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TUESDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10714 January 30, 2018 Jumada I 13, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Qatar plans In brief to boost US QATAR | Offi cial Emir congratulates Finland’s president His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim military ties bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah zAl Udeid base in Qatar to be expanded bin Hamad al-Thani sent yesterday z2040 vision includes hosting US Navy cables of congratulations to Finland’s President, Sauli Niinisto, on his re- zQatar wants to end GCC crisis and US plays key role election for a new presidential term. E the Deputy Prime Minister Arabia and the UAE cut off diplomatic REGION | Confl ict and Minister of State for De- relations with Qatar and imposed a Hfence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mo- land, sea and air blockade. Tank battle rocks hamed al-Attiyah has said Qatar plans “What’s happening in the region in ‘coup-hit’ Aden to further strengthen military relations the past seven months isn’t good for At least nine people were killed in HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, currently on a visit with the US. the secure fl ow of energy. Keeping the heavy fighting between separatists and to the United States, met a group of US military experts in Washington, DC. The meeting reviewed bilateral relations of mutual In a discussion on ‘US-Qatar Mili- GCC in coherent status is very impor- government troops yesterday as a tank interest between the two friendly countries in the defence and military fields, and means of enhancing them. It also discussed tary-to-Military Relations’ hosted by tant for a safe and smooth fl ow of en- battle broke out on the second day of boosting eff orts in the area of combating terrorism and extremism. the Heritage Foundation in Washing- ergy,” he observed. an attempted “coup” in Yemen’s interim ton, DC yesterday, HE Dr al-Attiyah HE Dr al-Attiyah reiterated that Qa- capital Aden, military sources said. said the development of ties includes tar wants to end the GCC crisis and As the fighting escalated, the Saudi- plans to expand the US airbase in Qa- the US plays an important role. “At the led military coalition which supports tar that currently houses about 10,000 moment, I think the only person who the government called for dialogue American military personnel, Al can solve the GCC crisis is President and for it to hear the demands of Jazeera reported. (Donald) Trump. And I think he can the separatists in the southern port A 2040 vision on enhancing military solve it in a phone call,” he said. “No- city. “We are calling on the legitimate QDB embarks on new co-operation between the two coun- body is benefi ting from what is hap- government to look into the demands tries also includes plans to build ports pening in the GCC except for terror of the political and social movement,” to host the US Navy in the future, he groups. said coalition spokesman Colonel Turki said. “We’re open to dialogue. We can dis- al-Maliki. Page 7 The discussion was held a day be- cuss anything. The only thing we don’t home farming initiative fore the US-Qatar strategic dialogue accept is imposing conditions on us or AMERICA | Politics takes place in Washington, DC today. tampering with our sovereignty. US lift s ban on refugees zProgramme to impart The Heritage Foundation is a US-based “We’re tough people. We don’t ac- hydroponics skills to Qatar think-thank. cept pre-conditions. But at the same from 11 countries residents, says off icial Expansion of the Al Udeid base – time, we’re very open to discuss issues The United States announced home of the US Central Command – that worry them.” yesterday it was lifting its ban on will allow for 200 more housing units HE the Minister said Qatari mili- refugees from 11 “high-risk” countries, By Peter Alagos for officers and their families, HE tary commanders are planning, along but said those seeking to enter the Business Reporter the Minister said. “It will very soon with their Pentagon counterparts, to US would come under much tougher become a family-oriented place for strengthen military relations within scrutiny than in the past. Applicants our American friends there. We want the framework of the 2040 vision, from 11 countries, unnamed but atar Development Bank (QDB) more of the families to be stable and which includes plans to construct ports understood to include 10 Muslim- is embarking on a new initiative feel more comfortable in their stay.” to host the US Navy, according to Al majority nations plus North Korea, will Qthat will promote home farming Al Udeid serves as one of the most Jazeera Arabic. face tougher “risk-based” assessments among residents in the country using important overseas US military bases Meanwhile, he stressed that Qatar to be accepted. hydroponics technology, a senior offi - with operations throughout the Middle would not allow to anyone to ma- cial has said. East launched from Qatar. nipulate the prices of oil and gas. EUROPE | Weather The initiative, which is expected to “Qatar is strategically placed. Af- “Thirty per cent of our partners are be launched soon, according to QDB ghanistan, Iraq, Syria – these are all American companies such as Exx- Seine peaks as fl ood-hit executive director of Business Finance Khalid Abdulla al-Mana, QDB executive Abdulrahman al-Obaidly, HiSky for hotspots in the region. I am not exag- onMobil. We have the world’s larg- Paris eyes clean-up Khalid Abdulla al-Mana, is cost-effi - director of Business Finance. Tourism and Exhibitions chairman. gerating when I say 80% of aerial refu- est gas field, and our partner is Exx- The River Seine peaked yesterday cient and “will clearly make Qatar more elling in the region is from Udeid,” HE onMobil – perhaps forever, not for at more than 4m above its normal self-suffi cient”. Al-Obaidly said exhibitors from Ku- port local SMEs and strengthen their the Minister noted. “We’re the ones 10 years – but maybe even 60 or 70 level, heralding a lengthy mop-up Al-Mana, who was speaking to re- wait, Oman, Lebanon, the UK, Turkey, capacity to contribute to the state’s that keep your birds fl ying.” years,” he added. job for Parisians after days of rising porters on the sidelines of a press con- Spain, the US, France, Italy, Germany, economic sustainability. In addition, He added that the US presence has Washington, DC will today host the waters that have put the soggy city ference on the Qatar Self-Suffi ciency Switzerland, Iran, China, Japan, India, we remain committed to activating the been benefi cial for Qatar’s armed forc- Qatari-US strategic dialogue during on alert. This December and January Exhibition 2018, said the programme is Malaysia and Sweden are expected to manufacturing sector and elevating es. “We’re learning a lot on the mili- which a number of agreements and have been France’s wettest for 50 similar to QDB’s eff orts to help farmers participate in the event. Eight coun- SMEs to become the main provider for tary side by fl ying side by side. We are memorandums of understanding are years, the national weather agency increase crop production in Qatar. tries have already reserved booth space, the State of Qatar,” he said. learning from the Americans, it’s a real expected to be signed between the two said — and the saturated ground in the Al-Mana told Gulf Times that QDB’s he said. Qatari Businessmen Association operational environment.” countries in various fi elds, notably en- Paris region means that even though home farming initiative will also in- He noted that the exhibition “is a chairman HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qas- In June 2017, Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi ergy and information security. the waters are now set to recede, the volve training residents in hydropon- clear demonstration that the country sim al-Thani said Qatar is now ready to clean-up will be slow. “Lessons need ics technology. “It is a very good pro- is being steered towards growth and welcome all projects that off er added to be learned from this,” said top Paris gramme because it is not expensive,” success, under the able and visionary value, especially after the regulations off icial Michel Delpuech. Page 12 he said. governance of its leaders”, even as the and procedures announced by His According to al-Mana, Qatar has a blockade imposed on Qatar is well into Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin AFGHANISTAN | Unrest high-level of self-suffi ciency in food its eighth month. “The nation has con- Hamad al-Thani related to free zones Study shows signifi cant items such as dairy or fresh poultry. tinued to move ahead, displaying resil- and foreign investments. 11 soldiers killed in He noted that QDB is working towards ience and a clear determination to grow He also said the exhibition serves as a fresh Kabul attack reaching 100% self-suffi ciency and and become self-reliant,” he stressed. platform for foreign investors to show- Gunmen and suicide bombers even more with export possibilities. Al-Mana described the exhibition case their projects and meet Qatari growth in health sector launched a pre-dawn attack claimed From April 1 to 3, the Qatar Self- as a fi rst-of-its-kind initiative, which businessmen. He also invited all Qatari by the Islamic State group on a military Suffi ciency Exhibition 2018 will gather provides the best environment to en- companies in all sectors to take part in study by the Ministry of Econo- the performance of diff erent sectors, the compound in Kabul yesterday, killing more than 120 leading local, regional courage investment in several sectors the event and take advantage of the op- my and Commerce (MEC) high- ministry said in a report yesterday. 11 soldiers in the third major assault in and international production line man- in Qatar, namely the manufacturing portunities the exhibition will off er. Alights the growing role of the The study indicated that between the Afghan capital in recent days. The ufacturers from around 20 countries, sector. The Qatar Self-Suffi ciency Exhibi- health sector in the development of the 2012 and 2016, the health sector saw series of assaults, including one of the said Abdulrahman Saleh al-Obaidly, “This exhibition opens new oppor- tion 2018 is supported by the Ministry country’s economy. considerable growth in added value, deadliest bombs in Kabul in recent chairman of HiSky for Tourism and Ex- tunities for major industries to show- of Economy and Commerce as main The study was conducted in the frame- which increased from about QR7.5bn in years, have left already war-weary hibitions, which is organising the expo case their latest solutions and services partner, QDB as offi cial partner, Qatar work of the MEC’s eff orts to enhance the 2012 to around QR11.4bn in 2016. This citizens grief-stricken and angry as the at Doha Exhibition and Convention that answer the state’s diversifi cation Airways (offi cial carrier) and QBA (de- effi ciency of economic sectors and in- amounted to a total increase rate of 52% Taliban and IS escalate their off ensive. Centre. strategy. At QDB, we continue to sup- velopment partner). crease their competitiveness by analysing for the whole period. To Page 2 Al Wakra Hospital introduces play therapy programme

new programme that helps chil- raise awareness about how play thera- stressful for children and play therapy hospital who volunteer their time to Play therapy and simulation helps dren understand their illness py is used to help prepare children for can help comfort them and encourage manufacture the toys that are used as the child understand and accept the Aand adjust to being in hospital medical procedures. the expression of fears and concerns. part of the therapy. The toys are made planned treatment and is also useful in has been introduced at Hamad Medical The session included a presentation She highlighted that play therapy can from unused or recycled fabrics and alleviating fears and helping the child Corporation (HMC)’s Al Wakra Hospi- on the games used in the hospital as be used to help children understand sterilised with assistance from our pa- to verbalise questions and concerns. tal. part of play therapy and participants and cope with illness, surgery, hospi- tients’ parents,” said Musleh. It is an eff ective way to meet the emo- The play therapy programme, de- were shown how activities such as col- talisation and treatment. The use of puppet modelling and tional needs of children who have an scribed as the “fi rst of its kind in Qatar”, ouring, drawing and friendly competi- “Al Wakra Hospital has developed puppet simulation in healthcare is be- illness or require surgery, the statement uses puppets, props and toys to help tions could be used to familiarise chil- a therapeutic approach that uses play coming more popular as its eff ective- notes. children understand their illness and dren with various medical conditions therapy and simulation to help chil- ness in both engaging and educating “The Nursing Department at Al express any fears they may have about and the main organ systems of the hu- dren comprehend their illness. The children is recognised. In play therapy, Wakra Hospital fully supported the in- treatment, HMC has said in a state- man body, such as the respiratory and programme was introduced in 2017 planned treatments are demonstrated corporation of play therapy. We have ment. digestive systems. and is the fi rst of its kind in Qatar. It is on a puppet with the child participating consulted with specialists in this area Last month, Al Wakra Hospital or- Hanan Musleh, head nurse, Paedi- mainly used for inpatients, both long- in the demonstration. For example, the and have been provided with a list of The use of puppet modelling and ganised a session for patients, their atric Intensive Care Unit at Al Wakra and short-term. We have a team of 15 child will be asked to administer a nee- suitable and safe toys that can be used puppet simulation in healthcare is families and local schoolchildren to Hospital, said being in hospital can be nurses from diff erent sections of the dle to the puppet or replace a bandage. for play therapy,” added Musleh. Page 2 becoming more popular. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, January 30, 2018 QATAR QCRI scientists Minister meets Malaysian ambassador develop algorithm HE Mohamed bin Abdullah to detect brain al-Rumaihi Al-Rumaihi HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti met the Malaysian ambassador to Qatar Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin yesterday. The two off icials discussed bilateral relations between Qatar and Malaysia in the fields of transportation, ports, aviation and holds talks cancer markers communications, and means of further enhancing them. in Oman cientists from the Qatar regulate and characterise the mours. It is applicable to other Computing Research In- diff erences between diff erent forms of cancer such as breast, Sstitute (QCRI), part of Ha- glioma subtypes, according to a ovarian and lung cancer to QNA mad Bin Khalifa University, have press statement. identify key driver genes. Fur- Doha developed a new algorithm that The method was recently ther, the algorithm can poten- WCM-Q experts speak at Gulf can identify driver genes of sev- published in the journals Nucleic tially be used to identify key eral types of gliomas, the most Acids Research and Nature. therapeutic targets in diseases E the Minister of Munic- common and aggressive forms of It was a collaboration with prevalent in Qatar, such as dia- Heart Association conference ipality and Environment primary brain tumours. scientists from Italy’s University betes and obesity. HMohamed bin Abdullah The QCRI scientists, includ- of Sannio – including former This recent work builds on al-Rumaihi met Asa’ad bin Tariq ing Dr Raghvendra Mall, Dr QCRI acting research director previous QCRI research pub- eill Cornell Medicine bin Taimour al-Said, Oman’s Halima Bensmail and Khalid Dr Michele Ceccarelli – along lished in the journal Cell in 2016 – Qatar (WCM-Q) Deputy Prime Minister for Inter- Kunji, built a machine-learning with researchers from Columbia that developed algorithms, Whas participated in an national Relations and Co-oper- algorithm that can identify the University Medical Centre and which identifi ed the diff erent international heart conference, ation Aff airs and Personal Rep- main regulators of separate brain Henry Ford Health Systems. subtypes of glioma based on hosting a symposium about car- resentative of Sultan of Oman tumours. “The algorithm outperforms their aggressiveness. diology and diabetes. Qaboos bin Said in Muscat. Knowledge of the purpose of state-of-the-art methods for Gliomas represent about 15% The 14th Gulf Heart Asso- During the meeting, they dis- these driver genes and the status genome-wide gene regulatory of all brain tumours, aff ecting ciation Conference and 11th Gulf cussed matters of common in- of these cancer subtypes could network inference by incorpo- about three people in 100,000 Vascular Society Symposium terest between Qatar and Oman further assist in the search for rating prior biological knowl- annually. were held with WCM-Q sup- and means of developing them in treatments or prognostic infor- edge and regularisation to prune The most common duration of porting the event as a platinum (From left) Dr Hajar Ahmed Hajar al-Binali, professor Khaled Machaca all fi elds. mation in both glioma and other false positives,” said Dr Mall. survival following diagnosis is 12 sponsor and providing speakers and Dr Charbel Abi Khalil. HE al-Rumaihi also met the cancer types. The work reveals The technique can also be to 15 months, with fewer than 3 and moderators. Minister of Environment and the identity and biological ac- used for other problems in to 5% of people surviving longer Patients with diabetes have oxidative stress and cardiovas- providing clinicians with the tools Climate Aff airs of Oman, Mo- tivities of the main genes that medicine beyond brain tu- than fi ve years. a heightened risk of developing cular outcomes in patients with to improve patient outcomes,” hamed bin Salim bin Said al- several cardiovascular disorders, diabetes; Dr Michel Marre, pro- he noted. “Studies into cardio- Tobi. such as hypertension, stroke, cor- fessor of medicine at Paris VII – vascular conditions are central During the meeting, they re- onary heart disease, cardiomyop- Sorbonne Paris Cite University, to WCM-Q’s research focus and viewed aspects of co-operation athy, congestive heart failure and who discussed new anti-diabetic this conference has proved to be a and exchange of experiences coronary heart disease. Dr Char- drugs and their eff ects on the fascinating and valuable event for between Qatar and Oman in the bel Abi Khalil, assistant professor heart in diabetics; and Dr Samer everyone involved.” fi eld of environment and climate of genetic medicine and assistant Kabani, associate professor of Professor Machaca and Dr Abi aff airs, in addition to learning professor of medicine at WCM- medicine at the Lebanese Ameri- Khalil both extended thanks to about the advanced experiences Q, delivered a lecture titled ‘Epi- can University in Beirut, who conference chairman Dr Hajar in the fi eld of environmental pro- genetic basis of cardiovascular spoke about the current situation Ahmed Hajar al-Binali, who tection and pollution control. complications of diabetes’. and the challenges that are faced awarded a certifi cate of appre- Dr Abi Khalil explained how by researchers studying the heart ciation to WCM-Q during the diabetes triggers epigenetic and diabetes in the Middle East. symposium. changes on the DNA and predis- Professor Machaca said it had Dr Javaid Sheikh, dean of WCM- poses people to certain cardio- been a pleasure to help sponsor Q, said: “The types of partner- Minister holds vascular complications. the event and act as a moderator ships that are being formed among Professor Khaled Machaca, as- for one of the symposia. “Cardio- healthcare and biomedical re- meetings in sociate dean for research at WCM- vascular conditions are a global search leaders in Qatar speak vol- Q, gave an introductory speech medical issue and have a devastat- umes of the spirit of collaboration Addis Ababa outlining the scope of WCM-Q’s ing impact on the lives of patients among the scientifi c community Biomedical Research Programme. and their families. Conferences here, which is not only helping to Other speakers at the WCM- like this create and strengthen the cement Qatar’s scientifi c status QNA Q symposium included Dr Mark links between experts and institu- internationally but also serves to Addis Ababa Cooper, professor of medicine at tions, facilitating collaborations drive continuous improvement in Monash University in Australia, and allowing knowledge to be dis- the quality of healthcare provided (From right) Khalid Kunji, Dr Halima Bensmail and Dr Raghvendra Mall. who spoke about infl ammation, seminated more easily, ultimately to patients in Qatar.” E the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sul- Htan bin Saad al-Muraikhi has held separate meetings with the Minister of Foreign Aff airs of Ethiopia Workneh Gebeyehu, Minister of Foreign Aff airs of Al Emadi Hospital hosts blood donation campaign Burkina Faso Alpha Barry, Min- ister of Foreign Aff airs of The Gambia Ousainou Darboe, and l Emadi Hospital yester- initiative on the numerous ben- by Accreditation Canada Inter- Minister of Foreign Aff airs of day hosted a blood dona- efi ts of donating blood. We are national, Al Emadi Hospital was Mali Abdoulaye Diop. Ation campaign at the Out always keen and proud to host also accredited in September 2015 The meetings took place on Patient Clinics building for its such events at Al Emadi Hospi- as a Center of Excellence in Met- the sidelines of the African Un- employees and the public. tal, which highlights the many abolic and Bariatric Surgery from ion’s heads of state and govern- The initiative was part of Al ways we can all make an impor- The Surgical Review Corporation ments summit in Ethiopian cap- Emadi Hospital’s “commitment tant contribution to our local – US, and was the fi rst hospital ital Addis Ababa. to support the local community”, community through these wor- in Qatar to receive this acknowl- The meetings dealt with bilat- it said in a statement. thy causes.” edgement. Al Emadi Hospital is eral relations and the ways to en- The blood donation drive, a A large number of employees also the fi rst private healthcare hance them, in addition to dis- collaboration between Al Emadi and people participated in the facility to be accredited in Qatar cussing issues of joint interest. Hospital and Hamad Medical blood donation campaign. by the Ministry of Public Health Corporation (HMC), was con- Blood donation off ers many as a CME Facility Accredited Pro- ducted to help increase blood benefi ts to both the donor and vider, the statement added. supply in Qatar, the statement the recipient. While the recipi- Moreover, the hospital’s Egypt extends noted. ent receives the specifi c blood chairman, founder and Gen- Dr Mohamed Abdulla al- type s/he needs to recover from eral & Bariatric Surgery senior Jazeera journalist’s Emadi, chairman of the board illness or injury, the donor also consultant, Dr al-Emadi, has of directors, said: “As a private benefi ts from the process, as do- received the ‘Surgeon of Excel- detention healthcare provider, it is our re- nating blood is believed to help lence in Metabolic and Bariatric sponsibility to support our local in lowering the risk of cardiovas- Surgery’ certifi cate for his dis- community and those in need. cular diseases as well as certain tinguished career and achieve- he Egyptian authorities We hope to raise awareness and forms of cancer. ments in bariatric and metabolic have again extended the educate our staff through this In addition to being accredited procedures. Certificate awarded to Al Emadi Hospital received by Dr Mohamed Abdulla al-Emadi. Tdetention of Al Jazeera journalist Mahmoud Hussein for the 11th time, 404 days after he was fi rst arrested on spurious charges. Al Wakra Hospital introduces play therapy programme Hussein was stopped, ques- Growth in health sector tioned and arrested by the au- thorities on December 20, 2016, after travelling to Cairo for a From Page 1 medical clinics (except dentist- holiday with his family. ry) with 20%, and dental cen- In a statement yesterday, Al his resulted in an increase tres/clinics with about 18.5%, Jazeera Media Network said it “has in the contribution of this the study shows. condemned the repeated renew- Tsector to the GDP at cur- The growth in added value als of his unjustifi ed detention, rent prices from 1% in 2012 to was mainly driven by an increase denies all the allegations against about 2.1% in 2016, the MEC in the number of health facili- him, and calls for his immediate said. ties, which rose by 45.6% in one and unconditional release”. The study revealed that the year (2016) alone. “This con- “Since his unwarranted arrest, health sector witnessed signifi - fi rms Qatar’s keenness to devel- Hussein has endured arduous cant growth between 2012 and op and expand the health sector,” months in solitary confi nement, 2016 in its real output, ranging the report noted. being denied his medical, human from 11.2% in 2012 to 14.5% in Total revenues of this sec- and legal rights. He is yet to be 2013, and reaching 6.3% in 2016. tor rose from about QR1.6bn in formally charged,” the statement This exceeded the average annu- 2012 to around QR3.7bn in 2016, noted. al growth rate in other economic achieving a growth of about On Saturday, January 27, the sectors, the report observed. 130% over the entire period. The Egyptian authorities arbitrarily This also resulted in a rise in the highest growth rates were wit- decided to extend his detention contribution of the health sec- nessed in 2014 and 2015, at 43% for a further period of 45 days, Al tor to real GDP from 1 percentage and 56%, respectively. Jazeera said. point to about 1.43 percentage The study, meanwhile, ob- The network stressed that points in 2016. served that more health services it holds the Egyptian authori- In 2016, hospitals contributed are needed in view of the coun- ties completely responsible for with around 34% of the added try’s growing population and Hussein’s safety and well-being. value in the health sector, fol- this sector provides investment Human rights and press freedom Last month, Al Wakra Hospital organised a session for patients, their families and local schoolchildren to raise awareness of play therapy. lowed by non-specialised medi- opportunities for private play- organisations have also con- cal clinics with 22%, specialised ers. demned Hussein’s detention.

Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, January 30, 2018 QATAR

Advisory Council takes action on draft laws

The Advisory Council held yesterday its and the Council decided to submit its regular weekly session chaired by HE the recommendations thereon to the Cabinet. Deputy Speaker of the Advisory Council On a memo of the Council of Ministers on Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Sulaiti. a draft law on industrial zones, the Council At the session a memo of the General decided to refer it to the Services and Public Secretariat of the Council of Ministers on Utilities Committee. a draft law amending certain provisions of A memo of the Council of Ministers on the ‘Ultimate India’ Law No. 5 of 2015 regarding commercial/ recommendations of the Advisory Council industrial outlets and similar public facilities, on the conduct of business and sale online as well as street vendors, was discussed in Qatar was also brought up. – QNA fest inaugurated he “Ultimate India” festival organised by LuLu Group was Tinaugurated by India’s am- bassador to Qatar P Kumaran at the LuLu Hypermarket, Al Gharafa in the presence of Sheikh Hassan bin Khaled al-Thani, Doha Bank Group chief executive Dr R Seetharaman and LuLu Group director Mohamed Althaf. The festival, which runs until February 4, is being held simultane- ously across all LuLu hypermarket outlets in Qatar and off ers “exciting discount” on a wide range of im- ported products from India. The week-long festival is dedi- cated to the Indian culinary and food tradition, and will showcase the whole new range of Indian food and cuisines, fresh vegetables and fruits, and exciting off ers and promotions in Indian grocery products, sarees and many more product ranges. The festival will also highlight the P Kumaran, India’s ambassador to diverse culture and the spirit that Qatar, inaugurating the ‘Ultimate was handed down by generations India’ festival organised by LuLu through centuries, symbolising Group at the retailer’s Al Gharafa “one India”. outlet in the presence of Sheikh A wide range of Indian food and Hassan bin Khaled al-Thani, Doha sweets are on display at very attrac- Bank chief executive Dr R tive prices at all LuLu hypermarkets, Seetharaman and LuLu Group and with counters set up for tasting director Mohamed Althaf. and sampling. As part of the festival, a promo- To add to the excitement of the tion on Indian silk and ethnic wear Ultimate India festival, customers was opened by Ritu Kumaran, wife who shop at LuLu have the oppor- of the Indian ambassador, yesterday. tunity to win a Mahindra XUV 500 Another highlight was the launch vehicle. of Mahindra vehicles in Qatar, which LuLu Group director Mohamed The VIPs with a display of the Indian tri-colour made up of fruits and was held during the inauguration of Althaf said: “We have always tried vegetables. India Fest and attended by Mahin- to do similar festivals and events to dra’s head of International Opera- connect with the large cosmopoli- products to the discerning shoppers. “The shoppers can look forward tions for the Auto Division, Joydeep tan population residing in this great “We have always believed that to a week-long celebration of India Moitra, and Dinesh Choudhari, country. LuLu is not just a place for shop- at all our hypermarkets full of great Mahindra’s general manager for Ex- “Our main aim is to bring and ping alone but is a place where we do off ers, products, competitions and ports Middle East & CIS. showcase large variety of Indian things to spread happiness. cultural shows.”

Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, January 30, 2018 QATAR

Qatar Charity launches ‘medical centre’ at Zaatari camp in Jordan

QNA al-Kuwari said the opening of diff erent regions of the kingdom. Amman the centre comes in response For his part, Secretary-Gen- to the call of duty towards Syr- eral of the Jordanian Ministry of ian refugees suff ering from the Health Dr Lail al-Fayez praised atar Charity has opened scourge of war, displacement, the medical facility for the ben- the Qatar Comprehen- and asylum as well as supporting efi t of the refugees, pointing out Qsive Medical Centre in Jordan’s eff orts in this field. to Jordan’s burdens to meet the Zaatari camp, in co-operation He referred to the food and needs of the Syrian refugees. with the Arab Relief Society to health assistance provided by Chairman of the Arab Medi- help meet the medical needs of Qatar Charity as well as the pro- cal Relief Society in Jordan Dr Syrian refugees and to provide vision of winter and cold sup- Awni al-Basheer said the cen- assistance to health centres in plies, the sponsorship of more tre is the result of a partner- the region. than 5,000 orphaned refugees ship with Qatar Charity under Ajay Sharma and Sheikha Dr Aisha bint Faleh al-Thani with other dignitaries. Qatar Comprehensive Medical and the provision of health, edu- the supervision of the Jorda- Centre is one of the largest cen- cation and social services. nian Ministry of Health, the tres in Zaatari camp. Al-Kuwari also noted the co- directorate of Refugee Affairs It includes various medical operation with charitable or- and the United Nations High clinics, a pharmacy and a labora- ganisations in Jordan to imple- Commissioner for Refugees tory for analysis, with 40 medi- ment various projects that cost (UNHCR). The centre covers an British envoy interacts with cal and technical staff . more than 5mn Jordanian dinars area of 1,000 square metres and Qatar Charity Chief Execu- during the past year through constitutes a quality addition tive Offi cer Yousef bin Ahmed a series of programmes in in various medical specialties. students at AFG College Brisk sale at flower show FG College with the a meeting with students and tween our two nations,” said Qatar,” noted Sheikha Aisha. University of Aberdeen staff , followed by a brief pres- ambassador Sharma. “Having 135 enrolled stu- Arecently hosted British entation on Al Faleh Group and “The visit of the British am- dents has been a great achieve- ambassador Ajay Sharma at its the University of Aberdeen’s bassador demonstrates the lev- ment for our fi rst academic campus for the fi rst time. collaboration for further stra- el of commitment that the em- year. We have recently opened Sheikha Dr Aisha bint Faleh tegic development. bassy attaches to this project registration for our September al-Thani, founder and chair- “I am delighted to visit the and their willingness to further 2018 enrolment and are look- person of Al Faleh Group, Brian campus of AFG College with develop our working relation- ing forward to welcoming a Buckley, principal of AFG Col- the University of Aberdeen, ship, making progress in areas new undergraduate cohort, as lege, Prof Richard Wells, dean which is another example of a of mutual interest. The ambas- well as the possibility for those of Transnational Education at British education institution sador expressed his willingness wishing to continue their stud- the University of Aberdeen, and off ering UK’s unrivalled higher to provide any support that was ies at postgraduate level. Our Dr Karen Foster, provost, re- education expertise to students necessary and was happy to future campus will include four ceived the envoy. in Qatar. I am sure this will lead see the students contributing main schools: Medicine, En- The visit included a tour to even greater academic and to the cultural, scientifi c and gineering, Social Sciences and of the campus premises and education co-operation be- educational environment of Business,” added Buckley.

Temperatures may dip to 7C in Wakrah, Mesaieed

The minimum temperature is expected to Northwesterly winds will blow at a speed of scattered clouds and slight dust, and it will dip to 7C in Wakrah and Mesaieed today as 12-22 knots off shore, going up to 32 knots in be cold by night. The minimum temperature Some 663 shrubs and plants and 7,035 seedlings of seasonal flowers were sold at the flowers event cooler conditions prevail around the country, some places later in the day. Slightly dusty today is likely to be 7C in Mesaieed and Wak- held in the Al Wakrah yard recently, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) informed. the Qatar Met department has said. and partly cloudy conditions are also likely rah, 8C in Al Khor, 9C in Abu Samra, and 12C The event was organised by the MME, represented by the Department of Agricultural Aff airs. This The weather off ice has also issued a warning there, with the sea level rising to 13ft. The in Dukhan, 13C in Doha and 16C in Ruwais. was the last in a series of flower events held over the past few weekends, with the previous ones for strong winds and high seas in off shore forecast for inshore areas says moderate Yesterday, the minimum was 9C in Mesaieed taking place at the Al Mazrouah and Al Khor-Al Thakhira yards. areas today. temperature is expected today along with and Turayna, while in Doha it was 16C. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 30, 2018 7 REGION/ARAB WORLD Gazans farm along border for fi rst time since 2006

AFP project that aims to see around children to enjoy it,” he said. blockade remains in place. Gaza City 280 farmers return to their Guislain Defurne, head of the It includes a buffer zone land between 100 and 300 me- ICRC in Gaza, said the return along the border in which tres (yards) from Israel’s border was the result of lengthy nego- farmers and others are not al- group of Gazans were al- fence. tiations. lowed to operate. lowed to farm their land Some parts of that territory “We helped farmers access to Clashes between Gazans and Anear the border with Is- still have to be cleared of mu- their land,” he said. Israeli forces regularly occur rael for the fi rst time since 2006 nitions from conflicts between “Forty-five % of the agri- in some areas along the border yesterday after a deal agreed Israel and the Palestinians. cultural land in Gaza is in the fence. with Israeli authorities. Farmer Anwar Dababi was border areas so it makes a lot of Rights groups say the block- The deal, brokered by the In- scattering wheat on the ground sense.” ade amounts to collective pun- ternational Committee of the near the border close to Rafah In 2006, following the cap- ishment of the 2mn residents. Red Cross, saw around a dozen in southern Gaza, the first time ture of a soldier by Hamas Farmer Anwar Adbari, 43, farmers set foot on land they he had accessed that part of his fighters, Israel imposed a said that while he was happy to had not been able to access since land since 2006. blockade on Gaza which was be back, he had fears the meas- Israel began imposing punitive “If I came here I was putting tightened a year later after the ures could only be temporary. measures on the Palestinian en- my life in danger, for example group ousted Palestinian presi- “We are sowing (the fi elds) clave more than a decade ago to from being shot or a missile. dent Mahmud Abbas’s Fatah. with the help of the ICRC, but Palestinian farmers, allowed by Israel to tend their land in a buff er zone on the border for the first time isolate the strip’s leaders Hamas. There was no possibility of Israel and Hamas have since next time we don’t know if we since 2006, plant seeds with the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in a field on It was part of a wider ICRC entering the place with the fought three wars and the will be able to harvest them.” the eastern outskirts of the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, yesterday.

Jordan king urges world to back Palestinian rights UN staff ers hold protest

AFP The city is “the key to achiev- Amman ing peace and stability in the region,” he said. East Jerusalem was under Jordanian adminis- ordan’s King Abdullah II yes- tration before Israel occupied it strike over US aid cut terday urged the internation- during the 1967 Six-Day War. Jal community to “fulfi l its Jordan in December called Reuters responsibilities” towards Pales- Trump’s move “a violation of Gaza tinians in Jerusalem and support decisions of international law the UN agency for Palestinian and the United Nations charter”. refugees. The Jordanian monarch also chools, clinics and food His comments, following a yesterday urged the internation- distribution centres in meeting with Palestinian Presi- al community to support the UN Sthe Gaza Strip were closed dent Mahmoud Abbas, came af- agency for Palestinians. yesterday due to a one-day ter US President Donald Trump Earlier this month, the United strike by the 13,000 employees sparked outrage by recognising States put on hold two planned of the United Nations agency Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and payments of more than $100mn that serves the Palestinians. suspended funds to UNRWA. to the United Nations Relief and The Palestinian employees “The international communi- Works Agency. have been angered by a US de- ty must fulfi l its responsibilities The agency, set up after the cision to cut its annual con- to protect the rights of Palestin- 1948 creation of Israel that drove tribution towards the running ians, Arabs, Muslims and Chris- huge numbers of Palestinians of the United Nations’ Relief tians in Jerusalem,” Abdullah from their homes, faces what the and Welfare Agency (UNRWA), said, according to a palace state- UN has described as the “most which runs 278 schools in Gaza ment. severe” crisis in its history. attended by some 300,000 stu- dents. The UNRWA is funded main- ly by voluntary contributions from UN member states, with the United States by far the largest donor. Washington announced on Jan 16 it would hold back $65mn — more than half its planned contribution this year — and demanded that the agency make unspecifi ed reforms. Those joining yesterday’s Employees of United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) take part in a protest against a US decision to cut aid, in Gaza City, yesterday. strike said the US funding cut would worsen hardship in the UNRWA spokesman Abu dependent on support from Palestinian leadership for re- numbers that nobody under- Gaza Strip, and they marched Hasna said the agency, which UNRWA and other humanitar- fusing to meet Vice President stands — that money is on the to the UN headquarters in Gaza has launched an international ian agencies. Unemployment in Mike Pence during his visit to table and that money is not going City waving Palestinian fl ags appeal for funds, had enough the enclave stands at 46%. The the region and suggested such to them unless they sit down and and brandishing banners that money for three months of op- strike comes amid Palestinian behaviour provided grounds for negotiate peace,” Trump said. read “Dignity is priceless”. erations. anger over US President Donald cutting aid. UNRWA was established by “I have a family of nine and I “We appreciate the fear and Trump’s “When they disrespected us the UN General Assembly in have never felt afraid for my job concern of employees for their Dec 6 decision to recognise a week ago by not allowing our 1949 after hundreds of thou- like today. US aid cuts will af- jobs and for possible cuts in Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. great vice president to see them, sands of Palestinians fl ed or were fect the entire community,” said services,” he said. Speaking at the World Eco- and we give them hundreds of expelled from their homes in the Jordan’s King Abdullah meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud 59-year-old English teacher More than half of the 2mn nomic Forum in Davos last millions of dollars in aid and 1948 war that followed the crea- Abbas at the Royal Palace in Amman, yesterday. Ahmed Abu Suleiman. people in the Gaza Strip are week, Trump criticised the support, tremendous numbers, tion of the state of Israel.

POLITICS Sole challenger Turkey continues off ensive Death toll rises on emerges for Sisi An Egyptian politician emerged second day of clashes just ahead of a deadline yesterday as the sole challenger to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in an election against Kurdish forces in port city of Aden in March the incumbent is set to win after other candidates withdrew citing repression. Mousa AFP monitoring group. “Fight- At the main hospital in Af- it has spearheaded the battle Reuters assuring the population that Mostafa Mousa leads the Ghad Afrin ing has intensifi ed on several rin, a pick-up truck pulled up against the Islamic State group Aden his government was capable party that has endorsed Sisi for a fronts,” said Rami Abdel Rah- on Sunday carrying wounded across swathes of Syria. of handling the situation. second term and even organised man, the head of the Britain- civilians, including children Turkey’s President Recep The witnesses said forces events to help nominate the former undreds of people at- based Observatory, which uses in blood-stained clothes, who Tayyip Erdogan has threatened our people were killed loyal to the Southern Transi- military commander as recently as tended funerals yester- a network of long-established were rushed inside for treat- to expand the off ensive against yesterday in a second day tional Council (STC), which last week. Sisi was elected in 2014, Hday for casualties of a sources to monitor Syria’s war. ment. An ambulance arrived the YPG to Manbij, east of Af- Fof fi ghting between rival was formed last year to push a year after leading the army to Turkish off ensive against Kurd- He said pro-Turkish forces bearing the bodies of a man and rin. factions seeking control of the for the revival of the former oust President Mohamed Mursi. It ish forces in the Syrian border had captured eight areas near a small child whose skull had Turkey’s interior ministry southern Yemeni port city of independent state of South is the third election since protests region of Afrin. the border since the start of the been crushed. said yesterday that authorities Aden, where the internation- Yemen, were apparently try- in 2011 unseated long-time ruler New civilian casualties were operation. Clouds of black smoke rose had detained 311 people sus- ally recognised administration ing to wrest control of two Hosni Mubarak. Several leading reported following the latest yesterday from the hills around pected of disseminating “ter- is based, witnesses and offi - bases in Aden from Prime opposition figures called on Sunday clashes and air strikes in the Aft er another round of Afrin, but fi ghting had not yet ror propaganda” in connection cials said. Minister Ahmed bin Daghr’s for an election boycott, blaming operation launched by Turkey failed peace talks in Vienna reached the city. Shops were with the off ensive. The clashes between south- government. repression that has cleared the field and Syrian opposition fi ght- last week, the opposition open and many residents going Delegates were meanwhile ern separatists allied to the In downtown Aden, most of challengers and left Sisi’s top op- ers against Kurdish militia in Syrian Negotiation about their business as normal. gathering for the fi rst Syria United Arab Emirates (UAE) people stayed off the streets ponent in jail. northwestern Syria. Commission (SNC), has said Turkey says seven of its sol- peace congress in Russia, but and forces loyal to Saudi- as government forces guard- Ankara, which considers the it would not attend diers have died since its op- expectations were tempered based President Abd-Rabbu ed the main road to Al- Kurdish People’s Protection the congress in Sochi eration “Olive Branch” was after the country’s main op- Mansour Hadi risk crippling Maasheeq palace where the ROW Units (YPG) in Syria a “terror” launched, while around 40 position group, as well as the their once united campaign government is based. Lebanon govt faces group, has vowed to carry on The Turkish military said others have been wounded. Kurds, refused to participate. against the Houthi movement. Aden airport was closed and possibly expand the opera- Sunday it had seized control of At least 76 pro-Turkish Regime-backer Moscow has Witnesses reported fi ghting for a second consecutive day political crisis tion, launched January 20, de- Mount Barsaya near the town of rebels have been killed, as well invited hundreds of people to outside Yemeni government because of the fighting, local spite international concern and Afrin, a strategically important as 78 Kurdish fi ghters, accord- today’s talks in the Black Sea camps in the districts of Khor officials said. An old enmity between the Leba- strained relations with Wash- high point. ing to the Observatory. resort of Sochi, co-sponsored Maksar and Dar Saad in the A government source said nese president and parliament ington. Civilians and fi ghters Yesterday, Turkish forces The Turkish army said yes- by Turkey which backs the north of Aden. the Saudi-led coalition fight- speaker is fuelling a political row yesterday took turns to carry erected barricades around their terday that “597 terrorists have rebels and Iran, another sup- The clashes involved tanks ing in Yemen in support of the that threatens to paralyse gov- the coffi ns of 24 casualties past tanks and armoured vehicles on been neutralised” since the porter of President Bashar al- and heavy artillery targeting Hadi administration should ernment and inflame sectarian Afrin’s main hospital, accom- the hill, an AFP correspond- start of the operation. Assad. After another round of a hill, Jabal Hadeed, which rein in the STC separatists tension in the run-up to elections panied by an angry crowd. ent said, adding that the op- Turkish relations with the failed peace talks in Vienna last overlooks Khor Maksar and or else the battle against the in May. The dispute between In reaction to the off ensive, eration’s commander General United States have soured over week, the main opposition Syr- Aden port. Houthis would suffer. President Michel Aoun, a Chris- the Kurds have said they will Ismail Metin Temel visited the Ankara’s stance on the YPG ian Negotiation Commission The SABA state news agen- “The military commanders tian, and the Parliament Speaker not attend peace talks aimed at site. At least 14 people, includ- — which Ankara says is a “ter- (SNC), said it would not attend cy, controlled by the Hadi leading the battle in the west- Nabih reflects personal hostility resolving Syria’s almost seven- ing fi ve children, died Sunday rorist” off shoot of the outlawed the congress. government, said four people ern part of Yemen (against dating to the 1975-90 civil war. year civil war to be held today in in Turkish air strikes on the re- Kurdistan Workers’ Party The SNC accused Assad’s re- had died in yesterday’s fight- the Houthis) have given short The tension reached boiling the Russian city of Sochi. gion, the Observatory said. (PKK). The PKK, which has gime and its Russian backers of ing, bringing the total death notice to the Saudis and the point yesterday as footage of Turkish forces kept up air It says 55 civilians have been waged a war against the Turk- continuing to rely on military toll since Sunday to 16 and UAE to intervene to end the Aoun’s son-in-law, Foreign Min- strikes and artillery fi re on killed since the start of the of- ish state for three decades, is might and showing no willing- the number of wounded to fighting in Aden. Otherwise ister Gebran Bassil, calling Berri northern and western parts of fensive, a fi gure which Turkey proscribed as a terror group by ness to enter into honest nego- 141. they will leave the battlefront “a thug” was circulated on social Afrin, a predominantly Kurdish disputes, saying it is doing eve- Ankara and its Western allies. tiations to end the war, in which President Hadi issued a and move back to Aden to as- media. Berri’s camp reacted with region, according to the Syrian rything possible to avoid civil- The YPG has received sup- more than 340,000 people have statement ordering the mili- sist President Hadi and the fury, saying Bassil had crossed Observatory for Human Rights ian casualties. port from the United States and died. tary to secure the city and government,” the source said. “red lines”. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, January 30, 2018 AFRICA

POLITICS ATTACKS SINGLE MARKET EDUCATION FINANCE Opposition to ‘swear-in’ Mali declares three days of Africa aims for cheaper air Students protest teachers’ Mozambique takes legal leader as Kenya ‘president’ mourning for dozens killed travel with new agreement pay cut, arrested in Chad action over $2bn loans

Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga is planning Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita Africans have for years paid sky-high airfares when Chadian police yesterday arrested more than 60 Mozambique’s Attorney General has filed a to have himself sworn in as an alternative yesterday declared three days of mourning travelling within the continent but a major aviation students and schoolchildren as they protested in legal complaint against off icials and state- president today, seen as a final push to challenge for the dozens of people killed over the last trade agreement launched yesterday by the African N’Djamena against austerity measures slashing owned companies involved in securing $2bn Uhuru Kenyatta’s election. Odinga boycotted the week in extremist attacks and bombings. Union aims to change that. Twenty-three countries their teachers’ pay, said an AFP journalist on the in loans that were not approved by parliament court-ordered re-run in October handing victory The president declared a mourning period have signed on to the Single African Air Transport scene. Police dispersed gatherings of young or disclosed publicly, her off ice said yesterday. to Kenyatta who won 98% of the vote but with beginning yesterday “in tribute to all those Market (SAATM), which is intended to drive down people with tear-gas grenades and turned out Investigations into the debt found that the a turnout of just 39%. The opposition National who have lost their lives in the last few days in airfares by allowing the airlines of signatory in riot gear to patrol key street junctions and deals violated Mozambique’s constitution, the Super Alliance intends to stage its own “swearing- terrorist attacks,” a statement published on his countries to freely access each others’ airports. certain schools and colleges. “The police went AG’s off ice said in a statement. The alleged in” ceremony today in the capital Nairobi, hoping off icial Twitter account said. Twenty-six civilians Speaking at the unveiling of a monument marking ahead with the arrest of more than 60 pupils infringements included failure to comply with to pressure the government for talks. Attorney including mothers and infants were killed the SAATM’s launch in Addis Ababa, Rwandan who are being held by the crime squad” police the procedures and limits established by law general Githu Muigai had warning in December when their vehicle ran over a landmine in Boni, President and AU chairperson Paul Kagame said the spokesman Colonel Paul Manga said. The main in the issuance of guarantees by the state, that any “swearing-in” would be treasonous, central Mali, last Thursday, while 18 soldiers market was important “for the overall development higher education union had called for a protest it said. “(The off ice) submitted a complaint raising the possibility of Odinga’s arrest, a move were killed separately in a suicide bombing and of the continent,” where international air links against civil service pay cuts and all schools and to the Administrative Court on the financial that would further heighten tensions. another attack in the north over the weekend. between many cities are expensive or non-existent. educational institutions were closed yesterday. accountability,” the statement read.

Zimbabwe Nairobi slum fire leaves 6,000 homeless shores up its maize reserves

By MacDonald Dzirutwe, Reuters Harare

imbabwe is experiencing a dry spell that could cut crop yields, a farmers’ Zunion said yesterday, but a govern- ment offi cial said the country had enough grain reserves to last until next year. The southern African nation produced 2.1mn tonnes of the staple maize last year, the highest in two decades thanks to above normal rainfall and government funding to farmers. But rains have been erratic so far since the summer cropping season started at the end of November, while a long dry spell this month has raised alarm among farmers. Ben Gilpin, a director at the Com- mercial Farmers Union, said crops in the maize producing belts were showing signs of moisture stress while in the northern and southern parts of the country crops were wilting. Gilpin said early planted crops, which were at the critical fl owering and tus- sling stages, urgently required rain water but those planted later could already be a complete right-off . A resident reacts as he attempts to extinguish a fire that broke out at the Kijiji slums in the Southlands estate of Nairobi late on Sunday. About 6,000 people have been left homeless after the fire “What we are seeing is that the crop tore through the Kenyan, the Red Cross told DPA yesterday, with local media also reporting several dead. Noellah Musundi, Red Cross spokeswoman, said some of those who lost their homes are situation is pretty dire throughout the now staying with relatives, while tents for other victims of the fire have been set up at a local school. Some residents blamed the emergency services for the delay in putting out the blaze, telling country. In the more marginal areas crops local newspapers firemen took too long to respond and when they did arrive they didn’t have enough water. The Star newspaper reported that three people died in the inferno, while the Nation are already wilting,” Gilpin said. newspaper said four had been killed. The US Famine Early Warning Systems Network (Fewsnet) in its January report said the poor rains were expected to aff ect the availability of seasonal green crops for consumption. “The high likelihood of below-average rains for the remainder of the season is likely to signifi cantly reduce crop yields and harvests across most parts of the country,” said Fewsnet. Gilpin said the tobacco crop, which Cape Town starts disaster reaps more than $800mn annually and is the economy’s second-biggest export earner, was had not been aff ected yet be- cause it was more resistant to dry spells. In 2016, Zimbabwe suff ered a severe drought, which left more than 4mn peo- ple facing hunger. centre to manage drought David Marapira, the deputy minister of agriculture, said although rains had been By Kristin Palitza, DPA It will pinpoint 200 water distri- 1, down from the current restriction of Cape Town, located in the south- agement targets,” the statement read. sparse, the country was holding enough Cape Town bution points where residents will be 87litres per person per day. ern hemisphere, is currently in mid- For the fi rst time since the begin- grains in its reserves after the state grain able to collect 25litres of water per Residents in the city of 4.5mn peo- summer, with the rainy season only ning of the water crisis last year, the agency bought excess maize from farmers. person per day under police and mili- ple who continue to use more water expected to start in May or June. national water and sanitation minis- He said farmers were also holding maize outh Africa’s tourist metropolis tary supervision once the taps have than permitted will be hit with puni- The ruling African National Con- ter, Nomvula Mokonyane, promised reserves from last year. Cape Town yesterday launched been turned off , Reddy said. tive tariff s, the city said. gress (ANC) was meanwhile holding to assist provincial leaders and take “Yes the rains have not been adequate Sa disaster operations centre to The centre will also identify in which The city is currently using more than opposition party Democratic Alliance “clear and measurable steps...to in- so far but we do have in our strategic re- prepare for “Day Zero” on April 12, economic hubs water will continue to 600mn litres of water per day, accord- (DA), who runs the Western Cape crease the province’s water supply,” serves more than 500,000 tonnes of when the drought-stricken city is run, make a plan for possible emergen- ing to City of Cape Town water supply province in which Cape Town is lo- for example through inter-basin wa- maize that will last the country for a year,” predicted to run out of water. cy measures and decide how to assist manager Barry Wood. The consump- cated, responsible for the crisis. ter transfers to the dams supplying said Marapira. The tourist metropole is suff ering vulnerable groups, the spokeswoman tion needs to decrease to 450mn litres “The demand-side management of Cape Town. Patchy rains and pest outbreaks have the worst drought in recorded history, added. The dams that supply the city per day to avert “Day Zero.” water has failed and frankly has never In previous months, Cape Town’s also threatened maize production in Zam- according to climate researchers. with water are currently only 27.2% While reducing household con- been suffi cient to deal with the deep- water crisis had been overshadowed bia and Malawi, while Reuters journalists The 86 staff of the centre will “clar- full, according to the city. sumption, the city is also implement- seated water challenges of this prov- by political infi ghting and fi nger who travelled to Lesotho this weekend ify all logistics of the operational plan To prevent “Day Zero,” Cape Town ing an emergency plan for desalina- ince,” the ANC said in a statement. pointing between the national ANC- saw fi elds of stunted maize that looked in for ‘Day Zero,’” City of Cape Town residents will be limited to using 50li- tion, groundwater and water reuse to “The Democratic Alliance has failed led government and the DA-led West- poor condition. spokeswoman Priya Reddy told DPA. tres per person per day from February make more water available. to meet any of its water demand man- ern Cape province. Orange cave crocs may be mutating into new species

By Jeremy Hance that live in these caves by the tens-of- Intriguingly, genetic evidence to date crocodiles may be utilising the caves Guardian News and Media thousands and also crickets that swarm suggests that the cave crocs may be for a number of reasons, including its the walls.” splitting from their outside relatives. steady source of bats and crickets and Over time, these older crocodiles be- One of the haplotypes — a set of safety from predators — namely us. t sounds like something out of gin to turn orange. genes from one of their parents — of “We are lucky because local people a children’s book: it’s orange, it The researchers theorize that the the cave crocodiles has not been found are afraid to enter the caves,” Oslisly Idwells in a cave and it lives on bats colour change is due to the crocodiles in the outside African dwarf crocodiles. said. and crickets. But this isn’t some fairy spending so much time in an alkaline “The (crocodiles in the) caves of Like so many other animals in Africa, story about a lonely troll — it’s the mix of water and bat guano, bleaching Abanda stand out as an isolated genetic the bushmeat trade is decimating croc- much weirder tale of a group of African the croc’s skin. group,” expalined Oslisly. odile populations. dwarf crocodiles that are adapting to Crocodiles are ecotherms — which He says that the data to date show Dwarf crocodile meat is highly prized life in pitch-darkness. means they need ambient heat in order this cave group split off thousands of by locals, and the species is relatively “We could say that we have a mutat- to survive, let alone thrive. years ago from its outdoorsy relatives. easy to catch given its small size and the ing species, because (the cave croco- But, Oslisly says the cave crocodile’s But the DNA of the cave crocs raises fact that its less aggressive than other dile) already has a diff erent (genetic) conditions aren’t that diff erent from the question: where are these animals crocodiles. haplotype,” said Richard Oslisly, who the outdoor ones: they both hunt in breeding? The smaller ones may ven- They are currently categorised as fi rst discovered the cave crocs in 2008. the dark — African dwarf crocodiles are ture out of the caves to breed. But, if vulnerable by the IUCN Red List, but “Its diet is diff erent and it is a species primarily nocturnal — and the temper- the largest crocodiles are truly stuck: do if there are more than one species that that has adapted to the underground atures in the cave waters is a stable and they nest inside the caves — a behaviour could complicated matters. world.” A comparison of a cave African dwarf crocodile and a forest-dwelling one. balmy 22 degrees Celsius. that’s never been documented — or have Returning to the cave in 2015, the An archeologist who has long stud- African dwarf crocodiles, which are they given up lovemaking altogether? team discovered new cavern passages ied Gabon’s pre-history, Oslisly en- They caught the fi rst cave crocodile The researchers believe that the ju- found in West and Central Africa, are African dwarf crocodiles usually and documented that the orange, cave tered the Abanda Caves in Gabon look- then — and when they carried it outside venile crocodiles are able to go in-and- the world’s smallest, maxing out at less require vegetation for their eggs, but crocodiles were still hanging out in the ing for signs of past humans, such as discovered that its skin was not the grey out of the cave system through various than 2m, though most never grow be- there’s none of that in the caverns’ re- darkness during the wet season. rock paintings or engravings. Instead, (almost bluish grey) of normal African openings, but once the crocs hit a cer- yond 1.5m. cesses. Oslisly is now working with partners he found crocodiles in a “great room… dwarf crocodiles, but orange. tain size they may in fact spend the rest Long considered a single species, re- Or, instead, are the big crocs only on turning the area into a wildlife sanc- fi lled with water.” To date, the team has discovered a of their days beyond the reach of the search over the last few years implies utilising the caves seasonally — and tuary in order to protect these bizarre, Two years later he returned with cave population of around thirty cave croc- sun. there may actually be three distinct then fi nd a way out to breed during the mutating reptiles — the only place in scientist, Olivier Testa, and crocodile odiles, ten of which are orange, though “They are somehow in their own species in the region — not including wet season? the world where such behavior has ever specialist, Matthew Shirley. more may remain hidden. prison,” Oslisly said. “They eat bats the bizarre cave crocs. The researchers believe that the been observed in crocodiles. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 30, 2018 9 AMERICAS

AMBUSH NUMBER CRUNCH CANCELLED MOURNED Colombia’s ELN rebels Poll: Mexico race tightens, UN labour rights body Detroit police off icer dies blamed for bomb attacks leftists remain out front nixes Caracas mission four days after shooting

Colombia’s ELN rebels are responsible for three Leftist politician Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador The International Labour Organization has A Detroit, Michigan, police off icer died on Sunday bomb attacks against police stations that killed has consolidated support in his bid for the Mexican cancelled a visit to Venezuela that was due this after being shot in the head and chest during seven and wounded dozens more over the presidency, but the race has tightened as another week to investigate a complaint brought against a domestic violence call last week, police said. weekend, the nation’s defence minister said opposition contender gained ground while the President Nicolas Maduro’s by the country’s Off icer Glenn Doss Jr., 25, did not have time yesterday. Five police off icers were killed and more ruling party hopeful trailed, a poll showed yesterday. leading business group. The mission was to get out of his patrol car before he was shot than 40 wounded in a bombing in the port city The January 19-25 voter survey by Buendia & “regrettably” cancelled because there was no last Wednesday answering a call about a man of Barranquilla on Saturday morning. Two more Laredo showed Lopez Obrador winning 32% of confirmation from the government that the ILO armed with a gun and possibly assaulting two off icers died, and one was wounded just before support, while Ricardo Anaya, the former chairman team could meet the people they wanted to, Hans women, The Detroit News reported. He died on midnight on Saturday in the rural Bolivar province, of the conservative National Action Party, had von Rohland, spokesman for the United Nations Sunday after four days listed in critical condition and the third attack took place four hours later in 26%. Back in third place, with 16% support ahead body, said in Geneva. “We have to see whether the at the Detroit Receiving Hospital, said Detroit Soledad, injuring five police and one civilian. “The of the July 1 election, was Jose Antonio Meade, an mission can still take place before March — for the Police Chief James Craig in a broadcast news Police off icers and relatives attend the funeral authorship of these terrible actions is on the head ex-finance minister seeking the nomination of the time being it has been cancelled.” The national conference. “He fought a good fight,” Craig told of five police killed the day before in a bomb of the National Liberation Army,” Defense Minister ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, the poll employers’ federation Fedecamaras had petitioned reporters. “He is truly what we call one of Detroit’s attack in Barranquilla. Luis Carlos Villegas told local Caracol Radio. published in newspaper El Universal showed. the ILO, complaining of pressure and intimidation . finest. He is what we call an American hero.”

Koch network to spend New appointment big on midterm elections, fearing Democratic wave

By James Oliphant, Reuters can Free Trade Agreement with Indian Wells, California Canada and Mexico, which is being renegotiated and that Trump has threatened to abandon. he conservative Koch network Senator John Cornyn, the No 2 spent its annual donor confer- Republican in the Senate, was an at- Tence celebrating policy victo- tendee at the Koch event, a measure ries under President Donald Trump of the network’s deep ties to con- such as the tax overhaul, but the servatives in Congress and an ex- elation was tinged with anxiety over ample of the leverage it would lose November’s congressional elections should Democrats take control next that could pose a risk to its agenda. year. To that end, the network plans to Of the $400mn the network is spend what would be unprecedented looking to spend, $20mn will go to- sums for the Kochs to maintain Re- ward promoting the tax law, which publican majorities in the US Senate passed Congress in December and and House of Representatives, while included big cuts in corporate tax trying to sell voters on the benefi ts rates along with tax reductions for of the newly passed tax package, many individuals. according to network offi cials who Polls at the time of passage showed briefed reporters on their strategy Americans divided about the bill’s during the conference this weekend merits, but Phillips said he believed in Indian Wells, California. that would change as voters see in- Historically, the party in power creased paychecks. loses seats in congressional elections Democrats condemned the tax after a new president’s election. measure as favoring corporations This year, Republican angst is and the rich. compounded by Trump, whose tu- Americans for Prosperity is posi- multuous presidency helped galva- tioned to be a ground-level force in nise Democratic and independent the congressional elections. voters to go to the polls in special and Its largest presence is in Florida, state elections last year. where Democratic Senator Bill Nel- “It’s going to be a very challeng- son may face a fi ght from Republican ing environment,” said Tim Phillips, Governor Rick Scott. president of Americans for Prosper- The group also has offi ces in ity, a grassroots political group that Arizona, Nevada, and Wisconsin, is part of the Koch network. “The among other states, all of which are left is energized. There’s no question expected to see highly competitive about that.” Senate races. The network is prepared to spend Phillips said his group would likely President Donald Trump participates in the swearing-in ceremony for the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Alex Azar at the White House up to $400mn on the congressional stay out of Republican primaries. in Washington yesterday. races — a 60% increase from its in- One variable hanging over the vestment in the 2016 election, offi - Kochs’ eff ort is Trump. cials said. Republican losses in a special Energy magnates Charles and US Senate election in Alabama last David Koch have long been outsized month and a governor’s race in Vir- players in Republican politics, but ginia in November were attributed they never warmed to Trump during in part to discontent with the presi- the 2016 campaign. dent. With Trump in the White House, In 2010, Republicans seized on however, they have seen several pol- voter worries about Democratic icy goals realised, including the tax President Barack Obama’s sig- Argentina freezes salaries, legislation and cutting federal regu- nature healthcare law, known as lations. Obamacare, to capture the House But the Koch network still diverges and thwart Obama’s policy goals. from the Republican president on is- For the Koch network, the chal- sues such as immigration and trade. lenge will be to avoid having every The Kochs strongly support leg- local race become a referendum on cuts jobs in austerity push islation that would protect “Dream- the president, which could propel a ers” — people brought illegally to the Democratic wave. United States as children — from de- James Davis, vice president of Reuters The fi rings, expected to save $77mn and clientelism” of past administrations. sage that this administration really is portation. Freedom Partners, another Koch- Buenos Aires a year, are symbolic of Macri’s drive to Included in the measures announced diff erent from its predecessors,” said Two Koch operatives, Daniel backed policy group, said strong regain market confi dence. yesterday, family members of ministers Ignacio Labaqui, analyst for consul- Garza and Jorge Lima, were at the candidates should be able to diff er- “Austerity has to be part of politics,” were banned from holding government tancy Medley Global Advisors. White House on Friday to try to help entiate themselves from Trump. xecutive branch government em- Macri said in a televised address. jobs. Pressured by the country’s powerful broker a deal with Congress over “Get out there and defi ne yourself ployees in Argentina will get no He spent the fi rst two years of his ad- Macri scored a series of business- labor unions, the government cancelled the Dreamers. The network issued and where you stand on the issues,” Epay raises this year and one out ministration dismantling the trade and friendly legislative wins late last year a special session of Congress planned a statement on Friday disagreeing Davis said. of every four “political positions” ap- currency controls set up by his pred- after his coalition swept mid-term for February to debate Macri’s proposed with a proposal in Trump’s immi- During one event, a donor from pointed by ministers will be cut, Presi- ecessor, Cristina Fernandez, who had elections. But passage of his pension labour reform. The bill includes amnes- gration blueprint that would set new Nebraska, Gail Werner-Robertson, dent Mauricio Macri said yesterday, expanded the role of government in the reform bill last month triggered violent ty for companies that register workers limits on legal immigration. stood up and addressed Charles deepening his austerity drive. economy. protests and a decline in the president’s who had been paid off the books. On trade, Phillips and other Koch Koch directly, urging attendees to The clampdown on political posi- He was elected in 2015 with a man- approval ratings. It aims to curb litigation by workers operatives are deeply concerned contribute more to the midterm ef- tions, including advisers appointed by date to free the markets and improve “The government wants to foster the and would lighten social security taxes about the administration’s moves to fort. government ministers, is viewed as an Argentina’s business climate. idea that politically appointed offi cials paid by employers. The private sector impose tariff s on some imports and “We can’t lose the progress you all attack on a patronage system that has Macri, expected to seek re-election share the burden of the fi scal adjust- has long argued for more fl exibility in ardently support the North Ameri- have fought so hard for,” she said. been in place for decades. next year, denounced “the corruption ment. It also wants to convey the mes- labor regulations.

Hung out to dry twice, Tennessee city still stumped by Trump’s washer tariff s

By David Lawder, Reuters peat of what happened with Hemlock “If you lose fl oor space at retail, it can Hemlock’s main market for poly- Landing the LG washer plant was Clarksville, Tennessee where they can’t open the plant.” take years to get it back,” Taylor said. silicon, a core ingredient in solar cells, seen as marking a full jobs recov- At stake is an appliance manufac- Construction crews were working 24 dried up after Beijing responded to US ery from the Hemlock debacle, said turing complex that could eventu- hours a day on the site last week, still anti-dumping duties on Chinese solar Michael Evans, the county’s economic hen President Donald Trump ally employ thousands of workers and only a partial steel skeleton, after LG panels with duties on US polysilicon. development director. imposed steep tariff s on im- which the state of Tennessee and the said earlier this month it would bring While beyond its control, the Hem- With local industrial parks fi lled with Wported washing machines local community supported with some forward its production launch a second lock pullout has aff ected the region’s foreign names that have arrived with last week it was a “Not Again” moment $23mn in grants. time again to the fourth quarter of 2018. eff orts to attract other fi rms, said Jim the rise of the mid-South’s manufac- for offi cials in this north Tennessee city The 1.25sq km site an hour north LG’s rival Samsung Electronics, Durrett, mayor of Montgomery Coun- turing base, local offi cials and residents that has lost jobs to an international of Nashville has room for three addi- whose imported washers also will be hit ty, which has its seat in Clarksville. interviewed by Reuters saw no dis- trade dispute before. tional buildings identical to the plant’s by the tariff s, has more breathing room. The closure “kind of gave our com- tinction between foreign-owned and The move threatens to stunt the $250mn, 600-job fi rst phase. It has already started production at munity a black eye from a recruitment American-owned fi rms. launch of a new LG Electronics washing Trump’s decision to impose 20% a $380mn washer plant in Newberry, standpoint,” Durrett said. “Once they’re here and once they’ve machine factory under construction in to 50% tariff s on washer imports and South Carolina, in a former Caterpillar With the help of competitive state embarked on the investment, those are Clarksville, just four years after the parts has local offi cials asking what his Inc generator set factory. and local grants and tax incentives, low local jobs. LG’s a continuation of that,” US-China trade fi ght over solar pan- “America First” stands for: supporting The washer tariff s are the culmina- living costs and a steady supply of well- said Jeff Robinson, owner of the Black- els scuttled a nearby $1.2bn Hemlock all US manufacturing jobs or just favor- tion of a decade-long campaign by trained workers retiring from a nearby horse Pub and Brewery in Clarksville. Semiconductor polysilicon plant. ing traditional American brands over Whirlpool Inc against what it saw as US Army base, this city of about 150,000 And in a region where support for “It’s like déjà vu for Clarksville, to foreign rivals. unfair pricing and “country hopping” managed to regain some traction. Trump runs deep, they are wondering say ‘how can this be happening twice Labor statistics show that foreign by LG and Samsung to avoid anti- A year after Hemlock left and razed its why he would use tariff s to favor Whirl- to us,’” the city’s mayor, Kim McMillan, Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan speaks companies have been the source of the dumping duties. plant to protect its technology, Google pool and GE Appliances, now owned by told Reuters. to Reuters at her off ice in Clarksville, majority of new manufacturing jobs The tariff s on washers and solar acquired it for a data centre, though the China’s Haier Electronics Group, over a She said that the city government was Tennessee. since the 2009 recession. panels triggered memories of a 2014 tech giant has only committed to 70 jobs competitor moving production to Ten- scrambling to help the South Korean LG told US retailers last week it would US-China trade spat over solar panels, and has yet to detail its plans. nessee. manufacturer accelerate its production “We’ve got to do whatever we can to raise prices in response to the tariff s. which made Hemlock abandon its just- Hankook Tire, whose decision to “I think it goes against what (Trump) launch by ensuring that utilities and in- make sure that LG is able to still open That could dent its market share, re- completed Clarksville plant at a loss of build its fi rst US factory in Clarksville has talked about doing and that’s bring- frastructure are quickly put in place at their facility and hire people,” McMil- ducing initial output and employment, 500 initial jobs and dashing hopes for pre-dated the Hemlock closure, opened ing jobs back to America,” said Durrett, the factory site and expediting approvals. lan added. “We don’t want to see a re- said company spokesman John Taylor. more to come. the 1,000-worker plant last year. the county mayor and a Republican. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, January 30, 2018 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Australia, US join N Korea calls off joint search for sunken ferry survivors

AFP to estimate where survivors Wellington could have drifted. Olympic event: Seoul NZDF Air Commodore Dar- ryn Webb said anyone who AFP Mount Kumgang this weekend, ustralian and US air- was still alive would have been Seoul but Seoul’s unifi cation ministry craft will join the adrift for about a week. said the North told it the per- Asearch for survivors “There’s a thought that formance had been called off and from a ferry which sank with there could be a liferaft with orth Korea has called off Pyongyang had taken umbrage at 50 people aboard in the remote other survivors on it...we re- a joint cultural perform- critical media coverage. Pacifi c, rescue offi cials said main optimistic that we may Nance with artistes from The North’s decision to at- yesterday. fi nd more survivors,” he told the South ahead of the forth- tend Pyeongchang came after A New Zealand Air Force Radio New Zealand. coming Winter Olympics, Seoul months of entreaties from Seoul Orion plane, which on Sunday He said the seven people said yesterday, underscoring to participate in a “peace Olym- found seven survivors drifting found aboard the dinghy were the fragility of their Games-led pics”, and the two have agreed in a dinghy, is already combing safely picked up by a nearby rapprochement. to form a unifi ed women’s ice a search area larger than Italy. fi shing vessel and a Kiribati The event at Mount Kum- hockey team, their fi rst such side The survivors – three men, patrol boat would transfer gang, a renowned scenic spot since 1991. three women and a 14-year- them back to land. in the North, had been due to But there has been criti- old girl – had been aboard the Two commercial vessels are take place on Sunday as part of cism in the South that Seoul MV Butiraoi, which set off also assisting with the search. a fl urry of talks and visits be- has made too many concessions from Kiribati on January 18. The Butiraoi was last heard tween Seoul and nuclear-armed to Pyongyang to persuade it to Offi cials in the island nation from on January 18 when it Pyongyang ahead of the Games participate, and that the unifi ed raised the alarm on Friday af- left Nonouti on a 250km (155- in Pyeongchang next month. team will deprive some South- ter hearing nothing from the mile) trip to Betio, the largest The moves, triggered by the ern skaters of their chance to vessel since its departure. township of Kiribati’s capital North’s leader Kim Jong-un in compete on the Olympic stage. An Australian Maritime city, South Tarawa. his New Year speech, come af- Pyongyang has also said it Safety Authority jet and a US Local authorities said the ter a year in which Pyongyang will commemorate the 70th an- A North Korean women’s ice hockey athlete is congratulated on her birthday in Jincheon National Training Coast Guard Hercules agreed 17.5m wooden catamaran ran carried out multiple missile niversary of the foundation of Centre in Jincheon, South Korea. to join the search yesterday, aground and underwent re- launches and its most power- its regular military on February Rescue Co-ordination Centre pairs to its propeller shaft ful nuclear test to date, sending 8 – the day before the opening the North’s sincere eff orts made “making a desperate bid with ise because of the North’s uni- NZ said. before it left Nonouti. fears of confl ict on the peninsula ceremony for the Olympics – for the Pyeongchang Olym- blood-shot eyes” to disrupt im- lateral notice,” the unifi cation The centre’s senior search New Zealand sent a military soaring. and satellite photos have shown pics, and even took issue with proved relations between the ministry said. and rescue offi cer Greg John- aircraft to conduct sweeps of As well as athletes, Pyongyang soldiers and armoured vehicles the North’s internal celebra- two, which they considered “a “Also, we would like to stress ston said the remote area the area after being called in to is sending hundreds of other del- rehearsing for a possible parade tory event, leaving the North no horrible nightmare of tightening that both South and the North where the ferry went miss- help late Friday by Fiji author- egates to attend and hold parallel that would amount to a show of choice but to cancel the agreed- their windpipes”. should implement without fail ing made it a challenging ities who are co-ordinating events, including cheerleaders military strength. upon event.” Seoul urged Pyongyang not to the agreements made based upon operation. the search. and artistes who will mount cul- The unifi cation ministry, Only hours earlier, the North’s unwind the agreements further. on the spirit of mutual trust and He said 385,000sqkm Kiribati, a nation of 33 at- tural performances in Seoul and which oversees relations with KCNA offi cial news agency car- “The South Korean govern- understanding at a time when we (150,000sq miles) had already olls and reefs with a total Games venue Gangneung. Pyongyang, said the North said ried a report citing the Rodong ment fi nds it very regrettable managed to take with diffi culty a been searched and the area population of about 110,000, South Koreans had been due to South Korean press “was fan- Sinmun newspaper saying con- that the event agreed upon by fi rst step towards the improvement was constantly expanding as lies some 3,460km northeast take part in a reciprocal event at ning public opinion that insults servatives in the south were both Koreas will not material- of inter-Korea ties.” current modelling was used of Fiji. Cremations China calls AU spying Day out in snow quadruple in ageing report ‘preposterous’

Japan AFP sational story, but is also pre- and Ethiopian Prime Minister Addis Ababa posterous and absurd,” Chinese Hailemariam Desalegn down- DPA envoy Kuang Weilin said on the played Le Monde’s fi ndings. Tokio sidelines of the AU summit in “There is nothing to be spied hina’s ambassador to Addis Ababa. (on). I don’t believe it,” he told the African Union yes- The twice-yearly meet- journalists. s the average age of Japan’s Cterday denounced as ing is taking place in a soaring Le Monde says the AU’s population rises, so does “absurd” a report by French conference hall built by the servers were changed and its IT Athe number of funerals. newspaper Le Monde alleging Chinese as a symbol of their systems redone after the copy- This has put additional strain that Beijing has been spying on friendship with Africa and in- ing was found. on crematoriums in the capital the continental body. augurated the same year the The newspaper also reports Tokyo, which are having to work at The report published last alleged spying began. Ethiopian cyber security ex- capacity, according to local media. week claims technicians at Weilin said the report pub- perts removed microphones A survey by national broadcaster the body’s headquarters in the lished last week on the eve of hidden in the desks and walls of NHK and published yesterday re- Ethiopian capital discovered the summit “will undermine the headquarters. vealed that the number of cremations last year that the contents the image of the newspa- China is deeply invested in in 12 state-run facilities has risen of their computers had been per” but not the relationship Africa, regularly off ering low- from 20,000 per year 10 years ago to regularly copied to servers in between China and Africa. interest loans and gifts to in- 80,000 in the past fi nancial year. Shanghai since 2012, citing The AU leadership did not dividual nations and doing People visiting the West Lake after a snowfall in Hangzhou in China’s eastern Zhejiang province The vast majority of Japanese several unnamed AU sources. address the report in their $149.2bn (120.3bn euros) in trade yesterday. who pass away are cremated, and “I think the report is a sen- opening remarks on Sunday, with the continent in 2016. some crematoriums are expand- ing the number of furnaces to cope with demand, the report said. Police round up transvestites in Indonesia With space for new facilities hard to fi nd in densely-populat- Police in Indonesia’s Aceh province the top of their lungs so they can ed areas, the pressure is starting Thai pollster quits after scandal survey buried rounded up 12 transvestites and produce their male voices,” he added. to have an eff ect on burial cus- made them wear male clothing, a Under a version of Islamic law in toms, for example the custom of AFP watches, an embarrassment for tute of Development Adminis- public as the country’s National news report said yesterday. place in the semi-autonomous Aceh, avoiding burials on “unlucky” Bangkok the generals who seized pow- tration, a university in Bangkok. Anti-Corruption Commission The transvestites were arrested men who dress as women are not days of the calendar. er in 2014 vowing to end the His survey asked respondents has yet to decide on carrying out on Sunday in several beauty allowed to serve female customers. The city of Kawasaki neigh- country’s political turmoil and whether they believed Prawit’s an offi cial graft probe and that parlours where they were working Aceh is the only Indonesian bouring Tokyo has already de- Thai pollster said he was endemic corruption. answer about the origins of his the survey should not focus on in North Aceh district as part of province allowed to impose Shariah cided to give up on preserving resigning yesterday after In recent weeks Internet pricey wristwear. More than 80 a single person within the junta. a crackdown on what authorities as part of the central government’s this custom. Ahis boss held back a survey sleuths have dug up photos of percent said they didn’t but the Arnond responded that call “social ills,” local police chief attempts to appease a drive for Japan is ageing faster than any on a watch scandal dogging the Prawit wearing more than two results were blocked, prompt- Prawit, who is deputy prime Untung Surianata told the state- independence in the region. other industrialised nation, with deputy prime minister as criti- dozen luxury watches which he ing him to quit the post. minister and defence minister, run Antara news agency. But elsewhere in Indonesia, more than a quarter of the popu- cism piles up on the junta for not has explained away as tempo- “I cannot work if I do not have remains a public fi gure. “These transvestites will be re- sexual minorities have also been lation now over 65 years old. taking action against the general. rary loans from friends. freedom of academic expres- NIDA’s president Pradid educated so they can be real men,” subjected to discrimination. Low birth rates mean how- The military regime’s number The scandal was a timely sion,” he said, though he will Wanrat, who is also a member Surianata was quoted as saying. Police in the country’s two largest ever that the population is due two Prawit Wongsuwan has subject for Arnond Sakworaw- remain a member of the faculty. of the junta-backed National The off icer said they told to wear cities have raided gay clubs and briefly to shrink in the next 35 years to been under growing pressure to ich, who recently became chief Arnond said he had been told Legislative Assembly, admitted male clothing. “Off icers also asked detained dozens of people suspected under 100mn, from 127mn now. explain his penchant for luxury pollster at the National Insti- the poll could “mislead” the to blocking the poll. them to run briefly and scream from of engaging in gay prostitution. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 30, 2018 11 BRITAIN/IRELAND

CRIME VERDICT HEARING LAW AND ORDER COMPENSATION Gang targets trader in first N Ireland terrorist Man admits attempted Murder hunt launched Police face huge bill over bitcoin armed robbery jailed for six years murder of four children after playground stabbing cathedral terror attack

Armed robbers have raided the house of a virtual A former pro-British paramilitary leader in A 29-year-old man has admitted trying to murder A murder hunt was under way yesterday after Police are facing a bill for thousands of pounds currency trader, forcing him to transfer Bitcoins Northern Ireland, who turned police informer, four young children by beating them with a a man collapsed on a children’s play area after special forces blew up parts of Southwark after tying up his wife and threatening him with a was yesterday sentenced to at least six-and-a-half hammer and then crashing a car into a wall. Owen after being stabbed multiple times. A woman cathedral during the terrorist attack at London gun, the media reported yesterday. The robbery years in prison for 202 terror off ences including Scott was arrested after the car he was driving passer-by told how she used her coat to try to Bridge last year. They broke down cathedral happened on January 22 at the couple’s home in five murders. Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) unit crashed into a pub in Barnsley, south Yorkshire, stem the flow of blood as the man lay dying doors and smashed glass as they searched the the village of Moulsford, according to the Daily leader Gary Haggarty, 46, struck a deal that saw on August 23 last year. Four children were in the after being chased through an estate in Stoke area for potential terrorists during the attack Mail, which said the cryptocurrency crime was the him receive a reduced prison term in return vehicle – two girls, aged seven and eight, and two Newington. The 24-year-old said: “I heard three in June in which eight died. The cathedral has first of its kind. Four robbers wearing balaclavas for admitting the murders and giving evidence boys aged 21 months and nine months. They were terrible pained screams. I looked over and I applied to the Met Police’s insurance and claims broke into the house of Danny Aston, 30, and against fellow paramilitaries, one of whom is to taken to hospital in a serious condition with injuries saw three men. One was staggering towards service to cover the £10,000 cost of repairs his wife Amy Jay, 31. A Thames Valley Police be prosecuted over a murder as a result. Judge “not all thought to be consistent with the collision”, the children’s play park. There was blood all to doors and a gate. An Army unit nicknamed spokesman quoted by the Daily Telegraph said Adrian Colton at Belfast Crown Court called according to police at the time. At Sheff ield crown the way down his right side. It looked like he Blue Thunder landed by helicopter on London only that police were investigating an “aggravated Haggarty’s case one of “exceptional gravity”. As court yesterday, Scott pleaded guilty to four had been stabbed a lot of times. He asked me Bridge to support police dealing with the attack. burglary” in Moulsford last week and that the well as the five murders, Haggarty admitted five counts of attempted murder and driving a vehicle for water. I ran towards him to help and at the They arrived moments after police shot dead occupants of the house had been “threatened”. attempted murders during the period 1991-2007. dangerously before the crash at the Travellers Inn. same time phoned the emergency services.” three terrorists in Borough Market. Government ‘Hate leader’ in court ‘in pockets of landlords,’ says Corbyn

Guardian News and Media ment committee yesterday. London “The problem is quite simply shocking,” Wales told the MPs. “Twenty-fi ve people living in a eremy Corbyn has accused three-bedroom house is not unu- the government of being “in sual. There was a guy on a raid I Jthe pockets of rogue land- went on sleeping under the stairs. lords” and unable to fi x what he Harry Potter had more room (at called a “crisis level” of squal- the Dursleys’ house). This is what or at the bottom of the rented our country is like in London and housing market. in other cities in the country.” More than half a million peo- He is calling for councils to be ple aged under 35 are estimated given powers to confi scate prop- to be living in rented properties erty from rogue landlords. so hazardous they are likely to A spokesman for the min- lead to residents needing medi- istry of housing said: “Every- Far-right group Britain First leader Paul Golding and deputy Jayda Fransen arrive at the Folkestone Magistrates Court in Kent yesterday. They stand accused of causing cal attention, the Guardian re- one deserves a safe and decent religiously aggravated harassment. ported on Sunday. home and we have given coun- Responding to the story, the La- cils strong powers to crack- bour leader said: “The squalid and down on bad landlords and we unsafe conditions that hundreds expect them to use them. We of thousands of people face are at have brought in £30,000 fi nes, crisis level. The broken housing are introducing a database of market is in urgent need of a com- bad landlords and given coun- plete overhaul. The Conservatives cils £12mn to enforce the law in can’t fi x the housing crisis because hotspot areas. We are also sup- they’re in the pockets of property porting Karen Buck’s private speculators and rogue landlords, member’s bill which will require ‘Beleaguered’ May faces not on the side of tenants.” all landlords ensure their prop- But the Housing Secretary, erties are safe and give tenants Sajid Javid, has insisted the the right to take legal action.” government is backing greater Buck is a Labour backbencher rights for tenants to take on whose housing fi tness bill has rogue landlords, amid growing become the focus of cross-party concern at the exploitation of policy attempts to tackle the pressure over Brexit law tenants in all parts of the private squalor problem. The bill would rented sector but particularly in give tenants the power to take Reuters gaff es and an ill-judged election essentially in one move, allow- But more criticism over what for bowing to EU demands and urban areas with severe short- landlords directly to court if they London that lost her party its majority ing for changes later. even some government offi cials accepting the status quo. ages of rented homes. were renting homes in disrepair. in parliament. “We acknowledge the scale, say was a hastily created bill to Since being appointed prime In September he said he would Although the government said Facing calls to axe her fi nance challenge and unprecedented “copy and paste” EU rules and minister shortly after the “Re- consult the judiciary about the it would back the bill, in 2016 rime Minister Theresa minister, who favours a gen- nature of the task of converting regulations into British law by main” side, which she backed, prospect of a new housing court Javid and the current Housing May came under further tle Brexit, and criticism over existing EU law into UK law, but the time it leaves the bloc next lost a referendum on EU mem- to deliver “faster, more eff ective, Minister, Dominic Raab, were Ppressure over her Brexit a lack of big ideas to revive the as it stands this bill is consti- year underlines the size of the bership in June 2016, May’s justice” and reassure tenants among 309 Conservative MPs blueprint yesterday, with mem- fortunes of the Conservatives, tutionally unacceptable,” said task facing May. style of leadership has been there was somewhere with the who voted against an amendment bers of the upper house of par- May needs to drive through leg- Ann Taylor, head of the infl u- In Brussels, EU ministers, increasingly challenged by her “power to put it right”. to the housing and planning bill liament saying there were “fun- islation to sever ties with the EU ential Constitution Committee. whose unity in the negotiations party, which is losing support Currently, wronged tenants to “require that residential rented damental fl aws” in a law crucial before March next year. “The bill grants ministers has amplifi ed the arguments in at a time when the opposition must rely on councils to take ac- accommodation is provided and to the departure. The largely pro-EU House of overly-broad powers to do Britain, are due to formally en- Labour Party is enjoying record tion against bad landlords, but maintained in a state of fi tness for The law has also deepened Lords, which will start debat- whatever they think is ‘appro- dorse its guidelines for a tran- levels of members. many do not do so. However, human habitation”. splits in her Conservative Party, ing the European Union (With- priate’ to correct ‘defi ciencies’ sition period that will leave the Her spokesman defended the even when landlords are suc- The government said it would which has for years been divid- drawal) Bill today, have made in retained EU law,” the com- relationship largely unchanged. prime minister’s record, saying cessfully prosecuted, some con- result in unnecessary regulation ed over Britain’s relations with no secret of their opposition to mittee said in a report. But even with both sides she had not only won an agree- sider fi nes “part of the business and cost to landlords, pushing the European Union. the legislation which they say While many peers are opposed mostly in agreement over the ment with the EU to move onto model”, Sir Robin Wales, the up rents. It said local authorities It is yet another battle for a amounts to little more than a to the legislation, the House of transition period bar a few ques- the second phase of negotiations leader of the London Borough already had strong and eff ective weakened prime minister whose power grab by the government. Lords is not expected to veto tions over citizens’ rights and on future ties, she had also boost- of Newham, told the Commons powers to deal with poor quality leadership is being questioned It is designed to put current the law after it was passed in the trade agreements, May faces ed housebuilding, education communities and local govern- and unsafe accommodation. after scandals within her party, EU legislation into British law lower house of parliament. criticism by Brexit campaigners standards and health funding.

Crash site Two babies ‘dying every Thomas Cook unveils week due to bed-sharing’ sunbed booking plan Guardian News and Media though the cost will rise as the London £22 fee is per lounger. Guardian News and Media their partners need to be aware in the child’s fi rst few months, Thomas Cook plans to off er London of the risks around co-sleep- with many doing so because of pre-bookable sunbeds at 30 ing and take steps to minimise desperation and/or exhaustion. s this the end of the battle hotels this summer. Between them. There have also been con- for the sunbed? Thomas 10% and 20% of a hotel’s he deaths of more than “If women do choose to co- cerns that insufficient dis- ICook is off ering holiday- sunbeds will be bookable to two babies a week are sleep there are precautions they tinction is made between makers the chance to pre- ensure there are enough avail- Tlinked to sleeping in the can take that may minimise the sharing a bed and falling book sun loungers, eliminat- able for those who don’t want same bed as one or more par- risk to their baby. These in- asleep on a sofa or chair, given ing the need for the dawn dash to book. ents, offi cial fi gures show. clude making sure bedding is that the former is believed to to the pool to bag one with a The Thomas Cook UK man- Co-sleeping has been linked not covering all of the baby’s carry a lower risk. towel. aging director, Chris Mot- to 665 baby deaths over the head, avoiding the baby getting Some Sids cases are reported For £22, customers will be tershead, said: “Traditional past fi ve years, according to overheated and ensuring the to have occurred when par- able to book a specifi c sun package holidays are a thing department for education baby cannot fall out of the bed ents following the advice not lounger for their entire holiday. of the past. Holidaymakers to- data. or get trapped between the bed to bed-share have taken their The Anglo-German company day want to personalise their Sharing a bed with a baby and a wall. babies on to a sofa and acciden- says it is the UK’s fi rst package package, mixing and matching has been associated with sud- “The risks to the baby are tally fallen asleep. holiday fi rm to off er this serv- the elements that best fi t their den infant death syndrome also far greater if the parent A spokeswoman for the Lull- ice, which it is trialling at three needs and lifestyle.” (Sids), particularly when a par- sleeps with the baby on a sofa aby Trust said: “It is important hotels in Lanzarote, Gran Ca- Travel fi rms receive numer- ent has been drinking alcohol or in an armchair, so this abso- to note that the cause of Sids naria and Fuerteventura from ous complaints from custom- or smokes, although no causal lutely should be avoided.” remains unknown and there- the end of February. ers unable to use hotel sunbeds link has been established. The NHS advice is for a baby fore it cannot be said that in the Customers will receive an because many are reserved by Figures obtained by the Mir- to sleep in its own cot for the case of those babies who sadly e-mail six days before de- people leaving towels, books ror through a freedom of in- fi rst six months in a room with died that co-sleeping was the parture asking if they would and other belongings on them. formation request show there the parent, but it is a highly cause. All that is known is that like to choose their sunbed in A separate service allow- were 141 deaths linked to co- emotive subject and some have co-sleeping was identifi ed as a advance. They will be able to ing customers to select their sleeping in 2017, 131 in 2016, warned that stigmatising co- risk factor that was present. choose their preferred spot on hotel room before the start of 121 in 2015, 141 in 2014 and 131 sleeping is unhelpful given how “What this does demon- A woman places floral tributes near to the spot where the a pool plan featuring a com- their trip attracted more than in 2013. widespread it is. strate is the importance of three teenagers were struck in Shepiston Lane, Hayes. Jaynesh pass to help them work out 10,000 bookings during a trial Gail Johnson, an education The National Childbirth reaching all parents with safer Chudasama, of Hayes, west London, appeared at the Uxbridge what time of the day areas will phase last year, Thomas Cook adviser at the Royal College of Trust (NCT) says that around sleep advice, which includes magistrates’ court yesterday accused of three counts of causing be in the sun or shade. said. It will be available in 300 Midwives, said: “These statis- half of mothers share a bed guidance on when it is not safe death by dangerous driving. It means families can pick hotels this summer and cost tics are a concern. Women and with their baby at some point to share a bed with a baby.” several sunbeds together, al- £26.41 per room. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, January 30, 2018 EUROPE Dutch banks, revenue service hit by cyber attacks

AFP The top Dutch bank by assets, ents don’t have access or very and we are investigating the inci- data traffi c causing our servers “I think these (recent) attacks cial evidence” to US counterparts The Hague ING, experienced a so-called dis- little access to online banking,” dent,” he told AFP. to overload and which put pres- are serious, but our own web- about Russian online meddling in tributed denial of service (ddos) Rabobank spokeswoman Margo Later in the afternoon, yet an- sure on the availability of online site is being attacked thousands the 2016 elections. attack on Sunday evening while van Wijgerden said. other attack briefl y hit DigiD, the banking,” ING said on its web- of times per day,” Knot told the Erik de Jong, chief research he top three banks in the the eurozone nation’s third larg- “We are working to resolve Dutch offi cial online signature site, adding services had been Buitenhof talk show. “That is the offi cer at the Delft-based cyber Netherlands have been est lender, ABN Amro, suff ered the problem as quickly as pos- system used by more than 12mn restored. reality in 2018.” security fi rm Fox-IT said the best Ttargeted in rolling multiple three attacks over the weekend in sible,” she told AFP, with Dutch citizens in the country of 17mn. ABN Amro experienced a simi- Dutch anti-terror chief Dick defence is to ensure proper sys- cyber attacks over the past week, a total of seven over the last week, news reports later saying that the “This was not a hack and peo- lar attack but also said services Schoof said as “ddos attacks be- tems were in place. blocking access to websites and Dutch media reported. problem had been fi xed by 11am ple’s private details were never in were restored. come more advanced, we need Since a previous large-scale Internet banking services. Rabobank, the country’s (1000 GMT). danger,” Rick Bron, a spokesman The banks stressed that client to continue to invest in digital attack in 2013, “banks have made The Dutch Revenue Service number two lender, saw its In- Also yesterday, the Dutch Rev- for DigiD said. details were not compromised. safety”. enormous investments in beefi ng and a national digital signature ternet banking services go down enue Services saw its website go ING, which has some 8mn pri- It is not the fi rst time Dutch However, Schoof would not be up their systems”, he said. system were also hit yesterday by early yesterday. down for about 10 minutes due vate clients, experienced an at- banks have been targeted in a drawn into suggestions linking “But it remains a cat-and- similar attacks, but services were “We have been targeted by a to an attack, spokesman Andre tack on Sunday evening. ddos attack, central bank chief the latest attacks to revelations mouse game between putting de- quickly restored, spokesmen for ddos attack since 9.10am (0810 Karels said. “During the ddos attack ING’s Klaas Knot told a TV news pro- last week that Dutch intelligence fences in place and what attack- both organisations said. GMT) this morning and our cli- “Things are running as normal Internet site was blasted with gramme on Sunday. services may have provided “cru- ers will do next,” de Jong said.

German workers Carmakers rapped over to start 24-hour tests on people, animals walkouts AFP that the same organisation car- late 2016 to dissolve the EUGT, the levels of NO2 inhaled by the Reuters Frankfurt am Main ried out tests on monkeys in the which shut its doors last year. test subjects were “well below Duesseldorf/Munich United States in 2014. The tests involving 25 human those found in many workplaces According to the NYT article, volunteers were carried out at a in Germany”. erman carmakers came the researchers locked 10 mon- university hospital in the Ger- The World Health Organi- erman industrial work- under fi re yesterday fol- keys into airtight chambers and man city of Aachen in 2013 and sation says on its website that ers will start a fresh wave Glowing revelations that made them breathe in diesel ex- 2014. there is “growing evidence” Gof walkouts at metals and they helped fi nance experiments hausts from a VW Beetle while As part of the study, the par- that nitrogen dioxide expo- engineering companies across that saw humans and monkeys watching cartoons. ticipants were exposed for sev- sure “can increase symptoms of the country late today, labour exposed to diesel fumes that Volkswagen apologised for the eral hours to diff erent levels of bronchitis and asthma, as well union IG Metall said after last- have been linked to asthma, lung animal testing at the weekend, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) – the as lead to respiratory infections ditch talks over wages and work- diseases and heart attacks. saying that the group “distances most toxic form of nitrogen ox- and reduced lung function and ing hours failed to reach a deal The disclosures sparked itself clearly from all forms of ide and commonly found in die- growth”. over the weekend. widespread outrage, led by animal abuse”. sel exhausts. Exposure is “linked to pre- In the state of North Rhine- Chancellor Angela Merkel who The German government has The researchers detected “no mature mortality... from car- Westphalia, Germany’s indus- strongly condemned the latest called a special meeting with the This August 7, 2017 file photo shows a hose for an emission test signifi cant eff ects”, according to diovascular and respiratory dis- trial heartland, workers will controversy to engulf the na- aff ected car companies to ask fixed in the exhaust pipe of a Volkswagen Golf 2.0-litre diesel car a summary of the study. eases”, it states. down their tools for 24 hours at tion’s powerful but scandal- them to explain themselves, said at the Technical Inspection Agency in Ludwigsburg, southwestern However, Thomas Kraus, the The premier of Lower Saxony, a time through Friday evening, tainted auto industry. acting transport minister Chris- Germany. The German government has strongly condemned head of the relevant depart- whose state is home to VW’s with US carmaker Ford among “These tests on monkeys tian Schmidt. revelations that three carmakers had tested the eff ects of diesel ment at the university hospital Wolfsburg headquarters and is the companies aff ected, the un- or even humans are in no way “This has once again dam- fumes on monkeys and humans, adding that it had asked BMW, in Aachen, told German media one of the group’s biggest share- ion’s regional chapter said. ethically justifi ed,” said Merkel’s aged trust in the auto industry,” Volkswagen and Daimler to explain themselves. that the fi ndings were limited holders, echoed Berlin’s repu- Emboldened by the fastest spokesman Steff en Seibert. “The he said. as they were not representative diation of the tests. economic growth in six years and indignation felt by many people It was VW’s admission in 2015 in question – the now defunct said in a statement, while VW of the wider population and did The experiments are “absurd record low unemployment, the is completely understandable.” that it had manipulated 11mn European Research Group on said that the EUGT was set up not take into account general air and disgusting”, said Stephan union is demanding an 8% pay Earlier yesterday the Sued- diesel cars with cheating soft- Environment and Health in the to be an “independent” research pollution. Weil, whose state holds two seats rise over 27 months for 3.9mn deutsche and Stuttgarter Zeitung ware to make them seems less Transport Sector (EUGT) – and body. The institute separately re- on VW’s supervisory board. metals and engineering workers. dailies reported that a research polluting than they were that promised to launch internal in- Although it was the EUGT leased a statement stressing that He reminded the VW group The union has also asked for group funded by Volkswagen, brought close scrutiny to the vestigations. that commissioned both tests, the study had been approved by that it “must meet all ethical re- workers to be given the right to Daimler and BMW had ordered industry, which had long touted “We are appalled by the extent the organisation itself was fi - the university hospital’s ethics quirements”. reduce their weekly hours to 28 a study in Germany measuring diesels as better for the environ- of the studies and their imple- nanced by the trio of car giants commission and was not linked The latest scandal “will have from 35 to care for children, eld- the eff ects of inhaling nitrogen ment than gasoline-powered mentation,” a Daimler spokes- hoping its research would de- to any diesel emissions testing. a lasting impact on the public’s erly or sick relatives, and return oxide gases on 25 healthy human engines. man told AFP. fend diesel’s green reputation – The study was about improv- trust in the auto industry,” pre- to full time after two years. beings. All three German carmakers “The BMW Group did not and the valuable tax breaks that ing “workplace safety” for peo- dicted analyst Ferdinand Du- Employers have off ered a 6.8% The revelation came just days scrambled to distance them- participate in the mentioned go with it. ple like truck drivers, mechanics denhoeff er of the Centre for Au- increase but have rejected the after the New York Times wrote selves from the research body studies,” the luxury carmaker The car companies decided in or welders, it said, adding that tomotive Research. demand for shorter hours unless they can also increase workers’ hours when necessary. “It is important that compa- nies have enough hours of work to make their goods,” Oliver Seine peaks as Paris eyes clean-up Zander, chief of employers’ as- sociation Gesamtmetall, said yesterday. AFP Some suburbs of the capi- as he toured by boat some of the The employers have an- Paris tal have been turned into lakes, fl ooded towns southeast of Paris nounced plans to fi le a legal chal- with residents forced to don yesterday. lenge to halt the strikes and avert waders and get around by canoe. Around 1,500 people have what Zander said was bound to he River Seine peaked The river rose to 5.85m (19.2’) been evacuated from their be “huge” fi nancial damage. yesterday at more than early yesterday, causing contin- homes in the greater Paris re- Nearly 1mn workers have al- T4m above its normal level, ued headaches for commuters gion, according to police, while ready taken part in short walk- heralding a lengthy mop-up job as well as people living near its 1,900 households have lost elec- outs lasting no more than a few for Parisians after days of rising overfl owing banks. tricity. hours at a time across the coun- waters that have put the soggy The Vigicrues fl ooding agency Tourists have also suff ered try this month to support IG city on alert. said the river would stay at its with the capital’s river cruise Metall’s demands. This December and January current level throughout the day boats out of service and its An escalation to 24-hour have been France’s wettest for before receding today. pretty riverside walkways deep strikes is the union’s last warn- 50 years, the national weather However, more rain is forecast underwater, though plenty have Minister Hulot (third left), mayor of Thomery Bruno Michel (front right) and prefect of the Seine-et- ing shot before it ballots its agency said – and the saturated starting tomorrow, according to come to look instead at the swol- Marne department, Beatrice Abollivier (rear centre), take part in a rescue boat ride through the flooded members for extended industrial ground in the Paris region means Environment Minister Nicolas len Seine and snap photographs. streets of Thomery, near Fontainebleau, south of Paris, yesterday. action that could be crippling that even though the waters are Hulot, and water levels are ex- The river did not quite reach to companies reliant on a well- now set to recede, the clean-up pected to stay high for at least the 2016 high of 6.1m, when level of the Louvre’s Islamic arts the potential damage to build- the west of Paris, “everyone is oiled supply chain of car parts will be slow. another week. priceless artworks had to be wing closed to visitors. ings and infrastructure that have getting around by boat”, said lo- and other components. “Lessons need to be learned “Let’s not chalk up every event evacuated from the Louvre. Police warned people against been submerged since the water cal Serge Matikhin. In 1984, workers staged seven from this,” said top Paris offi cial to climate change, but even so, But the world’s most visited bathing or canoeing in the river, started rising in early January. “The mood is still good, we weeks of strikes to help push Michel Delpuech. “We know this these events are more frequent museum was still on alert, along saying it was “forbidden and ex- Across France, 12 departments are used to it – in 20 years we are through IG Metall’s demand for type of phenomenon will hap- and more intense ... so we’re go- with the Musee d’Orsay and Or- tremely dangerous”. were still on fl ood alert. on our eighth or ninth fl ood,” he a cut in the working week to 35 pen again.” ing to have to adapt,” Hulot said angerie galleries, with the lower Questions were turning to On the island of Migneaux to said. hours from 40 hours.

Europe faces fl ood-fi lled future: study

AFP The world’s nations committed in the Accurate projections of the rate of Paris Paris Agreement inked in 2015 to limit change are crucial for risk planning. average global warming under 2°C – “This work confi rms that the impacts while aiming for an aspirational 1.5°C of global warming on river fl ood risk in s Paris began mopping up after – over pre-Industrial Revolution levels. Europe are widespread and often signifi - the rain-gorged river Seine over- Under the historic pact, countries cant,” the study authors wrote. Afl owed for the second time in two vowed voluntary cuts in planet-warm- “Our results show that substan- years, researchers warned yesterday that ing emissions from burning coal, oil and tial impacts can be avoided by limiting Europe faces a fl ood-fi lled future due to natural gas for energy. global warming to lower temperature global warming. Scientists say the Earth has already thresholds. However, a considerable in- Flood damage from rivers in Europe warmed by a full degree on average, and crease in fl ood risk is predicted in Europe will more than double to €15bn ($19bn) that, even if all nations fulfi l their pledg- even under the most optimistic scenario per year, even under the most optimistic es, it will warm by at least 3°C. of 1.5°C warming.” planet-warming forecast, said a study The European Commission’s Joint In Paris, the Seine peaked yesterday at published in the journal Climate. Research Centre took part in the latest more than 4m above its usual level. In the best-case scenario, average research, which collated data from mul- On Sunday Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo warming is contained to 1.5° Celsius tiple modelling tools. cited the 2016 and 2018 Seine surges as (2.7° Fahrenheit), and the number of Floods are already among the most evidence of the need for Paris to “adapt” people aff ected by fl oods rises 86% to costly natural disasters aff ecting Europe. to the risks of climate change. an estimated 650,000 per year, said the Their impact has been boosted in re- Earlier this month, a study in the jour- authors. cent decades by growing cities and pop- nal Science Advances warned that within In the dreaded scenario of a 3°C- ulations. 25 years, global warming will expose warmer planet, projected fl ood dam- Climate change is likely to alter rain- millions more people around the world age for Europe shoots up 145% to about fall patterns, with a warmer atmosphere to river fl ooding – particularly in the €17bn per year, aff ecting some 780,000 able to hold more moisture, released as United States and parts of Asia, Africa, people – a much larger increase of 123%. rain or snow. and central Europe. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 30, 2018 13 INDIA

ACCIDENT PEOPLE CRIME POLLUTION LAW AND ORDER Nine hurt as Kerala Calicut University honours Severed human head Toxic air pollutants very Gangster flees from temple roof caves in Mohanlal and P T Usha found in Telangana town high in Chennai: survey police custody in Punjab

Almost two years after 110 people died in a Kerala governor and Calicut University A severed head of a man was found in Telangana’s Chennai residents are breathing unhealthy air Just a couple of days after the Punjab Police was firecracker tragedy at the Puttingal temple at chancellor P Sathasivam yesterday conferred Nalgonda town yesterday, police said. The most of the time, a real-time, first-of-its-kind hailed for killing two notorious gangsters, the Paravur, nine workers were injured yesterday the D. Litt on Malayalam superstar Mohanlal and decapitated head was kept on the wall in citizen-led air quality monitoring network claimed force had to face embarrassment when a gangster when a newly-cast concrete roof caved in, veteran athlete P T Usha. The honorary degree Bottuguda area of the town. Police identified the yesterday. The data collected a daily average of escaped from its custody from the court complex police said. According to a Paravur police was awarded to the two legends after four years man as 25-year-old P Ramesh and launched a the levels of the dangerous tiny particulate matter, in Amritsar. Rajat Malhotra, also known as Karan official, a group of 19 workers was about since it was first announced. Mohanlal, one of hunt for the torso. Ramesh, a tractor driver, was known as PM 2.5, which lodge deep in human Masti, escaped from the custody of the police to finish casting of the roof in the temple the two reigning superstars in the Malayalam murdered after he left his home on Sunday night. lungs, from Kuruvimedu (Vallur), Kodungaiyur, team accompanying him to the court complex compound when a portion of it came down. film industry in a career spanning close to four A police off icer said they were probing the case Anna Salai at Teynampet and Mugatwarakuppam in Amritsar. Police off icials said Malhotra was in It was on April 10 last year that a man with a decades, continues his glorious run at the top. from all angles. The owner of the tractor was also in Ennore. It found the air ranging from unhealthy handcuff s and was being taken to the third floor of burning firecracker in his hand had entered Usha, 53, is an employee of the Indian Railways. being questioned. This is the second murder in to hazardous for more than 80% of the time. The the district court complex building, where he was the concrete building that stored powerful She also runs the P T Usha School of Athletics the town in less than a week. B Srinivas, husband data was collected from January 1 to January 23 in to be produced, when he freed his hands and fled. firecrackers, leading to the collapse of the in her hometown near Kozhikode. As a 16-year- of Nalgonda municipal chairperson B Lakshmi, all the locations. The New Delhi-based Lung Care The police team accompanying him tried to chase entire building within seconds. At least 110 old, she became the youngest Indian sprinter to was murdered with boulders by few people Foundation said the data indicates that residents him but could not nab him. Malhotra is facing people were killed in the incident. compete in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. during a quarrel on the night of January 24. are breathing unhealthy air most of the time. charges for murder and robberies. Yechury move to impeach chief justice criticised

IANS signed to him and justice J S Khe- New Delhi har (who later rose to be CJI) when they hadn’t served for too long in the Supreme Court. ormer Supreme Court Describing the move as “pre- judges and legal luminar- mature”, devoid of any “verifi able Fies have taken a dim view and defi nite allegations”, justice B of CPI-M general secretary Si- Sudarshan Reddy (retd) said: “A taram Yechury’s move to initi- move to impeach a judge or a chief ate impeachment proceedings justice is fraught with serious for removing the chief justice of consequences.” India, Dipak Misra, on the issues Pointing to the seriousness that raised by four senior judges in is inherent in taking recourse to their now famous “Friday press Article 124 (4), of the constitu- conference” on January 12. tion, justice Reddy said: “As I fi nd They say “there is no case at from the press reports, nobody is all” and that the move at best was suggesting or disclosing any such “premature”. allegation” against chief justice Justice K S Radhakrishnan (retd) Misra and “therefore it appears described the entire controversy as to me, as it is present, it is prema- being rooted in the administrative ture.” Rescue eff orts are launched after the bus accident at the Ghogra canal in Murshidabad district yesterday. side of the top court’s functioning. Article 124 (4) provides for the “It is purely an administrative issue removal of a supreme court or about the allocation of work. All the high court judge for “proved mis- constitutional bodies and offi ces behaviour or incapacity.” face such administrative or proce- “A move or a motion to impeach dural issues – be it PMO, Lok Sabha a sitting judge should not become Speaker or Rajya Sabha chairman – a plaything in the hands of the and there is an internal mechanism political class,” said justice Reddy to resolve them”, he said. who is known for his judgment 36 dead as bus falls Justice Radhakrishnan who leading to the setting up of an SIT presided over the bench that sent (special investigation team) for Sahara chief Subrata Roy to jail bringing back money laundered in and was also part of bench that overseas tax heavens. had heard Vodafone tax matter, Asserting that “politicians have pointed to the “history of cases no right to jump into the fray”, being assigned to benches having former attorney general Mukul into W Bengal canal judges with lesser number of years Rohatgi said: “It is diffi cult to in the top court.” fathom the reasons for this move IANS of the canal by deploying cranes. spot along with Transport Min- pelted police with stones and bridge and fell into the canal,” the The four judges at the Friday for impeachment. Some internal Kolkata Hundreds of villagers and anxious ister Subhendu Adhikari and torched two police vehicles, ac- passengers said. press conference were of the views rumblings within the institution relatives of the passengers gath- announced a compensation of cusing them of arriving late for Saumik Hossain, Youth Tri- that CJI was allocating certain can be resolved within the insti- ered on the canal banks. Rs500,000 to each of the be- the rescue operations. Stones namool Congress leader, Mur- high profi le and important cases tution.” He said Yechury’s move hirty-six people were “Two bodies were found fl oat- reaved families. Mamata visited were hurled at a fi re tender that shidabad, however, said: “The to the judges of his choice instead was “outrageous” and should be killed and several missing ing in the canal. Later, 34 more the hospital and spoke to the doc- was sent there to put out the fi re. accident occurred due to fog. Ini- of assigning them to judges with “nipped in the bud.” Tafter a bus with around people were found dead after the tors about the condition of the Police lobbed teargas shells and tially, some people tried to create more experience and years in the Expressing “shock” over the 50 passengers crashed through bus was partially lifted from the victims. baton-charged the protesters. a problem but the situation is now top court. move, and taking a dig at the a bridge railing and plunged into canal and rescuers managed to The chief minister also spoke Primary investigation suggests under control.” Congress leader On this, justice Radhakrishnan “casualness with which the issue a canal in West Bengal’s Mur- enter and extricate the bodies,” to some of the injured and as- the driver lost control of the vehi- Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has also said: “There is nothing like jun- of impeachment” had been raised shidabad district yesterday, po- said a civic offi cial. sured their kin of the best possible cle, the police said. reached the spot. ior judges in the Supreme Court. by the political class, senior coun- lice said. The dead included two chil- treatment. One of the rescued passengers “The chief minister only does Senior judges are only for the sel K V Vishwanathan said: “The Eight injured passengers were dren. Seven bodies have been She announced a compensa- claimed that the bus driver was ‘safe drive save life’ campaign collegium” – whose function- impeachment process ought not admitted at the Baharampur identifi ed, the police said. tion of Rs50,000 to Rs100,000 speaking on his mobile phone but the real picture is completely ing again falls within the realm of to be seen as some arbitrary and Medical College and Hospital. Rescue operations are on. for the injured. when the accident took place. diff erent. The state government administration relating to the ap- whimsical power in the hands of The Malda-bound public The bodies were being sent to One of the accident survivors “The bus driver was talking on even takes toll tax for the bridge pointment of judges. the political class. Worse still, (is) transport bus fell off the Nalini the Baharampur Medical College said close to 50 people were in mobile phone and was handling where the accident took place. We He pointed out that a case re- to think that, by threatening to ex- Buske bridge into the Gobra canal and Hospital for post mortem. the ill-fated bus that was coming the steering wheel using only want an inquiry and proper inves- lating to Sahara’s optionally fully ercise that process, the judiciary in Balirghat area around 6am. West Bengal Chief Minister from Shikarpur in Nadia district. his left hand, and suddenly it tigation on how this accident took convertible debentures was as- can be subjugated.” The bus was partially fi shed out Mamata Banerjee rushed to the Earlier in the day, angry locals rammed into the railing of the place,” Chowdhury said.

Jasraj turns 88 Diabetes rates in India Furore as farmer who ‘disturbingly high’ consumed poison dies AFP of the University of California, San Miami Francisco. Overall, prevalence of diabetes was 6.1% among women IANS En route, Patil told his son he by the death of the 84-year-old and 6.5% among men. Mumbai had consumed poison. Later his farmer” who fought against the ndia is facing an epidemic of For hypertension, it was 20% condition became critical and insensitive and apathetic govern- diabetes and high blood pres- among women and 24.5% among he was put on dialysis, but suc- ment. Isure, often called “silent kill- men. Young adults also had unex- here was outrage in Ma- cumbed late on Sunday night. “Messed up loan waiver, non- ers” because they lead to heart pectedly high rates of hyperten- harashtra political circles Maharashtra Congress presi- remunerative farm prices and disease, said a report yesterday sion — the rate was 12% among Tyesterday after a 84-year- dent Ashok Chavan said “this cruel land acquisition with unfair involving more than 1.3mn peo- those aged 18-25. “Hypertension old farmer, who had consumed is a murder” for which the gov- compensation has ended another ple. The rate of diabetes in In- was higher among adults under 45 poison at the Mantralaya – the ernment is responsible and Patil precious life,” Chavan said, de- dia is over 6%, while around one than previously estimated and was state government headquarters – should be given justice. manding a judicial probe into the quarter of people have high blood higher than in central and eastern succumbed late on Sunday. “The man had come seeking matter. “For whom is this govern- pressure, said the fi rst nation- Europe, the region previously esti- The Congress-Nationalist compensation for his land which ment really working? If you cannot ally representative fi gures on the mated to have the highest rates for Congress Party attacked the gov- was taken at a throwaway price of work in the interests of the people, topic, published in the Journal of young adults,” said the report. ernment terming it as “not a sui- around Rs400,000, while others you have no right to continue in the American Medical Association Whether rich or poor, all groups cide, but a murder” by the ruling in the neighbourhood were com- power,” said senior NCP leader and (JAMA) Internal Medicine. were similarly aff ected by diabetes Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena pensated in millions of rupees. He former deputy chief minister Ajit The rates of diabetes and hy- and high blood pressure. combine, even as senior ministers was totally crestfallen and wanted Pawar, assuring the victim’s son, pertension were particularly high Being wealthy was associated rushed to the hospital yesterday. justice but the government ig- Narendra Patil, of support in his among middle-aged and elderly with only a modestly higher risk of On January 22, farmer Dharma nored him, leaving him with no quest for justice. people. While these rates are lower diabetes, on the order of about 3%. Patil, from Dhule, had come to options,” Chavan said in a stinging Swabhimani Shetkari Sangha- than the US and China, experts Among the poorest households Mantralaya seeking enhanced attack. tana leader and MP Raju Shetty say a combination of widespread in rural areas, the rate was also compensation for his land that Leader of the opposition (NCP) said the state government and its tobacco use, genetic susceptibility high — 5.9% had diabetes and 30% was acquired by the Maharashtra in the Maharashtra legislative rehabilitation department was to diabetes and a lack of access to had hypertension. State Power Generation Company council, Dhananjay Munde, said solely responsible for Patil’s death. quality medical care are to blame. “Understanding how diabetes for a solar power project and even Patil’s death was the result of the “The offi cials should be booked “In middle-age to older adults and hypertension prevalence varies demanded to meet Chief Minister “cruelty by the government.” He under the off ence of culpable across all geographic settings within a country as large as India is Devendra Fadnavis. claimed the ruling BJP-Sena can- homicide not amounting to mur- and socioeconomic groups in the essential for targeting of prevention, However, he had suddenly not give justice to the farmers of der. Since there were no middle- Indian classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj walks his daughter country, the prevalence of both screening, and treatment services,” collapsed and was rushed to St the state. men involved, he was given a com- and producer Durga Jasraj during his 88th birthday diabetes and hypertension were said lead author Pascal Geldsetzer, a George Hospital, and later shifted Former chief minister Prithviraj pensation of only Rs400,000,” celebrations in Mumbai. disturbingly high,” said an accom- doctoral student in the department to the Sir J J Hospital. Chavan said he was “deeply pained Shetti said. panying editorial by Alka Kanaya of global health and population. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, January 30, 2018 INDIA

ACCIDENT COMMENT CRIME LAW AND ORDER LEGAL Three dead as truck falls Teachers goading students Three of family found Teenager gunned down Swamy approaches top into gorge in Uttarakhand to use cellphones: off icial murdered in Hyderabad by five youths, one held court for Pushkar probe

Three people were killed and one critically Despite a ban on the use of mobile phones The bodies of a young woman, her mother A teenager was gunned down by five youths after BJP leader Subramanian Swamy yesterday injured when a truck fell into a gorge in Tehri in schools, teachers are pushing students to and four-year-old daughter were found in a quarrel in south Delhi, police said yesterday, approached the Supreme Court against the district of Uttarakhand yesterday, police said. download material on smartphones due to their apartment on Hyderabad’s outskirts adding that the prime accused has been arrested. Delhi High Court order that dismissed his plea The incident took place on the Chamba Koti lucrative deals off ered by telecom service pro- yesterday, police said. The woman’s estranged Sahil, 16, was taking a walk in a park at Tigri after for a court-monitored probe into the death of Colony road near Gajda village, when the viders, Goa director of education, G P Bhat, said husband is the prime suspect and is abscond- dinner on Sunday night when he was shot twice Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s wife Sunanda truck was going to Rishikesh from Lambgaon. yesterday while also warning of surprise raids in ing. Police suspect they were murdered three by the accused, who also beat him up. On January Pushkar. The court asked Swamy to satisfy the All the persons involved in the accident were schools to enforce the ban. In a circular issued days ago in Gautaminagar. The crime came 26, Sahil was involved in a quarrel with neighbour court on the question of maintainability of his from Pratap Nagar in Tehri. The people in the yesterday, Bhat also said that there was a need to light yesterday when neighbours alerted Sajid, following which police registered charges plea. Posting the matter for hearing after three area along with the police rescued the injured to cut down the use of mobile phones in schools police about a foul smell emanating from against both sides. “While Sahil was strolling in weeks, the court raised the question about the and pulled out the bodies from the gorge. The in order to foster a healthy “teaching-learning the flat. Police broke open the door to find the park, Sajid along with accomplices Shaukat maintainability of Swamy’s petition and asked dead have been identified as Sohan Singh, 29, atmosphere”. Despite clear instructions, not Aparna, 22, lying in the kitchen with head inju- Ali, Sabir, Sonu, and Saleem beat him up before him to apprise it whether he has the locus to file Kanhaiyya Singh, 28, and the driver Ummaid only are students misusing the smartphones, ries. The bodies of her mother Vijayalakshmi, shooting him with a country-made pistol,” the a petition in the case. On October 26 last year, Singh, 42. The injured, Sandeep Bisht, has the teachers also resort to instructing students 46, and daughter Kartikeya were found on the off icer added. Sajid was arrested from south Delhi the Delhi high court had dismissed Swamy’s plea been admitted to a hospital in Chamba. to use the smartphones,” the circular states. bed. They were suspected to be poisoned. yesterday while a hunt for the others is on. while terming it as a “political interest litigation”.

President Beating the Retreat pitches Police chief hard for common elections shifted after

IANS New Delhi communal he Modi government yesterday called for a Tsustained debate for a political consensus on simul- taneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, which it said was needed to clash in UP avoid frequent polls that put a burden on economy and gov- IANS ernance, and hamper develop- Lucknow ment. The call on Prime Minis- ter Narendra Modi’s pet theme hree days after clashes be- came in the speech of President tween two communities Ram Nath Kovind to members of Tleft one dead and many both the Houses of Parliament injured, the situation in Kasganj in his customary address at the district of Uttar Pradesh re- start of the Budget Session, his mained tense but under control, fi rst after assuming offi ce in July as the Yogi Adityanath govern- last year. ment yesterday removed the In a 45 minute-long speech, district superintendent of police the president also touched on Sunil Kumar Singh. Police are deployed in Uttar Pradesh’s Kasganj district the subject of internal security, Singh has been replaced with claiming signifi cant improve- Piyush Srivastava, who has been A peace committee has been family accepted the cheque even ment in the situation with secu- asked to join at the earliest, a formed by the district admin- as Chandan’s sister threatened rity forces doing a good job in the government spokesman said. istration. It has been doing the her father, Sushil Gupta, that if northeast, Jammu and Kashmir Singh had earned the ire of rounds of the tension-hit areas the cheque was encashed she will and in handling Maoist insur- the government for the Repub- and requested people not to pay commit suicide. gency. lic Day violence that followed heed to rumours. The family also demanded “Citizens alive to the state of clashes during the ‘Tiranga Some illegal arms have also that Chandan be given the sta- governance in the country are Yatra’ brought out by the Akhil been recovered during raids at tus of a martyr, that the chief concerned about the frequent Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (an some places, an offi cial said add- minister should come to con- elections in one part of the coun- affi liate of the RSS). He has been ing that the local intelligence sole the family and that the try or another, which adversely transferred to the Police Training unit has been sensitised to keep a guilty must be brought to jus- impact the economy and devel- School, Meerut. close watch on suspicious-look- tice at the earliest. opment. Meanwhile, prohibitory orders ing elements. The father of the youth also “Frequent elections not only remain in place in Kasganj as po- Additional security forces threatened self-immolation if his impose a huge burden on hu- lice presence was increased, the have been deployed in the vi- son was not declared a martyr. man resources but also impede offi cial said. olence-hit areas and at Bilram Angry at a TV channel for the development process due to The director general of police, Gate, Tehsil road, Lavkush Nagar showing Chandan as “one of the promulgation of the model O P Singh, has said the National and Baddu Nagar. the rioters”, an irate mob tried code of conduct. Therefore, a Security Act will be slapped on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to vandalise the channel van and sustained debate is required those behind the violence. announced an ex gratia of Rs2mn manhandled the journalists. on the subject of simultaneous More than 100 people have to the family of Chandan Gupta, The Akhil Bharatiya Mahaur elections and all political parties been sent to jail under various who was shot dead in the clash. Vaishya Mahasabha has de- need to arrive at a consensus on sections of the Indian Penal Code Offi cials who visited Gupta’s manded that the fi nancial as- this issue.” for their alleged role in the vio- house to hand over the cheque sistance to Chandan’s family be On internal security in the lence that left one dead, another faced a hostile reception yester- raised to Rs5mn. country, the president said ter- critically wounded and property day as locals and relatives raised The police claimed to have re- rorist violence in the interiors of vandalised and gutted. anti-administration slogans. covered a pistol, reportedly used Jammu and Kashmir was directly Some stray incidents of vio- “We will give you Rs2.5mn, to kill Chandan, from the house related to cross-border infi ltra- lence have taken place since Sun- give us our Chandan back,” in- of an accused. tion. day with a mob setting some ki- consolable family members of The state government called “With better co-ordination, osks on fi re and assaulting some the dead man told the visiting the violence a “political conspir- the army, paramilitary forces Marching bands from the armed forces perform during the Beating the Retreat ceremony people in Bhargain. Home de- Amapur legislator Devendra acy” while the main opposition and Jammu and Kashmir Police in New Delhi yesterday. The military ceremony marks the culmination of the four-day long partment offi cials said no unto- Singh and Kasganj district mag- Samajwadi Party (SP) has termed are giving a befi tting response to Republic Day celebrations. ward incident has been reported istrate R P Singh. it “ominous and unfortunate” the perpetrators”. in the last 12 hours. After much persuasion, the and has appealed for calm. CPI leaders see red over Anger at bus fare hike AAP, Baijal spar over partner’s China fi xation action against traders IANS solve the issue,” Baijal said. New Delhi The crackdown is being carried By Ashraf Padanna “We accept that China is mov- get of 6%-7% GDP growth. out by a Supreme Court-appoint- Thiruvananthapuram ing forward as an economic pow- “I am not going into the details ed monitoring committee and is er. However, communists here of the issue as the CPM party wo days after Aam Aad- being implemented by the three following them are not accept- congress held in Kozhikode ear- mi Party MLA Saurabh BJP-led municipal corporations. he obsession of Kerala’s able to us as the issues we face are lier had discussed it and taken a TBhardwaj asked lieuten- Baijal said he has “already” held ruling Communist Party diff erent,” Rajendran said. political stand,” he said. ant governor Anil Baijal for an a number of meetings with various Tof India (Marxist) with Vijayan had while addressing Balakrishnan had earlier this appointment to discuss the on- stakeholders including delega- China has annoyed its largest a party conference in Kannur ac- month claimed there was an axis going crackdown on business tions representing the shopkeep- ruling partner Communist Party cused India of becoming a stra- of the US, Japan, Australia and establishments using residential ers and traders, to understand all of India (CPI). tegic partner of the US against India to corner China. properties for commercial pur- the facets of this issue. The CPI had close links with China. Rajendran tried to counter them poses in the capital, the party’s Meanwhile, Bhardwaj sarcasti- the USSR before its collapse He said the Rashtriya Swayam- mincing no words about his par- chief spokesperson yesterday cally said: “I feel very honoured while the breakaway party has sevak Sangh (RSS), the ideo- ty’s affi nity towards the Congress complained he didn’t receive a to receive a reply from LG offi ce always been a China backer. logical mentor of Prime Minister which together provided the state response but a “press release”. via press release. He has suggested The two parties used to earlier Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Jana- one of the state’s most stable gov- Earlier Baijal issued a state- we send our suggestions to the fi ght over their leanings. However, ta Party, was behind the foreign ernments during 1970-77. ment saying he had written to urban development ministry and they chose to bury their divisions policy shift. Rajendran slammed the senior Bhardwaj that “all” possible so- GNCTD (Government of National and join hands in the early 1980s “China is emerging as a big partner’s decision against having lutions were being explored. Capital Territory of Delhi).” against the Congress party. power in the world and India is any truck with the principal op- “Keeping in view the judicial He made another request for a However, recent statements becoming a strategic partner of position party to fi ght the right- pronouncements on the sub- “brief” meeting. A delegation of by CPI(M) secretary Kodiyeri the US in their eff ort to form a wing BJP. ject and extant laws, all possible BJP leaders will meet Delhi Chief Balakrishnan and Chief Minis- larger defence alliance against “They think they don’t need solutions are being explored to Minister Arvind Kejriwal today ter Pinarayi Vijayan praising the China,” he said. anybody to put up a fi ght against overcome the crisis,” he said. to discuss the issue. Chinese and slamming the US “This is as per the interest of the BJP and (its ideological men- This was in reply to the Bhard- In a letter addressing the gov- and its allies have again raised the RSS, which aims to build an tor) RSS and they are capable of waj’s request on Saturday for an ernor, Kejriwal wrote “fi rst de- tempers. axis of countries like the US, In- going it alone,” he said. appointment. monetisation, then FDI (foreign “We don’t support foreign dia and Israel against China.” “The people of India will only “The matter concerns the direct investment), then Goods communist parties blindly,” CPI Showering praise on China, consider it as false bravado. Our Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam working president M K livelihood of lakhs of people and Services Tax (GST) and now secretary Kanam Rajendran said the chief minister said the com- responsibility is to unite all par- Stalin leads a protest against hike in bus fares in and also the planned develop- this crackdown - small business- while addressing his party’s dis- munist country was taking giant ties to protect secular and demo- Chennai yesterday ment of Delhi. Constructive men in Delhi have suff ered a lot. trict conference in Kollam. strides and had achieved its tar- cratic principles.” suggestions are welcome to re- Only you can save them.” Gulf Times Tuesday, January 30, 2018 15 PAKISTAN

Only 21 out of 350 political PPP’s moves on Senate parties eligible for draw PML-N, PTI fi re election Internews have triggered counter moves by informally parted ways with the Islamabad the PML-N and the PTI, who are PML-N but have not announced now trying to woo PPP MPAs in their decisions publically. Internews Sindh, according to sources in To counter such moves, the Islamabad s political parties gear the PML-N. PTI and the PML-N are both fo- up for Senate elections On Saturday, PPP co-chair- cusing on Karachi. Ascheduled for March, the man Asif Ali Zardari held a On Saturday, PTI chair- hanks to the Elections Act Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has meeting of the party’s KP chap- man Imran Khan landed in the 2017, out of 350 political drawn severe criticism from both ter, in which a strategy for the Quaid’s city where he strongly Tparties, only 21 are pres- the Pakistan Muslim League Senate elections was discussed, criticised the PPP leadership and ently eligible for future electoral – Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pa- said the sources privy to the the Sindh government. process while the rest have failed kistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) matter. Ostensibly Khan was in the to fulfi l the new criterion set for for trying to win the loyalties of They said that the PPP is eye- metropolis to off er condolences enlisting of a party in the Elec- provincial assembly members ing members of the Qaumi Wa- to the families of Naqeebullah Khan: held meetings with various lawmakers from Sharif: reportedly refused a deal between his party tion Commission of Pakistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tan Party as well as dissident Mehsud and Intezar Ahmed, the Sindh and the PPP. (ECP). Punjab in a bid to grab the lion’s leaders of the PTI and the PML- two youths who were killed by It goes without saying that share in the upper house. N in the KP Assembly. the police “encounters”. condition of anonymity. The PML-N leadership has Faryal Talpur’s elevation as Sen- the new legislation has greatly The PPP leadership’s attempts Zardari is also scheduled to However, sources said that Of late reports have been do- also repeatedly accused Zard- ate chairperson. helped the ECP in curtailing the to reach out to Punjab and KP hold a meeting of the PPP’s Khan also held meetings with ing the rounds that Zardari ari of buying the loyalties of its However, PML-N president number of political parties and MPAs to secure support for its Punjab chapter to win over the PTI lawmakers from Sindh as wants to get his sister Faryal leaders in the Baluchistan As- Nawaz Sharif did not agree to this clearly means that unlike candidates in the Senate polls provincial lawmakers who have well as members of the PPP, the Talpur elevated as Senate chair- sembly in order to topple the it, after which the PPP report- the past, there would be fewer PML-N and the Pakistan Mus- person. PML-N-led government in the edly lobbied to send the PML-N parties to take part in elections. lim League – Functional (PML- PML-N KP president Ameer province. government in Baluchistan As- A political party must now F) to seek their support in the Muqam did not mince words: “It Like the PML-N, the PTI too sembly packing in order to bring submit, among other things, a Senate elections. may be Zardari’s wishful think- believes that Zardari and aides a favourable set-up in the prov- list of 2,000 party members with Yesterday Prime Minister ing to win maximum seats in are pumping money into buying ince to win seats in the Senate their signatures and their com- Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also fl ew Senate, but it will not happen. the loyalties of PTI MPAs, which polls from Baluchistan’s quota. puterised national identity card into Karachi, offi cially to inau- The PML-N is Pakistan’s larg- is the reason why the PTI chair- According to political sources, (CNIC) copies to the electoral gurate the Lyari Expressway. est political party and the Senate man is focusing on Sindh ahead after the Baluchistan Assembly body under Section 202 (2) of the However, a senior leader of polls would be our show.” of the Senate polls. debacle, the reported deal be- Act. the PML-N’s Sindh chapter said “The PPP has no political Last month, reports were do- tween the PML-N and the PPP The Elections Act was passed that the premier held meet- support outside Sindh, so it re- ing the rounds that the PML-N on the Senate polls is unlikely to by the parliament on September ings with party leaders in the lies on horse trading. This will and the PPP had reached an un- materialise. 22 last year. province who were tasked with not work,” he declared. derhand deal whereby the PPP “There had been an infor- Immediately after that the winning maximum support of On the other hand, Opposi- supported the legislation in the mal understanding between the ECP framed rules and asked po- provincial legislators for PML-N tion Leader in the National As- Senate on the delimitation of PML-N and the PPP that they litical parties to submit docu- candidates in the Senate elec- sembly Khursheed Shah of the constituencies and in return re- would not act to destabilise the ments and deposit a fee as per tions. PPP has repeatedly denied that ceived “concrete” assurances governments of one another,” the new legislation, giving them “This is a unique scenario … his party had any hand in the from the PML-N to secure a few said a close aide of Sharif, re- more than two months to com- the PML-N and the PTI have Baluchistan Assembly deba- seats in the Senate from Pun- questing anonymity. ply. daggers drawn at each other but cle, saying the PML-N lost the jab’s quota and some seats in the “The PPP broke the accord, Prior to the legislation, as the they have a shared goal now – provincial government due to general elections from southern and now there are no conces- conditions were more lenient to block the PPP from securing its own policies which caused Punjab. sions for the PPP in the Senate for a party to get enlisted with Zardari: reportedly held a meeting of the party’s KP chapter on majority in the Senate,” said the resentment among provincial It is also believed that the PPP polls from Punjab’s quota or the ECP, the number of political Saturday, in which a strategy for the Senate elections was discussed. PML-N leader, who spoke on legislators. wanted the PML-N to agree to elsewhere,” added the aide. parties could have crossed the 400 mark. The 12 fully eligible ones are the Pakistan Peoples Party Par- liamentarians with the “arrow” Fully-stacked election symbol, the Pakistan Fata’s senators Muslim League – Nawaz and its “tiger”, the Pakistan Tehreek- e-Insaf and its “cricket bat”, the Pakistan Muslim League and its divided over “bicycle”, the Awami Nation- al Party and its “lantern”, the Jamaat-e-Islami and its “scale”, the Majlis Wahdat-e-Mus- reform plans limeen and its “tent”, the Paki- stan Peoples Party and its “two swords”, the Paak Sarzameen Internews bani has decided to convert the Party and its “dolphin”, the Bal- Islamabad whole house into a committee uchistan National Party-Awami to discuss the bill as it is a seri- and its “camel”, and the Awami ous matter. Muslim League and its “ink pot he eight senators from Senator Sajjad Turi supports with pen”. the Federally Adminis- early passage of the bill on the It has also mentioned on its Ttered Tribal Areas (Fata) grounds that it will lead to ear- website the names of nine other have diff erent views on the fu- ly merger of Fata with KP. parties, which did not submit ture of the region and the pro- He said that the bill should related documents on time and posed reforms. have been referred to the Sen- thus have been served show- Shah Jee Gul Afridi, an in- ate Standing Committee on cause notices. dependent member of the Law and Justice as it was pre- These parties are the Tehreek National Assembly from sented by the law ministry. Labaik Pakistan, the Move on NA-45 (Tribal Area-X), is a It would pave way for early Pakistan, the Hazara Democratic staunch supporter of Fata re- passage of the bill as compared Party, the Pakistan Rah-e-Haq, forms and believes that tribal to a lengthy discussion in the the Aam Log Party Pakistan, the people should be included in Senate committee of the whole Pakistan Muslim League – Zia- the mainstream society by house, he added. ul-Haq Shaheed (PML-Z), the merging Fata with Khyber Pa- Senator Hilalur Rehman has Pakistan Conservative Party, the khtunkhwa. objections to the passage of the Sindh United Party, and the Pa- However, his brother Sena- bill by the National Assembly kistan Peoples Party – Shaheed tor Taj Muhammad Afridi be- and says that he will oppose Bhutto (PPP-SB). longs to the group of senators the proposed law on technical The ECP has uploaded on its who oppose changes in the grounds. website names of these 21 parties administrative structure in the “While jurisdiction of the along with other related details, tribal areas on the grounds that Peshawar High Court (PHC) including their election symbols it poses a threat to tribal tradi- and the Supreme Court has and when intra-party elections tions and challenges the purity been extended to Fata, has the are due in those respective par- of tribal culture. applicability of the Criminal ties. Senator Muhammad Saleh Procedure Code been extended Besides the names, the elec- Shah says that he, along with to the tribal areas? Are there tion symbols and other details of other like-minded senators, is regular laws in Fata?” Rehman nine parties served show-cause opposed to Fata reforms as it is asked. “In this situation, what notices have also been men- A farm worker stacks cauliflower harvested on a farm onto a truck yesterday outside Peshawar. against tribal traditions. kind of cases will be forwarded tioned. “We are opposed to the idea to the PHC or apex court from of Fata’s merger with KP. What the tribal areas?” can KP do for us? They cannot The senator said that at Book on literary and journalistic magazines even protect their children and present, appeals against deci- of North West Frontier Province is published some offi cials want us to place sions by local jirgas (council of our future in their hands,” elders) or political agents are A research-based book, The Tradition of Literary and Journalistic Agri marketing regulator planned Saleh Shah said. fi led at the offi ces of commis- Magazines in NWFP (1854 to 1975) has been published. He alleged that the Commit- sioners of Peshawar, Malakand It comprises of a chapter of the PhD thesis of Dr Humayun Huma, tee on Fata Reforms, headed by and Bannu, but the future of who is an educationist, columnist, critic and playwright. Internews The proposed authority will for violation of the related law Sartaj Aziz, a former adviser to this appellate forum after the He has authored 10 books while a number of his columns have been Lahore prescribe grading standards for and rules. the prime minister on foreign bill was passed is unclear. published in diff erent dailies and magazines of Urdu and Pashto specifi c agriculture produce, The authority will issue li- aff airs, had presented a “con- Rehman said that the bill languages. good agriculture practices, geo- cences for setting up collection cocted” report that was con- was hurriedly approved by the Huma’s PhD thesis deals with the literary contribution of a memo- he Punjab government is graphical origin of produce or centres by dealers after fulfi lling trary to the aspirations of the National Assembly and all oth- rable and historic monthly, Qand of the NWFP (North West Frontier creating an agricultural particular marking of farming certain legal requirements. Fata residents. er measures suggested by the Province, now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) which was submitted to the Tmarketing regulatory au- method as organic, and prescribe Wholesale markets will also be He said that tribal elders Fata Reforms Committee had Pashto Department of the University of Peshawar for the award of a thority to modernise agricultural and collect fees for registration allowed after registration. should be taken into confi - been ignored. PhD degree. produce marketing in the prov- of agricultural produce markets The registration will require dence before any decision on On the other hand, Senator The book covers the literary and journalistic tradition of all journals ince, including introducing vir- and service providers. certain particulars to be fi lled, the future of Fata is made, and Malik Najamul Hassan said re- published from time to time in the province. tual markets, offi cial sources said It will promote marketing including a declaration that the insisted that the current status forms were needed and the best To recapture the old scene of the journalistic tradition, the author yesterday. channels and contract farming market will be run by a fi rm, of the tribal areas is better than option for the mainstreaming has gone for back to the past (1854). The authority is being estab- and adoption of fair auctioning company or a sole proprietor, the any uncertain future. of tribal areas is to make it Pa- He concisely discussed all the known journals and periodicals, pub- lished to promote an agricul- systems in line with best regional nature of the land to be used for The Senate is set to take up kistan’s fi fth province. lished till the very advent of Qand. tural produce marketing system and international practices, pro- the market, facilities available, the Supreme Court and High “KP itself is a mismanaged In the discourse of publication, along with literary journals, a chro- that could facilitate commercial vide training for service provid- grading and packaging facilities, Court [Extension of Jurisdic- province. Look at Malakand. nology of other journals has been compiled collectively, which will development through multiple ers and market information serv- auction methodology, market tion to Federally Administered It is hanging between the past be very beneficial in arriving at literary and journalistic tradition of channels, providing clear lineag- ices, restrict unfair marketing information and its display, and Tribal Areas] Bill 2017 on Feb- and becoming part of KP,” he this province. es of growers to markets, as well practices, model contract farm- hygiene and sanitation protocols. ruary 13. said, adding that if everything This consolidated chronology of journals and publications, with its as participation of entrepreneurs ing templates, and undertake The authority will also allow The government bill was had to be established in Fata, authentic references has come to light for the first time in Pashto in investment and operation of surveys of markets and market- for a virtual market or e-com- passed by the National Assem- it could be done after the re- literary history. agricultural marketing enter- ing of agricultural produce, as merce platform subject to regis- bly on January 12. gion was granted the status of prises. well as impose and collect fi nes tration with it. Senate chairman Raza Rab- a province. Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, January 30, 2018 PHILIPPINES News site challenges decision to revoke licence

Reuters implications on business and Manila press freedom,” Lim said, add- ing the SEC decision “has a chilling eff ect on business” n online news plat- and could be disastrous to form critical of Philip- government eff orts to attract Apine President Rodrigo foreign capital. Duterte yesterday asked the The online news platform Court of Appeals to set aside said no foreigner had exer- the corporate regulator’s de- cised control, whether direct cision to revoke its licence, or indirect, over it, adding that invoking freedom of the press. the SEC had violated its own The Securities and Ex- rules by denying Rappler due change Commission (SEC) process. has ruled that news website Rappler said it was not in- Rappler (www.rappler.com) formed about the decision by violated foreign equity re- a special investigation panel strictions on domestic media of the regulator and was sur- because it “sold control to prised by the January 11 deci- foreigners”, a decision Rappler sion revoking its licence. contested. SEC head Teresita Herbosa The SEC said its decision welcomed Rappler’s court had not become fi nal, allowing challenge.“It’s their right,” Rappler to continue business, she said in a text to Reuters. pending a court challenge A UN rapporteur and jour- within 15 days. nalists’ groups in the Philip- “The SEC’s real purpose in pines and abroad have ex- going after Rappler and Rap- pressed concern over the Visitors take pictures of volcanic ash spewing out of a crater of Mount Mayon volcano during an eruption in Camalig, Albay province, south of Manila, yesterday. pler Holdings Corporation is SEC’s decision, calling it an to silence them and muzzle assault on the freedom of the freedom of speech,” the fi rm press. told the court, asking for the Duterte’s spokesman Harry ruling to be set aside as the Roque said the issue was dis- “state has acted with tyranny tant from questions about by putting them out of busi- press freedom, as Rappler ness”. used “deceptive schemes” to Nearly 90,000 fl ee volcano It added, “Rappler is being raise funds. made to pay the ultimate price He also denied any political for exercising the freedom of pressure on the SEC to target the press.” the president’s critics. Rappler’s lawyer, Francis Rappler has repeatedly Lim, said it hoped the case drawn the ire of Duterte, who stretching relief camps “will ultimately be decided for called it a “fake news outlet” the interest of the country”. after it said his closest aide, AFP large enough to keep people safe “Our petition raises legal Bong Go, had intervened in a Legazpi from even a large explosive erup- issues that have far-reaching naval frigate project. tion. “Even if that happens we think he number of Filipinos the people are already safe,” state fl eeing from the erupt- volcanology institute chief Ren- President sanctions corruption Ting Mayon volcano to ato Solidum said. investigator aft er bank records ‘leak’ safe zones has swelled to nearly He stressed the eruption was 90,000, offi cials said yesterday, not over despite a relatively Philippine President Rodrigo other illegal activities during worsening a sanitation crisis quiet weekend, estimating some Duterte yesterday punished his lengthy stint as mayor of in the already stretched relief “50mn cubic metres” more de- an anti-graft prosecutor the southern city of Davao camps. bris had the potential to be eject- suspected of leaking his bank before becoming president. President Rodrigo Duterte ed from the crater in the coming records after an opposi- In the only comment it has fl ew to the central city of Legazpi days and weeks. tion politician had accused made on the case, the central yesterday to assess the disaster If cooling lava blocks the cra- Duterte of corruption. bank’s Anti-Money Launder- zone, some two weeks after the ter gas pressure would build up When he was still a presiden- ing Council said following country’s most active volcano and cause the magma inside to tial candidate Duterte was ac- Carandang’s television com- began belching spectacular but explode, producing eruption cused of unlawfully failing to ments that it had received a potentially lethal ash columns, President Rodrigo Duterte speaks in a meeting with local off icials as Defence Secretary Delfin columns far taller than the fi ve- disclose 211mn pesos ($4.1mn) request from the Ombuds- lava and rocks. Lorenzana looks on during a visit to Legazpi City, Albay province. kilometres-tall clouds seen in in secret bank accounts. man “regarding the alleged Authorities have thrown previous days, he said. The 2016 complaint was bank accounts of President a nine kilometre no-go zone Offi cials have also said farmers lodged with the Ombudsman, Rodrigo Duterte”. around the mountain with the Duterte pledges help for thousands of displaced are also going back to the danger an anti-graft prosecutor. It said the request concerned vast majority of those living in Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday vis- beings... that is the most difficult work of govern- zone to tend to their crops and Duterte has denied the information provided to the its shadow now safely outside ited an eastern province where tens of thousands ment, how to handle human beings in a crisis.” livestock, putting them within allegation. Yesterday his Ombudsman by Trillanes and that radius. of people have been displaced by the eruption of “Usually when there is a congregation there, near range of white-hot volcanic de- spokesman Harry Roque that it had yet to evaluate it. But sanitary conditions in the the country’s most active volcano. each other, infection can break out in a matter bris shooting down Mayon’s said the president’s chief aide All government off icials includ- safe-zones are far from ideal. Duterte gave off icials in Albay province, 330 of days,” he added.”It is always demanded of the fl anks at great speed. had suspended the deputy ing the president must by law Al Francis Bichara, the gov- kilometres south of Manila, an initial 20mn pesos situation that we safeguard the health of the Solidum said local authorities Ombudsman, Melchor Arthur disclose their assets and liabili- ernor of Albay province, said ($400,000) for food and other relief supplies people.” Renato Solidum, head of the Philippine were also making sure loose vol- Carandang, for three months. ties each year as a safeguard authorities expect the evacuees for nearly 82,000 residents forced to flee their Insitute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivol- canic debris deposited on May- The Ombudsman’s off ice had against corruption. Roque will need to stay at the camps for homes due to the eruption of the Mayon volcano. cs), said the activity of Mayon was not as intense on’s fl anks would not threaten no comment. Carandang told said Carandang was being at least a month. He said the money should also be used to in- as the past week, but the alert remained at Level lives and properties should they a local television station last suspended after two individu- But he warned limited local crease surveillance of diseases as well as improve 4, which means a hazardous eruption was still be dislodged by heavy rain and year that the Ombudsman als filed an administrative case government resources were be- hygiene and sanitation in evacuation centres to possible. turn into mudslides. had since 2016 been quietly against him for alleged viola- ing stretched, citing the lack of protect the health of the displaced residents. “We cannot say that the activity has weakened,” The 2,460-metre Mayon, a investigating Duterte and his tions of the country’s corrup- toilets at the shelters, where he “In every catastrophic event, whether man-made he said.”Visually it may seem that the unrest perfect cone rising 330 kilome- family’s bank transactions. tion law. The complaint alleged said an average of 200 people or nature, we face the same problem,” he said.”It has weakened, but actually the lava emission is tres southeast of Manila, is the The probe followed a Carandang had committed now took turns using one. is a recurring one. First is the problem of human continuing.” country’s most active volcano — complaint filed by Senator “grave misconduct and grave “We lack 1,222 toilets,” he now on its 52nd eruption in four Antonio Trillanes, a Duterte dishonesty” for the “misuse of said, adding the ideal was one centuries. critic. Trillanes had alleged confidential information and toilet for every 50 evacuee (1,800 cials Duterte said he was worried tation,” he told the offi cials, add- possible in the coming days. It killed 1,200 people when Duterte embezzled govern- disclosing false information”, total). about the lack of toilets. ing his government would try to Offi cials said they were confi - it buried the town of Cagsawa ment funds and engaged in Roque added. After being briefed by offi - “One worry really is the sani- send as many portable cabins as dent the no-go zone radius was in 1814.

Police return to war on drugs Govt to phase out cheap but rickety jeepneys

Reuters “foolproof anti-drug campaign also turned themselves in after Reuters Asia’s most gridlocked mega- Manila that would be bloodless”, Dela the home visits. Manila cities, passengers can sit there Rosa added, as the police were Duterte has stopped police for hours. There are no seat- “not dealing with people who anti-drugs operations twice due belts and commuters have only olice in the Philippines are in their proper state of mind”. to questions over the conduct of eepneys, the fl amboyant ceiling bars to keep from being yesterday resumed Presi- In the dialect of Duterte’s the force, including the killing of passenger trucks of the thrown off their seats as driv- Pdent Rodrigo Duterte’s southern hometown of Davao, a teenager in a supposed anti- JPhilippines, are nearing the ers race to beat traffi c lights or war on drugs, making visits to “Tokhang” is a combination of drug operation. end of their reign as the “Kings edge out competitors for wait- the homes of users and dealers the words “knock” and “plead”. Yesteday, the justice depart- of the Road”, but they’re not go- ing passengers. to convince them to surrender, Besides the visits, police have ment fi led murder charges and ing down without a fi ght. The government wants to but the national police chief said also run so-called “buy-bust” two drug-related cases against Government moves to over- force unsound and shabby jeep- he could not promise a bloodless or sting operations and raided three police offi cers who killed haul outdated public transport, neys off the streets in favour of campaign. suspected drug dens and illicit the teenager, Kian Loyd delos making it safer and more envi- bigger, cleaner, safer and more The announcement came as laboratories. Santos, after witnesses disputed ronment friendly, will put the modern replacements, some the justice department fi led its In many of these operations, the police version of the killing. brakes on a mode of travel that electric, others using cleaner fi rst criminal case against po- say rights activists, suspects did National police spokesman has long been the surest and A jeepney prototype is painted by a worker at an assembly plant in fuel. But drivers complain that lice offi cers in the battle against not get the chance to surrender, Dionardo Carlos said the force cheapest option in a country of Valenzuela City, Metro Manila. the newer units, priced around drugs, bolstering human rights but were executed in cold blood welcomed the fi ling. 105mn people. 1.8mn pesos ($35,327), are pro- activists’ accusations of fabri- instead. But police insist sus- “The police offi cers have to But the operators and drivers pulled him over because his ve- the capital, they are easily af- hibitively expensive, and gov- cated accounts of shoot-outs pects died because they violently face their accusers in court and of the 200,000 jeepneys that hicle was belching black smoke. fordable, but the ride is far from ernment subsidies are paltry. with drug suspects. resisted arrest. prove their innocence, they have have plied the nation’s roads Jeepneys have evolved from comfortable. Some fear vested interests are The programme of visits, Nearly 4,000 drug suspects to follow the procedures,” he and highways for decades are surplus army jeeps left behind A typical jeepney packs in at play. known as “Oplan Tokhang”, have died in gun battles with po- said, urging due process for the defi ant, denouncing moves to by the US military after World 10 to 16 commuters, sitting “They only want to kick out made a comeback with an assur- lice since June 2016, when Du- offi cers. oust them as “anti-poor” and a War Two to become brightly- knee-to-knee on twin benches, the operators so they could let ance from police chief Ronaldo terte came to power. To ensure transparency, Dela threat to their livelihoods. painted vehicles festooned with and lacks air-conditioning or corporations take over,” said dela Rosa that it should be free of The government lost 85 police Rosa invited human rights ad- “It is a big hassle to us poor religious slogans, horoscope windows to shield occupants George San Mateo, head of violence if off enders agreed to go and soldiers in the drugs war, vocates, priests and the media to people since we are the ones signs or family names. from the heat, rain and choking transport group PISTON, as he quietly and did not resist. police data show. join the relaunched programme suff ering,” said one jeepney At a cost of 8 pesos ($0.16) fumes. led a protest last week outside But he could not promise a More than 1.2mn people had of home visits. driver, upset after traffi c police for a journey of 4km in Manila, In Metro Manila, one of the transport regulator’s offi ce. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 30, 2018 17 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

6kg gold seized from Indian Bangladesh’s passenger Customs off icials at Bangladesh’s main airport in Dhaka early yesterday seized gold beads Lanka still ‘using weighing about 6kg from an central bank Indian national who arrived by a Regent Airways flight from Singapore. Acting on a tip-off , a customs off icial who preferred to be keeps policy unnamed said they detained the Indian national identified anti-terror laws’ as Soumik Dutta with the gold beads worth about 30mn taka AFP ams as the rights group released ($361,445) early yesterday. Colombo a new report detailing alleged rates steady The man was arrested when abuses under the act. he was crossing the green “Replacing this draconian channel at the Hazrat Shahjalal ri Lanka’s government is counterterrorism law with one Reuters on prices of rice, the sta- International Airport and the still using draconian anti- that meets international stand- Dhaka ple food for Bangladesh’s gold beads were hidden in a Sterror laws that give police ards should be an urgent prior- 160mn people. water dispenser he was carrying. sweeping powers to arrest and ity if the government is seri- “Looking ahead, gar- Small balls of gold were hidden detain suspects despite prom- ous about protecting human angladesh’s central ments exports are expected in the dispenser’s compressor. ising to abolish them, Human rights.” bank yesterday left to benefi t from stronger According to the off icial, the Rights Watch said yesterday. Sri Lanka says more than 80 Bits key interest rates growth in the main export Indian man will be handed over The Prevention of Terror- detainees are still being held un- unchanged at 6.75% citing destinations and greater to the police. ism Act (PTA) allows the deten- der the act, although local rights the need to contain infl ation product and market diver- Sources said organised gangs of tion of suspects for long periods activists believe the true number and boost economic growth sifi cations, including into local smugglers having link with without trial and was widely could be in the hundreds. and it raised the private sec- non-traditional but larger their foreign sidekicks have been used during the decades-long HRW said it found the PTA tor credit growth target to markets such as India and increasingly using Bangladesh civil war that ended in 2009. was a “signifi cant contributing 16.8% from 16.3%. China,” the monetary policy as a transit for the illegal The government of President factor” toward the persistence of The 16.8% target for stance statement said. transportation of gold, foreign Maithripala Sirisena promised to torture in Sri Lanka nearly a dec- January-June represents a The bank expects growth currencies, contraband drug and abolish the act after it was elect- ade after the end of the civil war. slowdown because credit both in garment exports and in medicines. ed in 2015, but has so far failed to Its 46-page report documents growth hit 18.1% in Decem- remittances from Bangladesh- do so. abuses allegedly committed un- ber, exceeding the central is working overseas, which are “The Sri Lankan government der the PTA, including torture bank’s target for July-De- the key drivers of the country’s 279 arrested in has been all talk and no action on and sexual abuse, forced confes- cember. $250bn economy. repealing the reviled PTA,” said sions and systematic denials of Bank Governor Fazle Ka- Bangladesh’s exports in Nepal crackdown HRW’s Asia director Brad Ad- due process. President Maithripala Sirisena ... not keeping promises bir announced the fi gures the 2016-17 fi nancial year on drugs while unveiling the mon- rose nearly 1.7% from a etary stance for the second year earlier but that was the Authorities in Nepal have half of the 2017-18 fi nancial slowest growth in 15 years, arrested 279 people over the year that ends in June. The while pivotal garment sales last five months in a crackdown bank left the policy repo posted only 0.2% growth. on the sale and use of cannabis rate at 6.75% and the reverse The policy stance came inside a temple in Kathmandu, Lanka receives highest ever repo rate at 4.75%. as Bangladesh is struggling a police off icer said yesterday. Bangladesh aims to boost to cope with an infl ux of Police said they have charged growth to 7.4% in the cur- around 688,000 Rohingya 116 with illegal use and rent fi nancial year, up from refugees who have fl ed an possession of cannabis and a record 7.28% growth in the army crackdown in Myan- other drugs, and released the foreign investment in 2017 previous fi nancial year. mar’s Rakhine state since rest after warnings. The bank, however, said last August. “We have sent some of the average infl ation would be “Fiscal risks from provid- drug users to rehabilitation IANS BOI, the agency tasked ing,” the BOI statement said, “This is not a time for com- around 5.7 – 6% in June ing support to the infl ux of centres. There were 20 Colombo with promoting and facilitat- reports Xinhua. placency but renewed fo- 2018, posing a problem for the Rohingya refugees re- children and 18 women ing FDIs, reported that the Among the highest growth cus to use the momentum to the government, which main minimal for now, given among those arrested,” said number achieved in 2017 was sectors were export-oriented strengthen reforms to improve faces a general election this the participation and assist- Anup Shrestha, a deputy oreign direct invest- the highest ever, surpass- manufacturing and services, our Ease of Doing Business year. ance from the development superintendent of police in ment (FDI) in Sri Lanka ing the $1.61bn mark in 2014, which includes tourism, IT and ranking, and eff orts to attract The annual infl ation rate partners,” the statement Kathmandu. Freached an all-time high with solid growth across key infrastructure. high-quality investors from in December eased to 5.83% added. He said three holy men were of $1.63bn in 2017, doubling sectors. Minister of Development countries we have renewed bi- from 5.91% the previous In January 2016, the cen- also among those arrested. from the $802mn received dur- “The strong growth is a di- Strategies and International lateral relationships with,” the month, as prices of non- tral bank last cut its key Shrestha said the crackdown ing the previous year, Sri Lan- rect consequence of the gov- Trade Malik Samarawickrama minister said. food items rose at a slower interest rate by half a per- began in September ka’s Board of Investment (BOI) ernment’s reorientation of said that while Sri Lanka had He added that the country’s pace. centage point, for the fi rst after authorities received said in a statement yesterday. economic policy towards in- achieved strong FDI results target was to achieve $5bn in FDI Infl ation in October time in nearly three years, as complaints about the The highest FDI came from vestment and export-driven in 2017, the country had only per year by 2020 and it was con- climbed to a two-year high easing infl ation gave it room widespread use and sale China, followed by India and growth, rather than debt-fund- scratched the surface of its full fi dent of achieving $2.5bn of FDI of 6.04% on the back of to help boost economic of drugs inside the temple Singapore. ed public infrastructure spend- potential. in 2018. surging food prices, mainly growth. complex. Bangladesh extends Alley walk 24 elected unopposed quota for women to Nepal NA Agencies in parliament Kathmandu wenty-four candidates have been elected unop- By Mizan Rahman from the fi rst meeting of the It will be passed after scru- Tposed for the National Dhaka parliament after the one in tiny by the standing com- Assembly (NA) of Nepal, the up- existence at the time of the mittee on the law, justice and per house of the parliament. commencement of the 14th parliament aff airs ministry. Now 52 candidates are in fray he Bangladesh cabinet constitutional amendment in The president will sign the for the election of remaining yesterday approved the 2004. bill into a law. 32 seats of National Assembly Tdraft of the Constitution The incumbent 10th parlia- Two-thirds majority is scheduled for February 7. Ac- (17th Amendment) Bill, 2018 ment has 350 members – 300 needed to amend the constitu- cording to election commission to extend the tenure of women elected in general elections tion. The ruling Awami League (EC) of Nepal after withdrawal lawmakers (reserved seats) in and 50 members from seats re- has 232 seats in parliament af- of names 24 candidates elected parliament. served for women. ter winning the 2014 elections, uncontested out of 56. All eight The approval came during In 2004, the government which were violently boycotted members from Province 2 have the regular weekly meeting of brought the 14th amendment by the BNP. been elected unopposed. The the cabinet with Prime Minis- to the constitution to intro- The next general elections Upper House will have total 59 ter Sheikh Hasina in the chair. duce the reserved seats and are scheduled by the end of members. The government is bring- distribute those among the this year, which means the next All seven provinces will elect ing the 17th amendment to the parties with representation in government will have a little or eight members each through constitution in order to keep parliament in proportionate no time to bring this change to an electoral college comprising the seats reserved for women in numbers. the Constitution to keep the members of state assemblies parliament for 20 years. The number of reserved seats for women in parliament. and chief and deputy chiefs of The provision introducing seats was 45 at the time and it The constitution was local bodies. Remaining three the reserved seats is expiring was increased to 50 through amended for the last time members will be appointed by on January 24 next year, which the 15th constitutional amend- in 2016 to return parlia- the president on recommenda- means the constitution has to ment in 2011, but the time was ment’s powers to sack top tion of the government. change by that time to keep the not extended. court judges on the grounds of Panel urges calls for seats. Now after getting the cabi- incompetency or misconduct. submission of expenses: The According to the charter, net’s endorsement in principle The Supreme Court declared EC has notifi ed the political par- there will be 50 seats reserved fi rst and then the fi nal approv- the amendment illegal and the A devotee walks along the alley as he arrives to take part in rituals during the Swasthani Brata ties to submit the details of their exclusively for women in par- al, it will be sent to parliament State is preparing to seek a Katha festival in Thecho, Lalitpur, near Kathmandu. election expenses to it before liament for the next 10 years as a bill for passage. review of the judgment. February 12. It has also urged the politi- cal parties to make the details of their election expenditure public within a month of hav- ing submitted their audit reports Maldives opposition seeks court help to oust president to it. Law related to election ex- penses states that the political AFP top court to suspend President “The joint opposition President Yameen ordered the year, also signed. The former president was parties should get their income Colombo Abdulla Yameen. petitioned the Supreme military to storm the legislature They accuse Yameen of “un- jailed for 13 years in 2015, but expenditure audited within six It was fi led on Sunday af- Court as the parliament (early last year),” the MDP said. precedented corruption, includ- granted prison leave in 2016 months of the termination of the ter attempts to topple Yameen has ceased to function The signatories include the ing unjust enrichment from ap- for medical treatment in Lon- fi scal year and present the audit- pposition leaders in the through a vote in parliament since President Yameen country’s fi rst democratically propriation of state properties don, where he secured political ing report to the election com- Maldives, including two failed when the president de- ordered the military to elected leader Mohamed Nash- and funds for personal benefi t, asylum. mission within a month of that. Oformer heads of state, ployed the military, before storm the legislature (early eed, who lives in exile since he for the benefi t of his family and A UN panel has ruled that his Meanwhile, the commission have asked the Supreme Court unleashing a fresh crackdown last year)” was jailed on terrorism charges political associates,” according imprisonment was illegal and has directed the political parties to remove the president and in- against dissidents. in a case widely seen as politi- to the MPD statement. ordered the regime to pay him contesting the election to the vestigate corruption allegations Almost all key opposition upmarket holiday paradise. cally motivated. It was not immediately clear compensation. member of the Province Assem- against him. leaders and a number of rul- “The joint opposition peti- Yameen’s half-brother and whether the highest court The United States has said bly under the proportional rep- The opposition Maldivian ing party dissidents have either tioned the Supreme Court as the former president Maumoon would take up the petition. democracy is under threat in resentation system to submit the Democratic Party (MDP) said been jailed or gone into exile in parliament, which has the power Abdul Gayoom, who has joined Yameen took offi ce in 2013 af- the strategically located archi- details of their election expenses yesterday that the leaders had the Maldives, denting the atoll to remove a president from of- key opposition fi gures ahead of ter winning a controversial run- pelago, which sits on key inter- to it within 35 days of the publi- signed the petition asking the nation’s popular image as an fi ce, has ceased to function since general elections due later this off election against Nasheed. national shipping lanes. cation of the election results. Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, January 30, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko

P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Grand Slam King Federer is indeed an ageless wonder

Roger Federer continued to rewrite his remarkable script with what was previously thought an unattainable 20th Grand Slam title Sunday, and he appears to have no plans to slow down any time soon. The 36-year-old Swiss marvel defi ed the years and attrition rate to claim a joint-record sixth Australian crown in his 30th Grand Slam decider in Melbourne on Saturday, beating Croatia’s Marin Cilic in fi ve tough sets. It put him alongside contemporary rival Novak Djokovic and Australian great Roy Emerson with the most Australian Can Ramaphosa fi x titles. Worryingly for his opponents, the ageless star is enjoying himself as much as ever, and that inevitably means he plans to stick around for some time yet. “I’m happy I’m still around, still healthy, still playing good, giving myself chances, playing the best,” he said last South Africa? week. “It’s almost good fun.” Just when many people thought his Grand Slam-winning By Anne-Marie Slaughter The larger challenge facing apartheid president, but he stepped the scandal-plagued Gupta family will days were behind him having not won a major title since and Adrienne Klasa Ramaphosa comes from the state itself. aside when asked, demonstrating feature prominently. Wimbledon in 2012, Federer has now reeled off another three Washington, DC He must tackle the structural decay pragmatism and patience. The ANC’s national executive since his 35th birthday. fostered under Zuma. South Africa’s But he is also very much a product committee has debated establishing a And there appears every networks of patronage and corruption of the ANC system. His large fortune process to secure Zuma’s resignation, He was the oldest yril Ramaphosa’s victory have become so endemic that the term was tantamount to a gift from the which Ramaphosa supporters want likelihood of more to in December’s contest to “state capture” – coined by the World ANC’s Black Economic Empowerment within weeks. But no timeline has yet man at 36 to play come, particularly a ninth lead South Africa’s ruling Bank to describe central Asian post- programmes in the 1990s. While he been specifi ed. Given Zuma’s political Wimbledon crown later CAfrican National Congress Soviet states where oligarchs co-opted is viewed as clean despite his lavish acumen, he could well prolong the in the Australian this year. (ANC) was a resounding repudiation public institutions for personal profi t – lifestyle, he has certainly benefi ted from process for many months. Nonetheless, While he makes it look of President Jacob Zuma. Ramaphosa has entered widespread use. ANC patronage. his days are numbered. Open fi nal since will now almost certainly be elected South Africa’s state capture is Assuming Ramaphosa has the Ramaphosa, for his part, has easy, it doesn’t come South Africa’s president in 2019 – if not deeply embedded. The country is determination, political savvy, and cautioned that Zuma should never be Australians Ken without a tough grind before. He has promised to stimulate a democracy, for all its fl aws, with support to drive sweeping change, humiliated. His acknowledgement behind the scenes, as the country’s moribund economy and complex institutions. Unlike in a tightly he will not be alone. Some of South that power within the ANC is “a Rosewall (37) and Federer explained earlier implement a wide-ranging anti- controlled dictatorship, cutting off the Africa’s institutions – including the very delicate matter” is telling. in the tournament. corruption agenda. head will not kill the monster. judiciary and the public protector – He understands all too clearly the Mal Anderson “This is something The key question, however, is how In order to co-opt so many have proven resilient in the face of constraints he faces. much impact change at the top will have interests, Zuma’s tentacular patronage immense pressure to capitulate to The international community can (36) faced off for you sort of plan from a on South Africa’s troubled democracy. networks must reach through many Zuma’s agenda. play a role in supporting Ramaphosa. long time ago. That’s why Ramaphosa is unlikely to be a miracle layers of bureaucracy and business On December 29, the Constitutional The classic scenario is to expect too the 1972 title when it does happen, it’s a worker. First, he faces the challenge of hierarchies. Dissolving this lucrative Court delivered a shot in the arm to much of a new leader and then to great feeling.” reforming his own party. The ANC’s conglomeration at a time when those who want to see Zuma removed become disillusioned when he fails How much it means was evident with Federer in tears at identity as the party that liberated the economy has little else to off er before the end of his term in 2019. The to deliver quickly. If international the presentation ceremony on Sunday. South Africa from the scourge of multitudes of civil servants and workers court ruled that Parliament had failed investors and stakeholders who support apartheid in 1994 has delivered it every – unemployment currently stands to hold the president accountable his agenda are too impatient, he will And all of this with two sets of twins to look after with wife election since. Yet today the ANC at almost 28% – will be diffi cult and in a scandal concerning diverted be unable to bring about the economic Mirka — Myla Rose and Charlene Riva and Leo and Lenny. stands accused of both fecklessness unpopular. state funds. The judges demanded growth that will bolster his support A fi t and healthy Federer chalking up yet another major and moral decay, and it suff ered Moreover, Zuma is weakened but not the National Assembly consider among South African voters. title coincided with his long-time rivals, Rafael Nadal, unprecedented losses to the opposition gone. Ramaphosa won the leadership impeachment. Ramaphosa’s victory is an Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray, beginning the Democratic Alliance in urban areas in contest by a slim margin, and his The courts’ moral stature makes important sign that many within local elections in 2016. elected deputy, David Mabuza, and them an important ally in eff orts to the ANC understand that they must year with injury concerns. Disillusioned ANC members can ANC secretary-general, Ace Magashule, clean up South African politics. But change or risk being remembered as Age certainly has not wearied the Swiss master as he was be strong allies for Ramaphosa’s are Zuma acolytes. impeachment, a lengthy and fraught the party that allowed an avaricious the oldest man at 36 to play in the Australian Open fi nal reform attempts; they were powerful Zuma’s faction has also notionally process, would be unlikely to lead to few to sell off the country. But change since Australians Ken Rosewall (37) and Mal Anderson (36) enough to elect him over Zuma’s retained control of the ANC’s Zuma’s removal much before the end of will be slow and hard. Ramaphosa is faced each in the 1972 fi nal. preferred candidate, his ex-wife and 86-member National Executive his term. expected to win a high-stakes game The result is that he stretched his lead on the all-time former African Union Commission Committee. Although some members’ The other path to consolidate with a middling hand. South African chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. But, allegiances now appear to be in fl ux, the Ramaphosa’s position is a no- voters and the watching world must major-winners’ list to 20 — four ahead of Nadal, six in front as in many countries, from Iran to NEC was vital in shielding Zuma from confidence vote within the NEC. understand that his opponents are of Pete Sampras and eight more than Djokovic. Russia, young urban voters pushing previous attempts to remove him. But, in a clear sign of his current unlikely to fold quickly. – Project Only three women — Steffi Graf (22), Serena Williams (23), for change run up against older rural Finally, Ramaphosa himself may well weakness, Zuma was able to keep Syndicate and Margaret Court (24) — have been crowned champion at voters, the core of the ANC’s base. be confl icted. As a key architect of the a no-confidence motion off the more Slams. These voters are unlikely to turn deal that ended the apartheid regime, NEC agenda earlier this month, zAnne-Marie Slaughter is president and In an endless list of records, he also holds the all-time against the party, thus buffering any he proved himself to be a formidable only by making a major concession: CEO of New America. Adrienne Klasa existential threat to its dominance at negotiator. He was tipped to be Nelson permitting an inquiry into state is editor of This is Africa, the Financial men’s record of 332 Grand Slam wins since playing his fi rst in the ballot box and putting a damper Mandela’s deputy when Mandela capture that he had been blocking for Times’ fl agship Africa publication. 1999, with career earnings of more than US$115mn. on reform efforts. became South Africa’s fi rst post- more than a year. His own links with Follow her on twitter @adrienneklasa. Saturday’s victory was also his 96th career title as he closes in on Jimmy Connors’ Open-Era mark of 109. Federer, who spent a record 302 weeks at number one and was inside the top 10 from 2002 until 2015, saw his ranking slide to 17 — his lowest since 2001 — after he spent six months out in 2016 with a knee injury. But it has been all upside since last year’s classic fi ve-set fi nal win over Nadal at the Australian Open. Despite his latest endeavour, Federer will remain world No 2 behind Nadal — for now. But that could change soon as the Spaniard battles injury and Federer chalks out a new schedule in a bid to regain the top ranking.

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© 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Cyril Ramaphosa will now almost certainly be elected South Africa’s president in 2019 – if not before. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 30, 2018 19 COMMENT The Bank of Japan’s moment of truth

By Takatoshi Ito Demanding higher wages, they fear, Tokyo would give companies an excuse to move operations abroad or adopt labour-replacing technologies. he Japanese economy has As for the second ingredient, the BoJ enjoyed seven consecutive has admitted that it underestimated quarters of positive growth, the diffi culty of infl uencing infl ation Twith the average annual rate expectations when it introduced reaching 1.9%. With aggregate demand its QE programme in April 2013. In exceeding potential output by 1%, the Japan, the expected infl ation rate, country’s “GDP gap” is now positive. however it is measured, tends to track Unemployment is down to 2.7%, the the actual infl ation rate, albeit with lowest level since 1993, and the job- some lag. This helps to explain why opening-to-application ratio is 1.56, simply announcing a 2% target has not its highest level since 1974, resulting anchored the public’s expectations, as in acute labour shortages in several it has in the US. sectors, including construction, retail, At the same time, the external and package delivery. And in January environment is promising. Almost this year, the Nikkei Stock Average rose every other advanced economy is above ¥24,000 ($216), its highest level experiencing steady, synchronised since 1991. growth. And emerging economies, But, while these indicators suggest especially China, have also regained that Japan is fi nally out of the woods of strength. At the level of the global more than two decades of stagnation, economy at least, the stars seem to be defl ation, and economic insecurity, the aligned for infl ation to reach the 2% headline infl ation rate, at just 0.6%, target rate in Japan, the US, and the remains far below the Bank of Japan’s eurozone. 2% target. And, notably, while the BoJ In Japan, the Phillips curve tends to had been attributing low infl ation to The Japanese economy has enjoyed seven consecutive quarters of positive growth. be L-shaped. Right now, the economy falling energy prices, energy is now is very close to the kink in the “L,” the contributing positively to infl ation. The BoJ has maintained its negative of its balance sheet – which is exactly more stimulus is needed, and that hoping that the real economy’s strong point known as the non-accelerating When fresh food is excluded from the policy rate and 0% 10-year-bond what the US Federal Reserve is already increasing the consumption-tax (VAT) performance will translate into higher infl ation rate of unemployment price index, the rate rises to 0.9%, but rate by purchasing annually ¥80tn in doing. Given the low average coupon rate in April 2014 was a huge mistake, infl ation soon. But will it? (NAIRU). Any sign of a vertical move falls to 0.3% when also excluding energy. JGBs and ¥6tn in equities. But, more rate of asset-side long-term bonds, as is stealth tapering. Instead, QE and Generally, three keys to higher (implying higher infl ation with an Considering the current labour recently, it has kept the ten-year- the upward shift of the yield curve will expansionary fi scal policies should infl ation are wage increases, resulting unemployment rate at NAIRU), shortages, why Japan has not bond rate at 0.0-0.1%, while reducing result in a loss for the BoJ (“negative remain at full throttle until the 2% from labour scarcity; expectations rather than a horizontal one (a lower experienced a healthy wage-infl ation the pace of new purchases of JGBs to seigniorage”), at least temporarily. In infl ation target is reached. That means of higher future infl ation among the unemployment rate without CPI spiral remains a mystery. To be sure, around ¥50tn, in what some regard as a the worst-case scenario, the BoJ could more government expenditure through public; and a favourable external infl ation), will be welcomed by the BoJ, infl ation is also missing in the United stealth tapering. exhaust its capital and require a fi scal more JGB issues, to be purchased by environment. and good for the economy at large. – States and Europe. But the Japanese With Kuroda’s term ending in injection, which could jeopardise its the BoJ – also known as “helicopter With respect to wages, Japanese Project Syndicate case is particularly striking. Japan’s early April, two camps of critics have independence. money.” The problem is that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s real economy has been supported for become increasingly vocal. The fi rst Accordingly, the fi rst camp believes intentionally blowing up the budget government has been pressuring major zTakatoshi Ito, a former Japanese years by fi scal defi cits as high as 6% of camp, arguing that the real economy the infl ation target should be lowered defi cit will increase the risk of a fi scal corporations to raise wages by 3% or deputy minister of fi nance, is GDP, and by extraordinary quantitative is what matters, wants the BoJ to stop to 1%. Infl ation would then be on crisis down the road, without helping more. That should be manageable, professor of economics at the School easing (QE), which BoJ Governor providing stimulus and start worrying target, and the BoJ could wind down its the real economy. considering that many corporations of International and Public Aff airs, Haruhiko Kuroda introduced in April about its bloated balance sheet. QE programme. The major drawback When the BoJ held its latest policy- are enjoying record profi ts. And yet Columbia University, and senior 2013. The debt-to-GDP ratio has since When the infl ation rate moves of this approach is that it would cause setting meeting on January 22-23, unions in Japan remain timid, and professor at the National Graduate risen to 230%, and the BoJ has assumed closer to the target, the BoJ will have the yen to appreciate sharply, striking a it maintained the approach it has workers remain traumatised from 15 Institute for Policy Studies, Tokyo ownership of more than 40% of to start raising its policy and long- blow to the real economy. followed for more than a year. Kuroda years of defl ation. As a result, many University. outstanding government bonds (JGBs). term rates without adjusting the size The second camp believes that and his deputy governors are probably choose job security over pay hikes. ‘Regulate Facebook like cigarette industry’ Three-day forecast has caused through addiction and TODAY By Alex Hern Maximum Temperature : 210c Guardian News & Media exploitation by bad actors”. “I was once Mark Zuckerberg’s Minimum Temperature : 130c mentor, but I have not been WEDNESDAY acebook should be regulated able to speak to him about this. Maximum Temperature : 210c like a cigarette company, Unfortunately, all the Internet Minimum Temperature : 140c because of the addictive and platforms are defl ecting criticism and THURSDAY harmful properties of social leaving their users in peril,” McNamee Maximum Temperature : 220c F Minimum Temperature : 140c media, according to Salesforce chief wrote. Earlier, Sean Parker, Facebook’s executive Marc Benioff . Fisherman's forecast Social networks would be regulated fi rst President, had described the “exactly the same way that you business practice of social media WARNING regulated the cigarette industry”, fi rms as “a social-validation feedback Inshore : Nil Benioff told CNBC at the World loop … exactly the kind of thing that Offshore : Strong wind and high Economic Forum in Davos. “Here’s a hacker like myself would come up sea a product – cigarettes – they’re with, because you’re exploiting a WEATHER Inshore : Moderate temperature addictive, they’re not good for you, vulnerability in human psychology”. with scattered clouds maybe there’s all kinds of diff erent Parker now describes himself as and slight dust, cold by forces trying to get you to do certain “something of a conscientious night. Inshore : Northwesterly 5-15 things. There’s a lot of parallels. $4bn, suggested that regulation of A string of Silicon Valley heads have objector” to social media. KT /18 KT at places at “I think that, for sure, technology some form was inevitable for the spoken out in recent months about As part of its attempt to win back times. has addictive qualities that we have to technology industry. their fear that social media could control of the narrative, Facebook has Offshrore : Northwesterly12-22 KT, increasing from 22-23 address, and that product designers are “We’re the same as any other be more psychologically damaging announced it will begin taking into KT at places later working to make those products more industry,” he said. “Financial services, than anyone expected. Last week, account how trusted a publisher is as addictive, and we need to rein that back consumer product goods, food — in venture capitalist Roger McNamee part of its News Feed algorithm. The Visibility : 4-9 KM SEA STATE as much as possible,” he added. technology, the government’s going – an early investor in Facebook – company’s metric for determining Offshore : 3-7 FT, Rises from 7-13 Benioff , who founded B2B cloud to have to be involved. There is some wrote a Guardian column warning trust, however, is a simple two- FT at places later. computing company Salesforce in regulation but there probably will have that the company would would have question survey, causing some to 1999, and is now worth more than to be more.” to “address the harm the platform query its potential. Around the region Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Baghdad Sunny 17/03 Sunny 17/03 Live issues Kuwait City Sunny 19/07 Sunny 19/08 Manama P Cloudy 20/13 Sunny 20/13 Muscat P Cloudy 23/17 Sunny 23/16 Smoking poses higher diabetes risk for black adults Tehran M Sunny -1/-9 Sunny 1/-4

By Lisa Rapaport University of Mississippi Medical Reuters Health Centre in Jackson. “However, it is possible that decreasing the number of cigarettes or black people, smoking at smoked daily may reduce the risk of least a pack of cigarettes a developing diabetes in blacks at risk,” day is tied to a higher risk of Hall said by e-mail. Fdeveloping diabetes, a US Overall, 15% of the people who study suggests. never smoked developed diabetes, the While previous research has found study found. That compares to 20% that smokers and black people both of former smokers and 17% of current have higher risks of diabetes than smokers. Around the world non-smokers and individuals from After researchers accounted for Weather Weather other racial and ethnic backgrounds, other factors that can infl uence today Max/min tomorrow Max/min the current study off ers fresh evidence diabetes risk, smoking status alone to lifestyle may play a role in this and kidney disease, poor blood Athens Sunny 18/06 Sunny 17/08 that the amount of cigarette use can didn’t appear to infl uence whether association.” flow in the legs and feet that can Beirut M Sunny 16/12 M Sunny 16/11 impact this risk. people developed diabetes. The study wasn’t a controlled lead to foot infections, ulcers and Bangkok I T Storms 31/25 P Cloudy 31/26 Researchers examined data on But then researchers took a closer experiment designed to prove whether possible amputation of toes or feet; Berlin M Cloudy 06/01 Rain 09/02 2,991 black adults who didn’t have look at how much people smoked and or how smoking might directly cause retinopathy, an eye disease that Cairo P Cloudy 21/10 P Cloudy 20/11 diabetes, including 361 who were found heavy smoking and more years diabetes. causes blindness; and peripheral Cape Town S Showers 23/16 Cloudy 23/16 current smokers and 502 who were as a smoker were associated with an Another limitation is that it neuropathy, damaged nerves to Colombo T Storm 29/25 T Storm 30/24 ex-smokers. increased risk of diabetes. included only a small number of the arms and legs that causes Dhaka Sunny 25/13 Sunny 26/13 After an average follow-up of eight It’s possible that smoking might diabetes cases, particularly among numbness, pain, weakness and poor Hong Kong Showers 12/11 S Showers 13/09 years, 479 participants developed cause diabetes because it can current smokers, the authors note in co-ordination,” Folan, who wasn’t Istanbul Sunny 11/04 Sunny 11/03 diabetes. Compared to people who damage the pancreas, a critical organ the Journal of the American Heart involved in the study, said by e-mail. Jakarta T Storm 30/24 T Storm 31/24 never smoked, participants who involved in helping the body regulate Association. It’s also possible that Smoking can also make it hard for Karachi P Cloudy 29/14 P Cloudy 28/15 smoked at least 20 cigarettes a levels of sugar in the blood, Hall said. results from a study of only black people to lose weight or avoid weight London M Cloudy 09/07 P Cloudy 09/03 day, roughly the size of one pack of Smoking might also contribute to participants might not refl ect what gain, and obesity is also a risk factor Manila P Cloudy 31/24 Rain 29/23 cigarettes, were 79% more likely to diabetes by causing inflammation, would happen among people from for developing diabetes and having Moscow Snow 01/-2 S Showers -1/-12 develop diabetes. he said. other racial or ethnic backgrounds. complications from this disease. New Delhi Sunny 26/13 P Cloudy 25/12 Ex-smokers and people who “People who smoke also have a Once people get diabetes, smoking “People who smoke often have a less New York Cloudy 04/-5 M Sunny 02/-1 smoked no more than 10 cigarettes a tendency towards other unhealthy can make symptoms worse, said healthy lifestyle due to their inability Paris Showers 11/09 Rain 10/03 day, however, didn’t appear to have a lifestyle habits including drinking Patricia Folan, director of the Centre to exercise as much as they like,” Sao Paulo Showers 23/18 P Cloudy 26/17 higher diabetes risk than people who more alcohol, worse diet and less for Tobacco Control at NorthWell Folan added. “Smoking impacts lung Seoul P Cloudy 01/-8 M Sunny 01/-10 never used cigarettes at all. physical activity,” Hall added. “Our Health in Great Neck, New York. function and stamina, making it more Singapore T Storm 31/24 S T Storms 31/24 “Obviously, all smokers should study adjusted for as many of these “Smokers who have diabetes diffi cult to exercise and leading to a Sydney Sunny 28/18 S Showers 21/16 be encouraged to quit,” said senior variables as possible and the results are more likely to have serious more sedentary lifestyle and weight Tokyo Clear 07/0 Clear 08/0 study author Dr Michael Hall of the suggest factors beyond those related health problems, including: heart gain.” Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, January 30, 2018 QATAR Qatar Foundation celebrates local culture and heritage

arge crowds enjoyed a range of “This is a wonderful celebration of to promoting cultural understand- EVMC had ponies and Arabian fun, educational and cultural our nation’s culture and heritage, and ing and fostering social engagement horses on display to explain proper Lactivities at Qatar Foundation’s we are delighted to see so many mem- through our many diff erent initia- horse care, while the QBG showcased (QF)’s Our Heritage event earlier this bers of the wider community come tives,” al-Saadi noted. a plant exhibition and organised a month. out and join us in Education City,” Additionally, a number of QF cen- range of activities for children as part The day-long event, held at QF’s said Rodha al-Saadi from the com- tres participated in the event, in- of its innovative Fun & Learn cam- Ceremonial Court and Green Spine munity engagement team at QF. cluding the Qur’anic Botanic Garden paign. area in Education City, provided “Our Heritage is part of our com- (QBG), Qatar Nanny Training Acad- Neema, a mother who visited the members of the public with an insight munity-inspired events calendar, emy, the Equine Veterinary Medical Our Heritage event, said: “My son into local traditions and values. which has been specially designed to Centre (EVMC), Al Shaqab, QatarDe- Imran, who is four years old, is having Some of the off erings included Qa- highlight Qatar’s rich history and help bate, the Education City Mosque and a lot of fun. He’s created two masks. tari board games, calligraphy activi- preserve and promote local tradi- Qatar Music Academy, each hosting I think the activities on off er are very ties, pearl extraction demonstrations, tions among the public. Community booths designed to introduce the engaging. I would defi nitely come arts and crafts stalls, and falcon pres- development is at the heart of every- public to their work in the commu- back and visit if this event takes place A child learns about falcons at Qatar Foundation’s Our Heritage event. entations. thing we do here, and we’re dedicated nity. again.”

Art of bubble making set to A sight to behold! take Mall of Qatar centre stage

all of Qatar has announced that a “We hope that our visitors will enjoy new event, the Bubble Show, will be the wonderful Bubble Show, and all of our Mheld on its Oasis stage from Febru- other excellent, free entertainment, as we ary 1 to February 10. The show will take place continue our dedication to providing won- at 5.30pm and 8.30pm every day, the organ- derful memories for the whole family.” isers have said in a press statement. At the show, one can “watch a valiant pi- “Mall of Qatar is continuing its free enter- rate brave the watery depths after his ship tainment for the whole family. Coming to the is wrecked in a heavy storm”. mall’s Oasis stage is an astounding adven- “Follow him on his journey, as he be- ture, which utilises the art of bubble making friends diff erent underwater habitants to transport the audience to a colourful, un- such as Medusa, Amphibian Man and the derwater world,” the statement noted. Sea Chameleon. These new friends share Stuart Elder, Mall of Qatar CEO, said: “At with the pirate the wonders and treasures Mall of Qatar, we are always aiming to fi nd of the undersea bubble world, which they new and exciting ways to exceed the expecta- call home. Join Mall of Qatar for a mesmer- tions of our guests. The continuous success of ising show full of exploration, adventure all our entertainment programmes, and the and bubbles; it’ll be a show that promises footfall it creates, encourages us to continue spectacular entertainment for the whole bringing more world-class shows to Qatar. family,” the statement added.

Decorations and floral arrangements make for a pretty picture in areas located along the Doha Corniche, with the West Bay skyline giving it a more dramatic feel. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam

Qanat Qarnevale coming to The Pearl-Qatar: UDC

nited Development Com- pany (UDC), master devel- Uoper of The Pearl-Qatar, has announced the launch of Qanat Qarnevale, a four-day festival of art, music, shopping and entertainment that is being staged to emulate the Carnival of Venice. The carnival will take place from tomorrow until February 3 from 4pm to 9pm, across various loca- tions around Qanat Quartier at The Pearl, targeting children and fami- lies, residents and visitors alike, UDC has said in a press statement. The activities and attractions will include game booths, retail kiosks, arcade games, laser shows, water taxi rides, 3D fl oor painting, graffi ti and caricature arts, an outdoor cin- ema and stage performances, among others. “This event is part of a UDC cam- The carnival takes place from tomorrow until February 3. paign to create a unique and exciting atmosphere that will attract families cinct. This gala event will further Qanat Quartier is a popular resi- The commercial area at Qanat to The Pearl-Qatar, while introduc- strengthen The Pearl-Qatar’s po- dential area at The Pearl-Qatar, Quartier off ers a “charming, yet ing visitors to the newly opened sition as one of the country’s elite known for its greenery, beach, canals, lively environment” with boutique shops, restaurants and cafés that tourist and entertainment attrac- pedestrian-friendly squares, plazas shopping and a variety of coff ee The show will be held from February 1 to February 10. populate the Qanat Quartier pre- tions,” the statement noted. and Venetian-like experience. shops and restaurants to experience. Shop Qatar 2018 highlights local produce in fi nal week

fter celebrating three unique themes in previous Aweeks, Shop Qatar 2018’s fi nal week now focuses on pro- moting local products through 30 pop-up shops set up at Mall of Qatar (MoQ), it is learnt. Organised by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), the month- long shopping festival in the country has partnered with more than 100 budding entrepreneurs and local businesses to provide a platform that will bring them closer to customers and broaden their market reach. “Buying local is worth every cent. Let’s show our love and support for small local business- es during #ShopQatar,” QTA said through Facebook posts, encour- aging residents and visitors to buy and patronise local products. The initiative is being held in partnership with Qatar Devel- Pop-up shops showcase an array of unique local products. opment Bank, which has been tributed an estimated QR1.06bn The month-long festival also malls until February 8. Shoppers supporting startups and young rations, among other food and everyone a chance to showcase an authentic Qatari experience. to the local economy. coincides with outdoor carnivals who spend QR200 at participat- entrepreneurs grow and expand non-food items made by talented their products to mall-goers. Alshaikh expressed confi dence Shop Qatar, the country’s big- being held at Souq Waqif and ing retailers can enter a weekly their businesses. retailers. These small businesses have that this year’s Shop Qatar will gest shopping festival, forms a MoQ, giving a variety of choices raffl e draw for a chance to win Some of the products on off er According to QTA’s tourism been getting an increasing attract more visitors and spec- part of QTA’s strategy to grow for families to enjoy the pleasant BMW cars and cash prizes worth at MoQ’s Luxury Court (ground events and festival organisation number of orders from mall- tators to festival locations and and diversify the country’s tour- outdoor weather this winter. up to QR4mn. and fi rst fl oor) include unique section head Alshaima Alshaikh, goers due to the high footfall exceed the previous edition’s ac- ism off ering, particularly in the Shoppers can still avail of up to The fi nal draw will take place gifts, customised items, abayas, entrepreneurs are participating generated by the festival while complishments. area of family and urban enter- 50% discounts on a range of con- at the closing ceremony on Feb- stationery, perfumes, and deco- on a rotation basis at MoQ, giving providing the mall’s visitors with The fi rst edition in 2017 con- tainment. sumer goods at 13 participating ruary 8 at the Doha Festival City.