BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Qatar take on Syria INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-8, 28 COMMENT 26, 27 REGION 9, 10 BUSINESS 1-6, 13-16 in crucial 15,912.00 8,527.75 29.42 ARAB WORLD 10, 11 CLASSIFIED 7-12 Ahlibank’s 2015 profi t -369.00 -657.37 -1.78 INTERNATIONAL 12-25 SPORTS SECTION 1-12 game -2.27% -7.16% -5.71% rises 8% to QR647.72mn Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

MONDAY Vol. XXXVI No. 9971 January 18, 2016 Rabia II 8, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Message from Saudi king Qatar tops In brief

IRAN | Measures anti-graft US imposes ballistic missile sanctions The US has imposed sanctions on 11 companies and individuals for supplying Iran’s ballistic missile programme in a move delayed by over two weeks so as not to endanger this ranking in weekend’s release of US prisoners, sources familiar with the matter said. The US Treasury Department said it had blacklisted the UAE-based Mabrooka Trading, and its owner Hossein Pournaghshband for helping Iran produce carbon fibre for the Arab world programme. Financial institutions and companies are barred from dealing The new Competitiveness of Arab the state’s institutions. That includes with those on the US blacklist. Page 9 Economies Report emphasises on the policy to apply punishments on Qatar’s eff orts in the field of rule corrupt individuals as well as cleans- of law ing the business sector from corrup- QATAR | Survey HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has received a written message from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, tion, in order to provide foreign com- King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia, on the fraternal relations between the two countries and ways to advance panies with a high degree of safety and ‘Women work more but and boost them as well as on issues of common concern. The message was handed over by visiting Saudi Minister of State atar has been ranked fi rst confi dence. earn less than men’ and Cabinet member Dr Musaed bin Mohamed al-Aiban when the Emir received him at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. amongst Arab countries in Qatar has achieved in this indicator Women in Qatar earn less than males Qcombating administrative cor- a standard grade of 1.608. The report although they work longer than the ruption, according to the Competi- emphasised that the advanced posi- latter, according to an off icial estimate. tiveness of Arab Economies Report tion achieved by Qatar came as a re- The average monthly wage for males for 2016, issued by the Arab Monetary sult of the government’s eff orts, rep- stood at QR10,893 at an estimated Fund. resented by the establishment of the average 49 working hours; while Qatar topped the index, which fo- rule of law and anti-corruption cen- females earned on an average QR9,294 cuses on the extent of individuals’ tre, which has contributed to raising working for 51 hours, the Ministry of Emir to hold talks with practice in public authority for per- awareness and building partnerships Development Planning and Statistics sonal gain, the extent of the spread of by spreading cognitive awareness in (MDPS) said in its Labour Force Survey, administrative corruption within the the frameworks of administrative an- released yesterday. Page 2 judiciary system, as well as all forms ti-corruption. of corruption that impede the imple- Competitiveness Report revealed Russian president today mentation of the business, besides that Qatar leads a number of other PAKISTAN | Blasphemy measuring the state’s seriousness in indicators, such as non-performing Police arrest cleric aft er QNA fi ghting corruption. loans index, with the state occupy- boy cuts off own hand Moscow “This comes as a recognition of the ing the fi rst place, through recording eff orts of Qatar to maintain its ad- the least rate of non-performing loans Police in Pakistan have arrested an imam vanced positions in the international with a standard grade of 0.927, as the for inciting violence after a 15-year-old H the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin indicators in combating corruption default percentage has reached only boy who was reported to have been Hamad al-Thani arrived in - thanks to the attention given by HH 1.8% on average in the past three years. mistakenly accused of blasphemy cut off HMoscow yesterday evening on the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad The report justifi ed the progress his own hand. Page 23 an offi cial visit to the Russian Federa- al-Thani to set the necessary legisla- of Qatar in these indicators, stating tion. tions, the seriousness of the state in the that the country benefi ted from the HH the Emir and his accompany- application of rule of law, attention to progress that has been made on the SRI LANKA | Statute ing delegation were welcomed upon institutional and transparency param- three major levels, represented by rule Colombo to use arrival at the Vnukovo International eters, and the eff ectiveness of perform- of law, anti-corruption and govern- social media Airport by Deputy Minister of Foreign ance in all of the State’s institutions,” ment eff ectiveness. Aff airs Mikhail Bogdanov, who is also the Administrative Control & Trans- The report emphasised on the ef- Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister, Ranil the Russian president’s special rep- parency Authority said in a statement. forts of Qatar in the fi eld of rule of law, Wickremesinghe, yesterday announced resentative for the Middle East and Competitiveness Index refl ects the which was represented by the trust of off icials would use social media to North Africa, Qatar’s ambassador to state’s role in the courts’ justice and citizens, and the extent of their com- seek public opinion on a proposed new the Russian Federation, Saud bin Ab- the policies practiced towards the citi- pliance with the rules of civil soci- constitution aimed at preventing a dullah al-Mahmoud, Russia’s ambas- zens; how eff ective it is in addressing ety, as well as to the eff ectiveness of return to ethnic war. Page 25 sador to Qatar, Noor Mohamed Julov, favouritism, its ability to formulate the judiciary, courts, and the police, and members of the Qatari embassy. and implement eff ective and sound property rights and how to implement The Emir was accorded an offi cial policies, respect for the citizens’ contracts, and certainly hold account- BUSINESS | Prospects welcoming ceremony upon his arrival rights, and the role of judiciary in able the personnel who are proved that Naimi optimistic at the Vnukovo International Airport. HH the Emir being accorded an off icial welcoming ceremony upon his arrival at the combating administrative corruption they used their positions for personal about oil future He will hold talks with President Vnukovo International Airport yesterday. and bribes. Besides all of the processes gain, and to hold police offi cers who Vladimir Putin today. that are identifi ed and monitored by were convicted of off ending citizens Saudi oil minister Ali al-Naimi said “The talks will focus primarily on “The two leaders will have a detailed month after HE the Minister of Foreign the government, which are in favour of or residents accountable. yesterday it would take “some time” to comprehensive development of trade exchange of views on current interna- Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al- the citizen. Qatar also has topped the key in- restore stability to the global oil market and economy, investment, energy sec- tional aff airs, particularly the situation Attiyah met his Russian counterpart, Qatar achieved the fi rst place in dicators for the report at the level of in the midst of a glut but he remained tor and humanitarian co-operation in the Middle East and North Africa,” Sergey Lavrov, in Moscow to discuss a combating administrative corruption the Arab world, and was the fi rst Arab optimistic about the future. Business between Russia and Qatar,” the Krem- according to the website. range of bilateral and international is- and taking judicial actions to protect country in the rule of law at the stand- Page 2 lin’s offi cial website reports. The Emir’s visit to Moscow comes a sues. Page 2 the rule of law and anti-corruption in ard index, with a value of 1.310.

PHCC to screen 25,000 for Second-hand car sales see a drop breast and bowel cancer yearly By Joey Aguilar plemented some austerity measures to Staff Reporter cut spending and buying service vehi- By Joseph Varghese as a mobile unit van. This will further cles this year may not be an option, ac- Staff Reporter enable PHCC to eff ectively and effi - cording to sources. ciently deliver cancer screening pro- big drop in sales of used vehicles A source told Gulf Times that these cedures,” she explained. in the past six months poses a companies preferred to buy new units s part of efforts to minimise Qataris will get priority for the Adilemma for many showrooms in (mostly pick-ups) than second-hand the impact of cancer cases in screening though everyone can reg- Doha, it is learnt. ones for their operations. AQatar through early detection, ister. The Leabaib Health Centre will Speaking to Gulf Times, a manager at “To save money, now old vehicles are the Primary Health Care Corporation launch mammography services in a showroom along the Salwa Road said being taken to various service centres (PHCC) aims to screen about 25,000 March this year. The mobile van serv- that business had slowed down to 75% for repair and maintenance,” he added. people for breast and bowel can- ice, scheduled to begin in April-May, in December last year compared to the Besides used car shops, service cer yearly, a senior official told Gulf aims to take the screening to those in preceding months. centres also recorded a huge drop in Times. the remote areas. “During the fi rst and second quarter the number of customers during last “Women above 45 and men above 50 Ahmad Abdullah al-Khulaifi , as- of the 2015, we sold an average 25 units month, it is learnt. can register for the screening through sistant secretary general, Adminis- per day. But last month, the number From 50 customers a day, a supervi- the call centre,” stated Flora R Asun- trative Aff airs, Supreme Council of dropped to fi ve,” he noted. Used luxury cars and SUVs on display at a showroom along the Salwa Road. sor at a workshop said the number went cion, assistant managing director, Health (SCH), inaugurated the breast Despite lowering the prices of their PICTURE: Joey Aguilar down to 30 which translated to a 40% Clinical Aff airs Operations and Work- & bowel cancer screening centre along units and giving discounts, the manag- drop, he said. force Development, PHCC. with Mariam Ali Abdulmalik, manag- er lamented that there were not many during weekdays or weekends. in the recent past and some expatriates “The opening of new service centres She was speaking on the sidelines of ing director, PHCC, Sheikh Dr Mo- takers. “The promotions seemed to be Some showrooms in the same area, who lost their jobs sold their cars at low in diff erent areas in Doha has obviously the opening of the fi rst Breast & Bowel hamed bin Hamad al-Thani, direc- unattractive to many buyers.” which sell used SUVs and luxury cars, prices which we cannot match because aff ected all of us,” he added. Cancer screening centre at the Wakra tor of Public Health, SCH, and other He admitted that most of their are also feeling the pinch. of some limitations,” he said. While many similar businesses felt Health Centre yesterday. high-ranking offi cials from the public strategies to entice customers and Besides the impact of the falling oil It is learnt that even high-income that “such challenges and uncertain- “The opening of the Al Wakra fa- healthcare sector. boost their sales had failed. This was prices, a supervisor cited rising compe- workers who have been mulling to buy ties” may continue in the coming cility signals the formal start of the Senior offi cials from the National evident with the decreasing number tition as one of the reasons for the drop new SUVs this year have opted to con- months, they expressed optimism that Breast & Bowel Cancer Screening Pro- Cancer Programme and Hamad Medi- of potential buyers who inquire in sales. tinue using their old sedans. the situation would improve from the gramme. A centre each is coming up at cal Corporation were also present. about used cars at showrooms either “Several new shops have been opened Many companies in Qatar have im- second quarter onwards. Leabaib and Rawdat Al Khail, as well Page 6 Gulf Times 2 Monday, January 18, 2016 QATAR

Ceremonial welcome for Emir in Russia

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani being received at the Vnukovo International Airport, in Russia, by Deputy Minister of Foreign Aff airs and the Russian President’s Special Representative for the Middle East and North Africa, Mikhail Bogdanov yesterday. The Emir and his accompanying delegation were also received by senior off icials in the Russian Federation, Qatar’s ambassador to Russia Saud bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud, Russia’s ambassador to Qatar Noor Mohamed Julov, and members of the Qatari embassy. The Emir was accorded an off icial welcoming ceremony upon his arrival at the Vnukovo International Airport. ‘Women work more, earn less than men in Qatar’

By Santhosh V Perumal The average monthly wage In the case of Qatari males, “elementary occupations”, and The lowest average monthly The working hours of “el- hours weekly on average, the Business Reporter for total workers amounts to their average monthly salary was “machinery and equipment op- wages are in the “household ac- ementary occupations’ work- ministry said. QR10,483 at an estimated aver- QR31,405 on average 41 working erators” with QR4,000. tivities” with about QR3,000. ers” amount to 55, represent- The lowest working hours at age 50 working hours; implying hours; while Qatari females earn In terms of sectors, the high- ing one of the highest average all are in the economic activities emales in Qatar earn less that females, especially non- QR23,223 working for 38 hours. In the case of Qatari males, est monthly wages are in “gov- working hours in occupations, of “education”, “human health than males, although they Qataris, worked more than the Non-Qatari males earn an av- their average monthly ernment administration” and followed by “machinery op- and social work”, and “arts, en- Fwork longer than the latter, national average. erage salary of QR7,012 on aver- salary was QR31,405 on “government agency/company” erators” at an average of 53, it tertainment, and recreation”, according to an offi cial estimate. The gender equality index age 51 working hours while non- average 41 working hours; with QR24,000, followed by said. where 40 working hours per The average monthly wage stands at 85.3% in 2014 com- Qatari females earn on QR4,968 while Qatari females earn the “diplomatic” sector with The lowest working hours on week are registered. for males stood at QR10,893 at pared to 84.5% in 2013, 81.9% despite putting in 55 average QR23,223 working for 38 QR23,000. The “domestic” sec- average are registered in the oc- However, the highest average an estimated average 49 work- in 2012 and 77.3% in 2011, said working hours. hours tor registered the lowest rates of cupations of “specialists”, and working hours distributed by ing hours; while females earned the survey, which is an im- At the level of occupations, monthly wages of approximately “clerks” at 42 a week. sectors are in the domestic and on an average QR9,294 work- perative tool for the design and the highest average monthly As for the economic activi- QR3,000. The highest average working private sectors, where they range ing for 51 hours, the Ministry evaluation of the development wages are for “legislators, senior ties, the highest monthly wages MDPS said the average work- hours by economic activity are from 50 to 56 hours weekly, while of Development Planning and policies such as socioeconomic offi cials, and managers” with an are registered in “public ad- ing hours per week reach 50. for workers in the “household the lowest on average are mani- Statistics (MDPS) said in its planning and human resources average of QR33,000, followed ministration and defence” with They amount to 49 and 51 hours activities” with 57 hours week- fested in the diplomatic sector, Labour Force Survey, released development support pro- by “specialists” with QR24,000. QR25,000, followed by “mining for males and females, respec- ly, followed by “agriculture, where only 41 working hours are yesterday. grammes. The lowest average wages are in and quarrying” with QR23,000. tively. forestry, and fi shing” with 53 recorded weekly.

Gulf Times 4 Monday, January 18, 2016 QATAR

Deputy Prime Minister meets envoys RAF launches relief project in Yemen E the Deputy Prime ings with ambassador of relations and ways of en- Minister and Min- Kazakhstan to Qatar, Askar hancing them in various QNA bution of 2,000 baskets of food for keys’ backs over 15 consecutive days not less than one month. Hister of State for Hawkibayev, and Swedish fi elds. Doha more than 12,000 people aff ected by due to the siege clamped on the main The statement said that this Cabinet Aff airs Ahmed bin ambassador Eva Bolano, in They also reviewed a the blockade. roads by Houthi militants. emergency relief, which was carried Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mah- Doha yesterday. number of issues of com- RAF said in a press statement The food baskets contain the out in co-ordination with the Yem- moud held separate meet- They discussed bilateral mon concern. heikh Thani bin Abdullah yesterday the QR400,000 project most necessary food items for af- eni Minister of Local Administra- Foundation for Humanitar- is being implemented in co-opera- fected families, such as rice, sug- tion and head of the High Relief and Sian Services (RAF) has imple- tion with the Fajar Al-Amal Charity ar, flour, dates, children formula, the participation of other charitable mented a project of urgent relief in Foundation, RAF partner in Yemen, canned food and other necessary institutions, targeted the needy and besieged areas in the Yemeni gover- which has delivered relief food bas- materials with quantities suffi- most vulnerable families in Taiz, es- norate of Taiz, including the distri- kets transported on camels and don- cient for 6 to 7 families for a period pecially widows and orphans.

Poor visibility due to fog

oor visibility due to fog has been forecast at places inshore in Qatar today. Strong Pwind and high seas are expected off shore. The maximum temperature of 24C is fore- cast at Mesaieed, Wakrah and in Doha, followed by 23C at Al Khor, 22C at Abu Samra, 21C at Dukhan, and 20C at Ruwais. The minimum temperature of 13C is expected at Mesaieed, Wakrah and Al Khor, followed by 14C at Dukhan and Abu Samra, 17C in Doha, and 18C at Ruwais.

Accident victim’s body repatriated

he body of Chinna Thambi Swaminath- an, an Indian expatriate worker killed in Tan accident at a work site in the city’s Partial closure on Dukhan Highway Umm Ghuwaliana area earlier this month, was fl own to his native place yesterday. Swaminath- an 50, died in a fall on January 9, sources told near Rayyan Club from tomorrow Gulf Times. He was a native of Peeravoorani in Thanajavur district of Tamil Nadu. temporary closure for tion of Dukhan Highway will be any major impact on traffi c as it Qatar to take part in Cairo nearly 2km starting from diverted to the opposite side of was already in place and has only International Book Fair Athe west of Al Rayyan the road (east-bound lane) lead- been extended in length. Sports Club on the west-bound ing to Doha city, which was di- The diversion is required to The State of Qatar, represented by the Ministry lane of Dukhan Highway will vided to contain both directions allow for the construction of of Culture, Arts and Heritage, will participate in be in place from tomorrow. The (to and from Doha city), with two the bridges which intersect with the 47th Session of the Cairo International Book closure is for approximately six lanes in each direction (as indi- Dukhan Highway on the New Fair, due to be held from January 27 to February months. cated in the map). Orbital Highway and Truck 10, 2016. The traffi c on the closed sec- The diversion will not have Route. Gulf Times Monday, January 18, 2016 5 QATAR

Qatari female artist’s works go on show

n exhibition titled Burst of Col- ours, featuring artwork by Qatari Afemale artist Aisha al-Kaabi, was inaugurated at Katara Art Studios by the Cultural Village Foundation - Katara’s director of marketing and international and cultural relations Darwish Ahmed al–Shibani yesterday. The artist has displayed 10 paintings in which acrylic colours have intensive- ly been used in an attractive manner. Speaking on the occasion, the Ka- tara offi cial expressed his happiness in hosting the fi rst exhibition by a young Qatari artist. “Katara will leave no stone unturned to motivate and encourage the Qatari talents that pave the way for introduc- ing creative visions.” The artist said she has combined plenty of colours that it might be per- ceived as scattered while in a compre- Katara’s Darwish Ahmed al-Shibani touring the exhibition with Qatari artist Aisha hensive approach will be seen as el- al-Kaabi. egant and cohesive. “I am especially happy that this ex- Al-Kaabi started painting six years artistic sense and specifi c colour co- hibition is taking place at Katara which ago and has been engaged in abstract ordination patterns. is considered an art landmark attract- painting for four years now. In her art- The artist, who studies psychology ing numerous Qatari, Arab and foreign works, Aisha features “audacious” col- at Qatar University, has done several art enthusiasts.” our combinations that require a high painting and visual arts’ courses.

New Ooredoo system to speed up installation

oredoo has launched on from the standard ap- solutions for businesses, tion system is set to provide a special Field Force pointment date SMS they and this is a great exam- better scheduling, faster OAutomation (FFA) get when they make a book- ple of Ooredoo deploying appointments and a host of system that will make the ing, so that they know when cutting-edge technology other benefi ts for custom- process of installation faster to expect the technicians, internally, to enable us to ers. The app has been de- and easier for customers saving time and making the better serve our customers. signed based on customer across Qatar. process smoother and more The Field Force Automation feedback on the installation With the new Field Force effi cient. system has been designed to process, and recommenda- Automation system, as The FFA solution enables automate the whole instal- tions to enhance the proc- soon as an installation date Ooredoo’s installation team lation process and to ensure ess. is booked, the customer’s to track and monitor the our customers get the serv- Home users and busi- details are uploaded to a whole process from start to ice they require in a timely ness customers can access special mobile app, along fi nish, ensuring that all nec- manner.” Ooredoo’s fastest Internet with GPS co-ordinates for essary equipment is avail- The fi rst team in Ooredoo speeds – the 100Mbps plan the address. This enables able at the warehouse, the to deploy the new solution – for just QR650 a month, technicians to immediately appointment is logged with as a pilot will be the Fibre with basic Fibre packages know the order details, loca- Ooredoo, and any problems Roll-Out team, in response starting at QR233 for home tion and appointment time or need for repeat visits are to the huge demand for Fi- broadband and voice serv- for new installations, and recorded, to enable a faster bre installations across Qa- ices. fi nd the location via GPS. follow-up. tar. If successful, Ooredoo Ooredoo’s investment The FFA app will also Ooredoo Chief Operat- will equip all technicians in Fibre will continue send customers an auto- ing Offi cer Yousuf Abdulla with the necessary technol- throughout 2016 as part of matic SMS with the ap- al-Kubaisi said, “Ooredoo is ogy to use the FFA solution. its expansion of the Super- pointment time, following a major supporter of smart The Field Force Automa- net network across Qatar. Gulf Times 6 Monday, January 18, 2016 QATAR

Ahmad Abdullah al-Khulaifi inaugurates Al Wakra Breast & Bowel Cancer Screening Centre yesterday as Mariam Ali Abdulmalik, Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani and other off icials look on. PICTURE: Thajudheen

Ahmad Abdullah al-Khulaifi, assistant secretary general, Administrative Aff airs, Supreme Council of Qatar’s fi rst breast & bowel Health, touring the Al Wakra Breast & Bowel Cancer Screening Centre yesterday. cancer centre inaugurated

By Joseph Varghese mad al-Thani, director of Public women aged 50 years or older with reach out to individuals. Staff Reporter Health, SCH and other high- no symptoms to receive bowel At the screening centre, there ranking offi cials from the public cancer screening through FIT (Fe- are nurses capable of providing healthcare sector. cal Immunochemical Test). vital information and responses he fi rst breast and bowel Senior offi cials from the Na- The SCH has recommended to all questions from patients cancer screening facil- tional Cancer Programme and breast cancer screening every about the examination process. Tity in Qatar was opened Hamad Medical Corporation three years and bowel cancer Technicians who are also experts yesterday at Al Wakrah, mark- (HMC) were also present. screening every year. Both Mam- in handling patients with care ing a signifi cant milestone in the “Al Wakra Breast & Bowel mogram and FIT are generally will also be on hand, as well as country’s eff orts towards ensur- Cancer Screening Centre is considered safe, quick and rela- radiologists capable of under- ing the health and well-being of manned by highly skilled health- tively painless. taking the most accurate reading its citizens and residents. care professionals who have all PHCC has also launched an of images. Ahmad Abdullah al-Khulaifi , been trained to effi ciently op- exclusive call centre for the pro- The Wakrah facility has two assistant secretary general, Ad- erate state-of-the-art equip- gramme with the toll free number mammography rooms with the ministrative Aff airs, Supreme ment,” said Abdulmalik. 8001112 where highly trained most modern equipment. There Council of Health (SCH) inau- The core objective of ‘Screen and qualifi ed English and Ara- is also a room for the radiologist. gurated Al Wakra Breast & Bowel for Life’ campaign is to save lives bic-speaking staff and medical Two doctors will read out the re- Cancer Screening Centre along by encouraging women aged 45 professionals will be on hand to sults to ensure the quality of the with Mariam Ali Abdulmalik, years or older with no symptoms receive cancer screening booking screening. There is also a nurses managing director, Primary to receive breast cancer screening requests. They will also respond room as well as consultation Health Care Centre (PHCC), through mammography. The cam- to queries from the public on rooms. About 20 people can be Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Ha- paign also calls on both men and cancer screening and proactively screened at the facility weekly. A state-of-the-art equipment Al Wakra Breast & Bowel Cancer Screening Centre. PICTURE: Thajudheen Gulf Times Monday, January 18, 2016 7 QATAR WISE, EDI join hands to launch new programme he World Innovation A total of 22 senior leaders cation Development Institute, Summit for Education from QF schools were invited to said: “At EDI we believe that this T(WISE) and the Education take part in the inaugural two- programme provides a valuable Development Institute (EDI), day session, which was hosted at opportunity for our Qatar Foun- initiatives of Qatar Foundation the Qatar National Convention dation school leaders to be sup- Participants of ‘Empowering Leaders of Learning’ gather to drive sustainable change in national teaching practices. for Education, Science and Com- Centre and made possible in part ported in fostering improvements munity Development (QF), have by ExxonMobil. in teaching eff ectiveness, which ‘Empowering Leaders of Learn- achieve their goals for positive research in eff ective teaching port through in-school coaching collaborated to launch a new The meeting was led by Dr will ultimately improve students’ ing workshop presents the sen- change in their classrooms.” strategies, behavioural design, related to their unique change programme. Simon Breakspear, founder and learning. This initial session has ior members of the participating To prepare for the two-day in- and organisational learning. It is projects. They will take part in ‘Empowering Leaders of CEO of LearnLabs; an Australia- provided a solid foundation for our schools with a unique opportu- tensive session, the participants intended to integrate theory and online ‘community of practice’ Learning’, a fi ve-month pro- based project that equips partic- school leaders to implement sys- nity to improve their leadership were given online tasks, includ- practice with an explicit focus sessions to exchange ideas and gramme, has been designed to ipants with strategies and tools tematic improvements, and we are skills with the powerful sup- ing readings and videos, and on supporting the improvement share experiences with their build and develop leadership to drive sustainable change in very excited to progress with this port of their peers. These inten- were asked to identify an existing agenda that teams are already peers. The participants will cre- capabilities and accelerate im- teaching practices. programme.” sive sessions help our education “improvement problem” to work leading in their schools. ate a leadership community of provements in teaching and Sheikha Noof Ahmed al-Thani, Dr Asmaa E al-Fadala, director leaders to both develop eff ective on during the training. Over the coming months, support for change, and will re- learning in Qatar. executive director of the Edu- of Research at WISE, noted: “The new approaches in teaching and The programme is based on participants will receive sup- ceive on-going coaching.

Amal al-Malki named founding dean of HBKU College of Humanities

he Hamad Bin Khalifa Uni- Interpreting Institute (TII), MA quality professional transla- Amal al-Malki possesses the ac- ber. She first joined Carnegie author, most notably for Arab versity (HBKU), a member in Translation Studies and MA tion and interpreting services, ademic experience, the passion, Mellon University in Qatar in Women in Arab News: Old Stere- Tof Qatar Foundation (QF), in Audiovisual Translation with as well as providing language and the dedication to ensure 2005 as a visiting professor af- otypes and New Media which has announced the appointment an expanded range of degree pro- programmes in Arabic, English, that HBKU’s College of Humani- ter teaching in Carnegie Mellon was published in 2012. of Dr Amal Mohamed al-Malki as grammes to follow. French, Spanish and Mandarin ties and Social Sciences will be a University’s mother campus in Most recently, during her the founding dean of its College The new college will build Chinese. valuable, vibrant addition, not Pittsburgh in the United States. tenure as Executive Director of of Humanities and Social Sci- upon the strength of HBKU’s Dr Ahmad M Hasnah, presi- only to our university, but also to She holds a PhD in Comparative TII, Dr al-Malki was responsi- ences. Translating and Interpreting dent of HBKU, commented: Qatari society.” Literature and MA in English/ ble for gaining validation for The College of Humanities and Institute, which was launched “The humanities and social sci- Prior to joining HBKU, Dr al- Arabic Applied Linguistics and the MA in Translation Stud- Social Sciences will initially off er by Dr al-Malki in 2012. Within ences are essential fi elds that Malki was associate professor Translation from SOAS Univer- ies from the University of Ge- two master’s degree programmes the new College of Humani- provide students with a deeper at Carnegie Mellon University, sity of London. neva, making it HBKU’s first that were previously delivered ties and Social Sciences, TII understanding of the complex where she became Education Dr al-Malki is a well-regarded externally validated graduate Dr Amal al-Malki through HBKU’s Translation and will continue to provide high and pressing issues of the day. Dr City’s first Qatari faculty mem- public speaker and a published degree.

TAMUQ research on MH370 crash named one of top math stories of ’15

exas A&M mathematician Dr Goong “Gordon” Chen’s re- Tsearch theorising what hap- pened to Malaysia Airlines fl ight 370 (MH370) has been named one of the top math stories of 2015 by the Ameri- can Mathematical Society (AMS). Chen and an interdisciplinary re- search team theorised that the ill- fated plane plunged vertically into the southern Indian Ocean. The re- searchers’ computer simulations lead to the forensic assertion that a 90-degree nosedive explains the lack of debris or spilled oil in the water near where the plane is presumed to have crashed. The research was the cover story in the April 2015 issue of Notices of the American Mathematical Society. The research was supported by a grant from the Qatar National Re- search Fund and made headlines all over the world, including CNN, the Huffi ngton Post and International An illustration of the crash of MH370 . Business Times. Chen is an applied mathematician The team simulated fi ve diff erent the aircraft is less likely to experience who teaches and researches at Texas scenarios and concluded that based “global failure,” or break up on entry A&M at Qatar and Texas A&M Univer- on all available evidence - especially near the ocean surface, which would sity’s main campus in Texas. He led the the lack of fl oating debris or oil spills explain the lack of debris or oil near the interdisciplinary team of collaborators near the area of the presumed crash - presumed crash site. from Texas A&M, Penn State, Virginia the most likely theory is that the plane Based also on the suggestions of Tech, MIT and the Qatar Environment entered the water at a vertical or steep other aviation experts, Chen said and Energy Research Institute in simu- angle. in such a situation the wings would lating and modelling what might have The fl uid dynamic simulations in- have broken off almost immediately happened to the plane. dicated that for a vertical water entry and, along with other heavy debris, The researchers used applied math- of the plane, there would be no large would have sunk to the bottom of the ematics and computational fl uid dy- bending moment, which is what hap- ocean, leaving little trace to be spot- namics to conduct numerical simula- pens when an external force, or mo- ted. tions on the RAAD Supercomputer at ment, is applied to a structural element Debris from a fl aperon found on the Texas A&M at Qatar of a Boeing 777 such as a plane, which then causes the French Reunion Island on July 29, 2015 plunging into the ocean, a so-called fuselage to buckle and break up. As the has been confi rmed to be from MH370, “water entry” problem in applied vertical water-entry is the smoothest but no other light fl oating or beached mathematics and aerospace engineer- with only a small bending moment in debris from MH370 has been con- ing. contrast with other angles of entry, fi rmed anywhere.

‘Cinema Under the Stars’ to start on Jan 22

QNA castle’s servants fall under the spell of lantis: The Lost Empire. Trousdale had Doha a wicked enchantress, who turns him planned to become an architect, but into the hideous Beast until he learns decided instead to study animation to love and be loved in return. at the California Institute of the Art, inema Under the Stars’ organ- The spirited, headstrong village girl where he studied for three years. ised by the Doha Film Institute Belle enters the Beast’s castle after he Trousdale was hired by Walt Disney CKicks off on January 22, which imprisons her father Maurice. With Feature Animation in 1985 and moved off ers pop-up cinema for everybody. the help of his enchanted servants, to DreamWorks Animation in 2003. The Doha Film Institute celebrates Belle begins to draw the cold-hearted He gained true prominence in his fi eld the 25th anniversary of Walt Disney’s Beast out of his isolation. with the success of his animated fi lm animated classic Beauty and the Beast Gary Trousdale is an American directorial debut Beauty and the Beast, which will be screened on that day at fi lm director best known for directing which was nominated for an Academy 7.30pm in MIA Park. movies such as Beauty and the Beast, Award for Best Picture and won an An arrogant young prince and his The Hunchback of Notre Dame and At- LAFCA Award. Gulf Times 8 Monday, January 18, 2016 QATAR HGH holds research committee forum amad General across all specialties who months,” noted Dr Abdulla quirements, feasibility and praised the role played by Hospital (HGH), are interested in research. al-Naimi, chairman, the integrity of the research the MRC in the establish- Ha member of Ha- “The hospital-based re- HGH Research Committee. eff ort. The hospital com- ment of the hospital com- mad Medical Corporation search committee is one Dr al-Naimi said, “The mittee helps ensure that mittees, saying that this (HMC), held a research of the committees formed HGH Research Committee HMC’s research policies are highlights HMC’s commit- An interior view of the Urban Jazz Kitchen at The Pearl-Qatar. forum last week at Hajar at all HMC hospitals in is responsible for reviewing, observed and the rights of ment to conducting high- Auditorium to introduce July 2015 and reports to at the hospital level, appli- patients participating in the quality medical research. the new hospital research HMC’s Medical Research cations to conduct research research are protected.” Prof Ibrahim Janahi, committee members and Centre (MRC). This is our studies. The committee re- HGH medical director HMC’s executive director discuss the HGH research fi rst meeting and we plan views applications in terms Dr Yousuf al-Maslamani, of research said the MRC process with clinicians to hold the forum every six of meeting paperwork re- who opened the meeting, will make every eff ort to strengthen the hospital com- HDC opens Urban mittees, which support the development of high-quality research at HMC. “Research is important in creating the evidence base that can be Jazz Kitchen at used to support the devel- opment of new treatments and therapies, drive forward changes in clinical practice, and continue to improve pa- The Pearl-Qatar tient outcomes,” he said. During the forum, Dr ospitality Devel- Noora al-Kaabi, HGH Re- opment Company search Committee co-ordi- H(HDC), a wholly- nator explained the process owned subsidiary of Unit- and the requirements that ed Development Company researchers must comply (UDC), has opened the with to obtain approval to Urban Jazz Kitchen at The carry out their research Pearl-Qatar. Dr Abdulla al-Naimi, chairman, HGH research committee. Dr Yousuf al-Maslamani, medical director, HGH. studies. The new concept, which fuses the intricacies of soulful jazz music with Eclipse 2009 model recalled the excitement of new fl avours, is described as a The Ministry of Economy with the dealer to follow unique experience for both and Commerce, in up on the maintenance music and food lovers. Alfardan Automobiles collaboration with Qatar and repair works and Patrons can partake in A live jazz session presented at the Urban Jazz Kitchen. Automobiles Company, communicate with customers a casual, laid back dining dealer of Mitsubishi vehicles to ensure that the necessary experience with an ec- of creative mocktails and brands including hotels, showcases Mini-themed in Qatar, has announced the repairs are carried out. lectic menu of distinctive live performance. high-end restaurants and recall of Eclipse 2009 model The ministry has urged selection of appetisers, Urban Jazz Kitchen, lo- cafés. The company’s because of a defect in the all customers to report salads, dinner entrees and cated at La Croisette 10, strategy revolves around hydraulic brake system any violations to its desserts. Porto Arabia, is set against UDC’s vision of build- lifestyle merchandise control unit. Consumer Protection and In celebration of diver- the marine waterside views. ing a unique hospitality The ministry said the recall Anti-Commercial Fraud sity and contemporary Live jazz entertainment is portfolio in Qatar. campaign comes within the Department through the living, Urban Jazz Kitchen off ered six days per week, Many of HDC’s brands lfardan Automo- framework of its ongoing following channels: Hotline: aims to be a warm, inviting showcasing the fi nest swing include internationally biles, the exclu- eff orts to protect consumers 16001, e-m-ail: info@mec. family atmosphere off er- performers in Doha. celebrated and recognised Asive local importer and ensure that car dealers gov.qa, Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, ing signature entrees with HDC focuses on ac- names in the food and hos- of Mini, has showcased a follow up on vehicles’ defects Instagram: MEC_Qatar, MEC pastries, gourmet coff ee quiring, developing and pitality industry that are unique selection of life- and repair them. mobile app for Android and and, at night a leisurely at- operating world-class entering the Middle East style merchandise for men The ministry will co-ordinate IOS: MEC_Qatar mosphere with a selection hospitality projects and market for the fi rst time. and women to celebrate Valentine’s Day. If the Mini Speaker Box, Mini Scarf Yours, Mini Duf- fl e Bag, and Mini Pilot Trol- Mini Pilot Trolley Mini Racing Jacket ley are for women, the range for men comprises a Mini The Mini Pilot Trolley is more stylish whereas the Racing Jacket, Mini Univer- described the perfect com- Mini Chronograph Watch, sal Tablet Case Union Jack, panion for a weekend geta- available in Silver or black, Mini Chronograph Watch, way. This hard-case travel is waterproof up to 100m, and Mini Folding Bike Lime. trolley with racing-stripe and includes special fea- The Mini Speaker Box is design is lightweight. tures such as a stopwatch ideal for outdoor trips and Men’s Mini Racing Jacket function, tachymeter the Mini Scarf Yours is per- combines high-tech fab- scale, date indicator and fect for sitting outside on ric with faux leather and luminous hands. QPMC off icials with staff and workers at the award ceremony. chilly evenings or looking features a stand-up collar. The Mini Folding Bike chic in the air-conditioned Available in sapphire blue, it Lime, with its aluminium malls, while the Mini Duf- boasts white bonnet stripes frame, 20-inch wheels and fl e Bag, a classic piece from on the sleeves, orange lining eight gears, has the ability to the lifestyle collection, is under the cuff zips and en- fold with just a few simple QPMC hosts employee appreciation event a roomy, retro-style bag vironmentally friendly Un- moves, making it perfect to available in eight vibrant ion Jack printed lining made store in the boot of your car colours. Standard fea- from recycled material. or even under your desk. atar Primary Ma- Speaking on the occasion, and business success. by the company’s manage- were handed out to the at- tures include a removable The Mini Universal Tab- The Mini lifestyle range terials Company al-Hammadi stated that the “Team spirit leads to the ment in eff orts to spread our tendees. The event also fea- shoulder strap, red lining, let Case Union Jack makes can also be seen online at Q(QPMC) hosted past years “have been a time harmony and integration values and maximise our tured an open discussion and a separate zipper com- surfi ng the web or check- the Mini store at: http:// the annual employee ap- of major accomplishments, of roles necessary in car- performance.” between employees and the partment. ing social media sites even shop.bmwgroup.com/ preciation and recognition a plateau achieved by the rying out strategic projects, Employee Service Awards management. ceremony. mutual integrity and loyalty as well as achieving The event brought to- between QPMC, its staff company objectives.” gether QPMC’s staff and and workers. Dr al-Darwish pointed workers from depart- “This achievement is out that “motivation and ments for washed sand due to the dedication and honouring employees have plants, projects manage- hard work of our employ- become key characteristics ment, logistic yards and ees; the essence of QPMC’s of QPMC and a cherished supply chain. reputation and pride.” tradition which reaffi rms QPMC chief executive He also emphasised on QPMC’s milestones.” offi cer Eisa al-Hammadi the signifi cance of team- “Indications of QPMC’s and director of administra- work, and described it as successes are evident, tion Dr Latifa al-Darwish the prime tool that ensures and eff orts of doing so addressed the event. any company’s operational will constantly be valued Eff orts on to trace sponsor of deceased Indian woman

he Indian Embassy contacted by her sponsor A humanitarian worker in Doha has stepped or his representative until in the Indian expatriate Tup eff orts to trace yesterday. community said nobody the sponsor of a woman known to her or anyone whose body has been ly- “Nobody known to from her community has ing in the Hamad Hospital her or anyone from approached the embassy morgue for more than three her community has so far. A philanthropist has weeks. approached the agreed to bear the expenses Nalla Lalitamma’s body embassy so far” for sending the body home. was found hanging at a “However, before that place under Rayyan mu- It is learnt that the de- the clearance from her nicipal limits and brought ceased was working outside sponsor is mandatory,” the to the mortuary on Decem- the sponsor at the time of humanitarian worker said, ber 24. She was 45. Though her death. Inquiries based adding that he is also ap- a copy of the address pages on the passport found that proaching the immigration of her passport submitted she hailed from a place in authorities with the copy of at the morgue a day later, Vishakapatanam district of passport pages to locate the the hospital has not been southern India. sponsor. Gulf Times Monday, January 18, 2016 9 REGION

Rouhani greets ‘new 3 Americans freed by chapter’ in world ties

DPA ing all the enmities, scepticism Tehran and schemes devised against us,” he said in statement. Since before his election in he lifting of nuclear-re- 2013, the moderate leader of Iran arrive in Germany lated sanctions on Iran the Islamic republic has prom- Tafter a decade of inter- ised to negotiate away the AFP ment from the White House. national isolation has opened sanctions, which included an Washington/Geneva But he also sounded a note a “new chapter” in the coun- embargo on economically vital of caution, adding that the US try’s history, President Hassan oil and gas exports. would continue to have problems Rouhani said yesterday. Predicting an economic hree of the four US citizens with the Iranian government’s Rouhani hailed the an- boom in the coming years, freed by Iran in a prisoner “destabilising activities” in the nouncement by the European Rouhani promised Iranian Tswap arrived yesterday at region, including its support for Union and the United States youth that new opportunities a US military base in Germany militant groups. that debilitating economic will be created as Iran enters after a brief stop in Geneva, an The Swiss foreign ministry sanctions have come to an end the “world economy orbit.” American offi cial said. said the prisoner swap followed and that Tehran has regained Western sanctions targeting “We can confi rm that the US 14 months of confi dential dis- access to more than $100bn in Iran were lifted on Saturday af- citizens who departed Iran this cussions in Switzerland. frozen assets. ter the International Atomic En- morning after being released The fourth Iranian-American “We have stretched our ergy Agency confi rmed that Iran from detention have arrived in released as part of the swap, hands toward the world in a had kept to its side of last year’s Germany,” a State Department Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, sign of friendship and begun landmark agreement with six offi cial said. has not yet left Tehran, senior US a new chapter in our relations major powers by scaling down Among those on board was offi cials said. with the world after overcom- its nuclear programme. The Washington Post’s Tehran Speaking on condition of ano- correspondent Jason Rezaian, nymity, offi cials said Khosravi- who had been detained in Iran for Roodsari - about whom little is nearly 18 months. known - elected not to board the “Overwhelmed to greet Jason plane for Switzerland. #Rezaian, his wife, Yegi, mother, “Those who wished to depart Mary + Saeed #Abedini + Amir Iran have left,” said one offi cial. #Hekmati to #Geneva after Another said “it’s his free deter- safely departing #Iran,” senior mination where he wants to go.” US diplomat Brett McGurk wrote A fi fth American, Matthew on Twitter. Trevithick, was released in a Neither US nor Swiss offi cials separate process, a US offi cial has had explicitly named those on said. A man disembarks from a Falcon 900 of the Swiss Air Force, after it landed at Geneva’s airport, yesterday. board the Swiss-bound plane, The Post had earlier reported but McGurk’s tweet confi rmed that the fl ight out of Iran was de- UN removes bank the seven Iranians - Nader Modan- US-Iranian citizen born in Califor- reports that the three freed layed because Rezaian’s mother from sanctions list lou, Baharam Mechanic, Khosrow nia, was detained in Iran on July 22, prisoners were Rezaian, Saeed Mary and wife Yeganeh, who also Afghahi, Arash Ghahreman, Tooraj 2014. Abedini, a Christian pastor, and were on the plane, initially did Faridi, Nima Golestaneh, and Ali The Post statement thanked former US Marine Amir Hek- not appear on the fl ight manifest. The UN Security Council Saboonchi - “will be freed today”. those “around the world who have mati. US Secretary of State John yesterday removed the Iranian The family of former US Marine spoken out on Jason’s behalf and Iran had announced their re- Kerry told reporters travelling bank Sepah and its interna- Hekmati, who faced a death sen- against the harsh confi nement lease on Saturday, just hours with him from Vienna to Wash- tional subsidiary from the UN tence as an alleged spy, welcomed that was so wrongly imposed upon before Tehran’s historic nuclear ington that Iranian Foreign Min- sanctions blacklist after Iran the news that he had left Iran. him.” deal with world powers was ister Javad Zarif resolved the came into compliance with the “It is hard to put into words what Iran’s ambassador to the UN, implemented, in exchange for problem. nuclear deal. our family feels right now. But we Gholam Ali Khoshroo, said on Washington pardoning seven “Zarif had no question about Iran’s oldest bank, Bank Sepah remain in hopeful anticipation un- Saturday that Switzerland played Iranians accused of sanctions- it,” Kerry was quoted as saying. and Bank Sepah International, til Amir is in our arms.” a “positive role” in the prisoner busting or violating trade em- “It was part of the agreement, were placed on the sanctions Washington Post publisher Fre- swap. bargoes. it was clearly stated. The prob- list in 2007 for supporting derick Ryan said in a statement: The UN nuclear watchdog an- “When Americans are freed, lem was, one of the guys on the Iranian firms linked to the “We are relieved that this 545-day nounced late Saturday that Iran that’s something we can all cel- ground, at a military base, didn’t development of missile tech- nightmare for Jason and his family had complied with its side of the ebrate,” US President Barak have it on the manifest.” nology. is fi nally over.” July 2015 accord, allowing the lift- Obama said in a televised state- Iranian state television said The 39-year-old Rezaian, a dual ing of sanctions. US slaps ballistic missile sanctions on Tehran

Reuters ballistic missile test capable of deliver- earmarked for Iran to buy US military Washington ing a nuclear warhead violating a UN equipment before Iran’s revolution in ban last October. Obama said the test 1979. was a violation of Iran’s “international But the sanctions announced yester- he US imposed sanctions on 11 obligations.” day almost scuttled the prisoner deal companies and individuals for “As a result, the US is imposing weeks earlier, people involved said. The Tsupplying Iran’s ballistic mis- sanctions on individuals and compa- action had originally been planned for sile programme in a move delayed by nies working to advance Iran’s ballistic Dec. 30, as Secretary of State John Ker- over two weeks so as not to endanger missile programme. And we are go- ry was negotiating the prisoner trade this weekend’s release of US prisoners, ing to remain vigilant about it. We’re that secured the release of fi ve Ameri- sources familiar with the matter said. not going to waver in the defence of cans from Iran this weekend. The US Treasury Department said it our security or that of our allies and But the day before the sanctions had blacklisted the UAE-based Mab- partners,” Obama said in a televised were to be imposed, Iranian Foreign rooka Trading, and its owner Hossein statement yesterday morning from the Minister Javad Zarif warned Kerry that Pournaghshband for helping Iran pro- White House. if Washington went ahead, the deal duce carbon fi bre for the programme. The announcement of the new sanc- could be endangered, according to a US Financial institutions and companies tions came hours after three Americans offi cial and congressional sources. are barred from dealing with those on detained by Iran - including the Wash- Obama administration offi cials de- the US blacklist. ington Post’s Jason Rezaian - boarded a cided to delay the sanctions announce- US offi cial and congressional sources Swiss plane departing Tehran. ment until after the deal was complet- said President Barack Obama’s admin- At the same time, the US State De- ed, the sources said. istration had held back from taking ac- partment announced it had agreed to Speaking to reporters yesterday, a tion for more than two weeks during release $400mn and $1.3bn in interest senior administration offi cial said the the tense negotiations that ultimately for funds that had been frozen by the US “did not want to complicate what freed fi ve Americans under a prisoner United States. The settlement, reached was a very sensitive and delicate eff ort swap. through arbitration at the Hague to bring Americans home” by imposing Iran conducted a precision-guided Claims Tribunal, related to funds once the sanctions.

Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah bin Sultan al-Qassimi leads the ribbon-cutting rite during the opening ceremony of “SteelFab 2016” in the presence of Expo Centre Sharjah CEO Saif Mohamed al-Midfa, along with other dignitaries. Steel fabricators upbeat despite low oil prices

espite low oil prices, continue spending aimed Sultan al-Qassimi, chair- ing regional fabricators the steel fabrication at keeping the economies man of Sharjah Sea Ports to look at acquiring cut- Dand metal working growing. Besides, most and Customs, in the pres- ting-edge equipment, ad- industry is looking to sus- Gulf countries have reiter- ence of Expo Centre Shar- vanced technologies, and tain its growth in the Gulf ated their decisions to carry jah CEO Saif Mohamed applications for all their region, it was announced on with their infrastructure al-Midfa, other offi cials, metal forming, fabricat- at the “12th SteelFab 2016” plans, a move that will keep dignitaries, and industry ing, welding, and fi nishing which opened yesterday at the order books full for fab- representatives. needs, thus underscoring Expo Centre Sharjah. ricators. The steady demand from the importance of SteelFab Steel fabricators are The four-day exhibition the core sectors led by the and its increasing exhibitor banking on commitments was inaugurated by Sheikh continuing infrastructure as well as visitor turnout by regional governments to Khalid bin Abdullah bin projects are encourag- every year. Gulf Times 10 Monday, January 18, 2016 REGION/ARAB WORLD IS abducts 400 civilians in east Syria, says monitor

AFP an oil-rich region that borders Beirut Iraq. The militant group already controls most of the province, ilitants from the Is- but regime forces have clung lamic State group onto part of the city and a Mhave abducted more neighbouring air base despite than 400 Syrian civilians after repeated IS attacks. capturing new ground in a ma- If confi rmed, the death toll A car burns at the site of a bomb attack outside the house of the director of security for Aden, General Shalal Shaea, yesterday. jor assault on the city of Deir in the assault would be one of Ezzor that left dozens dead, the highest in a single attack a monitoring group reported by IS, though the militants yesterday. have carried out mass murders The shock attack comes de- before. spite a Russian air campaign The Russian strikes have so targeting the group that began far killed at least 808 IS fi ght- in September, and more than ers, according to the Observa- a year of strikes by a US-led tory, though they have also coalition against the militants killed moderate and Islamist 10 killed in suicide in Syria. fi ghters and civilians, it says. The Britain-based Syrian More than 3,700 IS militants Observatory for Human Rights have also been killed in US-led said IS had killed at least 135 coalition strikes that began in people in the multi-front at- Syria in September 2014. tack that began on Saturday. The dead included 85 ci- “Those abducted, all of vilians and 50 regime fi ght- whom are Sunnis, include car bombing in Aden ers, according to the monitor, women, children and which said yesterday that IS family members of pro- Agencies wave of unrest that has rocked strikes, said his colleague, pho- “We are... still in the process east of Sanaa - was killed when a had also kidnapped more than regime fi ghters” Aden Aden, declared Yemen’s provi- tojournalist Bahir Hameed. of gathering information about bomb planted in his car explod- 400 civilians from captured sional capital after the govern- “Planes were hovering above the circumstances of his death.” ed, offi cials said. territory. Yesterday, the Observa- ment was forced to fl ee Sanaa when we were struck,” Hameed At least fi ve journalists were Al-Asbahi, known for back- “Those abducted, all of tory said 40 civilians including suicide car bombing in September 2014 after Shia said. According to his Twitter killed in Yemen last year, accord- ing Yemen’s internationally rec- whom are Sunnis, include eight children had been killed killed at least 10 people, Houthi rebels swept into Sanaa. account, Mojalli reported for ing to media watchdog Reporters ognised president, Abd-Rabbu women, children and family in strikes on the IS bastion of Amostly civilians, yester- It was not immediately clear Voice Of America and the IRIN Without Borders (RSF). Mansour Hadi, quit the post af- members of pro-regime fi ght- Raqa city. day in an attack on the residence who was behind the bombing. humanitarian news agency. More than 5,800 people have ter rebel Houthi fi ghters seized ers,” Observatory chief Rami The monitor said it was un- of the police chief of Yemen’s The Islamic State militant IRIN said it was “shocked by been killed in Yemen since the Bayda more than 10 months ago. Abdel Rahman said. clear if the strikes were car- southern city of Aden, security group and Al Qaeda in the Arabian this terrible loss”. coalition launched its air cam- In Sanaa, also controlled by He said they had been taken ried out by regime or Russian offi cials said. Peninsula, or AQAP, have estab- “With great sadness, we re- paign in support of the govern- the rebels, unknown gunmen to areas under IS control in the planes. They said a bomber wearing lished a strong presence in Aden. ceived news from the family of ment last March, about half of shot dead Mohamed Radman, west of Deir Ezzor province In recent months, IS has an explosives vest blew himself Meanwhile, a freelance Yeme- Almigdad Mojalli, our regular them civilians, according to the a senior offi cial in the special and to the border with Raqa come under pressure par- up at the entrance to General ni journalist was killed yesterday contributor in Yemen, that he UN. security forces. Radman was a province - the main IS strong- ticularly from Kurdish fi ght- Shalal Shaea’s house in the Ta- in an air raid by the Saudi-led was killed today,” said a post on Two security offi cials are dead loyalist of the Houthis, who have hold in Syria - to the north- ers backed by US strikes, and wahi district of the port city. coalition on rebel-held Sanaa, a its offi cial Twitter account. after two separate incidents yes- been in control of Sana’a for west. more recently regime forces Eight civilians and two guards witness and his employer said. “Almigdad was an excellent terday, local offi cials said. more than a year now. The monitor said at least 42 supported by Russian air raids. were killed, while the police Almigdad Mojalli was hit by journalist, committed to neu- Brigadier Adel al-Asbahi, No one has claimed responsi- IS fi ghters had been killed in On Saturday, at least 16 IS chief was not hurt, the sources shrapnel as a missile slammed trally & objectively telling the a former security chief of the bility for either attack, the latest the attack, adding that fi ght- fi ghters were killed in a failed said. into the capital’s southern Jaref suff ering of the Yemeni people in rebel-held province of Bayda - in a series of assaults targeting ing was ongoing yesterday, attack on a government posi- It was the latest attack in a suburb while he was covering air a brutal civil war. which lies about 268km south- offi cials in Yemen. with regime forces backed by tion in Aleppo province, where Russian air strikes trying to re- loyalist troops and pro-regime capture lost ground. fi ghters have been advancing It added that regime forc- towards the group’s strong- es were bringing additional hold of Al-Bab. troops and military equipment Regime forces are now MSF delivers medical aid to Yemen’s besieged Taez city from elsewhere in the city to within 10km of Al-Bab, and the battlefront. are seeking to sever IS-held Syria’s state news agency territory in Aleppo province AFP acronym MSF said two trucks plies to the hospitals,” said in a area have severely hampered hu- tonnes of medical equipment and SANA said at least 300 civil- from that held by the group in Aden “full of essential medical sup- statement Karline Kleijer, MSF’s manitarian access into this part food in Taez, a Saudi charity said. ians, “most of them women, neighbouring Raqa. plies” entered the southwestern emergency manager for Yemen. of the city,” it said of areas be- The coalition has since March children and elderly people,” Analysts say the group regu- city in the fi rst such operation in The Paris-based medical hu- sieged by the Shia Houthi rebels. conducted air and ground op- had been killed in the assault. larly seeks to open new off en- elief agency Doctors With- fi ve months. manitarian organisation said The 600,000 residents of Taez erations in Yemen to support lo- It denounced the deaths as a sives when it is under pressure out Borders said it deliv- The last time a “signifi cant” treating the wounded and sur- have been in dire need as Houthis cal forces against the rebels and “massacre”. elsewhere. Rered yesterday medical shipment of medical supplies gery had at times been suspend- besiege the community defended their allies. The IS assault puts the More than 260,000 people supplies to areas besieged by the reached the city was in August, ed over the past fi ve months due by pro-government forces. More than 5,800 people have group in control of around have been killed in Syria since rebels in Yemen’s fl ashpoint Taez it said. to lack of supplies. Aircraft from the Saudi-led co- been killed in Yemen since 60% of Deir Ezzor city, which the confl ict began in March city for the fi rst time in months. “We’re grateful that we man- “The checkpoints in combi- alition, which is fi ghting the Iran- March, about half of them civil- is capital of the surrounding 2011 with anti-government The group known by its French aged to deliver the medical sup- nation with severe fi ghting in the backed rebels, has dropped 40 ians, according to the UN. province of the same name, protests.

Somalia receives pledge for $50mn aid from Saudi

Reuters among the few stationed Nairobi in the Somali capital where bomb attacks are frequent, 72 hours to leave. omalia received a Somalia’s Finance Min- pledge of aid for $50mn ister Mohamed Aden Ibra- Sfrom Saudi Arabia this him declined to comment month on the same day it an- on the pledges, but said any nounced it was cutting ties fi nancial assistance from with Iran, a document seen Saudi Arabia was not relat- by Reuters showed. ed to Mogadishu’s stance The government, which against Iran. did not confi rm or deny the “Our relationship with pledge, has said there was no Saudi Arabia was long- link between long-running standing and is not some- Saudi fi nancial support and thing that has just started,” its diplomatic decision to the minister said. break ties with Iran. Somalia’s ties with Saudi A document from the Arabia have grown as it Saudi embassy in Nairobi tries to rebuild a nation to the Somali embassy in while battling an Islam- the Kenyan capital showed ist insurgency, although the kingdom pledging Western powers and Tur- $20mn in budget support key remain among the big- and another $30mn for in- gest and more prominent vestment in Somalia, a na- donors to the country. tion trying to rebuild after Somalia’s president, Has- two decades of war. san Sheikh Mohamud, met The two grants would King Salman bin Abdul Aziz come from the Saudi Devel- al-Saud in Saudi Arabia in opment Fund, according to October. A Saudi team had the document that was dat- visited Somalia in late 2015 ed Jan. 7, the same day So- to discuss further Saudi malia cut ties with Tehran. support for the country. Somalia cut relations “Any fi nancial and other with Iran saying Tehran requests that we made to had meddled in Somali af- the Saudis were way be- fairs and threatened na- fore” Somali cut ties with tional security. Mogadishu Iran, Foreign Minister Ab- gave Iranian diplomats, dusalam Omer said. Gulf Times Monday, January 18, 2016 11 ARAB WORLD Graduation ceremony Negotiations aide arrested over ‘spying for Israel’ Palestinians attend a graduation ceremony of the members of the Hamas security forces in Gaza city yesterday. Newspaper says off icial has ment staff in the umbrella Pal- terim accords in 1993 that won admitted spying charges; estine Liberation Organisation’s limited self-rule for the Pales- death toll mounts as violence (PLO) negotiations department tinians, but after several rounds in West Bank continues and is accused of “collaborating of talks their goal of statehood with Israel”, a security offi cial in the occupied West Bank, East Reuters said. Jerusalem and in the Gaza Strip Ramallah, West Bank Another offi cial said the sus- remains out of reach. pect was arrested two weeks ago. The stalemate, as well as Mus- Egypt’s parliament endorses Al Ayyam newspaper, published lim anger over perceived Jewish alestinian offi cials said in the West Bank city of Ramal- encroachment on a contested Je- yesterday they had arrest- lah where Palestinian President rusalem shrine, has contributed Ped a member of their peace Mahmoud Abbas’s US-backed to Palestinian street attacks and negotiating department for spy- administration is based, described protests that erupted in October controversial anti-terror law ing for Israel, a development the suspect as a 20-year veteran and have drawn a tough response likely to deepen distrust between of the PLO team and said he had from Israeli security forces. Reuters ranging from fi ve years to the passed by an overwhelming “I fear that it will be used the sides at a time of deadlocked confessed to the charge. In the latest incident, a fe- Cairo death penalty, and shields the 457 votes to 24 without a single broadly when it is applied,” he diplomacy and heightened vio- How long he had spied for Is- male resident of the settlement military and police from legal amendment to the original de- said. lence. rael and what damage he might of Otniel in the southern West penalties for what it calls pro- cree issued by President Abdel “The (anti-terrorism) law The man, whose name was not have done remained unclear. Bank was stabbed to death in her gypt’s parliament yes- portionate use of force. Fattah al-Sisi last year, parlia- was imposed during excep- released, is part of the manage- The PLO and Israel signed in- home when an assailant broke terday overwhelmingly The law also fi nes journalists mentary sources said. tional circumstances when the into her house and attacked her, Eendorsed a controversial for contradicting the authori- Egypt’s new parliament, country was exposed to danger Jerusalem church hit by anti-Christian graffi ti the Israeli army and a local set- anti-terrorism law that sets up ties’ version of any militant which has 568 elected members but, after these dangers sub- tlement offi cial said. special courts and shields its attack. The original draft was plus another 28 appointed di- side, there should be a balance Suspected Jewish extremists into the perpetrators. The military added that troops enforcers from legal ramifi ca- amended last year following rectly by the president, is dom- between protecting the state early yesterday desecrated a “We will not allow anyone were searching for the assailant, tions. a domestic and international inated by the “Support Egypt” and its institutions and pre- landmark Christian holy site to disrupt the co-existence who had fl ed the scene, and a The law is one of roughly 400 outcry after it initially stipu- coalition, an alliance of over serving human rights.” in Jerusalem, known as the between religions in the state of neighbour in the settlement told that were issued by executive lated imprisonment for such an 400 MPs loyal to Sisi. Parliament also approved a Dormition Abbey. Israel,” he said. Army Radio that residents had decree during the more than off ence. Opposition legislator Mo- 2014 decree on the protection Vandals wrote anti-Christian Dormition Abbey, built at the been told to lock themselves in- three years in which Egypt was The newly elected legisla- hamed Salah Khalifa, a leader of critical government facili- slogans in Hebrew on the outer beginning of the 20th century side their homes and keep away governed without a parliament ture is constitutionally obliged of the Islamist Nour Party, ties. wall, police spokesman Micky over the ruins of a Byzantine from windows. after its democratically elected to review the executive decrees which holds just 12 seats after The law increases the juris- Rosenfeld said. church, is a Benedictine Earlier in the day, a Palestin- chamber was dissolved in mid- within 15 days of its fi rst ses- controlling about a quarter of diction of military courts, al- Internal Security Minister Gilad complex located on the spot ian was shot dead when he tried 2012. sion, which was on Jan. 10, and the previous parliament, said lowing them to try civilians Erdan ordered the police to where Christians believe Mary, to stab Israeli soldiers near the It details sentences for vari- either approve or reject them. the law employed ambiguous accused of attacking buildings “prioritise” the investigation the mother of Jesus, died. West Bank town of Nablus, the ous terrorism-related crimes The anti-terrorism law wording. and cutting off roads. army said. New fi ndings boost eff orts to unravel secrets of pyramids

AFP of the Red pyramid and northern fl ank Cairo of Khufu. “There is a clear separation of tem- perature on the west face of Red pyra- xperts revealed yesterday new mid. The bottom is colder than the fi ndings at two of Egypt’s famed top,” Matthieu Klein of Canada’s Laval Epyramids, boosting eff orts to University told a news conference. unravel whether the ancient world’s “It’s interesting. We have no an- iconic monuments contain secret swers yet... Could it be because of the chambers. wind? Maybe, but it’s interesting,” For the past three months a team of he said, adding that the diff erence in Egyptian Antiquities Minister researchers from Egypt, France, Can- temperature was of three to six de- Mamduh al-Damati speaks during ada and Japan have been scanning four grees Celsius. a joint press conference with pyramids with thermal cameras to see A video projection of the data the scientific team of the project if they contain unknown structures or recorded by the thermal cameras “ScanPyramids’’ in the Grand cavities. showed hues of red on the blocks Egyptian Museum near the pyramids Operation ScanPyramids began on where heat was detected and blue and in Cairo yesterday. October 25 to search for hidden rooms magenta for the cooler ones. inside Khufu - also known as the Great Klein said two anomalies were in the pyramids, but it’s very early to Pyramid - and Khafre in Giza and the also located on the northern fl ank of say what they are.” Bent and Red pyramids in Dahshur, all Khufu, where experts have previously At 146m (480ft) tall, Khufu pyra- south of Cairo. found similar “points of interest” on mid, named after the son of pharaoh The project is expected to continue the monument’s eastern face. Snefru, is considered one of the seven until the end of 2016, and applies a mix Experts say they will carry out more wonders of the ancient world, built of infrared thermography, muon radi- investigations to include further data some 4,500 years ago. ography imaging and 3D reconstruc- analysis of the anomalies detected so It has three known chambers, and tion - all of which the researchers say far. like other pyramids in Egypt was in- are non-invasive and non-destructive “The primary result tells us that we tended as a pharaoh’s tomb. techniques. have some news, some good news,” The Red pyramid, built by Snefru, Yesterday, experts revealed new Antiquities Minister Mamduh al- is 105m tall and located to the north of fi ndings on some of the limestone Damati said. the Bent pyramid at the Dahshur ne- blocks that make up the western fl ank “We will have some secrets to solve cropolis. UN envoy urges Libyans to form unity govt without delay

AFP page that the formation of the much- here to new timeline it has committed Tripoli delayed unity government “has been itself to, ensure the expeditious for- postponed by 48 hours”, without mation of Gov. of National Accord,” he elaborating. tweeted. N envoy Martin Kobler de- Kobler, who arrived yesterday for Peter Millet, the British ambassador plored a decision by Libyan talks with Libyan politicians, be- to the North African country agreed, Uauthorities to postpone the moaned the move. stressing that the national interests of formation of a new unity government “I regret the decision of Presidency Libyans must come fi rst. that was expected yesterday, saying Council to postpone the formation of “Disappointing delay. Forming timelines must be respected. the Government of National Accord. #Libya Govt of National Accord is A presidential council headed by #Libya can no longer wait,” he wrote urgent to deal with #terrorism & businessman Fayez al-Sarraj had been on Twitter. rescue the economy,” Millet tweet- expected to announce by yesterday a He called for “timelines to be re- ed. cabinet line-up as part of a UN-bro- spected”, stressing that the Libyan Libya has been in chaos since the kered deal to end years of bloodshed people were “suff ering the conse- 2011 ouster of longtime dictator Mua- in Libya. quences”. mmar Gaddafi and now has two gov- But the council said on its Facebook “I urge Presidency Council to ad- ernments and parliaments. Gulf Times 12 Monday, January 18, 2016 AFRICA Kenya troops Burkina Faso, Mali captured in to co-ordinate forces Shebaab raid Reuters Reuters Mogadishu Ouagadougou omalia’s Shebaab Islamist urkina Faso and Mali have agreed to group said yesterday it had work together to counter the grow- Scaptured some Kenyan sol- Bing threat of Islamic militants in diers during an attack last week West Africa by sharing intelligence and on military bases in western So- conducting joint security patrols follow- malia near the Kenyan border. ing two deadly and well-coordinated at- The group, which did not say tacks in the region. how many soldiers were held An injured Kenya Defence Force Their prime ministers met yesterday, after Friday’s assault in Ceel soldier steps out of a plane for a two days after Al Qaeda militants seized Cadde, also said in a statement transfer to a hospital in Nairobi. the Splendid Hotel in Burkina Faso’s capital that more than 100 Kenyan sol- Ouagadougou, opened fi re on a restaurant diers were killed, revising up General Samson Mwathethe, and attacked another hotel nearby, killing the number from the more than chief of the defence forces, said at least 28 people from at least seven coun- the 63 dead it had previously Friday’s attack struck the Somali tries, and wounding 50 other people. claimed. National Army base and an AMI- The assault, claimed by Al Qaeda in Kenya has not given casualty SOM base that was located in the the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), follows a fi gures beyond saying both sides same place. The attackers used similar raid in November on a luxury ho- sustained casualties. vehicles packed with explosives tel in Mali’s capital Bamako which killed But a top Kenyan commander and suicide bombers. 20 people, including citizens of Russia, said yesterday the army was The minister said the attack China and the US. conducting “search and rescue” was launched against a compa- The exact details of the cooperation be- operations without specifi cally ny-size force of soldiers, without tween Burkina Faso and Mali were not im- saying if those it was looking for making clear if this was the size mediately clear, but the patrols and intel- were captured. of the Kenyan contingent in the ligence sharing mark an intent by the two “Mujahideen fi ghters ... area or the mixed force. A mili- countries to prevent the spread of militan- stormed the Kenyan base in the tary company can range between cy as AQIM and others expand operations early hours of Friday morning, 80 to 250 soldiers. in the region beyond their usual reach. killing more than 100 Kenyan “Our priority now is to make For years, Islamic militants have used invaders, seizing their weapons sure that we conduct the search, northern Mali as a base, but over the past and military vehicles and even rescue and recovery for the ones year they have staged a number of attacks capturing Kenyan soldiers alive,” who are not in the camp but in other parts of the country. Burkina Shebaab said in a statement. are elsewhere. We are trying to Faso’s authorities are now concerned that The African Union’s AMI- search for them, rescue them and its long desert border with Mali could be- SOM force, which includes Ken- recover them,” Mwathethe said come a transit point for militants. yans, along with Somali troops without saying if they were cap- “There is a very strong political will on have driven Shebaab from major tured. the part of the two states to combine our strongholds in Somalia in a wave The general said he would not eff orts to fi ght terrorism,” said Burkina of off ensives. release details for security rea- Faso’s prime minister, Paul Kaba Thieba. But the group still controls sons. “We have engaged the en- Thieba and his Malian counterpart some rural areas and frequently emy and severely degraded him,” Modibo Keita yesterday visited the out- launches attacks saying it wants he added. side of Splendid Hotel, where bullet holes to drive out the “invaders”. Shebaab often cites higher and a charred exterior off ered reminders Kenyan Defence Minister fi gures for death tolls than those of Friday evening’s attack. Raychelle Omamo said Kenya given by offi cials, who usually Tight security was in place around the A soldier stands guard in front of burned cars across the street from Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou. was striking back and would play down the numbers. There hotel. Inside, Burkinabe and French secu- pursue the attackers. She spoke was no independent death toll. rity offi cials were conducting an investi- restaurant, both of which were popular and the list is subject to change. Canadian were inside when the attack occurred. to reporters at a Nairobi airport Shebaab said the attack was in gation. among westerners. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Satur- They have not yet been confi rmed where four wounded soldiers ar- retaliation for the Kenyan “inva- Security forces in Burkina Faso retook According to provisional fi gures from day said six Canadians had been killed. dead, the statement said, adding that the rived back for treatment. sion of Muslim lands”. the 146-room hotel on Saturday after the Burkinabe government, among the The Italian foreign ministry said yes- identifi cation by the Burkinabe authori- “This attack will not rest un- President Uhuru Kenyatta has fi refi ghts with militants, at least three of dead were eight Burkinabes, four Cana- terday that the wife and son of Gaetano ties of many victims is still underway. answered,” she said. “We have repeatedly said he would not be whom were killed. dians, three Ukrainians, two Portuguese, Santomenna, the Italian owner of Cap- “They could take some time given the engaged the perpetrators deci- coerced into withdrawing Ken- Survivors said the militants targeted two French, two Swiss and one Dutch cit- puccino, the restaurant that was at- elevated number of victims from various sively and remain in full pursuit yan forces from Somalia, saying white victims at the hotel and at the izen. Seven bodies are yet to be identifi ed, tacked opposite the Splendid Hotel, countries,” it said. of them.” the troops are protecting Kenya. Tackling poverty, unemployment in Nigeria with tomatoes

By Aminu Abubakar alongside 17,000 acres of irrigat- ree, mostly from China, because ployment to farmers and (the) mated 170mn people are em- Kano, Nigeria ed fi elds, will help by tapping a of a lack of processing plants. tomato paste packaging industry, ployed in agriculture, mostly potential agricultural goldmine. Dangote’s factory, built by traders, haulage operators and at a subsistence level, although The country’s agriculture Switzerland-based Syngenta, many others to support the to- moves have been made to com- t’s a situation that mirrors the ministry puts annual current will directly employ 120 people mato value chain,” said produc- mercialise production. Erratic giant oil industry, where Ni- demand for tomato puree at and 50,000 farmers have been tion manager Ashwin Patil. power supply, which Nigeria has Igeria has abundant resources 900,000 tonnes. engaged to grow the tomatoes re- Plans to increase production - been grappling with for more but has lacked the capacity, will When the Dangote factory quired for the process of making and acquire an idle tomato paste than two decades, and lack of or ability to exploit it, forcing a opens from next month it will pro- concentrate. factory in neighbouring Kaduna import controls remain the fac- reliance on imports. vide 430,000 tonnes of paste that The Central Bank of Nigeria state - are in the pipeline, he added. tory’s main challenges. But Africa’s richest man Aliko is used widely in Nigerian dishes has provided technical assistance For farmers such as Yusuf Ado The factory will have to rely Dangote is hoping to change to- from jollof rice to fi ery soups. such as soft loans for seeds and Kadawa, it’s a lifeline. “We really on diesel-hungry generators for mato production with a giant “Nigeria is such a huge mar- fertiliser. The factory will then incur heavy losses from our yield, electricity, adding to production factory that will boost domestic ket for tomato paste that we will buy the produce at competitive which rots away due to lack of (a) costs and reducing competitive- output, create jobs - and even, fi nd quite challenging to satisfy,” rates, said Kaita. ready market for our tomatoes, ness with cheaper imports. indirectly, fi ght Boko Haram. the factory’s general manager, Currently, about half of the local which is a perishable produce. Both issues contributed to the For the past fi ve years, the Abdulkarim Kaita, told AFP. “Al- tomato crop rots because of a lack But now we have a market close collapse of hundreds of factories Dangote Group conglomerate he ready local tomato paste packag- of storage facilities, poor pricing to us,” he said. in Dangote’s home state of Kano in heads has been working to build ing companies have placed or- and access to markets, which has President Muhammadu Bu- the past two decades, including his a $20mn tomato processing plant ders with us which we will have prompted many farmers to stop hari is keen to diversify Nigeria’s textile and wheat fl our factories. outside the northern city of Kano. to work hard to satisfy. We are set cultivation, said the CBN. economy away from an over- But the vice-president of Ni- The city and state of the same to begin operations. We are only The improved seed varieties to reliance on oil as revenues have geria’s manufacturers union, name has been blighted by pov- waiting for the tomatoes which increase yields, access to chemi- been severely depleted by the glo- Ali Madugu, said the future still erty and unemployment, seen as are ripening in the fi elds.” cals, more up-to-date farming bal slump in crude prices. Former looked bright. “Once the govern- key drivers to radicalisation fuel- Nigeria grows some 1.5mn techniques and a ready market agriculture minister Akinwumi ment can place restrictions on the ling the Islamist insurgency in tonnes of tomatoes every year, for the produce is designed to Adesina, now head of the African import of Chinese tomato pastes... the wider north since 2009. making it the 14th biggest pro- entice farmers back. Development Bank, in 2013 de- the sky’s the limit for the Dangote A trader sorts a basket of tomatoes at the Yankaba vegetables But it’s hoped the giant factory ducer in the world. But it’s forced “Once we start production the scribed the sector as “the new oil”. tomato paste because the market is market in northern Nigerian city of Kano. the size of 10 football pitches, set to rely on imports of tomato pu- factory will be providing em- Some 30% of Nigeria’s esti- there for them to exploit.”

More than 100 quarantined after Ebola death in Sierra Leone

ore than 100 people have been quarantined in Sierra Leone after coming in contact with a woman who Mdied of Ebola last week, highlighting the potential for the disease to spread, just as the deadliest outbreak on record appeared to be over. The World Health Organization (WHO) last week declared that “all known chains of transmission have been stopped in West Africa” after Liberia joined Sierra Leone and Guinea in going six weeks with no reported new cases of Ebola. At the same time, it warned of possible fl are-ups as survivors can carry the virus for months. Just after the WHO announcement on Thursday, tests re- vealed that Mariatu Jalloh, a 22-year-old student, died of Ebola on January 12. Her death has concerned health experts because authorities failed to follow basic protocols, according to a health report seen by Reuters last week. The report stated that she lived in a house with 22 people while she was unwell. Five people were involved in wash- ing her corpse, a practice that is considered one of the chief modes of Ebola transmission. The Ministry of Health and the Offi ce of National Security said in a joint statement that 109 people have so far been quar- antined, 28 of whom were high-risk cases. “An active case investigation continues in the four districts where the young woman was known to have travelled,” the statement said. The source of the transmission remains unclear. Gulf Times Monday, January 18, 2016 13 AMERICA Scout troop balances Muslim faith, American values

By Léo Mouren Like all scouts, the members of troop Jamal Amro, the owner of the bus and veterans, they’ll like it,” he tells his AFP/Gettysburg 114 - created in Fairfax, Virginia in 2012 - a Palestinian who migrated to the US in charges. pledge: “On my honour, I will do my best.” 1977. After eating, the group stops at a But these scouts also hope they can Troop 114 had the chance to attend mosque on the edge of a highway to n a bus taking them to Gettysburg, “serve the Muslim community and the second inauguration of Barack pray. Then it’s on to Amish Country, Pennsylvania - site of the US Civil help the kids become better citizens,” Obama in 2013, and the Scouts hope to the community of traditionalist Chris- IWar’s most famous battle - the mem- says Abdul Rashid Abdullah, who is in be present again in 2017 when the new tians in Pennsylvania known for their bers of Boy Scout Troop 114 are all ears. charge of the troop of 35 Scouts, most of president is inaugurated - even if it is simple living and reluctance to adopt “Listen up during the trip! This is a who are Americans of Arab origin. Trump. modern conveniences. rewarding trip - if you pay attention, “Muslim Boy Scouts are not com- But Rashid cannot disguise his anger It’s a chance for Amro to grab the mi- it will help you get the merit badge,” mon, it’s true,” concedes the 43-year- at the provocative billionaire real estate crophone once more and to describe to booms one of the Scout leaders. old American, who converted to Islam tycoon, who leads in the polls among the teenagers how the Amish left per- “We are going to Gettysburg!” says in 1990. “But there are more and more likely Republican voters. secution in Europe to settle in the US, one of the 20 teenagers excitedly. “Al- of us. We get lots of support from the “Those boys are born here, they are to fi nd “religious freedom.” hamdulillah!” he cries, Arabic for Boy Scouts. The only diff erence is how American. They can’t take it away from Chalinine, an Algerian woman who praise God. we pray.” us. The one who is anti-American is the has lived in the US since 1994, volun- Troop 114 is like any other in the The Saturday outing to Gettysburg one who says such things,” he says, re- teered to accompany the group. Scouts, except in one important re- aims to drive home to the scouts the ferring to Trump’s ban call. She enrolled her two children, a son spect: They are Muslim. turning point in the American Civil Izzuddin, his 17-year-old son, will and a daughter, in Scout troops “be- For these boys, combining their Is- War. vote for the fi rst time this year after cause they do a lot of volunteering.” lamic faith with an organisation that And the goal is not just to underscore turning 18. “It’s the same values as Islam,” she was long a rite of passage for many the importance of American history - “Trump scares a lot of people. But says. young Americans is the best response but to hammer home that American also, he motivates people - you have to But she cannot hide her concern at to growing Islamophobia in the US and history is also their history. do something about it,” he says, defi - the sometimes harsh focus on Muslims the rhetoric of Donald Trump. “It’s important to transmit the antly. in America and says she cancelled the The Republican presidential front- American values, the values Lincoln After visiting the museum and the family’s subscription to cable television runner wants a ban on Muslims en- fought for,” says Rashid. Gettysburg battlefi eld, the teens head at home so her children hear as little tering the US in the wake of attacks in “They have to learn the history of back to the bus for lunch - fast food. from Trump as possible. Paris in November and the one that fol- this land. You have to get them con- Along the way, Rashid distributes “I hope my children will feel more Scouts from Troop 114 look at a cannon at the Gettysburg Museum of the lowed in California one month later. cerned by American history,” chimes in postcards. “Write a postcard for the American than I do,” she whispers. American Civil War in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Deadly Zika virus infection found in Hawaii newborn baby born with brain dam- age at a hospital in Oahu, Obama declares emergency AHawaii, was infected by the Zika virus, US health offi cials confi rmed on Saturday, apparent- ly the fi rst case of the mosquito- borne virus in a birth on US soil. The mother became ill with the Zika virus while living in over foul Michigan water Brazil in May 2015 and the baby was likely infected in the womb, AFP dered federal aid to supplement state and Hawaiian state health offi cials Washington local response eff orts,” a White House and the US Centres for Disease statement read. Control and Prevention said. The move was “due to the emergency “There’s no indication at this S President Barack Obama declared conditions in the area aff ected by con- point that there’s any Zika virus cir- a state of emergency in Michigan taminated water,” it added. culating in Hawaii,” CDC spokes- Uon Saturday, freeing up federal aid Eff orts to be implemented by the De- man Tom Skinner told Reuters. to help an area aff ected by contaminated partment of Homeland Security (DHS) “But I think its important for water, the White House said. and the Federal Emergency Management us to understand that there are Authorities in the state have been Agency (FEMA) include providing water, going to be imported cases of dealing with a major health crisis over water fi lters, water fi lter cartridges and Zika to the US and we won’t be lead-contaminated water that arose from water test kits, among other supplies, for surprised if we start to see some cost-cutting measures implemented in up to three months. local transmission of the virus,” the city of Flint, home to some 100,000 The state’s environment department Skinner said. people. had allowed water to be taken from the Zika can be transmitted by a Problems arose after state offi cials ig- Flint River, even though the city’s treat- mosquito that has bitten an in- nored months of health warnings about ment plant was not able to produce water fected person. the foul-smelling water as residents that met state and federal standards, ac- In the Hawaii case, a doctor complained that it was making them sick. cording to a lawsuit fi led by the American recognised the possibility of a Zika On Thursday, Michigan Governor Rick Civil Liberties Union and the Natural Re- infection in the newborn baby Snyder submitted a request to the presi- sources Defence Council. with microcephaly and alerted dent to call a state of emergency. Residents soon began complaining state offi cials, the Hawaii State However it was just four years ago that that the foul, cloudy water was making Department of Health depart- the governor named a state-appointed them vomit, break out in rashes and lose ment said in a written statement. manager to take control of Flint’s trou- their hair. The infection was confi rmed by a bled fi nances. DHS and FEMA will co-ordinate ef- CDC laboratory test and an advi- As part of cost-cutting, the city be- forts to ameliorate “the hardship and suf- sory sent to doctors statewide. gan drawing water from the Flint River in fering caused by the emergency on the Zika virus is transmitted April 2014 rather than continuing to buy local population,” the White House said. by Aedes species mosquitoes, it from Detroit. That’s when problems The move is meant “to save lives and which also spread dengue and began. to protect property and public health and chikungunya viruses and are Obama declared that “an emergency safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of common in Texas, Florida and Michigan National Guard Staff Sergeant William Phillips carries bottled water for a local resident at a fire station in Flint. exists in the state of Michigan and or- a catastrophe,” it added. elsewhere in the US.

Arkansas governor wants separation of Civil War icon from MLK holiday

By Steve Barnes Arkansas in the 1940s set up a day the joint holiday, said passing the Reuters/Little Rock, Arkansas in mid-January to honour Lee and cre- measure would be a winner in terms of ated a holiday for King in 1983. Two race relations. “It would show how far years after that, it combined the two we’ve come,” he said. ivil rights hero Martin Luther for a joint day marked on the third For many in Arkansas, Lee remains a King Jr and Civil War Con- Monday in January. revered fi gure who fought with dignity Cfederate commander General In January 2015, Arkansas lawmak- for the South. Robert E. Lee will share a common ers defeated a bill that would have re- Representative Jeff Wardlaw, a Dem- holiday today in three southern states, served the January date for King and ocrat who voted against Love’s bill, said but perhaps for the fi nal time in one of established a memorial day, although his conservative constituents are con- them: Arkansas. not a holiday, for Lee in November. cerned Lee would be offi cially disre- The state’s Republican governor is Racial sensitivity has been height- garded. “I’m the kind of guy who does pushing to separate the joint celebra- ened across the South following the what his constituents tell him they tion after critics said it is an insult for murders of nine black worshippers at a want, and last year they indicated they the man who fought to end racial seg- Charleston, South Carolina church in didn’t want a change,” Wardlaw said. regation to share a day with a man who June 2015 by a suspected gunman who Hutchinson wants lawmakers to fought to preserve slavery. is a white supremacist and adorned his pass legislation that gives King a day of “They need to be distinguished and social media website with Confederate his own when they meet for a regular separate,” Governor Asa Hutchinson regalia. session in the Republican-dominated told a news conference this month The shooting caused many South- statehouse about the remembrances. ern states to re-examine symbols of “It’s important that that day be dis- Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama the Confederacy. tinguished and separate and focused for years have observed a joint holiday Arkansas State Representative Fred on the civil rights struggle and what he for King and Lee, whose birthdays are Love, a Democrat who led the unsuc- personally did in that eff ort,” Hutchin- just four days apart. cessful campaign in 2015 to separate son said.

Chicago cops to testify in black teen’s death

Reuters a police car dashboard camera, sparked not able to confi rm the report and Chicago a wave of protests and calls for Chicago court offi cials could not be reached for Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s resignation. immediate comment on Saturday. Twenty-three offi cers, including McDonald’s death is one in a series of early two-dozen Chicago po- the case’s lead detective and four of- police killings of black teens and men in US lice offi cers have been subpoe- fi cers whose accounts of the incident cities that have sparked a national debate Nnaed to testify before a fed- confl icted with video footage, began on race and justice and fuelled the rise of eral grand jury investigating the fatal appearing before the grand jury in June the Black Lives Matter movement. Several shooting of a black teenager by a white and have appeared as recently as three of the Chicago offi cers have been called to police offi cer in October 2014, the Chi- weeks ago, the Tribune reported, citing testify more than once, and all of the of- cago Tribune reported on Saturday. records it obtained through a Freedom fi cers remain on active duty, the Tribune The shooting death of Laquan McDon- of Information Act request. reported. Being called to testify before a ald, 17, which was caught on video from A Chicago police spokesman was grand jury does not indicate wrongdoing. Gulf Times 14 Monday, January 18, 2016 ASEAN Suu Kyi bemoans youth ‘wasting time’ online

AFP Yangon

yanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi, who was Mforced to spend years of solitude under house arrest, has hit out at young people “wasting time” on computer games and social networking. The veteran opposition politician, whose party will soon take power after winning landmark elections last No- vember, made the comments in a letter to organisers of a literary festival at the weekend in Yangon. “Our lifestyles are chang- ing nowadays as technol- ogy improves,” she wrote in Suu Kyi: criticism a public letter to the Nobel- Myanmar Literary Festival bile phone would cost thou- Mourners and relatives pray over the grave of terror attack victim Rico Hermawan during a funeral secured by armed police commandos at a cemetery in Boyolali, Indonesia’s central posted online late Saturday. sands of dollars. Java island yesterday. “Now our children waste a Now Myanmar is as awash lot of their time on computer with smartphones and social games, Internet games and media accounts as many of social networks. Children its regional neighbours. read less because the use of In her letter Suu Kyi also technology has increased,” hit out at education stand- she added. ards, citing underfunding as Suu Kyi is widely adored well as a tendency towards in Myanmar for her years of rote learning rather than Jakarta extremist attack steely opposition to decades critical analysis. of brutal and corrupt junta “We rarely have libraries rule. in our schools and we have In November her Na- no more time to read books tional League for Democracy when we are in class,” she (NLD) trounced the military- said. backed governing party and “Our education system is toll rises to eight: police will soon form a new admin- about learning by heart and istration -- though the army answering questions, lim- AFP at a nearby bank and who died will still wield significant iting critical thinking and Jakarta from severe gunshot wounds to power under the junta-writ- reading books.” the head. ten constitution. Under junta rule education The fourth victim, who was The NLD’s electoral suc- and healthcare spending was he death toll in the Jakarta initially thought to be an at- cess owes much to capturing chronically neglected as the extremist attack has risen tacker, was identifi ed as Sugito. the youth vote in a country military lavished what lit- Tto eight, including four ci- Many Indonesians go by a single where just over half the pop- tle income the impoverished vilian victims and four militants, name. Police previously con- ulation is under 27. nation had on itself and its after a wounded Indonesian by- fi rmed a Canadian citizen was But Suu Kyi, who turned allies within the business stander died overnight, police among the dead. All the others 70 last year and was an aca- elite. said yesterday. were Indonesian. demic before she became a Expectations are sky-high Police had earlier put the toll Authorities in Southeast politician, has never pro- that Suu Kyi and the NLD will of victims from Thursday’s as- Asian countries with signifi cant fessed to be at the forefront begin to reverse that trend. sault at two, but raised it with Muslim populations say hun- of technology. But the military still retains the latest death and confi rma- dreds of their citizens have gone For the best part of two control of key security min- tion that an Indonesian man to join the IS in the Middle East, decades she had little more istries, a de facto veto in par- originally suspected of being a and have repeatedly warned that than a dusty library of books liament and huge economic militant was actually a civilian. extremist violence could boo- and the radio to keep her clout through army-owned The co-ordinated bomb and Indonesia Muslim youth salute during the ceremony of defending the country against terrorism, radicalism merang back home. company during long periods conglomerates. gun attack along the capital’s and drugs in Jakarta yesterday. Police said Saturday they had of house arrest, before her Suu Kyi is also banned central thoroughfare has been arrested 12 people in raids across release in 2010 and the coun- from becoming president claimed by the Islamic State (IS) nesians and Malaysians involved two dozen people injured — in- died last night,” Jakarta police Indonesia, including a man they try’s slow transition towards under the military-drafted group. in the extremist group’s ruth- cluding some foreigners — sev- spokesman Mohamed Iqbal told believe handled fi nancing for the a quasi-democracy. constitution. Indonesian authorities blame less fi ght for a self-proclaimed eral of them in serious condition. AFP, confi rming the latest death. Jakarta attacks, money that au- Just a few years ago access She has vowed to be it on an IS faction made up pri- caliphate in Syria and Iraq. “Another victim who was He named him as Rais Karna, thorities allege came from the to the Internet was limited “above” whoever is chosen marily of Malay-speaking Indo- The Jakarta attack also left in a coma since the beginning 37, an Indonesian who worked Islamic State group. and monitored while a mo- as president. Terrorists targeting tourist Terror strike highlights contest for areas of Malaysia: minister

DPA der to secure these locations if IS leadership in Southeast Asia Kuala Lumpur the need arises,” Adnan said at a campaign event. Adnan did not supply de- Reuters “At this point, it’s hard to ourist areas of the Malay- tails of any specific threats, Jakarta imagine any Southeast Asia af- sian capital are being tar- and Kuala Lumpur police chief fi liate would be formed,” said a Tgeted by terrorists groups, Tajudin Isa assured tourists senior Philippines army coun- a senior minister said, following and the general public that the ast week’s attack on Ja- ter-terrorism offi cial, noting a deadly attack in the Indonesian areas he mentioned were safe. karta showed for the fi rst that militants in his country capital Jakarta and the arrest of a “The security at all public Ltime that Islamic State vi- are mostly interested in raising bombing suspect in Malaysia on places have been intensified olence has arrived in Indonesia, money from kidnappings. Friday. and we are doing all we can to but security experts believe the “And one big obstacle to clear Federal Territories Minister monitor suspicious activities,” radical group’s footprint is still now is fi nding an amir that all Adnan Mansor said yesterday he told reporters. light here because militants are of them can agree on,” added the upscale district of Bangsar, Tajudin said he was not sure jostling to be its regional leader. the offi cial, who declined to be the top tourist destination Bukit where Adnan received his in- Police have identifi ed Bahrun named because he is not au- Bintang as well as some shop- formation. Naim, an Indonesian based in thorised to speak to the media. ping malls were among those at Malaysian police chief Syria, as the mastermind of the In Malaysia, former univer- risk, although police cast doubt Khalid Abu Bakar on Satur- blitz of bombings and gunfi re sity lecturer Mahmud Ahmad is on the warning. day announced the arrest of a that left all fi ve attackers and believed to be behind recent at- “We are aware of the threats 28-year-old insurance agent two civilians dead on Thursday. tempts to unite militant groups so we are on standby for any suspected of plotting a “lone But perhaps the region’s most from three Southeast Asian possible event,” he said. “We will wolf” attack on an entertain- infl uential activist is a jailed countries, including the Abu look into the seeking the help of ment outlet and a government cleric, Aman Abdurrahman, Sayyaf group based in southern the defence department in or- building. who with just a few couriers and islands of the Philippines. cell phones is able to command Abdurrahman remains per- around 200 followers from be- haps the weightiest contender hind bars. for leadership of Islamic State in He sits at the head of Jamaah the region. Ansharut Daulah, an umbrella While serving a nine-year Indonesia quake injures organisation formed last year A man holds a placard during a peace gathering at the site of this week’s militant attack in central Jakarta. prison term for aiding a militant through an alliance of splinter training camp in Indonesia, he groups that security experts be- Police believe that Naim, tracts of Syria and Iraq, has ac- of the 1980s and early 1990s, has managed to encourage hun- eight, damages houses lieve could become the unifying himself an Abdurrahman sup- cepted allegiances from activ- has largely become defunct due dreds of Indonesians to join the force for Islamic State support- porter, was trying to prove his ists in Nigeria, Egypt, Libya, to internal rivalries and a sus- fi ght in Syria and Iraq. ers. leadership skills to Islamic Algeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, tained crackdown by security “They can run the organisa- AFP vey. Indonesia’s National Disaster “They want to internalise the State’s leaders in Syria by plot- Yemen and Saudi Arabia, but forces. tion from the inside,” said ter- Jakarta Management Agency said there confl icts in Indonesia so they ting the Jakarta attack. has yet to formally recognise Governments in the region rorism expert Adibrata. “Cou- was no tsunami, but that the quake can bring more people from the “In order to get the credit any radical groups in Southeast fear that Malay-speaking mili- riers bring cell phones and they caused the injuries and damage on a outside,” said Rakyan Adibrata, from ISIS, he needs to prove his Asia. tants returning from fi ghting for record every word Abdurrah- ight people were hurt and small nearby island. a Jakarta-based terrorism ex- leadership capabilities,” Jakarta Indonesia-based Jemaah Is- Islamic State in Syria and Iraq man says.” about 120 houses dam- “From the preliminary report pert who advises parliament, police chief Tito Karnavian said, lamiyah (JI) was the last tran- could form a JI-like regional or- Prison authorities have tried Eaged when a 5.5-magnitude we received, the impact of the referring to the militants who using a common acronym for snational group to successfully ganisation. repeatedly to silence Abdurrah- earthquake shook remote eastern quake was quite signifi cant in two have joined forces under one the Syria-based group. launch major attacks in the re- But security experts doubt man. According to the Institute Indonesia yesterday, a government villages on Ambalau island,” said banner. He said Naim’s vision was gion, including the 2002 bomb- there is much chance of a pan- for Policy Analysis of Confl ict, offi cial said. agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo “Just like Syria, you need to to unite the now-splintered ings on the resort island of Bali regional group emerging that 10 phones were confi scated The earthquake struck at a depth Nugroho. Quake-prone Indonesia create a confl ict zone very big groups across Southeast Asia, that killed 202 people. would bring militants from from his cell in September 2014, of 46 kilometres at 8:22 am local sits along the Pacifi c “Ring of Fire”, that can be a magnet for all ac- including Indonesia, Malaysia JI, founded by Indonesian Indonesia, Malaysia and the but just a month later he got time (2322 GMT Saturday) in the where tectonic plates collide and tivists to come across the world and the Philippines, that sup- and Malaysian militants who Philippines under one banner hold of a new phone and his Banda Sea near the Maluku islands, cause frequent seismic and volcanic to Indonesia to wage war. That’s port Islamic State. returned from battling the So- because there is too much that sermons to followers inside and according to the US Geological Sur- activity. their main objective.” Islamic State, which controls viet Union in the Afghan jihad divides them. outside the prison resumed. Gulf Times Monday, December 18, 2016 15 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA Taiwan activists Buddhist festival turn lawmakers Activists who were on the The activists’ success came on out of the protests and won five to promote a better Taiwan.” streets are in parliament now the night Taiwan voted in its fi rst seats in parliament — making it Taiwan should abandon its female president, Tsai Ing-wen the third-largest in the legisla- “hallucinations” about pushing Agencies of the main opposition Demo- ture. for independence, as any moves Taipei cratic Progressive Party, which “The NPP will not forget the towards it would be a “poison”, has traditionally campaigned for principles of the Sunfl ower Chinese state-run media said the island’s independence. Movement. We will never com- after a landslide victory for the eijing not only has to con- Both Tsai and the protesters’ promise,” Huang, 42, said. island’s independence-leaning tend with a new president victory is symbolic of growing Rock star Freddie Lim, 39, was opposition. Bin Taiwan who is wary of public resistance to Beijing after also among the successful NPP The offi cial Xinhua news relations with China, but a fresh a rapprochement under outgo- candidates, unseating a veteran agency also warned any moves People burn incense as they pray during Laba Festival at a Buddhist temple in Huaian, Jiangsu batch of activists-turned-law- ing president Ma Ying-jeou of KMT lawmaker in Taipei. towards independence were like province, China, yesterday. makers from the island’s boister- the China-friendly Kuomintang The tattooed death metal a “poison” that would cause Tai- ous Sunfl ower Movement. which has sparked fears Taiwan’s singer grabbed headlines with wan to perish. Protesters from the student- sovereignty is being eroded. his screaming, headbanging “If there is no peace and sta- led movement that dramatically “It’s our fi rst election battle campaign concerts ahead of the bility in the Taiwan Strait, Tai- occupied the island’s parliament and we have a long way ahead of vote. wan’s new authority will fi nd the in 2014 over a trade pact with us,” said Huang Kuo-chang, an “I’m the fi rst rocker in Asia to suff erings of the people it wishes Beijing took their fi rst step into academic and leader of the Sun- go to parliament,” said Lim after to resolve on the economy, liveli- Australian red-tape leaves key mainstream politics after win- fl ower Movement who became a the victory. hood and its youth will be as use- ning seats in parliamentary elec- lawmaker Saturday. “This election shows anyone less as looking for fi sh in a tree,” tions Saturday. His New Power Party grew has the right to go into parliament it said. lifesaving drugs in limbo

Agencies PrEP, by people who may be at layed or left in indefi nite limbo Sydney risk of contracting HIV. at customs facilities. The drugs eff ectively pre- News.com.au has been told Missing man paraded on China television vent transmission of the virus, immigration minister Peter eople desperate to get a chronic condition that leads to Dutton has had to intervene on their hands on a drug that Aids and can be fatal. two occasions to get the medi- Agencies est incidents to fuel growing un- Neither Gui nor the accompa- involved or get in the way of my Phas been called a “game The medication is a cheap cations cleared yet incoming Beijing ease in Hong Kong over the ero- nying report on CCTV explained returning, nor do I want any ma- changer” in the fi ght against a generic version of the drug packages continue to be held up, sion of freedoms in the city, with how he ended up in police custo- licious media hype.” life-threatening condition are Truvada which while available seemingly at the whim of indi- fears that the fi ve have been de- dy in China after last being seen But Gui’s explanation for being left empty-handed, amid in Australia, is not approved vidual offi cers. missing Hong Kong pub- tained by Chinese authorities be- in Thailand. Sweden has sum- his detention was immediately claims they are victims of a by the Therapeutic Goods Ad- Labor blasted Dutton, say- lisher of books critical of cause of the work they published. moned the Chinese and Thai am- met with scepticism by his own disagreement between Austral- ministration (TGA) for use as a ing he needs to do more to end ABeijing appeared weep- In the interview broadcast on bassadors, But Gui urged Stock- daughter, rights groups and ian Border Force (ABF) offi cials. preventive medicine and isn’t the impasse, and a HIV expert ing on state television yesterday, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, holm not to intervene. Hong Kong media. This was reported by news.com. subsidised by being listed on the has said the delays caused by saying he had returned to China Gui said he fl ed the mainland after “Although I now hold the Gui’s daughter, Angela, said it au. Pharmaceutical Benefi ts Sched- the ABF, which runs the coun- to surrender to police 11 years he was convicted of killing a col- Swedish citizenship, deep down I was not possible he had surren- The situation has been la- ule. try’s customs facilities, could be after fl eeing a fatal drink driving lege student in drink driving inci- still think of myself as a Chinese. dered voluntarily when quoted belled “dangerous” and “in- This has meant Australians “catastrophic” and leave people incident. dent, despite only being sentenced My roots are in China,” he said in by Hong Kong newspaper Apple sane” by critics. trying to access PrEP either vulnerable to infection. Gui Minhai, a Swedish national to a two-year suspended sentence. the interview. “I hope the Swed- Daily. She said she hoped to visit The wrangle centres on the have to fork out the full price But the ABF has told news. and co-owner of publisher Mighty “I am taking my legal respon- ish authorities would respect my her father soon. The other missing inconsistent treatment of con- of up to $1,000 a month, go on com.au that while previous ship- Current, failed to return from a sibilities, and am willing to ac- personal choices, my rights and employees include the publish- signments of medication being a medical trial, for which plac- ments may have made their way holiday in Thailand in October, cept any punishment,” he said. my privacy, and allow myself to ing company’s general manager imported from Swaziland, in es are limited, or import these through customs unimpeded, all according to local media, since During the interview, which deal with my own issues.” Lui Bo, staff member Cheung Jip- southern Africa, to Australia. cheaper generic versions. future consignments of the treat- when a further four employees of took place in a detention centre, He added: “This is my due ing, and bookstore manager Lam The packages contain drugs While some deliveries of the ment would likely now be stopped the company have gone missing. Gui sobbed and apologised to the responsibility. I do not want Wing-kei, all of whom disappeared that can be used as a pre-expo- medication are being cleared at unless hundreds of dollars in ex- The disappearances are the lat- family of the dead student. anyone or any institution to be in southern China in October. sure prophylaxis treatment, or customs, others have been de- tra charges were stumped up. Gulf Times 16 Monday, January 18, 2016 BRITAIN/IRELAND Housing cost puts thousands off starting a family: survey

London Evening Standard that if the cost of homes stays at prices and rents rise further. the business group London of their careers are telling the Baroness Jo Valentine, chief firms face difficulties getting London current levels or rises they will Young women especially First for the Fifty Thousand next mayor very clearly what executive of London First, said: the employees they need. be less likely to raise children seem more likely than men to Homes campaign. It is calling needs fixing. “London business depends on The poll also found 36% of here. It also revealed four in delay having children because on the next mayor of London, “London’s housing supply is talented people making a career Londoners in their twenties say undreds of thousands five Londoners aged 20-29 have of spiralling house prices and almost certainly Zac Goldsmith simply not keeping up with our here. If some can’t we all lose the jump in house prices made of Londoners in their considered quitting the capital budget-busting rents. or Sadiq Khan, to ensure 50,000 growing population as a city out. This is unfair on the young them more likely to decide to Htwenties are being put because of sky-high housing A total of 46% of women in new homes are being built each and they are feeling the pinch but is going to end up hurting us raise a family in the city. More off starting a family because of costs. their twenties said they were year in the capital by 2020. — paying the cost through high all if generation rent becomes than half of this group either soaring house prices, an exclu- The findings sparked a warn- less likely to raise a family in Will Higham, director of the rents, not getting on the prop- generation went.” already own their property out- sive survey revealed. ing by business leaders that London due to housing costs. campaign — backed by a coali- erty ladder and even making She stressed that the housing right or had a mortgage on it, The poll found 42% of this “generation rent” may become The survey by Opinium Re- tion of city businesses — said: trade-offs about when to start crisis was now a “boardroom the poll indicated — highlight- 1.4mn-strong age group feel “generation went” if property search was commissioned by “Young Londoners at the start a family.” issue” as a growing number of ing the city’s wealth divide. Homing pigeon show Police under fi re over jump Cameron in domestic abuse cases risks party

London Evening Standard London

omestic violence cases in London soared by an schism over Dalarming 9,000 incidents last year, offi cial crime fi gures show. The Metropolitan Police came under pressure to explain the 15% rise, up from 61,471 to 70,682 in the 12 months that end- ed in November. EU vote Scotland Yard claims the in- crease can be explained in part by Reuters said Steven Fielding, professor Pensions Secretary Iain Dun- more victims feeling confi dent London of political history at the Uni- can Smith and House of Com- enough in the system to report at- versity of Nottingham. mons leader Chris Grayling, are tacks. The force has been actively “It got them through the ref- reported by local media to be encouraging victims, who are oping to hold together a erendum campaign but it didn’t considering backing an EU exit. mainly women, to come forward party with a small ma- alter the situation that there In Cameron’s favour is that and has specially trained offi cers Hjority in parliament and were signifi cant fi gures in the his party is in a strong politi- on hand. facing resignations, the prime party who wanted to come out cal position - it won a majority It also carried out the world’s minister takes the unusual step and those who wanted to stay in.” in a general election last year, largest trial of body-worn cam- of letting members of his cabinet The issue of Europe, which confounding pollsters’ predic- eras last year, allowing offi cers in- oppose the government ahead of contributed to the downfall of tions of a hung parliament, is vestigating incidents of domestic a referendum on Europe. two of Cameron’s predecessors, presiding over a strengthening violence to record evidence that The year was 1975 and that has long divided his party and economy and is facing an oppo- can be used in court if the victim leader was Labour’s Harold pressure from his Euroscep- sition in disarray. The election is too afraid to speak out. Wilson. But with current Con- tic lawmakers helped prompt of veteran left-wing activist The trial saw 550 of the cam- servative Prime Minister David a pledge to reform Britain’s EU Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the eras used across 10 boroughs, and Cameron’s plans to hold a ref- ties and hold a vote by the end of main opposition Labour has set 20,000 will be rolled out to offi c- erendum on Britain’s European 2017. off an internal confl ict over its ers this year. Concerns remain Union membership increasing- Cameron has said he will work identity which some in the par- that when women report attacks, ly echoing the last time Britons hard to get “the best possible ty fear could make it unelecta- they do not always receive a sat- voted on staying in the bloc, it deal” in negotiations with the ble for years. isfactory response from police. could just as easily be 2016. bloc. He hopes to win a deal in But Cameron’s decision to It is also feared that government Facing the prospect of mem- February, opening the way for a let ministers air their views and cuts to refuge services for abused bers of his team quitting, Cam- referendum as early as in June. campaign against each other women to fl ee to, often with their eron used the same tactic as Some Conservative Euro- has led to warnings from veter- children, could put them at risk of Wilson this month and bowed sceptics say more than half of an party fi gures, including Eu- more violence. to pressure to allow ministers to Cameron’s lawmakers could rophile former fi nance minister But while a report by Her Maj- campaign to leave the EU after vote to leave, while several min- Ken Clarke and former deputy esty’s Inspectorate of Constabu- he renegotiates Britain’s rela- isters, including Home Sec- prime minister Michael Hesel- lary last month made a series of tionship with the bloc. retary Theresa May, Business tine, that it will make it harder criticisms of how forces across But Cameron, who like Wil- Secretary Sajid Javid, Work and to heal rifts. the country deal with domestic son favours staying in a re- abuse, the Met was praised by the formed EU and has been ac- New poll shows widening support for Brexit police watchdog for the way it cused by Eurosceptics of tackles such cases. Tory London seeking insignifi cant changes in A new opinion poll published undecided voters. If they are Assembly member Kemi Bad- the negotiations, may be mind- yesterday showed the number included, 42% are in favour enoch, who obtained the fi gures, ful of history. of Britons wanting to leave the of leaving, 38% for remaining said they were of “major concern. Seven of Wilson’s team of 23 European Union rising in the with 20% yet to make up their “It should be welcomed that senior ministers campaigned wake of the Paris terror attacks mind. The survey, which was victims feel they can come for- to leave what was then the Eu- and Cologne assaults. The poll conducted online on Janu- ward, but the signifi cant increase ropean Economic Community. put the EU exit camp in the ary 15 and 16 and had 1,004 must be met with suffi cient re- While Britain voted 67% to 33% lead by 53% to 47% ahead of a respondents, had a margin of sources, including preventative to stay in, Labour split six years referendum promised by the error of two percentage points. measures. How many of these later, with four pro-Europeans end of 2017, but which could Survation’s last poll published incidents are reported by previous breaking away to form a new take place as early as June. in September showed 49% in victims? party. The Survation poll for the cen- favour of staying, and 51% for “I’ll be calling for a renewed Visitors view homing pigeons on show during the British Homing World Show of the year at “The divisions did not disap- tre-right, eurosceptic, Mail on leaving when undecided vot- focus on tackling this worrying Blackpool’s Winter Gardens in Blackpool, north west England, yesterday. pear just because they had had Sunday newspaper excludes ers were excluded. trend.” a polite agreement to disagree,” Perfect murder solved Support for Ireland’s ‘due to London scientists’ ruling coalition falls Reuters percent shy of a majority if Dublin either poll was borne out. On eve of the report, witness Thursday and may well con- emitted by radioactive sub- Centre-right Fianna Fail tells how London’s scientists clude that the Russian state was stances: alpha particles, beta benefited from the govern- identified fatal poison responsible. radiation and gamma radiation. upport for Ireland’s rul- ment’s fall in support, going However, the inquiry would Geiger counters can easily de- ing coalition fell in two level with left-wing chal- Guardian News and Media never have been held, nor would tect beta and gamma radiation, Sopinion polls, widening lenger Sinn Fein on 19% in London the murder of Litvinenko have while alpha radiation requires the margin the member par- one poll and ahead of its rival been revealed, had it not been special detectors. If Litvinenko ties need to make up if they opposition party on 20% in for the location where his poi- had ingested an alpha-emitting are to return to government the other. he poisoners of Alexan- soners chose to slip him a fatal substance, this would explain after elections expected next der Litvinenko made one dose of polonium. his symptoms - and the failure month. Fianna Fail leader Tmajor blunder when they After drinking a cup of tea to detect radiation from his body. While Prime Minister Enda Micheal Martin reiterated used radioactive polonium to kill in a London hotel on Novem- Samples from the agent were Kenny’s Fine Gael held steady that his party would not the former Russian intelligence ber 1, 2006, Litvinenko began sent to the UK Atomic Weapons at 31% in a poll in the Sunday go into coalition with Fine agent. They chose to carry out vomiting, lost hair and suf- Establishment, near London. Times newspaper, the centre- Gael or Sinn Fein their crime in London, the one fered blistering in his mouth. There, scientists suspected that right party fell two points to city in the world with the doctors He was taken to University Col- polonium, a powerful alpha 30% in the Sunday Business Fianna Fail leader Micheal and medical infrastructure to re- lege hospital, which has links emitter, was involved. Polo- Post/Red C poll, its first drop Martin reiterated that his party veal the cause of his death. to nearby University College nium sticks to metal, so a silver in the series since July. would not go into coalition This is the view of Norman London and its medical phys- disc was suspended in the body Its junior partner Labour with Fine Gael or Sinn Fein, Dombey, emeritus profes- ics department. Experts there fluids taken from Litvinenko. was unchanged on 9% in that the former political wing of sor of theoretical physics at attempted to trace the cause of The disc attracted a substance poll but in the Sunday Times/ the Irish Republic Army (IRA) the University of Sussex. “Al- Litvinenko’s illness. whose alpha particles matched Behaviour & Attitudes survey, whom he likened this week to a most anywhere else on Earth, The puzzle was straightfor- the isotope of polonium known the party which has struggled “mafi a organisation”. Litvinenko’s death would have ward: the former Russian agent as polonium 210. to gain credit for the rebound With no obvious alterna- been merely suspicious and its showed all the symptoms of ra- “Virtually all of that isotope in Ireland’s economy fell two tive, if the government par- cause would have remained un- diation poisoning but produced is made at a nuclear weapons points to just 6%. ties fall short of a majority, known,” he said. no signs of radioactivity when assembly plant in Russia,” add- Kenny, who has until early Ireland may face the relative Dombey was a key witness tested with Geiger counters. ed Dombey. “That points a fin- April to go to the electorate instability of a minority gov- at the inquiry, held in London The issue turned out to be one ger directly at Russia. However, but is expected to call the poll ernment, a larger coalition last year, into the former Rus- directly concerned with the na- had it not been for the experts for late February, is seeking including a number of inde- sian spy’s murder. The inquiry’s ture of radiation. in London, that link would nev- re-election with Labour but pendent deputies or an elec- report is to be published on Three forms of radiation are er had been made.” Kenny: seeking re-election the parties would be several tion re-run. Gulf Times Monday, January 18, 2016 17 BRITAIN Banking sector Covered in snow ‘forced Osborne to tone down levy proposals’

London Evening Standard Standard Chartered, Santander, London HSBC and RBS. The British Bank- ing Association said the levy would hit banks with huge costs, eorge Osborne watered have a “detrimental eff ect” on the down his fl agship bank industry and “deter” investment. Glevy under pressure from It also raised concerns that giant fi nancial companies, some of banks would be charged on liabili- which admit to paying no UK cor- ties outside the UK and called for poration tax, it was revealed. ministers to set out when the levy Documents obtained by the would end. Standard show the world’s big- The bank levy rose after 2010, gest banks pushed the Treasury but last July, Osborne announced to weaken Osborne’s plan to claw changes in line with what the money back from the fi nancial banks wanted, including that it sector after the 2008 crash. would be tapered and by 2021 only It has since emerged that sev- hit UK balance sheets. eral banks involved in successfully He did raise corporation tax for lobbying for a less burdensome banks to eight percentage points levy paid no corporation tax in above the standard rate but a Visitors ride sledges after snowfall at Bradgate Park in Newtown Linford, central England, yesterday. A 100-mile wide corridor of snow stretched from north-west 2014. Reuters investigation last week Scotland to south-east England overnight, with London seeing snow for the first time this season. The revelation that Osborne al- revealed that in 2014 some of the tered his levy in line with what the largest banking groups — all rep- banks wanted led shadow chan- resented by the BBA — paid no cellor John McDonnell to claim he UK corporation tax, including “dances to the tune of whatever Credit Suisse, JP Morgan Chase, the bankers call for”. Deutsche Bank, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Nomura and Citigroup. The banks declined to comment at the time although their fi lings noted that they followed all tax rules and that Labour gears up for new tax payments can be volatile. Citigroup and Nomura wrote letters to the 2010 consultation, Last July, Osborne calling for the proposed policy to announced changes in be weakened. Both declined to line with what the banks comment. wanted, including that it A BBA spokesman said the sec- battle over nuclear arms would be tapered and by tor had contributed an estimated 2021 only hit UK balance £31.3bn across all taxes to UK Reuters urged Labour members not to in parliament, with lawmakers But explaining the reshuf- teaches law, said he stopped pay- sheets. coff ers in 2014. He said: “Banks London focus on his dismissal, which was who resigned their senior party fl e in a commentary piece in the ing his Labour subscription on should pay their fair share to fi - condemned by several lawmak- positions in protest at the reshuf- Guardian newspaper, Corbyn January 7, his birthday. McDonnell said: “Custom- nance public services. But it is also ers, in both Labour and the ruling fl e dubbed a “right-wing clique” wrote: “For all the media sound “I waited four months for it ers and taxpayers who bailed out crucial that the tax system pro- he leader of Britain’s main Conservative Party. by one of Corbyn’s closest allies. and fury ... (the) shadow cabinet and if there was a last straw, it the banks and continue to pay the vides long-term certainty so that opposition Labour Party “The longer-term importance The two sides seem further reshuffl e has made us a stronger, was the reshuffl e ... I don’t really price for their past actions and banks can create jobs, invest and Tsays a reshuffl e of his top from the reshuffl e is not whether apart than ever, and despite more diverse and more coherent hear principled voices of the best excesses will see this as yet more spread prosperity across the UK.” team has brought the unity need- I’m there ... it is probably the Corbyn’s attempts to tighten his leadership team.” of the Labour Party speaking up proof that Osborne is on the side A Treasury spokeswoman said ed to “win elections and change question of Trident and what control over the party, the Tri- “It will help make Labour a against the wholly wrong-head- of those who run the banks.” reforms made to the levy and cor- our country for the better” - but happens now,” McFadden said in dent debate looks set to add fuel more eff ective champion of the ed direction that Labour is going Osborne introduced the levy af- poration tax would create a “fair” he faces a struggle to convince his an interview. to what is becoming an increas- people who need us to give them in.” ter the government spent billions regime and rake in a further £2bn. own lawmakers. “There will certainly be diff er- ingly public, and damaging, bat- a voice, to win elections and Others disagree. Party mem- of pounds bailing out banks. She said: “Any suggestion of un- Some Labour MPs say this ent views about it.” tle. change our country for the bet- bership has grown to 380,000 However, documents obtained due infl uence is wrong.” month’s changes by Jeremy A battle for the soul of the La- Corbyn’s election as leader ter,” he wrote on January 9. people, up from about 270,000 in under a Freedom of Information The Financial Conduct Author- Corbyn have merely deepened bour Party seems to have entered represented a sharp break from Corbyn says he has the man- August, and a majority of mem- Act request by the Standard show ity recently shelved a bank mis- divisions and herald the start of a new phase. the legacy of former prime min- date of thousands of new par- bers - more than 200,000 peo- that big fi nance groups pushed for selling probe. It decided against a battle over national security Corbyn believes the cost of re- ister Tony Blair, who shifted La- ty members to push through ple - signed up since the former the levy to be weakened when it action against HSBC over claims that could tear the party apart newing and maintaining Trident, bour from its left-wing roots to change, but after he promised a Labour leader Ed Miliband left was formulated in 2010. its private banking arm helped rich and leave it out of power for more which Reuters puts at more than the political centre. He took a new, consensual politics where in May last year, after suff ering Among those who replied to the clients avoid tax and ditched plans than a decade. £167bn over 32 years, is too much party that had been out of offi ce diff erences of opinion could be the overwhelming defeat by the government’s consultation and for an investigation into pay and After days of what some aides and the money could be bet- for almost two decades to three aired, some Labour voters feel let Conservatives. called for changes were the CBI, behaviour in the industry. said were diffi cult talks, Corbyn ter spent. But many in his party straight election victories after down by the sackings in his team. But it is largely Corbyn sup- sacked two top-ranking offi cials think Britain cannot unilaterally becoming leader in 1994. Carl Gardner, 51, a former gov- porters - dubbed Corbynistas - Banks see big rise in demand for personal loans for disloyalty and moved his de- disarm in an increasingly hostile Blair quit in 2007 and Labour - ernment lawyer, said he had been who make up the new entrants, fence spokeswoman to another world. dogged by criticism and internal wondering about leaving the who are increasingly dominating British banks saw a notable rise growing debt levels among role, bringing in a lawmaker who The veteran left-wing and soul-searching over its partici- party since it became clear in Au- local councils and associations. in demand for personal loans households. “The increase in shares his opposition to nuclear anti-war activist was elected on a pation in the US-led invasion of gust that Corbyn would win the “This new membership is and other unsecured credit in unsecured credit availability weapons. groundswell of desire for change Iraq and its handling of the econ- leadership election. overwhelmingly pro-Corbyn, late 2015 which was expected appeared particularly apparent With security now taking cen- among Labour’s grass-root omy during the Blair years - lost After joining Labour in 1994, which should give us a decent to remain strong in early 2016, in other unsecured lending, such tre stage, the reshuffl e was seen members in September follow- the next two elections. when he said Labour had “fi nal- idea of just how strong a position the Bank of England said. The as personal loans, where credit as the fi rst move in a fi ght over ing a heavy election defeat. Since Now Corbyn’s push to turn ly become a sensible, electable he is in,” said LabourList, a La- BoE’s Credit Conditions Survey scoring criteria were reported whether to renew the Trident then, his followers in the party, Labour more to the left is expos- centre-left party which could bour website, in a commentary. said banks were providing to have loosened,” the BoE said. submarine programme - Brit- often holding more radical views ing its faultlines. do good things in this country”, “If he is able to mobilise and more unsecured lending to It also said banks had reported ain’s sole nuclear weapons sys- than their elected representatives The reshuffl e, in which Corbyn London-based Gardner feared organise them eff ectively, do- households as their appetite a slight increase in demand for tem - which a Labour govern- in parliament, have clashed with sacked McFadden and Michael the party was turning back to its ing things like changing Trident for risk grew. Bank of England mortgages in the fourth quarter ment won parliamentary support some Labour lawmakers. Dugher, former spokesman for 1980s hard-left stances such as policy should be a doddle.” Governor Mark Carney said this of last year and it was likely to for in 2007. After weeks of slurs and accu- culture, media and sport - both unilateral disarmament. Labour launched its Defence week that Britain’s economic rise in the first quarter of this Pat McFadden, who was sations in the largely anonymous more centrist politicians - trig- “The question is why didn’t I Policy Review on Friday, calling recovery was not reliant on year. sacked as Labour’s Europe realm of Twitter, some of the di- gered several resignations among leave before?” he said. on party members and the public spokesman in the reshuffl e, visive language is now being used junior members of his team. Instead Gardner, who now to get involved. Lorry driver not to face Corbyn invites Trump to visit mosque charges in cyclist’s death Reuters The billionaire frontrunner London for the Republican presidential nomination called for a ban on London Evening Standard Crown Prosecution Service as smart as well as beautiful.” Muslims entering the US and London a matter of procedure but both Tao was the last of eight cy- ritain’s opposition leader has made xenophobic comments the CPS and City Police accepted clists killed in London vehicle invited US Republican about Latinos. the evidence did not meet the collisions last year. The City of Bpresidential candidate Lawmakers are due to debate lorry driver involved in threshold to bring a prosecution. London coroner will now reo- Donald Trump, who sparked an today a petition signed by more one of the most notori- Tao’s widower Jin Chan Zhou pen his inquiry into her death. outcry by calling for a ban on than half a million people call- A ous deaths of a cyclist is understood to have been told The HGV driver, not named by Muslims from entering the US, ing for Trump to be barred from in London last year will not be by police of the decision in the police, is set to be questioned in to join him on a visit to a London Britain, although the debate will prosecuted, the Standard re- past week. the court. mosque. not be followed by a vote. vealed. A City of London Police In November the City of Lon- The comments from Labour Trump has threatened to can- The death of Oxbridge gradu- spokeswoman told the Standard: don Corporation published plans leader Jeremy Corbyn, a socialist cel over £700mn of investments ate Ying Tao at Bank junction “The investigation has come to a to ban lorries, cars and taxis from who represents a multi-ethnic in golf courses in Scotland if the sparked one of the city’s biggest conclusion, with no further ac- Bank junction between 7am and district of north London, come a government slaps him with a ever “die-in” protests, with hun- tion to be taken.” 7pm, in a radical bid to improve day before the British parliament travel ban. dreds of cyclists lying down in Tao, 26, of Clerkenwell, had safety. Campaigner Donnachadh debates a motion calling for a ban He has also been involved in a the street to demand safer roads. been cycling to work as a con- McCarthy, co-founder of Stop on half-Scottish Trump from spat with the Scottish govern- It has now been disclosed that sultant at PwC at London Bridge Killing Cyclists, said: “We are visiting the country. ment over plans they approved police and prosecutors have de- when she collided with the left- disappointed at a lack of pros- “I decided to invite Donald for an off shore wind farm project cided not to bring charges against turning lorry. ecution. Trump on his visit to Britain to near one of his golf courses, call- the HGV driver after considering She was from Nanjing in east- “We are, however, pleased come with me to my constituen- ing former fi rst minister Alec the case for six months. ern China, had a degree in eco- that the corporation is respond- cy because he has problems with Salmond “an embarrassment to Offi cers who studied CCTV nomics from Cambridge and a ing positively to the call — after Mexicans and he has problems Scotland.” footage and data from the colli- masters from Oxford and had the huge protest following the with Muslims,” Corbyn told the Yesterday, Salmond, who sits sion on June 22 last year found no worked at the fi rm for three awful death of Ying Tao — that BBC’s Andrew Marr Show. as a lawmaker in the British par- evidence the driving had fallen years. She and Zhou, whom she Bank junction be made into a safe “As you know my wife is Mexi- liament, told the BBC he would below the “competent and care- met at Oxford, had married 13 space at the heart of the City for can and my constituency is very, likely support barring Trump ful” standards required by law, months earlier in London. After cyclists and pedestrians.” very multi-cultural so what I was from the country. “He wants to nor that the vehicle was defec- visiting the scene of her death, he A spokeswoman for Tao’s fam- going to do was go down to the ban all Muslims from the US. I tive. said: “She was the perfect wife ily did not answer a request to mosque with him and let him talk want to ban all Donald Trumps The case was referred to the and perfect in every way. She was comment. Donald Trump: xenophobic comments to people there,” he said. from Scotland,” he said. Gulf Times 18 Monday, January 18, 2016 EUROPE

Pope welcomes 5,000 Francis hails ties with Jews on landmark synagogue visit migrants in Rome AFP Rome

AFP “Dear migrants and refugees, Vatican City each of you carries a story, a cul- ope Francis made his fi rst ture and precious values,” Fran- visit yesterday to a syna- cis said. “Alas, many of you have Pgogue as Pontiff , citing an ope Francis welcomed experienced misery, oppression “unbreakable” bond between 5,000 migrants at a mass and fear.” Jews and Christians as hundreds Pat Saint Peter’s Square The event was part of the of armed security personnel were yesterday to mark the world day Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year, deployed for the Rome visit. of migrants and refugees, urging which Francis called yesterday Francis is the third Pope to vis- them to treasure their “culture “the jubilee of migrants”. it the Great Synagogue in Italy’s and precious values”. Meanwhile, the Pope also capital after John-Paul II in 1986 “Your presence here at this called on the worshippers to pray and Benedict XVI in 2010. square is a sign of hope in God. for the four victims of Thurs- Located just across the River Don’t let yourselves be stripped day’s Jakarta attack and the 29 Tiber from the Vatican, it stands of this hope and joy of living,” killed in the capital of Burkina in an area still known as the he said at the close of his weekly Faso, Ouagadougou, in a jihadist Ghetto where under the orders of Pope Francis salutes at the end of his visit at the synagogue. Angelus prayer. assault on Friday night. some of Francis’s predecessors, Francis has repeatedly called After the prayer, thousands of Jews were confi ned for more than ticular the big monotheist reli- Ties between the Christi- on European states to welcome migrants were set to enter the three centuries until their eman- gions,” he said. anity and Judaism, which im- people fl eeing war and misery basilica through one of the “holy cipation at the end of the 19th The Pope was greeted with proved under both John-Paul II amid the continent’s worst mi- doors” opened for the special century. applause as he arrived and was and Benedict XVI, have become grant crisis since World War II. year which is dedicated to the Evoking “the unbreakable met on the synagogue steps by warmer still under Francis, who After the prayer, the Pope theme of mercy. bond between Jews and Chris- Rome’s chief rabbi Riccardo Di has a long-standing friendship hailed “with great aff ection the The Lampedusa crucifi x, a tians”, the Pope delivered a mes- Segni. with Argentinian rabbi Abraham ethnic communities present” in cross made from the wood of sage of peace. Francis in turn greeted some Skorka, with whom he jointly the Vatican City and “the people a boat used by migrants, was “Violence against men is in 1,500 invited guests who fi lled published a book of conversa- who help and welcome” the mi- brought to Rome for the occa- Migrants gather in Saint Peter’s Square to follow Pope Francis’s contradiction with any religion the religious site to witness the tions about issues of ethics, mo- grants. sion. Sunday Angelus prayer. worthy of the name, and in par- Pontiff ’s visit. rality and faith.

Sweden launches German expulsion centres probe into mosque for Algerians, Moroccans arson bid

AFP outrage over a rash of attacks on in existing expulsion facilities in as Syria, who made up about rose to 2,296 in December from policy within her conservative AFP Berlin women on New Year’s Eve in the Bavaria until their claims have 40% of the nearly 1.1mn people 847 in June, while those from bloc and has pressed for her to Stockholm western city of Cologne blamed been heard, similar to the prac- who arrived last year. Morocco jumped to 2,896 from set an upper limit on the number on North African and Arab mi- tice currently being used for ap- Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Mac- 368, the interior ministry said. of asylum seekers entering Ger- ermany is planning meas- grants. plicants from Balkan countries edonia, Montenegro and Ser- “A good case can be made for many. wedish police said yes- ures to expedite the de- Welt am Sonntag newspaper who are unlikely to be granted bia have all been declared safe placing migrants from the North Merkel has rebuff ed these terday that they have Gportation of rejected reported that Chancellor Angela asylum. countries of origin by Germany, African region without a chance calls, dismissing them as imprac- Slaunched an investigation asylum seekers from Algeria and Merkel and Bavarian state leader Vice-Chancellor Sigmar meaning their citizens have very of staying (in Germany) in repa- tical and unconstitutional. into possible arson after a fi re at Morocco including placing them Horst Seehofer had agreed that Gabriel noted yesterday that this little chance of gaining refugee triation centres,” an offi cial from But pressure on Merkel has a mosque in the southwest of the in special expulsion centres, of- Algerian and Moroccan asylum option could be applied more status. Seehofer’s Christian Social Un- grown since the Cologne melee, country. fi cials said yesterday. seekers should no longer be put widely. Berlin plans to add Algeria and ion, Thomas Kreuzer, told Welt which gave rise to more than 670 “At this time it is unclear how The proposals came after a in shelters throughout the coun- Germany has said it wants free Morocco to the list. am Sonntag. criminal complaints including the fi re started. A preliminary sharp rise in new arrivals from try. up resources to help people fl ee- The numbers of Algerian asy- Seehofer is the most vocal over 330 relating to sexual vio- investigation for arson has been the two countries and public Instead, they would be housed ing war-ravaged countries such lum seekers arriving in Germany critic of Merkel’s liberal refugee lence. launched and the premises have been cordoned off to allow the technical staff to work,” police said in a statement. Firefi ghters and police were Czech president says integration ‘impossible’ called in around 3am (0200 GMT) but they found no one at the site in the town of Boras. AFP impossible,” Zeman said in a tel- winger and the fi rst-ever directly to “take up arms” against the Is- “It is no longer possible to use Prague evised interview. elected president of the Czech lamic State (IS) group instead of the site. All activities have been “Let them have their culture in Republic, has repeatedly spoken running away. cancelled until further notice,” their countries and not take it to out against the surge of migrant More than 1mn migrants the mosque’s administration zech President Milos Ze- Europe, otherwise it will end up and refugee arrivals in Europe. reached Europe in 2015, most of said on Facebook. man, known for his fi ery like Cologne,” he added, referring Earlier this month, Zeman them refugees fl eeing war and Arsonists have targeted sev- Canti-migrant comments, to the mass New Year’s Eve as- claimed the infl ux was mas- violence in Afghanistan, Iraq and eral mosques and centres hous- said yesterday that it was almost saults on women in Germany. terminded by Egypt’s Muslim Syria, according to the United ing asylum seekers in recent impossible to integrate the Mus- “Integration is possible with Brotherhood which uses money Nations refugee agency. months, in a string of attacks lim community into European cultures that are similar, and the from several states to fi nance it But few asylum seekers have linked to the growing infl ux of society. similarities may vary,” he said, in a bid to “gradually control Eu- chosen to stay in the largely sec- migrants. “The experience of Western pointing out that the Vietnamese rope”. ular Czech Republic, an EU and Sweden, which is home to European countries which have and Ukrainian communities had Late last year, Zeman called Nato member of 10.5mn peo- 9.8mn people, is one of the Eu- This file photo taken on November 17, 2015 shows Czech President ghettos and excluded localities been able to integrate into Czech the surge in refugee numbers ple, with the majority heading ropean Union countries that has Zeman delivering his speech during the anti-Islam rally in Prague on shows that the integration of the society. “an organised invasion”, urging to wealthier Germany and other taken in the largest number of the 26th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. Muslim community is practically Zeman, a 71-year-old left- young men from Iraq and Syria western EU states. refugees in relation to its popu- lation. Support for the far-right has mounted as Sweden’s ability to house and integrate the new ar- Calais migrant camp gets its rivals comes under strain. own Jungala Radio station Arrests in

AFP He is enthusiastically hunting tertainment and education. Calais out interviews with one of the re- Next door to the well-stocked Dusseldorf corders bought by Radio Jungala Jungle library, a volunteer is via a crowd-funding campaign, struggling to teach some basic n the heart of the Calais mi- though he says it is a tough gig. French to a small group of Suda- DPA grant shantytown in northern “I like learning new things, nese and Afghans – a sign that Dusseldorf IFrance known as the “Jun- but this is diffi cult. When I have at least some people in the camp gle”, a cover of Leonard Cohen’s to ask people questions, I feel a are now considering asylum in Hallelujah rings out from the bit embarrassed,” he says with a France rather than Britain. olice in Dusseldorf ar- ramshackle headquarters of the smile. The young volunteer shows rested 40 men of North camp’s very own radio station. But the boy, who wished to heroic patience as she tries to PAfrican origin in a series of Hashemi, a Syrian in his 20s, remain anonymous, remains de- explain the word “bienvenue” weekend raids on cafes, casinos is editing his fi rst programme termined to make the most of his (“welcome”) – a word that her and hookah bars in the western for Jungala Radio, a music show time in the camp, having already pupils have rarely heard since ar- German city. featuring performances by art- helped out in an aid distribution riving in Europe. The 300-strong, six-hour ists from the sprawling camp in centre where he could practise On the other side of the camp, police operation took place late northern France. his English and make friends. a young Afghan is on stage in the on Saturday in a neighbour- It’s a chance to lighten the “Everyone wants to go to the large white dome of the Good hood near the main train station, mood at a time when freezing UK, but it’s very hard and we Chance Theatre, giving an im- where reports of theft and drug- temperatures have made condi- need something to do while we promptu song and dance per- related activity are frequent. tions in the camp even grimmer wait,” says the teenager, who formance while a visiting British Police said that they conduct- for the thousands trapped here, learned his English watching artist jams on the guitar. ed checks on 294 individuals and looking for a way to reach Britain Harry Potter and Hollywood ac- Since launching a few months that 38 of the 40 people in cus- from the port city. tion movies with his older broth- ago, the theatre has evolved in tody were arrested on suspicion “I’m trying to fi nd the voice er in Kurdistan. surprising ways – such as the of illegal residency. and the feelings of the refugees,” As the French and British au- Eritrean circus troupe that come This file photo taken on November 25, 2015 shows a makeshift theatre, where migrants take part in Six mobile phones connected says Hashemi, giving only his thorities tighten security around to teach and practise their tricks theatre and music lessons, in the so-called ‘Jungle’ migrant camp in Calais, northern France. As the French to crimes were recovered, a po- fi rst name. “I want to share what the port, and smuggling aboard and backfl ips a few times a week. and British authorities tighten security around the port, and smuggling aboard lorries and trains has lice statement said. is happening here with the whole lorries and trains has become ev- A member of the Iranian na- become ever-more diff icult, the Jungle camp in Calais has taken on a more permanent feel. Apart from The raids, which had been world.” er-more diffi cult, the Jungle has tional kungfu team gave lessons a high street of shops, restaurants, a nightclub and a theatre, the Jungle now also has its very own radio planned since last year, were Jungala Radio launched its fi rst taken on a more permanent feel. here for a while, and his mantle station. part of ongoing eff orts by a spe- programme on New Year’s Day A high street of shops, res- has been taken up by another ka- cial unit named “Casablanca” to via Facebook and Soundcloud taurants – e ven a nightclub and rate expert from the camp. “Many people have come here Back at Radio Jungala, Hashe- We want the people here to take bust a Dusseldorf-based organ- and is gradually building a team barber shop – have sprung up “We don’t shape what goes on, who are down,” adds his co-or- mi is putting the fi nishing touch- ownership and control of it,” says ised crime network. of producers and journalists from as tents have been replaced by and we don’t dictate whether you ganiser Joe Murphy. “Being part es to his music show with the Ciaran. The raids were not connected the camp community. semi-permanent wooden shacks. come to confront your situation of a creative theatre commu- help of Ciaran, a 22-year-old Hashemi loves his new job. to New Year’s Eve attacks in the One of their budding hacks is But the Jungle is still a place of or escape from it, or just to have nity has turned them around and media graduate from Britain who “I never thought of doing radio nearby city of Cologne, where a 15-year-old Iraqi Kurd who has fi lth, boredom and frustration, so a bit of fun,” says Joe Robertson, given them a role to play, which is helped launch the initiative. in my life, but now I hope to do men of North African and Arab been living in the Jungle for three volunteers and charity workers one of two British friends who hugely important for their men- “We are only here for tech sup- more,” he says. “I’m just trying to origin have been blamed for sex- months. try to take the edge off with en- helped set up the theatre. tal well-being.” port and constructive criticism. be the best that I can.” ual assaults and thefts. Gulf Times Monday, January 18, 2016 19 EUROPE

Macedonia opposition threatens French brain-dead drug to boycott election trial man dies: hospital called to Reuters/DPA/AFP It was not yet known what with international regulations” France’s public body ONIAM, Rennes, France caused the tragedy, said Francois and said it was working closely which is responsible for com- Peaucelle, the head of Biotrial, with the health ministry. pensating the victims of medi- end crisis the company that conducted the “Our principal concern, at the cal accidents, said it had in its man left brain dead after trials for Bial. moment, is taking care of par- fi les only around 10 cases of ac- a drug trial in northwest On Friday, neuroscience chief ticipants in the trial,” Bial said in cidents during drugs trials over Reuters AFrance died yesterday, Gilles Edan said two of them a statement on Friday. the past 15 years, and “with con- Skopje said the hospital where he was were in serious condition and Peaucelle added that Bial was sequences infi nitely less seri- being treated. that no known treatment or an- a “serious laboratory”. ous” than the case in Rennes. The man, who had begun par- tidote was known. The drug Bial developed A comparable accident took European Union-bro- ticipating in a clinical drug trial He added that one of the men works on a system in the brain place in 2006 in London when kered deal to end a po- of a mood disorder medication had not yet shown symptoms, that plays a role in various psy- six people taking German drug Alitical crisis in Macedonia on January 7, was admitted to but was being held for monitor- chological processes including manufacturer TeGenero’s hung in the balance on Saturday the University Hospital Centre ing. anxiety and harm-sensing, Tou- TGN1412, which it was devel- after opponents of conservative (CHU) of Rennes for treatment All six of the men, aged 28 to raine said. oping to treat certain types of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski three days later. 49, were part of the fi rst group The system, known as the en- cancer and other immunological threatened to boycott an early He was subsequently declared to begin taking the medication, docannabinoid system, has been diseases, fell seriously ill, with parliamentary election in April. brain dead. French Health Minister Marisol studied by scientists seeking one suff ering from multiple or- All sides had agreed last year The hospital said in a state- Touraine had said. This file photo shows the university hospital centre (CHU) in Rennes. to understand cognitive condi- gan failure. to an April 24 election, two years ment that fi ve other volunteers Some 108 people had partici- The man who had been left brain-dead in a French drug trial has tions. Two of the volunteers were in ahead of schedule, under EU me- were in stable condition after pated in the study until it was died, the Rennes hospital said yesterday. Cases of early-stage clinical a critical condition and one lost diation to end months of bitter they were admitted last week. suspended by Biotrial on Janu- trials going badly wrong are rare all his fi ngers and toes. standoff over allegations against In total, 90 people took part ary 11. In a statement, the hospital investigators are examining but not unheard of. The victims said they had the Gruevski’s government of illegal in the trial of the drug made It was unclear if any of them said it had already contacted whether clinical practice was in Such serious mishaps are rare impression their brains were phone-tapping and widespread by Portuguese pharmaceutical had also received multiple doses. the other 84 volunteers who had line with national rules govern- during the development of a on fi re and that their eyes were abuse of offi ce. company Bial, which is intended However, only 90 people had taken the drug. ing drug tests, including at the drug, which begins in the labo- coming out of their sockets. But opposition Social Demo- to treat mood and anxiety issues, been given the medication, the Ten of those volunteers have site of the laboratory and in the ratory before being animal tested Although they all survived, crat leader Zoran Zaev said over- as well as movement co-ordina- company’s director, Francois undergone medical examina- volunteer recruitment process. and then three phases of human experts said at the time that night that not all conditions had tion disorders linked to neuro- Peaucelle, said, and the other 18 tions. Biotrial said that its trial was trials before it can be brought to their immune systems would be been met for a free and fair elec- logical issues. had received a placebo. French prosecutors and health conducted in “full compliance market. damaged for life. tion in the tiny former Yugoslav republic, citing a lack of media reform to reduce government in- fl uence and failure to conduct a thorough review of the electoral roll. “We won’t accept elections Four die in violence without timely regulation of the media or timely clearing of the voter list,” Zaev told reporters after emerging from late-night talks with Gruevski and the EU’s in southeast Turkey enlargement commissioner, Jo- hannes Hahn, who brokered the original deal. Reuters Kurdish southeast’s biggest city, offi cer was hit on Saturday be- “If there are elections on April Diyarbakir security sources said yesterday. fore succumbing to his wounds a 24 we will not take part,” Zaev Two police offi cers were also day later, they said. said. “We will continue to fi ght wounded by shrapnel from a Sur has been under a round- for free, fair and democratic Turkish police offi cer and homemade explosive during op- the-clock curfew since Decem- conditions in which to hold elec- a soldier were killed by erations in the district of Sur in ber 2 as security forces try to tions.” Asniper fi re and two Kurd- Diyarbakir. eject militants from the out- Almost a decade in power, ish militants were shot dead in The soldier was shot and lawed Kurdistan Workers Party Gruevski’s government was separate incidents in the mainly killed yesterday, while the police (PKK) from urban centres. bombarded last year by alle- The cities of Silopi and Cizre, gations of illegal surveillance, PKK apology for killing children in car bombing further east near the Syrian and meddling in the media and judi- Iraqi borders, have also been un- ciary, rigging elections and ap- Kurdish PKK rebels while claiming responsibility on Saturday for a car der curfew since mid-December. pointing party faithful to public bombing in southeast Turkey this week, apologised for having killed The military General Staff said sector jobs. civilians and especially three children in the attack. 135 PKK militants in Silopi, 308 The accusations stemmed Two civilians were killed in the initial bombing near a police station by in Cizre and 101 in Sur have been Kurdish demonstrators shout slogans during a protest in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir against a from a slew of phone-taps re- the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the town of Cinar, and three more killed since December 15, ac- curfew in Sur district and security operations in the region. leased by Zaev, who said the gov- lost their lives when a building collapsed due to damage caused by the cording to media reports. ernment had conducted the sur- blast, local off icials said after the attack on Thursday. The Peoples’ Democratic The PKK took up arms against dogan has vowed to continue Lines formed outside of a veillance. Gruevski denied this Security sources told AFP the victims in the building collapse were a Party (HDP), which has Kurdish the state in 1984, and more than operations until the PKK threat bakery where up to 1,500 people and dismissed the accusations as five-month-old baby, a boy aged five and a girl aged one. roots, said the number of civil- 40,000 people, mainly Kurds, is eradicated. receive daily handouts of bread, a plot to bring him down. One police off icer also died in the attack. ians killed in the three areas has have died. Operations in Cizre contin- they said. He submitted his resignation “It is clear that civilians should never be our target in accordance with reached 97, according to an em- Yesterday a court remanded ued yesterday, and the sounds of ater and electricity have been to parliament on Friday, in line the general line and political objectives of our movement. The target of ailed statement. It was not pos- in custody two suspects in a gunfi re and explosions could be cut across much of Cizre. with the deal, but said it would this action was the security forces,” the PKK said in a statement reported sible to verify the fi gures. truck-bomb attack on a police heard, witnesses said. In Diyarbakir, masked assail- become eff ective 100 days before by the pro-Kurdish news agency Firat. Turkey resumed strikes on the station on Thursday that killed Residents tied white rags to ants used Molotov cocktails to the election, which has yet to be “In spite of our eff orts not to hurt civilians, we want to convey our autonomy-seeking PKK after a six people, including three small sticks in order to evacuate their set on fi re a middle school late offi cially called. sadness that several of them died and we extend our condolences to 2-1/2 year ceasefi re collapsed in children, in one of the biggest houses as armoured vehicles on Saturday, damaging parts of Gruevski accused Zaev of try- their families,” added the PKK while also promising to continue attacks July, and the southeast is seeing strikes since July, the prosecu- entered their neighbourhoods the building before fi refi ghters ing “to take the country even against Turkish forces. the worst violence in two dec- tor said. to remove barricades erected by brought the blaze under control, deeper into crisis”. ades. President Recep Tayyip Er- the PKK, the witnesses said. security offi cials said. “He just wanted to postpone elections, without any serious arguments,” he told reporters. Gruevski’s commands enough votes in parliament to endorse his resignation and force an Poland won’t bow to EU: Kaczynski Snap polls in Serbia election regardless of Zaev’s threats to boycott. Hahn said he still expected AFP “To say that democracy is in AFP relations with its breakaway all sides to stick to the election Warsaw danger in Poland is quite ridicu- Belgrade territory of Kosovo and on fi - agreement, promising the poll lous,” Kaczynski said in remarks nancial control. would be closely monitored by published on the newspaper’s The opening of accession European observers. he head of Poland’s rul- website, adding: “No-one erbia’s Prime Minister talks appears partly linked to He warned of the need for an ing right-wing party has should have any illusions that Aleksandar Vucic has Europe’s migration crisis – the eff ective government capable of Tinsisted that it would not we will bend or make any con- Scalled for early elections continent’s worst since World confronting the challenges the bow to EU pressure after Brus- cessions.” in a bid to cement stability as War II – as the EU had ear- Balkan country faces in terms sels launched an unprecedented The European Parliament will the Balkan country negotiates lier called for a pause in adding of the economy and a large wave probe into judicial reforms that be debating the crisis in Poland its accession into the European new members to the bloc. of migrants crossing its territory have stoked concerns about the at a session tomorrow, after the Union. Serbia has been hard hit by from Greece en route to western state of democracy in the coun- reforms came under fi re from its Vucic made his announce- the migrant crisis as it has been Europe. try. president Martin Schulz. ment during a meeting of his a major transit point for hun- “I will come back,” he said, The comments by Jaroslaw Schulz has compared the conservative, pro-EU party’s dreds of thousands of people “but now it is up to the political Kaczynski, leader of the euro- political situation there to a leadership in Belgrade, two fl eeing war and misery, and parties to take their decision. I sceptic Law and Justice party “coup”, drawing the anger of years before new elections are seeking to start new lives in EU can only urge everybody to par- (PiS), came on the eve of a visit Polish leaders who demanded actually due under the Serbian countries like Germany and ticipate in elections.” to Brussels by President Andrzej an apology. constitution. Sweden. Duda where the dispute is likely Kaczynski said any EU vote The Serbian Progressive Still, the EU has ruled out to be discussed. on sanctions would not win Party (SNS) holds an absolute any enlargement of the bloc “We should not concern our- unanimous approval, after a key majority in parliament with 158 before 2020 even for countries selves with this, we must con- ally, Hungarian Prime Minister of 250 seats. that have started accession tinue on our path and not give in Kaczynski: To say that democracy is in danger in Poland is quite Viktor Orban, vowed to block In order for early elections talks. to any (EU) pressure,” Kaczynski ridiculous. them. to happen, the prime minister Serbia must “by 2020 com- said in an interview with con- Duda will meet EU President can either resign or he can ask plete its reform process and servative newspaper Rzeczpos- violated the bloc’s democracy PiS, which swept to power in Donald Tusk today in Brussels, President Tomislav Nikolic – reach the gates” of European polita. rules and merited punitive October. where he is also due to hold talks who is an ally and founded the Union accession, Vucic said. The EU last Wednesday an- measures. However, Kaczynski, a former with Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg SNS party – to end the parlia- “We want a society that wants Gruevski: commands enough nounced it was investigating There is also growing concern prime minister who currently ahead of a summit of the West- ment and call for a snap vote. to work hard and we want Ser- votes in parliament to force an whether new legislation gov- about increased control over has no formal government role, ern military alliance in July in A parliamentary poll would bians to tell us if they want the election. erning the Constitutional Court Poland’s state media under the scoff ed at the EU’s worries. Warsaw. then have to be held within 60 same thing.” days. In March 2014 the SNS was “My decision is that we will swept back to power in a vote 30,000 sign petition to award French nationality to Bataclan guard who helped victims escape have elections ... Serbia needs that was held two years before four more years of stability so parliament’s mandate was due An online petition to award French gunmen were killing concert-goers. enter to warn spectators and lead them to France’s Representative Council of Black that it is ready to join the Euro- to expire. nationality to an Algerian man who helped In all, 90 people were killed at the Bataclan the emergency exits.” Associations. pean Union,” Vucic said. Serbia, which fought a war people escape the Bataclan concert hall and 40 died elsewhere in the November The man, who has been identified only as “Throughout all the horror of the situation, I In December, Serbia began with Kosovo in 1998-1999, during November’s terrorist attack on Paris attacks on the French capital that shocked Didi, was praised in the petition for having saw, for the first time in my life, a real hero,” the fi rst two of 35 stages in ne- does not recognise the latter’s had secured more than 30,000 signatures the world and were claimed by the Islamic “saved dozens of spectators”. wrote Myriam Peron, one of the petition’s gotiations for Belgrade to join sovereignty. by Saturday. State (IS) group. It called for him to be naturalised as a signatories. “So if there is a chance to thank the EU. More than 100 countries The 35-year-old, who has asked that he not “He could have run away upon hearing the French citizen. him, we must seize it. I am honoured he The so-called chapters in recognise Kosovo’s independ- be identified, is a guard at the venue and gunfire, given he was outside,” read the text The online petition was launched wants French nationality. We should all be. membership talks focused on ence, but it is not a United Na- twice went inside to help people get out as on a change.org petition. “But he chose to by Thiaba Bruni, spokeswoman for Thank you, Didi.” Belgrade’s normalisation of tions member state. Gulf Times 20 Monday, January 18, 2016 INDIA

Tamil Nadu Roundup Sabarimala pilgrims pledge to keep Pamba river clean IANS Kannada, Tamil and Telugu) Harikishore said four years temple, which is surrounded by near the Pamba river asking peo- the temple during the 60-day By Umaima Shafiq Pathanamthitta, Kerala reads: “I won’t throw clothes in ago, a wild elephant in the area the fl ora and fauna of the Periyar ple not to throw clothes or other period of the pilgrimage from the Pamba. I will dispose it with had died after ingesting a large Wildlife Sanctuary, faces a major garbage but to deposit them in November 15 to January 15. Some the waste.” amount of waste material, in- environmental threat. the dustbins instead,” Ajai Kumar devotees however stay on till MGR home ore than 200,000 peo- Pathanamthitta district col- cluding clothes and plastic, from Ajai Kumar, national head of said. January 20. undergoing ple have pledged at the lector S Harikishore said: “All the the river. Following the incident, public aff airs of the Coca-Cola “During the fi rst few days of Apart from Kerala government Mfamous Sabarimala pilgrims who come here bathe in the administration felt the need Company, conceptualised the the pilgrimage, less than 2,000 agencies like the Suchitwa Mis- renovation Temple here not to throw their the Pamba river; so it is crucial for cleaning up the river. idea more than six months ago were signing the pledge each day. sion that aims at improving the clothes into the Pamba river for us to keep it clean. There is According to the offi cial, each as a part of the Mission Green From December 1 till now, we are aesthetic surroundings and up- as per a tradition and to keep a myth that one should dispose person who goes to Sabarimala Sabarimala initiative which getting almost 3,500 signatures a grading the overall environment Visitors have been thronging it clean. It’s a part of “Mission of one’s clothes in the river after leaves behind at least 250g of started last November. day. On some days, we have also and various other departments, to see the renovation of the Green Sabarimala” that aims taking a dip in it. This is not true. plastic. Last year alone, 8,750 “After the initial meeting, the recorded 5,000 signatures. We the “Mission Green Sabarimala” home of film icon and late chief at collecting enough signatures We decided to rope in 10 people tonnes of plastic, including water district magistrate asked me if have collected all the signed can- initiative is supported by Ku- minister M G Ramachandran to make it to the Limca Book of every day, all college students, to bottles, food wrappers, use-and- we have any other ideas to make vases and will submit them to the dumbashree, Kerala’s largest located on 7.5 acres at Records. volunteer for us and ask the pil- throw raincoats, plastic carry- people more involved in the Limca Book of Records when the women’s self-help group, and Ramapuram in Chennai. The pledge, in six languages grims to take the pledge and sign bags and the like, were deposited cleanliness campaign. So we de- pilgrimage ends,” he added. corporates like Hindustan Coca- The property housing MGR’s (Hindi, English, Malayalam, the canvas.” in the area. The 1,500-year-old cided to put a canvas each day About 35mn devotees visit Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd. home and a school for deaf and mute children suff ered heavy damages during the December 2 flooding in Chennai. The water High tension job destroyed the lower portion of the house and damaged movie tapes, albums, MGR’s statues and three memorial busts. Chief Minister Jayaram Jayalalithaa, who was a protégé Pollution was of MGR has deployed a 100-man construction crew to repaint, restore and redo the landscaping of the property. Music director down during denies links to controversial song

Tamil film music director R Anirudh was summoned by police in Coimbatore over a ‘odd-even’ defamation case filed by a women’s welfare organisation against him and actor Silambarasan last November. The complainants had said that Anirudh and Silambarasan had written and sung a song that days: expert denigrated women and uploaded it on YouTube. They evaded a court summons Expert says there is need to gest benefi t of the odd-even rule city from there, increasing pollu- citing professional commitments. explore more ways to curb was the restriction on diesel cars tion,” he added. Finally Anirudh who came with pollution and traff ic in Delhi and SUVs, which are the major zElectric two-wheelers could his father actor Ravi Raghavendra source of vehicular pollution in be the next big tool in combat- submitted a two-page statement IANS the city. ing vehicular pollution in the na- denying any connection to the New Delhi “Before this, there was no re- tional capital without impacting song. striction on diesel cars/SUVs, mobility, Society of Manufactur- but with this odd-even rule a ers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) he fortnight-long odd- signifi cant number of diesel director Sohinder Gill said. Top off icial even campaign aimed at cars could not come on the road In a show of support in com- of power Tbattling air pollution in which helped in bringing down bating city’s pollution woes, Delhi which ended on Friday the pollution levels.” Hero Electric Ltd had deployed firm murdered night brought down direct emis- According to Chattopadhyay, a over 100 E-bikes at more than sions of pollutants from cars by report from the London Assem- 10 strategic locations during the V Venkateshwarulu, the vice- 30 to 40%, says a leading envi- bly Environment Committee, odd-even trial to give a com- president of Kalpatru Power ronmental organisation. ‘Driving away from diesel: Re- plimentary last mile ride to of- Transmission (KPT) company “During odd-even formula, ducing air pollution from diesel fi ce-goers during morning and was hacked to death by two direct emission of pollutants vehicles’, says diesel exhaust is a evening rush hours. unidentified men at a pharmacy from the cars in the city was re- major contributor to air pollution The service was used by more at Kumaran Nagar in Chennai last duced by 30 to 40%. It happened compared to petrol. than 18,000 people during this week. because of fewer vehicles plying “The report says that one die- phase and many of city’s well- The incident took place at night on the road,” Centre for Science sel car emits an equal amount of known personalities gave a big when the road was deserted. and Environment’s air pollution toxic health-damaging pollut- thumps up to the initiative as Venkateshwarulu’s car driver control unit programme manager ants as emitted by 27 new petrol well to the timeliness of the e- Arumugham was also injured Vivek Chattopadhyay said. cars. So, it becomes necessary vehicles, Gill said in a statement. when he tried to help. The He, however, added that mixed to put a curb on the emission of “Intention to migrate to green suspects made sure that results were observed in the am- pollutants that are a health haz- mobility solution is very much Venkateshwarulu was dead bient pollution levels. ard,” he said. there as proven in the feedback before escaping. Under the odd-even scheme, He added that though the given by 18,000 commuters who Police suspect KPTs employees cars with odd and even regis- odd-even rule reduced the direct used our services although a are behind the crime as tration numbers plied in Delhi emission of pollutants in the na- high-speed, more effi cient lith- Venkateshwarulu had been - where cars account for nearly tional capital, there was a need to ium-ion based Electric Vehicle investigating corruption and a third of its 9mn registered ve- explore many more ways to curb will be ideal for city such as Del- downsizing staff in the Chennai hicles - on alternate dates. pollution and traffi c in the city. hi,” Gill said. branch of the Gujarat-based Several categories were ex- Stressing on other ways to curb “Delhi government support is power company. KPT has empt from the scheme, including pollution in Delhi Chattopadhyay anticipated to create necessary interests in steel, power and a string of VIPs, women drivers, said: “Odd-even is good but the conducive eco system by incen- infrastructure. emergency services and CNG- government should also increase tivising the customers directly operated transport. parking charges in the city to limit and also provide robust charg- Delhi Transport Minister the number of vehicles.” ing infrastructure. There can’t be IT professionals Gopal Rai said on Friday that a “The odd-even scheme should better time than now as a posi- held for ‘spying’ Workers remove kites stuck in high-tension overhead wire after the Hindu festival of Makar reduction in pollution by at least also be implemented in the Na- tive momentum has been gained Sankranti in Ahmedabad yesterday. 20-25% was witnessed. tional Capital Region because a during the odd-even phase,” he Chattopadhyay said the big- huge number of cars come to the added. Six software professionals and two students were arrested on suspicion of espionage in the temple town of Tiruvannamalai about 195km from Chennai last Actress joins TDP week. MP held for slapping Fest to make Mumbai The suspects allegedly took aerial photos of the Tiruvannamalai temple using Air India offi cial an imported drone camera. life ‘more vibrant’ Police said it was illegal for IANS to issue boarding passes to him non-government agencies, Hyderabad and his relatives as the counter IANS The event will be earmarked organisations or individuals to was already closed for the Air Mumbai with fi ve zones dedicated to dif- fly such unmanned vehicles. India fl ight to Delhi. ferent forms of experiences: a The software personnel were YSR Congress Party MP The MP had since evaded food court, entertainment in- employed in Chennai and were was arrested yester- police interrogation. His an- he Ballard Estate Festival, cluding live arena, retail point, released on bail. Police have sent Aday on charges of slap- ticipatory bail petition was also which will begin later this kids zone, and silent zone (thea- their photos for cyber analysis. ping an Air India offi cial at the rejected by a court. Tmonth, is set to add zing tre and after parties). Security was stepped up in the Tirupati airport in November. Earlier, YSRCP state legisla- to the already available “mun- Factors like sanitation and town for the Pongal festival rush P Mithun Reddy and his aide tor Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy dane options for recreation” in pollution have been specially on January 15. Madhusudhan Reddy were de- was arrested in the same case Mumbai. taken care of. Investigations are underway. tained at Chennai airport early and was later released on bail. Ballard Estate is South Mum- After a break of four months yesterday and handed over to Meanwhile, police in Pileru bai’s commercial nucleus known during the monsoon season, the Andhra Pradesh. in Chittoor district arrested for its British lineage and archi- festival will once again gain mo- University student The two were brought to over 100 supporters of the MP tectural magnifi cence. mentum starting in October till threatens suicide Tirupati where they were pro- when they were heading to- Set to formally commence May 2017. duced before a magistrate who wards Tirupati to express soli- from January 23, the festi- Apart from the major gourmet sent them to judicial custody darity with him. val will have Minister of Road fi esta, it will also include vari- A suspended postgraduate for 14 days. The opposition party also Transport and Highways Nitin ous interactive elements such as student scaled the heritage Mithun Reddy is a member staged a sit-in on the Tirupati- Gadkari as the chief guest at musical concerts, movie promo- Chennai University building and of the Lok Sabha from Rajam- Chennai highway to protest the inauguration on January 24 tions, exhibitions, performing threatened to commit suicide pet in Kadapa district. against the MP’s arrest. followed by a performance by arts, contemporary art shows, Chennai last week. A case for assaulting a pub- Mithun Reddy’s father and Sanam band. heritage walks, fl ea markets and Students and faculty gathered lic servant on duty was fi led YSRCP legislator Peddireddy “Through this festival, lo- a lot more. around the building and cajoled against Mithun Reddy and 15 Ramchandra Reddy said his cals as well as tourists will get a The festival will also include Rajkumar to come down. others at Yerpedu police sta- son did nothing wrong. He was whole new experience of enter- special revelry on holidays like Rajkumar claimed he had been tion at Renigunta near Tirupati confi dent they will get justice Telugu Desam Party chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief tainment making life in Mumbai Maharashtra Day, Republic Day, suspended four months ago on November 27 last year. in court. Minister N Chandrababu Naidu congratulates actress-turned more vibrant and adding zing to Holi, Easter, Gudi Padwa, Shiv along with some others for The case was registered on Party MP Y V Subba Reddy politician Jayasudha after she joined the party, in Vijayawada. the already available mundane Jayanti and Makar Sankranti. unruly behaviour. He claimed a complaint by Rajasekhar, Air alleged that Mithun Reddy’s ar- Jayasudha on Saturday quit the Congress dealing the options for recreation,” Mumbai With state-of-the-art pro- though others had been re- India’s station manager at the rest was a conspiracy against the party a blow ahead of the February 2 elections to Greater Port Trust chairman Ravi Parmar duction, the festival will see high inducted his admission was airport. YSRCP. He dared the govern- Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. The 57-year-old, who said in a statement. decibel live performances by Nu- delayed. The university faculty Mithun Reddy allegedly got ment to make public the CCTV acted in over 250 films, quit the Congress due to diff erences The festival will be conducted cleya, Anish Sood, Indus Creed, said that Rajkumar’s case was still into an argument with Rajas- footage recorded at the airport with party leaders. every Saturday and Sunday, from Raghu Dixit Project, Bombay in court. ekhar after the offi cial declined when the incident occurred. 11am to 11pm, until May 2016. Bassment, Shaa’ir and Func. Gulf Times Monday, January 18, 2016 21 INDIA

TRAGEDY RECYCLING VIOLENCE CRIME PROJECT Policeman fatally shoots Delhi Metro recycles Mob actions in court Curfew continues in Kochi Smart City to be woman, kills himself 8.80 tonnes of waste paper complexes spark concern MP city after clashes inaugurated next month

A Delhi police sub-inspector yesterday shot The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) claimed Several instances of mobs assaulting men accused Curfew continued for the second day in The first phase of Kerala’s much-delayed Kochi dead a woman and then turned the gun on yesterday it recycled about 8.80 tonnes of waste of rape, murder and other heinous crimes within Madhya Pradesh’s Devas city and 50 people Smart City will be inaugurated next month, a himself, police said. Vijender Bishnoi died paper over a period of five months in order to court complexes in Manipur have left many worried have been taken into custody a day after meeting of the project’s board of directors in at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences contribute its bit to preserving the environment. over this extra-constitutional phenomenon. Even violence between two groups left one person Dubai decided yesterday. According to Kerala hospital, police said. The SI went to meet “In August 2015, a decision was taken to recycle the judiciary and legal fraternity, apart from a dead. The violence broke out on Saturday in the IT and Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty, who Nikki Chauhan, 27, a resident of Uttam Nagar and re-use waste paper generated from the section of society, have expressed unhappiness wake of an old enmity after some four sword- led the state IT delegation in talks with joint in west Delhi, around noon and the two had off ices of the Delhi Metro,” a DMRC statement said over the government silence or inaction. Whenever brandishing unidentified people attacked venture partner Dubai Holdings, the exact date an argument. Bishnoi fired three shots at the here. A specialised agency was roped in for the a murder or rape incident is reported, a joint action Narendra Rajoria at Shukruvariya Haat. They would be decided next week when the list of the woman before shooting himself, eyewitnesses purpose and waste paper baskets were installed committee of members of the public is formed and left him seriously injured and he later died in visiting dignitaries from the United Arab Emirates told the police. The woman died on way at all off ices requesting the employees to dump homes and properties of the accused are torched hospital. Violence broke out between the two would be known. The first phase that would be to hospital. According to sources, the two waste paper in those baskets, it said. The agency even though the accusations are still to withstand groups later, police said. Stone-throwing was inaugurated is the 650,000 sq ft building, in which, allegedly had an affair but got married to then collected the waste paper, recycled it for use judicial scrutiny. Besides, the families of the accused reported in Malipura and Kharibawari areas according to the minister, 25 new companies have different people. A marital dispute case was again and delivered it back to the Delhi Metro - who have nothing to do with the crime - are and many vehicles were damaged, prompting already booked space. The foundation stone for pending against Bishnoi in a Rajasthan court. authorities, said the statement. banished from the locality. police to resort to cane-charging. the second phase would also be laid. Polio death Book fair ends rumours spark panic in Kashmir

IANS of worried parents who had got Srinagar their children vaccinated against polio rushed to hospitals. In Sri- nagar, this led to traffi c jams. umours of children dying Authorities urged radio and after a polio vaccination television stations to air the offi - Rdrive triggered panic in cial denial to calm the situation. the Kashmir Valley yesterday. The polio drops are being ad- Huge crowds thronged hospi- ministered across the Kashmir tals across south Kashmir in the Valley through family welfare wake of the rumours, fearing for sub-centres as well as private and their own children who had been government hospitals. Deputy vaccinated, even as offi cials in- Inspector General of Police Nitish sisted that not a single death had Kumar said that they were track- occurred anywhere. ing the source of the rumour. Visitors browse through books on the concluding day of the World Book Fair at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, yesterday. The nine-day event saw participation from the Mosques also made announce- “We are trying to fi nd out the Middle East to Europe and South Asian countries. ments asking parents not to panic. source and will take legal action “No death has been reported against the culprit,” he said. in the valley due to polio drops,” A health employee at a hospi- Anantnag Chief Medical Offi cer tal in Anantnag said hundreds of Fazil Kochak said, adding “mis- parents had brought their chil- creants are propagating false in- dren who were administered po- formation through social media. lio drops. The rumours suggest- “Parents are requested not to ing deaths were baseless, said heed these rumours which have senior health department offi cial no basis at all,” he added. Mandeep Bhandari, adding the Despite the denials, scores polio vaccine was 100% safe. Congress eyes CPM Woman throws ink at tie-up to oust Mamata Kejriwal, alleges scam Beyond the boundaries of ers had repeatedly come under same time, we are on the same insignifi cant, the opposition “The political dimensions West Bengal, the Congress attack from Communist cadres page in opposing the Trina- votes itself would consolidate vary from state to state. In Kera- and the Left are political foes during the 34 years of Left Front mool’s misrule. when the Congress and the la we will compete, in Bengal we IANS AAP’s breakaway group in Pun- in Kerala and Tripura rule from 1977 to 2011. They fear “We cannot allow the Tri- CPM combine,” argued Mishra, will co-operate. The Congress- New Delhi jab, managed to reach near the that a majority of Congressmen namool another reign of terror claiming that the alliance could Left contest in Kerala or Tripura stage to fl ing the ink. IANS could switch allegiance to the and, as opposition parties, it is win around 170 of West Bengal’s will not refl ect in our combined “A very big scam has hap- Kolkata Trinamool or sit idle in case of a our duty to provide the people 294 seats. eff ort to dismantle the Mamata woman threw ink at Delhi pened. I have proof. They have tie-up with the Left Front led by a better alternative. So it is nec- In the 2014 Lok Sabha elec- government,” he said. Chief Minister Arvind done a CNG scam,” she said. the Communist Party of India essary for the Congress and the tions, while the Trinamool se- The possibility of a Left- AKejriwal alleging a “CNG Kejriwal asked the police, who ith the West Bengal (Marxist) and it would be “next Left Front to come together,” cured 39.3% of the votes, the Congress alliance has gained scam” in the Aam Aadmi Party were seen taking the woman assembly elections to impossible” to transfer the Mishra said. Left Front and the Congress had ground with West Bengal Con- government, but missed the target. away, to “let her go”. Waround three months party’s votes to the Marxists. Mishra feels 40% of votes 29.5% and 9.6%, respectively. gress chief Adhir Ranjan Chow- The incident happened at a “She is talking about a scam. away, a majority of state Con- Beyond the boundaries of which the BJP polled in the In the last assembly elections dhury and state CPM secretary public gathering here to mark the Take papers from her. Let her gress leaders have been harp- West Bengal, the Congress and 2014 Lok Sabha elections would in 2011, the Trinamool, then Surjya Kanta Mishra and Marx- “success” of the odd-even traffi c go,” he said. ing on the need for an electoral the Left are political foes in Ker- come to the Left-Congress part of the Congress-led United ist politburo member Mohamed restriction scheme. Sisodia alleged it was a “con- alliance with the Left Front to ala and Tripura, and a tie-up in combine, and has twice written Progressive Alliance (UPA), won Salim publicly advocating such Kejriwal, who was speaking at spiracy” to attack Kejriwal and take on the ruling Trinamool the eastern state could “dilute” to party president Sonia Gandhi 184 seats, the Left Front 62, and a coalition. the Chhatrasal Stadium in north his ministers. Congress. their rivalry in the two other calling for seizing the political the Congress 42 seats. The BJP Chowdhury, who had been Delhi remained unruffl ed. Po- “There was no security pro- State Congress general sec- states, argue critics. In such a opportunity and tying up with did not get a single seat. earlier insisting on the Congress lice detained the woman. vided by the Delhi police. It is a retary Om Prakash Mishra, who scenario, the Bharatiya Janata the Left. Mishra, a Jadavpur University going it alone, is now pitching Deputy Chief Minster Manish conspiracy by the BJP and Delhi has done a detailed analysis of Party - which has been trying “No rational mind will bet professor, worked for over two for an alliance and has fl own to Sisodia and the AAP accused the police is also involved in it,” the vote and seat projections for to make inroads in Kerala and on the BJP getting more than months preparing the assembly New Delhi to discuss the issue Bharatiya Janata Party and the Sisodia said after the incident. the 2016 assembly polls, asserts Tripura - would stand to gain. 5% votes, the civic polls last segment-wise vote projections with the party’s central leader- Delhi police of conspiring to at- “Who will take the respon- only a Congress-Left combine But Mishra is dismissive of year are an indicator of that. In and claims an electoral arrange- ship. tack Kejriwal, but federal Minister sibility if any woman or man can defeat the Trinamool. such arguments. 2014, the BJP got nearly 17% of ment with the Marxists will not Mishra insists the combine of State Home Kiren Rijiju ex- throws acid at Delhi’s chief min- However, a section of the “Electorally, we have com- the votes at the cost of both the impact his party’s opposition to would sweep the Muslim-dom- pressed dismay over the charges. ister where thousands of people state Congress leadership, in- peted against each other for Congress and the Left. the Left in Kerala, where elec- inated Malda, Murshidabad and The woman, who identifi ed are sitting. What if a bomb goes cluding leaders like Manas Bhu- over 60 years in Bengal and will “So, with the BJP losing all tions will be held at the same North Dinajpur districts - con- herself as Bhawna Arora from the off ,” he asked. nia, point out that party work- continue to do so. But at the its popularity and becoming time. sidered Congress strongholds. India seeks to strengthen partnership with Palestine

IANS “We are also looking at ways Swaraj said it was her fi rst visit committed to these policies,” she Ramallah and means to further increase abroad in 2016 and Palestine her said. academic collaboration between fi rst destination. Swaraj said India’s strengths in India and Palestine,” the minis- “This in itself refl ects the im- IT and IT-enabled services could ndia was working for closer ter said portance Palestine holds for In- immensely benefi t the Palestin- political interaction and She said the centre was yet dia.” ian economy and society. Ideeper economic engage- “another example of India’s The minister said the fact that “We are ready to assist Pales- ment with Palestine, External commitment to help its brothers her visit was taking place shortly tine in IT, as well as other sec- Aff airs Minister Sushma Swaraj and sisters in Palestine.” after President Mukherjee’s visit tors, as much as we can,” she said said here yesterday. Swaraj, who held bilateral “also refl ects our keen interest in adding that India would build “We have also started to put in talks with her Palestinian coun- further deepening the very rich another centre for excellence in motion the framework suggested terpart Riyad al-Maliki and and historic relationship that we ICT and innovation in Gaza city. by our president for the future of called on President Mahmoud have with Palestine”. “We are also developing a our partnership during his visit,” Abbas earlier in the day, said her “India’s solidarity with the techno-park in Ramallah. Presi- she said referring to President talks were “fruitful”. Palestinian people and its prin- dent Abbas views the techno- Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to Pal- “I am coming here after fruit- cipled support to the Palestinian park as a transformative project,” estine in October last year. ful discussions with President cause is rooted in our own free- she said. “Accordingly, we are working Abbas and Foreign Minister dom struggle,” she said. The minister said India’s em- for closer political interaction Riyad al-Malki on a wide range According to the minister, In- pathy with the Palestinian cause and deeper economic engage- of bilateral, multilateral and re- dia’s approach to Palestine has and the friendship with the Pal- ment with Palestine,” she said gional issues,” she said. crystallised into a policy with estinian people remained undi- while inaugurating the India- “In my meetings, I was happy three core dimensions - soli- luted. Palestine Digital Learning and to see that we have shared views darity with the Palestinian peo- “This is an integral part of our Innovation Centre at the campus on issues and there is great ple; support to the Palestinian foreign policy,” she said. of the Al Quds University in the warmth in our friendship. cause; and support to Palestine’s “We will also continue to sup- West Bank city of Ramallah. “We also discussed India’s ca- nation-building and capacity- port the developmental aspira- The centre is part of India’s pacity building assistance to the building eff orts. tions of the Palestinian people capacity-building eff orts in Pal- people of Palestine of which this “The entire Indian political by all possible mean at our dis- External Aff airs Minister Sushma Swaraj meets Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank estine. centre is a shining example.” leadership remains steadfastly posal.” city of Ramallah yesterday. Gulf Times 22 Monday, January 18, 2016 LATIN AMERICA

LAW AND ORDER POLITICS CORPORATE DISASTER CO-OPERATION Colombia army rescues Haiti opposition to Odebrecht ‘seeks partner Police charge companies Mexico, Cuba mulls joint fishermen held by rebels boycott presidential vote for sanitation arm’ in mine waste spill gas project: minister

A dozen fishermen who had been abducted by Haiti’s opposition presidential candidate Jude Brazilian engineering firm Odebrecht SA is seeking Police in Brazil said they have brought criminal Mexican and Cuban energy off icials are studying Colombia’s ELN guerrilla group have been freed Celestin has announced he will not take part a partner for its water and sewage business charges against two mining companies and a project that could send compressed natural in an army operation, President Juan Manuel in a runoff election because he does not have Odebrecht Ambiental and does not rule out selling seven executives over a mine waste spill that gas from Mexico to the Communist-ruled island, Santos announced yesterday. The operation faith in the process, in a move that could mean a stake in its transportation arm too, newspaper buried a village and killed 17 people. Federal a top Mexican minister said. Economy Minister took place in the northern town of Morales. a shoe-in for the ruling party on January 24. Valor Economico reported. Facing a slowing police accuse Brazilian iron ore giant Vale, mine Ildefonso Guajardo told reporters the proposal Santos made the announcement in a Twitter Celestin said he would tell election authorities economy and accusations from prosecutors operator Samarco and company off icials including under discussion would allow state-run oil post, congratulating the army. The authorities not to put his name on the ballot for an election investigating Brazil’s biggest ever corruption Samarco’s chief executive, Ricardo Vescovi, of company Pemex to supply Cuba’s future natural had reported the abduction by rebels of the in the poor Caribbean nation that he says is scandal, Odebrecht has sought to sell assets and violating Brazil’s environmental crimes law in gas demand, although he emphasised that National Liberation Army (ELN) on Saturday, fraught with irregularities. The runoff was secure the needed financing for its near-term connection with the disastrous November 5 many details had yet to be worked out. “This is saying it took place in the town of Samoa, in postponed in December after President Michel investment plans. Ticiana Marianetti, CFO and collapse of a waste reservoir. The law provides a project that we are just beginning to explore,” the southern part of Bolivar department. The Martelly agreed to a demand from Celestin and investor relations director at Odebrecht Ambiental, for prison sentences of up to five years for said Guajardo. While Mexico is a major crude oil insurgents allegedly detained the men because other opposition candidates for an independent told Valor the company had not yet defined the environmental contamination that “causes or may exporter, it currently exports very little natural they violated an ELN ban on fishing in the area, investigation into allegations of fraud in the first- size of the potential operation but it would ideally cause damage to human health or cause the death gas and instead must import much of its domestic off icials said. round, held in October. involve a minority stake in the company. of animals or significant destruction of plant life.” demand because of a lack of production at home.

Argentina Venezuela woes looking Dreams of to contain infl ation: minister Brazil’s youth

Reuters Buenos Aires fade as loans rgentina’s economy will edge higher this year as Athe new government lifts interventionist controls, fuelling growth of about 4.5% annually between 2017 and 2019, Finance to students cut Minister Alfonso Prat-Gay said. The minister called the esti- Reuters failure to undertake deep-rooted the number of new FIES loans mates a “working hypothesis”. Rio de Janeiro education reform. rose nearly 10 times to 732,000. Argentina’s new centre-right “It’s a really unfair system. Only By then, the programme’s cost government, which took offi ce the rich get the free places,” Larissa had jumped to 14bn reais ($3.5bn) just December, inherited a stag- bout 3mn aspiring stu- Roriz, 18, said at a careers fair in a and accounted for 15% of federal nant economy with double digit dents in Brazil will fi nd poor neighbourhood of Rio de Ja- education spending. infl ation, falling exports and low Aout this month whether neiro, Brazil’s second-largest city. Rousseff loosened public purse foreign reserves. they got one of just 230,000 State-school educated, and strings in an attempt to spend her “We expect Argentina to re- places at a free public university. unable to aff ord a crash course way out of a slowdown. As the turn to growth this year after the For many, this year there is no for the university entrance exam, economy failed to rebound, the second half of last year was quite plan B. Roriz was pessimistic about her defi cit widened to a gaping 10% complicated,” Prat-Gay said. Sunk in its worst recession in chances: “That’s why I’m here, of GDP and forced her to make “We estimate between 0.5% and decades and with its budget un- to try to get an internship in case steep cuts, including to FIES. 1% this year.” der strain, Brazil’s government I don’t make it.” Even after Workers Party in- The government has moved has more than halved the number Roriz is part of a younger gen- creases, Brazil’s spending on ter- fast to unravel a complex web of of low-interest loans it off ers for eration for whom the promise tiary education at 0.9% of gross controls imposed on Latin Amer- poorer students to attend fee- of a resurgent Brazil has been domestic product (GDP) is in line ica’s third largest economy by the paying private universities. pulled from under their feet. with emerging nations like Russia previous administration, aiming With most public university Growing at a rapid 7.6% pace as and Colombia - and signifi cantly to boost exports and investment. places going to wealthier stu- recently as 2010, the economy is below the OECD average of 1.2%. It has fl oated the peso cur- dents trained for the entrance now mired in its worst recession For education experts, the rency, ended capital restrictions, exam at private schools, the in over a century. real problem is the government’s cut some export taxes and set cutbacks place at risk one of the Their growing frustration failure to undertake long-lasting guidelines for consolidating the leftist Workers Party’s proudest with job losses and spending reforms during the boom years, large fi scal defi cit. achievements in its 13 years of cutbacks could breathe greater such as means testing for public Buenos Aires has also sought rule - social mobility. energy into anti-government university places. to shore up its foreign reserves. During a commodities-led protests, so far dominated by As a result, it continues to pay Prat-Gay said the central bank economic boom last decade, wealthier Brazilians. for wealthy students to go to elite would in coming days announce former president Luiz Inacio While the number of loans public universities but has cut a $4bn-$6bn loan from interna- Lula da Silva increased educa- available is still above that off ered loans for the poor to go to private tional investment banks, while tion and welfare spending to help just a few years ago, it marks a institutions. it still had about $2bn avail- 35mn people escape poverty. step backwards and alarms edu- The interest rates on the loans able from its currency swap with For poor Brazilians who miss cation experts who say Brazil - a has also jumped to 6.5% from China. out on the small number of free nation of more than 200mn peo- 3.4% and the repayment time Furthermore, grain fi rms in university places, a cheap loan ple - desperately needs to keep shortened. the agricultural powerhouse had from the Fund of Student Fi- increasing the number of people “The fundamental problem is liquidated more than $4bn of ex- nancing (FIES) is the best hope going to university. the government spends most of ports since the government fl oat- of funding a college education “The changes (to FIES) are re- its education budget paying for ed the peso in December, sending and joining the middle-class. ally bad for equality in Brazil,” people who don’t need to be paid it 26.5% lower against the dollar. Brazilians who receive tertiary said Naercio Menezes Filho, a for,” said Ricardo Paes de Bar- The government’s main pre- education earn on average 2.5 professor in education and em- ros, an economist at the Ayrton occupation now was how to con- People line up to try to buy corn flour and rice, outside a supermarket in Caracas. times more than those who do ployment at Sao Paulo-based Senna Institute which works to tain infl ation, which was run- Venezuela’s socialist government decreed an “economic emergency” on Friday that not, a bigger gap than any other business school Insper. improve education services. ning at 28% in 2015, Prat-Gay will expand its powers and published the first data in a year that shows the depth of a country in the OECD, according “It’s really serious for the fu- De Barros says students at said. Infl ation spiked towards recession fuelled by low oil prices and a sputtering state-led model. The central bank, to a 2011 study by the group of ture, because one of the main public universities should pay the end of last year due to fears which has been lambasted by critics of President Nicolas Maduro’s government for hiding mostly developed nations. mechanisms to rise socially in what they can aff ord and the the peso would lose more value statistics since the end of 2014, said the South American Opec nation’s economy shrank Now, the reduction in FIES Brazil is access to university.” money brought in by charging than it ultimately did, he said. 4.5% in the first nine months last year. Inflation soared in that period to an annual rate of loans to 300,000 has left many Between 2010 and 2014, dur- wealthier students be used to ex- Now was the time for a down- 141.5%, the world’s worst. struggling students in despair, ing the fi rst term of Lula’s suc- pand the public university system wards price correction. and exposed the government’s cessor President Dilma Rousseff , as well as off er more FIES loans.

Warm-up party Peru economy growth Mexican fi lm director in Nov beats expectation defends Sean Penn AFP on January 9. The interview was Madrid published a day after Mexican au- Reuters meal for export - has boosted ing’s six-month slump. thorities arrested “El Chapo”, who Lima manufacturing and also helped The central bank’s Armas had escaped from a prison in July growth in recent months. said that construction activity, exican fi lmmaker Ale- through an underground tunnel. Growth in December will which fell 6.57% in November, jandro Gonzalez Inarritu While the Oscar-winning eru’s economy grew a likely come in at about 4% or did “much better” in December Mhas defended Hollywood actor met Guzman for several faster-than-expected higher as mining output and as local governments invested actor Sean Penn’s meeting with hours in October, he had to send P3.96% in November from fi shing rise even more, said more in public works. Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El questions that the drug lord an- the same month a year ago Adrian Armas, the central A delay in public invest- Chapo” Guzman, saying in an in- swered in a video later on, which and will likely register another bank’s chief economist. The ments by towns and regions af- terview published yesterday that prevented Penn from making strong pace in December, the estimate is in line with the ter new mayors and governors the US star “had every right” to follow-up questions. government and central bank bank’s forecast for a 2.9% rise transitioned into power last look for the kingpin. Critics have also accused said. in gross domestic product in all year has slowed domestic de- “I understand Sean Penn. He Penn, 55, of seeming to glorify The offi cial reading for No- of 2015. mand. The unemployment rate has been an activist for 30 years. - or at least go easy on - a man vember marked the fi rst sur- rose to 5.7% in the September- And has written many articles. blamed for thousands of deaths prise on the upside since July. A Peru’s mining-fuelled November period, Inei said. He has great curiosity and is at- in Mexico’s drug-related vio- Reuters poll had forecast a 3.7% economy has been The government has forecast tracted to controversial fi gures,” lence and contributing to drug year-on-year pace. recovering slowly from a 2016 growth at 4%, up from Inarritu, who won the best di- addiction in America in his arti- A 40% surge in copper output sharp slowdown thanks 2.35% in 2014. rector Oscar for his dark com- cle which describes “El Chapo” and a 49% rise in fi shing activ- to a slew of new copper The economic expansion edy Birdman in 2015, told daily as a “humble, rural Mexican”. ity drove November’s expansion projects that have off set registered so far in 2015 rose to Spanish newspaper El Pais. The actor has become known - the second-fastest so far in 2.74% from the same 11-month “He has every right to look for in Latin America region for be- 2015, state statistics agency Inei Preliminary data also points period in 2014, near the gov- El Chapo. He wrote a fantastic friending leftist leaders, including said. At a seasonally adjusted to a nearly 12% surge in the ernment’s 2.8% target. The an- column about how he reached late Venezuelan President Hugo rate, the economy grew 0.23% production of electricity in nualised growth rate climbed to him and, unfortunately, a not Chavez and Bolivia’s Evo Morales in November from October. December, “a historic record,” 2.56%, Inei said. very successful interview be- in Bolivia. Inarritu, 52, could be- Peru’s mining-fuelled econ- said Anibal Sanchez, the head Peru is the world’s third- cause of what he could not ask. come the third director in history to omy has been recovering slowly of Inei. largest copper producer and The news value is poor; the ex- win the Oscar for best director two from a sharp slowdown thanks In November, electrical out- is on track to outpace China perience, very rich,” he added. years in a row. He was nominated to a slew of new copper projects put rose 7.37% as manufactur- to become the second after A reveller takes part in an annual block party before the Penn has faced a barrage of on Thursday for the award for The that have off set the metal’s price ing expanded 1.54% thanks to the massive Las Bambas mine carnival in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Rio de criticism for agreeing to let Guz- Revenant, an epic survival thriller slump. A rebound in catches of more fi shmeal processing. The starts operations in the fi rst Janeiro Carnival will be held from February 5 to February 9. man greenlight the article pub- starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The anchovy - ground up into fi sh- expansion broke manufactur- quarter. lished in Rolling Stone magazine fi lm is up for 12 Oscars in total. Gulf Times Monday, January 18, 2016 23 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

WEATHER Foggy conditions to continue Pakistan PM to visit Saudi Arabia today in Pakistan

AFP to Riyadh today and Tehran to- sions between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a number of sion between the two countries There is no let-up in foggy condi- Islamabad morrow and would meet Saudi Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Re- its allies cut diplomatic ties with is destabilising for the region,” tions as the Pakistan Meteoro- King Salman bin Abdulaziz al- public of Iran,” the spokesman Iran after protesters sacked its Askari said. logical Department has forecast Saud and Iranian President Has- said in a statement. embassy in Tehran. “Pakistan itself is passing more hazy days and nights. For akistan Prime Minister san Rouhani. He said the prime minister has Local media said Pakistan’s through a diffi cult time and the many last days especially in Nawaz Sharif will lead a Foreign ministry spokes- called for the peaceful settle- powerful army chief General that’s why (it is) trying to stop the morning, the thick fog has Phigh-level delegation to man Qazi Khalilullah said Sharif ment of diff erences in the larger Raheel Sharif would accompany the spillover in regional tension,” blanketed vast swaths of Punjab Saudi Arabia today to try to ease would exchange views on re- interests of Muslim unity. Premier Sharif. Askari said, referring to sectar- especially Multan, Jhang, Layyah, tension between the kingdom gional and international issues “The purpose of the visit is to Pakistan-based analyst Hasan ian friction in the country. Joharabad, Khanpur, Dera Ghazi and Iran, a minister said yester- and try to reduce tension be- mediate and to end the standoff Askari backed Sharif’s bid to de- Pakistan’s decided this Khan, and Bhakkar, and Islamabad day. tween the two countries. between the two countries,” a fuse tension. month to join Saudi Arabia’s reducing visibility significantly. Information minister Pervez “Pakistan is deeply concerned third government offi cial said, “It’s a very positive move in 34-country coalition against Besides inconveniencing motor- Rashid said Sharif would travel at the recent escalation of ten- requesting anonymity. the right direction. The ten- extremism. Nawaz Sharif ists and motorcyclists, the hazy conditions caused suspension of many flights and delays in train arrivals and departures as well. Several routes of Motorway have already been closed due to zero visibility. The traff ic police have Pakistan urged advised people to drive carefully in the morning and night to avoid accidents due to severe fog. to extend Afghan OFFENSIVE 17 ISIS loyalists killed in Afghan refugee status drone strike

IANS gees shouldn’t be pressured At least 17 loyalists of the New York to go home and would give of- Islamic State group were killed in fi cials time to work out reset- airstrikes in eastern Nangarhar tlement to third countries and province of Afghanistan. The he Pakistan government other longer-term solutions.” Afghan Ministry of Defense (MoD) should reduce rights vi- Pakistan is host to one of the said the airstrikes were carried out Tolations against Afghan largest displaced populations in Deh Bala district on Saturday refugees by extending their in the world. afternoon. The MoD said that the legal residency status until The 2.5mn Afghan refugees, airstrikes were carried out by the at least end of 2017, Human which according to the UN- coalition forces involving at least Rights Watch said yesterday. HCR include an estimated one eight raids targeting the loyalists On January 12, the government million undocumented Af- of the group, according to the extended registered Afghan refu- ghans living in Pakistan, con- Afghan Khaama Press. Airstrikes gees’ Proof of Residency (PoR) sist of many who fl ed confl ict carried out by coalition forces cards until June 30, 2016. and repression in Afghanistan and Afghan Air Forces target- As Human Rights Watch in the late 1970s and early ing the loyalists of the group in has documented, the uncer- 1980s, and their descendants. Nangarhar province have been tain residency status of Af- Some arrived as children, rampant during the recent days. A ghan refugees in Pakistan has grew up in Pakistan, mar- key commander was killed along encouraged police harass- ried, and had children of their with ten others in a similar raid ment, threats, and extortion own who have never lived in in Achin district earlier on Friday. of Afghan refugees, particu- Afghanistan. Others have ar- Nangarhar is among the relatively Afghan security forces inspect the site of a suicide attack in Jalalabad, Afghanistan yesterday. larly since the December 2014 rived in the decades of turmoil volatile provinces in eastern Af- attack on a Peshawar school in Afghanistan since seeking ghanistan where anti-government by the Pakistani Taliban, the security, employment, and a armed militant groups including rights body said. higher standard of living. the fanatics loyal to the ISIS group “Pakistan’s six-month resi- Afghans in Pakistan have are actively operating in a number dency extension reduces Af- experienced a sharp increase of its remote districts. The loyalists ghan refugees’ insecurity but in hostility since the Tehreek- of the group have recently in- the government also needs to i-Taliban Pakistan attacked creased their insurgency activities stop police abuse of refugees,” the Army Public School in in Afghanistan and targeted the 14 killed in Afghan said Human Rights Watch. Peshawar in December 2014, Pakistani consulate in their latest “A two-year extension both killing 145 people, including wave of insurgency activities. sends the message that refu- 132 children. ENERGY ADB okays $1.8mn for hydro-power suicide bombing Police arrest cleric projects in Pakistan AFP explosives in the house of Shin- The bombing is the latest The government has said it is Kabul wari,” said Najibullah Kamawal, deadly attack in the city since trying to block the broadcast, The Asian Development Bank the health director of Nangarhar Wednesday, when Islamic State which is beamed from an un- for inciting boy to (ADB) has approved technical province, of which Jalalabad is (IS) jihadists claimed respon- disclosed location and aimed at assistance worth $1.8mn for t least 14 people were the capital. sibility for a four-hour gun and winning new recruits. preparation of a hydro-power killed when a suicide Ambulances rushed to the bomb siege targeting the Paki- The uptick in violence comes cut off own hand development plan for Pakistan’s Abomber struck the home scene, which was littered with stani consulate. amid renewed international ef- northwestern province of Khyber of a prominent politician in Jala- pieces of human fl esh, sandals All three attackers and seven forts to revive peace talks with Pakhtunkhwa. The plan entails labad yesterday, offi cials said, in and charred debris. security forces were killed in the the Taliban, locked in a tussle for AFP Nausher Ahmed. scope for investment and carrying the second deadly attack in the Shinwari is a well-known assault, the fi rst major IS attack supremacy with IS in Afghani- Islamabad Mohamed Anwar, 15, raised out of power sector assessment. eastern Afghan city in less than member of Nangarhar’s provincial in an Afghan city and on a Paki- stan. his hand by mistake after ap- a week. council and his family is said to be stani government installation. Last week representatives of parently mishearing the ques- AVIATION The Taliban denied respon- actively involved in local politics. The group, which controls Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Unit- olice in Pakistan have tion. New Islamabad sibility for the bombing, which Afghan President Ashraf territory across Syria and Iraq, ed States and China met in a bid arrested an imam for Ahmed then accused the also left 13 people wounded on Ghani strongly condemned the is making gradual inroads in Af- to revive stalled Taliban peace Pinciting violence after a boy of blasphemy, according to airport to open the eve of a new round of four- attack, warning security forces ghanistan, challenging the Tali- talks, even as the insurgents 15-year-old boy who was re- local media, a serious allega- country negotiations aimed at will go after the culprits with “all ban on their own turf. wage a brazen winter campaign ported to have been mistakenly tion in Pakistan. by year-end restarting peace talks with the its strength”. The jihadists have managed of violence. accused of blasphemy cut off Anwar fl ed home, where insurgents. “When terrorists lose the to attract disaff ected Taliban The so-called “roadmap” his own hand. he cut off the hand he had The newly built Islamabad The carnage came during a ability to fi ght face-to-face with fi ghters increasingly lured by the talks were meant to lay the The cleric, Shabbir Ahmed, raised and placed it on a plate International Airport will be fully “jirga”, an assembly of tribal our security forces, then they group’s signature brutality. groundwork for direct dialogue last Monday told worshippers before presenting it to the operational by the end of this year, leaders, at the home of politician target public places and kill our In a sign of their growing between the Afghan government at a village mosque that those imam, according to police Radio Pakistan reported yesterday. Obaiduallah Shinwari, who es- innocent people,” Ghani said in reach in Afghanistan, the group and the Islamists to end the 14- who love the Prophet Muham- chief Ahmed. Shujaat Azeem, special assistant caped unscathed. a statement. has taken to the airwaves with year Taliban insurgency. mad always say their prayers, The imam was arrested late to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on “Fourteen people were killed “The government will fi ght a 90-minute Pashto-language The four-country group is set before asking who among the Saturday and would appear in aviation aff airs, said it will have 15 and 13 others injured when a those who shed the blood of our radio show called “Voice of the to hold the next round of discus- crowd had stopped praying, court today “for further legal aero bridges instead of the nine suicide bomber detonated his innocent people.” Caliphate”. sions today in Kabul. according to local police chief proceedings”, Ahmed added. planned earlier. Raj Kapoor’s birthplace partially demolished

Internews immediate halt to work. ing in the building were taken ology Azam Khan directed the Peshawar They said instead of stopping into custody but they were later relevant offi cials to lodge FIR the demolition, the police of- freed. against those responsible for fi cials got into formalities and Town-I area councillor Mian damaging the structure under he birthplace of Bolly- asked them to produce a written Zulfi qar said the building in Sub-Section of (i) of Section 20 wood legend Raj Kapoor application for the purpose. question was in very precarious of KP Antiquities Act 1997. Twas partially demolished “After much haggling, two Raj condition and could collapse It said upper portion of the by its owner here yesterday in Kapoor’s birthplace partially de- anytime. building had been badly dam- northwestern Pakistani city of molished police personnel followed He said the area residents de- aged during demolition and that Peshawar. us to the site and for the demolition manded the authorities to take the department’s staff members Offi cials of the archeology stopped,” an offi cial said. notice of the fragile structure managed to reach the site and directorate said they made an He said the directorate had insisting it threatened their lives. stop work. eleventh-hour attempt to save demanded the registration of an The councillor said the recent Also, the Sarhad Conserva- the historic building located in FIR against the house’s owner earthquakes had badly shaken tion Network said the demoli- Dhaki Munawar Shah area of the but the police had yet to do so. the old building. tion of 98 years old building had walled city but by then, the top The offi cial said the current “We’ve heard about a notice shocked the civil society and fl oor of the four-story structure owner claimed to have a notice issued to the owner by Town-I heritage lovers of the city. was pulled down. of the municipal authorities ask- directing him either to reduce In a statement issued here, it They said rest of the building ing him to pull down the struc- the building’s height or to raze it. said the historic ‘Kapoor Haveli’ was badly damaged. ture, as its condition was too “The archeology depart- would soon become history if the The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa precarious and it could collapse ment woke up only when it heard government didn’t take immedi- government had earlier an- anytime. about demolition. It never both- ate measures to protect it. nounced to declare the houses of He said despite the damages, ered to check the structure for The SCN called for the early Peshawar-born Bollywood ac- the structure was stable. stability and damages following approval of the KP Antiquities tors Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar “We will watch the building the earthquakes,” he said. Act 2015 by the assembly and as heritage to protect and pre- closely to save it from further Zulfi qar said if it was a herit- said the inordinate delay in the serve them. destruction,” he said. age building, then the directo- passage of the important leg- The offi cials said that they An offi cial at the Khan Raziq rate should have taken care of it islation was causing threat and learned about the demolition police station said the police earlier instead of waiting for it to irreversible loss to 200 other of the house yesterday morning didn’t register FIR of the house’s cave in. priceless assets besides ‘Kapoor and went to the Khan Raziq po- demolition. In a statement issued here, Haveli’ listed by the KP govern- lice station for help to ensure the He said four labourers work- provincial secretary for arche- ment. A file picture of Raj Kapoor’s house located in Dhaki Munawar Shah area of Peshawar. Gulf Times 24 Monday, January 18, 2016 PHILIPPINES

Religious gathering Overseas workers’ welfare must receive top priority: Binay

Manila Times through Malaysia. Some pose Manila as tourists, they pretend to go to Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur. There they will contact illegal ice President Jejomar recruiters,” he said. Binay has said the gov- “For a time, I was chair- Vernment should not man (emeritus) of IACAT,” he neglect the welfare of overseas added. Filipino workers (OFWs). The vice president also “We can’t aff ord to ignore asked Senator Nancy Binay to them. There are two reasons look into the possibility of al- why our economy improved locating a budget for undocu- and one of these is the remit- mented workers. tances of our overseas workers. “Actually, I proposed to That is why they were tagged increase the legal assistance as the new heroes,” Binay, the fund, but unfortunately it was former presidential adviser on vetoed by the president,” Bi- OFW concerns, said following nay said. a three-day visit to the United The vice president said he Arab Emirates (UAE). hopes the UAE will soon im- He stressed that the prob- plement a unifi ed contract for lem on illegal recruitment household service workers and undocumented workers (HSWs) to help improve the should be given attention and working conditions of OFWs carefully studied by the gov- and prevent undocumented ernment. workers. “This can’t be a problem The Philippines and UAE are forever. One reason why the currently in talks on the Memo- government can’t give accu- randum of Understanding on rate fi gures on the number of Labour and on Household Serv- OFWs, especially when there ice Workers (HSWs) Unifi ed A layman blesses thousands of residents with holy water during the annual Sto Nino (baby Jesus) feast in Manila yesterday. The Philippines is Asia’s bastion of Catholicism and is a crisis in Libya and Syr- Contract. the Sto Nino feast is one among dozens of religious festivals honouring various saints and religious icons, a legacy of three centuries of Spanish rule across the archipelago. ia, are these undocumented The vice president said he workers,” he said. hopes the unifi ed contract for He said some employers HSWs would be similar to what maltreat Filipino workers be- Saudi Arabia is now imple- cause they are aware that there menting.Binay said OFWs ab- are many undocumented Fili- scond from their jobs because pinos working abroad. of poor working conditions or Binay recalled the pre-de- maltreatment. parture verifi cation imple- He reminded Filipinos seek- mented by the Inter-Agency ing to work abroad to go through Govt criticises new China Council Against Traffi cking the legal process and only deal (IACAT) during his term as with agencies and people duly chairman emeritus and said accredited by the government. most undocumented workers Meanwhile, the vice presi- leave the country as tourists dent said he suggested to and get recruited abroad. UAE offi cials the possibil- runways in disputed zone “There are a lot of undocu- ity of adding a collegiate level mented workers. Some come to the Philippine Global School from Zamboanga, they leave in Abu Dhabi. By Joel M Sy Egco with the member countries of sive economic zone,” he added. a director of the Washington- laborative presence in the South Manila Times Association of Southeast Asian Coloma was reacting to a re- based project. China Sea. Thus, in addition to Nations(Asean),” Palace Com- port by the US think-tank Asia Tensions continue to rise in freedom of navigation opera- RESHUFFLE munications Secretary Hermin- Maritime Transparency Initia- the Spratlys as China resorted to tions of the US, we are also sug- Armed forces set for major revamp alacanang yesterday io Coloma Jr said. tive that claimed that China has a rapid construction and recla- gesting that we patrol the area deplored the reported In an interview over state- stepped up its construction of mation activities. together,” Defence spokesman A major revamp looms at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Mconstruction by China run Radyo ng Bayan, the offi cial runways in the disputed region Manila had fi led a petition Peter Paul Galvez said. with the retirement this year of several off icers, a military spokesman of new runways in the disputed warned that the Philippine gov- amid the US government’s ef- against China’s nine-dash line Galvez did not specify where disclosed yesterday. Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, AFP spokesman, said West Philippines Sea (South ernment will not be cowed into forts to counter Beijing’s asser- rule in asserting its sovereignty the joint patrols would be con- the retirement of key off icers of the AFP’s major services will trigger China Sea) as a top government submission by China’s strong tion. over some isles and shoals there. ducted. a reshuff le of positions, Manila Times reported. He did not identify offi cial described the latest de- presence in the area. The report said Beijing will The “memorial” or complaint While the US does not support the retiring off icers except for Lt Gen Oscar Lopez, superintendent velopment as a “violation” of “Government is determined soon complete two runways that is being heard by the Interna- any of the claims, it has warned of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). Lopez is set to leave on laws that heightens tension in to assert the importance of free- will join a newly operational tional Tribunal on the Law of China against trying to restrict February 17 when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56. the region. dom of navigation and overfl ight landing strip on a third reef the Sea but China refused to take air and sea passage through the “I don’t know the exact dates (of their retirement) but there will be “The building of additional in the West Philippine Sea or called Fiery Cross in the con- part in the judicial process. WPS — a major shipping lane, movement, that is true. It is part and parcel of the retirement cycle, runways contributes to height- South China Sea,” Coloma said. tested waters. The Philippines and Vietnam rich fi shing ground and potential specific units, PMA,” Padilla said. He added that a series of meetings ened tensions in the region. We “The Department of Foreign “The runways at Subi and have been vocal in their criticism source of mineral resources. were held to discuss who will be aff ected by the impending revamp, reiterate that these actions by Aff airs had previously fi led a Mischief Reef are nearly com- of Beijing’s reclamation projects Tensions fl ared last month but the identities of the off icials involved are “closely guarded.” China violate not only pertinent diplomatic protest regarding plete. The work at Mischief has in contested reefs. when the US fl ew two B-52 “That’s a confidential matter for the Board of Generals because they international laws but also the the test fl ights made on reefs gone nearly twice as fast as it Last week, the Philippines bombers close to fl ashpoint is- are the ones making the recommendation who is best to put in Declaration on the Conduct of also claimed by the Philippines did at Fiery Cross Reef on which called for joint patrols with the lands that have been artifi cially certain positions,” Padilla explained. The AFP off icial said a selection Parties in the South China Sea of particularly at Kagitingan Reef, test fl ights landed earlier this US in the West Philippine Sea. built by China, reportedly by process is ongoing to choose off icials who will be appointed to key which China is a signatory along which is well within our exclu- month,” said Gregory Poling, “There is a need for more col- mistake. posts that will be left vacant.

Interior dept urged to replace fugitive mayor Liberal Party stalwarts ‘may dump’

Manila Times reportedly deteriorated. In Decem- Roxas, Robredo if ratings stay low Manila ber 2015, an active co-ordinator of Laqui was gunned down, trigger- ing an atmosphere of chaos. By Joel M Sy Egco “greatest fear” is that Sen. Fer- as top contender for the presi- rustrated residents of a Ilagan fl ed and remained at Manila Times dinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr dential race, jumping from 26% town in Batangas are ask- large since an order of arrest was will win the vice presidential in December 2015 to 31% in Fing Interior Secretary Mel issued against him by Presiding race. January.Poe slid to second place Senen Sarmiento to act on the Judge Girlie Borrel-Yu of the Re- talwarts of the Lib- “If Leni will continue to lag with 24% after. leadership void left by the ab- gional Trial Court Branch 35 in eral Party (LP), includ- behind and Marcos overtakes She and Binay tied statisti- sence of a mayor who has been Ormoc City on March 31, 2014. Sing President Benigno Chiz, Pnoy (President Aquino) cally for the top spot in the De- running from the law over al- “According to the Local Gov- Aquino are considering shifting will not allow it. Naturally, he cember 2015 survey report. leged rape and other crimes. ernment Code, fugitive offi cials their support to the tandem of will go for Chiz who has been Roxas ranked third with 21%, Local government services should be relieved from offi ce if Senators Grace Poe and Francis his friend. It’s anybody but followed by Davao City Mayor at the municipality of Mataa- they are non-performing or in- “Chiz” Escudero if the team- Bongbong for him and we know Rodrigo Duterte with 20%. snakahoy, Batangas have been in capacitated, such as the case of up of Manuel “Mar” Roxas and exactly the reason why,” the of- Sen. Miriam Defensor San- shambles with the disappearance Mayor Ilagan. He has not reported Camarines Sur representative fi cial told Manila Times. tiago occupied the bottom spot of Mayor Jay Ilagan since March for work for over a year because he Leni Robredo will not take off in Sought for comment on Ma- with 3%. 2014, the subject of at least three is in hiding,” according to Zafi ro. the next surveys, according to nila Times’ sources’ claims, In the Pulse Asia survey for warrants of arrest for rape, human Municipal transactions are ren- sources from the group of Poe Presidential Communications the vice presidential race late traffi cking and illegal possession dered invalid or questionable as and the Palace. Secretary Herminio Coloma last year, Escudero was the top of fi rearms and ammunition. there is no authorised signatory The sources said Poe and Es- Grace Poe (left) and Francis Escudero may find favour among Liberal Jr said Aquino still trusts that bet with 28%, followed closely “I hope politics has nothing to in the complete absence of Ilagan. cudero will be the administra- Party stalwarts Roxas and Robredo will contin- by Marcos with 25%. do with DILG’s inaction against Court documents show Ilagan, tion’s “spare tyre” if the survey ue to gain wide public support Robredo, meanwhile, got 17% Ilagan because he is a member of along with one Dina Tupas, way- ratings of Roxas and Robredo bers dropped by Mar, incum- The Balay and Samar factions as the May 2016 elections near. while Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano the administration party while laid a teenaged girl in Ormoc City, will not improve. bent offi cials were made LP separately campaigned for Rox- “President Aquino is stead- got a rating of 14%. the vice mayor (Henry Librea during which the fugitive Batan- A lawyer involved in the cam- candidates. He wanted to be as and Vice President Jejomar fast in his endorsement and In the January survey of the Laqui) is with the opposition,” gas mayor raped the victim. paign of Poe and Escudero said sure but he erred. Now he has Binay, respectively, during the support for the Roxas-Robredo SWS, Escudero was the top said lawyer Boy Zafi ro in a state- Ilagan and Tupas are also sub- many big names in the LP and more enemies,” the source add- 2010 polls. team. He believes that both choice of most of the respond- ment over the weekend, speak- jects of warrants of arrest for hu- local administration bets are ed. For this year’s electoral ex- candidates are steadily gaining ents.His rating of 28%, how- ing for Laqui. man traffi cking. Ilagan is also fac- expected to “abandon ship” and He explained that these LP ercise, the camp of Roxas con- public support being the most ever, was lower than the 30% he The Department of Interior and ing charges for illegal possession shift their allegiance to the two bets were disheartened when tinues to hold quarters on Balay capable to promote and solidify garnered late last year. Local Government (DILG), how- of fi rearms and ammunition in lawmakers. Roxas and his group decided Street in Quezon City. the gains under daang matu- Marcos, who ranked second, ever, has failed to allow Laqui to connection with the recovery of “Local government offi cials to replace LP incumbents with The source said “operators” wid,” he told Manila Times in a had the biggest gain, for his De- take over, apparently because of assorted automatic rifl es, hand- under the LP are also waiting their own selected candidates, of the Samar group are working separate interview. cember rating of 19% jumped to political reasons. Ilagan is a Lib- guns and ammunition inside his for all projects to be closed so especially in the provinces. under the radar. Daang matuwid (straight 25% in January, overtaking Ro- eral Party stalwart, while Laqui residence in JMI Compound, their constituents will not suf- The source said the reason A Palace offi cial who asked path) is the good-governance bredo who used to top the vice belongs to the Nacionalista Party. Barangay Santol, Mataasnakahoy, fer when they eventually throw why Poe is running as an inde- not to be identifi ed confi rmed mantra of the Aquino adminis- presidential surveys. Sarmiento has not authorised Batangas on December 20, 2014. their public support behind pendent is so that she could be that Aquino is most likely to tration. In the SWS survey, Robre- Laqui to assume as offi cer-in- Sarmiento has not responded their real candidate,” said the readily adopted by the LP splin- back Escudero if Robredo will In the latest Social Weather do was a far third with a rat- charge of the mayor’s offi ce, even to the appeal made by Laqui source, who spoke on condition ter group, mostly composed of continue to wallow in the vice Stations (SWS) survey released ing of 17%, two percentage as the peace and order situation in on behalf of the beleaguered that he will not be named. members identifi ed with the presidential surveys. last week, Vice President Je- points lower than her 19% in the fourth-class municipality has Mataasnakahoy constituents. “There are a lot of LP mem- so-called Samar group. He said the president’s jomar Binay regained his post December. Gulf Times Monday, January 18, 2016 25 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL/MALDIVES

12 dead, Lanka turns to social media scores ill as cold spell grips for help with new charter Nepal AFP Sites such as Facebook and the fi nal stages of the island’s will discuss with all, includ- Colombo Twitter played a key role in 37-year-old separatist war, in ing (Tamil-dominated) pro- supporting Wickremesinghe’s line with pledges to the UN Hu- vincial councils to have a new IANS election in August as well as man Rights Council last year. constitution,” Wickremesin- Kathmandu ri Lanka’s prime minister during the January 2015 presi- Sri Lanka’s year-old govern- ghe said. “We will do that in a yesterday announced that dential election at which he ment has begun drafting a new transparent manner.” Soffi cials would use social supported Maithripala Sirisena. constitution aimed at resolv- Other measures announced welve people have died media to seek public opinion Since coming to power, the ing the drawn-out ethnic con- include recruiting hundreds of and scores have fallen ill on a proposed new constitution new government has set up free fl ict which ended in 2009 and Tamils to the police and military Tdue to common cold and aimed at preventing a return to Wi-Fi zones in many public claimed 100,000 lives. to reduce the mistrust between viral fever amid harsh winter ethnic war. places to encourage the use of The issue has been fraught, Jaff na residents and the security weather over past two weeks Ranil Wickremesinghe said web-based services. The govern- however, with hardline mem- establishment, and further sup- in the western Mugu district Sri Lanka will use social media ment is opening a new offi ce in bers of the Sinhalese majority port for families of war victims. of Nepal, local media said to help draft a new statute to Colombo today to start receiving opposing a federal system that “There are lists of missing yesterday. devolve more powers to minor- written proposals from the public would ensure more political people and I am afraid most of Common cold and vi- ity Tamils and ensure unity after for the new constitution. power for minority Tamils. them may not be among the ral fever claimed six lives, decades of war. Wickremesinghe travelled Some minorities fear a “uni- living,” Wickremesinghe said. fi ve of them being elderly, in “Sri Lanka could be the fi rst to the former war-torn zone tary” constitution would see President Maithripala Sirise- Dhainakot Village Develop- country to get views expressed of Jaff na in the north on Friday them lose out while moderate na, who was elected in January Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, centre, during a rally. ment Committee of Mugu on social media (to contribute to) to pledge to devolve political Tamils who want to remain in last year partly on the back of district, the Annapurna Post drafting a new constitution,” he power to minority Tamils. a single union have pressed for Tamil votes, was due to travel to The regime of former presi- that at least 40,000 Tamil civil- newspaper reported. said. “We want to seek the view He has also promised to pros- greater power in areas where Jaff na on Friday, but was unable dent Mahinda Rajapakse faced ians were killed by troops under The other victims died in and opinions of young people. ecute both state forces and Tamil they are in the majority. to make it due to “unavoidable” repeated UN censure over his his command while crushing Karkibada, Shreenagar and Participate in this process.” rebels accused of war crimes in “The constitutional assembly reasons, his offi ce said. failure to investigate allegations the rebels in 2009. Gamtha Village Development Committees also due to the com- mon cold and viral fever amid in- tense cold, government offi cials said. Scores of others have been af- Bangladesh PM seeks help from factory fected by viral fever and common cold in the district, government offi cials added. The disease was mostly seen owners for building Garment Village in people at the age of 38 to 65 in those far-fl ung villages of mid- western Nepal. By Mizan Rahman offi ce-bearers of Bangladesh she said the Awami League of the workers by the industry “We have deployed medical Dhaka Garments Manufacturers and government never wants to do owners as they are contribut- teams to those village develop- Exporters Association (BG- business as it works to enhance ing towards making country’s ment committees after getting MEA) when they met her in and promote business activities economy stronger. reports of deaths due to viral fe- tressing the need for re- Dhaka yesterday. BGMEA pres- to give the economy a stronger Pointing to a number of inci- ver and common cold,” Shambhu ducing dependence on ident Md Siddiqur Rahman led footing. dents that happened in the gar- Regmi, chief district offi cer, told Sthe government, Prime the delegation. Hasina said the government ment sector, the Prime Minister Xinhua over phone. Minister Sheikh Hasina yes- Hasina said all facilities are always extended its support to said her government handled terday urged garment fac- being ensured from gas supply the RMG sector of the country all those tragic accidents very tory owners to help complete to communications to establish for taking it forward foiling all successfully and extended all- the work on Garment Village the Garment Village. “There’ll national and international con- out support to the victims. at Gazaria in Munshiganj for be no problem at the village if spiracies. Former BGMEA presidents further development of the you start spending money and “There were plots at national Tipu Munshi, MP, and Atiqul Is- Pilgrim country’s readymade garment relocating your factories there.” and international levels to im- lam also spoke on the occasion. (RMG) industry. “Businessmen will have to pede garment export. But the RMG exports share nearly “Our government has allo- come forward to solve problems plots were not successful as 85% of Bangladesh’s total ex- assembly’s cated a land for setting up the on their own,” she said stressing we took proper steps in this re- port earnings. Full-year gar- Mohamed Nasheed Garment Village at Gazaria ... the importance of reducing de- gard,” she said. ment exports rose 8.21% to Necessary work is underway to pendence on the government. On high bank interest rate, $26.6bn in 2015, compared to 2nd phase develop the village and it could Hasina also called upon the the Prime Minister urged pri- the previous year. There are an be completed speedily if you RMG factory owners to explore vate banks to take necessary estimated 5,000 garment fac- take some initiatives and spend newer markets across the world to measures to this end and said tories employing an estimated concludes some money. But, you’re close- give a further boost to the coun- the nationalised banks are pro- fi vemn workers 90% of whom Jailed Nasheed fi sted and try to save money and try’s export and thus strengthen viding loans at a relatively low- are women. that’s the problem,” she said. the national economy. er rate of interest. The BGMEA projects gar- IANS The prime minister was Terming the present govern- The Prime Minister stressed ment export earnings at Dhaka to stay in Maldives speaking to the newly elected ment business-friendly one, the need for ensuring welfare US$50bn by the year 2021. he second largest an- nual Muslim congrega- after govt ‘hostage’ Ttion concluded its second Earthquake Safety Day phase yesterday in Bangladesh, with hundreds of thousands of devotees praying for world demand: party peace, prosperity and fraternal harmony. Devotees including some AFP Male reluctantly softened its 10,000 foreigners from scores of Male stand on Nasheed follow- countries sought divine bless- ing diplomatic pressure from ings, stability and welfare of all neighbouring India and Sri mankind at the second phase, ailed Maldivian opposi- Lanka as well as former colo- Xinhua reports. tion leader Mohamed nial power Britain. The fi rst phase of the con- JNasheed’s travel abroad The 48-year-old former gregation called Biswa Ijtema for surgery was scuttled at the president was sentenced on held on the banks of the Turag last minute yesterday as the terrorism charges relating to river at Tongi, some 25km north authorities demanded a “hos- the arrest of an allegedly cor- of capital Dhaka, ended on tage” in his place, his party rupt judge in 2012, when he January 10. said. was still in power. The second phase of the con- “The government back- The UN has said his trial was gregation, which has been held tracks on their decision to un- seriously fl awed and he should in two phases since 2011 to avoid conditionally allow (former) be released and compensated mad rush of pilgrims, began on president Nasheed to travel for wrongful detention. Friday at the same venue as the to UK for surgery,” Maldiv- Hardline President Abdulla fi rst one. ian Democratic Party (MDP) Yameen has refused to accept Nearly 12,000 members from spokesman Hamid Abdul the UN ruling and is resisting law enforcing agencies have been Ghafoor said. international pressure to re- deployed in the fi ve-layered se- He said the government lease Nasheed. curity net in and around the 60 had insisted on the nomina- London-based barrister Local villagers visit a photo exhibition during a programme to mark the 18th Earthquake Safety Day at Bungamati in Lalitpur, near hectare Ijtema ground, the main tion of a family member to act Amal Clooney is on the legal Kathmandu, yesterday. venue of the congregation to en- as a guarantee for his return team pressuring the govern- sure safety and security. after 30 days of treatment in ment unconditionally to re- Britain to serve his 13-year jail lease Nasheed. Otherwise she term. The guarantor would will call for targeted sanctions be a “hostage” who could be from the international com- prosecuted if Nasheed did not munity. return, he said. India’s Foreign Secretary “It is an ethical issue. That S Jaishankar visited Male for talks with the government and Nepal may press AIIB for benefi t is why president Nasheed has not agreed to the demand of a stopped over in Colombo last guarantor,” he added. week, while Sri Lanka’s For- The sudden development eign Minister Mangala Sama- came hours after the country’s raweera made an unscheduled visit to Male on Thursday. of least developed countries prisons chief Mohamed Hu- sham announced that opposi- Britain’s Deputy Foreign tion leader Nasheed had been Minister Hugo Swire arrived in IANS (NPC), said becoming the board needs and aspirations of Nepal. 28mn people out of poverty. Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma granted 30 days’ leave from Male yesterday and held talks Kathmandu member of the bank was an op- Another economist Madan Under these circumstances, Oli has off ered to amend the prison for a spinal cord sur- with Yameen but details were portunity for Nepal to infl uence Kumar Dahal said the AIIB could central bank spokesman Pangeni three-month-old charter to ad- gery and was expected to leave not disclosed. the policies of the bank to benefi t contribute to Nepal’s aspiration says it is the most vulnerable dress some of the key concerns later yesterday. President Yameen is a xperts say Nepal may infl u- the LDCs. to become a developing coun- who are hardest hit. of the ethnic Madhesi protesters. “We are making arrange- half-brother of former ence the policies of Asian “Besides infl uencing the poli- try by 2022 and middle income “They are hotel workers Several rounds of negotiations ments so that he can travel strongman Maumoon Ab- EInfrastructure Investment cy in favour of LDCs, Nepal can country by 2030. forced to stay on leave because between the government and later today,” Husham had told dul Gayoom, who ruled for Bank (AIIB) as a board member take more benefi t from the bank Wedged between China and hotels have cut down on services protest leaders have failed amid reporters earlier in the day. 30 years until his defeat by for the needs of the least devel- if the country can infl uence the India, Nepal is recovering from due to fuel shortage. Transport diff erences over how to change Nasheed’s lawyers met Nasheed in the country’s oped countries (LDCs). policy of the bank for the ben- a decade-long confl ict between workers have lost jobs, rickshaw the internal boundaries of newly him yesterday, a day after the fi rst multi-party elections in Nepal, one of the founding efi t of land locked countries and Maoist rebels and government pullers are out of work,” he said. created federal states. government made an initial 2008. He has cracked down members of the China-initiated mountainous countries,” said forces which ended in 2006. “Tens of thousands of people Protesters say the entire U-turn and agreed to let him on dissent and arrested bank, was selected as one of the the expert. Years of political instabil- who were self-employed in small southern plain region, Ne- travel to Britain. The Maldives political opponents. board members, Xinhua report- Economist Raj Pandey also ity have slowed development pavement businesses like tea and pal’s bread basket, must not be government has previously Nasheed was toppled in ed. believes that Nepal, as a board eff orts and two deadly earth- coff ee shops, cake shops, street split into more than two federal refused to sanction overseas February 2012 in what he Jagadish Chandra Pokharel, member of the AIIB, could quakes in April and May last vendors are out of work. All provinces. They now form part medical treatment for him. called a coup backed by the former vice-chairman of the infl uence the policy of the year, have further hampered ef- these people have no income.” of six of the seven provinces Media reports have said military and police. National Planning Commission bank to address the special forts to lift 25% of the country’s The government of Prime dominated by hill dwellers. Gulf Times 26 Monday, January 18, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief : Darwish S Ahmed We face a technology-driven Production Editor: C P Ravindran

P.O.Box 2888 business transformation Doha, Qatar [email protected] We need a comprehensive This enables them to expand their technological disruptions remains entrepreneur Nick Hanauer have businesses virtually competition-free relatively small in the advanced proposed social-policy reforms that Telephone 44350478 (news), strategy aimed at making until they have established what is countries. But it could aff ect some share a similar conceptual foundation. 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) markets – and politics – essentially a monopoly. At that point, 20% of GDP and 40% of jobs by 2030. Individuals earn “claims” over their Fax 44350474 they can hike prices and engage in That is a huge shift, happening at an lifetimes, fi rst by being legal residents, truly competitive, and price discrimination relatively freely. unprecedented speed. and then by, say, obtaining educational ensuring that public As Kaplan points out, that is Though we are becoming degrees, earning professional precisely what Amazon has done. It accustomed to breaking records – in certifi cations, performing community policy works for the fi rst achieved massive scale, enabling 2013, more than 90% of all data ever service (including military service) benefi t of all it to store unordered products at accumulated in human history had and making money. diff use locations and thereby reduce been accumulated in the previous two These claims can be exchanged GULF TIMES transport costs. Now it can off er years – the reality is that the speed for various benefi ts, such as family By Kemal Dervis fast and free delivery, which smaller and scale of this transformation pose leave, retraining, or supplementary Washington, DC companies cannot beat. major challenges. retirement income. The system would If we fail to address them include all residents and be completely Governments adequately, the outcome is unlikely portable, with plenty of room for The bitter truth about he impact that to be a safer and more prosperous people to choose how and when to use groundbreaking must upgrade society, but rather one in which their claims. technological advances frustration and hopelessness increase, Complementary arrangements – sugary drinks and Tlike artifi cial intelligence competition policy potentially leading to extreme with, say, potential employers off ering will have on the functioning of our behaviours. additional credits for retraining – economies and labour markets has to protect against the One proposal, made by Kaplan, is could also be implemented. been a hot topic for a long time. to create a “job mortgage”. Companies At the same time, governments their eff ect on health But Jerry Kaplan’s recent book emergence of global with a future need for certain skills must upgrade competition policy Humans Need Not Apply: A Guide would become a kind of sponsor, to protect against the emergence to Wealth and Work in the Age of monopolies involving potential future job off ers, to of global monopolies. Here, new A new research that suggests people who drink Artifi cial Intelligence has impressed a person willing to acquire those skills. mega-regional trade deals, such as the sugary beverages daily tend to accumulate extra deep upon me the true size of the Add to that complex algorithms The worker could secure a loan Transatlantic Trade and Investment socioeconomic stakes. that set prices in a way that maximises against their projected future income Partnership and the Trans-Pacifi c belly fat over time is one more reason to cut down on One relatively well-known example profi ts, and the company’s dominance to fi nance their studies. The loans Partnership, should prove invaluable, sugar intake. The study, of 1,003 adults, found that of the digital revolution’s impact on seems relatively secure. would be repaid once the job began. provided that today’s powerful players the workings of markets is the ability As this approach facilitates the If no job materialised, the individual are not permitted to dictate terms that those who consumed at least one sugar-sweetened to earn huge returns in high-speed rise of global super-fi rms, it creates would be held responsible for repaying advance only their interests. drink a day had a bigger increase in deep abdominal fat trading by being a microsecond serious problems for labour markets only a fraction of the loan, with the International co-operation should over the next six years. “ahead” of everyone else. and societies, because it destroys mid- balance absorbed by the company, also be strengthened to prevent Another is the capacity for price level jobs based on old skills faster which thus bears a share of the multinationals from avoiding taxes by The results are alarming because that type of fat - discrimination by new electronic than comparable jobs based on new risk. There would also be a cap on shifting profi ts among jurisdictions. known as visceral fat - surrounds a number of vital market makers like Uber, which skills can be created. repayments as a percentage of income. Such tax avoidance has reached thus appropriate every penny of Equally serious, it contributes to Other proposals focus on reforming hundreds of billions of dollars. organs and is particularly unhealthy. Visceral fat is the old “consumer surplus” of shocking levels of income inequality, legal frameworks to refl ect more Tinkering with existing systems the kind that is closely associated with the risks of microeconomic theory. with a few households not only accurately new ways of working. For will not be enough to prepare us for Soon a new kind of enhanced Uber enjoying massive wealth, but also example, those who are partly self- the technology-driven transformation type 2 diabetes and heart disease, according to Alice could emerge, integrating car, bus, wielding considerable political employed and partly employed by a that we are facing. We need a Lichtenstein, a spokeswoman for the American Heart ship, airplane travel and hotel rooms infl uence. third party would have to be better comprehensive strategy aimed at Association (AHA). into one super-app. If income becomes too concentrated incorporated into social policies. making markets – and politics – truly In fact, some car manufacturers are too quickly, desired investment will Such changes would undoubtedly competitive, and ensuring that public The study was carried out in the US by researchers now working on exactly that. tend to fall short of available savings, be useful. But none of these proposals policy works for the benefi t of all.- from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s A key question is why good old creating a Keynesian macroeconomic refl ects the scale of the transformation Project Syndicate competition does not whittle away imbalance. (Contrary to popular that we are confronting. What we Framingham Heart Study and Population Sciences these profi ts rapidly. The answer often belief, what matters is not the actual really need is fundamentally to zKemal Dervis, former minister of Branch, Tufts University and Harvard Medical School. lies in the business model. Companies amount of income fl owing toward transform the way our societies economic aff airs of Turkey and former The fi ndings, published last week in the journal borrow a lot to start up, accumulate top earners, but the changes in that function – and fast. administrator for the UN Development large fi xed costs and off er such low income.) France Strategie, which advises the Programme (UNDP), is a vice president Circulation, confi rms past research that people who prices at fi rst that they lose money. As it stands, the impact of these French government, and the American of the Brookings Institution. consume a lot of sugary drinks tend to have higher rates of diabetes and heart disease. They suggest a “mechanism” behind that, said lead researcher Jiantao Ma of the Framingham Heart Study and Population Sciences Branch. The researchers used One 12-ounce CT scans to measure each participant’s levels can of regular of visceral fat, at the soda contains study’s start and again six years later. At the about 132 outset, 13% of the study calories of group said they drank added sugar at least one sugar- sweetened beverage daily. And on average, those men and women showed the greatest increase in visceral fat over the next six years. Compared with people who never had sugary drinks, daily consumers accumulated about 27% more visceral fat, the investigators found. As Lichtenstein pointed out, people who drink a lot of sugary beverages probably have other less- than-healthful habits. “People who consume a lot of added sugar also tend to eat fewer vegetables, get less exercise and be more likely to smoke,” she said. Sugar-sweetened drinks are just one part of that larger picture, Lichtenstein said. Still, she added, cutting out those beverages is an “easy” way to drop added sugar from your diet. A boy looking at the window of a foreign exchange off ice in Tehran’s business district yesterday. According to the AHA, one 12-ounce can of regular soda contains about 132 calories of added sugar. A majority of people who consume soft drinks are Iranians express satisfaction and caution ignorant of the large intake of sugar. Drinking water instead of sugar-sweetened drinks is a cheap and By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin have no concrete expectations about market that still carries a lot of risks. “We had a problem with easy way to cut down on sugar intake, and should be and Parisa Hafezi what the future might hold. The opponents of the deal, a sanctions. We traded less, our Reuters And they have been told by their signifi cant faction in Iran, also kept imports and exports were down. encouraged – especially in children. government not to expect quick their counsel. Hardline newspapers With the lifting of sanctions our Given that 17% of the adult population in Qatar miracles, an idea people seem to have who dislike the deal due to deep trade will gradually increase,” he lifting of sanctions set taken to heart. suspicions about US intentions did not sailor Hossein Jaafari said. suff er from diabetes and the number could double off scenes of jubilation “I don’t think it will have much take a strong stand, perhaps resolving For many young Iranians it’s not all by 2045 if eff ective steps are not taken, the Supreme in Iran’s parliament: impact on our lives,” said retired to focus on a bitter internal power about the money. Council of Health had formally launched in November TSupporters planted kisses government employee Mohamed- struggle that is likely to intensify after Ali Araghchi, the nephew of Iran’s on the forehead of Foreign Minister Reza Hosseini, 63, in the central city the deal. top nuclear negotiator, believes the last year the National Diabetes Strategy. More work Mohamed Javad Zarif and jostled to of Shiraz. Iranians interviewed by telephone lifting of sanctions will start a new era is needed on the ground, especially on the awareness take selfi es. by Reuters described themselves as of diplomatic harmony and improve For pragmatic politicians like him, exhausted by the years of hardship and Iran’s global image. creation front. the nuclear deal that reconnects Iran “I don’t think it will hopeful rather that better times might Araghchi is the founder of “Must to the world marks a victory over have much impact be ahead. See Iran”, a social media campaign rival factions at home as much as a “At least 10 small factories were that invites Iranians to post pictures diplomatic coup overseas. on our lives” closed in our area. Just a few big of Persian culture and nature to To Advertise There was also optimism among factories could survive,” said tile shop counteract negative stereotypes about ordinary Iranians. “This country has so many owner Reza Sadrsefat in the central their country. [email protected] “I cannot wait ... We deserve to be problems that it will take years to solve city of Isfahan. “It an exciting day for all of us,” he Display part of the international community them.” “Even as owner of a small shop, I told Reuters. “Iranians are much more Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 again,” said elementary school teacher With sanctions fi nally lifted, had diffi culties to buy material in the hopeful and optimistic compared Ziba Ghafouri, 35, in the northern city Iranians must settle down to the sober past few years. And even when I did, to the time we were under cruel Classified of Babolsar. task of rebuilding an economy that has the prices were so high that I could not sanctions. Peace of mind will be a Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 But many others reacted cautiously, been battered even since the deal was sell them. I am very happy that our signifi cant part of our future.” in contrast to widespread elation six reached in July last year.* leaders could resolve this issue.” Araghchi believes the lifting of Subscription months earlier, when Iranians poured Iran will immediately have more In Dubai, Iranian sailors were packing sanctions will open Iran’s gates to [email protected] into the streets to celebrate the signing money to pay for imports, as the small trading boats with foreign goods, thousands of “nature lovers and art of the nuclear deal that made possible government gains access to tens of preparing to cross the Gulf to the Iranian enthusiasts” who will be able to see the lifting of most economic curbs. billions of dollars of assets frozen port of Bandar Abbas. Even this creaking another side to Iran, an ecologically 2014 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Many have lived under sanctions or abroad. However, foreign businesses bridge to the world has suff ered under diverse country with a glorious wartime austerity for so long that they may hesitate to invest heavily in a sanctions, they said. history. Gulf Times Monday, January 18, 2016 27 COMMENT Why we consume so few of plant species

The plants we eat have been plants with elaborate sex lives. The enhanced by generations of more unusual the mechanism of insect pollination, the greater the genetic selection separation among plant populations becomes, almost as if they had evolved By John Warren on diff erent islands. Aberystwyth This explains why there are roughly 25,000 orchid species. Orchids are the kinky exhibitionists of the botanical cientists estimate that there world. Many of them have extremely are more than 400,000 elaborate fl owers that have evolved to species of plants on earth, at trick male bees or wasps into trying to Sleast half of which are edible copulate with them, thereby ensuring for humans. Indeed, it is entirely that they are regularly pollinated. possible that we are capable of eating This explains why we don’t farm 300,000 plant species. And yet we orchids for food. Seducing bees and consume just a tiny fraction of that. wasps might work well for a few Homo sapiens, the most individual fl owers, but it would never cosmopolitan of species, one that work on an agricultural scale. thrives by virtue of being a generalist, There would never be enough male eats only about 200 plant species. wasps to pollinate an entire crop; and Remarkably, a mere three crops – if there were, they would soon tire or maize, rice and wheat – account for wise up. Furthermore, because wasps more than half of the calories and are not found everywhere, an orchid proteins that we derive from plants. crop could never be pollinated outside Strangely, there have been few its original range. attempts to explain why we consume Most food crops, by contrast, can so few of the species that are possible be pollinated by different types of to eat. Taste is not the answer. Nor is insects. They can be successfully nutritional value. The plants we eat cultivated around the world, using have been enhanced by generations whatever insects are available to of selection, in which farmers pollinate them. have favoured those with the most The most common crops of all – palatability, the greatest nutritional wheat, maize and rice – are grasses value and the highest yield. that rely on the wind for pollination. As much as one might hate broccoli, Others, such as potatoes and yams, it is likely to be far tastier than most of are spread vegetatively and are rarely the 300,000 alternatives. Wild plants propagated from seed at all, while taste like wild plants because they still some crops that would naturally be are wild plants. But why is that? insect pollinated, such as oilseed rape, In Guns, Germs, and Steel, the become wind pollinated when they are geographer and science writer Jared grown on an industrial scale. Diamond argues that the explanation The logic seems impeccable, and were introduced today, they would Indeed, many of the plants we love contain poisons. The plants we eat are A more adventurous plant diet for our limited menu lies within it is true that the vast majority of the most likely be banned for human to grow and eat, including chilies, atypical because of their particularly is possible. But it would have to the plants themselves. Diamond planet’s 400,000 plant species do consumption. mustard, horseradish and wasabi dull sex lives. accommodate the quirky sex lives argues that when agriculture was contain chemical defences (poisons) Examples include the tomato, its are attractive precisely because they Many biologists believe that the of what we include in it. - Project still in its infancy, our ancestors were to defend themselves from grazing relative the potato and many other root are packed with potentially harmful reason there are so many species Syndicate remarkably effi cient at identifying the herbivores. But, unfortunately for crops, such as cassava, which contains chemicals. of fl owering plants is that each has very few species that were suitable for Diamond’s theory, many of our most cyanide; taro, which is full of oxalates; What distinguishes food crops become dependent on a unique zJohn Warren is professor of botany at domestication – by which Diamond important crops are also stuff ed full and yams, which produce defence from other plants has nothing to do species of insects that coevolved to Aberystwyth University and the author means not being poisonous. of toxins, to the extent that if they chemicals that mimic female hormones. with taste, nutrition, or whether they pollinate it. In other words, these are of The Nature of Crops. Letters Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY Apple wax contains several antioxidants that are coatings help inhibit mould growth, So that’s that. An apple a day keeps High: 24 C good for health. protect produce from bruising, the doctor away, even if it is waxed! Low : 17 C not harmful If you still feel unsafe, it is better prevent other physical damage and Strong wind and high seas at first to wash the apple with water mixed disease, and enhance appearance, we Rajesh Nair Dear Sir, with a few drops of vinegar. This will are told. [email protected] disintegrate the wax. I quote an expert: “Only a very small TUESDAY The letter “We must stamp out amount (of wax coating) is necessary - High: 24 C food adulteration” (Gulf Times, AK just a drop or two per piece of produce. Please send us Low :15 C January 17) is wrong on wax-coated (Full name and address supplied) That amount is far outweighed by Sunny apples. the natural wax still remaining on the your letters It should be noted that apples do fruit, but it has a big impact. Studies By e-mail produces their own wax. In some Baseless by the US Department of Agriculture WEDNESDAY situations, additional food-grade concern have shown that coated apples retain [email protected] High: 25 C wax like carnauba or shellac wax is more moisture and fi rmness during Fax 44350474 Low : 16 C added to the outside of the apple to storage than those that aren’t coated. Or Post P Cloudy augment the fruit’s natural waxy Dear Sir, “Some people are bothered enough Letters to the Editor covering. This waxy coating helps to by the thought of these coatings Gulf Times prevent moisture loss and it provides In reference to the letter “We must that they are tempted to scrub their P O Box 2888 Fishermen’s forecast a physical barrier preventing some stamp out food adulteration” (Gulf produce in soapy water. That’s not Doha, Qatar OFFSHORE DOHA micro-organisms from entering the Times, January 17), one would like to recommended. First, anything more Wind: NW-NE 06-16/22 KT fruit. Without wax, apples would end state that the health concern on wax- than rinsing produce under running All letters, which are subject Waves: 2-4/7 Feet up going all dry and nasty. coated apples is unfounded. water is unnecessary. Second, it’s to editing, should have the INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW-NE 03-12 KT The wax is not harmful to the body The extra coating is needed because never a good idea to wash produce with name of the writer, address Waves: 1-2/3 Feet as it is indigestible and thus it is not when produce is washed after being detergent that’s not meant for human and phone number. The absorbed by the body and is totally harvested and prior to being shipped consumption. It’s illogical: you’re trying writer’s name and address Around the region safe for humans. Peeling off the for commercial sale, some of its to eliminate something that’s edible by may be withheld by request. Weather Weather apple skin is not advisable because it natural waxy coating is lost. The using something that’s not.” today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Abu Dhabi P Cloudy 28/13 Sunny 28/15 Baghdad P Cloudy 20/11 Sunny 18/07 Dubai Sunny 27/16 Sunny 28/17 Kuwait City Sunny 21/13 M Sunny 23/11 Manama Sunny 21/14 P Cloudy 22/16 Muscat Sunny 26/16 Sunny 27/16 Live issues Riyadh Sunny Sunny 26/13 26/11 Tehran Sunny 13/04 M Sunny 14/06 New technology puts healthcare in palm of your hand

By Rob Lever Tech-savvy startups and others are AFP introducing new ways to treat pain, in some cases taking techniques which have been around for decades and anaging your healthcare adapting them for smartphones and is moving increasingly connected wearables. to the palm of your hand NeuroMetrix debuted its Quell leg M- with new smartphone- band, which blocks pain signals to the enabled technology and wearable brain, and is an alternative to drugs for sensors that examine, diagnose and people suff ering from debilitating pain even treat many conditions and related to diabetes or other ailments. ailments. It recently received approval from The recent Consumer Electronics the Food and Drug Administration in Show (CES) in Las Vegas saw the A hand-held connected device unveiled by Las Vegas-based startup MedWand the US. debut of new applications for “virtual allows consumers to measure temperature, heart rate, oxygen levels and NeuroMetrix founder Shai Gozani, checkups” and ways to treat pain, includes a camera to examine the throat and inner ear to enable doctors to a medical doctor who also has a PhD Around the world manage stress and monitor conditions perform an exam online. in neurobiology, said the device Weather Weather such as diabetes. “triggers your brain to upgrade its pain today Max/min tomorrow Max/min French-based health group And a simple button on the app can phase for clearance by the US Food and modulation” by acting on the opioid Athens S Showers 07/02 M Sunny 08/04 VisioMed introduced its Bewell connect you to a doctor: In France the Drug Administration, and is expected receptors in the same manner as Beirut Rain 17/12 Rain 14/11 Connect health management suite, app locates nearby providers in the to complete the process in 2016, opiates - but without drugs. Bangkok P Cloudy 32/26 S T Storms 31/25 Berlin M Sunny -2/-7 Sunny -1/-6 which includes a smartphone app that national medical service, and Bewell according to inventor and CEO Samir While Quell is a device which Cairo Cloudy 17/09 Sunny 17/07 communicates with its connected is working to establish a network of Qamar. treats pain anywhere in the body Cape Town Sunny 33/22 Cloudy 34/22 blood pressure and glucose monitor, connected physicians in the United MedWand is working with existing from a single band, iTens off ers a Colombo Sunny 33/22 Sunny 32/23 thermometer and blood oxygen States. telemedicine doctors and hopes to smartphone-controlled patch which Dhaka Sunny 27/16 M Sunny 27/17 M Sunny P Cloudy 18/15 sensor. A hand-held connected device start selling the device in June in the attaches to specifi c muscles to treat Hong Kong 19/15 Istanbul Snow 02/-1 Cloudy 01/-1 “If I have all these indicators I can unveiled by Las Vegas-based startup United States and globally. pain, using technology known as Jakarta T Storms 32/25 T Storms 32/25 get a pretty good assessment of your MedWand allows consumers to US-based medical device maker TENS, or transcutaneous elenctical Karachi Sunny 28/14 Sunny 28/12 health,” said Benjamin Pennequin, measure temperature, heart rate, Omron unveiled at CES its wrist-worn neuromuscular stimulation. London Cloudy 04/-2 P Cloudy 04/-1 research director for the group. oxygen levels and includes a camera blood pressure sensor which delivers The technology has been around for Manila P Cloudy 32/23 P Cloudy 32/23 Moscow M Cloudy -10/-12 Snow -8/-13 “This is like a personal virtual to examine the throat and inner ear information to a smartphone. decades in hospital settings but is only New Delhi Sunny 20/08 Cloudy 19/08 checkup.” to enable doctors to perform an exam “Most people only get their blood now hitting the consumer market with New York P Cloudy -1/-7 M Sunny 0/-3 But the app goes further: If you online. pressure checked at the doctor’s smartphone technology and sensor- Paris Cloudy 02/-1 Cloudy 03/-1 have symptoms such as chest pain or Lead engineer Terry MacNeish said offi ce once or twice a year,” said chief embedded devices. Sao Paulo P Cloudy 26/17 M Cloudy 25/16 Sunny Sunny -2/-11 “The electrical impulse intercepts Seoul -5/-13 shortness of breath, it poses a series the data from the $250 gadget allows operating offi cer Ranndy Kellogg. Singapore S T Storms 32/26 T Storms 31/26 of questions and delivers potential for a more thorough exam than most “This is continuous monitoring. If the pain signal before it reaches the Sydney Sunny 24/17 Sunny 29/18 diagnoses, and allows the user to share other kinds of telemedicine. there is something wrong with your brain,” said iTens spokesman Scott Tokyo ClearSnow 0 6 / 0 2 Cloudy 09/03 the data with a physician. MedWand is in the pre-approval heart, you really want to listen.” Overton. Gulf Times 28 Monday, January 18, 2016 QATAR Al Dana Green Run draws thousands ore than 5,000 people, including fi tness en- thusiasts, environmentalists and families have Mparticipated in the 11th edition of the annual Al Dana Green Run held at the Aspire Zone on Saturday. The much-awaited community run saw participants joining in the 10 individual categories that were spread across diff erent age groups and skill levels: from pro- fessional runners and participants with special needs, to individuals below 18 years of age and heavyweights, among other race categories. The “Male 18 to 35” category attracted the highest number of participants with over 1,500 runners, while 983 runners participated in the “Male Over 35” category. Also, young males and females below the age of 18 com- prised 774 participants. A number of Doha Bank employees participated in the event to reinforce the bank’s commitment to promoting a culture of green living and wellness in the workplace. The event also saw the participation of around 50 special needs runners, representing various local special needs associations. The Al Dana Green Run 2016 saw a total distribution of QR150,000 in prize money, with fi rst-place winners in each of the 10 categories taking home QR5,000 and second-place winners pocketing QR4,000 each. Win- ners of the third, fourth and fi fth positions received QR3,000, QR2,000 and QR1,000 each, respectively. “Over the years, the Al Dana Green Run has seen a steady spike in the number of participants and it is encouraging to see Doha residents come together in large numbers to share in our commitment to the environment and towards healthy living,” said Dr R Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank. “Qatar’s focus on environmental conservation and eco- friendly development, which constitutes one of the four pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030 has helped to instill Runners take off from the start line during the 11th edition of the annual Al Dana Green Run. Below: Doha Bank CEO Dr R Seetharaman poses with the winners. renewed environmental consciousness among its people. “Meanwhile, the rapid emergence of the country as a global sports destination has led to greater public aware- ness about fi tness and the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. The Al Dana Green Run combines these two na- tional priorities, which align with Doha Bank’s own CSR goals: to provide a platform for residents across all age groups and to contribute to a better tomorrow while hav- ing fun doing it,” he added. The crowd also enjoyed the raffl e draw prizes, exciting cash prizes and other rewards that were awarded to the lucky winners. Similarly, Doha Bank off ered free Apple iWatches to the fi rst 50 customers opening a new account with salary transfer during the event. The event also served as the venue for Doha Bank’s an- nouncement of the winners of its December 2015 Mega Draw for the Al Dana Savings Scheme where SMBA Sheikh was named the latest millionaire. Other draws included QR100,000, QR50,000 and QR25,000 respectively, within a pool of 52 winners for the fi nal monthly draw of 2015, taking the overall tally for the year to 11mn.