BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Lamouchi’s Jaish aim to avoid INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 4-12, 30, 32 COMMENT 28, 29 Opec and non-Opec further REGION 13 BUSINESS 1–4, 15-20 producers agree to 19,711.00 10,053.95 51.50 ARAB WORLD 14 CLASSIFIED 5-14 shocks +147.00 +64.66 +0.66 INTERNATIONAL 15–27 SPORTS 1 – 12 curtail production +0.75% +0.65% +1.30% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

SUNDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10299 December 11, 2016 Rabia I 12, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals ‘Oasis’ for shoppers Survey fi nds In brief Qatar most

AMERICA | Politics Russia ‘intervened to help Trump win polls’ peaceful in US intelligence analysts have concluded that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help President- elect Donald Trump win the White House, and not just to undermine confidence in the US electoral Mena region system, a senior US off icial said on Friday. US intelligence agencies atar is the 7th safest country in to peace and safety including political have assessed that as the 2016 the world and the most peace- stability, level of crime in the commu- presidential campaign progressed, Qful among the Arab states and nity, level of abuse among community Russian government off icials in the Middle East and North Africa members, internal confl icts and rela- devoted increasing attention to (Mena) region, according to the global tions with neighbouring countries, assisting Trump’s eff ort to win the database of Crime Index for Countries terrorist crimes, etc. election, the US off icial familiar with 2016 issued by Numbeo. Qatar has accomplished this great the finding said on Friday night, South Korea has been ranked fi rst achievement by the constant eff orts speaking on condition of anonymity. followed by Singapore, Georgia, Tai- and the keenness of the security au- Page 16 Shoppers and visitors enjoy the state-of-the-art amenities of the ‘Oasis’, a 5,000sq m landscaped entertainment centre wan, Japan and Hong Kong before Qa- thorities in the State. inside Mall of Qatar, which marked its soft opening yesterday. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed Page 11 tar, which scored 20.41 points in the The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has EAST ASIA | Scandal crime index. been working to realise the goal of South Korea had the lowest score of maximum security and stability in the S Koreans celebrate 14.99 points. country through its strategies that are Park impeachment The database has used a 0-100 scale compatible with the Qatar National Tens of thousands celebrated the for values as it considered crime levels Vision 2030, in order to build an inte- impeachment of South Korean lower than 20 as very low, crime lev- grated security system. President Park Geun-Hye at a els between 20 and 40 as being low, All security departments contrib- rally in Seoul yesterday, but amid FM calls for immediate between 40 and 60 as being moderate ute to implement this vision em- the euphoria there was lingering and between 60 and 80 as being high. phasising the principle of collective anger, and anxiety at the Those countries with a rating higher security efforts among the depart- prospect of an extended period than 80 are ranked as having a very ments that ensure positive results of of political uncertainty. For the high crime level. low crime rate in the society, a state- seventh straight week, protesters ceasefi re in Syria The Numbeo survey takes into ac- ment issued by the ministry’s public gathered en masse in the streets count many aspects of crime and safety relations said. of the capital, but the mood was in countries and cities, which include “The ministry has established a generally festive, after lawmakers QNA opinions about the seriousness of the number of security departments and on Friday voted overwhelmingly Paris crime, change of crime levels in the expanded their sections and functions to impeach the deeply unpopular past three years, experiences of peo- to suit the development and moderni- Park over a corruption scandal. ple while walking during daylight and sation witnessed by the country in or- Page 18 atar’s Foreign Minister HE night, incidence of robberies, stealing der to achieve a good and safe environ- Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdul- of cars, physical attacks by strangers, ment for security work.” LATIN AMERICA | Honour Qrahman al-Thani has called for being insulted on the streets, being Moreover, the MoI has increased an immediate ceasefi re in Syria and re- subject to any attack because of skin patrols to “prevent crimes before they Colombia’s Santos gets turn to the negotiating table, stressing colour, ethnic origin, religion, etc. happen” and enjoy security by all seg- Nobel Peace Prize that a political solution is the only way Since 2009, Qatar has been placed at ments of the society. Colombia’s peace deal between to resolve the crisis. the top in the Mena region in the Glo- Most of the services provided by the the government and the Marxist He was speaking at a joint press con- bal Peace Index published by Institute ministry have been digitalised to save Farc rebels is a model for war-torn ference with US Secretary of State John for Economics & Peace (IEP). The IEP, time and eff orts of the residents and countries like Syria, Colombian Kerry, French Foreign Minister Jean- headquartered in Sydney, Australia allow them enjoy the benefi ts of tech- President Juan Manuel Santos Marc Ayrault, and the German Foreign uses several relevant indicators related nological advancements. said yesterday as he accepted Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, af- the Nobel Peace Prize. The peace ter the ministerial meeting on Syria in accord, signed on November 24 Paris yesterday. to end five decades of conflict, is a HE the Foreign Minister reiterated “model for the resolution of armed Qatar’s commitment to fi ghting ter- HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani addressing a conflicts that have yet to be resolved rorism in Syria, stressing “the need to press conference in Paris. Car bomb injures some 20 around the world.” “It proves that consider the humanitarian situation of what, at first, seems impossible, brethren in Aleppo and all other Syrian ished in the past and therefore it is terrorism and terrorist organisations, through perseverance may become cities”. He noted that the human factor indiff erent about accountability in the such as IS (Daesh) and Al Nusrah”. police offi cers in Istanbul possible even in Syria or Yemen or should not be a bargaining chip to get a current time, and it continues political He added that these organisations South Sudan,” Santos said during a military or political gains. siege and starvation.” were a result of terrorism of the Syrian AFP that nearly 20 police offi cers had been lavish ceremony at Oslo’s City Hall. He said that what is happening in HE the Foreign Minister said: “The regime and the sectarian militias that Istanbul injured. Page 24 Aleppo tantamount to a war crime, as ministerial meeting discussed the Syr- were fi ghting with it. An AFP correspondent in Istanbul the city still being bombarded by ex- ian opposition’s commitment repre- He said that this regime should be held heard the explosion followed by the ASEAN | Calamity plosive and chemical weapons, adding sented by the President of the Supreme accountable on equal footing with the round 20 police offi cers were sound of ambulance sirens rushing to Indonesian quake that “the regime had not been pun- Commission for negotiations to fi ght other terrorist organisations. Page 14 injured in a car bomb explosion the scene. Aoutside an Istanbul football sta- State broadcaster TRT World displaces 45,000 dium yesterday, in the latest attack to showed images of the wreckage of a The number of people displaced rock Turkey this year. car, engulfed in fl ames with emergency by an earthquake that devastated Army tightens grip on Aleppo; IS enters Palmyra The car bomb blast struck the area services swarming around the scene parts of Indonesia’s Aceh province outside Istanbul giant Besiktas football outside the stadium. has jumped to more than 45,000, team’s stadium after a match against Other footage showed severely dam- an off icial said yesterday. More than The Syrian army tightened its grip bombing” amounted to crimes against for the Islamic State group’s de facto the Bursaspor club, targeting a bus aged police vehicles, while witnesses 11,600 houses were damaged as a yesterday on rebels besieged in Aleppo humanity. Syrian capital of Raqa further east. packed with police offi cers, Interior said the force of the blast had shattered result of Wednesday’s quake, which with thousands of civilians but suff ered Western powers meeting in Paris called Washington announced it was sending Minister Suleyman Soylu said. the windows of several nearby homes. also killed at least 101 people and a setback as Islamic State militants for peace talks to resume and for an additional 200 troops to support “A car packed with explosives is be- Bursaspor football club said none injured more than 800, national retook much of the ancient city of civilians to be allowed to leave Aleppo, that off ensive against IS. lieved to have exploded where our riot of its fans had been injured, privately- disaster management agency Palmyra. where tens of thousands have already The three-week-old assault by the squad was deployed shortly after the owned NTV television reported. spokesman said. Authorities had Air strikes pummelled the shrinking fled the off ensive. Russian-backed regime of Syrian football fans dispersed following the Police cordoned off the area imme- earlier put the number of displaced rebel enclave in east Aleppo as US The diplomatic flurry came as a US- President Bashar al-Assad aimed at match,” Soylu said. diately after the blast, which occurred people in the three worst-hit districts Secretary of State John Kerry said backed alliance announced it would retaking all of Aleppo has triggered “The attack targeted the riot po- near Prime Minister Binali Yildirim’s at 22,000. Page 17 the Syrian regime’s “indiscriminate launch the second phase of its battle mounting international outrage. Page 14 lice’s bus,” the minister said, adding offi ce in Istanbul. MEC to issue licences for small businesses to run from homes

he Ministry of Economy and to others or hazardous materials are and cards, fl ower arrangement (natural To be issued a licence to practise fence clearance certificate in case of on the outer walls of the house. The Commerce (MEC) has decided not involved. or artifi cial); electronic services which such commercial activities at home, cooking activities. requested activity should not impact Tto issue licences for practising “Besides, the practice of these ac- include computer generated designs, the applicant must be not less than According to the general regula- the traffic flow in the area or cause commercial activities at homes, as part tivities would help having a consider- with the exception of architectural and 18 years of age, be a resident of the tions of the initiative, the licence any inconvenience to the neighbours, of the ministry’s initiative to encour- able profi t margin for the licensee and engineering designs which is part of targeted house and the requested ac- shall be limited to one activity only, and the applicant shall not sell di- age small businesses and self-employ- his family,” a statement issued by MEC the work of engineering offi ces; service tivity should be operationally com- the licensee shall not be issued more rectly from the house to customers ment. said. businesses such as cooking, printing, patible with the nature of the sur- than one licence for a single house, but will have the option of home de- The new measure is part of the The activities that fall under this photo copying and binding of text- rounding community. The applicant the licensee shall have to display an livery. ministry’s Decision No 242 for 2016 initiative include sewing and embroi- books; making of beauty products such should get the necessary approvals information board at the entrance of MEC has set the annual fees for to promote low cost commercial ac- dery; services related to celebrations as perfumes, incense, and other cos- to practise the targeted activity from the house showing the commercial issuing such a commercial licence tivities, which are basically based on such as photography of weddings and metics; processing of food items like the entities concerned in the coun- name of the project and the licence at QR1,020, which can be subse- personal skills, and where the use of parties, making gifts and artefacts and coff ee beans, spices, herbs; and mak- try, submit a building accomplish- number but no advertising or promo- quently paid during each yearly re- equipment that cause inconvenience packaging them, manual design of gifts ing of meals. ment certificate and the Civil De- tion boards, flags, or digital display newal.

Gulf Times 4 Sunday, December 11, 2016 QATAR

Qatar takes part in Manama Dialogue Call for concrete action to protect human rights

Qatar took part yesterday to exchange views on This year’s edition held The National Human occasion of the Human Constitution and national in the opening session of security challenges, under the patronage of Rights Committee (NHRC) Rights Day, which falls legislation consolidate the 12th edition of Manama bringing together a Prince Salman bin Hamad Secretary General Maryam on December 10 each these rights, stressing Dialogue, held in Bahrain, number of off icials, al-Khalifah, the Crown bint Abdullah al-Attiyah has year, the NHRC Secretary that Qatar spares no effort with a delegation headed businessmen, international Prince, Deputy Supreme called for concrete national, General said that the under the wise leadership by Secretary General of the figures, economists, Commander and First regional and global action importance of human of HH the Emir Sheikh Foreign Ministry Dr Ahmed politicians and strategic Deputy Prime Minister to strengthen principles of rights stems from Islamic Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani bin Hassan al-Hammadi. thinkers from Asia, Africa, of Bahrain will discuss international legitimacy of religion, which are in maintaining, respecting The three-day event serves North America, Latin competition, conflict and the human rights. universal, and indivisible. and promoting these as an annual platform America and Europe. peace in the Middle East. In a speech on the She added that the Qatari rights. HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani Dr Hessa al-Jaber

Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Sabah al-Haidoos, CEO of al-Thani Silatech Silatech gets new board of trustees

QNA and Group CEO of Global; Doha Karim Hajji, Chief Execu- tive Officer of the Casa- blanca Stock Exchange in H Sheikha Moza Morocco; Amira Yahyaoui, bint Nasser, the founder of Al Bawsala; HChairperson of Rafat al-Akhali, Yemen’s Silatech’s Board of Trus- former minister of youth tees, has issued a decision and sports and Co-Found- to restructure the Board of er and Chairman of Reso- Trustees of Silatech. nate Yemen; and Sabah al- The new board includes: Haidoos, CEO of Silatech. HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Silatech was launched Abdulrahman al-Thani, by HH Sheikha Moza bint Minister of Foreign Af- Nasser in 2008 as a regional fairs; Sheikh Saud bin social organisation that Nasser al-Thani, Group works to enable jobs and CEO of Ooredoo; Dr Hessa expand economic opportu- al-Jaber from Qatar; Dr nities for young Arabs. Waleed al-Wohaib, Direc- The organisation pro- tor General of the Islamic motes large-scale job crea- Solidarity Fund for Devel- tion, entrepreneurship, ac- opment (ISFD); Abdul- cess to capital and markets, lah bin Abdullatif al-Fo- and the participation and zan, Chairman of Bawan; engagement of young peo- Maha al-Ghunaim, Co- ple in economic and social Founder,Vice-Chairman development.

Gulf Times 6 Sunday, December 11, 2016 QATAR

Expat gets jail for stealing money

A Doha Criminal Court has the victim parked his vehicle bag containing more than sentenced an expatriate to outside a shopping mall, QR36,000 was missing. He Fatal road crash case: 3-year one year in jail and ordered local Arabic daily Arrayah reported the matter to the his subsequent deportation reported. police. for stealing money from a When the man came A subsequent investigation parked vehicle. back, he found one of the led the police to the culprit The incident occurred after windows broken and a through his fingerprints. jail term for reckless driving

Doha Criminal Court the vehicle and crashed into has sentenced a a parked car with the vic- Ayoung man to three tims inside. years in jail and imposed a In the impact of the crash, fi ne of QR18,000 on him for the fuel tank of the victims’ reckless driving that caused vehicle exploded and the car the death of fi ve Filipinos in caught fi re. an accident two years ago. An investigation by the He was also found driving traffi c department con- without a valid licence. fi rmed the mistake of the Local Arabic daily Ar- motorist and he also ad- rayah reported that the mitted so. Accordingly, the court ordered the defendant court established his guilt. to pay QR200,000 to the kin of each of the fi ve victims as blood money. At the time of the acci- dent, which took place near the airport, the 18-year-old defendant was driving a ve- hicle with an expired road permit. He was driving at over 150km/h on a stretch where the speed limit was 60km/h, lost control over

Diplomacy

Director of the Department of Protocol of the Greece Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Aglaia Balta has received a copy of the credentials of Qatar’s ambassador Abdulaziz Ali al-Nema to Greece. The Director of Protocol Department wished ambassador al-Nema success in his mission and the relations between Qatar and Greece further growth. Ambassador al-Nema stressed his desire to work to promote bilateral relations between Qatar and Greece.

Gulf Times 8 Sunday, December 11, 2016 QATAR

Qatari-French initiative focuses on energy and environment

atar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) has held a multi-secto- ral forum providing leading Qatari and French institutions with the opportunity to identify areas of Qcommon interest in energy and environment. The ‘Qatar France Academia-Industry Initiative 2016’, which brought together representatives from in- dustry, academia, and science and research, was jointly organised by QF, the French embassy in Qatar, Total EP Qatar, and Qatar University (QU). The opening of the forum was attended by HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, vice-chairperson and CEO of QF; Eric Chevallier, French ambassador and Guillaume Chalmin, managing director of Total EP Qatar. HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, Eric Chevallier, and Guillaume Chalmin at the opening ceremony of the event. The theme of the forum was energy and environment, and sought to create timely dialogue among part- ners in Qatar, the region, two countries. The theme of and beyond, around global the forum – energy and en- concerns facing the energy vironment – is a timely one industry. for dialogue among partners Chevallier said, “The in Qatar, the region, and be- Qatar France Academia- yond.” Industry Forum Initiative Chalmin said, “Our col- aims to reinforce academic laboration not only entails and industrial French par- us to help create a dynamic ticipation to Qatar’s knowl- global community where edge-based economy and educators and indus- capacity building within try stakeholders can work the framework of Qatar Na- openly to identify common tional Vision 2030, which projects, and develop the has engaged the country in energy sector, it also ena- sustainable development, bles us to support the build- relying on groundbreaking ing of a knowledge-based research, innovation and economy in Qatar through cutting-edge technology.” supporting innovation and Dr Hamad al-Ibrahim, sustainable initiatives.” executive vice-president, In the fi eld of training Qatar Foundation Research and education, more than and Development (QF R&D), 30 internships in the par- said, “By bringing together ticipating companies will representatives from indus- be off ered in 2017 to Qatari try, academia, and science students. Ecole Polytech- and research, this forum has nique, the leading French refl ected the essential role graduate school for science of multi-sectoral collabora- and technology, laid the fi rst tion in addressing the most foundations for this initia- pressing challenges facing tive by proposing tutoring societies throughout the activities by their students. world.” Research and develop- The forum saw the par- ment opportunities were ticipation of academics identifi ed in technol- from top French higher ogy hotspot areas identifi ed education institutes with through the 10th cycle of a focus on engineering, as the National Priorities Re- well as representatives of search Programme (NPRP) French companies with a of Qatar National Research presence in Qatar including Fund, such as environmen- Total, Engie, Suez, Véolia, tal monitoring and the use Alstom, SNCF, QDVC, EDF of new materials for energy - and Qatar-based compa- storage and water treat- nies Qatalum, Kahramaa, ment. Muntajat, and Qapco. French engineering Dr Hassan al-Derham, schools and universities will president of QU stated, “The develop joint projects with Forum refl ects the Qatari- Qatari counterparts at Qa- French bilateral ties which tar Environment and Energy play an important role in Research Institute QF part- promoting cultural and eco- ner university Texas A&M nomic relations between the University at Qatar and QU.

QU hosts meeting of Middle East cancer research association

atar University (QU) gramme included four ses- hosted the 6th an- sions on “Cancer Immu- Qnual meeting of The nology & Molecular Cancer Middle Eastern Association Classifi cation”, “Cancer For Cancer Research (ME- Epidemiology & Pathogen- ACR) from December 3-5. esis”, “Cancer Therapy I & The 3-day conference Cancer Patients’ Educa- was organised by MEACR tion”, and “Cancer Therapy in collaboration with QU- II & Cancer and Obesity”. Health (Colleges of Medi- Discussions focused on nu- cine, Pharmacy and Health merous topics such as “Im- Sciences), Biomedical Re- munotherapy Of Cancer: search Centre and National Opportunities, Obstacles Centre for Cancer Care and and Impact of Tumor Mi- Research and supported by croenvironment”, “Natural Qatar National Research Killer Cell-Based Immuno- Fund. therapy for Cancer Treat- It brought together clini- ment”, “Trends in Colorec- cians and cancer research- tal Cancer Survival in Arab ers from Qatar, Algeria, World, 1990-2009”, “Mon- Canada, Egypt, France, Jor- oclonal Antibodies As Car- dan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mo- riers for Delivery of Thera- rocco, Pakistan, Saudi Ara- peutic Agents in Cancer: bia, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, Factors Aff ecting Antigenic USA, and Yemen. They dis- Accessibility”, and “P90 cussed and shared their re- Ribosomal S6 Kinase: A search and experiences on a potential Therapeutic Tar- wide range of topics related get in Lung Cancer” among to human cancers. many others. The fi rst day’s programe All the abstracts present- featured four sessions ti- ed during the conference tled “Cancer Genetics & will be published in the 6th Circulating Cancer Cells”, volume of the Clinical Can- “Cancer Genetics & Gene cer Investigation Journal Targets”, “Microbiota/ which will be issued in 2017. Oncovirus & Cancer”, and QU vice-president for “Anticancer Drug Delivery medical education Dr Egon & Treatment”. Toft said, “I am impressed Presentations focused on by the number of papers and a wide range of issues such as diversity of topics; and con- “The Impact Of Human Ge- fi dent that the coming few nome Project On Our Lives days will be enriching, stim- during 21st Century and be- ulating and hopefully also yond”, “Circulating Tumor enjoyable.It has been my Cells as a Prognostic Bi- interest to see the College of omarker for Disease Progres- Medicine at Qatar Univer- sion in Breast Cancer”, “Ge- sity play a role in driving the nomic Profi ling of Thyroid momentum of collaboration Cancer Reveals a Role for in the medical fi eld across Thyroglobulin in Metasta- the region.I think there is a sis”, “HPV Infection and Ge- lot to warrant such collabo- netic Predisposition in Cer- ration and even integration. vical Cancer in Saudi Arabia”, However, the outlook is cur- “Novel Approach to Target rently towards markets with Aggressive Cancer Cells Us- a more established legacy ing Non-Toxic Compounds” in medical education and and many more. research, especially the US The second day’s pro- and Europe.”

Gulf Times 10 Sunday, December 11, 2016 QATAR Qatar Cancer Society signs child Registration for survivor as honorary ambassador 2017 Ooredoo

atar Cancer Society was happy to come across (QCS) has signed in such bright models who pro- QSharifa al-Haqbani, a vide hope for all cancer pa- Marathon opens child survivor of cancer as its tients around the world. It honorary ambassador. also confi rms the fact that Al-Haqbani has written cancer does not necessar- oredoo has offi cially doo.qa and fees will range and I encourage everyone to a book In spite of pain, Hope ily mean death, an idea which opened registration depending on the selected take part – whether walk- Remains, which narrates her has been fi rmly rooted in the Ofor the 2017 Oore- course and age of the par- ing or running along our fi ght against cancer. The minds of many people for doo Marathon, which will ticipant. beautiful Doha Corniche. book is featured at the Doha long period. take place on Friday, Janu- Now in its fi fth year, the This is a chance for you to International Book Fair-2016 Al-Haqbani, at the event, ary 13. Ooredoo Marathon will get fi t and be proud that you and a book signing ceremony narrated her story and the The annual event, which feature courses for runners can do it.” was held recently. Dr Sheikh fi ght with the disease. She was launched in 2013, sees of all abilities - including a Ooredoo has also con- Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani, highlighted how she man- hundreds of runners take 10km run, half-marathon, fi rmed that 100% of this chairman of QCS along with aged to overcome it with pa- part every year. Ooredoo full marathon and a special year’s registration fees for several QCS offi cials, took tience and determination as has promised that this children’s 1km fun run. the Ooredoo Marathon will part in the book signing cer- the detection of the disease year’s marathon will be The route will start at be donated to the charity, emony. QCS has also plans was a shock to her and her ‘more professional than the Museum of Islamic Reach Out to Asia. to re-print the book and the family who supported her ever’, according to a press Arts Park and follow the The charity, which is proceeds will be donated for all through the period and statement from the com- Doha Corniche. Prizes chaired by HE Sheikha Al the benefi t of cancer patients. helped her overcome the dif- pany. will be awarded to the best Mayassa bint Hamad bin Sheikh Khalid said that he fi cult phase. Dr Sheikh Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani, chairman of QCS with Sharifa al-Haqbani and others. Now in its fi fth year runners in a range of cat- Khalifa al-Thani, aims to “Listening to feedback egories, based on age and help develop the potential on last year’s event, the or- gender. of Asia’s people through a ganising team aims to host a Fatima Sultan al-Kuwari, network of centres devoted truly world-class marathon director of community and to progressive education, Zenith celebrates 50th anniversary of a Cuban legend for Qatar, in the hope that public relations at Oore- research and community Swiss luxury watchmaker Zenith, in celebration of the 50th the experience will inspire doo, said: “This year, we welfare. anniversary of Cuban brand Cohiba, is presenting a limited series more people to taken up ex- are challenging everyone in Anyone interested in of its El Primero chronograph featuring a Havana brown dial and ercise and healthy living,” Qatar to run. We’re working running the 2017 Ooredoo emblematic Cohiba motifs. The El Primero Chronomaster 1969 the statement noted. to ensure the best possible Marathon can fi nd more Cohiba Edition - the first ever Cohiba watch - ‘exudes a full-bodied Registration opened yes- experience for our com- information at marathon. fragrance tinged with daring and pleasure’, according to a press terday at marathon.oore- petitors from start to fi nish ooredoo.qa statement from Blue Salon. An event was held in Doha recently in this connection, which was attended by collectors of luxury goods and watches. Ashraf Abu Issa, chairman of Blue Salon, said: “We are very pleased and proud to be part of this collaboration and celebration of our esteemed partner, Zenith watches. These are two legendary brands with a similar history based on Chilly conditions to continue exclusivity and innovation, both sharing the same vision to deliver excellence to clients.” Aldo Magada, CEO of Zenith, added: “At Zenith, we are proud and happy to be partnering with Cohiba. trong winds are ex- (northwesterly), reaching a In a tweet yesterday We are convinced that the limited series Zenith is off ering will pected in the north- high of 30 knots at times. evening, the Met depart- please connoisseurs of both worlds.” Pictured are off icials at Sern parts of Qatar The detailed report for ment said cold weather was the event. today even as chilly condi- inshore areas also says being experienced in the tions are likely to continue moderate temperature is country with the tempera- in the country, especially at expected during the day ture ranging between 13C night, the Met department with slight to blowing and 18C. has said. dust towards the north Further, it said the mini- The weather offi ce has along with some clouds, mum temperature was ex- also issued a warning for with visibility dropping pected to drop below 10C in strong winds and high seas to 3km or less in these ar- the southern areas. in off shore areas today. eas. Also, it will be cold A minimum temperature Northwesterly winds by night. of 13C is expected today in will blow at 8-18 knots in Slightly dusty conditions Mesaieed and Wakrah to- inshore areas today, going are also likely in off shore day, followed by 14C in Abu up to 23 knots in the north. areas at times, while the Samra and Al Khor, 16C in The DIFC Courts delegation. In off shore areas, the wind sea level may rise to 13ft to- Doha and Dukhan, and 17C speed will be 17-26 knots wards the north. in Ruwais. QICDRC welcomes offi cial delegation from DIFC Courts

he Qatar Internation- matters related to the ju- al Court and Dispute dicial systems in the Qatar TResolution Centre Financial Centre (QFC) and (QICDRC) has welcomed a DIFC, including the chal- delegation from the DIFC lenges faced by interna- Courts, comprising Judge tional judicial institutions Ali al-Medhani and Ahmed and how to overcome them. al-Kamali, head of Interna- In addition, while tour- tional Relations. ing the QICDRC’s Alter- The delegation was native Dispute Resolution greeted by QICDRC’s Judge facilities, the delegation Hassan al-Sayed and En- discussed matters pertain- forcement Judge Rashid ing to arbitration and me- al-Badr. They discussed diation.

Death notice

Maryam bint Khalifa bin Abdullah al-Attiyah, wife of Mohamed bin Abdullah bin Nasser al-Attiyah, passed away at the age of 70. The deceased was the sister of Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah, Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Attiyah, Hamad bin Khalifa al-Attiyah, Abdulaziz bin Khalifa al-Attiyah, Khalid bin Khalifa al-Attiyah, Nasser bin Khalifa al-Attiyah, Ahmed bin Khalifa al-Attiyah and Khalifa bin Khalifa al-Attiyah. The funeral prayers will be performed after the Asr prayer at Nasser bin Abdullah Al Attiyah Mosque in the Al Kharaitiyat area. The burial will be in Al Kharaitiyat Cemetery. Condolences from mourners will be received at Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Attiyah’s Majlis in the Al Kheessa area. Gulf Times Sunday, December 11, 2016 11 QATAR Landmark Group opens 19 stores in Mall of Qatar andmark Group has an- “Strategically located dition to the country’s retail nounced the launch of 19 next to the award- landscape. Strategically locat- Lstores at the newly opened winning Al Rayyan FIFA ed next to the award-winning Mall of Qatar, off ering a wide va- 2022 stadium, Mall of Al Rayyan FIFA 2022 stadium, riety of fashion, home and food Qatar is poised to attract Mall of Qatar is poised to at- choices. tourists and discerning tract tourists and discerning Mall of Qatar will host a mix of shoppers from across the shoppers from across the city Landmark Group’s home-grown city and the suburbs” and the suburbs. and franchise brands, includ- “We are delighted to be an- ing Centrepoint, Max, Iconic, taurant, off ers contemporary chor tenants at the mall, which Mall of Qatar celebrated its soft opening yesterday, off ering more than 220 outlets to shoppers, as well as recreation and leisure options across Reiss, New Look, Koton, Steve Indian cuisine, while GRK Fresh is destined to be a hub for fash- a 500,000sqm area. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed Madden, Carpisa, Ecco, Kurt brings a “unique twist” to classic ion and lifestyle retail in Qatar. Geiger, Pablosky, Emax, Sports Greek food, with fresh fl avours, We have also taken care to ensure concepts that we are launching.” One, Shoexpress, Candelite and in a quick service format. that our off erings align with the The group operates over 90 Carluccio’s. Santosh Pai, COO of Land- evolving customer expectations, outlets in the country through “Each of these brands has mark Group, Qatar, said: “Mall and are certain that both tourist a portfolio of home-grown and been an integral part of Qatar’s of Qatar will be signifi cant ad- and residents will appreciate the franchise brands. fl ourishing retail and hospitality landscape, and a key favourite of the Qatari consumer – high- lighted by the group’s loyalty customer database of over a million in Qatar,” Landmark Group said in a press statement yesterday. Landmark Group will also in- troduce fashion and food con- cepts - Lipsy, Zafran and GRK Fresh - for the “fi rst time in the country”. Lipsy, a UK fashion brand, brings a “young and vibrant collection” of statement party dresses, shoes and jewellery to the residents of Qatar. Zafran, a home-grown casual dining res- Off icials and staff in front of the Centrepoint outlet. Executives and employees of The Lipsy store. Gulf Times 12 Sunday, December 11, 2016 QATAR Ooredoo hosts DePaul University students

oredoo has hosted a HQ1, the students were given est gifts that the modern world group of MBA students a tour of Ooredoo’s Advanced can off er, and we are delighted Ofrom DePaul University Smart Innovative Solutions to have been a part of these who are visiting Qatar as part (Oasis) Lab, which is where the talented students time in Qatar. of a special programme initi- company tests and launches “Ooredoo relies on the pas- ated by the Sheikh Faisal Cen- some of its smart services sion, innovation, and experi- tre for Entrepreneurship in the and cutting-edge network ence of its employees to launch Middle East. technology for Qatar. the latest services for our coun- This is the second year that Senior executives from Oore- try, and we hope this glimpse Ooredoo has dedicated time doo also answered questions into our advanced operations for students undertaking the from the students who were has inspired the students to do programme and the company keen to learn more about the something amazing when they welcomed the group into its company’s vision and goals graduate.” Dignitaries from Bedaya Centre during its fifth anniversary celebrations. headquarters at HQ1. for 2017. DePaul University is one of The visit was designed to Fatima Sultan al-Kuwari, di- America’s largest private uni- educate the students about rector, community and public versities and has nearly 300 un- the telecom industry and learn relations, Ooredoo Qatar, said: dergraduate majors and graduate more about real-world experi- “We believe that knowledge programmes, and is known for Bedaya Centre ences in the sector. While at sharing is one of the great- its high-calibre graduates. celebrates fi fth anniversary Students from DePaul University listen to a briefing at Ooredoo’s headquarters. he Bedaya Centre for En- to provide solid support when including career guidance and cil to ensure all young people Over 100 attend Young Leaders Forum trepreneurship and Ca- it’s needed the most, and the self-assessment skills devel- can access career development Treer Development (Be- centre’s professionals and spe- opment in entrepreneurship advice at their school. daya Centre), a joint initiative cialists have truly exemplifi ed and employability mentoring Bedaya Centre general man- by Qatar Development Bank our mission in action. We are volunteering and internship ager Reem al-Sowaidi said: (QDB) and Silatech, recently proud of the hope and support opportunities.” “Encouraging more young peo- celebrated its fi fth anniversary. we’ve been able to provide each Bedaya Centre’s achieve- ple to start up their own busi- Since its establishment, Be- year to individuals looking for ments in career development ness has been the key focus of daya Centre provided a range career guidance and training.” have included several major Bedaya Centre. Thus, over the of services for young people in The Bedaya Center provides initiatives and activities that years, we have brought together Qatar with training programmes career guidance tools as well as have benefi ted 15,000 Qatari numerous private and public and activities designed to help off er a number of job shadow- youth. Several agreements sector organisations to sup- young men and women to ing opportunities for students have been signed with diff er- port small and medium-sized achieve career goals and develop who wish to explore a work en- ent educational institutions enterprises in the state.” entrepreneurial skills. vironment. Bedaya also delivers and corporations, and Bedaya She added: “This also re- QDB CEO Abdulaziz bin entrepreneurship and innova- has reached out to 40 inde- fl ects Bedaya Centre’s positive Nasser al-Khalifa, who is also tion workshops, advisory ses- pendent schools, as well as 12 impact on the Qatari entrepre- chairman of Bedaya Centre, sions, and enable participation international schools. neurial community through its said: “We take great pride to in Bedaya entrepreneurship Additionally, Bedaya has de- continued eff orts to develop the The Arab-European Young Leaders Forum (AEYLF) was held in Doha recently with the participation of share this milestone, which programmes. livered over 400 workshops to skills of young entrepreneurs more than 100 delegates from Arab and European countries. The three main themes of the forum were indeed is an extraordinary ac- Bedaya Centre vice chair- young entrepreneurs in Qatar and foster their innovative ideas ‘Youth in Intercultural Dialogue and Non-Formal Education’, ‘Youth Economic Empowerment and Future complishment and determina- man Faisal al-Emadi said: and completed the independ- and projects that contribute to Economic Livelihoods’, and ‘Youth and Sustainable Development - Protecting the Environment’. AEYLF tion for lasting success of an “Under Silatech’s partnership ent schools counsellors career achieving Qatar National Vision was introduced in 2009 with the goal of deepening the understanding and co-operation between organisation that has worked in Qatar, Bedaya Centre is the advice training programme, in 2030. This is based on Bedaya emerging leaders of these two regions. The forum being held under the patronage of HE the Minister eff ectively to empower young only public centre which off ers partnership with Hamad Bin Centre’s belief that SMEs have a of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali and in co-operation with the Arab League and people. Qatar’s youth a range of serv- Khalifa University (HBKU) and pivotal role in achieving sustain- the Austrian Foreign Ministry. “Bedaya’s mission has been ices for young people in Qatar, the Supreme Education Coun- able economic development.”

#DariQatar premieres at Katara

The crowd-sourced film initiative by Doha Film Institute and Qatar Tourism Authority, #DariQatar, marked its world premiere at Katara Drama Theatre recently. Speaking at the launch, DFI CEO Fatma al-Remaihi said, “#DariQatar promotes proactive storytelling and is a continuation of our mission to engage with the communities through the universal language of film. We want to show the world who we are and invite them into our lives through this historical project, and help break stereotypes of our region.” #DariQatar is an inspirational work that celebrates a year in the life of Qatar, through personal stories that give insights into the diversity of Qatar and serve as honest portraits of life in the nation. The film will screen to the public at Novo Cinemas at The Pearl-Qatar from December 14 to 17. # Platinum partners of the initiative are Occidental Petroleum Corporation and United Development Company, developer of The Pearl-Qatar. Pictured are guests at the world premiere of #DariQatar with al-Remaihi. Gulf Times Sunday, December 11, 2016 13 REGION Kuwait’s premier Suicide bomber kills 50 Yemeni troops

Reuters the government sources internationally recognised Aden added, wounding around government in exile in Saudi names new cabinet 70 others as they lined up Arabia. to collect salaries at the en- The kingdom intervened AFP the same number as in the previous ment’s austerity measures in the face November 26 general election in suicide bomber killed trance to the Sawlaban base in Yemen’s civil war in Kuwait City cabinet. of low oil revenues. which the opposition and its allies at least 50 Yemeni on the outskirts of the city. March 2015 to fi ght the gov- But former interior minister Sheikh At the cabinet’s fi rst meeting, the won nearly half the seats in parlia- Asoldiers at a base in Islamic State claimed re- ernment’s foes in the Iran- Mohamed Khaled al-Sabah was prime minister called for rapid meas- ment. the city of Aden, a local se- sponsibility for the attack in allied Houthi movement uwait’s prime minister formed moved to the defence ministry, ap- ures to diversify the economy away The 50-member legislature is curity offi cial said, in an- a message posted online. but have failed to dislodge a cabinet yesterday that re- parently after opposition lawmakers from oil, which generates around scheduled to meet today, when min- other major attack claimed The Yemeni branch of the group from the capital Ktained all ruling family minis- vowed to grill him over the removal of 90% of public revenues. isters will swear oaths to become by Islamic State on forces the militant group based in Sanaa despite thousands of ters, following elections in which the citizenship from opposition activists. MPs have said they will not al- members of parliament - although 15 allied to a Saudi-led military Iraq and Syria has carried air strikes. opposition performed well on pledges The previous defence minister, low the government to impose new of the 16 are unelected. coalition. out many deadly bomb- Houthi forces were to oppose austerity measures. Sheikh Khaled Jarrah al-Sabah - also charges or cut generous welfare pay- The reappointment of Prime Min- The attacker blew himself ings around troops in the pushed out of Aden and Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mu- a member of the ruling family - took ments to citizens despite falling oil ister Sheikh Jaber, 73, who has held up as the troops were wait- southern port city, which much of Yemen’s south last barak al-Sabah appointed seven new the interior portfolio. prices. Several lawmakers criticised the post since late 2011, came despite ing to collect their salaries, is under the control of the summer. fi gures including Essam al-Marzouk Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah the new cabinet. calls from a number of opposition as minister of oil, electricity and wa- Khaled al-Sabah, a royal, kept his “We have been disappointed as we MPs for a new premier to refl ect the ter. post. expected to see a strong government result of last month’s polls. Marzouk, a member of a merchant Anas al-Saleh remained fi nance to meet our aspirations,” MP Mubarak Opposition groups boycotted two family, was head of the Kuwait Bourse minister despite strong criticism for al-Hajraf said. general elections in 2012 and 2013 in Company and on the board of nation- his economic policies which included MP Youssef al-Fadhalah tweeted protest at a change in the voting sys- al oil conglomerate Kuwait Petroleum cutting subsidies and raising the price that “The prime minister failed to tem brought unilaterally by the gov- Corp. of petrol. Several MPs have vowed to read the outcome of the election and ernment. In addition to the prime minister, question him if he was retained in the the verdict of the people in rejecting Under Kuwait’s constitution, the the cabinet includes fi ve members of cabinet. the previous cabinet and parliament.” emir has the sole power to appoint the the Al-Sabah family which has ruled The Islamist-dominated opposi- The government of the Gulf state premier, regardless of the outcome of Kuwait for two and a half centuries, tion has vowed to oppose the govern- resigned last month following the polls. Petraeus sees ‘downsides’ to Iran N-pact

AFP Petraeus, seen as a contender to be Dubai Washington’s top diplomat, said yesterday. The agreement took eff ect in global deal to curb Iran’s January following its signing last nuclear ambitions con- year after years of international Yemen’s Vice President General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar (centre) arrives at the IISS Atains elements “of great eff ort. Regional Security Summit “The Manama Dialogue” in Bahrain. concern”, retired US general David It calls on Tehran to curb its controversial nuclear pro- gramme in exchange for sanctions relief from the United States and other na- tions. Iran has denied that it seeks to acquire a nuclear weapons capability. “There are some signifi - cant downsides that should cause us great concern,” Petraeus told the Manama Dialogue security forum in Bahrain of the accord. He pointed to the 10-15 year validity of the pact, and the fact that it gives Iran ac- cess to tens of billions of dollars in previously frozen assets. Petraeus is on the short- list to be secretary of state under Donald Trump, who will assume the US presi- dency at the end of Barack Obama’s term in January. Trump has promised to tear up the Iran nuclear agreement once in offi ce, calling it the “worst deal ever negotiated”. Despite Petraeus’s res- ervations, the former gen- eral said “there are actually some positive elements”, as it helped curb Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon. “There’s a pretty intru- sive set of verifi cation meas- ures,” he said. Petraeus led the US troop surge in Iraq from 2006 to 2008. He headed the Bahrain- based US Central Command and then the Nato force in Afghanistan in 2010, before retiring to lead the CIA.

Iran summons UK envoy over PM’s remarks

The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the British ambassador concerning remarks made earlier this week by Prime Minister Theresa May at a meeting of the Gulf Co-operation Council, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghassemi stated yesterday. According to Ghassemi, ambassador Nicholas Hopton was told that the remarks were irresponsible and destructive. In the meeting with government representatives from Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Saudi Arabia, May characterised Iran as a “threat” to the Gulf region and “the wider Middle East”. Gulf Times 14 Sunday, December 11, 2016 ARAB WORLD Islamic State enters Palmyra months after losing it

DPA to retake Palmyra, the Syrian off ensive in the area on Thurs- of al-Bab on the north-eastern Residents and activists in the tion, most of which has been Damascus has previously de- Cairo Observatory for Human Rights day. edge of the northern Aleppo remaining rebel-held area of captured by government forces nied using the gas. added. In March, government forces province, the Observatory re- eastern Aleppo yesterday re- since late last month, also re- A joint probe by the UN and The radical group advanced recaptured Palmyra, which Is- ported. ported a suspected chlorine gas ported smelling chlorine after the Organisation for the Prohibi- slamic State fi ghters yester- into the north-western out- lamic State had seized in May The progress by the rebels and attack overnight in the area. shelling in the al-Kallaseh area. tion of Chemical Weapons found day entered Palmyra in cen- skirts of Palmyra in Homs prov- 2015, wreaking havoc on the Turkish allies appears aimed at One local resident said he was The Observatory confi rmed this year that Damascus had Itral Syria eight months after ince after its fi ghters gained city’s famous artefacts. aborting a plan by forces of Syr- in the basement of a building in that there had been incidents of used chlorine gas as a weapon the militants lost the ancient city control of Palmyra’s north- Despite its advance in ian President Bashar al-Assad to the small area of Aleppo still un- suff ocation but said it was not three times since 2014. to government forces, a moni- ern suburb of al-Amerya, the Palmyra, Islamic State was move and retake al-Bab from Is- der opposition control when gas clear whether chlorine was used. Syria disposed of its stock- toring group reported. watchdog said. pushed back elsewhere in Syria lamic State. seeped into the area. Local activists and rescue pile of banned chemical weap- The Islamic State break- Islamic State has overrun yesterday, according to activists. In recent weeks, al-Assad’s “The gas spread fast and our workers have accused the gov- ons under a 2013 UN Security through comes amid a collapse several regime positions and Syrian opposition rebels, forces have regained large parts eyes were blind and [it] caused ernment of using poisonous Council resolution following a among government forces fol- captured territory en route to backed by Turkish air power and of a besieged opposition enclave tears,” the man, who asked to be chlorine gas in shelling of the gas attack that killed hundreds lowing a major attack launched Palmyra since the Al Qaeda shelling, yesterday entered the in eastern Aleppo, triggering a quoted only as Mohamed, said. area on several occasions in re- in rebel-held suburbs of Damas- by the militants three days ago splinter group started its major Islamic State-controlled town mass exodus of its inhabitants. Activists in the besieged sec- cent months. cus. Air raids hit Aleppo as US decries ‘war crimes’

AFP sad have overrun around 85% of Aleppo since November 15. Aleppo, Syria east Aleppo, a rebel stronghold Another 413 civilians, among since 2012. them 45 children, have been The UN’s Syria envoy Staff an killed in east Aleppo in the same ir strikes pummelled the de Mistura said the world is period. shrinking rebel enclave watching “the last steps” in the With the fi ghting intensify- Ain Aleppo yesterday as Aleppo battle and evacuating ci- ing after a brief respite, the UN US Secretary of State John Kerry vilians must be a priority. General Assembly demanded an said the Syrian regime’s “indis- Air strikes and regime rocket immediate ceasefi re and urgent criminate bombing” amounted fi re battered the last remain- aid deliveries, in a resolution to crimes against humanity. ing rebel districts yesterday, the adopted by a strong majority. Western powers meeting in Syrian Observatory for Human But both Moscow and Da- A boy pushes a cart with water containers in a rebel-held besieged area of Aleppo, Syria, yesterday. Paris called for the resumption Rights said. mascus have rejected talk of a of peace talks and for civilians An AFP correspondent in ceasefi re without a rebel with- to be allowed to leave Aleppo, west Aleppo could hear the drawal from the city - a demand where tens of thousands have hum of airplanes circling above, that opposition groups have re- already fl ed a fi erce regime of- coupled with bombardment and fused. fensive. machine-gun fi re on the city’s After meeting with opposi- The diplomatic fl urry came as east. tion representatives yesterday, French Foreign Minister Jean- Iraq army makes gains in a US-backed alliance announced The strikes were so intense it would launch the second phase that windows in the west rattled Marc Ayrault said the opposi- of its battle for the Islamic State and plumes of smoke could be tion was willing to resume peace group’s de facto Syrian capital seen rising from several points talks “without pre-conditions”. Raqa further east. across the city’s skyline. Retired American general “The bombing is unreal,” said David Petraeus, a possible con- gruelling Mosul battle The three-week-old assault by Syria’s Russian-backed re- Ibrahim Abu al-Leith, spokes- tender to replace Kerry when gime aimed at retaking all of man for the White Helmets res- Donald Trump becomes US Reuters In an attempt to change reached within 3 or 4km of the Wahda neighbourhood where Aleppo has triggered mounting cue force inside Aleppo. president next month, expressed Baghdad/Geneva the dynamics of the grinding Tigris, and hoped to take the the Salam hospital - the target international outrage. Abu al-Leith spoke to AFP doubt about prospects for a po- seven-week campaign, troops remaining districts of the east of Tuesday’s assault - is lo- “The indiscriminate bomb- from one of the last rebel-con- litical solution in Syria. from an armoured division bank “with the same speed” cated. ing by the regime violates rules trolled zones in Aleppo’s south- “It is not clear that Humpty punched their way deeper into they had achieved so far. Defeating Islamic State in the of law, or in many cases, crimes east, saying he had been forced Dumpty can be put back togeth- he Iraqi army said it took the city on Tuesday in an attack That would imply full control largest city under its control against humanity, and war to move homes because of the er again,” he said at a security full control of two more on a hospital believed to be used of the eastern half of the city would deal a major blow to its crimes,” Kerry said after the intensity of the raids. forum in Bahrain.”I don’t think Tdistricts of east Mosul as a military base by Islamic would not be accomplished be- self-styled caliphate in Iraq and talks in Paris, urging Russia to do “The streets are full of people it’s too late for that but I do think yesterday, pushing back Islamic State. fore late January, missing Prime Syria, and its ambitions to gov- its “utmost to bring it to a close”. under the rubble. that it is very late in the day in- State militants in a slow and They were forced to with- Minister Haider al-Abadi’s tar- ern territory. US and Russian offi cials They are dying because we deed.” hard-fought advance into the draw from the complex after get of recapturing the whole In Iraq, it has already been meanwhile were due to gather in can’t get them out,” he added. The Observatory said another city whose 1mn residents face a ferocious counter-attack by city by the end of the year. forced to retreat from Tikrit, Geneva for what Kerry described According to the Observatory, 2,000 civilians poured out of growing shortages of fuel, wa- Islamic State fi ghters, who de- Iraqi commanders have Ramadi and Fallujah, although as a bid to stop the city from nine civilians were killed yester- Aleppo’s remaining rebel-held ter and food. ployed at least six suicide car talked about relieving pressure its Sunni Muslim fi ghters still “being absolutely, completely, day in a barrage of rebel rocket districts yesterday. A military statement said bombs, although residents said on CTS troops in the east by hold large parts of remote, Sun- destroyed”. fi re on government-controlled State news agency SANA also elite Counter Terrorism Serv- the army was able to hold some opening a new front in south- ni regions near the Syrian bor- Aleppo has witnessed some of neighbourhoods. reported the displacement, but ice (CTS) troops took over the territory nearby. west Mosul, where federal po- der, and an area of land south- the most brutal violence of the The fresh attacks brought to gave a number of 3,000 people neighbourhoods of al-Murour The CTS, which has spear- lice units are stationed just out- east of Mosul. country’s nearly six-year war. 129 people, including 39 chil- and said they had been taken to and al-Qadisiya al-Oula, ex- headed the fi ghting in Mosul side the city. But the slow progress in In less than a month, forces dren, the number of people killed the temporary shelter in Jibrin, panding their area of control in since it broke through Islamic However, offi cers say three Mosul has raised fears among loyal to President Bashar al-As- by rebel fi re on regime-held west about 10km east of Aleppo. the east of the city. State defences in the eastern brigades from the police forces residents and aid groups that Despite the reported advance, outskirts in late October, con- were being moved from south the city will forced to endure the army’s progress in Mosul re- trols half of the eastern bank of Mosul towards the east bank, siege-like conditions for several mains painstakingly slow, fac- of the city which is split by the so they could directly reinforce months. ing brutal counter attacks from Tigris running through its cen- the off ensive there. With winter setting in and the hugely outnumbered but tre. They were expected to arrive the city eff ectively sealed off by well prepared and heavily armed Sabah al-Numani, spokes- on Saturday, an army offi cer the army and its allies from all jihadists who have controlled man for the CTS forces, told said, and would be tasked with directions, humanitarian prob- US boosts anti-IS driving Islamic State out the lems are escalating. the city since mid-2104. Iraqi television they had United Nations agencies who distributed aid inside recap- tured eastern areas for the fi rst time on Thursday were almost forces in Syria overrun by residents suff ering acute shortages of food, fuel Reuters the fact and the idea of an Islam- “But then it did neither of and water, and often trapped for Manama ic state based on ISIL’s barbaric those things,” he added. days at home by fi ghting. ideology, the safer we’ll all be”, Syrian army advances in Iraqi police had to fi re in the he said at the Manama Dialogue Aleppo mean the government air and threaten to whip crowds he United States will security conference. appears closer to victory than with a hose to maintain order. send 200 additional mili- Syria’s civil war pits Assad, at any point since 2011 protests Residents in areas still con- Ttary personnel including backed by Iran, Russia and some against Assad evolved into an trolled by Islamic State say food special forces to the campaign Shi’ite militias, against mostly armed rebellion. prices have risen and the cost of against Islamic State in Syria to Sunni Arab rebels backed by The war has killed more than fuel has tripled. create a “tornado” of pressure Turkey, Gulf monarchies and the 300,000 people and made “Certainly inside Mosul against the group’s Raqqa hub, United States. more than half of Syrians there is a big need for medical US Defence Secretary Ash Carter A secondary confl ict puts all of homeless. and humanitarian assistance,” said yesterday, them at war with Islamic State. In Iraq, Carter said, his main an aid worker who has recently Carter, speaking in Bahrain to Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in concern that the eff ort to stabi- returned from the Mosul area regional security chiefs, twinned Syria are the pillars of Islamic lise the Mosul region after it was said. the announcement with a call on State’s self-declared caliphate, liberated, by rebuilding towns, “What we have no idea of Middle East allies to do more for and recapturing them would be services and communities, “will today is the state of medical their own defence, a sore topic a pivotal defeat for the ultra- lag behind the military cam- structures in Mosul and the with some Gulf states who re- hardline Sunni jihadists. paign”. Gulf countries could help precise needs of the popula- sent being seen by Washington Carter said that despite the with that. tion.” as military “free riders”. eventual defeat of IS in Syria the Carter reiterated a US call In addition to the food and The arrival of the 200 ad- violence there would not stop for more defence co-operation fuel shortages, water supplies ditional forces in Syria, joining until an end was put to the civil among Gulf Arab states, a deli- to large parts of Mosul were cut 300 special forces already there war, and Russia’s intervention to cate question ever since Presi- off two weeks ago when a pipe- backing local allies, would bring back President Bashar al-Assad dent Barack Obama last year line was hit during fi ghting, a to bear the “full weight of US had only infl amed the confl ict. told The Atlantic magazine some local offi cial said. forces around the theatre of op- Russia entered into the war states in the Gulf and Europe Authorities have tried to ease erations like the funnel of a giant saying it wanted to promote a were “free-riders” who called An Iraqi soldier stands atop an armoured vehicle in the town of Tal Abtah, south of Tal Afar, yesterday, shortages by sending dozens tornado”, Carter said. smooth political transition and for US action without getting in- after they retook the area during a broad off ensive to retake the city of Mosul from Islamic State (IS) of water trucks a day to neigh- “The sooner we crush both fi ght IS, Carter said. volved themselves. militants. bourhoods under army control. Gulf Times Sunday, December 11, 2016 15 AFRICA Jammeh rejects poll result after conceding defeat

Reuters the unexpected election result Banjul ended Jammeh’s authoritarian 22-year rule. It had been widely seen as a A man checks vehicles at a security checkpoint in the tourist area of SeneGambia, in the province of ambia’s President-elect moment of democratic hope and Banjul, yesterday. The African Union has called on President Jammeh to respect the results of Gambia’s Adama Barrow said yes- a chance to end repression in a election. Gterday that the country’s country known as a police state. outgoing leader Yahya Jammeh “The outgoing president has Jammeh’s statement “null and ECOWAS, the African Union rity Council is planning, but mil- had no authority to reject the re- no constitutional authority to void”. and the United Nations called itary intervention is one option, sults of December 1 polls, while reject the result of the election The UN and regional body jointly for all parties to “reject diplomats said. the United Nations and African and order for fresh elections to ECOWAS called on the armed violence and peacefully uphold There is precedent for this: for Union piled pressure on Jammeh be held,” Barrow told reporters forces to stay neutral. the will of the people”. example, Senegal’s army inter- to step aside. in Banjul following an emergency Diplomats have voiced private But in a sign that early media- vened in Gambia in 1981 during Long-ruling Jammeh on Fri- meeting under high security. concerns that a faction of secu- tion eff orts are floundering, Sen- a coup. day called for another election “I open up a channel of com- rity forces from Jammeh’s Jola egal’s foreign minister said that A third party candidate in last in the tiny West African country munication to convince him to ethnic minority might protect Gambian authorities had refused week’s election, Mama Kandeh after narrowly losing to opposi- facilitate a smooth transfer of Jammeh, potentially provok- entry to the chair of regional of the Gambia Democratic Con- tion leader Adama Barrow, jeop- executive powers in the supreme ing broader confl ict along ethnic body ECOWAS. gress also rejected Jammeh’s call ardising what was expected to be interest of this country,” he said. Jammeh: conceded defeat publicly last week. lines. “Johnson Sirleaf was supposed for another election. Gambia’s fi rst democratic transi- The streets of Banjul were calm Senegal, which has Gambia’s to fl y in today, but Jammeh said “Your swift decision earlier to tion of power in over 50 years. yesterday, although some resi- constitution, candidates have 10 As Gambians brace for a tense only land border, has called for ‘not at the moment’,” Senega- concede defeat and your subse- He had conceded defeat pub- dents said they were staying at days from the declaration of the standoff , international criticism an emergency meeting of the UN. lese Foreign Minister Mankeur quent move to call Adama Barrow licly last week. home for fear of violence. results to appeal to the Supreme of Jammeh came in fast. Security Council and “sol- Ndiaye told Reuters. to congratulate him was lauded The announcement on state A strong police presence re- Court. Following the United States emnly” warned Jammeh not to It was not clear if the plane had throughout the world,” Kandeh television threw the future of the mained on the streets. It was not immediately clear if and Senegal, the African Union harm Senegal’s interests or its already taken off . said. “We therefore prevail on country of 1.8mn into doubt after Under chapter 5 of Gambia’s Jammeh had done that. weighed in yesterday, calling citizens in Gambia. It was unclear what the Secu- you to reconsider your decision.” Ghana’s opposition ICC to conduct leader triumphs in probe on South presidential election Africa

Reuters Accra AFP The Hague pposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo won Gha- he International Crimi- Ona’s national election, nal Court (ICC) will hold becoming president-elect at the Ta public hearing in April third attempt and cementing the to probe whether South Africa country’s reputation as a stand- failed its duty in refusing to ar- ard bearer of democracy in a re- rest Sudanese President Omar gion that has been blighted by A supporter of President Mahama’s NDC party cries after the outgoing leader conceded defeat late on al-Bashir, the court said this civil wars and coups. Friday. week. Akufo-Addo defeated Presi- The announcement follows dent John Mahama by 53.8% to but peaceful elections. enough seats to win a parlia- off shore fi eld operated by British a dispute last year when Bashir 44.4%, electoral commissioner It is the third time since 2000 mentary majority, independent company Tullow. attended an African Union (AU) Charlotte Osei said late on Fri- that the government of the day estimates showed. In a bid to kickstart growth, summit in Johannesburg despite day, sparking scenes of celebra- has been voted out of offi ce. The NPP will inherit an econ- the NPP says it will create jobs, facing an ICC arrest warrant over tion in the capital Accra. A police off icer stands guard at Akufo-Addo’s residence. The opposition challenged the omy from Mahama’s National build a dam in every village and a alleged war crimes and genocide. Supporters of his New Pa- 2012 election results, which led Democratic Congress that for factory in every district and give The Hague-based court’s Pre- triotic Party (NPP) cheered, jubilant crowd in the garden of addressed his supporters. to an eight-month battle in the years was rated one of Africa’s each constituency the equiva- Trial Chamber is “convening a danced and set off fi reworks fol- his residence. “As president I have done Supreme Court. most dynamic but has slowed lent of $1mn per year to pursue public hearing on April 7, 2017, lowing an anxious day in which Akufo-Addo, 72, served as my bit. I have made a contribu- It lost, but many observers sharply since 2014, in part be- development projects. for the purposes of a determi- his victory had been broadly ac- foreign minister and attorney- tion to the political, social and said the process strengthened cause of prices have fallen for its At the same time, it also aims nation ... on the compliance by cepted but there were no offi cial general in the NPP government economic development of our the country’s democracy and gold, oil and cocoa exports. to maintain a tight fi scal stance South Africa with the Court’s results. that ruled between 2001 and country. I would have cherished confi rmed judicial independ- That made the government in a country that is mid-way request” to arrest and surrender “I make this solemn pledge 2009 and twice previously lost an opportunity to do even more ence. vulnerable to opposition accu- through an International Mon- Bashir, it said in a statement. to you tonight: I will not let you close battles for the presidency. but I respect the will of the Gha- The scale of the NPP’s victory sations it had mismanaged the etary Fund programme aimed at Judges invited submissions by down. I will do all in my power Mahama called him to of- naian people,” he said. on Friday made another legal nation’s fi nances and squan- restoring balance to an economy the court’s chief prosecutor Fa- to live up to your hopes and ex- fer congratulations just before The outcome maintains Gha- challenge unlikely. dered wealth from oil, which facing elevated infl ation and tou Bensouda, South Africa and pectations,” Akufo-Addo told a Osei’s statement and later he na’s record of fi ercely-contested The party also picked up started to fl ow in 2010 from an other problems. the United Nations on the issue, it added. Pretoria refused to arrest Ba- shir when he attended the conti- nent-wide summit in mid-2015, claiming that he had immunity After 30 years, people of Kinshasa welcome back postmen as the head of an AU member state. South Africa is a signatory to By Bienvenu-Marie postal worker with 26 years’ ex- helmet emblazoned with the void of infrastructure outside of the Rome Statute of the world Bakumanya, AFP perience. words “La Poste” and updates its major cities. war crimes court which wants Kinshasa At that time, employees only his delivery manifest. A nationwide postal service Bashir arrested for alleged came to work to “rummage “Customers shouldn’t think will come in a second phase, ac- crimes related to the confl ict in through” the parcels, taking that I’m going to ask them for cording to Musete, who hopes to the Darfur region of Sudan. etting a letter in the home whatever valuables they a ‘shipping fee’,” says Kabiena, attract fi nancial transfers from South Africa’s own Supreme post is a fi rst for me, could lay their hands on includ- recalling the postal service’s dif- the vast Congolese diaspora Court of Appeal has accused “Gand what’s more, at ing watches, jewellery and tick- fi cult recent past. around the world – one of Af- President Jacob Zuma’s govern- home!” says Odette Tshibambe, ets, adds Kayumba. On Kinshasa’s June 30 Boul- rica’s largest. ment of “disgraceful conduct” a student in her thirties in Kin- The handful of packages that evard, a sweeping avenue that Currently, remittances from over Bashir’s visit and ruled that shasa. escaped the attention of dis- cuts through the heart of the abroad are largely handled by the failure to arrest the Sudanese Her excitement is under- honest sorters were delivered to city close to the banks of the the private sector, but Musete is leader was unlawful. standable. recipients’ homes only after the River Congo, even the Hotel de hoping to attract transfers to the The row with the ICC saw After 30 years of turmoil for payment of special “transport la Poste has had something of a state-owned postal service to Pretoria in October announce the postal service in the Demo- costs” – assessed by how much facelift. shore-up its bottom line. its withdrawal from the court, cratic Republic of the Congo, the recipient appeared able to The imposing clock on the The Congo’s postal service a major blow to the institution letter carriers clad in smart ca- pay. upper left corner of the wide ed- is far from profi table and is de- set up to try the world’s worst nary yellow shirts have fi nally Even the home of the postal ifi ce is once again keeping time pendent on state funds – main- crimes. returned to the streets of the service, the vast art deco “Hotel A postman works at a branch of the Congolese Company for Posts after years of neglect. ly those that come from fees The South African govern- capital. de la Poste” building, a throw- and Telecommunications (SCPT) in Kinshasa. Inside, the serving counters charged to telecoms operators ment at the same time also Anifa Kayumba, head of Kin- back to the Belgian colonial era are busy once more. for use of an undersea fi bre optic dropped a legal battle on the is- shasa’s vast sorting offi ce, re- between 1909 and 1960, had former glory, but also reviving ture of her service. Customers queue up to buy cable running under the Atlantic sue after facing a possible de- calls “dark times” during her 33 fallen into disrepair. the ailing postal system entirely. The postmen and women of stamps, send items abroad and installed in 2014. feat in its highest Constitutional years on the job when dispir- In recent years it had become The return to service was the vast metropolis of 10mn receive cash transfers from rela- To secure growth, the postal Court. ited workers would routinely go a favoured haunt of street ur- only made possible after a deal people have once again taken to tives living overseas. service is hoping to sign deals “Given that domestic pro- without pay. chins and vagrants. was struck in which employees the city on foot, on bicycles and Despite signifi cant progress, with two large public sector cli- ceedings in South Africa are now The postal service’s head- Postal service managers re- gave up their claims for more even mopeds to deliver letters the postal service is for the time ents – DR Congo’s water and concluded, South Africa shall be quarters was like a “funeral sponded by “quitting the build- than 80 months-worth of back and parcels. being only able to handle post electricity companies. heard about a possible fi nding of home”, she says, with a coffi n ing and instead leasing smart pay arrears, instead settling for Honore Kabiena, a postman in between overseas destinations With 389 post offi ces nation- non-compliance” for failing to blocking the entrance to mark a offi ces at high rents” elsewhere, monthly salaries of several hun- his fi fties, sets off on his yellow and Kinshasa – there is not yet a wide, Musete is hopeful that the arrest Bashir, the ICC said. state of “permanent mourning”. says Didier Musete, who was dred dollars paid regularly. post service moped to deliver functioning operation outside of fi rms – which currently rely on Bashir has evaded arrest since Customers lost all confi dence named head of the service in Today, surrounded every to several districts in the north the capital. private couriers – will increas- his ICC indictment in 2009 for in the service “because (most) 2014. morning by mountainous piles of the capital including Gombe, The DR Congo is a quarter ingly turn to the postal service to alleged genocide, war crimes of the packages were pilfered or He was tasked with return- of neatly fi lled jute postal sacks, Lingwala and Barumbu. of the size of the entire United send bills and reminders to their and crimes against humanity in lost”, says Elisabeth Lengema, a ing not just the head offi ce to its Kayumba is bullish about the fu- At every stop, he removes his States and is almost entirely de- customers. Sudan’s Darfur confl ict. Gulf Times 16 Sunday, December 11, 2016 AMERICAS

DECISION PEOPLE OUTBREAK COMMENT CONTROVERSY Democrats end Comedian Miller arrested Texas reports four Motherhood biggest Lethal injection debate funding blockade in Trump row with driver more cases of Zika challenge for Madonna revived after execution

US senate Democrats dropped objections to a Comic actor T J Miller was arrested in Hollywood Texas health off icials said they had identified Madonna was presented on Friday with Billboard A death row inmate in Alabama coughed and federal spending bill, ensuring the government on suspicion of assaulting a driver, police said, four additional cases of Zika likely spread by magazine’s Woman of the Year award, but the gasped for 13 minutes during his execution, does not slip into a shutdown over a fight about after the pair reportedly locked horns over local mosquitoes, two weeks after the first case seven-time Grammy Award winner said one witnesses say — an incident that has revived health benefits for coal miners. After taking the president-elect Donald Trump. Celebrity news was reported in the state. The four patients of her biggest challenges was being a good concerns about the eff ectiveness of lethal debate right to the brink just hours before a website TMZ reported that the driver, who it said live in very close proximity to the first case, the mother. “The biggest accomplishment I think injection as a means of capital punishment. midnight deadline to fund federal operations, was working for Uber, claims he was slapped in Texas department of state health services and was finishing my tour, doing my shows every Ronald Smith, 45, was put to death for the 1994 Democrats eased their hard line and prevented the head by the “Silicon Valley” star when they Cameron county department of health and night. And dealing with the challenges of being a murder of a convenience store clerk. All told, the a brief weekend funding lapse that could have arrived at his home. It was not immediately human services said in a statement. The first mother. That’s always the challenge for me. Being execution took 34 minutes, during which Smith embarrassed lawmakers the month before clear which side of the Trump row Miller was on, case involved a woman living in Cameron county a good mother, being an artiste, getting through was apparently struggling for breath, according Donald Trump assumes the presidency. “We’re but he has been an outspoken critic of the real near the Mexico border, who is not pregnant. The it all,” the “Material Girl” singer said. Madonna, 58, to Kent Faulk, a journalist from Al.com, one of not going to shut down the government. We’re estate mogul in the past. Off icers arrested Miller US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who has four children, in March completed her 82- the media witnesses. “There will be an autopsy going to keep it open,” said senator Chuck at a private address around 1am (0900 GMT) and the Florida department of health said earlier show “Rebel Heart” world tour while embroiled in that will be done on Smith” to find out if there Schumer, who will lead the chamber’s Democrats and took him into custody. The actor, who was the Miami Beach area was no longer considered a legal battle over the custody of her 16 year-old were any “irregularities” in the procedure, said beginning next month. charged with battery, posted $20,000 bail. an active Zika transmission zone. son Rocco with ex-husband Guy Ritchie. Alabama’s prison commissioner Jeff erson Dunn.

Concern over memo Republicans to energy department reject claim Reuters Washington

resident-elect Donald Trump’s energy depart- Pment transition team sent Russia helped the agency a memo this week asking for the names of peo- ple who have worked on climate change and the professional soci- ety memberships of lab workers, alarming employees and advisers. The memo sent to the energy Trump win department on Tuesday and seen by Reuters, contains 74 AFP meddling in our elections should dence from multiple sources. questions including a request Washington shake both political parties to Russian hackers did not limit for a list of all department em- their core,” he said in a statement their hits to the Democrats, The ployees and contractors who at- yesterday. New York Times reported. “We tended the annual global climate epublicans yesterday re- “It’s imperative that our intel- now have high confi dence that talks hosted by the United Na- jected reports about a se- ligence community turns over they hacked the D.N.C. tions within the last fi ve years. Rcret CIA assessment fi nd- any relevant information so that and the R.N.C., and conspicu- It asked for a list of all depart- ing that Russia sought to tip the Congress can conduct a full in- ously released no documents” ment employees or contractors US presidential election in Don- vestigation.” from the Republican organisa- who have attended any meetings ald Trump’s favour, as a Demo- The reports come after Presi- tion, the Times cited one senior on the social cost of carbon, a cratic Senate leader called for an dent Barack Obama ordered a re- administration offi cial as saying, measurement that federal agen- investigation. view of all cyberattacks that took referring to the Russians. cies use to weigh the costs and “The intelligence is wrong,” place during the 2016 election The Times also questioned benefi ts of new energy and envi- Republican national commit- cycle, amid growing calls from when Russia had started sup- ronment regulations. tee spokesman Sean Spicer told Democrats in Congress for more porting Trump. It also asked for all publica- CNN. “It didn’t happen.” information about the extent of “It is...far from clear that tions written by employees at the He was referring to a New York Russian interference in the cam- Russia’s original intent was to department’s 17 national labora- Times report saying US intelli- paign. support Trump, and many in- tories for the past three years. gence agencies had “high confi - The Washington Post cited of- telligence offi cials — and former “This feels like the fi rst draft dence” that Russian hackers in- fi cials briefed on the matter as offi cials in Clinton’s campaign — of an eventual political enemies fi ltrated the Republican National saying individuals with connec- believe that the primary motive list,” said a department of en- Committee’s computer systems tions to Moscow provided anti- of the Russians was to simply ergy employee, who asked not to as well as Democratic Party’s, but secrecy website WikiLeaks with disrupt the campaign and un- be identifi ed because he feared a released information taken only e-mails hacked from the Demo- dercut confi dence in the integ- reprisal by the Trump transition from Democratic computers. cratic National Committee, Dem- rity of the vote,” it said. team. News about the CIA report, ocratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s However, some questions re- “When Donald Trump said he fi rst reported by The Washington campaign chief and others. main unanswered and the CIA’s wanted to drain the swamp it ap- Post on Friday, drew an extraor- WikiLeaks steadily released assessment fell short of a for- parently was just to make room dinary rebuke from the presi- those e-mails in the months mal US assessment produced by for witch hunts and it’s starting dent-elect’s camp on Friday. before the election, damaging all 17 intelligence agencies, the here at the DoE and our 17 na- “These are the same people Clinton’s White House run. newspaper said. tional labs,” the employee said. that said Saddam Hussain had The Russians’ aim was to help Intelligence agents don’t have Trump transition team offi - weapons of mass destruction,” Trump win, not just undermine proof that Russian offi cials di- cials declined to comment on the Trump’s transition team said, the US electoral process, the pa- rected the identifi ed individuals memo, which was fi rst reported launching a broadside against per reported. “It is the assess- to supply WikiLeaks with the by Bloomberg. the spy agency. ment of the intelligence com- hacked Democratic e-mails. Republican Trump, a New “The election ended a long munity that Russia’s goal here WikiLeaks founder Julian As- York businessman and former time ago in one of the biggest was to favour one candidate over sange has denied links with Rus- reality TV star who has never Electoral College victories in his- the other, to help Trump get sia’s government. previously held public offi ce, tory. It’s now time to move on and elected,” the newspaper quoted California Republican Con- said during his election cam- ‘Make America Great Again.’” a senior US offi cial briefed on gressman Devin Nunes, the paign that climate change was Democrats in Congress an intelligence presentation to chair of the House Intelligence a hoax perpetrated by China to pushed back against Republican key senators last week as saying. Committee and a member of damage US manufacturing. denials yesterday, with senator “That’s the consensus view.” the Trump transition team also He said he would rip up last Chuck Schumer, set to become CIA agents told the lawmakers weighed in yesterday, saying he year’s landmark global climate Democratic minority leader in it was “quite clear” that elect- “does not believe the evidence deal struck in Paris that was January, calling for a congres- ing Trump was Russia’s goal, shows that the Russians inter- signed by Democratic President President-elect Donald Trump waves to the crowd as he arrives onstage at the DeltaPlex Arena in Grand sional investigation. according to offi cials who spoke fered in the elections in order to Barack Obama. Rapids, Michigan yesterday. Trump is continuing his victory tour across the country. “That any country could be to the Post, citing growing evi- help Trump,” a spokesman said. Calgary zoo begins probe Louisiana polls Beverly Hills Cop star as seven penguins drown held in airport row London Evening Standard cessfully passed through a TSA Los Angeles body scanner and was stopped Guardian News and Media this week, after renovations on died in an interactive exhibit only after his bag set off an Calgary their habitat began. in which visitors were encour- alarm. Necropsies showed that all aged to touch the stingrays in everly Hills Cop actor Stodghill said TSA agents the penguins had drowned. The the water. The zoo attributed the Judge Reinhold has been then asked to pat down Re- Canadian zoo has zoo believes something sent the deaths to a lack of dissolved oxy- Barrested after a row with inhold, but he did not accept launched an investigation birds into a state of panic. “We gen in the tank. airport security staff in Texas. that he needed to be searched Ainto the deaths of seven suspect there was some reason Dorgan said the deaths were The US star, 59, who also ap- because he had already gone penguins at the facility, which that they were in distress and unrelated. “Anytime that we have peared with Tim Allen in all through the scanner. are believed to have drowned in a stuck under the water, unable to any deaths with diff erent cir- three Santa Clause movies, ar- He was taken to Dallas coun- state of panic. surface and panicking under the cumstances or things out of the gued with guards after refusing ty jail and charged with disor- “It was obviously something water,” said Dorgan. ordinary, of course we’re going to to undergo a security pat-down. derly conduct. If found guilty we did not expect to fi nd,” said “They’re marine animals, look closely,” he said. “We don’t He then reportedly took off his in court he could face a fi ne of Jamie Dorgan, the director of they’re pretty adapted to be- take anything like this lightly.” T-shirt and swore at them. up to £395. animal care for the Calgary Zoo. ing in water and they thrive in The zoo, home to around A police statement said of- He was on his way to his home “It’s a very odd situation, very the water more than they do on 1,000 animals, has been work- fi cers at Dallas Love Airport in Santa Fe, New Mexico, when odd circumstances and nothing land. So in order for a penguin ing to continuously improve its were “alerted by the Transpor- the confrontation happened. we’ve ever encountered before.” to drown you would expect it processes, he added. “Anytime tation Security Administration In a video of him being es- The apparent drowning is the would have to be some sort of you have live animals, there’s regarding an individual caus- corted by police into a legal latest in a string of accidents and panic, stress-type of situation going to be things that occur. We ing a disturbance by refusing offi ce, he appeared calm and errors that have catapulted the that would lead to that.” have humans looking after ani- to submit to a screening at the could be seen grinning at re- zoo into the headlines in recent The incident is not the only un- mals and just like humans doing appropriate checkpoint area. porters. “Thanks for the ex- years. In February a 12-year-old usual animal death at the zoo. In anything, mistakes are going to The offi cers responded and posure guys,” he said sarcasti- otter died after becoming en- 2009, a staff er was suspended for happen.” subsequently took the indi- cally. “‘Glad you’re here.” tangled in a pair of trousers that two days without pay after a capy- Zoo offi cials said they were vidual into custody after he re- As well as playing Detective had been given to the otters as a bara – the world’s largest rodent working to minimise these er- fused to comply.” Billy Rosewood in 1984’s Bev- gift by a zookeeper. The zoo said – was crushed to death in a hy- rors, which led to one of the go- Police added that Reinhold erly Hills Cop, which starred two staff members had been dis- draulic door, while in 2007 a six- rillas wielding a knife in 2009 af- A family walks into a polling station yesterday in New was apparently given the op- Eddie Murphy, and its two se- ciplined over the “unauthorised year-old hippo died less than 24 ter a zookeeper accidentally left Orleans, Louisiana. Louisiana residents headed to the polls tion of being patted down in a quels, and the Santa Clause enrichment item”. hours after being transferred from it in its enclosure and a kitchen yesterday to select a senator in a runoff election between private screening room but he comedy movies between 1994 The dead birds were Hum- the Denver Zoo as part of an inter- raid carried out by several goril- Democratic candidate Foster Campbell and Republican refused and became belligerent. and 2002, Reinhold has ap- boldt penguins which had been national breeding programme. las in 2013 after the door to their candidate John Kennedy. The actor’s lawyer, Steve peared in more than 60 other moved to a holding area earlier One year later, 41 stingrays enclosure was left open. Stodghill, said Reinhold suc- fi lms. Gulf Times Sunday, December 11, 2016 17 ASEAN Cambodian court charges Dutch Jho Low family dealt farm owner in child torture case setback over 1MDB AFP to care for the two-year-old Reuters No reason was given in the fi l- hoping those venues would be on the streets in capital Kuala Phnom Penh boy while his parents worked Washington ing, dated Wednesday. more hospitable to their requests. Lumpur last month, demanding on Struik’s farm in Cambodia. Federal prosecutors had op- The ruling to go ahead with the that he step down and face cor- The child is now safe and posed the delay, noting in a fi l- hearing tomorrow could thwart ruption charges. Dutchman has been with his family in Phnom Penh, elatives of a Malaysian fi n- ing on Wednesday that almost those plans. The prime minister has used charged by a Cambodi- said McCabe. ancier at the centre of the fi ve months had transpired since The relatives’ lawyer, Daniel security laws to block dissenters Aan court over disturbing The video also became a R1MDB fund scandal were the US Department of Justice Zaheer of Kobre & Kim, did not and his opponents. videos that appeared to show source of outrage in nearby dealt a setback in their eff orts launched a series of lawsuits al- immediately respond to a request Najib needs the support of the his boyfriend torturing a naked Myanmar this week after the to claim assets seized by the US leging more than $3.5bn was for comment. Islamist party PAS to secure a toddler with a stun gun. UK’s Daily Mail cited false re- government when a federal judge misappropriated from the 1MDB In addition to Low, the Depart- convincing win in the next elec- The footage, which emerged ports that it showed a soldier denied a motion that would have fund. ment of Justice has named Riza tions. earlier this week, shows the torturing a Rohingya child. given them time to try their luck Malaysian Prime Minister Na- Aziz in its lawsuits. The premier has put his weight two-year-old screaming and Myanmar’s government in overseas courts. jib Abdul Razak established the Aziz is the stepson of Najib, the behind an Islamic law, hudud, crying as a man prods diff erent lambasted the article, which Earlier this week four relatives IMDB fund in 2009 and chaired Malaysian prime minister, and that sets out punishments such parts of his body with the stun the British tabloid later took of Low Taek Jho fi led a motion to the advisory board until recently. founder of Red Granite Pictures, as amputation and stoning. gun and later shoves an object down without apology, and delay the December 12 hearing Low Taek Jho – popularly which produced the 2013 Hol- The law may be tabled in par- down his throat. claimed it as evidence that for- to January 23 so they could go to known as Jho Low – is among lywood blockbuster The Wolf of liament next year. A Vietnamese man, 34-year- eign media have been distort- courts in New Zealand and the the people named in civil law- Wall Street. “Quite clearly, there is a major old Nguyen Thanh Dung, was ing information about a mili- Cayman Islands to try and get suits aimed at seizing $1bn in as- The lawsuits do not name Na- domestic political dimension to arrested in Ho Chi Minh City tary crackdown on the Muslim real estate and other assets trans- sets allegedly siphoned off from jib, but say more than $700mn this, as Najib positions himself on Wednesday and confessed minority. ferred to a new trustee. 1MDB and diverted into luxury of misappropriated funds fl owed Najib: denies wrongdoing. as the champion of downtrodden to abusing the boy in an inter- The country is facing In a one-sentence ruling, US real estate in New York, Bev- into the accounts of “Malaysian Muslims in the region, which he view published by state media. mounting international pres- District Judge Dale Fischer de- erly Hills and London, valuable Offi cial 1”, whom US and Malay- operate in the international in- and UMNO obviously believe will He told investigators he was sure to probe allegations that nied both the motion to post- paintings and a private jet. sian offi cials have identifi ed as vestigations. be popular in the Malay Muslim high on meth when he carried its soldiers are carrying out pone the hearing and a separate Low Taek Jho’s relatives had Najib. Najib’s popularity dropped af- heartland,” said Phil Robertson, out the abuse in Cambodia in atrocities against the Rohingya request to extend the deadline for wanted to try courts in New Zea- Najib has denied any wrong- ter he was linked to the scandal. deputy director for the Asia Divi- August. in western Rakhine state, an fi ling a claim. land and the Cayman Islands, doing and said Malaysia will co- Tens of thousands marched sion of Human Rights Watch. On Friday his partner Ste- area off -limits to journalists fan Struik, a 53-year-old and rights groups. Dutch national who also holds More than 20,000 Rohingya Cambodian citizenship, was have fl ed the crackdown to charged with failing to report Bangladesh since October, car- the crime. rying with them stories of mass 45,000 left “The court charged and rape, murder and arson by sol- jailed him for failing to fi le a diers. complaint about the mistreat- Myanmar offi cials have homeless ment of the minor and for denied the allegations and hiding leads,” said Meas Pros, blamed the reports on “fake a spokesman for the court in news” circulated by activists after Aceh northeastern Mondulkiri prov- with a political agenda. ince. In a statement on Friday, the Dung will be prosecuted in offi ce of de facto leader Aung earthquake Vietnam, he added. San Suu Kyi slammed the Daily According to James McCabe, Mail story as “only the latest who heads the Child Protection example of fabricated news AFP Unit and is assisting with the coverage that has damaged the Jakarta investigation, Dung was asked country’s image”.

ens of thousands of peo- ple have been displaced Tafter a devastating earth- quake in Indonesia killed more Tainted homemade than 100 people, an offi cial said yesterday, leaving communities in ruins as aid trickled into the rice wine kills 15, disaster-stricken province. “We have 45,300 people evac- uating in several places as of Sat- harms at least 78 urday morning,” national disas- ter agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho told AFP, adding Reuters The drink, which is relatively that the number of displaced had Phnom Penh inexpensive, can be lethal if not almost doubled since Friday due mixed properly. to an infl ux of new data. Tiravuthy said he had lost The shallow 6.5-magnitude ifteen people have been count of the number of people quake earlier this week levelled killed and at least 78 have being hospitalised after drink- hundreds of homes, mosques Fbeen hospitalised in re- ing bad rice wine. and businesses across Aceh cent weeks after drinking toxic “At health centres, people province, one of the areas worst rice wine at a series of funerals are continuously coming in. I aff ected by the devastating 2004 in Cambodia in the past fi ve don’t know how many now,” tsunami. weeks, offi cials revealed on Fri- Tiravuthy told Reuters. More than 700 people were day. Cambodia’s Health Minister injured in the quake, many seri- Rice wine sales were banned Mam Bunheng said on Friday This week in Asean ously, according to the country’s in Kompong Chhnang prov- that the tainted wine included disaster agency. ince, about 90km (55 miles) above-normal quantities of Above: Kiranmeet Kaur Baljeet Singh from Malaysia (left), Chalita Most of the displaced spent from the capital, Phnom Penh, methanol and urged people to Suansane from Thailand (second left), Htet Htet Htun from the night outdoors in tents near after villagers became sick stop consuming improperly Myanmar, Sari Nakazawa from Japan, Jenny Kim from Korea their ruined homes as hundreds from drinking methanol-taint- made rice wine. (second right), and Kezia Roslin Cikita Warouw from Indonesia refused to move into shelters ed wine, said Sorin Tiravuthy, Methanol, the simplest form (right) take a selfie yesterday during a kick-off event for the up- fearing aftershocks, Nugroho director of the provincial hos- of alcohol, is closely related to coming Miss Universe pageant, in Pasay, Metro Manila, added. pital. ethanol, the type of alcohol Philippines. The army has established The fi rst death was reported normally found in spirits, beer kitchens, shelters and a fi eld on November 3 but villag- and wine. Left: A boy carrying an aid package leaves a temporary shelter at hospital in the hard-hit town of ers continued to consume the Home distillation can con- a mosque yesterday, following this week’s strong earthquake in Meureudu to complement the same rice wine at a diff erent centrate the level of methanol, Meureudu, Pidie Jaya, Aceh province, Indonesia. region’s overwhelmed health fa- funeral, Tiravuthy said. which is highly toxic. cilities. Rice wine is a staple in Cam- At least 18 people died in Below: Dancers perform at Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park Indonesian President Joko bodia, where it is consumed at Cambodia’s northeastern Kra- yesterday during a Human Rights Day celebration in Cambodia. Widodo visited Meureudu on weddings and funerals. tie province last year after Friday, pledging to rebuild the Home-brewed wine has led drinking methanol-tainted area’s devastated communities to fatalities in the past. rice wine. as he called on Indonesians to pray for their countrymen. The archipelago nation ex- periences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its posi- Death toll in Vietnam tion on the Pacifi c “Ring of Fire”, where tectonic plates collide. A huge undersea earthquake fl ooding rises to 24 in 2004 triggered a tsunami that engulfed several countries around the Indian Ocean, killing DPA ter Prevention and Control re- more than 170,000 people in In- Hanoi ported. donesia alone, the vast majority The army has mobilised in Aceh. more than 2,500 soldiers to The province lies on the ix more people have been help fl ood victims. northern tip of Sumatra island, reported dead in central The region received up to which is particularly prone to SVietnam’s fl oods, bring- 500mm of rainfall for the past quakes. ing the death toll in the region three days, the NCSR said. to 24 in the past 10 days, au- Roads have been damaged thorities said on Friday. and many areas have been iso- 22 die in Thailand’s flood-ravaged south Plot to bomb Indonesia state palace foiled The fl oods, which began on lated by fl ood waters, the VN November 29, have killed 10 Express news site reported. The death toll in Thailand’s flood-ravaged Trang, Phattalung, Songkhla, Yala, Pattani, Indonesian counter-terrorism forces have “The plan was to use the bomb at the people in Binh Dinh province, The fl oods of the past 10 days south has risen to 22, with more than Narathiwat, Ranong and Prachuap Khiri arrested three people near the capital presidential palace during the change of seven in Quang Nam province, are just the latest in a series of 750,000 people aff ected, Thailand’s Khan – were severely aff ected. Jakarta suspected of planning a bomb guard,” Jakarta police spokesman Argo six in Quang Ngai province and heavy rainfalls in the region. Disaster Prevention and Mitigation On Monday, top island destinations Koh attack on the presidential palace, a police Yuwono said in a statement yesterday. one in Gia Lai province, the In mid-October, “non-stop” Department said on Friday. Samui and Koh Phangan were declared spokesman said. He said an investigation was underway. National Committee for Search rains from a tropical depres- Floods now cover 14 provinces in the disaster zones. The arrests of two men and a woman are Police intercepted a letter the woman had and Rescue (NCSR) reported. sion killed 31 people and fl ood- country’s southern region, according to the Koh Samui District Chief Paiboon O-mak the latest in a security crackdown ahead intended to send to her parents stating her Two people remain unac- ed nearly 100,000 homes, VN latest disaster report, up from an earlier confirmed to DPA on Friday that tourists of the New Year holiday season and come intention to carry out an attack, the police counted for. Express reported. report of 10 provinces inundated and 14 can still swim at Koh Samui’s beaches. amid concerns of a rise in Islamic State (IS)- statement said. Heavy rains have submerged Severe fl ooding is expected deaths. Beach guards will watch for tidal waves. inspired radicalism in the world’s largest Security forces carried out a controlled nearly 10,000 homes and 1,300 to continue in the Quang Ngai All 22 victims drowned in flood waters, a “Heavy rainfall and strong tidal waves Muslim-majority country. detonation of the bomb, local media hectares of rice fi elds in the and Binh Dinh provinces, while department off icial confirmed to DPA. are common in December,” Paiboon said, Police raided a dormitory in Bekasi, a town reported. region, the Central Steering fl oodwaters in other aff ected Twelve of the provinces – Chumphon, adding that warning signs have been put about an hour outside Jakarta, and found Authorities say Islamic State has about Committee on Natural Disas- areas are receding. Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Krabi, up on each Koh Samui beach. an unexploded bomb. 1,200 sympathisers in Indonesia. Gulf Times 18 Sunday, December 11, 2016 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA Koreans celebrate Park impeachment AFP her father, the late military dicta- Seoul tor Park Chung-hee – credited as the architect of the South’s economic transformation but ens of thousands cel- vilifi ed as an authoritarian rights Above: People take ebrated the impeachment abuser. photographs of an Tof South Korean President A large portrait of a young Park installation featuring Park Geun-hye at a rally in Seoul with her father formed the cen- President Park during yesterday, but amid the euphoria trepiece of a pro-Park rally in a protest in central there was lingering anger, and Seoul earlier yesterday that drew Seoul calling for her anxiety at the prospect of an ex- around 15,000 people. to step down. tended period of political uncer- Waving national fl ags, they tainty. carried banners that read: “Pres- Left: A traditional For the seventh straight week, ident Park, Don’t Cry” and “Nul- music band performs protesters gathered en masse lify impeachment”. on the road leading in the streets of the capital, but Park was impeached on nu- to the Presidential the mood was generally festive, merous counts of constitutional Blue House during after lawmakers on Friday voted and criminal violations ranging the protest against overwhelmingly to impeach the from a failure to protect peo- President Park. deeply unpopular Park over a ple’s lives to bribery and abuse of corruption scandal. power. Right: A bird’s eye Although the move stripped Most of the charges stemmed view of the protest in Park of her substantial execu- from an investigation into a central Seoul. tive powers, activists said they scandal involving the president’s intended to keep up the pres- long-time friend, Choi Soon-sil, Below: Nuns attend sure, with the impeachment still who is currently awaiting trial for the protest. requiring fi nal approval from the fraud and embezzlement. Constitutional Court – a process Prosecutors named Park a day’s rally with members of the that could take months. suspect in the case, saying that Korean Farmers’ League. And many were adamant that she colluded in Choi’s eff orts to The man charged with steering the president should resign im- strong arm donations from large the country through these dan- mediately and face criminal companies worth tens of millions gerous waters is a former prose- prosecution. of dollars. cutor who has never held elected “We are still hungry,” the The impeachment process offi ce. crowd in Seoul’s Gwanghwamun was ignited and fuelled by public As Park’s prime minis- chanted, as they also sang along outrage at Park’s behaviour, with ter, Hwang Kyo-ahn became to the revised lyrics of a Christ- the weekly mass demonstrations the temporary guardian of her mas song that read: “Only af- demanding that politicians take sweeping executive powers ter she is out, will it be a Merry a pro-active role in removing the moment after she was im- Christmas.” her from the presidential Blue peached. Organisers put the turnout at House. A stern and not particularly around 600,000 – smaller than The National Assembly has popular fi gure, Hwang is seen previous weeks when the crowds played its part, but the country as a Park loyalist and there were passed the million mark. now faces a lengthy period of numerous chants at yesterday’s Until the court rules, Park’s uncertainty at a time of slowing protest for him to step down as authority is only suspended and economic growth and elevated well. she retains the title of president military tensions with nuclear- Flung into a role he had never and the immunity from prosecu- armed North Korea. sought, Hwang sought to strike a prevent any government vacuum Korea to exploit the situation. agree to host a sophisticated US transition in the United States, tion that goes with it. “We have only overcome one reassuring tone during an emer- and ease the people’s anxiety,” North Korea has conduct- anti-missile system – despite a key economic and military ally And she still has her support- challenge. The challenges that gency cabinet meeting yesterday. Hwang said, adding that he had ed two nuclear tests this year protests from China. which has nearly 30,000 troops ers, many of them elderly voters follow will be bigger,” said Kim “The government is carrying instructed the military to be ex- and multiple missile launch- Contributing to the general permanently stationed in South who remain steadfast admirers of Young-ho who attended yester- out all measures necessary to tra vigilant to any move by North es, prompting South Korea to anxiety is the presidential power Korea.

HK protest against China crackdown

AFP dens in the Central commercial Hong Kong district. The city’s youngest lawmaker Nathan Law, 23, who is one of the round a thousand protest- four the government are seeking ers rallied in Hong Kong to unseat, addressed the crowd Ayesterday against a crack- saying: “We need to use our legs, down on pro-democracy law- our bodies, to tell the regime they makers and an electoral system can’t oppress us. They might be skewed towards Beijing ahead of taking away my seat, but they are elections for a new city leader. (also) imprisoning the people’s Solomon Islands Red Cross Auki branch off icers distribute aid to It comes a day after unpopu- minds.” families aff ected by yesterday’s earthquake. lar chief executive Leung Chun- Protest leaders also slammed Ying said he would not run for the electoral system in which the offi ce again in the March vote. chief executive is chosen by a While jubilant at his an- committee of 1,200 representa- nouncement, Leung’s critics fear tives from various special inter- Solomons scramble another hardline Beijing-backed est groups weighted towards the leader will take his place. pro-establishment camp. A pro-democracy protester posts a newspaper page featuring unpopular chief executive Leung Chun-Ying There are increasing fears that In 2014 Beijing said Hong Kong during a rally outside his residence in Hong Kong yesterday. to reach areas hit by China is tightening its grip on the residents could elect their own semi-autonomous city, particu- leader but that candidates would 18, said Leung was not the root of Writers call for end to China’s rights crackdown larly after two pro-independ- be vetted. the problem. second major quake ence lawmakers advocating a That decision sparked the “It’s China interfering with More than 100 authors from around the world signed a letter to Chinese complete split from Beijing were massive 2014 rallies, which failed Hong Kong’s development,” President Xi Jinping yesterday – Human Rights Day – to urge an immedi- prevented from taking up their to win any concessions on re- Chan told AFP. ate end to China’s “worsening crackdown” on rights. Reuters much detail but we know peo- seats. form. Another protester at the rally, Since he came to power in 2012, Xi has overseen a crackdown on dissent, Sydney ple are really aff ected by what’s The Hong Kong government Veteran pro-democracy law- Mary Lam, who is in her 40s, said with hundreds of lawyers, activists and academics detained and dozens happened,” Zoleveke said. is also taking four other pro- maker Leung Kwok-hung, also Hong Kong was being “main- jailed. Zoloveke said based on re- democracy legislators to court among the four legislators the landised” by China. His ruling Communist party tolerates no opposition to its rule. he Solomon Islands ports received by two-way on Thursday in a bid to unseat government are trying to unseat, “The pro-establishment camp Newspapers, websites, and other broadcast and print media are strictly plans to dispatch emer- radio, Friday’s quake caused them after an intervention from told reporters the leadership sys- is hurting Hong Kong, so we need controlled. An army of censors patrols social media and many Western Tgency supplies to areas signifi cant damage and forced Beijing. tem was a “tragedy”. to come out,” she said. news websites are blocked. aff ected by a 6.9 magnitude af- people from homes in the town “The direct message we hope Protesters of all ages gathered A small group of protesters “China and the rest of the world can only be enriched by these opinions tershock yesterday, a day after of Kirakira on Makira Island, to send to Beijing is we will not for the rally chanting for Leung later went to Leung’s residence at and voices,” said the letter, organised by the London-based PEN Interna- a much larger tremor triggered about 200km from the Pacifi c forgive and we will fi ght for de- to “go to jail” over controversial Government House and popped tional writers association, which advocates for free speech. a tsunami warning that send Island nation’s capital of Ho- mocracy and freedom,” said payments from an Australian champagne to celebrate his deci- “We therefore urge the Chinese authorities to release the writers, journal- hundreds of coastal people niara. Joshua Wong, who led mass pro- engineering fi rm before he took sion to step down. ists, and activists who are languishing in jail or kept under house arrest fl eeing into the hills. She said she knew of only democracy rallies in 2014. offi ce. Leung cited family reasons for for the crime of speaking freely and expressing their opinions,” it stated. General secretary of the one reported casualty, a “We will not allow Beijing to Leung has defended the pay- his decision and denied it was Signed by writers including Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood and Nobel Solomon Islands Red Cross 25-year-old with non-specifi c disqualify one more legislator, ments, saying that he did nothing due to his performance. laureate JM Coetzee, the letter mentioned imprisoned Nobel Peace Laure- Joanne Zoleveke said the sup- injuries. because they are democratically wrong, but it put another dent in But observers said he was sim- ate Liu Xiaobo, currently serving an 11-year sentence for “subversion”, and ply boat could take almost 24 The remoteness of the region elected,” Wong, 20, told AFP at his public image. ply too unpopular for Beijing to his wife Liu Xia, who remains under house arrest. hours to reach Makira Island, and the failure of communica- the rally, which took place in gar- However, protester Jack Chan, endorse again. which lies close to the epicen- tions meant it was impossible tre of Friday’s deeper 7.8 mag- to know the full extent of any nitude earthquake. injuries or damage, she said. Both quakes triggered tsu- Australia has provided nami warnings which were A$50,000 ($37,235) worth of lifted a short time later. supplies and a helicopter to Australia’s Dreamworld theme park reopens after tragedy “We are working with the undertake an initial assess- National Disaster Offi ce of the ment of aff ected areas to help Government and we’ve mobi- target relief eff orts, Zoloveke Reuters tive of theme parks at Dream- families who lost loved ones in and Safety Queensland’s audit, “I encourage Australians to lised our emergency response said. Sydney world owner Ardent Leisure the tragic accident on the 25th of Dreamworld’s internal engineer- continue to visit the Gold Coast teams to accompany the gov- Suzy Sainovski of World Vi- Group, said that reopening the October.” ing review, (infrastructure con- and the city’s theme parks,” ernment offi cers and other in- sion in Honiara said staff from park on the Gold Coast in the Davidson stressed that safety sultancy) Pitt & Sherry’s inde- Ciobo said in a statement. “Gold ternational non-governmental the humanitarian organisation ustralian theme park eastern state of Queensland was had always been the park’s pri- pendent review and the external Coast theme parks are an endur- organisations that are going on in Kirakira saw people fl eeing Dreamworld reopened a poignant moment. ority and that a rigorous safety peer-review by UK-based theme ing and essential part of Queens- this boat,” Zoleveke said. to higher ground. Ayesterday having been “Today the smiles of Dream- review of all attractions was on- park safety specialists LTC,” he land’s A$23bn ($17bn) tourism Makira Island’s airstrip “One of the reasons we need closed since the end of October world staff sit atop heavy hearts,” going. said. industry.” services small planes incapable to get them shelter assistance following the deaths of four peo- Davidson told a news conference. “Every single attraction open Federal Minister for Trade, Ardent Leisure previously said of shuttling the volume of aid (is) because it’s the start of the ple on its now-shuttered Thun- “We are pleased to be reopen- today has passed an unprece- Tourism and Investment Steven that it would donate $25 for every required for the relief eff ort. wet season here,” Sainovski der River Rapids ride. ing our doors but our hearts and dented multi-level safety review, Ciobo welcomed the park’s reo- ticket sold over the weekend to “We still don’t have that said. Craig Davidson, chief execu- thoughts remain fi rmly with the encompassing Workplace Health pening. the Australian Red Cross. Gulf Times Sunday, December 11, 2016 19 BRITAIN/IRELAND

ROYALTY JUSTICE WARNING OBITUARY CRIME Andrew denies rumours Troll jailed for abusive Cameron predicts Irish poet Montague Slain man ‘had survived of rift with Prince Charles e-mails to MP Hillier new euro crisis dies aged 87 in Nice knife attack last year’

Prince Andrew has denied rumours of a rift A constituent who called London MP Meg Hillier a David Cameron warned that the euro could be One of the most renowned contemporary Irish A young man died after being gunned down in between himself and his brother Prince Charles “baby killer” and “Madam Hitler” during a trolling plunged back into crisis and also told how he poets, John Montague, has died at the age of 87 front of shoppers as he crossed a busy high street. over his daughters. In a rare public statement campaign over more than a decade has been believes the Brexit vote was lost due to a rise in hospital in the French Mediterranean resort of Witnesses described how the victim, in his early posted on Twitter, Prince Andrew said recent press jailed for six months. Obsessive Patrick Dunne in “populism” driven by economic and cultural Nice, media reports said, citing family members. twenties, staggered to the pavement and collapsed reports had “no basis of fact” and were “completely started e-mailing her shortly after she was elected identity concerns. Speaking to students at Depauw Born to Irish parents in Brooklyn in the US in outside a cafe after a shot to the stomach. Police made up and an invention.” Newspapers including in 2005, because he was angered by the invasions University in Indiana, the ex-prime minister 1929, Montague moved to live with relatives in sealed off a 200-yard stretch of Kilburn High Road the Daily Mail had recently reported that the duke of Afghanistan and Iraq and wanted to express said leaders across the West must take steps to Tyrone in the north of Ireland at the age of 4. He as medics tried in vain to save his life. The gunmen wanted the future husbands of his daughters, his views on government spending. The MP for help millions of people who felt left behind by studied at University College Dublin, and at Yale ran off into a housing estate. The victim is thought Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, to receive the title Hackney South and Shoreditch first complained globalisation. On the euro, he stressed: “I see more and Berkeley in the US. Montague was the first to have been walking with relatives when he earl, as he was concerned that their children would in 2011 and Dunne, 63, was issued with a police trouble ahead. It is not working as it was intended. person to occupy the Ireland Chair of Poetry in was shot. A friend of the victim said he had been otherwise be commoners. In October, the Sunday warning — but resumed his one-man campaign Some countries have seen decades of lost growth. 1998, the country’s equivalent of a poet laureate, trying to turn his life around after being stabbed Express also reported that the brothers were in early 2012, Thames magistrates’ court heard. Those countries have a single currency but they and won many awards for his works. Irish in Kilburn last year. Bruno Tampo, 22, who runs a rowing after Charles rejected the duke’s requests Hillier, 47, said she became “alarmed” following the don’t have a single fiscal tax system. It creates President Michael D Higgins said Montague was mentoring charity, said: “He’d just recovered and I for his daughters o be given full-time royal roles. murder of fellow MP Jo Cox in June this year. bigger diff erences.” one of the nation’s “finest poets.” think he’d just moved in to a new place.” Average speed of London traffi c falls to 12.5km: data

London Evening Standard to follow seasonal trends and fall London even further. Bus passenger numbers are down 5%. he full scale of the gridlock TfL predicts 45mn fewer jour- blighting central London’s neys this year after travellers grew Troads was laid bare, as aver- tired of being stuck in jams. age traffi c speeds were revealed to Its commissioner Mike Brown be just 7.8mph (12.5km). said in a stark warning to col- The extraordinary fi gure, one leagues: “People using London’s of the lowest recorded in the last roads face congestion and reli- decade, emerged as motorists ability problems on a daily basis were warned to expect four years and unless we address the un- of delays when work begins on derlying causes it will only get the £4.2bn super sewer under the worse.” Thames. TfL says construction work in Transport for London (TfL) has response to economic growth and quietly published fi gures show- dramatic increases in the capi- Demonstrators protesting about Syria disrupt a speech on human rights by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in central London yesterday. ing that average daytime speeds tal’s population were primarily to on main central roads dropped to blame. 7.8mph between July and Septem- Val Shawcross, Sadiq Khan’s ber — down from 8.1mph a year deputy mayor for transport, has earlier. vowed a crackdown on conges- tion, which she also blamed on Sewer work to divert online shopping deliveries and a cycle superhighway big increase in minicabs. Caroline Pidgeon, LibDem Labour leader’s speech Drivers wanting to turn left chairwoman of the London As- from Blackfriars bridge onto the sembly transport committee, told Embankment are to be sent on the Standard: “It is a depressing a two-mile detour via Waterloo fact that traffi c speeds in large bridge until 2021. The super parts of central London are now sewer work will also involve very similar to more than 100 re-routing part of the £59mn years ago when horses and carts disrupted by protesters flagship East-West cycle super- were the main form of transport. highway just eight months after “Bold action is needed, espe- Guardian News and Media silently in front of Corbyn, the After returning to the podium Thornberry said Labour had to supervise the evacuation of ci- it opened. Cyclists riding to and cially to curb the unsustainable London Labour leader said: “It’s all right, at the Methodist central hall in called on the government to back vilians to safe havens, and, most from the North-South superhigh- growth of private hire vehicles it’s OK.” Westminster, he told the audi- air drops of aid in rebel-held importantly right now, the air- way on Blackfriars bridge will be and to ensure delivery vans serve Tatchell then said: “What is ence Thornberry had clearly ex- eastern Aleppo. “We have taken drop of aid and medicine to be- diverted via a slip road currently our economy in a smarter way. rotesters led by Peter happening in Aleppo is a mod- pressed Labour’s opposition to the strongest possible stand on sieged civilian populations. used by vehicles. Diversions will The congestion charge also needs Tatchell have disrupted a ern-day Guernica. We haven’t the war in Syria and had called this issue,” she said. “Those are things that Jeremy be introduced from January 2 — an update, with variable charges Pspeech by Jeremy Corbyn, heard the leader of the Labour for an end to the confl ict. Tatchell said he had staged the Corbyn could push for in parlia- three days after Tower bridge is matching congestion levels.” calling on the Labour leader to party speak out enough to de- Corbyn was then heckled from demonstration out of despera- ment right now this week. He reopened to traff ic after a three- The TfL also revealed details demand action to end the con- mand UK air drops to besieged the audience by Tatchell, who tion over Corbyn’s inaction on hasn’t done so, so far. We hope as month closure. of how the super sewer will im- fl ict in Syria. Corbyn halted his civilians who are dying in their continued to demand he do more the humanitarian crisis in the a result of today he will.” pact on drivers and cyclists when speech while several protesters thousands.” to criticise the Russian regime, country. “We are so frustrated Tatchell joined forces with digging begins on Victoria Em- held up banners with slogans Corbyn could be heard con- which is propping up Bashar al- that the leader of the Labour par- Syria Solidarity UK, whose There were an unprecedented bankment in the New Year. TfL including: “Step up and demand sulting the Labour peer Shami Assad’s brutal dictatorship. ty, Jeremy Corbyn, seems to have spokesman said: “Western dip- 8,146 roadworks on main roads and Thames Tideway, the fi rm action in Syria” and “End the Chakrabarti before temporarily “There has to be an end to the forsaken the principle of interna- lomats have conceded that there in Greater London in the same building the 16-mile sewer, said suff ering in Aleppo”. leaving the stage while the pro- bombing, there has to be a cease- tional solidarity,” he said. are no technical obstacles to period — up almost 900. This cut they considered all options but Tatchell, a human rights cam- test continued. fi re, there has to be a political so- “He’s made no statements as delivering airdrops of food and the average speed across the city believed the closure of the west- paigner who has previously sup- Chakrabarti was heard telling lution in Syria,” the Labour leader far as we know in solidarity with medicine to Aleppo. What is to 17.4mph. bound slip road on to the Em- ported the Labour party, shouted the Labour leader “just let them said. He added in a question and civil societies in Syria. He’s not lacking is the political will. If we Critics said traffi c was now bankment was the safest and least over the party leader to demand do this”. Corbyn then asked the answer session after the speech: listening to their demands, he’s stay silent, if western politicians moving “as slow as a horse and damaging option. he do more to condemn the ac- shadow foreign secretary, Emily “We have condemned all bomb- not promoting their demands, refuse to take what actions are cart”, with average speeds in the The sewer is due to open in tions of Russia in the Syrian Thornberry: “When did we con- ing in Syria, including Russian which are very simple – a UN- available to them, then they are run-up to Christmas expected 2024. confl ict. As the protesters stood demn the bombing?” bombing, and continue to do so.” supervised ceasefi re, for the UN complicit in these massacres.” Hundreds ‘end lives after Santacon Corbyn told Labour heading for disaster being in police custody’ London Evening Standard places Stephen Phillips who quit London over “irreconcilable policy dif- ferences” with the government Guardian News and Media potentially leading to hundreds of There were also 83 people who on issues including the handling London deaths.” had been investigated over crimes eremy Corbyn was warned of Brexit. The Home Offi ce said that while of violence, 44 who had faced that the Labour party is Labour MP Vernon Coaker said the fi gures showed a slight fall in breach of the peace or criminal Jheading for “electoral disas- the focus on Brexit had damaged he human rights watchdog the past year, every death in or fol- damage allegations, and 38 who ter” after it slumped to fourth in Labour candidate Jim Clarke’s has called for the NHS to lowing police custody “represents had been detained on suspicion of the Sleaford and North Hykeham chances. “Clearly for us, this Ttake over the healthcare of a failure and has the potential to driving off ences. by-election. was not the result we might have people detained in police stations dramatically undermine the rela- The number of cases generally Labour fi nished behind Ukip hoped for,” said Coaker. “The after it found that 400 people had tionship between the police and rose over the period analysed by the and the LibDems despite coming challenge for us was because of killed themselves shortly after be- the communities they serve”. EHRC, but in 2015-16 dropped to second in the Lincolnshire seat at Brexit. Everything was about ing released from custody in Eng- The EHRC said it had launched the lowest level since 2011-12, from last year’s general election. Brexit. The messages about the land and Wales in the past seven the review because “considerably” 70 the previous year to 60. The full Veteran Labour MP David A&E, the NHS, the messages years. less attention was paid to those report, which also looked at deaths Winnick called the result “ap- about infrastructure, all of that The Equality and Human Rights who died in the “immediate after- following release from prison, will palling” and said the party lead- got lost to an extent in the swirl Commission (EHRC) said it had math” of detention compared with be released on Tuesday. er’s team were suff ering from a around Brexit.” unearthed “serious gaps” in the those who died while in custody. A Home Offi ce spokeswoman “bunker mentality”. Jess Phillips MP, who repre- care of people who had been in Data obtained by the watch- said: “Over recent years police Winnick, 83, added: “If we sents Birmingham Yardley, told custody. Almost all the deaths dog from the Independent Police forces have worked closely with were to continue in this way then the Radio 4 Today Programme happened within 48 hours of re- Complaints Commission (IPCC) NHS England to improve the qual- the indications are 2020 will be the party lacks clarity on its po- lease and around a third involved showed that among the 400 ity and provision of custody health an electoral disaster and the pos- sition on Brexit. people who had been arrested over deaths between April 2009 and services and build better local sibility of a Labour government She said: “The Labour Party allegations of sexual abuse. the end of March 2016, 128 peo- partnerships. very remote indeed.” needs to have a very, very clear David Isaac, chairman of the ple killed themselves after they “While the number of deaths The Conservatives held the position and for everybody to say group, said: “When the state de- had been arrested on suspicion of has fallen, we are not complacent, pro-Leave constituency with the same thing. At the moment tains people, it also has a very high sexual abuse. which is why we launched an inde- 17,570 votes — 53.5% — securing that just isn’t the case. level of responsibility to ensure The report said sex off enders, pendent review in 2015 to identify a comfortable majority of 13,000. “From the beginning of the they are safely rehabilitated back especially those who committed areas for improvement. The review Second-place Ukip’s vote campaign the Labour Party has into their communities, particu- off ences against children, were has consulted with the ECHR and share dropped by 2.2% to 13.5%, had so many diff ering positions, larly those who may be vulnerable. likely to feel “high levels of shame we will consider all of the fi ndings Revellers in costumes take part in Santacon, an annual while the LibDems surged past it’s not clear for people. And “Our report reveals a fractured and experience high levels of social in detail when the report is pub- walk in London yesterday. Labour, rising 5% to 3,606 votes. when people are putting a cross state of post-detention care that is exclusion”. lished.” New MP Caroline Johnson re- in a box, clarity is everything.” Gulf Times 20 Sunday, December 11, 2016 BRITAIN/IRELAND Restaurant critic AA Gill dies after short fi ght with cancer

Guardian News and Media terview last month – diagnosed informed of his death by editor us all. “Characteristically he has you will want to join me in sending ST magazine. Be dazzled one last disease, diagnosed in the summer, London only recently after family concerns Martin Ivens, who described the had the last word, writing an out- condolences to Nicola Formby and time.” Frank Fitzgibbon, editor of had spread, he wrote: “There is about his rapid weight loss – the celebrated critic – known to some standing article about coming to his children.” the Sunday Times’ Irish edition, barely a morsel of off al that is not writer said it prompted his suc- by his fi rst name Adrian – as “a gi- terms with his cancer in today’s Tim Shipman, political editor of added: “Sunday Times announces included. I have a trucker’s gut- he award-winning jour- cessful proposal to Nicola Formby, ant among journalists”. Sunday Times Magazine. the Sunday Times, wrote: “AA Gill, death of Adrian (AA) Gill: Editor buster, gimpy, malevolent, meaty, nalist and restaurant critic his partner of nearly a quarter of a In his memo to staff , Ivens said: “He was the heart and soul of the the writer who fi rst made me buy said he was ‘the heart and soul of malignancy.” TAA Gill has died at the age century. “It is with profound sadness that I paper. His wit was incomparable, the Sunday Times, the best of us the paper...a giant among journal- Gill, a father-of-four, also used of 62, just three weeks after he His death yesterday morn- must tell you that our much-loved his writing was dazzling and fear- for 30 years has died. Very sombre ists’.” the column to announce he was revealed that he had been diag- ing was confi rmed by the Sunday colleague Adrian Gill died yester- less, his intelligence was matched mood in the offi ce. Gill broke the news of his can- to marry Formby after 23 years to- nosed with “an embarrassment Times, for whom he was a long- day morning. Adrian was stoical by compassion. Adrian was a giant “If you loved AA Gill’s writ- cer in his regular Table Talk dining gether. It is not known whether he of cancer, the full English”. standing columnist. Friends and about his illness, but the sud- among journalists. He was also our ing, he has one fi nal, blisteringly column in the Sunday Times on was able to fulfi l his wish before he Revealing his illness in an in- colleagues on the newspaper were denness of his death has shocked friend. We will miss him. I know brilliant cover story in today’s November 20. Describing how the died.

Helping hand Lawyers seek to Concerns at launch new Brexit challenge Murdoch’s

Reuters Dublin bid to gain group of British and Irish lawyers are seeking to Achallenge Britain’s deci- sion to leave the European Un- ion in the Irish High Court to try to establish if Brexit can be reversed once divorce talks have Sky control been triggered. Prime Minister Theresa May Guardian News and Media Rupert Murdoch was followed ganisations and others who cared has said she wants to invoke Arti- London swiftly by her attempt to cancel about media plurality should join cle 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty by the Leveson phase 2 inquiry into together to object to the plans. the end of March, kicking off up to the News Corp hacking cover-up, The Labour MP Paul Far- two years of exit negotiations fol- ampaigners and politi- and then this takeover bid.” relly, a member of the culture, lowing the vote to leave in a refer- cians have raised con- Hacked Off was formed to rep- media and sport select com- endum last June. Ccerns over Rupert Mur- resent the many subjects of tabloid mittee both now and during the The lawyers hope the court doch’s latest attempt to gain full newspaper stories whose phone phone-hacking scandal, said: in Dublin will ask the European control of the satellite broadcast- messages were hacked by jour- “It looks like a business as usual Court of Justice, the EU’s highest er Sky, saying he must face a new nalists gathering information on for Rupert Murdoch, as though court, to determine whether Ar- “fi t and proper person test” and them. phone hacking never happened. ticle 50 can be revoked and also if competition investigation. Rebekah Brooks is back at the leaving the EU means that Britain It emerged on Friday that Mur- helm of News UK and now the automatically leaves the European doch’s 21st Century Fox fi lm and Murdochs have moved in on Sky.” Economic Area (EEA). television group had swooped Ed Miliband, the former La- The EEA is the trading club in with an £11.2bn off er to take bour leader, also waded in, with comprising the 28 EU states plus full control of the broadcaster, of two tweets posted shortly af- Norway, Iceland and Liechten- which it already owns 39%. ter news of the deal emerged on stein, three non-EU nations who Murdoch was previously forced Friday in which he accused the can access the bloc’s single market to abandon an attempt to take Prime Minister, Theresa May, of in return for applying its rules and full control in 2011 amid a public betraying her promise to stick up accepting the free movement of outcry over his businesses’ jour- for the public. EU citizens. nalistic practices after it emerged Owning Sky would give Fox, European Council president that journalists at the News of the Murdoch was previously whose cable networks include Donald Tusk has said that Britain World had hacked the phone of the forced to abandon an Fox News and FX, control of a might ultimately decide not to murdered teenager Milly Dowler. attempt to take full control pay-TV network spanning 22mn leave the EU and that if it unilater- Evan Harris, joint executive di- in 2011 amid a public households in Britain, Ireland, ally withdrew its request to leave rector of Hacked Off , said: “This outcry over his businesses’ Austria, Germany and Italy. before the two years were up, then bid will need to be checked by journalistic practices Some analysts wondered wheth- it could stay in the Union. Ofcom, not only on competition er there might be cause for an EU However in the fi nal judgement grounds but whether Rupert and Others were concerned over investigation into foreign owner- of a ruling last month that Arti- James Murdoch pass the ‘fi t and the political power that full con- ship. cle 50 cannot be triggered with- proper person’ test.” Murdoch trol of Sky would hand to Mur- Others, however, said the out parliament’s assent, Britain’s faced a similar such test during doch. The Labour MP and former change in circumstances since High Court said that once notice his failed bid for the company fi ve shadow culture secretary Chris the last attempted Sky takeover of leaving was given then it will years ago. Bryant said: “Have we in Britain could give Murdoch an easier “inevitably result in the complete Harris added: “Given recent learned nothing about hand- ride. Liberum analysts told Reu- withdrawal of the United King- revelations around e-mail dele- ing over the largest broadcaster ters that because News Corpora- dom”. tions that have emerged in court by value and the largest share tion had now separated from Fox That challenge is now in front papers, and the conviction of the of newspapers to a single indi- – which means the bidding fi rm of the Supreme Court. Murdoch ‘favourite’ Mazher Mah- vidual? The damage that does in no longer owns UK newspapers – The case proposed for the mood, it is clear that that question the end to our political system is and because there were no com- Dublin courts is being brought in can only answered by the Leveson immense. petition issues, the deal would Ireland because the lawyers say phase 2 inquiry, which was estab- “It’s a phenomenal concentra- face less opposition. the Irish government colluded lished to get to the truth of pre- tion of social and political power They also said the government in a breach of the EU Treaties by Tugs tow aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, out of Portsmouth harbour. HMS Illustrious was cisely these matters. and if we let it go through with- was keen to promote investment wrongly excluding Britain from decommissioned in 2014, and is due be replaced with HMS Queen Elizabeth, a new aircraft “It is surely more than a coin- out so much of a by your leave, in the wake of the Brexit vote and some EU council meetings after carrier still under construction and due to be operational in 2020. cidence that the prime minister’s we will rue the day. Again.” could present the deal as a sign of the referendum. secret meeting in New York with He suggested rival media or- confi dence in the economy. Stabbed teen had come to Farage slams Ukip’s UK for better life: friends ‘low-grade’ members Guardian News and Media Lower Slaughter said half-cut on London Twitter – that isn’t my fault any London Evening Standard and everyone wanted to leave. He Wembley when we (last) spoke.” more. I don’t have to go to eight- London came here for a better and more The pair lost touch in recent hour party executive meetings. peaceful life but he was still mur- years. “He was busy with his life igel Farage has said he “I don’t have to spend my life dered. It shows that you’re not and I was busy with mine,” the is relieved to no longer dealing with people I would nev- teenager fatally stabbed safe anywhere.” friend said. “After school and Nbe Ukip (UK Independ- er have a drink with, who I would outside a London halls of According to Khalid’s social college everything changed.” Po- ence Party ) leader because it never employ and who use me as Aresidence was a former media accounts, he left City of lice have urged witnesses to the had meant “having to deal with a vehicle for their own self-pro- child refugee who spent time in Westminster College two years killing in Victoria Road, at about low-grade people every day”, in motion. There are a lot of great the Calais Jungle camp, friends ago. It is believed he had been 6.30pm on December 1, to come an interview where he said his people in Ukip. The problem is said. staying with relatives in south forward. £85,000-a-year salary had left that Ukip has become a bit like Khalid Safi , 18, was attacked London while working for his Detective chief Inspector Sam him “poor” compared with his the other parties: people view it near the entrance to the Univer- family business until he could Price said: “There were a lot of City banker friends. as a means to get elected.” sity of the Arts London’s block in fi nd a fl at. people in the area of Victoria Speaking to the Telegraph, Farage said his years as Ukip Acton last week. He later died in Ahmadzai said: “He was like a Road at the time of the incident Farage said he now has global leader had meant he had sacri- hospital. brother to me — it’s a really emo- and, while we have spoken to ambitions beyond the Euroscep- fi ced much of his earning po- Friends said he had settled in tional time. Khalid was a lovely several people, I believe that not tic party, including negotiating tential. “I have no regrets about the UK about fi ve years ago af- guy who never had anything bad everyone has come forward at trade deals with the US presi- being poor,” he said of his MEP’s ter spending several weeks in in his heart. On the day he died this time.” dent-elect, Donald Trump, and salary. “I don’t drive smart cars, the camp. It housed thousands we spoke on the phone two hours A leading Calais refugee char- fi nding a solution to the Middle I don’t go on fancy holidays. All of migrants and refugees until it before. He was really happy and I ity called on better protection for East confl ict. my money has gone on my kids’ was demolished in October. was planning on coming to Lon- young refugees after they turn The MEP, who also hinted he education.” According to one friend, Kha- don to see him. My heart is just 18. Clare Moseley, founder of will attempt to make his eighth Farage, who was the fi rst Brit- lid had lived in London, Peter- broken.” Care4Calais, said: “Safeguard- bid for a seat in parliament despite ish politician to meet Trump af- borough and Birmingham with Another friend, who asked ing refugee children as they move seven unsuccessful runs, said he ter his election victory, said he foster parents. He had recently not to be named, said he met to adulthood in the UK is critical was happy to continue to be a pub- still hoped he could have a role to returned to the capital to work in Khalid in the Jungle camp be- for a smooth transition into UK lic face while Ukip’s new leader, play in the US-UK relationship. his uncle’s corner shop in Croy- fore they entered the UK. He society.” Paul Nuttall, ran the party. Downing Street has insisted he don. said: “It’s a big loss to us and the A woman aged 19 was arrest- “I am having a great time,” he would not have any formal role Akii Ahmadzai, 20, knew Kha- family. We came to this country ed in Redbridge on Wednesday said. “I am not having to deal whatsoever, despite the presi- lid for fi ve years. He said: “He together. He was a good friend on suspicion of conspiracy to with low-grade people every dent-elect tweeting that he be- moved to the UK from Afghani- and his hobbies were volleyball murder. She has been bailed to day. I am not responsible for lieved Farage should be the UK’s stan because it was a war zone and cricket. He was studying in return on a date in January. Farage: global ambitions what our branch secretary in next ambassador to Washington. Gulf Times Sunday, December 11, 2016 21 EUROPE

Turkey seeks 55 people suspected of financing Gulen Turkish authorities issued arrest warrants for 55 people, including businessmen, suspected of giving financial support to the network Italy president pledges of the US-based cleric Ankara accuses of orchestrating a failed military coup in July, broadcaster NTV said. The businessmen suspected of being linked to the cleric’s network allegedly carried large sums of cash, which they have to solve govt crisis fast called a “favour”, back and forth between Turkey, Tanzania, Reuters banking sector, with the coun- elections in spring. would support a new mandate Uganda, and Kazakhstan since Rome try’s third-largest lender, Monte Renzi, 41, resigned after a for Renzi, although a parliamen- 2014, NTV said. dei Paschi di Siena, likely to need bruising defeat in a referendum tary source said last week the PD Ankara accuses the cleric state intervention to avoid col- on constitutional reform on De- leader had ruled out returning to Fethullah Gulen of orchestrating talian President Sergio Mat- lapse. cember 4. offi ce. the July 15 coup bid, in which tarella has pledged to act “Our country needs a fully Any candidate will need back- Gentiloni is seen as a Renzi rogue soldiers commandeered Iquickly to solve a govern- competent government, quick- ing from his party, as it holds a loyalist who would be highly un- tanks, fighter jets and helicopters ment crisis prompted by Mat- ly,” Mattarella, a 75-year-old majority in both houses. likely to set his own, independ- to attack the parliament and teo Renzi’s resignation as prime former constitutional court The anti-establishment ent course. attempt to overthrow the minister, with all major parties judge, said after meeting offi - 5-Star Movement (M5S), which Three PD lawmakers said government. calling for elections as soon as cials from around 40 political polls a close second to the PD, Renzi wanted Gentiloni to over- Gulen, who has lived in self- possible. parties. demanded a national vote as see the writing of a new electoral imposed exile in Pennsylvania Before any vote can take place, Renzi’s Democratic Party soon as possible. law while the centre-left would since 1999, has denied however, Italy needs a new elec- (PD) pushed for the creation of a Silvio Berlusconi, a four-time hold primaries to decide who involvement and condemned the toral law. broad, cross-party coalition, but prime minister who leads the should lead the bloc into the coup. Foreign Minister Paolo Gen- most other parties were opposed centre-right Forza Italia (Go next elections. Police from the Istanbul tiloni appears to be in pole po- to such a government, the PD Italy!) party, also called for elec- Mattarella: Our country needs a fully competent government, Other possible contenders financial-crimes unit conducted sition to be nominated by Mat- Senate leader Luigi Zanda said tions, and said he would not quickly. for the prime minister’s job in- operations in 57 separate tarella sometime in the next 48 after meeting the head of state. support a grand coalition. cluded Economy Minister Pier addresses yesterday to root out hours to head the next govern- Mattarella must decide if “The diffi cult economic situ- low delays,” Berlusconi said. be declared illegitimate in Janu- Carlo Padoan, Transport Min- sympathisers of Gulen, NTV said. ment and oversee that reform. someone can lead the country to ation, continued high unem- All parties called for a new ary by the Constitutional Court. ister Graziano Delrio and Senate Authorities have detained some Gentiloni could potentially national elections scheduled for ployment, internal and external electoral law to be put in place to Interior Minister Angelino president Pietro Grasso. of the suspects in the operations, take offi ce next week and would 2018, or whether the next gov- threats to security, and diffi cult replace one that only applies to Alfano, head of a small centre- One PD source said an elec- while others are still being face an immediate crisis in the ernment will serve only until the relations with Europe do not al- the lower house and that could right group, said that his party tion would likely be held in June. sought, NTV said, adding that some were found to be using Bylock, a smartphone messaging app which Ankara says was used by Gulen’s adherents as a communication tool. Seven die in blast as Turkish ‘karate’ group members Bulgaria train derails seek asylum AFP railway tracks while searching Eleven Turkish nationals in a Sofia for survivors under the debris. martial arts group have applied The interior ministry said for asylum in Germany after about 200 people were in- police determined that they had even people were killed volved in the rescue eff orts. not come to take part in a karate and dozens were injured Aerial footage showed a tournament as they said, a police Syesterday when a freight massive plume of black smoke spokesman said yesterday. train carrying highly fl amma- rising over the village and The group numbered 14 on ble gas derailed and then ex- charred tankers scattered at arrival at Duesseldorf airport on ploded, devastating a village in the tracks by the station. a flight from Istanbul on Friday, northeastern Bulgaria. One whole block of houses but police determined during A blast ripped through the near the derailed tankers was checks that they were not going centre of the village of Hitrino, gutted and there was smother- to a tournament and suspected destroying a railway station, ing debris everywhere. one of their number was a people offi ces and dozens of houses By midday (1000 GMT), the smuggler. and sending plumes of black fi res which had raged since the “Two voluntarily flew back to smoke into the air, an AFP early hours had been put out, Turkey,” a spokesman for the photographer saw. and offi cials began evacuating federal police said, adding that The head of the Bulgaria’s residents as fi refi ghters and the suspected smuggler, who civil defence organisation, experts from the nearby Lukoil was Turkish, had been detained Nikolai Nikolov, said the death Neftochim oil refi nery pre- by police. toll had risen to seven. pared to pump out the remain- The remaining 11, compromising “We are no longer looking ing gas from the tankers. 10 adults and one child, had been for people in the rubble,” he Examining the damage, taken to a reception centre for said. Prime Minister Boyko Bori- asylum-seekers. Health Minister Petar Mosk- sov called for a day of national The police spokesman could not ov said 29 people had been mourning on Monday and ap- say on what grounds they sought hospitalised, nine of whom pealed for solidarity and blood asylum. An aerial view shows the wreckage of the train after it derailed and exploded in the northeastern Bulgarian village of Hitrino. were in a critical condition, donations to the hospitals and 23 others suff ered lesser treating the injured. injuries. Local residents said the fi re- Authorities have warned the fi ghters had been very slow to death toll may yet rise. arrive and many broke down Local environment inspec- in tears while recounting how tors said that except for fi ne their houses collapsed. France to extend state of emergency particles, air pollution in Accidents involving freight Hitrino late yesterday was be- trains are relatively frequent in low emergency levels as gas Bulgaria where railway tracks AFP 2015 – will be debated in parlia- has already been extended four tions” Cazeneuve said at a meet- marred by the three major Is- and carbon dioxide had been are obsolete and regularly loot- Paris ment on Tuesday before their ex- times. ing of the French cabinet, warn- lamist-inspired terror attacks dispersed by the wind. ed by thieves. pected approval by the Senate on France was also left in mourn- ing of the danger of those “who – against Charlie Hebdo satirical The freight train, which de- But fatalities are rare. Thursday. ing in July this year after a Tuni- want to strike at the heart of our magazine in January 2015, then railed while entering the sta- Investigators from the capi- he French government has “This electoral campaign peri- sian Islamist militant rammed a democratic values and republi- in Paris the following November tion, was hauling 20 tankers of tal Sofi a were dispatched at the announced plans to extend od, which naturally includes nu- truck through a crowd of Bastille can principles”. and in Nice. highly-fl ammable propylene scene to probe the causes of Ta national state of emer- merous public meetings and ral- Day revellers in the city of Nice, The extension until July 15 Cazeneuve, the former inte- gas as well as four containing the accident which occurred gency until after elections next lies, will also unfortunately incur killing 86 people. would also allow a new president rior minister who co-ordinated liquefi ed petroleum gas, a mix- as the train was en route from year, citing a heightened risk of an increased risk of attacks,” said France will hold presidential – incumbent Francois Hollande the introduction of the state of ture of propane and butane. the Black Sea city of Burgas to Islamist militant attacks coin- newly-appointed French Prime elections in April and May next is not seeking re-election – to emergency, took over as prime The last two tankers hit a neighbouring Romania. ciding with polls. Minister Bernard Cazeneuve. year, and legislative elections in assess security and prolong the minister on Tuesday after power line and exploded, with Stanko Stankov, head of The security measures – in The state of emergency – June. state of emergency if necessary, Manuel Valls stepped down to seven tankers full of propyl- train operator Bulmarket, said force since attacks in Paris that which gives police extended The state of emergency must Cazeneuve added. seek the Socialist nomination for ene going off the tracks, lo- his company only operated the killed 130 people in November powers of search and arrest – “encompass all electoral opera- Hollande’s tenure has been the presidency. cal police spokeswoman Assia engines, while the tankers were Yordannova said. owned by a Romanian fi rm. The blast occurred at 5.37am He said there were three (0337 GMT), causing devasta- drivers on board at the time, tion to a huge area of this small and all of them had survived. village which has a population Offi cials said investigators Nobel laureates of around thousand, located had spoken to all three. about 100km (60 miles) from Propylene is an extremely Varna, Bulgaria’s main port on fl ammable but non-toxic gas the Black Sea. which burns much hotter than accept prizes A passenger train was just propane butane. about to enter the station when On January 23, eight car- the accident happened. riages of another freight train AFP But literature prize laureate “All buildings within a radi- derailed at high speed while Stockholm Bob Dylan was not in attendance. us of 200m from the tracks are passing near the southwestern He declined, citing “pre-exist- ruined, burned down,” an AFP town of Dupnitsa. ing commitments” – a move that correspondent at the scene There were fi ve derailments ressed in tails and white created a stir in Sweden where it said. in both 2014 and 2015, with the ties, this year’s Nobel lau- was seen as a slight towards the He said fi refi ghters and res- causes varying from rocks on Dreates in medicine, eco- Swedish Academy, which awards cuers were working to cool off the tracks to parts looted from nomics, physics and chemistry the literature prize, and the No- the tankers scattered along the railway junctions. accepted their prizes at a gala bel Foundation. ceremony in Stockholm yester- Dylan, 75, is the fi rst singer- day, marked by the notable ab- songwriter to be awarded the Greek ferry strike ends after 8 days sence of the literature prize win- prestigious literature prize. ner, US music icon Bob Dylan. In his absence, American rock A nationwide strike by Greek ferry workers that led to supply Earlier in the day, the Nobel star Patti Smith performed Dy- shortages on a several islands ended yesterday after eight days, a Peace Prize was presented to Co- lan’s A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna union leader said. lombian President Juan Manuel Fall during the glitzy ceremony, There has been no ferry services from from Piraeus, near Athens, Santos for his bid to end a fi ve- stumbling after appearing to ei- Guests attend the 2016 Nobel Banquet at the Stockholm City Hall yesterday in Stockholm. and other Greek ports since December 2. decade confl ict with Marxist ther forget the lyrics or be over- Islands without airports were cut off for the duration of the strike. rebels Farc. come by nerves. According to the Nobel Foun- Kosterlitz were the fi rst called up and fi nally, British-American Ol- Farmers attacked dock workers at the Crete port of Heraklion late At the Stockholm ceremony, She apologised to the 1,500 dation, his prize should be pre- to accept their physics prize. iver Hart and Bengt Holmstrom on Friday, demanding that ships carrying their fruit and vegetables the nine laureates present re- guests and resumed singing after sented to him in person some- They were followed by an- of Finland accepted the award for be allowed to sail. ceived prizes from King Carl XVI warm applause. time in 2017, either in Sweden or other trio: France’s Jean-Pierre economics. Other islands had reported declining supplies of fuel and medicine. Gustaf, in a concert hall decked Dylan sent a thank-you speech abroad. Sauvage, Britain’s Fraser Stod- Each Nobel prize consists of The Panhellenic Seamen’s Union (PNO) said seafarers were with thousands of pink roses and to be read at a gala banquet later But the other 2016 laureates dart and Bernard Feringa of the a gold medal, a diploma and a objecting to stringent austerity measures imposed by the red amaryllis, all donated by the in the evening at Stockholm’s were on hand to collect their Netherlands for their award in cheque for 8mn Swedish kro- government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. Italian town of San Remo, where City Hall, attended by around prizes. chemistry. nor (€824,000, $871,000) to be The PNO said the workers were protesting tax hikes, changes to prize creator Alfred Nobel died 1,300 guests and the Swedish British trio David Thouless, Yoshinori Ohsumi of Japan shared if there is more than one their pensions, forced reductions in hours and pay, and widespread on December 10, 1896. royal family. Duncan Haldane and Michael then collected his medicine prize, laureate in the discipline. illegal employment. Gulf Times 22 Sunday, December 11, 2016 INDIA

Candle-light march to mark ‘World Human Rights Day’ Cashless foreigner allowed to eat free at Kerala eatery

IANS Munnar

all it a demonetisation pain eased by a fi ne ex- Cample of hospitality in the God’s Own Country. A 40-year-old foreigner ate at a restaurant here and didn’t pay because he was cashless. He was caught but let off because the eatery staff realised their guest had no other option. Khader Kunju, a restaurant owner here since 1989, said the incident occurred on Friday. Kunju told IANS that the tourist had before ordering food asked if the restaurant accepted credit cards. He was told the fa- cility wasn’t available. But he still “went and had lunch and after washing his hands, he ran away”, Kunju said. Members of National Human Rights and the Crime Control Organisation take part in candle-light march to mark the World Human Rights Day at the India-Pakistan Wagah border post in Amritsar yesterday. “He was caught by the hotel staff , but let off when he said he has money but there was no way he could withdraw it, as the ATM’s did not have cash.” Kunju said it was not a one-off incident of inconvenience faced by foreigners in Kerala after the central government announced on November 8 that it was spik- ing the country’s 86% — Rs 500 and 1,000 notes — of all curren- Major haul of currency, cy in circulation. “He was caught by the hotel staff , but let off when he said he has money but there was no way he could withdraw it, as the gold in Karnataka, TN ATM’s did not have cash” Authorities have seized town, offi cials said yesterday, operations,” said the offi cial. monetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 30 lakh in now spiked 500 notes Rs 96.89 crore cash in 500 and He said he also faced “similar Rs 5.7 crore in new 2,000 hours after Rs 24 crore, also in With about 50,000 population, notes,” the offi cial said. and Rs one crore in 100 and 50 1,000 rupee notes, and Rs 9.63 situation as many of my clients notes, Rs 90 lakh in old new notes, were recovered from Challakere is over 200km from Incriminating documents notes. The 7kg bullion in gold crore in new 2,000 currency are foreign tourists”. denomination and 32kg of a government contractor’s car Bengaluru. related to the illegal activities biscuits is valued at Rs 2 crore. along with gold weighing 127 kg The restaurant owner nar- gold and jewellery from a in Tamil Nadu. The tax department’s in- were also recovered during the In Tamil Nadu, the Income worth approximately Rs 36.29 rated an incident how a group of secret locker in a bathroom An offi cial in Bengaluru said vestigation wing searched the raids and sent for analysis and Tax department said Rs 24 crore crore. French tourists — four men and in a Karnataka town the recovery was made from a premises of casino operators investigations. was recovered on the third day The big fi sh is said to be Red- four women — walked into his hawala operator in a small town and bullion traders in Hubba- Searches continued till late of raids on three businessmen dy, from whose car the money eatery and said they were very IANS in central Karnataka on Friday. lli and Chitradurga districts of yesterday. — J. Shekhar Reddy, Srinivasalu was seized yesterday. He is a hungry and wanted to eat but Bengaluru/Chennai It included 28 kg of bullion the state following a tip-off that This is the second major haul and Prem. contractor and has executed had no cash. in gold biscuits, 4kg of gold and black money was being con- of currency and gold this month “We have seized cash valued works for the Tamil Nadu gov- “They said they have credit jewellery and Rs 90 lakh in 100 verted into white through laun- in Karnataka. On December 1, at Rs 24 crore in Vellore,” an IT ernment. cards, but since I don’t have a axmen have seized Rs 5.7 and 20 rupee notes dering and hoarding. tax sleuths seized Rs 6 crore in offi cial told IANS, adding the Reddy was also a Board Mem- swiping machine, I told them crore in new 2,000 notes, “They were found stashed in “When teams of sleuths cash and 7 kg gold from the resi- seized cash will be deposited ber of the Tirumala Tirupati they can have food and pay later.” TRs 90 lakh in old denom- a secret chamber of a bathroom searched 15 places in the two dences of two state government with the Reserve Bank of India. Devasthanam (TTD). Yesterday, However, the generosity came ination and 32 kg of gold and in the house of (the) hawala districts, (the) hawala operator engineers in Bengaluru. The Central Board of Direct the Andhra Pradesh government with a cost. jewellery from a secret locker operator at Challakere in Chi- was found converting old notes Of the Rs 6-crore cash haul, Taxes (CBDT) on Friday said removed him from the post fol- “Their total bill was Rs1,600. in a bathroom in a Karnataka tradurga district during search and hoarding bullion using de- Rs 4.7 crore were in Rs 2,000, Rs the IT department had seized lowing the raids and the seizure. A few days later the women came and paid their amount, but the men slipped away and have not paid as yet.” Kunju said he had never in his lifetime seen a situation like this. Sushma’s kidney transplant successful: AIIMS Koshy John, a tour guide, said he had a group of foreign tourists who landed on the day IANS an unrelated donor which was began at 9am and lasted till Centre of the hospital.The the demonetisation was an- New Delhi found almost a week after her 2.30pm The surgery of both, 64-year-old, who has been in nounced. daughter was turned down as a the donor and the recipient, and out of AIIMS for the last “The announcement proved potential donor by the doctors as went on for 90 minutes each. few months, was admitted to a nightmare,” John said. He said xternal Aff airs Minister she too was diabetic and suff er- A dedicated team of 50 medi- the hospital on November 7. his guests had exchanged their Sushma Swaraj yesterday ing from obesity. cal staff was required for the Swaraj on November 16 said currencies, hours before Prime Esuccessfully underwent a “The surgery was success- entire procedure. Several sen- in a tweet that she was admit- Minister Narendra Modi made scheduled kidney transplant at ful and both, the donor and the ior doctors were involved such ted to AIIMS because of a kid- the announcement. And most the All India Institute of Medical recipient, have recovered from as M Minz, V K Bansal and ney failure.According to Misra, of the time his guests spent Sciences (AIIMS) here and will the general anaesthesia now. Preet Mohinder Singh among Swaraj will take at least 7-10 were at “waiting in queues at need at least a week to recover, Both of them have been shifted others under the leadership of days to get discharged. banks”. the hospital’s Director MC Misra to ICU to be monitored as part Misra. “On behalf of the AIIMS “They left disappointed,” said said yesterday. of the post-operative proce- The three-hour surgery family we wish Sushma Swaraj John, adding there has been a During the surgery, Swaraj dure,” Misra said. was performed at the Cardio ji a very speedy recovery,” said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj successfully underwent drop in the number of foreign was transplanted a kidney of Misra said the procedure Thoracic and Neuro Sciences Misra. a kidney transplant at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. tourist arrivals. Prime Minister stresses need to adopt e-banking

IANS launched A-2 Kankrej breed cow promises as the chief minister want, but prepare people for Deesa, Gujarat conservation project. for 13 years and prime minister electronic banking, teach them He acknowledged the hard- for over two years and now had how to use it. It is the need of the ship the people were facing pushed the people into a major hour,” the prime minister said. rime Minister Narendra after the government scrapped crisis. He exhorted the people to shift Modi yesterday said peo- old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes Modi referred to the logjam to e-wallets and debit and credit Pple queuing up at banks but pointed out they were will- in Parliament over demonetisa- cards instead of spending time in and ATMs after demonetisation ing to do so in the larger fight tion and said the Opposition had standing in queues. were doing so for the larger good against black money and ter- brought the situation to such Later, in a surprise detour of the country in keeping with its rorism. a pass that President Pranab from his scheduled programme, tradition of selfl essness but also Assuring the people that the Mukherjee virtually pleaded the prime minister went to meet stressed that they should adopt situation would begin to nor- with them to let the houses his mother Hiraba at her resi- e-banking. malise after 50 days and even- function. dence in Raisan on the outskirts “In times of scarcity, the old tually be good for them, Modi “Though the government has of Gandhinagar. He spent nearly people in our country leave said: “Everyone would start agreed the Opposition is not let- 25 minutes with his mother, who something for the young and noticing and experiencing the ting me speak in Parliament over lives with his brother at Raisan near and dear ones even if they diff erence.” the issue. So I have to adopt this near Gandhinagar, before reach- have to undergo diffi culties. This Meanwhile, scores of Con- route (of addressing public gath- ing BJP state headquarters, Sri is our culture of selfl essness,” gress workers led by three leg- erings),” he said. Kamalam. Modi said while addressing a islators from north Gujarat, who “No opposition party whatso- This was Modi’s fi rst visit to large gathering here in north organised a chakkajam at three ever has asked me even once to Sri Kamalam after taking over Gujarat. locations on the Deesa-Patan roll back the decision of demon- as prime minister. He met par- He was here to inaugurate the highway, were rounded up by etisation. They have a problem liamentarians, legislators and Banaskantha District Co-oper- police. Legislators Govabhai only with the way it has been other party leaders in person. ative Dairy’s Rs 350 crore cheese Desai, Mahendrasinh Baraiya implemented.” It is believed that he discussed Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks at the inauguration of the Amul cheese and whey drying plant, in and whey powder plant. and Joitabhai Patel asserted “Criticise me as much as you party aff airs in Gujarat in view of Palanpur, Banaskantha, yesterday. The prime minister also that Modi had gone back on his want, in whatever ways you the assembly elections next year. Gulf Times Sunday, December 11, 2016 23 INDIA Ex-IAF chief Star power blames PMO for changed requirements

IANS CBI and the accused. The agency to do with the deal and the deci- New Delhi told the court that crucial infor- sion was taken collectively in in mation was collected from three consultation with then Defence countries —Italy, Switzerland Ministry, the Special Protection he changed specifi cation and Mauritius — via letters ro- Group and the PMO. of VVIP helicopters, es- gatory and the accused are re- The decision came during the Tpecially the reduced the quired to be confronted with it to tenure of Manmohan Singh but service ceiling were made under unearth the larger conspiracy in was axed in January 2013 when the advice of the Prime Minis- the deal. the corruption allegations sur- ter Offi ce, former IAF chief SP Telling the court that regular faced. Tyagi yesterday told a court, meetings were taking place be- The CBI told court that in Actress Shraddha Kapoor at a store launch in Mumbai. which sent him to the custody of tween senior offi cials of Agus- 1999, the government decided to the CBI until December 14 in the taWestland and SP Tyagi with phase out the old helicopters as Rs 3,767-crore AgustaWestland the help of Sanjeev Tyagi, the they were not fi t to reach high- helicopter deal case. CBI has alleged that a conspir- altitude areas, and the Defence “Then PMO advised to keep acy was hatched to reduce the Ministry in 2002 issued global the minimum mandatory re- service ceiling of the helicopters tenders for procuring new VVIP quirement of the service ceiling after which AgustaWestland be- helicopters in which 11 com- of the helicopters to 4,500 me- came eligible to supply a dozen panies participated including AIADMK offi cials urge tres (from the earlier 6,000 me- helicopters for VVIP fl ying du- AgustaWestland. tres),” Tyagi’s defence counsel N ties. However, AgustaWestland Hariharan told the court while It told the court that the words could not qualify for the short- opposing the Central Bureau of “at least twin engine” were in- listed companies as it could not Investigation’s plea seeking cus- serted in the amendment pro- meet the eligibility criteria. Sasikala to lead party todial interrogation of the ac- posal in 2005 for procuring VVIP “Therefore a conspiracy was cused. helicopters to bring AgustaWe- hatched by the accused person However putting aside the stland into the eligibility crite- to help AgustaWestland win IANS had a say in the selection of candidates in submissions, Metropolitan ria, adding that the changes were the chopper contract by mak- Chennai the elections and also in appointing others Magistrate Sujit Saurabh al- made deliberately as AgustaWe- ing change in the operational in party posts. lowed the CBI to quiz Tyagi, his stland helicopters had three requirements,” contended the On the negative side, the decision on the cousin Sanjeev Tyagi alias Julie engines and a service ceiling of CBI, saying Italian nation- ours after Tamil Nadu’s ruling AI- disproportionate assets case is yet to be de- Tyagi and Delhi-based lawyer 4,500 metres. als and middlemen Carlo Ge- ADMK said there is no rift or fi ght livered by the Supreme Court and if it goes Gautam Khaitan until De- Claiming innocence in the rosa and Guido Haschke were Hwithin the party for the powerful against her, then there will be a major set- cember 14 even as the agency case, the former IAF chief’s de- in constant touch with Tyagi’s post of General Secretary, a group of party back for the party. sought 10 days custody to un- fence counsel, Hariharan ap- cousin to infl uence the bidding, offi cials requested late leader Jayalalithaa’s Further with Panneerselvam belonging to earth the bribery charges, say- prised the court that it was a col- and also accessed crucial infor- confi dante V K Sasikala to take charge of the Thevar caste (Sasikala is also from Thevar ing a huge amount was routed lective decision to procure VVIP mation. party. caste) holding the chief minister post, other to India through various com- helicopters. The middlemen told Sanjeev “We had requested Sasikala to take dominant castes in the party may lay their panies. Denying the charges, he op- Tyagi that they enjoyed good charge of the party. Party leaders like E claim for the party post. “Considering the serious na- posed the request of custodial ties with Giuseppe Orsi and Madhusudhanan, party Presidium Chair- The other dominant caste groups in the ture of the allegation and gravity interrogation, saying that the Bruno Spagnolini, then CEOs of man, Valarmathi, K A Sengottaiyan, Saidai AIADMK are Goundar, Vanniyar, Nadar and of the matter, I am of the consid- probe agency had not given any the Italy-based Finmeccanica Duraisamy, and I met Sasikala and made Dalits. ered opinion that police custody specifi c and vital point for seek- and Britain-based AgustaWe- the request,” party spokesperson C R Sar- According to a political analyst, Jayala- of the accused is required for fair ing remand. stland, which is a subsidiary aswathi said. lithaa, being an Iyengar and also a great vote investigation,” said the magis- Countering the CBI allega- of the former, and could fi x the They met Sasikala at the Poes Garden catcher, was the binding factor that held the trate after a two-hour-long ar- tions, Tyagi said that, as IAF meeting with them, CBI dis- residence of Chief Minister and General party together all these years. gument between counsel of the chief 2004-2007, he had nothing closed. Secretary J Jayalalithaa who died here on Post Jayalalithaa, the party does not seem Monday due to cardiac arrest. to have a charismatic leader who can fetch This is the fi rst time since the death of Sasikala: taking control? votes. Jayalalithaa, party offi cials have openly Agreeing to this view, an AIADMK party gone and requested Sasikala to take charge. general secretary. But after her death there offi cial said the new person will have to ride “Senior functionaries of AIADMK urge is a possibility of two power centres emerg- on the popularity of Jayalalithaa until a time Govt to seek Bharat Ratna for Jaya Thirumathi Sasikala to lead the party on the ing and in the long run, the person who is reached when the individual becomes a path shown by Puratchi Thalaivi Amma,” controls the party will be the most power- leader. read a tweet in the AIADMK’s account. ful. Earlier, in the morning AIADMK spokes- IANS resolution to recommending to the central govern- According to party offi cials, Sasikala did AIADMK partymen said Chief Minister person C Ponnaiyan told reporters the party Chennai ment that she be conferred the country’s highest not comment on the requests made. O Panneerselvam will have the support of would soon elect a person to lead it and honour. The cabinet also decided request the Union Meanwhile a senior party offi cial said the grassroot cadres whereas party func- it would be a person who is liked by party government to install a brass statue of Jayalalithaa that though there can be others who may tionaries at the district level might support founder M G Ramachandran (MGR) or the he Tamil Nadu government yesterday decid- in the Parliament’s central hall. nurture the ambition of becoming the gen- Sasikala. late Jayalalithaa. ed to recommend to the Union government The other decisions taken at the cabinet meet- eral secretary, there will not be any contest Supporters of Sasikala point out that she “With over 1.5 crore members, AIADMK Tto confer the Bharat Ratna on late Chief Min- ing were to build a memorial for Jayalalithaa at an or showdown. was involved in the party aff airs assisting is like a banyan tree. The party is united and ister J Jayalalithaa. outlay of Rs 15 crore; rename Bharat Ratna Dr MGR “The matter would be amicable settled Jayalalithaa - and had been with her during cohesive. There is no infi ghting in the party A meeting of the state Cabinet, chaired by Chief (MG Ramachandran) memorial to Bharat Ratna and there will not be any contest,” he added. the latter’s tough times. for any post,” Ponnaiyan said. Minister O Panneerselvam, passed a condolence Dr Puratchi Thalaivar MGR and Puratchi Thalaivi When Jayalalithaa was alive, she held According to AIADMK offi cials, a good He said there was no void in the party and resolution on Jayalalithaa’s death, and also passed a Amma Selvi J Jayalalithaa memorial. both the posts of chief minister and party number of MLAs are loyal to Sasikala as she there was a second line of command.

Building collapse kills nine in Hyderabad Jagathy makes public appearance

Nine people died after an By Ashraf Padanna under-construction building Thiruvananthapuram collapsed in southern India but a four-year-old boy and his mother were pulled alive from the rubble, ctor Jagathy Sreekumar was police said yesterday. seen in the company of his The seven-storey building where Acolleagues at a cinema venue labourers and their families yesterday after a long gap since he lived in the basement came met with an accident and was con- crashing down late Thursday fi ned to his home nearly fi ve years in Hyderabad, the state capital back. of Telangana. “We can confirm Along with yesteryear heroine that the toll has gone up to nine. Sheela, he unveiled a visual instal- Rescue workers had managed to lation, Designer’s Attic portraying pull out a mother and her child Malayalam cinema’s journey so far alive yesterday (Friday),” a senior at the 21st edition of the prestigious police off icer said. “The debris International Film Festival of Kera- is still being removed,” he said, la that opened here on Friday. requesting anonymity. He listened patiently to speak- Emergency workers were using ers, smiling all through, and left mechanical diggers and other the venue later, wishing his elated Jagathy Sreekumar speaks to Sheela, as filmmaker IV Sasi looks on at the equipment to remove mangled fans and colleagues, as he has not IFFK venue. slabs of concrete and steel at the regained the ability to speak despite site, TV footage showed. extensive rehabilitation therapy at singer-director Balachandra Me- therapy to regain his faculties as- The mother and her child were Vellore. non, showed him enjoying a song . sisted by expert doctors at the Sree undergoing emergency treat- Besides Shyamaprasad, T V Jagathy, as he is popularly known, Chitra Institute of Medical Sci- ment at a hospital while three Chandran and P T Kunhumoham- was admitted to the Malabar Insti- ences. more people remained unac- ed, the audience included leading tute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) The wheelchair-bound actor counted for, the off icer added. directors of commercially success- in Kozhikode, after the midnight still cannot move independently The state government has ful movies like Siby Malayil, Kamal, accident on the national highway though he has made considerable promised tough action against B Unnikrishnan and Lal Jose. near the Calicut University. He un- improvements. the building owner for alleged The 64-year-old actor of more derwent multiple surgeries. He was part of the winning for- violation of construction rules as than 1,500 fi lms met with the acci- He was later shifted to the Chris- mula of the popular Malayalam fi lms well as civic off icials for derelic- dent near Kozhikode on March 10, tian Medical College in Vellore in at the time of the accident, shuttling tion of duty, the Press Trust of 2012, and he has not regained his Tamil Nadu where he was admit- from one location to another. India news agency reported. faculties since then, even after pro- ted for rehabilitation therapy af- In 2011 alone, of the 70 Malay- Deadly accidents at building sites longed treatment for brain injuries. ter a month-long treatment at the alam fi lms that were released, he are relatively common in India He however, recognises people and MIMS. acted in 24. Television channels use and are often blamed on a lack of enjoys music. He was brought home from Vel- his fi lm clippings to improve their safety measures. Recently, a video posted on Face- lore in March 2013 and has since ratings as he remains hugely popu- book by his longtime friend, actor- then been undergoing continued lar as a comedian. Gulf Times 24 Sunday, December 11, 2016 LATIN AMERICA Mexico quietly marks 10 years of war against drug cartels

AFP President Enrique Pena Nieto, The administration has no Calderon’s six-year term was surpassing last year’s 12-month Leyva, Zetas, Gulf and Knights ised the population by leaving Mexico City who inherited the drug war when events planned to commemorate marked by a surge in murders, total of 17,034. Templar has led to the emergence the decapitated bodies of their he took offi ce in December 2012, the controversial deployment rising from 10,253 in 2007 to a Much of the bloodshed is of smaller gangs that seek to di- rivals on roadsides or hanging has promised his countrymen that was launched by his pred- peak of 22,852 in 2011. blamed on ultra-violent turf versify their business through them on bridges, while mass en years after Mexican and women a “Mexico in peace.” ecessor, Felipe Calderon, on De- The fi gure dropped in the fi rst wars between drug gangs. kidnappings and extortion. graves are regularly found in the troops were unleashed His government has created a cember 11, 2006. two years of Pena Nieto’s presi- The government has captured “The war has become much countryside. Tagainst drug cartels, the new federal police force and im- Ten days after taking offi ce, dency, only to rise again in 2015. major fugitives, such as the Si- more complex. The level of death Police have been accused of country will mark the anniver- prisoned or killed several drug Calderon deployed some 5,000 Although murders remain naloa drug cartel’s powerful has escalated,” Raul Benitez Ma- colluding with criminals while sary without fanfare today, with kingpins, but Pena Nieto has kept troops to his western home state well under the worst years of leader, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guz- naut, a security expert at the Na- soldiers and marines have faced murders rising again and the troops on the ground despite al- of Michoacan — the start of a Calderon’s presidency, there man. tional Autonomous University of allegations of committing tor- military eager to return to bar- legations of abuses and criticism militarised campaign against were 17,063 homicides in the But the weakening of major Mexico, said. ture, extrajudicial killings and racks. from human rights groups. drug traffi cking. fi rst 10 months of 2016, already drug cartels such as the Beltran The drug cartels have terror- sexual abuse. 200 Venezuela stores forced to off er goods at discounts

AFP is pure populism,” a furious Viei- Caracas ra said in the back room of the store, which he opened in 1995. “If we keep going at this rate, I’ll ver since Venezuelan gov- run out of shoes this month. I’m ernment agents put up a gi- about to go bankrupt and close.” Eant “Sale” sign in his store- Vieira, 54, already lost one shoe front, crowds have been lining up store in 2010, when the govern- outside Juan Vieira’s shoe shop. ment of Maduro’s late mentor, But he’s having a hard time Hugo Chavez, expropriated the getting into the Christmas spirit. building where it was located. “What good is it to sell shoes Many customers are thrilled if I’m giving away my product?” with the sales, however. “This is Stuck in a nasty economic cri- the best thing the government sis, Venezuela is facing a Scrooge- could have done this year because worthy Christmas this year. you have to give up eating just to The world’s highest infl ation buy yourself a shirt,” said Yaroski rate has gutted Venezuelans’ Mendoza, a 19-year-old cook incomes and chronic shortages waiting in line to buy a shirt, her have left them struggling to buy baby in her arms. Getting to the Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos presents his Nobel Peace Prize as Norwegian Nobel Committee member Berit Reiss-Andersen applauds during the award food, let alone presents. discounts means standing in long ceremony of the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway, yesterday. Seeking to spread some cheer, lines, but Venezuelans are used to President Nicolas Maduro’s so- that. They regularly wait hours to cialist government has set aside buy groceries. its distaste for consumerism and “We have to take advantage of sent a small army of bureaucrats this opportunity. Venezuelans and soldiers to force more than like sporting new clothes for 200 retail stores in Caracas to Christmas or New Year’s Eve,” hold Christmas sales. said Isaac Quintero, a 28-year- “Our worker-president has old offi ce worker. Santos accepts Nobel ordered us to guarantee fair But some shoppers feel guilty prices for the people, and we are over the stores’ plight. “They’re complying. These economic hit- practically giving their products men can’t take away our merry away.(The government) is mak- Christmas,” said William Con- ing them go broke for no rea- treras, head of the National Su- son,” said Anis Rodriguez, 50, a perintendency for the Defence housewife shopping at a store prize ‘for all Colombians’ of Socioeconomic Rights, known where T-shirts were selling for by the acronym Sundde. less than half the usual price. DPA its initial rejection in a plebi- More than 220,000 were without sacrifi cing peace,” he a church in his home town, Bo- The government accuses the The T-shirt business was “de- Stockholm scite. killed in the confl ict with the said. jay, killing almost 80 people. owners of the targeted stores stroyed” when the forced sale was Santos underlined that the Farc rebels. In his remarks he outlined In his speech, Santos referred of jacking up prices by 300% to imposed, said the manager, Mary, October 7 award announce- “It proves that what, at fi rst, challenges ahead, including to 1982 Colombian Nobel Lit- 500%. But Vieira and other own- who asked that her last name not he peace agreement in ment, just four days after the seems impossible, through per- tackling drug traffi cking that erature Prize laureate Gabriel ers deny that, saying the man- be used for fear of reprisals. Colombia ending a more plebiscite result, “was the tail- severance may become possible partly fuelled Farc’s war, clear- Garcia Marquez and several datory markdowns are pushing She said the agents who Tthan half-century long wind that helped us to reach even in Syria or Yemen or South ing landmines and changing the former peace prize laureates as them to the brink of bankruptcy. swooped on the store were “very confl ict was “a ray of hope” in our destination — the port of Sudan,” he added. mindset in the country through well as this year’s Nobel Litera- In the capital’s historic centre rude” and did not even both- a troubled world, Colombian peace!” Santos also dedicated the education. ture Laureate Bob Dylan. where Vieira keeps shop, most er looking at the records she President Juan Manuel Santos The revised agreement that award to the negotiators — from Several victims of the over Earlier, the Norwegian Nobel storefronts carry signs sport- showed them documenting the said yesterday on accepting the was recently passed by the Co- the government as well as Farc 50-year long confl ict were Committee said Santos was “a ing the government’s seal and store’s pricing practices. 2016 Nobel Peace Prize. lombian Congress meant that — who participated in talks in present at yesterday’s award driving force throughout this advertising “Sundde sales” or a “Our orders come from high Speaking in the Norwegian “the American continent — Cuba that ran for several years, ceremony, including former peace process.” “30% Sundde discount.” up,” she said they told her. “This capital of Oslo, Santos said his from Alaska to Patagonia — is as well as members of the armed presidential candidate Ingrid The peace prize is one of the The discount is always 30% — is a smoke bomb,” Mary added. country and its nearly 50mn a land in peace,” he said at Oslo forces, and the international Betancourt, who was held hos- awards endowed by Swedish the maximum amount of profi t “Since there’s nothing in this people “are turning the impos- City Hall. community. tage for six years until 2008 by industrialist Alfred Nobel, the stores are allowed to make under country, they have to distract sible into the possible” referring In his speech, Santos said A likely legacy from the Co- Farc. inventor of dynamite. In accord- a 2014 law. people with something.” She to the recent peace deal between he accepted the award on be- lombia peace process was the Another was Leyner Palacios ance with Nobel’s will, the peace Two soldiers guard the en- fears losing her job because her the state and the Revolution- half of the Colombian people “agreement on a model of tran- who lost 32 relatives including prize is handed out in Oslo. trance to Vieira’s store, allowing boss has vowed to shut the store ary Armed Forces of Colombia and, most importantly, the sitional justice that enables us his parents and three brothers Each prize is worth 8mn customers in two at a time. “This if the mandatory sale continues. (Farc), which succeeded despite victims. to secure a maximum justice in a Farc mortar attack 2002 on Swedish kronor ($930,000). US court jails Colombian Rousseff speech Temer ‘linked to over drugs smuggling illegal cash transfers’ Reuters ceived indications from PMDB Sao Paulo politicians who took part in Reuters linking individuals tied to the cians and members of the Ven- their meetings that the com- New York Venezuelan government to drug ezuelan military. pany would be favoured in traffi cking. At a Venezuelan runway in former director of Bra- votes in Congress that aff ected The US state department has 2010, Farc members provided zilian engineering fi rm the engineering group. Colombian butcher ac- called Venezuela a preferred security as Viafara-Mina worked AOdebrecht SA told pros- Reuters was not able to veri- cused of working with route to traffi c cocaine from with others to send more than ecutors that the company made fy the report. Temer’s press of- Amembers of the Ven- South America onward due to, 1,650 pounds (750kg) of cocaine several illegal contributions fi ce released a statement deny- ezuelan military to facilitate among other things, a porous to Honduras for transshipment to politicians from the ruling ing the accusations. shipments of massive loads of border with Colombia and a to the US, prosecutors said. PMDB party including Presi- cocaine from South America to “permissive and corrupt envi- In 2011, Viafara-Mina spoke dent Michel Temer, according If prosecutors prove the the US has been sentenced to fi ve ronment.” about securing the release from to a report aired by Globo TV. accusations, Temer could years in a US prison. According to his lawyers, in the Venezuelan military of a If prosecutors prove the ac- face an impeachment Gersain Viafara-Mina, 50, 2008, Viafara-Mina was asked US-registered aircraft seized in cusations, Temer could face an trial that could destabilise wept as US district judge Andrew to move to Venezuela by a drug an anti-narcotics operation, the impeachment trial that could his six-month-old Carter in Manhattan imposed the traffi cker he met through the prosecutors added. destabilise his six-month-old government maximum sentence he faced after Colombian rebel group Farc, In 2015, Viafara-Mina told a government, which already lost pleading guilty in August to par- which US US Drug Enforcement Admin- several ministers after similar “The donations made by ticipating in a conspiracy to im- authorities have accused of istration informant he had Ven- accusations from other con- Odebrecht to PMDB were all port cocaine into the US. being signifi cantly involved in ezuelan military associates who struction fi rms embroiled in through bank transfers and His lawyers called Viafara- the drug trade. could provide transponder codes wide-ranging corruption probe. were declared to the electoral Mina a decent man who only Once there, Viafara-Mina be- that would allow drug planes to Claudio Melo Filho, a former court,” the statement said. participated in the drug scheme gan a new butcher business and operate in Venezuelan airspace, institutional relations director Besides Temer, the director to support his family and escape started a family while also main- according to the prosecutors. at Odebrecht, said according said several key ministers in guerrilla-controlled territory. taining airfi elds the drug traf- Viafara-Mina is expected to to the report, that he took part the government also received But Carter cited the size of the fi cker used, his lawyers said in receive credit for the time he has in a dinner at Temer’s offi cial donations. drug-traffi cking operation in court papers. already spent in custody since residency in Brasília in 2014 Melo Filho is just one of imposing sentence. “I am con- Prosecutors said that for at his arrest in Colombia in Febru- where company executives more than 70 executives from cerned about the scope of crimi- least fi ve years, Viafara-Mina fa- ary 2015. agreed to transfer 10mn reais Odebrecht, including the nal conduct that he engaged in,” cilitated the dispatch of cocaine He apologised in court saying Former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff speaks during the ($2.95mn) to fi nance PMDB former chief executive of- Carter said. shipments from clandestine he was only trying to support conference “The Political Struggle in Latin America Today”, campaigns that year. fi cer Marcelo Odebrecht, who The sentencing came amid airstrips by co-ordinating with himself and his family. “I did in Sao Paulo. The director said he and agreed to a plea deal with the a series of US cases and probes other drug traffi ckers, politi- that in order to eat,” he said. other Odebrecht offi cials re- justice department last week. Gulf Times Sunday, December 11, 2016 25 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

Pakistan’s fi rst female bomb disposal offi cer undergoes training

Internews part of the training,” she told Currently, she is enrolled in a women to serve the country. dent. “She is talented, bold and Islamabad DawnNews, adding that her eyes Bachelors of Law programme. “I never imagined that I was hard-working,” he remarked, were on a long-term goal — to “There are plenty of jobs out going to end up making history adding that her ability to learn serve the country by saving pre- there, but this one requires a spe- on such a scale,” she said. new skills was sharp and her ecked out in her hefty cious lives. cial kind of courage,” she said, Filled with pride, SP Niaz, the passion for the job commend- gear, Rafi a Qaseem Baig Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bomb stressing that her faith in Allah is principal of the school, feels that able. Dis carrying more than just Disposal Unit (BDU) has defused central to her career choice. Rafi a’s presence at the academy Rafi a was inducted into the a bombproof vest on her young, over 6,000 bombs since 2009. “Women are playing a role in is going to encourage the police police force seven years ago as ambitious shoulders. The bomb disposal offi cers every fi eld, including air force, force to perform to the best of its a constable — a time when ter- At 29, she is on her way to be- have an extremely tricky job on army, police and administration. abilities. rorism was at its peak in Khyber coming Pakistan’s fi rst bomb their hands. Then why not in the Bomb Dis- “Defusing a bomb is not a dif- Pakhtunkhwa. disposal offi cer. A minor error can be fatal. posal Unit,” she wondered. fi cult job, but it needs courage,” The people in KP and the trib- She was the only woman Zahid, a bomb disposal of- But she is realistic enough to he said. al areas often fi nd themselves among 31 police offi cials selected fi cer, recalled a nightmarish admit that “it’s a challenging “We are looking next at get- caught in the crossfi re between for an elementary course, the experience of Oct 25: “As I was job”. ting a whole batch of women militants and the security forces. Explosive Ordnance Disposal defusing a bomb by placing a Embedded in Rafi a’s pursuit to trainees at the bomb disposal Bombs targeting civilians have (EOD), in Nowshera — a pro- stick close to it, someone from be a BDU offi cer is a message to academy,” added the SP. been a regular feature in this gramme centred on handling and the crowd pressed the button to militants. Rafi a, too, gave out a message confl ict. defusing explosives. trigger the explosives.” Luckily, “I am not only representing to her female colleagues, “Come Bomb disposal units have During the two-week course, Zahid escaped unhurt. women or the police force. I am and be a part of the Bomb Dis- played a vital role in nullifying the trainees will learn all about A constable of KP police, Rafi a representing the Pakistani na- posal Unit.” terror attacks in the province. explosives and the mechanism has not one, but two Masters de- tion,” she proudly said. Rafi a’s instructor, inspector On Sept 23, a three-kilogram behind defusing them. grees in economics and interna- Rafi a is happy to have opened Shafi q, has only positive things bomb was defused at Peshawar’s “I am extremely happy to be tional relations. up a new door for Pakistani to say about his fi rst female stu- crowded Bacha Khan square. Rafia Qaseem Baig Pakistan’s biggest port US Congress approves aid starts test operations for Pakistan Internews This indicated that the port Karachi may play a major role in the Chi- Internews Shakil Afridi is an interna- na-Pakistan Economic Corridor Islamabad tional hero and that the gov- (CPEC), the sources added. ernment of Pakistan should akistan Deep Water Con- Under the fi rst phase of devel- release him immediately from tainer Port (PDWCP), the opment, the terminal operator, oth chambers of the Unit- prison”. Pcountry’s biggest port, South Asia Pakistan Terminals ed States Congress have Dr Afridi led US forces to started test operations yesterday (SAPT), has constructed berths Bfi nally passed the 2017 the compound where Al Qaeda by accommodating the fi rst con- No 3 and 4 while berths No 1 and National Defence Authorisation leader Osama bin Laden was tainer ship, APL Japan. 2 would be taken up for comple- Act, which includes $1.1bn for hiding and is regarded in the Offi cial sources said the vessel tion under the second phase. reimbursing the nations sup- Western world, particularly in took alongside berth No 4 of the A spokesman for SAPT, owned porting US military operations the US, as an international hero. port at 3pm for loading around and operated by Hutchison Ports in Afghanistan. Passed by the Senate by 92 to 1,000 twenty-foot equivalent of Hong Kong, said it has invest- The largest chunk from this seven votes on Thursday and by units (TEUs) of export cargo. ed around $600mn. amount, $900mn, is available the House of Representatives by However, the vessel having a The terminal operator has al- for reimbursement to Pakistan 375 to 34 votes last week, the bill draft of 12 metres and an overall ready brought in equipment, in- but almost half of it, $400mn, now goes to the White House for length of 262 metres is a small cluding fi ve ship-to-shore gan- has been put out of its reach. President Barack Obama to sign vessel for a big port like the PD- try cranes. To get those $400mn, Pa- it into law. WCP, which has a designed draft Besides, the terminal operator kistan will have to get a ‘good The act imposes four con- of 18 metres and operational has also completed three build- conduct’ certifi cate from the ditions on Pakistan to qualify draft of 16 metres. ing blocks to be used for admin- US defence secretary. to receive assistance from the The port, located at Keamari istration, customs and canteen. Like a schoolmaster waiv- restricted amount: groyne east of Karachi Port, has the The port, located at Keamari groyne east of Karachi Port, has the capacity to handle mother ships. A power station with a gen- ing the punishment given to a The US defence secretary capacity to handle mother ships. eration capacity of 28 megawatts student, the defence secretary needs to certify to the Con- The APL Japan first called WCP, sources said. would be inaugurated by Prime rience and check possible fl aws. is also ready. will have to certify that Paki- gress that Pakistan continues at Karachi International Con- Sources said that keeping in Minister Nawaz Sharif in the The vessel came from Jebel The port has the capacity to stan is “taking demonstrable” to conduct military operations tainer Terminal, West Wharf view safety factors in mind, a third week of January. Ali, a deep port located in Du- handle 3.1mn TEUs a year and steps against the Haqqani net- that are signifi cantly disrupt- Karachi Port, and unloaded small vessel has been deliber- Moreover, using a smaller ves- bai, and was to leave yesterday have a storage yard to accom- work of Afghan militants. ing the safe haven and freedom containers of import cargo ately selected for test operations. sel also provided an opportunity for China via Colombo Port, Sri modate 550,000 TEUs a year, The measures also include of movement of the Haqqani and later shifted to the PD- They hoped that the PDWCP to the terminal operator to expe- Lanka. sources said. a “sense of Congress that Dr network in Pakistan.

Anti-terror police offi cer shot dead Overseas Pakistanis’ remittances increased 3.27% last month An anti-terror police off icer “Riaz Ul Islam was taken to was shot dead by unidentified hospital but he succumbed gunmen on a motorbike in to his injuries before reaching Internews cording to data released by the same period of the preceding have shown gradual increase gered by low oil prices that have Pakistan’s northwestern city there,” Khan said, adding that Karachi State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) year. in remittances. forced crude- dependent econo- of Peshawar yesterday, police Islam’s son was wounded in yesterday. After a shocking fall of over Pakistan received $1.5bn in mies to cut down on spending. said. the attack. However, total remittances 20% in the month of July 2016, October 2016, slightly up by Remittances play a major role Riaz Ul Islam was walking Islam was a deputy verseas Pakistanis remit- received by Pakistan during the fl ow of remittances into the 1.2% compared to October 2015. in stabilising the country’s ex- with his son to a mosque near superintendent of police ted $1,616mn in Novem- the first five months (Jul-Nov country has remained relatively Like many other developing ternal sector, as they make up his home when he was shot, in the city’s Counter Ober 2016, up a meagre 2016) amounted to $7,874mn, stable. countries, Pakistan’s remittances almost half the import bill and Mohamed Sajjad Khan, a Terrorism Department, 3.27% compared with the same down 2.45% compared with Moreover, the months of have come under pressure due to cover defi cit in the trade of goods senior police off icial said. Khan said. month of the previous year, ac- $8,072mn received during the October and November 2016 a global economic slowdown trig- account. Female Afghan cyclists push boundaries one wheelie at a time

Reuters Kabul

rushing aside suicide bombings and public Bscorn, the young women of Afghanistan’s fi rst freestyle cycling club hope their pop-a- wheelies, bunnyhops and back- fl ips will trailblaze a new path for future generations in this con- servative nation. Fifteen women, mainly teen- agers, are among 50 members of the small Kabul club, established two months ago to help keep young Afghans away from drugs, petty crime and violence. “Most of the time people are harassing us because they see girls cycling as a bad thing,” said Zahra Ronna, 18, wearing a black Nike hat on her red and white bicycle. “We are tired of war and we want to practise new things in our lives,” she told Reuters Tel- evision. Under the Taliban in the 1990s, women in Afghani- stan were banned from going to Afghan young cyclists prepare themselves before an exercise in Kabul. A young Afghan cyclist performs with a bicycle during an exercise on the outskirts of Kabul. school or stepping outside their home without a male family persists and they remain under- Ronna and other cyclists gather The club’s founder, Asghar ernment and international aid out and do this sport,” said Me- the past year due to a resurgent member. represented in politics. three times a week at a concrete Mehrzada, said the group is at- groups will help fund its expan- hrzada, a civil society activist Taliban. Women’s rights have made “We ask people to set their playground in the capital, using tracting a lot of interest from sion with better bicycles and fa- when he is not on his bike. “There are lots of problems in gains since the hardline Islamist girls free so they can achieve metal tables, wooden crates and young Afghans, who pay a mem- cilities. For Fatima Mahdawi, another this country we live in,” she said. group’s ouster in 2001, but ob- their goals and liberty. Women boxes to perfect stunts they have bership fee of 400 afghanis ($6) “The big challenge that we female cyclist, the club off ers a “But whenever I come to the servers worry that progress is at are not only supposed to work at seen performed on YouTube, Fa- per month. face is insecurity. We are not much-needed escape from vio- club, it gives me huge energy and risk as violence against women home,” Ronna said. cebook and other social media. He hopes the Afghan gov- confi dent of the security to go lence, which has worsened over joy. I feel like I’m fl ying.” Gulf Times 26 Sunday, December 11, 2016 PHILIPPINES

Protest against extrajudicial killings Joblessness at lowest in nine years: survey

By Catherine S Valente Manila Times

he number of Filipinos who did not have a job in Tthe third quarter of 2016 declined to the lowest point in close to nine years, according to the latest Social Weather Sta- tions (SWS) poll. The results of the survey, which was fi rst published in BusinessWorld, showed that the jobless rate fell to 18.4%, equiva- lent to 8.2mn adults without jobs. This was 3.3 percentage points less than the 21.7% or about 10mn jobless adults recorded in the second quarter survey re- leased in June, and the best since December 2007’s 17.5%. The SWS poll involves “the population of adults in the la- bour force.” Those who have a job at present, and those without a job at present and looking for a job, are part of the labour force, the survey group explained. In the third quarter, 8% or an Catholic nuns hold placards as they protest against what organisers say are drug-related extrajudicial killings, during the International Human Rights Day in Manila yesterday. estimated 3.6mn adults involun- tarily left their jobs, while 7.4% or an estimated 3.3mn adults lost their jobs due to economic circumstances beyond their control. Also, 1.4mn adults or 3.1% of the respondents were fi rst-time job seekers. SWS noted that 72% of the adult population or 44.7mn Davao hitman fi les complaint adults were in the labour force, 2.1 percentage points less than June’s 74.1% or an estimated 46mn adults. The SWS results showed that net optimism on job availabil- ity soared to a “very high” +31. against Duterte over deaths This was an 8-percentage-point increase from April’s “high” of By Ma Reina Leanne Tolentino onisio Abude; then-police sen- Matobato alleged that Du- City on Friday, said she had yet ated the president’s immunity +23. Manila Times ior superintendents Rey Capote terte was the “highest leader” of to read the complaint. from suit. “It is noteworthy to The same survey found that and Tony Rivera, then-colonel the group and that Lascanas and When asked if she would in- mention that the Ombudsman 44% of Filipino adults were opti- Isidero Florivel, then-police Buenaventura were the right- hibit from investigating the cannot discipline or remove mistic that the number of avail- elf-confessed hitman chief inspectors Jacy Francia, hand men. president, the Ombudsman impeachable offi cials, which in- able jobs in the next 12 months Edgar Matobato has fi led Fulgencio Pavo, and Ronald Lao. The affi davit also detailed said: “I will see, I will look at the clude the president. He enjoys would increase, while 28% said Sa complaint at the Of- It also includes then-senior po- how the alleged killings were case.” immunity while in offi ce,” she there would be no change in job fi ce of the Ombudsman against lice offi cers Arthur Lascañas, carried out, and enumerated the Morales is related to the hus- said. availability. President Rodrigo Duterte and Sanson Buenaventura, Bienve- names of victims. band of the president’s daugh- Banaag said the Palace could Thirteen percent said the his son Davao City Vice Mayor nido Laud, Jim Tan, Reynante According to Matobato, the ter, Davao City Mayor Sara Du- not comment further on an on- number of jobs would decrease. Paolo Duterte, Philippine Na- Medina, Bienvenido Furog, DDS usually abducted and terte-Carpio. going case.But she added: “the The survey, conducted from tional Police (PNP) chief Ronald Vivencio Jumawan, Rizalino strangled victims, chopped the Malacanang on Friday brand- Ombudsman already termi- September 24 to 27, involved de la Rosa and several others in Aquino, Enrique de los Reyes Edgar Matobato: bold step bodies and buried the remains ed as “harassment” the com- nated an earlier investigation face-to-face interviews of 1,200 connection with alleged killings Ayao, Donito Ubales, Jun Lares- in dumping grounds. plaint fi led by Matobato against on the Davao Death Squad case adults nationwide. conducted by the “Davao Death ma, and Jun Bisnar; and retired who were part of the DDS. It He claimed the group killed President Duterte. which linked then Davao City It had sampling error margins Squad” (DDS). police offi cer Arnold Dechavez, carries out extrajudicial killings over 1,000 people from 1988 “The complaint is noth- Mayor Duterte.” of plus or minus three percent- Matobato, whom Duterte’s Ludy Pagidupon, Jojo Bosa, or killings of suspected crimi- until he left it in 2013. “When I ing but harassment aimed at Asked about a January 2016 age points for national per- arch-nemesis Sen. Leila de Romel Capitana, “Intsik” Tan nals such as hold-uppers, rap- decided to leave the DDS in Sep- distracting the Chief Execu- letter sent to the Commission centages and plus or minus six Lima presented before a Senate and Boboy Maldito. ists, snatchers, drug pushers, tember 2013, I was tortured,” tive from performing his duty,” on Human Rights by the Of- percentage points for regional inquiry in September, accused Matobato alleged that in drug addicts and other individ- Matobato alleged. Presidential Communications fi ce of the Ombudsman, which percentages. 28 respondents of murder, kid- 1988, then-Davao City mayor uals on Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s He said he fi led the com- Assistant Secretary Ana Marie stated that the investigations The SWS classifi es net opti- napping, murder with kidnap- Rodrigo Duterte formed and orders,” he said. plaint so that the Ombudsman Banaag said in a statement. into the DDS had been closed mism on job availability score ping as well as violation of the led a group that later became In a judicial affi davit, which would conduct an investigation Banaag said the Palace ac- and terminated, Morales said: of at least +30 as “very high”; Anti-Torture Act and Republic known as the DDS. was executed on December 7 and hold Duterte and other re- knowledges the constitutional “I’m not a signatory to that. I +20 to +29, “high”; +10 to +19, Act 9851 which covers crimes “This group was composed and attached to the complaint, spondents liable. mandate of the Offi ce of the understand it was the Overall “fair”; +1 to +9, “mediocre”; -9 against humanity. of some members of the Davao Matobato said he was part of Ombudsman Conchita Car- Ombudsman to act on and in- Deputy Ombudsman (Melchor to zero, “low”; and -10 and down Also accused were retired po- City police and some civilians the original group that became pio-Morales, who was at an an- vestigate complaints against Arthur Carandang) who came as “very low.” lice senior superintendent Di- collaborating with the police known as the DDS. ti-corruption forum in Quezon government offi cials, but reiter- up with it.”

US not allowed to launch sea patrols Manila won’t shut down for Miss Universe from Philippines Manila will not allow the United States to launch naval and aerial By Catherine S Valente President Duterte, who has patrols in the disputed South Manila Times been invited to the show, will China Sea from the Philippines, meet the Miss Universe candi- the defence secretary has said. dates in the Palace on January “We will not allow them to use o road closures, no hid- 23, de Castro said. our territory as staging ground ing street dwellers. Pageant bets arrived in Manila to patrol the South China N This was the prom- on Friday ahead of the welcome Sea,” Defence Secretary Delfin ise of government agencies in- party for the 65th Miss Universe Lorenzana told reporters. But volved in the country’s hosting candidates to be held at the the Philippine government is of the Miss Universe in January, Conrad Hotel in Pasay City. allowing US aircraft and ships to aside from the usual assurances Half-Filipina Tania Pauline pass by Manila or the Clark Air of tight security, as pageant Dawson of New Zealand was Base in the northern province of candidates began arriving in the fi rst to arrive at 3:20am on Pampanga to refuel and resupply Manila on Friday. board Philippine Airlines Flight after the patrols. The US has Tourism Undersecretary PR 219, while Deshauna Barber been sending aircraft and ships Katherine de Castro said Presi- of the United States came in from Guam or Japan to patrol the dent Rodrigo Duterte did not at around 4:45am on board PR South China Sea, Lorenzana said. like what happened during the 103. Also spotted at the Manila “After loitering in the South China visits of US President Barack airport was Miss Korea Jenny Sea, they pass by Clark or Manila Obama and Pope Francis, and Kim. to refuel and resupply and go Manila’s hosting of the Apec De Castro and former Ilo- back to where they come from summit when street dwellers cos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” in what is called an admin stopo- were picked up by authorities Singson, chairman of the pag- ver,” he said. The administration and hidden in resorts. eant’s private partners, wel- of President Rodrigo Duterte has “When we presented it to comed the Miss Universe hope- been taking steps to repair frayed President Duterte that’s the fi rst fuls. ties with China over an arbitra- thing he said. Don’t close the Barber and reigning Miss tion case filed with a UN court by roads, don’t hide people. Let’s Universe Pia Wurtzbach of the the previous government. The show that despite poverty, there Philippines, who returned to arbitral tribunal in The Hague is beauty in this country,” she Manila on Thursday, had been ruled on July 12 that Beijing had said at a news conference in Ma- roommates. no legal right to claim a large lacanang. “Pia has told me a lot about swathe of the South China Sea. Interior Undersecretary Emi- Candidates for the Miss Universe 2017 pageant have started arriving in Manila. Seen upon their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport what to expect, so I am hop- China, which did not participate in ly Padilla said the government are Miss New Zealand Tania Pauline Dawson and Miss USA Deshauna Barber. ing you guys can still surprise the arbitration case, has rejected would mobilise “to the hilt” re- me. This country has been so the court’s ruling as “null and sources to secure the pageant, agencies will make sure that pageant, meetings of the Asso- major events, like the papal visit cifi c security threat to the pag- wonderful to me since my being void.”Aside from China and the Phil- which will be broadcast world- there will be a safe and suc- ciation of Southeast Asian Na- and the Apec (Asia-Pacifi c Eco- eant. crowned. And the support that ippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, wide from the SM Mall of Asia cessful holding of the Miss Uni- tions (Asean) will also be held in nomic Co-operation), and now Aside from the Mall of Asia I received from the Philippines and Vietnam also have overlap- Arena in Pasay City on January verse,” Padilla told reporters. Manila. the Asean which will coincide arena, Miss Universe pageant has been wonderful, so I am in- ping claims to the sea, a key ship- 30, 2017. January will be busy for law “We have managed to show with this Miss Universe,” Padilla events will take place in Cebu, credibly excited to be here and ping lane and believed to be rich in “We cannot aff ord any lapses enforcement agencies because, the world already that we are said. Vigan and Siargao, among other I look forward to all the festivi- marine and mineral resources. in security, our enforcement aside from the Miss Universe capable of providing security to Padilla said there was no spe- venues. ties,” Barber said. Gulf Times Sunday, December 11, 2016 27 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Global community urged Over 704,000 Bangladeshis to address migrant issue get jobs abroad By Mizan Rahman Dhaka this year angladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday Bcalled upon the interna- By Mizan Rahman training to 335,836 workers tional community to address the Dhaka including 105,519 during the issue of migrants and refugees fi scal year 2015-2016 through across the world. 62 training centres aimed at “Migration is no longer about angladesh has so far getting employment home ‘us’ and ‘them’ … it’s about sent over 704,000 and abroad, it said. prosperity and wellbeing of all Bworkers abroad with Meanwhile, Bangladesh has the people and all states. We employment and received undertaken various projects to need to see how we can realise $12,651.04mn as remittances building skilled and semi-skilled the transformative potential of this year. manpower aimed at getting more migration by laying appropri- “The overall manpower overseas jobs for them. ate framework for governance of export from Bangladesh is migration,” she said. expected to witness a ro- The government provided The prime minister was in- bust growth in the next year training to 335,836 augurating three-day ninth as 704,078 workers have got workers including 105,519 Summit of the Global Forum overseas jobs till December 6,” during the fi scal year on Migration and Development an offi cial of expatriates’ wel- 2015-2016 at Bangabandhu International fare and overseas employment Conference Centre in Dhaka. ministry said yesterday. The government declared Mentioning that people move Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with participants at the 9th Summit of the Global Forum on Migration and Development in Dhaka yesterday. “With sincere eff orts and the overseas employment sec- around the world for many pur- dynamic leadership of Prime tor as the ‘thrust sector’ with poses, she said, “Therefore, the stability and growth in a diverse About the global develop- Summit on Migrants and Refu- Puri also spoke at the programme. Minister Sheikh Hasina, maximum emphasis on fur- challenge is to facilitate their and connected world. “Socie- ment vision, popularly known gees which the world accepted in A video message of UN Sec- the government has sent as ther expanding job markets for safe, orderly and regular move- ties need to understand the ben- as Agenda 2030, Hasina said all September. retary General-designate Anto- many as 4,136,736 workers the Bangladeshi job-seekers ment and ensure that a person efi ts of diversity for harmony need to identify convergence of Hasina said the interna- nio Guterres was screened at the to 69 countries since 2009 abroad. moves as per his wish.” among all people, including the interests, balance needs, aspira- tional community is working function while Colin Rajah, chair till December 6 and received Bangladesh has also been She also laid emphasis on en- migrants,” she added. tions, security concerns and op- with states and civil society to of ninth GFMD Civil Society $104,751.27mn as remittanc- desperately trying to explore suring people’s movement and Observing that a migrant is portunities to realise the goals. push for a comprehensive Glo- Days (CSD), presented a report es,” the ministry offi cial said. new destinations for its man- work with dignity and safety of not just a labour but has a unique She hoped that Global Forum bal Compact of Migrants and on GFMD 2016 on behalf of the According to the minis- power by reducing migration each migrant. “We’ve to ensure story to tell, she said a migrant on Migration and Development Refugees by 2018. civil society. try data, the government has cost and providing neces- that their rights are protected makes so much of sacrifi ce as he will focus on some of the chal- Apart from Bangladesh gov- The three-day-long GFMD also undertaken projects to sary training to workers and - in all situations, regardless of leaves his family and country. lenging issues like migrants in ernment ministers, UN under- summit began yesterday to dis- install fi ve more Institutes of that got a positive response, their status as we all agreed in “Migrants contribute their ideas, situations of crisis and confl icts, secretary general Wu Hongbo, cuss ways and means to ensure Marine Technologies at Mun- offi cials said. New York in September last.” labour and resources to the de- migration governance, diversity International Labour Organisa- overall welfare of migrants. shiganj, Sirajganj, Chandpur, The government set up Pro- Recognising migration’s role velopment of the host societies. and harmony. tion (ILO) director general Guy Representatives from 125 Faridpur and Bagerhat and 30 bashi Kalyan Bank and Kar- in connecting communities, They also spend their best part She mentioned about Bangla- Ryder, International Organi- countries and UN agencies, in- more vocational training cen- masangsthan Bank so that the economies and societies, the of life for others. Often we ignore desh’s proposed comprehensive sation of Migration (IOM) di- ternational organisations, global tres at various places aimed at people who want to go abroad Bangladesh prime minister said their human stories, their inal- Global Compact for Migration rector general William Lacy civil societies and businesses are training workers with skills. can get funds and do not need it is equally essential for peace, ienable rights as human beings.” Governance at the UN at the UN Swing and ILO offi cial Lakshmi participating in the programme. The government provided to sell their land or properties. Lankan navy breaks up dock workers’ strike

AFP to one of the world’s busiest sea Sri Lankan offi cials say the former president, Mahinda Ra- Colombo lanes, to a Chinese state-owned Hambantota port, which is fi - japakse, who was voted out of company. nanced by more than $1bn in offi ce in 2014. Under the deal, China Mer- loans from a Chinese state- Sri Lanka’s new leaders have ri Lankan security forces chants Port Holdings Co would owned bank and built by a long sought to renegotiate terms fi red warning shots yes- pay about $1.1bn for its share of Chinese state-owned engi- of at least some of the $8bn in Sterday to disperse striking the port and adjoining land in neering company, is bleeding debt the country owes China dock workers who have prevent- Hambantota district. money. Revenue covers a sliver of its and to attract money from other Sheikha Hasina during a meeting with M J Akbar in Dhaka yesterday. ed a Japanese vessel from leav- Sri Lanka’s ports author- repayment obligations. sources. They have also tried ing the port for four days, a navy ity would own 20%. Offi cials Construction was started to woo the West by improv- spokesman said. said they hoped to complete the on the port and a nearby inter- ing human rights and pushing Captain Alavi Akram said arrangement by early January. national airport by Sri Lanka’s post-civil war reconciliation. armed navy sailors used boats to reach a pier occupied by Bangladesh PM plans dozens of workers preventing Japan’s “K” Line vessel Hype- rion Highway leaving for its next destination Oman. “We were called in because to visit India in Feb the action of the dock workers amounted to sea piracy,” Akram said. “We went in to make sure By Mizan Rahman ated her government’s zero- on temples in various parts of that the foreign vessel could Dhaka tolerance policy against ter- the country, the prime min- have free passage.” rorism and militancy and said ister said these incidents A spokesman for the local none would be allowed to use were staged to destabilise the agent for the vessel said its Bul- he Bangladesh prime Bangladesh’s soil for terrorist country’s development and garian captain and 24 other crew minister wants to visit acts against any country. progress. members from the Philippines TIndia in the fi rst half of “We won’t tolerate any sorts Akbar said Narendra Modi were safe, but the shipping line February next. of terrorism and militancy and and Sheikh Hasina have taken was losing money at the rate of Sheikh Hasina disclosed this won’t allow our land to be used India-Bangladesh bilateral re- $100,000 a day because it had when Indian Minister of State for carrying out terrorist acts lations to a new height. “The been unable to leave on sched- for External Aff airs M J Ak- against any country,” she said. horizon of bilateral relations ule. bar paid a courtesy call on her The prime minister recalled has been widened due to prag- Akram said the vessel should yesterday. with gratitude the contribu- matic steps of the two leaders,” now be able to leave by tonight. Briefi ng reporters after the tion of Indian armed forces to he said. Temporary port labour- meeting, PM’s press secretary Bangladesh’s War of Liberation The Indian state minister ers at Hambantota port have Ihsanul Karim said offi cials of in 1971. said there are vast areas of co- been striking since Tuesday the two countries would work She also mentioned that operation between Bangladesh demanding that they be taken out to fi nalise the schedule of Indian allied force returned and India particularly in the on as permanent employees of the tour. to their country immediately fi eld of hydroelectricity and the state-owned Sri Lanka Port About the Bangladesh prime after independence of Bangla- energy. Authority, according to local of- minister’s visit to India, Akbar desh. “It has created a history Praising the dynamic and vi- fi cials. said: “New Delhi is looking as no allied force in the world sionary leadership of the Bang- Opposition legislators told forward to the tour and is ea- did return home immediately ladesh premier, Akbar said the parliament yesterday that eight gerly waiting to welcome her.” after the victory,” she said. contribution of Prime Minister workers were wounded when While talking about the bi- They also discussed the con- Hasina to ensuring stability in the navy stormed the main pier, lateral issues, Hasina said there struction of water reservoirs on the region is historic. but the government denied there may be problems between two both sides of the two countries About settlement of prob- were casualties. neighbouring countries, but for ensuring water security. lems between the two coun- Sri Lanka signed an agree- these should not aff ect the Referring to diff erent inci- tries, Akbar said that when ment in principle on Thursday to friendship and co-operation. dents like Dhaka bakery seize there is goodwill, any problem sell an 80% in the loss-making Port of Hambantota, 240km from Colombo, is financed by more than $1bn in loans from a Chinese The prime minister reiter- on July 1 this year and attacks could be resolved. $1.3bn Hambantota port, close state-owned bank. Nepal plans conference to attract more foreign direct investment

IANS try ministry said yesterday. foreign investors about Nepal’s “Leaders of all the political new industrial enterprise law and and off ering more incentives, ac- as energy, infrastructure, infor- Kathmandu Themed as “Harnessing In- legal structure regarding foreign parties will commit to invest- special economic zone law by of- cording the ministry offi cials. mation and communication tech- vestment Opportunities in Ne- investment and make political ment security of foreign inves- fering more attractive incentives In the last fi scal year 2015-16 nologies, tourism, fi nancial sec- pal,” the conference will be held parties to commit for creating tors which will help build con- to the foreign investors. that ended in mid-July, Nepal tor, mining sector, agro processing epalese government will in Kathmandu on March 2-3 favourable investment environ- fi dence among the international The Nepal government is also received FDI worth $44mn only, and the manufacturing industries, organise an international next year, Xinhua news agency ment for foreign investors and community,” said Industry Min- working on to introduce new according to Nepal Rastra Bank, according to the ministry. Ninvestment conference reported. their investment security, ac- ister Nabindra Raj Joshi. foreign investment and technol- central bank of Nepal. Around 300 participants are to attract more foreign direct in- The government planned to cording to a press release of the Nepal has recently introduced ogy transfer law by opening more During the conference, discus- expected to join the event, ac- vestment (FDI), Nepal’s indus- organise the event to inform the ministry. new policy on foreign investment, sectors for foreign investment sions will be held in the areas such cording to the ministry. Gulf Times 28 Sunday, December 11, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah

Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko Junaid Jamshed and his

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar amazing transformation [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), The death last week of in 2004, the reaction to his demise has an unmistakable defi ning edge about As Jamshed took on the role of a 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) the pop icon-turned- taken on a spectacular sheen, what them. missionary in earnest, crisscrossing Fax 44350474 with a heavily televised homage and The sense of grief is palpable with the country and the world - his last preacher in a plane crash social media tumult. even the critics - no small in number - was on the day he took the ill-fated Part of the reason why the public venting a spleen about his apparently fl ight - he became a regular TV has elicited overwhelming sentiment over his demise appears to misogynist views, but mostly evangelist, and it was during one of grief despite being a tower over Pakistan’s legendary heroes expressing disappointment at how he those shows where his controversial earlier in the year, has to do with declared his fi rst innings closed. remarks about a wife of the Prophet controversy’s child the tragic circumstances - a plane In his religious avatar, many (peace be upon him) led to the framing GULF TIMES crash that rendered every single body of them also found it difficult of a blasphemy case. By Kamran Rehmat charred beyond recognition. Perhaps, to reconcile with the preaching, Following an outrage, he issued Doha it is in human nature to have a greater especially related to women’s a tearful video apology, but went morsel of empathy in such cases. place, high-end pilgrim quotas as a into exile to let the dust settle. But that the overwhelming reaction business venture - all coming into He eventually returned, but was Aviation industry’s here are 20 days to go before zeroed in on the celebrity loss (itself play with him being a rich fashion recently roughed up at an airport; 2016 comes to a close, but a subject of debate) - including entrepreneur as well. however, he forgave the attackers for Pakistanis it couldn’t stinging criticism about Jamshed’s Was this a typical fan’s anguish after a police case was registered Tbe dusted sooner for the controversial views and choices - at losing his or her favourite singer? against them. success key to global heartache it has caused. lends credence to the conclusion While it would be diffi cult to No obit or appraisal about Jamshed The country has lost global that love or loathe, he is more generalise the popular sentiment at can be complete without a word about icons like Abdul Sattar Edhi, a celebrated than it may have otherwise the heart of all the melancholy, what what, in the ultimate analysis, made philanthropist with few equals known appeared. And that his story will fi nd is undeniable is that the musical him a star, and one suspects will, economic growth to history; Hanif Mohamed, the a prominent place in the Pakistani memory has defi ed father time - even long after his demise, remain his USP. legendary opening batsman; and last cultural zeitgeist. Jamshed’s own claim to have buried it! As the lead vocalist of Vital Signs but not least, a passenger aboard the What has also emerged from The journey to becoming a born- - referred to as Pakistan’s Beatles - Despite projected subdued growth for the global ill-fated fl ight PK-661 last week that the debate is his deep imprint on again Muslim was not without trials Jamshed’s patriotic rendition Dil Dil economy this year and only a gradual recovery in has sent his compatriots reeling into a the psyche of Pakistanis of his and tribulation. Contrary to the Pakistan went on to assume the halo despairing winter. generation, who, just simply could general view about Jamshed leaving of a modern day anthem that has no 2017, the global airline industry will still be profi table, The passenger - one among 48 not contextualise or cope with his the music scene at the peak of his parallel in the country’s history for according to the International Air Transport aboard the ATR-42 aircraft that decision to turn to religion after giving career, his solo stint hadn’t been much popularity, both as a paean for the Association (IATA). The global body of airlines expects was supposed to land in Pakistan’s them their fi rst taste of liberation of a success, and it coincided with an motherland and a defi nitive emblem the global airline industry to make a “record” net picturesque capital Islamabad fl ying in from General Zia-ul-Haq’s draconian inner turmoil about fi nding his calling. of youth. from the wondrous Chitral up north, rule as a youth idol, in consort with Once the star had decided to quit But while it remains the alternative profi t of $35.6bn this year and a net profi t of $29.8bn but crashed into a mountainous area the band Vital Signs. To categorise it showbiz, he went bankrupt and, at national anthem since its release in in 2017. shortly after a Mayday call - was merely as a musical vocation would be one stage, did not even have money 1987, its appeal goes beyond Pakistan. While the record profi ts this year will be on the back Junaid Jamshed: one of the World’s to undermine the power of newfound to pay the children’s school fee. Still In a tribute fl ood from all over the 500 Most Infl uential Muslims named freedom associated with it. he resisted the temptation to even world, including India, on dawn. of lower oil prices, IATA does not expect such a repeat by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies This explains why a vast majority claw back for the while, rejecting one com, the country’s leading media web in the industry’s performance next year in view of the Centre, Amman this year. of the grieving public - completely astounding off er (Rs40mn or over portal, this is what Shiva Chaulagai, estimated rise in average crude price. Jamshed himself wanted to be a aware of Jamshed’s preacher avatar $380,000 at the current equivalent) a Nepalese fan, while off ering Expected higher oil prices will have the biggest pilot - but in the Pakistan Air Force, - chose to remember him for his for just a commercial! condolences, had to say: which his father served. phenomenal impact as a singer In due course, he was to attain “I’m Nepalese, currently living in impact on the outlook for 2017, IATA’s chief economist Destiny chose otherwise. instead; someone, who, changed the remarkable ascendancy as an Saudi Arabia. I listened to his patriotic Brian Pearce said at a global media event in Geneva at The handsome pop icon-turned- landscape and became the poster boy entrepreneur - as evident in setting song Dil Dil Pakistan over a thousand the weekend. preacher was a man of many parts, but of free spiritdom. It has rekindled up the leading fashion label Junaid times long before I even knew who it is a measure of his unique appeal a massive interest in his golden Jamshed (pivoted on men’s desi wear), sang it!” In 2016 oil prices averaged $44.6/barrel (Brent) and that despite leaving his legion of fans numbers - social media posts are all which has a chain of stores across this is forecast to increase to $55 next year. high and dry after renouncing music the rage at the moment - which carry Pakistan and select few abroad. zThe writer is Community Editor. This will push jet fuel prices from $52.1/b (2016) to $64.9/b next year. Fuel is expected to account for 18.7% of the industry’s cost structure in 2017, which is signifi cantly below the recent peak of 33.2% in 2012-2013. Connectivity continues to set new records, IATA said as it expects nearly 4bn travellers and 55.7mn tonnes of cargo in the coming year. And almost 1% of global GDP is spent on air transport – some $769bn. By next year IATA Expected higher expects the industry to support up to 69.7mn oil prices will jobs worldwide. have the biggest Support is also provided through impact on the the taxes paid by the outlook for 2017 industry – payroll, corporation and product taxes – which it forecasts to rise to $123bn in 2017, equivalent to 45% of the Gross Value Added generated by the airline industry. As well as the tax revenue and jobs supported by MAN OF MANY PARTS: Junaid Jamshed renounced music in 2004, left, to devote himself to Islam. the air transport value chain itself, perhaps a more important economic benefi t is created by the users airlines carry – the spending of the tourists that travel by air and the value of the goods shipped by air. That said, IATA chief Alexandre de Juniac is upset The United Nations needs reformations over the lack of adequate support from governments around the world to the vital air transport industry. By Harun Yahya its founding purpose. And in order for defi nitely be devised, which will Each continent being represented Istanbul the UN to do so, various innovations, oblige intervention in the regions by a permanent member is also “Governments do not make aviation’s work easy. a sort of reformations, should be where heavy confl icts and human among the suggestions. Just as the The global tax bill has ballooned to $123bn. Over 60% introduced. right violations occur. There must be world is bigger than fi ve countries, of countries put visa barriers in the way of travel. he The entire world is now of resolutions exempt from the power it is certainly not limited to three And the total number of ticket taxes exceeds 230. United the mutual opinion that these of veto that should be implemented continents. Nations reformations should start with “the in such extraordinary situations In these days that are way past Billions of dollars are wasted in direct costs and lost Twas Security Council”. In the United witnessed in the world. The EU the Second World War, the UN must productivity as a result of ineffi cient infrastructure. founded in 1945 Nations, the General Assembly Treaty of Lisbon is an example of adapt to the standards and confl icts These are only some of the hurdles, which confront with the aim functions as an advisory committee this. The treaty ensures rapid and of the 21st century. Democratisation of preventing and it is represented by all the member active decision taking for the member appears to be the fi rst condition of airlines. Our aim is to work in partnership to help another world war. When considered countries. However, taking on the countries in extraordinary situations this reformation initiative. Because governments better understand and fully maximise from this point of view, the “primary responsibility of preserving through majority voting instead of the decision-makers of such an the social and economic benefi ts of effi cient global air organisation seems to have largely the international peace and security” unanimous voting. But it seems that, exceptional organisation refraining links,” de Juniac said. fulfi lled its founding mission in accordance with the Article 24, in order for this mechanism to be from democratisation not only aff ects until today. However, there is no the Security Council consists of fi ve eff ectively integrated into the UN, the the UN, but the entire world. This Undoubtedly, air transport is the “business of doubt that aside from the world permanent members, each of whom number of Security Council members situation hampers providing any freedom” as IATA has highlighted. wars it just experienced in those possesses veto power, and 10 non- defi nitely needs to be increased. remedies to the disasters countries The safe and effi cient global movement of goods and years, this union is not prepared permanent members that are elected Because as it is well known, the UN suff er while allowing violent groups to for the possible diff erent confl ict to serve for two-year terms. The is an organisation incorporating exploit this lack of solution and enjoy people is a positive force in the world. environments. Although some of the aforementioned right of veto makes political fractions that are broader the convenience brought about by the Aviation’s success betters peoples’ lives by creating UN interventions were successful it highly diffi cult for these countries and more diverse than those of the EU. absence of an opposing force. economic opportunity and supporting global in the past 71 years, many incidents with usually confl icting interests Therefore, in order for the majority It should not be forgotten that understanding. across the globe left the UN severely to reach unanimous decisions. The voting to produce a just result, it is weapons are not the sole instruments of debilitated. security measures necessitated by crucial that the majority is represented terrorism and violence. Violent groups Hence, the industry must stand fi rm in the face of Nations coming together under the the 7th Chapter of the Treaty are by more than three countries. pursue erroneous beliefs and take any rhetoric that will put limits on aviation’s future principle of “peace” is undoubtedly a apparently not taken within the In decisions taken by the Security advantage of peaceful people’s silence. success. wonderful endeavour. With the total countries of confl ict. Due to this Council concerning a country, the Having established with the goal of number of members that has reached fact, the UN merely remains an countries of the relevant region having global peace, what the UN should do 193, the UN managed to bring the organisation who cannot go beyond a right to speak is a fair argument is to believe in the fact that peace has a majority of the world together under its providing relief aid to the confl ict put forward especially by Turkey. greater impact than violence and war, To Advertise roof. However, as if showing a blatant zones, especially in these days. Countries under risk such as Turkey, and wage a struggle of science and disregard for the UN law, the world has As the said debility within the neighbours of which are ravaged by knowledge against erroneous ideas [email protected] become an arena of constant confl ict. UN has reached indisputable levels, civil war and terrorism, can certainly and beliefs with a spirit of solidarity. A Display According to the 2016 Global Peace various reformation eff orts that will off er more eff ective and substantial peace council that fails to take decisions Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 Index, merely 10 countries remain remedy this problem have lately solutions to the problems of their will always be considered weakness. If in the world, which have not seen become the topic of discussion. neighbouring countries. At this point, countries are genuinely united in the Classified any confl ict in the last 10 years. Just Increasing the number of the Security it should be remembered that these name of peace, they should fulfi l the Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 in 2015, terrorism claimed the lives Council members is presently countries not only share a regional requirements of this union through right of 32,715 people worldwide. Bearing among the most popular proposals. geography, but also common ethnic reforms and decisions. Subscription the responsibility of maintaining It suggests the inclusion of highly identities, indigenous peoples, and [email protected] the world peace, the United Nations populated and economically powerful terrorist elements. Doubtlessly, these zHarun Yahya has authored more than apparently must focus on not only countries among the permanent countries are better accustomed with 300 books on politics, religion and global wars, but the local ones as well. council members while limiting the their neighbours and can devise more science, translated in 73 languages. He 2016 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Considering the current conditions power of veto. rationalistic strategies regarding the may be followed at @Harun_Yahya and of the world, the UN has to go beyond Also, an alternative system should structure of the region. www.harunyahya.com Gulf Times Sunday, December 11, 2016 29 COMMENT The win-win fantasy of liberal democracy

The cosmopolitan or Trump did not simply fail to condemn countries to starvation. understand the true benefi ts of Today, similar arguments are made elites who are making globalization; they currently lack the about energy. consequential decisions skills or opportunities to secure a The reality is more complicated. piece of the pie. For economies to secure the “win” in critical sectors, from Beyond communication, therefore, of inclusive growth, the very rich business and fi nance to lies a genuine need for redistributive may well have to submit to a form of policies, which are fundamentally not regulation and taxation, including politics, must pay more win-win. international rules, that cost them attention to the grievances The main benefi ciaries of free substantial wealth in the long run. trade and technological change While that would not turn the of the less fortunate, the must actively compensate the losers wealthy into losers (they would still be through taxation, subsidies, and wealthy), one cannot deny that they less educated, and the less employment support. would incur a loss. connected Similarly, the assumption that the What the liberal-democratic liberal-democratic West is largely approach does get right is that there is By Kemal Dervis consistent in its economic and virtually always room for compromise. Washington, DC geopolitical interests is fundamentally While not everyone will go home fl awed. feeling like a true winner, individuals The truth is that the traditional and countries are better off working ew analysts expected Britons Western powers, despite having plenty together and striking deals than they to vote to exit the European in common, diverge in many areas, would be if they appropriated and Union or Americans to choose from energy policy – Europe is far guarded limited space and resources FDonald Trump as their next more dependent on hydrocarbons by all available means. president. than the US – to security. The costs of modern confl icts, Yet it did not take long for a In this context, simply including domestic political deadlock, consensus explanation of these communicating better and agreeing are too large, to the point that even the miscalculations to emerge. on the facts will not be enough to winners end up losing. When it comes to such complex and facilitate agreement on cooperation. In the wake of recent consequential developments, however, Negotiations will be needed, with miscalculations, we must recalibrate we should beware of facile reasoning. congregate at the same conferences particularly in the US, as a major Yet ideological “bubbles” are not both sides sacrifi cing something. our political radars – and that means The current consensus blames the and events, from Davos to Aspen. problem until recently (though, to the only problem. Both of these issues point to accounting for all potential sources of “elites” – in academia, media, and Members of this crowd tend to be sure, many of the wealthiest elites For one thing, the elites have failed a broader fl aw in the Western interference, not just those that fi t a business – for becoming so caught up believe that they have absorbed the have engaged in an unprecedented not only to predict recent populist worldview: the belief in win-win neat narrative. in their relatively cosmopolitan and great lessons of history. amount of philanthropy). It is clear victories, but also to anticipate that solutions. Here, the fundamental diff erence connected world that they failed to They tend to decry racism and even that the cosmopolitan elites who are the decidedly non-populist François In fact, liberal democracy, in both in the worldview of liberal or social listen carefully to less educated and milder forms of ethnocentrism, and making consequential decisions in Fillon would win the French centre- its centre-right and centre-left democrats and hardline ideologues, connected groups. are unlikely to reject feminism. critical sectors, from business and right Republicans’ presidential incarnations, is underpinned by the whether nationalist or otherwise, may Because the latter groups are Though these groups are not fi nance to politics, must pay more primary by a wide margin. belief that such solutions (the most be the most consequential. those that have benefi ted the least paragons of diversity, there is a attention to the grievances of the less Clearly, ignorance of working-class important one being peace) can benefi t The former should acknowledge from globalisation, they were the widespread recognition of diversity’s fortunate, the less educated, and the anger is not the only factor jamming a “society” – or, indeed, humanity as a medium-term win-lose situations, most likely to reject supranational value, and the dominance of men, at less connected. their political radars. whole – in the long run. but maintain their long-term faith in institutions (in the case of Brexit) or least, is beginning to decline. Rather than congregating with Of course, it is comforting to believe Democracy negotiates the twists gradual democratic change at home, establishment candidates (in the case The other common denominator of like-minded people in silos, they that, if only the facts were better and turns and manages the short-run while working to uphold international of Trump). Ignoring them was, in this group is wealth. must create platforms that connect known and people could discuss them sacrifi ces. But, in the end, everyone peace.– Project Syndicate many ways, an obvious mistake. While not all members of this group people of more diverse backgrounds more dispassionately, voters would benefi ts. There is considerable merit to this are multimillionaires, they do tend to and circumstances – including those become more unifi ed and politics Of course, failure to secure win-win zKemal Dervis, former Minister view. “Group think” regularly affl icts have the education and skills needed whose experiences with globalisation more constructive. solutions often results in lose-lose of Economic Affairs of Turkey and today’s fi nancial and intellectual elite, to reap the benefi ts of economic are very diff erent. But, even with better, more fact- situations. former Administrator for the United including pollsters, who often have globalisation. Such platforms would help to based discourse, people’s interests will In the fi rst half of the last century, Nations Development Program similar educational backgrounds, work As a result, they did not generally address the fragmentation of public diverge. it was widely believed that failing to (UNDP), is a vice president of the together, read the same media, and recognise rising inequality, debate. Those who voted for Brexit conquer agricultural space would Brookings Institution. Weather report Three-day forecast Stalking a killer fungus TODAY High: 22 C Low : 16 C Strong wind expected to the By Melvin Sanicas 70% of those infected – cannot be have demonstrated varying levels of becomes all the more critical. northern areas Singapore disputed. resistance to echinocandins, as well as This requires, fi rst and foremost, There is evidence that C. auris is to the other two classes of antifungal better diagnosis. spread in health-care settings. drugs, azoles and polyenes. C. auris is not easy to identify. MONDAY arnings of the rise of Indeed, the fungus seemed to have Even when the drugs do work, Because biochemical-based tests High: 22 C so-called superbugs a greater eff ect on people with serious they are relatively toxic: azoles and cannot differentiate between C. Low: 16 C – disease-causing long-term conditions. polyenes are nephrotoxic (damaging auris and other invasive Candida Sunny Wmicrobes that are As they frequent hospitals, and to the kidneys), and echinocandins are infections, several cases of C. auris resistant to many (or all) antibiotics nursing homes, they come into contact hepatotoxic (damaging to the liver). were initially misidentified as C. – have been coming thick and fast in with many healthcare professionals, Most are also fungistatic, meaning haemulonii. TUESDAY recent years. caregivers, and pieces of medical that they stop fungi from replicating, Many microbiology laboratories High: 23 C What many people seem not to equipment, all of which could spread but do not kill them. currently do not routinely diff erentiate Low: 16 C realise is that superbugs are already the fungus onto their skin or into their And they interact with drugs Candida isolates or use yeast Sunny here – and they are already killing bodies. that patients may be taking for identifi cation methods. people. In the United Kingdom, 50 C. auris other long-term conditions, such Hospitals and medical centers need A prime example is Candida auris, a cases were reported at London’s Royal as chemotherapy agents and molecular techniques to identify C. Fishermen’s forecast multidrug-resistant fungal infection Brompton Hospital alone from April immunosuppressants. auris accurately. OFFSHORE DOHA that is emerging as a serious global 2015 to July 2016. Moreover, developing new Once diagnosed, C. auris patients Wind: NW-N 17-26/30 KT health threat. Of the 13 US cases, four – two in antifungal drugs is not a priority for need to be isolated; medical Waves: N 7-10/13 Feet C. auris was fi rst identifi ed in Japan Illinois, one in Maryland, and one in pharmaceutical manufacturers. equipment must be thoroughly INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW-N 8-18/23 KT in 2009, in the ear of a patient who New Jersey – occurred at the same Antifungal drugs are more disinfected; and strict precautions Waves: 2-4 Feet complained of an infection. (Auris health-care institutions at diff erent difficult to develop than need to be enforced for health-care is Latin for ear.) Since then, C. auris times, and genome sequencing antibacterial drugs, because fungal workers. Around the region has been documented as the cause showed that patients treated in the cells are eukaryotic, like human Otherwise, outbreaks among Weather Weather of wound infections, bloodstream same hospital in New Jersey had nearly cells, rather than prokaryotic like already vulnerable people could today Max/min tomorrow Max/min infections, ear infections, and identical strains. bacterial cells. become even more common. Abu Dhabi Cloudy 23/20 Cloudy 23/21 respiratory infections in countries Not only are Candida infections As a result, drugs must be selective The spread of C. auris highlights Baghdad Sunny 17/03 Sunny 17/06 Dubai Sunny particularly common in hospitals, enough to work on the fungal cells, the need for co-ordinated local and Cloudy 23/21 24/17 across four continents, including Kuwait City Sunny 18/06 Sunny 19/07 India, Kuwait, Pakistan, South Africa, but their fatality rates also seem to be without damaging human cells. international public-health initiatives Manama Sunny 20/14 Sunny 21/15 South Korea, and countries in South higher among patients in hospitals And, while the global market to address the emerging problem of Muscat Sunny 24/17 Sunny 24/17 America. and, specifi cally, intensive-care for human antifungal therapeutics drug-resistant infections in hospitals. Riyadh Sunny 21/07 Sunny 21/08 In the United States, the Centers facilities. is worth over $6bn and growing, If private pharmaceutical Tehran P Cloudy 09/00 Sunny 11/02 for Disease Control and Prevention After all, such patients are already in owing to population ageing companies are not going to invest in reports that the fungus infected 13 an immune-compromised state, and and growing risks from fungal the development of novel or more people from May 2013 to August 2016, have been using antibiotics, which can infections, generic competition is eff ective drugs and new and better four of whom have died. kill off healthy bacteria. strong. diagnostics, the public sector has to While it remains unclear whether But the main reason C. auris So even if companies do invest in step in. those deaths were due to the C. represents such an acute threat is that breakthrough drugs, cheaper options The rise of the super-fungi must be auris infection or to underlying treatment options are severely limited. will soon be available, reducing profi t stopped. – Project Syndicate health conditions, the need to While most C. auris infections are margins considerably. address the scourge of C. auris – treatable with a class of antifungal In lieu of eff ective treatments, zMelvin Sanicas is a regional which has led to the deaths of up to drug called echinocandins, some controlling the spread of C. auris medical expert at Sanofi Pasteur.

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Amazon Go checkout-free grocery stores Around the world Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Athens Sunny 18/09 Sunny 17/08 they pick up and charge them to an new formats because UK consumers 2025 as companies use technology Beirut M Cloudy 17/14 P Cloudy 19/15 Guardian News and Media Bangkok P Cloudy 33/23 P Cloudy 33/24 London Amazon Prime account. have proved themselves open to new instead of people. Berlin Rain 08/06 P Cloudy 06/-3 Amazon has remained quiet about ideas such as online shopping and If Amazon Go catches on in the UK, Cairo Sunny 21/11 Sunny 21/12 whether it plans to launch Amazon Go Britain has few trading restrictions established retailers would probably Cape Town Sunny 29/17 Cloudy 25/18 mazon appears to be outside the US. to stop Amazon shaking up the be forced to match its convenience to Colombo S Showers 31/24 P Cloudy 31/24 M Sunny 28/17 preparing to open checkout- It registered a UK trademark on market. keep their customers. Dhaka 28/18 M Sunny Hong Kong Sunny 22/20 P Cloudy 23/21 free grocery stores in Britain December 5, indicating it intends to What is convenient for shoppers The prospect of rapid automation of Istanbul Sunny 14/09 Rain 14/06 after registering a UK bring the format to Britain. could be bad news for retail the retail industry has added to unease Jakarta S T Storms 31/25 Showers 31/25 A Karachi Sunny 29/19 Sunny 28/16 trademark for its Amazon Go format. Neil Campling, an analyst at employees. about the use of technology to replace The online retailer opened its Northern Trust Capital Markets, said: The New York Post said Amazon human workers. London P Cloudy 08/02 M Cloudy 10/09 Manila S Showers 31/24 I T Storms 31/24 fi rst bricks and mortar foodstore on “Amazon want to disrupt and take Go would “automate American Capita, the outsourcing company Moscow Cloudy -7/-13 Cloudy -11/-14 December 5 near its headquarters in out ineffi ciencies from retail whatever workers out of existence”. A US analyst that collects the BBC licence fee, New Delhi Sunny 28/13 Sunny 27/12 Seattle. the format. We’ve seen Amazon try estimated Amazon’s technology might said this week it would cut 2,000 New York S Showers 03/02 Rain 08/02 Amazon employees can shop there out pretty much every one of its ideas eventually wipe out three quarters of jobs and plough the cost savings into Paris Cloudy 10/03 Cloudy 06/04 Sao Paulo T Storms Showers 26/19 and it will open to the public early next from the US in the UK and I wouldn’t US grocery store jobs. developing robots. 29/20 Seoul Sunny 05/-5 M Cloudy 08/00 year. be surprised if next year we see the Before the launch of Amazon The Bank of England’s chief Singapore Cloudy 32/25 S T Storms 33/24 Customers can walk out without launch of a very similar service.” Go, the British Retail Consortium economist Andy Haldane warned Sydney P Cloudy 26/19 Sunny 27/19 queuing or paying at a checkout. Campling said Amazon used the predicted almost a third of the UK’s earlier this year that 15mn UK jobs Tokyo Clear 10/04 Clear 11/03 Instead, sensors record the items UK as its first non-US market for 3mn shop jobs would disappear by could eventually be lost to robots. Gulf Times 30 Sunday, December 11, 2016 QATAR Alfardan Group strategic Qatar Airways partners with partner for CSR forum UnionPay lfardan Group recently hosted the fourth CSR AConference in Qatar at Al Gassar Ballroom, The St Regis International Doha. In line with its commitment towards initiatives that help atar Airways has said most secure and convenient cultivate a sustainable future it will now accept options to travellers as we go for the country, Alfardan Group QUnionPay credit and places together.” served as a strategic partner debit cards through its website Customers across the globe for the conference, which also for ticket and other sales, ex- can book Qatar Airways tick- featured the launch of the 2016 panding payment options for ets using their UnionPay cards edition of the CSR White Book, customers around the world. by selecting the UnionPay an annual publication that With more than 5.8bn cards logo on the payment page. highlights leading corporate issued globally, UnionPay is an Customers will be re-direct- social responsibility (CSR) ac- international bank card net- ed to UPI’s website to fi ll out tivities. The CSR White Book is work and the preferred meth- their payment credentials, a vital project that aims to pro- od of payment for the Chinese with a successful completion mote the importance of com- market. The option to pay of the payment resulting in a munity service and the pursuit with UnionPay cards provides Qatar Airways’ confi rmation of ethical business practices. Qatar Airways travellers with page and booking reference Alfardan Group has consist- a “high quality and secure” number. ently supported the project and payment service worldwide, Qatar Airways also recently participated as a gold sponsor and is accepted in 160 coun- launched Apple Pay, becom- of the 2015 edition, according tries and regions, according to ing the fi rst Gulf carrier to of- to a statement. a statement. fer the ‘mobile wallet’ solution The event was organised by Qatar Airways customers across the full list of countries Dar Al Sharq and held under can now “conveniently book” where Apple Pay is available, the patronage of HE the Gov- via the airline’s website in the statement noted. ernor of Qatar Central Bank currencies such as the Chinese Available on any iOS device, Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud yuan, British pound, euro, US Apple Pay allows customers to al-Thani. It focused on strat- dollar, Australian dollar, Hong “conveniently and securely” egy development and business Kong dollar, Japanese yen, book their next journey on performance support in the South Korean won, Malaysian Qatar Airways with the tap or framework of CSR. ringgit, New Zealand dollar, touch of a fi nger. Omar Alfardan, president Singapore dollar and Thai baht In addition to Apple Pay, and CEO of Alfardan Group, using their UnionPay cards. Qatar Airways recently said: “Alfardan Group has Qatar Airways Group chief launched the Digital Member- endorsed projects and ini- executive Akbar al-Baker said, ship Card for Privilege Club tiatives in line with the vi- “Our partnership with Un- members. The Digital Mem- sion of HH Sheikh Tamim bin Juliette Harik-Medawar, corporate communications manager at Alfardan Group, with dignitaries at the event. ionPay International, one of bership Card provides cus- Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the world’s most popular bank tomers with the option to ac- Emir of Qatar, and with Qatar “As one of the leading con- organisations and pledge our well-being of the community.” facing CSR professionals. card issuers, provides our glo- cess the club’s many benefi ts National Vision 2030, which glomerates in the region, we support to socially-relevant The event and the book show- “We are proud to serve as a bal customers with more fl ex- via the digital card available aims to promote the highest fervently give back to the com- programmes. CSR is an im- cased the CSR strategies of lead- strategic hospitality partner for ible payment options when on the Qatar Airways App, standards of living among the munity. We have cultivated portant part of our corporate ing companies within the region the conference,” said Tareq Der- they choose to book with Qa- website, Apple Wallet, via e- citizens and residents of the strong relations with a number values and we aim to bolster and encouraged a dialogue on bas, general manager of The St tar Airways. We are tireless mail or as a saved image on a country. of charitable and non-profi t initiatives that help enhance the challenges and opportunities Regis Doha. in our pursuit to provide the portable device. HBK University invites Commercial Bank sponsors papers for audiovisual book on Qatar National Day

ommercial Bank has sponsored a book cel- translation conference Cebrating the achieve- ments of the country and Qatar National Day. amad Bin Khalifa ence is to highlight cutting- visual Translation will create The book is titled Qatar National University’s (HBKU) edge professional practices and an open meeting space for Record/We all for Qatar. HTranslation and In- research topics that map the sharing the challenges and op- Commercial Bank participated terpreting Institute (TII), current status of the profes- portunities of the AVT fi eld. It in the book’s launch as honour- part of the College of Hu- sion, production and distri- will directly help address Qa- able sponsor at an event at- manities and Social Sciences bution techniques, and end- tar’s requirements in develop- tended by Qatari dignitaries and (CHSS), is accepting sub- user needs for AVT services. ing the tourism and sports in- offi cials. missions from scholars and Through papers, panels, and dustry for the upcoming FIFA Joseph Abraham, CEO, Com- professionals for the seventh round-table discussions, par- World Cup to be hosted by the mercial Bank, said: “As Qatar’s Media for All International ticipants will gain insight into country in 2022. fi rst private bank with a history Conference on Audiovisual the new AVT landscape. For the broader Arab region, stretching back over 40 years, Translation (AVT). The dead- Dr Amal Mohammed al- this conference will enable Commercial Bank’s success has line for the submission is Malki, dean of CHSS, said, them to gain valuable insights mirrored the extraordinary suc- December 15. “Audiovisual translation has into novel working and mon- cess story of Qatar. We are proud The conference will be held become a major driving force etising approaches in AVT, to sponsor this book that rec- in Doha from October 23 to 25, in the world of communica- paving the way for the entire ognises the enormous progress 2017. The aim of the conference tion at large. The challenges region to achieve excellence made by the State and the bank’s is to address the rapid expan- and opportunities of the rapid through specialisation. individual contribution to both sion of audiovisual communi- changes in society and tech- Submissions to the con- Qatar’s economic diversity and cation and translation services nology are reason enough to ference should refl ect topics the development of the Qatari in the global market, as well dedicate a whole conference to within the global AVT land- community through our CSR Dignitaries mark the book’s launch. as creating a platform for in- this theme. By hosting the con- scape. Some sample categories programmes.” tercultural exchange to build ference, we wish to make Qatar include: language transfer on Organised by United Media The fi rst section details the book also provides a compre- sector in line with international human capacity by sharing a hub for the development of screen, innovation and new Centre, the book is designed to ex- history of the achievements of hensive synopsis of cultural and standards, the oil and gas sector best practices and research in audiovisual translation in the technologies, and status of press feelings of loyalty and grati- modern Qatar led by the eff orts economic developments that and the private sector. the fi eld. Arab world.” audiovisual translation in the tude to the State of Qatar on the and wise leadership of HH Sheikh have raised Qatar’s profi le, the The book ends with a section The theme of the confer- The Conference on Audio- Arab world. occasion of Qatar National Day. Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. The achievements of the government on Qatar National Vision 2030. Qatargas conducts major emergency response drill

atargas recently con- within Qatar,” said Hamad al- Executives from Ahlibank together with the 73 employees honoured for their longstanding service. ducted a major emer- Duhaimi, Civil Defence Opera- Qgency response exercise tions director, Ministry of the in collaboration with the Minis- Interior. try of Interior, Qatar Petroleum, He said the exercise gave all and various shareholders. responding organisations the The exercise involved a sim- opportunity to enhance their Ahlibank honours 73 ulated fi re and a co-ordinated overall ability to succeed in fu- response from professional ture deployments, particularly teams at a hydrocarbon storage with respect to communications tank in Ras Laff an Industrial Emergency drill under way at and pooling of resources. City. Qatargas’ Ras Laff an tank Qatargas. “Exercising for a multifac- long-serving employees farm is a strategic resource and eted incident enabled Qatargas a key link in the supply chain of by providing a unique train- to validate our world-class re- hydrocarbon producers within ing opportunity to all exercise sponse plans and procedures. hlibank honoured 73 Murad said: “I always look customers every day by dem- shared their experiences, which Ras Laff an Industrial City. participants. This joint exercise is testament long-serving employees forward to this annual event, onstrating their commitment aided Ahlibank’s transforma- The exercise included the “We have been deliberate to our readiness to minimise Awho have accumulated which provides a wonderful op- to provide the most personal tion into providing “exceptional” successful deployment of re- in our planning to include all the impact of an event as safely between fi ve and 25 years of portunity to say thank you to banking experience to support services to customers. sponse equipment, tested necessary statewide resources and effi ciently as possible,” said service in a celebratory dinner colleagues, who have been with our customers achieve their Murad also delivered the logistics, and validated com- to ensure readiness to respond Hassan Jassim Abu Khamis, hosted by chief executive offi cer us for fi ve years or more. fi nancial goals.” CEO’s speech, which provided mand and control capability to an incident that requires manager, Emergency Manage- Salah Murad at the La Cigale “This year, we recognised During the event, some of the forecasts for 2017 as part of the including the integration of all fully integrated, large-scale ment Services and Security at Hotel. 73 employees, who serve our employees delivered speeches and bank’s road map. response organisations, there- support to any industrial asset Qatargas.

Gulf Times 32 Sunday, December 11, 2016 QATAR QM to hold ‘Treasure Hunt’ as part of festivities

atar Museums (QM) fun-fi lled adventure between take part in a series of chal- bazaar, for families and children nity. We look forward to the sec- Tickets cost QR50 per group ued eff orts to provide “dynamic has announced that its 12noon and 3pm. lenges. Prizes will be given out of all ages to enjoy, Qatar Mu- ond Treasure Hunt of the year (of up to fi ve people) and can be educational activities that ap- Q“popular and much- The initiative will see visi- to winners at the end of the seums has said in a press state- on the National Day weekend, purchased at any of the follow- peal to diverse groups, broaden loved” Treasure Hunt is back in tors taken on a journey through event. ment. which we hope will stimulate ing outlets: Museum of Islamic horizons and stimulate creativ- time for Qatar National Day, fol- both the Museum of Islamic In addition to the Treasure Khalid Yousef al-Ibrahim, creativity among the community Art Gift Shop, QM Gallery Ka- ity within the community”. For lowing the success of the Eid al- Art (MIA) and QM Gallery Al Hunt, a number of activities chief strategic planning offi cer at and create lasting memories for tara, Mathaf: Arab Museum of more information on the event, Adha event. Riwaq, explore the collection of will be organised throughout Qatar Museums, said: “Our last all the participants.” Modern Art Gift Shop, or In-Q and for detailed terms and con- On December 17, adults, chil- Islamic art, discover artworks the day at MIA Park, includ- Treasure Hunt event was great Spaces for the event are lim- at The Gate Mall. ditions, visit: http://www. dren and families across Qatar by internationally-acclaimed ing storytelling, an archaeology fun and we received very positive ited and fi ll up fast, Qatar Muse- The event forms part of Qatar qm.org.qa/en/treasure-hunt- can take part and compete in the Iraqi artist Dia al-Azzawi and workshop, face-painting and a feedback from the local commu- ums has said. Museums’ and MIA’s contin- mia-terms

The Darb Al Saai celebrations have attracted a large number of visitors over the weekend. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil Young visitors at the Gulf Publishing and Printing Co stand in Darb Al Saai. PICTURE: Thajudheen Preparations in full swing for Qatar National Day celebrations

By Joseph Varghese the country’s past and heritage. Staff Reporter Meanwhile, preparations for the December 18 festivities are on at several other locations in ith just a week to go the city, such as the Doha Cor- for Qatar National niche and Katara - the Cultural WDay, the celebrations Village. Flags have been put up have already begun at Darb Al along the entire stretch of the Saai and preparations are in full Corniche and special arrange- swing at numerous other places ments and galleries are being in Doha and beyond. fi nalised for the ceremonial Na- In particular, the Darb Al Saai tional Day parade on the road. festivities have been a major Palm trees are also being deco- draw in recent years, attracting rated with lights for the special large groups of visitors from dif- occasion. ferent walks of life with its wide Several organisations and range of activities. companies around the coun- The opening of this year’s try have also started decorating Darb Al Saai celebrations, which their premises in the national took place recently, was attend- colours, and the Qatari fl ag could ed by HE the Minister of Culture be seen fl ying high at a number and Sports Salah bin Ghanem of these buildings. bin Nasser al-Ali. Schools, hotels, malls, super- A large number of people, in- markets and other establish- cluding families with children, ments have also been making visited the venue over the week- arrangements on their premises end and many could be seen with the national fl ag and other moving from one pavilion to an- items highlighting the impor- other. tance of the occasions. It is ex- Several organisations and en- pected that more places will be tities, both public and private, draped in maroon and white in have set up their pavilions at the the coming days as more organi- location, off ering a varied expe- A variety of activities are on offer. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam sations join the festivities. rience to the visitors. The activi- Meanwhile, ministries and ties on off er are educational, in- activities and events that target several competitions, explorato- tation competition, interactive The Ministry of Economy and There are also tents that de- national organisations have been formative and entertaining. diff erent age groups and aim to ry trips and performances such performances that touch on the Commerce is also participat- pict the lives of people in Qatar highlighting their activities and For instance, the Ministry of spread environment awareness as a contest on birds in Qatar, a ministry’s electronic services, ing in the celebrations through in the past as well as various pro- achievements for 2016 as they Municipality and Environment’s and to educate on its services for student trip with the environ- awareness fi lms for children and a number of diverse events and fessions they engaged in, giving prepare to hold Qatar National pavilion features a number of the public. The events include ment monitoring bodies, a plan- veterinary fi rst aid. programmes at Darb Al Saai. visitors a chance to learn about Day celebrations.

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce pavilion at Darb Al Saai. Children at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment stand.