QATAR | Page 3 BUSINESS | Page 1 More US fi rms keen to enter Qatari market QFFD provides $12.5mn ‘despite grant to Birzeit University blockade’ published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 11029 December 11, 2018 Rabia II 4, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Amir launches Doha Historical Arabic Dictionary z Dictionary to be useful for advancing science in the language of the nation z Adding ‘Doha’ to the name was meant to show that the dictionary is a gift from Qatar to the Arab world

QNA vides a great service for the advance- Doha ment of science in the language of the nation. A number of those who worked on is Highness the Amir Sheikh the dictionary stressed that complet- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani ing the project marked an unprec- Hlaunched the web portal of the edented linguistic renaissance. With Doha Historical Dictionary of Arabic the dictionary, the Arabic language and yesterday at a ceremony organised by its texts will be compiled into an elec- the Arab Center for Research and Policy tronic language code that will be the Studies of the Doha Institute for Grad- largest ever. uate Studies. Dr Bishara, who is also director- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani attending the launch of the web portal of the Doha Historical Dictionary of Arabic yesterday. The ceremony was The ceremony was attended by HE general of the project, said the diction- attended by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, HE Advisory Council Speaker Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid the Prime Minister and Minister of In- ary would never have been completed al-Mahmoud and a number of ministers, senior off icials, academics and intellectuals, experts and linguists from Arab countries. terior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin if it were not for the faith in joint Arab Khalifa al-Thani, HE Speaker of the work, solid management, and the Arab Shura Council Ahmed bin Abdullah experts who worked on it. He high- bin Zaid al-Mahmoud and a number of lighted that other similar projects in ministers, senior offi cials, academics the past had to be abandoned before and intellectuals, experts and linguists reaching its desired goal. from Arab countries. He also discussed the successes of A number of films featuring the the past, beginning with the establish- importance of the Doha Historical ment of the Arabic language complex Dictionary of Arabic, the stages of its in Egypt in 1932 and elsewhere in the development, the characteristics of Arab world, all of which were certainly the first stage and information about remarkable eff orts but have not yet the portal were screened on the occa- reached the milestone of establishing a sion. historical dictionary of the Arabic lan- Dr Azmi Bishara, Director-General guage. of the Arab Center for Research and Bishara stressed that two of the ma- Policy Studies and members of the Sci- jor achievements of the project were entifi c Council of the dictionary spoke, establishing a methodology and creat- highlighting the historical and linguis- ing a database. “In three years, 100,000 tic value of the dictionary. dictionary entries covering 700 years Arabic language experts stressed were completed until the year 200 Hi- that Qatar’s adoption of the Doha jri. This was despite the special nature Historical Dictionary of Arabic pro- of the Arab language.” Page 3

Amir to patronise launch of water Brexit in turmoil as May security project Qatar records QR7.1bn His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim postpones vote on deal bin Hamad al-Thani will patronise today the launch ceremony of Water budget surplus in H1 2018 Security Mega Reservoirs Project held Reuters scheduled for tomorrow and not pro- by the Qatar General Electricity and London ceed to divide the House at this time,” Water Corp at the pumping stations in she said. The United Kingdom would By Peter Alagos “Today, Qatar is stronger than ever, now back to normal,” amounting to Umm Salal Ali. The project is strategic meanwhile step up contingency Business Reporter and its economy is stronger than be- QR46.5bn by end of September 2018, for Qatar’s water security and is rime Minister Theresa May planning for a no-deal Brexit when it fore June 5, 2017,” he said. “a level higher before the imposi- considered one of the largest of its abruptly postponed a parlia- is due to leave on March 29. Citing “great indicators,” the QCB tion of the unjust siege when it was kind in the world. The foundation stone Pmentary vote on her Brexit deal With her position in open jeop- atar has managed to achieve governor said Qatar’s real GDP grew by $45.7bn at the end of May 2017.” of the project was laid in May 2015. yesterday, throwing Britain’s plan to ardy, May said she would now go a budget surplus of QR7.1bn 2.5% in H1 2018 against 1.6% last year. Sheikh Abdullah said the precau- leave the European Union into chaos back to the EU and seek reassurances Qin the fi rst six months of 2018 Nominal GDP for the same period was tionary measures taken by the QCB to after admitting that she faced a rout. over the so-called Irish backstop. It amid an ongoing economic blockade, up 14.6%, “with infl ation continuing at enhance the fl exibility and develop- Amir holds phone talk May’s move on the eve of the sched- is meant to ensure no return to a hard said HE the Governor of Qatar Cen- a low level of only 1%, which was posi- ment of the fi nancial system, as well with Kuwait’s leader uled parliamentary vote opens up an border on the island of Ireland as a tral Bank (QCB) Sheikh Abdullah bin tively refl ected in improving internal as the regulatory and international His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim array of possible outcomes ranging result of Brexit, but is seen by many Saoud al-Thani. and external balances,” he said. requirements of the Basel Commit- bin Hamad al-Thani held yesterday from a disorderly Brexit without a deal, on all sides in parliament as leaving Sheikh Abdullah announced the The current account of the balance tee and the Accounting and Auditing evening a telephone conversation a last-minute deal clinched just weeks Britain’s Northern Ireland province achievement in a speech at yester- of payments in the fi rst half of 2018 Organisation for Islamic Financial with the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh before Britain’s March 29 exit, or an- within the EU’s economic and regu- day’s Euromoney Qatar Conference saw a QR25.7bn surplus or 7.6% of Institutions have contributed to the Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, other EU referendum. latory orbit. 2018, adding that in 2017, Qatar had a Qatar’s GDP compared to the 1.5% or fl exibility of the fi nancial sector. during which he enquired after the “If we went ahead and held the European Council President Don- defi cit amounting to QR35.4bn. QR4.5bn surplus recorded in the same On the other hand, the monetary health of the Kuwaiti Amir, who vote tomorrow the deal would be re- ald Tusk said later that the EU was “Thanks to the wise leadership and period in 2017. policy taken by the QCB under the un- underwent successful regular medical jected by a signifi cant margin,” May ready to discuss how to smooth rati- concerted eff orts of all bodies and sec- In the fi rst few months of the siege, just siege led to eff ective management examinations, wishing him good health told parliament, adding that she was fi cation of the deal by Britain’s par- tors in the country, the crisis has been Qatar’s international reserves and of this crisis, which refl ected positive- and well-being. confi dent it was the right deal. liament, but added that the backstop overcome and the negative eff ects of the foreign currency liquidity dropped ly on the banking and fi nancial sector, “We will therefore defer the vote could not be renegotiated. Page 17 unjust siege have been addressed. by 20% but have recovered “and are he continued. To Page 2 Hassad invests 20% in Oman’s seafood fi rm Hassad, Qatar’s premier investor in the food sector, is investing 20% in downstream seafood sector ‘Global Seafood Company’ in Oman. With this National Museum to showcase heritage objects new investment, the company’s total investments in Oman will reach about QR500mn. Business Page 16 By Joey Aguilar Thani told a press briefi ng yesterday rial Aff airs; and Saif al-Kuwari, NMoQ inhabited by humans and continues to Staff Reporter at IDAM restaurant at the Museum of deputy director of operations. the present day. Macron off ers wage rises, Islamic Art. Qatar’s stunning museum, housed “Each gallery will have its own spe- Sheikha Amna, along with senior within a new building designed by re- cial approach. And the galleries are so tax cuts for pensioners eaturing 11 interlinked galleries, QM offi cials, was giving a glimpse into nowned French architect Jean Nouvel, rich and multi-layered that there will President Emmanuel Macron the National Museum of Qatar what was described as “the visitor- is set to be inaugurated next year, un- always be more for you to experience yesterday announced wage rises for F(NMoQ) will showcase an impres- focused experience” NMoQ was de- der the patronage of His Highness the and explore, no matter how often you the poorest workers and tax cuts for sive array of archaeological and heritage signed to create. Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin visit,” Sheikha Amna added. pensioners, off ering concessions after objects, including the renowned ‘Pearl The event was attended by NMoQ Khalifa al-Thani. The new museum will also display weeks of often violent protests that Carpet of Baroda’, during its offi cial representatives and senior QM offi - “Our ambition is to invite our visitors the ‘Pearl Carpet of Baroda’ – known have challenged his authority. In his opening on March 28, 2019, Qatar Mu- cials, including Mansoor bin Ebrahim to participate in a journey: an actual, as an embroidered masterpiece with first national address following two seums (QM) has announced. al-Mahmoud, special adviser to chair- physical passage through the museum, more than 1.5mn of the highest qual- weekends of the worst unrest in France “The National Museum is special: person HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint National Museum of Qatar embraces, which unfolds along a route that is al- ity Gulf pearls and adorned with em- in years, Macron sought to restore it tells an immense, sweeping story in Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani; Dr Karen as its centrepiece, the restored historic most 1.5km long,” Sheikha Amna said. eralds, diamonds, and sapphires—as calm after accusations that his political a way that is richly layered, immer- Exell, NMoQ senior museum devel- Palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al The visitor’s chronological journey, well as manuscripts, documents, pho- methods and economic policies were sive, and experiential,” NMoQ direc- opment specialist; Dr Haya al-Thani, Thani (1880-1957), son of the founder of she noted, will begin in the geological tographs, jewellery, and costumes. fracturing the country. Page 19 tor Sheikha Amna bint Abdulaziz al- NMoQ deputy director of Curato- modern Qatar. period long before the peninsula was To Page 7 Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, December 11, 2018 QATAR

PM meets secretary-general of ICAO Qatar-ICAO ties discussed Amir condoles with president of Sudan

is Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- Hmad al-Thani sent yesterday a cable to Sudan’s President Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir condoling the victims of a helicopter crash in Al Qa- darif state in the east of Sudan, praying to Allah Almighty to bless the deceased with mercy. Deputy Amir chairs meeting of HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti met the Secretary- QU Regents Board HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani General of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Dr Fang Liu. The meeting discussed meeting the Secretary-General of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Dr Fang Liu Qatar’s nomination for the ICAO Council and latest developments regarding civil aviation. The two His Highness the Deputy Amir in Doha yesterday. Dr Fang Liu is in Doha to participate in the 5th ICAO Global Aviation Training off icials also discussed means of enhancing co-operation between Qatar and ICAO. At the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad & TrainAir Plus Symposium. The meeting reviewed areas of co-operation between Qatar and the the minister appreciated the role ICAO plays in preserving air safety and security. The meeting was al-Thani, who is also Chairman ICAO, and discussed a number of topics on the agenda of the symposium. attended by Chairman of Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Abdulla bin Nasser Turki al-Subaey. of Qatar University’s Board of Regents, chaired the board’s second meeting for the 2018/2019 academic year, at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. At the beginning of the meeting, the board reviewed what has been achieved on its decisions and recommendations taken in the first meeting for the 2018/2019 academic year. The board discussed a number 5th global aviation training of topics on the agenda and approved the establishment of the Faculty of Dentistry in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and Qatar National Health Strategies 2011-2016 and 2018- 2022, which recommended the symposium begins in Doha creation of the educational and training capacity of dentists in HE the Minister of Transport Qatar to provide a sustainable and Communications Jasim workforce in this area. Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti attends The Board of Regents also the opening session of approved a project to develop the 3-day Global Aviation the Centre for Human and Social Training & TrainAir Plus Sciences, which is specialised Symposium at the Qatar in developing and employing National Convention Centre scientific research projects for researchers at Qatar University atar Aeronautical College and beyond, in line with the has signed a partnership vision and mission of the Qagreement with French university. national civil aviation college — École nationale de l’aviation Advisory Council civile (ENAC) to off er Advanced Masters in Aviation Safety Man- approves agement to students and avia- two decrees tion professionals in QAC. The agreement was signed on The Advisory Council held its the sidelines of the 3-day Glo- regular weekly session under the bal Aviation Training & TrainAir chairmanship of the HE Deputy Plus Symposium at the Qatar Speaker of the Council Mohamed National Convention Centre bin Abdullah al-Sulaiti. here. The Council approved Decree This was followed by the Law No 19 of 2018 amending ‘TrainAir Membership’ awarding some provisions of Law Practice with the presence of HE the Min- HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jasim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti, International Civil Aviation Organisation Secretary-General Fang Liu, Qatar Airways Group Chief Act No 23 of 2006 and Decree ister of Transport and Communi- Executive Akbar al-Baker and Qatar Aeronautical College director general Sheikh Jabor bin Hamad al-Thani among other dignitaries during the opening session of the 3-day Global Law No 22 of 2018 amending cations Jasim Seif Ahmed al-Su- Aviation Training & TrainAir Plus Symposium at the Qatar National Convention Centre here. some provisions of Law No 8 of laiti, International Civil Aviation 2012 regarding Qatar Financial Organisation Secretary-General gether to forge new partnership sign and Development manager, Markets Authority (QFMA). Fang Liu and Qatar Aeronautical opportunities in aviation train- discussed the importance of Qatar’s aviation industry booming, says minister The Advisory Council decided to College director general Sheikh ing, and at the same time increase the TrainAir Plus Programme in submit its recommendations to Jabor bin Hamad al-Thani. their awareness of key near- and supporting the development of The aviation industry and The minister said Qatar contribute to its strategic vision the government. The ceremony awarded new long-term capacity-building Aviation Training Intelligence. transport sector in Qatar has Aeronautical College towards developing the human On the occasion, the Shura Council associate members as well as priorities for global air transport. It defi ned the essential com- witnessed a “development (QAC), which is hosting the factor, given the participation reviewed the reports of a number new full members, and new cor- The ceremony was followed ponents of aviation training boom” under the wise symposium, has exerted great of experts and VIPs from the of its delegations, which recently porate partners from a host of by the fi rst session of the sympo- intelligence that assist training leadership, HE the Minister of eff orts to reach its deserved aviation industry. participated in international and countries that included Algeria, sium entitled- ‘Building aviation centres in building optimal port- Transport and Communications position through signing many It also gives the chance to global regional parliamentary meetings Oman, and China among others. training intelligence’, which was folios and operational plans. Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti said agreements, memoranda experts to highlight the best and forums. The symposium is being held moderated by the Civil Aviation It also highlighted the latest yesterday. of understanding and training practices to develop The reports showed the active for the fi rst time in Qatar and Training Magazine European Af- tools, methodologies and activi- Delivering the opening accreditations with international aviation training as it is an participation of the delegations the Middle East, hosted by Qatar fairs editor Chris Long. ties utilised by the TPP members. speech at the 5th Global universities. important element for growth. of the council in these meetings Aeronautical College in collabo- The session focused on build- The third session of the day Aviation Training & TrainAir In order to raise the level of The minister said Qatar will and forums, during which the ration with ICAO and support ing aviation training intelligence - ‘Find your partner’ was a B2B Plus Symposium, the minister majors provided to students provide the required support views of the council were raised from Ministry of Transport and methods through identifying session to identify potential col- said one of the prominent and giving them the chance to ICAO, International Air among the topics discussed. Communications. and integrating decision useful laborators in the fi eld of training, developments in the aviation to study aviation science in Transport Association (IATA), Meanwhile, the Financial and The opening ceremony was information, establishing opera- while exploring the benefi ts of industry is Hamad International multiple specialities. Airport Council International Economic Aff airs Committee of attended by more than 800 par- tional plans and training portfo- organising joint training activities Airport (HIA) which has become The minister said QAC has (ACI) and other international the Advisory Council yesterday ticipants representing Members lios and meeting aviation growth and establishing communities of one of the best airports in the worked on twinning its organisations to help the held the second meeting of of the ‘TRAINAINR PLUS’ pro- projections with qualifi ed per- practice with TTP Members. world in terms of competence, curriculum with international countries apply global standards the 47th regular session of the gramme, industry stakeholders sonnel, all in support of state The full day of activities con- service and comfort for universities, updating its aircraft especially in civil aviation and Council. The meeting was chaired and academic institutions with implementation of standards cluded with a welcome dinner passengers. fleet and training equipment the recommended practised by its Rapporteur, HE Mohamed the aim of providing them with and recommended practices. at Katara – the Cultural Village In addition, Qatar Airways to enable its students to carry including aviation training. Ali bin Abdul Latief al-Misnad. a forum to learn about new pro- After a networking lunch where the TrainAir Plus Prizes (QA) took the lead and won out their mission in aviation The minister said the At this meeting the committee gramme features and benefi ts, break, the symposium contin- ceremony took place. numerous international awards. specialities, in light of the symposium is an important studied the Decree by Law (18) develop new business opportu- ued with the second session of The awards were presented HE al-Sulaiti said Qatar will development and competition opportunity to bring together for the year 2018, on amendment nities, and promote their train- the day entitled- ‘Enhancing the by the Secretary-General Liu continue to implement many seen in the global services and ICAO member-states of some provisions the of Law on ing organisation and products. TrainAir Plus Network’ through to celebrate the exceptional ac- projects in the future to stay in aviation market. with training entities and Tenders and Auctions, issued by This event provides a forum Aviation Training Intelligence. complishments of the recipient line with all the developments in HE al-Sulaiti said by hosting organisations to discuss new Law No 24 for the year 2015. where ICAO member-states and The session, moderated by academies and organisations the aviation sector. this event Qatar is able to aspects and partnerships. The committee decided to submit training organisations come to- Jie Huang, ICAO Training De- within the TTP programme. its recommendations to the Council. Qatar attends Arab Parliament Qatar records QR7.1bn budget surplus in H1 2018 Qatar Airways to launch fl ights panel meetings

From Page 1 at the end of August 2018, and for to Valletta in June next year The meetings of the standing the total banks operating in Qatar committees of the Arab This was illustrated by sev- during the same period reached Parliament kicked off yesterday eral indicators as the total as- 142% in 2017,” he said. atar Airways announced to announce the launch of direct take advantage of the airline’s with the formation of the sets of Qatar-based commercial During the siege, Sheikh Ab- that it will launch di- services to Malta, one of Europe’s award-winning in-fl ight en- new committees to adopt the banks grew by 5% in the fi rst dullah said the QCB increased the Qrect services to Valletta, architectural gems and a key new tertainment system, Oryx One, reports of the committees and nine months of 2018. In terms strength and effi ciency of Qatar’s Malta, starting 4 June 2019, addition to our European net- off ering up to 4,000 entertain- the agendas of the 3rd plenary of pooled savings, customer de- fi nancial sector, and at the end of marking the airline’s fi rst gate- work.” ment options. session of the third session of posits with commercial banks 2017, it launched the second stra- way to Malta and the latest ad- “This new direct route dem- Qatar Airways currently op- the second legislative term of the have increased to more than tegic plan for the fi nancial sector dition to its rapidly-expanding onstrates our commitment erates a modern fl eet of more parliament, which will be held 2.5% until September 2018, HE the Governor of Qatar 2017-2022, in co-ordination with European network. to enhancing connectivity than 200 aircraft via its hub, Ha- today in Cairo. Sheikh Abdullah said. Central Bank Sheikh Abdullah Qatar Stock Exchange and QFC The Valletta route will be for both business and leisure mad International Airport (HIA) Qatar is participating in the On domestic employment, bin Saoud al-Thani. PICTURE: Regulatory Authority. served with an A320 aircraft, travelling to and from Europe, to more than 160 destinations meetings with a delegation from the QCB governor said credit fa- Jayan Orma The strategy is developing a with daily services in summer which we have enhanced during worldwide. the Advisory Council. cilities extended by commercial roadmap on strengthening fi - and four-times-weekly fl ights in the past year with the launch A multiple-award-winning The internal and external aff airs banks to their customers have assets of the commercial banks nancial sector control and fi - winter. of non-stop services to Prague, airline, Qatar Airways was and national security committee increased by 1.8% by September operating in the country at the nancial market development, as Valletta, a city with a rich Kyiv, Skopje”. named ‘World’s Best Business is discussing the adoption of the this year. The capital adequacy end of September 2018. well as maintaining integrity and historical and cultural past, of- Passengers travelling to Mal- Class’ by the 2018 World Air- report of the second committee ratio of banks operating in Qatar “Net profi ts/average share- trust in the fi nancial system. fers much for visitors to explore, ta in Business Class can look line Awards, managed by in- on the political situation in the increased to more than 15.5% at holders’ equity amounted to about He said Qatar is currently pre- including some of Europe’s fi n- forward to relaxing in one of the ternational air transport rating Arab world 2018, while the the end of September 2018. 11.6% at the end of September paring for the launch of the Fi- est baroque architecture as well most comfortable, fully-lie-fl at organisation Skytrax. It was financial and economic aff airs “In addition, the ratio of non- 2018. The total assets were around nancial Technology strategy, as as many museums. beds, as well as enjoy the fi ve- also named ‘Best Business Class committee is discussing the performing loans to total loans 1.2% at the end of September 2017, well as the launch of the National Qatar Airways Group Chief star food and beverage serv- Seat’, ‘Best Airline in the Mid- proposed legislation of a guiding and credit facilities stood at and the liquidity coverage ratio of Strategy for Inclusion & Financial Executive Akbar al-Baker said: ice, which is served ‘dine-on- dle East’, and ‘World’s Best First law to achieve food security in 1.7%, refl ecting the quality of the national banks was about 140% Education at the state level. “We are tremendously excited demand’. Passengers can also Class Airline Lounge’. - QNA the Arab world. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 11, 2018 3 QATAR

Doha Historical Dictionary of Arabic launched QFFD provides $12.5mn grant to Birzeit University

QNA eas, whether in Gaza or the West Doha Bank, despite the existence of many diffi culties and challenges. He added that the co-opera- atar Fund for Develop- tion between the fund and the ment (QFFD) signed a university is continuous and the Qco-operation agreement focus on scholarships and edu- worth $12.5mn, with Birzeit cation is one of Qatar’s foreign University of Palestine to off er aid priorities. fi nancial aid for students and Meanwhile, Dr Abdullatif complete the infrastructure of Abuhijleh said this agreement the university, over fi ve years. completes the role of Qatar in The agreement was signed by support of Birzeit University Director General of QFFD Kha- since 1996. lifa bin Jassem al-Kuwari and Qatar has provided a platform President of Birzeit University to support the university in or- Dr Abdullatif Abuhijleh. der to develop its education and The event was attended by HE establish Institute of Law, which the Deputy Prime Minister and is part of the university, he said. Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh He also praised the role of Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al- Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani witnesses the signing of the Qatari aid in preserving educa- Thani, Chairman of QFFD, and agreement between Qatar Fund for Development and Birzeit tional institutions that graduate Chairperson of Birzeit Univer- University of Palestine. leaders of the Palestinian strug- sity’s Board of Trustees Dr Nasir gle and qualify youth to lead the Hanna and representatives from Qatar scholarships programme. Al-Kuwari said the agreement state and help young people to the fund and university. A portion of the grant has also complements the role of Qatar in learn in their country. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday launched the web portal of the The grant offered by QFFD been allocated to the develop- the development of the Palestin- The agreement is a renewal of Doha Historical Dictionary of Arabic during a ceremony organised by the Arab Centre for Research aims to expand the university’s ment of the university’s infra- ian education sector and pro- the previous agreement signed and Policy Studies of the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies. The ceremony was attended by HE capacity and offer student fi- structure, which includes the vides a good and comprehensive between Qatar and Birzeit Uni- the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, HE the nancial aid, giving Palestinians internal and external roads net- education for all. versity in 2013, which contin- Speaker of the Advisory Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud and a number of the opportunity to complete work, which in turn benefi ts the He confi rmed that the Qatari ued for fi ve years and provided a ministers, senior off icials, academics and intellectuals. On the occasion, Arabic experts discussed their university and higher students, the university staff , aid, either directly or through university endowment, scholar- the role of Doha Historical Dictionary in advancing the language. studies in universities accred- teaching and administrative staff UN co-operation reaches the ships and infrastructure devel- ited by the fund, part of the who number more than 15,000. Palestinian people in all their ar- opment. Qatar’s overseas visa centres set to open in Bangladesh, Pakistan

verseas Qatar Visa Cen- the MoI organised an introduc- Maj al-Muhannadi stressed tres (QVCs) are set to be tory seminar for the Pakistani that the overseas QVCs will of- Oopened in Bangladesh community in Qatar, as well as fer work visa procedures in the and Pakistan, the Ministry of In- for companies that employ a large fi rst phase, while all types of visa terior (MoI) has announced. number of Pakistani workers, on services will be provided through The fi rst QVC was opened in how to avail of the QVC’s services these centres in the next phase. Colombo, Sri Lanka, in October and the procedures involved. According to earlier reports, as part of eff orts undertaken to fa- There will be a total of two cen- QVCs will be opened in a number cilitate and streamline procedures tres in Pakistan - one in Islama- of countries to streamline pro- for bringing expatriates to work. bad now and another in Karachi. Maj Abdulla Khalifa Capt Nasser Ali al-Khalaf, Capt Jassim Kamal al-Musalmani and First Lt Yaqoob Fakhroo at the seminar cedures for bringing expatriates According to information During the seminar, Capt al-Muhannadi addressing the held for the Pakistani community. to work. The new system will available on the Facebook page Nasser Ali al-Khalaf, Capt Jassim seminar for the Bangladeshi enable expatriates to start work of the ministry, a QVC will be Kamal al-Musalmani and First community. number of Bangladeshi workers. ply visa procedures for expatri- pletion of all work visa require- immediately after entering Qa- opened in Bangladesh today and Lt Yaqoob Fakhroo from the Visa Maj Abdulla Khalifa al-Mu- ate workers and employers will ments from the home country of tar. Also, the centres will allow another in Pakistan on Decem- Support Services Department ex- Earlier, the department held hannadi, director of the Visa be able to issue a Qatar ID for the the expatriate worker, including both the recruiter and expatriate ber 19. plained the features of the service a similar seminar for the Bang- Support Services Department, employee on the day of his/her the medical test, biometric data worker to play their respective In this connection, the Visa and visa processing procedures ladeshi community in Qatar and said the QVC to be opened in arrival in Qatar. processing and signing of the roles accurately through an inte- Support Services Department at through the overseas QVC. companies that employ a large Bangladesh today will help sim- The centre will facilitate com- employment contract, he said. grated recruitment system. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, December 11, 2018 QATAR

QND committee unveils Mall of Qatar Culture minister meets Unesco offi cial ‘National Day 2018 Gift’ off ers ‘dazzling’ family events he Organising Committee of Qatar National Day 2018 celebrations has Tunveiled the ‘National Day 2018 all of Qatar has prepared ‘dazzling and Gift’ for children and their families in line captivating’ family entertainment un- with Qatar National Vision 2030 by em- Mtil Qatar National Day on December phasising the importance of investing in 18. The festive programme includes daily Ardha human capital. shows at the Ooredoo stage, a henna booth at The box of the National Day Gift 2018 West Gate 2 and a traditional kids area for fami- contains fi ve gifts, each representing a pro- lies to enjoy an array of activities at East Gate 1. fession: the engineer, the doctor, the busi- On December 13, at 7.30pm the Ooredoo nessman, the media person and the artist, stage will play host to 10 brass musicians from according to a statement issued yesterday. Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra with an excep- The gift box is decorated with the National tional line-up of beloved melodies. The musi- Day 2018 slogan, ‘Qatar Remains Free’. Also cians will also give a close-up performance at the phrase ‘time is gold’ is written in clear The gift box contains five items. 9pm in the mall’s Luxury Court. reference to the importance of time and its On National Day at 3pm and 5pm a theat- importance in accomplishing the work. order to familiarise them with the heritage rical performance will portray the country’s The engineering tools are meant to mo- of Qatar and its historical roots. past, present and future, featuring 50 young tivate children to build and work towards A microphone highlights the impor- talents from around Qatar. the renaissance of Qatar and the confi rma- tance of media in shaping awareness, as it In addition, creative artworks from schools tion of its National Vision 2030. builds communities. are displayed throughout Mall of Qatar as A stethoscope is intended to inspire The gift box comes from the theme of the part the mall’s very own initiative What Qatar children to join the medical profession, National Day 2018 which is ‘As long as it was means to you. The project gave the opportunity to pay attention to public health, and to proven by our deeds.. Qatar remains free’, for schools to showcase their students’ creativ- treat patients, since the society is built by a verse taken from one of the poems by the ity and also to win cash prizes of up to QR5,000. healthy individuals. Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed bin “Qatar National Day is the occasion on An executive bag is included in the gift Thani, and also from the National Anthem. which we convey our gratitude to the country box to symbolise entrepreneurship and in- The gift also refl ects the vision of the Or- and the nation. As the nation’s mall, we are HE the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali met with the director of spire children to come up with initiatives ganising Committee of Qatar National Day proud to celebrate this day with our commu- the Unesco Regional Off ice in Doha, Anna Paolini, and the off ice team on the occasion of Human and ideas in order to develop the society. celebration, which aims at enhancing loyal- nity, partners and visitors who have inspired Rights Day that falls on December 10 each year. The meeting discussed ways of developing joint The artist’s tools will help children and ty, solidarity, unity and pride in the national the continued solidarity, growth and pros- work between the two sides to promote human values and achieve the common purpose of their families to draw many of Qatar’s ar- identity of Qatar and emphasising the values perity of Qatar,” said Stuart Elder, CEO, Mall Unesco and Qatar, QNA reported. chaeological and historical landmarks in of inspiration, creativity and transparency. of Qatar.

GAC concludes regional workshop The General Authority of Customs (GAC) has concluded a five-day regional workshop on the technology and analysis of customs statements and their processing. The exercise was con- ducted in co-operation with the World Customs Organisation’s Regional Off ice for Capacity Building Co-ordination. The workshop aimed at enhancing the knowledge and understanding of information analysis techniques, in addition to discussing the available analysis technolo- gies that help in improving the related customs operations, such as risk management, customs security, customs evasion attempts, commer- cial fraud and other similar topics. Around 50 GAC employees directly dealing with the topic in their work took part in the workshop.

Focus on safe street design for road users

training workshop number of forums that are on ‘Safe Urban Street addressing sustainable road ADesign for Vulnerable safety solutions and is in Road Users’ was recently line with the eff orts by the hosted by the Qatar Trans- Centre and the College of portation and Traffi c Safety Engineering to raise public Centre (QTTSC) at Qatar awareness and responsibil- University’s (QU) College of ity in road safety.” Engineering in collaboration The QTTSC workshop with the International Road co-ordinator, assistant Federation (IRF). professor Dr Wael Alhajya- The workshop aimed to seen, said vulnerable road provide information on users such as pedestrians, counter measures and tech- cyclists, motorcyclists and nologies that help in pro- public transportation and viding a safe road environ- non-motorised vehicles us- ment for vulnerable road ers are at greater risk than users, QU said in a state- vehicle occupants and usu- ment. ally bear the greatest bur- The event discussed the den of injury during road reasons why vulnerable crashes. In some countries, road users are involved in vulnerable road users rep- road crashes with high ra- resent more than 45% of the tios of fatalities and in- fatalities while in Qatar the juries. It also discussed percentage is around 30%. diff erent policies and Generally, vulnerable strategies, including engi- road users’ crashes are due neering counter measures, to the lack of proper facili- education, awareness and ties to accommodate their enforcement, which could needs, high speeds of traffi c be adopted to reduce these and the lack of separation impacts. between these fast-moving The engineering faculty, motorised vehicles and vul- students and staff along nerable users. with representatives from “This training course tar- local and international in- gets road agency executives, stitutions attended the highway engineers, traffi c workshop, which was deliv- management professionals, ered by Tawab Kazemi from traffi c safety professionals, the IRF. pedestrian safety advo- Commenting on the cates, bicycle safety advo- workshop, QTTSC director cates, motorcycle safety ad- Prof Faris Tarlochan said: vocates, law-enforcement “As vulnerable road user authorities and research & safety is a critical issue in academia personnel,” he Qatar, QTTSC is working noted. actively to improve the traf- The course off ered diff er- fi c safety status in collabo- ent policies and strategies ration with local authorities to provide safer roads for and international partners. vulnerable road users, the This workshop is one in a statement added.

Participants of the workshop. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 11, 2018 5 QATAR QNB marks QC projects benefi t National Day more than 733,000 with prepaid card off er

NB issued a limited- secure online purchase, and workers in 2017 edition prepaid card to consolidated spending man- Qcommemorate Qatar agement with the Qatari cul- ore than 733,000 number of benefi ciaries has in- National Day under the theme ture, in line with the bank’s workers have benefi ted creased to 400,000 in 2018. of ‘Qatar will remain Free’ vision. Mfrom a number of Qa- Moreover, Adahi (sacrifi cial) derived from the national an- QNB’s QND cardhold- tar Charity’s (QC) programmes, meats have been distributed to them and refl ecting the spirit ers, who spend a minimum projects, initiatives, and servic- 4,850 workers in 2017. of glory and steadfastness of QR3,000 on point of sale es during 2017 and the fi rst half In co-operation with Qatar deeply rooted in history. (POS) or online before Febru- of 2018 at a cost of QR18mn, it University, QC distributed with In a unique demonstration ary 1, will earn ‘2018 Life Re- was announced yesterday. the involvement of students, of its commitment to Qatari wards’ points, in addition to QC co-operates with many 1,500 meals and 75 suitcases of values and heritage, the de- benefi ts that come with the governmental institutions clothes were distributed to the sign of the card is inspired by card. and companies including the educational institution’s workers. ideals illustrating the national QNB Group’s presence Ministry of Municipality and Some 30,000 workers have identity, strong sense of be- through its subsidiaries and Environment, Ministry of Ad- benefi ted from QC’s ‘Soqya’ longing and citizenship, while associate companies now ex- ministrative Development, La- project, through which cold wa- embracing modernity. tends to more than 31 coun- bour and Social Aff airs, Qatar ter and juices are provided dur- The QND prepaid card tries across three continents University, some schools, As- ing the summer, in addition to provides cardholders with providing a comprehensive ter Medical Centre, Al Wehda organising awareness lectures. an exclusive opportunity to range of advanced products Medical Centre, Ansar Gallery, Also, the women’s branch of commemorate the National and services. The total number LuLu Hypermarket, Qatar Rail, Qatar Charity Centre for Com- Day and celebrate their na- of employees is around 29,000 The Pearl, United Development munity Development in Al tional pride every day. It also operating through more than Company, and the ‘We Feel Rayyan has distributed 9,600 reaffi rms the bank’s success 1,200 locations, with an ATM You’ initiative. water bottles and 6,000 meals to in infusing modern banking network of more than 4,300 QC’s assistance and servic- workers, while the “We Feel You” features of global acceptance, machines. es for workers, included food initiative, in co-ordination with baskets, suitcases of clothes, the charity, has provided water, winter supplies, personal hy- juices and meals to 9,000 giene kits, meals for fasting workers. persons, daily meals, Adahi In co-operation with the Min- (sacrifi cial) meats, water, and istry of Municipality and the En- juices, in addition to conduct- vironment, Ansar Gallery, Qatar ing periodic medical tests, University, the American School holding health and aware- One of the QC initiatives for workers. and the Doha School, the ‘Greet- ness lectures, organising rec- ings for You’ project was imple- reational activities and pro- supplies and meals to workers in the Aster Medical Center, ben- ation with the charity, organised mented by distributing winter grammes and implementing addition to organising entertain- efi ting 150 workers. internal campaigns to give workers hygiene kits to 5,000 workers development projects. ment activities for them. The QC, in co-operation with An- suitcases of clothes and food bas- and in co-operation with a QC, in co-operation with the charity also provided fi rst aid sar Gallery and other commercial kets, benefi ting 5,000 workers. number of commercial centres, Ministry of Municipality and kits, conducted medical exami- centres, distributed 1,000 winter Over 200,000 workers have the charity provided 1,000 food the Environment, has distrib- nations and organised awareness bags to the workers. Also, a group benefi ted from QC’s projects baskets. uted suitcases of clothes, winter workshops in co-operation with of schools in Qatar, in co-oper- for Ramadan in 2017, while the QND card

Qatar Rail hosts Ashghal staff

Qatar Rail has hosted a number of visits for staff from the Public Works Authority (Ashghal). “We are pleased with the positive feedback and looking forward to contribute further to such joint initiatives,” Qatar Rail said in a tweet.

QF honours universal declaration of human rights Infi niti Q30 models of 2017-2018 recalled he Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in collabora- Ttion with Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Company, has announced the recall of Infi niti Q30 models of 2017-2018 over wrong description in the Owner’s Manual (Child Lock). The Ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing eff orts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on ve- hicle defects and repairs. The Ministry said that it will co- ordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair Qatar Foundation illuminated its Headquarters at Education City bright works and will communicate with blue on Sunday and Monday to mark the 70th anniversary of the Universal customers to ensure that the nec- Declaration of Human Rights. The Declaration was proclaimed by the essary repairs are carried out. United Nations General Assembly in Paris on December 10, 1948, setting The ministry urges all custom- out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally ers to report any violations to its protected. It has since been translated into over 500 languages. Page 12 Consumer Protection and Anti- Commercial Fraud Department. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, December 11, 2018 QATAR

Students plant trees during the event at Education City. Qur’anic Botanic Garden organises tree-planting event

he Qur’anic Botanic Garden The ‘Ghars’-led event was designed “These ongoing activities refl ect (QBG), a member of Qatar to raise awareness of the importance QBG’s eff orts to raise environmental TFoundation (QF), hosted a tree- of environmental conservation, and awareness in Qatar in order to pro- planting event in Education City as is in line with QBG’s overarching goal tect and preserve the natural world. part of its popular ‘Ghars’ campaign. of cultivating 2,022 trees by the 2022 Ultimately, we want to help create Representatives from the Qatar Fi- FIFA World Cup. solutions to global environmental is- nancial Centre Regulatory Authority Fatima Saleh al-Khulaifi , manager, sues, such as desertifi cation, climate and more than 70 students from vari- QBG, said, “I am thrilled that repre- change, and biodiversity.” ous schools in Qatar – including Qatar sentatives from the Qatar Financial QBG regularly organises tree- Leadership Academy, part of QF’s Pre- Centre Regulatory Authority joined us planting activities to promote the University Education, Dukhan Prima- to take part in our tree-planting cam- importance of environmental aware- ry Preparatory Secondary School for paign, along with so many students ness among community members. Girls, Omar bin Al-Khattab Secondary from across the country. We are proud The ‘Ghars’ campaign was launched School for Boys, and Ali bin Jassim bin to have planted 30 trees next to the following the United Nations’ ‘Billion Mohammed Al-Thani Secondary Boys Education City Stadium, and to leave a Tree Campaign’ and Qatar’s success- School – participated in planting 30 green ‘fi ngerprint’ on Qatar’s journey ful bid to host the 2022 FIFA World trees. to hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Cup. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 11, 2018 7 QATAR New museum will also display ‘Pearl Carpet of Baroda’ NMoQ representatives and senior QM off icials at the press briefing at the Museum of Islamic Art yesterday. From Page 1 “I cannot think of a more moving and expressive “The National Museum way to show that NMoQ will give visitors an unprec- is the past fused with edented museum experience, the present and future with people at the heart of — a deeply rooted, its vision and development,” immemorial culture and the NMoQ director stressed. heritage joined with an National Museum set “Jean Nouvel’s dynamic ar- exciting, contemporary, chitectural design echoes global experience” the geography of Qatar while evoking the history and and created by international culture of the nation.” digital creative,” she noted. QM describes each gallery as “The artworks commissioned “an all-encompassing environ- for the National Museum to be a hub of learning ment,” which tells its part of the are equally integral to the grand story through a creative experience.” By Joey Aguilar interactivity and programming,” The lowdown desert, garden and marine. tar’s history and culture. We combination of elements such as “I cannot think of a more mov- Staff Reporter she noted. “Against a stunning visual have designed this new institu- music, storytelling, archival im- ing and expressive way to show “At the core of the museum’s z The Howsh courtyard background that immersively tion to be a place of active learn- ages, oral histories and evocative that NMoQ is the past fused permanent exhibits and acces- z 11 permanent museum gal- recreates the changing environ- ing, especially for young people aromas. with the present and future — a he National Museum of sible to the public is a digital leries ments in diff erent seasons, the and their families, which takes Local and international deeply rooted, immemorial cul- Qatar (NMoQ) will serve archive of thousands of images, z A 213-seat auditorium gallery presents hundreds of place even before you enter the artists have been invited to ture and heritage joined with an Tas a hub of learning for videos, and documents from z Two cafes, one overlooking beautiful animal models. These museum,” she explained. create site-specifi c com- exciting, contemporary, global residents and students, as well as Qatar and abroad. All these ele- the main lobby models range from a 5m-long Featuring the museum’s park, missions, in response to the experience,” Dr Exell added. “I visitors and professionals at other ments will be made accessible z Heritage research centre, whale shark, a herd of oryx to NMoQ aims to create outdoor museum’s collection and am truly excited at the prospect museums, focusing on the coun- to as many people as possible,” which is a research library open tiny, beautiful dragonfl ies and areas for children – a venue to as an enhancement of the of seeing all this come alive for try’s rich history and heritage. Sheikha Amna stressed. to both students and scholars butterfl ies,” she said. learn through play and “explore exhibition experience. the public in March.” Speaking at a press brief- The event was attended by z Two restoration/conserva- Sheikha Amna added that the about our ancient maritime cul- Working with expert crafts- About data related to oral his- ing at the Museum of Islamic NMoQ representatives and sen- tion laboratories for collection visitor will hear the sounds of ture or our important present- people from around the globe, tories that feature heavily in the Art (MIA) yesterday, NMoQ ior Qatar Museums (QM) offi cials, processing and storage the wind, water and animals at day role in the world’s energy Dr Exell said they created over Museum, Dr Haya said they also director Sheikha Amna bint including Mansoor bin Ebrahim z Facilities for school groups moments as they move through sector.” 1,400 beautiful bespoke models worked with partners, including Abdulaziz al-Thani said the al-Mahmoud, special adviser to and special guests the gallery. “Digital exhibits al- The 112,000sq m public park for the museum: natural history, the Doha Film Institute, for more museum’s programmes will chairperson HE Sheikha Al Ma- z Landscaped park with play- low in-depth exploration of all features family-friendly inter- architectural, archaeological, than fi ve years to record these include guided tours, student yassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa ground activities for children the animals and their environ- active learning environments, document replicas, boat models, memories and preserve infor- activities, living history and al-Thani; Dr Karen Exell, NMoQ z Two outdoor coff ee shops ments.” walkways, a lagoon, and more. tactile models and models for mation about the country. storytelling sessions, and in- senior museum development spe- (kiosks) The NMoQ director said that It is landscaped exclusively with children. More than 70 fi lms will be service training for teachers, cialist; Dr Haya al-Thani, NMoQ the museum will also have a drought-resistant native veg- “We have over 150 extraor- displayed through the museum among others. deputy director of Curatorial Af- dedicated intergenerational and etation. dinary digital media produc- galleries, bringing the displays “Central to the vision of the fairs; and Saif al-Kuwari, NMoQ offi cial opening next year. accessible learning space, allow- NMoQ will also off er an array tions embedded within the of objects to life through shared museum is intergenerational deputy director of operations. Sheikha Amna disclosed ing families and young children of cultural and educational ac- exhibits, contributing to the memories of recent history. In learning for schoolchildren, The team shared previously that the museum devotes a to explore the gallery themes. tivities for the community such immersive and multi-layered all, more than 300 members of adults, and for all, through our undisclosed details with the gallery to Qatar’s diverse nat- “The galleries will inspire as workshops, competitions and experience. The produc- the public participated in the multi-layered thematic exhibits, public ahead of the museum’s ural environments such as the people to learn more about Qa- lessons on arts education. tions were led by a local team project.

Preparations in full swing at Darb Al Saai

Preparations for this year’s Qatar National Day are progressing in full swing at Darb Al Saai as workers and technicians look to have the venue ready for the celebrations. The festivities at the sprawling venue in Al Sadd are among the highlights of the annual National Day celebrations, with a large number of organisations participating in the events and activities there. The site, with its wide variety of attractions for people of all ages, draws large crowds during the festivities. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam HBKU programme equips students to be legal experts By Joseph Varghese generation of entrepreneurs in Qatar. Staff Reporter “By adopting a simulation based pedagogy, which involves real life inter- views, contract drafting, negotiations, ntrepreneurship Law, an expe- crisis management and intergovern- riential course, off ered by the mental relationships, students experi- ECollege of Law & Public Policy ence fi rst-hand, the strategic think- (CLPP) at Hamada Bin Khalifa Univer- ing, analytical reasoning and problem sity (HBKU), aims to expose students solving aptitude that entrepreneurs to laws, methods and theories that un- and business leaders must possess in a derlie entrepreneurship and corporate global and fast paced business environ- restructuring of innovation-driven ment,” highlighted the offi cial. ventures, said an offi cial of the college. Dr Damilola S Olawuyi receiving the “We are very delighted to have received “The course emphasises operational award. this year’s LexisNexis Innovative Legal strategies, capitalisation techniques, Teaching Programme Award at the 2018 contract negotiation, and drafting com- component of our Juris Doctor pro- Qatar Business Law Awards. It is an im- ponents found in typical multinational gramme and is specifi cally tailored for pressive accomplishment that the CLPP corporations, while also illustrating any student that is, or planning to be- was recognised for ‘its strategic vision the role of law in the reorganisation of come an entrepreneur or founder of a and innovation in designing this course business entities experiencing fi nancial start-up; an innovator or inventor of a Entrepreneurship Law: An Extended distress,” said Dr Damilola S Olawuyi, new technology with the potential for Simulation Course,” noted Dr Olawuyi. associate professor at CLPP. commercial or social impact; a legal ad- “The programme also examines intel- The college recently won the Lexis- viser, board member, or consultant of a lectual property claims and its implica- Nexis Innovative Legal Teaching Pro- of a start-up or large corporation. This tions for the success of a modern day ven- gramme Award at the 2018 Qatar course prepares our students to be ready ture. At the end of the course, students gain Business Law Awards. from day one to make signifi cant and advanced knowledge on how to register “We train leaders not just legal ex- sustained impact as business leaders in new ventures, conduct commercial trans- perts. We prepare our students to be- multiple convergent local and interna- actions, deal with loan and securities, as come problem solvers in transnational tional markets,” explained Dr Olawuyi. well as identify how corporations can re- business, economic and fi nancial The offi cial said that the course aims structure their operations in the context of spheres. This course is an important to train, prepare and mentor the next debtor-creditor laws,” added the professor. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, December 11, 2018 QATAR

Qatari inventor wins top digital innovation award

QNA Doha

atari inventor Mohamed al-Jefairi won the 2018 QWorld Summit Awards (WSA) for Digital Innovation as The ‘Women in Science’ workshop was attended by an array of scientists. a representative of Qatar through his project encyclopaedia of sign language “Deaf Pedia” for the in- clusion and empowerment cat- egory. During a ceremony held to honour the inventor, HE the Minister of Transport and Com- munications Jassim Seif Ahmed Sidra hosts ‘women al-Sulaiti said that 2018 WSA for Digital Innovation was an inter- national standard for honouring Mohamed al-Jefairi poses with HE the Minister of Transport and Com- the best local digital innovations munications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti and Qatar Airways Group chief that have a great impact on im- executive Akbar al-Baker. proving communities, express- in science’ workshop ing pride of all the projects that participating countries. local expert of the WSA and As- have won over the past years. Qatar Airways Group chief ex- sistant Undersecretary for Dig- idra Medicine hosted its al-Maadeed, vice president of medicine and training of future cially momentous as her contri- The minister congratulated al- ecutive Akbar al-Baker also con- ital Society Development Sector fi rst ‘Women in Science’ research and graduate studies, scientists. bution to science and genetics Jefairi for winning the award and gratulated the inventor. He point- at the Ministry of Transport and Sworkshop on the second Qatar University; and Dr Sou- Workshop organiser and will have a key impact on future raising the name of Qatar at this ed out that Qatar Airways, as part Communications Reem al-Man- day of its Functional Genomics haila al-Khodor, research inves- moderator Dr Bernice Lo who is generations of young scientists.” global forum. of its support to Qatari entrepre- soori. The jury worked on evalu- Symposium 2018. tigator from Sidra Medicine. a research investigator at Sidra Moderator Kholoud al-Shafai Qatar is the only Gulf country to neurs and innovators, will support ating the work presented by Qa- The event featured an array of The panellists highlighted their Medicine said: “We are incred- said: “As a young researcher at Sid- win an award in the eight catego- al-Jefairi and his project. tar and selecting one candidate scientists including Prof Dame main motivation for joining the ibly honoured to have amongst ra Medicine, I was very excited to ries of this year. Qatar and Lebanon The WSA for Digital Innova- for each category of the award to Kay Davies, professor of genet- science and research fi elds, the us a spectrum of distinguished, hear from our female trail-blazers. are the only two countries from the tion includes eight categories: participate at the global level. ics from Oxford University, UK; challenges they had to overcome accomplished and inspiring fe- The workshop clearly showcased Arab world that won an award. government and citizen partici- Al-Jefairi will be honoured at Dr Elizabeth Ross, professor, and what it took for them to be male scientists and researchers. that despite the challenges and Deaf Pedia is an open-source pation, health and welfare, green an event in Portugal in March. Neurology and Neuroscience successful in their careers. Our main aim for the Women obstacles we face as women in sci- sign language platform that environment and energy, busi- In 2016, two Qatar projects from Weill Cornell Medi- The conference scientifi c in Science workshop was to ence, success is absolutely possible. can be used by any user around ness and commerce, education, won this award, Accessible Qa- cine, New York; Dr Elizabeth committee also awarded Prof empower and encourage young I was particularly interested in Prof the world in any language and tourism and culture, urbanisa- tar in the category of inclusion Phimister, deputy editor of the Davies, as the inaugural Sidra women, especially in Qatar, Mariam al-Maadeed’s insights, as dialect and has been selected tion and smart societies, inclu- and empowerment, and Madar New England Journal of Medi- Medicine plenary lecturer and pursuing careers in science. a Qatari woman leading the way in among 40 winners out of a to- sion and empowerment. Al-Huruf in the education and cine, US; Prof Mariam al-Ali for her contribution to science, Awarding Prof Davies was espe- the fi eld of science.” tal of 430 nominations from 182 A local jury was formed by the learning category.

Gold winners Over 75,000 given fl u shots, says HMC doctor

ecent national data on this in 2017, there were only 2,274 posi- and providing the fl u vaccine year’s seasonal infl uenza tive tests, so it is clear that seasonal free to all Qatar’s residents with Rvirus shows three times as infl uenza is posing a greater threat a valid health card is just one way many people have tested positive to the health of people in Qatar this in which we can do this,’’ said for the fl u in October and No- year, and it is expected to get worse Dr Khalid Hamid Elawad, health vember, compared to the same during December and January,” protection manager, Preventive period in 2017. said Dr al-Khal. Health Department at PHCC. “To date, more than 75,000 At the start of October, the “Across our 26 health cen- people have been vaccinated Ministry of Public Health, the tres, we are currently vaccinat- against the fl u. This is very en- Primary Health Care Corpora- ing around 4,000 people a week couraging, but with the severity tion (PHCC) and HMC joined against seasonal infl uenza. There of this year’s fl u virus being clear forces to launch a national cam- are three simple ways to receive for us, we urge even more people paign to provide free fl u vaccines your fl u vaccine from the health to get their free vaccine,” Dr Ab- to the public in Qatar. centre you are registered at: you dullatif al-Khal, Hamad Medical Members of the public can get can ask for the vaccine during an Corporation’s deputy chief med- the infl uenza vaccine for free at existing appointment, schedule Safari Hypermarket Group in Qatar announced the winners of the second lucky draw, of the ‘Win 10kg ical offi cer and head of infectious all PHCC health centres across a fl u vaccination appointment Gold Promotion’, held at Safari Mall, Abu Hamour, in the presence of an off icial from the Ministry of diseases, said. the country, as well as at more by calling PHCC on 107, or sim- Commerce and Industry and Safari management members. The first prize of 1kg gold went to Ibrahim “Throughout October and No- than 35 private clinics. ply drop in at your health centre Basheer (coupon number 1086787), second prize of 500gm gold to Subair T V (1251714), third prize of vember more than 6,800 respira- “Primary Health Care Corpo- without an appointment and 300gm gold to Abdul Harif K (1259766) and fourth prize of 200gm gold to Dhaneesh P (1898613). tory samples tested positive for the ration is committed to protecting receive your vaccine swiftly,’’ Dr fl u virus. During the same period the health of Qatar’s population Elawad said. Dr Abdullatif al-Khal Gulf Times Tuesday, December 11, 2018 9 QATAR

Global jewellery exhibition opens QP, QNB to sponsor he ninth edition of Mus- and jewellery and representa- cat International Jewel- tives of gold and jewellery Tlery Exhibition (Mijex), agents from within and outside which will showcase the latest the Sultanate. designs of international jewel- “As Oman is recognised as a lery brands, opens at the Oman gateway to the gems and jewel- Convention & Exhibition Cen- lery business to neighbouring tre in Muscat today. countries, Mijex is regarded 18th Doha Forum The global trade fair will fea- as one of the most exquisite ture “a wide range of precious jewellery exhibitions in the atar Petroleum (QP) and sions,” al-Kaabi added. HE Lolwah AlKhater, the offi - ners are executing high-level the International Centre for the and authentic gemstones, region,” the statement noted. QNB are the offi cial spon- QNB Group acting chief ex- cial spokesperson for the Minis- panels, plenaries, and workshops Study of Violent Extremism, the spectacular pearls, attractive “Mijex will stimulate jewellery Qsors of the 18th edition of ecutive Abdulla Mubarak al- try of Foreign Aff airs, said: “We around four key themes: security, Observer Research Foundation, gold ornaments and fabulous and gem exports from the Sul- the Doha Forum, slated for De- Khalifa stated: “We are pleased are honoured to have QP and economic development, peace the Centre for the National Inter- diamonds”, the organisers have tanate, besides refl ecting to the cember 15 and 16 at the Sheraton to be the Platinum Sponsor of the QNB – two champions of Qatar’s and mediation, and trends and est, the S Rajartnam School for said in a statement. whole world the extraordinary Grand Doha Resort & Conven- Doha Forum, an important forum economy – on board as Doha Fo- transitions. International Studies, the Doha Besides jewellery, machin- dynamism and energy of the tion Hotel, under the patronage in the fi eld of policy innovation rum’s offi cial sponsors. In line with the 2018 forum’s Institute, and the Valdai Discus- ery, materials, tools, equip- Muscat jewellery sector.” of His Highness the Amir Sheikh in the regional and international “As key players in their respec- new model and vision to become sion Club. ment and accessories will be A highlight of this year’s Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. arena and a unique opportunity tive fi elds, both institutions off er a leading global hub for policy This edition’s institutional showcased at the trade fair trade fair is an opportunity to HE the Minister of State for to share knowledge and experi- the forum support, credibility, innovation, this year’s edition partners include the Ministry of from various manufacturers win a diamond watch, which Energy Aff airs Saad bin Sherida ences between our Qatari insti- and knowledge-sharing oppor- marks a new phase of partner- Finance, the Ministry of Com- and distributors from within will be given to a lucky winner al-Kaabi, who is also QP presi- tutions and many prestigious tunities that are invaluable to us ships with renowned interna- merce and Industry, QP, the Su- the region and beyond. by Salem Al Shueibi Jewellery dent and chief executive, said: international institutions, bene- and to the international commu- tional organisations and leading preme Committee for Delivery The event continues until through a raffl e draw. “We are pleased to be part of this fi ting Qatar and the international nity that will convene in Qatar local institutions. & Legacy, the National Tourism December 15. The trade fair, which is open important global platform for community as a whole. very soon.” The forum’s strategic partners Council, and Qatar Foundation. Renowned for the large par- to both companies and the dialogue on critical challenges “We also pledge to always be This year’s edition brings to- are the Munich Security Con- The Forum’s media partners ticipation of both jewellers and public, will attract companies facing our world.” at the forefront of national in- gether international decision- ference, the International Crisis include Al Jazeera, Buzzfeed, the consumers as well as its repu- from across the world, includ- “We are also pleased that en- stitutions that back such events makers, heads of state, ministers, Group, and the European Council Financial Times, and Le Point. tation, the trade fair is jointly ing Oman, Qatar, Lebanon, In- ergy takes a prominent place in that support local and global de- business executives, and advo- on Foreign Relations. The Doha Forum also released organised by the Oman Con- dia, Italy, Thailand, Malaysia, this year’s discussions in an ef- velopment and highlight Qatar’s cates who will examine policy The organisers are also work- a refreshed brand and tagline vention & Exhibition Centre Singapore, and Turkey. fort to see how countries can co- status as a global destination for around the critical challenges ing with content partners who “Diplomacy, Dialogue, Diver- and Vega Intertrade and Exhi- The exhibition will be open operate to ensure a healthy bal- decision-makers, leaders, and facing the world today. are co-producing individual fo- sity”, channelling the forum’s re- bition. from 2pm to 10pm on all days ance between the growing global senior offi cials from all over the Under the theme Shaping Pol- rum sessions, including RAND, newed ambition as a global refer- The fi ve-day event will host except Friday, when it will be demand for energy and the need world and as a global mediator icy in an Interconnected World, the Global Dryland Alliance, ent for policy innovation. companies specialising in gold open from 4pm to 10pm. to reduce greenhouse gas emis- for peace and stability.” the forum’s organisers and part- the Brookings Centre in Doha, UDC participates in China property event Paintings by Qatari female nited Development Company (UDC), a leading Qatari pub- Ulic shareholding company and artists on show master developer of The Pearl-Qatar and Gewan Island, joined the ranks of luxury real estate developers at the ity Centre Rotana Doha has inaugu- Luxury Property Show – Shanghai rated a painting exhibition by Qatari 2018 in China. Cfemale artists – Hessa Kalla, Aldana The three-day event was held from al-Hawbash, Aisha Salem al-Abdallah, and December 7 to 9. Mona al-Anbari – who have expressed their Representatives of UDC, platinum profound love for the country. sponsor of the Luxury Property Show The opening was graced by prominent – Shanghai 2018, met Chinese and community fi gures, local media, art lovers, International investors to introduce bloggers and infl uencers. investments with high returns, the The expo, at the art gallery area in front of company said in a press statement. Teatro restaurant, will last until December These included residential and re- 20. tail units at The Pearl-Qatar and Ge- City Centre Rotana Doha general manager wan Island. Martin Kendall said: “We celebrate a group The event brought together over Al-Othman: we decided to partici- of Qatari artists who are keen to share their 200 leading real estate companies pate in the Luxury Property Show – love and passion for Qatar through an ex- from around the world to advertise Shanghai 2018 to introduce Chinese hibition that showcases their fabulous art- world-class projects to an audience investors to what UDC has to off er. work, to coincide with the build up to the of Chinese and International luxury country’s preparations to celebrate the Qatar homebuyers and investors. Chinese investors to what UDC has to National Day. The invitation-only event was or- off er,” said UDC president and chief “Through their paintings, these Qatari ganised in co-operation with over executive Ibrahim Jassim al-Othman. The company’s staff guided Chinese investors through the formalities of acquiring property in Qatar. artists are sharing with the diverse commu- 200 offi cial media and show partners, He explained that Qatar’s attrac- nities in Qatar their vision and imagination providing a platform for elite inves- tive business environment, growing UDC, through its various products zens of over 80 nations. transparent investment process. by relating their paintings with inspirational tors to interact with exhibitors from expatriate communities and emerg- and services, represents one of the UDC representatives briefed the Gewan Island, UDC’s latest real personalities, heritage and the Qatari cul- over 35 countries. ing tourism sector, driven by a diver- optimum channels to tap into Qatar’s visitors on its various off erings at estate project next to The Pearl-Qa- ture. “UDC believes that Qatar repre- sifi ed economy and $200bn worth lucrative property market, al-Oth- both The Pearl-Qatar and Gewan Is- tar island, will be home to 712 units, “This art exhibition is yet another initia- sents an attractive investment desti- of investments in infrastructure man added. land. including 639 apartments, 20 stan- tive by the hotel to encourage all talents by nation that has yet to be fully tapped projects in preparation for the FIFA Chinese investors looking to tap The company’s staff guided Chi- dalone villas, 26 waterfront villas, 21 providing them the perfect environment by Chinese investors. World Cup 2022, refl ect positively on Qatar’s attractive real estate market nese investors through the formali- beachfront villas and six special is- and platform that matches their outstanding “For this reason, we have decided Qatar’s property market. now benefi t from visa-free entry to ties of acquiring property in Qatar land villas, in addition to 11,000sq m artworks.” to participate in the Luxury Property As one of the Middle East’s leading the country after the government and explained payment plans, walk- of retail space and a number of resi- Show – Shanghai 2018 to introduce real estate development companies, eliminated visa requirements for citi- ing investors through a smooth and dential buildings. See Community page 16

400,000 Qatari homes connected to Ooredoo fi bre

oredoo announced yesterday that it has reached another historic milestone in its drive towards the Ofuture of home entertainment systems, as it con- fi rmed it has connected 400,000 Qatari homes to its fi bre network. “This impressive achievement was reached in No- vember 2018, and consolidates Ooredoo’s position as a market leader in the telecommunications industry and a driving force behind Qatar’s mission to be one of the best-connected nations in the world,” said a statement issued by the company. “Ooredoo’s state-of-the-art fi bre network off ers cus- tomers a groundbreaking network experience with fea- tures such as ultra-fast home broadband, with blistering speeds up to 10Gbps, as well as content with 4K enter- tainment on Ooredoo tv. “With gigabit-speed fi bre penetration only commer- cially available in about 10 countries worldwide, Qatar’s is the highest in the world – as confi rmed by an Arthur D Little report in Q1 2018 – with some 99% of Qatar’s homes covered by fi bre, nearly double the penetration rate of 2012, and matched only by Latvia, Lithuania and Singapore. “More than 88% of households in Qatar are fully con- nected to fi bre, also the world’s highest rate, matched only by Singapore.” Speaking about the landmark milestone, Ooredoo Qa- tar chief executive Waleed al-Sayed said: “We are de- lighted to announce such a phenomenal achievement in reaching 400,000 homes connected to our fi bre net- work.” The chief executive added: “We are proud to be off er- ing Qatari citizens and residents such world-class con- nectivity. “We hope our customers are enjoying making the most of the technology and we look forward to many more such milestones in the future.” Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, December 11, 2018 QATAR Qatar moving ahead at confi dent pace: Speaker

QNA Doha

E the Speaker of the Ad- visory Council Ahmed bin HAbdullah bin Zaid al-Mah- moud stressed that the celebration of Qatar National Day this year is gaining new meaning considering the great achievements made by the State under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani as well as his good guidance and wise in- ternal and external policies. HE al-Mahmoud said in remarks to Qatar News Agency that the an- niversary of the National Day has come as the country is proceeding on the path of development and construction, and is proceeding at HE the Speaker of the Advisory Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud a great and confi dent pace towards the future, relying on the perspi- and upholding values, ethics and cons of development and progress legislation that are presented to ness focused on good morals and cacity of its loyal people and their principles.” not only in the region but also the Council and making appro- the need to adhere to them in all ability to create and innovate and HE the Speaker stressed that this throughout the world. priate recommendations thereon, our actions; humility; sense of duty meet the challenges with deter- great legacy was one of the main Suffi ce it to point out to the as well as through close and con- and responsibility and appreciation mination, precision steadfastness, reasons for our ability to overcome massive projects we can see now; structive co-operation with the of the value of work, all of which self-confi dence, self-determina- the challenges experienced by the some are completed and some are honourable government,” HE al- are among the good deeds that the tion and support for their leader. country, most notably this unjust on track of completion within the Mahmoud added. HE the Speaker Founder pointed out in his poems. HE the Speaker said: “On this siege, with everything it embod- framework of the National Devel- praised the motto chosen for this HE the Advisory Council Speak- glorious national occasion, we ies as blatant violation of inter- opment Strategy and the Qatar year’s National Day celebration, er concluded his remarks calling proudly recall the achievements national law, humanitarian norms National Vision 2030 and in line ‘As Long As It Was Proven By Our on all the people of Qatar to take and sacrifi ces of the Founder and Islamic teachings. with the plans drawn up and im- Deeds’, which is one of the poetic the celebrations of the National Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin HE al-Mahmoud said, “When plemented with precision and dis- verses said by the Founder Sheikh Day as opportunity to draw on the Thani, who laid the foundations of we recall with pride all the glo- cipline despite the unjust siege and Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani, noble meanings and noble goals, our modern state and its develop- ries of the past, we at the same the malicious campaigns. and the accompanying slogan ‘Qa- for which the Founder had striven ment; preserved its sovereignty; time recall with pride all the suc- “On this occasion, I reiterate tar Will Remain Free’. and sacrifi ced, an occasion to re- safeguarded the dignity of its peo- cesses of the present that have the Advisory Council’s keenness In this regard, HE al-Mahmoud new the pledge of allegiance to His ple and made Qatar a united, cohe- been achieved by God’s grace and on keeping abreast of the rapid said that the slogan was in har- Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim sive and independent State, feared through the wisdom, guidance pace of economic, political and mony with the speech of His High- bin Hamad al-Thani and a moti- by enemies, embracing brothers and policies of our leadership. In social development in the coun- ness the Amir at the opening of the vation to achieve further devel- and friends and respectful of cove- a short period of time, our coun- try, through careful and thorough current 47th regular session of the opment for the good of Qatar, its nants, the right of neighbourhood try has become one of the bea- examination of the draft laws and Advisory Council, where His High- advancement and progress. Today our economy is stronger than it was prior to siege: QCB Governor

QNA lent to 2.3% compared to the same Doha period in 2017. Furthermore, the nominal GDP E the Governor of Qa- for the same period increased by tar Central Bank (QCB) 14.6%. Infl ation rates continued HSheikh Abdullah bin Saoud at a low level that does not exceed al-Thani said despite the continu- 1%, which refl ected positively in ation of the unjust siege imposed the improvement of the internal on Qatar for more than a year and and external balance of Qatar. The a half, we are stronger today than budget of the State witnessed a before. surplus of QR7.1bn, during the fi rst With the blessing of God Al- half of 2018, compared to a defi cit mighty and due to the wise lead- of QR35.4bn in 2017. ership of His Highness the Amir HE Sheikh Abdullah pointed Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- out that the current account of Thani, the eff orts of all concerned the balance of payments in the authorities in the State and the same period witnessed a surplus support of the State for all sectors, of about QR25.7bn or 7.6% of GDP we have succeeded in overcoming compared to a surplus of QR4.5bn this crisis. The negative eff ects of or 1.5% during the same period in this siege have completely disap- 2017. peared. Today, our economy is HE the Governor emphasised stronger than it was before the that the achievements of Qatar, beginning of the siege on June 5, especially during the last two dec- 2017. ades, are amazing by all standards. HE the Governor, in a state- The GDP of the country did not ment to Qatar News Agency, said exceed QR10bn in 1975. By 2000, National Day is signifi cant for us it became more than QR64bn and in Qatar. It reminds us of the sac- continued its strong growth during rifi ces made by the founding gen- the last two decades to reach more erations and the diffi culties they than QR115bn in 2004, QR455bn in faced in achieving our national 2010 and QR607bn in 2017. unity. It is an occasion to remem- The State is witnessing one of ber their sincere eff ort and pre- the fastest economic boom in his- cious sacrifi ces to pave the way to tory. Qatar became the world’s the future for us and future gen- largest liquefi ed natural gas pro- erations. ducer and a major investment He said through our celebra- force especially with the estab- tions of this great national occa- lishment of Qatar Investment Au- sion, we give the young people the thority in 2005, which is consid- opportunity to learn more about ered one of the strongest sovereign the heritage of their parents and funds in the world. grandparents and remind them of HE Sheikh Abdullah said the the ideals and hopes upon which HE the Governor of Qatar Central Bank (QCB) Sheikh Abdullah bin Saoud al-Thani achievements are not only lim- our country was built. This con- ited to a major economic leap but tributes to enhancing the feeling of maintaining the current status tirelessly for the sake of our belov- cy liquidity exceeded the normal also great urban development in loyalty and love for this benevolent of Qatar requires a lot of eff ort ed country. level before the siege, which was various areas around the State, as country. and diligence. HE the Governor HE Sheikh Abdullah said that $45.7bn by the end of May 2017. By a result to the wise vision of the HE Sheikh Abdullah empha- pointed out how it is important for international reserves and foreign the end of October this year, inter- leadership, making Qatar shine not sised the importance of work- everyone to work diligently in their currency liquidity of QCB, which national reserves and foreign cur- only in the region but also globally. ing and uniting behind the wise fi elds whether they are students fell by more than 20% during the rency liquidity reached $47.4bn. Qatar has become a reference in leadership of His Highness the or employees; everyone have to fi rst months of the siege, have re- He indicated that the real GDP of many fi elds including sports, cul- Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad do their duty to our homeland just turned to a normal level. Interna- Qatar witnessed growth, in the tural and social, HE Sheikh Abdul- al-Thani. He also pointed out that like older generations who worked tional reserves and foreign curren- fi rst half of the year 2018, equiva- lah said. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 11, 2018 11 QATAR Qatar Petroleum making rapid strides globally in energy sector QP is also reviewing developing lish a plant for PVC production, using Vinyl Chloride Monomer compressed natural gas (CNG) (VCM) produced by Qatar Pet- projects as an alternative fuel for rochemical Company (Qapco) in order to maximise the added the domestic transport sector, value of this raw material. Em- and pledged to implement a major ployment in the petrochemicals and industries sector has been project to use CNG as alternative reduced by 12% on average, while fuel by 2022 studies continue to rationalise labour in this vital sector. Campos Basin in a bid organized rels per day. For Maydan Mahzam For the rest of the achieve- by the Brazilian government in Field a feasibility study for the ments, Qatargas and RasGas March 2018. redevelopment of the fi eld and have been merged to create a In Oman, QP agreed with Eni the selection mode phase for de- world-class operator of scale, of Italy to acquire a 30% partici- veloping the fi eld and 8.3mn bar- service and reliability that will QNA pating in the Contractor’s inter- rels of oil were produced in 2017 create signifi cant opportuni- Doha est under the exploration and with a production rate of about ties for operating cost savings production sharing located in 22.7 thousand barrels per day. of nearly QR2bn annually. Qatar the Arabian Sea off the coast of For Al Shaheen oil fi eld the Vinyl Company (QVC) has also atar Petroleum (QP) was Oman. In Mexico, in its consor- transitions of operatorship from been merged into Qapco to en- able to achieve rapid steps tium with Shell Global (QP 40%, Maersk Oil to North Oil Com- hance competitiveness, improve Qlocally and internation- Shell 60%) QP won a explora- pany, which is a joint venture be- fi nancial performance and pro- ally in the oil and gas sector es- tion rights in four blocks in the tween QP (70%) and Total France vide fl exibility for the two com- pecially in 2018. With regards to Perdido basin, in the eastern part company (30%). In 2017, 102mn panies while providing more ro- exploratory activity in Qatar, a of the Gulf of Mexico in an ex- barrels of oil were produced from bust and sustainable foundations plan to implement a 3D marine ploratory tender organized by the the fi eld, producing about 261 for growth by using the skills, seismic survey south Al Khalij Mexican government in January thousand barrels per day. resources and capabilities of the fi eld has been set as well as a pe- 2018. QP also signed an agree- In Al Khalij fi eld, work began two companies. troleum trap has been discovered ment with US ExxonMobil under on the development plan adopted QP also launched a forum for and the required studies to evalu- which they acquired a 30% stake in 2016, which includes the drill- off shore fi eld operators to pro- ate this discovery and the petrol in two of the latter’s affi liates that ing of new oil wells and improv- vide a platform for them to work potential of the area will be tak- that have rights to seven blocks in ing the level of separation of wa- together on continuous improve- ing place. the Vaca Muerta play in Neuquen ter in the main station. As much ments in off shore operations, Preparations have also been in Argentina. as 6.5mn barrels of oil were pro- which made nearly $15mn a year. completed for drilling an oil well QP also entered into an agree- duced in the fi eld during 2017 at a QP is also reviewing developing in the area south of Qatar to ex- ment to acquire a 25% partici- daily production rate of about 18 compressed natural gas (CNG) plore the country’s non-conven- pating interest in the exploration thousand barrels. projects as an alternative fuel for tional hydrocarbon potential. block, off shore South Africa. In Idd El Shargi North Dome, the domestic transport sector, With regards to global explora- In terms of production and de- the fi rst phase of the fi fth fi eld and pledged to implement a ma- tory activities, QP conducted an velopment, QP’s production in development plan has been com- jor project to use CNG as alterna- international technical study to 2017 was about 1.76bn barrels of pleted and eight limited plat- tive fuel by 2022. assess the various sedimentary oil equivalent, about 7.3tn cu ft forms have been constructed and Among QP’s successes are the basins at a global level, in co- of natural gas, 210mn barrels of connected to allow the drilling of construction of storage and dis- operation with French Petroleum condensate and 232mn barrels of new oil wells. In addition, four tribution facilities for petroleum Institute (IFP). The study will be oil, which included QP’s share in new platforms will be construct- products to be consumed do- used to direct QP future plans to- global operations. ed during the period from 2018 to mestically and the successful op- wards the fi eld of global explora- In Dukhan Field, the imple- 2024. In the fi eld, 29mn barrels eration of the Laff an Refi nery 2. tion and production. mentation of the improved wa- of oil were produced during 2017 The QP headquarters. This is a signifi cant refl ection of In terms of acquisition and ter injection project continues with a production rate of about Qatar’s strategic expansion in the global exploration agreements, a as part of the fi eld’s redevelop- 79 thousand barrels per day. 2017 at the rate of production of fi rst and important step towards nology of water injection and production and diversifi cation of consortium including QP (25%), ment plan for the coming phase. In Idd El Shargi South Dome, about 5 thousand barrels per day, self-reliance for fuel-oil bunker- carbon dioxide alternately and energy sources, especially as it Shell (55% project operator) The total production of the fi eld 2.9mn barrels of oil were pro- while Bunduq oil fi eld produced ing solutions for all vessels since economically. With regards to doubles production capacity by and China National Off shore Oil reached 63.02mn barrels of oil duced during 2017 with a pro- 4.3mn barrels of oil during 2017 Qatari and non-Qatari-vessels petrochemical industries, pre- refi ning an additional 146 thou- Corporation (CNOOC) won the during 2017 with a production duction rate of about 8.4 thou- with a daily production rate of heading to Qatar were using Port liminary engineering studies are sand barrels of condensates per bid held by the Brazilian govern- rate of 172.7 thousand barrels per sand barrels per day. 11.7mn barrels. In March 2018, a of Fujairah. Production of natural being carried out to add the sixth day from North Field production. ment in October 2017, for the Alto day. In addition, the rate of pro- Al Rayyan Field has success- new agreement with signed with gas from the North Field dur- furnace to the ethane cracker In addition, drilling and main- de Cabo Frio-Oeste block in the duction of condensates reached fully completed the fi eld opera- Bunduq Company, under which ing 2017 was nearly 19.5bn cubic complex in Qchem to increase tenance of 148 oil and gas wells prolifi c Santos hydrocarbon ba- 14.5 thousand barrels per day and tion task from Occidental Pe- the company’s concession was foot per day and the rate of pro- production between 20 to 30%. in the land and sea fi elds were sin off shore Brazil. QP promoted natural gas liquids to 68.6 thou- troleum for QP to manage and extended for 20 years. duction of condensates was 534 There is also a study to improve carried our, which increased the it presence in Brazil by winning sand barrels per day. operate the fi eld starting June With regards to programmes thousand barrels per day. the energy effi ciency of the pro- production capacity of QP fi elds, along with ExxonMobil (QP 36%, The implementation of the 1st which is the expiration date and projects, QP signed an agree- A comprehensive study for duction lines of ammonia 1 and and the project of supplying Ha- ExxonMobil 64%) a bid for ex- fi rst phase of the redevelopment of the sharing agreement signed ment with Shell to develop LNG Dukhan Field, which aims to 2 in Qatar Chemical Fertilizer lul Island with 100km long power ploration rights for Santos basin. of Bul Hanine Oil Field where with the company. In 2017, 1.7mn marine fuelling or bunkering in- highlight the low production and Company (Qafco), which could cables through Ras Laff an to pro- In addition, in its alliance with the drilling began in early 2017 barrels of oil were produced at a frastructure at strategic shipping fi nd appropriate solutions to en- lead to an increase in production vide 100 megawatts of electricity Exxon Mobil and Brazilian Petro- through two off shore platforms daily production rate of about 4.7 locations across the globe. QP hance the capacity of the fi eld, by 30 percent by the reuse of the for the island and its facilities, bras (QP 30%, ExxonMobil 40%, and 11.8mn barrels of oil were thousand barrels. also announced fuel-oil bunker- showed more than 100 thousand currently wasted energy due to as well as the National Security Petrobas 30%) QP won explora- produced in 2017 at a production In Al Karkara Field, 1.8mn bar- ing solutions for all vessels call- barrels per day of crude oil can the ageing of the plant. Shield (NSS) project for off shore tion rights for two blocks in the rate of about 32.2 thousand bar- rels of oil were produced during ing on Qatari ports, which is a be recovered through the tech- There is also a study to estab- facilities. Police College hosting events Qatar ranks among most to celebrate National Day

he Police College will painting in the shape of a foot- Captain Rashid Ali al-Tamimi participate in the events ball. He said the public includ- said school students would have stable countries in the Tat Darb Al Saai in con- ing citizens and residents of opportunity to take part in vari- nection with the Qatar National diff erent ages will join the ini- ous police and military train- Day 2018 celebrations. tiative. ing and self-defence activities The college will be highlight- The existing Guinness World aimed at developing self-confi - ing a number of new activities Record for such a work was dence and physical fi tness. world: Lebanese envoy in co-operation with the Su- 4,000 pieces and the College is The events also include dem- preme Committee for Delivery looking forward to create a new onstration of training involv- QNA a number of disputes through & Legacy. record. ing nearly 380 students from Doha mediation at the request of the At a press conference yester- The latest techniques used by primary schools in the country. parties concerned, based on the day, the Training Department the Ministry of Interior in pro- The students will undergo ba- Charter of the United Nations director Major Fahad Saeed al- viding security and humanitar- sic training that the candidates ebanese ambassador Has- and the principle of dialogue as Subaie said one of the highlights ian services to the public would for offi cer posts undergo in the san Najem stressed that an alternative approach to re- is the college’s attempt to break be showcased at some pavilions. college, such as military parade, LQatar has become, thanks solving disputes between parties. the Guinness World Records by A model of the Police Museum military salute and self-defence to its wise leadership, one of the The ambassador highlighted creating an artwork shaped like would also be on view. Maj al- skills. most prosperous, secure and sta- that Qatar’s eff orts have yielded a football to symbolise the 2022 Subaie said the College is hold- The participants will learn ble countries in the world. He remarkable results for all of its me- FIFA World Cup in Qatar. It will ing the activities this year un- how a security personnel works added that the country also en- diation. be held with the participation of der the slogan “Qatar brings us in diff erent situations such as joys growing regional and inter- He mentioned the sponsorship a large number of citizens, resi- together 2022” and that there raids and at a crime scene. national presence. of the national dialogue between dents and school students. are many surprises awaiting the The College authorities also Speaking to Qatar News Agen- the political parties in Lebanon in Major al-Subaie said about public and students in Darb Al urged Qatar residents to visit cy to mark the National Day, he 2008, as well as the resolution of 33,500 coloured wooden pieces Saai. Darb Al Saai and experience the said that Qatar has become one the dispute between Djibouti and would be installed to complete a Sports Training Section head events for all age groups. of the most prosperous countries Eritrea and mediating the resolu- of the world and has been able to tion of the confl ict in the Darfur implement many mega-projects, Lebanese ambassador Hassan Najem region of Sudan as examples of advanced infrastructure and pro- those eff orts. grammes in the fi elds of educa- Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, who cies have enabled it to overcome On the Qatari-Lebanese rela- tion, health, security and urban the ambassador said built on the the challenges of the region by tions, he stressed that these re- planning, as well as leading media previous success. building developmental projects lations are an advanced model experiences in the Arab world. He said that National Day that reduce the dependence of for what the brotherly relations The ambassador then congrat- celebrations is very signifi cant, the state on imports from abroad, between countries should aspire ulated His Highness the Amir given that the state is celebrating adding that Qatar’s success dur- to, stressing Lebanon’s keenness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- its sovereignty. The ambassador ing the unjust blockade stemmed to develop these relations to the Thani, the wise government, the added that it’s a day when the from its ability to resort to self- maximum extent imaginable. Qatari people and the residents leadership and the people unite suffi ciency in many products. The ambassador also highlighted on the National Day. in a show of their patriotic feel- The ambassador said also that that bilateral relations have al- Ambassador Najem also ings and their commitment to the the success during the crisis is ways been based on co-operation praised the patriotic spirit en- state. He said that it was these indicative of the sound actions and fraternity. joyed by every citizen and resi- factors that led to a high standard taken by the government last He pointed to many of the dent on this land, noting that of living respected around the year, which have proven their honourable positions, including everyone who lives in Qatar world. He added that his person- validity after the local Qatari Qatar’s recent decision to exempt could sense that spirit among al experience ranks Qatar among products became a fi rst choice the Lebanese citizen from the people especially their honour- the most secure and stable coun- not only for Qatari citizens and prior visa to be able to visit this ing of the sacrifi ces of the earlier tries in the world. residents alike. He also praised country at any time without ad- generations. He paid tribute to The ambassador pointed out Qatar’s eff orts to resolve disputes ministrative complications and the Founder of Qatar and to His that the foundations of Qatar’s peacefully. In this context, he re- said it left a good impression on Major al-Subaie (right) explaining a point yesterday. Highness the Father Amir Sheikh domestic and international poli- ferred to Qatar’s eff orts to resolve the Lebanese people. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, December 11, 2018 QATAR

Doha landmarks lit up to mark Human Rights Day

Landmarks around Doha were lit up in blue yesterday in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as various public and private entities observed the occasion. These included the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and Ministry of Foreign Aff airs off ices, Museum of Islamic Art, Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel and others. The MoI tweeted that its headquarters, the General Directorate of Traff ic building and the Human Rights Department building were lit up on the occasion in blue, marking the celebration of the Human Rights Day, which falls on December 10 of each year. Images: Government Communications Off ice Twitter page Malaysian PM hails Qatar’s NHRC holds awareness event role in fi ghting corruption for Qatar Steel QNA sian youth to work on winning Kuala Lumpur the award. He also presented the eff orts made by Malaysia to employees face corruption such as estab- alaysia Prime Minister lishing the GIACC, formulating Dr Mahathir Moham- national policies and setting up QNA tions with ‘A Status’ in 2010 for Med has praised the role private institutions to fi ght cor- Doha five years and renewed in 2015 of the State of Qatar in fi ght- ruption. for the same period. ing corruption and supporting He highlighted the impor- She also dealt with co-oper- development issues in many tance of the rule of law saying s part of its celebration of ation between the NHRC and countries. that governments would never the 70th anniversary of all human rights international He was referring to the Sheikh prosper without integrity and Athe Universal Declaration organisations, the most impor- Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani In- transparency. He said the award of Human Rights on December tant of which are Amnesty In- ternational Anti-Corruption is a great incentive for govern- 10 each year, the National Hu- ternational and Human Rights Excellence Award, which is an ments, individual initiatives, man Rights Committee (NHRC) Watch, in addition to its ef- initiative by His Highness the academic institutions, press organised an educational lec- forts to raise awareness about Amir to support the eff orts of and civil institutions to fi ght ture for Qatar Steel’s employees human rights and freedoms to the UN to fi ght corruption and corruption, since it is usu- on the origins and principles of consolidate their principles in encourage those who contrib- ally has been the cause for the human rights and the role of the thought and practice through ute to combating it. downfall of many civilisations. NHRC in promoting and dis- training courses, media cam- Dr Mohamed said this dur- Dr Mahathir praised the ROL- seminating the culture of human paigns and publications. ing a session with winners of ACC which is the main organiser rights. She pointed out that the ex- the award, which was organised of the award, as well as GIACC, The Director of the NHRC perience of the NHRC to edu- by Malaysia’s National Centre the Malaysian Institute of Integ- International Co-operation cate workers about their rights for Governance, Integrity, and rity and the Malaysian Anti-Cor- Department, Sheikha Najwa in Qatar is a best practice at the Anti-Corruption (GIACC) in ruption Commission. After the al-Thani, spoke about the his- level of national human rights co-operation with the Rule of session, the prime minister along torical context of the emer- institutions. Law and Anti-Corruption Cen- with HE Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Mar- gence of human rights, saying Director of the Department of tre (ROLACC). The session was ri and the Deputy Prime Minister it came as a result of the cross- Administrative Aff airs of Qatar attended by HE the UN Special and head of Malaysian Anti- fertilisation between different Steel Mohamed bin Saleh al- Advocate against Corruption Dr Corruption Commission Dr Wan cultures and civilisations, and Mahdi stressed the company’s Ali bin Fetais al-Marri. Malaysia Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamed with HE the UN Special Advocate against Corruption Azizah Wan Ismail launched the it is a continuous struggle for belief in human rights issues and The Malaysian prime minis- Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri and other dignitaries. national initiative to fi ght cor- all humanity against injustice its keenness that all its employ- ter expressed his thanks to the ruption and the guidelines on the and exploitation, wherever it ees be fully aware of their rights State of Qatar and His Highness tion through establishing ROL- sia has hosted the awards cer- ly. He called on countries of the correct procedures that help fi - may be. and duties to include their be- the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin ACC and the Anti-Corruption emony. Dr Mohamed reiterated world to join the United Nations nancial institutions prevent cor- The director of the NHRC haviour in this culture. Hamad al-Thani for the inter- Excellence Award. He also ex- his commitment to supporting Convention against Corruption rupt practices in the private and International Co-operation On the occasion of the day on national eff orts to fi ght corrup- pressed his pride that Malay- these eff orts globally and local- (UNCAC) and for the Malay- public sectors. Department outlined the es- which the UN General Assembly tablishment of the NHRC, its adopted the Universal Declara- objectives, powers and com- tion of Human Rights in 1948, petencies, and its accreditation the NHRC will hold numerous by the Global Alliance of Na- awareness and educational ac- Techno Blue celebrates opening of Fujifi lm outlet tional Human Rights Institu- tivities and events.

echno Blue, a HBK Group compa- prints. The outlet also caters to the re- ny, and Fujifi lm Corporation of Ja- quirement of professional photographers Tpan have celebrated the opening of by selling a wide range of professional their new Digital Imaging service outlet in cameras, lenses and accessories. Doha Festival City. Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad al-Thani, The “conveniently located Fujifi lm Im- chairman of Techno Blue, said while inau- aging outlet near the food court provides gurating the outlet that Fujifi lm products easy and quick access” within the mall, are synonymous with quality and enjoy a Techno Blue has said in a statement. huge following and customer base. The outlet off ers customers special- Sheikh Ali bin Hamad al-Thani, vice- ised services such as getting high-qual- chairman of Techno Blue, was also ity prints from digital cameras, mobile present. phones, memory cards etc, printing cus- Jun Higuchi, managing director of Fu- tomised personal albums and a host of jifi lm Middle East, praised the eff orts other services related to pictures. Also, of Techno Blue to grow Fujifi lm’s photo customers can get their ID pictures taken imaging and electronic imaging business within a few minutes, in line with the re- in Qatar and revealed his plan to support quirements of government departments more such stores in the country. and embassies. Prabunathan, division manager at The ‘Wonder’ photo station at the Techno Blue, added: “The hottest-selling outlet can receive pictures transmit- product at the outlet are the Instax prod- ted through a mobile application and al- ucts, which give instant photo prints from lows customers to collate their memories the camera. The main customers for this Dignitaries at the opening of the outlet in Doha Festival City. PICTURE: Jayan Orma on fun templates and have them done as product are the younger generation.” Participants in the awareness event. Scania-Araco platinum sponsor of midwinter celebration of the National Day of Sweden

cania, under the dealership tions and maximum uptime.” be limited to specifi c available of Arabian Agencies Com- “Aff ordable, reliable and com- services, which in turn reduces Spany (Araco), was one of the petitive fi nancing rates are off ered operational cost. platinum sponsors of the Midwin- to customers, providing them with Suffi cient maintenance is es- ter Celebration of the National Day fl exible solutions that ensure costs sential to maintain the high pro- of Sweden held recently in Doha. are forecast and risks are man- ductivity and low fuel consump- On the occasion, Araco pre- aged eff ectively,” Araco said in a tion of Scania vehicles. At Araco, sented the Scania 4x2 tractor head, press statement. “However large “customer satisfaction is the pri- which was displayed at the venue or small the need, Araco is ready ority and we constantly aim to to give guests a chance to walk to assist with its complete product provide enhanced and creative around and take photographs next range, competitive fi ve-year fi - services to clients”, the statement to the truck. nancing programme and free driv- noted. The event held at The St Regis er training with a heavy infl uence “Araco’s proven track record Doha was attended by many in- Off icials at the event. on safety and economy.” of customer satisfaction is root- vitees who enjoyed the celebration Equipped with a complete prod- ed through an outstanding track and the Swedish folklore tradi- industry for more than 125 years, marine engines. Service-related uct range, Araco off ers fi xed re- record of services off ered to our tions. is known as one of the leading products account for a growing pair payment for Scania vehicles clients. We never stop innovat- Anas Abusaadah, general man- manufacturers of trucks and buses proportion of the company’s oper- “wherever they may be”. Services ing methods to continuously off er ager of Arabian Agencies Com- for heavy transport applications, ations, assuring Scania customers can include comprehensive man- our customers the optimum solu- pany, said: “Scania, being in the hauling, transport, industrial and of cost-eff ective transport solu- agement and maintenance, or may tions,” Abusaadah added. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 11, 2018 13 REGION/ARAB WORLD/AFRICA

SANCTION POLITICS OFFBEAT HEALTH ENTERTAINMENT US bars entry of ousted Somalia in crisis as president Mozambique finds ghost South Sudan vaccinates Netflix will debut first Gambian dictator Jammeh faces impeachment motion off icials costing $250mn workers in Ebola epidemic African original in 2019

The United States said yesterday it would forbid Somalia was plunged into fresh political prob- Mozambique’s government said yesterday that it South Sudan will vaccinate key health work- Streaming giant Netflix announced yesterday entry into the country of former Gambian dictator lems yesterday after a motion to impeach Presi- had identified 30,000 “ghost employees” in its civil ers against Ebola close to the border with the that it will launch the platform’s first original Yahya Jammeh and his family over corruption dent Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed for alleged service who cost $250mn between 2015 and 2017. Democratic Republic of Congo, which faces a new series made in Africa in 2019, adding that it during his 22-year rule. Under a US law that bans abuse of office cleared a key hurdle. Some of those on the government payroll, which ac- epidemic, the World Health Organisation said yester- planned further investment in productions foreign off icials involved in “significant” corruption Parliament speaker Mohamed Mursal agreed counts for 55 percent of the poor African country’s day. The ministry of health’s vaccination campaign, on the continent.“#QueenSono — Africa’s first or human rights abuses, the State Department late Sunday to accept the motion, signed by 92 state expenditure, did exist but were paid for jobs with co-operation from the WHO, will target health- Netflix original! A thrilling story about a kickass said it was blacklisting Jammeh as well as his wife out of 275 legislators. The document accuses they did not undertake while others were dead care and frontline workers in the high-risk states of female spy. Can’t wait for you guys to see what Zineb Jammeh, and his daughter and son. Jam- the president, commonly known as Farmajo, or fictious. “A proof-of-life test of the Mozambican Juba, Yei, Yambio and Nimule, the UN agency said in we have in store for you!” wrote South African meh trained at a military base in Alabama before of violating the constitution “by engaging (in civil service between 2015 and 2017 has detected a statement. South Sudan is one of several countries actress Pearl Thusi on her Twitter account. seizing power in 1994 and while president bought a) secret memorandum of understanding with around 30,000 ‘ghost’ employees costing the bordering the vast DRC, where the new outbreak of Netflix South Africa’s verified account reposted a mansion in the Washington suburb of Potomac, foreign countries.” It specifies control over equivalent of 220mn euros ($250mn),” Civil Service the highly contagious viral disease had since August her tweet, writing: “That’s right! A Netflix first for Maryland, from basketball star Calbert Cheaney, Somalia’s ports “and uniting the country with Minister Carmelita Namashulua told the Mozam- claimed 271 lives by December 6, according to Con- Africa. Pearl Thusi as #QueenSono coming to according to reports at the time. Ethiopia and Eritrea.” bique State News Agency. golese Health Minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga. your screens in 2019.”

Troops in hunt for UN proposes drafts on key Palestinian fi ghters port, besieged city at talks raid offi cial news agency AFP Rimbo AFP with live bullets during the Ramallah clashes, according to the Pal- he United Nations has estinian Red Crescent. submitted proposals on Later soldiers raided the Ttwo Yemeni cities caught sraeli forces entered the headquarters of Wafa, the in a bitter war — the port city of Palestinian city of Ramal- official Palestinian news Hodeidah and besieged Taiz —to Ilah yesterday and raided agency, including the pho- warring parties at UN-spon- the offi ces of the official Pal- tography and editing offices, sored talks in Sweden. estinian news agency, the a statement from the news The Yemeni government, agency and witnesses said, a agency said. which is backed by Saudi Arabia day after the fi ghters wounded An army spokeswoman and its military allies, has been several Israelis near a settle- said she could not comment battling the Houthi rebels for ment. on the Ramallah raid, includ- control of Yemen for nearly four Seven people were wounded ing whether it was part of the years, pushing the country to the in the drive-by shooting by hunt for the gunmen from brink of famine. Palestinian fi ghters at a bus Sunday night’s incident. The warring parties are in stop near the Ofra settlement Doctors at the Shaare Sweden for weeklong talks ex- in the occupied West Bank late Zedek hospital in Jerusalem pected to continue until the end Sunday, with doctors forced to earlier delivered the baby of of this week, the fi rst since more prematurely deliver the baby one victim of the shooting than three months of negotia- of one of the wounded, Israeli who was pregnant via a cae- tions collapsed in 2016. offi cials said. sarean section, the hospital Among the issues under Israeli soldiers entered said. discussion in Sweden are hu- Ramallah yesterday morning, The hospital added that the manitarian corridors, the reo- with low-level clashes break- mother, 21, was stable yester- pening of the defunct Sanaa in- ing out a few hundred metres day but the baby had taken a ternational airport and a massive from the house of Palestinian turn for the worse. prisoner swap. president Mahmoud Abbas, “There has unfortunately Also under discussion are the AFP journalists said. been a deterioration in the fate of the rebel-held port city of They seized the security baby’s condition. The fam- Hodeidah, vital to aid and food camera footage of a nearby ily is requesting prayers for imports, and Yemen’s third- building, according to em- him,” a hospital spokeswom- largest city Taiz, the scene of Houthi representative Salim al-Moughaless (right) and Yemeni economist and government representative Ahmed Ghaleb shake hands during ployees. Two people were hit an said. some of the country’s most in- the first Yemen peace talks since 2016, yesterday in the Swedish rural town of Rimbo. tense battles. The prisoner swap has been of Hodeidah and Taiz, seen by terday said military operations fi nalised, both sides said yester- AFP yesterday and confi rmed were ongoing in Hodeidah, as day. by members of both delegations, the Sweden talks entered their Martin Griffi ths, the UN spe- call for a mutual ceasefi re be- fi fth day. Armed group blocks cial envoy for Yemen, said the tween the two parties. “The rebels have fortifi ed swap had proved the least con- The Hodeidah draft stipu- their defence lines inside Hodei- tentious issue, adding that he lated that the Saudi-led military dah city,” said coalition spokes- key oil fi eld in Libya hoped it “will be very very con- coalition fi ghting the Houthis man Turki al-Maliki. “We are siderable in terms of the num- would cease an off ensive on the working to create safe humani- bers that we hope to get released rebel-held city in exchange for a tarian corridors from Hodeidah AFP ment. Akakus is a joint venture within a few weeks”. The fi ght Houthi withdrawal. to Sanaa.” Tripoli between NOC, Spain’s Repsol for Taiz and Hodeidah, however, The area would then be put The UN has regularly urged energy company, France’s To- shows no sign of waning. under the control of a joint com- the Saudi-led coalition to sus- tal, Austria’s OMV and Nor- “These are two major popu- mittee and supervised by the pend operations in the densely- n armed group has way’s Statoil. lation zones in Yemen caught United Nations. populated city, home to 600,000 seized one of Libya’s It produces some 315,000 in war,” Griffi ths told reporters The document does not pro- people and a traditional conduit Alargest oilfi elds in the barrels per day, out of Libya’s yesterday. “I’m hopeful that we pose the deployment of UN for 90%of food imports to Yem- country’s southwest, the current output of 1mn bpd. can reach agreements on the de- peacekeeping troops. en. The Houthis seized the Red state-owned National Oil Cor- The fi eld’s shutdown risks escalation to reduce the fi ghting Griffi ths said the UN had sim- Sea city of Hodeidah in a territo- poration said yesterday. production at neighbouring oil in both places. I’m hoping that plifi ed the Hodeidah draft, which rial takeover in 2014. Martin Griff iths, Special Envoy for Yemen of the UN secretary-general The seizure of Sharara oil- facilities including al-Feel oil- we can. We’re not there yet.” is still under study by the Yemeni The port city has since June speaks during a press conference at the Johannesberg Palace in fi eld prompted the company fi eld, which relies on Sharara “If we are able to achieve delegations. “We are always re- been at the heart of a govern- Stockholm, yesterday. to declare “force majeure” on for electricity, and al-Zawiya progress on those two places and drafting, so some of those docu- ment off ensive to drive the rebels exports from the site. refi nery, dependent on Sharara lift the threat of war to the peo- ments that you’ve seen” have out. Aid groups have warned the The two sides are also look- unconditional ceasefi re, a joint “National Oil Corpora- for crude oil to produce fuel for ple in those two places, I think changed, Griffi ths told report- destruction of Hodeidah would ing at a draft UN proposal on the working group that includes the tion (NOC) hereby declares a local consumption. we’ll have done a great service to ers. “We’re working on simpler worsen the humanitarian crisis southwestern city of Taiz, under UN to monitor the ceasefi re, and state of force majeure at the The combined impact of Yemen,” Griffi ths said. draft,” he added. “The details of in Yemen, where the UN esti- the control of pro-government the reopening of all roads and Akakus-operated Sharara oil the shutdown costs Libya’s Initial drafts of the propos- that are in deep discussion.” mates 14mn people face starva- forces but besieged by the rebels. Taiz airport for humanitarian fi eld as of Sunday,” the com- economy $32.5mn daily, NOC als on the rebel-held port city The Saudi-led coalition yes- tion. The initial draft stipulated an operations. pany said in an online state- said.

Iran can expand range of ballistic missiles: commander Iraq marks one year since ‘victory’ against IS Iran has the ability to build ballistic missiles with a broader range, a senior commander of the elite AFP oust the militants, fi nally recap- Hussein al-Sharfi , 30, seated in Abdel Mahdi’s pledge to Revolutionary Guards said yester- Baghdad turing Mosul in June 2017. a car decorated with balloons stamp out corruption is iden- day, according to the semi-off icial On December 9, then- and Iraqi fl ags beside the zone’s tical to the one made by Abadi Fars News agency. Iran’s missiles premier Haider al-Abadi an- northern gate. when he announced the win currently cover a range of 2000 raq’s premier yesterday nounced “victory” over IS, and Just after 5:00pm local time, against IS last year. kilometres and many “enemy marked a year since his the following day was declared security forces pulled back the The former premier was un- bases” are within 800 kilometres Icountry declared victory a national holiday. yellow-painted metal barri- able to tackle embezzlement of of the Islamic Republic, Amirali against the Islamic State group To mark the one-year anni- cades and dozens of cars en- public funds in Iraq, which is Hajizadeh, head of the Revolution- by pledging to fi ght corruption versary yesterday, checkpoints tered the zone as a convoy of the 12th most corrupt country ary Guards’ airspace division, was next, even as he faces a political and military vehicles across the motorcycles streamed out, hav- in the world according to Trans- cited as saying. US President crisis within his government. capital Baghdad were decorated ing crossed from the other side. parency International. Donald Trump pulled out of an A year ago, his predecessor with balloons and elite troops “This is the fi rst time I see The challenges extend be- international agreement on Iran’s announced the conclusion of put on a military exercise. this much traffi c in 15 years,” yond the political. nuclear programme in May and a three-year battle to oust IS, Abu Mehdi al-Muhandis, said Jabbar al-Shuwaili, a par- Much of the country remains reimposed sanctions on Tehran. putting an end to the so-called Hashed’s deputy leader, issued liamentary advisor who lives in in ruins, including large swathes He said the deal was flawed militant “caliphate” straddling an online statement hailing the the Green Zone. of the north, as authorities because it did not include curbs Syria and Iraq after they seized force and also thanking Iran and “I hope my daughter’s future struggle to gather funds to re- on Iran’s development of ballistic swathes of Iraq. its Lebanese ally Hezbollah for will be open as the Green Zone,” build. missiles or its support for proxies It was “the biggest victory This handout picture released by the Iraqi prime minister’s press off ice backing the units. he said, watching the passing More than 1.8mn Iraqis are in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and against the forces of evil and yesterday shows PM Adel Abdel Mahdi praying with military figures Unlike the spontaneous cars with his daughter Rand, still displaced, many languish- Iraq. “We have the ability to build terrorism”, Prime Minister Adel during a ceremony held in the capital Baghdad, on the first street parties marking victory aged nine. ing in camps, and 8mn require missiles with a broader range,” Haji- Abdel Mahdi said yesterday at a anniversary of the country’s victory over the Islamic State (IS) group. last year, there were few public But beyond the celebrations, humanitarian aid, accord- zadeh said. He added, “We don’t ceremony at the defence minis- celebrations during the day. Iraq remains mired in crisis. ing to the Norwegian Refugee have limitations from a technical try. is achieving our people’s ambi- must be followed by parallel po- But as the sun set, cars Parliamentary elections in Council. Observers also fear an perspective or by conventions He said Iraq could now turn tions and hopes,” he said. litical progress. amassed at two entrances to May produced no clear ruling outbreak of violence either be- with regard to missile range.” The to a host of other challenges, “Corruption was and re- IS, which traces its roots to Al the high-security Green Zone, coalition, with political divi- tween rival political forces once Iranian government has ruled out including hundreds of thou- mains one of the many faces of Qaeda in Iraq, sent shockwaves home to government buildings sions paralysing Abdel Mahdi’s united against IS, or between negotiations with Washington over sands of people still displaced, ruin and terrorism. If we do not across the world when it swept and Western embassies. eff orts to fi ll key ministries. authorities and a protest move- its military capabilities, particularly widespread unemployment and eliminate corruption, our vic- across a third of Iraq in 2014. Starting yesterday, the gov- “Abdel Mahdi has found him- ment angered by lack of services its missile programme run by the rampant corruption. tory will be lacking.” It swiftly took over Mosul, ernment will reopen a main self hostage to the very vested and jobs. Guards. Last month, Hajizadeh said But he did not mention the In a congratulatory note on making the northern city the de thoroughfare running through interests and political forces And while IS no longer holds that US bases in Afghanistan, the current stalemate over the cabi- Twitter, President Barham facto capital of its “caliphate”. the area for fi ve hours every that Iraqis hoped his govern- large chunks of territory, it can UAE among others and US aircraft net, where political infi ghting Saleh said yesterday marked For three years, Iraqi troops, evening. ment would stand up to,” said still wage hit-and-run attacks carriers in the Gulf were within has left eight of the 22 minis- “the anniversary of victory over the Hashed al-Shaabi paramili- “Today we are celebrating Fanar Haddad, an Iraq expert at that chip away at the sense of range of Iranian missiles. tries unmanned. the ugliest criminal assault that tary units, and US-led coalition two occasions: the victory, and the National University of Sin- security many hoped would re- “The fi nal victory we hope for history has seen,” but that it forces waged a brutal fi ght to the Green Zone opening,” said gapore’s Middle East Institute. turn. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, December 11, 2018 AMERICA Trump insists hush payments were legal Reuters/AFP alleged sexual aff airs. settle violations of a rule that Washington Prosecutors argued that the contributions made 20 days be- hush payments were intended fore an election had to be report- to infl uence the outcome of the ed within 48 hours. This picture taken on May 9 shows Ayers and Kelly during a onald Trump has de- elections, making them unde- But that case is distinct from cabinet meeting at the White House. fended hush money pay- clared campaign contributions. the felonies Cohen admitted to as Dments reported by his Yesterday the president again the violations were not alleged to former lawyer, responding a day denied wrongdoing and sought be intended to swing the election after Democratic lawmakers said to shift any blame to Cohen. outcome. the US president could face im- One post misspelled the word Trump has denied aff airs with Trump’s potential peachment and jail time if the “smoking” twice, drawing criti- Daniels and McDougal. transactions are proven to violate cism and ridicule on Twitter. US prosecutors on Friday campaign fi nance laws. “Democrats can’t fi nd a sought prison time for Cohen, Trump said on Twitter that Smocking Gun tying the Trump Trump’s self-proclaimed “fi xer,” next chief of staff Democrats were wrongly target- campaign to Russia after James for the payments they said were ing “a simple private transac- Comey’s testimony. No Smock- made in “co-ordination with tion”. ing Gun ... No Collusion,” he and at the direction of” Trump, Court fi lings last week drew Trump: Lawyer’s liability if (Cohen) made a mistake, not me. wrote, referring to Fox News as well as on charges of evading pick also leaving renewed attention to six-fi g- comment on the case. taxes and lying to Congress. ure payments made during the His Democratic counterpart knowledged repaying his former “So now the Dems go to a sim- The case stemmed from a fed- 2016 presidential campaign by on the Intelligence Committee, lawyer Michael Cohen for the ple private transaction, wrongly eral investigation into alleged Reuters triplets, was willing to serve Trump’s personal lawyer to two Representative Adam Schiff , said $130,000 paid to porn star call it a campaign contribution, Russian interference in the 2016 Washington only until the spring of 2019 women so they would not discuss that Trump could be indicted Stephanie Cliff ord, also known which it was not,” he wrote. presidential election and possi- for family reasons, an adminis- their alleged aff airs with the can- once he leaves offi ce and could as Stormy Daniels. He said that even if it were a ble collusion with Trump’s cam- tration offi cial said earlier. didate. “face the real prospect of jail He previously disputed know- campaign contribution, it would paign. ick Ayers, Donald The White House did not US Representative Jerrold Na- time”. ing anything about the pay- amount to a civil case. Russia has denied interfering Trump’s top choice immediately respond to a re- dler, who will lead the Judiciary Under US law, campaign con- ments. “It is only a CIVIL CASE, like and Trump has said his campaign Nto be his next chief of quest for comment. Committee when Democrats tributions, defi ned as things of Trump, referred to as “In- Obama’s – but was done correct- did not co-operate with Moscow. staff , is no longer in the run- A source familiar with take control of the House of Rep- value given to a campaign to in- dividual-1” in the court docu- ly by a lawyer and there would Legal experts are divided over ning and the US president is Mnuchin’s thinking said that resentatives next month, said fl uence an election, must be dis- ments, was directly implicated not even be a fi ne,” he claimed. whether a sitting president can now considering at least two Mnuchin sees his role at Treas- on Sunday that if the payments closed. in ordering Cohen to make illegal “Lawyer’s liability if (Cohen) be charged with a crime, as well other candidates, sources fa- ury as best suited to help the were found to violate campaign Such payments are also limited payments to Daniels and former made a mistake, not me.” as on whether a violation of cam- miliar with the matter said, the president and feels very com- fi nance laws, it would be an im- to $2,700 per person. Playboy model Karen McDougal The 2008 Obama campaign paign fi nance law would be an latest sign of a chaotic White mitted to remaining in his cur- peachable off ence. Earlier this year, Trump ac- to ensure their silence about the paid a $375,000 fi ne in 2013 to impeachable off ence. House staff shake-up. rent position. Treasury Secretary Steven A spokesman for Meadows Mnuchin and Republican Rep- had no comment on the mat- resentative Mark Meadows, ter. chairman of the right-wing With Ayers out of the run- House Freedom Caucus, are ning, it is unclear who will take Voyager 2 reaches among the possible contenders over the top administrative to replace current White House post in the West Wing at a time Chief of Staff John Kelly, one Trump has been weakened by source told Reuters. Democrats winning control of interstellar space Ayers, 36, chief of staff to the House of Representatives Vice-President Mike Pence in elections last month. and known as a skilled Repub- Trump will decide on his AFP “To have the Voyagers sending lican political tactician, had new chief of staff by the end of Washington back information about the edge been in discussions for months the year, the sources said. of the Sun’s infl uence gives us an about taking the job, but was The president said on Satur- unprecedented glimpse of truly unable to agree to terms with day that Kelly would leave the asa’s Voyager 2 probe has uncharted territory.” Trump, another source said. post by year’s end. left the protective bub- The same instrument on Voy- Ayers tweeted that he would Trump brought Kelly in last Nble around the Sun and is ager 1 stopped working in 1980. instead be leaving the White year to restore order to his fl ying through interstellar space, The two spacecraft, which House soon, apparently to re- White House, but has clashed becoming the second human- look like a combination of a sat- turn to his home state of Geor- repeatedly with the retired made object to travel so far, the ellite dish and an old television gia. Marine Corps general in recent US space agency said yesterday. set with rabbit ear antennas, One of the sources said Ay- months. The announcement came were launched in 1977 on a mis- ers would return to “America The two men were no longer six years after its twin space- sion to explore planets in our so- First Policies”, a combative on speaking terms, accord- craft, Voyager 1, broke the outer lar system. group that he helped found be- ing to one source with direct boundary of the heliopause, The twin probes have left the fore joining Pence in the White knowledge of the situation. where the hot solar wind meets heliosphere, but have not yet left House. The constant staff upheaval the cold, dense space between the solar system, “and won’t be Several hours after the news at all levels has left Trump’s stars, known as the interstellar leaving anytime soon”, Nasa said broke, Trump essentially con- White House grappling to try medium. in a statement. “The boundary of fi rmed that Ayers would not to advance his policies. Voyager 2 is now more than the solar system is considered to This Nasa artist’s concept shows the general locations of Nasa’s two Voyager spacecraft: Voyager 1 (top) get the job but off ered few oth- Many of the resignations 11bn miles (18bn km) from Earth, be beyond the outer edge of the which has sailed beyond our solar bubble into interstellar space, the space between stars, and Voyager 2 er details. have come under pressure. having passed the boundary on Oort Cloud, a collection of small (bottom), which is still exploring the outer layer of the solar bubble. “I am in the process of inter- Trump now faces House November 5. objects that are still under the in- viewing some really great peo- probes into his businesses and “This time is even better for fl uence of the Sun’s gravity.” heliopause,” said Suzanne Dodd, “Both spacecraft are very Nasa has to keep shutting down ple for the position of White most contentious policies, and us,” said Nicky Fox, director of Nasa says that it will take Voyager project manager at healthy, if you consider them instruments to reserve power. House Chief of Staff . Fake Special Counsel Robert Mu- the heliophysics division at the about 300 years for Voyager 2 to Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory senior citizens,” said Suzanne But they may have fi ve to 10 News has been saying with eller is investigating possible National Aeronautics and Space reach the inner edge of the Oort in Pasadena, California. Dodd, director for the Interplan- years left of life, she said. certainty it was Nick Ayers, a collusion between Trump’s Administration (Nasa), not- Cloud, and possibly 30,000 years Voyager 2 is offi cially Nasa’s etary Network Directorate, as the Each spacecraft carries a spectacular person who will election campaign team and ing that one instrument, called to fl y beyond it. longest-running mission. science results were unveiled at Golden Record of Earth sounds, always be with our #MAGA Russian offi cials in 2016. the Plasma Science Experiment “We’re looking forward to The two spacecraft were de- the American Geophysical Union pictures and messages, which agenda,” Trump said in a mes- Trump, who has denied col- (PLS), is still functioning on Voy- what we’ll be able to learn from signed to last fi ve years and study annual meeting in the US capital. aims to serve as evidence of sage on Twitter, referring to his lusion, calls the probe a “witch ager 2. having both probes outside the Jupiter and Saturn. A key concern is power, and Earth’s civilisation. slogan “Make America Great hunt”. Again”. “I will be making a de- Ayers has advised a series of cision soon!” Republican governors and as Ayers wrote earlier on Twit- Pence’s chief of staff , has run ter: “I will be departing at the one of the most eff ective po- end of the year but will work litical teams in Washington. Top court rebuff s bids to cut with the #MAGA team to ad- But critics questioned vance the cause.” whether the young opera- One source said Trump had tive had the kind of experi- sought a two-year commit- ence needed to deal with the Planned Parenthood funds ment from Ayers but that he internal strife that has often was unable to agree to that. engulfed the Trump White Ayers, the father of young House. Reuters justices, Kavanaugh and Chief Parenthood’,” Thomas wrote in Washington Justice John Roberts – the court’s dissent. two other conservative justices – “Some tenuous connection to Social media overtakes newspapers as news opposed taking up the matter. a politically-fraught issue does source for Americans: Pew study fi nds he US Supreme Court has Planned Parenthood’s affi li- not justify abdicating our judicial rejected appeals by Loui- ates in Louisiana do not perform duty,” Thomas added. Social media has overtaken print newspapers as a news source for Tsiana and Kansas seeking abortions, but some in Kansas Louisiana and Kansas an- Americans, researchers said yesterday, highlighting the growing to end their public funding to do. nounced Republican-backed importance of services such as Facebook and Twitter as well as the women’s healthcare and abor- Medicaid, the state-federal plans to terminate funding for troubled state of legacy news organisations. tion provider Planned Parent- health insurance programme for Planned Parenthood through This picture taken yesterday shows the US Supreme Court in The Pew Research Centre report found that 20% of US adults say hood through the Medicaid pro- low-income Americans, pays for Medicaid after an anti-abortion Washington, DC. The US Supreme Court has declined to hear appeal they often get news via social media, compared with 16% from gramme, with President Donald abortions only in limited circum- group released videos in 2015 cases by Kansas and Louisiana to end public funding through newspapers. Trump’s appointee Brett Ka- stances, such as when a woman’s purporting to show Planned Par- Medicaid to Planned Parenthood. In 2016, newspapers were more important that social networks and vanaugh among the justices who life is in danger. enthood executives negotiating in 2017 the percentages were roughly even for both sources, accord- rebuff ed the states. It marked the fi rst-known vote the for-profi t sale of foetal tissue who they are, where they live or and Republican politicians have ing to Pew surveys. The justices left intact lower by Kavanaugh in a case since he and body parts. how much they earn.” made eff orts at the state and Despite the rise of social media, television remains the most impor- court rulings that prevented joined the court in October after Planned Parenthood denied Legal battles over other laws federal level to eliminate public tant source for news, cited by 49% of American adults, Pew said. Louisiana and Kansas from a fi erce confi rmation fi ght in the the allegations and called the from Republican-led states could funding for abortion services. The researchers found sharp diff erences among age segments in ac- stripping government healthcare Senate. videos heavily-edited and mis- reach the court in the next year or The New Orleans-based 5th cessing the news, with younger adults far more likely to rely on social funding from local Planned Par- Kavanaugh was named by leading. two. US Circuit Court of Appeals in media and older consumers favouring television and print. enthood affi liates. Trump to replace retired justice The organisation’s affi liates Some seek to ban abortions in 2016 blocked Louisiana’s Med- In the 18-29 age group, social media was the most important news The case was one of a number Anthony Kennedy, a conserva- in each state, as well as several early pregnancy, including Iowa’s icaid cuts, saying that the action source, cited by nearly three in 10 respondents, with only 2% favour- of disputes working their way up tive who sometimes sided with patients, sued in federal court to prohibition after a foetal heart- would harm patients. ing print newspapers. to the Supreme Court over the the court’s liberals on social is- maintain the funding. beat is detected. The 5th Circuit said no one A large majority of those 65 and older (81%) get news from television, legality of state-imposed restric- sues like abortion. “We regret today’s decision Others impose diffi cult-to- disputed that Planned Parent- with 39% using print newspapers and just 8% social networks. tions involving abortion. Some Kavanaugh opponents from the US Supreme Court an- meet regulations on abortion hood was actually qualifi ed to “Younger Americans are also unique in that they don’t rely on one Three conservative justices – feared that he would back legal nouncing that it fell one vote providers such as having formal provide the medical services it platform in the way that the majority of their elders rely on TV,” said Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, eff orts to overturn or further re- short of taking our case against ties, called admitting privileges, off ers and the state was seeking Pew research analyst Elisa Shearer. “No more than half of those and Neil Gorsuch – dissented strict the legal right to abortion. Planned Parenthood,” Kansas at a local hospital. to cut funding “for reasons unre- (aged) 18 to 29 and 30 to 49 get news often from any one news from the decision by the nine- Thomas suggested that the Governor Jeff Colyer, a Republi- The cases from Kansas and lated to its qualifi cations”. platform.” member conservative-majority justices who rejected the appeals can, said in a statement. Louisiana did not challenge the In February, the Denver-based The report, based on a survey of 4,581 US adults in July and August, court, saying that it should have put politics over the law. Leana Wen, president of the constitutionality of abortion it- 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals highlights the ongoing woes of print newspapers, which have been heard the appeals by the states. “So what explains the court’s Planned Parenthood Federation self. ruled that Kansas could not block seeing steady readership declines for more than a decade. At least four justices must vote refusal to do its job here? I sus- of America, praised the court’s Many social and religious con- funding because states “may not A Pew study last year showed total US daily newspaper circulation to grant review for the court to pect it has something to do with action, saying in a statement: servatives in the United States terminate providers from their (print and digital combined) in 2017 was 31mn for weekday and 34mn hear an appeal. the fact that some respondents in “Every person has a fundamen- have argued against government Medicaid programme for any for Sunday, down 11% and 10%, respectively, from the previous year. Along with the four liberal these cases are named ‘Planned tal right to healthcare, no matter funding of Planned Parenthood, reason they see fi t”. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 11, 2018 15 ASIA

Myanmar Bangladesh poll campaigning court to hear Reuters reporters’ begins amid opposition arrests appeal AFP The 73-year-old’s support- Dhaka ers say the charges are politi- IANS cally motivated to keep Hasina’s Yangon chief rival out of the race. here is no opposition The BNP boycotted the 2014 candidate for prime min- election over fears it would be Myanmar court will hear Tister, hundreds have been rigged, allowing Hasina to be later this month the ap- arrested and incumbent premier re-elected unchallenged. Apeal of two Reuters re- Sheikh Hasina stands accused That election was con- porters jailed on charges of vio- of ignoring democratic checks demned by international lating a colonial-era Act while on her power, but Bangladesh observers. investigating the killing of Ro- began campaigning yesterday The opposition opted to con- hingya in the country, one of for a year-end election. test the ballot this time around, their lawyers said yesterday. More than 100mn people are but with just weeks to go before Lawyer Than Zaw Aung, who registered to vote on December voting day has not named any- is part of the legal team repre- 30 for either Hasina’s Awami one to run against Hasina. senting journalists Wa Lone, 32, League (AL) and its allies, or a Still, it has fi elded candidates in and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, told Efe beleaguered opposition that says all 300 constituencies and is count- news that the appeal hearing will it is being hobbled by police. ing on a groundswell of support begin on December 24. As the election campaign to overcome other hurdles. The journalists were arrested on was launched, with candidates “If there are free and fair the night of December 12, 2017, in holding processions and dis- polls, we will win,” Ahmed said. possession of documents which tributing leafl ets, the Bangla- The ruling party is confi dent they say had just been handed to desh Nationalist Party (BNP), of victory, and some independ- them by two police offi cers. which hopes to deny Hasina a ent polls suggest Hasina enjoys The reporters were investigat- record fourth term, said nearly broad support. ing a massacre of Muslim minor- 2,000 of its supporters had Her administration has pre- ity Rohingya in Inn Dinn village been arrested. sided over record economic of Rakhine state, for which seven Police said those detained growth during its decade in Myanmar soldiers were later since the election was an- power, and invested consider- sentenced to 10 years in prison nounced in November – in- ably in Bangladesh’s rickety with hard labour. cluding a number of candidates infrastructure. Authorities charged the re- about to hit the hustings – had “We are 100% certain that Awami League supporters march in the street as they take part in a general election campaign procession in Dhaka yesterday. porters under the Offi cial Secrets prior warrants for their arrest. people will vote for us because Act for obtaining confi dential But the opposition said Hasi- we worked for the people. We “There is no level playing fi eld Rapid Action Battalion said it ar- websites including several pro- transparent electoral process”. documents about the military na and her party were follow- have successfully maintained (in the campaign),” M Sakha- rested the acting editor of a news opposition news portals due to “They urge all political par- operation in Rakhine, which the ing a pre-election “blueprint” peace and prosperity,” Jahangir wat Hossain, a former election website “for publishing anti- “security reasons”. ties to meet their democratic army had launched after a series designed to stifl e her rivals and Kabir Nanak, a ruling party commissioner, said. state, false and fabricated news”. Human rights activists have responsibilities and to refrain of attacks by an insurgent Ro- intimidate their voters. spokesman, said. Critics say Hasina has drifted Sheikh Riad Muhamed Noor, said the social media clamp- from violence; and law enforce- hingya group on border posts on “The government wants But Hasina, 71, has refused toward authoritarianism, using 40, who also owns little-known down would stifl e dissent while ment agencies to strictly adhere August 25, 2017. to hold a lopsided election. to dissolve parliament and al- strict laws to muzzle dissent and 71.com, stands accused of “dis- the arrests and the disappear- to the rule of law,” according to a On September 3, a court in These arrests are just to cre- low a caretaker government to media freedom in the Muslim- torting the history of the coun- ance of opposition activists statement. Yangon declared the journalists ate fear among the people, so take over ahead of the election majority nation of 160mn. try’s liberation war”, Bina Rani have had a chilling eff ect on the Bangladesh has been led guilty and sentenced them to that they don’t go to vote,” BNP – breaking with long-standing Thousands were jailed after Das, a senior RAB offi cial, said. election. by either Zia or Hasina since seven years each in prison. spokesman Rizvi Ahmed said. democratic norms. massive student protests in July, It came two days after a pro-op- As the campaign began, the the 1990s. Around 725,000 Rohingya fl ed The sweep has further Experts said this removes including a respected interna- position cyber activist was detained European Union and several Their rivalry dates back 30 to Bangladesh following the vio- thinned the ranks of an opposi- limitations on government tional photographer whose de- by RAB over charges of spreading European nations called upon years but the pair were briefl y lent military off ensive in which tion whose veteran leader, Kha- power during the critical cam- tention and alleged beating drew false information, she added. the government and all stake- allies in the late 1980s, as they UN investigators found elements leda Zia, is already behind bars paign phase, undermining the international opprobrium. The country’s telecoms holders “to ensure a genu- joined forces to oust a military of genocide, crimes against hu- serving 10 years for graft. fairness of the poll. Yesterday, the country’s elite regulator has also blocked 58 ine, credible, inclusive and dictator from power. manity and war crimes. Cambodians demand respect for human rights Lanka’s ousted PM sets DPA Phnom Penh deadline to end crisis ambodian demonstra- tors gathered outside the Ccentre of Phnom Penh AFP Parliament has twice voted liament, which has twice voted to commemorate International Colombo against Rajapakse but Sirisena against Rajapakse. Human Rights Day yesterday, has refused to reinstate his A court of appeal last week after authorities prohibited a former ally Wickremesinghe – also stripped Rajapakse and his march through the capital’s ri Lanka’s ousted prime even if he has the numbers on cabinet of their authority until streets, a local rights organisa- minister promised yes- the fl oor. he could prove his right to hold tion said. Sterday to bring tens of The country’s Supreme offi ce. Hundreds of people sang and thousands of supporters to the Court is ruling this week on The war-era strongman, made speeches demanding re- capital next week for a massive whether Sirisena’s sacking of backed by the president, has spect for human rights despite demonstration unless Presi- parliament in November was ignored parliament, and has a “massive security force de- dent Maithripala Sirisena rein- unconstitutional. named a cabinet and assumed ployment” and being forced to stated him imminently. Wickremesinghe – who is the duties of prime minister. gather away from the 0eyes of Ranil Wickremesinghe, confi dent of a ruling against But the 225-member legisla- the general public, local rights whose dismissal in October Sirisena – said tens of thou- ture has blocked his offi ce from group Licadho said in a state- plunged Sri Lanka into cri- sands of the party faithful spending any funds, worsening ment. sis, said he still commanded would rally in Colombo if the the acrimony between the Authorities last week denied the support of parliament and president did not heed the factions. a request by organisers to march Sirisena had until Friday to rec- court. The chamber has witnessed through Phnom Penh, instead ognise that. “After the court ruling, we violence in recent weeks as the authorising the demonstrators Sri Lanka has been trapped will launch our “People Power’ power struggle dragged on, with to gather in Freedom Park, about A Cambodian demonstrator, left, displays the UN flag as she shouts slogans during a rally marking Inter- in a bitter power feud since campaign to force the president brawls between warring sides. 4km north of the capital’s cen- national Human Rights Day in Phnom Penh yesterday. Sirisena replaced Wickremes- to end the crisis,” he said in a Last week, Wickremesinghe tre, Licadho’s director Naly Pi- inghe with Mahinda Rajapakse, statement. likened Sirisena to Hitler, his lorge said. anniversary of the Universal about security and public order. ister Hun Sen, that it intended a controversial former strong- Wickremesinghe has cob- strongest comment yet direct- “The government decided Declaration of Human Rights “We arrange it for people to to “strengthen democracy” and man leader. bled together a majority in par- ed at his former ally. to make International Human and is also a public holiday in express their opinion,” Meas- “improve the political climate.” Rights Day an offi cial holiday, Cambodia. pheakdey said. Cambodia’s main opposition so why aren’t people allowed to City Hall spokesman Met The demonstration follows party was outlawed at the gov- celebrate?” Pilorge said, adding Measpheakdey said that demon- a statement last week from the ernment’s request last year and that demonstrators were out- strators were allowed to celebrate government, which has been was prevented from participat- Labour movement numbered by security forces. the anniversary, but were not al- led for more than 30 years by ing in elections swept by the rul- December 10 marks the 70th lowed to march due to concerns the ruling party of Prime Min- ing party in July.

Flash floods kill two in Vietnam Flash floods have killed two Twitter CEO under fi re people in central Vietnam, state media reported yesterday, as waters continued to rise across the region. over Myanmar tweets The bodies of Lu Thi Tu Anh, 63, and Nguyen Lu Van Anh, 35, were Reuters Rohingya refugees say sol- stayed at a monastery during both found washed up in Quang Singapore diers and Buddhist civilians the retreat, as well as an analy- Tri province on Sunday, the killed families, burned many sis of his heart rate while medi- Vnexpress news site reported. villages and carried out gang tating. There was no reference They had been washed away the witter CEO Jack Dorsey rapes. UN-mandated investi- to the plight of the Rohingya in day before. has come under fi re for gators have accused Myanmar’s any of the tweets. Towns across central Vietnam Ttweets about his medi- army of “genocidal intent”. “I’m no expert on meditation, began reporting rapid flooding tation retreat in Myanmar and Myanmar has denied the al- but is it supposed to make you at the weekend as the region encouraging people to visit the legations, saying its forces en- so self-obsessed that you forget was hit by an unseasonal country without mentioning gaged in a counter-insurgency to mention you’re in a country monsoon. what the United Nations has de- operation against “terrorists”. where the military has commit- Much of the port city of Da Nang scribed as “ethnic cleansing” of “Myanmar is an absolutely ted mass killings & mass rape, was underwater early Monday the Rohingya Muslim minority. beautiful country. The people are forcing hundreds of thousands after 635mm of rain fell between More than 730,000 Ro- full of joy and the food is amaz- to fl ee, in one of today’s big- 7pm Saturday and 7pm Sunday, hingya fl ed a sweeping army ing. I visited the cities of Yangon, gest humanitarian disasters?,” the most in a 24-hour period in crackdown in Myanmar’s Ra- Mandalay, and Bagan. We visited tweeted Andrew Stroehlein, 10 years. khine state in 2017, according and meditated at many monas- the European media director of The National Hydro- to UN agencies. The crackdown teries around the country,” Dor- Human Rights Watch. Meteorological Forecasting was launched in response to sey tweeted on Sunday. Twitter spokeswoman Kate Center predicted another insurgent Rohingya attacks on His tweets included pictures Hayes said in an email she had 200mm would fall in the region Workers travel on a truck to a construction site in Bangkok yesterday. security forces. of the barren room where he no comment on the criticism. yesterday. (DPA) Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, December 11, 2018 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Japanese group sues over emperor’s enthronement funding

AFP a lawsuit fi led at Tokyo District has not been made public but the rites related to Naruhito’s en- prayer for a bountiful harvest and tion the relationship between the said it cannot deny the suspicion Tokyo Court, arguing that funding what government has said it will fol- thronement. for peace — Shin told AFP. emperor and the Japanese peo- that some ceremonies violate the they say are religious ceremonies low precedent. Koichi Shin, one Speaking at a press confer- “These are religious ceremo- ple.” The plaintiff s are also seek- principle of separation of religion from the national budget violates of the plaintiff s, said the ceremo- ence late last month, Akishino nies based on imperial Shinto- ing damages of 10,000 yen ($90) and state. “At the last enthrone- ore than 200 Japanese the constitutional separation of nies in 1990 — after Akihito as- said the Daijosai ritual that will ism,” a highly ritualistic form each for emotional distress over ment, some 1,700 plaintiff s fi led citizens, including religion and state. cended the throne — cost around take place in November next year of an ancient Japanese religion, the issue, he said. lawsuits, and there was a certain Mmembers of Christian It is believed to be the fi rst 12.3bn yen at the time ($108mn at “has a highly religious nature.” “I Shin said. Similar suits were fi led against public support,” Shin said. groups and Buddhist monks, sued suit of its kind fi led over Crown the current exchange rate). wonder if it is appropriate to fi - A lawyer representing the the government when Akihito After the May enthronement, the government yesterday over Prince Naruhito’s ascent to the The suit comes after Prince nance this highly religious thing plaintiff s, who requested not to was enthroned upon the death the government also plans to its plan to use taxpayer money for Chrysanthemum throne, set for Akishino, the emperor’s younger with state funds,” he said. The be identifi ed, said although the of his father Emperor Hirohito in hold two major ceremonies, one ceremonies next year to mark the May 1, the day after his father son, issued rare public criticism plaintiff s are seeking to suspend main logic in the lawsuit is sepa- 1989. in October and the other in No- new emperor’s enthronement. Emperor Akihito abdicates. The of the government over plans to the spending of state funds for ration of religion and state, “this All the cases at that time were vember, following the example of About 240 people have joined budget for next year’s ceremonies spend state funds on religious rituals including the Daijosai — a is also an opportunity to ques- thrown out, but one upper court 30 years ago. China slams ‘inhumane’ treatment of Huawei CFO New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern AFP jected suggestions that the case Beijing could aff ect the negotiations, as the two sides face a March 1 deadline to reach an agreement. hina yesterday ratcheted Meng’s arrest “shouldn’t re- Ardern apologises up its protest over the ar- ally have much of an impact” on Crest of an executive of tel- the talks, Lighthizer told CBS’s ecom giant Huawei on a US war- Face the Nation, although he to family of British rant in Canada, calling reports conceded that the Chinese side of her treatment “inhumane” as might see it that way. “For us, it’s she seeks her release on bail for unrelated” to trade policy mat- tourist killed in NZ health reasons. China’s latest ti- ters. “It’s criminal justice.” rade over the case came as Meng Separately, White House eco- Wanzhou, the daughter of the nomic advisor Larry Kudlow Reuters sorry for that,” Ardern said. A company’s founder, faces a Ca- denied reports that Trump was Wellington 26-year-old man appeared in nadian court’s decision on bail “livid” that the arrest of Meng an Auckland court yesterday later Monday in Vancouver. occurred while the US leader charged with murdering Mil- Meng’s arrest on December dined with Xi. ew Zealand Prime lane. He was questioned by 1 has infuriated Beijing, rocking “He didn’t know,” Kudlow told Minister Jacinda Ard- police after being seen with stock markets and raising ten- Fox News Sunday. “He learned Nern fought back tears Millane at several places. sions amid a truce in the US- way later.” as she apologised yesterday The man requested that his China trade war. Canadian Prime Minister to the family of a 22-year-old name be suppressed in media A Chinese vice foreign min- Justin Trudeau has said politics British woman who was killed coverage but this was declined ister summoned the US and played no part in the decision to while she was on a backpack- by judge Evangelos Thomas, Canadian ambassadors at the arrest Meng. While the White ing tour, two days after a man according to Radio New Zea- weekend, demanding that the House denies any connection was charged with the Briton’s land (RNZ). US withdraw its arrest warrant between the trade talks and the murder. However, his lawyer Ian and warning Canada that it faces arrest, US concerns about secu- The killing has shocked resi- Brookie appealed against the “grave consequences”. Chinese police off icers stand guard outside the Canadian embassy in Beijing. rity linked to the ambitions of dents of New Zealand, where judge’s decision and the man Meng, 46, faces US fraud Chinese high-tech companies serious crimes are relatively cannot be identifi ed until a de- charges related to alleged sanc- China’s state-run Global ties. Last year, dissident Nobel than 30 years in prison. The ex- and the alleged theft of intellec- rare and camping in remote cision on that appeal is made, tions-breaking dealings with Times newspaper reported, Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo tradition process could take tual property are at the heart of mountains and farmlands is RNZ reported. The man was Iran. In a 55-page sworn affi davit, without citing sources, that “it died of liver cancer while in cus- months, even years, if appeals are the trade dispute. widely regarded as safe for remanded in custody until he Meng said she has suff ered from seems that the Canadian deten- tody after China rejected inter- made in the case. Huawei has denied any ties tourists and New Zealanders appears in court in January. severe hypertension for years and tion facility is not off ering her national appeals to let him travel Meng said she has ties to Van- to the Chinese government, but alike. Thomas also addressed mem- has been treated in a Canadian the necessary health care”. “We abroad for treatment. couver that go back 15 years. She many in Washington and other Grace Millane, who was bers of Millane’s family, who hospital since her arrest. “I con- believe this is inhumane and vio- The international community and her husband own several Western capitals are sceptical travelling the world after fi n- travelled from Britain to New tinue to feel unwell and I am wor- lates her human rights,” foreign has voiced concern about reports properties in the city, and she and have raised security con- ishing university, went missing Zealand and attended yester- ried about my health deteriorat- ministry spokesman Lu Kang that up to 1mn Uighurs and other even had a Canadian permanent cerns. in Auckland, New Zealand’s day’s court hearing. ing while I am incarcerated,” the said at a regular press briefi ng, mostly Muslim minorities are residency permit that she has US federal law already bans largest city, on December 1. “I don’t know what to say to document read. citing such reports. held in internment camps in the since renounced. military and government use of Police found Millane’s body you at this time but your grief Meng said that she has had Lu also said the Canadian gov- northwest region of Xinjiang. In Analysts say her arrest could devices made by Huawei and on Sunday in a bush area just a must be desperate,” Thomas “numerous health problems” ernment did not immediately a bail hearing that was adjourned be used as a bargaining chip in fellow Chinese fi rm ZTE. Infl u- few metres from a scenic drive said, according to RNZ. “We during her life, including surgery notify the Chinese embassy or on Friday, Canadian Crown pros- trade negotiations between the ential Republican Senator Marco in Auckland’s Waitakere Rang- all hope justice will be fair and for thyroid cancer in 2011. “I wish consulate about Meng’s arrest, as ecutor John Gibb-Carsley asked United States and China. Meng Rubio told Face the Nation that es. The body had not yet been swift and ultimately brings you to remain in Vancouver to contest it should have under a consular for bail to be denied, saying Meng was arrested the same day that he plans to reintroduce legisla- formally identifi ed but police some peace.” my extradition and I will contest agreement. China has itself faced has been accused of “conspiracy presidents Donald Trump and Xi tion that would ban companies said they believed it to be that Tributes poured in for the the allegations at trial in the US global criticism over its human to defraud multiple fi nancial in- Jinping agreed to a 90-day trade like Huawei from doing business of Millane. young backpacker from Es- if I am ultimately surrendered,” rights record and treatment of stitutions”. war truce. But US Trade Repre- in the US because they “pose a “On behalf of New Zea- sex, with fl owers placed near she said. detained activists and minori- If convicted, she faces more sentative Robert Lighthizer re- threat to our national interests.” land, I want to apologise to the spot where her body was Grace’s family,” Ardern told found. Nationwide candlelight a weekly news conference vigils are being planned. Australian in parliament. There was an The case has also sparked overwhelming sense of hurt a debate on Twitter about watchdog wants On the red carpet and shame among New Zea- whether New Zealand was still a regulator for landers that this happened in safe for female backpackers their country, she said. “Your and whether the killing would dominant Google, daughter should have been safe discourage women from trav- Facebook here and she wasn’t, and I am elling alone.

Australia’s competition watchdog yesterday Two killed as Hong Kong school bus recommended tougher scrutiny and a new regulatory mounts pavement, traps passengers body to check the dominance of tech giants Facebook Inc Two people were killed when a school bus mounted a pavement in and Alphabet Inc’s Google a crowded Hong Kong neighbourhood yesterday, trapping passers- in the country’s online by underneath and injuring 13, police said. An elderly woman and advertising and news markets. a man were killed after the yellow school bus ran over a pavement The recommendation, in a in the downtown North Point district, with photographs in local preliminary report on the US media showing victims sprawled on the ground while others firms’ market power, is being received medical treatment at the scene. The vehicle rolled down closely watched around the the street after it was parked, terrifying passers-by as the driver world as lawmakers wrestle ran towards it and tried in vain to stop it, the South China Morning with the powerful tech firms’ Post reported, citing an online video clip. It crashed into a building large and growing influence in a narrow lane lined with shops as stationery and toy guns spilled in public life, from privacy to onto the bloodstained street. At least four people were left in a publishing. It comes days after coma, a police spokesperson told AFP. Hong Kong prides itself on Australia passed laws forcing having one of the world’s best public transport systems but deadly tech companies to help police bus accidents are not unknown. Five people were killed and 32 access private user data, injured when a coach carrying Cathay Pacific staff to Hong Kong’s and amid growing concern airport collided with a taxi last month. A speeding double-decker from authorities worldwide overturned in northern Hong Kong in February, killing 19 people about the giants’ commercial and leaving more than 60 injured. The bus driver was arrested for behaviour and distribution of Members of South Korean boy band Wanna One pose on the red carpet at the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) in Seoul yesterday. dangerous driving. And in 2003 a double-decker bus collided with a so-called “fake news”. “When truck and plummeted off a bridge, killing 21 people and injuring 20. you get to a certain stage and you get market power, which both Google and Facebook have, with that comes special responsibilities and that means, also, additional scrutiny,” Australian China cracks down on unoffi cial Christian church Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Chairman Rod Sims told reporters in AFP gious worship. The police sweep clear how many are detained or continued. “They didn’t let any- or “underground” churches like churches, especially larger es- Sydney. Beijing occurred Sunday night, accord- unaccounted for. “Most church one get close.” the Early Rain Covenant Church, tablishments like the Early Rain He said the companies’ ing to a statement from the Early members were taken from their Sichuan police declined to and state-sanctioned churches Covenant, which has at least 500 enormous market share - Rain Covenant Church, which is homes, and some were grabbed comment. Chengdu police did where Communist Party songs church members, have faced in- Google has a 94% share of ozens of members of a based in Chengdu, the capital of off the street,” one churchgoer not immediately respond to also feature in the order of serv- creasing pressure. In September, web searches in Australia prominent unoffi cial Sichuan province. told AFP, requesting anonym- AFP’s request for comment. ice. Beijing offi cials shut down Zion — and opaque methods for DProtestant church and Several church leaders, in- ity. “Some were found via their China’s offi cially atheist gov- Catholics are similarly divided Church, one of China’s largest ranking advertisements their pastor have gone miss- cluding pastor Wang Yi, were smartphone’s location and were ernment is wary of any organised between unoffi cial churches led unoffi cial Protestant churches, gave the firms the ability ing in southwest China after detained, several parishioners taken away.” movements outside its own con- by bishops recognised by the for operating without a licence and incentive to favour authorities raided their homes, told AFP on condition of ano- “The police had the whole trol, including religious ones. Vatican and those who follow of- — before ordering it to pay back their businesses over churchgoers said yesterday, amid nymity. At least 80 people are neighbourhood under control, as Christians in the country are fi cial prelates. 1.2mn yuan ($170,000) in rent advertisers’. increasing restrictions on reli- missing, they said, but it was un- well as the surrounding area,” he split between unoffi cial “house” This year, underground and removal costs. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 11, 2018 17 BRITAIN EU court cites union goal to let UK stop Brexit

Reuters livered just 36 hours before it ex- The heightened uncertainty ly on the grounds that otherwise made clear Britain could still in Scotland’s devolved govern- without a deal or not leave at all. Luxembourg/Brussels pected the British parliament to over how and even whether Brit- governments could use threats extend that deadline by up to a ment, noted most Scots voted The ECJ argued that a national vote on a Brexit deal agreed with ain can arrange to leave the bloc of withdrawal to gain advantage. year, as long as all 27 other mem- against Brexit and said the judg- right to leave should be matched the EU by Prime Minister Theresa lent even greater signifi cance to It followed an opinion last week bers agreed. ment “exposes as false the idea by an equally sovereign right to he European Union’s top May, the Court of Justice (ECJ) the judges’ decision. by a court legal adviser which had Britain’s foreign minister Jer- that the only choice is between reverse that, as long as that deci- court yesterday ruled that said: “The UK is free to revoke uni- May rejects holding a new boosted hope among Brexit op- emy Hunt said the ruling was ir- bad deal negotiated by the UK sion is made before withdrawal. Tthe British government laterally the notifi cation of its in- Brexit referendum but her hold ponents that a new referendum relevant as the government would government or the disaster of no It cited the EU treaty goal of may reverse its decision to leave tention to withdraw from the EU.” on offi ce is looking shaky. could be held that would prevent not change course, and warned deal”. “ever closer union among the the bloc without consulting May later postponed that vote The ruling, clarifying Article Britain’s scheduled departure on that the 52% of Britons who voted The court itself said it had peoples of Europe” — a clause other member states, a decision in the face of defeat, setting up 50 of the EU treaty, rejected ar- March 29, 2019. to leave the EU in a June 2016 ref- ruled with unprecedented haste particularly hated by Brexit welcomed by those campaigning tense new talks with EU lead- guments put forward by the EU The court ruled any revoca- erendum would be “shocked and to show British lawmakers they campaigners — to justify arguing to stop Brexit. ers she will meet at a summit on executive, which said other EU tion of Brexit must be made be- very angry” if it did. have three options not two — that states cannot be forced out In an emergency judgment de- Thursday and Friday. states would need to agree, part- fore withdrawal takes eff ect and Michael Russell, a minister leave on agreed terms, leave of the Union.

WHAT NEXT?

The fate of May, her deal and her government appears highly uncertain, with hardliners from her own Conservative Party threatening a leadership Brexit in challenge, and a no-confidence vote in her government also possible. Here are some of the most probable scenarios: Tweaks to the deal: May vowed to “go to see” her European counterparts to discuss MPs turmoil as PM concerns ahead of a summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, seeking “further assurances” over the so-called “backstop plan” for the Irish border. But Brexiteers are demand- ing she entirely overhaul this pulls vote on contentious element of the pro- posal before trying again to put the deal to a vote in the House of Commons. In any case EU leaders have already rejected the prospect of renegotiating any part of the backstop, which divorce deal is contained within the legally- binding withdrawal agreement. Reuters attempt to forge a compromise the rest of the United Kingdom. European sources privately say London under which the UK would exit The EU is due to hold a sum- only tweaks in the accompany- the EU while staying largely mit on December 13-14. ing declaration on post-Brexit within its economic orbit. May said the deeper question ties might be possible, which rime Minister Theresa It was not immediately clear was whether parliament wanted are not legally enforceable. May yesterday abruptly whether the EU’s 27 other mem- to deliver on the will of the people Norway option: With MPs hav- Ppostponed a parliamenta- bers, which have a combined eco- for Brexit, or open up the divisions ing more of a say in the process, ry vote on her Brexit deal, throw- nomic might six times that of the in the world’s fi fth largest econo- it is possible they could push for a ing Britain’s plan to leave the UK, would countenance changes my with another referendum. “plan B”, which would see Britain European Union into chaos after which would convince her domes- “If you take a step back, it adopt a softer Brexit, such as admitting that she faced a rout. tic opponents to support a deal. is clear that this house faces a staying in the EU’s satellite trad- May’s move on the eve of the The leader of the opposition much more fundamental ques- ing bloc the European Economic scheduled parliamentary vote Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, tion: does this house want to de- Area — the so-called Norway op- opens up an array of possible said Britain no longer had “a liver Brexit?” May asked. tion. Although being in the single outcomes ranging from a dis- functioning government” and Her decision to halt the vote market would require maintain- orderly Brexit without a deal, a called on May to “make way” for came just hours after the EU’s ing freedom of movement of EU last-minute deal clinched just a Labour government. top court, the Court of Justice, citizens into Britain — a conten- weeks before Britain’s March 29 Other smaller parties, such said in an emergency judgment tious issue for May and many exit, or another EU referendum. as the Scottish nationalists and that London could revoke its pro-Brexit voters — this approach Announcing the delay, May the Liberal Democrats, said they Article 50 formal divorce notice is considered more likely to com- was laughed at by some lawmak- would support a vote of no-con- with no penalty. mand a majority in parliament ers when she said there was broad fi dence in May’s government. “The United Kingdom is free to and potentially pass a vote. support for her deal reached with May indicated she was seeking revoke unilaterally the notifi ca- No-deal Brexit: Britain has the EU last month, the result of 18 further assurances from the EU tion of its intention to withdraw legislated to leave the European months of tortuous negotiations, on the working of the backstop from the EU,” the court said. Union on March 29, 2019, after and that she had listened care- — an insurance policy to avoid a The timing of the ruling on the triggering Article 50 — the fully to diff erent views over it. return to border checks between eve of the British parliamentary treaty mechanism used to exit With her position at home the British province of North- vote was no coincidence — the the bloc — two years prior. May in open jeopardy, May said she ern Ireland and the EU-member court said it had ruled with un- has warned that if MPs vote would go back to the EU and seek Irish Republic, and would seek to precedented haste to ensure that down her plan the country reassurances over the so-called give the British parliament more British lawmakers would under- risks crashing out on this date Irish backstop, aimed at ensur- power over its application. stand their options. with no agreement. That would ing there will be no return to a May said that other EU leaders May said the result of the 2016 sever ties overnight with its hard border on the island of Ire- were open to a discussion about referendum, in which 17.4mn vot- closest trading partner, amid land as a result of Brexit. the backstop, though Germany’s ers, or 52%, backed Brexit while fears of grounded flights, medi- “If we went ahead and held the foreign minister said he could 16.1mn, or 48%, backed staying in cine shortages and gridlocked vote now the deal would be rejected not see what could be changed in the EU, should be honoured. ports and motorways. The Bank by a signifi cant margin,” May told the 585-page deal. The United Kingdom will leave of England has warned of a parliament, adding that she was “Please, prime minister, re- as planned on March 29, she said. financial crisis, slashing house confi dent it was the right deal. ally do start listening and come John Bercow, speaker of the prices and crashing the pound. “We will therefore defer the back with changes to the with- lower house of parliament, Second referendum: Calls for vote and not proceed to divide drawal agreement or it will be called for lawmakers to be given a new referendum now attract the House at this time,” May said. voted down,” said Nigel Dodds, a vote on the decision to defer significant cross-party support The UK would meanwhile step deputy leader of the Northern the vote on the deal itself. “I po- from dozens of MPs. May has up contingency planning for a Irish party which props up May’s litely suggest that in any courte- repeatedly ruled out another no-deal Brexit when it is due to minority government. ous, respectful and mature en- vote but could face pressure to leave on March 29. The Democratic Unionist vironment, allowing the house call one if Britain slips into politi- The vote postponement marks Party are upset as the backstop to have a say would be the right cal paralysis. Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement in the House of Commons in London yesterday. what many lawmakers cast as could align Northern Ireland and, dare I say it, the obvious the collapse of May’s two-year more closely with the EU than course to take,” Bercow said. Govt spends £100,000 Pound falls to lowest on Facebook adverts in almost two years Guardian News and Media its worst (days) since the 2016 London referendum, adding that “the Government has spent Diff erent adverts were tai- Conservatives spent a further government (had) left investors £96,684 in past week on lored to diff erent audiences, £40,000 of their own money in completely in the dark about Facebook ads backing with men more likely than the last week buying Facebook he pound has dropped to what happens next”. Theresa May’s deal women to see government ads to promote Theresa May’s its lowest level for almost Analysts said the decision to adverts stating that the deal deal, a decision that could an- Ttwo years amid the grow- delay the Brexit vote had pushed Guardian News and Media would help Britain cut levels of ger Tory activists who support ing risks to the economy from up the chances of a damaging London immigration. a hard Brexit. political paralysis over Brexit no-deal scenario, while lack of There were also ads to sell The People’s Vote campaign and on a no-deal scenario. clarity over the outcome would the deal in the constituent for a second referendum spent Theresa May’s decision to further weigh on business and he UK government has countries of the UK, with short £47,000 arguing that the deal delay the parliamentary vote on consumer spending plans. spent almost £100,000 videos specifi cally made for satisfi es no one and urging her Brexit plan to avoid an em- Economists at the Capital Tof taxpayers’ money in Scotland, Wales, and Northern people to demand a fresh vote. barrassing defeat for the gov- Economics consultancy said the the last week buying Facebook Ireland. The pro-Brexit group Brit- ernment sent sterling tumbling chances of May’s deal passing adverts in a bid to convince The data is contained in ain’s Future spent more than by more than 1.3% against the the parliamentary vote in future, the public to support Theresa Facebook’s new political ad- £21,000 in the last week on dollar and by more than 1.1% whenever it was held, was about May’s Brexit deal – only for the vertising transparency tools, Facebook adverts encouraging against the euro on the foreign 40%, with similar odds for a no- key vote to be delayed. which were fi nally launched the public to e-mail their MP exchanges. deal Brexit. It gave a 20% chance The adverts were promoted last month in response to criti- and tell them to reject the deal. The pound slumped below to a second referendum or a with the hashtag BackThe- cism about the role of social The campaign group is run by $1.26 to the lowest level since longer period of membership in BrexitDeal and off ered short media advertising and so- scriptwriter Tim Dawson. The April 2017 after the prime the EU beyond the March 2019 videos promoted using civil called “dark ads” during the EU Britain’s Future website en- minister said her Brexit plan deadline for Article 50. service resources and linking referendum. courages the public to send in would have been rejected by a Ruth Gregory, the senior UK to an offi cial government web- The new rules require politi- donations to support its pro- “significant margin” in a Com- economist at the firm, said the site called The Brexit Deal Ex- cal advertisers to verify they are Brexit campaigns, although it is mons vote pencilled in for to- delay was “kicking the can fur- plained. based at a UK postal address unclear if that is enough to pay day. Sterling was worth $1.2565 ther down the road”, adding: Although Facebook does not and create a public archive of all for the advertising campaign. against the dollar late on Mon- “We would not be surprised give precise data on who was such content, although they do Labour did not pay for any day and €1.1050 against the if Brexit uncertainty – which targeted, the publicly-funded not give complete clarity over adverts promoting the party’s euro. we estimate has knocked 0.5 adverts in support of the deal the ultimate fi nancial backer Brexit position and the central Neil Wilson, the chief market percentage points off growth cost £96,684 and were shown of a political advertising cam- party was outspent on all Fa- analyst at the fi nancial trading since the referendum – starts at least 5mn times in the last paign. cebook advertising in the last Pro and anti-Brexit demonstrators stand outside the Houses of company markets.com, said the to weigh more heavily on the week. The data shows that the week by the Liberal Democrats. Parliament in London yesterday. pound had experienced one of economy.” Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, December 11, 2018 BRITAIN

Pharmaceutical fi rms fl ayed for encouraging drugs’ over-use

Daily Mail army of people” from pharma- pills and diabetes medication are standably want to sell them, there land’s chief pharmaceutical of- patients who demand any un- clinically appropriate. London ceutical fi rms was pushing their among the most used. is a small army of people pushing fi cer Dr Keith Ridge to carry out necessary medication. “A really good example is type use. He said it was up to the NHS Announcing his review, the the use of drugs. There isn’t a coun- the review. Many GPs say they are pres- 2 diabetes, where nutritional ad- to resist that pressure. health secretary said he wanted tervailing army of people saying It will look at reducing poly- sured by patients to prescribe a vice or support to lose weight can he drugs industry is fac- In an interview with the Mail, GPs to advise more patients to you don’t need the drugs, you can pharmacy – putting patients on drug, even when they don’t think get you off diabetes drugs and ing a crackdown for en- Hancock revealed that 20 pre- join walking groups, take part in change behaviour instead. multiple drugs, including ones it will do any good. He said: “I’ve help tackle the underlying prob- Tcouraging doctors to over- scriptions were written per head coff ee mornings or do some gar- “It’s the role of the NHS to lean used solely to combat the side- sat next to GPs who are telling me lem, rather than simply manage prescribe medicines – many of of population each year – a rise of dening or volunteering. against the pressure from drug eff ects of others. about the challenge of a patient the condition.” He praised Tom which may not actually be help- a third in just a decade. Such “social prescribing” has companies to always use more GPs will also be urged to call who says, ‘I want a prescription’. Watson, the deputy leader of the ing patients. He said half of over-75s were been shown to be eff ective against drugs. I’ve been concerned by patients in for medication re- “I want to empower GPs to use Labour Party, who reversed his Health Secretary Matt Han- taking fi ve or more prescriptions dementia, heart disease, type 2 di- the scale of the rise over the past views to see whether there are social prescribing and advice – type 2 diabetes with diet and ex- cock has ordered a review into at a time. abetes, depression and loneliness. decade, and we’ve got to query any pills they can stop taking. nutritional advice, smoking ces- ercise alone. A record 1.1bn pre- the public’s reliance on prescrip- Antidepressants, heart fail- Hancock said: “Because drugs whether that’s right.” The health secretary also sation advice or advice on how scriptions were written in 2017, tion drugs, warning that a “small ure drugs, high blood pressure are made by companies who under- He has instructed NHS Eng- wants to doctors to say ‘No’ to much people drink – when that’s up nearly 40% in 10 years. Concern as Charity initiative drug-driving hits record high

Daily Mail This year’s drug-drive opera- London tion was carried out from June 14 to July 15, but the results have only just been released by the he number of drug-drivers National Police Chiefs Council. caught on Britain’s roads They come at a time when road Thas hit a record level, fi g- policing is being squeezed across ures revealed yesterday. the country as over-stretched In a nationwide police crack- forces make violent crime a pri- down, an average of 37 motorists ority. a day failed tests for banned sub- The number of dedicated traf- stances. fi c police has been cut by around The fi gure represented more 30% in a decade from 3,766 in than half of those stopped by of- 2007, to 2,643 in 2017. Some fi cers. forces like Northamptonshire Accidents involving drug- Police have recorded an 83% de- drivers also rose by more than cline in roads offi cers. 50% compared with a similar A major forensic scandal has operation last year. also halted many drug-driv- Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond takes part in activities with guests from the Starlight Children’s Foundation at the annual Christmas Party at 11 Downing Street Alarmingly, police stopped ing prosecutions. Last week in London yesterday. The chancellor welcomed guests of the Starlight Children’s Foundation into No 11 Downing Street, along with several celebrity patrons and supporters. fewer drivers in this year’s op- it emerged that 50 cases were Starlight Children’s Foundation is a non-profit organisation founded in 1982 for hospitalised kids and their families. eration, but the rate at which abandoned due to alleged test motorists failed roadside tests tampering at a forensic lab in for substances such as cannabis Manchester that has thrown or cocaine increased. 10,500 cases into jeopardy. Campaigners said the latest RAC spokesman Simon Wil- fi gures illustrated the scale of the liams said: “These fi gures are problem. shocking, especially the rise in The statistics are also likely drug drivers involved in collisions. to strengthen the arguments Motorists tell us that they want to against any further moves to le- see more police on the roads, be- galise cannabis in the UK. cause other than tackling speed Delayed Crossrail ‘to cost A spokesman for the road through cameras, there are lots of safety charity Brake said: “These off ences that seem to go unchal- shocking fi gures highlight the lenged because there are less traf- prevalence of drug-driving fi c police. And when there are less on our roads and must act as a police cars on the road, people feel wake-up call.” they can get away with it.” £3bn more than planned’ During the month-long op- Drug-driving is responsible for eration by 38 police forces, offi cers about 320 deaths and serious in- Guardian News and Media tumn 2019 – postponed just for London jointly chipped in an priority must be getting this ship infrastructure project, stopped a total of 1,962 motorists juries every year. Tests by the de- London over three months ago from extra £300mn in July, the gov- monumental project com- whose leaders had long boasted after they were seen driving errati- partment of transport reveal that the original date of December ernment department will loan pleted as soon as possible, that it was being constructed on cally, or had been involved in an ac- one in six drivers killed in crashes 9, 2018 – is no longer viable. the Greater London Authority with Londoners enjoying all time and on budget. cident. Some 1,108 of those – 57%, had taken illegal substances. rossrail could now cost A new opening date has yet to £1.3bn and a further £750mn to the benefits the Elizabeth line Wild said it was “evident that or an average of 37 a day – tested Despite calls by some to legal- almost £3bn more than be set. TfL for contingencies in the lat- will provide.” The documents there is a huge amount still to positive for banned substances. ise cannabis in the UK, studies in Cbudgeted, and the open- Crucial parts of the infra- est bailout. The GLA will also show that Crossrail executives do”. He said his team was “work- In last year’s crackdown, some the US have shown an increase ing of the rail line across London structure for the east-west rail contribute an extra £100mn had flagged up that its opening ing to establish a robust and de- 1,084 motorists failed drug tests in the number of car crashes in is set to be further delayed until line across the capital, includ- cash. date was at risk from July, but liverable schedule” before con- out of a total of 2,022 – or 53%. The states where the drug is no longer at least 2020. ing stations and tunnel interiors, “It has been increasingly weekly official briefing notes fi rming a credible opening date. proportion was only 40% when an outlawed. A fresh bailout announced have yet to be completed. The clear that the previous Crossrail to the mayor as late as August The National Audit Offi ce is operation was carried out in 2016. The surge in the number of Brit- yesterday by the mayor, Sadiq complex signalling system will leadership painted a far too op- 21 continued to state that cen- planning to investigate Cross- This year’s fi gures showed 74 col- ish drivers being caught follows Khan, and the department for also need extensive safety and timistic picture of the project’s tral London services would rail. lisions involving drug-drivers – a the introduction of new ‘drugalys- transport (DfT), includes loans reliability testing. status,” Khan said. “I have or- start on December 9. Khan said the KPMG reports 54% rise on the 48 accidents last er’ testing kits. Using a saliva swab of up to £2.05bn to London. It Reviews by the accountancy dered the release of all Crossrail Tony Meggs, the chief execu- and minutes of board meetings summer. In another alarming to allow police to identify sub- means the fi nal bill for Crossrail fi rm KPMG of Crossrail’s fi - board minutes in the last fi ve tive of the Infrastructure and would all be published in the in- fi nding, the rate of positive drug stances within minutes. The kits could reach £17.6bn, instead of nancing and governance ar- years to provide transparency Projects Authority, was due to terests of transparency. test results was far greater than can detect up to 17 drugs including the £14.8bn it was expected to rangements, commissioned by to Londoners on their decision- be ratifi ed as the new chair of The Elizabeth line, as Cross- that for drink-driving. cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy, as cost as recently as June. Khan and the department for making, and working with the Crossrail after Sir Terry Morgan rail will be known, should even- In a similar crackdown, just well as prescription drugs typi- A review of the project by transport, found the delay to DfT, brought in a new leadership quit last week. tually carry more than half a 10% of motorists who took road- cally used for insomnia or anxiety the new Crossrail chief execu- completion would be likely to team. TfL said that it was only just million passengers a day, linking side alcohol breath tests were that have been taken above pre- tive, Mark Wild, has found that cost between £1.6bn and £2bn. “With London’s popula- becoming clear how much work Heathrow, the West End, Canary found to be over the limit. scribed doses. the planned opening in au- After the DfT and Transport tion continuing to grow, our was left unfi nished on the fl ag- Wharf and beyond.

Fun time ‘Digital passports’ for Airport protesters found NHS volunteers soon guilty of terror off ence volunteer in the NHS,” said Han- Daily Mail London cock. “I want to introduce a vol- Guardian News and media In a statement released by the Gahan, Benjamin Smoke, Jyo- unteer passport so that checks London group after the verdict was read tsna Ram, Nicholas Sigsworth, that is important people undergo out, the defendants said: “We Alistair Temlit, Edward Thacker, ‘volunteer passport’ is to can be done once and then some- are guilty of nothing more than Emma Hughes, May McKeith, be introduced to make it body is approved and trained to ifteen activists who intervening to prevent harm. The Ruth Potts and Melanie Stick- Afar easier for the public to work as a volunteer in any set- blocked the takeoff of an real crime is the government’s land, aged 27 to 44, had all plead- help out in hospitals. ting. Fimmigration removal char- cowardly, inhumane and barely ed not guilty. Health Secretary Matt Han- “At the moment if you have a ter fl ight have been convicted of legal deportation fl ights and the The protest took place on the cock wants to bring in the background check it’s for a par- endangering the safety of Stanst- unprecedented use of terror law night of March 28, 2017. The ac- scheme next year to dramatically ticular role. It should be based ed airport, a terrorist off ence for to crack down on peaceful pro- tivists cut a hole measuring one slash the bureaucracy involved in on the need for a particular per- which they could be jailed for life. test. square metre in the airport’s pe- registering as a helper. son and then that could be taken After nearly three days of de- “We must challenge this rimeter fence, Chelmsford crown Currently, would-be volun- across the NHS.” liberations, following a nine- shocking use of draconian legis- court heard. Jurors saw videos teers have to wait between three At present, anyone who wants week trial, a jury of six men and lation, and continue to demand from CCTV cameras and a police and six months after expressing to help at their local hospital has six women at Chelmsford crown an immediate end to these secre- helicopter that showed how four their interest with a hospital to to have a criminal records check, court found the defendants tive deportation charter fl ights protesters arranged themselves start their placements. occupational health check (in- guilty of intentional disruption and a full independent public around the front landing gear of The passports, being built as cluding tests for illnesses such as of services at an aerodrome un- inquiry into the government’s the aircraft and locked their arms a smartphone app, aim to con- tuberculosis and hepatitis) and der the 1990 Aviation and Mari- ‘hostile environment’. together inside double-layered dense this down to just a month. training. time Security Act, a law passed “Justice will not be done until pipes fi lled with expanding foam. Health offi cials hope they will The passports are being built in response to the 1988 Lockerbie we are exonerated and the Home Further back, a second group encourage thousands more kind- by Helpforce. bombing. Offi ce is held to account for the of protesters erected a two- hearted people to volunteer. Helpforce hopes to introduce The court had heard how danger it puts people in every metre tripod from scaff olding Importantly, they will mean them by the end of 2019 although members of the campaign group single day. It endangers people poles behind the engine on the those who have volunteered in they will be continually upgrad- End Deportations used lock-on in dawn raids on their homes, at left wing of an aircraft, on which one hospital can work in another ed and improved thereafter. devices to secure themselves detention centres and on these one perched while others locked part of the NHS without having The smartphone app will be around the Titan Airways Boeing brutal fl ights. The system is out themselves to the base to prevent to register again. essentially a volunteering CV, 767, chartered by the Home Of- of control. It is unfair, unjust and it from being moved, the videos This includes volunteers with showing helpers have passed a fi ce, as it waited on the tarmac at unlawful and it must be stopped.” showed. In the moments before charities who work on behalf of criminal records check and oc- the Essex airport to remove un- Helen Brewer, Lyndsay Bur- police arrived, they were able Gracie Giles plays with a Unice Unicorn in some fake snow the NHS, such as the Red Cross cupational health assessment documented migrants to Nigeria, tonshaw, Nathan Clack, Laura to display their banners, one of in London. and St John Ambulance. plus a record of previous work Ghana and Sierra Leone. Clayson, Mel Evans, Joseph Mc- which said: “No one is illegal.” “I want to make it easier to and training. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 11, 2018 19 EUROPE

Turkey calls for justice for Khashoggi under international law I can’t breathe: Khashoggi’s last words Turkey said yesterday that the world should seek justice for slain Saudi journalist Jamal Reuters His Turkish fi ancée Hatice that a bone saw was used to dis- offi cer who is part of the security prior knowledge of the murder. ington Post columnist. Khashoggi under international Istanbul Cengiz waited for hours outside member the journalist. team of Crown Prince Mohamed After off ering numerous con- A Turkish offi cial said that by law after Riyadh ruled out extra- the consulate on October 2 and, The transcript included no bin Salman, called offi cials and tradictory explanations, Riyadh extraditing all suspects to Tur- diting two senior Saudi off icials when he did not return, contact- further mention of returning gave step-by-step details of the later said Khashoggi had been key, the Saudi authorities can who Turkish off icials suspect amal Khashoggi repeat- ed Turkish authorities about his Khashoggi to Saudi Arabia, and operation, CNN reported, fi nally killed and his body dismembered address the international com- planned his killing in Istanbul. edly told his killers “I can’t disappearance. no indication that he had been saying: “Tell yours, the thing is when negotiations to persuade munity’s concerns. Fahrettin Altun, director of Jbreathe” in his fi nal moments There was no further dialogue drugged – as Saudi Arabia’s pub- done, it’s done.” him to return to Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Min- communications at the Turkish in the Saudi consulate in Istan- in the relatively short transcript, lic prosecutor said in November. Turkish offi cials said last week failed. ister Adel al-Jubeir on Sunday presidency, said the Saudis had bul, CNN reported yesterday. prepared by Turkish authorities, One of the voices was identi- that the Istanbul prosecutor’s The kingdom has come under ruled out their extradition. not been suff iciently co-operative Quoting a source who said CNN’s source said. fi ed in the transcript by Turkish offi ce had concluded there was scrutiny as details of his killing “We don’t extradite our citi- and Turkey has seen “little evi- they had read the full translated As people set upon Khashoggi, authorities as Dr Salah al-Tu- “strong suspicion” that Saud came to light. zens,” he said at a Gulf Arab sum- dence of the Saudi prosecutors transcript of an audio recording, he started fi ghting for air, re- baigy, a forensic expert special- al-Qahtani, a top aide to Prince Making some of their strong- mit in Riyadh. intending to shed light on what CNN said that Khashoggi rec- peating “I can’t breathe” at least ised in autopsies attached to the Mohamed, and General Ahmed est accusations so far, both US Last month, Saudi Arabia’s happened’ to Khashoggi. ognised one of the men, General three times. Saudi ministry of interior, CNN al-Asiri, who served as deputy Republicans and Democrats an- public prosecutor’s offi ce said Therefore “it will be in the best Maher Mutreb, who told him: The transcript then used sin- reported. head of foreign intelligence, were nounced last week that they is seeking the death penalty for interest of the international com- “You are coming back.” gular words to describe the nois- Tubaigy tells others to put in among the planners of Khashog- want to pass legislation to send fi ve individuals, and that 11 of 21 munity to seek justice for the late Khashoggi replied: “You can’t es, including “scream”, “gasp- earphones or listen to music like gi’s killing. a strong message to Saudi Arabia suspects have been indicted and Saudi journalist under interna- do that ... people are waiting ing”, “saw”, and “cutting”. him, the CNN source said. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly that the United States condemns will be referred to court in Saudi tional law”, Altun said. outside.” Turkish sources told Reuters Mutreb, a senior intelligence insisted that the prince had no the death of Khashoggi, a Wash- Arabia.

Armenian PM wins poll by a landslide Macron pledges tax AFP Yerevan

rmenia’s acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashin- Ayan has won a landslide victory in snap parliamentary cuts and wage rises elections, results showed yes- terday, cementing his author- DPA Protesters wearing fl uorescent Opinion polls have shown The increase in the minimum pression that he was engaged in ity months after sweeping to Paris yellow safety tops have blocked widespread public support for wage would not cost employers an about-turn. power in a peaceful revolution. roads around France since mid- the yellow vests, while Macron’s anything, he promised. He rejected calls to reverse the Pashinyan, a 43-year-old November, and the last two own ratings have sunk. Pensioners with incomes of abolition of France’s wealth tax former journalist, has pledged resident Emmanuel Ma- weekends have seen violent The 40-year-old centrist less than €2,000 will be exempt- on property other than real es- to root out endemic corrup- cron has promised a €100 clashes with police in Paris. president, elected last year in a ed from a controversial tax rise. tate, which left-wing opponents tion and address widespread Pashinyan: thanked the Pmonthly rise in France’s “No anger can justify attack- landslide victory over far-right Macron, who has cast himself used to brand him as the “presi- poverty in the impoverished, ‘mighty people’ of Armenia. minimum wage among a series of ing a police offi cer or a gendarme, leader Marine Le Pen, admitted as a leader of pro-EU progressive dent of the rich”. landlocked ex-Soviet republic measures aimed at placating the vandalising a shop or a govern- that his government had “moved forces in the face of the populist “To turn back would weaken us of 3mn people. to completion the political “yellow vest” protest movement. ment building,” Macron said, too slowly” on ensuring people far-right, said many other coun- just when we are creating jobs in With all votes counted, the change made by Pashinyan’s In his fi rst public comment in adding that he had given his gov- could live in dignity from the tries were facing similar discon- every sector,” he argued. bloc led by Pashinyan’s Civ- ‘velvet revolution.’ Only pro- nine days, Macron also promised ernment “the strictest instruc- proceeds of their work. tent “but I believe that we can, all At the same time, he said, new il Contract party had taken revolution parties made it to tax concessions to pensioners tions” to restore order. Prime Minister Edouard together, fi nd a way out”. measures would be taken to en- 70.43% of the vote, the central parliament,” analyst Hakob and workers taking on overtime, He acknowledged that many Philippe would bring legisla- “I want that for France, be- sure that big companies and their election commission said. Badalyan told AFP. “The op- but rejected calls to reintroduce a of the protesters have not been tion before parliament today to cause it is our calling, down directors paid tax in France. The Prosperous Armenia position is extremely weak and partly scrapped wealth tax. swayed by the government’s de- enshrine the new commitments through history, to fi nd paths “You see, we are responding to party led by infl uential oligarch from now on public opinion “The events of the last few cision last week to scrap the pet- into law, he said. never before explored for our- the economic and social emer- and former arm wrestler Gagik will be the only counterweight weeks ... have deeply troubled rol and diesel tax hikes that ini- Macron said employers should selves and for the world,” he said. gency with strong measures, Tsarukyan came a distant sec- to Pashinyan’s unchallenged the nation,” Macron, sporting tially sparked the movement. also make an eff ort, calling on However, while announcing with quicker tax cuts, with a bet- ond with 8.27%. rule.” stubble, said in a televised ad- Their anger “is much deeper”, those who could aff ord it to pay his concessions, Macron was ter control of expenditure, rather Pashinyan hailed his victory Analyst Gela Vasadze said: dress. he said. workers an end-of-year bonus. anxious to avoid giving the im- than by retreating,” he argued. yesterday morning, thanking “Opposition parties were the “mighty people” of Arme- wiped off Armenia’s political nia. landscape and that’s a chal- “I am proud of you... Let’s lenge for Armenia’s young de- be courageous,” he wrote on mocracy.” Facebook. Voters had expressed op- German rail strike over pay He became prime minister in timism about the political May after spearheading weeks changes promised by Pashin- of peaceful anti-government yan. AFP urday between the DB and the DB said that purchased tick- rallies that ousted veteran “Thanks to the revolution, Frankfurt am Main EVG railworkers’ union, which is ets would remain valid until next leader Serzh Sarkisian. we will fi nally have fair elec- demanding a 7.5% salary rise for Sunday or could be refunded and But eff orts at reform stalled tions,” 72-year-old pensioner 160,000 employees. urged passengers to delay travel in the face of opposition from Parzik Avetisyan told AFP on ermany was plunged into “We believe the warning strike where possible. Sarkisian’s Republican Party, election day. “I voted for the transport chaos yester- was a total success,” said EVG In the capital Berlin, where ad- which dominated the National positive change promised by Gday as train services were head Torsten Westphal. “The ditionally the entire public an- Assembly until Pashinyan re- Nikol.” halted by a railworkers’ strike next move is now up to Deutsche nouncement system broke down, signed last month and trig- Turnout was 48.63%, the over pay, aff ecting millions of Bahn management.” frustrated morning commut- gered the snap vote. election commission said. passengers. DB had earlier described the ers were asked to switch from The Republican Party took While seeking reforms at Inter-city and regional serv- strike as a “completely unneces- S-Bahn commuter trains oper- 4.7% in Sunday’s elections, home, Pashinyan also pursued ices as well as many urban com- sary escalation” in the tortuous ated by DB to subways, buses or failing to clear the 5% thresh- a balanced foreign policy dur- muter trains were cancelled negotiations. trams. old needed to make it into par- ing his fi rst fi ve months in of- throughout Europe’s biggest DB has so far off ered a pay rise At Nuremberg station, in the liament. fi ce. economy by the four-hour stop- of 5.1% in two phases, with an southern state of Bavaria, some The only other party to clear He reassured Russian Presi- page that started at 5am (0400 option for staff to take extra time 50 rail workers were seen demon- the threshold was the liberal dent Vladimir Putin that Ar- GMT), Deutsche Bahn (DB) said. off instead, and a one-off pay- strating in yellow high-visibility pro-Western Bright Armenia, menia would remain Moscow’s Although the walkout ended as ment of €500 ($570), DPA na- vests, similar to the ones donned Nobel Peace Prize laureates Nadia Murad and Dr Denis Mukwege which garnered 6.37% of the loyal ally but at the same time planned at 9am, its ripple eff ects tional news agency reported. by anti-government protesters in speaking with Nobel Committee chairwoman Reiss-Andersen vote. sought to charm Western lead- were felt for the rest of the day, A DB spokeswoman welcomed France. during the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony in Oslo Town Hall. As both Prosperous Armenia ers. particularly on long-distance the decision to resume talks. It is not unusual however for and Bright Armenia are seen Despite their poor show- lines, rail operator DB said. “We never left the negotiating German rail staff to wear hi-vis as Pashinyan-friendly, the ab- ings, Prosperous Armenia and Some 1,400 trains, including table,” she told AFP. “We have jackets, and it was not immedi- sence of an opposition party in Bright Armenia parties will cargo services, were aff ected, DB told the union that we are pre- ately clear if the demonstrators the newly elected parliament take up at least 30% of parlia- said, adding that both sides had pared to make another off er.” intended to signal a link with the World must ‘protect’ will be a trial run for Armenia’s mentary seats under an elec- agreed to return to the negotia- Major transport hubs like Ber- French street protests. nascent democracy, analysts toral law aimed at preventing tion table today. lin, Frankfurt, Cologne and Mu- “One for all and all for one” said. ruling parties from holding too The industrial action came nich were among those impacted read the signs held aloft by the Yazidis, says Nobel much power. “The elections have brought after talks broke down on Sat- by the walkout. demonstrators. laureate Murad

AFP Murad wept during Reiss- Ex-cop convicted of killing 77 women Oslo Andersen’s description of the suff ering of her people. She survived the horrors of DPA/AFP tioning more than a thousand form, his head bowed. ter investigators re-examined the azidi activist Nadia captivity and slavery under the Moscow/Irkutsk potential witnesses, the Investi- He will be sent to a prison that case and carried out DNA testing Murad, a survivor of Is- Islamic State group in Iraq and gative Committee said in a state- is exclusively for convicts serving of residents, focusing on those Ylamic State sex slavery, Syria, where they targeted Mu- ment. life terms, nicknamed the “Black who drove a make of car that implored the global commu- rad’s Kurdish-speaking com- Russian former police of- As a police offi cer, Popkov Dolphin” matched tracks found at crime nity to help free hundreds of munity. fi cer was convicted yes- would have had knowledge of fo- As part of his sentence – a scenes. women and girls still held by Older women and men faced Aterday of killing 55 women rensic practices. rare case in Russia of a convicted In a 2017 interview with Rus- the religious extremists in her summary execution during the and one man, bringing the total Russian media has reported murderer being given a second sia’s Meduza website, Popkov Nobel acceptance speech yes- IS assault, which the United number of women he is convict- that many of his victims were life sentence – Popkov was also said he targeted women who were terday, saying the world must Nations has described as a ed of killing to 77, a court said. mutilated. deprived of his police pension. drunk or living in a way he saw as protect her people. possible genocide. Mikhail Popkov predomi- “The identities of 17 of his vic- He intends to appeal, regional immoral, adding that “any soci- “The protection of the Captured in 2014, she suf- nantly targeted women aged 18 tims have not been determined,” prosecutor Alexander Shkinev ety condemns the behaviour of a Popkov is seen inside the Yazidis and all vulnerable fered forced marriage, beatings to 50 in urban areas in the eastern the court said in its statement. told Russian news agencies. debauched woman”. defendants’ cage during the communities around the world and gang-rape before she was Siberian region of Irkutsk from While tabloids have reported Prosecutors described Pop- While in jail, he confessed to 59 court hearing in Irkutsk. is the responsibility of the in- able to escape. 1992 to 2007, the Irkutsk-based that Popkov targeted inebriated kov as having “a pathological further murders but was convict- ternational community,” Mu- In her Nobel acceptance ad- court said in a statement. woman and prostitutes, the In- attraction to killing people” and ed only of 56 yesterday because and the ex-Soviet Union. rad told the ceremony in Oslo. dress, Murad said that thou- He would meet them casually vestigative Committee said his “homicidal mania with sadistic investigators could not prove “Chessboard Killer” Alexan- The 25-year-old shares the sands of women and girls and fl irt with them, the state- victims were “women of various elements”, but he was ruled sane three of the crimes took place, der Pichushkin was jailed for life Nobel Peace Prize with Con- from her community had been ment said. “The victims ended social status and position in so- enough to stand trial. Interfax news agency reported, in 2007 for 48 murders, mostly of golese Dr Denis Mukwege, kidnapped, raped and traded up outside of the city ... in a for- ciety”. “He got pleasure from this. citing the court’s press service. elderly men he met in a Moscow who has spent more than two “in the 21st century, in the age est, cemeteries, roadsides.” Popkov was initially convicted He saw it as his purpose in life,” Investigators said they uncov- park. decades treating appalling in- of globalisation and human Many of the victims were resi- three years ago for the murders of criminologist Yury Antonyan, ered the remains of some of the He aimed to kill one person juries infl icted on women in rights”. dents of the cities of Irkutsk and 22 women and sentenced to life in who gave expert evidence in the bodies based on Popkov’s ac- for each of the 64 squares on the the Democratic Republic of the The fate of some 3,000 Angarsk, and the town of Usolye- prison. trial, told tabloid newspaper count, as well as murder weapons chessboard. Congo’s war-torn east. women and girls is still un- Sibirskoye, the statement said. He has been stripped of his Komsomolskaya Pravda. including axes, screwdrivers and Andrei Chikatilo was convict- Nobel committee chair- known. Known as the “Angarsk ma- rank of junior lieutenant. Russian state news agency RIA knives. ed of 52 Soviet-era murders that woman Berit Reiss-Andersen “Young girls at the prime of niac”, his victims included a fel- The court in Irkutsk sentenced Novosti reported that Popkov Several women survived at- were sexually motivated. said the pair were “two of the life are sold, bought, held cap- low police offi cer, Russia’s federal Popkov to a second life term for was motivated by his wife sup- tacks with serious injuries and He was executed in 1994, be- strongest voices in the world tive and raped every day. It is investigative agency said. the latest 56 murders. posedly being unfaithful. managed to give evidence. fore Russia imposed a morato- today”. inconceivable that the con- It took law enforcement offi c- He was also found guilty of The murders took place while The number of killings for rium on the death penalty. “The fi ght for justice unites science of the leaders of 195 ers rather thorough work ana- raping 11 of the women. he was a serving police offi cer which Popkov has been convict- Popkov reportedly boasted to them, despite their very dif- countries around the world is lysing unsolved crimes to link The grey-haired 54-year-old and after he left the force in 1998. ed exceeds the totals of several cellmates that he had committed ferent backgrounds,” she said not mobilised to liberate these Popkov to them, including ques- appeared in court in prison uni- Popkov was caught in 2012 af- notorious murderers in Russia more murders than Chikatilo. yesterday. girls,” she said. Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, December 11, 2018 INDIA

History of South India relatively unknown: Rajmohan Gandhi

IANS coconut and tamarind, deli- depth, few in either the South major region suff ering from ne- dian from India, diff erent from South Indian peninsula its unity The 83-year-old intellectual New Delhi cious dosais and appams – are or the North have attempted glect, Gandhi said, and asked: a Native American, while ‘West and distinctiveness. Because of said that while some may fear familiar to many, but its history an integrated view of the South “Do we have many histories of Indian’ suggests the West In- the Arabian Sea and the Bay of “a chasm” between “cultural” is relatively unknown,” Gandhi as a whole. Thirdly, India’s po- western or eastern India?” He dies,” he said. Bengal, European countries like and “national” identities, others illed as “a masterpiece in writes in the 500-page book that litical power has resided in the pointed out that the Maratha In the book, Gandhi tells Portugal, Holland, England and may celebrate the Indian scene’s every sense of the word”, traces the history of South India North, infl uencing the focus of history is rich, so is the his- the story of four powerful cul- France impacted the South in variety and richness. BRajmohan Gandhi’s up- from the 17th century to current academia, not merely the me- tory of Bengal, and likewise the tures – Kannada, Malayalam, ways not experienced by north- “Fascination with the his- coming book Modern South In- times. dia,” the grandson of Mahatma histories of Assam, Odisha and Tamil and Telugu – as well as ern and central India. Secondly, tory of one’s neighbourhood dia is promoted by its publisher But why this historical amne- Gandhi, who has taught politi- Gujarat, but there is a case for the cultures Kodava, Konkani, the South’s major languages can harmonise with interest in Aleph as an authoritative and sia? cal science and history at two broader histories of western and Marathi, Oriya, Tulu and in- have Dravidian rather than San- the national story,” said Gandhi, magnifi cent work of history “For one thing, the South is Indian Institutes of Technology, eastern India. digenous that have influenced skritic roots, even though their who has also written books such about South India that will be a large area, where, dauntingly, Michigan State University and “Yet the expression ‘South In- them. Asked if there was a vocabularies have been enriched as Why Gandhi Still Matters: read and refl ected upon for years a great deal happened during the University of Illinois, where dian’ conjures up images hardly common thread that binds by borrowings from Sanskrit and An Appraisal of the Mahatma’s to come. the 400 years covered in my he currently serves a research matched by phrases like ‘East them all together, he pointed to elsewhere. Thirdly, the Dravid- Legacy and Understanding the “The sounds and fl avours of study. Secondly, while the story professor, told IANS in an e-mail Indian’ or ‘West Indian’, which three elements. ian/Aryan question resonates, Founding Fathers: An Enquiry the land south of the Vindhyas – of each powerful culture within interview. Indians never use. In places in “One geographical and the not necessarily divisively, in Into the Indian Republic’s Begin- temple bells, coff ee and jasmine, the South has been studied in But South India is not the only the US, an ‘East Indian’ is an In- other linguistic, have given the many southern minds,” he said. nings.

Assembly disrupted Modi seeks over temple row again co-operation IANS Thiruvananthapuram

he Congress-led opposi- tion front yesterday dis- Trupted the Kerala Assem- for parliament bly for the sixth consecutive day after the government extended prohibitory orders in Sabarimala until tomorrow. While Bharatiya Janata Par- ty (BJP) activists took to the streets across the state, the party winter session has called for a Thiruvanan- thapuram shutdown today to IANS and its people by ensuring the and “erosion of RBI autonomy”. protest the so-called “police New Delhi smooth functioning of the par- “We have been demanding for high-handedness”. liament,” he said. a long time that there should be Both the Congress and the BJP Tomar said all political par- a JPC probe into the Rafale scam have been protesting against the rime Minister Narendra ties present at the meeting have but the government has failed to Kerala government as it has been Modi yesterday sought the promised full co-operation for take a decision. We have again extending the prohibitory orders in Pco-operation of opposi- the smooth functioning of the urged it to form a JPC,” he said. Sabarimala ever since the Ayyappa tion parties in the smooth run- parliament. Azad said it was important for temple opened on November 16. ning of the winter session of par- Asked if the government was democracy that voters have faith Protests by three UDF legisla- liament as the Congress sought a ready for a JPC probe into the in EVMs. tors in the foyer of the assembly JPC (joint parliamentary com- Rafale fi ghter jets deal, he said “But unfortunately since the entered the eighth day yesterday. mittee) probe into Rafale deal, the opposition had several is- BJP came to power, people have Leader of Opposition Ramesh discussion on “misuse” of vot- sues including Rafale, farmers’ lost faith in EVMs because the Chennithala told reporters they ing machines and discussion on plight and economy “but they ruling party is misusing them. came in with a lot of expecta- problems concerning farmers. would have to prioritise things as In the recent assembly polls, this tion yesterday after Speaker P Modi, who took part in an all- the session was only four weeks crossed all limits. EVM machines Sreeramakrishnan called them party meeting convened by the long. were found in houses, hotels, on for a meeting. Parliamentary Aff airs Ministry “These things can be settled roads, they were being taken un- “We thought we would get ahead of the winter session, said in the Business Advisory Meet- protected in buses and jeeps...,” good news that the government the government was always re- ings,” he added. he said. has decided to lift the prohibitory ceptive to issues raised by politi- Tomar said a legislation on the “There is a big doubt, a ques- orders in Sabarimala. But we were cal parties. Ayodhya temple was “not the tion mark whether the elections told that it was not ready for it. We The government’s agenda for topic of today’s discussion”. were free and fair or being held want the prohibitory orders to go the session, which is the last full “When something to this ef- under the watch of the govern- as it will send a message across the session before Lok Sabha elec- fect comes up, we will let you ment.” country that the temple town is tions next year, has 46 items in- know,” he said. The session will have a total of peaceful,” he said. cluding 45 bills. The government will bring 20 sittings spread over 29 days. “It has been 23 days since the fes- Talking to reporters after the three bills to replace ordinances Yesterday’s meeting was at- tival season began and till now only meeting, Parliamentary Af- – Muslim Women (Protection of tended by Mallikarjun Kharge 8.5mn pilgrims have come. Had fairs Minister Narendra Singh Rights on Marriage) Ordinance, and Anand Sharma of the Con- things been peaceful, the number Tomar said Modi underlined 2018, Indian Medical Council gress, Sudeep Bandhopadyay of pilgrims arriving would have in- that in a democracy both the (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018 and Derek O’Brien (Trinamool creased like in the past.” government and the opposition and the Companies (Amend- Congress), C M Ramesh (Telugu The average number of pilgrims share their inputs for efficient ment) Ordinance. Desam Party), D Raja (Com- who normally arrives in the tem- governance. Congress leader Ghulam Nabi munist Party of India), Mu- ple town over the past seasons was “The prime minister said that Azad, who is the Leader of Op- layam Singh Yadav (Samajwadi at least 100,000 a day. the government was ready to position in the Rajya Sabha, said Partyt), Bhagwant Mann and BJP general secretary A N discuss all issues as per rules and his party will press for a JPC in- Sanjay Singh (Aam Aadmi Par- Radhakrishnan’s indefi nite fast procedures. If anybody wants to quiry into the Rafale deal and ty), Farooq Abdullah (National in front of the state secretariat bring something to the govern- raise the issue of alleged misuse Congress), J P Yadav (Rashtriya entered its eighth day yesterday. ment’s notice inside the House of electronic voting machines Janata Dal), Majid Memon (Na- Federal IT Minister K J Alphonse, or even outside, we are open to (EVMs). tionalist Congress Party) and N after visiting Radhakrishnan, urged it,” Tomar said. Azad said the party will also K Premchandran (Revolutionary the Kerala government to work in a Modi urged the political par- seek a discussion on “the mis- Socialist Party). democratic manner. ties to create a constructive at- use of investigative agencies” Federal ministers Rajnath “We live in a democratic mosphere during the session by the government to target po- Singh, Arun Jaitley, Vijay Goel, country and those in power and to collectively address issues litical rivals, problems faced by Arjun Ram Meghwal, Anupriya should stick to democratic tradi- Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks with Aam Aadmi Party MP Bhagwant Mann and Communist concerning people. “It is our farmers, the fall in the value of Patel, Shiv Sena’s Chandrakant tions when dealing with issues,” Party of India MP D Raja as they arrive for an all-party meeting ahead of the winter session of prime responsibility to contrib- rupee, rise in prices of petrole- Khaire and LJP’s Chirag Paswan said Alphonse. parliament, in New Delhi yesterday. ute to the service of the nation um products, security of women were also present at the meeting. Kushwaha blasts PM as he No proof against quits NDA, government soldier, say police

IANS Senior Superintendent of Po- IANS increasingly made by the op- Council of Ministers for the last Lucknow lice Abhishek Kumar Singh said: New Delhi position. 55 months, I stand dejected and “At the initial point of arrest “Ministers and offi cers betrayed by your leadership,” there was not much evidence posted in ministries have be- Kushwaha said in the letter sent olice yesterday said they against the soldier.” His family ashtriya Lok Samata come fi gureheads as virtually to Modi. did not have enough proof members allege that he was be- Party leader Upendra all decisions are taken by you, “There has been a funda- Pagainst a soldier arrested ing implicated so that the prime RKushwaha yesterday quit your offi ce and BJP president mental confl ict in what you have from Jammu for alleged involve- accused, Yogesh Raj of Bajrang the ruling Bharatiya Janata Par- (which is anti-constitutional),” promised to the people before ment in the mob violence in Dal, is let off the hook. ty-led alliance and the govern- Kushwaha, who was a minister elections and what you have ac- Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh, Meanwhile, Fauji has been ment, charging Prime Minister of state for Human Resource tually delivered after coming to which killed a police offi cer and sent to 14 days of judicial cus- Narendra Modi with betraying Development, said. power. The promise of providing a civilian. tody. Bihar and with pursuing an The RLSP leader said the a special package (to Bihar) has Offi cials said they did not have The Chief Judicial Magistrate “opaque style of functioning government was pursuing “the been the biggest ‘jumla’,” he said conclusive proof so far against has dismissed his bail applica- and non-democratic leader- agenda of RSS” which he said in the resignation letter. Jeetu Fauji to prove he had a hand tion and his family is likely to ap- ship style”. was “anti-constitutional and Asked if he would join an op- in the killing of inspector Sub- proach the district judge today. Kushwaha, who is the sec- neglecting and subverting the position alliance or merge his odh Kumar Singh. The violence broke out af- ond BJP ally to quit the Modi agenda of social justice en- party with Sharad Yadav’s Lok- What had so far been proved ter some cattle carcasses were government after the Telugu shrined in the constitution for tantrik Janata Dal or work for was that Jeetu Fauji was at the found in a fi eld and Bajrang Dal Desam Party (TDP), said in his which we supported the NDA”. a third alternative in Bihar, he scene of the crime and no more, activists alleged they were of resignation to the prime minis- Kushwaha has been at log- said: “All options are open for the offi cials said. cows slaughtered by Muslims. ter that the union cabinet “has gerheads with both the BJP and us. We would be taking a call in Fauji has also claimed inno- The activists brought the car- been reduced to a mere rubber the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) the coming days.” cence saying he was not involved casses in tractor trolleys and stamp”. for some time. As meetings he Hours after Kushwaha quit, in the murder of the police offi - tried to block an important road. “Constitutional offi ces are had sought with Modi and BJP his party is a divided house. cial or even in the mob violence. As a police team led by Subodh being undermined and virtual- chief Amit Shah did not ma- Unhappy over the decision, During his interrogation by Kumar Singh reached there, it ly every institution in the gov- terialise, he came in for praise RLSP’s two legislators in the the police and Special Task Force was attacked with stones. ernment has been subjected to from Rashtriya Janata Dal lead- Bihar openly expressed their (STF), he admitted to be passing Someone in the crowd fi red political appropriation,” he said er Tejashwi Yadav. opposition and a senior party Rashtriya Lok Samata Party leader Upendra Kushwaha addresses a by the scene but insisted he was from a .32 bore pistol, killing the in the letter, echoing charges “Having served in your leader called it a bad move. press conference in New Delhi yesterday. not involved in the violence. offi cer instantly. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 11, 2018 21 INDIA We will remove BJP from power in Delhi, says Rahul

IANS BJP is removed from the govern- ed in the country and the media and the Election Commission shown how leadership was done farmhouse of 4.69 acre in Delhi’s show cause notice, the govern- Mohali, Punjab ment in Delhi,” Gandhi said in was also being suppressed. was also being suppressed. with humility and respect. Mehrauli area in the name of Ra- ment did not act on it for almost Mohali adjoining Chandigarh. “The media is being intimi- “We will fi ght to protect these Meanwhile, the BJP accused hul Gandhi and (his sister) Priya- one and half years.” Gandhi, accompanied by former dated and suppressed. The me- institutions. We are not like the Congress Gandhi of personally nka Gandhi. The BJP leader said that the ongress president Rahul prime minister Manmohan Singh dia has been captured in every RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsewak being embroiled in corruption “The Mehrauli property was NSEL was set up without any Gandhi yesterday ac- and senior Congress leader Moti state. Media says only what Sangh) and BJP.” Gandhi said and said that he received money rented to Shah, who owned Fi- regulations by the Congress gov- Ccused the Bharatiya Jana- Lal Vora, was in Mohali to re- powerful people want to listen. people in power were not allow- from scam tainted Jignesh Shah, nancial Technologies Ltd in ernment in 2007. ta Party of eroding the credibility launch the Navjivan newspaper. Navjivan will be an independent ing the media to highlight is- one of the accused in the Rs56bn February 2013 at Rs7 lakh per He also said that Shah depos- of institutions like the judiciary, Navjivan is the Hindi edition voice in such an atmosphere. It sues like unemployment and the National Spot Exchange Limited month.” The rent agreement was ited Rs4mn into the bank ac- army and media, and said his of the National Herald newspa- can even criticise the Congress plight of farmers. (NSEL) scam. made almost 10 months after the count of Gandhi which was the party will ensure that the BJP per owned by the Congress. Party,” Gandhi said. “Anger is rising among the BJP spokesman Sambit Patra government issued a show cause corruption in instalment. is removed from power in next Coming down heavily on the He said that Supreme Court people (against the BJP govern- said Gandhi “is embroiled per- notice to Shah’s company. The “Two cheques each of value year’s general elections. BJP and Prime Minister Naren- judges were openly saying that ment). But the media is not re- sonally and individually in cor- notice was sent on April 27, 2012. of Rs20.1 lakh interest free was “We will show the BJP its dra Modi’s government, the they were not being allowed to vealing this,” he said. ruption case.” He said according “This period of one year was deposited in Rahul Gandhi’s ac- place and defeat it in elections. Congress president said an at- work, army generals were saying Praising the former prime to a news report, “we have come the period of bribe exchange,” count. We want answers from Ra- In 2019, we will ensure that the mosphere of fear had been creat- that Modi was using the army minister, Gandhi said Singh had to know that there is a lavish Patra said, “but after sending the hul Gandhi over the issue,” he said. Results of 5 crucial state elections to be out today

Agencies for the 2019 election,” said Con- New Delhi gress leader Sachin Pilot. “The BJP has made a lot of tall claims about income, jobs, etc,” he results of elections in Pilot added. “They came out fi ve states will be declared with 28 slogans, ‘Swachh Bharat’ Ttoday in what is seen as a (‘Clean India’), ‘Make in India’ major test of popularity of the and such, but how many were ruling Bharatiya Janata Party implemented?” (BJP) and the opposition Con- Although the BJP might drop gress ahead of next year’s Lok a few seats because of anti-in- Sabha polls. cumbency sentiment, it was not Vijay Mallya arrives to attend a hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court in central London yesterday. The trends will start pouring losing everything, as some sur- in from 8am and a clear picture veys forecast, said party spokes- is expected to emerge in all states man G V L by 11am. Narasimha Rao. The results will test the popu- “They have underassessed the larity of incumbent governments BJP,” he added. “They have done in Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Mad- it previously too.” hya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Te- Surveys often prove wrong, langana and also the potency of partly because it is tough to fore- challenge of the opposition. cast the outcome of elections in- London court orders The BJP is in power in Chhat- volving India’s millions of voters. tisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Still, a poor performance could Rajasthan, the Congress in Mi- prompt the BJP to push its brand zoram and the Telangana Rash- of Hindu nationalism harder, tra Samiti (TRS) in Telangana. politicians and analysts say. Exit polls have predicted the “The BJP campaign will fo- Congress Party’s return in Ra- cus on nationalism, Hindutva jasthan and a clean sweep for the and corruption,” said Shekhar Mallya’s extradition TRS in Telangana. Gupta, a political analyst. The exit polls have also given Already hardline groups associ- Agencies He declined to make any But she said there was little honest or dishonest means to Modi has faced pressure from the Congress an edge over the ated with the party have reignited London comment as he left the court evidence that senior IBDI offi - keep the company going,” she political opponents to bring to BJP in Madhya Pradesh and their campaign for a temple in Ay- room yesterday. cials themselves were involved told Westminster Magistrates’ justice several people who have Chhattisgarh in fi ercely-con- odhya where Hindu zealots razed a Judge Emma Arbuthnot, in planning to defraud their own Court. fl ed India in recent years to es- tested battles. 16th-century mosque in 1992. British court yesterday England’s chief magistrate, de- bank. Mallya said in July that he had cape prosecution in an array of The surveys predicted that Thousands of Hindu monks ruled beleaguered in- cided there was a prima facie Arbuthnot said executives made an “unconditional off er” cases, many of them loan de- Mizoram, the only northeast and activists linked to the BJP Adustrialist Vijay Mallya case against Mallya, who moved may have been in “the thrall of to an Indian court in a bid to faults. state now with the Congress, gathered in New Delhi on Sun- can be extradited to India to face to Britain in March 2016, and this glamorous, fl ashy, famous, settle the charges, but denies Yesterday’s ruling is unlikely may see a hung assembly with day in a show of force to back the fraud charges resulting from the that his human rights would not bejewelled, bodyguarded, os- that was an admission of guilt. to be the end of the long-run- the Mizo National Front (MNF) temple. collapse of his defunct King- be infringed if he were extra- tensibly billionaire playboy who “I cannot understand how ning case. holding the edge. Hindu fringe groups have fi sher Airlines. dited. charmed and cajoled” them into my extradition decision and my Mallya, who was arrested by The loss would be the biggest stepped up a campaign against India wants to bring crimi- Her ruling must be approved ignoring their own rules and settlement off er are linked in British police in April 2017, can for the BJP since it swept to pow- the slaughter of cows as vigilan- nal action against Mallya, 62, by Britain’s interior minister. regulations. any way,” he wrote on Twitter appeal Arbuthnot’s decision er in 2014 general elections, fol- te groups target Muslims in the whose business interests have Arbuthnot said false repre- Arbuthnot said Mallya, on Thursday. within 14 days to London’s High lowed by wins over the past four livestock trade. ranged from aviation to liquor, sentations had been made to nicknamed “the King of Good “Wherever I am physically, Court. years in 22 of India’s 29 states, on Modi is expected to try to re- over $1.4bn in loans Kingfi sher the banks, which include state- Times” after the slogan of one my appeal is ‘please take the The interior minister’s deci- promises of thousands of jobs cover political ground with give- took out from Indian banks owned IBDI, regarding what of his premium beers and his money’. I want to stop the nar- sion can also be appealed to the and a doubling in farm income. aways in the next few months for which the authorities argue he the loans would be used for and hard partying lifestyle, had used rative that I stole money,” he High Court and ultimately the Politicians view state polls, small businesses and farmers, had no intention of repaying. she ruled there was evidence of the loans, among other things, added. Supreme Court. though they are usually decided who make up a big chunk of vot- Mallya, who co-owned the conspiracy to defraud the lend- for “vanity projects” such as An extradition would be a The Indian government said by regional issues, as a pointer to ers. Formula One motor racing team ers and of money laundering. Force India which had received huge win for Prime Minister Kingfi sher took out a series the mood of the BJP’s traditional “The state elections will be Force India until it went into The judge said there had been payments at a time when it was Narendra Modi months before of loans from Indian banks, in voting base, ahead of the general seen as a litmus test of Modi’s administration in July, has de- a catalogue of failings by the struggling in 2010. an election, after opposition particular IDBI, with the aim of election that must be held by popularity,” said Simon Finch, nied any wrongdoing and says banks themselves to carry out “I have found that on the parties said the government had palming off huge losses which May. fund manager at Jersey-based the case against him is politi- proper checks and to ensure face of it, (Mallya) was doing given a “free passage” to Mallya Mallya knew the failing airline “The results will set the tone Ashburton Investments. cally motivated. guarantees were viable. everything he could by using to fl ee, an accusation it denies. was going to sustain.

People’s Front urges governor Anger in Kashmir as to treat it as a single entity troops kill teen rebels

AFP He was killed in an 18-hour IANS requested him to treat the Peo- ernors invited the single largest Srinagar siege by troops in Hajin, out- Hyderabad ple’s Front as a single entity. party to form the government. side Srinagar. The home Parrey He said the four parties en- The delegation included the and the two other militants were tered into an alliance before the TDP’s Telangana unit chief L housands of mourners holed up in was blasted to rubble. day before the Telangana elections and contested the polls Ramna, TJS president M Kodan- thronged the funeral yes- “He had never failed in school election result is known, with a common minimum pro- daram and Congress working Tterday of a 14-year-old exams,” mourned his father Athe Congress-led Peo- gramme. The parties also sub- president Mohamad Azharuddin. rebel shot dead by troops in Jam- Rashid. ple’s Front yesterday urged the mitted the relevant records to Meanwhile, All India Majlis- mu and Kashmir, the youngest- The teenager also sometimes state governor to treat it as a the governor. e-Ittehadul Muslimeen presi- ever fi ghter killed in the decades- worked as a labourer to help out single entity and invite it to form Reddy said they brought to dent Asaduddin Owaisi reached long insurgency, police said. with family expenses, he added. the government in case it gets Narasimhan’s notice that the Su- Telangana Chief Minister K Mudasir Ahmad Parrey was Many Kashmiris sympathise the maximum number of seats. preme Court in its judgments on Chandrashekhar Rao’s offi cial killed alongside two other mili- with the rebels fi ghting half a A delegation of leaders of the various occasions had observed residence on his motorbike yes- tants, one a 17-year-old, outside million troops stationed in the Congress, the Telugu Desam that a pre-poll alliance should be terday for a luncheon meeting. Srinagar on Sunday. heavily-militarised state. Party (TDP), the Telangana Jana treated as a single entity. Owaisi and the TRS chief Parrey, a ninth-grade student, Civilians often pelt soldiers Samithi (TJS) and the Commu- The Congress leader said they have been discussing possible went missing in August before with stones while they are con- nist Party of India (CPI) called made the representation as a scenarios and the strategy to emerging in a photograph on social ducting search operations for on Governor E S L Narasimhan precautionary measure in view be adopted after the results are media brandishing an automatic militants, and funerals for slain and submitted a memorandum of attempts by some parties to known today. assault rifl e and military knife. The fi ghters draw thousands of urging him not to invite the Te- form a post-poll alliance. Before his meeting with Rao, young militants’ deaths sparked mourners and see shops closed. langana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) The People’s Front leaders said Owaisi tweeted that he was go- angry protests in the state. New Delhi has long accused to form the government even if they also urged the governor to ing to meet Telangana’s caretak- A funeral procession yesterday Islamabad of stoking anti-India it gets more seats than the Con- ensure that after the results were er and “next chief minister”. for the slain teenagers turned vi- sentiment and funding militant gress in the event of the results announced the newly-elected “Inshallah, he’ll form govern- olent as mourners clashed with groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba throwing up a hung assembly. legislators get adequate security. ment on his own strength, and police, who used tear gas to drive fi ghting in Kashmir. The Congress Party’s Telan- Congress sources said they Majlis will stand by him. This them back. Police believe the teenagers gana unit president Uttam Ku- called on the governor in view is our fi rst step towards a larger Photographers follow AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi At 14, police said he was the killed in Sunday’s fi ghting joined mar Reddy told reporters after of the recent experiences in Goa goal of nation building,” the who was on his way to meet Telangana Chief Minister K youngest known fi ghter to have the militant group around Au- meeting the governor that they and Karnataka, where the gov- AIMIM chief tweeted. Chandrashekhar Rao in Hyderabad yesterday. died in the insurgency. gust. Gulf Times 22 Tuesday, December 11, 2018 LATIN AMERICA

POLITICS DATA POLICY POLLUTION CRIME Ruling party wins Venezuela annual Brazil moves to 60,000 litres of oil spill Colombian police bust child Venezuela polls inflation tops 1mn percent address refugee influx into bay during theft bid sex network run by Israelis

Venezuelans stayed away in droves from Venezuela’s consumer prices rose 1.3mn percent Brazilian President Michel Temer has signed a At least 60,000 litres of oil spilled into Rio de Colombian police have arrested six Israelis on municipal elections on Sunday, handing a in the year ending in November, the opposition- decree making off icial a federal “intervention” in Janeiro’s Guanabara Bay over the weekend charges of running a sex tourism operation that victory to the ruling party — but with just controlled National Assembly said yesterday, the state of Roraima which borders Venezuela, after a robbery attempt on a pipeline owned exploited underage girls, prosecutors said. After a 27% turnout. National Electoral Council chair as hyperinflation and recession grip the Opec the government’s off icial newspaper said by a subsidiary of state-run Petroleo Brasileiro two-year investigation, prosecutor general Nestor Tibisay Lucena put the rate of abstention at member. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday. Waves of Venezuelan migrants have SA. Petroleo Brasileiro unit Transpetro said oil Humberto Martinez told reporters that agents 72.6%. As such, the ruling party won 142 of 156 forecast earlier this year that inflation would entered the border area in recent months, had spilled into a river feeding Guanabara Bay. have broken up “an Israeli mafia that exploited jurisdictions in play, she said. Some 20.7mn top 1mn percent in 2018 and 10mn percent next seeking refuge from poverty and hunger in The company had managed to clean up over and used girls, adolescents and women as sex Venezuelans were eligible to vote. Lucena year. Monthly inflation decelerated to 144% in the neighbouring country. The thousands of half of the oil so far, it said, and it had alerted slaves in Colombia.” Two Colombians were also called it “a calm day of civic and democratic November from 148% the prior month and 233% refugees are straining public services and the authorities and activated its emergency clean-up arrested in the sweep, Martinez said. Among action.” The results were hardly a surprise: in September, the National Assembly said in a state’s finances. The person in charge of the teams immediately. Transpetro and Petrobras, those arrested was Israeli alleged gang leader Mor analysts had predicted record low turnout, report. Socialist President Nicolas Maduro late intervention will be Antonio Denarium, the as Petroleo Brasileiro is commonly known, have Zohar, and a Colombian police off icer said to have citing mistrust in the process, the banning of last month increased the monthly minimum governor-elect of Roraima, who is set to take become frequent targets of theft in recent years, helped protect the gang. The Israeli citizens all opposition parties and widespread exhaustion wage by 150 % to 4,500 bolivars, fewer than $10 off ice on January 1. It will last until December 31, as gangs steal millions of dollars a year of oil and have Interpol Red Notices, the closest thing to an amid the ongoing socioeconomic crisis. at the black market exchange rate. said the decree published in Brazil’s Diario Oficial. derivatives and resell it on the black market. international arrest warrant, a statement read.

Peruvians Chile teachers demonstrate back govt Concern voiced overhaul proposals as Nicaragua

AFP Lima assault on press haken by a string of high-profi le corrup- Stion scandals, Peruvians overwhelmingly approved a gov- ernment overhaul that among freedom grows other things sends all members of Congress packing by 2021. Three of the four consti- Guardian News and Media fi scal reforms that slashed so- the state forces that slaughtered tutional reforms proposed by Managua cial security. They spread after hundreds of protesters. President Martin Vizcarra were police used live ammunition on “It’s an Orwellian strategy, to approved by nearly 80% of vot- demonstrators, killing dozens. falsify the reality of the repres- ers in a Sunday referendum. icaraguan TV journalist As the crisis worsened, 100% sion,” says Sofi a Montenegro, a Sick of a do-nothing Con- Miguel Mora was driving Noticias beamed police and par- journalist and former Sandinista gress with leading legisla- Nhome from work when amilitary violence into homes guerrilla who fought alongside tors tainted by corruption and he was pulled over by armed po- across the country. Newspapers president Daniel Ortega in the scandal, 75% of voters ap- lice. exposed the state’s lethal tac- 1970s. proved a measure banning con- “They ordered me take off tics: one investigation drew on The offi cial version of events secutive re-election, according my glasses and put a hood over radiographic evidence to show is disseminated through a media to results released by the Na- my head,” says Mora, who di- that many of the deaths were the empire built by Rosario Murillo, tional Office of Electoral Proc- rects the 100% Noticias news result of a single gunshot to the Nicaragua’s fi rst lady and, since esses (ONPE), with 83% of the channel. “Then they took me by head, neck or chest – proof that 2017, vice-president. vote counted. the neck and forced me into a state forces were shooting to kill. In 2007, shortly after her hus- That means that all 130 mem- pickup, where an offi cer told me: From the start of the unrest, band returned to power, Murillo bers of Peru’s single-chamber ‘You’re responsible for the death the government tried to con- published an ominous com- legislature will be out of a job of police. If you keep messing trol coverage, pressuring media munication strategy, outlining when their mandates end in July around, we’re going to kill you bosses to self-censor. Journal- plans to prevent critical media 2021. and your whole family.’” ists at Channel 10 – owned by “contaminating” public percep- Figures showed only 13% vot- It was the sixth time Mora Mexican tycoon Remigio Angel tion of his administration. ed to retain lawmakers’ ability to had been detained by police Gonzalez – were initially barred Through the next decade, seek re-election, the ONPE said. in the space of a week. He also from reporting on demonstra- Murillo spent millions of dol- Also approved were reforms faces criminal charges of “in- tions. lars of Venezuelan co-operation on the way judges are chosen, citing hate”, while drones have “It was absurd: historic events funds – ostensibly destined for and tighter campaign fi nancing fi lmed his house and armed men were unfolding and we were ig- poverty reduction – on buying laws that include criminal pen- on motorbikes track his move- noring them,” says Mauricio up Nicaragua’s media. alties for violators. ments. Madrigal, the station’s news edi- TV channels 4, 8, 9 and 13 are However, more than 81% of Such intimidation is part of tor. He and others threatened to now owned by her children; also voters opposed a proposal to an escalating assault on press resign, and the prohibition was under the family’s control are return Peru to a dual-chamber freedoms in Nicaragua, un- dropped. Radio Ya, Radio Nicaragua and legislature — a sign of how dis- leashed in the wake of the civil After that approach failed, Radio Sandino, state broadcaster gusted voters are with the cur- revolt that paralysed the country offi cials turned to more direct Channel 6, and the online news rent crop of politicians. earlier in the year. tactics. Twelve members of service El 19 Digital. Vizcarra initially supported Journalists have been beat- Madrigal’s team have since quit, From April, this media appa- the dual-chamber proposal, en, arrested, and robbed; radio fearing for their family’s safety. ratus worked to whitewash the but later opposed it because it stations raided by police. Last “Every independent journal- government’s deadly response to included limits on presidential week, both the UN and the IA- ist has received death threats,” the protests. authority. CHR condemned the intensify- says Gerall Chavez, a reporter “We presented an alternative More than 24mn Peruvians ing harassment. with VosTV, whose house was reality, where protesters were were eligible to vote in the ref- “This government has banned vandalised in August. One jour- rightwing extremists killing erendum, called upon to mark protest, captured opposition nalist has been killed during the Sandinistas,” says Carlos Mikel a simple “Yes” or “No” to each leaders, and now the only thing violence; in total, more than 490 Espinoza, who was editor of El proposal. preventing a totalitarian dicta- violations of press freedom have 19 Digital when protests broke Mirou Tavarez Mirabal, head torship is the independent me- been documented in the course out. “It was fascistic, an attempt of the observer mission of the dia,” says Mora. “This is the stage of the crisis. to infuse hatred into government Organisation of American States where they try to silence us.” Now, having regained control supporters and police.” Espinoza (OAS) said vote counting was Anti-government protests of the streets, the government quit and fl ed to Costa Rica in slow because a large number Kindergarten teachers surround riot policemen during a demonstration outside the broke out in April, sparked by is determined to impose control June, after police and militants of tables at voting centres had government house requesting better work conditions in Santiago, Chile, yesterday. the mismanagement of fi res in a over the narrative. In doing so, burned alive a family of six in “opened late.” protected reserve and fuelled by it aims to ensure impunity for their own home. Chile declines to sign Anti-Morales protest Rightist named Brazil environment minister

UN pact on migration barely a year after his arrival. AFP Sao Paulo Affi liated with the rightist Reuters people who migrate, integrate “This is not a great way to Novo party, he ran for a seat in Santiago them into new countries or re- fi nd out about a subject of such the National Congress in Octo- turn them to their home coun- tremendous importance,” he razilian president-elect ber but was defeated. tries. told El Mercurio. “I understand Jair Bolsonaro, a longtime In late November the Brazil- hile has become the It is non-binding but has met that foreign policy is led by the Bclimate-change skeptic, ian government cancelled plans latest country to pull fi erce resistance from govern- president of the republic but we has named a rightist lawyer with to host next year’s COP25 United Cout of a controversial ments including the US, Aus- could at least discuss it.” a contentious background to Nations global climate confer- United Nations migration pact, tria, Hungary and Poland who Hugo Gutierrez, a human be environment minister in the ence, a follow-on to this year’s its interior ministry indicated, frame it as encouraging migra- rights lawyer and lawmaker country whose Amazon rainfor- UN conference in Poland that provoking fury among opposi- tion. for Chile’s Communist Party, est is under threat. has underscored the severity of tion parties who accused Se- If confi rmed, Chile’s refusal wrote on Twitter that Chile As with all his major announce- climate change. bastian Pinera’s government of to sign refl ects its hardening was advancing down “the ments, Bolsonaro used Twitter to In announcing the cancella- “shameful and authoritarian” stance towards migrants whose ultraright path of Trump, appoint Ricardo de Aquino Salles tion, Brazil’s foreign ministry behaviour. population has grown fi vefold Netanyahu and Bolsonaro,” and fi ll the fi nal vacancy of his cited “fi nancial and budgetary Rodrigo Ubilla, Chile’s in- in 30 years amid infl uxes from referring to the US, Israeli and 22-member Cabinet. restrictions” and the govern- terior ministry sub-secretary, Venezuela, Haiti, the Domini- Brazilian presidents. About one third of the minis- ment transition. told Chilean paper El Mercurio can Republic and Colombia, Chile’s Progressive Party de- ters are from the armed forces. But Bolsonaro, who has long in an interview that the coun- among other Latin nations. scribed the Pinera government Brazil’s incoming leader, who questioned the value of the Paris try’s representatives would not Centre-right Pinera’s gov- decision as “shameful and au- takes offi ce on January 1, had ear- climate agreement to cap global attend the event to adopt the ernment came to offi ce in thoritarian.” lier reversed a decision to combine warming, later admitted “taking pact early next week in the Mo- March on a promise to enforce Amnesty International said the environment ministry with part” in the decision to withdraw roccan city of Marrakesh. stricter measures. it was “alarming.” “Chile was the agriculture ministry, after its off er to host COP25. “Our position is clear,” he In recent months, it has put an active part of this pact’s ne- strong resistance from ecologists An ex-military man of 63, he said. “We have said that mi- on “repatriation” fl ights for gotiations and was considered and the farming sector. vowed during his election cam- gration is not a human right. Haitian migrants wanting to one of the states that favoured Salles was environment min- paign to weaken environmental Countries have a right to de- return home, tightened visa its implementation,” Ana ister of Sao Paulo state from 2016 enforcement in order to boost termine the entry requirements controls and deported migrants Piquer, Amnesty’s executive to 2017, but left accused of alter- commercial ventures in the Am- for foreign citizens.” with criminal records. director in Chile, told La Ter- ing plans for an environmentally azon and elsewhere. Chile’s foreign ministry did Ricardo Lagos Weber, the cera newspaper. protected area to favour private Brazil had long been a leader not immediately respond to a president of the foreign aff airs “The last-minute decision companies, the local press re- in the global struggle to limit cli- request for confi rmation of the commission for Chile’s senate, not to participate in the Moroc- Feminist group “Mujeres Creando” struggle with riot police ported. mate change, setting ambitious policy. summoned foreign minister co summit seems a step back on during a protest against Bolivia’s President Evo Morales bid Salles, 43, has denied the ac- goals for reducing greenhouse The migration pact address- Roberto Ampuero to explain its promise of aff ording rights for re-election in 2019, in La Paz, Bolivia, yesterday. cusations but he stepped down gas emissions and slowing the es issues such as how to protect the closed-door decision. to migrants.” from office in August 2017, deforestation of the Amazon. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 11, 2018 23 PAKISTAN

Imran is ‘our best bet’ for Pakistanis abroad give ties: India former millions to fund dams spy chief Internews Mohmand Dams Fund, SBP data estimated 9mn overseas Paki- tributions were made through from those living in the UK, Ireland, South Korea, Thailand, Islamabad showed. stanis, particularly those liv- cheques, cash, and mobile while those in Canada donated Oman, Jordan, the Maldives, Chief Justice of Pakistan Sa- ing in European countries and phone message service. Rs107mn. Nigeria, Peru, Tunisia, and the Internews qib Nisar took the initiative of the United States, to contribute A sum of Rs125mn was re- Other major donations by Philippines. Islamabad verseas Pakistanis collecting donations by launch- at least $1,000 per head to the ceived through SMS services the overseas Pakistanis came When contacted, Special As- have so far contributed ing the fund on July 6, which was cause, and warned that Pakistan of the four cellular phone serv- from the United Arab Emirates sistant to the Prime Minister Oaround Rs1bn ($7.35mn) later joined by Prime Minister could face famine-like condi- ice companies operating in the (Rs65mn), Saudi Arabia and Qa- on Overseas Pakistanis Syed n a rare development, In- while local individuals as well Imran Khan, making it a joint tions by 2025 if new water reser- country. tar (around Rs40mn each), and Zulfi kar Abbas Bukhari hailed dia’s former spy master has as institutions have donated venture to overcome the coun- voirs were not built. Many overseas Pakistanis sent Switzerland (Rs32mn). the contribution from Pakistanis Isaid that Prime Minister Im- Rs7.47bn to the Diamer-Bhasha try’s water scarcity. The chief justice recently vis- their donations through debit Contributions were also made working abroad, saying that they ran Khan deserves a chance and and Mohmand dams fund, ac- As of December 6, according ited the UK himself for fund- and credit cards, while many by overseas Pakistanis in Nor- always came forward to support time to prove his intentions with cording to the State Bank of Pa- to the SBP, the share of overseas raiser to avert the looming threat others deposited money in the way, Turkey, Japan, China, Swe- the country in diffi cult times. regards to Pakistan-India rela- kistan (SBP). Pakistanis in the total contribu- of drought in Pakistan in coming SBP Nostro account and com- den, Russia, Brazil, Malaysia, He announced the constitu- tions. Within a span of fi ve months, tion for the construction of the years. mercial banks overseas. New Zealand, South Africa, Az- tion of an overseas Pakistanis “[PM] Imran is our best bet a total of Rs8.46bn was depos- dams was 10.6%. Around $14bn is required for Most of the foreign dona- erbaijan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, associates committee, which after [former military ruler] ited in the Supreme Court of The prime minister had previ- the construction of the Diamer- tions, around Rs362mn, came Austria, Brunei, Denmark, the would be mandated to raise General Pervez Musharraf,” said Pakistan and Prime Minister of ously appealed, in his televised Bhasha dam. from Pakistanis living in the US, Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, funds till the completion of AS Dulat, the former Research Pakistan Diamer-Bhasha and address to the nation, to the Within Pakistan, the con- followed by around Rs214mn Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Fiji, dams. and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief, while speaking at a session on the wisdom of spies during the Military Literature Festival in Bridal fashion Chandigarh on Saturday, Hin- dustan Times reported. “We need to give him time and Local fi rms a chance to prove his intentions,” he added. Lieutenant General (retired) Kamal Davar, the fi rst director general of the Indian Defence stop making Intelligence Agency, who was also in attendance at the session, agreed with Dulat’s stance on better ties with Pakistan, say- ing: “He [PM Imran] is a self- vital meds respecting man. Don’t push him into a corner. He can change things in the subcontinent.” Internews ings in the Supreme Court. Referring to the “better” re- Karachi The apex court, after lations between Islamabad and months of hearing, directed New Delhi during the Mushar- the DRAP and the government raf regime, Dulat said: “There ocal manufacturers have on November 14 to issue noti- has not been a more reasonable stopped production of fi cations on the new prices of leader in Pakistan in the past 30 Llife-saving medicines, medicines within 15 days. years. including those for the treat- “However, no step was taken He added: “It is sad that once ment of multi-drug resistant by the government in this re- he [Musharraf] stepped down, a (MDR) tuberculosis, diff erent gard,” he added. lot less has been done in terms of neurological disorders, vari- “Similarly, the DRAP policy Pakistan-India relations.” ous types of cancers and skin board was also directed by ailments, after their produc- the Supreme Court to review tion cost surpassed their retail prices of life-saving medicines Saarc summit price. in view of devaluation of the The manufacturers have rupee against the US dollar postponed warned the government of an within 15 days, but unfortu- extreme crisis involving vari- nately, no step was initiated by A planned South Asian ous medicines, including life- the DRAP or the government.,” Association for Regional Co- saving drugs, if prices are not he said. operation (Saarc) summit would increased by the Drug Regu- Saeed said that 90% of raw not be held after India, followed latory Authority of Pakistan material for the production of by Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and (DRAP) as per its own recom- drugs as well as packaging ma- Bhutan, pulled out of the 19th mendations. terial was imported, and after summit that had originally been Pharmaceutical companies the rupee’s devaluation, it was planned for November 2016. have been unable to continue impossible for drug manufac- Shubham Singh of the Indian producing the drugs at present turers to continue producing High Commission in Pakistan Actress Neelam Muneer presents a creation by designer Dnnus Dlrar during a fashion rates after a 40% devaluation medicines at the current retail walked out of a Saarc meeting show as part of the Pantene Hum Bridal Couture Week in Lahore on Sunday evening. of the rupee and an increase in prices. in Islamabad on Sunday due to fuel prices. He warned that the closure the presence of Azad Kashmir Models present creations by Nickie Nina (above, left) and Taza Hussain (left) at the fashion According to the chairman of industries would lead to Minister Chaudhary Mohamed show as part of the Pantene Hum Bridal Couture Week in Lahore on Sunday evening. of the Pakistan Pharmaceuti- costlier drug imports. Saeed, local media reported. cal Manufacturers Association Saeed urged the DRAP and (PPMA), Zahid Saeed, only 500 the federal government to re- companies are actually pro- view drug prices immediately. ducing medicines against 800 “Otherwise, the manufac- licence-holders. turers would be compelled to He told a press conference increase medicine prices on Deadline issued for fi nal report in fake accounts case that drug manufacturers are our own as per DRAP’s for- slowly closing down their in- mula and list given to the apex dustrial units due to the pro- court,” he added. Internews and his close aides has been given Majeed and his son Abdul Ghani laundering through at least 29 lack of co-operation with the JIT duction cost. “We are also planning to Islamabad a deadline of December 19 by the Majeed, former Pakistan Stock fake accounts. looking into the matter. The PPMA chairman in- initiate contempt of court pro- Supreme Court to submit its fi nal Exchange chairperson Hussain The apex court had taken suo The three-member bench, formed the media in detail ceedings against the DRAP for report. Lawai, and Summit Bank sen- motu notice of the fake accounts headed by Chief Justice Saqib about the association’s strug- refusing to comply with SC’s he joint investigation team Former Pakistan president ior vice-president Taha Raza are case and instructed authorities to Nisar with Justices Ijazul Ahsan gle and the process that it had directives. In this regard, we (JIT) looking into alleged Zardari, his sister member of the among those being investigated expedite the investigation. and Faisal Arbab, will consider initiated for the rationalisation will follow the legal course of Tmoney laundering by National Assembly (MNA) Faryal by the Federal Investigation The Sindh government has the fi nal JIT report on December of drug prices after devaluation action against the drug regula- former president Asif Ali Zardari Talpur, the Omni Group’s Anwar Agency (FIA) for alleged money repeatedly come under fi re for 24. of the rupee and the proceed- tor,” he warned.

Punjab University alumni pledge Pakistan launches polio vaccination drive to help resolve national issues DPA Islamabad

Internews proved our academic system, we comparative studies for better Lahore will leave Oxford and Harvard understanding of issues and dis- ore than 270,000 universities behind as we have couraging stereotypical thinking. health workers have the potential.” “We should critically think Mfanned out across Pa- undreds of people from Former Pakistan Tehreek- which economic system can kistan in a fi ve-day drive to diff erent professions, e-Insaf (PTI) Punjab president bring progress and change in the vaccinate millions of children Hincluding senior politi- Hafeez Khan said that it is the life of the masses,” he added. against polio, offi cials said yes- cians, attended the fi rst meeting fi rst event of its kind in the uni- Abbas also shared anecdotes terday, as the country launches of the University of the Punjab versity’s 136-year history, and from his student life and activi- a push to eradicate the crippling Alumni Association since the pledged to work and provide as- ties at the university, and how he disease. varsity’s inception in 1882. sistance for the betterment of the suff ered for pointing out mis- The drive would target 40mn Former Punjab University (PU) campus. management in government and children under the age of fi ve, vice-chancellor Dr Rafi q Ahmad He said the alumni association raising his voice against state op- according to Babar Bin Atta, the presided over the meeting at the would work for improving the pression. prime minister’s spokesman for Faisal Auditorium. university’s ranking and provid- The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI)’s polio matters. The alumni pledged to con- ing technical assistance. Fareed Paracha also shared his Pakistan and Afghanistan are tribute to the development of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) memories of the university, and among only a few countries in the country and play their role in Punjab president Qamar Zaman said that they had worked for the world where polio is still en- helping the nation cope with is- Kaira said that Pakistan is facing the betterment of education and demic. sues faced. diff erent political, economical, safety and security of the stu- The UN-funded vaccination Senior journalist Hamid Mir and social challenges, and uni- dents. campaign has, however, helped A health worker administers polio vaccine drops to a child during a vaccination campaign in Karachi. said he felt nostalgic because he versities could prove helpful in Veteran actor Tauqeer Nasir Pakistan to control the spread. delivered his fi rst speech in Class these circumstances by develop- also spoke about life on campus The number of newly aff ected The disease, which can crip- The militants have killed a militants since 2014 to make I in the same auditorium when he ing critical thinking among stu- and praised the environment children came down to just eight ple children for life, is more number of health workers and sure workers could reach chil- was in school. dents. back then. so far this year compared to 306 common in the country’s moun- police guarding them because of dren in previously inaccessible “With this speech, I am going PTI leader Ghulam Abbas said A large number of politicians, in 2014. tainous northwest region near rumours that the polio vaccine areas. to relive my (experience), and I that universities should play judges, journalists, industrial- Atta said the army, police and the Afghan border, which until was aimed at making Muslim This year four cases were re- urge the university administra- their role in developing criti- ists, bureaucrats, academicians, paramilitary forces are provid- recent years had been under the children sterile. ported in the region, another tion to keep holding such alumni cal thinking among students, scientists and renowned person- ing security to health workers as control of militants linked to Al A series of military off ensives three in the province of Balu- meetings,” he said. “If we im- stressing the need to launch alities attended the meeting. they administered the vaccine. Qaeda. have been launched against the chistan and one in Karachi. Gulf Times 24 Tuesday, December 11, 2018 PHILIPPINES Palace forms national task force against Reds

By Catherine S Valente and initiatives of national gov- of the law. He, however, clarifi ed Manila Times ernment agencies, local govern- that the DND could not provide ment units and various sectors of amnesty to those who surren- civil society.” dered, noting that only Congress resident Rodrigo Duterte This will include, among has such powers to grant one. has formed a national task others, a mechanism for local Pardon is a prerogative of the Pforce to “end” the armed peace engagements or negotia- president. confl ict with communist rebels. tions and interventions that “is Mapagu added that the DND Activists burn portraits of President Rodrigo Duterte during a rally to commemorate the 70th International Human Rights Day near the Duterte signed on December 4 consistent with constitutional was co-ordinating with Public Presidential Palace in Manila, yesterday. Executive Order (EO) 70, which integrity and national sover- Attorney’s Offi ce (PAO) chief institutionalises “the Whole- eignty, responsive to local needs, Persida Rueda-Acosta. of-Nation approach in attaining and sensitive to realities on the “As what we have been say- inclusive and sustainable peace, ground.” “Towards this end, the ing, it is high time that we end creating a national task force government shall prioritise and the communist insurgency be- to end local communist armed harmonise the delivery of basic cause we are all Filipinos here confl ict and directing the adop- services and social development and we should not be killing each Thousands rally to attack tion of a national peace frame- packages in confl ict-aff ected ar- other, we should talk and recov- work.” eas and vulnerable communities, er peacefully our diff erences,” “There is a need to reframe facilitate societal inclusivity, and Mapagu told reporters in Camp and refocus the government ensure active participation of all Aguinaldo, Quezon City. policy for achieving inclusive sectors of society in the pursuit At the same time, the under- Duterte’s rights record and sustainable peace by recog- of the country’s peace agenda,” secretary said the government nising that insurgencies, inter- it added. would not entertain attempts of DPA nal disturbances and tensions, Under the EO, the president the National Democratic Front Manila and other armed confl icts and heads the task force, while the (NDF) to discuss the resumption threats are not only military and national security adviser serves of peace negotiations with the security concerns, but are symp- as vice chairman. government. housands of human tomatic and broader social, eco- The task force will formulate He said the goal of the Reds rights advocates and nomic, and historical problems, and implement a whole-of-na- was to seize political power and Tleftist activists took to such as poverty, historical injus- tion approach-driven national there was never any real peace the streets in the Philippine tice, social inequality, and lack of peace framework, in co-ordina- talks because the communists capital yesterday to denounce inclusivity, among others,” the tion with relevant national gov- often committed ceasefi re viola- President Rodrigo Duterte and order read. ernment agencies. tions. his administration for “a suc- “The Whole-of-Nation ap- “Except for the private sector The former army general in- cession of anti-people poli- proach addresses the root causes representatives, the members sisted on the localised peace cies.” of insurgencies, internal distur- may designate an alternate, with talks, which is also the call of the The demonstrators marched bances and tensions, and other a rank not lower than an assist- Armed Forces of the Philippines towards the presidential palace armed confl icts and threats pri- ant secretary, to represent their and even Duterte himself. in Manila, where they burned oritising and harmonising the respective offi ces in the task The president also signed a four-metre effi gy depicting delivery of basic services and force, provided that the alternate a measure providing fi nancial Duterte as a red-eyed beast social development packages by must be fully authorised to de- support to members of Citizen while chanting anti-govern- the government facilitating so- cide on behalf of the members,” Armed Force Geographical Unit ment slogans. cietal inclusivity, and ensuring the new order read. Active Auxiliary Service (CAA). They carried placards de- active participation of all sec- “The private sector repre- Members of the CAA are called manding an end to killings trig- tors of the society in the pursuit sentatives with a term of one to complement and support the gered by Duterte’s aggressive of the country’s peace agenda,” year each, shall be appointed by regular forces of the AFP in deal- war on drugs, which has left it added. Under the measure, the president upon the recom- ing with internal and external nearly 5,000 people dead, ac- the national task force will pro- mendation of the task force,” it security threats, as well as pro- cording to police statistics. vide an effi cient mechanism and added. vide vital military intelligence, “The Duterte regime is a gov- structure for the implementa- The Department of National joint traditional and non-tradi- ernment that wilfully violates Filipino human rights advocates stage a protest march in Manila, yesterday. tion of the Whole-of-Nation Defense (DND) yesterday assured tional military operations, se- people’s rights,” said Cristina approach “to aid the realisation former members of the New Peo- cure confl ict-aff ected commu- Palabay, secretary general of Opposition Senator Risa she said.”I call on the peo- “To protect the lives of the of the collective aspiration of the ple’s Army (NPA) who have sur- nities and act as fi rst responders Karapatan, a Philippine human Hontiveros said Duterte has be- ple to push back and stand up innocent law-abiding citizens Filipino people to attain inclu- rendered to the government of during natural disasters. rights organisation. come “the single biggest threat against the threat to our human of the country, this adminis- sive and sustainable peace.” free legal assistance if they have Under EO 69, which was “The Duterte regime has to human rights” in the Philip- rights.” tration remains unrelenting EO 70 also cited the need pending cases before courts. signed on Tuesday last week, implemented a succession of pines. The Duterte administration in its crusade against crimi- to formulate a National Peace Reynaldo Mapagu, chairman duly appointed members of the anti-people policies, and it has “The president has single- rejected the criticism, saying it nality, corruption, terrorism, Framework anchored on the of the Task Force Balik-Loob CAA will receive P7,000 a month claimed the lives of thousands handedly rolled back human has advanced rights by “pro- insurgency and the prolif- Whole-of-Nation approach “to initiative of the government for as compensation for the months of Filipinos who were stripped rights safeguards and made tecting human lives, uplifting eration of illegal drugs,” said ensure comprehensive orches- NPA rebels, urged anew commu- of November and December of their fundamental rights,” the country a haven for human human dignity and advancing Executive Secretary Salvador tration of related peace eff orts nist gunmen to return to the fold 2018. she added. rights violators,” people’s progress.” Medialdea.

Colleges urged to stop collecting miscellaneous fees President signs ‘First 1,000 Days’ Upon the prodding of Senator Trillanes posts bail Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino law to aid child health programme 4th, the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) will issue a memorandum prohibiting state By Catherine S Valente newborns, infants and young DoH Secretary as the ex offi cio universities and colleges (SUCs) over libel charges children, pregnant and lactat- chairperson, and the Agricul- Manila Times from charging mandatory fees, ing women and adolescent fe- ture chief and Interior Secretary Manila Times reported. The sena- By Neil Jayson Servallos had accused Trillanes of slan- males, as well as multi-factoral as ex offi cio vice chairmen. tor noted that under Republic Manila Times dering him and his family dur- resident Rodrigo Duterte issues that negatively aff ect the The board also include sec- Act (RA)10931 or the “Universal ing a Cebu City radio interview. has signed into law a bill development of newborns, in- retaries of the Departments of Access to Quality Tertiary In the interview, Trillanes al- Pthat aims to expand the fants and young children, inte- Social Welfare and Develop- Education Act,” SUCs are barred enator Antonio Trillanes legedly accused Paolo Duterte country’s nutrition and health grating the short, medium and ment, Trade and Industry, La- from collecting miscellaneous 4th avoided detention of corruption and extortion programmes to cover children long-term plans of the govern- bour and Employment, Science and other mandatory fees from Safter paying a P96,000- involving Uber and other com- from the fi rst day of the mother’s ment to end hunger, improve and Technology, and Budget students. During the interpella- bail bond before a Pasay City panies regulated by the Land pregnancy to their fi rst two years. health and nutrition, and re- and National Economic and tion of the CHEd budget, Aquino court for four counts of libel Transportation Franchising Duterte signed Republic Act duce malnutrition.” Development Authority. expressed concern over reports lodged in Davao City by Presi- and Regulatory Board, the Road (RA) 11148 or “Kalusugan at Nu- Under the new law, the De- Senator Ralph Recto said at that some SUCs continue to col- dent Rodrigo Duterte’s son, Board and the Department of trisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act” on partment of Health (DoH), the least P17bn would be needed to lect miscellaneous fees. “Under Paolo Duterte and son-in-law Public Works and Highways. November 23, but it was only re- National Nutrition Council implement the 1,000 days pro- our law, SUCs are prohibited from Manases Carpio. The other complaints leased to the media on yesterday. (NNC) and Department of Ag- gramme which would inoculate collecting mandatory fees. We The senator posted bail at the stemmed from the senator’s Under the “First 1,000 Days” riculture (DA), in co-ordina- 2.7mn pregnant women against must fight for 100% compliance Pasay City Regional Trial Court accusations of corruption dur- Law, the government will give tion with other state agencies tetanus and diphtheria. of the law,” Aquino said. “In our (RTC) Branch 118 before noon Senator Antonio Trillanes posts ing the Senate inquiry into Du- priority to the nutrition of pre- and local government units, The new law seeks to rounds of SUCs, we learned yesterday after he was charged bail at the Pasay City Regional terte and Carpio’s involvement pregnant, pregnant and lactat- will formulate national nutri- strengthen the enforcement that there were some of them and ordered arrested by Davao Trial Court Branch. in the Chinese drug trade. ing women, and infants and tion policies, plans, strategies of Executive Order 51 or the who plan to collect miscellane- RTC Branch 54 last Friday. The Pasay RTC Branch 118 young children. and approaches for the nutri- “Milk Code,” and RA 10028, or ous fees,” said Aquino, principal Branch 118 Judge Rowena P96,000. Nieves-Tan, how- on Friday also granted Pros- It will also provide “com- tion improvement, including, the “Expanded Breastfeeding sponsor of RA 10931. In response, Nieves-Tan was given the green ever, ordered the senator to co- ecutor Reynaldo Ticyado’s mo- prehensive, sustainable mul- strategies on women, infant Promotion Act of 2009,” which CHEd chairman Prospero de Vera light by the Davao court, which ordinate with the Davao court tion to withdraw the issuance ti-sectoral strategies and ap- and young child, and adolescent promotes optimal infant and agreed to issue a memorandum has the jurisdiction over the within 30 days on the date of of an ex-parte precautionary proaches to address health nutrition. The NNC Governing young child feeding and mater- that will clarify and warn SUCs that case, to accept Trillanes’ bail. his arraignment. hold departure order (PHDO) and nutrition problems of Board shall be composed of the nity protection. students “should not pay a single “Accused (Trillanes), after Alconcel-Danghirang, after against Trillanes. centavo” to enrol in an SUC, LUC having voluntarily appeared issuing one arrest order, is- Nieves-Tan said Ticyado (local university and college) or before this Court and posted sued three more on Friday and pleaded for the withdrawal as technical-vocational institute run the required cash bond… which ordered Trillanes’ appearance he was unable to get witnesses Drugs worth millions seized from teenager by Technical Education and Skills is to the satisfaction of the before her within 10 days upon to testify against Trillanes. Development Authority (Tesda). Court, said cash bail is hereby receipt. The Department of Justice Reniel Abadiano, 19, said he grew up knowing illegal drugs because his father, William Abadiano, is an illegal-drug Aquino also sought to expand the approved… Accordingly, the Trillanes, a fi erce Duterte (DoJ) fi led before the Pasay and supplier, Manila Times reported. This was Reniel’s statement after he was arrested by police and yielded more coverage of the free college law to Warrant of Arrest dated Dec 7, critic, said it was clear the Du- Davao courts last week a mo- than P2mn of suspected shabu in a buy-bust in Barangay Poblacion, Talisay City, south Cebu, on Saturday. cover on-the-job training, aff iliation 2018 issued against the said ac- terte family has a personal issue tion to bar the senator from Senior Insp. Alejandro Batobalonos, chief of the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) of the Cebu Provincial Police fees for nursing students, and cused is hereby lifted and set against him, and said the cases travelling abroad, after Makati Off ice (CPPO), said a poseur buyer bought a medium pack of shabu for P12,000 from Reniel. Batobalonos said other Related Learning Experi- aside,” Trillanes’ bail papers were mere harassment. RTC Branch 150 lifted its travel the sale happened in front of the house of Reniel’s mother-in-law in Sitio Bihonan at about 7.15pm. Police seized ences (RLEs). He also pushed for read. “This is another challenge in ban against the former muti- three large packs and 24 medium packs of shabu, a .357 caliber with six live bullets and P5,000 cash believed to better support for SUCs through Davao RTC Branch 54 Judge our role as a critic of Duterte, neer. be proceeds from Reniel. According to police, the 195 grams of shabu that was confiscated, have an estimated additional plantilla position for non- Merlinda Alconcel-Danghirang so I accept these challenges,” he Ticyado was the prosecutor street value of P2,301,000. “He (Reniel) felt deep regret,” Batobalonos said in Visayan. He added that Reniel told teaching personnel. prescribed a P24,000 bail told reporters. tasked by the DoJ to secure a police that his supply of illegal drugs comes from his father William, who is now hiding from authorities. bond per count, which totalled The son of President Duterte PHDO against Trillanes. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 11, 2018 25 COMMENT Humanity in self-destruct mode: UN

By Kate Hodal He said that the “global war convention against torture obliges the Guardain News and Media on terror” saw the use of torture US to prosecute any offi cial who has increasingly tolerated in public engaged in the practice, said Melzer. opinion as well as in mainstream “The US did not even seriously s those who lived through two entertainment. investigate allegations regarding the world wars die out, taking Popular TV series such as 24, in involvement of [Gina Haspel] in torture with them real memories which counter-terrorism experts apply before appointing her as director of the Aof past atrocities, the world a bit of “sanitised torture” in order to CIA, and the US president even openly is back on a path to self-destruction, “neutralise the ticking bomb just in supported the use of waterboarding. a leading authority on torture has time for the commercial break” are “All of this sets a deplorable example warned. completely unrealistic, but reinforce for other countries, like Israel, whose Human rights are facing a “worrying the myth that torture is both eff ective Supreme Court comes out with a backlash” from a global community and legitimate, he said. decision openly promoting exceptions that has failed to “learn the lesson” of “It doesn’t work that way in reality. from the prohibition of torture – and the past. First, interrogators are never certain no other state responds in protest or Speaking exclusively to the about what a suspect knows. even voices any concern. This would Guardian, the United Nations’ special Second, the suspect has no reason to not have been possible 20 years ago.” rapporteur on torture, Nils Melzer, tell them the truth, because any false The global erosion of human said the global community had information he provides will also stop rights is just one crisis among many, become “complacent” in the face of the torture and will send investigators said Melzer, from migration and the injustice because the world no longer off on a tangent while the bomb keeps environment to fi nancial instability, understood why human rights should ticking. energy, poverty and cyber security. be protected or what the world would Third, and most importantly, even if Rather than provide solutions to look like without them. torture worked, this would not make it these problems, however, world leaders “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that acceptable. are instead “promoting regressive 70 years after world war two, when “With the same sinister logic we policies focused on national interests the last witnesses of past atrocities could say that chemical weapons, and decrying human rights as a threat are dying away, we start to see human slavery and genocide work. to national sovereignty and security”. rights being questioned on a broad But torture is not prohibited Melzer added: “We must understand scale,” said Melzer, a Swiss law because it never works, but because that, in a world full of globalised professor who assumed the UN post it is so fundamentally dehumanising challenges, human rights are the in 2016. not only for the victims, but also for very basis for our safety, stability and “The generation that had the answer the perpetrators and for any society prosperity, and that any signifi cant is almost gone. They left behind the tolerating such monstrous abuse. erosion of these rights will cause the Universal Declaration of Human Rights It’s very important that we get a collapse of our modern civilisation. for us, but it is as if its message is no realistic portrait of torture: it is not “The good news is that people are longer understood, and it looks like we clean, sanitised and eff ective, but dirty, starting to realise that it is time for all will have to learn the same lesson the messy and irreversibly destructive for of us to take responsibility. hard way again.” everyone involved.” In a world where everyone has access Melzer’s comments mark the 70th The US Senate committee report to the internet, we have the means to anniversary of the declaration in a acknowledging that the CIA had engaged communicate globally and change our week when world leaders are in an Protesters wearing yellow vests (Gilets jaunes) hug on the Champs Elysees in Paris on December 8, 2018 during a protest in systematic torture was a historical collective awareness faster than ever uproar over global migration fl ows, against rising costs of living they blame on high taxes. “The protests by the gilets jaunes are proof that when people finally opportunity, said Melzer, because it in history. with numerous countries backing out decide to stand up and say ‘enough’, governments have no choice but to listen”. could have set an example for other “The recent protests by the gilets of a UN compact in Marrakech seeking states on taking responsibility for a jaunes are proof that when people to make migration a universal right. human rights a “luxury” instead of a jurisdiction, we’re talking about The fi rst major dismantling of practice that the global community had fi nally decide to stand up and say Melzer pointed to the grave human right. complicity in crimes against humanity human rights began after 9/11, prohibited in absolute terms. ‘enough’, governments have no choice rights violations occurring in key “If European countries are paying because these people are knowingly said Melzer, who worked for the Yet four years after the report was but to listen. If we can do so peacefully migration routes as proof that the Libya to deliberately prevent migrants being sent back to camps governed by International Committee of the Red released, there still hasn’t been a single and without violence and destruction, global community now considers from reaching the safety of European rape, torture and murder,” said Melzer. Cross (ICRC) at the time. prosecution – even though the UN then there is hope for the future.” World has failed children in confl ict zones Three-day forecast war in which such atrocities were report, anti-government groups in Council. The routine misuse of the TODAY By Maleiha Malik Maximum Temperature : 260c London numerous. At the time, world leaders South Sudan press-ganged more veto by one of the fi ve permanent were determined to build a fairer, more than 500 children from schools members of the Security Council Minimum Temperature : 200c harmonious global order that would between December 2014 and May ensures that there will be no WEDNESDAY his Human Rights Day ensure basic protections for all. 2015. In July 2013, a female teacher accountability for attacks on children Maximum Temperature : 260c (December 10) marked the But, clearly, the Universal in the Democratic Republic of Congo and civilians in confl ict zones. Those Minimum Temperature : 180c 70th anniversary of the Declaration is as necessary and reported that local militants visited who fl agrantly violate human rights THURSDAY United Nations General relevant today as it was then. her school multiple times each need no longer fear the consequences. Maximum Temperature : 250c T Minimum Temperature : 180c Assembly’s adoption of the Universal According to Unicef, the number month to abduct schoolgirls who This is a moral outrage. All of children living in confl ict zones were then raped and held captive, perpetrators of violence – regardless Declaration of Human Rights. Sadly, Fisherman's forecast events over the past few years show has risen by 74% over the last sometimes for months. of whether they are a permanent that the world is failing to uphold decade. Moreover, a new report For these and countless other member of the Security Council, children, there is no such thing as a a powerful G7 member state, or WARNING the commitments enshrined in that from the Global Coalition to Protect Inshore : Nil document, particularly when it comes Education from Attack (GCPEA) fi nds “safe place” to learn and plan for the one of countless armed groups – Offshore : Expected strong wind to protecting children. that between 2013 and 2017, there future. The threat of death or injury must be subject to the full force of and high sea For example, in separatist- were more than 12,700 attacks on is constant. In too many parts of the international law. WEATHER Inshore : Moderate temperature controlled parts of Eastern Ukraine, educational settings, harming more world, children are being singled out On this Human Rights Day, it is daytime with slight dust where more than 200,000 children are than 21,000 students and teachers in precisely because they symbolise the time to shine a spotlight on the impact at times and scattered receiving their education in militarised at least 70 countries. future. This is not just a limited case that war and confl ict are having on clouds, relatively cold by night. areas, bullets have struck kindergarten Education is a fundamental human of rebels looting classrooms. Rather, children’s right to education. In an Offshore : Partly cloudy to cloudy windows. In April, the Afghan air right and one of the most important warring parties in many confl ict zones increasingly interdependent world at times with chance of force, backed by US-led Nato coalition things the world can give a child. are systematically targeting children as with intensifying challenges, it rain to the north at first. WIND advisers, reportedly killed 36 students, The organisation I represent, the a tactic to destabilise and demoralise has become all the more necessary Inshore : Northwesterly-Norther- teachers, and parents, and wounded 71 Education Above All Foundation, communities so that they can never to champion education as the key ly 07-17 KT Gusting 20 others, at a graduation ceremony. And regards education as the ultimate recover. ingredient in economic development, KT Offshrore : Northwesterly 18-25 KT in August, the Saudi-led coalition that “enabling” right, because it is Seven decades after World War II, peace, and prosperity. We cannot Gusting to 33 KT has been waging war against Houthi the single most effective means world and regional powers are yet wait another 70 years to secure this rebels in Yemen dropped a bomb on of reducing poverty, generating again waging proxy wars that are fundamental human right. All those Visibility : 4-8 KM a school bus, killing 40 boys between economic growth, and creating depriving children in confl ict zones who perpetrate or enable violence Offshore : 5-10/13 FT of a future, and sometimes of their against children must be held the ages of six and 11. peaceful and just societies. Around the region It is not hard to fi nd many more Despite the importance of lives. In many cases, the very countries accountable – with no exceptions. – Weather horrifying examples of how children education for advancing most other that should be standing for peace and Project Syndicate Weather tomorrow Max/min have come under threat in educational human rights, those in positions of security are themselves breaching today Max/min Sunny 21/10 settings where they should be safest. power have failed to protect it. In the rule of law and international zMaleiha Malik is Executive Director Baghdad Sunny 19/11 Sunny 22/12 When the international community fact, schools are even being used commitments to uphold human rights. of Protect Education in Insecurity and Kuwait CitySunny 22/12 Sunny 24/18 adopted the Universal Declaration, it as recruitment centres for child Nowhere is this problem more Confl ict (PEIC), a programme of the Manama P Cloudy 24/19 Sunny 26/19 had just experienced a terrifying world soldiers. According to the GCPEA visible than in the UN Security Education Above All Foundation. Muscat Sunny 28/22 Tehran Sunny 13/04 Sunny 15/05 Live issues Fruits and greens can be good for the brain

By Lisa Rapaport contained the least produce. in middle age on cognitive function A serving of vegetables is considered New York Fruit consumption, overall, later in life, researchers administered one cup of raw vegetables or two cups didn’t appear to infl uence the risk of questionnaires designed to measure of leafy greens. moderate cognitive problems, but men memory and reasoning skills. Overall, 6.6% of men who ate the Around the world iddle-aged men who who drank more orange juice were 47% Among other things, they most vegetables developed poor Weather Weather eat lots of fruits and less likely to have extensive cognitive asked whether men had trouble cognitive function, compared with today Max/min tomorrow Max/min vegetables may be defi cits than men who drank the least, remembering things like recent 7.9% of men who ate the least. Athens Showers 12/03 Sunny 12/07 Mlowering their odds of the researchers note in the journal events or items on shopping lists; And 6.9% of men who drank Beirut T Storm 19/17 Rain 18/16 cognitive problems as they get on in Neurology. whether they had trouble following orange juice every day developed poor Bangkok S T Storms 32/25 M Cloudy 31/23 years, compared to peers who don’t “Long-term intake of vegetables instructions or keeping track of plots cognitive function, compared with Berlin Showers 04/01 P Cloudy 04/-1 consume these foods very often, a US (eg, green leafy, dark orange and red on television shows; and whether they 8.4% of men who drank orange juice Cairo M Sunny 23/12 M Sunny 22/12 study suggests. vegetables), fruit (eg berry fruits) got lost on familiar streets. less than once a month. Cape Town P Cloudy 24/17 S Showers 20/14 Researchers followed almost and fruit juice (eg orange juice) may In these tests, 55% of the The study wasn’t designed to Colombo P Cloudy 30/22 P Cloudy 30/23 28,000 men for two decades starting be benefi cial for late-life subjective participants had good thinking and prove whether or how fruit or Dhaka Sunny 28/17 Sunny 29/17 when they were 51 years old, on cognitive function among US men,” memory skills, 38% had moderate vegetable consumption directly Hong Kong M Cloudy 19/11 M Sunny 17/12 average. Every four years, participants lead study author Changzheng Yuan of skills and 7% had poor thinking and impacts memory loss. Researchers Istanbul Showers 08/04 Showers 07/05 answered questionnaires about their the Harvard TH Chan School of Public memory skills. also lacked data on participants’ Jakarta S T Storms 32/25 T Storm 32/26 consumption of fruits, vegetables and Health in Boston said in an e-mail. Researchers sorted participants memory and thinking skills before Karachi Sunny 28/16 Sunny 27/15 other foods. They also took tests of Men should still go easy on the into fi ve groups based on their fruit the tests and couldn’t assess how London M Cloudy 07/05 P Cloudy 07/02 thinking and memory skills when they orange juice, however. and vegetable consumption. The diet might have influenced changes Manila P Cloudy 33/24 P Cloudy 32/26 were 73 years old, on average. “The protective role of regular group with the highest vegetable over time. Moscow Snow 01/-1 Cloudy 0/-2 Based on those test results, consumption of fruit juice was mainly consumption ate about six servings “Fruits and vegetables are rich in New Delhi Fog 23/11 Fog 22/10 researchers found that by the time observed among the oldest men,” Yuan per day, compared to about two vitamins and nutrients, including New York Sunny 04/0 Sunny 06/-1 they were in their later 70s, men said. servings for the group with the antioxidants, that can help protect Paris M Cloudy 08/01 P Cloudy 05/-1 who had regularly eaten the most “Since fruit juice is usually high lowest intake. For fruits, the top the brain from oxidative stress and Sao Paulo M Sunny 31/18 M Sunny 32/19 vegetables over the previous decades in calories from concentrated fruit group ate about three servings per preserve healthy vascular function Seoul P Cloudy 04/-7 Sunny 02/-8 were 17% less likely to have moderate sugars, it’s generally best to consume day, compared to half a serving in the that is important for cognitive health,” Singapore T Storm 31/25 T Storm 30/25 cognitive problems and 34% less no more than a small glass (four to six bottom group. said Hannah Gardener, a researcher Sydney Cloudy 22/19 Cloudy 23/19 likely to have more extensive cognitive ounces) per day,” Yuan added. A serving of fruit is considered one with the University of Miami Miller Tokyo Clear 10/03 Rain 12/05 defi cits than men whose diets To assess the impact of eating habits cup of fruit or a half-cup of fruit juice. School of Medicine. Gulf Times 26 Tuesday, December 11, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES The Huawei aff air: mistrust of China runs quite deep There’s an aspect to China’s rise as an economic power that presents a constant national security threat to the United States: the unlimited reach of the Chinese government. In China’s communist-run political system, lines of control and infl uence between Beijing and privately operated enterprises are murky – when those lines exist at all. Some Chinese companies are owned directly by the government, but all owe a level of fealty to the government. A few weeks ago, the Chinese news media disclosed that Jack Ma, a Chinese Internet entrepreneur worth $39bn, is a Communist Party member. The revelation isn’t scandalous because it refl ects the reality of the Climate action Chinese hybrid system: There’s no place for business owners and executives to hide in an authoritarian state. So they might as well join the party and accrue the benefi ts. That’s all background for a spectacular legal confrontation now brewing between China and the US over Huawei, China’s telecom giant. On December 1, Canadian authorities fulfi lled a US government request to arrest Huawei’s chief fi nancial offi cer trumps Trump amid allegations the company violated US trade sanctions against Iran. simulations. And the California Coastal actually outperformed most other the carbon emissions of a fossil-fuel- The pressure point runs much deeper than whatever US- By Laura Tyson and Lenny Mendonca Berkeley Commission is even considering industrialised countries in reducing based vehicle over its lifetime. And originated equipment Huawei may have sold to Iran. Huawei a massive “managed retreat” plan its CO2 emissions. But that is largely other innovations like “regenerative is described as the world’s largest supplier of cellular tower to move residents away from the due to its natural-gas boom, and the organic agriculture” are reversing electronics and other telecommunications equipment. The ow is not a good time to be a shoreline. Both the San Francisco Bay US is still the world’s second-largest environmental damage through natural fi rm is on the cutting edge, developing and selling 5G (fi fth climate-change denier like Area and Boston are strengthening per capita emitter. At the global level, processes. generation) mobile phone service technology around the US President Donald Trump, natural barriers to absorb and disperse CO2 emissions increased in 2017 In addition to reforestation and new world. All fi ne – global competition is welcome. Except almost Ngiven all the recent evidence storm surges. Florida is preparing after three years of stability and are carbon-capture technologies, carbon everything related to telecommunications technology has that the atmosphere is warming faster communities for hurricanes and rising headed to a record high in 2018. In pricing has an essential role to play in potential military usefulness, including for espionage. than expected. sea levels through public-private most countries and regions, the Paris reaching the IPCC’s threshold target. Huawei says it’s a privately owned company that doesn’t On the Friday after Thanksgiving, partnerships across county lines. And agreement’s pledges, which already Yet, despite a broad consensus among answer to the government, for example, Trump’s own government with extreme weather threatening crops are insuffi cient to keep the increase in economists that carbon pricing is the and livestock, the Iowa Farmers Union global temperatures below the 1.5°C most effi cient and eff ective way to doesn’t engage in published a major report warning that There’s no place unchecked climate change will impose is lobbying for national measures to threshold, are not being fulfi lled. reduce emissions, it faces huge political espionage and complies massive economic and human costs help farmers switch to more sustainable According to the IPCC, to stay within obstacles. In the US, cap-and-trade for business with all applicable law. on the United States. And that came sources of power. this limit would require a reduction of and other carbon-pricing tactics But who really calls the on the heels of an alarming study by In the private sector, business leaders human-caused net CO2 emissions by remain confi ned to California and a owners and shots at Huawei? The the United Nations Intergovernmental representing 20 economic sectors 45% from 2010 levels by 2030, and by few other coastal states. Worldwide, company’s founder, Ren Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that and upwards of $1.3tn in revenue have 100% by 2050. This is “possible within the 71 countries and regions that have executives Zhengfei, is a former painted a dire picture of Earth’s near publicly affi rmed their commitment the laws of chemistry and physics,” introduced a carbon price account for Chinese army offi cer. He future. to combating climate change. A broad notes Jim Skea of the IPCC, “but only around 20% of total emissions. to hide in an left the People’s Liberation The IPCC fi nds that if greenhouse- range of companies have joined the doing so would require unprecedented At a recent climate summit in Army in the early 1980s, gas emissions continue at current rates, Climate Leadership Council and changes.” For example, emissions from California, former US vice-president authoritarian the era in which Premier the additional costs due to coastal endorsed a carbon tax and dividend industry would need to fall by 75-90% Al Gore argued that we can combat climate change with both old and new Deng Xiaoping decided fl ooding, droughts, storms, extreme plan. Since 2014, the number of fi rms by 2050, while the share of renewable state heat, and wildfi res will reach an pricing carbon into their internal risk energies in the electricity mix would technologies, and that we must do so, to embrace free-market estimated $54tn by 2040. Shockingly, assessments has increased eightfold. have to increase to 67%, from around because it poses an existential threat reforms while retaining one-party rule. Ren’s daughter, the world has only about a dozen And now, more than 90 large US 20% today. to us all. Whether we will, however, Meng Wanzhou, is the Huawei executive who was arrested in years to keep global temperatures companies have set, or have committed Fortunately, innovation, investor depends on the behaviour of political Vancouver. within 1.5°C above pre-industrial to setting, emissions-reduction targets pressure, the growth of green fi nance, and business leaders in the US and The US government is deeply suspicious of Huawei and its levels, a goal of the 2015 Paris climate consistent with the Paris accord, with and falling renewable-energy prices all around the world. In the absence of connections to the Chinese government. A 2012 congressional agreement. Beyond that limit, even over half of them reporting gains in give cause for guarded optimism. Solar federal leadership, American states, report concluded that Huawei couldn’t prove its independence small temperature increases will competitiveness as a result. power is already the cheapest form of cities, businesses, and citizens are from government control. The report determined that Huawei raise the risk of catastrophic events, Investors, too, are pushing for action energy for new electricity capacity in rising to the challenge. - Project and another fi rm, ZTE, provided “a wealth of opportunities threatening millions with poverty and on climate change. Globally, more than the US and around the world, and it Syndicate for Chinese intelligence agencies to insert malicious hardware displacement. $22.8tn – one-quarter of all funds is half the price of fossil fuels in some or software implants into critical telecommunications For his part, Trump refuses to believe under professional management – emerging-market economies. By zLaura Tyson, a former chair of the his own administration’s assessment has been channelled into sustainable 2020, the cost of renewables already US President’s Council of Economic components and systems.” Even if company executives refused that climate change is man-made and investment. And with climate change in commercial use is expected to fall Advisers, is a professor at the Haas to help their government commit nefarious acts, the report poses an existential threat. He has already posing a threat to around $4tn within or below the cost range for fossil School of Business at the University noted, all it would take is recruiting a few technicians to do the unilaterally withdrawn the US from the worth of fi nancial assets, the Financial fuels. Ongoing innovations in electric- of California, Berkeley, and a senior dirty work. Chinese law appears to require co-operation with Paris climate agreement, leaving the Stability Board has created a task vehicle and jet-engine technologies adviser at the Rock Creek Group. Lenny any request under the guise of state security. country standing completely alone on force to encourage more companies to will further reduce carbon emissions Mendonca, Chairman of New America, The arrest may complicate the Trump administration’s trade the issue (though Brazil under incoming disclose climate-related risks. from transportation – with today’s is Senior Partner Emeritus at McKinsey negotiations with China, given that Chinese authorities are far-right President Jair Bolsonaro could In recent years, the US has technology, an electric vehicle has half & Company. angry about the treatment of such a high-profi le executive. follow suit). And he has dismantled But this collision of interests will turn out to be a good test of environmental regulations and Chinese intentions. Trade is one facet of a complex relationship. strengthened subsidies to boost the US Both sides will be better off if President Donald Trump can fossil-fuel industry. negotiate a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping without Yet despite federal opposition to climate-change mitigation, cities and getting distracted by a criminal case that will proceed on the states are responding. Governors of merits. states representing 40% of the US As for companies like Huawei, the Chinese government has population and 46% of US GDP have a choice. It can encourage companies in sensitive industries committed to implementing the Paris to open themselves to outside scrutiny and investment. It also agreement. Through the America’s can insist that companies like Huawei respect the law – US Pledge project, cities, states, and sanctions against Iran included. Or China can allow companies businesses accounting for over 35% like Huawei to stay in the shadows, untrusted by the United of US carbon-dioxide emissions are States and other Western governments. There are plenty of adopting measures to cut them. State other telecom companies willing to sell sensitive equipment and and local agencies are introducing new play by the rules. incentives and policies to encourage the use of renewable energy. A multistate taskforce has committed to putting a minimum of 3.3 million zero-emission To Advertise vehicles on the road by 2025. And several states are preparing lawsuits to [email protected] challenge the Trump administration’s Display plans to roll back regulations on emissions from power plants and 44466621 44418811 vehicles. Both the law and the facts favour the states. Classified State governments are also 44466609 44418811 developing climate-adaptation plans. California, for example, is exploring Subscription ways to improve the health of its forests so that they will be more resilient to [email protected] wildfi res – timely, since scientists predict that the state’s wildfi res could be fi ve times worse by mid-century, Environmental activists protest against fossil fuel during US panel at the COP24 UN Climate Change Conference 2018 in © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved given base-case temperature rise Katowice, Poland, yesterday. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 11, 2018 27 COMMENT Serviced offi ces set new growth trends for business

By Mohamed continue to be drawn to Qatar’s reasons why many businesses Shared offi ce spaces cater to the serviced office market with the Coworking, Virtual economy to achieve an average Sleiman, robust economic growth and choose to take space in a serviced the needs of both the company in Qatar is still small, with Office, Ready Office and growth rate of 3% in the next Chief Operating a leadership dedicated to offi ce. Small and Medium and its employees. This, in turn, very few players operating in Meeting Room services it two years, fast tracked by the Off icer, encouraging foreign investment, Enterprises (SMEs) fi nd this contributes to advancing the this space. Recognising this offers. Entrepreneurs and infrastructure developments in Alfardan Properties as well as a business outlook extremely benefi cial, as serviced country’s quest for innovation, need, Alfardan Properties, companies associated with preparation for the 2022 FIFA & Hospitality that is forward-thinking and offi ces also give them the as creative business ideas no a catalyst in the country’s Workinton own practical, World Cup and the launch of progressive. freedom to expand or contract as longer become stifl ed owing march towards further growth economic workspaces that help the $10bn Barzan Natural Gas Serviced offi ces assume they wish, even at short notice. to the cost of setting up the and diversification, partnered them focus on their business Project in 2020. In addition, atar is on a vibrant tremendous signifi cance in Also, for a fi xed price, they can business. On the other hand, with industry pioneer and create synergies by Qatar is expected to attain more path of economic this scenario, as they allow receive everything they need to innovative ideas fl ourish and Workinton, an emerging collaborating with like-minded fi scal defi cit containment in the growth and companies to focus on their core run their business, right from the economy leaps forward to global leader in co-working companies. medium term due to its liberal Qdiversifi cation. Its competencies without having to desks, chairs and telephones, consolidate its global reputation space culture, and opened The business landscape in tax policies and administrative economy remains well anchored spend more time on regulatory to cleaning services and as a hub of innovation and its first business centre at Qatar is undergoing a paradigm reforms. and stable, and over the years, compliance while maximising refreshment options. Businesses excellence. Alfardan Center, located shift. In fact, the last twenty Alfardan is privileged to play a the country has built up a solid employee productivity and can also benefi t from serviced Qatar, which has been next to Souq Waqif, one of years have seen unprecedented signifi cant role in spearheading reputation as an attractive global output. These offi ces reduce the offi ces when they set up specifi c leading the way in adopting Doha’s most famous cultural improvement across key global this transition. Shared business and investment hub. cost of setting up workspaces teams, house people in another the latest market trends, has attractions. parameters, and the country workspaces are all set to propel In this context, innovative offi ce and help optimise synergies city, move their operations to seen a steady improvement Workinton has built up a has been ranked fi rst in the employee productivity and spaces become the need of the by encouraging like-minded another location or even as a in its ease of doing business reputation for providing a world in the index of countries company output to new levels, hour, as an increasing number companies to collaborate and temporary measure while they index because of adopting range of cutting-edge services that have achieved record as Qatar consolidates its global of companies set up offi ces join hands. wait for permanent premises to innovative and affordable for 15,000 members and over economic growth since 1997. The position as a hub for business here every month. Investors Flexibility is one of the main become available. workplace solution. However, 2,000 corporate companies World Bank expects the Qatari and commercial activities. A reciprocal solution to the US-China trade dispute

By Shang-Jin Wei foreign ownership of domestic to promote certain economic tariff s Chinese fi rms face is an governing foreign investment New York fi rms. activities. Still, the proportion anti-dumping regime that is is not always fair, predictable, Reducing barriers to the of government programmes often used as an instrument or transparent. When it Chinese market would benefi t that create distortions and of protectionism, with rules comes to labelling a proposed or many allies of the not only foreign producers, ineffi ciencies, rather than address that are biased against Chinese investment a national security United States, the fl aws in but also Chinese households market failures, is higher in China producers. The average US tariff threat, the criteria appear very President Donald Trump’s and fi rms that use imported than in high-income countries. rate severely understates the discretionary. Ftrade war with China parts. Trade liberalisation Such policies include actual tariff rates applied to Ineffi cient or distortionary – which is on hold for 90 days would function like a tax cut, subsidies that favour state- Chinese goods. policies are rarely simple following the Xi-Trump meeting raising income and improving owned fi rms over private Similarly, US free-trade mistakes. As a rule, they serve in Argentina – lay in the approach, effi ciency without requiring fi rms, leading to waste and lost agreements have artifi cially the interests of powerful and not the motivation. Indeed, the government to increase the productivity. In order to level tilted US demand away from well-organised special interest Europe and Japan share many of budget defi cit. China’s past the playing fi eld among Chinese more effi cient Chinese producers groups that are likely to resist Trump’s grievances. What they trade liberalisation, following fi rms and for foreign fi rms, toward less cost-eff ective fi rms any change. But if China and fail to acknowledge is that there its accession to the World government programmes should in countries like Mexico. Despite the US reach a grand bargain is also plenty they can do to make Trade Organisation 17 years be subjected to more systematic the word “free” in the name, on a package of policy changes the global trading system – and ago, indicates that such a move cost-benefi t analysis. free-trade agreements are not that would reduce or eliminate their relationships with China – would not lead to a spike in File picture of China’s President Xi Jinping and China’s first lady But if global trade is to be truly truly about freer trade, as they distortions on both sides, fairer and more effi cient. unemployment, as long as the Peng Liyuan and US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania fair, the advanced economies – discriminate against fi rms in domestic resistance may be To be sure, China needs to Chinese labour market remains attending a state dinner at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and, in particular, the US – also countries outside the FTAs easier to overcome. take steps to reform its policies. suffi ciently fl exible. China, 09 November 2017. have to make some changes. In in favour of sometimes less Such co-operation could be For starters, China’s tariff s and China would also do well to fact, these countries’ barriers on effi cient fi rms in the participating extended to help reach a bargain non-tariff barriers are higher respond to another key complaint, commerce in China say that the IP, and their global footprint has Chinese goods and investment are countries. This eff ect – which is on WTO reforms that would than those of the US and other by strengthening protection actual practices are diff erent. grown much larger, stronger and not as low as commonly believed. not suffi ciently limited by existing further support fairness in the high-income countries (though of intellectual property. The In the past, when China’s reciprocal IP protections would In the US, for example, tariff s World Trade Organisation rules global system. – Project Syndicate not higher that most developing Chinese government claims that it own innovative capacity was benefi t Chinese fi rms as much as on many textile and garment – undermines effi cient resource countries with comparable abandoned the policy of requiring weak, stronger IP protection foreign companies. imports, of which China has allocation and hurts not only zShang-Jin Wei, a former income levels). And there are foreign multinationals to share would have meant merely more China should also reform been the world’s most effi cient workers in countries outside an Chief Economist of the Asian many restrictions on foreign their IP in exchange for market rents for foreign fi rms. Today, its subsidy programmes and producer, are in the 20% range, FTA, but also, in many cases, low- Development Bank, is professor fi rms wishing to operate in access two decades ago. But the however, as China’s fi rms are industrial-policy regime. Most much higher than the average US income households within it. of Finance and Economics at China, including limits on US and European chambers of developing their own valuable countries use taxes and subsidies rate. Further raising the eff ective Furthermore, the US regime Columbia University.