BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Lekhwiya defeat

INDEX Gharafa with DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2, 3, 24 COMMENT 22, 23 Third stage of Khatwa REGION 4 BUSINESS 1–7, 12-16 initiative to support easy 3-0 win 19,901.70 10,702.03 51.87 ARAB WORLD 4, 5 CLASSIFIED 8-12 -62.10 -23.95 -2.12 INTERNATIONAL 6-21 SPORTS 1–8 retirees launched -0.31% -0.22% -3.93% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10329 January 10, 2017 Rabia II 12, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Emir gets Jordan king’s message 400 brands In brief for jewellery

QATAR | Offi cial Deputy Emir chairs QU board meeting and watches HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Qatar University (QU), presided over the second meeting of the Board of Trustees for the academic year show in Feb 2016/2017, which was held at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. The meeting By Ramesh Mathew Recalling that the DJWE is the long- discussed topics on the agenda, Staff Reporter est running and most anticipated expo including a report on the projects in Qatar’s annual calendar of events, and decisions implemented by the al-Obaidly said the exhibition contin- QU. The board agreed on appointing ore than 400 brands repre- ues to reinforce the country’s position Dr Hassan Eissa al-Fadalah as senting over 50 exhibitors will as a premium venue for high profi le Associate Dean for Academic Mshowcase their luxury and business events. Aff airs, in addition agreeing on the premium goods and accessories at the The QTA offi cial said the business suggestion of amending the policies 14th Doha Jewellery and Watches Ex- events would play a major role in at- and procedures of the university hibition (DJWE) to be held at the Doha tracting no less than 7mn annual visi- admissions. Exhibition and Convention Centre tors in Qatar by 2030. (DECC) from February 20 to 25. Speaking later, QNB assistant gen- “A number of widely acclaimed in- eral manager (corporate relations) Sa- QATAR | Health ternational brands will have their pres- lem al-Naemi and Qatar Airways vice Kidney function tests at ence at the six-day exhibition, as in the president Ehaab Abdelatif Amin also HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has received a written message from King Abdullah II of Jordan, inviting previous expo,” said Ahmed al-Obaid- expressed hope that the DJWE would Medical Commission him to attend the 28th ordinary session of the Arab League Council at the summit level, which will be held in Amman in ly, director of Exhibitions at the Qatar draw a large number of visitors to the The Medical Commission will soon March. The message was handed over by Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Expatriate Aff airs Tourism Authority (QTA). country during the event, both as ex- introduce kidney function tests Nasser Judeh, when the Emir met him at his Emiri Diwan off ice yesterday. At the outset of the meeting, Judeh conveyed the Exuding confi dence about a good hibitors and customers. for new expatriates, local Arabic Jordanian King’s greetings to HH the Emir and to the Qatari people, and his wishes of further progress and prosperity. The response to the expo, the offi cial ex- Amin said Qatar Airways, which is the daily Arrayah has reported. “The Emir reciprocated his greetings to the King of Jordan and his wishes to Jordanian people of further progress and prosperity. plained that the organisers have mar- offi cial airline sponsor of the DJWE, is new measure is in response to the keted the event well in the last two launching a series of off ers for the visitors entry of a considerable number of months and there is a growing aware- from the Gulf region. Besides attractive expatriates with kidney diseases,” ness about the Doha exhibition among fares, the airline would support the visi- explained Dr Ibrahim al-Shaar. The the region’s clientele. tors through remarkably good hospitality proposed tests would determine The DJWE is the fi rst in the annual and logistics support, he added. to which degree expatriates with global calendar of such events. The Mazen Abd Rabbo, managing di- kidney diseases would be allowed 251 investors win draw for QTA offi cial said the expo will have rector of Auditoire, which will deliver residency in the country. The several hundreds of top-notch cus- the DJWE, and Fouad Tayoun, head off icial also disclosed that two new tomers from within the Gulf region and of watches and jewellery at Fifty One machines for testing Hepatitis B and outside. He said more than 60% of the East, which supports emerging Qa- C and Aids have been introduced at fi sh stalls in Umm Salal visitors to the exhibition are from the tari designers at the event, were also the Medical Commission. Page 24 Gulf states. present at the press conference.

total of 251 investors qualifi ed number of key services and products a cafeteria and a restaurant, and six EUROPE | Crime in a public draw conducted yes- at the market, the statement notes. vegetables/fruits shops – four for Police arrest 17 over Aterday by the Permanent Com- These include stalls for poultry, wholesale and two for retail. There mittee for Managing Central Markets vegetables/fruits, meat and chilled are also 10 shops for various activi- Kardashian robbery at the Ministry of Economy and Com- meat as well as centres for the distri- ties, including four for meat, three French police yesterday arrested 17 merce (MEC) to allocate fi sh stalls at bution of ration items and selling fod- for poultry and three for milk/juice, people, most of them with records for Umm Salal Central Market. der and wholesale foodstuff . in addition to an outlet each for the organised crime, over the robbery of Two reserve winners were select- The market will also feature outlets other activities, two administrative US reality TV star Kim Kardashian in ed besides each main winner, just in such as a fi sh and seafood restaurant, a offi ces for auction, and three offi ces Paris last October, police sources said. case of default. The committee will cafeteria, an eatery, a bakery, a sweets for the fi sh trade. Police swooped in the Paris region later notify the winner to complete the and nuts shop, a cafe and honey outlet, The ministry has set the leas- and the south of France after DNA necessary procedures to sign the lease as well as stores selling spices/herbs ing period at two renewable years. was found at the luxury residence contracts and inform them about the and marine/fi shing tools. It will also Shops will be furnished and equipped Ahmed al-Obaidly (centre) speaks about the DJWE yesterday as Ehaab Abdelatif Amin, where Kardashian was robbed of regulation for operating such outlets, have administrative offi ces. for some activities – including Mazen Abd Rabbo, Fouad Tayoun and Salem al-Naemi look on. PICTURE: Jayaram her jewels at gunpoint. The heist, MEC said in a statement. The investment opportunities of- fi sh, poultry, meat and milk – for worth around 9mn euros ($9.5mn), Earlier, the Permanent Committee fered include 10 benches for selling QR40,000, which is to be paid at the Good opportunity for Qatari women designers to shine was France’s biggest jewellery theft for Managing Central Markets had an- fi sh, a fi sh and seafood restaurant, time of allocation. involving a private citizen in more nounced investment opportunities for Some leading Qatari women jewellery editions of the exhibitions. than two decades. Page 14 those interested in leasing fi sh stalls in designers will have their exclusive Speaking to Gulf Times, designers the Umm Salal Central Market, sched- boutiques at the Doha Jewellery and Nada al-Sulaiti, Fajr al-Attiyah and Sara uled to open at the end of the fi rst AMERICA | Entertainment Watches Exhibition, scheduled from al-Hammadi said they were extremely quarter of 2017. February 20 to 25 at the Doha Exhibition happy at the opportunity provided by La La Land sweeps The committee specifi ed the proce- and Convention Centre. the organisers of the DJWE to showcase dures for off ering such shops for lease, Golden Globe Awards “The event would give a remarkably their own creations alongside many of the application rules, tenants’ obliga- good opportunity to Qatari women the internationally acclaimed designers Hollywood musical La La Land has tions and the allocation process, and designers to exhibit their creative from across the world. broken the record for the most they should start the designated ac- talents in ornament designing at a Al-Sulaiti said she had won accolades Golden Globe Awards, winning tivity within a month of getting their show which has a good standing at the at some of the exhibitions, held outside seven prizes. It won every award shop. global level,” said Ahmed al-Obaidly, the country, including a popular show in it was nominated for, including The Umm Salal Central Market in- director of exhibitions at Qatar Italy recently. best musical or comedy film, best cludes a slaughterhouse, a yard for fi sh Tourism Authority. In the last few years Qatari designer director, screenplay, score and auction, benches for selling fi sh, fi sh The QTA offi cial recalled that some of Nour Alfardan had her boutique at the song. Its stars Emma Stone and cleaning shops, an ice-making facility the women designers had exhibited exhibition and it went down well with a Ryan Gosling also won in the acting and a nursery. Besides the fi sh trade, the ornaments they created in previous large number of connoisseurs. categories. Page 9 the MEC has been keen to provide a The public draw in progress yesterday. Strong dollar expected to boost remittances from Qatar

By Peter Alagos Vaidian also said the currency vola- But compared to the previous month, “Our branches across the coun- Jakati said: “For our exchange Business Reporter tility in 2016 saw a surge in remittances Jakati said remittance growth has taken try experienced a steady rise in re- house, our major share is India. But from Qatar, especially to Europe and a slower pace. mittances to Egypt when the Cen- we have also seen some improve- South Asian countries. “A weaker ster- “Remittance growth has not picked tral Bank of Egypt floated Egyptian ments in remittances from The Phil- xchange houses in Qatar are ex- ling, Philippine peso, Indian rupee, and up in the last one week but in Decem- Pound, which had depreciated to ippines and Sri Lanka, but across the pecting a surge in remittances in Egyptian pound impacted remittances ber, it was okay. Last month, when more than 90% low in November board almost all of the transactions Eview of the expected appreciation positively,” he stressed. the rupee was very low, we saw some 2016,” he said. have increased.” in the value of the US dollar, industry Al Mana Exchange senior manager increase in remittances. There was a Vaidian noted that a weaker Indian He added that the June 30 deadline sources have said. Anand P Jakati also added that the surge of around 5% to 10% month-on- rupee, coupled with demonetisation of for non-resident Indians (NRIs) to ex- “If the US dollar continues to main- upcoming inauguration of president- month. But for January (2017) it is still the Rs500 and Rs1,000 banknotes also change Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes that tain its strength, the dollar-pegged elect Donald Trump on January 20 will to come and it is still early to say,” he spiked remittances to India as Indian were demonetised in November last Qatari riyal will provide favourable remain a factor in the US dollar’s strong pointed out. expatriates were seen sending more year have not aff ected remittances to exchange rates for expatriates as their rally. Vaidian said Bangladesh, China, money back home, resulting in a 12% India. home currencies are likely to depreci- “I think once Mr Donald Trump Egypt, India, Jordan, Kenya, Nepal, Pa- growth in 2016. “It is quite normal, meaning, people ate further,” Mathai Vaidian, country takes over, there may be some changes. kistan, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, and “Remittances to Kenya also showed know very well what to do and many head, Qatar-UAE Exchange told Gulf Qatar-UAE Exchange country head Many people are expecting the dollar to the UAE are some of Qatar-UAE Ex- a signifi cant increase in 2016 vis-à-vis NRIs have already exchanged their old Times. Mathai Vaidian. strengthen,” he said yesterday. change’s major corridors. 2015,” he added. banknotes,” he said. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, January 10, 2017 QATAR

FM meets Jordan deputy PM In brief Al-Kuwari meets PM of Antigua Emir sends QNA success in his endeavours, and condolences to St John’s voiced the Caribbean countries’ trust in Dr al-Kuwari’s expertise Iran president which qualifi es him to succeed rime Minister of Anti- in the position. gua and Barbuda Gaston He also conveyed his admira- HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin PBrowne met HE Dr Ha- tion at Qatar’s development and Hamad al-Thani, HH the Deputy mad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari, prosperity in all fi elds, especially Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad adviser at the Emiri Diwan and in education. al-Thani and HE the Prime Qatar’s candidate for the post of Dr al-Kuwari said he valued Minister and Minister of Interior Unesco’s director general in St the support of the Caribbean Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin John’s. countries which shows the deep Khalifa al-Thani have sent The meeting took place dur- relations between those coun- cables to Iranian President ing al-Kuwari’s visit to Anti- tries and Qatar. Hassan Rouhani condoling the HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman gua and Barbuda to present his He also thanked the prime death of former Iranian president al-Thani yesterday met Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and electoral programme under the minister for his support, and and chairman of the expediency Minister of Foreign and Expatriate Aff airs, Nasser Judeh. They theme “Towards a New Start for promised that the region would council Ayatollah Hashemi reviewed relations between Qatar and Jordan and means of Unesco.” be of top priority when he is ap- Rafsanjani. developing them. They also exchanged views on regional and The candidate plans to visit pointed as director general of the HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin international issues of mutual interest. Meanwhile, HH the Emir several countries including Unesco. Hamad al-Thani, HH the Deputy Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani received a message from Caribbean and South American The candidate also met Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, pertaining to countries, where he will meet Charles “Max” Fernandez, Min- al-Thani and HE the Prime bilateral relations between Qatar and Somalia and means of senior offi cials from these coun- ster of Foreign Aff airs of An- Minister and Minister of Interior developing them. The message was conveyed to HE the Foreign tries. tigua and Barbuda where they Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Minister during a meeting yesterday with Somalia’s ambassador The prime minister expressed discussed Dr al-Kuwari’s vision HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari, adviser at the Emiri Diwan bin Khalifa al-Thani have also to Qatar Omar Sheikh Ali Idris. his country’s support to the which focuses on giving Unesco and Qatar’s candidate for the post of Unesco’s director general, with sent condolences to President Qatari candidate, wishing him a new start. Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne. of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on the death of former Portuguese president Mario Soares. Advisory Council Supreme Judiciary Council discusses real Al Rayyan signs MoU to modernise courts estate brokerage The Advisory Council yesterday he Ministry of Transport held its weekly session under and Communications the chairmanship of HE the T(MoTC) and the Supreme Speaker of the Advisory Council Judiciary Council (SJC) have Mohamed bin Mubarak al- tops in issuing signed a memorandum of un- Khulaifi. derstanding (MoU) yesterday to HE the Secretary General Fahad modernise and develop courts bin Mubarak al-Khayareen read in Qatar electronically. the agenda, which was approved The signing ceremony was before the council ratified the witnessed by HE the Minister minutes of its previous meeting. building permits of Transport and Communica- The Council reviewed a draft law tions Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Su- to organise real estate brokerage l Rayyan municipal- the new building permits (resi- In the non-residential cat- laiti, also the chairman of Qatar and referred it to the Legal and ity including Sheehaniya dential and non-residential) ac- egory, 19 permits (50%) were e-GOV2020 Steering Commit- Legislative Aff airs Committee. Atops the municipalities counted for 62% (356 permits) issued for commercial buildings tee; and the Court of Cassation Meanwhile, the Legal and that have issued the highest of the total issued in December followed by industrial buildings head and the SJC president Ma- Legislative Aff airs Committee number of building permits 2016. such as workshops and facto- soud Mohamed al-Amiri. of the Advisory Council held – 192 in December last year, ries (eight – 21%), mosques (fi ve The MoU was signed by Kha- Khalid Sadiq al-Hashmi and Dr Judge Hassan Mohamed a meeting yesterday under its shows a report by the Ministry Building permits data is of – 13%) and government build- lid Sadiq al-Hashmi, assistant al-Muhannadi sign the MoU, in the presence of HE the Minister of rapporteur Nasser Rashid Seraye of Development Planning and particular importance as it ings (four – 11%). However, the undersecretary, Cyber Security Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti and al-Kaabi. Statistics (MDPS). is considered an indicator MDPS data showed that the Sector at MoTC, and Dr Judge Masoud Mohamed al-Amiri. The committee reviewed the The municipality accounted for the performance of number of building permits in Hassan Mohamed al-Muhan- law to organising real estate for 35% of the total number of the construction sector Qatar last month was 6% lower nadi, adviser to the SJC presi- both the MoTC and the SJC al-Thani identifi ed e-Govern- brokerage and decided to discuss building permits issued in the in Qatar, which has a than in November 2016. dent. will co-operate in the areas ment as a priority and formed it further at another meeting. country, fi gures released by signifi cant role in the The decrease noted in vari- In a statement, MoTC said of supporting justice admin- a Steering Committee spear- MDPS yesterday showed. national economy ous municipalities are; Al Khor the MoU is part of its mission istration, developing courts headed by MoTC. Qatar-Cuba Doha Municipality came in (33%), Al Shamal (25%), Al to better serve individuals and electronically, and optimising The Committee was charged second place with 133 permits The permits for building ex- Daayen (24%), Al Wakrah (13%) businesses, create effi ciency in litigation mechanisms through with developing and guiding parliamentary (23%), followed by Al Wakrah (88 tension works constituted 35% and Al Rayyan (3%). On the oth- government administration, the use of the best technologi- the implementation of a na- ties reviewed permits — 15%) and Al Da’ayen (200 permits), and fencing 3% er hand, there was an increase in and develop a more open gov- cal methods to provide better tionwide digital government (63 — 11%). (18 permits). In the residen- Umm Slal (31%), and Doha (2%) ernment with enhanced partici- services to litigants, lawyers strategy. The building permits issued tial category, permits for villas municipalities. pation of citizens and residents. and stakeholders. Qatar Digital Government HE the speaker of the Advisory by other municipalities are as topped the list and accounted for According to MDPS, build- MoTC noted that the project The move will also make it 2020, a result of the Commit- Council Mohamed bin Mubarak follows: Umm Slal 59 permits 51% (163 permits) of the total is- ing permits data is of particular aims to enhance and develop easier for citizens in Qatar to tee’s eff orts, has one overarch- al-Khulaifi met the Cuban (10%), Al Khor 24 permits (4%), sued in the country last month. importance as it is considered an courts in Qatar is one of the support the achievement of ing vision – “All individuals and ambassador to Qatar Emilio and Al Shamal nine permits As many as 29 permits for indicator for the performance of supportive tools to achieve Qa- prompt justice. businesses will benefi t from Caballero Rodriguez yesterday. (2%). apartment units were issued in the construction sector in Qatar, tar Government Strategy 2020 HE the Prime Minister and connecting online with Qatar’s During the meeting, they In terms of the type of per- December and made up 9% of which has a signifi cant role in objectives. Interior Minister Sheikh Ab- more open and effi cient gov- discussed parliamentary relations mits issued, data indicate that the total issued last month. the national economy. As per the memorandum, dullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa ernment.” between the two countries.

PHCC launches preventative QNL donates children’s books to Kahramaa park

atar National Library al-Hammadi, conservation medicine and screening service (QNL) has donated to and energy effi ciency depart- Qthe Kahramaa Aware- ment manager at Kahramaa, ness Park about 500 books pointed out that the Conser- he Primary Health Care to maintain or improve their geted patients will be those at for school students aged 6-17. vation and Energy Effi ciency Corporation (PHCC) has health. the risk of developing com- The contribution was made as Department seeks to achieve Tlaunched the pilot op- The checkup includes a range mon diseases. The patients part of an agreement recently further success and progress eration of SMART, a preventive of preventative screening for will attend the 20 minutes ap- signed between the two organ- through Tarsheed, launched by medicine and screening service. common diseases in the coun- pointment to establish their isations. Kahramaa in 2012. SMART will be initially avail- try such as diabetes and hyper- medical and family history The agreement will also see “The programme aims to able in Leabaib and Rawdat Al tension and is designed to help and referred to complete the QNL providing e-resources raise awareness, encourage Khail health centres for at least with early diagnosis and treat- SMART health check which registration for Kahramaa technologies, and develop leg- three months, following which ment. It focuses on identify- includes a series of medical Awareness Park users and train- islation and regulations relat- an evaluation is to be done and ing common risk factors for ill tests before being transferred ing services for its librarians, as ing to conservation, energy ef- a plan developed to implement health so that patients can be to specialists if required early well as conducting joint library fi ciency, and renewable energy the service at all other health supported to adopt a healthier treatment. programmes. in Qatar, while considering the centres. lifestyle to avoid becoming Dr Samya al-Abdulla, ex- Hind al-Khulaifi , head of socioeconomic growth and en- Currently this service will sick in the future by accessing ecutive director of operation children’s services, QNL, said vironmental dimension to en- only be available to Qatari na- PHCC’s preventative care serv- department, PHCC, said the the contribution to the Kah- sure sustainable development tionals, aged 18 and above and ices. SMART service is in line with ramaa Awareness Park further and welfare for citizens and registered at either Leabaib or The service was showcased at PHCC’s pledge to drive for- enhances her organisation’s Kahramaa’s engineer Abdul Aziz Ahmed al-Hammadi and QNL’s residents. Rawdat Al Khail health centres. The World Innovation Summit ward the national vision for “commitment to promoting engineer Saadi al-Said (right). “The MoU with Qatar Na- In the longer term, PHCC plans for Health (WISH) conference healthcare development in a love of reading in Qatar and tional Library will further help to open the service to all reg- in November 2016. PHCC has Qatar by providing excellence to the development of chil- portunities in Qatar and to to achieve the objectives of the raise awareness about energy istered clients across all health invited the community to attend in health care services to its dren and youth throughout the provide free resources to the National Programme for Con- conservation through sharing centres in Qatar. screening and health mainte- citizens. country.” country’s diverse communi- servation and Energy Effi cien- research experiences, lever- The primary objective of the nance appointments to prevent “SMART will support the Engineer Saadi al-Said, di- ties. cy, Tarsheed, and to serve as a aging QNL’s vast world-class SMART checkup is to act as a and manage risks for long-term national public health strat- rector of administration and The Kahramaa Awareness platform for educating young knowledge resources and gateway to full range of primary health conditions such as diabe- egy, which incorporates disease planning, QNL, said the con- Park, part of Qatar General people about the importance of meeting the programme’s out- healthcare services on off er at tes, hypertension, endocrine or prevention, early detection and tinuous efforts in co-operat- Electricity and Water Corpora- conserving energy consump- reach and community develop- PHCC and support the popu- cancer. surveillance and promotion of ing with local organisations tion (Kahramaa), is a high-end tion. ment mandate,” al-Hammadi lation of Qatar to take steps During the pilot period, tar- healthy behaviours.” aims to enhance learning op- educational facility established Engineer Abdul Aziz Ahmed added. Indian govt to move mercy petition for death row convicts

By Ramesh Mathew ister Sushma Swaraj yesterday Chelladurai Perumal are ac- asan, who is also from Tamil Vikas Swarup added. Nizar Kochery, the lawyer who upheld the death sentence hand- Staff Reporter said. cused of killing an elderly Qatari Nadu, has been commuted to life Meanwhile, the Indian em- defended the accused in the case ed down by the lower courts to According to news agency woman in Doha’s New Salata imprisonment. bassy said it was awaiting a copy said: “Once we receive the copy Subramanian and Perumal. Ac- IANS, the minister, who had area in 2012. “We had filed a case in re- of the court verdict to ‘proceed of the judgement, we would do cording to the prosecution, the he Indian government sought a report from the In- “I have received report from spect of all three because we further’. the necessary follow-up in the lady was killed during a bid to will file a mercy petition dian ambassador in Qatar, said Qatar reg (arding) death sen- believe that the penalty is too Indian ambassador P Ku- case.” burgle her house. Ton behalf of the family the embassy has requested the tence for Alagappa Subrama- harsh ... Our embassy in Qatar maran told Gulf Times that The lawyer said when a mercy The third accused Arasan, members of two of its nationals government of Tamil Nadu, niam and Chelladurai Perumal, continues to closely monitor the petition has to come from petition is fi led, it is mandatory who too had been sentenced to whose death sentence had been the southern Indian state from both from Tamil Nadu,” she said this case in association with the the families of the convicts. to attach a copy of the judge- death by the First Instance Court confirmed by Qatar’s Court of where the two men come, to in an earlier tweet. lawyer who has been appointed ‘‘We will forward it to the Emiri ment. in 2014, had his sentence com- Cassation earlier this month, help in fi ling the mercy plea. The death sentence of the for all three accused,” External Diwan through the Foreign Of- In its verdict delivered on Jan- muted to life by the Court of Ap- India’s External Affairs Min- Alagappa Subramanian and third convict, Shivakumar Ar- Affairs Ministry spokesman fi ce,’’ he added. uary 2, the Court of Cassation peals in June last year. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 10, 2017 3 QATAR QA unveils ‘exceptional deals’ with Travel Festival atar Airways announced Ticket’ to a global destination, December 15, 2017 to more than ship with AccorHotels, receiving on bookings made through- that its ‘Travel Festival’ is with clues being released via the 150 destinations worldwide, a 10% discount when booking out the promotion period, Qback, off ering ‘a number airline’s Facebook, Instagram, including the Middle East, Eu- accommodation via the airline’s while travellers can also win Bags’ design features images of destinations on Qatar Airways’ route of exceptional deals’ across the and Twitter pages throughout rope, East Asia, Asia Pacifi c, and website, as well additional ben- a number of prizes, including network. airline’s global network. the sale period. Africa. efi ts on fl ight and hotel pack- upgrades to the “World’s Best” ‘Extraordinary deals’ can Qatar Airways passengers can Travellers can avail the pro- ages when booking with partner Business Class, Silver, and be found on First class, Busi- also choose from the new desti- motion off ers by visiting any Expedia. Gold Privilege Club member- ness class, and Economy class, nations starting this year, such Qatar Airways sales offi ce, travel Qatar Airways chief com- ships, up to 100,000 Qmiles, along with special companion as Auckland, New Zealand; Can- agent, or by booking at qatarai- mercial offi cer Dr Hugh Dun- access to Al Maha Lounges, off er, double Qmiles, ‘book berra, Australia; Dublin, Ireland; rways.com/travelfestival leavy said: “Our guests also Qatar Duty Free vouchers, as QA to introduce more, save more’ option and a Las Vegas in the US; Rio de Ja- For the fi rst time since starting have the opportunity to enjoy well as vouchers to the Airport kids fl y free off er on sale until neiro, Brazil; and Santiago, Chile the Travel Festival, Qatar Air- up to 40% off , a ‘kids fl y free’ Hotel’s wellness spa inside January 16. among others. ways has partnered with Visa, off er, a companion off er, or Hamad International Airport. The Qatar Airways Travel Fes- Off ers available throughout providing eligible card holders further discounts on group Guests can also take advantage new amenity tival online ‘Treasure Hunt’ will the Travel Festival are applicable with discounts of up to 15% extra bookings.” of deals on hotels and accom- also once again off er social me- on Economy and Business class on fl ight bookings. The airline’s Privilege Club modation packages in part- dia followers the opportunity of return airfares, with a travel Travellers can also take ad- members also have the oppor- nership with Qatar Airways searching for a zero fare ‘Golden period between January 11 and vantage of the airline’s partner- tunity to earn double Qmiles Holidays. kits for Economy MEC recalls Infiniti FX models LuLu Group begins Citrus Fest class travellers for faulty airbags s part of an ongoing up- This latest addition to Qa- The Ministry of Economy and grade across its portfolio tar Airways’ on-board prod- Commerce (MEC), in collaboration Aof on-board products, uct portfolio follows the recent with Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Qatar Airways will introduce launch of new amenity kits for Company, has announced the new amenity kits to Econo- Business class and First class recall of Infiniti FX model year my class passengers from this passengers designed by BRIC’s 2006-2008 over a potential month. and Nappa Dori, with content defect in the passenger airbag In keeping with the airline’s provided by Castello Monte Vib- inflator. tagline ‘Going Places Together’, iano Vecchio. The new premium The MEC said the recall campaign the bags’ design features images amenity kits are complemented comes within the framework of of destinations on Qatar Air- by a new sleeper suit design its ongoing eff orts to protect ways’ route network. The exteri- from luxury brand The White consumers and ensure that car or design will be refreshed every Company.” dealers follow up on vehicle four months with new places The airline also has plans to defects and repairs. from Qatar Airways’ network of launch a new Business class The MEC will co-ordinate with more than 150 destinations. seat this year. The new design the dealer to follow up on the Inside the amenity kit, pas- will be patented to prevent any maintenance and repair works sengers will discover comfort other airline from replicating the and communicate with customers essentials such as an Institut state-of-the-art seat concept, to ensure that the necessary Karité Paris lip balm and a Mi- designed to revolutionise the repairs are carried out. radent dental kit alongside their premium cabin experience. The MEC has urged all eye mask, socks and ear plugs, Other initiatives recently customers to report any adding value to their overall launched for passengers trav- violations to its Consumer travel experience. elling on board Qatar Airways Protection and Anti- Rossen Dimitrov, senior vice fl ights include an updated range Commercial Fraud Department president of customer experience, of plush toys, children’s activity through the following channels: Qatar Airways, said: “This will be kits, and in-fl ight lunch boxes Hotline: 16001, e-mail: info@ a year of change for Qatar Airways in partnership with Hasbro, as mec.gov.qa, Twitter: @MEC_ LuLu Hypermarket Group has launched Citrus Fest 2017 and Super Value Savers Promotion. Citrus Fest will continue until January travellers, with numerous up- well as a refreshed and refi ned Qatar, Instagram: MEC_Qatar, 14 and Super Value Savers Promotion until January 17. More than 35 varieties of citrus fruits have been brought in for the festival grades to our on-board products premium in-fl ight dining service MEC mobile app for Android from around the world. and services, including our new for First class passengers on the and IOS: MEC_Qatar Economy class amenity kits. airline’s intra-Gulf services.

Ooredoo Marathon on Friday to host Home Centre releases new catalogue ome Centre, a lead- ing home retailer in the 1,500 participants Hregion, has released its latest 140-page catalogue that showcases an extensive col- atar Airways (QA), Qa- inspire and empower the com- lection of furniture and home tar Olympic Commit- munity to lead healthy and ac- accessories, both classic and Qtee (QOC) and Ezdan tive lifestyles regardless of age contemporary. Hotel will be the sponsors of and ability. There are over 850 new styles the 2017 Ooredoo Marathon. For the second year in row, in the catalogue, which is availa- In a statement, Ooredoo Ezdan Hotel management ble as print as well as online edi- said preparations are under- will extend its support to the tions, with the latter featuring way for the January 13 event, marathon, according to Hasib interactive elements and new- which will host an estimated Kayali, group hotels general age technological components 1,500 people. manager, Ezdan Hotels. such as a mobile responsive de- “Thanks to the support of Ooredoo has encouraged sign and embedded videos. QA, QOC and Ezdan Hotel, competitors to visit Marathon. The catalogue off ers custom- this year is set to be our best ooredoo.qa before the big day, ers a preview of Home Centre’s marathon yet,” said Fatima to help make sure participants latest range of interior products Sultan al-Kuwari, director of are prepared for the event, ei- categorised as living, dining, community and public rela- ther with training or pre-race sleeping and playing solutions. tions, Ooredoo Qatar. tips. New additions this year are the QA’s marketing and cor- This year, the marathon will modular and mix-and-match porate communications sen- feature a 10km, half-mara- solutions like the blend table, ior vice president Salam al- thon, full marathon and spe- signature sofa, stellar bed and Shawa said they are proud cial children’s 3km and 1km infi nity wardrobe. to support the marathon, an fun run. “The 2017 Home Centre Cat- event that allows people of all The route, which will start alogue is designed to meet the ages and abilities to challenge at the Museum of Islamic Art evolving styles and design re- Home Centre off icials launch the 2017 catalogue in Doha yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma themselves and feel the reward Park, will follow the Doha quirements of our house proud of training and dedication. Corniche. To ensure the safety customers,” said Santosh Pai, Centre Al Asmakh store in Doha, – Arabesque, Marrakesh and ing customers a selection of best maker. The print catalogue will QOC secretary general Dr of all runners and specta- COO, Landmark Group Qatar. and our customers’ fi rst impres- Majestic – inspired by distinctive priced products. be available at all Home Centre Thani Abdulrahman al-Ku- tors, the Corniche road will “We had a very successful sions were very encouraging”. styles and curated to create beau- The catalogue off ers home de- stores, while the interactive cat- wari stressed that events like be closed from 6.30am to grand unveiling of the new an- This year, Home Centre has tiful homes. The new catalogue sign tips, style advice and prac- alogue can be viewed online at the Ooredoo Marathon help to 11.30am on Friday. nual catalogue in our Home introduced three new collections also features ‘Great Deals’, off er- tical suggestions for the home- homecentre.com Katara Hospitality on track to be among top global organisations

atara Hospitality, the sort in Qatar, and the opening for future generations, in line In February, Katara Hos- hospitality landscape, includ- leading hotel owner, de- of two hotels in Qatar under with Qatar National Vision pitality marked the success- ing “Hospitality Company of Kveloper and operator the Murwab Hotel Group: Si- 2030,” said Katara Hospital- ful partnership between world the Year” within the Arabian based in Qatar, continued to maisma Resort and The Avenue ity chairman Sheikh Nawaf bin renowned chef Nobu Mat- Business Qatar Awards, “Mid- make excellent progress in 2016 hotel. Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani in a suhisa and Le Royal Monceau – dle East’s Leading Hospitality across all areas of its operations. Katara Hospitality also saw statement. Raffl es Paris. Development Company” for the “The company’s strong the opening of Hotel Park, a “Our ongoing renovation In August, The Peninsula Par- third consecutive year at the performance builds on the new public family-friendly plans and investment pro- is was granted the prestigious World Travel Awards in May, achievements of the previous park in Qatar, introduction gramme also leave us well placed ‘Palace’ distinction by ATOUT “Remarkable and Exceptional year and takes it a step closer of Katara Specialties, a con- for further growth in 2017 and France, the French Tourism Achievement in the Luxury towards realising its vision to temporary food and beverage beyond,” Sheikh Nawaf added. Development Agency. Hospitality Industry” award for be one of the world’s leading initiative within all of the com- Katara Hospitality CEO Ha- In line with its strategy to the second consecutive year by hospitality organisations,” ac- pany’s local and international mad Abdulla al-Mulla recalled preserve the heritage of unique Seven Star Luxury Hospitality cording to a statement issued hotels, and partnership with that 2016 was an important stage hotels around the world, Katara and Lifestyle Awards in October. yesterday. Marriott International to sup- in the further development of Hospitality announced the res- Rounding out 2016, Katara Some its achievements in port the evolution of hospitality the organisation’s portfolio. “We toration of the acclaimed Raffl es Hospitality was named the 2016 include the opening of education in the country. now turn our attention to 2017 as Singapore in October 2016. “World’s Leading Hospital- Hotel Royal Savoy Lausanne, a “Our vision is to change the we expect to complete a range of The company also received ity Company” for the fourth Murwab hotel in Switzerland, world of hospitality through initiatives that will take us closer many prestigious accolades consecutive year at the annual renovation and rebranding of investment and innovation to to our target of 60 properties by for its continued contribution World Travel Awards ceremony Katara Hospitality awarded World’s Leading Hospitality Company in 2016. Sealine Beach, a Murwab Re- leave an outstanding legacy 2026,” he said. to the Qatari and global luxury in December. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, January 10, 2017 REGION/ARAB WORLD Iran mourns ex-president Rafsanjani

AFP by the face of Rafsanjani, who parliament for two consecutive The ayatollah played an im- Tehran served as president from 1989 terms until Khomeini’s death in portant role in the election of the to 1997, and black banners were 1989. Rafsanjani’s presidency, a reformist Mohamed Khatami, raised on Tehran’s streets. breathing space after the end of who succeeded him as president ran began three days of All music concerts and televi- the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, was from 1997 to 2005. mourning yesterday after the sion comedy programmes were marked by reconstruction, cau- Rafsanjani suff ered a big blow Ideath of ex-president Akbar called off as a sign of respect. tious reform and repairs to Iran’s when he lost in the presidential Hashemi Rafsanjani, a pillar of At yesterday’s memorial serv- relations with its Arab neigh- vote’s second round to hardline the Islamic revolution who be- ice, student Ali Tafreshi said he bours. Ahmadinejad in 2005. came a leading counterweight to cried for three and half hours af- But it was also marred by hu- But he rose again, this time hardliners. ter he heard Rafsanjani had died. man rights violations, rampant more determined in helping the Tributes poured in for the “This cannot be compensated. infl ation and diffi cult relations reformist and moderate camps moderate cleric, including from We have no one like him, as the with Europe, not least with Brit- defeat ultra-conservatives, under President Hassan Rouhani, who supreme leader said. A pillar is ain after the “death sentence”, whom Iran’s relations with the was reportedly at Rafsanjani’s missing from the revolution’s or fatwa, handed down to writer West plummeted. bedside before he died of a heart building,” he said. Salman Rushdie by Khomeini. In the run-up to the presiden- attack aged 82. Rafsanjani’s youngest son Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali tial elections in 2013, hand in hand “Islam lost a valuable treas- Yaser, 46, thanked people Khamenei is expected to lead with Khatami, the two fi gures ure, Iran an outstanding general, mourning his father for their special prayers performed for played a key role in uniting and the Islamic revolution a coura- “loyalty and kindness”. the deceased during today’s fu- organising people in favour of the geous fl ag-bearer and the Islam- “I see scenes of aff ection that neral service. moderate Rouhani, who could not ic system a rare sage,” Rouhani I cannot believe. People’s prayers State television yesterday have secured the offi ce without said. for our father console our looped old interviews by Rafsan- reformist support. Iran’s political and religious hearts,” he told state television. jani and Khamenei, emphasising In an interview last year Raf- leadership attended a memorial Rafsanjani was born on Au- the lasting bond between two sanjani recounted events leading service at Hussainiya Jamaran, a Mourners gather around the coff in of former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani during a mourning gust 25, 1934 in southern Iran to stalwarts of the 1979 revolution. to the end if Ahmadinejad’s reign. religious hall in northern Tehran ceremony at the Jamaran mosque in Tehran yesterday. the family of a wealthy pistachio Rafsanjani was always a mem- “I succeeded in partially chang- run by the family of Ayatollah farmer. ber of Iran’s top clerical body, the ing the situation under the worst Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, will ing the ayatollah as “the sheikh for a second four-year term in a He studied theology in the Assembly of Experts, charged circumstances. People won in of the Islamic republic. be buried today at Khomenei’s of moderation”. Rafsanjani was a May vote and has now lost a key holy city of Qom before entering with appointing — and if re- 2013, as bravely as they started the Rafsanjani, who after serving mausoleum in southern Tehran. key backer of Rouhani and sup- supporter in the crucial run-up politics in 1963 after the shah’s quired dismissing — the coun- revolution,” he told the reformist for two terms became a cautious The ISNA news agency said ported Iran’s landmark nuclear to the election. police arrested Khomeini. try’s supreme leader. Shargh daily. reformist to off set the hardlin- his death Sunday was a “great deal with world powers. The front pages of yesterday’s A confi dant of Khomeini, He chaired the infl uential “I can die in peace now, as peo- ers clustered around a successor, loss for the moderates,” describ- Rouhani is expected to stand newspapers were dominated Rafsanjani was the speaker of committee for several years. ple make their own choices.”

US warship fi res warning shots Lebanon’s new president on Saudi visit

AFP They said the crews of the warning shots with a crew- AFP in parliament. The Maronite test what it said was “the stran- cannons and other military Washington small Iranian rapid attack boats served 50-calibre machine gun, Riyadh Christian, a former army chief, glehold of Hezbollah on the equipment from France. were manning their weapons as and the IRGCN vessels arrested clinched the post with shock state”. “The only way for peace in they sped toward the American their high-speed approach.” support from Saudi ally Saad Syria’s five-year war has Lebanon is to support Aoun,” US warship fi red warn- ship. “Mahan established ra- The Iranian Revolutionary ebanon’s Hezbollah- Hariri, who in return was been a major fault line for the 81-year-old president, Es- ing shots at the weekend dio communications with the Guards are a paramilitary force backed President Michel named prime minister. Lebanon’s politics. hki said. Aat four Iranian Revolu- IRGCN vessels and issued mul- that answers directly to the re- LAoun landed yesterday in Analysts say Saudi Arabia is Anwar Eshki, a retired Saudi “The main goal of Saudi tionary Guard vessels that ap- tiple radio and visual warnings public’s supreme leader. Saudi Arabia, his fi rst trip to the hoping for a more stable Leba- general and founder of the in- Arabia is to make Lebanon proached it at high speed in the to remain clear,” a US defence Their boats periodically ap- kingdom since taking offi ce. non. dependent Middle East Centre peaceful and independent,” Strait of Hormuz, US defence offi cial said. proach US warships in interna- The offi cial Saudi Press Riyadh last March declared for Strategic and Legal Stud- and that includes its army, he offi cials said yesterday. “Disregarding the warnings, tional waters and the Strait of Agency confi rmed his arrival in Hezbollah a “terrorist organi- ies, said he expects the stalled said. The shots fi red by the de- the IRGCN vessels continued Hormuz, ignoring US radio mes- Riyadh. sation” and urged its citizens to military aid to figure in Aoun’s Aoun’s arrival follows a late- stroyer USS Mahan on Sunday to directly approach Mahan at sages and giving little indication Aoun’s election in November leave Lebanon. talks with Saudi officials. November visit to Beirut by put an end to the incident, which a high rate of speed,” the offi cial of their intentions. by Lebanese lawmakers ended In February the kingdom The programme, funded by Prince Khaled al-Faisal, the US offi cials denounced as “un- said. The US Navy regularly de- a two-year deadlock between halted a $3bn programme of Riyadh, would have provided governor of Makkah who is also safe and unprofessional.” “Mahan then fi red three nounces such incidents. Iran and Saudi-backed blocs military aid to Lebanon to pro- vehicles, helicopters, drones, an adviser to King Salman.

TALKS Tehran receives Saudi invitation to Iraq special forces close discuss Haj to linking with army arrangements An Iranian off icial confirmed yesterday that Saudi Arabia had Reuters they slowed Iraqi advances in November invited Tehran to discuss arrange- Mosul and December. ments for the annual Haj, which They have also killed dozens of Iraqis Iran boycotted last year after hun- in attacks in Baghdad and other cities as dreds died in a crush at the 2015 raqi special forces made further ad- it comes under increased pressure. pilgrimage. Most were Iranians, vances against Islamic State in Mosul “The Baladiyat neighbourhood is done and the incident infuriated Tehran. Iyesterday, pushing militants from an- (recaptured) and Sukkar should be done Last year, Iran did not send any of other eastern district and edging closer before nightfall,” Major-General Sami al- its citizens to the Haj. Yesterday, to army units nearby, offi cers in the city Aradi of the CTS told a Reuters reporter Ali Ghaziaskar, Iranian Supreme said. in Mosul. Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s The Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) “This area is very important because it representative in Haj aff airs, said said it was working to seize areas over- overlooks the university (which) is a cen- Iran had “off icially received Saudi looking Mosul University in the city’s tral district...If it falls we will control the Arabia’s invitation to meet and northeast, after taking over a nearby dis- forests, the presidential palaces and the hold bilateral talks on the Haj”. The trict. eastern bank of the Tigris,” he said. state news agency Irna quoted The ground troops and a US-led coali- Askari said Islamic State has used the him as saying the talks would be tion backing them launched rockets and university’s laboratories to make biologi- about accommodation, transpor- air strikes against the militants, who re- cal weapons and store chemicals. tation, safety, medical care, visas sponded with mortars and sniper fi re. The United Nations has said insurgents and banking, and that Iran would Residents trickled out of the confl ict seized nuclear materials used for scien- respond in the coming days. zone but many also returned to their tifi c research at the facility when they homes in areas retaken from Islamic State overran a third of Iraq in 2014. in recent days. Though the materials were not thought LEGAL The latest advances brought more of to be weapons grade, Islamic State has Bahrain court eastern Mosul under Iraqi forces’ control repeatedly launched rockets contain- a day after elite units reached the Tigris ing mustard agents at Iraqi and Kurdish confirms blast river, as the US-backed off ensive to drive forces. death sentences Islamic State from its last major strong- The CTS were also close to linking up hold in the country pressed ahead with nearby with the army, which has slowly A Bahraini court yesterday upheld renewed vigour. encroached from the city’s northern out- death sentences against three Reaching the river, which runs through skirts, a commander in a regular army people convicted of killing police the centre of the northern city where up unit said. including an Emirati off icer in a to 1.5mn people are still thought to be “They will soon liberate other areas bomb attack, a judicial source said. living, will allow Iraqi forces to begin as- and hopefully fi nish the eastern side... The decision by Bahrain’s Court saults on western districts still under Is- God willing, we will soon announce the of Cassation ends the trial of lamic State’s full control. liberation of the entire eastern side from members of the group behind the The militants have fought back fi ercely Daesh (Islamic State),” Major-General March 2014 attack in a village near with suicide car bombs and snipers. Najm al-Jubbouri told another Reuters Manama, for which seven others Using a network of tunnels and operat- reporter in the al-Hadba apartments had received life sentences. ing close to Mosul’s civilian population, complex on the city’s northern edge. The Emirati off icer was part of the Gulf force which rolled into Bahrain in March 2011 to boost Bahraini security forces in quelling a month-long protest in the island. Hundreds have been arrested and put on trial since the crackdown on the protests. Bahrain is a strate- gic ally of Washington and home of the US Navy Fifth Fleet.

OFFBEAT Snake grounds Emirates flight An Emirates flight from Muscat to Dubai was cancelled after baggage handlers discovered a snake in the aircraft’s cargo hold. The animal was found before Sunday’s flight from Oman, the airline said, adding that the aircraft was returned to service after being thoroughly searched. First class passengers on an Aer- Iraqi forces stand next to weapons reportedly belonging to Islamic State (IS) group omexico flight in November were militants next to Al-Salam hospital after recapturing the area yesterday, during an confronted by a snake that fell from ongoing military operation to retake the city of Mosul. an overhead storage compartment. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 10, 2017 5 ARAB WORLD

Seven Egyptian Syria truce under strain as rebels cops die in bomb vow response to govt violations

Reuters attack Beirut

Reuters Syrian truce brokered by Cairo Russia and Turkey was Aunder growing strain yesterday as rebels vowed to re- t least seven policemen spond to government violations and one civilian were and President Bashar al-Assad Akilled in a bomb attack said the army would retake an on a checkpoint in the northern important rebel-held area near Sinai city of Al-Arish yesterday, Damascus. and fi ve of the attackers were Assad, in comments to French also killed, the Egyptian Interior media, also said his government Ministry said. was ready to negotiate on “eve- Security and medical sources rything” at peace talks his Rus- told Reuters earlier that eight sian allies hope to convene in policemen were killed. Kazakhstan, including his own The attackers planted a bomb position within the framework in a street cleaning vehicle they of the Syrian constitution. had stolen a few days earlier, se- But he indicated any new curity sources told Reuters. constitution must be put to a After the bomb exploded, at- referendum and it was up to tackers fi red guns and rocket- Syrians to elect their president. propelled grenades at the check- His opponents have insisted point, the sources said. throughout nearly six years of The Interior Ministry said the war that he must leave power attack was carried out by a group under any future peace deal. of around 20 men who had used But since Russia joined the RPGs and a vehicle bomb. war on his side in late 2015, his Security forces had detonated government’s position on the the bomb before it reached the battlefi eld has strengthened checkpoint, and had killed fi ve of dramatically, giving him greater the attackers and wounded three leverage now than at any time others. since the war’s earliest days. There was no immediate claim The ceasefi re which came into of responsibility for the attack, eff ect on Dec 30 aims to pave which also wounded 13 people, the way for the new peace talks including four civilians. which Russia hopes to convene Police found the body of one with Turkish and Iranian sup- A Syrian boy walks in a street in the rebel-held town of Douma, on the eastern outskirts of the capital Damascus yesterday. of the attackers behind the wheel port. of the vehicle that exploded. But no date has been set for tions on the insurgents, and said The Syrian Observatory for qur Al Sham rebel group, told pockets of rebel-held territory tion in the Astana talks. An insurgency in the Sinai the talks and the warring sides the army must “prevent ter- Human Rights, a Britain-based Reuters. Writing on Twitter, the in the west. Asked if the gov- The Syrian government Peninsula has gained pace since have accused each other of truce rorists from using the water to war monitor, reported clashes in head of another rebel group said ernment planned to recapture dismisses opposition groups the military toppled President violations. throttle the capital”. He said it Wadi Barada yesterday and said rebels had agreed to the truce to the Islamic State-held city of backed by Assad’s enemies as Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim The Moscow-led eff ort to was the army’s job to recapture government forces shelled sev- spare Syrian blood. Raqa, Assad said it was the Syr- foreign creations. Brotherhood in 2013 following revive diplomacy, without the the Wadi Barada area, which he eral towns there. But with violence continu- ian army’s role to liberate “every In his comments to the French mass protests against him. participation of the United said had been occupied by a ji- In Idlib province in the north, ing, “we will not remain silent” inch” of Syrian land. “But the media, Assad asked: “Who will The militant group behind the States, has emerged with Assad hadist group not covered by the a military media unit run by wrote Mohamed al-Mansour, question is related to when, and be (in Astana) from the other insurgency pledged allegiance to buoyed by the defeat of rebels ceasefi re. Damascus’s ally Hezbollah said head of Jaish al-Nasr. our priorities. This is a military side? We do not yet know. Will Islamic State in 2014 and called in Aleppo, and as ties thaw be- Rebels deny the area is in ji- rebel shelling killed two people President-elect Donald matter linked to military plan- it be a real Syrian opposition?” itself Sinai Province. tween Russia and Turkey, long hadist hands. in the pro-government villages Trump has indicated he may ning and priorities.” he added. Riad Nassan Agha, a mem- It is blamed for killing hun- one of the rebels’ main backers. The United Nations has said of Al-Foua and Kefraya. cut US support for rebel groups, The United States is backing ber of the main Syrian opposi- dreds of soldiers and police since Ankara, now seemingly more 5.5mn people have had little or The spokesman for one of a move that would further an alliance of militias including tion umbrella group, the Riya- then. worried by growing Kurdish no running water for more than the rebel groups that signed the strengthen the position of As- the Kurdish YPG in a campaign dh-backed High Negotiations In November, Islamic State sway in Syria than toppling As- two weeks in Damascus. ceasefi re said rebel leaders had sad, who has consolidated his aimed ultimately at recapturing Committee, said he had not claimed responsibility for an at- sad, supports the diplomatic It blamed “deliberate target- concluded they could not con- rule around the major cities of Raqa city. heard of anyone being invited to tack on a checkpoint that killed push. ing” for destroying the pump- tinue abiding the truce in what western Syria and the coast. Russia, Turkey and Iran, the the Astana talks yet. 15 soldiers. The latest fi ghting has been ing station, without saying by he described as a “unilateral Last month his forces cap- three foreign powers involved “Syrians do not yet feel that In a November issue of its especially intense near Damas- whom. way”, and they would respond to tured all of Aleppo, the eastern in the latest peace drive, plan to there is a ceasefi re. The battles weekly online magazine, Al cus where the army and allied Rebels accuse the govern- attacks by the other side. half of which had been in rebel divide Syria into informal zones are continuing: the attack on Nabaa, Islamic State urged militia are trying to capture a ment. “Even if the agreement con- hands since 2012. of infl uence under an outline Wadi Barada, on (rural) western members to join other branches rebel-held area that includes Talks between the govern- tinues within what has been Swathes of Syria still remain deal they reached, sources told Aleppo, on Idlib, on the Ghouta of the group in areas like Sinai, the main water source supply- ment and rebels aimed at allow- agreed on, they have the full out of his control, including Reuters in Moscow last month. (suburban area near) Damascus, Libya, Yemen and West Africa if ing Damascus. ing repairs to the pumping sta- right to respond to breaches the Islamic State-controlled Rebel groups fi ghting under Deraa,” he said. they could not travel to its self- It was bombed out of service tion failed at the weekend, and wherever they are,” Mamoun eastern province of Deir al-Zor, the “Free Syrian Army” banner The Astana talks “cannot declared “caliphate” in Iraq and more than two weeks ago. heavy air strikes were reported Haj Musa, spokesman for the large areas of northern Syria have already frozen any discus- succeed unless the ceasefi re is Syria. Assad blamed truce viola- in the area on Sunday. Free Syrian Army-affi liated Su- held by a Kurdish militia, and sion of their possible participa- implemented”, he added.

Tunisia seeks buyers aft er record orange harvest Tunisia is desperately looking vest was due primarily to prevail- urged the authorities to help Questions raised over Israeli for orange lovers after a bumper ing dry weather conditions and them develop their industry and harvest of 550,000 tonnes of “physiological conditions” which find alternative uses for oranges, the fruit half of which could meant the orange blossoms and such as in juices and cosmetics. be destroyed if there are no the fruit held on to the trees. Tunisia’s economy, of which buyers, experts say. Accord- Around 12,000 families work in agriculture is a key sector, has claims on IS-inspired attack ing to Mohamed Ali Jandoubi, the orange industry, Jandoubi been impacted by social unrest who heads the Groupement said, warning the record harvest since the 2011 Arab Spring and Interprofessionel des Fruits (GIF), will not spell good news if there by a string of jihadist-claimed Reuters their own, often on a whim and an association of citrus fruit are no buyers. attacks, including on its vital tour- Jerusalem with no prior preparations, to growers, farmers have harvested France favours the so-called Mal- ism industry. commit a terror attack,” he said. 550,000 tonnes of oranges so tese orange specific to Tunisia. Last year, strong exports includ- Others said it made sense far this year. Orange growers hope to tap ing dates and olive oil helped srael’s government has been for Netanyahu to try to draw a “Over the past five years we more into the French market to Tunisia’s economy “avoid the quick to suggest a Palestin- direct link between the threats reached a ceiling of 400,000 increase sales, and are hoping to worst”, the finance ministry has Iian who rammed a truck into Israel faces and those in Europe, tonnes. This year we’ve harvest- promote Tunisia’s oranges dur- said. In 2015-2016, the North a group of Israeli soldiers at the but that it was unlikely to con- ed 550,000 tonnes. It’s huge,” ing the Paris agriculture salon, African country exported a weekend was inspired by Islam- vince policymakers. said Jandoubi. which takes place from February record 110,000 tonnes of dates, ic State, raising questions over “There are no signs that Eu- “Half of it could be destroyed” if 25 to March 5. a 10 % increase on the previous how it came to that conclusion. rope as a whole will stop con- there are no buyers, the Tunisian Russia could be another market year, and a rare boost for the Hours after the attack on sidering the occupation as the Union of Agriculture and Fishery for Tunisian oranges, although economy. Sunday, which killed four sol- main cause for Palestinian ter- recently warned, with only 10% they could face tough competi- 2015 was also a record year for diers and wounded 17, Prime rorism,” said Ilan Jonas, chief of the harvest expected to be tion with oranges produced in Tunisia which was elevated to Minister Benjamin Netanyahu executive of Prime Source, an exported. Egypt and Turkey. the world’s number one exporter said the assailant showed all the Israeli political and security Jandoubi said the bumper har- Meanwhile orange farmers have of olive oil. signs of being a supporter of the consultancy. movement. Europe is not about to “adopt He did not give details and Netanyahu’s line that this is yesterday, an obscure Palestin- part of a universal phenomenon ian group claimed responsi- that is totally unrelated to Isra- bility, saying it had no outside el’s policies in the West Bank,” links and had acted on political Friends and relatives of 20-year-old Israeli soldier Yael Yekutiel, who he said. Palestinian president writes to motives. was killed a day earlier, mourn in front of his grave during his funeral As is common, Hamas, the Defence Minister Avigdor at the Kiryat Shaul military cemetery in Tel Aviv yesterday. group that controls Gaza, Lieberman had also pointed to praised Sunday’s attack. Trump opposing embassy move Islamic State, citing parallels expert and research fellow at frontline position needs to be But the Palestinian Author- with Islamic State-inspired at- the Institute for National Secu- better understood. ity, which has limited self-rule tacks on crowds using trucks in rity Studies in Tel Aviv. Sunday’s statement was the in the Israeli-occupied West AFP tion while the status of the city remains contested. Germany and France last year. “Israel is trying to generalise clearest link Netanyahu had Bank, was more circumspect. Ramallah Israel supports the move and has encouraged “We saw it in France, we saw the phenomenon, saying eve- made between a Palestinian Its security forces even car- previous presidents to take similar steps to no avail. it in Berlin and unfortunately ryone faces the same threat. attacker and Islamic State, al- ried out raids in some areas, we saw it today in Jerusalem,” But while the symptoms may though he did not say the group supporting Israel’s clampdown. alestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has Abbas warned the move would have a he said during a visit to the be similar, the causes are com- planned it or that the assailant, Adnan al-Dmairi, spokes- written to US President-elect Donald Trump “disastrous impact on the peace process, on scene overlooking Jerusalem’s pletely diff erent.” who was shot dead at the scene, man of the Palestinian security Purging him not to move the American em- the two-state solution and on the stability Old City. In Europe there is sympathy was an Islamic State operative. services in the West Bank, dis- bassy to Jerusalem, offi cial Palestinian media said and security of the entire region” The group which said it was and support for Israel and the Yossi Melman, an analyst missed any suggestion Islamic yesterday. responsible for the attack gave deadly threats it faces, but also writing in Ma’ariv newspaper, State had a foothold in the ter- The Palestinian news agency Wafa did not say Abbas also sent letters to other world powers few details and it was not pos- cautiousness about close com- said there was little evidence to ritory. when the letter was sent but said it aimed to explain including Russia, China and the European Union, sible to verify the claim, but in parisons. suggest the Palestinian attacker “There is no presence for ISIS the “risks” of moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to calling on them to “spare no eff ort” to prevent the Israel, multiple voices pointed Over the past 18 months, had drawn inspiration from Is- as an organisation in the West Jerusalem. United States from making the move, Wafa said. out the diff erences between Netanyahu has repeatedly de- lamic State, pointing out that Bank,” he told Reuters, while Abbas warned the move would have a “disas- The United States and most UN member states Palestinian violence and that scribed a wave of Palestin- Palestinians carried out car- acknowledging some people trous impact on the peace process, on the two-state do not recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and perpetrated by Islamic State. ian attacks on Israelis as part ramming attacks before ISIS. expressed support on Facebook solution and on the stability and security of the en- the city’s status is one of the thorniest issues of the “Palestinian attacks are of the same violent campaign “This is essentially a case of or other social media. tire region,” Wafa said. decades-long Israeli-Palestinian confl ict. overwhelmingly motivated by affl icting Europe, saying Israel, unaffi liated terrorists, young “There is nothing of such a Trump has said he plans to relocate the embassy Trump spokeswoman Kellyanne Conway last nationalism, not by religion,” France and Germany are in the people...who do not belong to name as ISIS in the Palestinian from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in a controversial move month told a US radio channel moving the embassy said Orit Perlov, a social media same boat, and that Israel’s any organisation and decide on areas.” bitterly opposed by Palestinians as a unilateral ac- was a “very big priority” for the president-elect. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, January 10, 2017 AFRICA

Chad former leader Habre seeks to annul Boko Haram targets war crimes verdict

Reuters Dakar

Nigeria base, militia ormer Chadian leader Hissene Habre’s law- AFP base in Buni Yadi in neighbouring by Abuja as the fi nal stages of into the hands of Boko Haram in vigilante, who was spending the Fyers sought yesterday to Kano Yobe state, at dusk on Saturday. the insurgency, which began in February 2014 after the militants night with his second wife, said annul his conviction for war Twenty-four hours later, a 2009 and has left at least 20,000 attacked a boys’ boarding school. resident Bura Kadiri. crimes and crimes against hu- wave of fi ve suicide bombers tar- people dead and made more than At least 43 students were killed About the same time, three manity, citing irregularities, oko Haram killed at least geted civilian vigilantes assist- 2.6mn homeless. and the school was set ablaze. male suicide bombers exploded in the fi rst day of their appeal fi ve soldiers at a military ing the military with security in President Muhammadu Buhari The militants sacked the town near a military checkpoint on the against the landmark verdict. Bbase in northeast Nigeria, Maiduguri and elsewhere in the claimed in December 2015 that and remained in control until city limits, killing one vigilante Habre was sentenced to life while suicide bombers killed remote region. the group was “technically” de- March last year. on patrol, according to police. imprisonment in May for or- three people in Maiduguri, the One senior offi cer, speaking on feated but there has been no let- On Sunday about 10.30pm The trio, armed with Kalash- dering killings and torture dur- This file photo taken on June 3, authorities said yesterday. condition of anonymity as he was up in attacks, including across (2130 GMT), two female suicide nikovs assault rifl es, “shot spo- ing his eight-year rule as presi- 2015 shows Habre waving The weekend attacks will again not authorised to talk to the me- the border in Niger, Chad and bombers killed two people in the radically and attempted to infi l- dent of Chad, which ended in while leaving the Dakar prompt questions about the ex- dia, said the Buni Yadi assault led Cameroon. Kaleri neighbourhood of Mai- trate Maiduguri” through Muna 1990. courthouse. tent to which the Islamic State to an “intense battle”. Attacks on military bases were duguri, said Borno state police Garage, said police spokesman His trial and conviction in (IS) group affi liate is a spent “We lost fi ve soldiers in the at- a regular feature of the fi ghting spokesman Victor Isuku. Victor Isuku. Senegal was widely hailed as the African Union, defence force, as Nigeria’s government tack, including a captain who was and used by Boko Haram to re- Civilian vigilante Babakura “The IED (improvised explo- a moment of hope for African lawyers said. has claimed. recently deployed to Buni Yadi,” plenish weaponry. Kolo and local residents said the sive device) strapped to their justice. They say this invalidates the There was no offi cial claim he said. “We are still trying to A spokesman for the Buni Yadi targets were the homes of militia bodies exploded, killing all of But Habre’s defence lawyers outcome. of responsibility but the at- have a sense of the casualties on base, Lieutenant George Okupe, members helping the military. them, and a civilian JTF,” he add- asked yesterday for a new trial, However, American lawyer tacks bore the hallmark of Boko the part of the terrorists as their confi rmed the attack and said it The fi rst bomber was aged ed, referring to civilian vigilantes arguing that the composition Reed Brody, who has worked Haram, which has frequently hit bodies are scattered in the bush.” was “repelled”. about 20 and killed both herself known as the Joint Task Force. of the jury and other irregu- with Habre’s victims for 18 checkpoints and security serv- The Boko Haram gunmen are He added: “I cannot confi rm and the vigilante member’s teen- Muna Garage is home to a larities violated Habre’s rights. years and said the chances of ices with suicide bombers. believed to be remnants of those any casualty for now. All I can say age daughter, who answered the sprawling camp of makeshift “The decisions must be an- overturning the conviction are Rebel fi ghters, whom the mili- fl ushed out of Sambisa as a result is that some soldiers are missing door. tents and some 16,000 peo- nulled and invalidated,” said very slim. tary said were ousted from their of a sustained military operation in action.” The second female bomber ple displaced from their homes Habre’s lawyer Mounir Ballal. “I think the defence is grasp- Sambisa Forest enclave in Borno that began in April last year. Buni Yadi, some 65km from the was believed to be aged about across the region because of the “I am not proud of the condi- ing at straws,” he said. state last month, fi rst hit an army The expulsion was described Yobe state capital Damaturu, fell 30 and killed the father of the fi ghting. tions in which the accused was Habre, who fl ed to Senegal tried.” after being ousted in a coup, One of the judges did not was not present for the appeal. have the 10-year experience The court is expected to give needed to sit on the special a fi nal decision in April that Come back or face the sack, Kenya doctors told tribunal, set up by Senegal and cannot be reversed. Ivory Coast government dissolved AFP The medics on Friday rejected then the process of taking disci- ing research and addressing the point to endless corruption scan- Nairobi a 40% pay rise off er from the plinary action against them be- security of doctors at work. dals while healthcare providers Ivory Coast Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan resigned and government, demanding the full gins on Wednesday.” However the government has struggle to make ends meet. dissolved the government yesterday in a move that had been implementation of a 2013 collec- Munya said the doctors would brushed aside the CBA, calling it The latest move to outrage the expected following elections last month but which was delayed two housands of Kenyan doc- tive bargaining agreement (CBA), be issued with dismissal letters, defective as it did not have “input union was a decision by law- days by an army mutiny. tors who have been on which assured them a 300% raise and their vacant positions adver- and blessings” from the Salaries makers just before Christmas to Duncan had been expected to stand down on Saturday, but held Tstrike for over a month risk and other improved conditions. tised. and Remuneration Commission award themselves 10mn shillings off after dissident soldiers took over army bases in cities across the being fi red if they do not return to “We are calling upon the doc- The Kenya Medical Practition- – a constitutional body set up ($95,000) each as an exit package West African country on Friday demanding bonus payments. work by tomorrow. tors again, to take the off er by the ers, Pharmacists and Dentists in 2010 to review the salaries of ahead of the elections. It took 48 hours to reach the deal to quell the revolt in an army that The walkout by Kenyan doc- government and resume work,” Union (KMPDU) has argued that public servants. “When the government loots is made up of government troops and former rebels. tors and nurses since December said Peter Munya, the chairman the off er failed to take into ac- Newspaper editorials have it has no limits but when doctors President Alassane Ouattara kept hold of his majority in the 5 has devastated public health of the country’s Council of Gov- count other agreements men- urged the government to give ask for fair pay, the president says December 18 parliamentary polls. services in the country where few ernors. “We have agreed that tioned in the CBA, from the need the poorly paid doctors a decent he has limits,” the union tweeted Legislative elections are usually followed by a change of can aff ord private care. those who don’t resume work, to better equip hospitals to fund- wage while Kenyans on Twitter last week. government as a matter of procedure.

Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, January 10, 2017 AMERICAS

Florida airport gunman set for Trump Cabinet choices court hearing

AFP Miami face big tests this week n Iraq war vet who had told the FBI he was hearing voices urging him to Reuters Trump, Trudeau aides in Awatch Islamic State videos is to ap- Washington talks amid uncertainties pear in court to face charges for the killing of fi ve people at a Florida airport. Senior aides to Canada’s Prime Minis- The FBI said it had not ruled out a ter- enate confi rmation hearings this ter Justin Trudeau have met recently rorist link in Friday’s shooting spree in Fort week for President-elect Donald with top advisers to US President- Lauderdale but that suspect Esteban San- STrump’s nominees for top jobs elect Donald Trump, the government tiago had approached them in November — from secretary of state to attorney said yesterday, reportedly with the acting so erratically he was taken for a men- general — should provide a test of his aim of averting a trade war. tal health evaluation. ability to work with fellow Republi- A spokesman for Trudeau con- “Something has to change,” Broward cans in Congress to enact his agenda. firmed that the prime minister’s prin- County Sheriff Israel Scott told ABC’s Mi- Trump’s challenge is to ensure the cipal secretary Gerald Butts and chief ami affi liate on Sunday. 100-member Senate’s 52 Republicans of staff Katie Telford have met several “People who are suff ering from mental ill- stick together to confi rm his Cabinet times in Washington with Jared Kush- ness should not be allowed, in my opinion, to choices to provide a smooth transi- ner, Trump’s son-in-law, and Stephen purchase or have fi rearms at any time.” tion to power when the real estate Bannon, his chief strategist. Santiago is charged with federal crimes magnate takes over from Democratic The Globe and Mail, which first that could carry the death penalty. President Barack Obama on January reported the talks, described them The 26-year-old fl ew to the Fort Lauder- 20. as a “bridge-building” exercise dale airport on Friday and retrieved a 9mm A total of seven confi rmation hear- and charm off ensive that seeks to handgun and ammunition that he had de- ings are expected this week, starting protect Canada from the impact of clared and packed in his checked luggage. today with hearings for US Senator protectionist policies espoused by Santiago fi red his weapon in the busy air- Jeff Sessions on his bid to become the incoming administration. port until he ran out of ammunition, then attorney general and a session for “This is big stuff we are trying to navi- dropped to the ground and peacefully sur- retired General John Kelly, Trump’s gate here,” a senior Canadian off icial rendered to a sheriff ’s deputy, authorities pick for secretary of homeland secu- was quoted as saying. “We can’t lose said. rity. sight of the fact that the country has Santiago will have his initial appearance Both present opposition Demo- faced diff icult times with the Americans before US Judge Alicia Valle in Fort Lauder- crats the opportunity to raise ques- in the past and we have dealt with it.” dale, the Justice Department said. tions about Trump’s immigration During the election campaign, Video released Sunday by the TMZ web- proposals, such as his vow to build a Trump vowed to renegotiate or site showed Santiago, bearded and wearing wall along the US border with Mexico “terminate” the 1994 North American a blue shirt, walking calmly through the and a pledge to temporarily suspend Free Trade Agreement, which binds baggage claim area. immigration from regions deemed to Mexico, the United States and Canada He strolls past some passengers before be exporting terrorism. in a largely tariff -free trade bloc. removing a gun from his waistband and The hearings are likely to show how Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell arrives at Trump Tower to meet President-elect Donald Trump in New York. shooting it, then runs off -screen. well Trump — a newcomer to elected One woman hid behind a luggage cart as offi ce — and his team are at holding stage in New York his fi rst news con- a room on the sixth fl oor of a govern- that several nominees have not yet Some Republicans like US Sena- others ducked for cover following a brief Republicans in line as he prepares an ference since being elected president. ment building in downtown Wash- completed an ethics review process tor John McCain of Arizona and US moment of stunned confusion. expansive legislative agenda that in- The fi ve include Rex Tillerson, the ington that is being used for transi- demanded by the congressional Of- Senator Lindsey Graham of South TMZ did not say how it obtained the vid- cludes reworking Obama’s signature nominee for secretary of state; Betsy tion activities. fi ce of Government Ethics, but there Carolina have signaled concerns eo, and showed only a 20-second portion healthcare law and tax reform. DeVos, for education secretary; CIA The practice sessions have covered was no sign that this would lead to a about Tillerson’s ties to Russia dur- that included the moments leading up to “I think you’re going to see Senate director designate Mike Pompeo; the gamut of what type of questions delay. ing his tenure as the CEO of Exxon the attack and the fi rst shots. Republicans by and large rally around commerce pick Wilbur Ross; and La- the nominees should expect, includ- Transition offi cials believe some Mobil Corp Senate Majority Leader The suspect, who traveled from Alaska on Trump’s nominees and that will set bor nominee Andrew Puzder. ing everyday concerns like the price Democratic senators facing poten- Mitch McConnell told CBS’ “Face the a one-way ticket, told investigators he had the tone hopefully for a cooperative Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said of a gallon of gas. tially tough re-election bids in 2018 Nation” on Sunday that he was not planned the attack, FBI agent Michael Fer- and productive relationship going he believed all would ultimately be Each mock hearing has also includ- in states that Trump won, such as US surprised by Trump’s bid to reset US lazzo said in court documents. forward,” said Republican strategist confi rmed. ed at least one mock protester who Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri, relations with Moscow. Ferlazzo said Santiago fi red approximate- Ryan Williams. “We have an unbelievable all-star has tried to disrupt the proceedings, a might be more willing to give Trump’s “I remember (President) George W ly 10 to 15 rounds, shooting methodically “That will foster goodwill and col- group of nominees,” he said.”I think transition offi cial said. nominees the benefi t of the doubt. Bush having the same hope. My sus- while “aiming at his victims’ heads.” laboration that will allow the admin- each one of them is going to be con- Nominees have held more than 300 Tillerson’s hearing could be one of picion is these hopes will be dashed FBI special agent George Piro said agents istration to work with Republicans fi rmed with not only Republican meetings with US senators and met the more contentious sessions since pretty quickly,” he said. were looking into motives for the attack, because inevitably there will be dif- votes but with Democratic votes as 87 of the 100 members of the Senate, Trump wants to warm up relations Still, transition offi cials expressed including “continuing to look at the terror- ferences and they will have to address well.” including 37 Democrats. with Russia despite its use of cyber confi dence that Tillerson would win ism angle.” But the Miami Herald reported them at some point,” he said. To get them ready for tough ques- They have spent more than 70 hacking, according to US intelligence, over McCain and Graham to make for yesterday that federal agents had turned up Five more nominees have hearings tions, the Trump team has put the hours participating in mock hearings. to try to tilt the US election for Trump a smooth confi rmation as the top US no evidence on social media of a terrorism tomorrow, the same day Trump is to nominees through mock hearings in Democrats have raised concerns over Democrat Hillary Clinton. diplomat. connection.

Rodeo extravaganza Storm brings fl oods to California

Reuters The weather service said almost 40 and heavy snow shut roads and created Washington rivers or creeks in Northern California hazardous driving conditions. and western Nevada were fl ooded or Iridium Communications said Elon threatened to top their banks. Musk’s SpaceX rocket company had orecasters expect another half But an emergency agency spokes- delayed yesterday’s launch of a Falcon foot of rain to soak central and man said there had been no reports of 9 rocket carrying 10 of its satellites Fnorthern California and the Si- fatalities or serious damage. from Vandenberg Air Force Base, north erra Nevada mountains through early Authorities said a section of Inter- of Los Angeles. The launch was now set today, coming on the heels of power- state 80 near Truckee, southwest of for Saturday. ful storms that walloped the state and Reno, Nevada, was closed by a mud- The storm is drawing strength from other parts of the US west on Sunday. slide. the interaction between an “atmospher- The drenching rains and blowing The upper Napa River north of San ic river,” a plume of water vapor fl owing snow fl ooded rivers and shut down Francisco was expected to cause “ex- from the tropics toward the West Coast, roads from mudslides in a state that treme damage to all towns along the and a low-pressure area near Oregon, the has struggled with drought for years. reach,” the California emergency agen- National Weather Service said. From 7.6cm to 20cm of rain is fore- cy said in a statement. After years of drought, the storm cast in the region while several feet of Anticipated fl ooding brought volun- is the latest in a strong wet season for snow are likely for higher elevations, tary evacuations in neighboring Sono- California that began in the autumn. said meteorologist Andrew Orrison at ma County. Another front is expected today. the National Weather Service’s Weath- Residents of Cambria, near the fa- In an encouraging sign, the US For- er Prediction Center in Maryland. mous Hearst Castle along California’s est Service said the rain had restored “We’re going to see heavy rain go- central coast, were advised to move to moisture levels in Southern California ing into (yesterday) evening and early higher ground due a fl ash fl ood warn- vegetation to a seasonal normal for the morning,” he said. ing. fi rst time in fi ve years. Heavy snow is expected in Nevada Several other California highways The eastern US experienced low and the northern Rocky Mountains were closed from landslides or high temperatures on Sunday, the day after could get several feet of snow over the water. a massive storm dumped snow from next day or two. In Washington state, high winds, ice Georgia to Massachusetts.

Matador Leonardo Rivera pits his cape against a bull during the 23rd Annual Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado on Sunday. Established in 1911, the National Western Stock Show is the premier livestock, rodeo, and horse show in the United States.

Cesar Belvasco walks through a flooded road while carrying his belongings after his home was flooded by the overflowing Petaluma River during a winter storm in Petaluma, California. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 10, 2017 9 AMERICA

Trump strikes back La La Land waltzes off at Streep: ‘overrated’ Clinton fl unky

AFP Times reporter Serge Kovaleski. New York “It was that moment when the with 7 Golden Globes person asking to sit in the most respected seat in our country AFP centre of it, if you ask me,” she onald Trump yesterday imitated a disabled reporter — Los Angeles said. lashed out at screen leg- someone he outranked in privi- Actor Donald Glover — who is Dend Meryl Streep, ac- lege, power and the capacity to due to star in the next Star Wars cusing her of being an overrated fi ght back. It kind of broke my himsical modern-day spin-off fi lm — picked up the “fl unky” of Hillary Clinton after heart when I saw it,” she said. musical La La Land best comedy television series the actress berated him at the “I still can’t get it out of my Wpirouetted its way into award for Atlanta, which he cre- Golden Globes ceremony. head because it wasn’t in a movie. major Oscars contention on Sun- ated, and later won a best actor In what has become an early It was real life. And this instinct to day as it swept the board at the statuette. morning custom for the notori- humiliate, when it’s modeled by Golden Globes, the glitziest party The US presidential election ously thin-skinned president- someone in the public platform, by of the showbiz year. was on the minds of those at the elect, Trump took to Twitter to someone powerful, it fi lters down Damien Chazelle’s nostalgic Beverly Hilton, with many win- settle scores with the three-time into everybody’s life, because it tribute to the Golden Age of Hol- ners giving acceptance speeches Oscar winner. kind of gives permission for other lywood musicals picked up all calling for tolerance and unity. “Meryl Streep, one of the most people to do the same thing.” seven of the statuettes for which Screen legend Meryl Streep overrated actresses in Holly- “Disrespect invites disrespect. it was nominated — giving the took Trump to task in an emo- wood, doesn’t know me but at- Violence incites violence,” she said. fi lm momentum as it launches tional speech as she accepted a tacked last night at the Golden “When the powerful use their po- its campaign for next month’s lifetime achievement award. Globes,” Trump wrote. “She is a sition to bully others, we all lose.” Academy Awards. “Hollywood is crawling with Hillary fl unky who lost big.” Trump has denied mocking Its success struck an optimis- Cast and crew of La La Land, winner of Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy, including Ryan Gosling outsiders and foreigners,” she Streep berated Trump for his Kovaleski and again defend- tic note during a three-hour cer- (fourth left), Emma Stone (fifth left), director Damien Chazelle (centre) and John Legend (fourth right), told the president-elect. “If divisive rhetoric as she received ed himself yesterday against emony marked by impassioned pose in the press room during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on you kick ‘em all out, you’ll have a lifetime achievement award at Streep’s accusation. political speeches voicing anxi- Sunday in Beverly Hills, California. nothing to watch but football and the Golden Globes on Sunday in “For the 100th time, I never ety over Donald Trump’s elec- mixed martial arts, which are not Los Angeles. ‘mocked’ a disabled reporter tion following a campaign which movie Midnight Express, with six pointing haul considering it had On the television side, FX true the arts.” The 67-year-old fought to (would never do that) but simply stirred simmering racial ten- wins apiece. six nominations, including for crime anthology The People vs O Without naming Trump, she control her emotions as she re- showed him ‘groveling’ when he sions. Gosling joked about break- the director and cast members J Simpson: American Crime Story described his unfl attering im- ceived a standing ovation during totally changed a 16 year old sto- “This is a fi lm for dreamers,” ing up his statuette to share with Naomie Harris and Mahershala took home prizes for best limited pression of a disabled reporter as her acceptance speech for the ry that he had written in order to said Emma Stone, who took Stone and Chazelle, before get- Ali. series or TV movie, and best ac- heartbreaking. Cecil B DeMille Award, handed make me look bad,” Trump said home the prize for best actress in ting serious with a heartfelt trib- There was also a shock in the tress for Sarah Paulson for her “Disrespect invites disrespect. out by the Hollywood Foreign in a series of tweets. “Just more a musical/comedy for her role as ute to his partner, the actress Eva best actress in a drama catego- portrayal of prosecutor Marcia Violence incites violence,” she Press Association. very dishonest media!” aspiring actress Mia. Mendes. ry, where Natalie Portman was Clark. said. “You and all of us in this room, Trump also told the New York “I think that hope and creativ- “I would like to try to thank expected to pick up the award But AMC crime drama The Host Jimmy Fallon also cracked really, belong to the most vilifi ed Times in a brief telephone in- ity are two of the most important one person properly and say for her intense turn as Jackie Night Manager swept up three several Trump gags. segments in American society terview that he had not seen things in the world. And that’s while I was singing and dancing Kennedy in Jackie. acting prizes for Tom Hiddles- “This is the Golden Globes, right now.” Streep’s speech but was “not what this movie is about.” and playing piano and having one Instead, the award went to Isa- ton, Hugh Laurie and Olivia Col- one of the few places left where “Think about it. Hollywood, surprised” to be criticized by Her co-star Ryan Gosling — of the best experiences I’ve ever belle Huppert for French rape- man. America still honours the popu- foreigners and the press,” she said “liberal movie people.” who plays jazz pianist Sebastian had on a fi lm, my lady was rais- revenge tale Elle, which also Netfl ix newcomer The Crown, lar vote,” Fallon said in his open- to her peers with a laugh, refer- Streep spoke out with less than — won best actor honors, while ing our daughter, pregnant with captured best foreign language a saga about Britain’s royal fam- ing monologue. encing Trump’s campaign that two weeks to go until Trump’s Chazelle took home prizes for our second, and trying to help fi lm over the heavily favoured ily, picked up statuettes for best For the fi rst time, the arrival of frequently disparaged immigrants inauguration. best director and screenplay. her brother fi ght his battle with German-Austrian dramedy Toni drama series and best actress for Hollywood’s A-listers on the red and what he called biased media. “Hollywood is crawling with La La Land had earned awards cancer,” he said. Erdmann. Claire Foy, who stars as a young carpet — a top moment for fash- The US entertainment industry outsiders and foreigners. If you for best original score and best Kenneth Lonergan’s unfl inch- “It was wonderful to work Queen Elizabeth II. ion lovers — was live-streamed broadly supported Trump’s Dem- kick ‘em all out, you’ll have noth- song for City of Stars shortly af- ing Manchester by the Sea earned with you — you are wonderful. I The 32-year-old British ac- on Twitter. ocratic opponent Hillary Clinton, ing to watch but football and mixed ter the glitzy ceremony began a Globe for Casey Affl eck as best love you, I love you, I love you,” tress said she wanted to thank One trend quickly identifi ed with many stars publicly endors- martial arts, which are not the — setting the tone for a record- actor in a drama, but the fi lm lost Elle director Paul Verhoeven told some “extraordinary women” was the preponderance of beards ing her White House run. arts,” she said, holding back tears. breaking night. out to Barry Jenkins’s coming- Huppert. including the queen, who she of the guests, with a picture of Streep trashed the incoming She urged the “principled Prior to Sunday, the record for of-age movie Moonlight for best Viola Davis picked up best praised for her more than 60 Breaking Bad villain Bryan Cran- president for an infamous cam- press to hold power to account, the most Globes was shared by drama. supporting actress in a fi lm for years on the throne. ston in full facial hair sparking paign speech during which he to call them on the carpet for the 1975 release One Flew Over But that coveted prize was the Fences, the screen adaptation of “I think the world could do the Twitter hashtag #breaking- did a decidedly unfl attering im- every outrage,” to cheers from the Cuckoo’s Nest and the 1978 only one for Moonlight, a disap- August Wilson’s play. with a few more women at the beard. pression of disabled New York the fl oor.

Governor says to shut down nuke plant near densely-populated New York City

Reuters “I am proud to have se- oping contingency plans for Cuomo said replace- New York cured this agreement with years to replace the power ment power would be in Entergy to responsibly supplied by Indian Point, place that adds “no new close the facility 14 years which is located in Bucha- carbon emissions” and ntergy Corp’s Indian ahead of schedule to pro- nan, along the Hudson River would have “negligible Point nuclear power tect the safety of all New about 72km north of mid- cost impact to ratepay- Eplant in New York state Yorkers,” Cuomo said in a town Manhattan. ers.” will shut down by April 2021, statement. The plant produces about The shutdown comes Governor Andrew Cuomo Of the plant’s two operat- 2,069 megawatts of elec- as New Orleans-based announced yesterday, due ing reactors, Unit 2 will close tricity, enough to meet 25% Entergy has been pulling primarily to its proximity to as early as April 2020 and of the power used by New back from its unregu- the heavily populated New Unit 3 in April 2021. York City and adjacent lated nuclear business York City area. New York has been devel- Westchester County. over the past few years to concentrate on its regulated utilities in the South. Indian Point was the only unregulated nu- clear plant it had tried to keep. Entergy has been try- ing to renew the federal licenses for the two In- dian Point reactors since 2007. Those licenses expired in 2013 and 2015, but the units can continue to operate so long as the renewal process is ongo- ing. “For the past six years, my offi ce has led the state’s challenge to Entergy’s request for a twenty-year extension of its license to oper- ate Indian Point,” New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman was quoted as saying in the governor’s statement to the media. “This agreement marks the successful culmina- tion of our work to ad- dress the serious health and safety risks the plant poses to neighboring communities,” Schnei- derman said. The governor said Indian Point had been plagued by numerous safety and operational problems, including faulty bolts, and various leaks and fi res. The densely populated surrounding region lacks viable evacuation routes in the event of a disas- ter, said Cuomo, and the plant was once cited as the most vulnerable to earthquakes in the na- tion. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, January 10, 2017 ASEAN Indonesia president Myanmar warns its workers in Malaysia moves to rein in ‘out after deadly violence

Reuters Last week, four masked men fi ce, Zaw Htay, said safety in- Yangon/Kuala Lumpur wielding swords attacked My- structions had been issued to of control’ army chief anmar workers after they had Myanmar workers in Malaysia left a factory in the Serdang and illegal Myanmar workers Reuters wars and the threat to Indonesia yanmar said yester- district on the outskirts of there were urged to contact the Jakarta are absolutely ridiculous.” In one day it had sent out the Malaysian capital, Kuala embassy, state media quoted speech, Nurmantyo predicted Msafety instructions to Lumpur. him as saying. that a food shortage in China its workers in Malaysia after Five were killed and two Myanmar was working with ndonesia’s President Joko could trigger a fl ood of boat- attackers hacked fi ve of them wounded. Malaysian police Malaysian authorities to in- Widodo reproached his mili- borne refugees. He told listeners to death with swords, weeks said seven Myanmar men had vestigate the attack and the Itary chief in a meeting last he would slaughter 10 cows and after it barred workers from been detained shortly after ban on workers going to Ma- week amid concerns the com- dump them into the sea to attract going there, partly because of the attack and they did not see laysia would remain in force, mander was “out of control” sharks that would devour the security fears. any “religious motivations” he said. after he unilaterally suspended Chinese. Tension between the South- behind it. They gave no more Nyunt Win, deputy director defence co-operation with Aus- One of the offi cials who dis- east Asian neighbours has ris- details. general at Myanmar’s Labour, tralia, two sources briefed on the closed Widodo’s meeting with en in recent months over the Mostly Buddhist Myanmar Immigration and Population meeting said. Nurmantyo said the military fate of Myanmar’s Rohingya stopped its workers going to Ministry, said security worries Widodo’s intervention high- chief’s job was safe, downplay- Muslim minority, with Ma- Malaysia in December, after had been one reason for the lights alarm about General Gatot ing speculation that the general laysia accusing Myanmar of Najib Razak, prime minister ban on workers going to Ma- Nurmantyo, who promotes the would be relieved of his duties. genocide over its treatment of of the predominantly Muslim laysia. notion that Indonesia is besieged “For now, we are confi dent that them. country, described Myanmar’s “There are several reasons by “proxy wars”, in which foreign he will not betray the president Myanmar rejects reports of treatment of the Rohingya as for the ban on Myanmar mi- states seek to undermine the na- or the civilian government,” he abuses by its security forc- “genocide” and called for for- grant workers going to Malay- tion by manipulating non-state said. es against the Rohingyas in eign intervention. sia, including security con- actors. The Australian Broadcasting the course of a crackdown Labour-short Malaysia cerns and the fact that they are Analysts and some of Wido- Corporation reported last week launched after attackers killed hosts about 147,000 Myanmar trying to stir up political trou- do’s aides are also concerned Indonesia President Joko Widodo (right) talks with military Chief that Nurmantyo told an audience nine Myanmar policemen in workers, according to Myan- bles against Myanmar,” Nyunt that Nurmantyo is laying the Gatot Nurmantyo as they walk past fighter jets during a military in Indonesia recently he believed border posts near the Bangla- mar data. The spokesman for Win said. He did not elaborate groundwork for an expansion exercise in Natuna Island, Indonesia. the Australian military was at- desh border on October 9. the Myanmar president’s of- further. of the military’s role in civil- tempting to recruit Indonesian ian affairs in the world’s third- guage training course in Australia dential palace in Bogor, outside soldiers sent to the country for 22,000 Rohingyas fled Myanmar to Bangladesh in one week: UN largest democracy and may late last year. Jakarta. training. Australian Defence have political ambitions him- The material suggested that The meeting was confi rmed by Minister Marise Payne rejected self. Indonesia’s Papua province another senior government aide, the allegation. At least 65,000 Rohingyas have fled to “Over the past week, 22,000 new arrivals Widodo, the fi rst president should be independent and who also spoke on condition of The comments were just Bangladesh from Myanmar — a third of them were reported to have crossed the border from outside the military and mocked the nation’s state ideol- anonymity. Nurmantyo declined one example of the conspiracy over the past week— since the army launched from Rakhine state,” the UN’s relief agency political establishment, needed ogy, Pancasila, according to Nur- requests to be interviewed and a theories Nurmantyo peddles as a crackdown in the north of Rakhine state, the said in its weekly report. “As of January 5, to move quickly to demonstrate mantyo. military spokesman declined to part of his ‘proxy war’ narra- UN said yesterday. an estimated 65,000 people are residing his authority as the country’s One of the offi cials said Wido- comment on the meeting. The tive. The figure marks a sharp escalation in the in registered camps, makeshift settlements commander-in-chief, one senior do and others in the government senior government offi cial said: In a booklet released in 2015, he numbers fleeing a military campaign which and host communities in Cox’s Bazaar” in government offi cial said. were caught off guard when local “We suspect that Gatot is ex- wrote that foreign powers were rights groups say has been marred by abuses southern Bangladesh, said the Off ice for the “With Gatot, the feeling is like media reported Nurmantyo’s an- ploiting this incident for his own seeking to infi ltrate Indonesia’s so severe they could amount to crimes against Co-ordination of Humanitarian Aff airs. he’s a little out of control,” he nouncement of the suspension in political agenda, his own politi- media, education system, Islamic humanity. They also come the same day The exodus of Rohingyas from northern said. military ties with Australia. cal ambition.” organisations, corporations and the UN’s human rights envoy for Myanmar, Rakhine began after Myanmar’s army launched Nurmantyo declared a rupture While the general was not for- “He has been making many political parties to weaken the Yanghee Lee, began a 12-day visit to probe clearance operations while searching for in military ties after an Indone- mally reprimanded, the offi cial public appearances and speech- nation, and seize control of its violence in the country’s borderlands that will insurgents behind deadly raids on police sian offi cer found “off ensive” said, Widodo served him a warn- es lately,” he said. “Frankly, we security apparatus and strategic take her to the army-controlled area. border posts three months ago. teaching material while on a lan- ing during a meeting at a presi- think many of them about proxy industries.

Royal visit

Singapore’s President Tony Tan Keng Yam (centre left) and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (centre right) walk down the stairs after a meeting at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. President Tony Tan Keng Yam is on a four-day official visit to Cambodia.

Rain heaps misery on Thailand moves closer flood-hit Thai south The heaviest rains in 30 years have caused the floods sweeping southern Thailand, the kingdom’s junta leader to death penalty for said yesterday, as the army ramped up eff orts to reach remote inundated areas. At least 21 people have been killed and nearly 1mn people aff ected by the floods corrupt politicians after days of unseasonably heavy rain across the country’s southern neck. Downpours and flash floods have DPA for further deliberations, the as- also disrupted holidays on tourist Bangkok sembly said. islands including Samui and Phangan, Thailand has been under military disappointing tens of thousands of rule since a May 2014 coup. Coup visitors. hailand yesterday moved one leaders cited the need to rid the Despite the end of the monsoon season step closer to approving the government of corruption as one of weeks ago, there were no immediate Tdeath penalty for politicians the reasons for staging it. signs of respite for the flood-battered found guilty of corruption. Critics blasted the proposal, say- region. The “severe flooding is because In a televised session, the junta- ing it could be exploited by the of the worst rainfall in more than 30 appointed National Reform Steer- country’s military rulers to fur- years,” Prime Minister Prayut Chan- ing Assembly passed a proposal un- ther stifl e dissent. “The death pen- O-Cha told reporters. Prayut, who led der which politicians found guilty alty is, fi rst of all, a human rights is- the 2014 coup, warned climate change of corruption involving more than sue. It is never right and is never the meant floods and droughts were 1bn baht ($27.9mn) could face the solution,” Amnesty International in increasingly likely and “Thailand must death penalty. Thailand said. prepare to handle these problems”. Politicians involved in corrup- “The death penalty can be used Soldiers have been deployed to provide tion worth between 100mn and 1bn as a political tool. The authorities relief packages and rescue stranded baht ($2.8 to $27.9mn) could face a in some countries – for example people in the worst-hit areas. life sentence, and those involved Iran and Sudan – use the death Meanwhile boats with special pumping in cases worth up to 1mn baht penalty to punish political oppo- equipment have been dispatched to ($27,900) could be imprisoned for nents,” the statement from Am- Nakhon Si Thammarat province, which fi ve years. nesty said. has seen floods reach rooftops in some The proposal will be submitted to Thailand last carried out the areas, causing deaths and extensive the cabinet and then to parliament death penalty in August 2009. damage to property. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 10, 2017 11 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA S Korea culture minister apologises over ‘blacklist’

Seoul outlets published it. Many on the ists banned from state support playing a key role in creating damaged the public’s freedom of among local artists and opposi- backed dictator Park Chung- AFP list had voiced support for op- because of their political or the list while serving as Park’s expression,” said a spokesman tion party lawmakers, with many Hee who ruled with an iron fi st position parties, or criticised or ideological leanings,” Culture adviser in political aff airs from for the special prosecutors’ team describing it as reminiscent of from 1961-1979, was impeached satirised the administration of Minister Cho Yoon-sun told a 2014-2015. investigating the wide-ranging Seoul’s 1960s-80s army-backed by parliament last month over a outh Korea’s culture min- now-impeached President Park parliamentary hearing. Cultural Cho has denied the accusa- scandal surrounding President rule —when the news, arts and major infl uence-peddling scan- ister apologised yesterday Geun-Hye or past army dicta- offi cials were ordered to stop of- tions, saying she had not been Park. “Those who made the list entertainment were heavily cen- dal. She is accused of colluding Sfor the conservative gov- torships. fering state aid to the plays, fi lms aware of the list until recently. and carried out its orders will be sored. with her secret confi dante Choi ernment’s blacklisting of thou- The list reads like a Who’s Who or other projects involving “left- A former culture minister who held accountable sternly,” Lee “The list dialled back our his- Soon-sil to extract tens of mil- sands of artists for their political of Seoul’s arts scene. It includes leaning” artists on the list. is Cho’s predecessor has been Kyu-chul told reporters. tory to the 1970s ... based on an lions of dollars from local fi rms beliefs, as critics said the at- novelist Han Kang, winner of the “I deeply apologise for letting quizzed by prosecutors, who are The prosecutors are expected anachronistic and unconstitu- and letting Choi meddle in a tempt to muzzle critics was the 2016 Man Booker International the controversial blacklist cause seeking to arrest him and other to quiz Cho and a former presi- tional way of thinking,” the main wide range of state aff airs. worst for decades. Prize, and Oldboy fi lm director so much pain and disappoint- former senior offi cials accused dential chief of staff who is ac- opposition Democratic Party The Constitutional Court is The list of over 9,000 artists Park Chan-wook, who won the ment among the public,” she of compiling the list. cused of leading the project to said in a recent statement, lik- reviewing the validity of the im- in fi lm, theatre, music and litera- Grand Prix at Cannes in 2004. said. “We believe that the list, create the list with Park’s ap- ening it to “21st century McCa- peachment bill. If it affi rms the ture came to light late last year “I ... apologise over the pain Cho, culture minister since aimed at ruling out certain art- proval. rthism”. move, a presidential election when a number of local media and suff ering caused to the art- last September, is accused of ists from state support, seriously The blacklist sparked fury Park, daughter of late army- must be held within two months.

Crusade against graft in China to be China slams Tsai meeting fought at all levels of Communist Party with US Senator Ted Cruz Reuters Beijing AFP China needs to understand that Beijing in America we make decisions about meeting with visitors for hina’s top anti-graft watchdog said yesterday that a mech- ourselves,” the Republican said. anism to keep offi cials in check independent of the Com- hina said yesterday it “The Chinese do not give Cmunist Party cannot exist in China, as it vowed to build a “fi rmly opposed” a us veto power over those with new supervision system to underpin President Xi Jinping’s war on Cmeeting between Tai- whom they meet. We will con- corruption. wan President Tsai Ing-wen and tinue to meet with anyone, in- Xi has presided over a sweeping campaign to stamp out corrup- Senator Ted Cruz, as a state-run cluding the Taiwanese, as we see tion at all levels of the party, from high-level “tigers” down to low- newspaper warned of “revenge” fi t.” level “fl ies”, warning that the rot could threaten the party’s future against president-elect Donald Trump has already irked Chi- if left unchecked. Trump should he abandon the na by accepting a congratula- At a yearly meeting this weekend, the Central Commission for One China policy. tory phone call from Tsai after Discipline Inspection (CCDI) pledged to create a national super- Tsai met Cruz in Houston over he won the presidential election, visory commission and a corresponding national law, as part of a the weekend, the Republican upending decades of diplomatic move to reform the oversight system for thousands of party offi - from Texas said in a statement, precedent in which the White cials. The new commission would combine the functions of cor- with the two discussing arms House has foregone direct com- ruption prevention agencies, supervision authorities and depart- sales, diplomatic exchanges and munication with the leader of ments for handling bribery and dereliction of duty cases, the CCDI economic relations. Taiwan. said in a communique released late on Sunday. The Taiwanese leader was Beijing considers the island Pilot programmes have been set up in Beijing and in central in transit en route to Central to be a breakaway province to be Shanxi province and eastern Zhejiang province. But the reforms America, where she will meet re- brought back within its fold, by would stop short of placing power outside the party, CCDI offi cials gional diplomatic allies. Beijing force if necessary. said at a briefi ng yesterday. had asked Washington to bar her Trump has threatened to get “A supervision mechanism that does not accept party leader- from US airspace. tough with what he sees as un- ship, that is so-called independent, cannot exist,” Wu Yuliang, “We are fi rmly opposed to fair Chinese trade practices, and deputy head of the CCDI said, speaking at the briefi ng. the Taiwan leader’s engagement suggested that the One China Faith in China’s system was in the “blood and DNA” of Chinese with US offi cials under the pre- policy could become a bargain- people, Wu said, adding that the need for an independent body text of transit, and her attempt to ing chip in other disputes. But he only applied in countries where there was separation of powers. undermine China-US relations,” appears to have ruled out meet- Both Xi and Wang Qishan, head of the CCDI, have recently foreign ministry spokesman Lu Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen exits at the Omni Houston Hotel during a “transit stop” enroute to Central ing Tsai during her stopover, highlighted the need to deal with corruption within the commis- Kang told a regular briefi ng. America, in Houston, Texas. saying it is “a little bit inappro- sion’s own ranks, the subject of a television show aired by the state He urged the US to abide by priate” to meet anybody until he broadcaster last week. Wang previously has likened the diffi culty the One China policy and “pru- newspaper, which often takes a There is no room for bargaining,” position. He said the Houston takes offi ce on January 20. of self-supervision to a doctor attempting to perform surgery on dently handle” Taiwan-related nationalistic tone. it said in a Sunday editorial. congressional delegation had The Taiwanese president was himself. The CCDI’s responded in its yearly plenum over the week- issues. Beijing was “fully pre- “If Trump reneges on the One Cruz, who lost to Trump in the received a “curious letter” from transiting in Houston last week- end by tightening internal supervision, introducing extra internal pared” to break ties with the China policy after taking offi ce, Republican primary elections, the Chinese consulate request- end and is slated to return to Tai- checks on the investigation process, and creating provisions for US should Trump abandon the the Chinese people will demand said he had gone ahead with the ing that no one meet her. pei after a stopover in San Fran- evidence collection and case reviews. policy, said the Global Times the government to take revenge. tete-a-tete despite Chinese op- “The People’s Republic of cisco next weekend.

China launches satellites on commercial rocket mission New Legal Year

A Chinese rocket success- news agency reported. The fully sent three satellites into other two satellites will test space in the country’s first technologies of low-orbit commercial mission yesterday. narrow-band communication The rocket Kuaizhou-1A (KZ-1A) and data exchange. blasted off from China’s Jiu- A rocket technology company quan Satellite Launch Center under the China Aerospace in central Gansu province at Science and Industry Corpora- 12:11 pm (local time) with three tion is responsible for the satellites. mission. One of the satellites is Experts say the successes of expected to be used for land Chinese space programmes resource and forestry survey- are significant for China’s one- ing, environmental protection, party rulers to garner support disaster prevention and relief from the population and to purposes, the off icial Xinhua boost international prestige.

NZ woman sells ex-husband’s yacht with NZ$1 reserve

DPA the yacht.” Campbell told lo- Wellington cal website Stuff that, since putting the boat up for sale on- line, she has had some unusual New Zealand woman off ers. One bidder reportedly who is selling her ex- suggested she could keep the Police off icers stand to attention as judges wearing wigs attend a ceremony to mark the beginning of the New Year in Hong Kong, China. Ahusband’s historic sail- boat and marry him instead, ing boat on an online auction while others asked her out for website with a reserve of 1 dinner or proposed to swap it New Zealand dollar, has been for land. swamped with bids. The auc- Campbell told Stuff that tion, which started on January she was happy that the bid- 2, started at NZ$1 but by yester- ding price for the boat is now day afternoon bids had reached starting to get closer to its ac- East Timor ends sea treaty with Australia over oil revenues NZ$505,700 (US$351,664). tual value. “It would have been The boat, a 20-m long good, but slightly heartbreak- schooner built in 1944, is ing, to sell her for a song.” DPA Greater Sunrise fi elds. The treaty fi cation. The two countries will on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), arrangement” in 2002 and a Sea called Ruah and is insured for “Obviously people have seen Sydney has been at the centre of spy al- then negotiate a permanent in The Hague over the conten- Treaty in 2006. The treaty splits NZ$800,000, according to the value in her and are willing legations, UN arbitration and a boundary. tious maritime boundary dis- future revenue from the Greater the advertisement put online to put their money where their bitter diplomatic row. Last year, it was revealed pute. Sunrise reserve equally between by owner Fiona Campbell. “I mouth is,” she said. ast Timor has told Aus- “The Government of Australia that Australia had bugged East East Timor, since its inde- the two countries while placing bought my seafaring husband Art philanthropist Campbell tralia that it wants to ter- has taken note of this wish and Timor’s cabinet offi ce in 2004 pendence from Indonesia in a 50-year moratorium on a per- this beautiful yacht. We had made her fortune as one of the Eminate a 2006 treaty that recognises that Timor-Leste has during the negotiations for the 2002, has accused Australia of manent maritime boundary. amazing trips on it and I loved early Trade Me investors when divides revenue from the lucra- the right to initiate the termina- sea treaty. repeatedly refusing to negotiate Dili argues that the border sailing her,” Campbell wrote on she sold her shares in the com- tive oil and gas reserve in the tion of the treaty,” a joint state- The two countries are cur- a permanent boundary, costing should be halfway between East the auction website Trade Me. pany ten years ago. Timor Sea. ment said yesterday. rently participating in concilia- billions of dollars in revenue. Timor and Australia, which “But then my husband and The boat auction closes on At stake is $40bn per year in The treaty will cease three tion proceedings, the fi rst of its The two countries signed a would place a larger area of the I divorced and I was left with January 16. oil and gas revenues from the months from the date of noti- kind under the UN Convention “temporary resource-sharing oil and gas fi eld in its territory. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, January 10, 2017 BRITAIN/IRELAND N Ireland’s McGuinness resigns

Agencies power sharing in the region, if for Foster to step down. in lost revenue. Foster has been boiler. Foster survived a vote of dismissed threats from Sinn Fein of the RHI crisis. In his resigna- Belfast either the fi rst minister or the In his resignation letter, under pressure to stand down for no confi dence in the assembly that McGuinness might resign tion statement, he wrote: “The deputy resigns the coalition gov- McGuinness said: “The fi rst the duration of a proposed inde- just before Christmas. She in- in protest if she refused to stand DUP’s handling of this issue has ernment between unionists and minister has refused to stand pendent inquiry into the renew- sisted earlier yesterday that she aside. been completely out of step with artin McGuinness, nationalists falls. aside, without prejudice, pend- able heating initiative (RHI). would not “blink fi rst” over de- Foster said: “If (McGuinness) the public mood which is rightly Northern Ireland’s dep- The former chief negotiator ing a preliminary report from an The RHI scheme off ered huge mands that she step down from is playing a game of chicken, outraged at the squandering of Muty fi rst minister, has for Sinn Fein during the peace investigation. That position is and, its critics say, massively the post even temporarily while if Sinn Fein are playing a game public money and the allegations announced that he is resigning process, who admitted to be- not credible or tenable.” infl ated fi nancial incentives to the “cash for ash” aff air is inves- of chicken and expecting me to of misconduct and corruption.” as deputy fi rst minister over the ing an IRA commander at the “It is with deep regret and re- farms, businesses and other non- tigated. blink in terms of stepping aside, “The public are demanding refusal of fi rst minister Arlene Bloody Sunday tribunal, said he luctance that I am tendering my domestic consumers to use bio- The Democratic Unionist they are wrong. If there is an robust action and accountability Foster to step aside in the “cash was leaving the post because of resignation as deputy fi rst minis- mass boilers that mostly burned leader came out fi ghting yes- election, there is an election and but the DUP, in particular Arlene for ash” row. a refusal by Foster to stand down ter with eff ect from 5pm Monday, wooden pellets, as well as solar terday morning after a weekend we will be ready for that election Foster, have refused to accept McGuinness’s resignation temporarily from her job. 9th January 2017.” thermal and heat pumps. barrage of criticism, mainly from as the DUP always are. For clarity, this.” means a new Northern Ireland He said the party’s ruling cen- Serious questions have been In February last year, a whistle- her party’s sole partner in the re- I will not be stepping aside. I will He added: “We now need an assembly election, which will be tral committee had agreed on the raised by opposition parties blower alleged the scheme was gional government, Sinn Fein. take my direction from the elec- election to allow people to make expected to be rancorous and di- strategy on Sunday night. The about the “cash for ash” scandal, being abused and that at least In a message issued through torate, certainly not Sinn Fein.” their own judgment on these is- visive, is inevitable. decision followed calls from Sinn which has an estimated cost to one farmer had made £1mn from her local Fermanagh newspaper, McGuinness later bitterly sues democratically at the ballot Under the complex rules of Fein’s president, Gerry Adams, the taxpayer of at least £400mn renting an empty shed with one the Impartial Reporter, Foster criticised the DUP’s handling box.” Man told to take citizenship test despite living entire life in UK

Guardian News and Media try I was born in!” he wrote in London his letter. He said it was absurd that someone in his position should man born in London to have to sit an English-language German parents has been profi ciency test or be questioned Atold he cannot get a Brit- on the history or culture of Brit- ish passport unless he takes a UK ain. citizenship test because he can- “In accordance with the be- not prove his mother was legally loved Passport Offi ce I need to in the country when she gave pay £1,121 and undergo a ‘Wel- birth. come to your new life in the UK’ Dom Wolf, 32, said he felt be- test, to prove I can speak Eng- trayed by the country in which lish, know who Queen Lizzy is he was born and has written to and can sing Candle in the Wind. Theresa May in the hope she can Madness.” intervene. “I feel I am stuck in the mid- Wolf’s parents came to Britain dle of … hopeless bureaucracy,” in 1974 with his mother working said Wolf, an economics gradu- for the University of London as ate working in the City of Lon- a lecturer and his father being don. “I have incurred a student self-employed. He has been told loan of £30k in the UK and I pay by authorities he needs to pro- a rather large chunk of my wages vide proof they were here legally, into the tax pot. I feel off ended even though they were entitled and let down by the country of to live and work in Britain under my birth and might just move to EU law. a nice off shore location and start In his letter to the prime min- paying into their tax system in- ister, Wolf explained that his stead. Why should I pay money parents gave him a German pass- to become a formal ‘resident’ or There were chaotic scenes outside Liverpool Street station yesterday morning as thousands tried to board packed buses. port as a reminder of his heritage be forced to go back to a country when he was born and he never I have never lived in?” he wrote. considered applying for a British “I hold an EU German pass- one until the Brexit referendum port. An unwanted residue from because it was never necessary. my parents, to remind me of “Holding a British birth their heritage. They moved to Tube strike causes commuter chaos certificate and having had my the UK in 1974 and lived here parents live, work and raise accordingly for the majority of four boys in the UK for over 42 their lives (over 42 years to date). London Evening Standard At Liverpool Street, Simon Allison, 25, was trying to reach RMT union leader Mick Cash be recruited for stations this year. years, I made the devastating I was born in Westminster, Lon- London Johnson, 47, said: “It’s danger- Shepherd’s Bush station when said the Tube strike was justifi ed There will also be increased op- assumption that this would be don, and have never lived in any ous. It’s every man for himself. she was caught up in crowds at because so many jobs had been portunities for promotion.” an easy process. Oh boy was I country other than the UK. I I’m considering ringing my boss Clapham Junction, the capital’s axed that it had been reduced to Tory MP Chris Philp said wrong,” he told her. went to school and university in triking Tube workers yes- asking if he really wants me to biggest interchange. “There was an “understaff ed-death trap”. the Clapham Junction incident In the letter, Wolf said he had the UK and I speak fairly intol- terday brought chaos to come in and run a team today. It’s complete gridlock in the station But London Underground said showed the unions’ own actions been told by the Passport Of- erable German and Spanish (a Sthe capital despite London chaos.” as they weren’t letting passengers it had responded to the union were putting people in danger and fice his birth certificate was not product of our education sys- Underground agreeing to de- Cyclist Simon Quantrill, who enter platforms from the under- concerns by off ering new jobs. discomfort. “This makes a mock- enough and he had to provide tem),” he said. mands to create hundreds more lives in Clapham, said: “It is re- pass,” said Allison, who said it Steve Griffi ths, chief operating ery of union claims to be con- tax or employment records for Wolf has not yet received a jobs at salaries of up to £45,000. ally scary out there. Cyclists are took 15 minutes just to get out. offi cer, maintained there was “no cerned about safety. Their own his mother. reply from the prime minister. While union leaders claimed taking huge chances. The traffi c “There was a huge queue in the need to strike” because he had actions caused a safety concern The University of London He also expressed his frustra- they were striking in the name of is mad, the whole way up — espe- overhead walkway. I was queuing agreed with the unions that more yesterday morning. They have does not have records from tion that the Passport Offi ce, “safety”, there were frightening cially around London Bridge and for 40 minutes to get to my plat- staff were needed on stations. endangered the lives of London- 1982, when Wolf’s mother was which he said was “very sym- scenes as crowds fought to get onwards.” form, then they announced the He said: “We had always in- ers doing nothing more than try- working there before his birth, pathetic”, could not correspond on to limited services, trains and Labour Mayor of London Sadiq entire station was being evacu- tended to review staffi ng levels ing to get to work.” so she made a subject access with HMRC to get supporting buses. Khan condemned the 24-hour ated ‘for passenger safety due to and have had constructive dis- The chaos was far more severe request for all the historic data documentation. “I’d pay £200 The morning of mayhem came strike, called by the RMT and overcrowding’.” cussions with the unions. We than originally predicted by LU from Revenue & Customs of- extra just to have the Passport despite a series of measures from TSSA unions, branding it “com- Yesterday’s misery was at the agree that we need more staff as up to 4,000 station and ticket fices. HMRC told her it did not Offi ce pick up the phone and ask Tube bosses to ease the staff - pletely unnecessary”. start of a week of strikes, with in our stations and have already staff took part in the walkout. have records, resulting in Wolf HMRC for their records. Every ing crisis. Clapham Junction was More than 4mn Tube users three days of walkouts set to started to recruit 200 extra staff The mayor urged the unions to being told he would be treated time you ask HMRC something evacuated temporarily at the were left struggling to get to work halt all Southern rail services to- and this is likely to increase fur- get back round the table to resolve like an immigrant seeking nat- it takes 40 days to get a re- height of the peak period as seri- and school as the Left-wing un- day, tomorrow and Friday and ther as we work through the other the dispute “amicably”. He said uralisation. sponse and then it’s ‘we don’t ous overcrowding caused safety ions combined forces to bring a 48-hour strike by British Air- areas that need to be addressed.” that all sides were “at fault” and “I’m advised to apply for have a record’, and then you have concerns. Across the city roads the network to a halt, costing the ways cabin crew cancelling some “Taking into account existing apologised to Londoners for the residency in the UK – is this a to write again,” Wolf told the were gridlocked and queues capital millions in lost trade. fl ights from Heathrow today and vacancies and natural turnover disruption they had suff ered as a bad joke? Residency in a coun- Guardian. formed for trains. Publishing editor Catherine tomorrow. this means that over 600 staff will result.

Govt reforms ‘risk undermining unis’

London Evening Standard loted by minister Jo Johnson, London goes into committee stage in the House of Lords, where it faces a rough ride from ore than 180 top peers. academics from Some 185 London aca- MLondon’s leading demics from institutions higher education institu- including Imperial College tions united yesterday to London, the LSE, UCL and warn that government re- Kingston University set out forms risk undermining the their concerns in a letter to capital’s great universities. the Evening Standard, in Changes to the way uni- which they warned: “The versities are organised and Bill risks undermining eve- assessed would damage rything we have recently London’s stature and de- built up in London.” London, ter students, particularly they said, is a “global educa- those from overseas, from tion powerhouse” with four choosing to study here, they of the world’s top 40 univer- claim. The attack comes on sities, earning £6bn annu- the day the Higher Educa- ally and supporting 150,000 tion and Research Bill, pi- jobs. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 10, 2017 13

BRITAIN/IRELAND

INQUIRY PEOPLE CRIME COMMENT LEGAL House price growth picks Teacher’s Instagram Man knifed outside Justice system has let Ministry of justice adviser up speed again: Halifax shots click with Japan restaurant critical me down, says judge faces jail for rent fraud

Growth in house prices picked up A London teacher has become one of the A young man is fighting for life in hospital A black judge has accused the judicial A senior government adviser who swindled speed for the second month in a row in world’s most popular British photographers after being stabbed outside a restaurant system of “casual discrimination” after he taxpayers out of more than £42,000 in bogus December, helped by a shortage of homes on Instagram despite only starting to take in east London. The man, in his twenties, was rebuked for criticising a colleague. Peter rent claims for her second home is facing jail. to buy, but price increases are likely to pictures two years ago. Jide Obadina, known is believed to have dialled 999 as he lay in Herbert, a part-time crown court judge, Dr Nadia Habashi, 47, made a series of fake slow in 2017, mortgage lender Halifax as @jibesy, has amassed 100,000 followers the road in Dalston after being knifed in the was brought before a disciplinary panel expenses claims while in charge of race and said yesterday. House prices have risen on the social media site, making his amateur chest and back at 4.20pm on Sunday. Police after making a speech at a rally in defence equality at the ministry of justice. She was more slowly since the shock decision photography account one of the largest sealed off Arcola Street as they launched of Lutfur Rahman, the disgraced former seconded to the government at a senior level by voters in a referendum last June to by any Brit in the world. The 35-year-old, an investigation. Staff at restaurant Mangal mayor of Tower Hamlets. In the speech, he by the Crown Prosecution Service, leaving her leave the European Union but surveys by originally from Clapham but who now lives Ocakbasi, a favourite of Jamie Oliver and implied that a decision to bar Rahman from home in the North-East to take up the job in Halifax and rival lender Nationwide have in Japan, began posting pictures to the site actor Elijah Wood, said they saw passers-by standing for public off ice after he was found the capital. She rented a flat in south London shown them holding up in late 2016. The as “a bit of fun”. But his popularity grew fast, go to the aid of the man from a window. A guilty of electoral fraud was rooted in a belief and paid some of the rent but made claims resilience has confounded the warnings of with tens of thousands of people making manager said: “Someone stayed to hold the that ethnic minorities were “not regarded totalling £42,480 between January 2006 and former finance minister George Osborne his the most followed images by a Brit in the wound. The victim could talk to police on as British”. A disciplinary panel found the June 2013 that did not go to her landlord, who said in May that house prices would country. Obadina, who teaches English in a the phone.” The victim was taken to an east allegation did not merit a suspension but Southwark crown court heard. Habashi could fall by between 10% and 18% if the country girls’ grammar school in Tokyo, said he was London hospital where police described his ordered that Herbert be given “formal advice” face a jail term when she is sentenced next voted to leave the EU. shocked by the speed of his success. condition as critical. about future conduct. month.

Red Cross claims over Media wrongly NHS crisis dismissed interpreting

Guardian News and Media London eremy Hunt has rejected the Brexit views, British Red Cross’s descrip- Jtion of a humanitarian crisis in emergency NHS care, arguing that most hospitals are coping better this winter than they did last year. The health secretary said says premier while it was “totally unaccept- able” for patients to be left on Guardian News and Media the steps of Downing Street. them as somehow parochial or il- trolleys for hours, the situation London May said the time had come for legitimate instead.” was improving. a “new philosophy” of fairness and She said people were question- Meanwhile, the Health Service solidarity, arguing that Brexit was ing whether globalisation was Journal (HSJ) yesterday reported heresa May has suggested a once-in-a-generation chance to working for them when they were that the Royal College of Emer- the media are responsible step back and decide what type of losing their jobs and watching gency Medicine (RCEM), which Tfor a slump in the value of country Britain wanted to be. their wages stagnate. represents emergency doctors, the pound by wrongly claiming her Many of her comments will be “They come to a simple conclu- was in “early discussions” over views about Britain leaving the EU seen as being aimed in part at her sion: that there is one rule for the more funding for A&E depart- equate to a hard Brexit. Conservative predecessor, David rich and powerful and another for ments, in the hope this could The prime minister was re- Cameron, and other politicians, everyone else.” end up saving money on locum sponding to a question about the such as Tony Blair. May said her government’s doctors. negative market reaction to her In particular, May attacked the challenge was to show that cen- Mike Adamson, the chief ex- comments on Sunday when she failure of “mainstream, centre- tre-ground politics could deliver ecutive of the British Red Cross, hinted that the UK would not be ground politics” to respond to change, respond to concerns, and reiterated his charity’s descrip- able to remain a full member of public concerns in recent years, set things right. tion of the situation, saying his the European single market, but which had resulted in people turn- The prime minister outlined the staff were helping out in 20 A&E would instead have to negotiate a ing to “the politics of division and key social injustices on which she departments. new trade deal. despair”. wanted to focus: racial discrimi- “We see people discharged Asked if the markets were get- “We see those fringe voices nation, the poor life chances for from hospital to chaotic situ- ting her vision of Brexit wrong, gaining prominence in some coun- white working-class boys, gen- ations at home, falling and not or if she was getting it wrong, tries across Europe today – voices der inequality and diffi culties for being found for hours, not being May replied: “I am tempted to say from the hard left and the far right young people. washed because there is no carer that the people who are getting it stepping forward and sensing that She then focused her speech on to help them,” he wrote in an ar- wrong are those who print things this is their time. new mental health policies which ticle for the Times. saying I’m talking about a hard “But they stand on the shoul- had been trailed over the weekend. “These are people in crisis and Brexit, it is absolutely inevitable it ders of mainstream politicians “An estimated one in four of us in recent weeks we have started is a hard Brexit. I don’t accept the who have allowed unfairness and has a common mental disorder talking about this as a humani- terms soft and hard Brexit,” she division to grow by ignoring the at any one time. The economic tarian crisis. We don’t say this said. legitimate concerns of ordinary and social cost of mental illness is lightly and we have a duty to say “What we are doing is going to people for too long.” £105bn – roughly the same as we it,” he said. get an ambitious, good and best She said centrist politicians spend on the NHS in its entirety,” Speaking on ITV’s Good possible deal for the United King- had embraced the “great forces” she said, promising to focus in Morning Britain, Hunt said he dom in terms of trading with and of liberalism and globalisation particular on children. would be making a statement to operating within the European but failed to understand that too May gave her speech exactly MPs on the situation in the NHS. single market.” many people on modest and low a year after Cameron delivered a Asked about reports of emer- May stressed it would have to be incomes saw those as things to be major speech on the same subject, gency patients being kept on a “new relationship” because Brit- “concerned, not thrilled about”. in which he pledged £1bn of extra trolleys for hours due to a lack of ain would no longer be a member The prime minister said she funding for mental health. May did available beds, Hunt said: “Well, of the EU. was talking about politicians who not provide additional funding on these problems are totally unac- “We will be outside the Euro- had supported an economic sys- top of that, but off ered a strength- ceptable. This is the most diffi - pean Union and therefore we will tem that worked well for a privi- ened package on mental health, cult time for the NHS in the year. be negotiating a new relationship leged few but failed to ensure the including piloting approaches It always is very diffi cult after across not just trading but other prosperity was shared across the within schools to identify and the Christmas period when GP areas with the European Union.” country. “Politicians who made support children in need. The surgeries are not open over the The comments came during her the deals and signed the agree- prime minister has also commis- actual days of Christmas and Prime Minister Theresa May visits the Wellbeing Centre in Aldershot, south-west of London, yesterday. fi rst speech of the year, which she ments that changed the nature of sioned two reviews, one into serv- then they reopen and a lot of The centre provides support to people recovering from mental health needs by assisting them with used to fl esh out her vision for a their country, but failed to listen to ices for young people and the other people get sent to hospital.” everyday living skills and accessing community activities. “shared society” fi rst outlined on the public’s concerns – dismissing on well-being in the workplace.

Jury selected in Arctic blast expected Rolf Harris trial

AFP era so Harris could see them, be- to bring snow to UK fore entering the jury benches. London “We in the courts are waking up Guardian News and Media side, and Warrington. land on Saturday. In Bulgaria, to the reality that we live in the London Gusts of 55mph are expected police said three people, in- ntertainer Rolf Harris digital world,” McCreath said. in exposed coastal areas and on cluding a man from Iraq and a watched by video link yes- “We can very happily try Harris hills as well as blizzards. Somali woman, had died from Eterday as a London court without him having to be here. emperatures are expect- Warning areas could expe- cold in the mountains near chose a jury at the start of his It actually makes a lot of sense ed to drop below zero rience 2-5cm of snow, with Turkey as they travelled to Eu- trial over a string of alleged sex for him to attend this trial re- Tin many parts of Brit- 10-20cm possible on higher rope. assaults. motely.” ain this week as an arctic blast ground. Lightning could ac- Met Office forecaster Mar- The Australian television Jurors were warned to rely sweeps across the country. company the heaviest show- co Petagna said: “We could star, 86, is accused of seven only on the evidence heard in A cold northernly wind will ers, with potential disruption see the coldest day of winter counts of indecent assault and court and not to conduct their hit parts of the UK tomorrow to power supplies as a conse- on Friday. A cold front mov- one of sexual assault which al- own research. Prosecutors are evening, including northern quence, the forecaster said. ing in from the Atlantic will legedly took place between 1971 expected to open their case Scotland and the North Sea Snow showers are expected bring heavy frost and frequent and 2003. against Harris tomorrow and the coast, as well as Northern Ire- to develop which, combined snowstorms. During this period Harris en- trial is expected to last around land, parts of Wales, Devon and with strong winds, could affect “It is likely that 5cm-10cm joyed celebrity status in Britain, six weeks. won through a combination of After studying art in London, Cornwall, before reaching the travel conditions. of snow will come in from catchy songs and quick drawings Harris found fame in the 1960s rest of the UK by the weekend. Freezing temperatures the north and fall as far as the which made for popular chil- when he secured his own televi- The Met Office has issued a across Europe in recent days south of the country on Friday, dren’s television. sion show after landing work at “yellow” severe weather warn- have led to more than a dozen and there could be even thicker Judge Alistair McCreath ruled the BBC. He scored a chart hit ing for snow and wind from to- deaths and major disruption snow in the hills. in December that Harris does with the 1969 track Two Little day evening to noon on Thurs- to power, water supplies and “Daytime temperatures to- not have to attend the trial in Boys, about two youngsters who day. transport networks. Tempera- morrow will be about 4-6C but person due to his age and health. grow up to fi ght in a war togeth- The forecaster said cold air tures as low as -30C (-22F) harsh winds will make it feel as Appearing on a screen, seated at er, and performed his song Tie from Arctic Canada would caused ice to form on the Adri- if temperatures are well below a table wearing a dark jacket and Me Kangaroo Down, Sport with bring snow showers and strong atic sea, the Danube and many freezing. Temperatures will tie, the artist and former pop the Beatles. winds to areas including Black- small rivers, lakes and ponds. become increasingly colder star spoke to confi rm his name. His success continued with burn with Darwen, Blackpool, In Italy, eight deaths were throughout the week and by Harris watched on video link as a the BBC’s Animal Hospital in the Cheshire West and Chester, blamed on the extreme cold, Friday it is likely that night- jury of seven men and fi ve wom- 1990s and in 2005 he painted an Cumbria, Greater Manchester, and there were two more time temperatures will be as en were selected. 80th birthday portrait of Queen Halton, Lancashire, Mersey- weather-related deaths in Po- low as -2C.” Rolf Harris: fallen entertainer They stood in front of a cam- Elizabeth. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, January 10, 2017 EUROPE German leader seeks faster deportations

DPA a risk are as closely monitored side of Milan, had links to ex- Berlin as possible even before a pos- tremist Islamist groups and was This file photo taken on March 15, 2016 shows Breivik (left) and sible conviction,” Maas told due to be deported by the Ger- his lawyer Storrvik leaving a makeshift court in Skien prison’s DPA. “The use of electronic tags man authorities. gym in Skien, some 130km southwest of Oslo, at the end of the hancellor Angela Merkel should not be taboo.” He had 14 aliases and was con- first day of Breivik’s lawsuit against the Norwegian state. has called for faster de- Earlier Maas told German sidered by the nation’s security Cportations of failed asy- public television that the gov- authorities to be a threat to pub- lum-seekers as Germany moves ernment wanted to take steps to lic safety. to expand its anti-terrorism laws improve the current laws to en- Germany has been on edge following a series of deadly at- sure that those deemed to be a since July following two Islamic Court to review tacks in the country. potential threat can also be held State (IS)-inspired attacks in the “Those illegally here must in custody. southern state of Bavaria. leave our country,” Merkel said Those detained would then De Maiziere has already set out Breivik’s ‘inhumane’ in a speech to the German Civil have to be returned to their coun- steps to take surveillance opera- Service Federation in Cologne. tries of origin, said Maas, who is tions and powers for deporting Experience shows that the a member of the Social Demo- failed asylum-seekers away from treatment ruling authorities could decide much crats (SDP), the junior member of Germany’s 16 states and central- more quickly whether asylum- Merkel’s conservative-led coali- ising them in Berlin to help over- seekers can stay in Germany and tion. come delays in repatriating those AFP ued multiculturalism, was whether their countries of origin At the same time, the govern- considered to be risks to public Oslo sentenced in August 2012 to 21 were secure enough to return to, ment has raised the prospects of safety. years in prison, a term that can she said. imposing fi nancial sanctions on But the plan has run into stiff be extended if he is still con- Justice Minister Heiko Maas states that do not accept the re- Merkel: We need better networking in the EU. opposition from state govern- Norwegian court will sidered a threat. set out yesterday a new package turn of their nationals who are ments. examine today the Some survivors hailed hu- of measures, including jailing Is- rejected as asylum-seekers. The measures are to be dis- December 19 terrorist attack in In her speech, Merkel also said Astate’s appeal against a manity’s victory over an inhu- lamists considered to be a threat The ministry of economic cussed at a meeting today be- Berlin when 24-year-old Tuni- that European security services ruling that right-wing extrem- mane killer in the April ruling to public safety and introducing co-operation and development tween Maas and Interior Minister sian Anis Amri ploughed a truck needed to boost their networking ist and mass murderer An- against the Norwegian state, electronic tags to help monitor warned yesterday that develop- Thomas de Maiziere. into a crowded Christmas market to help tackle the threat posed by ders Behring Breivik has been but it pained many relatives of extremists in the nation. ment aid should be directly tied The meeting has been called to killing 12 and injuring about 50. terrorism. treated inhumanely since be- the victims and was criticised “We have to do everything we to the willingness to co-operate consider what further steps Ger- Amri, who was shot dead by “We need better networking in ing jailed for killing 77 people in the media. can to ensure that those deemed with deportations. many needs to take following the Italian police four days later out- the EU,” she said. nearly six years ago. During the lower court’s A lower court made waves hearing, Breivik repeatedly Afghans suspected of molesting women in Austria in April when it found that provoked onlookers by making Breivik’s human rights were a Nazi salute and complaining A group of six Afghans are suspected of having sexually harassed a violated as he was subjected about cold coff ee and frozen Asylum applications in Germany number of women in Innsbruck on New Year’s Eve, the city’s police chief to “inhumane” and “degrad- meals. said yesterday. ing” treatment in prison – a The Norwegian press de- Police have identified a group of men who are aged between 18 and 22 decision that disturbed many scribed the ruling as “wrong” drop to 320,000 last year: report years, and who all came to Austria as refugees, police chief Martin Kirchler families of the victims, mostly and “diffi cult to digest”. said at a press conference. teenagers at a summer island Unsurprisingly, the state ap- The young men allegedly touched at least 18 women and girls inappro- camp. pealed. DPA According to the fi gures, gath- 890,000 asylum-seekers arrived priately as crowds celebrated the end of the year in the streets of the “We hope that the state Attorney General Fredrik Se- Berlin ered from registration databases in Germany. Tyrolean capital. wins this new round, that jus- jersted has insisted that “there from Germany’s Federal Of- The newspaper also reported One of the men has confessed, while the others claim that they cannot tice digs deeper into the case,” is no evidence that Breivik is fi ce for Migration and Refugees that around 900 people were de- remember anything, Kirchler said. said the head of a family sup- physically or mentally aff ected sylum applications (BAMF), the number of monthly tained by authorities in Germany The incidents were similar to those in the German city of Cologne one port group, Lisbeth Kristine by his prison conditions”. dropped in Germany in asylum registrations went down for human traffi cking in 2016, a year earlier, when hundreds of Arab and North African suspects allegedly Royneland, whose 18-year- The state maintains that A2016 to around 320,000, throughout the year. major reduction in comparison attacked female revellers. old daughter was shot dead by Breivik is not isolated, argu- a substantial decrease in com- In January, 91,671 people reg- to the year before. Breivik in the killing spree on ing that he has regular contact parison to the year before, while istered for asylum Germany- Up until the end of Novem- Utoya island. with guards and other profes- the number of people arrested for wide. ber 2016, 906 people had been migration route through the Poland (70), Germany (57), Iraq Breivik is imprisoned in a sionals. human traffi cking in the country However, by December only detained by Germany’s Federal Balkans, one of the major ways (57) and Russia (56), the newspa- 30sq m (320sq foot) three-cell They say his separation from also decreased, local media re- 16,441 applied, the newspaper Police, compared to 3,370 traf- refugees moved from Turkey to per said. complex where he’s allowed to other prisoners is for his own ported on Sunday. said, while adding that the sys- fi ckers for all of 2015, Welt am Western Europe, the paper said, The main hot spot for human play video games and watch security and that of others. Around 321,000 people regis- tem didn’t register exact names Sonntag said, citing fi gures from as well as the European Union’s traffi cking in Germany remains television on two sets. Breivik’s lawyer Oystein tered for asylum in Germany in and was therefore subject to Germany’s interior ministry. 2016 refugee deal with Turkey. the country’s border to Austria, The 37-year-old also has a Storrvik counters that “the 2016, the country’s Welt am Son- some degree of error. The reduction in arrests was Most of the human traffi cking where authorities arrested 481 computer without Internet ac- state has not put in place con- ntag newspaper reported. In 2015, approximately due to countries closing off the suspects came from Syria (72), people involved in it in 2016. cess, gym machines, books and crete measures to remedy Brei- newspapers. vik’s mental vulnerability and But beyond these comfort- damage due to prolonged iso- Court upholds jail able material conditions, a dis- lation”. trict court judge had ruled that Some changes however have time for Cologne security measures took exces- been made to his prison condi- 17 arrested with links to ‘Kimye’ heist mayor’s attacker sive precedence over human tions in recent months, includ- rights. ing replacing a glass wall with A German federal court upheld She pointed to the fact that a grid during his lawyer’s vis- DPA discovery of DNA traces on a yesterday a 14-year prison Breivik had been kept isolated its and increased contact with Paris piece of jewellery that fell dur- sentence for the man who from other inmates “in a pris- guards. ing the robbers’ escape by bicy- stabbed a woman in the neck on inside a prison”, without But Storrvik considers these cle. because of her pro-refugee enough social activities. measures to be insuffi cient and rench police arrested 17 Investigators also used video stance, the day before she was The ruling also questioned has called for his client to be suspects in connection surveillance images, the report elected mayor of Cologne. the many potentially “humili- able to interact with other de- Fwith the October robbery said. Frank S, a 45-year-old man ating” strip searches, the sys- tainees. of US reality television and so- Kardashian West had been whose name was withheld under tematic use of handcuff s and The Oslo Court of Appeals cial media star Kim Kardashian in the French capital to attend German privacy laws, was found other frequent awakenings at will hear the civil case at Skien West, the Paris prosecutor’s of- Fashion Week shows with her guilty by a Dusseldorf court in night, especially in the early prison where Breivik is being fi ce told DPA yesterday. mother and sister. July for the attempted murder of days of his imprisonment. held for security reasons. The suspects were aged be- Kardashian West, who fi rst Henriette Reker in October 2015. On July 22, 2011, Breivik car- The court will also have to tween 23 and 73, the prosecu- gained notoriety when a sex The assailant had approached ried out two attacks, fi rst kill- rule on an appeal by Breivik, tor’s offi ce said, confi rming ear- video of her was made public in Reker – then an independent ing eight people by detonating regarding his inability to freely lier reports of the arrests. 2007, remained uncharacteris- mayoral candidate – and attacked a bomb at the foot of a govern- communicate with the outside Broadcaster BFMTV said the tically silent on her social media her with a hunting knife. ment building in Oslo. world. 17 were detained during early channels for months following He admitted to the attack, saying Then, disguised as a police On that point, the judge in morning police operations in Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. the heist. that he targeted Reker for her offi cer, he killed 69 others by April ruled in favour of the southern France and in the Paris She published her fi rst posts position on refugees. opening fi re at a Labour Party state, which closely monitors region. shaken, but physically un- ellery box valued at €5mn. since then on Twitter and In- The Federal Court of Justice in youth camp on the Utoya island and fi lters the prisoner’s corre- Kardashian West and her harmed”. The prosecutor’s offi ce said stagram at the start of the year, Karlsruhe said yesterday that it with the teenagers trapped by spondence to prevent him from husband Kanye West are known During the incident, fi ve peo- that the jewels had not been showcasing photographs of her had rejected his appeal. the freezing waters of the sur- forming a network capable of as “Kimye” in the media. ple disguised as police arrived at retrieved during yesterday’s ar- two children and husband Kan- Reker, the social aff airs co- rounding lake. carrying out new attacks. Kardashian West, 36, was the hotel before two entered the rests. ye. ordinator responsible for the The attacks were the worst Breivik claims this violates held up during a robbery at her apartment where Kardashian A spokesperson declined to France and its capital have accommodation of refugees in committed on Norwegian soil his right to privacy. rented fl at during a stay in cen- West was staying, robbing her give further details about the seen security tightened after a Cologne until she took over as since World War II. The trial is expected to last tral Paris on October 3. of an estimated €9mn ($10mn) operation. series of terrorist attacks that mayor, sustained critical injuries Breivik, a self-proclaimed six days and the date of the ap- Her spokesperson said at the worth of jewellery, including a According to BFMTV, the ar- have left more than 230 people and was placed in an artificial neo-Nazi who said he killed peals court’s decision is not yet time that the star was “badly ring valued at €4mn and a jew- rests were made following the dead in the past two years. coma before making a recovery. his victims because they val- known. Spanish animal shelter head jailed ‘Cold case calendar’ issued AFP The court said Aguilar injected tered the animals to reduce costs Madrid “healthy animals of diff erent and make room for the centre’s breeds, mainly dogs and cats” for-profi t activities. without sedation with euthanis- The shelter for abandoned an- to inmates to solve crimes Spanish court has sen- ing drugs while Gamez held them imals also provided paid groom- tenced the head of an ani- down. ing services as well as a private Amal shelter to three years Aguilar is said to have used a animal clinic even though the AFP of them serious off ences that “An investigation ... has Authorities have set aside and nine months in jail for kill- smaller dose of the euthanising director did not have a veterinary The Hague have been languishing for dec- shown that there are plenty of €800,000 (nearly $1.1mn) in re- ing hundreds of healthy dogs and drugs than is advised, in order to diploma. ades. people, an estimated 800 peo- ward money for helping to solve cats in a way that provoked “pro- save money, and injected it di- Prosecutors said that the pair In these cases “witnesses play ple, with information about the cases on the calendar, off er- longed agony”. rectly into muscle tissue instead disconnected security cameras utch police have come a crucial role”, said Wim Perlot, unsolved crimes in the Nether- ing from €15,000 to €20,000 for The court in the southern city of intravenously as recommend- when they killed the animals and up with an inventive way who heads the police squad for lands,” said Perlot. “Perpetra- each one. of Malaga also slapped Carmen ed, it added. would play loud music over a Dto seek new leads in so- cold cases. tors often speak about a crime “Solving a case means an end Marin Aguilar, 72, with a fi ne of This caused a “slow death with megaphone to mask the ensuing called “cold cases” – turn them Police are now handing out some time after it had been to a family’s suff ering for years €19,800 ($20,800) after fi nding a painful and prolonged agony”, “howls”. into a year-long calendar and an experimental calendar of 52 committed.” because of uncertainty and her guilty of animal cruelty and the court said in its ruling. Both Aguilar and Gomez have hand them to prison inmates. weeks – each week featuring a Among the cold cases is that doubt,” said Jeroen Hammer, a document falsifi cation. Prosecutors accused the pair denied killing the animals. “Experience has shown police cold case crime – which author- of the disappearance of eight- cold case investigator. A janitor at the Parque Ani- of having killed 2,183 animals be- Aguilar told the court during and prosecutors that inmates are ities hope may produce fresh year-old Manon Seijkens on Hammer says the idea of a mal shelter in Torremolinos on tween January 2009 and October her trial that she “loves animals” among those who know quite a leads in stalled investigations. August 10, 1995, in Helmond in “cold case calendar” was fi rst the Costa del Sol, Felipe Barco 2010, when the alleged slaughter and could not have injected them bit about (unsolved) criminal The calendars are to be hand- the southern Netherlands. sparked during a visit to the Gamez, 55, was jailed for one of the animals fi rst came to light because she has a “phobia” of off ences,” Dutch police said in a ed out nationwide in prisons at Seijkens’s body was discov- United States, where authorities year and ordered to pay a fi ne during an inspection of the fa- needles. statement yesterday. Leeuwarden, Zutphen, Sittard, ered fi ve months later dumped have issued a type of card game of €3,600 for his role in the pet cilities. “I don’t even dare to cut their There are some 1,500 “cold Zwaag and at the Schiphol Jus- in a Dutch canal but her mur- to prison inmates featuring cold deaths. They believe the pair slaugh- nails,” she added. cases” in the Netherlands, many tice Complex. derer has never been found. cases. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 10, 2017 15 EUROPE Turkey says EU is ‘incomplete’ without it, eyes better ties with US

AFP would not blindly accept the EU’s “visa liberalisation for Turkish which has dramatically reduced the North Atlantic Treaty Or- “I believe dialogue with Trump He also called on the US to halt Ankara “inconsistent policies and double citizens to be provided imme- the numbers crossing into Eu- ganisation (Nato) member state will be stepped-up on both sides, support for the Syrian Kurdish standards towards our country”. diately”, a reference to EU com- rope via Greece. have soured in the past year over with progress on regional issues,” Peoples’ Protection Units (YPG), Turkish Foreign Minister Mev- mitments on visa-free travel for The accession talks stalled af- human rights and freedom of the president told an ambassa- which Turkey see as linked to urkey has urged the Eu- lut Cavusoglu said he wanted nearly 80mn Turkish citizens ter a failed coup in July by a rogue speech issues. dors meeting. the outlawed Kurdistan Workers ropean Union to revive more chapters in the accession made in March under an EU-An- Turkish military faction was fol- US-Turkey relations were also For his part, Cavusoglu said Party (PKK). Tstalled negotiations on talks to be opened “by lifting ar- kara deal to curb migrants enter- lowed with a crackdown that saw strained in the aftermath of the that he thought the United States Washington considers the YPG Ankara joining the bloc, saying tifi cial obstacles to our EU mem- ing Europe. mass arrests of not only offi cers failed coup attempt, with Ankara would “not continue to make the as an ally in the fi ght against the without it Europe was “incom- bership”. Progress on visa-free travel but also journalists, activists, accusing the Pennsylvania-based same mistakes it has previously so-called Islamic State (IS) group plete” and calling for visa-free A “chapter” is a specifi c area has been held up by EU demands academics and others. Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen made”. in Syria. travel for its citizens immedi- of negotiation, ranging on issues – rejected outright – that Er- “We’ve played an important of being the mastermind behind He repeated a demand for the “Turkey and the US are two ately. from human rights to economic dogan amend Turkey’s draconian role in Europe’s past and will do the putsch. United States to extradite Gulen strategic partners, with poten- “The EU is still a strategic co-operation. anti-terror laws to ensure they do so in the future,” Cavusoglu said, But Erdogan and Cavusoglu and his top followers to Turkey tial (and) power to create posi- choice for our country,” said Cavusoglu did not specify not breach human rights. adding: “A Europe without Tur- said they were convinced rela- – request that has been made re- tive eff ects in a wide geographical President Recep Tayyip Erdog- which chapters he meant. Erdogan threatened in Decem- key is incomplete.” tions would improve under Don- peatedly since the thwarted July region,” the Turkish foreign min- an, while insisting that Ankara He also said Turkey expects ber to cancel the migrant deal, Relations between the EU and ald Trump. 15 coup. ister said.

Cyprus leaders seek European cold snap historic peace deal Reuters that he will travel to Geneva only Geneva if it is apparent there is the pos- sibility of a deal. The two agreed to reassess the situation on the he leaders of both sides eve of the conference,” the offi - of ethnically divided Cy- cial said. Tprus began new unifi ca- Asked on arrival at the United claims more lives tion talks yesterday but sought Nations in Geneva if he was op- to temper hopes of a swift break- timistic, Anastasiades said: “Ask AFP/DPA weather service told DPA. through, though its UN envoy me when we are fi nished.” Warsaw/Rome “For Puglia, we’re calling this said a deal to resolve one of Eu- Akinci was equally circum- an exceptional event,” she add- rope’s most enduring confl icts spect, saying on Sunday: “We ed. was within reach. are not pessimistic, but I see no cold snap gripping Eu- Italian media reported that Turkish Cypriot leader Mus- need for exaggerated expecta- rope has killed more eight people have died since tafa Akinci and Greek Cypriot tions that everything will just Athan 30 people in recent Friday due to the sub-zero tem- President Nicos Anastasiades, happen. We are expecting a dif- days, left thousands of travellers peratures, although the Italian launched a week of consulta- fi cult week.” stranded in snow-covered Tur- government said there had been tions in Geneva to tackle dozens New UN Secretary General key and brought fresh misery for no deaths confi rmed as a result of disagreements stemming from Antonio Guterres, who is expect- migrants and the homeless. of the cold weather. the 1974 division of the Mediter- ed to attend the conference on The double-digit sub-zero More snow is expected in the ranean island. Thursday, has described the talks temperatures hit Poland par- next 12-18 hours in Abruzzo, The talks will focus initially on as a “historic opportunity” for a ticularly hard, with the mercury along with gale force northerly how to handle property disputes breakthrough. plummeting below -20° Cel- winds and high waves in the stretching back more than 40 But the issues are diffi cult. sius (-4° Fahrenheit) in some southern regions of Basilicata, years. Power-sharing, redrawing regions. Calabria, Campania, Molise, But with several past recon- territorial boundaries, and se- Sunday was the country’s Puglia, and Sicily, according to ciliation eff orts having failed, curity issues in a future reunited worst 24 hours so far for cold- the Italian Air Force weather both leaders have been careful homeland have all frustrated related deaths. service. this week to cool expectations of past negotiations. “Yesterday, 10 people died of The cold front is expected to a quick fi x. Property rights are also a sen- cold,” Poland’s centre for na- last until mid-week, according The United Nations special sitive issue for thousands of in- tional security (RCB) said yes- to Meteo.it weather service. envoy for Cyprus also said yes- ternally displaced people who terday in a statement, adding Heavy snowfall in Turkey’s terday that the talks were open- were driven from their homes in to the same number of fatali- main city Istanbul paralysed ended. periods of confl ict before, during ties over the preceding two days traffi c for a third straight day “We are now in the fi nal mo- and after Turkey invaded the is- combined. while the Bosphorus Strait, one ment. We are now really in the land’s north after a brief Greek- The number of hypothermia of the world’s busiest shipping People board a plane during moment of truth. This is actually inspired coup in 1974. victims has reached 65 since bottlenecks, was shut due to snowfall yesterday at Ataturk where will fi nd out if this can be A combination of restitution, November 1, the centre added, poor visibility. international airport in Istanbul. solved,” said Espen Barth Eide, a compensation and exchange and local authorities issued Ferry services between the Norwegian diplomat appointed were being discussed yesterday, smog alerts across Poland amid European and Asian sides of the town of Sjenica saw the mercury to the UN envoy’s job in 2014. with International Monetary a deep freeze yesterday. city were scrapped and schools plunge to -33° C. “I’m not saying on a specifi c Fund and World Bank offi cials Greece and Italy have also across the city closed. Traffi c on the Danube and date. Because it’s open-ended,” included in the talks, though it seen fi erce cold weather over the Flagship carrier Turkish Air- Sava rivers was halted in Serbia. he told a news briefi ng, urging was unclear how any deal might past week and in both countries lines said 314 fl ights were can- Scores of migrants in the islanders estranged for decades be paid for. several migrants died of hypo- celled yesterday, with chief capital Belgrade took shelter in a to “seize the moment”. Despite the expressed caution, thermia. executive Bilal Eksi telling an- warehouse near the railway sta- The talks are scheduled to mediators are keen to press on In Italy’s central and southern gry passengers that snow had tion, spurning shelters provided broaden on Thursday to include while both communities are led regions, schools and factories caused a lack of take-off and by the government for fear they Britain, Greece and Turkey, the by political moderates. were forced to close to close as landing slots at Ataturk airport. would be deported back to their guarantor powers of Cyprus un- Both Anastasiades and Akinci local elections were delayed. Some international fl ights countries. der a convoluted treaty foisted are from Limassol, a port city on Heavy snowfall and icy con- were expected to resume after “It’s very diffi cult, espe- upon the former colony when it Cyprus’s southern coast. ditions caused several towns and 6pm (1500 GMT), but all do- cially at night,” said Niamat, a became independent from Brit- Akinci belongs to a dying gen- cities in the Molise and Puglia mestic fl ights to and from the 13-year-old Afghan. ain in 1960. eration of Turkish Cypriots who regions to postpone local elec- airport had been scrapped. The temperature overnight Their concerns will include speaks almost fl uent Cypriot tions as offi cials urged residents On a normal day, it can handle was -15° Celsius. security, and specifi cally the role Greek. to stay home. more than 1,500 landings and “I have been waiting here for Turkey and its 30,000 troops Dozens of issues remaining af- In the central Abruzzo region, take-off s. three months and I do not know stationed in northern Cyprus ter 18 months of talks in Cyprus a number of factories, includ- Eksi earlier said over 600 when I will be able to continue A statue of the ‘Fountain of the Naiads’ is covered with ice at Rome’s will play in any reunifi cation of need to be resolved in the next ing those of the Sevel and Honda fl ights were cancelled on Sunday my journey,” said the young mi- Piazza Repubblica. the country as a two-state fed- two days before the sides submit carmakers, were closed, while and more than 10,000 travel- grant, who is travelling alone. eration. maps outlining their proposals school pupils were forced to stay lers unable to reach Istanbul had Ismail, aged 16, added: “No- Night for 120 years at the week- At the Moria refugee camp on The rival sides are poles apart for the future boundaries of the home in several districts in the been put up in hotels worldwide. body is helping us, it’s very cold end, according to media reports. the island of Lesbos, more than on that issue. island’s two constituent states. southern Calabria, Molise and In the Czech Republic, six and I’m worried how we will en- Two people died of hypother- 2,500 people are living in tents, Greek Prime Minister Alexis “It’s not easy to make these Puglia. people died during the weekend, dure this.” mia in Moscow between Decem- without hot water or heating, Tsipras and Turkish President fi nal agreements ... it is also pos- “We’re calling this phenom- very probably of hypothermia, Schools were closed across ber 31 and January 9, Russian including women, children and Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed sible because I don’t know any enon a thermal anomaly, be- four of them freezing to death in cities in central Siberia yester- news agencies reported. the handicapped, said Apostolos Cyprus by phone for more than issue in these negotiations that cause temperatures in many Prague, media reports said. day but classes resumed in Mos- Greece, with more than Veizis from the charity Doctors an hour yesterday, a Greek gov- really cannot be solved if suffi - central and southern locations A 68-year-old homeless man cow where the temperature rose 60,000 mainly Syrian refugees Without Borders. ernment offi cial said. cient will is available,” Eide said. are between 10° to 12° C below was found frozen to death in by seven degrees to -20° C. on its territory, has moved many He said there were more than “Concerning the process, the Any agreement must be put to average,” meteorologist Serena the Macedonian capital Skopje The Russian capital recorded migrants to prefabricated hous- 300 people in a similar situation Greek Prime Minister expressed separate referendums in the two Giacomin from Epson Meteo.it while in Serbia, the southeastern its coldest Orthodox Christmas es and heated tents. on the island of Samos. the view to the Turkish President communities.

Russia ‘tired’ of US hacking claims Germany probes fake news drive

AFP dent Barack Obama and Presi- on Sunday that “he’s not deny- Reuters nomenon of a dimension that Hans-Georg Maassen, presi- Moscow dent-elect Donald Trump. ing entities in Russia are behind Berlin we have not seen before,” Seibert dent of the BfV intelligence “We still don’t know what data these particular hackings”. told a regular government news agency, told Germany’s DPA is really being used by those who President Barack Obama, who briefi ng. news agency at the weekend that he Kremlin has branded present such unfounded accusa- has received the same briefi ng, erman government of- Last month BfV said it had the agency’s analysis showed the a hacking report by US tions,” Peskov said, insisting the said on Sunday that he under- fi cials said yesterday that seen a wide variety of Russian OSCE hack had been conducted Tintelligence baseless and Kremlin was “categorically de- estimated the impact of Russian Gthey were carefully exam- propaganda tools and “enor- using the same “attack infra- amateurish, saying that Mos- nying any implication” it was re- hacking and that “this is some- ining an unprecedented prolif- mous use of fi nancial resources” structure” as the Bundestag hack cow is growing tired of denying sponsible for the alleged hacking. thing that Putin has been doing eration of fake news items amid to carry out disinformation cam- blamed on APT28. claims the Russian government “We are growing rather tired of for quite some time in Europe”. intelligence agency reports of paigns aimed at destabilising the A spokesman for the agency meddled in the US election. these accusations. It is becom- Putin: accused of having ordered The hacking claims pushed Russian eff orts to infl uence the German government. confi rmed the remarks. “These are baseless allegations ing a full-on witch hunt,” Pesk- the campaign to tilt the US vote. ties between the US and Rus- country’s parliamentary election The OSCE, whose 57 members The Kremlin denounced yes- substantiated with nothing, done ov said, echoing Trump’s claim sia – already at their lowest since in September. include most European nations, terday a US intelligence report on a rather amateurish, emotion- ahead of Friday’s briefi ng by revealing those sources. the Cold War due to Ukraine and The BfV domestic intelligence Russia and the United States, that Russia had tried to infl uence al level that is hardly worthy of spy chiefs that the hacking rev- In December, the White House Syria – to a new nadir. agency also confi rmed that a De- also said last month it had been the US election in favour of Re- professional work of truly world- elations were a “political witch said the GRU Russian military Obama in December expelled cember cyber-attack against the the target of a cyber-attack, but publican Donald Trump, and said class security services,” Kremlin hunt” aimed at discrediting him. intelligence orchestrated a hack, 35 suspected Russian spies and Organisation for Security and declined to comment on a report no evidence had been produced spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Peskov added that “witch helped by the Federal Security slapped sanctions on Moscow’s Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in French newspaper Le Monde to show Russian offi cials were journalists. hunts” by US politicians are usu- Service and various third parties, main intelligence agencies over used the same tools seen in a 2015 that it was launched by APT28. involved. US intelligence agencies re- ally followed by “more sober spe- though without saying exactly the scandal. hack of the German parliament Commenting on the cyber- German offi cials said Berlin leased a report on Friday saying cialists, more sober approaches how the alleged hack was perpe- Putin refused to retaliate in that was attributed to the APT28 attacks, German foreign minis- had looked into creating a sepa- that Russian President Vladimir which seek dialogue rather than trated. kind to the measures as Moscow Russian hacking group. try spokesman Martin Schaeff er rate branch of the 500-person Putin personally ordered a cam- emotional fi ts”. Trump did not reject the re- pins its hopes on Trump – who Russia denies being involved said: “We take the incidents re- government press offi ce that paign of hacking and media ma- The declassifi ed US intelli- port’s fi ndings that Russia- has publicly praised Putin – to in any cyber-warfare targeting lated to possible hacking attacks would specifi cally evaluate and nipulation to upend the cam- gence report contained largely ordered hacking occurred, but improve ties. the West. against the OSCE very seriously, respond to fake news items. paign of Democratic presidential open-source information to denied that it swayed the elec- Peskov said the Kremlin has Government spokesman Stef- and we also take other cases very But that eff ort is in the early candidate Hillary Clinton. show that Russian state media tion outcome and blamed “gross not been in touch with Trump’s fen Seibert said Germany would seriously.” stages and may not result in any The Kremlin’s comments were followed a pro-Trump line and negligence by the Democratic team and for the moment is not use all possible means to inves- “It is obvious that everything concrete steps given concerns the fi rst offi cial reaction by Mos- said there was “high confi dence” National Committee” for lax cy- making any plans for a face-to- tigate the spread of fake news on must be done to prevent and im- about the government appearing cow to the public report, which in intelligence from multiple ber-security. face meeting “at least until pres- the Internet, adding the best re- pede such incidents as much as to try to manage news in an elec- was half the length of the clas- sources that Putin ordered the His incoming chief-of-staff ident-elect becomes president” sponse was greater transparency. possible in our sphere, in our do- tion year, according to sources sifi ed version presented to Presi- campaign to tilt the vote, without Reince Priebus told Fox News later this month. “We are dealing with a phe- main,” he said at the briefi ng. familiar with the matter. Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, January 10, 2017 INDIA

DIPLOMACY EDUCATION APPEAL INVESTIGATION COMPETITION Embassy in UAE to IGNOU starts language Allow Jallikattu, TN CBI arrests steel plant Uber to invest $50,000 help stranded sailors course in Russian CM urges central govt executive for graft in e-commerce startups

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) App-based taxi operator Uber yesterday yesterday asked the Indian embassy in yesterday launched a certificate programme in yesterday urged the central government to yesterday arrested Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) announced the winners of ‘UberPITCH 2016’, the United Arab Emirates to ensure that Russian, intended to provide students a basic promulgate an ordinance to organise Jallikattu executive director B P Burma for allegedly taking an India-wide competition to find the brightest sailors stuck in merchant ships in the Gulf knowledge of the language. The six-month or bull taming sport during the Pongal festival. bribe to pass a tender. The CBI also arrested startups. The winning companies are e-commerce country do not suffer shortage of essential programme, worth 16 credits, is bilingual (Russian In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Binay Kumar Singh, who had allegedly given the startup SeekSherpa, agriculture firm LeanAgri and supplies. “I have asked the mission to and English) and will be off ered through self-learning Panneerselvam said Jallikattu was an integral part Rs100,000 to Burma. Singh is a representative of health startup Ambee. Uber will invest $50,000 in ensure that Indian sailors do not suffer for material integrated with audio-visual components of Pongal and the festival holds great importance a company which supplies refractories to the RSP, the companies and invite them to San Francisco want of essential supplies,” the minister by way of open and distance learning mode. “The for the people of Tamil Nadu. “Considering the CBI sources said. Meanwhile, the investigating where they will get guidance from top executives tweeted. On Friday, Swaraj said India will programme is useful for all sections of society and urgency, the government of India should consider agency was examining Burma’s bank accounts and other venture capitalists. SeekSherpa is a resolve the issue. She was responding to especially for those engaged in tourism, defence, promulgating an ordinance removing the legal in Rourkela. On Sunday, a six-member team of digital platform for locals to market and sell unique media reports that 41 Indian sailors were multinationals, education, BPO, and small and impediments enabling the conduct of Jallikattu the CBI raided Burma’s residence and off ice in experiences to travellers. LeanAgri aims to provide stranded in four abandoned merchant ships medium enterprises (SME) sector,” Shivaji Bhaskar during Pongal, 2017,” he said. The Supreme Court in Rourkela and seized Rs2mn cash in notes of end-to-end solutions to farmers to increase their in Ajman. In another tweet, Swaraj said: at IGNOU’s School of Foreign Languages, said in a May 2014 banned Jallikattu across Tamil Nadu. The Rs2,000 denomination. Besides, the off icials also farm productivity. Ambee is a network of hospital “We have contacted the captains of the two statement “It is equally useful for fresh graduates court also said bulls cannot be used as performing seized some important documents during the and private ambulances on a single technology vessels, ship owners, port authorities and who wish to go to Russia and the CIS (Commonwealth animals either for Jallikattu events or for bullock search. Investigation into the seizure of cash from platform, enabling users to find the nearest the government.” of Independent States) for further studies.” cart races in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra or elsewhere. Burma was underway, said the sources. ambulance to go to a destination of their choice.

Second No rift, says Scorpene sub set for launch Mulayam as IANS Mumbai

inister of State for De- fence Subhash Bhamre Mwill launch Khanderi, symbol war the second of the Kalvari Class submarines, at the Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) here on Thursday, an offi cial said. The launch would see the sep- aration of the submarine from the pontoon on which it is being escalates assembled and to its fi nal set- ting afl oat, as the country enters Both factions meet Election ‘cycle’, met Zaidi for nearly 40 too held talks with the election the golden jubilee year of Indian Commission, stake claim over minutes. He was accompanied by watchdog. Navy’s submarine arm this year. ‘cycle’ close aide Amar Singh and broth- “We came to the Election Com- The fi rst submarine of the Ka- er Shivpal Yadav. mission to urge them to a taken a lvari Class – built by MDL in col- Agencies He told the Election Commis- decision on the party symbol as laboration with France’s DCNS as New Delhi sion that the convention called soon as possible because nomina- part of Project 75 – is completing by the Akhilesh Yadav camp was tions (for the assembly polls) will its sea trials and is due to be com- “unconstitutional” and that the start soon (January 17),” he told missioned into the Indian Navy amajwadi Party patriarch party’s symbol should remain reporters. soon. Mulayam Singh Yadav yes- with them. He refused a comment on Mu- The state-of-the-art features Sterday said there were no He also said while there was a layam Singh’s claims that there of the Scorpene include supe- diff erences between him and his resolution appointing Akhilesh were no diff erences with Akhilesh rior stealth and ability to launch son and Uttar Pradesh Chief Min- as party president and another Yadav. a crippling attack on the enemy ister Akhilesh Yadav. one appointing him as its mentor; Ram Gopal Yadav has ruled out using precision-guided weapons. After meeting Chief Election there was no resolution removing a rapprochement. The attacks can be carried out Commissioner Nasim Zaidi, Mu- him from the party chief’s posi- “The majority is with Akhilesh with torpedoes, tube-launched layam Singh told reporters, in an tion. Yadav. The symbol will go to who- anti-ship missiles both while un- apparent reference to his cousin On Sunday, Mulayam Singh ever has numbers,” he said on the derwater or on surface in all thea- Ram Gopal Yadav, that “one per- had said he remained the party weekend after submitting to the tres including the tropics, giving son” was creating problems in the president and that Akhilesh Election Commission six boxes it invulnerability unmatched by party. Yadav was just the chief min- of documents with signatures of many other submarines. “There are some who have in- ister. support from more 200 of the Sa- It can undertake multifarious fl uenced my son. I had a talk with The comment followed the majwadi Party’s 229 lawmakers. missions like anti-surface and him last night and also in the Akhilesh faction’s decision of Earlier, Devendra Upadhyay, a anti-submarine warfare, intel- morning with him over the issue. January 1 to replace Mulayam lawyer representing Akhilesh Ya- ligence gathering, mine-laying, There is no dispute between my Singh with the chief minister as dav, said Mulayam Singh had yet area surveillance, etc, that are son and me. the Samajwadi Party head. again refused to accept a copy of typically undertaken by any “There is only a bit of dispute Since then, both factions of the the reply fi led by Ram Gopal Ya- modern submarine. within the party, not much. Only party have petitioned the Election dav on the election symbol. The Khanderi has been built one person is responsible for this. Commission to claim its symbol “The Election Commission had on the “modular construction” But that will be resolved soon,” he ahead of assembly elections in the directed that before fi ling the re- technique, which divided it into added. state. ply with them we should provide several sections and outfi tting Mulayam Singh, who is stak- Later yesterday, Akhilesh con- a copy to Mulayam Singh. I tried them concurrently, a complex ing claim over the party symbol fi dant and uncle Ram Gopal Yadav to give him a copy but he refused,” task involving laying kilometres Upadhyay said. of cabling and piping in extreme- CBSE postpones board exams to March 9 At Mulayam Singh’s Delhi ly congested compartments. home, Ram Gopal Yadav’s face All the equipment have been The board exams for students of Entrance Test (NEET) complete has been torn out of a party poster installed in the submarine with class 10 and 12 have been post- the CBSE examinations ahead of that features the rest of the lead- 95% cabling and piping com- poned by a week due to elections these entrance exams,” the CBSE ers. pleted while processes like pres- in five states, and will now start said. The exams for class 10 will be While Akhilesh Yadav is be- sure testing, setting-to-work from March 9, the Central Board held between March 9 and April lieved to have indicated his will- and commissioning of various of Secondary Exams (CBSE) an- 10, while for class 12 they will take ingness to contest on another systems are underway. nounced yesterday. The board “has place between March 9 and April symbol, his faction wants the The most important safety made all possible eff orts to main- 29. Over 1mn and 1.6mn students ‘cycle’ with potential partner milestone of “vacuum testing” tain reasonable time gap between will appear for class 12 and class Congress keen on him retaining was completed in the very fi rst the major papers and also ensured 10 exams respectively this year. it. Elections will be held in seven attempt on a single day, on Janu- that the students appearing for Punjab, Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh, phases in Uttar Pradesh starting ary 5, matching the record of Ka- Joint Engineering Exam (JEE) and Goa and Manipur will go to polls be- on February 11, which leaves little lvari which also completed it in upcoming National Eligibility cum tween February 4 and March 8. time for either faction to popular- A Samajwadi Party worker carries a poster urging party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav to hand over one shot – a feat unmatched in ise a new symbol with voters. the ‘cycle’ symbol to his son and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, in New Delhi yesterday. submarine construction history. Rescue work halted Lab visit Aamir’s Dangal becomes in mine accident highest-grossing Hindi fi lm IANS against those responsible , rela- Ranchi tives of the victims said. Agencies vice-president of studios at Dis- came out in July, made Rs3.15bn On the complaint of Block De- Mumbai ney India, said. and sits third on the all-time velopment Offi cer (BDO) Boari- Dangal, directed by Nitesh Ti- grossing list. hough five people still jor Rajeev Kumar, an FIR has wari, is based on the true story of Christmas has turned out to be remain missing in the been registered against Mahal- ctor Aamir Khan’s lat- wrestling coach Mahavir Singh lucky for Aamir Khan in the past TDecember 30 mine col- axmi Company, ECL and several est blockbuster Dangal Phogat who raised his daughters few years. lapse in Jharkhand, Eastern other unnamed people. But it is Ahas become the highest- Geeta and Babita Phogat to be- Even PK, Dhoom: 3 and 3 Idiots Coalfields Limited (ECL) au- surprising that the charges cited grossing Bollywood fi lm of all come champion wrestlers. released around the festival and thorities have called off the res- are for easily bailable off ences, time, smashing his own record, Geeta won a gold medal for In- their success gave the actor more cue operation, an official said they said. trade analysts and producers said dia at the 2010 Commonwealth reasons to celebrate. yesterday. Also, the Rs1.2mn compensa- yesterday. Games while her sister topped the According to Pandey, Dangal The tragedy at the Rajmahal tion announced for the victims’ The wrestling drama, which is podium at the 2014 Common- is breaking and setting new dis- Opencast Project of ECL, located families, is yet to be given. based on the true story of an In- wealth Games. tribution circuit benchmarks all at Lalmatia in Godda district, The relatives of the fi ve work- dian coach who trained his two Dangal is a Hindi word used to over India, in centres in key south claimed 18 lives. ers, who are still missing, have daughters to become champion describe a wrestling competition. markets, in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, “The rescue operation has now given up hopes of fi nding grapplers, has made Rs3.45bn Khan, 51, gained a lot of weight Punjab, Rajasthan and central In- been halted due to technical the remains of their loved ones ($50.59mn) in just three weeks, to play the role of Mahavir before dia. reasons. If the rescue operation as the rescue operation has been according to bollywoodhungama. quickly losing 25kg to appear as “Even in key international is continued, there are chances halted. com. a younger version of the markets like North America and of accidents as there is strata Superintendent of Police That is more than the previ- coach elsewhere in the Australia, Dangal is setting new movement on top of the mine,” Harilal Chouhan said he was ous top grosser – Khan’s science fi lm. benchmarks,” Pandey said. said ECL general manager R R waiting for the report of the Di- fi ction fi lm PK, which amassed The movie was re- “In fact, in North America, Amitabh. rectorate General of Mines Safe- Rs3.40bn during its entire run leased on December 23 the movie is set to be the highest “There are at least fi ve bod- ty (DGMS). An employee from Team Indus at the Axiom Research Lab in 2014. and was India’s sec- grossing foreign language movie ies trapped inside the caved-in DGMS sources say there was explains the functioning of a lunar rover model to French “This is our ninth fi lm ond hit wrestling for 2016. mine. The rescue operation will criminal negligence on part of Minister of Foreign Aff airs and International Development with Aamir Khan and fi lm of 2016. “Dangal is also the highest per- be re-started soon,” he said. the ECL officials and the out- Jean-Marc Ayrault during his visit to the lab in Bengaluru with Dangal we’ve bro- Sultan, forming Hindi movie dubbed in Even nine days after the ac- sourced company – Mahal- yesterday. ken our own record of starring Sal- Tamil language, beating the pre- cident no action has been taken axmi. PK,” Amrita Pandey, man Khan, vious record of The Jungle Book.” Gulf Times Tuesday, January 10, 2017 17 INDIA

NRIs and PIOs seek more time to exchange banned notes

IANS The government on December hold huge amounts of the banned “The RBI or overseas branches counts and using debit/credit for Terming the note ban a wel- ter Narendra Modi on Sunday Bengaluru 31 extended the deadline to June notes as we transact in local cur- of state-run banks like SBI (State payments or transactions. come move, a majority of the thanked the diaspora for sup- 30 for NRIs and PIOs to deposit rency and the Indian rupee is not Bank of India) should be advised “We bring a few thousands of diaspora said its implementation porting the note ban, many or exchange the old Rs500 and fully convertible, we should be to open counters at our embassies rupees with us whenever we fl y was, however, poor as their rela- NRIs and PIOs said unlike their on-Resident Indians Rs1,000 after the November 8 given enough time to exchange in all countries for depositing the to India for initial expenses at air- tives were at the receiving end of resident Indians they were not (NRIs) and Persons of In- demonetisation. them since most of us come to banned notes whatever be their ports or food, local travel and pur- the cash crunch and the econom- impacted as they don’t transact Ndian Origin (PIOs) have Resident Indians travelling or India once or twice in a year,” Ab- number as they are our hard- chases before converting dollars ic disruption. in rupee, which is not fully con- sought extension of the deadline living abroad temporarily have raham said on the margins of the earned cash,” said Gopalankutty or other currencies,” said Kanavar, “If the high value notes were vertible. to exchange or deposit banned been given three months – up to 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. Karnavar, a Muscat-based NRI who heads the Malayali wing of the banned to fi ght black money, ter- “The sudden ban has taken us notes till December 31. March 31 – to declare the banned Another NRI from Oman said the from Kerala. Indian social club in Oman. ror funding, fake currency and by surprise though not aff ected “The deadline should be extend- notes they are carrying at air- government should allow the di- Several overseas Indian del- The Global Organisation of Peo- corruption, the move is laudable by it as the rupee is not used in ed to December 31 as all those hav- ports on arrival before submit- aspora to deposit the banned notes egates attending the three-day ple of Indian Origin also urged the though it exposes the govern- our country and the value of our ing the banned notes will not come ting them in designated Reserve at Indian embassies or high com- event said they normally keep or government to extend the deadline ment’s failure to curb the menace remittances is intact in our bank to India just to exchange or deposit Bank of India (RBI) offi ces across missions and credit them in their carry Rs25,000-50,000 in cash to December 30 for exchanging or through its enforcing agencies,” a accounts,” said James Mathew, them by June,” Thomas Abraham, the country. bank accounts in case the deadline is when coming to India for contin- depositing the high denomination US-based NRI said. an accountant in a private fi rm at an NRI from Dubai, said here. “Though many of us may not not extendable after June 30. gencies despite having bank ac- notes in RBI or SBI. Although Prime Minis- Manama. Trinamool launches ‘oust Modi’ campaign

IANS plicity in a chit fund scam. Kolkata/New Delhi Banerjee, who has been at the forefront in opposing the note ban, insisted “vendetta politics” cannot est Bengal’s ruling deter the Trinamool from talking Trinamool Congress about the common man’s miseries. Wyesterday upped the “After two months of de- ante against central government monetisation, the common man over demonetisation and “ven- keeps suff ering. Farmers are suf- detta politics”, and launched a fering, daily wagers are starving, three-day countrywide protest while he (Modi) and his aides are demanding the removal of Prime having a gala time,” she said. Minister Narendra Modi. “The current situation is Women carrying kitchen utensils shout slogans during a protest organised by the Congress Party against demonetisation in Chandigarh, yesterday. The Trinamool staged demon- worse than the emergency. strations in Odisha, Punjab, Bi- Two months of Modi’s note ban har, Manipur, Tripura, Assam and has spelt doom for the people. Jharkhand, besides West Bengal Bengal has lost revenue worth and New Delhi, denouncing Mo- Rs5,500 crore in two months,” di’s November 8 decision of can- she said and urged President celling Rs1,000 and Rs500 notes. Pranab Mukherjee to intervene “Trinamool is organising na- and “save the country”. tionwide protest against Modi In Kolkata, Trinamool legis- Demonetisation will be Babu’s shameless fl op-show (de- lators and activists held dem- monetisation),” Trinamool chief onstration outside the Reserve and West Bengal Chief Minister Bank of India and the CGO Com- Mamata Banerjee said in Kolkata. plex which houses the regional While her MPs in Delhi staged offi ces of the CBI and the En- demonstrations shouting “Modi forcement Directorate. Hatao Desh Bachao” (remove Demonstrating in Delhi, some poll issue: Manmohan Modi, save the country), Ban- 34 Trinamool MPs called for set- erjee, addressing an event in ting up a “national government”. IANS its eff ect on GDP and it has al- Manipur which all go to polls in “It points to the tremendous ous welfare schemes announced Bengal, said the situation in the “Even after two months of the New Delhi ready been established. Accord- February and March. potential of Punjab in agricul- in the party manifesto. Funds to country was “worse than emer- draconian decision, countless ing to Central Statistics Offi ce He also accused the Akali Dal- ture, manufacturing, services the tune of Rs10,000 crore would gency” under Modi. people across the country con- estimates (for 2016-17), the GDP Bharatiya Janata Party govern- and infrastructure.” be needed for the execution of Besides the note ban, she took tinue to suff er, while over a 100 ormer prime minister growth will be 7.1% as against the ment in Punjab of “unprecedent- Singh described Punjab’s Con- the promises, which could be on Modi over the arrests of two people have lost their lives. Mo- Manmohan Singh yester- targeted 7.6%.” ed mismanagement” and urged gress chief ministerial nominee achieved by increasing revenue Trinamool MPs and dubbed the di’s removal is a must to save the Fday said the government’s “But this estimate doesn’t take voters to return the Congress to Amarinder Singh as a visionary generation and reducing govern- Central Bureau of Investigation country. A national government decision to withdraw high de- into account the eff ect of demon- power in the state. leader and said the stated needed ment expenditure,” Manpreet as the “Conspiracy Bureau of In- should be formed at the Centre,” nomination notes will have a etisation on the system. If (that is “Punjab has tremendous all- a government under his leader- Badal, the estranged nephew of vestigation”. Trinamool MP Sultan Ahmed said. “very signifi cant adverse impact done), you will see there will be a round potential but it has not ship to develop and progress. Punjab Chief Minister and Akali “I haven’t seen such a vengeful Banerjee on January 6 called for on the country’s GDP” and will very signifi cant adverse eff ect on been exploited because of mis- The Congress also promised Dal patron Parkash Singh Badal government in my life. They have the president’s intervention and be an important issue in assem- the country’s GDP,” he said. management by the government to end a mafi a, operating alleg- said. started a Conspiracy Bureau of mooted a national government bly elections in fi ve states later Attacking the government in the last 10 years. The fi scal edly at the behest of Badals, and “Eliminating the various types Investigation,” Banerjee said in headed by BJP veteran L K Advani this year. which has claimed that the move situation has been mismanaged ensure better revenue generation of mafi a, operating at the behest Burdwan district. or Finance Minister Arun Jaitley or Releasing the Congress mani- will not harm anyone, Singh said in a manner which is unprec- for the development of Punjab. of Badals, would itself lead to “Modi may arrest all of us ... Home Minister Rajnath Singh. festo for the Punjab assembly it has already been established edented,” Singh said. Punjab Congress vice president massive increase in the revenue and build prisons throughout “The pressure tactics and ven- polls here, Singh said the demon- that it has aff ected national in- “This manifesto is a vision- and former state fi nance minister generation, thereby putting the the country. We do not care,” detta politics cannot deter us. etisation of Rs1,000 and Rs500 come and GDP. ary document which promises Manpreet Badal said ending the state fi nances on the right track she said, referring to the arrests Our fi ght against demonetisation notes had adversely aff ected the Singh said the note ban would to the people of Punjab that we mafi a alone would boost revenue and bringing it out of its cur- of her party Lok Sabha members and the Centre’s conspiracy will country’s GDP. be an important issue not only will undo the damage done by the generation manifold. rent fi scal mess,” Manpreet, co- Tapas Paul and Sudip Bandyo- continue,” former federal minister “I have said in parliament in Punjab but also in Goa, Ut- government in the last 10 years,” “This will help generate funds chairman of the Congress Mani- padhyay for their alleged com- Saugata Roy said in Delhi. about demonetisation having tar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Singh said. required to implement the vari- festo Committee, said. Portuguese PM must 3 workers killed apologise: Goa parties in Kashmir attack Agencies Pandit Colony and Sainik Colony Srinagar did not work, the killing of Bur- IANS date and former Minister Sudin natives were granted Indian citi- han Wani was used to trigger Panaji Dhavalikar said. zenship by New Delhi. unrest,” she said, referring to the “The amount of destruction Meanwhile, former Goa Rash- everal unidentifi ed mili- killing of a separatist leader. they caused while leaving Goa in triya Swayamsevak Sangh leader tants attacked a camp “Pakistan and the separatists wo regional parties in Goa 1961 by blowing up bridges and Subhash Velingkar said Costa’s Shousing road construction derailed the dialogue process by yesterday demanded an the mayhem they orchestrated two-day visit to Goa is being workers in Jammu and Kashmir shutting doors on the all-party Tapology from Portuguese is unforgivable,” Dhavalikar said. used by the BJP for political gain. yesterday, killing three labourers delegation because they had Prime Minister Antonio Costa His comments come a day “The BJP is using the visit of before fl eeing, police said. made preparations for the valley for the atrocities committed ahead of the visit by the Portu- the Portuguese prime minis- Two or three gunmen unrest in advance.” when the state was a Portuguese guese prime minister, who is of ter to garner the minority vote,” launched the raid on the General Defending the security forces’ colony, but the Congress and the Goan origin. Velingkar said, referring to the Reserve Engineer Force camp in handling of the situation, the Aam Aadmi Party opposed it. Dhavalikar, however, said the Christian community. Jourian, close to the border with chief minister said: “When a While the Maharashtrawadi MGP would not protest against Velingkar is the mentor of the Pakistan, after midnight, a police mob attacks a police station with Gomantak Party (MGP) de- Costa’s visit because “he is a Goa Suraksha Manch, which has offi cial said by telephone. petrol bombs, stones and axes, it manded that the Portuguese son of the soil visiting his home been critical of the ruling BJP The GREF is the parent cadre becomes diffi cult to exercise re- consulate be shifted out of state”. over its policy of patronising force of the Border Roads Organi- straint.” Goa, its ally – the Goa Suraksha The former minister also said English as a medium of instruc- sation (BRO) that builds and main- She also announced compen- Manch – accused the Bharatiya the reason why Goans are seek- tion in government-aided pri- tains border roads in the country. sation of Rs500,000 to every Janata Party (BJP) of shedding ing a Portuguese passport is be- mary schools. The army had since cordoned family that lost a member to fi r- their “nationalistic cloak” for cause of the presence of the con- “The BJP should have been the off the camp and launched a ing by security forces and a gov- petty political gains. sulate in the state and demanded fi rst to demand an apology from search for the gunmen, said the ernment job for those blinded by They accused the ruling BJP that it be shifted. the Portuguese head of state. But offi cial, who asked not to be pellets during the unrest which in the state of using Costa’s visit “They are trying to lure our after coming to power, both in identifi ed because he was not lasted nearly fi ve months. to woo Goa’s Christian minority youth with the consulate. It Goa as well as at the Centre, the authorised to speak to the media. The chief minister also prom- ahead of assembly elections. should be shifted out of Goa im- party has shed its nationalistic Meanwhile Chief Minister ised punishment to those guilty “He (Costa) should fi rst apolo- mediately,” Dhavalikar said. cloak,” he said. Mehbooba Mufti blamed Paki- of using excessive force. gise to Goans for all the hardships Goa was one of Portugal’s old- Velingkar, however, said the Soldiers take position during an encounter with suspected militants stan and separatists leaders for The fi ve-month-long unrest, and atrocities Portugal com- est colonies and liberated by the later generations of Portuguese near a General Engineering Reserve Force (GERF) camp in the inciting violence and planning which started after the killing of mitted in Goa under their rule,” Indian Army in 1961. are not responsible for the atroc- village of Batal in Akhnoor district some 50km north of Jammu conspiracies in the state. Wani on July 8, 2016, left more MGP’s chief ministerial candi- After the liberation, all Goan ities in Goa until 1961. yesterday. “When issues like Kashmiri than 100 people dead. Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, January 10, 2017 LATIN AMERICA

ECONOMY DECISION COMMENT DATA CORPORATE Venezuela imports down Maduro hikes minimum Odebrecht bribes Argentina beef output Mexico auto production, more than half to $18bn wage for fifth time in a year ‘were open secret’ falls 2.2% in 2016 exports up in December

Recession-hit Venezuela’s imports plunged by Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro has Bribes being handed out by Brazilian Argentina’s beef production fell to 2.67mn Mexican auto exports and production rose in more than half to nearly $18bn in 2016, President announced a 50% hike in the minimum wage construction giant Odebrecht were an open tonnes in 2016, down 2.2% from the prior December and in 2016, auto industry association Nicolas Maduro said yesterday, as the nation and pensions, the fifth increase over the last year, secret in Panama, Vice President Isabel de Saint year, but will increase in 2017 due to a more AMIA said yesterday, amid fears of a future prioritised foreign debt payments despite chronic to help shield workers from the world’s highest Malo said. “You had a company where it was favourable policy climate, an industry group industry slowdown after US president-elect product shortages. Maduro, in a meeting with inflation rate. The measure puts the minimum an open secret that acts of corruption took said yesterday. The drop in 2016 output came Donald Trump threatened automakers. Auto businessmen, said the private sector accounted monthly salary at 40,683 bolivars — about $60 place under previous governments,” she told as producers reduced slaughter rates in production rose 8.8% in the final month of 2016 for $11bn of imports, while the cash-strapped at the weakest exchange level under the state’s RPC radio, asked about the scandal. “And with order to increase the sizes of their herds to to 242,495 units, AMIA said, while exports were public sector brought in $6.8bn of products. “You currency controls, or $12 at the black market rate. what came out late last year, it stopped being take advantage of the elimination of export up 4.8% to 216,645 vehicles. For the year, output accounted for 60% of imports for the first time in “I have decided to raise salaries and pensions,” he a rumour, and it also stopped being an open taxes and restrictions, one of the first actions climbed 2% to 3,465,615 units as exports picked 100 years,” Maduro told the businessmen, blaming said on his weekly TV and radio programme. “In secret,” said de Saint Malo, who is also foreign President Mauricio Macri took after taking off ice up 0.3 % to 2,768,268. Top foreign automakers the oil price fall since mid-2014 for shrinking state times of economic war and mafia attacks... we must minister. The US justice department reported in December 2015. “There will be a substantial are facing threats of big US taxes from the coff ers. Imports have fallen during three years of protect employment and workers’ income,” added in December that Odebrecht had paid bribes increase in beef production during the year incoming Trump administration over plans to recession from a record high of $66bn in 2012 to Maduro, who has now increased the minimum worth hundreds of millions of dollars to obtain that just started,” the Meat Industry and Trade expand their operations in Mexico, fanning fears $36.9bn in 2015, according to central bank figures. wage by a cumulative 322% since February 2016. contracts in nine Latin American countries. Chamber (Ciccra) said in its monthly report. of a slowdown in the auto sector. Suspect held in US offi cial’s shooting

AFP footage showing the offi cial, Guadalajara, Mexico dressed in shorts and a sleeve- less shirt, paying a parking ticket at an automated machine. he suspect in the shooting The gunman is then seen fol- of a US consular offi cial lowing him. Tin Mexico’s western city Another security camera of Guadalajara is an American shows the gunman later stand- who will be deported back to his ing outside the garage. country, offi cials said. When the offi cial’s black car Hours after authorities an- stops at the exit, the shooter nounced the suspect’s arrest, the raises his gun and opens fi re. attorney general’s offi ce and the A bullet hole is seen on the foreign ministry issued a joint windshield and the offi cial statement saying he would face opens his door before the foot- justice in the US for the “sordid age ends. and cowardly” shooting. Jalisco’s state attorney gener- The offi cial was shot on Fri- al, Eduardo Almaguer, described day in a brazen attack by a man the shooting as a “direct attack” wearing a black wig and a blue on Saturday. nurse uniform outside a shop- US Secretary of State John ping centre’s garage in Mexico’s Kerry thanked the Mexican second biggest city. government for the “swift and Offi cials have not indicated decisive arrest of a suspect in the possible motive nor revealed the heinous attack against our the identities of the victim or the Foreign Service Officer col- suspect. league.” Felix Guirola, 52, rides a homemade bike with an advertising banner in Havana, Cuba. The suspect was arrested by “The safety and security of US Mexican authorities in “close citizens and our diplomatic staff collaboration” with the FBI and overseas are among our high- the US embassy, the joint state- est priorities,” Kerry said in a ment said, without providing statement, wishing the offi cial a more details about the day or “speedy recovery.” Cuban takes advertising to new heights circumstances of the capture. Friday’s shooting prompted The victim, who was hospi- the US embassy to issue a secu- talised, was in stable condition, rity message on Saturday urg- Reuters tions in the Communist-ruled into the global spotlight with the Rolling Stones concert ing a bicycle that measured six it said. ing US citizens in Guadalajara Havana island. a visit by US President Barack last March. He earned $40, a meters, but no one knew,” said A US government offi cial said to “restrict their movements He said he clambered up co- Obama’s and a Rolling Stones princely sum in a country where Guirola. the victim was a vice consul at outside their homes and places conut trees as a child so it was concert. the average state wage is $25 per He said he was working on a the consulate in Guadalajara. of work to those truly essen- ubans are adept at in- only natural that he would want They off ered to pay Gui- month. 10-meter tall bike although it Mexican authorities said he tial.” venting ways to earn to ride at tree-top level by sol- rola for advertising their wares Since then, he negotiated a would be easier if the US lifted handled interviews of visa ap- “They should also take care Ccash but Felix Guirola dering several frames onto one while he cycled by placing their deal with them whereby they pay its embargo on Cuba so Cu- plicants. not to fall into predictable pat- stands — or rather, cycles — another. adverts on the spindly frame of him $100 per month. bans could have access to better An offi cial at the Jalisco state terns for those movements that head and shoulders above For years, Guirola rode his his bikes. Guirola said his life’s ambi- technology. prosecutor’s offi ce said on con- are essential,” the message con- them. contraptions as carnival at- “It’s a new job and I’m happy tion was to win the Guinness Obama restored diplomatic dition of anonymity that the tinued. “They should vary the The handyman, who loves tractions, which he dismounts to advertise anything, be it for World Record for the tallest relations with Cuba in July 2015, suspect is 31 years old and of In- times and routes of their move- heights, provides advertising by jumping off , or simply for the Cuban Revolution or for a rideable bike, although he was but the embargo remains in dian origin. ments.” space for companies on home- pleasure. business chain,” said Guirola, unsure how to apply. place. The FBI had off ered $20,000 Guadalajara and the rest of made bikes that tower up to 7.5 His dream of earning a liv- who has seven bikes of various According to the Guinness “I’ve been doing this now for for information about the shoot- the state have been hit by vio- metres (24.61ft). ing off his bikes came slightly sizes. website, the latest record was 34 years,” Guirola said. “I could er’s identity. lence perpetrated by the power- He rides them around Havana closer to reality last year when Guirola’s fi rst gig was for set in 2013 by a US bike standing teach people how to (ride tall The US consulate in Guadala- ful Jalisco New Generation drug in an ingenious way of getting he was talent-spotted by for- Dutch energy drink Time Flies just 6.15 meters tall. bikes) but not everyone wants jara posted surveillance camera cartel in recent years. around strict marketing regula- eign fi rms as Cuba was thrust during the preparations for “In 1987, I was already rid- to take the risk.” Grandmother revives Church and parties back petrol protesters tennis dream at 83 DPA government to take responsibil- Mexico City ity for its decision to deregulate the fuel market which triggered AFP an opportunity to play in a ma- coach Roberto Alvarez, director the week of unrest, the Milenio Buenos Aires jor international tournament. of the Argentine Senior Masters he Catholic church and newspaper reported. “My husband didn’t like me 2016. opposition parties in Some members of the ruling playing mixed doubles with Obarrio plays in 1950s-style TMexico have shown their Institutional Revolutionary Party na Obarrio de Pereyra men...I didn’t play again after fl at-soled white canvas shoes support for protesters who con- also spoke critically about Presi- Iraola’s dream of be- that,” she recalls. and stylized shorts and t- tinue to rally against a 20% hike dent Enrique Pena Nieto’s deci- Acoming a tennis star “I don’t regret it. I would shirt that recall the days of her in the cost of petrol. sion. The unrest began on January was put on hold in 1949 when do the same again. My fi rst joy youth. “I put on my shoes and The protests, which began 1 when the increased fuel price, her husband stopped her play- is my children. Tennis comes feel the ground of the court,” peacefully last week before turn- part of a plan to liberalise Mexi- ing. For the next 20 years, she next.” she says. “It gives me immense ing violent and leaving six peo- co’s fuel market, came into eff ect concentrated on raising their She resumed playing with pleasure.” ple dead and 900 under arrest, and the price of the lowest grade 10 children instead. But now at friends in her 40s. In her 60s, Two of Obarrio’s daugh- continued across most states, fuel surged from 13.98 pesos (0.68 83, this Argentine grandmother after her husband’s death, she ters and six of her grandchil- however participant numbers dollars) per litre to 15.99 pesos. has revived her dream. started competing seriously dren come to watch her beat have dwindled. Looters sacked more than 350 “I like to compete. I like to again. an 80-year-old rival in their An editorial in the Mexican businesses in 10 states after the win,” she says, sitting down Obarrio trains three times a hour-long Masters fi nal on the archdiocesan publication Desde peaceful protests turned violent in the heat at the Hurlingham week on a court her family built Hurlingham clay. la Fe said the anger of citizens on Wednesday and the fear of fur- sports club in Buenos Aires. for her at her country estate. Obarrio ranks third in the was justifi ed if people were being ther raids led thousands of stores She spoke just after winning “She has the best style of play country in her age group. forced to pay for the mistakes of to close their doors. Demonstra- the Argentina Senior Masters of anyone in her category,” said This year she aims to play in others. Those in power were ex- tors want to reverse the price hike in the 80-plus category. Norma Baylon, an Argentine the seniors world champion- ploiting their positions to enrich and force the resignation of Presi- Obarrio’s family indulged tennis star from the 1960s. ships in Florida. “I am obsessed themselves, while middle class dent Enrique Pena Nieto. her love of tennis. She started Argentina has about 1,000 with winning that,” she says. and poorer Mexicans were being Pena Nieto however has ruled playing as a girl and was a youth competitive players in the sen- Obarrio has 37 grandchil- forced to pay for their debts, the out a reversal, arguing that the champion. But the social mo- iors category — more than most dren. “She is very free-spirit- publication added. cost of not adjusting fuel prices res of late 1940s Argentina got countries. ed,” says one of them, Lupe, 19, The two opposition group- would be higher in the long run. the better of her after she met “As players get older, the aim after watching her Masters vic- ings, the Party of the Democratic Instead he joined local leaders her husband when she was 18. is to run less and achieve great- tory. “She is an unusual grand- Senior tennis player Ana Obarrio, 83, hits the ball during a tennis Revolution and the National Ac- and mayors in urging calm across Shortly afterwards, she gave up er precision in their shots,” says mother.” match in Hurlingham, Buenos Aires. tion Party, both called on the the country. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 10, 2017 19 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

Gen Sharif’s Pakistan fi res fi rst sub-launched N-capable missile appointment as

Internews 450km and was fi red from an undis- A spokesman at the Indian defence Strike Capability, augmenting deter- chief of IMA Islamabad closed location in the Indian Ocean, is ministry was not immediately available rence”. likely to heighten long-running tension to comment on the Pakistani missile An army spokesman later confi rmed questioned between India and Pakistan. test. the language meant the missile was akistan fi red its fi rst submarine- Both nations have been developing India successfully test-fi red a nucle- equipped to carry nuclear warheads. launched cruise missile yesterday, missiles of varying ranges since they ar-capable, submarine-launched mis- The Babur-3 is a sea-based variant of Agencies Pthe military said, a show of force conducted nuclear tests in May 1998. sile in 2008 and tested a submarine- the ground-launched Babur-2 missile, Islamabad for a country that sees its missile devel- “Pakistan eyes this hallmark devel- launched cruise missile in 2013. which was tested in December. opment as a deterrent against arch-foe opment as a step towards reinforcing The Pakistani military said the The military said the missile had fea- India. the policy of credible minimum deter- Babur-3 missile was “capable of deliv- tures such as “underwater controlled Pakistani nuclear-capable cruise missile akistan’s Senate Chairman The launch of the nuclear-capable rence,” the military’s media wing said in ering various types of payloads and will propulsion and advanced guidance and after being launched from a submarine yesterday asked the De- Babur-3 missile, which has a range of a statement. provide Pakistan with a Credible Second navigation”. during a test firing. Pfence Minister under what rules was former army chief Raheel Sharif was appointed as head of a Saudi-led 39-nation Islamic Military Alliance (IMA) Heavy fog in Lahore to fi ght terrorism. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confi rmed on Friday the former army chief’s appointment to head Islamabad seeks the 39-nation coalition force, and said the decision was taken with the consent of both the Army’s General Headquarters and the government of Pakistan. General Sharif had spearhead- WB arbitration ed a campaign against militants at home. Senate Chairman Raza Rabba- ni asked the Defence Minister to inform the upper house of Par- liament under which rules a re- in Indus row tired offi cer of Pakistan had tak- en up such a job. He has sought Internews a briefi ng on the matter from the Islamabad Defence Minister today. “Whether General Sharif sought permission prior to tak- akistan has asked the ing up the job or was an NOC World Bank to restart the issued to him?” Rabbani asked. Pprocess of arbitration in its “And, if an NOC was issued, water dispute with India despite then who issued it?” New Delhi’s objections. He enquired if the government In its communications with was taken into confi dence on the the bank, Pakistan argued that Vehicles move on a road during heavy fog in eastern Pakistan’s Lahore. appointment of the former army only arbitration can save the In- chief. dus Waters Treaty (IWT), which has successfully resolved water disputes between India and Pa- kistan for more than half a cen- tury. That’s why Pakistan wants the bank to restart arbitration, even Non-Muslims entitled to follow if India disagrees with the sug- gestion, as “much precious time to appoint a neutral expert. Chief Justice of England. has already been lost”. Pakistan Pakistan demands a court of Pakistan told the bank that af- fi rst asked for arbitration on Aug arbitration because it believes ter a series of negotiations with 19, 2016. the dispute involves both legal India, it concluded that the dis- their own personal laws: CII Last month, the World Bank and technical issues and while putes could not be resolved by paused the arbitration proc- a neutral expert can consider bilateral negotiations. ess, asking India and Pakistan to the technical aspects, only And that’s why it decided to Internews the CII stated that this had not ment of the Hindu community been barred from doing so un- decide by the end of this month a court can deal with legal institute arbitration proceed- Islamabad been precisely determined in in Pakistan, he added. der Article 227 (3) of the Con- how they want this dispute re- problems. ings. the Hindu religion. “There is no harm to Muslims stitution. solved. Pakistan has also completed In March 2016, Pakistan asked “All non-Muslims in an Is- if the draft approved by the CII The CII had also examined The bank said it was doing so the formality of directly inviting India to settle the dispute ami- cknowledging the right lamic state are at liberty to fol- becomes a piece of legislation.” the Parsi (Zoroastrians) Mar- to protect the treaty. India to appoint three umpires. cably and named four negotia- of all non-Muslims to low their own religions,” the The drafts of the Christian riage and Divorce Act of 1936 The 1960 IWT gives Pakistan India’s refusal gives Pakistan tors for the talks. Afollow their respective report stated. “Likewise, in Marriage and Divorce (Amend- after it was referred to the the right to demand the forma- the right to demand the draw- India responded on April 28, personal laws, the Council of accordance with the constitu- ment) Bill, 2012 and the Hindu council by the government tion of the court of arbitration ing of lots for the appointment accepting Pakistan’s off er of ne- Islamic Ideology (CII) of Pa- tion of Pakistan, they are also Marriage Bill, 2013 were both in 1998-99 to approve some 60 days after submitting a for- of these umpires, as provided for gotiation and named four of its kistan declared that Shariah entitled to exercise their reli- referred to the council by the amendments in the law. mal request. in the IWT. own negotiators. laws allowed all non-Muslims gious freedom”. Citing an ex- ministry of religious aff airs in At that time, the council had That deadline expired on Oct Refusal by one party to partic- The negotiators met in New to practise their religions on all ample from the life of the Holy 2013 seeking its views. maintained in its annual report 29, 2016. ipate in the drawing of lots au- Delhi on July 14-15, 2016 and matters pertaining to marriage Prophet (PBUH) to elaborate its Originally both bills were that it had no objection to the The current dispute concerns thorises the other to request the presented their respective ar- or divorce. point of view, the report stated drafted by the National Com- amendments as they related to the two hydroelectric plants Kis- president of the World Bank to guments but there were no sig- According to the council’s that the Prophet (PBUH) had mission on the Status of Wom- personal laws of Zoroastrians. hanganga and Ratle that India is nominate a person to draw lots. nifi cant changes in positions on annual report for 2013-14, the ruled in accordance with the en (NCSW) in collaboration However, the council was building on the rivers whose wa- The requesting party, how- either side. CII also endorsed the enact- provisions of Holy Torah while with the ministry of human compelled to express its views ters were given to Pakistan under ever, is required to provide the No compromise was reached ment of Hindu marriage laws deciding a case against a Jew. rights in 2012. on Hindu marriage laws and the IWT. World Bank with a copy of its on any of the disputes. and Christian marriage and di- Senior CII member Abdullah The ministry of religious af- Christian marriage and divorce The treaty recognises the submission to enable the bank’s This was followed by more vorce laws. said that the draft of the Hindu fairs said that both bills had been laws after the ministry of reli- World Bank as a guarantor and president to fulfi l his responsi- meetings but all remained in- Meanwhile, a member of the Marriage Bill is not against the drafted in consultation with top gious aff airs sought its opinion arbitrator and gives both India bilities. conclusive. council explained that in ac- Islamic principles. representatives of Hindu and on the drafts of the two bills. and Pakistan the right to seek Pakistan has completed these Pakistan told the World Bank cordance with the Shariah, the He said that it was a posi- Christian communities. The council also consulted arbitration if they fail to resolve formalities. that it could not verify the pre- CII accepted everything per- tive decision on the part of the According to the report, mat- Hindu representatives on the a dispute bilaterally. Pakistan also has conveyed its cise status of construction be- missible for non-Muslims un- council. ters pertaining to non-Mus- bills before formulating its rec- On Thursday, a World Bank willingness to accept the three cause, until the July 14-15 meet- der their religions for marriages “The Hindu Marriage Bill is lims’ marriages and divorces ommendations on the issue in representative, Ian H. Solomon, appointing authorities identi- ing, India had refused to permit or divorces. basically an administrative law had been under council’s review 2013-14. visited India to hold discussion fi ed in the treaty for nominating its representatives to visit the However, the council ob- to regulate marriages and other since 1991-92. A Christian clergyman, Rev on the dispute. members of the court of arbitra- sites of the projects despite re- served that if it was empow- relevant family aff airs of Hin- The fi rst time the council re- Father Rehmat Hakim, was Indian offi cials told Solomon tion. peated requests. ered, it could have proposed an dus,” he explained. ferred the matter in its annual invited by the council, but he that Pakistan’s request for set- These are the secretary gen- Pakistan also shared with the amendment to the Hindu Mar- There was a need to recom- report 1991-92, categorically declined the invitation and ting up a court of arbitration was eral of the United Nations, the bank the concern that despite its riage Bill for reducing the age of mend the draft of the proposed stating that it would not give maintained that their religious not acceptable to New Delhi. rector of the Imperial College of objections, India has continued puberty, currently set at 18. legislation as there was no law any opinion on the personal leaders were already discussing Instead, they urged the bank S and T, London and the Lord to build the two plants. Citing Hindu scriptures, available to meet this require- laws of non-Muslims as it had the matter among themselves. Pakistan’s textile industry struggles to bounce back

AFP peared, thousands of factories “We loom workers only get competing countries. Faisalabad, Pakistan have closed, and most of the paid if there is power and looms “At this time we are strug- others are running below full are running. If there is no power, gling to give competitive pow- capacity, says Rehan Bharara, there are no wages,” said Mo- er,” admits Mohamed Salim s Pakistan slowly emerges a former loom owner who now hamed Rizwan, a 21-year-old Bhatti, general manager of from a long-term power runs a public infrastructure weaver. the city’s power distribution Acrisis, its once booming project for the textile industry. The government has promised company.”Over time, we will textile sector is scrambling to Half the time, “we had to run to end power cuts by 2018, and become cheaper as new power fi nd its feet — but high energy our factories on diesel genera- said industry would be priori- plants will be more effi cient”, he costs and a decade lost to com- tors, which was very expensive. tised. hopes. “We’ll be in a position to petitors mean recovery is far We decided to close down In the past few weeks, the big- compete.” from assured. rather than losing money every gest manufacturers in Faisalabad But the Asian Development Energy production was se- day,” he said. have been supplied without in- Bank is less optimistic, citing the verely depressed for more than Only those manufacturers terruption. opaqueness of large-scale Chi- 10 years due to chronic under- which invested heavily in their “The key is that they give us nese investment in the country’s investment, ineffi ciencies in the own energy production sur- 24 hours of electricity a day,” energy infrastructure. power network and an inability vived. said Wahid Raamay, chairman of “The power due to be pro- to collect suffi cient revenue to These include plants run by the Council of Loom Owners in duced by Chinese-built power cover costs. the Sadaqat company, which Faisalabad. plants is expected to be expen- The result was crippling for provides house linen to major Despite these important ad- sive” it said, though it antici- manufacturers and in particular Western retailers such as Deben- vancements, textiles are not yet pates it will still be cheaper than the textile sector, which employs hams, Tesco and Target. out of danger. the thermal plants they are set to 30 % of the working population. Energy supply to huge print- As the country’s electricity replace. Pakistan is the world’s fourth ing, cutting and sewing depart- supply has improved, natural gas In late December, Pakistan’s largest cotton producing coun- ments is rotated according to imports bills have gone up with fourth nuclear power plant went try but interminable power and need. the increased cost passed down online, built with Chinese as- gas cuts have stopped exporters “We have three sources of to consumers. sistance as part of Islamabad’s from producing their orders on electricity: the main and cheap- Bharara estimates the cost plans to produce 8,800 MW time. est one is generation through of electricity has doubled over from atomic energy by 2030. Many have watched helpless- gas, if we don’t have gas, we go In this photograph taken on November 16, 2016, a Pakistani machinist works at a textile factory in eight years, from six rupees per Total exports, meanwhile, 60 ly as their clients have instead to Wapda (the public utility), Faisalabad. kilowatt/hour to 11. % of which are made up by tex- turned to Vietnam or Bangla- if Wapda closes, we go to die- That’s still much lower than tiles, declined by 13 % in the fi rst desh. sel generators,” says chairman producing, we lose our custom- hundreds of thousands of cotton the public network. 26 rupees per kilowatt hour for nine months of this year com- A third of the production ca- Mukhtar Ahmed. ers.” loom workshops, lack backup Each time the power cuts, electricity produced by a diesel pared to last, a sign that the in- pacity of the sector has disap- “I have no choice. If I stop Smaller plants, notably the generators and are dependent on work is interrupted. generator, but more than costs in dustry’s recovery is yet to begin. Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, January 10, 2017 PHILIPPINES Palace belittles ouster plot against Duterte

By Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino do are behind eff orts to undermine the Sunday. Last week, a Pulse Asia survey The hashtag “#lenileaks” has been the matter. “This is a serious matter, Duterte, the Filipino people are solidly & Jeff erson Antiporda president. showed the president enjoying ap- trending on social media particularly that is why I want to look into this more behind him. Those who want to top- Manila Times Banaag said there is no word yet if proval and trust ratings of 83%. on Twitter, alleging that the Offi ce of deeply,” he said in a phone interview ple the president are those who stand the leaked e-mails will be investigated. Banaag said it is up to Robredo to say the Vice President is part of a well- with Andanar during a live Facebook to lose their interests in President Du- “Well, we don’t honestly know so far if the so-called ‘Lenileaks’ are true or orchestrated, well-funded campaign session of “Martin’s Mancave.” Davao terte’s war against drugs, corruption ny plan to oust President Ro- if this will be investigated but whatever not. to discredit Duterte as well as former City fi rst district Rep. Karlo Alexei and crime,” Nograles said. drigo Duterte will not succeed ouster plans or resign…These groups “We will respect whatever the vice senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Mar- Nograles also believes that Congress Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sot- Abecause the chief executive en- who are asking for the president to re- president would claim and it’s up to her cos, who is contesting the result of the should look into the alleged plot to oust to however expressed doubts on the joys strong support from the public, sign, we know that at this point that if there are photos or e-mails or leaks vice presidential race last year. the president. plot against the president. Malacanang said. won’t happen because our president is that came out,” she added. “Then it’s Marcos lost to Robredo by only more “Congress must investigate this “I doubt if it’s true,” he said in a text Presidential Communications As- working and he has the support of the up for her to convince the public if it than 200,000 votes. immediately,” Nograles told Manila message. Sotto said if there was such a sistant Secretary Ana Maria Paz Ba- public. So I don’t think that would re- is true that she has nothing to do (with However, National Security Adviser Times in a text message on Sunday. plot, the Senate would have gotten in- naag made the statement after blog- ally be something that would go for in- the plot) or (if) she is not co-ordinating Hermogenes Esperon Jr told Palace The lawmaker added that such plots formation about it. gers posted leaked e-mails online vestigation. Although…we don’t know with other groups in the US or other Communications Secretary Martin will fail because of the public’s support “I’m sure we will sense tremors showing that some supporters of Vice yet if that will be investigated,” she said personalities in the Philippines about Andanar on Saturday night that he to the president. “Based on the high in the Senate if ever there were such President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robre- in an interview with state-run dzRB on that,” she added. (Esperon) wants to look carefully into trust and approval ratings of President plans,” he stressed.

Govt says fi nalising deal to observe Russian drills

Reuters Manila

he Philippines is fi nalis- ing a security deal with TRussia allowing the two countries’ leaders to exchange visits and observe military drills, a minister said yesterday, at the same time assuring the United States that ties with Moscow will not aff ect its alliance with its traditional ally. Two Russian warships made port calls in Manila last week with President Rodrigo Duterte touring an anti-submarine ves- sel, saying he hoped Moscow Devotees join the annual procession with the religious icon of the Black Nazarene in Manila yesterday. would become his country’s ally and protector. Duterte has thrown the fu- ture of Philippine-US relations into question with angry out- bursts against the United States, a former colonial power, and some scaling back of military ties while taking steps to im- Huge crowds take part in prove relationships with China and Russia. In October, Duterte told US President Barack Obama to “go to hell” and said the United States had refused to sell some weapons to his country but he Black Nazarene procession did not care because Russia and China were willing suppliers. AFP along the route for dizziness, He is due to go to Moscow in Manila bruising and sprains. April. The visit by the Russian However, there were no major warships was the fi rst offi cial casualties. navy-to-navy contact between asses of Catholic dev- The statue is called the Black the two countries. otees in the Philippine Nazarene because of its charred “We will observe their ex- Mcapital braved sizzling colour, believed to have oc- ercises,” Philippine Defence weather yesterday in a frenzied curred when it survived a fi re Minister Delfi n Lorenzana told bid to touch what is believed to aboard a ship when being reporters during the military’s be a centuries-old statue of Je- brought to the Philippines from traditional New Year’s call at the sus Christ. Mexico. main army base in Manila. The annual parade, which Religious icons and im- “If we need their expertise, police said attracted more than ages followed the carriage six then we will join the exercises. 1mn people, is one of the world’s abreast, borne on the back of That’s the framework of the biggest displays of Catholic de- trucks, atop pedicabs and man- memorandum of understand- votion. ually drawn carriages in an ex- ing that is going to be signed. Many Filipinos believe touch- tremely slow procession. It could be a joint exercises but, ing or getting close to the life- One small truck carried nuns initially, its going to be exchange sized statue, which was brought in white robes sprinkling holy of visits.” to the Philippines in the early water on the sweaty pilgrims Lorenzana assured Wash- 1600s when the nation was a and reciting prayer in Spanish. ington the military agreement Spanish colony, can lead to the Such extreme forms of wor- with Moscow would not allow healing of otherwise incurable ship are a hallmark of the Phil- Members of the Special Action Force take a position as they guard the Black Nazarene religious procession in Manila. rotational deployment of Rus- ailments and other good for- ippines which is 80% Roman sian troops, planes and ships in tune. Catholic, a legacy of four centu- volved in the procession. gratitude, petition and sacrifi ce security. National police chief domination of their ancestral Manila for mutual defence. “It’s The pilgrims walked Manila’s ries of Spanish colonialism that “Prayers are likely answered shown in the image of the Black Ronald dela Rosa had said re- homelands. not similar to the US which is a concrete streets as the tempera- ended in 1898. because we do not give up or Nazarene every feast day on the peatedly in recent days that The major rebel organisations treaty, Mutual Defence Treaty, ture climbed above 30C without President Rodrigo Duterte get tired from asking God for 9th of January every year.” extremists may try to stage an are now involved in peace talks which mandates them to help us footwear. often gives confl icting signals the fulfi lment of our heart’s de- This year’s event was held attack. with the government and no in case we’re attacked,” he said. As the procession continued about his religious convictions sires,” Duterte said. under the threat of militant The Philippines has a Muslim longer waging armed confl ict. “We won’t have that with Rus- into the night, the Philippine and criticises the Church’s “Such is the phenomenal attacks, with authorities re- minority that is mainly based But small hardline groups still sia. The MOU is about exchange Red Cross said its medical staff leaders, but he off ered encour- expression of faith of the mil- porting more than 5,700 police in the south of the country and carry out attacks, particularly of military personnel, visits and had treated about 1,200 people agement yesterday to those in- lions of devotees in the form of had been deployed to provide has long resented the Catholic against Catholics. observation of exercises.”

Warning over suffocation risk in cars Court upholds quashing of probe against businessman Department of Health (DOH) If it is 20 degrees outside, tem- Assistant Secretary Enrique peratures in the car could reach Tayag warned the public on the 60 degrees,” Tayag explained. By Jomar Canlas Division denied the petitions evidence against Cojuangco “The due process violation judge at the same time.’ Hav- dangers of leaving unattended Even an hour of exposure to this Manila Times fi led by the state as it upheld and later sought to amend the was compounded by the fact ing gathered the evidence and people in cars, pointing out kind of temperature could cause the resolutions of the anti-graft charge sheet it had fi led before that the PCGG had filed a civil filed the complaint as a law that there is a high risk of death brain malfunction or heat stroke, court on April 24, 2003 and No- the Sandiganbayan to conform complaint against the same enforcer, he cannot be expect- by suff ocation, Manila Times he said. Tayag urged everyone he Supreme Court (SC) vember 30, 2003. with the new pieces of evidence respondent alleging substan- ed to handle with impartiality reported.. to “never leave anyone even has affi rmed the ruling of The PCGG charged Cojuang- that it obtained. tially the same illegal or crimi- the preliminary investigation The warning came in the wake for a minute,” especially kids, Tthe Sandiganbayan that co for violation of Section 4(b) The Sandiganbayan, how- nal acts: In our criminal jus- of his own complaint, this of a tragic incident in which an because “their thermoregulatory nullifi ed the result of the pre- in relation to Section 3(h) of Re- ever, junked the agency’s plea, tice system, the law enforcer time as a public prosecutor. eight-year-old child in Tondo, centres are not matured yet.” liminary investigation conduct- public Act (RA) 3019 or the An- prompting the PCGG to chal- who conducted the criminal The circumstances of the in- Manila succumbed after being These are the parts of the brain ed by the Presidential Com- ti-Graft and Corrupt Practices lenge the ruling at the High investigation, gathered the stant petition are even worse,” left unattended in her parents’ that help humans adjust and mission on Good Government Act, alleging that from 1973 to Court. evidence and thereafter filed it added. vehicle. Tayag said there are adapt to temperature. (PCGG) against businessman 1985, Cojuangco, then a close In its November 16, 2016 the complaint for the purpose “We already declared in two causes of suff ocation in a Another cause of suff ocation is Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco associate of former President ruling, which was released of preliminary investigation that case that it was improper vehicle that lead to death–heat through carbon monoxide poi- Jr, in connection with a criminal Ferdinand Marcos, acquired only recently, the SC noted cannot be allowed to conduct for the PCGG to conduct pre- build-up and carbon monoxide soning from leaking exhausts. case fi led against him in 2003. shares of stock in the Bulletin that the PCGG cannot gather the preliminary investigation liminary investigations and poisoning. The temperature Carbon monoxide replaces In a ruling penned by Chief Today Publishing Company and evidence against a respondent, of his own complaint,” the SC initiate criminal proceedings inside a car is much higher than oxygen in one’s body. Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and Liwayway Publishing Inc., both file a criminal complaint, and said. against individuals whose the temperature outside, par- An autopsy helps in identify- concurred by Associate Justices private corporations. then conduct a preliminary in- “It is to say the least arbi- properties were previously se- ticularly in hot, sunny weather. ing which of the two caused Teresita Leonardo-de Cas- The PCGG, through its Se- vestigation of the case without trary and unjust. It is in such questered by the PCGG itself “More heat remains in the car the death based on the time of tro, Lucas Bersamin and Estela curity and Investigation De- violating Cojuangco’s right to instances that we say one for the same acts and transac- the longer it is exposed to heat. death. Perlas-Bernabe, the SC’s First partment, gathered additional due process. cannot be ‘a prosecutor and tions,” it held. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 10, 2017 21 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Lanka strips Ex-N Korean envoy’s suit from offi cial dress code

AFP Rolls-Royce seized Colombo AFP Han was fi rst secretary of “Han has been marked as a ri Lanka President Dhaka the North Korean embassy in frequent off ender.” Maithripala Sirisena Dhaka until he was expelled AFP was unable to contact Syesterday overturned a in August last year after being the North Korean embassy for 26-year-old decree that re- angladesh authori- accused of smuggling more comment. quired top bureaucrats to wear Maithripala Sirisena: “We must ties have seized a lux- than a million cigarettes as In March 2015, a North Ko- a suit and tie, saying they could adopt clothing that suits our Bury Rolls-Royce Ghost well as electronics worth half a rean diplomat was forced now opt for “more comfort- weather and climate.” car illegally brought into the million dollars. to apologise after he was able” clothing instead. country for a former North Han Son Ik was the country’s caught at Dhaka airport try- “We must adopt clothing that largely based on traditions Korean diplomat expelled for second senior diplomat to have ing to smuggle nearly 27kg (60 suits our weather and climate,” inherited from the country’s smuggling. been expelled from Bangladesh pounds) of gold worth $1.7mn Sirisena said. “That is why I say former British colonial rulers Customs intelligence chief in as many years for allegedly into the country. that offi cials no longer need to who governed the island na- Moinul Khan said Han Son Ik in- bringing contraband into the A North Korean restaurant in wear suits. From now on, it is tion from 1815 until 1948. tended to bring in the car with- country. Dhaka was shut down the same not a mandatory requirement.” Unlike bureaucrats, male Sri out paying duty due to his dip- “We had intelligence that year after offi cials found it was He made the announcement Lankan politicians have tradi- lomatic status and sell it on to a Han made a deal with a lo- selling wine and drugs such as while speaking at a conference tionally opted to wear the na- local buyer. cal buyer to bring the person a Viagra without permission. in Colombo and said that the tional dress – a long-sleeved Offi cials said the luxury car Rolls-Royce with Han’s diplo- In 2012, customs authorities 1991 decree had forced offi cials cotton tunic and sarong – in- would have been liable for im- matic immunity, therefore he imposed a 2.5mn taka fi ne after in the tropical country to suff er stead of Western clothing while port duties of more than 800% attempted to evade customs seizing illegal wines from an- Han Son Ik reportedly brought in this Rolls-Royce Ghost without paying in uncomfortable clothing. in public in an eff ort to burnish had it been brought in legally. tax,” Khan said. other North Korean envoy. duty due to his diplomatic status and wanted to sell it on to a local buyer. Sri Lanka’s civil service is their nationalistic credentials. Development Fair opened in Bangladesh 13,000 trees to be By Mizan Rahman working to achieve the goal,” Dhaka she said. “I hope that the fair would cut to lay be helpful for achieving the so- angladesh Prime Min- cioeconomic goal that our gov- ister Sheikh Hasina ernment has set ... Bangladesh gas pipeline Byesterday sought co- won’t be plagued with the curse operation from the coun- of poverty and would be freed try people to continue the from poverty and established By Mizan Rahman present pace of develop- as a developed and prosperous Dhaka ment as she inaugurated the nation,” she said. Development Fair 2017. The fair has been organised “I want co-operation of the to bring all people under the he Bangladesh cabinet people of all classes and profes- government’s development ac- yesterday gave its per- sions irrespective of party and tivities by informing the suc- Tmission for cutting and opinion to advance the country cess stories to achieve Vision removing about 13,000 trees of further by keeping up the cur- 2021 and Vision 2041 as well as the natural and generated forests rent pace of development,” she Sustainable Development Goals under the Forest Department for said. (SDGs). laying a gas distribution pipeline The premier opened the The theme of the fair is ‘Un- from Sreepur to Joydevpur. three-day Development Fair nayoner Ganatantra, Sheikh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurating countrywide Development Fair 2017 through videoconferencing in Dhaka yesterday. About 4,011 big trees and 2017 across the country through Hasina’s Mool Mantra’ (De- 9,345 small trees would be cut videoconferencing from her of- mocracy for Development is the On this occasion, seminar, tancy as the main barriers to de- paign to stamp out the twin terrorism and militancy,” she said. for construction of the 3km gas fi cial Ganabhaban residence in Key Motto of Sheikh Hasina). symposium, documentary fi lm velopment, the prime minister monsters from the country. She added: “It (campaign) pipeline. Dhaka yesterday afternoon. Various government and screening, display of photo- reiterated her call to the people I think the people of all stra- would help us further acceler- Gas pipeline company will “We have set a target to es- non-government organisations, graphs and posters, and holding of all levels to build a social spirit ta including guardians, im- ate the pace of development have to plant double the number tablish Bangladesh as a devel- banks, insurance companies cultural programmes have been against the twin social vices. ams of mosques and teachers and reach our desired goal of of trees cut in the area to com- oped and prosperous country and other fi nancial institutions arranged. “We have taken anti-ter- should join this campaign so establishing a poverty and pensate for green loss, the cabi- during the period and we are are taking part in the fair. Terming terrorism and mili- rorism and militancy cam- that nobody gets involved in hunger-free Bangladesh.” net in its weekly meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair decided. Cabinet Secretary Muham- mad Shafi ul Alam said, “About Fire at Dhaka building 13,356 trees and saplings will be cut to make way for the trans- Zia asked to appear mission line. About 4,011 of the trees are saleable, while the re- maining 9,345 are still saplings.” The matter was brought be- fore the cabinet as there had before court on Feb 1 been a ban on the removal of such trees until 2022. “It is not possible to build the By Mizan Rahman in this connection yester- chief’s appearance before line around the trees,” Alam said. Dhaka day saying that his client the court during trial will Asked about several cases Zia could not appear be- result in quick disposal of where promises to plant trees fore the court due to her the cases and the verdicts were broken, the cabinet secre- Dhaka court yesterday sickness. may go against her. On the tary said: “The cabinet will look asked BNP chairperson The 10 cases include one other hand, her absence into it.” AKhaleda Zia to appear fi led in connection with from court on the day of before it on February 1 in 10 sedition, eight for sabo- trial will create a ground diff erent cases. tage and one for arson at- for her arrest or damage the Court asks The judge, Kamrul Hos- tack in over two years from merit of her case. sain Mollah, set the date 2013 to 2015. The court wants her to be doctors to write after hearing separate peti- The BNP chief is facing a present at the time of deposi- prescriptions tions submitted by her lawyer slew of cases – fi ve for cor- tion in the cases adhering to Sanaullah Miah. ruption and seven for ‘mas- the legal procedure. clearly On December 1, the court terminding’ violence during However, absence of an fi xed January 9 for fram- the anti-government move- accused from the court Bangladesh High Court Police and firemen gather at a burning multi-storey building site in Dhaka yesterday. A fire broke ing charges in 10 diff er- ment and blockade enforced proceedings with a view yesterday asked authorities out at a 19-story commercial-cum-residential building in Dhaka’s Banani area yesterday afternoon ent cases against the BNP by the BNP-led 20-party to creating a ground dur- concerned to issue a circular with no immediate reports of casualties. chairperson. alliance. ing an appeal hearing is not within 30 days asking the Miah fi led time petition Legal experts say the BNP acceptable. physicians to write prescription clearly. The HC bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Abu Taher Saifur Rahman passed the order following a petition filed by a human rights organisation. Nepal park becomes safe haven for injured rhinos The court also issued a rule asking the government to IANS This is partly due to sick and him and have been providing the morning whereas cornfl akes to be able to take care of him as Park has adopted a four-layer explain why directives should Chitwan injured rhinos receiving super- him with the necessary care and fruits are fed to him in the his surrogate parent. He is very security strategy based on sci- not be given to take eff ective lative care in carefully controlled since then.” afternoon. He is especially fond accepting of me.” entifi c methods to control such steps for writing prescription shelters from park’s authorities. Following a course of medical of bananas. As with human ba- The authorities have rescued wildlife crime. clearly. he Chitwan National A testament to the author- diagnosis and treatment, it was bies, we feed him with milk again and taken care of similar injured Kamal Jung Kunwar, former Health Secretary, registrar Park, the fi rst of its kind ity’s eff orts is the story of ve-fi discovered that the rhino was in the evenings,” Binod Darai, wildlife in recent days as well, chief warden at Chitwan Na- of Bangladesh Medical and Tin Nepal and located less month old baby rhino who was attacked by crocodile. But ow- caretaker of Mayure, said. with the animals being kept tional Park, said, “Protecting Dental Council, director general than 200km away from the capi- rescued after being injured and ing to his human caretakers, the Darai reaches the rhino shel- under the monitoring of techni- rhinos means not only protect- of Health Directorate and tal Kathmandu, is a hugely pop- is currently being cared for by young rhino’s health is improv- ter early in the morning and cians and veterinarians before ing wildlife, but also protecting secretary of Bangladesh Medical ular tourist attraction and home humans. The young male rhino ing and is expected to continue spends his whole day around being released back into their the community. They are in- Association have been made to the majority of rhinoceroses lives in an open air enclosure to do so under regular medical this unique creature. He said controlled habitats when they terlinked. It is a good thing that respondents to the rule which is in the Himalayan country. inside the National Trust for supervision. that the rhino has acclimated have recovered. rhino conservation has always returnable in four weeks. The Nepalese government Nature Conservation (NTNC), The offi cer said that the baby well to his new surroundings “We are trying to build a new been made a fi rst priority in this Human Rights and Peace for has been praised for eradicat- which is located near the Na- rhino was named “Mayure” as and all the human contact and natural structure in a surround- park by the government.” Bangladesh filed a petition ing the poaching of rhinos for tional Park, and is allowed that was the name of the place attention he is receiving there. ing to let Mayure adjust to a new He further said that rhinos after attaching a report titled two straight years, although last to roam freely as it is being from where he was rescued. A At a time of public concern environment,” Pokharel said. “For are a major attraction in Chit- ‘Undecipherable prescription: September a rhino tragically rehabilitated. dedicated caretaker has been as- that human encroachment on some time, we will try to keep him wan, that used to welcome patients at risk for taking died after being shot multiple Chiranjivi Prasad Pokharel, signed by the NTNC to take care wildlife settlements are putting away from human contact and in- around 200,000 tourists an- wrong medicine’ published in a times by a poacher. project co-ordinator at the of Mayure, who is seemingly humans at risk of dangerous teraction. We are expecting him nually before the devastating vernacular daily on December Due to the strong monitoring NTNC in Chitwan, told Xinhua, loving his new human family. encounters, Darai and May- to be wild again soon.” earthquake of 2015. 17. of the rhinos utilising modern “The baby rhino was rescued by The baby rhino happily plays ure’s special bond has softened Rhinos are killed by poach- According to the World Wild- According to the petition, technology in ongoing con- a team of National Park author- with the caretaker and un- the hearts of some of those who ers for their body parts and life Fund, Nepal achieved its patients have been suff ering a servation operations, however, ities from a place called Mayure derstands his general gestures have voiced concern. skin, especially for their horns, fi rst 365 days of zero poaching lot for taking wrong medicine the numbers of the endangered Island, located in the west of the while roaming in the grassy en- Darai said, “I have a wonder- which are worth thousands of for rhinos in 2011. In 2014, it did as the names of the medicines rhinos have been growing in the park. He was found both aban- closure. ful relationship with him. He is dollars on the black market. To not lose a single rhino, tiger or prescribed by the physicians region in recent times. doned and injured. We rescued “We provide him with milk in motherless so I feel very happy combat this, Chitwan National elephant over a 365 day period. could not be read easily. Gulf Times 22 Tuesday, January 10, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko Don’t expect Trump-style

P.O.Box 2888 protectionism from Germany Doha, Qatar [email protected] Berlin reviews powers to up and off ers the same investment its Foreign Trade and Payments is about the extra attention Chinese block foreign takeovers; conditions. Act, or Aussenwirtschaftsgesetz. acquisitions in Germany are now Telephone 44350478 (news), Since making those comments Yet Germany’s deep commitment getting from Berlin, Chinese Foreign 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) German free trade ethos last June, Merkel has largely stayed to global free trade, from which it Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang Fax 44350474 means few changes likely; out of the Chinese investment issue, prospers, means major change is said business deals between China and leaving Gabriel to lead the review and unlikely. German offi cials speak of an Germany were a “win-win”. China also scrutinising ruffl e feathers during a trip to Beijing “adjustment” of the rules on foreign For many German businesses, outbound investment in November, when he clashed with takeovers, rather than a “tightening”. China remains crucial. German China’s trade minister. At present, the law only gives Berlin automakers continue to enjoy success projects “We didn’t mince our words – on scope to intervene with “restrictions in the world’s largest car market. Data either side,” Gabriel told reporters or obligations” in the event that an published by Volkswagen late last year GULF TIMES after meeting the minister, when he acquisition “endangers the public showed Chinese demand will drive By Paul Carrel, Gernot Heller and Arno Schuetze pressed his concerns about Chinese order or security of the Federal sales growth of its core brand in the Berlin/Frankfurt companies buying German businesses Republic of Germany”. coming months. while restricting German fi rms’ access It says such restrictions or But while the Chinese buy up to Chinese markets. obligations “can particularly be firms with strategic technologies ermany is reviewing its Gabriel’s bluster is having a tangible imposed” on military equipment, abroad, foreign auto brands are only Dhoni hits the powers to block foreign impact: Chinese interest in a takeover and with companies that produce IT allowed to manufacture cars in China acquisitions after a spate of German lighting group Osram Licht technology products with “security through joint ventures with local Gof Chinese takeovers, but AG has cooled amid signs of mounting functions to process classifi ed state partners, and typically are limited to the government’s commitment to political opposition here, two people material”. two partners. mark again free trade beats its concerns about familiar with the matter said. If the government were to interpret Furthermore, Beijing’s China 2025 haemorrhaging strategic technologies There is also greater scrutiny these criteria too widely, it would likely plan calls for a progressive increase in and will limit any changes. of M&A deals in China, where the run up against resistance from the domestic components in sectors such A more hostile German tone authorities have begun checking some courts. Berlin has generally been ‘hands as advanced information technology towards Chinese takeovers set in last outbound investment projects as part off ’ about foreign acquisitions here. and robotics. with his timing year when Berlin actively, though of a crackdown on illegal cross-border Of 338 government audits of foreign This means Germany’s export unsuccessfully, sought to line up a currency deals due to concerns over investments since 2008, only one exposure to China, for years a source European off er to counter a Chinese increased pressure on China’s foreign has been initiated by the ministry. of economic strength, is turning into When it comes to timing on or off the fi eld, very few bid for industrial robot maker Kuka. exchange reserves and external The others were all at the request a risk for some sectors where the in international cricket can match Mahendra Singh Chancellor Angela Merkel had payments. of the foreign buyers, who wanted Chinese are becoming dominant. held up Kuka as an example of a These checks will make it harder for compliance clearance. In recent years, Chinese companies Dhoni. Two years ago he shocked the cricketing world cutting-edge German industrial Chinese fi rms to justify takeovers of One recent example of government have already unseated their German by quitting the captaincy of the Indian Test team company, telling workers on a visit German targets unless there is a clear intervention came in 2014, when peers as the world’s biggest suppliers midway through a series in Australia. Last week, he to its Augsburg headquarters in 2015: strategic fi t, investment bankers say. Berlin imposed restrictions on of solar cells. “We can be proud that in Germany “Both sides are stepping on the BlackBerry’s acquisition of encryption Rather than a partner, German also resigned as captain of the Indian ODI and T20 companies like Kuka, for example, are brakes a little,” said Berthold Fuerst, technology fi rm Secusmart, only offi cials see China as a country with teams, paving the way for Virat Kohli’s coronation as at home.” Deutsche Bank’s Germany co-head of approving the deal after BlackBerry interests that it is seeking to promote - India’s skipper in all formats. The takeover of Kuka by Chinese corporate fi nance. gave assurances confi dential by acquiring know-how in technology home appliance maker Midea hurt Chinese fi rms withdrew four information would not be passed on to and high-end engineering. Hailed as one of the best fi nishers in limited overs that pride. As a result, Berlin is M&A deals in Germany last year, foreign spy agencies. “I have never sensed this so strongly cricket, Dhoni brought to Indian cricket the sort reviewing its legal means of blocking three of which had a combined value Berlin has yet to nix a Chinese before: China does not want any foreign takeovers, while also pushing of $579mn, Thomson Reuters data takeover, though China’s Fujian Grand friends, nor partners, for China all of panache rarely seen before. His resignation also for European measures to safeguard shows. Data on the value of the fourth Chip Investment Fund dropped its bid that counts is their own interests,” one refl ected these qualities, giving up the leadership key technologies. was not available. In total, Chinese for German chip equipment maker German delegate said during Gabriel’s role when he felt that it would be better for India to The government review is being led fi rms spent nearly $10bn on 56 M&A Aixtron last month after the United November trip to China. by Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel, deals here last year, Thomson Reuters States blocked the deal on security Yet German business leaders are have once captain across all versions of the game. whose centre-left Social Democrats data shows. grounds. largely reluctant for their government Especially with the Champions Trophy scheduled for (SPD) are the junior partner in Berlin is worried about losing Government sources, speaking to impede Chinese takeovers and this June in England and the ICC World Cup in a little Merkel’s ruling coalition with her strategic technologies, and trade on condition of anonymity, said the acquisitions here. Many need the conservative bloc. She is ultimately unions are worried about jobs. While economy ministry could present investment and fi nd the Chinese over two years’ time, he decided that the time had likely to rein him in. the German government reviews proposals to change the rules on reliable partners. come for Kohli to take centre stage. “If they change something, I how it handles Chinese takeovers, screening foreign takeovers before Putzmeister, a German maker To say Dhoni took the world by storm would be don’t think it will be fundamental,” investment bankers expect China- September’s federal election but it was of pumps for concrete, has seen its said Mikko Huotari at the Mercator related deals here to cool off for a unclear if these would be enacted by workers’ jobs secured and its sales an understatement. Hailing from the cricketing Institute for China Studies (MERICS) while. then. rise nearly a third since Chinese backwater of Ranchi, now the capital of Jharkhand, the in Berlin. “Nothing is going to happen “Chinese corporate buyers can be Huotari at MERICS said Berlin competitor Sany bought it in 2012. if the chancellery does not push this.” expected to operate under the radar could tighten the rules a bit: “What “The experience with investors stocky Dhoni was employed with the Indian Railways Merkel is deeply committed to free for a while and also work on deal they might do is change the thresholds from China is consistently good,” said as a ticket checker before he was picked for the Indian trade, adopting the motto “Shaping an alternatives, such as the acquisition of when they look at things, and Thilo Brodtmann, chief of Germany’s ODI side in 2004 for a series against Bangladesh. Interconnected World” for Germany’s of minority stakes,” said Barclays’ maybe add dual use goods to the lists VDMA engineering industry G20 presidency this year, with which Germany chief Alexander Doll. of critical technologies.” association. The rest, as they say, is history, as Dhoni walked into she is aiming to resist US Embarking on his review of Achieving a higher degree of With industry in her ear, Merkel the Indian Test team a president-elect Donald Trump’s government powers to block foreign scrutiny at EU level will also be has asked her advisers to brief her on year later, eventually protectionist instincts. takeovers, Gabriel said last June: “One diffi cult as France and Germany are Chinese takeovers even as Gabriel Dhoni brought Even during the Kuka takeover, cannot sacrifi ce German companies the main countries concerned about leads his review. She is unlikely becoming the captain Merkel stressed that Germany is and German jobs on the altar of open haemorrhaging technological know- to stymie the investment infl ow. to Indian cricket of the limited overs generally open towards investments markets.” how to China. Other countries – eager One government source said: “We side in 2007. That year from China, though in return she Germany’s tool for restricting for investment – have fewer concerns. mustn’t throw the baby out with the said it expects that China opens or blocking foreign takeovers is Asked about how concerned China bathwater.” - Reuters the sort of provided India with one panache rarely of its greatest moments in world cricket when seen before Dhoni led the side to a historic victory in the inaugural ICC Twenty20 World Cup. That their opponents in the fi nal were Pakistan proved the icing on the cake for the Indians. In due course, Dhoni become the most successful captain in the history of Indian cricket. Under his inspiring leadership, India won the 2011 ICC World Cup – sealing the team’s win in the fi nal against Sri Lanka with a sensational six after he had promoted himself in the batting order when the team were in a spot of trouble in the middle overs. His 91 off just 79 balls earned him the man of the match award. More honours followed for India as they won the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, besides also excelling in the Test format with series victories over New Zealand, West Indies and Australia. For the fi rst time ever India also became the world’s top-ranked Test side under his captaincy. Dhoni will now play under Kohli in the upcoming ODI series against England, a delightful prospect as far as cricket fans are concerned. Kohli has already prepared the grounds for Dhoni’s welcome, saying he Humanoid robot Jia Jia, created by a team of engineers from the University of Science and Technology of China, is carried by workers following a presentation at a would be able to free more freely now that he doesn’t conference in Shanghai yesterday. “Jia Jia” can hold a simple conversation and make specific facial expressions when asked, and her creator believes the eerily life-like have the burden of captaincy. The new captain has also robot heralds a future of cyborg labour in China. Billed as China’s first human-like robot, Jia Jia was first trotted out last year by a team of engineers at the University of promised Dhoni a slot higher up in the batting order. Science and Technology of China. Dhoni and Kohli have starred in several crucial partnerships in the past, but the ones that will now inevitably follow will have a whole new fl avour. Bionic woman: Chinese robot turns on the charm

AFP Chen predicted that perhaps within “You are a handsome man,” she Jia Jia is not quite there yet, but Shanghai a decade artifi cially intelligent (AI) complimented one, but when asked Chen sees a bright future for her kind robots like Jia Jia will begin performing later if she has a boyfriend, replied, “I in China. a range of menial tasks in Chinese prefer to stay single.” He said growing prosperity was ia Jia” can hold a simple restaurants, nursing homes, hospitals Rapid advancements are being causing many young Chinese to eschew conversation and make specifi c and households. made in artifi cial intelligence and such jobs like waitressing, while an ageing To Advertise facial expressions when asked, “In 5-10 years there will be a lot products stole the limelight at last population would require more hands [email protected] Jand her creator believes the eerily of applications for robots in China,” week’s Consumer Electronics Show in on deck in hospitals and nursing homes life-like robot heralds a future of Chen said. Las Vegas. – even if they aren’t human hands. Display cyborg labour in China. With fl owing black hair and dressed A range of products were unveiled Chen showed a video of a less Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 Billed as China’s fi rst human-like in a traditional Chinese dress, Jia Jia that can respond to voice commands life-like, but more functional, robot robot, Jia Jia was fi rst trotted out last looks strikingly real. to play music at home and follow making and serving tea to team Classified year by a team of engineers at the Yet her charm has its limits and other remote-control orders - or even members at his university lab in the Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 University of Science and Technology simple questions frequently stump her. think on their feet by accessing and eastern province of Anhui. of China. Still, Chen said his team has made “learning” from the Internet cloud. Chen, however, dismissed sci-fi Subscription Team leader Chen Xiaoping great progress over the past two years One company, Hanson Robotics, fears of future robots getting too smart [email protected] sounded like a proud father as he and in developing her AI. unveiled its life-like “Professor for our own good. “As long as this is his prototype appeared yesterday at She was able accurately to answer Einstein,” which has realistic facial done in a step-by-step and controlled an economic conference organised a query about the day’s weather, hold expressions and can engage in manner, I don’t think there will be a 2016 Gulf Times. All rights reserved by banking giant UBS in Shanghai’s basic conversations and recognise the informative conversations such as big impact on society. It won’t harm futuristic fi nancial centre. gender of her questioners. lessons in math and science. human beings,” he said. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 10, 2017 23 COMMENT The next world order

The rule of law, human- more non-state actors, both civil- by a universal ethic and purpose, the society organisations and business international community will have rights protections, and representatives, into international to co-operate to tackle challenges trade are mechanisms decision-making processes. as they arise. But, chances are, such But the challenge extends co-operation will come only after for propelling humanity beyond the institutional mechanics a problem has had a suffi ciently forward, even when the that have preoccupied most powerful impact on the perceived commentators, including me. interests of individual actors. road gets bumpy The liberal international order’s The danger here is twofold. First, philosophical core has been hollowed the absence of universal norms By Ana Palacio out, with fundamental ideas that condemns the world to be perpetually Madrid were once considered staples of reactive. The result is an ineffi cient the modern world – free trade, and destabilising crisis-response democracy, human rights – either in model – and no constructive he annus horribilis of 2016 retreat or under threat. Unless and vision for the future. Second, and is behind us now. But its until we recognise and address this more insidious, the absence of an low points – the United reality, the liberal world order that overarching purpose reinforces a TKingdom’s vote to leave has brought unprecedented peace narrow view of self-interest, with the European Union, the election of and prosperity to the world over the decisions made discretely, based on a Donald Trump as US president, the past seven decades will continue to transactional, rather than a systemic, ongoing atrocities in Syria – were erode. outlook. merely symptoms of a process of Liberalism and the international Trump, for one, seems convinced dissolution of the liberal rules-based order that it has sustained are a that such an approach is exactly global system that began long before. product of the Enlightenment. They what the world needs. But we know Unfortunately, those symptoms are rooted in a belief in inexorable what such self-interested deal- are now accelerating the system’s human progress, in the notion of making really produces. Indeed, the decline. a universally shared vision and consequences of a myopic policy For years, the liberal order has been direction – focused on mastering unmoored from values can already be under strain. Perhaps most obvious, nature – which rational self-interest seen, most outrageously in Syria. The there has been a lack of progress in dictates should be pursued. In this brutal siege of Aleppo culminated six the development of institutions and view, the rule of law, human-rights years of empty rhetoric and half- legal instruments. In short, we have protections, and trade are mechanisms measures by Western leaders who been trying to fi t the round pegs of for propelling humanity forward, even seemed to believe that the atrocities 21st-century global power into the when the road gets bumpy. of Syria’s civil war did not merit real square holes of post-World War II Today, our fates are more action. institutions. intertwined than ever, yet the Syria is an augury of a global Skewed representation refl ecting underlying sense that we have a People gather at the Citadel of Aleppo. The brutal siege of Aleppo culminated six years of empty rhetoric and half-measures dystopia. But our fate need not be so a bygone era, whether on the common purpose has been lost, by Western leaders who seemed to believe that the atrocities of Syria’s civil war did not merit real action. dark. Instead of mourning the liberal United Nations Security Council because our ideas about what world order, as so many seem eager to or the International Monetary that purpose should be have been they can do is fuel discontent and new, modern global order. more nuanced metrics that provide a do, we should be seeking to advance a Fund’s Board, undermines global challenged – and even negated. confl ict and, as we have learned in The next step is an assessment clearer picture of wealth distribution, new, shared purpose that can anchor institutions’ legitimacy and ability We now know that the resources 2016, drive people to reject rationality of what, exactly, we should expect education, and quality of life. a truly global system – and guarantee to respond to new challenges. This that support our progress are not and deny reality. That is deeply from this new reality – and the The third step is to get everyone a better future for all. – Project has spurred a shift toward informal unlimited, and that our planet cannot troubling, and it must be addressed. development of new parameters on the same page. In today’s world, Syndicate mechanisms like the G-20 and new, support an ever-growing number of The fi rst step is a reckoning. Instead for measuring success. We cannot common approaches are essential untested institutions like the Asian people with the lifestyles that have of clinging to Enlightenment rhetoric suppose that future generations to address challenges and create zAna Palacio, a former Spanish Infrastructure Investment Bank. historically accompanied prosperity. and dogmas, we must recognise the will have more, but we can work for new opportunities. No amount of foreign minister and former Senior A better approach would aim to Universalist mechanisms limits of our world, and shift our them to have better. To that end, nationalist rhetoric or anti-trade Vice President of the World Bank, is a boost the representation of emerging cannot function properly without attention from conquering it toward policy should be based not on blunt sentiment can change this. member of the Spanish Council of State economies in existing institutions. a foundation of universal ethics, preserving it. That is the shared vision indicators of aggregate change, such Of course, even without eff ective and a visiting lecturer at Georgetown It would also seek to incorporate objectives, and expectations. What and direction needed to buttress a as GDP and net trade data, but on international systems underpinned University. Weather report US study warns of growing confl ict risk Three-day forecast TODAY High: 27 C the economic playing fi eld with China, that material strength can manage nationalism that contributes to Low : 18 C By Jonathan Landay/Reuters Poor visibility expected at places at Washington return jobs to the United States and escalation will increase the risks of tension between counties,” it said. first and by night. defeat terrorism. interstate confl ict to levels not seen The trends shaping the future The National Intelligence Council since the Cold War.” include contractions in the he risk of confl icts between comprises the senior US regional and While “hot war” may be avoided, working-age populations of wealthy WEDNESDAY and within nations will subject-matter intelligence analysts. diff erences in values and interests countries and expansions in the High: 27 C increase over the next fi ve It oversees the drafting of National among states and drives for regional same group in poorer nations, Low: 17 C Tyears to levels not seen Intelligence Estimates, which dominance “are leading to a spheres of especially in Africa and South Asia, P Cloudy since the Cold War as global growth often synthesise work by all 17 infl uence world,” it said, increasing economic, employment, slows, the post-World War Two order intelligence agencies and are the most The latest Global Trends, the urbanisation and welfare pressures, erodes and anti-globalisation fuels comprehensive analytic products of subject of a Washington conference, the study said. THURSDAY nationalism, said a US intelligence US intelligence. added that the situation also off ered The world will also continue to High: 25 C report released yesterday. The study, which included opportunities to governments, experience weak near-term growth Low: 17 C “These trends will converge at interviews with academic experts as societies, groups and individuals to as governments, institutions and Sunny an unprecedented pace to make well as fi nancial and political leaders make choices that could bring “more businesses struggle to overcome governing and co-operation harder worldwide, examined political, social, hopeful, secure futures.” fallout from the Great Recession, the and to change the nature of power economic and technological trends “As the paradox of progress implies, study said. Fishermen’s forecast the same trends generating near-term “Major economies will confront - fundamentally altering the global that the authors project will shape the OFFSHORE DOHA landscape,” said “Global Trends: world from the present to 2035, and risks also can create opportunities for shrinking workforces and Wind: NW 5-15 KT Paradox of Progress,” the sixth in a their potential impact. better outcomes over the long term,” diminishing productivity gains Waves: 2-4 Feet series of quadrennial studies by the US It said the threat of terrorism would the study said. while recovering from the 2008- INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW 4-10 KT National Intelligence Council. grow in coming decades as small The report also said that while 09 financial crisis with high debt, Waves: 1-2/3 Feet The fi ndings, published less than groups and individuals harnessed globalisation and technological weak demand, and doubts about two weeks before US president-elect “new technologies, ideas and advances had “enriched the richest” globalisation,” said the study. Around the region Donald Trump takes offi ce on Jan. relationships.” and raised billions from poverty, they “China will attempt to shift to a Weather Weather 20, outlined factors shaping a “dark Uncertainty about the United had also “hollowed out” Western consumer-driven economy from its today Max/min tomorrow Max/min and diffi cult near future,” including States, coupled with an “inward- middle classes and ignited backlashes longstanding export and investment Abu Dhabi Sunny 26/16 Sunny 26/19 a more assertive Russia and China, looking West” and the weakening against globalisation. focus. Lower growth will threaten Baghdad M Sunny 17/04 Sunny 18/05 Dubai regional confl icts, terrorism, rising of international human rights and Those trends have been poverty reduction in developing Sunny 27/16 P Cloudy 27/19 Kuwait City M Sunny 21/11 Sunny 22/11 income inequality, climate change and confl ict prevention standards, will compounded by the largest migrant counties.” Manama Sunny 24/17 P Cloudy 24/17 sluggish economic growth. encourage China and Russia to fl ows in seven decades, which are Governance will become more Muscat Sunny 26/17 Sunny 28/19 Global Trends reports deliberately challenge American infl uence, the stoking “nativist, anti-elite impulses.” diffi cult as issues, including global Riyadh Sunny 25/11 Sunny 28/12 avoid analysing US policies or choices, study added. “Slow growth plus technology- climate change, environmental Tehran Sunny 12/01 P Cloudy 12/01 but the latest study underscored the Those challenges “will stay below induced disruptions in job markets degradation and health threats complex diffi culties Trump must the threshold of hot war but bring will threaten poverty reduction and demand collective action, the study address in order to fulfi l his vows to profound risks of miscalculation,” drive tensions within countries in added, while such co-operation improve relations with Russia, level the study warned. “Overconfi dence the years to come, fuelling the very becomes harder. Live issues AI, not as much fun as a BFF

By Celia Rivenbark A new advice device, Oshieru, is Tribune News Service especially popular. Just type in info about your latest lover’s quarrel and it will recommend a sensible solution ne of the greatest hits as far such as “Why not say you’re sorry? Around the world as holiday gift-giving was This will create an atmosphere easier Weather Weather a gizmo called an Echo Dot for him to explain his true feelings. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min I gave my nephew. It was Nothing will change if you both Athens P Cloudy 04/-2 S Showers 12/07 O Beirut Sunny 16/09 M Sunny 16/08 a hit despite the obligatory annoying remain disengaged.” S T Storms 29/25 learning curve that comes when any Apologise first? What kind of Bangkok 29/25 S Showers Berlin Sunny 00/-6 Rain& Snow 01/01 Southerner tries to talk to an artifi cial dumb advice is that? A true friend Cairo M Sunny 18/06 M Sunny 19/08 intelligence device (“Alexer, G-darnit, would respond something on the Cape Town Cloudy 33/19 M Sunny 27/18 stop giving me the temperature in order of: “I see that there are several Colombo Sunny 31/21 Sunny 32/21 Celsius, I want it in American!”) Deliver your favourite playlist anywhere in your home with the Amazon Echo Dot convenience stores in your area that Dhaka M Sunny 25/15 Sunny 26/14 Hong Kong P Cloudy 20/18 Cloudy 19/18 I felt nephew’s pain. I had arrived in voice-controlled device. sell both gas and sugar. Perhaps you Istanbul Rain 03/01 P Cloudy 02/00 Chapel Hill weary from a verbal battle could pour sugar into his gas tank. Jakarta S T Storms 31/24 T Storms 31/25 with Siri who, based on the convoluted but it’s the cutting edge AI that gives hashed out with your besties is now Tee hee hee.” Karachi Sunny 23/11 Sunny 24/12 traffi c pattern she recommended, is a me pause. I’m talking, of course, about handled expertly by an AI program. Oshieru, like many AI programs, is London P Cloudy 09/06 P Cloudy 11/03 Manila Rain Rain 28/24 huge Duke fan. AI being used as trusted advice giver. I have to admit that while I prefer far from perfect because, if you give it 27/24 Moscow Cloudy -7/-8 P Cloudy -7/-10 Artifi cial intelligence is a big I heard about this on public smart- human interaction when griping a few too many keywords, it basically New Delhi Sunny 17/04 Sunny 17/03 buzzword for 2017. Which I just hate person radio the other day so it must about problem people, AI counselling shuts down and pouts (“I can’t answer New York Cloudy 05/04 P Cloudy 08/07 because I’m barely hanging onto be true. is more likely to stay focused on the that right now.”) Alexa did the same Paris M Cloudy 08/02 Showers 11/05 my natural intelligence, let alone Thanks to the wonders of AI, it’s problem at hand and not veer off for us after we all barked questions at Sao Paulo T Storms 31/21 T Storms 29/21 Seoul P Cloudy 01/-8 M Sunny 03/-3 buddying up to an unseen smarty possible to ask a robot to help you fi gure into an hour long discussion of “The her and she prissily shut down with an Singapore S T Storms 32/25 S T Storms 34/26 pants who can order a taxi or a pizza or out the best way to deal with a diffi cult Crown” on Netfl ix. unspoken “I can’t even.” Sydney P Cloudy 32/22 P Cloudy 38/21 a pizza to eat in a taxi if I just tell it to. friend, co-worker, neighbour, etc. But, as many have said, AI lacks a Something tells me Ask Amy and Tokyo Clear 12/04 Clear 10/00 We all know about Alexa and Siri The kind of stuff that you normally sense of whimsy. Dear Sugar are safe. For now. Gulf Times 24 Tuesday, January 10, 2017 QATAR

Participants at the LeaderShape programme. HBKU invites local leaders to inspire university students amad Bin Khalifa Uni- portunities of modern leader- on leadership development for students here have brilliant vi- here from protecting wildlife to Established in the US, Lead- and Qatar’ public lecture today versity (HBKU) is host- ship. Earlier this month, HBKU youth. sions and they just need some- leading medical advances.” erShape’s mission is to create a is organised by the HBKU In- Hing a number of guest hosted a panel of local lead- The panel featured Dr Samar one to show them alternative “I feel inspired hearing the just, caring, and thriving world ternational Students Club and speakers this month as part of a ers from diverse backgrounds al-Emadi, chief of rheumatology ways, or next steps, through visions of these students,” said where integrity is the core val- Student Life. series of events for encouraging to address university students at Hamad Medical Corporation, which they can achieve their al-Mannai, “like developing the ue that drives leaders in public Sheikh Dr Abdul Aziz Abdul leadership among students. taking part in the popular glo- Dr Sami al-Shammari, executive goal.” healthcare system in Qatar, or and private sectors. Through Rahman al-Thani, chairman of The LeaderShape Guest bal youth leadership training director in the Supreme Com- Dr al-Shammari noted that starting an Islamic university in the yearly six-day programme, Qilaa Training and Consult- Leader Panel, which took place programme – LeaderShape. mittee for Delivery and Legacy “LeaderShape is a great idea Singapore, cultivating creative HBKU off ers 35 students from ing, and Zakir Smailagic, talent recently and a public lecture on Hosted by HBKU for the 11th and Essa al-Mannai, executive as it gets the students out of learning in Pakistan, and develop- across all universities in Qatar, manager at Al Jazeera Media ‘Leadership Worldwide and Qa- year, LeaderShape is a six-day director of Reach Out To Asia. their comfort zone and makes ing anti-corruption systems. So I a chance for leadership training Network, will provide their in- tar’, planned for today, provide programme that brings to- Dr al-Emadi said, “There them think about their impact have seen young people with great outside a traditional classroom sights on leadership and man- participants real-life insights gether the student commu- is great variety of ideas at this on the local community and visions here and ‘inshallah’ they environment. agement from a regional and about the challenges and op- nity across Qatar and focuses LeaderShape event. Most of the the world. I have seen ideas will make it happen in the future.” The ‘Leadership Worldwide global perspective at the event. Doha Bank CEO bags EAA showcased at Qatar Pravasi Bharatiya Award ExxonMobil Open 2017 uring the champion- oha Bank CEO Dr R ship match between Seetharaman received Dthe top two players in Dthe Pravasi Bharatiya men’s tennis, Andy Murray and Samman Award (PBSA) from Novak Djokovic, at the Qatar the President of India, Pranab ExxonMobil Open in Doha on Mukherjee, yesterday at the Saturday, the Education Above Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Conven- All (EAA) Foundation and its tion at Bengaluru, capital of the programme, Educate A Child southern state of Karnataka. (EAC), were recognised for their “The PBSA was conferred for global impact on access to edu- his signifi cant contribution to cation. building closer links between At the awards ceremony fol- India, the overseas Indian com- lowing the match, fi ve primary munity in the GCC countries school aged children wearing and for the welfare of the lo- EAC T-shirts were pictured cal Indian community in the with the fi nalists. The children region,” Doha Bank said in a held a #KeepThePromise sign statement. in support of EAC’s ambitious “Some of the key initiatives commitment to provide access brought by him include arrang- to quality education for 10mn Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic pose with children holding EAC ing credit and investment fa- out-of-school children around signboard at the award ceremony of the championship. cilities to Indian corporates and the world. fi nancial institutions, facilitat- Over the course of the tourna- memorabilia, such as brochures, but there is still more to be done. ing average annual remittances ment, awareness of the founda- leafl ets and children’s T-shirts EAA continues to call for global to India over last decade, creat- Doha Bank CEO Dr R Seetharaman receiving the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award from the President tion’s work was raised through were distributed to visitors, and support for its eff ort to trans- ing employment opportunities of India, Pranab Mukherjee, yesterday. an EAA booth in the tennis sta- donations were collected. form the lives of young people for Indians in global operations, dium, which featured a map “Huge progress has been around the world through edu- contributing to Indian SMEs, According to the statement, and thereby promote bilateral “India would be keen to wel- showing the progress of EAC made towards meeting this aim cation,” EAA added in a state- professionals and blue-collared Dr Seetharaman thanked the relationships between GCC and come more investments and projects since 2012, while EAC of providing quality education, ment yesterday. workers abroad, and contribut- Indian government for consid- India. This award further in- strategic support from the GCC ing to multilateral trade and in- ering him for this award and spires me to contribute to the countries especially in infra- vestment with India. observed that “India is poised strengthening of bilateral re- structure, education and re- “Dr R Seetharaman is a re- for a giant leap from the ranks lationships between GCC and search, travel and tourism, ag- cipient of multiple doctorates of developing countries to de- India.” riculture and food processing. Ban on Conocarpus tree from the US, Europe and India veloped countries.” Dr Seetharaman also shared “Co-operation should be including two PhDs and has “Indian citizens living out- insights on signifi cant bilat- promoted in the exchange of provided invaluable contribu- side India also have a responsi- eral relationships between GCC intelligence between India tion to Green Banking, Sustain- bility in this progress and hence and India. “Remittances to In- and the GCC countries about ability, CSR & Governance. He should look forward to contrib- dia from the Gulf countries in money laundering, terrorism is a benevolent philanthropist ute to the welfare of India. This 2015-16 was $35.9bn. GCC – fi nancing and related crimes contributing to social causes, can be done through remit- India trade was close to $100bn and electronic crimes. Indian underprivileged and people tances, investments, trade and in 2015-16. Indian diaspora in companies can participate in with special needs. He is also a other routes as well. I believe the GCC region can leverage various infrastructure projects recognised economic commen- that the Indian diaspora in the their relationships with GCC pertaining to the FIFA 2022 tator by global fi nancial media GCC region can play an im- sovereign wealth funds to con- World Cup in Qatar and the over last three decades.” portant role in the above areas tribute to India’s FDI. World Expo 2020 in Dubai.”

Kidney function test at Medical Commission soon

he Medical Commis- would be allowed residency in visitors a day, while the unit for ing lists for essential checkup sion will soon intro- the country. the workers in the food industry at the Medical Commission and Tduce kidney function The offi cial also disclosed and similar jobs in beauty sa- residency permit checkups are tests for new expatriates, lo- that two new machines for lons and barber shops receives conducted within two days. cal Arabic daily Arrayah has testing Hepatitis B and C and around 1,000 visitors a day. However, companies have The Ministry of Municipality and Environment’s (MME) Public Gardens Department has decided to reported. “The new measure Aids have been introduced at The checkup on new expa- to book for their new recruits’ ban the import, sale and planting of the Conocarpus tree at all local commercial nurseries in the is in response to the entry of a the Medical Commission. triates last year revealed 5,820 checkup using the online serv- country. The department pointed out the ban has been imposed due to the harmful and destructive considerable number of expa- The various units of the suspicious cases of tuberculo- ice or through registration at eff ects of the tree on the adjacent plants, buildings, facilities, fences, walls, and service pipes and triates with kidney diseases,” Medical Commission received sis, 101 cases of Hepatitis C, 677 the Medical Commission. The lines. In addition, the roots of the tree causes breaks in water pipes. Further, MME aff irmed that the explained Dr Ibrahim al-Shaar. around 770,000 visitors for Hepatitis A cases, 5,313 dormant checkup for the food industry, sale and distribution of the tree will be only through its nurseries, according to the need and after The proposed tests would various checkups last year. Dr tuberculosis, and 286 cases of beauty salons and similar fa- taking the necessary approvals from the departments concerned in the country. PICTURE: www. determine to which degree ex- al-Shaar pointed out that the active tuberculosis. He con- cilities is given more focus due globalgiving.org patriates with kidney diseases headquarters handles 3,500 fi rmed that there were no wait- to the nature of their works.