the one that now leads to the Waterloo accident ‘will save 20 lives’ warning Evening Standard complete. At the moment 1mn people and City line. walk through the gates every week. But commuters hoping to see an im- Bank was voted London’s most dis- mediate improvement will be disap- By Robin de Peyer The Wilsons also revealed that they over use ajor plans to overhaul Bank liked Tube station in a 2013 YouGov pointed – the work isn’t scheduled to Evening Standard did not know Tom was a donor until Tube station to the tune of poll. fi nish until 2021. the hospital told them after their son’s M£563mn have been given the The upgrades were signed off on Fri- Passengers will still be able to access death. of drones green light, with work set to begin in day by the government. They include all four lines that run through Bank he parents of a trainee surveyor “Not until those awful fi nal words the new year. an extra Northern line platform, a new during the overhaul: Central, Northern who died after a hockey accident ‘time of death’ that the donor nurses The transport hub, the third busi- entrance in Cannon Street, new lifts, and Waterloo and City Tubes, as well Thave revealed yesterday that he came back to us and said ‘we have got Evening Standard est Tube station, will be able to handle and two more moving walkways like as the DLR. could save more than 20 lives after hav- some news for you: your son signed up London ing signed up as an organ donor. at Nottingham Trent University as a Tom Wilson, 22, died in hospital after fresher’,” said Mrs Wilson. “It was a big being hit on the head with a stick during relief to know that Tom had done that olice have issued a warning a practice match at Old Loughtonians and I was so proud again. to drone owners ahead of hockey club in Essex earlier this month. “I was proud of him when he was PChristmas after two near- After he went into cardiac arrest, his alive and I just wanted to say ‘Tom, I misses with planes at an airport. teammates performed CPR on him – am so proud of you now with that deci- Hampshire Police said 46 in- keeping his heart alive and preserving sion’.” cidents involving drones were the organs that could now save other She added: “We’ve now heard he recorded this year. desperate patients’ lives. could contribute and save over 20 peo- They included reports of a His mother, Lisa, a 52-year-old PE ple’s lives. They found matches for drone coming within a wing’s teacher, and father Graham, a 63-year- all the major organs and half his liver, length of two separate aircraft old former journalist, spoke yesterday we’ve heard, will go to a child. landing at Southampton Inter- of their pride in their son, who lived “Even in death he has made us very, national Airport. near London Bridge after graduating very proud, by making that decision. Other incidents included from Nottingham Trent University. It’s the only comfort we can take. He drones being found in people’s “He was a perfect son, brother, was a wonderful boy and life was per- gardens and one hitting the roof grandson, nephew, cousin and had a fect.” of a house and causing damage. wonderful sense of humour,” they told His club, Old Loughtonians, held a Police constable Andy BBC Breakfast. “And so charming, we memorial service for him after he was Sparshott said that a drone had couldn’t have wished for any better. pronounced brain dead on December 9. also been used “during an ongo- “It was a freak accident. We’ve heard Tom had previously been a games ing neighbour dispute where one of bad injuries in hockey. We’ve heard captain at The Coopers’ Company and person fl ew a drone over their of concussion and things but rarely of Coborn School in Upminster, east Lon- neighbour’s garden intentionally fatalities.” don. to cause annoyance”. Sparshott said that anyone using a personal drone should be aware of the regulations and guidelines for their use and also note that some are intended for ONE SMOKER. Snobbish Tube passenger indoor use only. He added: “The majority of reported incidents we get are ‘ordered me to move’ drones fl ying low over houses or close to people in recreation TWO PATIENTS. parks. By James Bullen He said: “I couldn’t believe what I “Our message is not that Evening Standard was hearing and said ‘excuse me’ be- drones are dangerous or that we fore saying no I wasn’t going to give up are spoiling someone’s Christ- my seat. Everyone’s faces around me mas present enjoyment, but in- builder claims he was ordered to dropped. creased awareness by everyone vacate his seat on the Tube by a “He muttered ‘this is outrageous’ is an essential part to preventing Acommuter because he had a bet- and stormed off down the carriage be- incidents before they happen. ter job than him. fore asking the same question to a Chi- “So if you see a drone being Jamie Loveday, 19, said he was ap- nese girl who moved for him. fl own recklessly or think its lo- proached by a man on a Victoria line “He probably thought because he cation may be a risk to the public TOBACCO KILLS train on Wednesday around 7.20pm earns more money than me he could in- or aviation then please report it after he stepped onto the carriage at timidate me. I was in my dusty clothes to the police on 101, and if you Green Park station. and he was in a Calvin Klein suit.” do get one for Christmas please The teenager was sitting on the Tube The 19-year-old, who commutes to make sure you’re aware of the as he made his way home to Luton hav- London from his home in Luton, said guidance and regulations re- ing fi nished a day’s work at the Adelphi that it wasn’t the fi rst time he had been garding fl ying them.” Building in Westminster. a victim of snobbery in the capital. He added: “Breaches of these He told the Standard that a well- Last week, he said that he was helped regulations may result in prose- spoken smartly dressed man, aged be- by an elderly gentleman after drop- cution. Offi cers wouldn’t look to tween 40 and 50, told him to vacate his ping his tools on the Tube while men criminalise innocent misuse, as seat because he was the fi nance man- in smartly dressed suits “walked over education or other out-of-court ager of an upmarket hotel. him”. disposals may be more appro- The man off ered no other explana- However, the latest Tube incident priate, but the risk to safety may tion as to why he deserved to sit down, prompted him to take to Twitter to vent have been reckless and prosecu- claimed Loveday. his disgust. tion could prove necessary.” When the bizarre request was dis- Loveday added: “It annoyed me that The Civil Aviation Authority missed he asked a young Chinese wom- he thought was so arrogant to think he regulates drone safety through an to give up her seat using the same was better than me but I fi nd it happens its regulations in the Air Naviga- ploy and she did, Loveday claimed. in London.” tion Order 2009.

Lord Janner, Labour peer accused of sex assaults, dies aged 87

Labour peer Lord Janner has died aged 87 after a long illness, for the Jewish community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family confirmed yesterday evening. the Janner family at this most diff icult time.” Lord Janner, who was made a life peer in the House of Lords The former MP, who represented Leicester North West from in 1997, had been suff ering from dementia and passed away 1970 to 1974 and then Leicester West from 1974 to 1997, at his home yesterday. had previously been accused of a string of historic sexual In a statement, his family said: “Lord Janner died peacefully off ences. on Saturday, December 19 after a long illness. He will be He faced a total of 22 charges, including 15 counts of indecent deeply missed.” assault, for alleged incidents from the 1960s to the 1980s. Issued in Public Interest by GULF TIMES Sir Mick Davis, chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council, He was ruled unfit to stand trial earlier this month and a “trial said: “The passing of Greville Janner marks the end of an era of the facts” was due to take place in April 2016. Gulf Times Sunday, December 20, 2015 15 EUROPE 70 killed in anti-PKK off ensive

AFP carried out airstrikes Friday on gan on Wednesday, according to led by President Recep Tayyip pear into those trenches that you 100,000, and Silopi more than are the latest in a succession of Diyarbakir PKK “hideouts” and “weapons the army. Erdogan have said Ankara must dug,” the president told his sup- 80,000. such measures across the south- sites” across the border in north- Thirty-six militants were eradicate the PKK. porters in a speech in the central “Are you trying to be heroic by east that have angered activists. ern Iraq, where the outlawed killed on Thursday alone. “The terrorists wanted to city of Konya that was broadcast sending six generals and 10,000 There have also been grow- eventy suspected members group has its rear bases. Army chief Hulusi Akar vis- paralyse daily life in these towns on television. soldiers against a few PKK (mem- ing tensions over a curfew in the of the militant Kurdistan A Turkish soldier was killed in ited Sirnak province yesterday by intimidating inhabitants who The Turkish government says bers) in Cizre?” the leader of the Sur district of southeastern Di- SWorkers’ Party (PKK) have the operations yesterday, bring- for a briefi ng by the local military they had extorted,” Interior Min- the operation is needed to elimi- pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Demo- yarbakir province – also mainly been killed in a vast operation ing the death toll on the army command. ister Efkan Ala told the state-run nate militants who were eff ec- cratic Party, Selahattin Demirtas, Kurdish – that has been in place against the group in the mainly side to two. The army said that two schools Anatolia news agency last week. tively taking over the towns by asked the government. almost uninterrupted since De- Kurdish southeast over the past Some 10,000 soldiers, sup- that had been used by the PKK He said that the authorities building barricades and digging “By conducting an operation cember 2. four days, the army said yester- ported by tanks, have been de- as hideouts had been rendered had seized 2,240 weapons, 10 trenches. with such an amount of forces, The PKK launched a formal day. ployed in the southeast to try to inoperable while a stash of arms tonnes of explosives and 10,000 But Kurdish activists and poli- bombing cities, sending soldiers insurgency against the Turk- Eight PKK rebels have been rout young PKK supporters from had been seized in Silopi. Molotov cocktails from the mili- ticians have accused the army on the people you only show, in ish government in 1984, initially killed since Friday, taking the urban areas, according to local The operations mark a new es- tants. of acting with impunity and fact, how helpless you are,” he fi ghting for Kurdish independ- death toll in the unprecedented media. calation in fi ve months of fi ght- Images published by Anatolia pounding large parts of the towns told reporters this week. ence although it now presses off ensive by the army and police The operation, which has tar- ing between the army and the showed heavily armed soldiers to rubble. Demirtas lambasted the offi cial more for greater autonomy and on pro-PKK bastions in three geted the towns of Cizre and Si- PKK since a two-and-a-half year backed by tanks going house- Images from the area show Turkish rhetoric used to describe rights for the country’s largest towns and cities to 70, the army lopi in Sirnak province as well as truce collapsed in July. to-house in the towns and fi ring troops clashing with militants in the crackdown as a “cleansing ethnic minority. said on its website. a neighbourhood in Diyarbakir, Although analysts have called from street corners. the otherwise deserted streets. operation”. The confl ict has left tens of The army also said that it had the largest city in the region, be- for peace talks, the authorities “You (the PKK) will disap- Cizre has a population of some The curfews in Cizre and Silopi thousands dead. Thousands participate in Polish Videos of interviews with militants spark ‘pro-democracy’ demonstrations Swiss terror probe

AFP Reuters/AFP The Islamic Central Council Warsaw Zurich says on its website that it seeks to promote the recognition of Islam in Switzerland and that it housands of people dem- he Swiss attorney gener- had more than 2,500 members onstrated in Poland’s al has opened a criminal at the end of 2012. Tcapital Warsaw and other Tinvestigation of a lead- A spokesman for the council cities yesterday, accusing the ing member in a Swiss Muslim said earlier yesterday that its conservative government that Kaczynski organisation accused of violat- leaders were unable to make took power just last month of ing a ban on jihadist groups, a statement immediately but undermining democracy. The conservative-controlled the attorney general’s offi ce would respond at the press “We are going to defend de- parliament is also debating a law said yesterday. conference with Cherni to- mocracy, we are going to defend that would raise the bar for Con- Switzerland is on alert after morrow morning in Berne. the constitution,” a crowd of stitutional Court rulings, from Islamist militants killed 130 The Swiss government on around 10,000 demonstrators a simple majority of judges to a people in Paris in November. Friday announced that it had that gathered outside parliament two-thirds majority. A week ago, two Syrians added 86 employees to what in Warsaw, which is now control- Kaczynski, who is neither were arrested near the French it called its “terror fi ghting” led by the Law and Justice party president nor prime minister border on suspicion of having activities within the federal (PiS), shouted. but is widely seen as pulling the links to Islamic State. police, intelligence service and The PiS, led by staunch con- strings in his party, has said he Traces of explosives were border patrol agencies. servative ex-premier Jaroslaw wants to break up the “band of found in their car. Lauber recently opened a Kaczynski, has already plunged cronies” in the nation’s highest The attorney general’s of- criminal inquiry on the basis the country into a political cri- judicial body, whom he accuses fi ce did not name the accused, of a “terrorist threat in Gene- sis over its controversial nomi- of protecting their own interests. but the Islamic Central Coun- va” against unknown persons nations to the Constitutional According to a TNS Institute cil, which says it is the largest suspected of belonging to a Court. poll published in the Gazeta Muslim organisation in Swit- criminal organisation and of The ruling party has attempt- Wyborcza, approval ratings for zerland, identifi ed him as the violating the ban on Al Qaeda ed to install fi ve judges of its the PiS have slid to 27% from German head of its multimedia or Islamic State. own choosing in the 15-member 42% at the start of December. department, Naim Cherni. The attorney general’s of- court, and refuses to recognise The new government’s critics He was either 23 or 24 years fi ce said the move shows “the judges who were appointed by include Lech Walesa, Poland’s old, the spokeswoman said. rigorous prosecution brought the previous parliament when Nobel Peace laureate and fi rst According to State Attorney against all persons in Switzer- the liberal Civic Platform (PO) democratically elected president Michael Lauber, the accused land who attempt to take part party was in power. since World War II in 1990. traveled to Syria in October in jihad-motivated terrorism, “We have our freedoms and we “I’m beginning to be ashamed and interviewed the leader of or who support this by means are going to defend them,” said of this democratic choice,” said a jihadist umbrella group as of propaganda”. Mateusz Kijowski, founder of Walesa on Thursday. well as the leader of Jabhat al- It also pointed out that it the Committee for the defence of “We have to change some Nusra, which is affi liated with was currently in the midst of democracy (KOD), a civic move- things. They are right on a lot of Al Qaeda. 46 criminal proceedings “in ment that was created to oppose points, but not in the way they He subsequently released a conjunction with the topic of what critics see as an attempt by are doing it,” he added, calling roughly 40-minute video, in jihad-motivated terrorism”, the PiS to politicise the top court. for an “open and democratic” Arabic with German subtitles, adding that most of these cas- The KOD has also organised reform process. documenting their exchange. es were linked to “suspected demonstrations in other cities “If they don’t do it like that, Lauber said that he “pre- propaganda support of terror- from Lublin in eastern Poland, to I am warning them, it’s going to sented his journey to embat- ist organisations”. Gdansk in the north and Poznan end in civil war,” Walesa said. tled regions of Syria in a video The attorney general’s offi ce to the west. Demonstrations also took for propaganda purposes, highlighted that in October it Public television estimated the place last weekend when 50,000 Protesters shout slogans during an anti-government demonstration yesterday in Warsaw. Thousands of without having explicitly dis- had fi led charges against four crowds at 4,000 in Lublin and people marched in Warsaw Poles participated in demonstrations across Poland to protest moves by the new right-wing government tanced himself from Al Qaeda Iraqis accused of “preparing a Gdansk and 1,000 in Poznan. against the new ruling party. to neutralise the Constitutional Tribunal as a check on its power. activities in Syria”. terrorist attack”. Switzerland seeks claimants Swiss reject Ikea refugee for 2,600 dormant accounts

based judge Edward Korman. shelters due to fi re risk AFP heirs another opportunity to Geneva assert their claims.” The majority of names be- A spokeswoman for the asso- long to Swiss nationals or those AFP The Swiss canton of Argau, ciation, Sindy Schmiegel Wern- with addresses in Switzerland, Geneva which had been planning to or anyone who may have er, told AFP that the legislation but the various nationalities house 300 asylum seekers in forgotten about their for- was pushed for by banks anx- listed include Americans, Ar- the Ikea shelters within a few Ftune sitting idle in a Swiss ious to avoid the complications gentinians, Brazilians, Germans he Swiss city of Zurich has months, also said on Friday that bank account, a list published posed by dormant accounts, and Israelis. announced that it would it was seeking alternatives fol- this week is a must read. including some that have been Some of the account holders Tnot use the 62 Ikea refu- lowing the Zurich test results. The fi rst-of-its-kind list idle for nearly 100 years. in the list were born in the 19th gee shelters it has purchased to Switzerland is expecting to published by the Swiss Bank- Werner added that the prob- century and some appear tied house asylum-seekers after a test receive some 39,000 asylum ap- ers Association identifi es more lem of dormant accounts af- to prominent European families showed they constituted a fi re plicants this year, up from 23,800 than 2,600 accounts with total fected banks globally and that like the Vogues of France – who hazard. in 2014. assets estimated at 44mn Swiss the SBA was at the forefront of have no connection to the fa- Amid swelling numbers of Yesterday the Ikea Foundation francs ($44mn/€41mn) which eff orts to regulate the issue. mous magazine. refugees and other migrants ar- insisted that its refugee shelters have been dormant for at least Only accounts with more There are families with six riving in Switzerland, Zurich are safe. 60 years. than 500 Swiss francs were dormant accounts, and families city councillor Raphael Golta on Maerta Terne, a spokeswoman For accounts that have been listed. with no accounts but multiple Friday morning proudly unveiled for the Better Shelter project, idle since 1955, individuals have The association is also look- safety deposit boxes. a large hall fi lled with dozens of born out of a collaboration be- one year to make a claim or the ing for claimants for around Among the curious entities Ikea ready-to-assemble refugee tween the Ikea Foundation and assets will be transferred to the 80 safety deposit boxes, which listed is the apparently extinct shelters aimed to house 250 peo- the UN refugee agency, told AFP federal government, an SBA have been opened with an in- Press Club of Locarno, which ple by early January. Packages of disassembled migrant shelters are seen inside an she could not comment on the statement said. ventory taken, the SBA said. opened an account in 1955 and But just a few hours later, the exhibition hall in Zurich. Swiss safety test before seeing a For accounts dating from Switzerland intends to pub- has not used it since. city was forced to announce that “translation of the report on the 1954 or earlier, claimants have a lish a fresh list every year, with Perhaps anticipating a fl ood a fi re safety test had revealed the tion available,” he told the RTS ing that a German report this results and the method used.” fi ve-year window. the 2016 version identifying ac- of hopeful claimants seeking shelters do not live up to Swiss public broadcaster. week raised concerns about the However, she stressed the tests The publication of the ac- counts dormant since 1956. to access previously unknown fi re protection requirements. The shelters, developed in accuracy of the Swedish study. against European safety stand- counts followed a law passed on Switzerland has previously riches, the SBA highlighted the The test showed the temporary co-operation between Swedish UNHCR spokeswoman Anja ards “on the walls and covering January 1 which aimed in part to published lists of dormant ac- thorough verifi cation process shelters “are easily combustible”, furniture giant Ikea and the UN Klug told Swiss news agency ATS panels showed that the material help give banks legal clarity on counts, but only those with requiring “concrete evidence” the city of Zurich said in a state- refugee agency, have already re- on Friday that the organisation held a security level superior to how to handle dormant assets, a direct link to victims of the before a claim is considered le- ment. portedly been deployed by the was preparing to compare the that required for temporary shel- the SBA said. Holocaust. gitimate. Golta voiced surprise at the thousand in refugee camps and in Swiss and Swedish safety test ter”. “By publishing this informa- A 1998 agreement that Certain accounts have no verdict, but insisted that the city places like Greece that are facing results. According to Better Shelter, tion, the banks are making a last sought to resolve the contro- corresponding names or ad- had done its best under the cir- a heavy infl ux of migrants. “If we discover problems, we the UN agency has ordered for attempt to re-establish contact versy surrounding Holocaust- dresses and are identifi ed only cumstances. The city of Zurich said it had will seek a solution,” she said, its operations this year 10,000 with the customer,” SBA chief era accounts saw Swiss banking through an ID number found “We have to host 40% more relied on safety information from stressing though that the shel- of the 17.5sq m (188-square- Claude-Alain Margelish said in giants UBS and Credit Suisse in a passbook which, in theory, asylum seekers in the space of the UNHCR and a Swedish study. ters are “emergency housing, foot) easy-to-assemble shelters, a statement. “This publication pay out $1.24bn to a victims should be in the possession of two months, so we had to move But regional authorities had temporary solutions, which we which come in Swedish furniture gives customers and their legal fund managed by New York- the account holder. quickly to choose the best solu- requested a new test after learn- consider better than tents”. giant Ikea’s famous fl atpacks. Gulf Times 16 Sunday, December 20, 2015 INDIA Detention of gang-rape victim’s parents denied

IANS police station and were free New Delhi to go,”Deputy Commissioner of Police Madhur Verma said. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief he parents of the De- Minister Arvind Kejri- cember 16, 2012 gang- wal termed the detention a Trape victim said Delhi “shocking” incident. Police yesterday detained “I am shocked to learn that them for protesting out- Nirbhaya’s parents have been side the reformation home detained. They should im- against the release of the ju- mediately be released,” Ke- venile convict. jriwal tweeted. Police, however, denied In another tweet, Kejriwal they were detained. said: “Police action against They were protesting out- Nirbhaya’s parents is unac- side the reformation home ceptable. I have asked the in Majnu Ka Tilla where the chief secretary to talk to po- juvenile was remanded after lice commissioner and get the Juvenile Justice Board them released.” sent him for reformation for Delhi Commission for three years. Women (DCW) chief Swati “We all were forcefully Maliwal also said: “It is too dumped in a bus and kept much. Why has police de- at the Maurice Nagar police tained Nirbhaya’s parents. station under detention for They have all right to peace- half an hour. We were later fully protest. They should be allowed to go,” the gang-rape immediately released.” victim’s father Badrinath The convict is now told IANS. 20-years-old. He was a ju- Delhi Police, however, de- venile in 2012 when he along nied the allegation, saying with five other accused com- the gang-rape victim’s par- mitted the gang-rape in a ents were not detained. moving bus in the capital. “We did not detain the The court found him guilty gang-rape victim’s parents. of raping and assaulting the We gently asked them to victim along with five ac- leave the place. They them- complices. Vice-President of Congress Party Rahul Gandhi (centre) walks with his mother and party President Sonia Gandhi and off icials as they leave Patiala House Court in New Delhi yesterday, selves were ready to board Sources said the juvenile after a court appearance by the pair. the police bus along with was shifted to some undis- other protesters. They were closed location a day before taken to the Maurice Nagar his release today.

Man saves father’s Court grants bail to Sonia, life by donating Rahul in corruption case

AFP when he controlled the capital’s liver of diff erent New Delhi cricket association - a claim he vehemently denies. Swamy fi rst fi led the case New Delhi court granted against the Congress bosses in blood group bail to opposition leaders 2001. ASonia and Rahul Gandhi He accused them of illegally yesterday in a high-profi le cor- acquiring the now-defunct IANS ruption case that has gripped newspaper’s assets after buying Noida India, as they accused political its publisher through a new pri- rivals of waging a malicious ven- vate company, Young Indian, us- detta against them. ing a loan from party funds. n a rare surgery, a 26-year-old youth saved his father’s life by The mother-son duo, scions He alleged that the Gandhis donating a portion of his liver in spite of having a diff erent of the famous Gandhi-Nehru aimed to grab property worth Iblood group, hospital offi cials said yesterday. dynasty, arrived at the capital’s $332mn owned by the publishing After 50-year-old Andrew was diagnosed with liver damage due Patiala trial court accompanied fi rm, Associated Journals, using to poor food habits, the only option left for the patient was liver by ex-premier Manmohan Singh fraudulent papers. transplant. Though his own son, Aaron was willing to donate a part and other senior Congress lead- Both Gandhis are directors of his liver, the diff erence between his and his father’s blood groups ers, underscoring the intensely of Young Indian, owning a 76% made it diffi cult. politicised nature of the case. stake in it and the remaining A doctor, whom Andrew consulted, told him about the new ABO The Gandhis waved to their shares. incompatible liver transplant process through which a transplant supporters outside the court Sonia and Rahul were fi rst was possible even if the blood groups of the receiver and donor do where hundreds of police and summoned in the case in June not match. According to doctors, until now people used to rely only paramilitaries stood guard, be- 2014 but refused to appear in on matching blood groups or cadaver donors, but now with the ABO fore entering for a fi ve-minute court in person, sending their incompatible technique, the lives of hundreds of patients can be hearing in which they were lawyers instead. saved. granted unconditional bail. On December 7 the Delhi High “Success of this operation has given hope to people around the “This is clearly a case of po- Court turned down a plea by world who are fi ghting to save their lives just because they are un- litical vendetta,” defence lawyer the Gandhis to quash the lat- able to fi nd a donor whose blood group matches theirs. Two to three Kapil Sibal said, adding the case est summons and exempt them weeks after the operation, the line of treatment and the medicines had been adjourned until Febru- Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, daughter of main opposition Congress party president Sonia Gandhi, arrives at the from appearing in person. are similar to those patients who have undergone a normal com- ary 20. court in New Delhi. The National Herald was patible transplant,” said KR Vasudevan, senior consultant for liver The Gandhis were summoned founded by Jawaharlal Nehru transplant, who was a part of the operative team at Jaypee Hospital. by the court after Subramanian will come out. We are well aware said, with Sonia’s daughter Priy- The intensifying spat between who went on to become India’s Under the AOB incompatible transplantation, a simple blood Swamy, a politician from the of the campaign of attacks and anka Gandhi and former defence the main parties looks set to stall fi rst prime minister. test is performed fi rst to determine the amount of antibodies in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party criticism that our political rivals minister AK Antony providing the progress of a landmark sales It fi rst published from the blood stream. Most people have a level of antibodies that is treatable. (BJP) fi led a private criminal follow,” Sonia Gandhi said at a sureties. Three others accused tax reform in parliament. northern city of Lucknow in Following that, there is a treatment done to reduce the blood group complaint accusing them of press conference following the were also granted bail. Separately, Modi clashed with 1938 and played a prominent antibodies of the organ receiver. Once it is done, antibodies of the misappropriating property be- hearing. “The Congress party is united Delhi chief minister Arvind Ke- role promoting nationalist sen- blood group of the receiver are removed using a process of plasma longing to the now-defunct Na- “They are targeting us and in support of (Sonia and Rahul). jriwal, head of the anti-corrup- timent before India’s independ- exchange. Then fi nally the task of removing the cells that make more tional Herald newspaper. making full use of the state We will give a determined fi ght,” tion Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) af- ence from Britain in 1947. of antibodies in the blood group is done and a medication called in- They fi ercely deny Swamy’s agencies,” she said. former premier Singh told re- ter federal investigators searched Sonia Gandhi, widow of Ne- travenous immunoglobulin or IVIg is given to the patient to decline allegations, which they say are The BJP rejects any suggestion porters. the city administration’s head- hru’s grandson Rajiv, later be- the antibodies completely, after which the transplant is possible. evidence of a Prime Minister it is involved in the case, saying It followed a tumultuous week quarters, with Kejriwal branding came the chief patron of the The WHO says that every fi fth person in India suff ers from some Narendra Modi-led campaign Swamy acted alone and stressing in Indian politics which saw the premier a “psychopath”. trust that ran it. liver complication. Annually, around 250,000 patients die of liver against their embattled party, the court’s independence. members of the embattled Con- The AAP in turn caused a But dogged by bad manage- failure in India owing to cirrhosis. Over 25,000 patients need a liver struggling since a bitter electoral The Gandhis were granted bail gress and their allies throw par- storm by accusing Finance ment, poor circulation and fall- transplant every year but only 1,100 actually manage to undergo defeat last year. on a personal bond of 50,000 ru- liament into chaos several times Minister Arun Jaitley of presid- ing revenue, she fi nally decided transplantation. “I have no doubt that the truth pees ($754) each, their lawyers in protest at the case. ing over fi nancial irregularities to close the publication in 2008. NRI-promoted power project likely to take off in Kerala

By Ashraf Padanna fi nery Expansion Project (IREP), large number of jobs in refi n- a comprehensive report, which ue solid fuel is extensively used adjacent to the BPCL expansion prominent non-resident Indian Thiruvananthapuram which will be available from ing, petrochemical, power and endorsed its implementation. for power generation in various project. It will be acquired by (NRI) investors, CK Menon (Qa- February. construction sectors with the “As such, this can be one of the countries. Kerala State Industrial Devel- tar), Mohamed Althaf (UAE), The IREP will yield approxi- refi nery residues leading to light best infrastructure projects ini- The project is bolstered by opment Corp (KSIDC) and used Siddeek Ahmed (Saudi Arabia), nfrastructure Kerala Lim- mately 1.4mn metric tonnes per petroleum products. tiated by the state,” Inkel man- many favourable factors, includ- only for the implementation of CV Rappai (Qatar) and Verghese ited or Inkel, promoted annum (MMTPA) of petcoke, It is expected to bring down aging director T Balakrishnan ing assured fuel supply from the the petcoke based power plant, Kurien (Bahrain) as directors. Iby prominent expatri- when it is expected to be com- the cost of production by half said in a statement. BPCL refi nery with negligible under government directions. The state government holds ate investors in the Gulf, is pleted by May 2016. This can compared to heavy fuel oil “It can be a key contributor transportation cost, adequate The power project proposes to 26% of the company through likely to take up a Rs60bn be used to produce 500 to 600 plants. to Kerala’s economic develop- water source, pollution-free, employ the most environment- investment arm Kerala State petcoke power project in the megawatts of power. The state authorised Inkel ment.” eco-friendly, advanced technol- friendly technology currently Industrial Development Corp southern state. The power produced using to study its feasibility last year. The government, identifying ogy and excellent connectivity. available in the world, with a (KSIDC) and infrastructure de- The state plans to set up its petcoke is expected to be much Based on discussions with major the merits of petcoke as a pri- The land identifi ed for the minimal requirement of land, it veloper, Kerala State Infrastruc- fi rst petroleum coke-based plant cheaper than that of naphtha or power plant technology provid- mary fuel for power generation, project is 150 acres of Fertilis- said. ture Development Corp (Kinfra) using the fuel produced from LNG-fi red plants. The project ers and extensive data analysis, has approved the proposal, in ers and Chemicals Travancore Inkel, chaired by industries under the industries depart- Kochi Refi nery’s Integrated Re- is also supposed to create a it said, the company submitted principle. The high calorifi c val- Limited (FACT), Irumpanam, minister PK Kunhalikutty, has ment. Gulf Times Sunday, December 20, 2015 17 INDIA Jaitley says Film promo collateral reasons delaying GST

IANS and Industry (Ficci). Among the entirely for collateral reasons,” New Delhi legislations listed by him, one of he said. “The only collateral rea- them included the bankruptcy son I suspect is: ‘If I couldn’t do code and the other was arbitra- it, then why let someone else do ashing out at the Congress tion. it’!” Jaitley exclaimed, but add- party again for blocking a Nonetheless, he said the steps ed: “A delayed GST is better than Lpan-India goods and serv- taken by his government will a fl awed GST.” ice tax (GST) regime, Finance prove to be benefi cial. “We’re As regards the legislations Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday hoping that structural reforms which the government wished said some reform-oriented laws, undertaken will help us go to 8% the two houses to consider over nonetheless, were expected to growth in 2016-17,” he said, even the next three days, Jaitley said be passed during the remain- as the mid-term economic sur- one of them sought to put India ing three days of what has been vey released a day before had cut back on the global adjudication a none-too-productive winter the prospect to 7-7.5%. map for cases of arbitration, as Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan (right) and Salman Khan pose with dancers during a promotional event for the Hindi film session of parliament thus far. Jaitley’s speech had politi- the costs of such litigation were Dilwale on the set of a Colors TV Reality Show in Lonavala, some 100kms from Mumbai yesterday. “The next three days are cru- cal content as well, notably on enormous abroad. cial with very important pieces the eff ort in vain, thus far, to get “We’re bringing in a bill for of legislation coming up before the goods and services tax bill fast-track arbitration, including our parliament,” Jaitley said here passed in the current parliament single-member tribunals.” addressing the annual general session. He also referred to the pro- meeting of the Federation of In- “I’ve no doubt in my mind that posed new bankruptcy code dian Chambers of Commerce the attempt to delay the GST is that aims to resolve cases of in- solvency at the earliest so that Dissident Congress group to amounts lent to such companies can also be recovered fast. The bill has proposed a timeline of 180 days, extendable by another 90 days, to resolve such cases. move court over stay order Speaking at the event later, Jaitley’s deputy and Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha IANS that led to dissidence in the of the Congress, 11 from the Reiterating that law and or- forewarned that low farm sec- Guwahati ruling party and subsequent BJP and two Independents — der has broken down in Aru- tor growth and the cost of im- constitutional crisis in the recently ‘impeached’ Speaker nachal Pradesh, Pul said the plementing the pay commission state. Nabam Rebia and passed by governor was in danger even in recommendations together with he dissident Congress He said they will meet Presi- voice vote a no-confi dence a highly secured place like Raj a slow global expansion will group in Arunachal dent Pranab Mukherjee and motion against Tuki and his Bhavan. prove to be taxing for his govern- T Pradesh yesterday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi council of ministers at the win- He dismissed the Congress ment next year. they will move the Gauhati to apprise them about the on- ter session convened by the claims that the governor was “Next year is a challenging High Court, after it kept in going political turmoil in the governor on December 16 and working as a BJP agent and had year. Headwinds of two major abeyance the governor’s or- state. conducted by Deputy Speaker T turned Raj Bhavan into an RSS factors will be slowing us down,” der to summon the winter Pul ruled out the alleged in- Norbu Thongdok. offi ce. Sinha said, adding the slow- session of the legislative as- volvement of the BJP and the Subsequently, Speaker Re- He also blamed the Congress ing farm output growth was the sembly. RSS in the developments in the bia filed a writ petition in the central leadership for failing result of two successive years Kalikho Pul, leader of the state. Gauhati High Court against to handle the situation, say- of bad monsoon and the global rebel group, who has been He also dismissed reports of the governor’s order, and a ing they waited for over two slowdown was hitting India’s camping in Guwahati along the involvement of Governor JP single judge bench of the high months in New Delhi to meet merchandise exports. with some his supporters, said Rajkhowa in the developments court kept in abeyance the the top leadership, including He also said the government it was the mismanagement, that have led to the present governor’s order and asked to party president Sonia Gandhi has its task cut out in meeting fi nancial mess and corruption constitutional crisis. maintain status quo till Febru- and vice president Rahul Gan- Jaitley: promising reform-oriented laws the fi scal defi cit targets. by Chief Minister Nabam Tuki A total of 34 legislators — 21 ary 1. dhi but to no avail.

Comedian Innocent ‘fi t’ Odisha police launch probe Tweet lands after chemotherapy into terror suspect’s money trail man in jail IANS tivation of non-hodgkin’s lym- IANS Kochi phoma, which was fi rst detected Patna in 2012 . IANS Earlier, Jharkhand police had arrested In a glittering fi lm career that Bhubaneswar Rehman for infl ammatory speeches and ce comedian and Lok began in the 70s, Innocent, anti-national talk in some areas of the girl, who was harassed on Sabha member from 66, has acted in more than 500 state. a running train, tweeted AChalakudy in Kerala — fi lms. Since 2000, he is serving he Odisha police yesterday said it was Rehman was arrested from Jagatpur area Ato the Railway Ministry Innocent — who was undergoing as the president of the Associa- looking into the bank accounts of Al in Cuttack in a joint operation by Odisha for help, following which the chemotherapy, said yesterday tion of Malayalam Movie Artists TQaeda terror suspect Abdul Rehman, police and Delhi police. Presently, the terror accused was arrested, a Railway that he is fi t. (AMMA), the body of Malayalam who was arrested in Cuttack on Wednesday, suspect is in Delhi police custody. police offi cial said here yester- “Three days back, a PET scan fi lm actors. to establish the money trail for possible ter- Meanwhile, the Cuttack district admin- day. was taken and it has been found He said that the book he wrote rorist activities. istration yesterday handed over the chil- The girl was travelling in out that I am perfectly fi ne af- while undergoing the treatment The police had earlier seized one SBI and dren staying at the madrassa run by Reh- Shramjeevi Express from New ter the treatment that I took in would be released in February two Canara Bank accounts of Rehman. man in Tangi area, to their guardians in the Delhi to Patna. “Finding her Delhi. From now on, I will be next year, and he will also don A police team each would be dispatched presence of police. alone, the accused started mis- with my voters,” Innocent told the grease paint again. to Jharkhand and Delhi to garner further in- Around 60 children from Jharkhand were behaving and passed objection- reporters near Kochi. Innocent, who contested the formation about Rehman, who is alleged to studying in the seminary while others were able comments,” the offi cial said. Since August, the popular 2014 Lok Sabha polls as a Left- be a member of Al Qaeda in the India Sub- from Odisha. The administration decided After the girl tweeted, the actor-turned-politician was backed independent candidate continent (AQIS). to get the madrassa vacated after enquiring Railway police was directed undergoing chemotherapy at All shocked many, when he defeat- “One team of the commissionerate police into its legality. to help her immediately, after India Institute of Medical Sci- ed Congress heavyweight PC will leave for Jharkhand tomorrow while Meanwhile, two teachers of the madrassa A recent photo of the suspected which the accused was arrested ences (AIIMS) in the national Chacko from the Chalakudy Lok another team will go to the Delhi special have been interrogated by police at Jagatpur member of Al Qaeda arrested by and sent to jail for harassment, capital following a disease reac- Sabha constituency. cell,” said police commissioner RP Sharma. police station. the Delhi Police Special Cell. the offi cial added. Spiritual leader calls for keeping apart religion, politics

IANS his message was: “Spiritualise tics in the conferment of awards, narrow mindedness will not Kolkata politics, secularise religion and and that’s why I refused to ac- work for the country. socialise business”. cept an award in the fi rst place.” Ravi Shankar alongwith Ravi Shankar said it was Ravi Shankar declined to ac- West Bengal Education Min- eligion and politics should “wrong” to dub the entire coun- cept the Padma Vibhushan, the ister Partha Chatterjee today be distinct and should not try intolerant in the wake of second highest civilian award in will launch a boarding school Rbe mixed, spiritual guru criminal acts. January. for children of sex workers of Ravi Shankar said here yester- “In the country, there are The spiritual guru also ad- Sonagachi at Pailan. day. criminal acts today and they vised religious leaders to adopt a “I am for elimination of “Religion and politics should were there in the past. It is broad mindset. prostitution,” he said when be kept separate. They are both wrong to dub the whole country “Religious leaders should asked about his views on legal- distinct and important but they intolerant. not make their followers fanat- ising sex work in the country. shouldn’t merge. But politics “I think it shouldn’t be dubbed ics. They should not only think To prevent youth from turn- could be guided by spiritual- as intolerance and the criminal about their own community. ing to terrorism, Ravi Shankar ity... for example Mahatma Gan- acts must be punished,” he said. They should give them a broad vouched for skill training to in- dhi was a spiritual person,” Ravi However, he dodged a poser base, else terrorism will take crease their employability and Shankar told the media on the on whether the intolerance de- over the world which is happen- also practising yoga and spir- sidelines of the Kolkata Medi- bate was politically motivated, ing now. ituality. tates event organised by the Art saying: “You can answer that “Religious leaders should cul- He also spoke about launch- of Living Foundation. better.” tivate a broad mindset and poli- ing a door-to-door “happiness Asked about the infl uence of On the ‘award wapsi’, Ravi ticians should follow Gandhian survey” to gauge what Indians religion on politics, Shankar said Shankar said “there is clear poli- principles,” he said, adding that need. Spiritual leader Ravi Shankar at a press meet in Kolkata yesterday. Gulf Times 18 Sunday, December 20, 2015 LATIN AMERICA Costa Rica splits Rousseff picks close from SICA over migrant crisis

AFP aide to replace Levy San José Reuters osta Rica has partially Brasilia pulled out of SICA, a Cregional body promot- ing Central American co-oper- razilian President Dilma ation, after neighbouring na- Rousseff has named leftist tions refused to help handle a Beconomist and close aide growing Cuban migrant crisis. Nelson Barbosa to replace fi s- President Luis Guillermo cally conservative Finance Min- Solis announced the decision ister Joaquim Levy, signalling a at a news conference on his dramatic break with the defi cit- return from a SICA summit in cutting policies that her admin- El Salvador that failed to reach istration has pursued for most of agreement on the fate of thou- Solis: Costa Rica ‘cannot this year. sands of US-bound Cubans participate in a body that does Barbosa, who was the plan- Rousseff : Faced with the threat of impeachment by stuck in Costa Rica since mid- not respect a fundamental, ning minister, has been one of her opponents, she has watered down Levy’s push November. basic principle that is the strongest opponents of an for austerity. He also declared his country solidarity’. aggressive austerity drive that would be giving no more tran- Levy led in an attempt to regain Left: This August 31 file picture shows then-finance sit visas to any arriving Cubans them to live in the US. the confi dence of investors in an minister Levy and then planning minister Barbosa and would instead “deport The number of Cubans try- economy that has been mired in at a news conference at the Planalto Palace in them to their country of ori- ing to make the journey jumped its worst recession in a quarter of Brasilia, after presenting the budget for 2016 to gin”. this year out of fear that policy a century. the congress. Barbosa is replacing Levy as Brazil’s There are more than 5,000 could soon be scrapped given Levy’s exit had been expected economy minister, the government announced on Cubans in the country with the thaw in US-Cuban ties an- after Fitch this week became the Friday. the temporary visas, stuck near nounced in December 2014. second ratings agency to strip the border with Nicaragua, and With the US Coast Guard Latin America’s largest economy which is what we need for the mark Bovespa stock index 3% to should take measures to stabilise for Social Research, a US-based the immigration service said sending back Cubans found of its coveted investment grade. economy to recover,” Barbosa end the day at its lowest since its growing public debt. college known for its leftist eco- another 2,000 were looking to crossing the Florida Straits, Faced with the threat of im- said. “Our commitment to fi scal April of 2009. The Fitch downgrade this nomics teachings, Barbosa was join them. many are trying to fl y to South peachment by her opponents, stability remains the same.” The real futures showed the week, though widely expected, one of the main economic advis- Solis said that Costa Rica America so they can make their Rousseff has watered down Barbosa is considered a leftist currency weakened another 1.0% refl ected the sharp reversal in ers to Rousseff and the architect was suspending its politi- way to the US border overland Levy’s push for austerity, the lat- economist in much the same vein after the confi rmation that Bar- Brazil’s economic fortunes. of her successful low-cost hous- cal participation in SICA, the through Central America and est sign that she could abandon as Rousseff and his appointment bosa was taking over the minis- The departure of Levy, who has ing programme, called “Minha Central American Integration Mexico. market-friendly policies to gain will be interpreted as a return of try. held the post since January, could Casa Minha Vida” (My House, System, because it “cannot But Ecuador, their entry support from her leftist allies in the policies blamed by critics for Moody’s Investor Services hinder the approval of several My Life). participate in a body that does point to the continent and Congress. sinking Brazil’s economy into re- said in statement that Levy’s exit measures such as the revival of a Rousseff has been in offi ce not respect a fundamental, ba- another Cuban ally, recently Levy, who had been in his post cession this year. could hinder eff orts to improve controversial fi nancial transac- since 2011. sic principle that is solidarity”. closed the door to the migrants for nearly a year, clashed repeat- “Markets will react negatively Brazil’s public fi nances. tion tax, known as CPMF, aimed In a year-end breakfast with It was not pulling out en- by requiring them to get visas. edly with Rousseff over budget because of the good reputation Moody’s, the only of the three at heading off a full-blown scalfi reporters earlier on Friday, Levy tirely, though: Solis said Costa Yet thousands of Cubans are cuts that he sought to improve of the departing minister,” said major rating agencies keep- crisis that has scared investors. criticised the government lack Rica would continue its eco- already on the trail, relying on the country’s fi scal health. Alberto Ramos, a senior econo- ing Brazil on investment grade, Barbosa is closely associated of clarity in economic policy and nomic participation in the people smugglers and bribe- In his fi rst comments to the mist with Goldman Sachs in New has warned it could downgrade with the same school of thought urged policymakers to seek deep- body. taking offi cials to let them press, however, Barbosa said that York. “And also out of fear that the country to junk in coming that Rousseff subscribes to, er reforms. The political suspension through. the government was commit- Levy’s replacement will signal a months. which is known in Brazil as devel- “We need clarity from the gov- underlined Costa Rica’s frus- Costa Rica in November dis- ted to shoring up the country’s shift back to fi scal populism.” Barbosa, a former fi nance opmentalism and which defends ernment to remove uncertainties tration over the migrant crisis, mantled a people-smuggling fi nances with new fi scal savings Before the announcement, ministry offi cial during Rous- high government spending and and return to growth,” Levy said. sparked by a November 15 de- ring the Cubans had been us- measures. speculation that Levy was leav- seff ’s fi rst term, has pushed for intervention to protect industries “The downgrade was a warning cision by its northern neigh- ing, inadvertently bringing “The focus of economic policy ing weakened the real more than more fl exible budget targets, al- from foreign competition. call and we have the capacity to bour Nicaragua – a Cuban ally the migratory fl ux out into the continues to be fi scal stability, 1% and pushed down the bench- though he has reiterated Brazil A graduate of The New School change our path.” – to close its border to Cubans. open. That exasperation was al- Bad relations with Nicara- ready apparent when Solis gua, with which Costa Rica abruptly left the summit in has had several border dis- San Salvador before it fi nished, putes – including one resolved after failing to convince other this week in its favour by the Argentina receives members to help. International Court of Justice Nicaragua’s government is- – have stood in the way of a sued a statement after Friday’s diplomatic accord. summit demanding “the Unit- Several of the other coun- ‘Macri-economic’ ed States fi nd a solution” for tries represented at the sum- the Cubans. mit, which included host El “The situation should be re- Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, solved not by Central America Belize and the Dominican Re- shock treatment but by the United States since public, called for a solution, it is the one that has prompted but off ered nothing concrete many Cubans to want to try to beyond insisting a consensus AFP government give vouchers for get to it,” Nicaraguan Deputy was needed. Buenos Aires workers at Christmas to com- Foreign Minister Denis Mon- The stranded Cubans are be- pensate for having their spending cada told AFP. ing put up in schools and tents power slashed by the currency Cubans managing to reach in northern Costa Rica, waiting n just a week as Argentina’s reforms and by soaring infl ation. America benefi t from a Cold for the chance to continue their president, conservative Mau- And small domestic producers War-era policy permitting odyssey north. Iricio Macri has passed dras- have warned that freeing up ex- tic economic reforms, drawing ports and imports will drive them praise from foreign investors out of business. but angry protests from citizens “We will have to wait and see afraid for their salaries. what measures the government Nicaragua asks for The so-called “Macri-eco- takes to stop people’s salaries nomic” shock treatment in Latin evaporating and more marginal America’s third-biggest econo- sectors being impacted,” Cor- US airlift to move my saw the peso currency plunge doba warned. by a third after he scrapped his The currency reform was the Macri greets local residents from a farming sector during a visit yesterday to the city of Curuzu Cuatia in leftist predecessor’s dollar ex- most dramatic of Macri’s meas- the province of Corrientes. Argentine farmers are slowly starting to sell their soy and corn stockpiles now stranded Cubans change controls. ures since taking offi ce on De- that newly elected president has devalued the currency and needs export dollars to help rev up central That was an even sharper fall cember 10. bank reserves left thin by the previous government. than during Argentina’s fi nancial He has also axed a controver- Reuters the growing number of Cu- crisis in 2002, when it had to be sial tax on agricultural exports protectionist policies of Macri’s ever, may not materialise until failed meanwhile, in a sign of the San Salvador bans trying to reach the United bailed out by the International including grain and meat. And he predecessor Cristina Kirchner well into next year,” he added, in political challenges he faces with States who have become stuck Monetary Fund. lowered the tax on another major stifl ed exports. a note. an opposition-dominated Con- in Costa Rica pass through its Macri says that a sharp ad- export: soybeans. Exporters welcomed the ag- Economist Aldo Ferrer called gress. he Nicaraguan govern- territory. justment is needed to make the “We are racing against the riculture reform. Farmers called Macri’s measures a “drastic He tried to appoint two new ment on Friday pro- Around 5,000 Cubans are country competitive, though clock. We have no time to lose,” them a historic move that could course to correct the exchange Supreme Court judges by decree Tposed that the United estimated to be in limbo on the economists as well as his politi- he said, announcing those meas- lead them to sow 30% more arrears and fi scal imbalances” in but was forced to back down by States fl y out thousands of border. cal opponents warn it will hurt ures. “The world doesn’t give out wheat and corn next year. Argentina. widespread opposition. Cuban migrants who have been The Costa Rican government Argentines’ purchasing power in presents and neither do we. This The free fl oating of the cur- Popular anger erupted against Argentine stock prices plunged stranded for several weeks on has tried to convince both Be- the medium-term. is an incentive for investment rency meanwhile is likely to the new government in some by more than 4% on Friday. They the Costa Rican border with lize and Guatemala to allow the “There is a sense of relaxation, and innovation.” boost Argentine exports further quarters however. were down by 10% overall on the Nicaragua. Cubans passage. aside from the critical economic The freeing up of Argentine by making them cheaper. Tens of thousands demon- week. Nicaragua’s deputy foreign Central America and Mexico situation,” said political analyst farmers’ stockpiles raised fears “By lifting capital controls and strated outside Congress on Media cited investor uncer- aff airs minister, Dennis Mon- have seen a surge in migrants Gustavo Cordoba. “One week on world markets that they devaluing the currency, the new Thursday against Macri. tainty over the reforms, though cada, told a summit of Central from the Communist-ruled is- into its term, the government’s would be fl ooded with cheap Ar- administration will have tackled “We have to defend what was Eduardo Blasco, an analyst at American leaders that United land as the process of a detente record is very positive.” gentine produce. the most obvious distortion in done in recent years to combat consultancy Maxinver, dismissed States had the “capacity as between Washington and Ha- But cheaper pesos mean or- European grain prices fell after Argentina’s macro-policy frame- the advance of neoliberalism,” any link to the dollar change. well as the technical and fi nan- vana, announced last Decem- dinary Argentines will be able to Macri’s announcement. work,” wrote Neil Shearing of re- said one demonstrator, Nicolas, “When things are this volatile it cial resources” to transport the ber, stirs fears that current US buy less. Argentina is the world’s third- search group Capital Economics. who would not give his last name. is best to analyse in the medium Cubans directly to US territory. asylum rights for Cubans may Labour unions demanded the biggest soybean producer but the “The economic benefi ts, how- One of Macri’s measures has term.” Nicaragua has refused to let soon end. Castro: There’s more the US can do to normalise relations

Reuters tro, spoke to top government relations, such as ending the US mutual respect for sovereignty concluding that decades of US Human rights, Castro said, Havana and party leaders in an address trade embargo of Cuba and US and independence,” said Castro, isolation of Cuba had failed. But was one area “on which we have broadcast on state TV without withdrawal from the naval base dressed in his four-star general’s even as the two countries draw profound diff erences and about prior notice. at Cuba’s Guantanamo Bay. uniform. closer, Washington continues to which we are having an exchange uba is willing to keep im- He hailed advances the two He also said Obama could exert Cuba and the United States criticise the Communist, one- on the basis of respect and reci- Castro: no progress yet on issues proving relations with the countries have made since De- more of his executive authority restored diplomatic ties in July party political system. procity”. Cuba considers necessary for CUnited States even though cember 17 last year when he and on Cuba. and have reached agreements on Obama told Yahoo News in an Castro also reiterated Cuba’s normal relations. Washington has failed to meet its US President Barack Obama an- “The government of Cuba restarting direct mail service and interview released on Monday commitment to socialism and key demands for normalisation, nounced they would seek to nor- is fully willing to continue ad- environmental protection. about the anniversary that he bemoaned US programmes the United States, Cuba will re- Cuban President Raul Castro said malise ties and set aside decades vancing in the construction of a On Thursday they struck a deal hopes to visit Cuba in 2016, but aimed at undermining the Cuban nounce the principles and ideals on Friday, a day after the anniver- of Cold War-era hostilities. kind of relation with the United to re-establish scheduled airline only if he is able to meet with government, such as support for for which several generations of sary of detente. But he said they had “not made States that is diff erent from the fl ights. political dissidents and if he can dissidents. Cubans have struggled through- Castro, 84, the younger broth- any progress” on issues Cuba one that has existed throughout Obama’s administration em- possibly “nudge the Cuban gov- “No one should expect that, in out more than half a century,” er of retired leader Fidel Cas- considers necessary for normal its prior history, that is based on barked on rapprochement after ernment in a new direction”. order to normalise relations with Castro said. Gulf Times Sunday, December 20, 2015 19 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN US prefers to deal with ‘military regimes in Pakistan’

IANS of dealing with military regimes that the Pakistani military “runs when Musharraf came in, Paki- ari’s government was marked by never pushed by the military to Doha has resulted in the pre-eminence the show”, though she admitted stan got the best possible mili- reports of human rights abuses by direct policy matters. of military infl uence in Pakistan. that the “military has historically tary and civil assistance ever the Pakistan military, stated the She added that she only con- “The US government has had played a much a larger role than possible,” she remarked. host. Khar was asked how she ad- sulted the military leadership in ormer foreign minister a long history of immense fas- the Constitution should permit”. Khar stated that a civilian-made dressed these concerns, or if she matters where they were “rel- Hina Rabbani Khar de- cination with the military of The US, she said, was com- constitution - one without any merely “threw them in the bin”. evant stakeholders”. Ffended Pakistan’s civilian Pakistan,” Khar asserted in an plicit in causing a constant dis- amendments - had only been ap- Despite her shortcomings in “On issues on which I thought leadership and her government’s interview with Mehdi Hasan on ruption in Pakistan’s democratic plicable in Pakistan twice; once for dealing with the military’s hu- they were not relevant stake- role in the country’s disrupted Al Jazeera’s Head to Head. process by propping up one mili- four years after 2010, and another man right abuses, Khar main- holders, for instance trade with democratic process, saying that Despite being pushed on this tary dictatorship after another. for two years from 1956 to 1958. tained that she was always India, I didn’t,” she explained. the US government’s preference point, Khar refused to concede “When Ziaul Haq came in, Khar’s term in president Zard- “fi ercely independent” and was “It’s none of their business”. Hina Rabbani Khar

Weapons seized FIR against Don’t speak toddler for land grab! against India, IANS Islamabad

three-year old child in the capital city of Pakistan Awas yesterday booked for land grabbing of a plaza and for Sharif tells stealing property from inside the plaza, the media reported here. The infant’s family ap- proached the court to secure bail before the arrest of the toddler. Upon looking at the matter the bench expressed its displeas- his ministers ure over the Islamabad police’s blunder, Geo News reported. IANS Heart of Asia conference. The court demanded to know Islamabad She met Sharif and his advisor from the child’s legal counsel on foreign aff airs Sartaj Aziz on if securing bail was even war- the sidelines of the conference. ranted; the counsel informed the akistani Prime Minister It is expected that Sharif and court that since the child was Nawaz Sharif has stopped Modi will meet again in Switzer- named in the FIR bail before ar- Phis ministers from giving land in January. The two leaders rest was being sought. anti-India statements so that will be together on January 20 to Afghan policemen display Taliban weapons to media in Herat province, west Afghanistan. The court has summoned the the peace process is not hit, an attend the 46th annual meeting Some 120 rounds of Taliban militants’ weapons were seized by Afghan National Police during Station House Offi cer and the offi cial said. of the World Economic Forum separate operations across Herat over the past couple of months, Herat provincial police chief investigation offi cer on January A close aide to Sharif said on (WEF) in Davos-Klosters. Majid Rozi told reporters recently. 7 next year to explain their posi- Friday that the ministers and India’s outgoing High Com- tion. senior offi cials had been asked missioner to Pakistan TCA Ra- not to issue any statement that ghavan on Thursday said the could damage the peace process. relations between the two coun- “There will be statements tries were heading towards bet- only that encourage the dialogue terment. process rather than digging out Analysts said it was a positive the past. The PM has asked the Nawaz Sharif development that Pakistan and Pakistan Taliban reject IS close aides and cabinet members India agreed to resume compre- to promote peace,” The Nation shma Swaraj also visited Paki- hensive dialogue to resolve all quoted an offi cial as saying. stan on December 8 to attend the outstanding issues. He said Sharif was optimis- tic about better ties with India, Pakistan-India relations ‘getting better’ leader’s claim to be ‘caliph’ which would benefi t the whole region. Sharif was annoyed by state- India’s outgoing High what was described as “the Reuters movement’s leadership, whose Late last year, a few breaka- Fazlullah, who came to power in ments from India that New Delhi Commissioner to Pakistan TCA tremendous re-set opportunity” Dera Ismail Khan goal is to topple the government way factions of the Pakistani late 2013. only wanted to discuss Pakistan Raghavan said the bilateral with India, Dawn online of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Taliban declared allegiance to IS, in an eff ort to extend its occupied Kashmir in talks, but relations between New Delhi reported. and set up a Shariah state, is Islamic State and ordered mili- global reach, could exploit understands this is not Indian and Islamabad are heading External Aff airs Minister akistan’s Taliban have re- actually wary of IS, which is tants across the region to join these rivalries to its advantage, government’s policy, the offi cial towards betterment. Sushma Swaraj’s call for jected Islamic State leader driven by diff erent ambitions its campaign to set up a global wading into a region ripe with added. Speaking at a farewell dinner “uninterrupted dialogue” PAbu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s that have little to do with South Islamic caliphate. fi erce anti-Western ideology Sharif, the offi cial said, want- in Islamabad, Raghavan on signalled a welcome and claim to be the global leader of Asia. Pakistani authorities say IS and full of young unemployed ed to give top priority to Kash- Thursday said the schedule positive change in New Delhi’s all Muslims, the movement said “Baghdadi is not Khalifa has no fi nancial ties with any men ready to take up guns and mir, terrorism and trade when for meeting of the foreign approach towards bilateral in a statement seen by Reuters (caliph) because in Islam, Khal- Pakistani group. But there are fi ght for Islam. the two sides discuss peace. secretaries of the two countries engagements, experts said yesterday. ifa means that he has command concerns about further turmoil In its latest statement, the Pa- Another offi cial said Sharif is being worked out. on Friday during a conference The Pakistani Taliban’s over all the Muslim world, while in the region as US-led for- kistani Taliban, like the Afghan and the military leadership were Raghavan said the improvement titled ‘The Road to 2016: statement comes after a similar Baghdadi has no such com- eign troops withdraw from Af- Taliban, also condemn the ‘bar- on the same page to make peace in India-Pakistan ties will help Negotiating Deadlock and rejection by the Afghan Taliban mand; he has command over a ghanistan, with groups like the barity’ of Islamic State’s rule. with India. overcome problems being Diplomacy with India and following pledges of allegiance specifi c people and territory,” Haqqani network and IS likely “Baghdadi’s caliphate is “There is no diff erence of confronted by the region. Afghanistan’. from low-level commanders the Pakistan Taliban said in a to exploit the security vacuum. not Islamic because in a real opinion and both agree that He said the two countries need Talking about why India’s of both Islamist movements to statement. The entry of Islamic State, caliphate you provide real jus- there should be no compromise to reduce tension for the sake attitude towards Pakistan the Middle East-based Islamic “Baghdadi is not a Islamic while its numbers remain small, tice while Baghdadi’s men kill on the stated position on key is- of the people on both sides. had changed, the experts State (IS). Khalifa because his selection is will also complicate Pakistan’s many innocent mujahideen sues,” he added. Meanwhile, political experts in argued that while Modi had a Last year, IS, an Al Qaeda not according to Islamic rules,” fi ght against indigenous Islam- (fi ghters) of other groups,” the An interaction between Shar- Pakistan said better ties with positive reputation in the West, off shoot, proclaimed its leader the statement said, adding that ist militants fi ghting to over- statement said. if and his Indian counterpart Islamabad could fix Indian his image in South Asia had as “caliph” - the head of the the IS leader had little control throw the government. Earlier this year, the Af- Narendra Modi in Paris and sub- Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s suff ered. state. Al-Baghdadi aspires to in Muslim countries like Egypt, The Pakistani Taliban have ghan Taliban sent a letter to sequent meeting of the National image in the South Asia region, Improved relations with establish a global caliphate with Libya, Yemen and Afghanistan. been beset by bitter internal ri- al-Baghdadi to stop recruiting Security Advisers in Bangkok set The analysts on Friday took Islamabad could go a long way himself at its head. The Pakistani Taliban operate valries in the recent past, with in Afghanistan, saying there the pace for improvement in the stock of recent transformations towards fixing his reputation in The latest statement from separately from the Afghan in- the infl uential Mehsud tribal is room for only “one fl ag, one bilateral ties. in the region, beginning with the region, they said. the Pakistani Taliban comes surgents of the same name, but faction of the group refusing to leadership” in their fi ght to re- External Aff airs Minister Su- amid speculation that the are loosely aligned with them. accept the authority of Mullah establish strict Islamist rule. Indian fi lm legend Om Puri regales Pakistani audiences

Internews brother to railway station to ‘Will come to Pakistan if threatened’ Lahore work as coolie and I was sent to a kiosk to serve tea to customers,” he said and jocularly remarked: Renowned Indian actor Om Puri beef everywhere in the world?” ndian thespian Om Puri has “If I had a tea shop, I would have on Thursday said he will come he asked. said he has got so much love been the prime minister of In- to Pakistan if ever threatened He said now that he has spoken Iand respect in Pakistan that dia.” by extremist elements in India, against beef ban, he would he would like to come here every Mentioning his early days at Dunya News reported. come to Pakistan if faces year. the National School of Drama, he According to details, Puri any backlash from extremist “There are two locks on Paki- said the school not only taught slammed the rising extremism factions in India. stan and India sides and the keys how to act but also built our in India. He said people eat beef The Indian actor said people to these locks are in the hands character. across the world and should be use cows and buff aloes for milk of Nawaz Sharif and Modi. Un- He made mention of a teach- permitted in India as well. and people abandon them on locking these will aff ord people er who played a pivotal role in The acclaimed Indian actor is streets when aged. He told that on both sides an opportunity to “building up my personality”. visiting Pakistan these days. beef is even exported from interact with each other,” he said Consulting music and reading He said people making fuss India to foreign counties. in a lighter vein. material in libraries was manda- over beef in India are limited “If Muslims want to eat beef in Puri was recollecting his fi lm tory at the NSD, he added. in number. “I want to ask them India, it shouldn’t be a problem”, journey memories at the Inter- He told the audience that his if they will fight people eating he said. national Film Festival at the Al- fi rst fi lm was Chor chor chhup hamra Art Centre in Lahore over ja. He also talked about his the weekend. friendship with Naseeruddin Shayam Benigal and he also ter commercial and art movies, Narrating his childhood Shah who he met at the insti- did stage plays and Punjabi he said his character in “City of memories and struggle in early tute. cinema. Joy” was a good experience and life, he said when he was six his He also shared with the “People still remember my he learnt how to drive rickshaw father, who was a railway em- audience how Neelam Man Punjabi movies Chan Perdesi and for the particular role in the ployee, was put behind bars on Singh, a known theatre actress Long Da Lashkara.” fi lm. allegation of cement theft at the and director, helped him get Indian film actor Om Puri in Lahore. “I was recognised with the Speaking about his role in fi lm railways store. admission to the fi lm institute fi lm Aakrosh in 1981 for which I Machis, his eyes turned teary “We had to vacate the railway at a time when he was facing Actors Studio, where he used to Grover and many other famous to become part of the main- got Rs10,000,” Puri said. while recalling that some of the quarter and my mother rented penury. teach speech and among his pu- Indian artistes. stream cinema, he said, Na- Speaking about his experi- dialogues of the fi lm were im- out a room. She sent my elder Meanwhile, he got a job at pils were Anil Kapoor, Gulshan Since he was struggling seeruddin Shah took him to ence of the Western cinema af- mensely moving. Gulf Times 20 Sunday, December 20, 2015 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Bangladesh panel rules Hundreds of death-row out army for civic polls convicts By Mizan Rahman after a co-ordination meeting administrations informed the is under control due to massive the participants to be careful to Dhaka of the election commission (EC) election commission that the drives and prompt actions by avoid misunderstanding with with law enforcement agencies situation is still very friendly for law enforcement agencies.” journalists. and local administrations over elections. About violation of polls code, The journalists, having passes Rakibuddin said the commis- provided by the EC, will have the languishing erming the present envi- security measures to be taken He said the commission ex- ronment in Bangladesh for the countrywide municipal changed views with all at the sion has directed all, especially access to the polling stations, Tvery election-friendly, elections. meeting and assessed the the returning offi cers, to inves- he added. chief election commissioner The chiefs of police, RAB, fi eld-level situation. “We’ll tigate any complaint, no mat- The CEC asked the media (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ah- BGB, Coast Guard and Ansar take measures and deploy law ter who fi les it, and take action people to be careful so that vot- accordingly. ing is not hampered for their in prisons mad yesterday said no situation as well as diff erent intelligence enforcers on the basis of that has arisen so far that requires agencies, representatives from assessment,” he said. “As they (returning offi cers) long stay. deployment of army ahead of the armed forces division, divi- Rakibuddin said the com- are in the fi eld, they’ll take ac- On November 24, the elec- By Mizan Rahman list of death references on per- the December 30 municipal sional commissioners, deputy mission was informed that tion immediately and inform us. tion commission announced Dhaka mission from the Chief Justice. elections. commissioners, superintend- there is nothing to be worried We asked the returning offi cers the election schedule for In November 2013, 152 sol- “The overall situation is under ents of police and returning of- about the fi eld situation as eve- to report us (over violation of 234 municipalities out of the diers of Bangladesh Rifl es (BDR), control of them (regular law en- fi cers joined the meeting. rything is fi ne there. “All are polls code) every day,” he said. country’s 323 ones. bout 1,200 death-row now renamed as Border Guard forcement agencies). There’s no Four election commissioners now election oriented. They Turning to vulnerable polling According to statistics pro- prisoners have been Bangladesh, were sentenced to tension anywhere,” he said. - Mohammad Abdul Mobarak, (candidates) are conducting stations, the CEC said the com- vided by the commission, a to- Alanguishing in jails in death on charge of killing their The Rapid Action Battalion Abu Hafi z, Md Zabed Ali and electioneering amid enthu- mission has taken measures to tal of 12,045 candidates - 923 Bangladesh for fi ve years or offi cers from army during the (RAB) and the Border Guard Shah Nawaz- and EC Secretary siasm following the election deploy extra force for the vulner- mayoral, 8,589 general council- more in some cases because February 2009 mutiny at the Bangladesh (BGB) informed the Sirazul Islam - were also present code of conduct,” he said. able centres, but yet to fi nalise lor and 2,533 women council- of delay in disposal of death BDR headquarters in Dhaka. commission that they have ade- at the meeting. Replying to a question, the the list of such polling stations. lor contenders in reserved seats references and appeals by the At least 50 people were sen- quate forces and they will deploy Talking about the election at- CEC said militancy issue also In reply to a query over media - are contesting the polls in the Supreme Court. tenced to death by diff erent them during the election. mosphere, the CEC said the law came up at the meeting for dis- access to polling stations, he said 234 municipalities across the According to statistics in trial courts in the past month, The CEC made the remark enforcement agencies and local cussion. “We can say everything the commission has instructed country. the Supreme Court registrar’s according to a report released offi ce, 405 death references, by UK-based rights organisa- cases referred to the High tion Amnesty International Court by trial courts for judi- Bangladesh on December 14. cial confi rmation of the death Jurist Shahdeen Malik Sheltered from rain sentences given by them, were told newsmen that it is now No free-hold pending with the High Court a worldwide tendency not as of October 31. to sentence people to death Court offi cials said in many for off ences other than hei- lands port of the death references cases, nous crimes like genocide and more than one person had crimes against humanity. been sentenced to death. “However, we seem to be city project, No convict can be executed joining the rank of those coun- until the death sentence is tries which impose or infl ict confi rmed by the High Court most number of death sen- says Lanka and subsequently by the Su- tences such as China, Iran, preme Court, said lawyers. among others,” he said, add- The number of condemned ing: “The large number of Agencies prisoners was 1,009 in No- executions invariably makes Colombo vember 2011. It was 1,107 on a society cruel, heartless and February 17, 2015 and 1,166 barbarous. We have embarked on October 1, 2015. The High on this path of heartlessness.” ri Lanka yesterday said Court usually maintains serial He said the fact that al- that the Chinese-fund- of death references in hear- most 400 death references are Sed Colombo Port City ing based on dates which they pending with the High Court project will go ahead but the reach the High Court. means that many of the con- companies will not get any The High Court is now victs might have to wait four free-hold land for the contro- hearing death references of or fi ve more years before their versial $1.4bn project, a media 2010, court offi cials said. fates are fi nally decided. report said. They said that paper books, Such a long wait for eight to “We are looking at the en- the compilation of all docu- ten 10 years in condemned cell vironment impact assessment ments of the case, for the death is certainly a cruel and inhu- report and the project will go references of 2011 are now be- mane punishment, he said. ahead. But there will be no free- ing prepared and the cases After 15th amendment hold of lands there,” Prime Min- would be ready for hearing on to the constitution in 2011, ister Ranil Wickremesinghe told completion of the preparation, Shahdeen said, all death sen- parliament. the court offi cials said. tences needed to be confi rmed Wickremesinghe also said They said the death refer- by the Supreme Court causing the formula one racing track ence in BDR carnage case is further delay in the disposal of will not be constructed in the A man pushes a wheelchair with a disabled man, who is sheltered from the rain with a plastic cover, at Galle Face Green in Colombo yesterday. now being heard by the High such cases which makes the project aims to build 233 acres Court breaking the serial on the process more inhumane. of reclaimed land adjoining the port of Colombo. President Maithripala Sirisena’s government in March had temporarily sus- pended the project launched by the previous Mahinda Ra- Lost in Bangladesh, woman set to japakse regime in partner- ship with China in September last year. The government had sus- pended the project saying return home in India after fi ve years that it was reviewing the award of the project to China Communications Construc- By Mizan Rahman had been living in the safe home said the safe home superintend- the safe home managing com- Later the Rajshahi deputy tion Company over the al- Dhaka over the last three years. ent. mittee that Parul could be a commissioner arranged a meet- legations that the previous Siddika Sohely Rashid, dep- Later to recognise her, she Tamil. ing between Parul and Shudakar Parboti hails from Tirunelveli administration breached lo- uty superintendent of Rajshahi was given the name Parul, she In the meantime, Chowd- at Rajshahi Safe Home where city in Tamil Nadu. cal laws and sidestepped en- inally, the authorities have Safe Home, said Parul was sent added. hury raised the issue of Parul at Parul talked in her own mother vironmental requirements ascertained the identity of to the safe home on July 24, 2013 Siddika said they had no idea a deputy commissioner-district language with Shudakar. “We’ve already informed for the deal. Fan Indian woman named following a case fi led with Kot- about Parul’s language. But one magistrate level conference be- After long fi ve years, the the matter about Parbati to the It had asked the Chinese Parboti alias Parul, who had wali police station in Dinajpur day, it occurred to Siddika that tween India and Bangladesh identity of Parul came to light Tamil Nadu administration and project company to agree to been living in a safe home in district in 2010 on charge of Parul’s language was almost held on November 25 in Ra- through the conversation. the local government and they a change in provision of free- northwestern city of Rajshahi intrusion into the Bangladesh similar to Tamil, the language of jshahi. While talking to newsmen, C expressed sincerity about tak- hold land into lease-hold for three years. territory. the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, After hearing about Parul, Shudakar said after having con- ing her back to the country,” land to enable the project to She was in a jail for two years “After her arrival there, staff because she heard this type of police superintendent of Nadia versation with Parul he could Shudakar added. resume. following her arrest from the of my offi ce, including me, language in Indian fi lms on tel- district of West Bengal, Sree C confi rm her original name to be Chowdhury said that process The government’s main Dinajpur border on charge of tried to ascertain her identity evision. Shudakar, who participated in Parboti. She hails from Tirunel- of repatriation of Parboti has spokesman had told media on intrusion. but Parul tended to talk in her Based on a guess, she dis- the conference from the Indian veli city of Tamil Nadu. been started between the two December 17 that it has agreed Only her language acted as a mother language only, that’s cussed it with Rajshahi deputy side expressed his interest to He further said Parboti while countries. He hoped that Par- to restart Chinese-funded barrier to confi rmation of her why, not a single word of her commissioner Mizbah Uddin talk with Parul because he also getting on a train lost her way and boti could return home within projects worth billions of dol- identity so long. That is why she speech could be understood,” Chowdhury, also president of belonged to Tamil Nadu. later found herself in Bangladesh. a month. lars which were suspend- ed following allegations of corruption. “We tried to renegoti- ate these contracts with the Chinese, but it was not very successful. We have now de- Nepal hit by quake; no cided to go ahead with the projects. It is not feasible to abandon them half-way through,” spokesman Ra- jitha Senaratne, who is also casualties reported the health minister, had told reporters. Wickremesighe’s UNP DPA went out and waited in the cold dling in temporary sheds, as the in opposition criticised the Kathmandu because they feared there would harsh Himalayan winter sets in. project as a sell out to the be an aftershock,” said Dhan The government last week Chinese. Prasad Sharma Poudel, chief began distributing money for China had secured contracts estern Nepal was district offi cer of Bajura district, winter clothes to those af- to build highways, railroads rocked by a 5.5-mag- by phone. fected by April’s earthquake and ports during the Mahi- Wnitude earthquake “The epicentre is a day’s walk amid victims’ demands for nda Rajapakse regime and had early yesterday, reviving fears from the district headquar- more consistent support from also emerged the largest single from a devastating quake in ters so we’ve dispatched a po- authorities. lender to Sri Lanka which had April that killed nearly 9,000 lice team to check if there are Displaced families are eligible A Nepalese man tightens the binding on his tarpaulin roof in a camp for people displaced by earthquakes relied heavily on Beijing for people. casualties.” to receive 10,000 rupees ($100) in April and May. both economic and political No casualties were reported Several other districts in the to go towards buying warm ap- support. initially, but the still-fresh western part of the country felt parel. proper homes to live in,” said Gita ment due to political wrangling. promised to them from a relief The new government has memories of hundreds of the quake. “It’s good to get this money, Shrestha, an earthquake survivor According to the UN, 2.8mn fund, with the disbursements complained that it was pay- quakes and aftershocks this year The April 25 quake and a sec- because my children are cold. from Bhaktapur district. people in Nepal were displaced held up by procedural has- ing too much interest on Chi- haunted some. ond 6.9-magnitude quake on But it would be better if the gov- A bill that would establish a by the two earthquakes. sles and red tape, even as the nese loans funding much of the “It was around 4am when May 12 left thousands of people ernment prepared to help with national reconstruction author- Many of the displaced have temperatures plummet in the development. people were sleeping. Many homeless. Many are still hud- reconstruction so that we have ity has been passed in parlia- yet to receive the fi nancial aid Himalayan region. Gulf Times Sunday, December 20, 2015 21 COMMENT The global migration blowback

The EU’s current myopic, infrastructure and productive reactive response to mass capacity. This has resulted in slower growth across the developing world, migration is driven by home to more than 80% of the world a zero-sum view of the population. Blinkered policymaking is economy that ignores the entrenching what Pope Francis far-reaching eff ects has described as the “globalisation of indiff erence.” Increasingly, of domestic policy domestic policies are evaluated for their local benefi ts, with little By Dambisa Moyo consideration given to their social, New York economic, and political consequences abroad. The ideals of globalisation, which emphasised cross-border he roughly 750,000 people interconnectedness, are being who have arrived in Europe replaced by a framework of “every by sea in 2015 make up nation for itself.” Tjust a small part of the A lasting solution to Europe’s 60mn people displaced by war or migration crisis must take into persecution – the largest number account the impact developed- in recorded history. Europe has country policies have on the rest experienced a mass infl ux of migrants of the world, including economic before; some 700,000 refugees instability and political upheaval in entered the European Union following many of the countries from which the 1993 the breakup of Yugoslavia. migrants are arriving. Policymakers But this marks the fi rst time in history should carefully consider the second- that the EU has been tasked with order eff ects of their policies, as accommodating so many people from they reverberate back on their own outside the continent, including new economies in the form of disorderly, arrivals from Libya, Syria, Iraq, and growing mass migration. Afghanistan. The current global economic Moreover, the non-European and geopolitical environment is a refugees who landed on European crucible for the next wave of migrants. shores this year are unlikely to be the Migrants stand behind a fence outside a temporary housing facility located in a former Olympic hall in Faliro suburb of Athens. The International Monetary Fund last. But the EU’s response to mass and the OECD have been rapidly migration makes it less likely that of domestic policy. In its design and because this approach ignores the root programmes – such as the EU’s of emerging-market currencies. The downgrading their forecasts for global the refugee crisis will be resolved in implementation, it is focused almost causes of migration, it is unlikely to be Common Agricultural Policy and US Federal Reserve’s 2013 “taper economic growth, and the Economist a sustainable way. Unless European exclusively on immediate measures eff ective in the long run. farm subsidies in the US – prop up tantrum” over the expected reduction Intelligence Unit estimates that leaders incorporate a long-term vision and short-term outcomes. The The failure to take a long-term view domestic producers at the expense in the scope of quantitative easing, nearly half of the world’s economies into their approach to migration, the possibility of future impact is largely not only undermines the eff ectiveness of emerging economies. These unfair and expectations of an interest-rate are at a “high” or “very high” risk of probability of emergencies similar to discounted. of the EU’s response; it is actively trade practices have a devastating hike, have all contributed to a marked political and social unrest. This mix this year’s refugee crisis will continue Rather than attempting to dissuade counterproductive. The absence of a impact on the income and living outfl ow of capital from the developing is a disaster waiting to happen, one to rise. And that approach needs to mass migration by encouraging and framework that addresses the factors standards of farmers in South world. that global policymakers should act to acknowledge how domestic European supporting fundamental, long-term driving migration leaves politicians America, Africa, and Asia, who are According to the Institute of avert, rather than waiting to respond policies contribute to the movement economic and political development free to attend to their domestic unable to compete with their richer, International Finance, some $548bn only after the next crisis has erupted. - of people from the developing world. in countries that are impoverished markets, with little thought to the coddled rivals. fled emerging markets in 2015, the Project Syndicate The EU’s current myopic, reactive or wracked by civil strife, EU negative political and economic More recently, the monetary largest outflow since 1988. The response to mass migration is driven policymakers tend to intervene after externalities that may be wreaking policies adopted by advanced result has been a dramatic drop zDambisa Moyo, an economist and by a zero-sum view of the economy the fact, with pledges of aid and havoc outside their borders. economies, in particular the US, have in the amount of capital available author, sits on the board of directors of that ignores the far-reaching eff ects emergency resettlement schemes. But, Protectionist, multibillion-dollar contributed to the dramatic weakening for much-needed investment in a number of global corporations. Weather report Three-day forecast NY: A place where anything goes TODAY High: 26 C world’ - New directly beneath one of New York’s fl oor. Yet few are aware that near the Low : 17 C By James Williams Expected poor horizontal visibility at New York York City. The fi nest hotels, the Waldorf Astoria. And building’s very top is a secret outdoor places at first due to fog lesson I learnt sitting there to this day, abandoned to viewing platform. It’s 17 fl oors higher whilst fi lming time, rests FDR’s train car, itself built than the main tourist area, just less he great cities of the world is that there’s to protect his own biggest secret - a than a metre across, and wide open MONDAY have been written about, more than debilitating illness. to the elements. Only a handful of High: 24 C reported on and reviewed meets the eye Its thick steel walls, heavily people can fi t outside at any one time, Low : 17 C Tto death, in a never ending to even the armoured, and painted an industrial yet the sweeping 360 degree views all M Sunny series of travel shows, guide books, most talked- navy blue, are riddled with rectangular the way to the horizon are inimitable. newspaper columns and TripAdvisor about of cities. openings. A safety precaution, to allow Special permission needs to be granted reviews. New York is the President’s Secret Service detail to to access the 103rd fl oor – and it’s not TUESDAY As the world becomes increasingly brimming fi re on any would-be attackers. I pull easy to get – but if you can, it’s the High: 23 C more connected and informed, so with secrets. myself up and inside, using torchlight most awe inspiring place to watch the Low : 16 C too do our travel experiences become Hidden to guide my way. Brushing off the dirt sunset anywhere on the island. P Cloudy homogenised. With everyone locations, that now covers its entire surface, a These are just two of the many visiting the same cities, following clandestine clubs and an anything testament to its 70 years abandoned activities we uncovered in New the same itineraries, and coming goes attitude off ering unrestricted here, I push aside the old papers that York. And after spending one frantic Fishermen’s forecast day in the city that never sleeps – away with the same results, the access – as long as you know who to scatter the fl oor. Moving further OFFSHORE DOHA romance and excitement of travel has ask. inside, to the location where FDR overwhelmingly, one feeling pervades: Wind: NW 05-15/20 KT been lost. Perhaps no location sums this up himself once rode, I stand and stare, in relief. It’s a relief to know that even Waves: 2-4/6 Feet CNN International’s new monthly more, than New York’s Grand Central awe at history itself. in the most written about, pored over INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW-NE 03-12 KT travel programme, In 24 Hours Terminal – Manhattan’s iconic Later, from the depths of the city, and mythologised cities in the world, Waves: 1-2/3 Feet uncovers one action-packed days’ transportation hub. Few know that we travel just a few blocks south to there can still be experiences that are worth of unique, exclusive and hidden nearby, rests a train platform the top of one of New York’s most uniquely yours. You just have to know Around the region unheard of experiences in some of the built exclusively for President Franklin beloved landmarks: the Empire State where to look. Weather Weather most famous cities in the world. Delano Roosevelt. It was intentionally Building. Almost every tourist that today Max/min tomorrow Max/min The inaugural episode takes viewers left off of train charts to protect its visits this city makes the pilgrimage zJames Williams is host of In 24 Hours Abu Dhabi P Cloudy 27/17 P Cloudy 27/18 to the self-declared ‘capital of the secrecy. All the while, it was hidden to the observation deck on the 86th on CNN International Baghdad Sunny 17/05 Sunny 18/04 Dubai Sunny 27/19 P Cloudy 26/21 Kuwait City M Cloudy 18/11 M Sunny 19/09 Manama P Cloudy 23/19 Cloudy 22/17 Muscat Sunny 27/18 Sunny 28/21 Riyadh P Cloudy 27/10 P Cloudy 19/08 Live issues Tehran P Cloudy 07/00 M Sunny 08/-1 A new era of healthcare innovation

By Joseph Jimenez faster, and improved engagement with Moreover, advances in our compared to a 13% risk for patients Zurich patients. understanding of disease are boosting with a high level of adherence. That First, major advances in our the effi ciency of the drug development implies large costs for healthcare knowledge of genomics – specifi cally, process, making it possible to bring systems – about $200bn in the US e are experiencing a new the way diseases manifest and develop new innovations to market faster. For and €125bn ($133bn) in the European wave of innovation in in the body at the genetic level – are example, genetic testing is being used Union each year. Technologies healthcare – one that improving our ability to target illness to pre-select participants for clinical that engage patients in their own Wpromises to create the at each stage and improve the patient trials, cutting recruitment times. With healthcare and enable more seamless smartest, most connected, and most experience. Genetic markers, for this approach, research can begin in as adherence to medication regimes effi cient health systems the world example, can indicate which patients little as three weeks, compared to the have the potential to improve disease has ever seen. Game-changing new are likely to benefi t from a drug, 34 weeks, on average, for a standard management, reduce hospitalisation, technologies and treatments are thereby improving outcomes while trial. Add to that our ability to analyse and lower costs. transforming the practice of medicine, allowing patients to avoid potentially data more quickly, and to make more Today’s transformational dramatically altering the patient painful side eff ects of treatments that precise decisions about dosing, and advances in healthcare owe much to Around the world experience, and creating conditions are unlikely to work. the clinical trial timeframe shrinks new genomics information, to the Weather Weather for even more breakthroughs. For early-stage breast cancer considerably. availability of big data to infl uence today Max/min tomorrow Max/min The proof is in the data. Last year, patients, genetic markers show whether Finally, real-time data and emerging decisions in real time, to more Athens Sunny 15/07 Sunny 17/07 a record 61 drugs were introduced chemotherapy is likely to have an technology tools have the potential targeted and individualised therapies, Beirut Sunny 18/12 Sunny 19/12 P Cloudy 33/24 worldwide, compared with an impact, or if hormone therapy alone is to improve patient engagement and and to smarter, more connected Bangkok 33/21 P Cloudy Berlin P Cloudy 11/08 Showers 11/08 annual average of 34 in the previous the better option. A new lung cancer adherence, especially among those delivery systems. But they are just the Cairo P Cloudy 19/09 M Sunny 21/10 decade. More than 40% of these drug developed by my company, with chronic conditions caused by beginning. Further breakthroughs, Cape Town Cloudy 27/17 S Showers 23/16 treatments were for rare or diffi cult- Novartis, is eff ective only in patients non-communicable diseases (NCDs). enabled by the convergence of science Colombo S T Storms 32/23 S T Storms 33/23 to-treat conditions, including with non-small-cell lung cancer who As the world’s population ages, the and technology, can be expected, Dhaka Sunny 24/13 Sunny 24/13 Hong Kong Showers 18/16 S Showers 21/18 hepatitis C, meningococcal B, and have a particular genetic mutation. incidence of NCDs is expected to especially as unconventional Istanbul Sunny 11/05 Sunny 12/06 metastatic melanoma. And more new The use of genomic expertise to rise, accounting for 52mn deaths players enter the healthcare sector. Jakarta T Storms 31/23 T Storms 30/23 breakthroughs are on the horizon. It is improve healthcare is just beginning. annually by 2030. More than 80% of In this process, partnerships Karachi Sunny 28/12 Sunny 27/12 estimated that about 70% of the drugs One promising area of investigation NCD deaths are the result of chronic between healthcare and technology London P Cloudy 13/08 Showers 14/12 P Cloudy P Cloudy 31/23 currently in development across the is CRISPR – a cutting-edge tool conditions such as cardiovascular companies will become increasingly Manila 29/23 Moscow Cloudy 02/02 Showers 07/05 industry are potential “fi rst in class” that could allow us to delete, repair, and respiratory diseases, cancer, and important. New Delhi Sunny 21/07 Sunny 21/07 treatments, meaning that they use a or replace the genes that cause diabetes. It is an exciting time for healthcare, New York Sunny 07/04 M Cloudy 12/10 completely new mechanism of action disease. As our understanding of the As it stands, noncompliance with with many disruptive innovations on Paris M Cloudy 14/10 M Sunny 13/11 against disease. characteristics of a particular patient’s medication regimes is a major problem the horizon. For patients and providers Sao Paulo T Storms 26/19 T Storms 27/19 Seoul M Cloudy 07/-1 P Cloudy 08/-2 The new wave of innovation is illness becomes increasingly precise, in treating NCDs. For example, alike, this is very good news. - Project Singapore P Cloudy 32/25 P Cloudy 32/25 attributable to three key factors: the treatment will become increasingly diabetes patients in the US with the Syndicate Sydney Sunny 31/22 S Showers 24/18 ability to personalise therapy, the eff ective and will reduce the risk of lowest level of compliance have a Tokyo Clear 10/02 Cloudy 12/03 capacity to get treatments to market side eff ects. 30% yearly risk of hospitalisation, zJoseph Jimenez is CEO of Novartis. Gulf Times 22 Sunday, December 20, 2015 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief : Darwish S Ahmed Production Editor: C P Ravindran Relief aid? What aid?

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] Besieged Yemenis ask Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) The World Food Programme will have, but some recent progress out, has been taken over by Hadi organisations, said that the aid he Fax 44350474 announced last week that has been noted. loyalists and is routinely targeted by anticipated was still stuck. Julien Harneis, Yemen country Houthi shelling. “We have 5,000 bags of wheat, fl our it had trucked in enough director for Unicef, said his Ameen wants to leave so he can fi nd and rice in [southern] Ibb Province, provisions to last 145,000 organisation had managed to bring work and enroll his children in school. and we were waiting for the truce to water, fuel, and mobile medical clinics Almost all of the 58 schools in Yemen bring them to the city. But the war people a month into Taiz in the last week. He hoped that the UN says have been occupied did not stop and the Houthis are still the new deal would make this aid by armed groups are here, in this one besieging the city, so they did not GULF TIMES easier to access. city. allow us to bring aid to Taiz.” By Nasser Al-Sakkaf Taiz “We have been able to operate inside “I don’t think there will be a truce in Thursday’s deal has not brought Taiz and throughout,” Harneis said. Taiz as the two warring sides insist on results, he said. “The conditions “However, this new access will allow fi ghting,” he said. “We are just waiting in Taiz are still the same… the only n Thursday night, this to be done in a safer way… and will for death in Taiz, as we have neither thing that has changed is that the Budget in line with representatives of Yemen’s allow families to access the assistance work nor a way to fl ee.” warring sides in Switzerland agreed warring parties announced we provide. When war fi rst came to Taiz in to allow humanitarian aid to arrive Oa deal to immediately allow “We can do water trucking. We can March, many people were displaced. in the city. But, in fact, nothing has sustainable economic aid into the besieged city of Taiz. But bring in mobile medical clinics. But They are now sheltering in the much arrived.” residents say last week’s truce still if parents don’t feel it is safe to move, larger expanse of Taiz Province, where The war has left many Taiz residents hasn’t brought them the relief they so then that assistance is not going to be the UN estimates 79% of people are in jobless and dependent on food aid. desperately need. used.” need of humanitarian assistance. Abdul-Jabbar Al-Roaini lost his development policies Taiz has seen some of the fi ercest In late November, UN humanitarian Adnan al-Soraimi, who fl ed Taiz job as a tutor when war broke out fi ghting since the confl ict intensifi ed chief Stephen O’Brien said 200,000 city in June, now wants back in. and relies on aid for his basic needs. in March. Many people here started civilians in Taiz were living under “I left my furniture at my house… He said he was shocked at the lack of Qatar’s continued commitment to sustainable plotting their escape months ago, a “virtual state of siege,” with only as the battles were fi erce,” he said. change the truce had brought to his economic development is well refl ected on the when rumours of a truce fi rst began limited humanitarian assistance “When I heard about the truce, home city. State Budget for 2016, which lays emphasis on circulating. making it into the city, once Yemen’s I decided to enter [to recover my “Basic goods are available in the Fawaz Ameen, 37, said he had been third largest. belongings].” market as traders can bring them to infrastructure upgrade and health and education waiting anxiously, ready to take his For the most part, Houthi But the main road from his the city on unpaved back roads. But sectors. family out at the fi rst sign of a lull. rebels control access in and out. neighbourhood into Taiz is said the price is more than double and we The budget, which was recently endorsed by HH the “When I heard about a truce… I Fighters loyal to the deposed but to be mined, leaving him only do not have the money,” he said. Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani through Law was very glad… as [it] would open the internationally recognised president, unpaved mountain paths that only Medical aid is in short supply too. A roads that lead to my [home] village,” Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, are well-equipped vehicles can make it doctor at Al-Thawra Hospital, which No. 26 of 2015, has set apart a whopping QR90.8bn he said. “But the war hasn’t stopped, holed up in certain quarters. A Saudi through. is under the control of fi ghters loyal for major projects, which is QR3.3bn higher than the and we haven’t seen a truce yet.” Arabian-led coalition backs attempts After O’Brien’s statement, to Hadi, said that patients were dying previous fi scal year. A coalition of 200 aid organisations to oust the Houthis from power and eff orts to get more aid into the city due to a shortfall in oxygen supplies. A signifi cant outlay (QR90.9bn) has been made inside Taiz released a statement on has lent the Hadi loyalists air support. were redoubled. The World Food “Many people died in hospital for the infrastructure, health and education sectors, Friday morning expressing their Despite the latest truce, which Programme announced last week that because of the shortage of oxygen,” frustration that despite the apparent supposedly began on Tuesday it had trucked in enough provisions to he said. “We have been bringing which represents 45.4% of the total expenditure in the progress at the Switzerland peace morning, clashes were ongoing. Both last 145,000 people a month. it through the mountains, but it is 2016 budget. talks, they were seeing no practical sides accuse the other of breaching But some intended recipients said diffi cult and we can’t bring much as it The allocation to the infrastructure sector totalled changes on the ground. the ceasefi re, although Thursday it wasn’t enough, and that despite isn’t safe.” QR50.6bn in the 2016 budget, while education “We want international night’s agreement was seen as a major plans by aid organisations to scale up OCHA, the UN’s emergency aid co- organisations that send humanitarian breakthrough for the peace talks operations during the “truce”, they ordination body, was not immediately sector will have QR20.4bn and health QR20.9bn. aid to Taiz [and we want the and was accompanied by a reported had seen no change in what people available for comment. Other aid Numerous projects have been announced in the international community] to send exchange of prisoners. were actually getting. groups said it was simply to soon to country’s education and health sectors, which is a step observers,” the statement said. Streets are deserted in Taiz, apart Ibhrahim al-Faqeeh, a supervisor tell what the new deal would mean, forward in the country’s goal of achieving sustainable It is too soon to really tell what from military vehicles. The Old City, at Al-Hikmah, a local charity that both for their access and for the development in realising the Qatar National Vision impact Thursday night’s agreement once a popular destination for dining helps distribute for international aid people of Taiz. - IRIN 2030. HE the Minister of Finance Ali Sherif al-Emadi said the State Budget for 2016 demonstrated the government’s “keenness on sustainable development”. By providing a signifi cant outlay for major projects, the minister said Qatar underscores its commitment to the “implementation of development projects” based on the “planned schedule”. The budget for the “Qatar has next fi scal year projects a revenue of QR156bn accumulated and an expenditure of QR202.5bn. The strong fi nancial fi gures, however, show reserves at QCB” that Qatar might post a defi cit of QR46.5bn in 2016, which al-Emadi said would be fi nanced through “debt instruments” in the local and international markets. The decline in projected revenues is due to a reduction in the oil price assumption to $48 a barrel Yemen’s last attempt at a truce saw continued airstrikes and fighting. compared with $65 in the previous fi scal year. In early December, benchmark Brent crude briefl y dipped below $40 a barrel for the fi rst time since February 2009, from $115 a barrel in August 2014. Qatar emphasised that the “main goal” during the Trump’s objectionable electoral propaganda preparation of the 2016 budget was to “ensure the completion and implementation” of major projects Harun Yahya Muslims in the strongest terms. words were compared to Hitler and and that embraces people from all in key sectors along with projects related to the FIFA Istanbul Speaking at the protest, New York City Nazi slogans, and various companies sections of society, from all races, World Cup in 2022. The fi nance minister asserted Advocate Letitia James demanded that and organisations in those countries faiths and classes Trump withdraw his candidacy. decided to sever commercial relations Otherwise, turning a blind eye to that this policy would help Qatar maintain robust epublican Party candidate White House spokesman Josh and partnerships with Trump. This such discrimination today will end in economic growth. Donald Trump has been Earnest said that Trump’s proposal embargo against Trump in Muslim the encouragement of hostility toward Meanwhile, Qatar’s economy is expected to grow cunningly seeking to use to ban Muslims from the US made it countries is expected to gather other minorities, coloured people, 3.7% this year but a pick-up in hydrocarbons is slated Rthe wave of fear that has impossible for him to be president. impetus in the days ahead. migrants, Jews, Hispanics, Chinese, enveloped the American people since Former Vice-President Dick Cheney, a Trump’s words of hate and anger Japanese, Russians, etc. tomorrow. to expand the real growth higher at 4.3% in 2016, then 9/11 as an electoral opportunity. Republican, said on a radio programme are literally an invitation to terror, The USA might then become a country easing to 3.9% in 2017, according to the Ministry of His latest anti-Muslim rhetoric has that Trump’s proposals were against itself entirely rooted in negative in which religious, ethnic and social Development Planning and Statistics (MDPS). elicited fi erce criticism from inside all the values that America stood for feelings. If terror, which thrives on confl icts spiral out of control and Although a modest fi scal defi cit of 4.8% of gross the country as well as from the world and believed in. hatred, rage and revenge, regards in which there is a huge growth in domestic product (GDP) is expected in 2016 against in general. Trump’s comment on People in Britain reacted against itself as legitimised, that will further uprisings against the government and banning Muslims from entering the Trump’s statements against Muslims encourage violence and ruthlessness. general turmoil. Such a tragedy would a surplus of 1.7% this year, an expected oil price US has been described as “dangerous” by setting up a petition to have US Defence Department spokesman also inevitably be refl ected in other recovery and continued spending restraint could see and “discriminatory” by offi cials from Trump banned from entering Britain. Peter Cook replied to a question about Western societies. the defi cit fall to 3.7% in 2017. his own party, Democrats, the UN, and The campaign emphasised that the Trump’s anti-Muslim statements by We have been watching the recent Qatar’s determination not to source funds either Muslim and foreign leaders. In recent ban on entry into Britain, which is saying that such talk represented a increase in violence against the months, Trump has also sought to enforced against several people for threat to national security and that West with great alarm. Provocative from the country’s reserves at Qatar Central Bank seek attention by suggesting that he using hate crimes, should also be statements that excluded Muslims language that fans the fl ames on or the investments made by the country’s sovereign would close down mosques in the US applied to Trump without making further increased support for radical the part of candidates for the US wealth fund- QIA is based on sound economics. if he is elected the President. any exception, and more than half a terror. Democratic Party presidential presidency at such a sensitive time “Qatar has accumulated strong fi nancial reserves Trump previously spoke in million signatures have been gathered. candidate Hillary Clinton said on is therefore incompatible with the at QCB and made signifi cant investments through disparaging terms of the Scots, the In the event that more than 100,000 Twitter, “Donald Trump. You don’t maturity and responsibility to be British and migrants, and then referred signatures are collected, the British get it. This makes us less safe.” expected from such people. A position QIA during the period of high oil and gas revenues. to Hispanics in the US as “criminals Parliament has an obligation to It is obviously nothing more than such as the presidency of the US, one Qatar will maintain and reinvest these reserves and and rapists.” At fi rst, nobody took these discuss the issue in question. fanaticism to equate the Muslim of enormous importance among world investments to further enhance the country’s fi nancial sallies, which were intended to raise British Ambassador to Washington community of some 2bn people with a leaders in terms of the establishment position,” al-Emadi clarifi ed. Trump’s profi le, seriously. However, Sir Peter Westmacott disregarded handful of radical terrorists. It is also of global peace, stability and the increasing level of defamation and all diplomatic protocols about not clearly an irrational policy to alienate security, requires quality fi gures hatred in his language fi nally brought a becoming involved in local politics the world Muslim community and who are serious, consistent, just and barrage of criticism and condemnation when he said: “There is somebody billions of intelligent people of good conciliatory and possess powerful To Advertise down on Trump’s head. called Donald Trump running in your conscience and moral values who ethical and moral values. Trump’s proposal was strongly presidential campaign, and he again support them for the sake of the votes In the light of all this, we believe [email protected] condemned in the media as spoke this morning about the UK, of an extremist group who support that the US, a leading pioneer on the Display being incompatible with the US saying that we were busy disguising a this perverse mentality. subjects of liberty, democracy and Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 Constitution and values. Civil society massive Muslim problem. That’s not The primitive, ruthless, insensitive human rights, will not abandon the organisations and rights and freedom the way we see it. We are very proud of and febrile policies that sweep aside values it has espoused and believed in Classified groups issued statements condemning our Muslim community in the United innocent and guiltless Muslims at a to date, and that the rational American Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 Trump. Members of the New York Kingdom.” stroke and brand them all as terrorists people will make the correct choice in City Council, led by Speaker Melissa British Prime Minister David must therefore be abandoned the light of these important values. Subscription Mark-Viverito, some 200 politicians, Cameron also described Trump’s forthwith. The proper thing for Trump [email protected] religious leaders from various faiths, proposals as “divisive, unhelpful and and all the presidential candidates zThe writer has authored more than civil society representatives and quite simply wrong.” French Prime to do is to adopt a moderate and 300 books translated in 73 languages other activists met together in front Minister Manuel Valls accused Trump consistent language based on good on politics, religion and science. He 2014 Gulf Times. All rights reserved of City Hall and condemned Trump’s of “inciting hatred.” instead of evil, based on diff erentiating may be followed at @Harun_Yahya and discriminatory proposals against In Islamic countries, Trump’s between the guilty and the innocent, www.harunyahya.com Gulf Times Sunday, December 20, 2015 23 QATAR

Today’s schedule for HMC hospitals

Most of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) hospitals will be operating normally today Alfardan Group marks QND (Sunday) with the exception of a few centres. lfardan Group has cel- form for citizens and residents The event was organised by The following outpatient clinics ebrated Qatar National of Qatar to join together in ob- the committee to commend the will be operating as normal: ADay (QND) as a show of servance of their rich tradition sponsors for their role and sup- Hamad General Hospital, Al Wakra support for the government’s and unifi ed identity. port for the National Day cel- Hospital, Cuban Hospital, National ongoing eff orts towards mak- Hussain Alfardan, chairman ebrations. Centre for Cancer Care and ing Qatar one of the world’s of Alfardan Group, attended On this occasion, Hussain Research (NCCCR), Heart Hospital most innovative and pioneering the festivities at the Corniche, Alfardan said: “It is an honour Rumailah Hospital, Physical countries. which was the main venue of to be part of this truly momen- Management and Rehabilitation The occasion was marked the celebrations. tous event. This is a proud day (PMR) and geriatrics clinics and by a wide range of cultural and The roster of activities, in- for Qatar as we stand together the outpatient clinic at HMC’s leisure activities organised to cluding the popular Darb Al Saai with the wise leaders who have psychiatry department. showcase the country’s evolu- and other events staged ahead established this country as the The outpatient clinics at Women’s tion over the past decades. of the National Day, was open to dynamic economic powerhouse Hospital, Al Khor Hospital, “As a silver sponsor of this the public and highlighted dif- that it is today. Rumailah Hospital - plastic year’s celebrations, the Group ferent aspects of the country’s “We would also like to extend surgery, dermatology, and signifi cantly contributed to the cultural and social dimensions. our greetings and congratulations therapy clinics and HMC Bone festivities as a token of its un- Alfardan Group president to HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim and Joint Centre will remain wavering allegiance to Qatar. Its and CEO Omar Alfardan was bin Hamad al-Thani, whose in- closed and appointments will be support also refl ects the con- awarded a trophy and a certifi - fl uence greatly contributed to the rescheduled. glomerate’s steadfast commit- cate of appreciation by HE Salah prosperity of the country.” HMC’s Patient Contact Centre is ment to complement the vision bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali, Omar Alfardan added: “The Hussain Alfardan open today from 7am to 10pm of the country’s wise leader- Minister of Youth and Sports National Day is a signifi cant and will contact patients to ship,” Alfardan Group said in a and head of the National Day cultural event that provides a the country has established fol- reschedule appointments as statement yesterday. Celebration Committee, during platform for the people of Qatar lowing the directives of HH the needed. National Day, also known as a special event held at Darb Al to gather and celebrate the so- Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad The contact centre will also Founder’s Day, provides a plat- Saai on December 15. cial and economic progress that al-Thani.” HE al-Ali with Omar Alfardan. continue to make appointment reminder phone calls and send text message reminders to patients. Patients with any questions about their Bedaya inks pact with business school QF R&D launches appointments can call 4439 5777. Toyota Corolla edaya Centre for Entre- will cover professional de- discussion series models recalled preneurship and Career velopment issues such as CV BDevelopment (Bedaya writing, career planning and atar Foundation Re- in promoting Qatar Founda- The Ministry of Economy and Centre) has inked a memoran- interview skills and also pro- search and Develop- tion for Education, Science Commerce (MEC) has announced a dum of understanding (MoU) vide opportunities for Qatari Qment (QF R&D) hosted and Community Develop- free recall campaign for 2001-2007 with Qatar Finance and Busi- students to experience the its fi rst-ever Research Dia- ment’s vision of cultivating Toyota Corolla models to fix a ness Management Independ- work environment at several logue session at Qatar Nation- life-long learning and inter- manufacturer’s defect in the inflator ent Secondary School for Boys, institutions in Qatar. al Convention Centre recently. ests in many areas, including of the passenger-side airbag. aiming to enhance co-oper- Bedaya Centre will also or- The seminar, titled “Build- science and research in Qatar, The campaign is being jointly ation between the two par- ganise motivational workshops ing an Innovation Ecosystem in a bid to foster a progressive conducted with Abdullah ties and provide counselling for students presented by Qa- in Qatar”, was organised as part knowledge-based society, ac- Abdulghani & Bros Co, the and professional development Off icials at the MoU-signing ceremony. tari entrepreneurs. of the wider series designed cording to a statement. authorised distributor of Toyota services for students. Reem al-Suwaidi, general to bring together researchers Dr Hamad al-Ibrahim, QF vehicles in Qatar. Both parties will work to raise Under the MoU, Bedaya Cen- These are in addition to an- manager of Bedaya Centre, from around the country. R&D executive vice-president, The campaign falls within the the awareness of students by tre will be invited to participate nouncing the centre’s pro- said: “This MoU is an im- The talk was led by Dr Maher said: “The aim of these discus- framework of the MEC’s ongoing holding lectures and workshops in the various events held at the gramme through the school’s portant step in the process of Hakim, associate professor of sions is to help build a platform eff orts to protect consumers and for them in professional devel- school and provide an opportu- various communication chan- vocational and professional entrepreneurship at Carnegie with our stakeholders and the ensure that car dealers follow up opment and entrepreneurship nity for the centre to promote nels such as social network- guidance in Qatar.” Mellon University in Qatar. local community for the im- on vehicle defects and repair them. topics, exposing students to a its programmes. It will also al- ing sites, e-mail and SMS, the Ahmed Yussef al-Mahmood, The discussion series, portance of creating synergy, The ministry will co-ordinate with work environment, conducting low Bedaya Centre to use all statement explains. principal of the school, said: which engages with stake- common understanding and the dealer to follow up on the preliminary tests and providing sources available at the school A series of special work- “We share with the centre the holders in strategy and re- expectations, and the needed maintenance and repair works consultancy sessions in co-or- and encourage students to par- shops on basic skills for stu- same commitment in order to search, will be held once every research ecosystem and culture and communicate with customers dination with academic advis- ticipate in events and activities dents will be organised as shape the future of youth in the two months. that will empower and drive to ensure that the necessary ers, according to a statement. hosted by the centre. part of the agreement. These State.” QF R&D plays an active role the research agenda in Qatar.” repairs are carried out. Gulf Times 24 Sunday, December 20, 2015 QATAR

A section of the audience at a programme in Asian Town. Children wearing the national dress take part in the celebrations. National Day events draw thousands of expatriates

housands of Asian expa- triates joined the associ- Tated activities organised by the Ministry of Interior to cel- ebrate Qatar National Day. The events were held at Asian A dance troupe performing in the Industrial Area. PICTURE: Jayaram Town in the Industrial Area, Al Rayyan Sports Club, Al Wakrah lic School, Doha Modern Indian Philippine School Doha, Phil- ladesh School, Bhavan’s Public Sports Club and Al Khor Barwa School and Bright Future School ippine International School Qa- School, TNG, DPS-MIS and No- Workers’ Recreation Complex. participated in the competitions tar, Ideal Indian School, Shan- ble International School show- The activities started at 8am held on the occasion. tiniketan School and Scholars’ cased their talents at the venue. with the Qatar national anthem, MES Indian School won the International School were the Bhavan’s Public School became which was followed by a parade overall championship at Asian participants at the venue. the champions while Bangladesh by school students and expatri- Town while Doha Modern Indian Philippine International School School and DPS-MIS fi nished ate community teams. School came second and Birla Qatar won the overall champion- second and third, respectively. The Indian and Sri Lankan Public School third. ship while Ideal Indian School and The Nepali community and communities joined the associ- Indian expatriate forum Incas Philippine School Doha came sec- Al Khor residential communi- ated activities in Asian Town. A received the best marching con- ond and third, respectively. ties joined in the activities at Al number of expatriate associa- tingent award. More than 40,000 Wakrah Sports Club hosted the Khor Barwa Workers’ Recreation tions representing the two com- people, including families, at- Pakistani and Bangladeshi com- Complex. munities showcased cultural tended the festivities. munities. More than 15,000 peo- Several sports competitions, programmes at the venue. At Rayyan Sports Club, the ple enjoyed musical shows per- such as football, cricket, volley- Students of MES Indian Filipino, Indonesian and Malay- formed by famous artistes from ball, basketball, futsal and tug of School, Pak Shamaa, Staff ord sian communities participated in Pakistan and Bangladesh. war, were also held on the side- Sri Lankan School, Birla Pub- Children presenting a cultural programme. cultural and sports events. Students of PEC School, Bang- lines of the events.

A football match, held as part of the associated events, in progress. A tug-of-war competition. PICTURE: Jayaram The Pearl-Qatar hosts series of special programmes

number of recreational island as well as a number of visi- ebration of the evening also wit- and educational pro- tors from the GCC states. nessed the arrival of a number of Agrammes were held at The As one of the gold sponsors of families and children. Pearl-Qatar on Friday evening as the celebrations, The Pearl-Qatar, Additionally, traditional tents part of the offi cial Qatar National in collaboration with the organis- set up at 12 Croisette in Porto Day celebrations. ing committee, has honoured the Arabia attracted several visitors, The festivities, which high- event with a series of events that especially children and women, lighted Qatar’s culture and her- began on December 16 and con- who enjoyed henna drawing and itage, took place across various tinues until this evening. tasted Arabic coff ee and dates, locations on the island. The Pearl-Qatar organised the statement added. Further, United Development Com- a fi reworks display on the wa- the tents off ered a variety of food. pany, master developer of The terfront. Thousands of visitors Visitors also made a beeline for Pearl-Qatar, organised the Na- thronged the Marsa Arabia area Karak tea at a booth in Medina tional Day celebrations that in- and the fi reworks show lasted for Centrale. They enjoyed several cluded events and attractions about 15 minutes. complimentary cups and urged such as Al Ardha, the traditional “Thousands rushed to The The Pearl-Qatar administration Qatari dance that symbolises na- Pearl-Qatar on the event’s eve, to fi x a location for a tea corner tional unity and strength. where celebration sites began throughout the year. Three shows were held daily in receiving visitors from within The photography corner also an arena adjacent to The Pearl- and outside Qatar since the early attracted a large number of Qatar’s car parking area and at- hours,” according to a statement, guests, displaying the best mo- tracted citizens, residents of the which noted that the main cel- ments of National Day.

A cultural programme in progress. The fireworks display at The Pearl-Qatar.