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MONDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10328 January 9, 2017 Rabia II 11, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals QR4mn bonanza In brief

QATAR | Visit awaits shoppers Defence minister holds talks with Sudan leader Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir met in Khartoum yesterday with Qatar’s Minister of State for Defence at Shop Qatar Aff airs HE Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and By Joey Aguilar of the participating retailers, which in- welcome children who want to hear or issues of joint concern, in addition to Staff Reporter clude Mall of Qatar, Ezdan Mall, Hyatt read their favourite stories. prospects for future co-operation. In Plaza, Al Khor Mall, Lagoona Mall, Gulf Children will also be given a chance a statement following the meeting, Mall, Landmark, Dar Al Salam Mall, to read books at a dedicated corner at HE al-Attiyah said that he conveyed ash prizes of up to QR4mn The Gate Mall, and The Pearl-Qatar. Mall of Qatar for QF’s National Reading the greetings of HH the Emir Sheikh and discounts up to 50% await QTA expects the festival to attract Campaign. Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the Cshoppers at the fi rst edition more visitors due to its timing in the Hyatt Plaza is hosting a daily African Commander-in-Chief of the Qatari of the month-long Shop Qatar festi- winter months and coincides with some Circus until January 21 in its outdoor area. Armed Forces, to President Bashir. val, which aims to usher in a ‘retail- of the major tourism events in Qatar. On weekdays, shows run from 6.30pm to The minister thanked the Sudanese tainment’ shopping experience to the QTA chief marketing and promo- 8pm and on weekends, from 5.30pm to President for the support given to country. tion offi cer Rashed al-Qurese noted 9pm. Free roaming shows at the malls reach advanced phases of the Sur Launched on Saturday evening at that Shop Qatar falls within mid-year will continue throughout the festival. clothing factory, which was opened Mall of Qatar, the festival dubbed as ‘A holidays in the neighbouring GCC “Shop Qatar is a new addition to the yesterday in partnership between Brand New Tradition’ off ers prizes at countries, an opportunity for poten- country’s rich calendar of annual fes- Qatar, Sudan, and Turkey. Page 2 three weekly raffl e draws. tial visitors to spend more time in the tivals and tourism events, which has In a statement, Qatar Tourism Au- country. been steadily growing over the past few REGION | Obituary thority (QTA) said the fi rst three weekly Shop Qatar’s fi rst weekend (January years,” QTA said. “In its fi rst edition, raffl e draws will take place on the fi rst 12 to 14) will feature food trucks and the festival aims to shed light on this Former Iran president three Thursdays of the festival (January stalls on the Doha Corniche, off ering Qatar’s retail and entertainment off er- Rafsanjani dies at 82 12, 19, and 26) with 15 cash prizes (from various snacks and drinks, apart from ing, and celebrate it with Qatar’s resi- Former Iranian president Akbar QR10,000 to QR300,000). the fi reworks display near the Al Mour- dents and visitors.” Hashemi Rafsanjani died yesterday The concluding day of Shop Qatar jan Restaurant, which will light up the The festival will also off er an array after suff ering a heart attack at the age (February 7) will see a mega-draw with skies in the evening. of live cultural shows, performances of 82. Rafsanjani had been admitted to a jackpot prize of QR1mn, in addition to In the same week, visitors will also by renowned singers and international Shohada Hospital in the Iranian capital 14 other cash prizes from QR20,000 to have the chance to watch episodes of comedians, and a wide range of family- Tehran in the morning with cardiac QR120,000. Siraj, the 3D animation of ‘edutain- friendly entertainment activities “in a arrhythmia and then suff ered cardiac To get a raffl e coupon for the draws, ment’ TV series, to be set up by Qatar festive and safe environment that refl ects arrest hours later as family members shoppers need to spend QR200 at any Foundation (QF). A mobile library will local culture and heritage.” Page 20 African Circus performers on stage at Hyatt Plaza yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma stood at his bedside, hospital sources said. Thousands of mourners gathered at the clinic to pay their respects to the cleric. Rafsanjani was a pivotal figure in the foundation of the Islamic republic in 1979, and served as president from 1989 to 1997. Page 4 Truck attack kills Iraqi forces reach AMERICA | Crime Shooting suspect could face death penalty four Israeli soldiers The US authorities have charged the Iraq war vet accused of fatally AFP of the assailant, who according to all Tigris in Mosul shooting five people and wounding six Jerusalem indications supported IS (Islamic State at a Florida airport with federal crimes group).” that could carry the death penalty. Palestinian security offi cials said the Reuters State is resorting as it comes un- the river without fi rst recapturing the The Justice Department on Saturday Palestinian rammed a truck into driver was a Palestinian in his late 20s Mosul/Baghdad der pressure in Mosul, its last major rest of the eastern districts, and in fact charged Esteban Santiago, 26, with a group of Israeli soldiers vis- from east Jerusalem’s Jabal Mukaber stronghold in Iraq. all the bridges have been taken out of firearms off ences and carrying out an Aiting a popular tourist spot in neighbourhood. Units of Iraq’s elite counter-terror- service by air strikes. act of violence when he opened fire Jerusalem yesterday, killing four and Palestinian media named him as Fadi raqi special forces battling Islamic ism service (CTS) have fought their But reaching the eastern bank shows at the busy Fort Lauderdale airport. If wounding 17 others, authorities said. al-Qanbar. State reached the eastern bank of way to the eastern bank of the Tigris, the accelerated pace of the latest Iraqi convicted of the charges Santiago could The driver was also killed at the loca- Five members of his family were ar- Ithe Tigris river in Mosul yesterday spokesman Sabah al-Numan said. advance, which has made daily gains face the death penalty or life in prison. tion overlooking holy sites such as the rested for questioning, Israeli police for the fi rst time in a three-month, It was the fi rst time Iraqi troops in the since restarting 10 days ago. Dome of the Rock. said. US-backed off ensive to capture the city city itself have reached the river, which Brett McGurk, Washington’s envoy There was no immediate claim of re- Chaos broke out at the scene when from the militants, who still control its bisects Mosul, since the off ensive to to the US-led coalition backing the Ira- sponsibility for the attack. the truck ploughed through the crowd, entire western half. drive out Islamic State was launched in qi off ensive, said in a tweet that Islamic Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin as hundreds of soldiers took part in a The group also claimed attacks at October. State’s defences in eastern Mosul were Netanyahu who visited the scene said tour about the history of Jerusalem. two Baghdad markets in which 20 peo- Iraqi forces already control the Tigris “showing signs of collapse”. in a statement: “We know the identity Page 4 ple were killed, the latest in a spate of to Mosul’s south. Hundreds of civilians fl ed their bombings, tactics to which Islamic They are not expected to push across homes in nearby Muthana, which Iraqi forces recaptured two days ago in an unprecedented nighttime raid, crossing a tributary of the Tigris via a makeshift Mercury to dip to 6C at Abu Samra bridge made from dirt. In Baghdad, a suicide attacker killed bu Samra and surroundings are Ruwais, Mesaieed and Wakrah (23C). 13 people when he drove an explosives- forecast to experience a mini- The visibility will be very low in many rigged car into vegetable market in the Amum temperature of 6C in the places owing to foggy conditions in the mainly Shia Muslim eastern Jamila dis- early hours today, the Met offi ce has early hours. It will be as low as 2km or trict, and detonated it, police said. said. Dukhan will see a low of 10C, even less in the early hours even though Islamic State claimed the attack in an followed by Al Khor, Mesaieed and average for the day is likely between online statement, saying it had targeted Wakrah (12C), Ruwais (15C) and Doha 4km and 8km. a “gathering of Shias”. (16C). The forecast from Qatar Meteorol- A few hours afterwards, a suicide However, the day is forecast to ex- ogy Department said hazy to misty/ bomber wearing an explosive vest blew perience a maximum temperature of foggy conditions would turn mild dur- Iraqis pull a cart with their belongings in a street in Mosul’s al-Zahraa neighbourhood himself up at a market in another mostly 27C in Doha and Abu Samra, followed ing the day time and cold conditions yesterday, as they flee with other civilians during an ongoing military operation Shia district, Baladiyat, killing seven, by Al Khor (26C), Dukhan (25C) and would be in place in the evening. against Islamic State group militants. according to police and medical sources. Israel apologises as Jazeera exposes plot against UK minister

AFP the Al Jazeera undercover reporter: “I rael,” he told the BBC in 2014. Masot also personally to Duncan, according to the sparking Israeli fury. It was not imme- helping Halfon become a minister, London want to take down...the deputy foreign called Johnson an “idiot” and mocked embassy. diately clear if Masot’s comments were prompting Masot to ask her: “Can you minister (Alan Duncan).” “crazy” opposition Labour leader Jere- The Foreign Offi ce confi rmed it had linked to the resolution. do the opposite stuff as well?” Duncan, Foreign Secretary Boris my Corbyn and his “weirdo” supporters. received an apology, and that it now Conservative chairman of the Foreign However, Strizzolo said Duncan he Israeli embassy yesterday Johnson’s second-in-command, and a The embassy issued an immediate considered “the matter closed”. Aff airs Select Committee Crispin Blunt would be “impossible to rebuff ” due to sought to head off a diplomatic long-time critic of Israel, was “doing a apology, saying it “rejects the remarks The incident comes amid an Israeli told the Mail on Sunday the comments having powerful “friends”, but then sug- Tstorm with London, apologising lot of problems,” Mascot added. concerning minister Duncan, which are diplomatic off ensive against coun- were “outrageous”. gested “a little scandal, maybe?” after one of its staff was caught on cam- Duncan once described Israeli settle- completely unacceptable”. tries which backed a UN resolution last The footage was recorded at a res- Strizzolo told the newspaper that era by an undercover reporter from Al ments in occupied Palestinian territory “The comments were made by a jun- month demanding a halt to settlement taurant opposite the Israeli embassy in she was speaking to Masot as a friend Jazeera television, threatening to “take as a “stain on the face of the globe”, call- ior embassy employee who is not an Is- building on Palestinian land. London’s upmarket Kensington district, and that the conversation had been down” a government minister. ing them an “act of theft”. raeli diplomat, and who will be ending All 15 members of the UN Security during a meeting attended by Maria “tongue-in-cheek and gossipy”, adding: The Mail on Sunday newspaper post- “Occupation, annexation, illegality, his term of employment with the em- Council, including permanent member Strizzolo, senior aide to Conservative “Any suggestion that I...could exert the ed the footage showing the embassy’s negligence, complicity — this is a wick- bassy shortly,” it added. Britain, voted in favour of the resolu- Education Minister Robert Halfon. type of infl uence you are suggesting is senior political offi cer Shai Masot telling ed cocktail which brings shame on Is- Ambassador Mark Regev apologised tion except for the US which abstained, Strizzolo spoke of her infl uence in risible.” Gulf Times 2 Monday, January 9, 2017 QATAR

Farewell ceremony for envoys Sudan president, Qatar’s Defence Minister open Sur clothing factory

QNA Doha

udanese President Omar al-Bashir, HE the Min- Sister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, and Turkey’s De- fence Minister Fikri Isik, in- augurated yesterday the new phase of Sur military and civil- ian clothing factory which is jointly owned by Qatar, Sudan and Turkey. The factory aims to provide high quality military, logis- tic and civilian products to the HE the Secretary-General of the Foreign Ministry Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi yesterday held Middle East and Africa follow- a farewell ceremony in honour of ambassador of the Philippines and El Salvador to Qatar – Wilfredo ing global standards. C Santos and Guillermo Rubio Funes, respectively. Several heads of diplomatic missions and off ices During the ceremony the new accredited to Qatar and Qatari Foreign Ministry staff attended the ceremony, which was held at the building of the Sur military and Diplomatic Club. civilian clothing factory and the building of the Sur Interna- tional Investment Company Ltd were inaugurated. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and HE the Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin During the inauguration cer- Mohamed al-Attiyah inaugurating the new phase of Sur military and civilian clothing factory yesterday. emony, President Bashir said that the factory represents a and maintain the welfare of the Meanwhile, the Sudanese exporting to Qatar, Turkey, successful model of admin- labourers. minister of industry said that Kenya, Somalia and other istration and investment and The president reaffi rmed the factory is considered a great countries. new technology, including en- his determination to continue leap in industrial development A number of ministers and hancement of capacities and supporting the Sur factory to in the country. senior offi cials in the field of New guidebook transfer of expertise. In addi- enable it to achieve its goals to New production lines are textile industry in Sudan, along tion, the factory provides new serve the international society, scheduled to open this May. with military and diplomatic initiatives to better the envi- by opening up global markets to The Sur Company supports the offi cials from Qatar, Sudan and for customs ronment, social responsibility service army alliances. Sudanese economy through Turkey attended the ceremony. HBJ Foundation launches QR30mn evaluators hospital project in Pakistan he General Authority of sions and circulars that imple- cordingly, both the customs value Customs (GAC) has issued ment the law. and customs tariff have recipro- QNA baz Sharif, Prime Minister of tion standards, taking into ac- ten years, while the Pakistani Ta guidebook of customs The customs value is the main cal eff ect on each other. Doha the government of Punjab prov- count the number of popula- government will provide the value to ease the task of customs determinant in collecting the The main topics covered ince and a number of offi cials tion of the Province and that staff . evaluation offi cers. The publica- due customs charges, which are by the guidebook include: the from both sides. the hospital will be furnished For his part, Mohamed Shah- tion explains the procedures fol- calculated based on a certain foundations of customs evalu- he Jassim and Hamad bin The statement said that and equipped with advanced baz Sharif, Chief Minister of lowed in evaluating the price of percentage of the item or goods ation applicable in Qatar, the Jassim Charitable Foun- the hospital will accommo- medical equipment, immedi- Punjab, expressed pleasure at goods for the customs clearance concerned. conditions for accepting the Tdation (HBJ Foundation) date 50 beds, at a cost of about ately upon completion of con- the inauguration of the Sheikh companies and their staff of cus- value of deals, the connection has launched a project to build QR30mn. struction works. Jassim Hospital project and toms clearance specialists. GAC has issued the between the seller and the buyer, the Sheikh Jassim Hospital in Speaking at the inauguration He pointed out that the hos- thanked the Jassim and Hamad GAC has included all the nec- guidebook out of its the tools and ways used to check Baker Province, Punjab region ceremony, Saeed al-Hajri, Chief pital, which is expected to be bin Jassim Charitable Founda- essary information in the form vision that upgrading the the value of deals, the reasons for in Pakistan as part of the Foun- Executive Offi cer (CEO) of HBJ built in 24 months, includes tion. of questions and answers, cov- evaluation process and doubting the declared value, the dation’s keenness to support Foundation said “The project is all public disciplines in addi- He also praised Qatar’s con- ering the important questions increasing the effi ciency of charges for cargo and insurance, and develop healthcare services part of the Foundation’s inter- tion to emergency services and tinued support to the Pakistani that concern customs evalua- customs evaluators is on commercial discounts, similar in needy countries. est in the development of the accidents, obstetrics and gy- people. tors, while giving comprehensive top of its priorities goods, the calculated value, and The Foundation said in a health sector in Pakistan and in naecology to serve more than He stressed that this project answers in a simple and focused other similar related issues. press release that the project support of the fraternal rela- 150,000 persons in the region will be a major breakthrough in form, it was explained in a state- It is easy to confi rm the cate- GAC has issued the guidebook was inaugurated in the presence tions between the Qatari and and neighbouring areas, and the fi eld of healthcare, especial- ment yesterday. gory of the set charges by review- out of its vision that upgrad- of HE Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad the Pakistani people.” will provide jobs for about 150 ly as the Punjab province is suf- The answers are based on the ing the applicable customs tariff ing the evaluation process and bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani, He added that the hospital to 200 employees. fering from a severe shortage of stipulations of the Customs Tar- table. Determining the customs increasing the effi ciency of cus- a founding member of (HBJ will be established according He said that the HBJ Founda- private hospitals and qualifi ed iff Agreement, the Customs Law charges to be collected is based toms evaluators is on top of its Foundation), Mohamed Shah- to the World Health Organisa- tion will operate the hospital for health services centres. and its regulations, and the deci- on the value of the item itself. Ac- priorities.

Three expats get jail term for Head of Syrian interim stealing cables Temporary diversion in Wukair area govt hails Qatar’s support temporary diversion fi c will be diverted to the newly A Doha Criminal Court has will be in place for three fi nished road. sentenced three expatriate Amonths from tomorrow This diversion is required to Asian men to one year in jail QNA sector in Syria in co-operation on Haroun Road in North Al facilitate the removal of the ex- and subsequent deportation Doha with the Qatari government, Wukair. The road connects Al isting road in order to construct for stealing electric cables from which is the fi rst to admit the re- Wukair Road to the Industrial a newly developed one, as part the storehouse of the company newal of Syrians passports. Area Road and F-Ring Road. of the Roads and Infrastructure where they used to work. rime Minister of the Syr- Abu Hatab noted that he was The 1.9km long Haroun Road, for Government Residential Di- Local Arabic daily Arrayah ian Interim Government Dr among the delegation who met has two lanes in each direction. vision project in North Al Wu- reported that the first defendant PJawad Abu Hatab hailed the HE the Minister of Foreign Af- During its closure, traffi c will kair. who was employed as a foreman leadership, the government and the fairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Ab- be diverted to adjacent roads The project will also include at the company, and two of people of Qatar for its important dulrahman al-Thani. which are Al Tabaah and Zu- constructing new signal-con- his colleagues, a driver and an role in support of the Syrian people. The delegation was headed by barat Al Eraiq streets with the trolled intersections, better electrician, stole the cables. They Speaking to Qatari newspa- the president of the supreme ne- same number of lanes. street lighting facilities, install- hatched a plan for stealing the pers Al-Watan and Al-Sharq, gotiating body of the Syrian Op- Moreover, four roundabouts ing better infrastructure serv- material and selling it off to an Abu Hatab highlighted Qatar’s position Riad Hijab, and Presi- will be provided to ease the traf- ices to enable more land own- outside party for personal gain, contributions to help the Syrian dent of the National Coalition for fi c fl ow (as shown on the map). ers to build and occupy their the report said. people, especially referring to Syrian Revolutionary and Oppo- The construction will be con- Road between Zubarat Al Eraiq Rahman Al-Thani will be reo- houses, in addition to providing According to the prosecution, the a plan to develop the education sition Forces Anas al-Abdah. ducted in phases and Haroun and Sheikh Mubarak Bin Abdul pened on February 16 and traf- sidewalks and landscaping. defendants sold the stolen cables for QR1,000 and divided the money among themselves. After being caught, the suspects confessed to the crime before the police and later before the trial court, the report added. Aster opens its 7th medical centre in Qatar

Man sentenced to By Joseph Varghese ity and expressed high satisfac- Staff Reporter tion. “This service will promote six months in jail medical tourism to India in a big for stealing phone way in coming days,” Dr Moopen ster DM Healthcare has claimed. launched its seventh According to the offi cial, Aster An African expatriate man has Amedical centre in Qatar DM Healthcare is likely to open been sentenced to six months in at Al Gharrafa near the immi- its fi rst hospital in Qatar next jail and subsequent deportation gration offi ce. The offi cial inau- month. “The building is com- for stealing a mobile phone guration will be on Wednesday, plete. Inspection by the offi cials from a shopper at a commercial announced Dr Sameer Moopen, is going on. We expect that we complex in the Industrial Area. chief executive offi cer, Aster DM will be awarded the operations Local Arabic daily Arrayah Healthcare- Qatar, yesterday. licence very soon. We already reported that the suspect was Aster Medical Centre Al have on-board all the physicians identified with the help of the Gharrafa off ers a comprehensive and other medical staff required surveillance camera at the range of medical services in- for the hospital.” shopping complex. cluding General Medicine, ENT, Also present at the press He was later arrested by the Obstetrics and Gynaecology and conference were Aster Medical police, who had launched Endocrinology with attached Centre Al Gharrafa’s physicians investigations after receiving a pharmacy, X-ray facility and Dr Mohamed Adel al-Chaer complaint from the victim, who sample collection for diagnostic (specialist- endocrinology), Dr said he had lost his mobile phone services. Kumari Varghese (specialist- at a particular place at the mall. “The core of our endeavour Dr Sameer Moopen, flanked by physicians of the new medical centre, at the press conference. obstetrics and gynaecology,) Dr Accordingly, the recording of will always be to provide quality Abdelhafi d Boumezbeur (spe- the surveillance cameras were healthcare for all at an aff ord- will be open Saturday to Thurs- Aster is also off ering a help ly specialised hospitals in India. basis,” he said while explain- cialist-internal medicine) and reviewed and the convict was able cost,” Dr Moopen stated at day from 8.30am to 12.30pm and desk at its Doha offi ce to provide “About two or three people are ing that several Qatari patients Dr Absha Hassan (general physi- arrested and put on trial. a press conference. The clinic 4pm to 9pm. treatment for patients at its high- availing this service on a weekly have already availed this facil- cian). Gulf Times Monday, January 9, 2017 3 QATAR Vodafone launches new product for Red plan users odafone has launched a telecommunications practice of in 78 countries, 1GB additional charges, which is equivalent to of out of bundle data in Qatar. ‘Bill Manager’ which en- operators that expects custom- data valid in the GCC countries the benefi t of a Smart Data Rate Now with Bill Manager this same Vsures its Red postpaid cus- ers to keep track of what is the and 100 roaming minutes valid product. customer will only pay QR60 tomers will not be charged extra. best product to add, how to add for a week for no extra charge. If the customer continues to for 1GB of extra data,” al-Sadah The new product automatically it and when to add it. If the customer consumes the consume local data and reaches explained. gives customers the benefi ts of “Our new product does all of data or minutes within a week, QR60 in charges, Bill Manager Bill Manager will be available the best local data or roaming that without charging custom- Bill Manager will give them the will automatically add the ben- for free for new customers on Each seat comes with an iPad, which has access to a personalised products when they go out of ers anything extra and ensuring same benefi ts the moment their efi t of QR60 mobile Internet Vodafone Red Plans and will be service during the movie. bundle without having to activate their bill is always optimised usage reaches another QR100 pack, which gives the customer automatically added to exist- those products in advance. with no extra unnecessary and so on. 1GB data. ing Red customers from their “Vodafone understands that charges.” As another example, in lo- Bill Manager continues track- next bill cycle. the customers are using more For example, when custom- cal usage if customers consume ing usage levels, giving benefi ts The new products will also and more data locally as well as ers start roaming in one of the 78 all the local data allowance in- of 7GB data when a customer keep customers informed via QA partners with while travelling abroad,” Vo- countries included in Vodafone cluded in their plan and starts reaches QR100 and so on for all SMS notifi cations about their dafone Qatar COO Mohamed passport pack and their roam- getting charged at the standard mobile Internet packs. savings and customers can also al-Sadah said in a statement ing data or voice usage reaches out-of-bundle rates, then upon “Bill Manager is another fi rst check My Vodafone App at any yesterday. QR100, which is the price of the spending QR20, Bill Manager for our Red customers. It is pos- time to check how much extra Novo Cinemas to He explained that Bill Man- passport pack, they will auto- will automatically give custom- sible for a postpaid customer to value Bill Manager has given ager challenges the standard matically receive 1GB data valid ers 200MB without additional be charged over QR1,000 for 1GB them. off er 7-star service

atar Airways (QA) is cations) Salam al-Shawa said QNB off ers discount on QA fares Honda Legend sponsoring the fi rst- in a statement. Qclass 7-star cinema QA is recognised as an in- experience at Novo Cin- dustry leader in providing a model recalled emas across Qatar, Bahrain leading infl ight entertainment under life rewards programme and the UAE, introducing system, Oryx One, which of- customers within the region fers passengers up to 3,000 he Ministry of dinate with the dealer to to a luxury entertainment movies, TV shows, games and NB has launched a cam- blackout dates. Members also earn in addition to earning while spend- Economy and follow up on the mainte- experience. music options to enjoy during paign allowing customers of regular life rewards points using ing on their life rewards debit or TCommerce (MEC), nance and repair works The 7-star service includes their fl ight. Qits life rewards programme their life rewards credit card for credit card. in collaboration with Do- and communicate with valet parking, luxury lounges “We off er a continuation of receive up to 10% discount for fl ight online bookings. The programme also off ers its masco (Doha Marketing customers to ensure that and special gourmet food the fi rst-class service found tickets on Qatar Airways to any customers the opportunity to in- Services Company), has the necessary repairs are menu ordered from the com- on board QA. This partnership of its more than 150 destinations This promotion, which stantly redeem their points at par- announced the recall of carried out. fort of fully reclining leather is a refl ection of our shared across the globe, by redeeming only will remain in eff ect until ticipating partners or towards pay- Honda Legend model year The MEC has urged all seats. Each seat comes with commitment to the highest one life rewards point. January 31, is valid for all ment of a utility bill or cash back on 2007-2011 over a poten- customers to report any an iPad, which has access to a quality entertainment and This promotion, which will re- QNB customers who book credit cards. tial defect in driver and violations to its Con- personalised service anytime standards of customer care,” main in eff ect until January 31, is their tickets using QNB life QNB’s loyal customers are able passenger airbag infl ator. sumer Protection and during the movie. Novo Cinemas CEO Debbie valid for all QNB customers who rewards credit cards through to simply exchange their life re- The MEC said the recall Anti-Commercial Fraud “Our partnership with Novo Stanford-Kristiansen said. book their tickets using QNB liferewardsholiday.com wards points for various options, campaign comes within Department through the Cinemas as the sponsor of the Novo is a subsidiary of Elan life rewards credit cards through including products from luxurious the framework of its on- following channels: Hot- exclusive 7-star cinema re- Group, a diversifi ed and fully liferewardsholiday.com QNB’s life rewards programme boutiques, dinners at 5-star hotels, going eff orts to protect line: 16001, e-mail: info@ fl ects our continuous dedi- integrated media, entertain- QNB life rewards holiday website is a total relationship loyalty pro- utility payments, and cash back consumers and ensure mec.gov.qa, Twitter: @ cation to our passengers in ment, and urban beautifi ca- is a one stop shop for all the travel gramme in Qatar, allowing QNB on their life rewards credit card. that car dealers follow MEC_Qatar, Instagram: providing a world class expe- tion group in the Middle East. needs – with over 300 airlines, customers to accumulate points for They can even send points to their up on vehicle defects and MEC_Qatar, MEC mobile riences wherever they are,” QA Elan Media facilitated this 300,000 hotels worldwide, and 300 their daily banking transactions by loved ones and reward their lives on repairs. app for Android and IOS: senior vice president (market- partnership as Novo Cinemas’ car rentals, with no hidden fees or using a variety of banking channels, special occasions. The MEC will co-or- MEC_Qatar ing and corporate communi- media representative. Gulf Times 4 Monday, January 9, 2017 REGION/ARAB WORLD Iran’s former Four Israeli soldiers killed president Rafsanjani dies in Jerusalem truck attack Israeli PM: Attack likely inspired by Islamic State; AFP played an important role in the IS claimed truck assault on Tehran election of the reformist Mo- Berlin market last month; hamed Khatami, who succeeded Hamas praises attack him as president from 1997 to ormer Iranian president 2005. Reuters Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani Rafsanjani sought a return to Jerusalem F(pictured) died in hospital the presi- yesterday after suff ering a heart dency in attack, the ISNA and Fars news 2005 but Palestinian rammed his agencies reported. lost to truck into a group of Is- Rafsanjani, who was 82, was a hardliner Araeli soldiers on a popu- pivotal fi gure in the foundation Mah- lar promenade in Jerusalem of the Islamic republic in 1979, moud Ah- yesterday, killing four of them and served as president from madinejad in an attack which Prime Min- 1989 to 1997. in a con- ister Benjamin Netanyahu said He had been admitted to the servative had likely been inspired by Is- Shohadaa Hospital in northern backlash. lamic State. Tehran, one of his relatives, Hos- It was a bitter defeat, but rath- It was the deadliest Pales- sein Marashi, was quoted as say- er than retreating from public tinian attack in Jerusalem in ing by the agencies. view, he remained in the lime- months and targeted offi cer ca- Rafsanjani was born on Au- light. dets as they disembarked from gust 25, 1934 in the village of Rafsanjani emerged as a mod- a bus that brought them to the Nough in southern Iran into a erate counter-fi gure to the ul- Armon Hanatziv promenade wealthy family. tra-hardliners clustered around which has a panoramic view of He studied theology in the Ahmadinejad — under whom the walled Old City. holy city of Qom before entering Iran’s relations with the West The military said an offi cer politics in 1963 after the shah’s plummeted — and criticised the and three offi cer cadets were Israeli policemen inspect the site of a vehicle-ramming attack in Jerusalem yesterday. police arrested the founder of crackdown that followed Ah- killed and that 17 others were the republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah madinejad’s disputed re-elec- injured. attacker. According to all the Actions inspired by Islamic The Palestinian Authority, guard identifi ed only as “A” told Khomeini. tion in 2009. Police said three of the dead signs he is a supporter of Is- State in Israel, the occupied which exercises limited self- Channel 10 how he shot at the A confi dant of Khomeini, In recent years though, his in- were women. lamic State,” the prime minister West Bank and Jerusalem have rule in the West Bank, denies truck and its driver. Rafsanjani was the speaker of fl uence within state institutions Police identifi ed the truck said. been rare. that allegation, and says as- “I shot at a tyre but realised parliament for two consecutive had waned. In 2013, his candi- driver as a Palestinian from Roni Alsheich, the national A wave of Palestinian street sailants have acted out of frus- there was no point as he has terms until Khomeini’s death in dacy for the presidential elec- Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem police chief, told reporters attacks, including vehicle ram- tration over Israeli occupation many wheels, so I ran in front of 1989. Rafsanjani’s presidency, a tion was rejected because of his and said he was shot dead. he could not rule out that the mings, has largely slowed but of land Palestinians seek for a the cabin and at an angle, I shot breathing space after the end of advanced age. His uncle, Abu Ali, named driver had been motivated by a not stopped completely since state in peace talks stalled since at him and emptied my maga- the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, was The next year he delivered cru- him as Fadi Ahmad Hamdan truck ramming attack in a Berlin it began in October 2015 and 37 2014. Palestinian group Hamas zine,” he said. marked by reconstruction, cau- cial support for the eventual win- Qunbor, 28, a father of four Christmas market that killed 12 Israelis and two visiting Ameri- in Gaza routinely praises those “When I fi nished shooting, tious reform and repairs to Iran’s ner, Hassan Rouhani, a moderate from the Jabel Mukabar neigh- people last month. cans have been killed in these who carry out street attacks, some of the offi cer cadets also relations with its Arab neigh- with whom he has a warm rap- bourhood. “It is diffi cult to get into assaults. and did so yesterday. took aim and also started fi r- bours. port. He was an important backer The Israeli military regularly the head of every individual At least 231 Palestinians have “We bless this heroic op- ing.” But it was also marred by hu- of the deal Rouhani struck with takes soldiers on educational to determine what prompted been killed in violence in Israel, eration resisting the Israeli oc- The footage showed many of man rights violations, rampant world powers for sanctions to be tours of Jerusalem, including him, but there is no doubt that the occupied West Bank and the cupation to force it to stop its the soldiers fl eeing the scene as infl ation and diffi cult relations lifted in exchange for curbs on the Armon Hanatziv vantage these things do have an eff ect,” Gaza Strip in the same period. crimes and violations against the attack took place, their rifl es with Europe, not least with Brit- Iran’s nuclear programme. point. Alsheich told reporters. Israel says at least 157 of them our people,” Hamas spokesman slung on their shoulders. ain after the “death sentence”, Rafsanjani was always a member Netanyahu visited the scene In another attack claimed by were assailants while others Fawzi Barhoum told Reuters. As a Palestinian resident of or fatwa, handed down to writer of Iran’s top clerical body, the As- and said he convened a forum Islamic State in which a truck died during clashes and pro- Security camera footage East Jerusalem, the truck driver Salman Rushdie by Khomeini. sembly of Experts, charged with ap- of senior ministers to discuss was used to ram into crowds, tests, blaming the violence on showed the truck racing to- would carry an Israeli identity After serving a maximum two pointing — and if required dismiss- Israel’s response. nearly 90 people were killed in incitement by the Palestinian wards the soldiers, and then card and be able to move freely consecutive terms, Rafsanjani ing — the country’s supreme leader. “We know the identity of the the French city of Nice in July. leadership. reversing into them. A security through all of the city.

UNREST 68 killed in battles Detained IS suspect claims near Yemen’s strategic strait Tunisian journalists are dead At least 68 fighters have been killed in two days of fierce battles between Yemeni forces and AFP The prisoner told the Al-Hadath Al- Houthi rebels near the strategic Tripoli Libya channel the two journalists had Bab al-Mandab strait, military been captured at an IS roadblock be- off icials said yesterday. Govern- tween the towns of Ajdabiya and Labraq ment forces launched an assault suspected militant held in eastern and then taken to Derna. Saturday, recapturing the coastal Libya said two Tunisian journal- He said an IS “court” had ordered Dhubab district, just 30 kilome- A ists who went missing in 2014 them killed on the basis of testimony tres north of Bab al-Mandab were killed by the Islamic State group, in from Tunisian militants. which links the Red Sea and the a television report on Saturday. Al-Hadath Al-Libya is close to east- Indian Ocean. Since then at least Abderrazek Nassef Abderrazek Ali, a ern Libya’s military strongman Marshal 55 Houthis have been killed in Libyan, said he had witnessed the pair Khalifa Haftar. The channel said the sus- fighting and 72 others wounded, being killed execution-style in a forest pect, who was shown shaven-headed military and medical sources said. outside the eastern town of Derna, which and wearing an orange jumpsuit, was Clashes since Saturday have also was then under IS control. being held by Haftar’s forces. killed 13 loyalists forces, including IS had claimed in January 2015 to have Relatives of the two journalists con- an army general, said Brigadier- killed blogger Sofi ene Chourabi and ducted a long campaign for information General Abdul Aziz al-Majidi, a loyal- photographer Nadhir Ktari but later the from the Tunisian government on the ist commander. They said fighting same year the Tunisian government said fate of their loved ones. was still underway yesterday as it had evidence the pair were still alive. Some 3,000 Tunisians have joined the loyalist forces were trying to retake Yesterday, Tunisia’s foreign ministry ranks of militant groups fi ghting in Lib- from the rebels a key military base said in a Facebook post that it was try- ya, as well as in Syria and Iraq, according in the Dhubab region. Al-Omari ing to verify the authenticity of the claim to Tunisian offi cials. base is located in a mountainous through legal and diplomatic channels in The United Nations puts the fi gure at region that overlooks the coastal co-ordination with Libya. 5,000. road linking Bab al-Mandab region to Dhubab, and opens the way to rebel-held Hudaida port on the Red Sea. The Houthis, and allied fighters, yesterday fired two ballistic missiles that were intercepted by the coali- Netanyahu tape probed tion that backs the Yemen govern- ment, a loyalist military source said.

INVESTIGATION in graft investigation Bahrain says four suspects behind AFP Yedioth would tone down its coverage Jerusalem of Netanyahu. The report did not say prison break when the conversation took place or if an agreement was reached. Bahrain is hunting four suspects sraeli police investigating Prime wanted for their alleged involve- Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are The report alleged that the two ment in a deadly attack on the Ilooking into a recording of a conver- discussed “a deal that would help central prison and a jailbreak earlier sation he had with a long-time enemy Yedioth in return for favourable this month, the interior minister said over his newspaper providing more fa- coverage (of the premier)” yesterday. On January 1, gunmen vourable coverage to the premier, a re- attacked Jaw prison south of the port said yesterday. Since the Israel Hayom freesheet was capital Manama, killing a police- Police have so far questioned Netan- launched in 2007, its circulation has man and allowing 10 inmates to yahu twice in a corruption probe that overtaken that of Yedioth. escape. Interior Minister Sheikh has looked into whether he unlawfully It is owned by Jewish-American bil- Rashid al-Khalifah told parliament received gifts from wealthy supporters. lionaire Sheldon Adelson, a long-time that investigators had identified four Yesterday’s report by Channel 2 tel- Netanyahu backer. key suspects involved in the prison evision said police had a recording of a A Netanyahu spokesman said he had attack and jailbreak. A number of conversation between the premier and no immediate comment and the police suspects who helped them had Arnon Moses, owner of the top-selling have stated that they will divulge no de- been arrested, including the owner Yedioth Aharonot daily and its sister tails of the investigation until it is com- of the car used in the operation, he news website Ynet. plete. added, in remarks carried by the The newspaper has provided tough Channel 2 has previously reported off icial BNA news agency. coverage of Netanyahu. The report al- that police suspect that over the course “Negligence and complicity leged that the two discussed “a deal that of seven or eight years Israeli business- were the key reasons behind the would help Yedioth in return for favour- man, Hollywood producer and Netanya- jailbreak,” the minister said, recalling able coverage (of the premier).” hu friend Arnon Milchan sent him boxes that authorities had referred to the Channel 2 said the essence of the of expensive cigars with a value of tens of prosecutor three off icials as part of talk between the premier and the pub- thousands of dollars. the probe into the operation. The lisher was the possibility of downsizing It said police also suspect that Mil- interior minister also urged lawmak- or closing the weekend supplement of chan gave Netanyahu’s wife Sara pink ers to adopt legislation “that would competing paper Israel Hayom, which champagne priced at about $100 a help security forces fight against is pro-Netanyahu. In return, it added, bottle. terrorism.” Gulf Times Monday, January 9, 2017 5 AFRICA

Nigeria marks 1,000 days since abduction Zuma calls for end to of Chibok girls

AFP Last week, the Nigerian Abuja army said it had rescued another Chibok girl, Rakiya Abubakar, along with her infi ghting within ANC igerian President six-month-old baby. Muhammadu Bu- Another two schoolgirls Reuters Nhari said yesterday have been found in the past Johannesburg he was hopeful the remain- year by troops. ing 195 Chibok school- In October, 21 Chibok girls will be rescued, as he girls were released by Boko outh Africa’s ruling African marked 1,000 days since Haram after negotiations National Congress needs the mass abduction by with the Nigerian govern- Sto end infi ghting and focus Boko Haram that drew glo- ment brokered by the In- on winning back public support, bal attention to the militant ternational Committee of President Jacob Zuma said yester- insurgency. the Red Cross and the Swiss day as he tries to unite an increas- Buhari said his govern- government. ingly divided party. ment was committed to The release was hailed as Some senior ANC members fi nding the rest of the more a breakthrough that would called for Zuma to resign in No- than 200 schoolgirls who lead to the recovery of re- vember, pointing to the damage were abducted almost three maining girls in captivity. several corruption scandals had years ago from the north- At the time, presidential on the party’s image following its eastern town of Chibok. spokesman Garba Shehu worst ever local election perform- Only two dozen have said the government was ance in August. been found or rescued since hoping to secure the re- Zuma has also been accused of they were seized in April lease of 83 other girls, but arrogance and failing to acknowl- 2014, some of whom had there has been no update edge waning support for the ANC babies in captivity. on those negotiations. after he made comments about the “We are hopeful that Despite winning back party being supported by God and many more will still re- swathes of territory from ruling until “Jesus comes back”. turn,” Buhari said. Boko Haram extremists, At the ANC’s 105th birthday “The tears never dry, Buhari has faced intense celebration at Orlando Stadium the ache is in our hearts. criticism for failing to re- in Johannesburg, an event usually Our hearts will leap for joy, cover the young captives, reserved for self-congratulation, as more and more of our who became the defi ning Zuma struck a more humble tone. daughters return. It is a symbol of Boko Haram’s “Our people have told us that we goal we remain steadfastly brutal campaign to estab- come across as too busy fi ghting committed to.” lish a fundamentalist Is- one another and do not pay suf- In the capital Abuja, lamic state in the country. fi cient attention to their needs,” Bring Back Our Girls cam- Nigeria has recently 74-year-old Zuma told thousands paigners were preparing to trumpeted a major vic- of supporters dressed in the ANC’s march to the presidential tory in its battle against yellow and green. villa. Boko Haram, claiming “We must give our people hope, “We just can’t forget the in late December that its we must unite against our com- 195 of them that are still army has routed the mili- mon enemies, which are unem- there,” Aisha Yesufu, a rep- tants from their Sambisa ployment, poverty and inequality, South African President Jacob Zuma delivers a speech at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto yesterday during a ceremony marking the 105th resentative of the group, forest stronghold in Bor- and not against one another.” anniversary of the African National Congress. told AFP. no state. Widening divisions in the ANC “We have to look and But Boko Haram still have intensifi ed the debate over League on Saturday said it would tycoon, is viewed as her most like- protege and now fi rebrand leader of that a new ANC leadership would bring them back home,” poses a threat to the war- who will succeed Zuma at a party back Zuma’s ex-wife and African ly rival after powerful trade unions the radical Economic Freedom Fight- be elected in December, suggest- Yesufu said. torn region, launching conference in December and also Union chairwoman Nkosazana endorsed him last year. ers, has said that Zuma is plotting a ing he will step down then. “They are citizens. If sporadic raids on remote likely take over as South African Dlamini-Zuma as a candidate for Neither Dlamini-Zuma, 67, or third term as ANC president but the South Africa’s constitution dic- president Buhari’s daugh- villages in Nigeria and president at elections in 2019, giv- ANC leader. Ramaphosa, 64, have declared party’s Secretary-General Gwede tates Zuma must stand down as ter was taken, would he just deadly attacks on soldiers en the party’s national dominance. Vice President Cyril Ramapho- their intention to run. Mantashe denied this yesterday. the country’s president after his stand back? They are as Ni- in neighbouring Chad and The ANC’s infl uential Women’s sa, a unionist-turned-business Julius Malema, Zuma’s former Zuma said during his speech two fi ve-year terms end in 2019. gerian as his own daughter.” Niger. Gulf Times 6 Monday, January 9, 2017 AFRICA

A delegation of mutinous soldiers stand behind Ivory Coast’s Defence Minister Alain-Richard Donwahi (centre) speaking to journalists in Bouake on Saturday night. Streets of Ivory Coast cities calm after soldiers’ mutiny

Reuters “All over the country all our men reform its army, made up of former Abidjan have returned to barracks and wait for rebel fi ghters and government soldiers, their money. The mutiny is over for us.” have left it hobbled by division. He said the soldiers expect to be The revolt comes two years after a he streets of Ivory Coast’s sec- paid today under the deal brokered by near identical uprising which ended ond-largest city Bouake were Defence Minister Alain-Richard Don- when the government off ered muti- Tcalm and the military presence wahi, raising pressure on a government neers amnesty from punishment and a was gone, residents said yesterday, that faces further unrest if demands are fi nancial settlement. after a two-day soldiers’ mutiny took not met. A repeat of the solution raises the over the city before spreading across In a sign of tensions, renegade troops risk soldiers will be encouraged to do it the country. on Saturday opened fi re outside the again. The mutiny began early on Friday house in Bouake where the negotia- Traffi c in Bouake, snarled since Fri- when rogue soldiers demanding bonus tions took place, temporarily trapping day by roadblocks and barricades, was pay seized Bouake. Donwahi, witnesses said. clear yesterday, residents said. The Soldiers at military camps in cities The terms of the fi nal deal were not gunfi re of recent days had stopped. and towns across Ivory Coast, includ- made public, but sources said that the Other cities were also calm, resi- ing the commercial capital Abidjan, soldiers demanded 5mn CFA francs dents said, including Abidjan, where joined the rebellion. ($8,000) each, which for more than a day earlier loyalist troops were de- A deal was reached between the gov- 8,000 soldiers could cost tens of bil- ployed at strategic locations and resi- ernment and the soldiers late on Saturday. lions of CFA francs. dents rushed to buy bottled water and A mutineer close to the negotiations Ivory Coast — which has French- other provisions. said soldiers had returned to barracks. speaking West Africa’s largest econ- There was no military on the streets “We have cleared the corridors eve- omy — has emerged from a 2002-2011 yesterday. rywhere as promised and we have been political crisis as one of the continent’s People were seen walking to church, in barracks since last night,” Sergeant rising economic stars. shops were open and traffi c moved as Mamadou Kone told Reuters. But years of confl ict and a failure to normal, a Reuters reporter said.

Gulf Times 8 Monday, January 9, 2017 AMERICAS Obama admits underestimating hacking impact

AFP ing intelligence agency chiefs to hear the Washington full report, has accepted the possibility of Moscow’s involvement in hacking US tar- gets, including the Democratic National resident Barack Obama yesterday Committee, but rejected the conclusion admitted that he “underestimated” that Russia interfered in the election. Pthe impact misinformation and He has also ridiculed US intelligence hacking can have on democracies, a remark agencies over their fi ndings and promised that follows an intelligence report on Rus- he would establish closer ties to Moscow. sian meddling in the US presidential elec- Obama urged him “to develop a strong re- tion. lationship with the intelligence community.” In an interview on ABC’s This Week, “If we’re not vigilant foreign countries Obama also warned his Republican suc- can have an impact on the political debate cessor Donald Trump, who takes offi ce in in the United States in ways that might not less than two weeks, about the diff erence have been true 10, 20, 30 years ago in part A man skis under a snowfall in Central Park in New York during a winter storm on Saturday. between governing and campaigning, say- because of the way news is transmitted and ing the president-elect won’t be able to in part because so many people are scepti- run his presidency “the way you would cal of mainstream news organisations,” he manage a family business.” said. The interview, which was taped Friday, “In that kind of environment, where took place the same day that US intelli- there’s so much scepticism about informa- gence agencies released an unprecedented tion that’s coming in, we’re going to have to report saying Russian President Vladimir spend a lot more time thinking about how Putin ordered a campaign of hacking, leak- do we protect our democratic process.” Eastern US digs out ing, and media manipulation aimed at un- Obama also emphasised focusing “a lot dermining the presidential campaign of more” on cyber security. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and Obama described his talks with the in- boosting Trump. coming president as “cordial.” Although Obama said he was not taken “He has been open to suggestions,” he in by Russian hostility to the United States, added, describing Trump as “very engag- “I think that I underestimated the degree ing and gregarious.” of huge snowstorm to which, in this new information age, it “I’ve enjoyed the conversations that is possible for misinformation for cyber we’ve had. He is somebody who I think is Reuters in southeast Virginia around Wil- fi ce said in a statement. That region had also seen heavy hacking and so forth to have an impact on not lacking in confi dence,” which is “prob- Washington liamsburg and in northern North North Carolina Governor Roy snow last month. our open societies, our open systems, to ably a prerequisite for the job.” Carolina, Orrison said. Cooper on social media said the state The storm interfered with many insinuate themselves into our democratic However, Obama believes Trump “has Parts of northern Georgia had had more than 700 accidents — but people’s travel plans, with tracking practices in ways that I think are acceler- not spent a lot of time sweating the de- he eastern United States be- over 15cm of snow, he said. no fatalities — and about 20,000 service FlightAware.com reporting ating.” tails” of policies, something he said could gan digging out on Saturday Georgia Governor Nathan Deal power outages. 3,657 fl ight delays and 3,458 cancel- Obama ordered the intelligence re- be “both a strength and a weakness.” Tfrom a massive storm that said in a statement that thousands The snowstorm prompted Coop- lations by Saturday evening for trips port, released to the public Friday, partly “If it gives him fresh eyes, then that can dumped heavy snow from Georgia to of power outages were reported er, a Democrat, to postpone his in- around the United States, into or out “to make sure that we understand this is be valuable. But it also requires you know- Massachusetts, knocking out power and city offi cials in the Atlanta area auguration ceremony planned for of the country. something that Putin has been doing for ing what you don’t know and putting in for thousands of people and caus- asked residents to check on elderly Saturday. The National Weather Service quite some time in Europe, initially in the place people who do have the kinds of ex- ing hundreds of car crashes, offi cials people who might lack electricity. “This was actually, for the season, warned residents of the eastern former satellite states where there are a lot perience and background and knowledge said as they warned of more cold At least one warming centre in At- the most signifi cant winter storm United States to prepare for cold of Russian speakers, but increasingly in that can inform good decision making,” he weather ahead. lanta, where people could get out of the Southeast has had,” Orrison said. temperatures. Western democracies.” said. The snowstorm also caused fl ight the cold, was fi lled to capacity, the In Connecticut, about 20 cars and In particular, areas of North Caro- “We have to pay attention,” he said of Obama also weighed in on Trump’s con- delays and cancellations across the city said on its Twitter page. a tanker truck were mangled in a lina and Virginia already hit with upcoming elections in European ally na- stant use of Twitter. country. Some interstate highways were pile-up crash in the snow on Inter- heavy snow could see temperatures tions, warning of possible interference. “Clearly this worked for him, and it gives The snow began falling heavily impassable overnight going into state 91 in Middletown, State Police fall to the single digits Fahrenheit Russia initially aimed its unprecedented him a direct connection to a lot of the peo- on Friday in parts of Georgia, North Saturday and multiple traffi c col- said on Twitter. (about minus 15 degrees Celsius), cyber campaign at damaging a potential ple that voted for him,” he said. and South Carolina and Virginia and lisions had been reported, Deal’s At least one vehicle could be seen Orrison said. Clinton presidency, and then turned to But when Trump becomes president, he lasted until mid-day on Saturday, statement said. wedged under the tanker, in video Meanwhile, rainfall from a Pacifi c supporting Trump after a victory by the cautioned, “there are world capitals and fi - meteorologist Andrew Orrison of The driver of a sport utility vehicle posted online by the police agency. storm lashing parts of California was real estate billionaire appeared possible, nancial markets and people all around the the Weather Prediction Center said hit a patch of ice on Interstate 75 in It added that no serious injuries expected to intensify and potentially the report from the Director of National world who take really seriously what he by phone. Monroe County, Georgia, careened resulted from the pile-up. cause fl ooding and mudslides, espe- Intelligence said. says, and in a way that’s just not true be- Some of the heaviest snowfall, off the roadway, struck a tree and More than a foot of snow fell in cially in areas stripped bare by wild- Trump, who met the country’s lead- fore you’re actually sworn in as president.” accumulating to about 30cm, was was killed, the county Sheriff ’s Of- parts of New England, Orrison said. fi res, offi cials said.

32-year-old gorilla dies at Cleveland zoo aft er Wild ride! years of heart disease Mexican police hunts for gunman One of two male western lowland gorillas at the Cleveland zoo has died, several years after he was who shot US consular offi cial diagnosed with heart disease, zoo off icials said over the weekend. Bebac, 32, died on Friday, leav- AFP gunman was wearing a wig and a The embassy issued a security ing fellow gorilla Mokolo, 29, as the Guadalajara blue nurse uniform, he said. message later Saturday urging zoo’s only specimen. The US offi cial, who is in sta- US citizens in Guadalajara to “This is an extremely diff icult ble condition, interviews visa “restrict their movements out- loss for everyone connected with exican authorities are applicants at the consulate, Al- side their homes and places of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo,” it said on the hunt for a gun- maguer said. work to those truly essential.” on its Facebook page. Mman who was disguised A US government offi cial told “They should also take care Off icials asked people to sup- as a female nurse when he shot AFP on condition of anonymity not to fall into predictable pat- port the zoo’s gorilla conservation and wounded a US consular of- that the offi cial is a vice consul, terns for those movements that programme in remembrance of Be- fi cial in the city of Guadalajara. adding that no motive for the are essential. They should vary bac. The eff ort is aimed at protect- The US consulate in Guadala- shooting has been established. the times and routes of their ing vulnerable gorilla populations jara posted a video on Facebook The western city of Guadala- movements.” in Rwanda and the Democratic Saturday showing the shooter, jara has been hit by violence per- US offi cials have faced attacks Republic of Congo. dressed in blue and wearing a petrated by the powerful Jalisco in Mexico in the past. Both the zoo’s gorillas were wig, waiting outside a shopping New Generation drug cartel in In 2010, a consular offi cial, her diagnosed with heart disease in centre’s garage at 6.20pm on recent years. husband and the spouse of an- 2008. The zoo sought to manage Friday (0020 GMT Saturday). The US Federal Bureau of In- other consular offi cial were killed their symptoms by altering their He then raises his gun and vestigation off ered a $20,000 in two simultaneous attacks in the diet and encouraging foraging fi res at the car before fl eeing. reward for information about northern city of Ciudad Juarez, behaviour. The shooting left a bullet im- the shooter. which at the time was considered A number of US zoos have west- pact on the car window while The Mexican attorney general’s the world’s murder capital amid ern lowland gorillas in captivity. the US consular offi cial is seen offi ce said it was in contact with an ultra-violent drug war. Harambe, a lowland girilla, was opening his door. the US embassy and consulate in An alleged leader of the Barrio shot dead at the Cincinnati zoo in Moments before the shoot- eff orts to locate the shooter. Azteca gang was extradited to May last year after a child fell into ing video from diff erent cam- “The safety and security the United States, where he was his enclosure, causing an outcry. eras showed the offi cial, dressed of our employees overseas is sentenced to life in prison for or- Gorillas can live for 50 years in shorts and a sleeveless shirt, among our highest priorities,” dering the murder. or more, both in the wild and paying his parking ticket at an the US embassy said in a state- In 2012, two US government in captivity, though such a long automated machine. The gun- ment. “We are working closely offi cials — widely reported to be lifespan is rare. Colo, a female at Professional bareback rider Tanner Aus of Pennock, Minnesota, competes during the man is seen following him. with Mexican law enforcement CIA agents — and a Mexican ma- the zoo in Columbus, Ohio, is the finals of the ‘Colorado vs The World Rodeo’ at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, “According to the four videos, in this matter,” the statement rine where wounded in 2012 when oldest gorilla in the United States Colorado on Saturday. Established in 1911, the National Western Stock Show is the premier it was a direct attack,” Jalisco added, saying it would provide they were shot at by federal police at age 60. livestock, rodeo, and horse show in the United States. state attorney general Eduard more details “due to privacy offi cers as they were driving in the Almaguer Ramirez said. The considerations.” central state of Morelos.

More fatalities as clashes rock Brazil prison again

Reuters Three of the dead were beheaded Sao Paulo-based First Capital Com- members killed 33 people at a Ro- Sao Paulo while one was strangled to death, mand (PCC) split with the Rio de raima state prison. according to the statement. Janeiro-based Red Command gang Brutal scenes captured on a cell- It did not give a motive for the when the PCC took over drug trad- phone video spread widely on social new prison uprising in Brazil killings and it was not yet known if ing routes in Brazil’s southeast. media, in which the inmates are seen early yesterday left four dead, drug gangs were involved. Previously, the two groups worked hacking away at bodies in acts of re- Aadding to the chaos in Brazil’s In the last week, 64 inmates have together to ensure a heavy fl ow of venge. penitentiary system that has left al- been killed in prisons in or near drugs and arms over Brazil’s borders. Authorities originally said 31 pris- most 100 inmates killed in the past Manaus. Members of the PCC were tar- oners died in the Roraima uprising, week in a gang war. A prison uprising in the neigh- geted last Sunday in the fi rst violent but revised the total to 33 after fi nd- The latest violence took place at bouring state of Roraima left at least outbreak, which left 56 dead, many ing two buried bodies on the prison the Desembargador Raimundo Vi- 33 dead. decapitated and butchered. grounds on Saturday. dal Pessoa jail in the centre of the Behind the bloodshed is an esca- It was Brazil’s deadliest uprising Experts say the PCC is moving jungle city of Manaus, according lating feud between Brazil’s biggest in more than two decades. to infi ltrate areas in the Red Com- to an e-mailed statement from the drug gangs, which ended two dec- It was the North Family gang, al- mand’s home base of Rio and infi l- government penitentiary agency in ades of an uneasy working relation- lied with the Red Command, that trating Brazil’s Amazon region in ef- Amazonas state, where the facility is ship about six months ago. carried out the killings in that riot, forts to control cocaine-smuggling located. Brazil’s most powerful gang, the authorities said. Five days later, PCC river routes. Gulf Times Monday, January 9, 2017 9 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

N Korea says S Korean monk critical can test-launch after self-immolation ICBM anytime Reuters Seoul

orth Korea said yesterday it can test launch an intercon- tinental ballistic missile at any time from any location attempt at protest rally Nset by leader Kim Jong-un, saying the United States’ hostile policy was to blame for its arms development. AFP reported. Park was impeached fort woman”. The monk suff ered Kim said on January 1 that his nuclear-capable country was Seoul by parliament last month over third-degree burns across his close to test-launching an intercontinental ballistic missile an infl uence-peddling scandal body and remains unconscious, (ICBM). that sparked a storm of public according to police and staff at “The ICBM will be launched anytime and anywhere deter- South Korean Buddhist fury and nationwide protests, Seoul National University Hos- mined by the supreme headquarters of the DPRK,” an unnamed monk is in critical condi- and the Constitutional Court pital where he is being treated. Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by the offi cial A tion after setting himself now has to decide whether to Self-immolation is not un- KCNA news agency, us- on fi re during a mass protest confi rm the impeachment. heard of as a means of protest in ing the acronym for the against the impeached President The monk also slammed Park the South, and was particularly country’s name. Park Geun-hye, offi cials said as a “traitor” for forging a deal common during the pro-de- The North is formally yesterday. with Japan to settle compensa- mocracy movement of the 1980s known as the Demo- The monk, in his 60s and tion for women forced into sex- and early 90s when a number of cratic People’s Republic whose name was not released, ual slavery for Japanese troops activists set themselves on fi re of Korea. set himself alight late Saturday during the World War II, accord- during public demonstrations. The United States ear- night in central Seoul where ing to Yonhap. Park is accused of collud- lier this week said that hundreds of thousands returned Critics say the 2015 deal did ing with her secret confi dante, North Korea had dem- to the streets for the eleventh not go far enough in holding Choi Soon-sil, to coerce top The injured Buddhist monk being carried into an ambulance in Seoul. onstrated a “qualitative” week to demand Park’s ouster. Japan responsible for wartime local fi rms to “donate” tens of improvement in its nu- He left a note urging authori- abuses. Tensions between the millions of dollars to non-profi t of letting Choi, the daughter of nomination of top offi cials. Both clear and missile capa- ties to arrest the scandal-hit two countries spiked on Friday foundations which Choi then a shady religious fi gure who was Park and Choi — who is cur- bilities after an unprec- president for committing “trea- when Tokyo recalled its ambas- used as her personal ATMs. also close to Park for decades, rently on trial — have denied any edented level of tests last son”, the Yonhap news agency sador over a statue of a “com- The president is also accused meddle in state aff airs including wrongdoing. year. Experts have said Kim Jong-un says his nuclear-capable that while North Korea country was close to test-launching may be close to test- an intercontinental ballistic missile ing an ICBM, it would (ICBM). likely take years to per- Japan PM urges S Korea to remove ‘comfort woman’ statue fect the weapon. Once fully developed, a North Korean ICBM could threaten the continental United States, which is around 9,000km from the North. ICBMs have a minimum range of AFP when Tokyo recalled its ambas- sue with a Japanese apology and but the governments of Abe and lowing the impeachment of Park about 5,500km, but some are designed to travel 10,000km or Tokyo sador over the statue which was payment of money. “Japan has South Korean President Park but Abe demanded the accord be further. placed outside its consulate in already paid 1bn yen ($8.6mn) as Geun-hye reached an agreement honoured. “It is a matter of na- US president-elect Donald Trump responded on Monday to Busan last month, symbolising we sincerely fulfi lled our obliga- in late 2015 to fi nally resolve it. tional credibility to implement Kim’s comments on an ICBM test by declaring in a tweet that apanese Prime Minister women forced to work in Japa- tion. Under that accord, which both (the agreement) even if the gov- “It won’t happen!” Shinzo Abe has called on nese military brothels mostly “I think it’s now South Ko- countries described as “fi nal and ernment changes,” he said. A US State Department spokesman said last week that the JSouth Korea to remove a during World War II. rea’s turn to show sincerity in an irreversible,” Japan off ered an Critics of the accord say the United States does not believe that North Korea is capable of statue of a “comfort woman” Japan argues it is against a unwavering manner,” Abe said apology and a 1bn yen payment deal did not go far enough in mounting a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile. which has reignited a diplomatic 2015 agreement between the in a programme aired on public to surviving Korean comfort holding Japan responsible for North Korea has been under UN sanctions since 2006 over its row over Tokyo’s wartime sex neighbours meant to put an end broadcaster NHK. women. wartime abuses during its 1910- nuclear and ballistic missile tests. The sanctions were tightened slavery. to the hugely emotional and dec- The plight of the women has South Korea is expected to 45 colonial rule over the Korean last month after Pyongyang conducted its fi fth and largest nu- Tensions spiked on Friday ades-long “comfort women” is- marred relations for decades have a new administration fol- peninsula. clear test on September 9.

Melbourne protester’s actions ‘intolerable’: Indonesia minister

ndonesia’s foreign minister In a statement on Saturday, In- security of all Indonesian missions in has urged Australian authori- donesia’s foreign minister, Retno Australia,” she said. I ties to act against a trespass- Marsudi, said Australian authorities The minister said she had been in ing protester who climbed on to must complete investigations and touch with the Australian foreign the roof of the consulate-general legally process the “crime perpetra- minister, Julie Bishop, on Satur- in Melbourne and displayed a West tor”, describing the intrusion as “ab- day to ensure the incident was be- Papuan flag. solutely intolerable”. Indonesia backs ing investigated and legal process A video of Friday’s protest shows down in military rift with Australia followed. Victoria police said in a a man scaling a wall to enter the over ‘insult’. statement they were assisting the consulate and climb on the roof to “Australia has the obligation and Australian federal police following show the flag before climbing down responsibility to immediately proc- the incident. – Guardian News & again. ess this lawfully and to ensure the Media

China is confident economy grew 6.7% in 2016

China is confident to have reached an economic growth of 6.7% in 2016, within a targeted range set earlier in the year, Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao said. China’s economy expanded at a steady 6.7% in the first three quarters last year, and Zhu said he was confident the growth rate would have reached the same level or more in the fourth quarter of 2016. Zhu’s remarks were made at a forum held by Tsinghua University in Beijing. China, which had been aiming for a 6.5-7% economic growth for 2016, boosted government spending, saw a housing rally and record high levels of bank lending last year, which, however, also led to an explosive increase in debt. Many analysts believe growth was lower than off icial data suggests, but acknowledge that the construction boom significantly underpinned the economy. A government-run think tank said that China’s economic growth could slow to 6.5% in 2017 from about 6.7% in 2016. Gulf Times 10 Monday, January 9, 2017 BRITAIN Not bluffi ng about second referendum, warns Sturgeon

Guardian News and Media EU, the Scottish fi rst minister told bluffi ng or game-playing; it’s not deal with the EU, which kept the June referendum. It would mirror SNP, believe Sturgeon’s options tober show Scottish voters are London BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show. a game of chicken, it’s not a game UK or Scotland within the sin- the deal being discussed to ensure for a snap vote could be very lim- increasingly reluctant about a sec- “I’m not going to sit back while at all. (I) don’t want to see Scotland gle market, then she would put a open borders between the UK and ited because a fi nal Brexit deal may ond poll being held before the UK Scotland is driven off a hard Brexit driven off a hard Brexit cliff edge.” second independence referendum Ireland post-Brexit, she added. not be clear until well into 2018 or leaves the EU, while overall sup- icola Sturgeon has again cliff edge with all the implications Since then, Sturgeon has pub- “to one side” for the foreseeable Sturgeon hinted she envisaged even 2019. port for independence has fallen insisted she is not bluffi ng for jobs and the type of country we lished a detailed paper asserting future. staging that snap independence With Scotland’s economy now back from a high of 53% immedi- Nabout her threat to hold a are that would have,” she added. that Scotland would be able to Sturgeon said she was genu- vote within the two year deadline far weaker than before the 2014 ately after the EU referendum to second referendum on Scottish in- Sturgeon’s language echoed the maintain membership of the single inely seeking a compromise deal. set by the EU once the UK triggers independence referendum, Stur- 45%. dependence in the event of a hard language she and other leaders of market and see freedom of move- She insisted on the Marr show that Article 50 in March, but refused to geon’s opponents believe she is With about a third of SNP voters Brexit. The UK government “would Britain’s devolved governments ment even if the rest of the UK this proposition would allow May set out a clear timetable or dead- using the threat of a second vote to opposed to EU membership, Stur- be making a very big mistake if used after a meeting with Theresa were to leave the EU. to honour her promise to English line on a decision to stage a new press for far greater powers for the geon’s opponents say she faces a they think I’m in any way bluffi ng” May at Downing Street in October. The fi rst minister told BBC Ra- voters to quit the EU while allow- vote. Scottish parliament as well as to signifi cant challenge to win a sec- about holding a second independ- Then she said: “There is noth- dio Scotland on Friday that if the ing Scotland to keep the far closer Constitutional experts and placate her supporters. ond independence vote. ence vote just as the UK quit the ing I’m doing just now which is prime minister struck a soft Brexit ties to the bloc it voted for in the some within her own party, the All the opinion polls since Oc- 2.9mn UK will have couples missing out on free ‘control over tax break

Guardian News and Media borders’ after London ore than 2.9mn couples across the UK are miss- Ming out on a free tax break worth up to £220 a year, according to HM Revenue and Customs which has launched a Brexit: May campaign to get more people to apply for its transferable mar- AFP Brexit” would mean Britain this isn’t muddled at all” and riage allowance. London withdrawing entirely from Eu- accused the previous adminis- Since April 2015, couples in rope’s single market and nego- tration of not preparing a strat- which one person pays no tax tiating new trade arrangements egy in case of Brexit. because their income is less than rime Minister Theresa in order to impose strict immi- “What I am talking about the personal allowance – cur- May yesterday insisted gration controls. is getting the right relation- rently £11,000 – have been able Pthat Britain will have May has come under increas- ship for the UK with the EU. to transfer £1,100 of that allow- “control over our borders” after ing pressure to reveal more de- We mustn’t think about this ance to their tax-paying partner. Brexit, suggesting she would be tailed plans about her Brexit as somehow we are coming out HMRC said the allowance, prepared to quit Europe’s trad- strategy, and promised to do so of membership but we want to available to couples who are ing zone to achieve it. during a series of speeches in keep bits of membership.” married or in a civil partnership, “The referendum vote was a “the coming weeks”. May has promised to activate has been taken up by 1.3mn of the vote for us to... bring control “When people voted in the Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, 4.2 million people it calculates as into our immigration system. referendum on the June 23, triggering a two-year period in eligible. I’m clear that is part of what we they voted to leave the Euro- which Britain will negotiate its Millions of people who have need to deliver,” she told Sky pean Union, but they also voted departure from the EU, by the taken early retirement, a ca- News in an interview. for change and this year, 2017, end of March. reer break, extended parenting “We will be able to have con- is the year in which we start If no deal is reached, Britain leave, or who work part-time can trol over our borders, of our to make that happen,” she told will automatically leave the transfer the allowance as long as laws.” Sky News. EU’s institutions, with recipro- their partner is a basic rate tax German leader Angela Mer- The prime minister, who cal tariffs likely placed on busi- payer earning between £11,000 kel has warned Britain will not took power after David Cam- nesses in the UK and the EU. and £43,000 a year. be able to remain in the EU’s eron resigned in the wake of the Increasingly under fire, May, The tax-break was introduced single market while “cherry Brexit vote, stressed that Brit- will use a speech on Monday by George Osborne to counter a picking” the terms — includ- ain could still secure favourable to try to switch the focus from 2013 campaign for the govern- ing over the free movement of access for businesses trading Brexit to her vision of a “shared ment to recognise the “benefi ts labour. within the EU, although critics society” which protects those of marriage” in the tax system. May yesterday appeared to warn that negotiations will be families who are just managing. Parents, usually mothers, who suggest she would be willing fraught and complex. “We must...deliver real so- gave up work to look after their to quit the trade zone. “Often “We will be working to get cial reform across every layer children, had argued that they people talk in terms of, some- the best possible deal in the of society so that those who should be able to pass on their how we’re leaving the EU but trading relationship with the feel that the system is stacked entire personal allowance to we still want to keep bits of EU,” May said. She also rejected against them — those just their household’s sole-earning membership of the EU,” she last week’s parting shot deliv- above the threshold that at- partner. But it has been branded said. “We’re leaving, we’re ered by Ivan Rogers, Britain’s tracts the government’s focus a fl op by critics. coming out, we’re not going outgoing top EU ambassador, today yet those who are by no Few people are aware the tax to be a member of the EU any that the government does not means rich or well off — are break exists. HMRC hopes to longer.” have a clear plan. also given the help they need,” Prime Minister Theresa May arrives to be interviewed by Sophy Ridge on Sky News, during the Ridge reverse this and will let couples Experts say a so-called “hard May said her “thinking on she will say. on Sunday programme, in London, yesterday. backdate their claim to the pre- vious tax year, and receive a pay- ment of up to £432. Ruth Owen, director general of personal tax, HMRC said: “An extra £432 is a really helpful way Man launches legal to start 2017, especially after Christmas.” The Treasury backed the HMRC campaign. Jane Ellison, fi nancial secretary, said: “For the fi ght for right to die more than 4mn eligible married and civil partner couples, the marriage allowance could be a Guardian News and Media dress, eat and deal with personal care experience sadly echoes that of hun- welcome fi nancial boost. What London independently has diminished. He is dreds of other terminally ill people in better time than the new year to already dependent on a ventilator to this country. Choice and control at claim?” breathe overnight. the end of life are rights that everyone retired lecturer who is termi- “I have motor neurone disease. It is should be able to exercise and it is a Queen appears nally ill has launched a legal incurable and terminal. It is a muscle- tragic failure of our laws that Noel and in public Achallenge for the right to die, wasting disease and I am now head- others are being denied them. claiming that the 1961 Suicide Act ing for its fi nal stages when I face not “Despite overwhelming public Queen Elizabeth yesterday condemns him to an undignifi ed and being able to move at all. This pros- support for assisted dying, our gov- made her first public appearance terrifying death. pect is terrifying and the amount of ernment has failed to act and is ignor- since before Christmas as she Noel Conway, 67, from Shrews- suff ering unimaginable,” he said. ing the pleas of terminally ill people. recovered from a heavy cold that bury, was diagnosed with motor neu- “Current law means that I will have Britain is being left behind as juris- caused the 90-year-old monarch rone disease more than two years ago no control of how my life ends and I dictions around the world implement to miss Christmas and New Year and fears being “entombed” in his will have to endure this nightmare for compassionate laws allowing dying church services. own body as his ability to move de- as long as it takes. As someone who people the choice and control they The Queen, wearing a vibrant clines. He is not expected to survive has always been in control of his life deserve.” blue coat and hat, arrived with beyond the next 12 months. and taken responsibility for himself, I Yogi Amin, a partner and head of her husband Prince Philip, 95, Supported by the organisation fi nd this quite unacceptable. I want to public law at Irwin Mitchell, said: at St Mary Magdalene church in Dignity in Dying, Conway has in- change the law to allow assisted dying “Noel is an extremely brave and proud Sandringham in eastern England, structed the law fi rm Irwin Mitchell so that I can be in control of my own man who is supported by his loving where she traditionally spends to seek permission for a judicial re- death. family. He would like the choice to be the festive period on her country view in the high court of the ban on “If I let nature take its course, I able to die with dignity. The world has estate. The trip to Sandringham assisted suicide which, he says, pre- could eff ectively become entombed changed phenomenally in the past was delayed by a day because vents him ending his own life with- in my own body as my ability to few decades with many medical ad- both the Queen and Philip were out protracted pain. Assisted suicide move and communicate continues vances, but the law on assisted dying laid low by heavy colds, Bucking- is prohibited by Section 2(1) of the to diminish, or I may die by suff oca- for those who are terminally ill hasn’t ham Palace had said. Suicide Act 1961 and voluntary eu- tion or choking. I could bring about changed for more than 50 years.” Her illness caused her to miss the thanasia is considered murder under my death by refusing my ventilator, The Supreme Court dismissed a Christmas Day service for the first UK law. Conway’s challenge, if the but then there is the unbearable un- case brought in 2012 by Tony Nicklin- time in decades, disappointing a court hears it, could establish strict certainty of not knowing how long it son, who suff ered from paralysis after crowd of well-wishers who had criteria and safeguards for terminally would take and no guarantee that my a stroke. The judges recommended turned out to see the royal family. ill adults to make their own decisions distress and pain could be adequately that parliament should debate the is- The Queen, who is the symbolic about ending their lives. managed.” sue before the courts made any deci- head of the Church of England, It is hoped the claim, formally Conway said he had considered sion to change the law. also missed the New Year against the ministry of justice, will travelling to a suicide clinic in Swit- Nicklinson died days after the ver- service a week later. The palace be heard early this year. Before his ill- zerland, but that it would be expen- dict but his widow, Jane, went on to said she was still recuperating. ness, Conway, who taught social sci- sive and he did not wish to “die in a take the case to the European court She resumed off icial duties on ences and is married with children, faceless clinic, away from my home of human rights where it was again Wednesday when she gave an enjoyed hiking, cycling and travelling. and without my loved ones”. defeated in 2015 on the grounds that honour to a member of her staff His deteriorating condition means, Sarah Wootton, the chief execu- it was for national parliaments to de- in a private ceremony. however, that his ability to move, tive of Dignity in Dying, said: “Noel’s cide on such a sensitive issue. Gulf Times Monday, January 9, 2017 11 EUROPE

Valls loses lead over Montebourg in primaries: poll Former French prime minister Manuel Valls has lost his lead over leftist opponent Arnaud Montebourg ahead of the French military thwarts Socialist primaries, an Ifop poll, published by the weekly Le Journal du Dimanche, showed. In case of a second-round vote on January 29 between Valls and Montebourg, former economy minister Montebourg was predicted to win 52% of the vote, ‘24,000 cyber-attacks’ the first time he has pulled ahead of Valls in a major poll. Reuters fences against such attacks. Asked whether France was President Francois Hollande has the station off the air. Last month, Valls was still Paris In an interview with French immune from such attacks, Le cancelled the sale of warships to French judicial sources told marginally ahead of Montebourg weekly Le Journal du Diman- Drian said: “No, of course not, Russia, and played a key role in Reuters later that Russian hack- with 51% of voting intentions in che, he said there is a real risk we should not be naive.” imposing sanctions on Russia ers linked to the Kremlin could the race to become the Socialist rance is no less vulnerable of cyber-attacks on French civil France will hold presiden- over Crimea. have been behind the attack. presidential candidate. than the United States to infrastructure such as water, tial elections in April-May and Le Drian said that if the US France should not only be able The poll also showed Valls’ Fcyber-attacks from for- electricity, telecommunications leading conservative challenger election had indeed been ma- to defend itself against cyber- lead over his leftist opponents eign countries, with the number and transport, as well as against Francois Fillon has said he wants nipulated, it would be an un- attacks but should also be able to narrowing for the first-round vote of cyber-attacks against the de- French democracy and the me- to improve relations with Russia bearable interference, as target- strike itself when necessary, Le on January 22. fence ministry doubling every dia. and has been praised by Putin. ing a country’s electoral means Drian said. Valls received 36% of voting year and with 2016 seeing about US intelligence agencies said Far-right candidate Marine Le attacking its democratic foun- He said the French army’s intentions, compared to 45% in 24,000 external attacks had in a report released on Friday Pen also favours closer relations dations and its sovereignty. number of “digital soldiers” the same poll in December. been blocked by security, in- that Russian President Vladimir with Russia. “Our services have discussed would be doubled to 2,600 by Montebourg’s first-round score cluding attempts at disrupting Putin had directed a cyber cam- French-Russian relations the subject, if only to learn les- 2019, with support of an addi- narrowed by one point to 24%, France’s drone systems. paign to help Republican Donald have been strained by Russia’s sons for the future,” said Le tional 600 cyber experts. while leftist former education French Defence Minister Jean- Trump’s electoral chances by annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea Drian, who also referred to a cy- Le Drian said that in case of a minister Benoit Hamon’s Yves Le Drian said yesterday that discrediting Democrat Hillary in 2014 and over Russia’s role in ber-attack on French TV station cyber-attack, the country could score rose to 21% from 14% in the French military will boost its Clinton in the 2016 presidential the war in Syria. TV5Monde in 2015. respond in kind as well as with Le Drian: we should not be December. resources to strengthen its de- campaign. Outgoing socialist French In April 2015, hackers knocked conventional weapons. naive. Germany’s left parties set conditions for tie-up to challenge Merkel

Reuters However, the centre-left SPD, “Of course, I can imagine a the Linke in the Bundestag lower of the incumbent ‘grand coali- Greens on 10%, the Linke on 9% Berlin which rules with Merkel in a Red-Red-Green coalition, if it house of parliament, sees prob- tion’ of Merkel’s conservative and the FDP on 5%. right-left federal “grand coali- allows the formation of a stable lems in the existing set-up of the bloc and Gabriel’s Social Demo- Security policy has become tion”, has long refused to co- government. But that depends single European currency bloc. crats the only outcome that looks a greater focus of the politi- ermany’s left-leaning operate with the Linke at the na- completely on the Linke,” Gabriel Wagenknecht said that she a sure possibility. cal debate in Germany since the parties have set terms for tional level, largely because of the said. “They must decide whether hoped the SPD, after ruling with Much will depend on the per- Christmas market attack in Ber- Gforming a potential coali- party’s foreign policy views. they want to govern or remain a Merkel’s conservatives, could formance of two parties now not lin that killed 12 people. tion after September’s election Both parties said they would radical opposition.” strengthen its social policies. even represented in the Bun- Pollsters say that this benefi ts in a tie-up that could replace want to see signifi cant policy Merkel’s conservative bloc Arguing that the SPD had destag: the FDP, which faces a Merkel’s conservatives and the conservative Chancellor Angela moves in order to consider work- ruled in a grand coalition with been involved in cuts to social battle to clear the 5% hurdle to AfD, but not the left-leaning Merkel. ing together. the SPD from 2005 to 2009, services that hurt its elector- win seats in the lower house, and parties. Together, lawmakers from the Signalling a readiness for then with the smaller liberal Free ate, Wagenknecht added: “The the anti-immigration Alternative In a sign the conservative bloc centre-left Social Democrats change, Vice-Chancellor Sig- Gabriel: We don’t want a new Democrats (FDP) from 2009 to stronger we perform, the greater for Germany (AfD) party. is perhaps ready for change too, (SPD) and the smaller leftist mar Gabriel of the SPD, told Der edition of the grand coalition. 2013, after which she teamed up the chance the SPD will correct An Emnid poll of 834 voters the secretary general of Merkel’s Linke party, along with the envi- Spiegel magazine: “We don’t with the SPD again in another its course there and, of course, for weekly newspaper Bild am Christian Democrats (CDU), Pe- ronmentalist Greens, have more want a new edition of the grand left or right,” he added. grand coalition. that we can form a joint govern- Sonntag put support for Mer- ter Tauber, told Bild am Sonntag: seats in parliament than Merkel’s coalition.” The parties have already met to The SPD would not go along ment.” kel’s conservative bloc at 38%, “It is often stressful in the grand conservative bloc. “If it happens too often, then explore the possibility of forming with policies like leaving the A fractured electoral landscape up two percentage points from coalition, because Sigmar does Latest polls show this would those who are dissatisfi ed only a coalition to replace Merkel after euro, said Gabriel. risks complicating the coalition a week ago, the SPD on 22%, up not know in the morning what continue to be the case. have the choice between extreme the election. Sahra Wagenknecht, who leads arithmetic, with a repeat version one point, the AfD on 12%, the Gabriel will want in the evening.” Gulf Times 12 Monday, January 9, 2017 EUROPE

Dutch cops seize MH17 Refugees, homeless at debris from journalist

AFP risk as Europe freezes The Hague DPA son for the journey, and that Athens/Munich they driver likely left them in the utch police have taken cold when the van started expe- from a journalist items, riencing engine trouble near the Dincluding possible hu- he extreme cold that has municipality of Brannenburg. man remains, which he found claimed lives and caused There was no sign of the driv- at the crash site of fl ight MH17 Ttravel chaos across parts er. in eastern Ukraine, prosecutors of Europe was also posing a new Europe has been hit by below- said yesterday. danger to the thousands of vul- freezing temperatures and heavy Freelancer Michel Spekkers nerable refugees stranded in snowfall in recent days, causing was met by police as he returned Greece. several deaths in hundreds of to Schiphol airport late on Sat- On the Greek island of Chios, weather-related incidents from urday after visiting the region which like the rest of the country France to Turkey. and writing an article about his is accustomed to mild winters, At least nine people have died discovery at the site. the situation for residents at the in Poland, three in the Czech The Malaysia Airlines Boeing Souda refugee camp was wors- Republic and two in Hungary 777 passenger jet was shot down ening, one islander told DPA. due to the cold snap, authorities over eastern Ukraine on July 17, “The living quarters have long said. 2014 en route from Amsterdam been overcrowded, and those Two of the deaths in the to Kuala Lumpur killing all 298 who have no place there are now Czech capital and both in the on board, mostly Dutch citizens. waiting in summer tents with- Hungarian capital were home- A Dutch-led criminal inves- out electricity and heating,” less individuals. tigation concluded in Septem- Jenny Kaliposi said. “Children, In eastern France, four Por- ber that a BUK missile, trans- grown-ups – whoever leaves his tuguese passengers were killed ported from Russia, slammed tent must stand in the icy mud.” when their bus skidded off the into the plane after being fi red Some refugees on the island road near Lyon early yesterday. from a fi eld in a part of war-torn of Lesbos were also reportedly The interior ministry said ice Ukraine then controlled by pro- without electricity and water. on the road was likely the cause Russian rebels. There are currently around of the crash. But it stopped short of saying 15,500 people waiting to be sent Temperatures dropped to -17° who pulled the trigger. back to Turkey under a deal C in some areas of Greece. Prosecutors said in a state- struck between the EU and An- There were repeated power ment yesterday that Spekkers kara to return all migrants that failures and several roads re- had “refused to hand over pho- crossed the Aegean illegally from mained impassable. tographic and fi lm material from Turkish shores. It snowed for the fi rst time in Participants of the cycling event the crash site” when he arrived In Germany, a people smug- 40 years in Rethymno, on the is- ride past the Kremlin in Moscow. at the airport near Amsterdam. gler abandoned 19 asylum- land of Crete, in the south of the The material including “vari- seekers inside a van at a parking country, Greek broadcaster Skai international fl ights have been ous bags with metal parts and lot off a Bavarian motorway on reported yesterday. cancelled at Istanbul’s Ataturk an object which may be human Saturday. People were even snowboard- airport, Dogan news agency re- remains” would now “be exam- The temperature was -20° ing. ported, as the city weathered a ined as soon as possible”. Celsius. More than half a metre of winter storm that surprised res- Spekkers said in a Tweet that “After hours of driving, the snow had piled up on the Aegean idents with up to 40cm of snow. he had arranged to “voluntarily” unscrupulous driver simply left island of Skopelos, residents Istanbul’s Bosporus Strait hand over the items, but in the the van with the people inside told DPA. reopened to shipping traffi c yes- end there was “a total seizure” the unheated cargo area and dis- In Istanbul, there were major terday after being halted by the of his possessions including his appeared,” German federal po- delays at Turkey’s largest air- severe weather. camera, telephone and laptop. lice said. port, where all domestic fl ights Klin, a village northwest of the He wrote in the daily Noord- The 14 adults and fi ve minors have been cancelled up to last Russian capital Moscow, record- hollands Dagblat that he decided received medical treatment. night, according to airlines and ed a temperature of -35.9° C, the to visit the crash site during a Police said they had paid be- Turkish media. Tass news agency reported yes- trip to Donetsk for a documen- tween €500 and €800 per per- Over 600 more domestic and terday. tary about daily life there, after being told that debris was still strewn around the area. He described seeing things lying in the snow – including a Hundreds brave cold for bike ride piece of bone – saying that he had videoed everything, labelled some of it and placed it into AFP Participants – some dressed The event is aimed at promot- A picture taken from Istanbul’s Galata tower shows a seagull flying over the historic city centre covered sealed ziplock bags. Moscow as Santa Claus or his Russian ing cycling in the sprawling Rus- by snow. Heavy snow blanketed Istanbul for a second day yesterday, resulting in the cancellation of Writing in the Dutch provin- equivalent Ded Moroz – pedaled sian capital. hundreds of flights and more disruption for thousands of travellers. cial daily, he said he had “an un- along the banks of the frozen “Not one of the participants comfortable feeling of helpless- undreds of hardy cyclists Moscow river in front of the of the winter bike parade ended wrapped-up 42-year-old engi- grips of a severe cold snap that Orthodox Christmas Night for ness”, wondering why such items braved temperatures Kremlin walls. up going to the doctors after it neer who took part in the ride. has seen temperatures plunge 120 years at the weekend, media were still there, and whether Has low as -27° Celsius More than 500 people took fi nished,” Moscow authorities “It gives you energy, it’s great, around Europe. reports said, with temperatures Dutch authorities would have (-16.6° Fahrenheit) in Moscow part in the 15km event, offi cials said in a statement. just marvellous. I cycle to work At least 23 people have died pushing -30° C. left the site like that had the yesterday to complete a mass said, after organisers refused to “I feel better than when I every day but it’s still a real across the continent as a result But the mercury is set to rise crash happened on Dutch soil. bike ride through the snow- call it off despite warnings over was lying on the sofa over the pleasure,” he told AFP. of the freezing conditions. in the coming days and reach bound Russian capital. the freezing temperatures. holidays,” said Mikhail, a well Moscow is currently in the Moscow recorded its coldest around -7° C tomorrow. Knife-wielding Pope tells women to man shot dead feel free to breastfeed German police off icers fatally Pope Francis encouraged Pope won’t increase security on travels shot a knife-wielding man who women attending a ceremony charged into their police station in the Sistine Chapel yesterday in the western city of Duisburg to feel free to breastfeed their Reuters often in contrast to the leaders the Lord is always there,” he said. was swamped after the driver late on Saturday. children in the church. Vatican City who greet him. The book, called Travelling, is took a wrong turn. Prosecutors said the 43-year-old “The ceremony is a little long, “I am aware of the risks in- about the 17 trips to more than “I fully understand the needs assailant had indiscriminately someone’s crying because he’s volved,” he said in the introduc- 25 countries outside Italy that of security and am grateful (to attacked and injured three people hungry. That’s the way it is,” the ope Francis says he real- tion to a new book by Italian Francis has made since his elec- security forces) but a bishop is a Francis: I said from the start nearby hours earlier. Pontiff said. ises he may be the target author Andrea Tornielli. “Maybe tion in 2013. pastor, a father, and there cannot that I would travel only if I could The man entered the lobby of “You mothers, go ahead and Pof an attack but that he I’m reckless but I must say I He is expected to make as least be too many barriers between have contact with people. the police station shortly before breastfeed, without fear. Just like will continue to travel without don’t have any fear for myself two international trips this year, him and the people,” he said. midnight waving a knife. the Virgin Mary nursed Jesus,” bulletproof vehicles or heavy but I’m always worried about one to Portugal, and another to “Because of this, I said from the middle of Rome, following at- Police said they fired pepper he told worshippers attending an security because he wants to get the safety of those who travel India and Bangladesh. start that I would travel only if I tacks by Islamist extremists in spray at him, but he was annual ceremony commemorat- close to people. with me and above all that of “I can’t bring myself to move could have contact with people.” Europe. undeterred. ing the baptism of Jesus. Unlike his predecessors, who the people that I meet in various around in bulletproof cars or in For the past two years, Italian But Francis still uses an or- Off icers then shot him in the leg He has previously voiced his sup- used bulletproof popemobiles countries.” closed popemobiles with bullet- police have notably increased dinary blue Ford Focus when he and neck when he charged into port for breastfeeding. or limousines, Francis uses ordi- “There is always the risk of a proof glass,” he said. security in the area around the visits parishes in Rome and in- a guard room and threatened nary cars on international trips, rash gesture by a madman. But In Brazil in 2013, his small car Vatican, a sovereign state in the sists on light, low-key security. off icers. Historic Cyprus peace in balance at Geneva talks

AFP pen Barth Eide said in a New Year’s As he left the island, Anasta- some of the territory currently “I expect neither a success nor a Nicosia message. siades, who heads the island’s in- controlled by the Turkish Cypri- failure but the beginning of a series But some analysts believe that ternationally-recognised govern- ots will be ceded to Greek Cypriot of fi nal round talks under the par- Geneva is a disaster waiting to ment, tweeted that he was heading control in any peace deal. ticipation of the guarantor pow- oday rival Cypriot leaders happen because of the deep divi- to the talks “with hope, confi dence Just how much and which land ers with ‘observers’ invited from hold UN-sponsored peace sions between the two sides on and unity”. they should give up has hampered the EU and Security Council,” said Ttalks in Geneva billed as a core issues such as property, ter- But earlier this week, he too four decades of peace talks. Hubert Faustmann, professor of historic opportunity to end dec- ritorial adjustments and security. struck a note of caution, warning The issue is vital because any history and political science at the ades of division on the island but “I will be surprised if there is a of “signifi cant diff erences on sub- deal the two leaders reach will have University of Nicosia. the outcome is far from certain. comprehensive agreement given stantive issues fundamental to a to be put to the vote in their re- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Turkish Cypriot leader Mus- the diffi culties,” Andreas Theoph- Cyprus solution”. spective communities. Erdogan and British Prime Minis- tafa Akinci and his Greek Cypriot anous, head of the Cyprus Centre The island has been divided In 2004, a majority of Turk- ter Theresa May agreed in a phone counterpart Nicos Anastasiades for European and International Af- since 1974, when Turkish troops ish Cypriots voted in favour of a call on Saturday that the Geneva have held more than 18 months fairs, told AFP. invaded its northern third in re- UN reunifi cation plan but it was talks were a “real opportunity” to of negotiations in the run-up to Leaving for the talks yesterday, sponse to an Athens-inspired coup overwhelmingly rejected by Greek end the island’s division. the crunch talks but both men ac- Akinci told reporters that they seeking union with Greece. Cypriots. But there are diff erences over knowledge that key issues remain marked a “crossroads” and it was Nine years later, Turkish Cypriot The two sides have undertaken future security arrangements with to be thrashed out. vital to “achieve positive results leaders declared a breakaway state to provide maps on Wednesday Anastasiades wanting the tens of The United Nations has pulled and not just meet up”. in the north which is recognised of their proposals for the internal thousands of Turkish troops on the out all the stops to get a deal over “We are not at a point where Ge- only by Ankara. boundaries of a future bizonal fed- island to leave but Akinci demand- the line, eyeing the best chance of neva will mark the fi nal conclusion. The years of communal violence, eration. ing a continued Turkish military a settlement in more than a decade. We need to be cautious,” Akinci which culminated in the Turkish If that goes to plan, they will be presence. “It is a real possibility that 2017 said. “We are not pessimistic but invasion, saw thousands from both joined from Thursday by the lead- Akinci also insists on a rotating will be the year when the Cypriots, we shouldn’t assume everything is sides fl ee their homes – and they ers of the island’s three guaran- presidency for the future federa- themselves, freely decide to turn done and dusted. We are expecting remain displaced to this day. tor powers – former colonial ruler tion – a proposal unpopular among the page of history,” UN envoy Es- a tough week.” It has always been agreed that Britain, Greece and Turkey. Greek Cypriots. Gulf Times Monday, January 9, 2017 13 INDIA

Will not accept card payment from today, say petrol stations

IANS the next generation while Rahul New Delhi Gandhi is only looking at how to disrupt the next session of par- liament,” he added. etrol stations across India Claiming that there was no will stop accepting credit social unrest during the imple- Pand debit cards from to- mentation of the November 8 day in protest against a move to demonetisation, Jaitley said the impose an additional charge of opposition protests have been up to 1% on card transactions, “ineff ective”. the All India Petroleum Dealers’ “The opposition disrupted a Association (AIPDA) said yester- full session of parliament. Their day. exaggerated claims on the dis- In a letter to Finance Minister ruption of the economy have Arun Jaitley, AIPDA president proved wrong,” he said. Ajay Bansal said that the HDFC “It is a tragedy that a national and other banks will start charg- party like the Congress decided ing 1% on all credit card transac- to adopt a political position, op- tions, and between 0.25 and 1% posing both technology, change on all debit card transactions and reforms,” he added. from today. Reacting to Jaitley’s comment, “The same will be debited to Congress spokesman Manish Te- petroleum dealers’ account and wari said: “Demonetisation has the net transaction value will be succeeded in doing something credited to our account... This which possibly India’s worst ene- French Minister of Foreign, Aff airs and International Development Jean-Marc Ayrault speaks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas event in Bengaluru yesterday. will lead to fi nancial loses for the mies could not – knocking the bot- dealers,” Bansal said. tom out of the Indian economy.” He said that the AIPDA has de- “If being futuristic means de- cided to stop accepting payment molishing and destroying the through credit and debit cards economy by taking whimsical till the decision to levy these ad- decisions, then it is better not to ditional charges are reversed. have such futuristic prime min- Meanwhile, Jaitley slammed the ister,” the Congress leader added. Congress and its vice president Describing the currency depos- Rahul Gandhi and said the opposi- ited with banks following demon- PM seeks diaspora’s tion party “sided with a status quo etisation as money that has lost its that is black money-friendly.” earlier “anonymity”, the Finance “There is a marked diff erence Minister said such deposits do not in the approach of the prime automatically become legitimate, minister and his opponents. The and can now be identifi ed with the prime minister is being futur- owner for taxation purposes. istic, and is thinking of a more Describing the currency de- modern, technology-driven posited with banks following de- help to develop India cleaner economy. He is now monetisation as money that has speaking of cleaning the political lost its earlier “anonymity”, Jait- Convert PIO cards to OIC the diaspora to participate in my government, such a move- “We have also set up special lash against demonetisation as funding systems,” Jaitley wrote ley said such deposits do not au- cards by June 30, Modi urges the government’s fl agship pro- ment is not a brain drain but immigration counters at New unfortunate and thanked the in a Facebook post titled “De- tomatically become legitimate, persons of Indian origin grammes like Digital India, brain gain as they can help us in Delhi and Bengaluru airports Indian diaspora for their sup- monetisation – A look back at and can now be identifi ed with Make In India, Start-up India, the development,” Modi said. since January 1 for OCI card port to the note ban to curb the last two months”. the owner for taxation purposes. IANS Swacch Bharat (Clean India) and For young Indians seek- holders. Similar counters will be black money and fi ght corrup- “His opponents want a cash- “The fact that large quantum Bengaluru Namami Gange (Clean Ganges) ing jobs abroad, Modi said opened at more airports in the tion. dominated, cash-generating and of high denominational cur- for the country’s all-round de- the government would soon country,” he said. “I would like to thank you cash-exchange system to con- rency has been deposited with velopment. launch a skills development “We are working on new pro- for supporting our fi ght against tinue. The diff erence between the banks does not render this rime Minister Narendra “The diaspora can contribute programme. cedures to ensure all descend- black money and corruption Modi and Rahul Gandhi is clear – money to be legitimate cash,” Modi yesterday urged the to India by sparing their time “We will shortly launch a ants of Indians, especially their though political pundits called the prime minister is thinking of Jaitley said. PIndian diaspora to fi rst and energy on implementing skills development programme, fourth and fi fth generations the note ban anti-people,” Modi develop India by investing and our fl agship programmes and the Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yo- living in Fiji, Suriname, Guyana told about 1,800 overseas Indi- Banks asked to get PAN from account holders contributing their expertise in stay connected,” Modi said dur- jana, targeted at Indian youth and Caribbean states to become ans. the land of their origin. ing a 40-minute special address seeking overseas employment.” eligible for OCI cards,” Modi Modi on November 8 banned As part of a drive to unearth deposits if PAN or Form 60 is “To me, FDI means First De- in Hindi and English. The programme will train the said. the Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes to black money, the government not provided. The move aims to velop India through Foreign Di- Asserting that engaging with job-seekers with soft skills so Clarifying that the govern- check black money, corruption, has asked banks to obtain the analyse banking transactions rect Investment, whose norms the overseas Indian community that they do not feel strangers ment does not see the colour terror funding and counterfeit- permanent account number carried out in months before have been fully liberalised for was a priority area for him, the in the country they migrate to in of the passport but the blood ing of currency and gave peo- (PAN) or Form 60 if PAN is not the demonetisation decision Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) prime minister said the gov- terms of manners and culture. ties, the prime minister said ple 50 days till December 30 to available, from all account was announced on November and Persons of Indian Origin ernment was trying to convert Modi also appealed to all per- the PIO card superseded the exchange the old notes for new holders by February 28, an of- 8. On that day, Prime Minister (PIOs) and made on par with ‘brain drain’ into ‘brain gain’ by sons of Indian origin living the individual’s passport as far ones. ficial statement said yesterday. Narendra Modi announced domestic fi rms for availing the inviting the diaspora to contrib- world over to convert their PIO as his or her ties to India were He urged the diaspora, es- The Reserve Bank of India that Rs1,000 and Rs500 notes same benefi ts,” Modi told the ute their mite in making India cards into Overseas Citizen of concerned. pecially Non-Resident Indians last month mandated that no would no longer be legal 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas strong and self-reliant. India (OCI) by June 30. When the PIO card is seen, (NRIs), to avail of the six-month withdrawal would be allowed tender. Citizens were given up (Non-Resident Indian Day) “Brain drain has been consid- “We have extended the dead- “we don’t see the colour of the extension given from January 1 from the accounts having to December 30 to deposit the here. ered a loss for the country as In- line to convert PIO cards into OCI passport but the blood ties”, to surrender the banned notes at substantial credit balance or demonetised currency in banks. Inaugurating the three-day dians went abroad seeking jobs cards to June 30 from December Modi said to huge applause. designated Reserve Bank of In- mega event, Modi exhorted and better life. But for me and 31, without penalty,” Modi said. He termed the political back- dia (RBI) offi ces till June 30.

Two bitten by sea creatures off Goa beach

An Indian and a German were attacked by sea snakes, lo- cally called ‘hichan’, or some sea creature while swimming off Goa’s popular Calangute beach, a lifeguard agency and a hospital said yesterday. The two incidents occurred on Tuesday but were not reported to the police. “On Tuesday afternoon, an Indian tourist was bitten by a hichan. These sea snakes appear close to the shore during winter and some of them are aggressive and sometimes attack,” lifeguard Amit, who was on duty at the Calangute-Candolim beach stretch, said. Chickens forage for food after snowfall in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday. “We gave him first-aid to treat the bite after pulling him out from the sea,” Amit said, adding that life- guards have also sighted several sea snakes off the beach over the Traffi c to Shimla, Manali restored after snowfall past few days. The incident was also confirmed by Prabhakar Pandey, general IANS low of minus 3.8 degrees, while it hal town in the Jammu region will manager of the Drishti Beach Shimla was 6.8 degrees in Dharamsala. resume after track clearance. Management Services, which However, Kinnaur district and Air and road traffi c continued to has been appointed by the Goa towns in Shimla district like Nar- remain shut as no fl ights operated to Tourism Ministry for lifeguard serv- raffi c to popular tourist des- kanda, Jubbal, Kotkhai, Kumarsain, and from the Srinagar International ices on the popularly frequented tinations of Shimla, Man- Kharapathar, Rohru and Chopal are Airport in the morning for the sec- beaches of the state’s 105km long Tali, Chamba and Dalhousie still cut off due to heavy snow, the ond day. coastline. that were cut off from the rest of offi cial said. Authorities at Srinagar airport On the same day, German tourist Himachal Pradesh after snowfall A government spokesperson said said visibility had improved yester- Clare Arni was bitten by a sea were restored yesterday after two that no state-run bus has been ply- day morning and fl ight operations creature, possibly a big fish. days, offi cials said. ing in upper Shimla since Saturday were likely to resume in the after- Clare, who was administered 28 Major roads including the Shim- morning as a large number of vehi- noon. stitches to sew up the bite wound la-Manali and Shimla-Chandigarh cles were stuck between Kufri and “There has been an improve- on her leg, was swimming beyond national highways have been opened Narkanda. ment in the visibility and we are the breakers at Calangute beach for traffi c, an offi cial said. Meanwhile, life continued to re- hopeful of resuming flight opera- when the attack took place. Shimla, which received 53cm of main disrupted in Kashmir Valley tions from the afternoon,” said an “Clare was admitted to our hospital snowfall, recorded a minimum tem- as heavy snowfall blocked the Sri- airport official. as an OPD case. It was clearly a perature of minus 0.4 degrees Celsi- nagar-Jammu highway for the third Traffi c department offi cials said wound resulting from a bite by a us. The maximum temperature was day. snow clearance operations in Banni- big fish,” a spokesperson for Bosio 6.9 degrees. According to offi cials, rail serv- hal and Patnitop sectors of the high- Hospital in Calangute said. Kalpa in Kinnaur district saw a ices between the valley and Banni- way had started. Gulf Times 14 Monday, January 9, 2017 INDIA

Tamil Nadu Roundup Why migration is killing babies in Maharashtra village By Umaima Shafiq Reuters annual pattern of migration for “People from Palghar migrate for the ‘seth’ (the construction tion and around 42.5% are un- ordinate better and are cheaper Khoch, Maharashtra work. to Mumbai for work, but the cost site contractor) to come and take derweight. than two men, with men paid In the last three years, malnu- of living there is very high. They us,” Wadwi told the Thomson In Palghar, malnutrition most around Rs200 daily and women Former speaker trition has claimed the lives of don’t eat to save money.” Reuters Foundation. aff ects the Kathkari tribe, a one- anywhere between Rs50 and s Soni Wadwi breastfed about 1,600 children in Palghar, a Villagers start leaving Palghar Namdev Savara, a member of time forest community which is Rs100. of Puducherry her one-year-old son, tribal region battling high unem- in December for the Mumbai the Kathkari tribe, has devoted among the lowest in the pecking The migrant workers survive assembly murdered ASonu, outside her hut in ployment and poverty, with na- satellite towns of Thane and Bhi- an entire wall of his one-room order of the Indian caste system. on rice and the occasional dish of Khoch village in Maharashtra, tional headlines over child deaths wandi where they often work 12- hut in Khoch to colourful depic- “Most children who died this potato and onions, saving their Former Puducherry Assembly she recounted how he almost prompting government action to hour shifts at construction sites tions of gods and goddesses. year due to malnutrition-linked money for the jobless months. speaker V M C Sivakumar was died from severe malnutrition address the problem. or road building projects. So when his son, Ishwar – illnesses were from the Kathkari Doctors said children suff er due murdered at Niravy near Karaikal four months ago. Khoch lies 150km from Mum- Once the monsoon season which means the supreme lord community,” said Nidhi Chaud- to irregular feeding patterns when town about 280km from Chennai The family left the village in bai and close to the border with halts construction, workers re- in Hindi – died in September, he hari, who heads the Palghar local both parents work long hours. last week. the Palghar district last year for Gujarat, one of the country’s turn to villages in July for a job- hung a black and white picture government offi ce. “The parents’ priority is not Sivakumar, 65, was visiting work for several months as many most prosperous states, but un- less spell until October, when the of the child on this wall of wor- Vivek Pandit, an activist who their child’s health but to earn a marriage hall that he was do. employment is forcing parents to start of the harvest provides daily ship. has represented the area in the their daily wages,” said Ramdas constructing accompanied by his When they returned, Sonu move to cities to fi nd work to feed work on farmland. Savara said he will not leave Maharashtra state assembly, said Marad, superintendent at the car driver and a police escort. was weak and admitted to hos- their children. Locals refer to September as Khoch in 2017 and he will work Kathkari people don’t have land Palghar sub-district hospital Suddenly four men, hiding inside, pital. “Palghar’s problem of mal- “starvation month”, when many on a local road construction and are handpicked for their abil- that runs at twice its capacity in threw country bombs at him but Wadwi’s son survived and nutrition is shocking because of people are unemployed and chil- project with his wife. ity to do strenuous work. the monsoon months between these did not explode. The angry made a full recovery but about its proximity to Mumbai, but it dren’s deaths peak. The couple will stay close to “They work at construction June and September. men then stabbed Sivakumar 400 other children died from is migration to Mumbai that is The end of the harvest in De- their two other children who go sites, break stones for road con- “Children are more vulnerable multiple times. They threw two malnutrition-linked illnesses in at the root of this problem,” said cember again signals the end of to school. struction or at brick kilns,” Pan- to disease such as pneumonia or more bombs before escaping on Palghar between April and No- Milind Thatte, founder of Vayam, the villagers’ home stay. According to government data dit said. respiratory infections during this bikes. vember 2016, a rising trend that a movement for tribal develop- “We have no work now, but we about 39% of Indian children Employers usually prefer to time as they are weak and their Later police diff used the bombs campaigners put down to an ment. will leave soon. We are waiting suff er from chronic undernutri- hire Kathkari couples as they co- immunities are compromised.” and admitted Sivakumar’s driver and police escort in hospital. Sivakumar entered politics in 1969 and held ministerial portfolios under the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) political party. He was the speaker of Puducherry Legislative Assembly from 1996 to 2001. He joined the All I am the boss, India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party in 2015 but lost the assembly elections in May 2016. He had businesses in liquor, construction and others. Akhilesh only TN farmers in distress due to poor rains chief minister, Tamil Nadu’s farmers have termed 2016 a harsh year due to poor rains (the state received only 20% of its usual share), water sharing disputes with Karnataka and cyclone Vardah hit the state last month. says Mulayam Farmers’ associations held protests and damaged crops in IANS Ram Gopal Yadav, a Rajya on our side and the SP led by many districts demanding that New Delhi Sabha member, has emerged as Akhilesh Yadav is the real Sama- Tamil Nadu be declared drought a key strategist for Akhilesh Ya- jwadi Party. Hence we have the hit. They demanded loan waivers, dav in what has turned an ini- right over the ‘cycle’ symbol.” fresh funds for sowing and amajwadi Party founder tial family squabble into a full- In other developments, the other benefits. The toll in farmer Mulayam Singh Yadav fl edged political battle in Uttar name plates of Mulayam’s and suicides has reached nearly 300 Syesterday said he remains Pradesh. his brother Shivpal, have been in recent weeks. the party president and his son Meanwhile, a day after the reinstalled at the party head- Meanwhile a state government Akhilesh Yadav was only the Akhilesh faction told the Elec- quarters in Lucknow and that team has been assessing the loss chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. tion Commission it has the sig- the offi ce has since been locked. in Nagapattinam, Kumbakonam, “I am the national president natures of support from a ma- On New Year’s eve, support- Tiruvarur, Tiruchi and other of SP and Akhilesh is the chief jority of SP lawmakers, Amar ers of Akhilesh removed Shiv- districts. minister of UP,” Mulayam Singh Singh, who is part of the oppos- pal’s nameplate. In a related incident, rose reporters here. ing Mulayam faction, claimed The assembly elections in the farmers in Krishnagiri district He added that the decision the signatures were forged. most populous and politically were distressed when Moorheim, taken by Akhilesh’s supporters “The signatures of support signifi cant state in India will be a Netherlands-based company, to appoint the chief minister are forged and hence their au- held in seven phases between claimed royalty for cultivating as the party chief was null and thenticity is doubtful,” said February 11 and March 8. Taj Mahal variety blooms. void. Amar Singh, who is said to be On Saturday, senior SP lead- However the South India Akhilesh Yadav continued to the cause of the rift in the Yadav ers including Shivpal Singh Ya- Floriculture Association (SICA) be the chief minister, Mulayam family. dav, Azam Khan, Om Prakash assured the farmers that royalty added, hinting that he did not He also said that proving Singh and Narad Rai met Mu- was being paid since the first recognise his son as the party support is not a pre-condition layam Singh and held discus- blooms were purchased in 2007 boss. to appropriating the party sym- sions on the possible way out of from Holland. Mulayam Singh also said bol in case of a split. the infi ghting. Ram Gopal Yadav had been “The number of MLAs sup- Sources said while both expelled from the Samajwadi porting you matters when a Shivpal and Amar Singh told IT dept raids Party and hence he had no right government has to be formed, Mulayam that they were “ready ETA, Buhari to call the national convention not for (laying claim to the) par- to be the sacrifi cial lambs” if it where Akhilesh Yadav replaced ty symbol,” Singh was quoted as brought the warring father-son business groups his father as the party chief. saying by ANI news agency. together, the truce off er was On January 1, the Akhilesh On Saturday, after meeting turned down by Mulayam him- The Income Tax (IT) department faction dislodged Mulayam EC offi cials, Ramgopal Yadav self. raided the off ices of the Buhari Singh as the party president said his faction was at an ad- Mulayam Singh demanded and Emirates Trading Agency and designated the former vantage because they submit- that Akhilesh fi rst step down as (ETA) at about 74 places across chief minister and ex-defence ted relevant documents sooner the SP national president, after India including 49 in Chennai last minister as the “marg darshak” than the deadline of January 9. which his demand for a larger week. (mentor). “We (Akhilesh faction) have say in ticket distribution will be Searches were also conducted Since then, both factions of submitted all relevant docu- considered. at ETA’s educational institutions the Samajwadi Party have ap- ments, brought seven cartons The Akhilesh camp declined B S Abdur Rehman Deemed proached the Election Com- with more than 1.5 lakh pages to the off er. The chief minister University in suburban Chennai. mission to claim the election the Election Commissioner of- wanted a “three-month free More than 800 off icers were symbol “cycle” ahead of assem- fi ce,” Ramgopal said. hand to win the polls” and then Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav addresses a press conference in New Delhi yesterday. Also involved in the raid. bly elections in Uttar Pradesh. “We have most of the MLAs back off in favour of his father. seen is Amar Singh. “The two groups have businesses in construction, education, building maintenance and hospitality besides retail and Jeweller opens new outlet in Chennai entertainment industries across India and many Arab countries Achuthanandan let off but their base is in Tamil Nadu. They have evaded taxes running into billions of rupees but the with warning yet again exact details will be known only after the raids are completed,” an IANS the fact that he is one of the income tax off icer said. Thiruvananthapuram founders of the CPM in 1964 B S Abdul Rehman, the late and one who has given his en- founder of the group and his tire life to the party, we decided extended family’s properties, at eteran Communist Party to warn him only,” Yechury told his ancestral town of Keelakarai of India (Marxist) leader reporters here at the end of the in southern Ramanathapuram VV S Achuthanandan yes- four-day Central Committee district were also searched. terday got away with yet another and politburo meetings of the warning with the party leader- CPM here. ship asking him to behave and The veteran has always got Chennai film adhere to party discipline. away since he is the biggest festival to show This is the ninth time that crowd puller in the state and has Achuthanandan has been cen- got a huge fan following in the Jaya movies sured by the party. party and outside. A politburo commission had According to sources, when the The 14th edition of the Chennai gone through the various acts of politburo commission presented International Film Festival which indiscipline that Achuthanan- their report on Achuthanandan’s is under way will screen two dan has been charged with, in- indiscipline at the Central Com- hit films of late chief minister cluding storming out of the par- mittee, a few of the Kerala leaders Jayaram Jayalalithaa, who was ty conference in Alappuzha in wanted strict action against him, also a former film star. 2015 and not returning despite and one of them even sought he Jayalalithaa died at the age of 68 passionate pleas by present gen- be booted out. on December 5. Leading jeweller Joyalukkas has opened a new showroom in Chromepet, Chennai. This is the first of several more new outlets eral secretary Sitaram Yechury On Sunday morning, Yechury The films Ayarathil Oruvan and planned by Joyalukkas for 2017, the company said in a statement yesterday. The new showroom was inaugurated on Saturday and others. called Achutanandan for a one Suryagandhi where she was by film actor Prashanth in the presence of veteran actor Thiagarajan, Joyalukkas Group chairman and managing director Joy “Achuthanandan who is now to one meeting and afterwards acted with late AIADMK leader Alukkas, Dr Nalli Kuppuswamy (Nalli Silks), Aniyan George (president, Kerala Chamber of Commerce of North America), Joyalukkas an invitee to the Central Com- the former chief minister told and mentor M G Ramachandran executive director P D Jose, deputy general manager (retail) P D Francis and regional manager Shaju K R. The Chromepet mittee has been warned and reporters that he was happy with will be screened at the Casino showroom is the 19th outlet of Joyalukkas in Tamil Nadu. asked to speak in the state com- everything that has happened theatre. mittee and not outside. Given and retreated to his home here. Gulf Times Monday, January 9, 2017 15 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN Another respite for Pakistanis with off shore wealth?

Internews avoidance of double taxation. span the period between July those with undeclared assets, submitted to the fi nance minis- In the last three months of this Under the fi rst phase of the Islamabad The over 104-members of 2017 and June 2018. either lying onshore or off shore. ter proposes an amnesty period scheme, the tax rate will be 10% scheme, 366,757 people declared the Organisation of Economic On a reciprocal basis, Pakistan At the ceremony held on Dec of nine months. in case of repatriation and 20% $277bn in assets until September Cooperation and Development will also receive information re- 15 2016, the PM had even invited This proposal gives diff erent in cases of non-repatriation of 2016 and the scheme amassed ith the advent of a glo- (OECD) will automatically be- garding Pakistani holdings in 105 suggestions for the same. tax rates depending on wheth- foreign assets. $7.45bn in tax revenue in its fi rst bal crackdown on tax gin to exchange records in 2017, countries from the same fi nan- Under the two proposed am- er the individual availing the An income declaration phase. Wevasion, the govern- as part of a coordinated global cial year. nesty schemes, those who will be scheme chooses to repatriate scheme was launched in India on Tax expert Naseem Ahmad ment is working on an amnesty crackdown on tax evasion to ex- In view of this and other bi- asked to declare their wealth are their assets or not, even though June 1, 2016. said that the percentage pro- package that will allow individu- pose non-compliant taxpayers. lateral arrangements, the gov- divided into three diff erent slabs. the FBR-proposed scheme Under the scheme, those who posed in Pakistani schemes was als who have parked their assets A senior tax offi cial said that ernment is working on a lenient A draft worked out by the FBR makes no such distinction. had evaded taxes were given the too low. off shore and onshore to legiti- Pakistan will receive informa- amnesty scheme that will allow is a six-month scheme, broken up Under this draft scheme, a opportunity to avoid punish- The tax should be set at a mini- mise their holdings. tion regarding Pakistanis hold- those with large holdings abroad into three two-month periods. tax rate of 5% will be charged in ment by paying tax, penalty, and mum of 25% of the money, which This latest amnesty scheme ing funds abroad and will begin to declare and repatriate their In the fi rst two months, those the fi rst three months if the as- cess that came to a total of 45% had been transferred through il- is being considered in order to to exchange similar information wealth while facing minimum who declare movable and im- sets are repatriated to Pakistan, of the undisclosed income. legal means and without paying give those Pakistanis an easy with other countries whose citi- penalties. movable assets will have to pay while 10% will be charged in case Until October 2016, 64,275 taxes to the government. way to repatriate part of their zens hold bank accounts in Paki- At the 40th Export Awards 5% of the value of their assets; of non-repatriation. Indians had declared around He was of the opinion that offshore funds before a new stan from July 2018. ceremony of the Federation of the proposed tax rate will be 7.5% Over the next three months, $97.5bn in assets, on which reve- the government should fi rst try global anti-tax evasion scheme This process begins later for Pakistan Chambers of Com- over the next two months, while repatriated assets can be le- nue worth $44.8bn was expected to bring this money back to Pa- becomes operational under a Pakistan as it was one of the last merce and Industry, Prime Min- in the last two months, the tax gitimised at a rate of 7%, while to be generated. kistan for industrial investment multilateral tax conventions or countries to join the OECD. ister Nawaz Sharif had hinted at rate will be 10%. non-repatriated assets will be The Indonesian government and give incentives to those who bilateral arrangements on the Details of non-residents will across-the-board amnesty for In contrast, another scheme charged at 10%. also off ered a similar scheme. agree to repatriate their capital.

Driving snow UN urged to stop India from Gen Raheel’s interfering in Pakistan

IANS career move Islamabad akistan has asked the UN to restrain India from in- Pterfering in Pakistan’s in- ternal aff airs and from activities aimed at destabilising the coun- sparks debate try. Pakistan’s Permanent Rep- Internews The Majlis Wahdat-i-Mus- Taqi tweeted: “One gets a resentative to the UN, Maleeha Islamabad limeen posted a statement on sense that Khawaja Asif Sb Lodhi, delivered a dossier on its website in which its secretary may’ve spoken too soon; try- what she said was India’s pro- general, Allama Raja Nasir Ab- ing to throw Raheel Salahud- motion of terrorism in Pakistan akistani Defence Minister bas, expressed concern over the din Sharif Ayyubi under the to new UN Secretary-General Khawaja Asif’s remarks move and said that it was against public opinion bus?” Antonio Guterres, the Foreign Pduring a TV programme the interest of Pakistan. On the contrary, an over- Offi ce said. on Friday that former army chief He said that the former army whelming number of tweets The dossier, according to the General Raheel Sharif is poised chief must refuse this appoint- from common users hailed the ministry statement, contains to head a Saudi-led military alli- ment. decision and praised the gen- additional information and ance sparked a debate yesterday A spokesman for the outlawed eral for his “successful” eff orts “proof of RAW interference in with many criticising the general Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat said in combating terrorism in the Pakistan and involvement in for the decision. that his party fully supported country. terrorism particularly in Balo- The minister had indirectly the move as it would be a great Cricketer Ahmed Shahzad chistan, FATA and Karachi”. In confi rmed during a Geo News honour for the whole country if tweeted that he was proud that a covering letter sent with the programme that General Raheel a former army chief headed an Pakistan was working to combat dossier, Prime Minister Nawaz had been made the chief of the alliance of 39 Islamic countries terrorism under the leadership Sharif’s foreign policy chief Sar- 39-nation coalition established against terrorism. of General Raheel. taj Aziz noted that the arrest of to combat terrorism. Retired Lt Gen Abdul Qayyum, Hundreds of people congratu- alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan There was no offi cial confi r- lated Gen Raheel on the social Jadhav from Balochistan and mation or denial from the gov- “One gets a sense that media. Pakistani commuters ride on a motorbike during a snowfall in Murree, some 65km north of his confession proved that New ernment, the Inter-Services Khawaja Asif Sb may’ve “A solider is always a solider Islamabad, yesterday. Delhi wanted to destabilise Pa- Public Relations, Saudis or even spoken too soon; trying to doesn’t matter whether he’s on kistan. from General Raheel’s side yes- throw Raheel Salahuddin duty or not “Raheel Sharif”,” Aziz urged the UN chief and terday. Sharif Ayyubi under the reads a tweet. UN bodies to seriously consider With over 9,500 tweets, Ra- public opinion bus?” Defence analyst Talat Masood, the matter in the light of infor- heel Sharif was trended on Twit- a former general, said the deci- mation shared by Pakistan and ter the whole day yesterday. who is a leader of the ruling Pa- sion could mean some fallout play a role in restraining India From a few politicians to re- kistan Muslim League- Nawaz, for Pakistan because the alliance Leftist social media activists from these activities. tired offi cers of the armed forces, said that leading the 39-nation “was controversial,” not least “India was carrying out these anchor persons, journalists, in- military alliance would be an because Iran has been excluded activities in clear contraven- tellectuals all questioned the de- honour for the country. due to ongoing tensions between vanish in Pakistan: NGO tion of the UN Charter and the cision of a former Pakistani army He, however, rejected the al- Iran and Saudi Arabia. resolutions of the UN Security chief to join a foreign military al- legation that the military coali- On the one hand, Masood said Council on counter-terrorism liance less than two months after tion was against any country or it is a matter of pride that Sharif AFP er vanished on Friday and conservative state. and international conventions his retirement. a sect. “Joining the Saudi-led was chosen based on his what is Islamabad Ahmed Raza Naseer Saturday, “The state has controlled TV on terrorism,” the letter stated. However, most politicians military force is our religious perceived as his eff ective run as relatives said. and now they’re focusing on having verifi ed Twitter accounts obligation,” he told reporters at a head of the army. The interior ministry has digital spaces,” said Raza Rumi, 19 militants killed refrained from commenting on function in Wah Cant. “But the other fact is that a Pa- t least four Pakistani ac- said it will investigate the dis- a writer and analyst who left the issue on the social media. In a tweet, anchor Asma kistani general will head this coa- tivists known on social appearance of Haider, a Dawn Pakistan in 2014 after he was in Afghanistan Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Shirazi questioned: “What if a lition which is controversial and Amedia for their secular newspaper blogger known for attacked by gunmen who shot military operation leader Asad Umar was among general accepts the off er of be- Iran is very much opposed to it,” leftist views have gone missing his outspoken views on en- his driver dead. the few politicians who shared coming a chief of an alliance Masood said. “There are question this week, relatives and NGO forced disappearances in the A security source denied At least 19 Taliban militants, includ- his thoughts on Twitter and against Saudis #RaheelSharif”. marks whether it is a wise deci- workers said yesterday, as ana- southwestern province of Balo- intelligence services were in- ing two leaders of the group, were termed the move unfortunate. However, there were some sion that a Pakistani will head an lysts voiced rights concerns. chistan, but made no reference volved in the disappearances. killed and 15 others injured during He tweeted: “Raheel Sharif ac- people who believed that the de- organisation which is controver- Two of the men — Waqas to the others. Naseer, who suff ers from po- joint military operations of the Af- cepting to become head of a mili- fence minister deliberately spoke sial and would take actions against Goraya and Asim Saeed — All four were active on so- lio, was taken from his family’s ghan National Defense and Security tary alliance which parliament of about a move that has yet to be certain forces which are backed by disappeared on January 4, cial media groups promot- shop in central Punjab prov- Forces. The defence ministry said Pakistan had decided not to be- fi nalised. certain other Muslim countries,” according to a cybersecurity ing leftist, secular views, ince, his brother Tahir said yes- that the militants were killed in the come part of is unfortunate.” Columnist Dr Mohamed Masood said. NGO, while Salman Haid- often against the military or terday. past 24 hours in various provinces. Pakistan army chief sells CPEC deal in Baluchistan

Economic corridor will link southwestern coast will ben- Pakistan and a Chinese newspa- der CPEC that would “greatly SW Pakistan with China; efi t ordinary Pakistanis has been per recently placed the number benefi t the people of the city”. Infrastructure investment debated in recent months, with at more than 2mn. Khuzdar does not connect the worth $57bn planned; Some critics saying Chinese banks and But in Khuzdar, questions provincial capital, Quetta, to the Pakistanis sceptical about companies will gain most. about how many jobs would port city of Gwadar, but state benefits of deal; Baluchistan Pakistani offi cials, however, come to Baluchistan from CPEC representatives at the confer- rich in reserves of gas, assured students, offi cials and went unanswered. ence highlighted its signifi cance copper, gold citizens at a seminar in Khuzdar “I want to know what share as the second-largest city in the that CPEC would bring new Baluchistan will get and what province and a potential transit Reuters prosperity to Pakistan’s largest, the other provinces will get and point between Quetta and Ka- Khuzdar, Pakistan least-populous and poverty- on what basis?” a female student rachi, Pakistan’s biggest city and plagued province. asked during a question and an- economic hub. “Baluchistan unfortunately swer session. “We believe that Khuzdar has he dusty desert city of had been neglected in the past, Concerns over how much Bal- the ability to attract a great deal Khuzdar in southwestern for a host of reasons, but not uchistan will benefi t were even of local and foreign investment,” TPakistan has no hospital anymore,” Bajwa told the gath- voiced by a national offi cial, said Anwar Ul-Haq Kakar, a and no commercial fl ights into ering at Khuzdar’s Baluchistan Minister for Ports and Shipping spokesman for the Baluchistan its tiny airport, but government University of Engineering and Hasil Khan Bizenjo. government. offi cials who visited recently Technology. “We just want to make sure The Khuzdar university’s vice spoke in glowing terms of its fu- The head of the army is one of that under CPEC the same thing chancellor, Mohamed Amin, ture as a hub of commerce. the most powerful positions in does not happen to us as 1952, said he hoped CPEC could bring Pakistan’s new army chief, Pakistan, where the military not when gas was found in Balu- investment and jobs, because General Qamar Javed Bajwa, was only controls security but also chistan and yet in 2017 there is the city’s location four hours’ among a fl ock of dignitaries who operates a vast business empire no gas in Khuzdar,” said Bizenjo, drive from Quetta had made it descended upon Khuzdar, a city and often dictates key areas of originally from Baluchistan and diffi cult to attract even faculty at of 400,000, to tout the benefi ts foreign policy. a speaker at the conference. the school. of the China Pakistan Economic Students in the audience were Other speakers, however, en- “No one is coming because Corridor (CPEC) for the south- sceptical about whether CPEC FILE PHOTO: A container is loaded on to the first Chinese container ship to depart after the inauguration visioned Khuzdar as a centre of there is no infrastructure western province of Baluchistan. would benefi t the province. of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor port in Gwadar, Pakistan November 13, 2016. trade and industry. here as yet,” Amin said of the How much the $57bn net- Baluchistan, which has rich Baluchistan Chief Minis- university.”We will off er any PhD work of energy projects, roads reserves of natural gas, copper takes far more from the province a long-running ethnic separatist Applied Economics Research ter Sanaullah Zehri said that who accepts a job here a brand and a deep-water port linking and gold, has long complained than it gives back. rebellion. Centre (AERC) estimated CPEC Khuzdar would be one of 29 new Toyota Corolla and a 100 per western China with Pakistan’s that the national government Ire over this has contributed to A study late last year by the would create 700,000 jobs in Special Economic Zones un- cent pay increase.” Gulf Times 16 Monday, January 9, 2017 PHILIPPINES Color Manila Run US, Canada and UK warn nationals over annual procession

By Michael Joe T Delizo cautioned its citizens plan- Manila Times ning to join the traslacion or the transfer of the centuries- old image of the Christ car- he United States, the rying the cross from Rizal United Kingdom and Park to the Minor Basilica of TCanada have told their the Black Nazarene in Quiapo nationals in Manila to take district. precautions ahead of today’s “Although the event is nor- Black Nazarene procession, mally peaceful, if you plan on which is expected to draw attending, please exercise millions of barefoot devotees. caution and expect heavy In a security message, the traffic in the area,” it said on US embassy cited road clo- Facebook. sures and massive pedestrian Today, the procession of and vehicle traffic on Roxas the black wooden statue will Boulevard and adjacent major begin at Quirino Grandstand thoroughfares. in Rizal Park, and proceed All mobile phone coverage to the Minor Basilica, also will be jammed in areas along known as Quiapo Church. the route of the procession, The 4.5 mile-procession and telecommunications usually lasts for 20 hours disruptions are expected because of immense crowds throughout Metro Manila, it jostling to touch the image added. or even the rope pulling it. “Travel in the downtown Devotees started gathering in Manila area (will be) difficult Rizal Park yesterday. or impossible, as people as- The US also reminded its semble to participate in the citizens of the existing De- event and during the event partment of State “worldwide itself,” the embassy said on caution,” dated September 9, People throw in the air diff erent coloured powders as they celebrate during a “Color Manila Run” event in Manila yesterday. its website. 2016, indicating an ongoing Manila City Hall has de- threat of terrorist actions and clared today a holiday, with violence against American city offices and schools citizens and interests abroad, closed. The US embassy on including the Philippines. Roxas Boulevard will also The UK maintained the be closed. The British gov- Foreign and Commonwealth ernment, meanwhile, cited Office’s advice against all information from the De- travel to Western Mindanao partment of the Interior and and the Sulu archipelago be- Local Government on possi- cause of ongoing terrorist ble terror threats to the an- activity and clashes between Duterte orders army nual Catholic feast. the military and insurgent “You should take particular groups, and advised against care in crowded places and all but essential travel to the follow the advice of the local rest of Mindanao and to the authorities,” it said in an up- south of Cebu province, in- dated advisory on Saturday. cluding the municipalities of to destroy rebels The Canadian embassy Dalaguete and Badian. Raid at religious centre ahead of festival Manila Times mogenes Esperon. During the Manila conference, Abella said Duterte Philippine police raided a targeted the Islamic Center, was given an update on the na- religious centre in Manila and which includes a mosque, tional security situation and briefly detained scores of saying that other parts of the resident Rodrigo Duterte law enforcement activities of people as part of heightened city had also been subjected has reiterated his order the police. security before a major Catho- to police operations. Pto government forces to Also on Friday, top military lic festival, a spokeswoman Authorities have been on crush the Abu Sayyaf kidnap and and defence officials discussed said yesterday. Two men alert for possible attacks by terror group. the “Development Support and were arrested for illegal drugs militants to disrupt the Black Duterte issued the direc- Security Plan Kapayapaan,” in during the raid on the Islamic Nazarene event, which is tive during the joint command which the new priority is the Center in the heart of Manila expected to attract millions conference of the Philippine destruction of terrorist groups on Saturday, as authorities of Filipinos. The annual National Police (PNP) and the like the Abu Sayyaf Group, the warned of possible attacks by festival sees huge numbers of Armed Forces of the Philippines Maute Group, the Bangsamoro militants when the Feast of barefoot devotees crowding (AFP) in Malacanang on Friday. Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Black Nazarene reaches to touch a life-size and dark- “The president stressed his other foreign and local terror- its peak today. “This is part of skinned statue of Jesus that is commitment to end the (law- ist groups. security preparations for the reputed to have healing pow- less activities) of the ASG, Abu The new six-year security Feast of the Black Nazarene,” ers. Two people were killed Sayyaf Group,” presidential plan replaces the Internal Peace Chief Inspector Marissa and hundreds injured during spokesman Ernesto Abella said and Security Plan (IPSP) “Bay- Bruno, spokeswoman for the the crush of humanity at last in an interview aired over gov- Rodrigo Duterte: strong message anihan” that was implemented Manila police, said. year’s event. ernment-run dzRB. in January 2010 and expired on She said 82 other people at Security forces have said The president also reiterated The Abu Sayyaf belongs to It is also holding over a dozen Ronald de la Rosa, also present December 31, 2016. the centre had been taken there is no report of a “direct his orders to stamp out corrup- a loose network of terrorists Malaysian and Indonesian sail- were Cabinet officials, includ- Put into operation by the to a police station but were threat” to the festival this year tion and end the country’s drug formed in the 1990s with seed ors in the restive Mindanao re- ing Executive Secretary Salva- previous Aquino administra- released soon afterwards but they are wary that extrem- problem, he said. money from Osama bin Laden’s gion. dor Medialdea, Interior Sec- tion, IPSP Bayanihan was the when it was found they had ists may seek revenge for the The command conference is Al Qaeda network, and has Aside from AFP Chief of retary Ismael Sueno, Defence subject of criticism by left- no warrants outstanding. killing of a pro-Islamic State an annual gathering of the presi- earned millions of dollars from Staff Gen. Eduardo Ano and Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and ist groups seeking a peace deal Bruno denied that police had militant leader last week. dent with the AFP and the PNP. kidnappings-for-ransom. the PNP chief, Director General National Security Adviser Her- with the government. Thousands evacuated Police chief vows better equipped force as storm strikes south By Anthony Vargas for 2017.Dela Rosa said the PNP as the processing of firearms Manila Times will continue focusing on the registration and licensing, is- AFP sas, the civil defence director of areas of administration, trans- suance of police clearances and Manila operations in the affected area. formation and operation. processing of pension and oth- The storm is expected to hilippine National Po- He noted that Project Double er benefits for retirees. bring heavy rain that will cause lice (PNP) chief Director Barrel Alpha, under which the He said the police will un- bout 6,000 people were rivers and streams to overflow, PGeneral Ronald “Bato” massive campaign against ille- dertake all necessary steps to evacuated from their Posas said. Dela Rosa over the weekend gal drugs is being implement- maintain order and peace in Ahomes as a tropical storm He said disaster monitor- said Filipinos can expect a bet- ed, will remain in force. the streets and communities as hit the southern Philippines yes- ing agencies had ordered pre- ter equipped police force this The PNP is in the forefront he emphasised that discipline terday, raising the risk of fl oods emptive evacuations even year. of the war against illegal drugs should prevail at all levels of and landslides, authorities said. before the storm hit so there Dela Rosa issued the state- that was launched in July 2016 the police force. The storm, locally named would be no casualties. ment during the traditional when President Rodrigo Du- “While we do everything to “Auring”, hit Siargao island — The government has also New Year’s Call of police of- terte assumed office. maintain order and keep peace just off the main southern is- suspended sea travel in affect- ficials in Camp Crame where Dela Rosa said the PNP will in our streets and communi- land of Mindanao — with max- ed areas. he also urged the country’s enforce more drug tests in pub- ties, I will make sure that eve- imum gusts of 70 kilometres The Philippine islands are 160,000 police personnel to lic and private institutions and rything will be in order as well per hour. often the first major land mass live up to the expectations of stir drug awareness, especially in the homefront. Discipline The storm is forecast to move to be hit by storms that gener- the public. among the youth, by launch- must prevail at all levels of the westward across the southern ate over the Pacific Ocean. “To all of you and to the Fili- ing information and education PNP organisation,” Dela Rosa and central islands before exit- It endures about 20 major pino people we serve, I assure programmes. said. ing the archipelago by tomor- storms each year, many of them you of a leadership that you will He added that police assist- Present during the PNP’s New row, the government weather deadly. be proud of and a police force ance will be more accessible as Year’s Call were members of the station said. At least six people were that will gallantly live up to the he encouraged the public to use command group and national Floods have already occurred killed and 18 others were miss- expectations of our country- the latest applications in mo- directorial staff , commanders of in some communities as rain ing after Typhoon Nock-Ten men,” the PNP chief said. bile phones. national support units, regional had been falling even before lashed the Philippines over the He also laid out the six-point Dela Rosa also vowed faster directors as well as special and the storm hit, said Amado Po- Christmas holidays. Dela Rosa: assuring eff iciency agenda of the PNP leadership delivery of police services such personal staff . Gulf Times Monday, January 9, 2017 17 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Nepal tables charter amendment bill Law minister introduces Law Minister Ajaya Shankar to its continued proceeding. practice by allowing the ruling tion amendment process is the the bill amidst vociferous Nayak introduced the bill on be- Immediately after the an- parties to table the bill. We will prerogative of parliament and Lokman Singh Karki, head, Commission for the Investigation of protests from members of half of Deputy Prime Minister nouncement, Nayak fi rst pre- continue our protests,” said CPN- any changes in the constitution the Abuse of Authority. nine opposition parties, and Home Minister Bimalendra sented the bill related to the UML leader Bam Dev Gautam. through the parliamentary proc- calling it as “anti-national” Nidhi amidst vociferous protests election but did not leave the The bill is an attempt by the ess are valid. from members of nine opposi- rostrum. Even as opposition Dahal-led government to ad- But the government is strug- IANS tion parties, including the Com- lawmakers were chanting slo- dress the demands of agitating gling to secure the required two- Kathmandu munist Party of Nepal (Unifi ed gans against Nayak, Gharti al- Madhes-based political parties thirds support for the bill to se- Marxists-Leninists), which op- lowed the minister to introduce who have been calling for chang- cure parliamentary approval as Nepal court pose the amending measure. the constitution amendment bill es in constitutional provisions the ruling coalition, comprising gnoring opposition protests, Opposition lawmakers chant- too. like citizenship, language, mak- the CPN (Maoist Centre), the the Pushpa Kamal Dahal- ed slogans but could not stop Opposition lawmakers were ing the constitution more inclu- Nepali Congress and Madhes- Iled government in Nepal Nayak as Speaker Onsari Gharti up in arms against the move but sive and provincial demarcation. based parties, falls short of the yesterday tabled a constitution ruled that in Nidhi’s absence, could not approach the Speak- Since the bill was registered required numbers. declares amendment bill in parliament Nayak would table the bill re- er’s podium due to tight security. in parliament on November 29, In a tweet afterwards, Gharti aimed at assuaging Madhes- lated to elections. Both Speaker Gharti and Min- the main opposition parties have said she had tried her best for based parties and communities The opposition parties had ister Nayak belong to the Dahal’s been calling it as “anti-national” over a month to seek a way out who have been agitating since agreed to a brief sitting to al- CPN (Maoist Centre) party. and obstructing proceedings. through consensus and had re- the statute was promulgated in low the government to table the “Speaker Onsari Gharti set an Nepal’s Supreme Court last sumed proceedings within es- anti-graft September 2015. election bill but did not consent unprecedented parliamentary week held that the constitu- tablished norms and practices. chief unfi t Five are dead as train for role rams car near Dhaka AFP the Supreme Court arguing Kathmandu that Karki lacked the appro- priate moral character for the IANS Dhaka, Xinhua news agency re- board was injured, according to role and was not qualifi ed to Dhaka ported. the offi cial. Rail service in parts epal’s Supreme Court hold the position as head of The car got stalled on the of Bangladesh remained sus- ruled yesterday that the the anti-graft body. Mangala Samaraweera tracks while it was passing pended due to the accident. Npowerful head of the “The Supreme Court has t least fi ve persons, in- an unmanned level crossing Bangladesh has one of the anti-corruption commission done what the political par- cluding four members of and collided with the Indo- highest fatality rates in train ac- was not fi t to hold the position ties failed to,” said Akhilesh Aa family, were killed yes- Bangladesh Friendship Express cidents. and should be replaced, in an Upadhayay, editor of the terday when a Kolkata bound In- from Dhaka, the offi cial added. There are many unmanned unprecedented move for the Kathmandu Post daily. Lankan foreign do-Bangladesh Maitree Express Earlier media reports said it level crossings along the Bangla- country’s graft mired politics. “The commission is sup- collided with a car, the media was a mini-bus that the train desh Railway across the country, Lokman Singh Karki – a posed to be a watchdog but reported. smashed into. where most of the railway tracks perennial fi gure in Nepal’s he (Karki) resorted to excesses minister to visit UK According to a police offi cial, Despite severe damage to the are in a dilapidated condition. politics – has headed the and terror tactics targeting the accident took place around train, none of the hundreds of These often cause accidents, Commission for the Inves- those who spoke against him.” 10am in Gazipur district, near passengers it was carrying on media reports said. tigation of the Abuse of Au- Karki and his cronies are Agencies developments in the bilateral thority (CIAA) since 2013, de- also facing multiple other Colombo relationship, including the way spite myriad graft allegations cases in the Supreme Court, forward to further advance against him. including allegations that they trade and investment between “The Supreme Court has obstructed legal proceedings ri Lanka’s Foreign Aff airs the two countries,” a statement concluded that he is not quali- against him. Minister Mangala Sama- by the ministry said. fi ed for the position and an- Corruption is rife in Nepal, Sraweera will leave for the The minister will apprise his Ruling party worker held nulled his appointment,” ranked 130th out of 168 coun- United Kingdom today on a counterpart on the milestones Biswaraj Poudel, a court tries in watchdog Transpar- fi ve-day offi cial visit, the for- being achieved by the Sri spokesman, said. ency International’s global eign ministry said yesterday. Lankan government in insti- “The court has also directed corruption perception index. The ministry said this is tutional building to strength- the government to appoint Political appointments are the fi rst high-level visit from en democracy, reconciliation for lawmaker’s murder a person qualifi ed as per the often handed out – and taken Sri Lanka to the UK, since the and inclusive development. constitution as the chief of the away – on the basis of loyalty, appointment of the new gov- During the visit, the minis- commission.” with members of political par- ernment of Prime Minister ter will also meet with Patri- By Mizan Rahman home in the Sundarganj town passed the order after investiga- Karki was suspended in Oc- ties usually hesitant to break Theresa May following the cia Scotland, Commonwealth Dhaka yesterday morning, seven days tion offi cer of the case produced tober after an impeachment rank out of fear it will cost Brexit vote in July 2016. secretary general to discuss after Liton’s murder, said Sun- them before the court seeking a motion was lodged in the them their position. “The visit refl ects the con- Sri Lanka’s shared interests darganj police in-charge Atiar seven-day remand. parliament, accusing him of Karki’s has been a key player tinuing dialogue between Sri and co-operation as an active n a sudden turn of events, Rahman. On December 31, Liton was abusing his position. on Nepal’s political stage since Lanka and the UK since reset- member of the organisation. police yesterday arrested Meanwhile, a court in shot at point blank range by uni- But the impeachment mo- before the overthrow of the ting bilateral ties in January The bilateral segment of the Iformer Sundarganj sub- Gaibandha city yesterday placed dentifi ed gunmen at his village tion then stalled, amid allega- monarchy in 2008. 2015. Minister Samaraweera is programme includes a speak- district council vice chairman six suspected militants of home at Masterpara in Baman- tions parliament was dragging He was chief secretary to scheduled to meet with Boris ing engagement by Minister and Awami League worker Ah- banned Islamist outfi t Jamaat- danga union of Sundarganj sub- its feet over concerns that if Nepal’s last king Gyanendra Johnson, UK’s Secretary of Samaraweera at the Chatham san Habib Masud in connec- ul Mujahideen (JMB) on a sev- district. it backfi red some members Shah and was closely involved State for Foreign and Com- House on the eff orts of the tion with the murder of Man- en-day remand in a case fi led in The member of parliament would fi nd themselves in in suppressing the anti-mon- monwealth Aff airs, and other unity government to move jurul Islam Liton, a ruling party connection with the killing. was admitted to Rangpur Medi- Karki’s crosshairs on similar archy protests that ultimately key interlocutors. The discus- forward peace and reconcilia- lawmaker Additional Chief Judicial cal College Hospital where doc- charges. led to the abolition of the sions are expected to review tion in Sri Lanka. Masud was arrested from his Magistrate Mainul Hasan Yusuf tors declared him dead. A lawyer fi led a case with monarchy. Bangladesh PM inaugurates ‘fi nancial literacy programme’

By Mizan Rahman Dhaka

rime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday inaugu- Prated the countrywide “fi - nancial literacy programme” for the stock market investors, the fi rst of its kind in Bangladesh, assuring that the government Sheikh Hasina inaugurating the newly-built building for the Bangladesh Securities Exchange Commission would continue its support for in Agargaon area of the capital Dhaka yesterday. the development of the stock market. ious types of initiatives for the sectors, various ways to convert Referring to government’s ini- “The present government establishment of a stable, trans- their savings into investments, tiative of establishing 100 eco- would continue its all-out sup- parent and accountable capital develop self-protection through nomic zones in the country, the port for the development of the market. understanding risks and a real- prime minister said more than stock market which would be a “As a result, the stability of the istic recognition of the attributes 10mn people would be employed dependable source of long-term capital market has been estab- of these options. in various mills and factories funding in building a developed lished as well as the confi dence of Describing various initiatives to be set up in these economic Bangladesh,” she said. investors from home and aboard of the government to ensure zones. The prime minister formally has bolstered,” she said. good governance of the Stock “Besides, memorandums of opened the Financial Literacy BSEC chairman Khairul Hos- Exchange and listed compa- understanding (MoUs) have also Programme at a function at sain delivered the welcome nies, Hasina said proper regula- been signed with China, Japan Bangabandhu International speech while Finance Minister tory measures have been taken and India on government-to- Conference Centre in Dhaka Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurating countrywide Financial Literacy Programme in Dhaka yesterday. AMA Muhith spoke as the special to identify irregularities in the government basis to establish yesterday morning. From the guest. transaction in stock market. four special economic zones for function, she also inaugurated earn enough profi ts to give good of losing their money. Then they to make the country free from The fi nancial literacy pro- She said the government boosting more local and foreign the newly-constructed 10-sto- returns. blame the government for their poverty as the economic emanci- gramme aims to provide fi nancial would also continue special in- investments,” she said. rey offi ce building of Bangladesh Hasina said many investors losses.” pation is the only key to that end. education to each and every per- centive packages for protecting While speaking at the func- Securities and Exchange Com- cannot analyse appropriately the Following the introduction of “So, for further fl ourishing of the son of Bangladesh. interests of small investors. tion, Finance Minister A M A mission (BSEC) at Agargaon in fi nancial statement and other in- fi nancial literacy programme, the capital market, we’re always ex- BSEC took the initiative to The capital market has got Muhith said the government the capital. formation of the companies they prime minister hoped that the panding our hands for all types of make individuals understand at stabilised following government would urge multinational com- Cautioning people against choose to invest in. “Sometimes, investors would be benefi ted and co-operation.” their level of needs the role of steps, Hasina said, adding that panies working in Bangladesh to being swayed by market ru- they make investments based on the capital market would be in- The prime minister also men- money in their lives, the need Bangladesh’s stock market is invest in the capital market of the mours, she advised them to in- rumours and assumptions and by fused with more dynamism. tioned that her two consecutive and use of savings, the advan- now recognised as a fast growing country as the market has already stead invest in companies which doing that they stand a chance She said the government aims terms since 2009 have taken var- tages of using formal fi nancial and potential one. got international recognition. Gulf Times 18 Monday, January 9, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko US failures of representation

P.O.Box 2888 and prospects for democracy Doha, Qatar [email protected] As president, Trump will Trump’s proposed fi scal expansion need to devise remedies to will again disproportionately benefi t Telephone 44350478 (news), the wealthy, without “trickling 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) the social, economic, and down” to the rest of Americans. Fax 44350474 political problems that he “Public-private partnerships” have been championed as a means has described to direct capital toward a national rebuilding eff ort; but such measures By Rob Johnson can be manipulated, and often lead New York to “heads, I win; tails, the taxpayer loses” outcomes of the type that have GULF TIMES benefi ted Wall Street and Silicon s the inauguration of US Valley in recent years. Surely this is President-elect Donald not what Trump supporters were Trump approaches, the best attracted to when Trump declared he Away to assess the incoming would “Make America great again.” A giant ice shelf rift administration may be to focus on Twenty-three Democratic US the ultimate factors that led to his senators (plus two independents who victory. Trump was not elected in caucus with the Democrats), and only a vacuum, and, as his agenda takes eight Republican senators, are up for re- ‘inevitable’ in the shape, we can start to gauge its impact election in 2018. If the Republicans pass on the political economy whence his Hillary Clinton Donald Trump a Keynesian growth package in the next candidacy emerged. two years that tightens labour markets Trump won by challenging the lobbyist-written free-trade agreements, the negative social eff ects that and raises wages, they could secure frozen continent credibility of both the political and regulations, bailouts, and tax policies globalisation can have on an advanced their grip on power for many years to academic establishments, relentlessly that have been funnelling economic economy such as the US. Such come. This, in turn, would enable them highlighting discrepancies between gains up the income ladder, while misrepresentations, Mencken argued, to appoint new Supreme Court justices ce shelves cracking up around northern parts of their depiction of the United States’ imposing budget austerity in response reinforce the power of those who willing to ignore or undercut women’s Antarctica has not been uncommon in recent political economy and the reality to the needs of most Americans. The already hold it. Wittingly or not, and workers’ rights, environmental years. that many voters experienced. Like story Trump told of a “rigged” system experts know that they can curry protection, and public education. Such But, something major is about to happen in the Bernie Sanders in the Democratic resonated with voters more than favour and stay out of trouble by either an outcome, given Trump’s campaign I anything they had heard from their keeping silent or affi rming the policies rhetoric, would be farcical, if it were not frozen continent and that might add another four primary, he started drawing large crowds by breaking ranks with his political leaders in quite some time. that make the powerful better off . so tragic. inches to sea levels over the years and decades. party’s mainstream. While Hillary This points to a second, closely But, eventually, something has to Trump, a child of inherited wealth, A vast iceberg, expected to be one of the biggest Clinton and Republican rivals such related misrepresentation: for many give. As wealth becomes ever more now has a chance to defi ne his place ever recorded with an area of more than 5,000sq km as Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio tried voters, the “expert” consensus about concentrated, a body politic suff ering in history. Let us hope that he can rise and more than 1,100ft thick, is poised to break off to build coalitions based on cultural globalisation does not ring true. from widespread economic insecurity to the challenge, imagine his role as issues and partisan traditions, Trump Economists, in particular, have touted will begin to search for scapegoats one of repairing the fl aws of American Antarctica. and Sanders set their sights squarely free trade and global markets as an – and the experts and pundits democracy, and not settle for A rift, slowly developing across the Larsen C ice shelf on what mattered most to voters: a unalloyed good. With few exceptions, themselves were an ideal target this presiding over a set of “deals” with, on the Antarctic Peninsula in recent years, expanded political economy in which elected such as Harvard’s Dani Rodrik and time around. and for, the powerful. An America abruptly last month, growing by about 18km. offi cials strongly promoted a broad- the Nobel laureate Michael Spence, This dual crisis of representation – that broadens economic prosperity based prosperity that included them. none pointed out that many workers political and intellectual – has become and makes its political system more It is now more than 80km long with just 20km left How did the other candidates miss would be displaced and receive a toxic brew. Critiques of Trump’s democratic will require reforms before it snaps, said scientists at Project Midas at the this central theme? My sense is that little or no compensation, and that policies gain no purchase with his that reduce the power of money and University of Swansea in Wales. they didn’t; rather, their eff orts to rapid globalisation can thus stretch supporters, because they come from increase responsiveness to citizens. As one scientist observed, the rapid growth in giant attract a broad spectrum of voters a country’s social fabric beyond its experts who have lost their trust. Anything less would constitute a rift between it and the southern continent means its were constrained by a system that elastic limit. But any real expert on This credibility defi cit gives Trump failure by Trump to honour those who makes it extremely diffi cult to fund a American political economy could see latitude, but it also poses a challenge brought him to power. A failure to live break-off is “inevitable” in a few months’ time. credible political campaign without plain as day that the US would provide for him as he moves from campaigning up to America’s founding principles has The giant ice block is part of the Larsen C Ice Shelf, catering slavishly to the wealthiest inadequate compensation to those to governing. long created a tension that provides which is the leading edge of one of the world’s largest sliver of American society. That disrupted by foreign competition. As president, Trump will need impetus for the country’s political, glacier systems. system invited rebellion, and Trump Much of that disruption has come to devise remedies to the social, economic, and social progress. If and Sanders – by self-fi nancing and from America’s free-trade relationship economic, and political problems Trump refutes those principles – and It is called an ice shelf because it is fl oating on the grassroots fundraising, respectively – with China, a very large country which that he has described. But to do that, if, in the despondency that follows, ocean. were ideally positioned to lead one. has a far lower per capita income. In he will have to work within the same invoking them comes to be seen as a Though it is normal for ice shelves to calve big The other candidates were also fact, a recent paper by MIT’s David “rigged” system that he ran against, sentimental, romantic act – the price icebergs, since snow accumulation gradually pushes constrained by party orthodoxy, Autor and others shows that the and he will have to craft policies that of the failures of representation that old glacier ice out to sea, the destabilisation of this which has long kept Democrats and social distress caused by US-China are actually feasible and will have a led to his election will be high indeed. – Republicans alike from willingly trade has polarised American politics, positive eff ect on Americans’ lives. Project Syndicate piece of fl oating ice is likely accelerated by rapid addressing the structural inequities in and probably increased certain To be sure, the Republican- human-caused global warming. the American economy head-on. Doing voting cohorts’ support for “nativist controlled Congress might work with zRob Johnson is President of the Satellite images suggest the crack began opening so would require candour about such politicians” such as Trump. Trump to implement a mini variant Institute for New Economic Thinking up around 2010 and hard issues as technological disruption In his 1922 essay “The Dismal of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal and a senior fellow and Director of the Global Finance Project for the Franklin lengthened more than and globalisation. It would also require Science,” H.L. Mencken suggested of the 1930s. But, without reform of Whether climate confronting the legacy of decades of why economists would ignore the “rigged” system, it is likely that and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute. 29km by 2015. sceptics admit By March 2016 it had grown nearly 23km it or not, lot of longer. ice is melting in Back in November, a team of scientists Antarctica in Nasa’s Operation IceBridge survey fl ew over the rift to confi rm it’s at least 129km long, 300ft wide, and 0.5km deep. Another group of researchers, from Swansea University in the UK, say the entire Delaware-size block of ice is hanging on by just 20km of unfractured ice. When the block does break off , it will be the third- largest in recorded history. Computer modelling by some researchers suggests the calving of Larsen C’s big ice block might destabilise the entire ice shelf itself, which is about Bernie Sanders Marco Rubio Jeb Bush 50,000sq km via a kind of ripple eff ect. However, a rapid ice shelf collapse would not be unprecedented. In 2002, a large piece of the nearby Larsen B Ice Shelf snapped off , but within a month – and Fretting about Trump threat to halt remittances quite unexpectedly – an even larger swath of the 10,000-year-old feature behind it rapidly disintegrated. By Michael O’Boyle/Reuters Monica Arroyo, who lives in a village this fear there’s going to come a “They are worried about still having Clearwater, Florida outside Ixmiquilpan, the Mezquital moment where all of a sudden we’re work, and they are worried about The rest of Larsen B may splinter off by 2020. Valley’s largest town, said she depends going to have to go,” Hernandez said, providing for their families back If there is any good news about the rift in Larsen C, on the $200 a month her daughter, an speaking in the living room of her home,” she said. it’s that the ice shelf “is already fl oating in the ocean, n central Mexico’s Mezquital undocumented restaurant worker in Florida apartment as her three US- Leonardo Rodriguez was one of so it has already displaced an equivalent water mass Valley, new pick-up trucks Clearwater, Florida, sends home. born children played. the fi rst migrants from the Mezquital bounce along unpaved roads and “If they return our migrants, there’ll Other Mezquital Valley migrants Valley to the Gulf Coast of Florida, and minutely raised sea level as a result,” said Joe IUS-style houses are springing up be more poverty, because up there in Florida say they are sending more ending up in Clearwater in 1987 after MacGregor, a glaciologist and geophysicist at Nasa’s alongside cornfi elds. they have work and help maintain us,” money than usual this holiday season making a wrong turn trying to get to Goddard Space Flight Center. But people are afraid that she said. “Here there is no work.” in case they are unable to do so once Disney World. Whether climate sceptics admit it or not, lot of remittances from family members In recent months, Trump has not Trump takes offi ce. He said he understands why abroad, a primary source of funding elaborated on his threat to block One migrant, an auto mechanic young people have continued to go ice is melting in Antarctica, which, along with the for such purchases, may soon dry up. money transfers, and a 10-point who asked to be identifi ed only by his north. “Why would you study if, surrounding Southern Ocean, are key drivers of During the holiday season, even immigration plan on his transition fi rst name, Salomon, because he does when you get out, there is no work? Earth’s oceanic and atmospheric systems. as money and gifts have fl owed into website makes no mention of the not have papers, said his wife recently Instead they decide to go to another About 90% of Earth’s ice is found here, and 70% of the area from relatives working in the subject. panicked and sent their entire nest egg country.” United States, residents have fretted But the possibility is aff ecting back to Mexico, thinking it would be Rodriguez now lives in the United all available fresh water is locked up in the Antarctic about what a Trump presidency will migrants’ remittance decisions. safer there. States legally and owns three ice sheet – if melted, this would raise sea levels by mean for them and family members Members of the Trump transition “She told me ‘if something happens restaurants. nearly 60m. working in the United States. team did not immediately respond to to us, maybe we can still keep the little He works with local officials in During his presidential campaign, requests for comment. we have’,” he said in an interview in Mexico to help channel remittances Donald Trump said he would stop Remittances have become a huge Clearwater. into projects in Ixmiquilpan, To Advertise allowing wire transfers of money out prop for the Mexican economy, In 2015, the area around including a roof over a village school of the United States from Mexican compared to the $18.5bn in revenue Ixmiquilpan, home to about 94,000 yard. [email protected] nationals unless Mexico agreed to from oil exports in 2015 or nearly people, received about $100mn in Michael Clemens, who studies Display fund a border wall. $340bn in manufactured goods, remittances from abroad, according remittances and migration at the Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 Migrants in the United States are according to the national statistics to data from Mexico’s central bank, Center for Global Development, expected to have sent a record $27bn agency. more than 10 times the municipal says that “for countless towns like Classified in remittances into Mexico in 2016, In Florida, Arroyo’s daughter, who government’s annual budget. Ixmiquilpan, remittances are an Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 according to BBVA Bancomer, an asked to be identifi ed only by her last Maria de la Luz Pioquinto, an economic lifeline.” The money sent increase of more than $2bn over 2015. name, Hernandez, said she and her immigrant from Ixmiquilpan who back usually gets reinvested locally, Subscription Remittances jumped nearly 25% husband decided against sending runs a money transfer business he said, “in better schooling for kids, [email protected] to almost $2.4bn in November from holiday presents to Mexico out of fear in Clearwater, said her Mexican better care for the elderly, and better a year earlier, the biggest annual they will need money if they lose their customers doubled their average housing.” increase for any month since March jobs or be deported after Trump takes transfers right after the Nov. 8 election Blocking the funds, he said, would 2016 Gulf Times. All rights reserved 2006, Mexican central bank data offi ce. but are now waiting to see what mean “that more people close to the showed. “My husband and I are living with happens. edge fall over the edge.” Gulf Times Monday, January 9, 2017 19 COMMENT The challenge of economic inclusion

Several factors in 2017 could move the global economy toward occupational and geographic mobility. move the global economy stronger, sustained growth. For Every country should understand the starters, Germany will assume need for lifelong education to prepare toward stronger, sustained leadership of the G20, and will likely current and future generations for growth push for structural reforms and fast-changing technologies. resilience-strengthening measures Second, governments should in the world’s largest economies. strengthen social safety nets, By Christine Lagarde China, meanwhile, will continue to especially for families, by promoting Washington reorient its economic model away aff ordable childcare, parental leave, from exports and toward domestic access to health care, and workplace demand. And we should expect to see fl exibility. They can also implement n 2016, the world’s attention more youthful dynamism across many tax reforms and legal minimum wages was focused on major political Asian and Latin American economies. to support lower-income earners, and developments in the European The new US administration will create tax incentives to bring more IUnion, the United States, and emphasise corporate-tax reform and women into the labour market. other countries, where voters have infrastructure investment. Third, governments should commit expressed deeply held concerns about But, of course, the same forces to ensuring economic fairness in trade, migration, and structural that are driving last year’s political order to restore social trust and labour-market changes. developments will continue to pose bolster public support for reforms. But, from an economic perspective, challenges in 2017. For example, Specifi cally, governments should 2016 was a fairly quiet year: the technological progress and winner- foster more competition in important global economy continued its slow take-all markets are widening income industries that lack it, crack down recovery, with economic activity inequality within many countries, on tax evasion, and prevent business in the US, Europe, and emerging even as global incomes are converging. practices that shift profi ts to low-tax markets gradually improving, despite In major advanced economies over locations. some remaining vulnerabilities. And the past two decades, the top 10% of These are just some of the policies even low-income economies that earners’ incomes increased by 40%, that can improve economic inclusion, have struggled to adjust to falling while incomes for those at the bottom and more should be done to identify commodity prices may receive a small grew only modestly. additional measures – and implement boost, given recent price increases. Another increasingly complex issue them eff ectively. This is a task not only Remarkably, fi nancial markets that the international community will for politicians and public servants, but have so far taken the year’s political have to confront is migration, which also for the economics profession as upheavals in stride. Indeed, the is being amplifi ed by geopolitical a whole. prospect of a more expansive pressures around the globe. While I have no doubt that the political fi scal stance in the US has raised migrants and refugees can bring developments in 2016 will focus expectations of global growth and substantial benefi ts to host countries, policymakers’ minds on helping infl ation in the near future. This their arrival in new communities those who have benefi ted least from signals possible relief for advanced can increase fears of economic and economic integration, or have been economies’ central banks, which cultural change. displaced by technology-driven have carried most of the economic- Across a range of countries, a labour-market changes. We can raise policy burden during the years of growing number of people believe Christine Lagarde: The challenge is to preserve the gains from economic openness while addressing inequalities head-on. the income fl oor only by coming slow recovery since the 2008 global that policymakers have lost touch together and moving quickly to build fi nancial crisis. with their interests and welfare. They and living standards achieved in to be not only sound social policy, can increase their direct support for a stronger, more inclusive global As the International Monetary Fund maintain that tighter restrictions on recent decades – and low-income but sound economic policy, too. Our lower-skill workers, especially in economy. That is both the challenge has argued for some time, a resurgence cross-border movement of goods, households would be hit the hardest. research shows that reducing high geographic regions that have been and the opportunity of 2017. We must of growth requires support from fi scal capital, and people will restore their The challenge, therefore, is to preserve inequality makes economic growth most aff ected by automation and move fast – and together. – Project policy in countries that that can aff ord own employment prospects and the gains from economic openness more robust and sustainable over the outsourcing. Specifi cally, governments Syndicate it, supported by monetary policy and economic security. while addressing inequalities head- long term. should increase their public structural reforms aimed at lifting But a retreat from free trade and on. I believe that there are several investments in healthcare services, zChristine Lagarde is Managing productivity and growth. open markets would only jeopardise The IMF, for its part, considers a steps countries can take to address education, and skills training; and Director of the International Monetary Several factors in 2017 could the unprecedented gains in welfare more equitable income distribution inequality. For starters, governments they should make an eff ort to improve Fund. Letters Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY US also involved invitation for any hacker, private or It will go a long way in tackling emergence of alternative art cinema High: 27 C state-sponsored. global concerns like carbon emission that found a niche among the Low : 16 C Poor visibility expected at places in cyber warfare In mid-2015, Chinese hackers stole and ozone depletion. Indian audience. He played several at first. the security clearance of more than memorable characters that depicted Dear Sir, 22mn Americans, in what was the Hashim KT Ellora the anger of people of those times. largest and most catastrophic cyber Doha He was conferred many awards TUESDAY The diplomatic standoff between data breach in US history. and citations, including Filmfare Best High: 27 C the US and Russia over allegations The United States is itself a world supporting actor award for Aakrosh Low: 17 C that Moscow was actively involved leader in global hacking. Remembering (1981) and National fi lm award for the Sunny in infl uencing the outcome of the The National Security Agency (NSA) actor Om Puri Best actor Ardh Satya (1983). He was American presidential election must is reported to have gained access to 258 also a recipient of Padma Shri (1990), be cautiously reviewed. targets in 89 countries. the fourth highest civilian award, in WEDNESDAY According to media reports, 17 federal The fact is that Russia, China and Dear Sir, recognition of his contribution to High: 27 C intelligence institutions have concluded the USA have fallen into each other’s cinema. Low: 17 C that Russia was behind the hacking of cyber crosshairs. An era has come to an end with the Sunny US computers and e-mails in an attempt demise of iconic Bollywood actor Om Ramesh G Jethwani to infl uence the elections. Farouk Araie Puri. With him we have lost a truly a Bangalore, India Cyber war is now being waged by Johannesburg versatile actor who excelled not only Fishermen’s forecast every nation on earth. in commercial cinema but in “parallel” OFFSHORE DOHA History grimly reminds us that cinema as well. Please send us Wind: SW-SE 3-12/15 KT during the presidency of George Solar energy ideal Om Puri had an illustrative fi lm Waves: 1-3/4 Feet W Bush, the US intelligence career spanning over four decades, your letters INSHORE DOHA for Sulba project Wind: SE 3-15 KT establishment produced documents, during which he wooed the audience Waves: 1-2 Feet claiming that Iraq had an arsenal of with his stellar performance in movies By e-mail off ensive weapons, including missiles Dear Sir, of diff erent genres. He was a highly [email protected] Around the region capable of threatening neighbouring acclaimed fi lm artist and a multifaceted Fax 44350474 Weather Weather countries. Those claims were proven No doubt the Bu Sulba logistics personality who excelled in all types Or Post today Max/min tomorrow Max/min to be false but it cost innumerable hub (Gulf Times, January 2) is a great of roles. He made everyone laugh with Letters to the Editor Abu Dhabi Sunny 24/15 Sunny 26/17 Iraqis their lives. leap forward towards the economic his superb performance in fi lms like Baghdad Sunny 17/03 Sunny 17/03 Gulf Times Dubai Cyber war is a reality across the development of Qatar, especially at a Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, Malamaal Weekly Sunny 26/15 Sunny 27/16 P O Box 2888 Kuwait City Sunny 22/11 Sunny 21/10 globe, including in the USA. time when countries in the region are and Hera Pheri. On other hand he left Doha, Qatar Manama Sunny 26/17 Sunny 23/16 Any number of malicious actors — looking for non-oil revenue. everyone in awe with his acting prowess Muscat Sunny 25/16 Sunny 26/17 from powerful states to sophisticated It is true that small- and medium- in fi lms like Ardh Satya and Gandhi. He Riyadh Sunny 27/11 Sunny 23/10 global criminals — could leverage an size companies also would benefi t also acted in Marathi and Kannada fi lms. All letters, which are subject Tehran M Sunny 12/02 Sunny 13/01 attack against the US using a variety of from this project. His performance in fi lms like Gandhi to editing, should have the stealthy methods. For the conservation of the directed by British director Richard name of the writer, address During 2015, there were 228,000 environment, authorities concerned Attenborough and Tamas by Govind and phone number. The cyber incidents in the USA. may consider generating solar energy Nihalani was truly laudable. writer’s name and address Hillary Clinton’s unwise decision for this massive project spread over Om Puri’s name came into may be withheld by request. to use a private e-mail server, was an 51,7375sq m. prominence in the 1980’s with the Live issues Proven weight loss techniques

By Barbara Quinn that can slip in when we’re not sugars in control is this: At least once Tribune News Service looking. And in the case of foods packed every 30 minutes of prolonged sitting, with calories (such as granola) the get up and treat yourself to a short Around the world diff erence between a half cup and a full bout of physical activity. Stretch. Lift Weather Weather y four-year-old cup over time may also be the diff erence your legs. Walk. Breathe. Brilliant. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min granddaughter was busy between weight loss and weight gain. Go to bed! Insuffi cient sleep (less Athens M Sunny 04/-1 Rain& Snow 05/-1 with her colouring book Be accountable for your choices. than 7 hours a night, according to Beirut Rain 11/09 Sunny 16/09 T Storms 28/25 and crayons. After a few When I was a kid, my mom had a habit most studies) is associated with Bangkok 29/24 Rain M Berlin Cloudy 01/-4 M Sunny 00/-4 minutes, she gave out a sigh and with of getting into the groceries on her weight gain and obesity. Why? Cairo Sunny 16/07 P Cloudy 18/07 much drama said, “It’s so much work way home from the supermarket. Scientists fi nd that even though we Cape Town Cloudy 25/17 Sunny 34/21 colouring between the lines!” “Would you look at this?!” she’d say burn about 5% more calories a day Colombo Sunny 32/19 Sunny 32/20 My feelings exactly as I consider with a straight face as she unpacked when we don’t get enough sleep, we Dhaka Sunny 27/15 M Sunny 26/16 Hong Kong M Sunny 23/18 M Sunny 21/18 how to remove some of this holiday the bags. “Someone opened this also tend to eat more calories when we Istanbul S Showers -1/-3 S Showers 03/00 cheer from around my girth. If I want package of cookies! I may have to are burning the midnight oil. Jakarta S T Storms 31/24 S T Storms 31/25 to be successful, I need to stay within complain to the store.” Studies have also found that Karachi Sunny 24/09 Sunny 23/11 the boundaries of proven weight “That’s terrible!” my sisters and I appetite goes up while the ability to London Rain 11/02 M Sunny 09/06 Manila S Showers Rain 28/24 management techniques. Here are a would tease back. “How dare them sell restrain eating goes down when we 31/24 Moscow M Sunny -21/-22 Cloudy -7/-10 few to colour into the New Year: you a package of half-eaten cookies!” are sleep deprived. When we begin to New Delhi Sunny 19/07 Sunny 17/04 Pull out the measuring cups. Portion size is one of the most We all have choices. Admit when we transition into a regular sleep pattern New York M Cloudy -3/-4 Cloudy 04/03 Especially if you have ever said, “I don’t important things to keep in mind eat the cookies. (set a time to go to bed that is 8 hours Paris Showers 06/03 P Cloudy 08/03 T Storms 29/21 really eat that much. Why am I fat?” when trying to lose weight. Carve out time each day to move before you need to wake up, for Sao Paulo 31/21 T Storms Seoul P Cloudy 03/-7 P Cloudy 02/-9 Honestly, I’m a nutrition out of a sitting position. For example, example) we tend to eat fewer calories, Singapore S T Storms 34/26 S T Storms 33/25 professional and I’m still amazed – turns out to be. Portion control, say one of the newest guidelines from the especially from fats and carbs. Sydney M Sunny 29/21 P Cloudy 32/23 when I actually measure – how small experts, is one of the most eff ective American Diabetes Association to Here’s to staying within the lines – Tokyo Rain 11/04 Clear 11/03 a cup serving of my morning granola ways to manage those extra calories help people with diabetes keep blood most of the time – this New Year. Gulf Times 20 Monday, January 9, 2017 QATAR

‘Moments’ concludes on a high note Reaching out

ExxonMobil Qatar has provided the Orphans Care Center Qatar (Dhreima) with a cheque for A photography exhibition, organised by Salam International Investment Ltd (SIIL) at The Gate Mall, concluded after drawing a QR273,000 during the closing ceremony of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2017 on Saturday. The steady stream of visitors from December 11 to January 7. Titled ‘Moments in Memory of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Hamad Al Thani,’ the grant will contribute to the College Funding Programme that off ers Dhreima’s students the opportu- unique archival photography display featured rare images that chronicled Qatar’s late Grandfather Emir in his off icial capacity nity to attend one of Qatar’s colleges or universities. ExxonMobil Qatar first initiated support for Dh- as head of state. The exhibition also showcased a selection of personal interactions of Sheikh Khalifa, captured by SIIL’s founder, reima during the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2014. Alistair Routledge, president and general manager AbdulSalam Mohamed Abu Issa, himself. SIIL chairman and CEO Issa AbdulSalam Abu Issa acknowledged that owners of for ExxonMobil Qatar, presented the cheque to Ahmad Hussain, director of Supporting Services for historically significant material, such as the archives from which the exhibition’s images were drawn, have a key role to play in the Dhreima, in the presence of Nasser bin Ghanim al-Khelaifi, president of Qatar Tennis Federation, and narrative of a nation. Andrew P Swiger, senior vice president, ExxonMobil Corporation. QU team clinches top rank at computing contest in US atar University (QU) re- tion task among 19 international system’s output was judged ac- ties that unlock their potential search team has been teams, and the second place in curately by a committee of judges and help them invest their tal- Qranked fi rst and second the e-mail digest task among 15 from NIST. ents in the spirit of competition, in the Real-time Summarisation international teams. Expressing pride in the stu- shared knowledge and team- track at the 25th annual Text Re- The competition in the Re- dents’ achievement, Dr Elsayed work,” added the offi cial. trieval Conference (TREC 2016), al-time Summarisation track said it is the result of their dedica- Maram Hasanain recalled it recently organised by the Na- brought 19 research teams from tion and hard work. “Being part of was a great honour to participate tional Institute of Standards and universities and research labs in such an international competition in a world-class competition like Technology (NIST) in Maryland, Qatar, Australia, Canada, Chi- is a motivating experience for our TREC. “This helped me learn US. na, France, Hong Kong, India, students and drives them to apply how to work under pressure and The research team, led by Dr and the US. QU team was the their skills beyond the classroom.” as an active player in a software Tamer Elsayed, assistant profes- only one from an Arab country “This underlines our commit- development team.” sor of Computer Science at QU to participate in the competi- ment to provide our students Reem Suwaileh observed that College of Engineering (CENG) tion this year. with opportunities to meet and the participation in such a pres- and which included 2nd-year The team developed a real- interact with their peers and tigious venue has several ben- PhD student in Computer Sci- time software system that proc- Dr Tamer Elsayed speaking at TREC 2016. Maram Hasanain world-class researchers to share efi ts. “The major one is that we ence Maram Hasanain and 2nd- esses a stream of live tweets. and advance their knowledge and managed to prove to ourselves year Msc student in computing The user of the system describes a novel and relevant tweet to the to the user’s mobile (push notifi - at the end of the day (e-mail di- research skills. It also demon- that if we are dedicated to our Reem Suwaileh, achieved the a topic of interest and the sys- topic is posted. cation task) or sends him/her an gest task). More than 50 topics strates our continuous eff orts to goals we are capable of achieving fi rst place in the mobile notifi ca- tem notifi es him/her whenever The system pushes the tweets e-mail of all interesting tweets were tested during 10 days. The off er them a wide range of activi- the best results.”

Big push for local produce The yards for selling local agricul- produced chicken eggs, 1,525 do- QU announces registration for MA, PhD in Gulf Studies tural products at Al Mazrouah, Al mestic birds, and 815kg of honey. Wakrah, Al Khor and Al Thakhira Besides, 267 heads of goats and sold 34,000 boxes of fresh vegeta- sheep were sold, and 371 heads atar University (QU) ited by an international ac- cessfully completed the two- minimum score of 520 on the fi rst of its kind in the region. bles between January 5-7. were slaughtered at Al Mazrouah announced that the crediting association or by the year Qatar University MA in paper-based TOEFL, as well “The Gulf Studies Programme The yards, an initiative of the slaughterhouse. The honey Qregistration for the MA Ministry of Higher Education Gulf Studies, or a Master’s de- as an acceptable score in the (MA and PhD in Gulf Studies) Agriculture Affairs Department festival at Al Mazrouah between and PhD in Gulf Studies will or comparable entity. gree in a related subject, or its Graduate Record Examinations aims to provide students an at the Ministry of Municipality January 5-7 was able to generate continue until April 3. QU Col- They also have to achieve a equivalent, from an accredited (GRE),” Dr Baabood said. in-depth and interdisciplinary and Environment (MME), were QR230,000 from the sales of lege of Arts and Sciences (CAS) minimum score of 520 on the university with an accumula- He added that the PhD pro- understanding of issues related able to market 39,300 boxes of 710kg of honey (QR215,000), Gulf Studies Centre (GSC) di- paper-based TOEFL or equiva- tive GPA of 3.0. The applicants gramme has two aspects: a Qa- to the contemporary states of fruits during the same period, in and 55kg of honeybee wax rector Dr Abdullah Baabood lent test taken within two years should also fulfi l the requisite tar University only PhD or a dual the Gulf. It was developed in re- addition to 276 trays of locally (QR15,000). explained that applicants to of the start of the intended se- English language standard. award PhD with Durham Uni- sponse to a growing need among the Master of Arts in Gulf mester of admission, as well as a “The requirements are that a versity in the UK. Students who stakeholders in the region for Studies should have completed satisfactory performance in the student earned a previous de- opt for the dual award PhD will highly qualifi ed graduates in the a bachelor degree with a grade personal interview with the Ad- gree from an institution of high- have to spend part of the time at fi eld of Gulf Studies and vastly point average of at least 2.8 mission Committee. er education in a programme Durham University. growing general interest and out of 4.0, or equivalent, from The applicants to the PhD in where English was the language Dr Baabood noted that the focus on the Gulf region,” he a university or college accred- Gulf Studies, should have suc- of instruction, or achieved a Gulf Studies Programme is the added. Two lunar

Prizes galore at Shop Qatar eclipses will be visible from Qatar this year

atar residents would be tral Asia, the Indian Ocean and able to watch two lunar Australia. This partial eclipse Qeclipses this year, one will be seen from Qatar. next month and the other in The fi rst Solar eclipse will be August, Qatar Calendar house on February 26. The ‘Annual So- officials Dr Mohamed al-An- lar Eclipse’, occurs when the moon sari and astronomer Dr Beshir is too far away from the earth to Marzouk announced yesterday. completely cover the sun. This year will also feature two This results in a ring of light solar eclipses both of which, how- around the darkened moon. ever, will not be seen from Qatar. The path of eclipse will begin “The fi rst lunar eclipse will be on at the Coast of Chile and pass February 11 and the other on Au- through southern Chile and gust 7,” according to a statement southern Argentina, across the issued by the offi cials. southern Atlantic Ocean and The fi rst lunar eclipse will be later into Angola and Congo a ‘penumbral lunar eclipse’, dur- in Africa. A partial eclipse will ing which the moon will darken be visible throughout parts of slightly but not completely. It southern South America and will be visible throughout most southwestern Africa. of the eastern South America, The second solar eclipse, on Eastern Canada, Europe, Africa August 21, will be a ‘Total Solar Cash prizes of up to QR4mn and discounts up to 50% await shoppers at the first edition of the month-long Shop Qatar festival, which aims to usher in a ‘retailtainment’ and Western Asia, including Qa- Eclipse’, when the moon com- shopping experience to the country. Participating retailers at Mall of Qatar, Ezdan Mall, Hyatt Plaza, Al Khor Mall, Lagoona Mall, Gulf Mall, Landmark, Dar Al Salam Mall, tar. pletely blocks the sun. The path The Gate Mall, and The Pearl-Qatar are off ering a raff le coupon each for every purchase worth QR200. There are three weekly raff le draws, according to Qatar Tourism The second lunar eclipse will of totality will begin in the Pacifi c Authority. The first three weekly raff le draws will take place on January 12, 19, and 26 with 15 cash prizes, ranging from QR10,000 to QR300,000. The concluding day be a ‘partial lunar eclipse’. A part Ocean and through the centre of of Shop Qatar (February 7) will see a mega-draw with a jackpot prize of QR1mn, in addition to 14 other cash prizes from QR20,000 to QR120,000. Hyatt Plaza is hosting of the moon will darken as it the US. A partial eclipse will be a daily African Circus until January 21 in its outdoor area as part of Shop Qatar. On weekdays, shows run from 6.30pm to 8pm and on weekends, from 5.30pm to 9pm. moves through the earth’s shad- visible in most of North Amer- Seen here is a scene from the circus yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma ow. It will be visible throughout ica and parts of northern South most of the eastern Africa, Cen- America.