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INDEX Liverpool in DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2, 3, 20 COMMENT 18, 19 Qatar private sector REGION 4 BUSINESS 1-6, 17-20 initiatives to ensure £160mn deal 25,269.00 8,630.67 61.44 ARAB WORLD 4-6 CLASSIFIED 7-16 +216.00 +22.36 -0.57 INTERNATIONAL 7-17 SPORTS 1-8 long-term growth +0.86% +0.26% -0.92% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

SUNDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10691 January 7, 2018 Rabia Il 20, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Emir attends Qatar Open final Amended free In brief zones law to

ARAB WORLD | Confl ict Arab League to lobby UN to recognise attract more Palestinian state Arab states will soon embark on a diplomatic drive to persuade the United Nations to recognise a Palestinian state with East investments Jerusalem as its capital, Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said. he amended provisions in the Six Arab foreign ministers met in His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani attended the final of Qatar ExxonMobil Open for men which was law on investment free zones Amman yesterday to follow up on held at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex yesterday evening. France’s Gael Monfils won the final in straight Twill help attract more local and earlier decisions taken by the Arab sets, brushing aside Russia’s Andrey Rublev in a one-sided final, 6-2, 6-3. The match was attended by a number of sheikhs and foreign investments to the country, League to counter US President ministers as well as guests. Sport Page 1 according to a ranking Qatar Chamber Donald Trump’s move in December offi cial. to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh capital, a decision that overturned Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohamed al- decades of US policy on the Middle Thani said local businessmen and foreign East. Page 6 investors should maximise the use of ExxonMobil presents QR3.65mn incentives and advantages of Law No 21 CANADA | Aviation of 2017 issued by His Highness the Emir Jets collide on ground Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, amending some provisions of Law No 34 at Toronto airport cheque to EAA Foundation of 2005 on Investment Free Zones. Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa Two jets collided on the ground at bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani. a Toronto airport on Friday, setting xxonMobil Qatar held its an- senior vice-president, Exxon Mobil and economic development.” “The amendments also ensure the tail of one aircraft alight and nual cheque presentation at the Corporation. “We are honoured to be part of users freedom to set product cation investors,” Sheikh Khalifa said. prompting passengers to evacuate EQatar ExxonMobil Open 2018 EAA is one of ExxonMobil Qatar’s Education Above All’s noble cause of prices and profi ts, exemption The Qatar Chamber chairman said the other via an emergency awards ceremony last night. key education partners. In 2013, Exx- helping women and children around from capital assets and product the amendments remove most barri- slide. Both WestJet and Sunwing This year, the cheque for QR3.65mn onMobil pledged an $8mn contribu- the world learn lifelong skills that will requirements” ers to raising capital and incorporates confirmed that their planes were was presented to Rise International tion to Educate A Child - an initiative equip them for the rest of their lives,” special allowances to projects that give involved in the collision at 18:19 for the Educate A Child (EAC) pro- of EAA. The four-year contribution added Routledge. The decree law is eff ective starting priority for the use of local components local time (2319 GMT) at Toronto gramme, ExxonMobil Qatar said in a is supporting programmes in Nigeria “EAA’s Educate A Child programme from its date of issue and is to be pub- and those that invest in logistics and Pearson International, the second press statement. and, as education partners, they are is proud to partner with ExxonMo- lished in the offi cial gazette. communications sectors. such incident at the airport in five The programme falls under the aus- exploring potential programmes in bil and RISE International in Angola In the latest issue of Al-Moltaqa, The amendments also prescribe full months. Several hours after the pices of Education Above All Founda- Papua New Guinea, Angola and Tan- to ensure a further 24,000 out-of- Qatar Chamber’s monthly economic duty exemption for local components, collision the airport said all WestJet tion (EAA), which was established in zania to help EAA reduce the number school children into quality primary magazine, Sheikh Khalifa said these provided they are sold in the local mar- passengers were safely at the 2012 by Her Highness Sheikha Moza of children around the world with no education. It is through important advantages include increased privacy ket, he added. terminal, adding that one of the bint Nasser to build a global movement or limited access to education. multi-sectoral partnerships, such as in dealing with the customs, stream- HE the Prime Minister and Interior airport’s fire and emergency service that contributes to human, social and “We share Education Above All’s this, that EAC is able to reach many lined import and monetary mecha- Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser personnel was undergoing hospital economic development through the belief that education is the key to more of the most marginalised out- nisms, and greater freedom in transac- bin Khalifa al-Thani earlier said that treatment. provision of quality education. progress and prosperity. Education of-school children globally,” said Mary tions, among others. the amendments were recommended The cheque will help provide educa- drives economic destiny and enables Joy Pigozzi, executive director, Edu- “The amended provisions make the by the Cabinet based on the Emir’s in- AMERICA | Weather tional opportunities to communities people to work together to create cate A Child. free zone users eligible for several in- structions to speed up economic devel- around the world that are stricken by strong, skilled and thriving commu- ExxonMobil partners with local centives such as exemption of export opment and investment, besides pro- Brutally cold weather poverty or crisis, the statement notes. nities,” Routledge said. “The educa- education organisations to ensure that and import duties, waiver of restric- viding the highest possible advantages in eastern third of US Alistair Routledge, president and tion of one child creates a positive all of Qatar’s children have access to tions on the origin of capital, and the to both Qataris and foreign investors. Bitterly cold temperatures and general manager for ExxonMobil Qa- ripple effect, and its impact reaches quality education. In a society of the freedom to choose the project’s legal “Accordingly, the Cabinet had dangerous wind chills are gripping tar, and Fahad al-Sulaiti, chief ex- far beyond the child to influence future, education will play an essen- form. worked throughout the past period on the eastern third of the United ecutive offi cer of EAA, took part in their family and country. This is why tial role in creating the knowledge- “The amendments also ensure us- the strategy to advance the economic States, bringing below-normal the cheque presentation that was ExxonMobil supports global pro- based economy His Highness the Emir ers freedom to set product prices and development policy of the country temperatures to the region. The also attended by Nasser bin Ghanim grammes that encourage greater ac- Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani profi ts, exemption from capital assets through eff ective and innovative means extreme conditions are blamed on al-Khelaifi , president of Qatar Ten- cess to education as a critical means envisions for Qatar, the statement and product requirements, and several and to benefi t from the available op- an arctic surge that pushed over the nis Federation, and Andrew P Swiger, of increasing opportunities for social adds. Page 3 other perks for logistics and communi- portunities,” he said. border from Canada, the National Weather Service said yesterday. It is aff ecting most states east of the Monfi ls wins Qatar ExxonMobil Open Mississippi river. With wind chills factored in, temperatures at times could reach as low as minus 36 Trump: I am a very stable genius to minus 40 degrees below zero Celsius, especially in New England. AFP “throughout my life, my two greatest meeting with top Republican law- “Suff ice to say, it will be a brutally Washington assets have been mental stability and makers and cabinet members to set an cold weekend,” the Weather service being, like, really smart.” agenda for the coming year, he seemed said. Page 8 “I went from VERY successful busi- eager to focus attention on legislative S President Donald Trump nessman, to top TV Star to President priorities including immigration re- ASIA | Diplomacy yesterday praised himself as of the United States (on my fi rst try). I form, a budget plan and infrastructure U“a very stable genius,” follow- think that would qualify as not smart, spending. North Korea ‘likely’ ing the release of a bombshell book but genius....and a very stable genius at But he also forcefully pushed back to join Winter Games that raises doubts over his mental that!” against Wolff ’s claim to having spent North Korea’s Olympic health. The new supposed tell-all book — hours interviewing Trump. representative said yesterday But Trump’s response to the book’s Michael Wolff ’s Fire and Fury: Inside “I did a quick interview with this the reclusive nation is “likely to allegations, in tweets and in remarks the Trump White House — was rushed guy a long time ago, having to do with participate” in next month’s Winter made during a hastily convened news into stores on Friday after the Trump an article, but I don’t know this man,” Games in South Korea, as US conference at his Camp David presi- administration failed to suppress it. Trump said. President Donald Trump voiced dential retreat, had Washington focus- The book quickly sold out in Wash- The idea of a long White House in- hope that rare talks between the two ing anew on the question of his stability ington, where it has been the talk of the terview was “in his imagination.” Koreas go “beyond the Olympics.” Gael Monfils (centre) of France holds the trophy after defeating Russia’s Andrey and mental state. town, and rocketed to the top of Ama- Trump said the book was “a dis- The comments by Chang Ung, Rublev in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at the Khalifa International Tennis and In a series of extraordinary early- zon’s bestsellers list. grace” and suggested the United States Pyongyang’s representative to the Squash Complex in Doha yesterday. Monfils won 6-2, 6-3. PICTURE: Jayan Orma morning tweets, Trump said that At Camp David, where Trump was needs stronger libel laws. Page 8 International Olympic Committee (IOC), come a day after the North and South agreed to hold rare talks next week, and follow Seoul and Washington’s announcement that they would postpone joint military exercises. Page 10 Women’s Hospital outpatient services relocate to WWRC

ll remaining Women’s Hospital pharmacy and phlebotomy. will also off er an expanded Diabetes feedback from our visitors and are look- Outpatient Department services From this week, any women previ- Clinic to cater to an increasing number ing forward to welcoming an even great- Awill relocate to Hamad Medical ously referred to the Women’s Hospi- of women diagnosed with or at risk of er number of women to our new facility.” Corporation (HMC)’s new Women’s tal for obstetrics or gynaecology out- type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes In future, the WWRC plans to have a Wellness and Research Center (WWRC) patient services or procedures will be to help manage their condition. Addi- designated area in the Outpatient De- this week, it has been announced. instructed to visit the WWRC for their tionally, the centre will house the Fe- partment that will feature a full breadth Among the clinics set to relocate is appointment, the statement notes. tomaternal Medicine Unit, designed to of prenatal care and educational classes the new Antenatal Day Assessment “The new Outpatient Department monitor women with complex condi- to better prepare women for child birth. Unit, a service dedicated to closely at the WWRC will off er more space tions during pregnancy. The classes will be run by midwives and monitoring high-risk maternity pa- and services for the growing number of the reproductive phase of life. Shaikha Mahboub al-Dosari, assist- nurses specialised in childbirth so that tients in an outpatient setting prior to women requiring specialist care in Qa- “As the largest tertiary hospital in ant executive director of Ambulatory attendees can feel comfortable ask- delivery, HMC has said in a statement. tar,” Dr Hilal al-Rifai, WWRC medical the region, we want to ensure that our Services at the Women’s Wellness and ing questions and seeking advice, the This relocation follows the shifting director, said. outpatient services are fully equipped Research Center, said: “We have taken statement notes. of other outpatient clinics, including Dr al-Rifai said: “Staff ed with a to serve women throughout all stages special care to design and develop the Women referred for IVF, Infertility or Uro-Gynaecology, Gynaecology-On- number of highly trained clinicians, our of their lives, especially those requiring outpatient area to ensure that patient the Paediatric Audiology clinics should cology, Hormone Replacement Ther- facility will provide a comprehensive expert care if diagnosed with a high- rooms and waiting areas are bigger, continue to visit the Women’s Hospital apy, Newborn Screening, Well Baby range of services from preconception to risk pregnancy.” more comfortable and more private. We for their scheduled appointment until Clinics and support services, including childbirth, post-natal care and beyond According to Dr al-Rifai, the WWRC have already received a lot of positive further notice. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, January 7, 2018 QATAR

Qatar to take part in Khartoum Qur’an contest

Qatar will participate in the 9th round of Khartoum International QU team to conduct one-year Prize contest of Holy Qur’an, which will be held from January 9 to 13. Qatar will be represented by Abdulaziz Ahmed Abdul Aziz Ghani, in the Holy Quran memorisation catergory (with full marine environment research interpretation). Some 73 contestants from 50 Qatar University (QU) re- countries around the world will search team will conduct be taking part in this round. Aa one-year project to ex- Qatar’s contestant Abdullah plore the geological setting and Hamad Abu Shareeda won first physical and chemical condi- place in the 2016 edition of the tions of the marine environment competition. as well as the biological diversity of the ecosystem in the country’s northwest marine area. Strong winds, high A research team from Qatar University Environmental Sci- seas in off shore areas ence Centre (QU-ESC) recently conducted an exploration trip on The Qatar Met department has board the research vessel, Janan, issued a warning for strong winds to study the northwest marine and high seas in off shore areas area and Fasht ad Dibal. by this afternoon. The team comprised 22 local The wind speed (northwesterly) and international researchers in these areas will range from and experts in the fi eld of bio- 8-18 knots at first, going up to 28 logical, earth and environmental knots by the afternoon, according sciences. They will conduct the The QU research vessel, Janan. Activities during the exploration trip. to the weather off ice. one-year research project, as Slightly dusty conditions and mentioned above, and study the ESC director Dr Hamad al- He said, “The ESC will con- mental needs.” protect these precious natural scattered clouds are also likely possibility of using the preva- Kuwari noted that the explora- tinue to deliver on its vision to Dr al-Kuwari continued, resources for the benefi t of the off shore, while the sea level may lent marine currents for energy tion trip would contribute to be a leader in fundamental and “Qatar has a rich marine cul- Qatari society. rise to 10ft. generation, as well as the po- creating a database that would applied environmental research tural heritage and diverse marine “The centre also off ers the The minimum temperature is tentiality of fi nding freshwater be used by institutions from the in the Gulf region. The centre is and terrestrial environments. community cutting-edge re- expected to be 13C in Al Khor and resources in the coastal marine public and private sectors for keen to attract national compe- Through using its scholars’ ex- search outcomes in the fi eld of Abu Samra, while in Doha it will areas using the technology of fi sheries and aquaculture de- tencies and provide them with pertise and advanced technolog- marine, atmospheric and earth be 15C. Yesterday, the minimum remote sensing and geographic velopment and tourism invest- the opportunity to conduct re- ical assets, the ESC is committed sciences to optimise the use of was 11C in Abu Samra and 16C in information system. ment. search that meets local environ- to document, understand and local natural resources.” Dr Hamad al-Kuwari Doha. Adequate supply of fruits, vegetables at central market

even months, or a little over 210 days, after the un- Sjust blockade was imposed on Qatar, fruits and vegetables are available in adequate quanti- ties and competitive rates at the Doha Central Market, say con- sumers. Speaking to local Arabic daily Arrayah, a number of customers from diff erent nationalities praised the eff orts exerted by the relevant ministries, government agencies and the private sector to ensure a steady supply of food products and for making them available to the people at reasonable prices. The necessary steps have been taken to ease the arrival of food items, such as fruits and vegeta- bles, in the country as well as re- duce handling charges at ports, A view of the Central Market. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam Road closure in front of Ezdan Mall they point out. A box of imported tomatoes the swift eff orts of entities con- Tunisia, Lebanon, Algeria and entities. Also, prices have come (around 7kg) was found selling for cerned helped prevent any nega- some European countries thanks down considerably and suit eve- he Public Works Author- The closure has been designed Lekhba Interchange (Landmark QR20 at the Central Market, a sack tive and monopolistic practices to the eff orts of the government rybody, he added. ity (Ashghal) has an- in co-ordination with the Gen- Interchange). From there, they (about 7kg) of onions for QR10 in the market. They affi rmed to facilitate the smooth import Mohsin Haddad, an expa- Tnounced that it will close eral Directorate of Traffi c. can proceed towards diff erent and a similar sack of potatoes for that there has been a marked of such items. He visits the mar- triate, said the market has not a one-direction service road in During the closure, road us- destinations, as shown on the QR20. Also, a box of cucumber decrease in vegetable and fruit ket twice a month to buy fresh been negatively infl uenced by front of Ezdan Mall for a distance ers wishing to exit Ezdan Mall attached map. weighing 7-8kg cost QR20, while prices at the market, and local fruits and vegetables, which are the blockade due to the quick of around 400m from today. will be required to use the rear Ashghal has said it will install a box of lemon was priced at QR12, as well as imported produce are available at lower prices com- actions of the relevant authori- This is being done to enable exit, which has been expanded road signs advising motorists of according to the report. available in adequate quantities. pared to retail outlets elsewhere. ties to fi nd suitable alternatives. construction works for upgrad- to reach Al Markhiya Street (Al the closure. It has also request- Also, kiwi, peach and oranges Mohamed al-Qahtani, a citi- Abdallah al-Sulaiti, another This is also a great opportunity ing Umm Lekhba Interchange Hana Street) towards the Thani ed all road users to abide by the were being sold at QR15 each for zen, said the market is full of all citizen, noted that the market for Qatar to develop its farming (Landmark Interchange), the au- Bin Jassim traffi c signal, and speed limit and follow the road a box of 7-8kg. types of fruits and vegetables is subject to constant supervi- and food sectors to meet the lo- thority has said in a statement. then take a U-turn towards Umm signs to ensure their safety. Consumers told the daily that imported from Turkey, India, sion by the consumer protection cal needs, it was observed. Qatari father-son engineer duo fi nds success in farming

By Ramesh Mathew Staff Report

Qatari father-son duo, both engineers, are spar- Aing no eff orts to enhance production at their farm by us- ing the latest technologies avail- able in the fi eld. The farm, spread over more than 100 acres, is located to the north of Doha. Speaking to Gulf Times re- cently, Dr Salem al-Naemi, managing director of Eden Farm, said he has been cultivating a number of varieties of vegeta- bles at his farm to cater to the lo- cal requirements. Expressing gratitude to Qatar Development Bank for its sup- port, Dr al-Naemi - a compu- ter engineering graduate - said they took a big risk in trying to overcome adverse climatic conditions to produce carrots, cucumber, capsicum, tomato, green beans, spinach, brinjal, radish, chilli pepper and other items. Dr Salem al-Naemi (left) and his son Nasser at their stall at Made in Qatar. PICTURES: Jayaram A variety of vegetables produced on Dr al-Naemi’s farm on display. “Most of our products are sold in local hypermarkets, where His son Nasser al-Naemi, a supported my activities in a big ent parts of the world, including passing day,” he added. honey is sold at a number of company, which uses the brand they have a good demand these chemical engineer, is also in- way and my staff , too, stood by Japan, India and some European Dr al-Naemi has also found high-end shops and hyper- name Oryx Mushrooms for this days,” Dr al-Naemi said, while volved in farming. me solidly all through to reap countries. “We tried an array of success in bee-keeping. “We markets and many residents purpose. also thanking the country’s in- Dr al-Naemi recalled that better results in subsequent seeds to know which would best have brought bees from North are lauding our quality,” he The farm has showcased an habitants for their consistent some setbacks early on failed to years,” he stressed. suit the local conditions. Now Africa and at present there noted. array of products at the recent support and patronage of Eden deter them. “The greenhouses The entrepreneur said they in- we are happy that the number of is steady honey production Mushrooms are also among Made in Qatar exhibition and the Farm products. and other facilities at my farm itially brought seeds from diff er- customers is growing with every at our farm. “Our brand of the major products sold by the Mahaseel festival in Katara. Gulf Times Sunday, January 7, 2018 3 QATAR

Minister meets Nepal envoy Cheque-presentation ceremony

HE the Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Aff airs Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi met with ExxonMobil Qatar presenting a cheque for QR3.65mn to Rise International for the Educate A Child (EAC) programme. Nepal’s ambassador Ramesh Prasad Koirala recently. During the meeting, they discussed issues related to diplomatic Dignitaries at the cheque-presentation ceremony included Alistair Routledge, president and general manager for and labour relations between Qatar and Nepal, as well as the further development of bilateral ties between the two ExxonMobil Qatar; Fahad al-Sulaiti, chief executive off icer of EAA; Nasser bin Ghanim al-Khelaifi, president of Qatar countries. Tennis Federation, and Andrew P Swiger, senior vice-president, Exxon Mobil Corporation. PICTURE: Jayan Orma

Mobile charging stations Bedaya Centre launches fl ower competition he Bedaya Centre for En- submitted by January 12, the ers can vote to select the win- a one-month-long contract to trepreneurship and Ca- organisers have said. ning candidate. The winning supply them with fl ower ar- Treer Development (Be- entry will be granted a month’s rangements. At the same time, daya Centre), in collaboration “From our side, we do contract for supplying L’ETO other participating entrepre- with L’ETO Café, has launched our best to support local Café with fl ower arrangements. neurs will get a motivation to a competition for the best fl ow- projects to put them Reem al-Sowaidi, general improve their performance.” er arrangement for local entre- on the right track by manager of Bedaya Centre, Salem al-Athba and Hassan preneurs working in the fi eld of providing them with a said: “The fl oristry profes- al-Maadid, owners of L’ETO fl oristry. unique experience and sion is a common occupation Café in Qatar, said “such an The competition, which opportunity to showcase among local entrepreneurs, es- initiative aims to support local runs until January 12, is open their products” pecially women. From our side, entrepreneurs by giving them to participants who own such a we do our best to support lo- the opportunity to highlight business for at least six months Following the submission, cal projects to put them on the the best of all participants and with either a commercial reg- four candidates will be short- right track by providing them provide them with an overview istration or licence to conduct listed for the fi nals to attend a with a unique experience and of the nature of their work so domestic business (work from workshop on L’ETO Café and opportunity to showcase their that they can compete in the home), Bedaya Centre has said the concept behind it to ensure products at one of the leading local market”. in a statement. that the submitted fl ower ar- coff ee houses in town - L’ETO Al-Athba and al-Maa- To take part in the competi- rangements for the competi- Café, where guests and judges did stressed that they were tion, which is hosted by L’ETO tion are in line with the café’s can assess their arrangements “pleased to be a part of this in- Café, participants can upload concept. and select the winner from the novative initiative and looked photographs of previously done Each participant will be fi nalists. forward to working with Bedaya arrangements on the dedicated granted a week-long oppor- “By joining hands with in future as well”. website - https://www.survey- tunity to display his or her ar- L’ETO Café, we were able to Bedaya Centre is a joint ini- The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) has installed free solar mobile charging stations in camping monkey.com/r/leto-fl owers rangements at the L’ETO Café give one local entrepreneur the tiative of Qatar Development areas as well as at the Corniche and parks to serve visitors. PICTURE courtesy of MME Twitter page All photographs must be table where guests and custom- opportunity to be awarded with Bank and Silatech. Two total lunar and Qatar Charity honours 100 three partial solar orphan students in Kenya

atar Charity (QC) has awarded 100 orphan stu- eclipses this year Qdents, along with their mothers, in Kenya for achiev- ing academic excellence in the he world will be able to 2016/2017 school year. witness two total lunar High-achieving orphan stu- Teclipses and three par- dents, their families and teach- tial solar eclipses during 2018, ing staff gathered at a special Qatar Calendar House (QCH) ceremony held by QC to cel- announced yesterday. ebrate their success and receive The fi rst lunar eclipse – a to- the awards. tal eclipse - will be on January “This tradition has been al- 31, during full moon of Hijric ways a prominent aspect of Qa- month “Jumada I”. tar Charity’s sponsorship strate- This lunar eclipse will be vis- gy to encourage brilliant orphans ible throughout Asia, South- for their academic achieve- east Europe, Southeast Africa ments,” QC said in a statement. and South America. Acknowledging their eff orts “From Qatar a partial lunar in raising the orphans, QC also eclipse phase can be seen after awarded the mothers for pro- High-achieving orphan students gathered at a special ceremony to celebrate their success and receive sunset on this day,” astrono- viding continuous support to the awards. mer expert at QCH Dr Beshir the children despite their poor Marzouk said. economic condition. ing education and sponsoring The second lunar eclipse – Mohamed Hussein, QC re- orphans’ advocacy.” again a total eclipse - will be on gional director in Kenya, ad- Qatar Charity awarded 50 July 27, during full moon of Hi- dressed the students and en- mothers, celebrating their dedi- jric month “Dhul- Qa’da”. couraged them to exert more cation and hard work in raising Almost all of Asia, nearly all eff orts to maintain the academic the children. of Europe, Africa and eastern excellence. He also thanked and Hawa Harbi, on behalf of the side of South America, Qatar praised their mothers for the role attending mothers, delivered a and the rest of the Arab re- they have played in supporting speech saying: “We deem the gion will have chance to see all the children. Qatari people as brothers and phases of this lunar eclipse. At the honorary reception, sisters who spare no eff orts in The fi rst solar eclipse of the Illustrations of solar and lunar eclipses. bright orphan students and their advocating our cause and stand- year will be on February 15. mothers received awards and ing for our children.” The partial solar eclipse will will be on July 13, 2018. Again year will be on August 11. The certifi cates of excellence. She also praised QC’s dedica- be occurring in conjunction a partial eclipse, it will be oc- partial eclipse will be occur- Roqyaa Ibrahim Ismail, one tion and support to promoting with the new crescent of Hi- curring in conjunction with the ring in conjunction with the of the awarded students, said: educational projects in Kenya. jric month “Jumada II”. The new crescent of Hijric month new crescent of Hijric month “No words are enough to ex- Meanwhile, as part of its social moon will cover 60% of solar “Dhul- Qa’da”. The moon will “Dhul- Hijja”. The moon will press how I feel. I would like care mission, QC has recently A student receiving award from a QC off icial. disk at peak of the solar eclipse, cover 34% of solar disk at peak be cover 74% of solar disk to thank our sponsors in Qa- sponsored 655 poor families, 165 which will not be seen in Qatar of the solar eclipse, which will at peak of this partial solar tar and praise their unwaver- Qur’an teachers and 127 persons sorships in Somalia has reached works to fi ght the “devastating and the other Arab regions, Dr not be seen in Qatar and the eclipse, which again will not ing faith in our cause. I would with special needs in Somalia, 1,500 individuals. drought that has engulfed some Marzouk explained. other Arab regions. be seen in Qatar and the other also like to thank Qatar Charity the statement notes. According- Through sponsorships and African countries over the years”, The second solar eclipse The fi nal solar eclipse of the Arab regions. for its pivotal role in promot- ly, the total number of QC spon- contributions in Somalia, QC the statement adds. Gulf Times 4 Sunday, January 7, 2018 REGION/ARAB WORLD Strikes kill at least 17 in Syria rebel enclave

AFP intense bombardment of Eastern Beirut Ghouta, targeting several residential areas”. He said those killed also in- cluded two people in the district of egime and Russian air strikes Madira and three in Erbin, and that on a rebel-held enclave near 35 people were wounded in the three Rthe Syrian capital killed at areas. least 17 civilians yesterday, a war The Britain-based monitor relies monitor said. on a network of sources inside Syria Eastern Ghouta, one of the last and says it determines whose planes remaining opposition strongholds carry out raids according to type, in the country, is the target of near- location, fl ight patterns and muni- daily air raids. tions used. The Syrian Observatory for Hu- At the start of the week, a coali- man Rights said yesterday’s deadli- tion of rebels and militants includ- est strikes had hit the Hammuriyeh ing a former Al Qaeda affi liate sur- district, killing 12 civilians including rounded the only regime base in four children. Eastern Ghouta, which lies east of An AFP reporter in Hammuriyeh Damascus and has been under a saw residential buildings with their crippling regime siege since 2013. facades blown open, collapsing into Smoke billows from a residential area following Syria regime and Russian The blockade has caused serious streets strewn with rubble. air strikes yesterday in Eastern Ghouta, one of the last remaining opposition food and medicine shortages for Residents including members of strongholds in the country, on the outskirts of Damascus. the enclave’s estimated 400,000 the White Helmets rescue group inhabitants.Rebels in Eastern rushed to rescue the wounded. “I was with other people when a (yards). There were seven wounded Ghouta respond to air strikes by Running past a burning car, one man projectile fell nearby,” said 33-year- and one dead,” he said. firing shells and rockets at Damas- held a crying boy in his arms, while an- old Mustafa Abu Badr, who was Observatory head Rami Ab- cus. A Syrian civil defence volunteer carries a little girl who was rescued from the rubble other carried the apparently lifeless slightly wounded in the head. del Rahman said Syrian and Rus- Yesterday, shellfi re killed a civil- following reported bombardment by Syrian and Russian forces in the rebel-held town of body of a child through the streets. “The blast threw me fi ve metres sian aircraft had “continued their ian, Syrian state television reported. Hamouria, in Eastern Ghouta, yesterday. Mine blast injures Yemeni Conflict aftermath army’s chief of staff

Reuters Sanaa, accused the former president Aden of trying to sow sedition in the coun- try. Saleh’s General People’s Congress he chief of staff of the Yemeni party accused the Houthis of trying to army has been injured by a land monopolise running the country. Tmine that went off while he was The Houthis said Aqeeli and several visiting the northern Aal-Jouf prov- of his aides were injured in the blast, ince, where heavy fi ghting between describing Aqeeli’s injuries as serious. government forces and Houthi fi ght- Hadi appointed Aqeeli last Septem- ers is underway, a senior government ber, replacing Major General Moham- offi cial said. ed al-Maqdeshi, who was appointed The offi cial said Brigadier General as a presidential adviser. Taher al-Aqeeli suff ered minor inju- The United Arab Emirates news ries in the explosion, which happened agency WAM reported earlier this on Friday while he was inspecting week that local Yemeni fi ghters in the government positions in Khub wa al- southwest, backed by Emirati forces, Sha’af, the largest district in al-Jouf killed dozens of armed Houthi group province. Forces loyal to exiled Presi- members and cut one of their main dent Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s gov- supply routes to the country’s third Smoke rises as Yemenis inspect the damage at the site of air ernment captured most of the district largest city of Taiz. strikes in the northwestern Houthi-held city of Saada, yesterday. in heavy fi ghting with the Houthis last The Houthis, who have swept month. Anti-Houthi forces, backed across Yemen since 2014 and over- by a Saudi-led coalition, have inten- threw Hadi’s internationally-recog- sifi ed an off ensive against the group nised government in 2015, hold the TREMOR that controls most of northern Yemen capital Sanaa and much of northern Eight hurt as 5.1 quake hits western Iran since former President Ali Abdul- Yemen, where most of the country’s lah Saleh was killed after he switched 25mn people live. The confl ict — A magnitude 5.1 earthquake hit western Iran yesterday, injuring eight sides in Yemen’s nearly three-year- widely seen as a proxy war between people, according to early reports on state television. old civil war. Saudi Arabia and Iran — has displaced Two of those injured had to be taken to hospital, the television said. A The Houthis, who killed Saleh af- more than 2mn people and caused a 7.3-magnitude quake killed more than 600 people in the same area in ter they surrounded his compound in cholera epidemic. November, and there have been numerous aftershocks.

Iran minister ridicules Trump ‘blunder’ at UN

AFP It came as an Iranian politician hundreds arrested around the coun- against the Security Council meet- Tehran said some 90 students were arrested try. The protests began on Decem- ing it had called to discuss the un- in Tehran during last week’s unrest. ber 28 as protests over economic rest in Iran. US ambassador Nikki “According to the fi gures and in- hardship and quickly turned against Haley argued that the unrest could ran’s Foreign Minister Mohamed formation obtained by offi cials at the regime as a whole. escalate into full-blown confl ict and Javad Zarif ridiculed US Presi- the Ministry of Higher Education, Protests in Tehran were focused drew a comparison with Syria. Ident Donald Trump yesterday the majority of those arrested were around the university but were But Russia’s envoy shot back that if over what he called the foreign pol- basically not involved in the protests relatively small compared to other the US view holds, the council should icy “blunder” of trying to raise its and most were arrested outside the towns and cities, with only a few have also discussed the 2014 unrest in recent protests at the UN Security university,” Mahmoud Sadeghi, an hundred taking part. the US suburb of Ferguson, Missouri, Council. outspoken member of parliament, A police spokesman said most of over the police shooting of a black The Security Council “rebuff ed told the reformist ILNA news agen- those arrested “had been duped” teenager or the US crackdown on the the US’ naked attempt to hijack its cy. into joining the protests and had Occupy Wall Street movement. mandate”, Zarif wrote on Twitter. “Some were arrested in front of now been freed under caution, ac- Britain and France reiterated that “Majority emphasised the need to the doors of their houses,” he added. cording to state news agency IRNA. Iran must respect the rights of pro- fully implement the JCPOA (nuclear Yesterday saw a fourth straight “However, the leaders of the trou- testers, but French Ambassador deal) and to refrain from interfering day of pro-government rallies in bles are in the hands of the judiciary Francois Delattre said the “events in internal aff airs of others. smaller cities as the regime sought and in prison,” he added. of the past days do not constitute Another FP (foreign policy) blun- to emphasise the end of fi ve days of At the United Nations, Washing- a threat to peace and international der for the Trump administration.” unrest that claimed 21 lives and saw ton saw allies and rivals push back security”.

CAPTURE Saudi arrests 11 princes over protest Saudi authorities have arrested 11 princes who protested against the kingdom’s austerity measures and who could face trial, a news website close to the government reported yesterday. Sabq said the princes, who were not named, were protesting at a historical Riyadh royal palace, Qasr al- Hokm, against a government’s decision to stop paying the wa- ter and electricity bills of royals. They were also demanding “financial compensation” after one of their cousins had been sentenced for an unspecified crime. The princes were trans- ferred to the high-security Ha’ir prison in the capital “ahead of their trial”, Sabq said, citing unnamed sources. It said the princes “were informed of the error of their demands but they refused to leave Qasr al-Hokm”, prompting the royal guards to intervene and arrest them. Saudi off icials contacted by AFP yesterday were not imme- diately reachable for comment. Gulf Times Sunday, January 7, 2018 5 ARAB WORLD

Flooded street

A Palestinian man reacts as a road is flooded with rainwater following heavy rains in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, yesterday.

Police disperse protesters against bread price hike

Reuters “We were protesting today against with International Monetary Fund Khartoum the rise in bread prices and we call recommendations aimed at putting on the government to scrap it,” said the country’s economy back on track. a protester in Sennar, about 300km The economy has been struggling udanese police fi red teargas yes- south of Khartoum. since the south seceded in 2011, tak- terday to disperse some 400 “We can’t afford to buy a piece of ing with it three-quarters of the Sdemonstrators who marched bread for a whole pound,” said the country’s oil output, its main source through the city of Sennar to protest demonstrator, who did not want to of foreign currency and government against a hike in bread prices, eyewit- give his name. income. nesses told Reuters. The ministry of interior could not The Sudanese pound has weakened There were no immediate reports of be reached for comment. since October after the United States deaths or injuries. The country’s main opposition lifted a 20-year-old trade embargo, Bread prices in Sudan have doubled parties have called for peaceful pro- prompting businesses to increase since the government eliminated sub- tests against the price hikes, and import volumes, putting pressure on sidies this week under its 2018 budget. crowds gathered outside bakeries in already scarce foreign currency. The price of a loaf of bread rose from Khartoum on Friday, expressing frus- The country devalued its currency, 0.5 Sudanese pounds (7 cents) to 1 tration at the government’s move. the pound, to 18 per US dollar, more pound, the Bakeries Union said on Fri- Sudan’s government has begun a than double its previous peg of 6.7 day, after the prices of wheat fl our rose. series of economic reforms in line pounds to the dollar. Gulf Times 6 Sunday, January 7, 2018 ARAB WORLD

INVESTIGATION Egypt orders detention of four over balloon crash

The public prosecutor in the southern Egyptian city of Luxor ordered the detention of four Arab League to seek recognition for men pending an investigation into a hot air balloon crash that killed a South African tourist and injured several others, state news agency MENA said yesterday. State media blamed Friday’s crash, near Luxor, on poor weather conditions. High winds and sandstorms swept the country on Friday, clouding the skies at Cairo’s main airport and forcing the closure of a number of Red Palestinian capital in east Jerusalem Sea ports. MENA did not say if charges had been brought against the four men, who include the pilot. Judicial sources said an initial investigation suggested that negligence could have contributed to the crash. AFP “There is a political decision to within the framework of a The kingdom has been Amman recognise Jerusalem as the capital just and lasting peace agree- rocked by anti-US and anti- of Israel and we will strive to reach ment between Palestinians Israeli protests in the wake an international political decision to and Israelis”. of Trump’s decision, and ordan said yesterday the Arab League recognise a Palestinian state... Jordan is the custodian of has accused the US presi- would seek international recognition of with (east) Jerusalem as its capital” Muslim holy sites in Jerusa- dent of violating interna- Jthe Palestinian state with east Jerusalem lem. tional law. as its capital after Washington recognised Arab foreign ministers to discuss Jerusalem the Holy City as Israel’s capital. would be held at the end of the month. Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi made the US President Donald Trump’s controver- announcement at a joint news conference sial decision in December to recognise Jeru- with Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit salem as Israel’s capital sparked protests in after talks in Amman on the status of Jerusa- Arab and Muslim countries and was rejected lem. The talks were attended by the foreign in a non-binding UN General Assembly ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco resolution. Jerusalem’s status is among the and the Palestinian Authority as well as by most contentious issues in the Israeli-Pal- the United Arab Emirates minister of state estinian confl ict. for foreign aff airs. Safadi said Arabs have three main goals, “There is a political decision to recognise including invalidating Trump’s decision. Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and we will “According to international law, Jerusa- strive to reach an international political de- lem is an occupied land,” he said. cision to recognise a Palestinian state...with Earlier yesterday, Jordan’s King Abdul- (east) Jerusalem as its capital,” Safadi said. lah II met the Arab diplomats and said “the Abul Gheit said an expanded meeting of question of Jerusalem must be resolved

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (right) speaks during a joint conference with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul Gheit in Amman, yesterday.

POLICY Sudan government closes border with Eritrea Sudan has closed its border with Eritrea a week after Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir an- nounced a six-month state of emergency in the regions of Kassala and North Kurdufan, state news agency SUNA said yesterday. SUNA did not provide reasons for the border closure. Last week’s decree was part of ongoing disarmament campaigns against traff ickers that started near Darfur and Blue Nile in October. Gulf Times Sunday, January 7, 2018 7 AFRICA Change of leader puts Liberia aid fl ows at risk

Reuters Thomson Reuters Foundation, Dakar adding that times would be hard even if Johnson Sirleaf were staying. Aid accounts for more than half iberia’s development is at of Liberia’s gross national income, risk of slowing as Nobel making it one of the most aid- Zimbabwe’s former minister of Energy and Power Development Samuel Undenge walks with his wife Letina, while leaving the Harare Lprize-winning president dependent countries in the world, Magistrates Court after being granted bail in Harare yesterday. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a darling according to the World Bank. of foreign aid donors, is replaced Its chief exports – iron ore and this month by an ex-soccer star rubber – are in a slump, leaving with little government experi- little means of earning. ence, experts said. “If the new government is sta- George Weah, who grew up in a ble and reasonably competent, Former ministers loyal to slum in the West African country the World Bank and the African and later played for top European Development Bank will continue football clubs, was elected last to support them,” said Judith week to succeed Johnson Sirleaf as Johnson Sirleaf: darling of foreign Tyson, a research fellow at the her 12-year tenure draws to an end. aid donors Overseas Development Institute. Mugabe charged with graft Johnson Sirleaf, who previously “But if not, they may be hesi- worked for the World Bank and the adviser to Johnson Sirleaf. tant to extend further assistance United Nations, has been credited Liberia still faces severe pov- and that would be damaging,” Agencies deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa tender to a company that did Undenge’s lawyer Alex with putting the country back on erty and underdevelopment and she said, adding that there is Harare to take over. no work, according to a charge- Muchadehama described the its feet after it was ravaged by civil was further crippled by the Ebola some doubt in development cir- When the military seized sheet. case against his client as a “cir- wars from 1989 to 2003. epidemic in 2014-2016. cles about Weah’s credibility in power they arrested key allies Mzembi and Undenge were cus”. But the progress she made – Less than one in ten house- economic management. wo former Zimbabwean of Mugabe and his wife, Grace, both granted bail yesterday, Former fi nance minister Igna- such as building schools, roads, holds have electricity and two- Beyond securing aid, Johnson cabinet ministers who who was vying with Mnangagwa asked to surrender their pass- tius Chombo is on bail after being and hospitals – was bankrolled thirds of people live below the Sirleaf knew how it should be Tserved under ex-presi- to succeed her husband. ports and remanded until Janu- charged in November over ac- by huge foreign aid fl ows that poverty line, according to the used and was more involved in dent Robert Mugabe have been Former foreign minister ary 22 when their cases will be cusations he tried to defraud the analysts say Weah may be unable World Bank. development projects than most charged with corruption, their Walter Mzembi and ex-energy heard. central bank over a decade ago. to maintain. Some aid programmes that heads of state, said people who lawyers said yesterday, the latest minister Samuel Undenge were “We are going to make an ap- Chombo denies wrongdoing. “I think a lot of it had to do ended last year were not renewed worked with her. sign of a crackdown on offi cials charged on Friday with “crimi- plication for an exception to the When the military took over with her competence and strat- because donors were anxious “She has a very deep knowledge loyal to Mugabe. nal abuse of offi ce”, their lawyers charge because the charges that they said they were ‘targeting egy. Once she came into offi ce, about the presidential transition, of the strengths and comparative Mugabe, 93, stood down in said. my client is facing are ridicu- criminals’ around Mugabe. donors lined up,” said Steven and this trend will likely contin- advantage of every donor,” said November after 37 years in pow- They both deny wrongdoing. lous,” Job Sikhala, Mzembi’s Mnangagwa said his govern- Radelet, an economist at Geor- ue, Radelet said. Larisa Leshchenko, Liberia coun- er following a defacto military Undenge is accused of issuing lawyer, told reporters outside ment will not tolerate corrup- getown University and former “It is a risky time,” he told the try manager for the World Bank. coup, making way for his former a $12,650 contract without due the court. tion. UN ‘alarmed’ by DRC crackdown on protesters

AFP United Nations High Com- were organised by the Cath- bloodshed and encourage Kinshasa missioner for Human Rights olic Church. stability in this vast and vola- (OHCHR) said from Geneva Together with opposi- tile central African country. in a statement on Friday. tion groups, the Church was The OHCHR called for he UN said it was “The security forces al- demanding that President “credible and independent “deeply alarmed” by legedly fi red live ammuni- Joseph Kabila – in power investigations into alleged Tthe actions of secu- tion, rubber bullets and tear since the assassination of use of excessive force”. rity forces in Democratic gas grenades, in some cases his father in 2001 – will de- “The government should Republic of Congo dur- at point blank range,” the clare he will not stand for ensure that everyone, in- ing anti-Kabila protests in statement added. re-election in 2018. cluding political opponents, Kinshasa last Sunday, and The organisation said The protests took place journalists and civil society believe the toll of victims at least fi ve people were on the fi rst anniversary of a representatives, are able to during the crackdown “may known to have been killed deal under which Kabila was fully exercise their right to be higher”. and 92 injured. scheduled to leave offi ce in freedoms of association and “Our colleagues on the Around 180 were arrest- 2017 after fresh elections. peaceful assembly, opinion, ground were denied access ed, most of whom have now The poll has since been and expression,” it said. to morgues, hospitals and been released, it said. postponed until December The UN also set up a spe- detention centres. They The DR Congo govern- 2018. cial investigation of the at- were sent away from some ment said nobody was killed Western powers have ac- tack that killed 15 UN peace- sites by defence and secu- on Sunday in connection cepted the delay with reluc- keepers in DRC last month rity forces,” the Offi ce of the with the marches, which tance, hoping it will avoid and wounded 43 others.

Nigeria’s Foreign Aff airs Minister Geoff rey Onyeama (right) and Vice Minister of Congolese Expatriates Emmanuel Ilunga Ngoie Kasongo (left) attend a joint press conference on the situation of illegal immigrants, in the Libyan capital Tripoli, yesterday. Nigeria to speed up repatriating migrants

AFP few days 800 of its citizens home as quickly as possible.” Nigerians make up the Tripoli who wanted to go home. Onyeama admitted there majority of undocumented Onyeama said he had had been diffi culties in migrants trying to make the visited two migrant deten- identifying the number of treacherous crossing via the igeria is to speed tion centres in Libya and Nigerians in Libya, as many Mediterranean Sea to Eu- up repatriating its met a number of his com- were undocumented or in rope. Ncitizens from Libya patriots. detention centres not con- Almost 1,300 Nigerian which has been accused of “The reality is that a large trolled by the authorities. migrants were brought exploiting and ill-treating number of these Nigerians Nigeria had already home from Libya last No- migrants, its foreign minis- here have suff ered greatly pledged to repatriate 250 vember - nearly twice as ter said in Tripoli yesterday. and have gone through an migrants a week, follow- many as in the previous Geoff rey Onyeama told extreme traumatic experi- ing a CNN report on a slave month, the head of Ni- a news conference Nigeria ence,” he told reporters. trade targeting illegal mi- geria’s National Emergency was chartering two aircraft “The main objective is grants from west Africa in Management Agency said in to repatriate over the next to get these Nigerians back Libya. December. Gulf Times 8 Sunday, January 7, 2018 AMERICAS Trump calls self ‘stable genius’ Reuters Twitter says world leaders like Trump have special status gressional leaders and many Washington Cabinet secretaries about their Twitter Inc on Friday reiterated its Trump said from his @realDon- leaving open the possibility that legislative agenda for the year. stance that accounts belonging to aldTrump account last Tuesday it could take down some material The tweets were another sign S President Donald world leaders have special status that he had a “much bigger” and posted by them. of Trump’s frustration at what Trump yesterday rejected on the social media network, push- “more powerful” nuclear button “No one person’s account he views as unfair treatment by Uan author’s accusations ing back against users who have than North Korean leader Kim drives Twitter’s growth, or the news media of his presidency that he is mentally unfi t for offi ce called on the company to banish Jong Un. influences these decisions,” the amid a federal investigation into and said his track record showed US President Donald Trump. Critics said that tweet and company added. “We work hard whether he or his campaign aides he is a ‘stable genius’. “Blocking a world leader from Trump’s continued presence on to remain unbiased with the public colluded with Russia during the Michael Wolff , who was granted Twitter or removing their contro- the network endanger the world interest in mind.” 2016 presidential campaign, in unusually wide access to the White versial Tweets would hide impor- and violate Twitter’s ban on The White House did not im- which he defeated Democrat Hil- House during much of Trump’s tant information people should be threats of violence. mediately respond to a request for lary Clinton. fi rst year, has said in promoting his able to see and debate,” Twitter Some users protested at Twit- comment on Twitter’s statement. Wolff ’s book has proved to be book, Fire and Fury — Inside the said in a post on a corporate blog. ter’s San Francisco headquarters Some Twitter users expressed another shock to the system for Trump White House, that Trump Twitter had already said in on Wednesday. support for the company’s deci- Trump and his top aides, coming is unfi t for the presidency. September that “newsworthiness” Twitter responded in its blog sion, while others complained of a just as he starts his second year A copy of Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House being Trump, in a series of extraor- and whether a tweet is “of public post that even if it did block a double standard. in offi ce. Wolff told BBC Radio in displayed at a bookstore in Washington. dinary morning posts on Twitter, interest” are among the factors world leader, doing so would not “If I tweeted half of what Trump an interview broadcast yesterday said his Democratic critics and it considers before removing an silence that leader. has since he entered off ice, I’d be that based on his interviews with they mean by that, he has a need issue of his mental fi tness was the US news media were bring- account or a tweet. The company said that it does permanently banned from this the people around Trump that he for immediate gratifi cation. It’s getting traction. ing up the “old Ronald Reagan The debate over Trump’s tweet- review tweets by world leaders platform,” a Twitter user wrote believed the president was unfi t all about him. This man does not Trump is to undergo the fi rst playbook and screaming mental ing, though, raged anew after and enforces its rules accordingly, from the account @michaelranaii. for offi ce. read, does not listen. He’s like physical examination of his stability and intelligence” since He told NBC News on Friday a pinball, just shooting off the presidency on January 12. The they have not been able to bring that White House staff treated sides.” exam was announced on Decem- him down in other ways. “Actually, throughout my “I went from VERY successful and a very stable genius at that!” Trump like a child. Fox News correspondent Ger- ber 7 after questions arose about Reagan, a Republican who was life, my two greatest assets have businessman, to top TV Star...to Trump, 71, issued the tweets “The one description that aldo Rivera told ‘Fox and Friends’ Trump’s health when he slurred the US president from 1981-1989, been mental stability and being, president of the United States (on from the presidential retreat at everyone gave, everyone has in yesterday that he had spoken to part of a speech announcing that was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s like, really smart,” said Trump, a my fi rst try). I think that would Camp David, Maryland, where common — they all say he is like Trump on Friday and that he was the United States recognised Je- disease in 1994 and died in 2004. former reality TV star. qualify as not smart, but genius... he was meeting Republican con- a child,” Wolff said. “And what “very, very frustrated” that the rusalem as the capital of Israel.

East Coast hunkers down as icy spell continues unabated Toronto homeless

Reuters old student from San Francisco at risk as ‘weather Boston State University as she huddled with friends. Cities from Houston to Boston bomb’ hits Canada treet crews dug out snow- have stepped up eff orts to bring the clogged roads across the US homeless to shelters. SNortheast on Friday after a Authorities said that three Reuters powerful blizzard, as temperatures homeless people in Texas died Toronto plunged during a brutal cold spell from exposure to the cold. that has already killed at least 18 Numbing temperatures have people. also had some unusual eff ects: anada’s largest city, Toronto, scrambled to fi nd Extreme cold will reach from cold-shocked iguanas fell out of emergency shelter for the homeless as tempera- New England to the Midwest and trees in Florida and wildlife offi - Ctures dropped to record lows after a “weather bomb” down to the Carolinas, forecast- cials in the state said they had res- knocked out power to tens of thousands in eastern prov- ers warned. Temperatures were cued more than 200 stunned sea inces and destroyed coastal roads. expected to be 20 degrees to 30 turtles from freezing waters. From Halifax to Ottawa, workers struggled on Friday to degrees Fahrenheit below average Schools in New York were open, clear snow and restore power lines downed by winds gust- across the northeastern United while children in Boston and Balti- ing up to hurricane strengths of 169kph in some areas of States for the next several days. more enjoyed a second day of can- Nova Scotia, driving huge storm surges, according to Envi- From Baltimore to Caribou, celled classes. Schools in Newark, ronment Canada. Maine, workers battled to clear New Jersey, opened two hours later The brutal conditions were caused by a rapid plunge in snow and ice as wind chills were than usual. barometric pressure that some weather forecasters called a forecast to fall as low as minus 40 Commuters riding railways serv- “bombogenesis”, or a “bomb cyclone.” degrees Celsius in some areas after ing New York and Boston’s suburbs The powerful blizzard came up the East Coast before hit- sundown, according to the Na- endured extensive delays as crews ting Canada’s Maritime provinces, causing havoc in the US tional Weather Service. worked to repair frozen equipment Northeast where it killed at least 18 people and caused tem- In the latest fatality blamed on and clear snow-covered tracks. peratures to plummet as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius the harsh conditions, a driver slid New York’s John F Kennedy In- in some areas. off an icy road, killing a pedestrian, A group of cold-stunned turtles rest after being rescued following extreme cold weather on St Joseph ternational and LaGuardia airports In Toronto, winds pushed temperatures down to a frigid early on Friday in North Charles- Peninsula, Florida, in this picture obtained from social media. resumed fl ights on Friday after -21 degrees Celsius, putting people at risk of frost bite in an ton, South Carolina, city offi cials closing during whiteout condi- icy spell expected to last through today morning. said. The 17-year-old driver was but wind chills made it feel below Arjun Shah, a 22-year-old Brit- ists ventured onto the frozen Re- tions the day before. The city said it would open a downtown Toronto armoury arrested on charges including go- zero in many places. on, studies in Indiana but had never fl ecting Pool in front of the Lincoln More than 1,500 fl ights at US to serve as a homeless shelter, though warned it would not ing too fast for the conditions, they “It can be very dangerous,” said visited the US East Coast. He fl ew Memorial before being shooed away East Coast airports had been can- be ready until tomorrow. said. Dan Pydynowski, a meteorologist in to New York City, where tem- by a National Park Service ranger. celed by Friday evening, most at Authorities urged people to go to two other downtown “THE DANGERS ARE REAL,” with private forecasting service peratures have been below freezing The memorial, also normally the New York area’s three major warming centres over the weekend and arranged for two over- the offi cials warned in a Twitter AccuWeather. “Any kind of ex- since Christmas Day, just 24 hours busy with visitors, was mostly airports and Boston Logan Inter- night outreach crews to help people in need. Toronto Mayor message. posed skin can freeze in a couple of before the blizzard struck. vacant with temperatures in the national Airport. John Tory came under fi re for not opening the armoury sooner “Huge patches of ice all over the minutes.” “Oh it’s so bad! It’s not this bad teens and bone-chilling winds Nearly 500 members of the Na- and for voting against a measure to do so in December. city. Stay at home.” There were noticeably fewer in London,” Shah said, shivering that sent American flags whip- tional Guard were activated to as- As temperatures continued to drop, nurse and housing In much of New England on Fri- tourists on Friday afternoon in New while taking a break from snapping ping straight out from their poles. sist with the emergency response advocate Cathy Crowe said she was worried people would day, the highs reached only into the York City’s Times Square, which is photos of Times Square. “I don’t think I’ve felt this cold, along the East Coast, including 200 freeze to death on the streets. “It’s worse than anything I’ve single digits or teens Fahrenheit, usually abuzz with visitors. In Washington, bundled-up tour- ever,” said Zoie Irwin, a 19-year- in New York state, authorities said. seen in 30 years as a street nurse,” said Crowe. Environment Canada has issued an extreme cold warning for Toronto where the winds made the temperature feel like minus 31 Celsius on Friday. The cold contributed to the deaths of an elderly couple in Bluewater, a town on the shore of Lake Huron that is some 200km west of Toronto. Grant Triebner, 90, died from a heart attack while outside his home and then his wife Ada, 83, froze to death while searching for him, broadcaster CP24 reported. Temperatures also plunged in Montreal and Ottawa. Eastern parts of Quebec province were hit with up to 50cm of snow, according to Environment Canada. Around 11,400 utility customers in Nova Scotia were still without power as of 7.15pm EST on Friday, down from 85,000 earlier in the day, Nova Scotia Power reported. Thousands remained without power in the neighbouring provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec, utility companies said.

Venezuelans loot shops refusing worthless bills

DPA Rio de Janeiro

enezuelans in the city of Caicara suff ering from an ever-depreciating currency went on a mass looting Vspree, with at least 20 stores being robbed, El Na- cional news portal has reported. In total, 48 people were arrested after the lootings, which had started after businesses refused to take the practically worthless 50- and 100-bolivar banknotes, the portal said on Friday. Caicara, which sits on the Orinoco river, is about 460km south of Caracas. While there is food aid for poor residents, the situation has grown dicier in recent months, compounded by the threat of bankruptcy. The price of groceries also continues to rise. The opposition-dominated parliament was deprived of power in August, while protests were snuff ed out through repression. Venezuela, which has the world’s largest proven oil re- serves, has been hit hard by a global drop in oil prices cou- pled with triple-digit infl ation. Hundred of thousands of Venezuelans have fl ed to neigh- bouring countries because of food shortages and a lack of basic goods. Gulf Times Sunday, January 7, 2018 9 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Crisis panel head Business as usual... urges access to Rakhine State

Reuters in the western state, were arrested in Yangon Bangkok on December 12 on suspicion of violating Myanmar’s Offi cial Secrets Act. Surakiart said he had raised concerns umanitarian workers and journalists about their case with Suu Kyi’s national se- should be given free access to Myan- curity advisor Thaung Tun. Hmar’s Rakhine State, where violence He said he had asked for the case to be dealt has prompted some 650,000 Rohingya Mus- with transparently and been assured that lims to fl ee to Bangladesh, the head of a new proper legal procedures would be followed. international advisory panel on the crisis “I hope that this would not snowball in said. adverse directions for both the international Surakiart Sathirathai, a former Thai for- press and the Myanmar government,” Sura- eign minister, also expressed concern at the kiart added. arrest of two Reuters reporters in Myanmar “I hope the case will not lead to the Myan- last month and said he hoped the case did mar government not welcoming the interna- not lead to broader restrictions on the inter- tional press. I want this to be a specifi c case national media. and hope for a quick resolution to it.” “I think press and humanitarian access to The Annan-led panel delivered its recom- A man carries the harvest from his field at the foot of Mount Sinabung as it spews thick smoke, in Karo, North Sumatra. Mount Sinabung roared back Rakhine are important issues as well as free mendations — which also included a review to life in 2010 for the first time in 400 years, after another period of inactivity it erupted once more in 2013, and has remained highly active since. access to other stakeholders,” said Suraki- of a law that links citizenship and ethnicity art in an interview in Bangkok. “Legitimate and leaves most Rohingya stateless — just press coverage is something that should be before alleged attacks on security posts on enhanced.” August 25 triggered the latest crisis. Myanmar has severely curtailed access Surakiart said there were concerns over to Rakhine, where an army operation in re- the repatriation of those who had since fl ed Aussie bushfi res sponse to attacks by alleged Rohingya fi ght- to Bangladesh and that the advisory board ers has been condemned by the United Na- would need to fi nd an approach to ensure tions as ethnic cleansing. people could return without fear, even if they destroy buildings Surakiart, 59, was chosen last year by My- were not recognised by existing law as My- anmar’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi to head a anmar citizens. 10-member board that will advise on how “There is a big gap between domestic and Reuters to implement the recommendations of an international interpretations of the situation Sydney earlier commission headed by former UN in Rakhine. If we can’t bridge this gap then it secretary-general Kofi Annan. will be an obstacle for all of us who want to Allowing free media coverage was one improve the situation.” ushfi res in Australia yesterdya destroyed buildings of the specifi c recommendations in the The board, which is made up of fi ve mem- and threatened lives as a heatwave in three states 63-page report from Annan’s commission, bers from Myanmar and fi ve international Bbrought temperatures strong enough to melt the bi- which was appointed by Suu Kyi in 2016 to appointees including veteran former US tumen on a highway. investigate how to solve Rakhine’s long- politician and diplomat Bill Richardson, will A fi re raging out of control set several structures ablaze standing ethnic and religious tensions. meet the Myanmar government on January on the outskirts of Melbourne, the country’s second larg- Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe 22 in the capital Naypyitaw before making its est city, and the capital of the southeastern state of Victoria. Oo, who had worked on coverage of the crisis fi rst trip to Rakhine on January 24. The state’s emergency management commissioner, Craig Lapsley, said hot temperatures had combined with dry weather, strong winds and a wind change to create danger- ous conditions. “It’s exactly what the forecast indicated and when we have fi res running that’s obviously a problem for us,” he told a news conference. About 400 homes lost power and 50 fi res were reported across Victoria yesterday, although many were small and were extinguished. Emergency warnings were issued both in Victoria and in the nearby state of South Australia, where authorities ad- vised residents of a rural area to seek shelter in buildings from an out-of-control fi re. Experts consider such a move to be safer than running the risk of getting trapped in the open if the fi re suddenly changes direction. Total fi re bans took eff ect from midnight as Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania braced for dangerous fi re conditions caused by temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. The heat was strong enough to melt the bitumen on a 10km stretch of freeway in Victoria, national broadcaster ABC News reported. Australia is prone to deadly blazes, thanks to its combi- nation of remote terrain, high summer temperatures and fl ammable eucalyptus bush. In 2009, the worst bushfi res on record destroyed thou- sands of homes in Victoria, killing 173 people and injuring 414 on a day the media dubbed “Black Saturday”.

US military chopper in emergency landing on Okinawan beach

n American military helicopter yesterday made an emergency landing on a beach in Okinawa, an offi cial Asaid, the latest in a series of accidents which have fuelled local opposition to US forces on the Japanese island. There were no immediate reports of injuries from the landing in Uruma, a local fi re department offi cial said. Footage aired by public broadcaster NHK showed the UH-1 helicopter, which appeared intact, surrounded by US servicemen and Japanese police on the sandy beach. Imme- diate comment from the US military was not available. Last month, a window from a US military helicopter fell onto a school sports ground near the Futenma marine air base in Okinawa, but no one was injured. The incident also comes just two months after an American military chop- per burst into fl ames after landing in an empty fi eld on the island. Such accidents have sparked opposition to the US bases on the strategic island, which would serve as a launchpad for any American military activity in Asia. A series of crimes including rapes, assaults, hit-and- run and drink-driving accidents by US personnel have also triggered protests on Okinawa, and are a frequent irritant in relations between close security allies Japan and the United States. More than half the 47,000 American troops in Japan under a decades-long security alliance are stationed on Okinawa, the site of a major World War II battle that was followed by a 27-year US occupation of the island. Gulf Times 10 Sunday, January 7, 2018 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Seoul to send Winter attraction minister for N Korea talks

AFP Seoul responded with an off er the North’s side that there won’t Seoul of talks and earlier this week the be any response today,” a unifi ca- hotline between the neighbours tion ministry offi cial was quoted was restored after being sus- as saying by Yonhap news agency. outh Korea has proposed pended for almost two years. Kim said in his New Year sending a fi ve-member speech that his country wished Sdelegation led by a govern- The two Koreas have been success for the Olympics, to be ment minister to rare talks with separated by the world’s held from February 9-25. North Korea next week, the Uni- most heavily militarised North Korea’s Olympic repre- fi cation Ministry in Seoul said border since 1953 sentative said yesterday the state yesterday. was “likely to participate” in the The off er came a day after the The ministry said yesterday games, Kyodo news agency re- two Koreas agreed to hold their that the South had suggested ported. fi rst offi cial dialogue in more than Unifi cation Minister Cho My- The two Koreas have been sep- two years to discuss the North’s ung-Gyon lead the delegation to arated by the world’s most heav- participation in next month’s the meeting in the truce village of ily militarised border since the Winter Olympics in South Korea. Panmunjom on Tuesday. Korean War ended in a stalemate The tentative rapprochement He would be accompanied by in 1953. People visit illuminated ice sculptures at the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. comes after the North’s leader four other offi cials, including two In recent months, the North Kim Jong-Un warned in his New vice ministers — one of whom is has held multiple missile launch- Year speech that he had a nuclear in charge of sports — the South es and its sixth and most power- button on his desk, but also said said as the two Koreas discussed ful nuclear test — purportedly of Pyongyang could send a team to the size and formation of delega- a hydrogen bomb — in violation the Pyeongchang Winter Olym- tions by fax. of UN resolutions banning such pics. “We’ve been informed from activity by the isolated nation. Beijing begins work on third aircraft carrier

IANS grown aircraft carrier, which is likely to op- fi rst overseas military base in Djibouti in the Beijing erate later this year. Horn of Africa. The one in service, Liaoning, was bought Another reason for China’s naval buildup China snowstorms kill 13 people unfi nished from the former USSR. is to ensure the safety of the planned mari- hina has begun working on its third The sources, according to the report, said time route under the ambitious Belt and Agencies red, orange and yellow, for both and telecommunication sys- aircraft carrier, a development re- it was too early to say about the launch of the Road project. Beijing yesterday and today. tems. Cfl ective of its ambition to become a third aircraft carrier. The project aims to connect Asia, Africa The agency said it expected The fi rst snow of 2018 af- dominant sea power. According to naval experts, China plans and Europe through a network of ports, sea blizzards to dump 4cm to 8cm of fected large parts of northwest- The Hong Kong-based South China to have four aircraft carrier battle groups in lines, highways and railways. hina has maintained its snow in parts of Shaanxi, Shanxi, ern, central and eastern China Morning Post reported over the weekend service by 2030. The second-most powerful navy after the blue alert for intense Henan, Anhui and Hubei prov- since Wednesday, killing at least that work on the aircraft carrier began after With maritime disputes and tensions US, China has some 65 submarines whereas Csnowfall in the central inces and some areas could be 13 people and damaging houses, March last year. with several countries, China is rapidly India has 14. parts of the country, which has so hit with more than 10cm, Xinhua agriculture and power facilities, The paper quoted a source saying that building its navy. In comparison to China’s 48 frigates, In- far killed 13 people, the National news agency reported. according to local authorities. work was still on at the carrier’s hull and will Beijing is locked in a dispute with fi ve lit- dia has 14. Meteorological Centre said yes- The NMC warned residents The aff ected area was spread be fi nished in about two years. toral states in the South China Sea while its Experts say China’s Yuan-class diesel- terday. of the affected areas to stay in- over 13,100 hectares of farmland, The source also said building the third claims to Senkaku islands are contested by electric submarine models are quieter than The NMC issued a blue snow- doors and asked authorities to out of which more than 900 hec- carrier will be challenging than the other Japan. Its submarines have been spotted the American nuclear ones. storm alert, the least severe of take precautionary measures tares had been destroyed, caus- two. in the Indian Ocean where China is fl exing However, China’s overall naval strength is its four-tiered alert system after for roads, highways and electric ing an estimated loss of $78.6mn. China last year launched its fi rst home- its muscles. China last year established its still far behind that of the US. Gulf Times Sunday, January 7, 2018 11 BRITAIN Homeless clampdown sparks royal wedding row

By Martine Pauwels, AFP in fact homeless,” he wrote in Sheltering from the wintry dents are,” James told AFP in the should be here,” she said of the Windsor a letter, while those that were wind, Stephanie, who has been church where the project off ers homeless. genuinely homeless had rejected in the town centre for two years hot meals, clothes and a shower. “This is a royal town and Har- secure accommodation in order after suff ering mental illness, Regardless of the royal mar- ry should have his day – and a n picturesque Windsor, in to keep begging. “This is creat- insisted: “I don’t choose to sit riage, the authorities should lovely day at that,” the pensioner the shadow of the castle ing a concerning and hostile at- here.” pursue the reasons why peo- told AFP. Iwhere Queen Elizabeth II mosphere for our residents and “Whatever people give me, ple end up on the streets rather Derek Prime, who sells mugs spends her weekends, a dozen the 7mn tourists who come to they give me. I don’t choose than the homeless themselves, and trinkets with Harry and his homeless people shelter from Windsor each year.” to ask for money to get given he said. fi ancee’s faces on, doubted the the cold in a jumble of blankets The level of interest in Wind- something to eat, like sandwich- “It’s a constant problem,” he council’s claims to have proper and cardboard boxes. sor, some 20 miles (35km) west es,” she told AFP. said. “We’ve always had be- accommodation in place. But with less than fi ve months of London, is “set to multiply” The council’s plans have been tween 12 and 15 people sleeping Dudley “really wants to come to go until the May 19 wedding ahead of the royal wedding, he condemned by, among others, rough. The majority of those out here and spend a night on of her grandson Prince Harry added. the Conservative MP for Maid- people don’t beg.” the street just to see what it’s and US actress Meghan Markle According to the business enhead – Prime Minister There- He claimed that there was a like”, he said. in the mediaeval castle’s chapel, valuation consultancy Brand sa May. lack of emergency accommoda- Thames Valley Police com- the local authority’s bid to sweep Finance, the event should draw Murray James, the Windsor tion in the town and deplored missioner Anthony Stansfeld, the homeless off the streets has hundreds of thousands of extra Homeless Project manager, was the state of the housing provid- an elected offi cial, is preparing a triggered indignation. tourists to the town, normally all the more shocked by the pro- ed by the local authority – often response to Dudley’s letter. Simon Dudley, the Conserva- home to just 30,000 people, in posed clampdown as Harry and “infested with rats”, he said. Last month, Dudley com- tive leader of the Royal Borough 2018. his brother Prince William have Many passers-by in Windsor plained on Twitter of the “epi- of Windsor and Maidenhead The British economy could long been involved in work with barely take notice of its home- demic of rough sleeping and va- council, has urged the local be set to benefi t to the tune of the homeless – William having less population. grancy” in the royal town. This file photo taken on December 8, 2017 shows a sign outside St Thames Valley Police force to £500mn ($680mn, €565mn), even slept rough by a bridge in Peggy Outhwaite said that But the local police hit back on George’s Chapel, inside the grounds of Windsor Castle in Windsor, west take action against their “ag- they claimed. London. she was uncomfortable wait- the social media network, say- of London. With less than five months to go until the May 19 wedding of gressive begging and intimida- Dudley said the genuinely “I am pretty sure they’re ing for the bus while a homeless ing: “Housing is the responsibil- Britain’s Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle in the mediaeval tion”. homeless, having rejected help, as outraged by the comments man took up residence in the bus ity of the council but it is better castle’s chapel, the local authority’s bid to sweep the homeless off the “A large number of adults that were on the streets by “volun- that have been made as I am shelter. that agencies work together so streets has triggered indignation. are begging in Windsor are not tary choice”. and many of the Windsor resi- “I don’t think that they people don’t become homeless.”

Sinn Fein MP says sorry over 20 MEPS urge PM May Kingsmill loaf tweet to stay in single market By Henry McDonald Cross-party group says to make the argument for its Guardian News & Media leaving EU single market benefi ts. would leave UK poorer and Since the referendum, they merit voters being allowed to highlight moves by the EU to Sinn Fein MP has been rethink Brexit tackle corporate tax avoidance forced to apologise af- by tech giants like Amazon, Ater posting a video tweet By Anushka Asthana to save Brits money abroad by showing him with a Kingsmill Guardian News & Media scrapping roaming charges, and loaf on his head on the 42nd an- new trade deals with countries niversary of the Kingsmill mas- such as Canada and Japan. sacre in Northern Ireland. heresa May is being urged They also say free movement Barry McElduff has deleted to change course and has been reformed to minimise the tweet, posted on Friday, and Tseek full membership the undercutting of wages. apologised following condem- of the European single market “Leaving the EU means giving nation from unionist politicians and customs union by 20 Brit- up our seat at Europe’s top table and victims’ campaigners. ish MEPs, including three Tories and risks making us a rule taker Ten Protestant workers were and the majority of Labour poli- rather than a rule maker,” they lined up and shot dead by the ticians based in Brussels. add, arguing that single market IRA near the village of Kingsmill In a letter that lays down a membership would maintain in South Armagh on January 5, challenge for the prime minister most infl uence. 1976. but also the Labour leader, Jer- As well as some Conserva- A Protestant clergyman who emy Corbyn, the group claims tives, Lib Dems and Greens, the has worked with the families and the case for staying in the inter- letter includes 12 of Labour’s 20 sole survivor of the multiple IRA nal market has become stronger MEPs, meaning a majority of the murders called on McElduff to since the referendum. party’s European delegation are resign his Westminster seat. They warn that crashing out challenging party policy in the Pastor Barrie Halliday, who of the economic grouping would UK. led prayers for the Kingsmill make Britain poorer and suggest Keir Starmer, the shadow dead at a service on Friday, said that voters should still be given Brexit secretary, has said Labour the Sinn Fein MP’s position was a chance to rethink Brexit alto- wants the UK to stay inside the “untenable”. gether. single market and customs un- Any deal struck by May, seen with the EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, must include staying in common market and customs In the video, McElduff walks “The best way to secure Brit- ion during transition, but has union, say MEPs. around a shop with the Kingsmill ain’s prosperity would be to only promised to try to replicate loaf on his head. remain close to Europe, inside the benefi ts of membership af- McDonnell, who said “we want erendum as a margin “not con- the single market and customs A UK government spokesman Below, he wrote: “I’m in the the single market and customs terwards. to be as close to the single mar- vincing for Brexit, let alone the union for fi ve years and then de- said: “We respect the position of Classic Service Station here, but union, and to secure a deal that The party is grappling with ket as we possibly can”. hardest of Brexits” given the cide what we want - to re-enter European leaders that the four I’m just wondering – where does keeps Britain in the room,” write the challenge of represent- Clare Moody, a Labour MEP scale of constitutional change. as a full EU member or, if it be- freedoms of the single market McCullough’s keep the bread?” the MEPs, who are supporters of ing many constituencies which for the southwest and Gibral- He argued that other coun- comes available, a future associ- are indivisible. McElduff said it was never his the Open Britain campaign. voted to leave the EU while hav- tar, said her party’s position on tries would demand a super ma- ate membership or opt for hard “As the prime minister set out “intention to off end anyone who “Sadly, this no longer seems ing more than 80% of members Brexit “has moved and we will jority for something so critical. Brexit,” he said. in her Lancaster House speech, has suff ered previously”. likely. So, if the price of a Brexit who want to retain membership see how much further it moves He also said that the result Tannock, a London MEP who we will be leaving the single The West Tyrone MP said he turns out to be a loss of control of both the single market and in 2018”. was based on a “strange election admitted that he was in a mi- market and the customs union, had “not realised or imagined for over the rules and an economy customs union. “The key principle is that we franchise” in which Common- nority within his party, said the taking control of our borders a second any possible link be- that will leave us poorer, people Meanwhile, the former La- do not want the British public to wealth country citizens were al- government had instead taken and ending the jurisdiction of tween the product brand name have every right to keep an open bour prime minister, Tony Blair, be worse off as a result of nego- lowed to vote even if unaff ected a “total separation” view by in- the ECJ.” and Kingsmill anniversary”. mind about whether the Brexit claimed that the party could tiations – that is fundamental,” by the outcome but his east- sisting “Brexit means Brexit”. He argued that single-market The 10 men murdered at course chartered by our govern- become the “handmaiden of she added, arguing that Labour ern European wife could not, His two colleagues, Julie membership outside the EU Kingsmill were killed by mem- ment is the right path for our Brexit” if it failed to take a fi rmer should not “close off avenues” and nor could his British-born Girling and Richard Ashworth, would force Britain to accept bers of the IRA’s South Armagh country.” stance. as the Tories had done. mother who had lived for more who have also signed the letter, rules over which it would have brigade, though the organisation They call it a “lamentable However, sources within the Charles Tannock, one of the than 15 years in Paris. remain members of the Con- “little infl uence and no vote”. has never publicly admitted its irony” that Britain helped shape party pointed to recent com- Conservative MEPs who signed “There is no clear mandate servative party but have had the “Such a loss of democratic role in the atrocity. the single market but that suc- ments by senior fi gures such the letter, described the 52% for a hard Brexit so I believe we whip withdrawn over a recent control could not work for the It is believed to have been cessive governments have failed as the shadow chancellor, John victory for leave in the EU ref- should have tried to stay inside vote in Brussels. British people.” carried out in retaliation for a number of sectarian murders of Catholics by Ulster loyalist para- militaries in Armagh in the same period. The workmen were taken out ‘Institutional’ male bias in government’s art collection, says Labour of their minibus and shot dead. Their Catholic colleague was spared because he told the gun- Shadow arts minister says tended to be displayed in gov- their acquisitions policy.” for display at 10 Downing Street, artists. Almost half the artists ment art collection or its acqui- men his religion. only a quarter of works ernment buildings around the The fi gures are somewhat ministerial offi ces in the UK, re- that had work purchased by the sitions policies. The historical enquiries team acquired by the government world to showcase British artis- skewed by several bulk acqui- ception areas of British embas- GAC [Government Art Collec- But she said it was important – the police unit tasked with in recent years are by female tic talent. sitions of dozens of paintings sies across the world and other tion] between 2011 and 2016 to see a balance in the represen- investigating unsolved past artists They include pieces by high- from individual male artists. government buildings. were women, and it will contin- tation of artists to better refl ect crimes from Northern Ireland’s profi le artists such as Damian But even if these are omitted, Guardian research showed ue to promote a diverse range of society. Troubles – has offi cially laid the By Rowena Mason Hirst, Tracey Emin, and Gillian the collections still show more last year a strong gender imbal- British artists that have a strong “The mission is a broad view blame for the massacre at the Guardian News & Media Wearing, as well as a many less- than 70% of works acquired ance in works displayed in com- connection with our country.” of history,” she said. “It’s not a IRA’s door. er-known talents. during the period were by male mercial and public galleries. The government’s fi gures mission to represent women. No one has ever been convict- Labour said the imbalance in artists. Female artists account for show the collection bought It’s a mission to move on from a ed over the 10 murders but an he government’s art col- the gender of the artists behind There was a moratorium on just 4% of the National Gallery works by 93 artists, of which 44 very narrow canonical notion of inquest into the atrocity is still lection reveals “insti- works acquired in recent times the purchase of new works be- of Scotland’s collection; 20% of were women over the time pe- history and to see history from running at a court in Belfast. Ttutional bias” against showed the government’s art tween 2011 and 2013, but some of the Whitworth Manchester’s riod. the vantage of the present that female artists, according to La- collection was not setting the works were accepted as dona- and 35% of Tate Modern ‘s col- Any gender imbalance in is relevant and fresh and repre- bour. right example. tions during that time. lections. the number of works bought sentative of the diversity of so- Research by the party showed Kevin Brennan, the shadow Of those works purchased, Only 33% of the artists repre- was attributed by the DCMS to ciety.” that about three-quarters of arts minister, said the situa- rather than donated, over the senting Britain at the Venice Bi- the purchase of large numbers Parliament has previously works acquired in recent years tion was “not good enough” and time period from 2011/12 to ennale over the past decade have of pieces by three male art- been criticised for showing too were created by men. called for a change in policy. 2015/16, more than 70% were been women. ists: Herbert Arnould Olivier, many artworks of men. Figures from the shadow cul- “Only about a quarter of the created by male artists and 27% Asked about the fi gures, the Michael Craig-Martin and Phil The Speaker’s advisory com- ture team suggest that around work acquired by the govern- by female artists, with the rest Department for Culture, Media Shaw. mittee on works of art last year 265 works by men and just 80 ment art collection in recent unknown or made collectively and Sport (DCMS) commented Frances Morris, the director committed to moving away from by women were collected over years is by women,” he said. “Fe- by studios. on artists, rather than works of of Tate Modern, who has said art that “refl ects the values and the last fi ve years for which data male artists are at least as tal- New artworks are selected by art, and purchases, rather than that its permanent collection interests of the Victorians who is available, between 2011-2012 ented as their male counterparts an advisory committee, which overall acquisitions. representing 335 female artists commissioned it” towards piec- and 2015-2016. and the government should be acquires pieces by artists with a A DCMS spokesperson said: compared with 959 male artists es that better “refl ect either the A still from the Twitter video The works are a mixture of setting an example by getting rid strong British connection. “The government art collection is “just not good enough”, would modern or historic diversity of posted by McElduff . purchases and donations in- of the institutionalised bias in The works are then available is a strong supporter of women not comment on the govern- the UK’s population”. Gulf Times 12 Sunday, January 7, 2018 EUROPE Top diplomats vow

Gabriel and Cavusoglu share a joke during a news conference in to mend frayed ties Goslar, Germany. AFP including several German or dual nomic ties based on “dialogue, The crisis has been fuelled by man community, Ankara accused terror charges since last Febru- Cavusoglu emphasised on the Goslar, Germany citizens. mutual understanding and co- other disputes: over a German the government of using “Nazi” ary, and of another six Germans independence of Turkish courts, “We have both given ourselves operation”. TV comic harshly lampooning methods. Berlin says are jailed for “political but the minister pledged that the task to do everything to over- Their talks followed a meet- Erdogan, a 2016 German parlia- Ankara has in recent weeks reasons”. “we’re doing everything in our erman Foreign Minis- come the diffi culties in German- ing in Paris on Friday between mentary resolution on the Arme- sent a fl urry of signals that it Turkey has in recent weeks political power to speed up the ter Sigmar Gabriel and Turkish relations,” said Gabriel, Turkish President Recep Tayyip nian genocide, and Turkey deny- wants a return to warmer rela- released several of the Germans judicial process”. Ghis Turkish counterpart who hosted Cavusoglu at his Erdogan and French counterpart ing military base visits to German tions with the EU and Germany, whom Gabriel has labelled “hos- Gabriel recently suggested Mevlut Cavusoglu vowed yester- home in Goslar. Emmanuel Macron, who warned MPs. at a time of tensions with the tages”, among them journalist to news weekly Der Spiegel that day to try to mend ties blighted He said they had “open talks that there was no chance of An- Ankara has accused Berlin of United States, Israel and some Mesale Tolu. Western countries should tone by a slew of disputes. held in mutual respect” although kara’s EU stalled membership bid failing to pursue followers of US- Gulf states. Hopes grew that Yucel’s case down lecturing Erdogan’s Turkey Relations between the Nato they “certainly did not share the moving forward. based preacher Fethullah Gulen, Erdogan had declared last too could be resolved after the on democratic values because it (North Atlantic Treaty Organi- same view on all matters”. Germany, home to a 3mn- whom it blames for the 2016 month that Turkey “must reduce Turkish government this week could be counterproductive. sation) partners have been badly Cavusoglu however warned strong ethnic Turkish communi- coup attempt, and of failing to the number of enemies and in- addressed it for the fi rst time in Calling for an “enlightened strained in recent years, espe- against Turkey being lectured or ty, last year advised investors and crack down on Kurdish militants. crease the number of friends”. 10 months with a submission to debate” on the issue, Gabriel said cially since the failed coup in threatened, saying: “These are holiday-makers to avoid Turkey When Germany last year re- The main hurdle in Ankara- the constitutional court, which that “to constantly accuse each Turkey and 2016 and a subse- not good methods, according to and urged a cut in EU funding peatedly denied Turkish politi- Berlin ties is the detention of Die could soon rule on whether to other of betraying values will quent crackdown which saw tens us.” linked to Ankara’s membership cians’ requests to campaign for Welt daily’s German-Turkish release him from pre-trial deten- neither get someone out of jail of thousands of people arrested, He also called for deeper eco- talks. votes among the Turkish-Ger- correspondent Deniz Yucel on tion. nor will it strengthen us”. Spain’s king pays homage to father Juan Carlos

By Marianne Barriaux, AFP ating skills, political acumen and Madrid his role in defusing an attempted coup in 1981, Juan Carlos fell from grace during Spain’s eco- panish King Felipe VI paid nomic crisis as his lavish lifestyle homage to his father Juan drew anger. SCarlos yesterday as the Adding fuel to fi re, his daugh- former monarch, fresh from cel- ter Princess Cristina and her ebrating his 80th birthday, made husband Inaki Urdangarin were a public comeback after com- embroiled in a corruption and tax plaining bitterly of being left on fraud investigation, with the lat- A participant swims in the waters of the North Sea during the the sidelines. ter since found guilty of siphon- annual New Year’s plunge event in Ostend. Appearing in full military garb ing off millions to fund a lavish alongside his son, Queen Letizia lifestyle. and his wife Sofi a at the royal Cristina was acquitted. palace in Madrid, Juan Carlos When he took the throne, met Spain’s army, navy and air Felipe VI, who turns 50 at the end Belgians brave cold force chiefs at a traditional mili- of the month, kept his distance in tary ceremony held at the start of a bid to restore the image of the every year. monarchy. to dip in North Sea The show of unity comes at a In June, Juan Carlos was nota- trying time for Spain after the bly absent from an event marking wealthy Catalan region attempt- 40 years since the fi rst democrat- Reuters “When you go in, it’s cold ed to break away, and where 47% ic elections after Francisco Fran- Ostend, Belgium but once you are in longer, it’s of voters want to live in an inde- co’s dictatorship, despite having very good, very nice,” said Jor- pendent, monarchy-free repub- been widely credited for enabling is, who was wearing a caveman lic. the vote to take place. housands of people outfi t. It also puts Juan Carlos, cred- That, according to Felipe VI’s braved the biting cold of Organisers said the 27th edi- ited for leading Spain to democ- biographer and other royal aff airs Ta Belgian winter yester- tion of the New Year’s plunge racy after decades of dictatorship experts, angered and hurt him. day to take a dip in the North was average in terms of tem- but who abdicated in 2014 after “It was thanks to him that Sea in Ostend’s traditional New perature and attendance, fol- a series of scandals, back on the there was an exemplary transi- Year’s plunge. lowing an exceptionally cold public scene. tion from a dictatorship to a full Undeterred by air tempera- 2017 edition when brisk winds Felipe congratulated his father democracy,” said Jaime Penafi el, Former king Juan Carlos I (second right) and former queen Sofia (right) follow his son King Felipe VI and tures of 6° Celsius (43° Fahr- pushed temperatures well be- on turning 80 on Friday, drawing a royal aff airs journalist. “He Queen Letizia during the Epiphany Day celebrations (Pascua Militar) at the Royal Palace in Madrid. enheit) and equally chilly wa- low freezing. a smile from the elderly former made it known that if they hu- ter, 4,500 people, many clad “It’s our fi fth year now. We monarch, who now walks with a miliated him again, he would go in building a “democratic and “He made mistakes in his stepped down in favour of his in fancy dress, ran down the had to skip last year because it stick. and celebrate his 80th abroad.” modern Spain ... from the basis speech, lost track of what he was son and became “king emeritus”, beach in front of the city’s neo- was on New Year’s day and we “Congratulations your majes- So it was that yesterday, Juan of reconciliation, harmony and saying, off ering a pathetic spec- a title he hates, according to the classical Royal Galleries. would have been a little drunk ty and thank you also for so many Carlos and Sofi a accompanied peaceful cohabitation”. tacle,” said Jose Apezarena, Felipe press. While some did little more from the day before,” said Jor- years of loyal service to Spain,” he Felipe VI and Queen Letizia to the Four years ago, the same cer- VI’s biographer. “It wasn’t what he wanted than wet their ankles, others dy Velders from the Flemish said, as Prime Minister Mariano ceremony for the fi rst time. emony had been torture for Juan That was when he asked for as he had repeatedly said he took advantage of the presence town of Lokeren, who, like his Rajoy and his defence and inte- Defence Minister Maria Do- Carlos, physically weakened af- preparations to be made for his would be king until he died,” said of many lifeguards to take a friends, was dressed up as a rior ministers watched. lores de Cospedal credited Juan ter health issues and tainted by abdication, he said. Penafi el. proper dive into the waves. penguin. Widely lauded for his negoti- Carlos for being instrumental scandals. Later that year in June, he

More than 200 migrants storm Sick French baby’s life in danger after hospital abduction Morocco-Spain border More than 200 African migrants stormed over a high double fence between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Melilla yesterday, off icials AFP travenous tubes when he was ment urgently,” the CHU Purpan was “incomprehensible”. and long black-brown curly hair. said, leaving some of them and a police off icer injured. Toulouse snatched on Friday evening hospital’s director Anne Fer- “He is a loving father who The “abduction alert” in A total of 209 people from sub-Saharan Africa seeking to get to from a children’s hospital in the rer told reporters. “The medical took care of his child,” prosecu- France was inspired by the Am- Europe forced their way across the fence in the afternoon, the central southern city of Toulouse, trig- team is ready to welcome Tizio tor Pierre-Yves Couilleau. ber Alert child abduction system government’s representative off ice in Melilla said in a statement. French hospital launched gering an abduction alert. or to pick him up from wherever CCTV cameras showed the set up in the United States in The police off icer who was injured was “attacked by an immigrant with an urgent appeal yester- The authorities say his life is he is.” father leaving hospital about 1996 after the kidnap and mur- one of the hooks they use to clamber up the fence” as he tried to stop Aday for a man to return at risk if he does not receive im- The 33-year-old unemployed 7.30pm, about an hour after der of a nine-year-old girl in them, the statement said, adding the implement cut his earlobe. his kidnapped two-month-old mediate medical care. father was separated from medical staff last saw the baby. Texas. In order to get across, migrants often use hooks and shoes studded son, warning that the little boy’s “I want to talk to Brendan, Tizio’s mother but they ap- Staff found the infant’s room The French system has been with nails. life was in grave danger. Tizio’s father, to remind him of peared to have been on cordial empty at 9.30pm, only alerting used more than 20 times since it Four of the migrants, meanwhile, were sent to hospital for minor Baby Tizio was undergo- the gravity of his son’s condi- terms and he visited the baby in the mother three hours later. was established in 2006, and all injuries, it added. ing emergency treatment for tion, that his life is in danger, hospital every day. Brendan, who had spent the the children were found safe and Mobile phone footage broadcast by Spanish media showed a group of an undisclosed illness and was and he needs to take his boy to A source close to the case has day with Tizio, was described as sound, all but two of them very migrants running through the streets of the city. attached to gastric and in- the nearest emergency depart- said that the kidnapping of Tizio tall and slender with a full beard quickly. They have since been taken to a migrant detention centre. Ex-Economist editor says Berlusconi could save Italy from ‘Trump-style’ populists

AFP migrant) Northern League from Emmott called on 81-year-old The Northern League, which has Rome being the driving force in the new Berlusconi – who cannot run for benefi ted from voter anger over the government” at the March vote, he offi ce owing to a tax fraud con- number of asylum-seekers arriving said. viction in 2013 – to act as centre- in Italy, has forged a pre-election he former editor of the The populist Five Stars (M5S), right kingmaker, not only to see off pact with Berlusconi’s Go Italy (FI) Economist, an infl uential UK which was founded in 2009 and the M5S but keep the eurosceptic party and is jockeying for control Tweekly which once slammed supports a hotchpotch of policies Northern League in check too. of the centre-right coalition. Silvio Berlusconi as “unfi t to lead from across the ideological spec- The elderly tycoon is seeking to That coalition may be the only Italy”, said yesterday that the ex- trum, is the leading single party position himself as a pro-European political body capable of winning premier could stop populists at the in opinion polls but is slammed by moderate and the only man who enough of the vote to secure a par- upcoming general election. critics as immature and incompe- can save Italy from the populist liamentary majority. “I’ve not changed my opinion: tent. wave which has swept the country With roughly 40% of the vote Berlusconi: cannot run for off ice Berlusconi is still unfi t to lead Ita- In a stinging commentary, Em- and Europe in recent years. needed to govern, many political owing to a tax fraud conviction in ly,” Bill Emmott said in an interview mott said the movement could be “He (Berlusconi) will be an op- analysts expect the M5S to be un- 2013. with the Corriere della Sera daily, in compared to the current United erator behind the scenes, that’s the able or unwilling to form the nec- reference to the three-time leader States administration. role we have to judge him in. essary alliances to rule. As for the outgoing centre-left famed the world over for his “Bun- “It may be a bit unjust to say it “And in that role I don’t think That could make the League the Democratic Party (PD), it may be ga Bunga” erotic parties. would be like (Donald) Trump’s he’d be so bad. His stance is more real threat at the March 4 ballot, currently ahead of the right in the “But he could be decisive in White House, but in some ways it moderate than (Matteo) Salvini’s or Emmott said. polls, but its ambitious leader Mat- forming a centrist coalition able to would: it could potentially be just (Luigi) Di Maio’s,” he said, referring The “worst result ... would be a teo Renzi “irritates people” and has prevent the (anti-establishment) as experimental and chaotic,” the to the League’s head and the M5S centre-right victory with (League “neither friends nor allies”, Em- Five-Star Movement or (anti-im- journalist said of the M5S candidate for prime minister. head Matteo) Salvini in the lead”. mott said. Gulf Times Sunday, January 7, 2018 13 INDIA

Vishwas slams AAP leadership, says coterie can’t run party

IANS show Aap Ki Adalat, telecast on jay Singh, businessman Sushil requested our leaders at least Minister Narendra Modi’s gov- “I did say in the past that I Vishwas admitted that he had New Delhi Saturday night on India TV, said: Gupta and chartered account- fi ve to six times to allow me to ernment must produce evidence am not in politics for posts or once said that out of the top “the AAP does not belong to a ant Narain Dass Gupta as its campaign there, but I was not of the surgical strike against Pa- power... but I did not say while three (in AAP), one became the coterie of two or three persons, it debutants for the Rajya Sabha, allowed to campaign in Punjab. I kistan. joining politics that the fruits of chief minister, the other deputy am Aadmi Party founder belongs to lakhs of workers wait- Vishwas had expressed his dis- was told that the ‘fanatic move- “I told him (Kejriwal) it was a my seven years of struggle will chief minister, and the third member Kumar Vishwas ing outside. appointment at not being con- ment’ in Punjab was unhappy question of our troops’ morale, be handed over to ‘Ajgar chhap’ (Vishwas) was left out. Ahas hit out at AAP su- “Two or three persons may sidered for the upper house and with me.” and he (Kejriwal) replied, ‘Modi (python-like) Guptaji (Sushil Asked by Sharma why he, as “a premo Arvind Kejriwal, saying be speaking out against me, the claimed he was being “pun- In Delhi, “the AAP did not lose should go fi rst, then everything Gupta).” younger brother”, did not speak the party does not belong to “a common party worker may be ished” for speaking the truth. the municipal polls because of will be okay.’ This was his out- Asked what his fault was for to Kejriwal, Vishwas replied: “I coterie of two-three persons” addressing any leader as ‘ji’, but The poet-turned-politician me, there were defi ciencies in look....” not being considered for Rajya tried, but could not talk. Yogen- but to hundreds of thousands of he addresses me as ‘Kumar bhai- listed out several instances in the the party’s policies and strategy, The AAP leader said the ques- Sabha, he replied with an Urdu dra (Yadav) was his elder brother, its workers. ya’, and this is my strength in the recent past when he was side- he added. tion was not of (being denied couplet: “Mere lahze mein ji- Anna Hazare was like his father, In open defi ance of the party party”. lined by the party leadership. The dissident AAP leader said ticket to) Rajya Sabha but for the huzoor na tha, Isse zyada mera and I his younger brother. I still leadership, Vishwas, who was On January 3 when the AAP “In Punjab, I had written po- he had opposed Kejriwal when last seven months, he had been kasoor na tha (my only fault was wish that he remains a leader, appearing in Rajat Sharma’s TV named veteran leader San- ems against drug traffi cking. I he had demanded that Prime reduced to “a mere pawn”. that I was never sycophantic).” and let the party expand.” Stop making tall claims, Congress tells BJP govt

IANS have declined, fresh investment New Delhi is low, informal sector is still reeling under the ill-eff ects of demonetisation, job creation is he Congress Party yes- abysmal, exports are plunging, terday attacked Prime manufacturing sector growth TMinister Narendra Modi’s has slowed down, agriculture government over its manage- sector has been hit hard and rural ment of economy, saying the despair is abundant. worst fears of an imminent eco- “A dispassionate assessment nomic slowdown have come true reveals serious weaknesses in the Supporters of Lalu Prasad Yadav stage a protest after he was sentenced to three-and-a-half- years in jail, in Patna yesterday. and job creation remains the Indian economy,” he said. ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s Chidambaram said the growth “single biggest failure”. in GDP during 2017-18 is esti- In a statement a day after esti- mated at 6.5% compared to the mates that GDP would be 6.5% in growth rate of 7.1% in 2016-17 2017-18, party leader and former and anticipated growth of real fi nance minister P Chidambaram GVA (gross value added) at basic said the government’s tall claims prices in 2017-18 is 6.1% against of India growing at a “robust” 6.6% in 2016-17. Lalu jailed in fodder growth rate have evaporated in “In a double whammy, retail thin air. infl ation soared to a 15-month Congress leader Anand Shar- high of 4.88% in November and ma also lashed out at the gov- industrial output slowed to a ernment, accusing it of “monu- three-month low of 2.2% in Oc- mental mismanagement” of the tober,” he added. economy and remaining in con- New project announcements scam, RJD cries foul stant denial of the ground re- by Indian companies touched alities. He said the economy was a 13-year low of Rs770bn in the Agencies forgery, prosecution lawyer After three days of arguments case by the Supreme Court. Yadav had support from “gasping” and “not galloping.” December quarter, according to Ranchi Sanjay Kumar told reporters. on the sentence, the judge de- Yadav’s RJD has accused the across the country and he had Chidambaram said the gov- the Centre for Monitoring Indian The other convicts were sen- livered the verdict through vid- ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of indicated in a rally that there ernment should stop making Economy, he said. tenced to prison terms ranging eo conferencing. foisting criminal cases on the could be a conspiracy against “tall claims.” “The manufacturing sector court yesterday sen- from three-and-a-half years to As the judge was delivering leader. him by the BJP and Bihar Chief “The recent social discontent has seen the sharpest fall in new tenced former Bihar seven years. the sentence, Yadav, who is at Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Minister Nitish Kumar, Tejas- therefore can be a direct mani- project announcements. Job cre- Achief minister and Rash- Yadav, a former federal rail- present lodged in the Central Sushil Kumar Modi who is from hwi said. festation of this economic slow- ation remains the single biggest triya Janata Dal party chief Lalu ways minister, was sent to jail af- Jail in Ranchi, stood with folded the BJP and was among the pe- “The central government down, which the government was failure of this BJP government. In Prasdad Yadav to three-and-a- ter the December 23 conviction. hands. titioners in the case rejected has misused the central agency conveniently hiding,” he said. a slowdown, how will jobs be cre- half years’ jail in a corruption He is likely to appeal the ver- While hearing arguments on charges of being bias and wel- (CBI),” he said. Chidambaram said the invest- ated? And how will the promised case. dict in a higher court. the sentence, the judge observed comed the judgment. He said the Janata Dal-United ment picture remains bleak in 2 crore jobs per year be created?” The special trial court in the “The judiciary has performed that the convicts “should be kept Meanwhile Yadav’s son Te- (JD-U) leaders in Bihar must overall terms and the fi scal defi cit Bank credit growth is ex- eastern city of Ranchi had last its duty. We will go to the high in an open jail as they have expe- jashwi said the verdict will not understand their party had ac- is likely to overshoot budget esti- tremely sluggish which doesn’t month convicted 16 people, court after studying the sen- rience in looking after cows”. lead to a split in the party. tually split, not the RJD. mates of 3.2% of the GDP, adding bode well for the economy, including Yadav, in a “fodder tence and apply for bail,” Ya- The court had acquitted an- The former Bihar deputy chief “People are watching every- that “no amount of sugar coating, Chidambaram added. scam” case dating to the early dav’s son, Tejashwi said. other former Bihar chief min- minister also said an appeal will thing. Conspiracies are always false bravado and rhetoric along Sharma meanwhile asked if 1990s, when he was chief min- Yadav faced accusations that ister Jagannath Mishra and fi ve be fi led in the Jharkhand High hatched in order to suppress with headlines management can Modi and Finance Minister Jait- ister of Bihar. as chief minister he kept the fi le others in the case. Court. and scare Laluji. However, peo- conceal the stark reality”. ley will stop saying that India is Yadav, 69, and several offi - for an inquiry against the scan- This is the second fodder case “There will be no trouble or ple gave a befi tting reply every “Our fears and warnings have the fastest-growing economy. cials were accused of embez- dal’s mastermind pending for 16 Yadav has been sentenced in. any negative impact on the par- time,” he said. proved true. GDP growth in “It is under the watch of the zling state funds totalling nearly months and gave extensions to A total of six such cases are ty. The RJD’s history has been He said the party had faith in 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 prime minister and his fi nance Rs9mn destined for cattle fod- tainted offi cials despite objec- part of a larger scandal that that of struggle amid conspira- the judiciary and they would get (est) is 8.0, 7.1 and 6.5. These minister that the national in- der between 1991 and 1994. tions, NDTV channel reported. involved misappropriation of cies against it. Laluji had to go justice. numbers prove there is a slow- vestment rate has fallen. The Judge Shivpal Singh sen- The Central Bureau of Inves- some Rs10bn. The fi rst case in to jail many times... but he came “We are hopeful that Laluji down. A decline in economic ac- credit off -take by the industry tenced Yadav to three-and-a- tigation had argued that Yadav 2013 cost him his parliamentary out every time. That time too, will be among us very soon. We tivity and growth means loss of has hit a historic low of 65 years. half years in jail and imposed a was aware of the scandal but al- seat and disqualifi ed him from people said it (party) had split or will try to address where we fell millions of jobs,” he said. The GDP growth is now at a fi ne of Rs500,000 for corrup- lowed the looting to continue by contesting elections. predicted that it may split. In- short. We will appeal in the high “New project announcements four-year low,” he said. tion, criminal conspiracy and his inaction, the report said. He was granted bail in that stead, it grew stronger,” he said. court,” he said. North India in the grip of Kashmir bomb blast cold wave, 70 die in UP kills four policemen Agencies a search operation was launched. Srinagar Media reports said the market IANS capital Lucknow, the claims have Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh had been closed owing to a strike Lucknow fallen fl at in the last 48 hours. tourist destinations Shimla and called by separatists. Reports suggest that most Manali saw the season’s low- our policemen were killed The latest incident comes bonfi res have been taken over by est temperature yesterday. The yesterday in a bomb blast during a spike in violence in the xtreme cold wave condi- “VVIPs” and were being lit out- minimum temperatures across Fset off by suspected mili- state. tions prevailed in several side the bungalows of ministers the state remained two-three tants in Jammu and Kashmir, Last week four Indian soldiers Eparts of north India yes- and political leaders. degrees below average. police and reports said, marking were killed in an attack by armed terday. Sultanpur district remained At many places in the state the a deadly start to the new year in militants who stormed a para- In Uttar Pradesh, lack of night the coldest in the past 24 hours temperatures remained below the restive valley. military camp outside Srinagar. shelters and amenities has al- with the mercury dipping to 2.8 freezing point, an offi cial of the They were on patrol when Since 1989, rebel groups have ready led to the death of over 70 degrees Celsius. meteorological offi ce said, add- the improvised explosive device been fi ghting roughly half a mil- homeless and poor people. Lucknow shivered at three ing there was no chance of rain (IED) exploded in Sopore, some lion Indian soldiers deployed in Twenty-two deaths were re- degrees Celsius. Friday was in- and snow across the state for a 50km from the main city of Sri- the state. ported from Poorvanchal; three cidentally the coldest day of week. nagar. The fi ghting has left tens of each in Brij and Bareilly divi- the season as well. Intense cold Bitter cold wave swept “IED blast in Sopore. Four po- thousands, mostly civilians, sions; 11 in Allahabad division meanwhile continues to disrupt through Jammu and Kashmir licemen martyred,” Jammu and dead. and 28 in Bundelkhand region. life across Bihar. too. Kashmir police said on Twitter. Last year 206 suspected mili- Two men died in Barabanki “Icy winds, fog and a weak sun Ladakh region remained in a The bomb was planted by mil- tants, 57 civilians and 78 Indian district due to the severe cold. shining only for one or two hours deep freeze. itants near a shop amid a strike security forces personnel were One person died in Harchandpur have forced people to huddle in- Leh at minus 15.6 was the called by separatists, the Press killed, making it the deadliest in Faizabad, an infant in Ambed- door. It is extremely cold even coldest town in the state. Trust of India and other local year in a decade. karnagar, one in Rae Bareli’s Ma- during the day,” said Soumendu Srinagar city recorded minus media said. State police chief S P Vaid khdoompur and one in Uncha- Sengupta, Patna meteorological 1.2, Pahalgam and Gulmarg were Chief Minister Mehbooba there were many misconcep- haar. centre director. minus 8.4 and minus 9.4, re- Mufti expressed her condolenc- tions about “Operation All Out” A government offi cial said A Disaster Management De- spectively, a Met offi cial said. es to the victims’ families in a started by the security forces in arrangements have been made partment offi cial said the state The Kashmir Valley is passing message. Kashmir in 2017. for bonfi res and night shelters, has been reeling under intense through the 40-day period of No militant group has claimed “I want to make it clear that though the ground realities were cold for the past ten days and low harsh winter condition known as A woman wraps a child in a shawl while waiting for a train at a responsibility for the attack so this operation is not only about in stark contrast to these claims. temperatures would continue for the “Chillai Kalan”, which start- railway station on a foggy winter morning on the outskirts of far. killing militants, but also to bring At many places in the state another two days. ed on December 21. Agartala, yesterday. The area was cordoned off and them back into the mainstream.” Gulf Times 14 Sunday, January 7, 2018 INDIA

CONTROVERSY JUDICIARY AVIATION EVENT CORRUPTION Kerala minister Shailaja Man jailed for life Vistara plans to start 13 jail inmates to run ED seizes properties facing vigilance probe for raping daughter international flights in half-marathon worth Rs40mn of BLA

Kerala’s Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau A special court in Manipur has sentenced a Vistara, a joint venture of Tata Sons and Thirteen inmates from three Kolkata correctional The Enforcement Directorate (ED) yesterday yesterday started a preliminary probe into 42-year-old man to rigorous life imprisonment Singapore Airlines, plans to launch international homes will for the first time participate in a half- said it seized properties worth over Rs40mn of the medical bills claimed by Health Minister for raping his minor daughter. The complaint flights from the second half of 2018 and will marathon organised by the police department BLA Industries in connection with its ongoing K K Shailaja. The probe was launched after against the man was lodged on September 19, add Chennai to its growing domestic network tomorrow, a senior off icer said yesterday. The probe into the coal block allocation scam. “ED complaints were registered against the 2016 when the mother of the victim alleged that from next month. According to the full-service inmates from Presidency Central Correctional has provisionally attached immovable properties minister by K Surendran of the Bharatiya her husband raped his daughter at least three passenger carrier’s Chief Executive Leslie Thng, Home, Alipore Central Correctional Home and located in Narsingpur district of Madhya Pradesh, Janata Party and K M Shajahan, who is a times. Police arrested the father a day after the the airline will have a fleet of 22 aircraft by May Dudum Correctional Home will run along with measuring 348.34 acres worth Rs4.53 crore of BLA former secretary to Marxist veteran V S complaint was registered. After his conviction, 2018 and will then be in a position to commence celebrities and citizens in the ‘Safe Drive Save Life Industries Pvt Ltd in Coal Block Allocation Scam,” Achuthanandan. Shajahan alleged that the Special Judge G Golmei on Friday sentenced international operations. Current regulations Half Marathon’. “We sent out the notice to the the financial probe agency said in a statement. minister and a few medical professionals him for life and imposed a fine of Rs100,000. require domestic passenger carriers to have correctional homes and 15 inmates voluntarily The ED has registered a case based on a case filed were engaged in a criminal conspiracy to The defence sought lesser punishment on at least a fleet of 20 aircraft before starting registered for the event. However, 13 inmates by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The CBI has fabricate documents to cheat the public the grounds that there was no previous crime international operations. On the question of would be running in the half-marathon tomorrow booked BLA Industries, its managing director Anup exchequer of Rs390,250. The issue has committed by the man. The judge also asked bidding for flag carrier Air India, Thng said it as the other two have health issues,” Biplab Das, Agarwal and other unknown public servants. “During caused embarrassment not just for the the social welfare department and the Manipur was Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines to take a deputy inspector general said yesterday. He said investigation, it was revealed that BLA Industries minister but for the Communist Party of India State Legal Services Authority to give maximum decision. However, he added that the first priority no extra security would be needed for monitoring mined 26.23 lakh MTs from 2004-05 to 2013-14 coal (Marxist) party after media took it up and it permissible amounts of compensation to the for the promoters is to expand Vistara’s domestic the inmates as the entire route will be kept under and sold 25.07 lakh MTs of coal during the same went viral across social media as well. victim. operations. police vigil. period worth Rs577.23 crore,” the ED said.

Farmers Food grains dumped throw Son of former potatoes outside CM house police offi cer

IANS Lucknow arrested over he Uttar Pradesh govern- ment yesterday faced an Tembarrassing situation as quintals of potatoes were thrown by farmers in front of the state assembly building and outside Chief Minister Yogi Adi- pub tragedy tyanath’s residence. The VIP and high-security IANS Mehta and challenged him to the Mumbai Fire Brigade submit- zone in front of the state assem- Mumbai “reveal” and expose the politi- ted its report. bly was strewn with potatoes in cian who pressured the civic The report has clearly con- the morning. body, ruled by the Shiv Sena. fi rmed that the blaze erupted The scene was similar outside olice yesterday arrested the “Mehta should not talk like in the Mojo’s Bistro and quickly Raj Bhawan which houses Uttar son of a retired police offi c- a politician. Don’t make vague spread to the adjacent 1Above Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and Per over a pub fi re that killed statements. Disclose the names and other premises, trapping an his family and outside the 5, Ka- 14 people on December 29. of those who pressurised you to estimated 400-500 people. lidas Marg high-security resi- “Yug Pathak has been booked drag the probe,” Nirupam said. The cause of the fi re is said to dence of the chief minister. under the stringent IPC Section “I reiterate that he is responsi- be the illegal hookahs, no proper The protest sent the district 304 pertaining to culpable homi- ble for the incident and must be exit signs and the availability of administration and security of- cide not amounting to murder,” booked for it,” Nirupam sad. huge stocks of liquor - highly in- fi cials in a tizzy as it was carried Deputy Commissioner of Police He also asked the BMC chief to fl ammable. out in high-security zones. Sachin Patil said. declare all the names of the own- The burning coals of a hookah Senior Superintendent of Po- Yug, the co-owner of Mo- ers of the 17-18 high-end pubs came in contact with a curtain at lice Deepak Kumar said the ve- jo’s Bistro pub, is the son of K K and bars functioning within the the Mojo’s Bistro in the south- hicles of the farmers, who were Pathak, a former police commis- Kamala Mills Compound. end corner, which quickly spread involved in throwing potatoes sioner of Pune and Nagpur. He Maharashtra Navnirman Sena into the pub and then onto the have been identifi ed and that had been questioned last week as spokesperson Sandeep Desh- adjoining 1Above pub. they would take action soon. part of investigation into the blaze pande demanded that Mehta be The MFB said an illegal shed The farmers, however, said they which also left 55 people injured. made to undergo “narco-test” to with thatched roof, both made of have not done anything wrong as On December 30, the police get to the truth. highly combustible materials, fur- this was a symbolic protest against had fi led cases against at least “Who asked Mehta ‘to go slow’ ther spread the fi re blocking emer- the government and its policies. two of the pubs - The Mojo’s Bis- on the action against illegal con- gency exits which even the secu- The farmers staged the pro- tro and 1Above - besides Ramesh structions in the Kamala Mills rity personnel were not aware of. test after failing to get adequate Govani, the owner of the sprawl- Compound - whether it’s from The lift was the only way out of price for their produce. ing Kamala Mills Compound in the ruling (Shiv Sena) or the op- the burning premises, a passage The government had fi xed Rs487 Lower Parel, where the pubs are position ‘bhaiyyas’ (Congress),” on the eastern side was blocked a quintal as the minimum support located. Deshpande asked. as it was used for storages and it price for potato but the farmers The police swung into action However, Mehta found sup- was in an illegal toilet where the are demanding Rs10 a kg, which after the Mumbai Fire Brigade port from Shiv Sena president 14 people who took refuge were amounts to Rs1,000 a quintal. probe report said the deadly fi re Uddhav Thackeray who said he killed, mostly by toxic fumes. Adityanath promised to look started in The Mojo’s Bistro’s has asked him “not to succumb “It is clear that the fi re origi- into their grievances, saying and spread to 1Above and other to any pressures” and continue nated in Mojo’s Bistro restaurant a group of ministers could be pubs in the vicinity leading to the the drive against illegal con- and further spread to 1Above,” formed to examine and resolve tragedy. structions in Mumbai. the MFB said, referring to videos, farm problems. On Friday, Mumbai police an- “It’s outrageous to announce eyewitness reports, tweets and He accused his predecessors - nounced a reward for informa- an award (for the absconders)... newsclips of the incident. the Samjawadi Party and Bahujan tion about the whereabouts of They are not terrorists, the police The MFB investigators found Samaj Party - of ignoring farm is- the absconding owner-partners department’s role is in question,” remnants of hookahs, charcoal, sues and said farmer’s welfare was of 1Above - Kripesh Sanghavi, Thackeray added, indirectly hit- standpipes, pedestal fans, and his government’s priority. Jigar Sanghavi and Abhijeet ting out at Chief Minister Dev- other evidence in the south-east “Don’t fall into a trap laid by Mankar. endra Fadnavis who handles the corner of The Mojo’s Bistro and unscrupulous politicians,” he Meanwhile, opposition par- home portfolio. also repeatedly hit out at the au- advised a crowd of farmers in ties yesterday slammed Bri- But Mayor Vishwanath Ma- nauthorised’ thatched roof in the Meerut district. hanmumbai Municipal Com- hadeshwar said the Mumbai Fire 1Above. Reacting to the protest, Sa- missioner Ajoy Mehta for his Brigade’s report “would be stud- Mehta said his report to the majwadi Party leader Rajendra shocking statement that he was ied in detail to ascertain whether chief minister would be a com- Chaudhary said potato farmers under pressure “to go slow” on it is accurate or not” before it prehensive one comprising the in the state “are not even getting A worker dumps rotting food grains at a Food Corporation of India (FCI) warehouse in the probe into the fi re. could be discussed. administrative lapses, illegalities Rs2 a kg and are forced to dump Ranchi yesterday. Mumbai Congress president Mehta’s controversial state- and actions taken against offi - the produce on roads”. Sanjay Nirupam lashed out at ment was made late Friday after cials, the demolition drives, etc.

Book fair Family urges PMO to take Punjab CM to launch farm action after man’s death debt waiver scheme today IANS They also alleged that the New Delhi SHL Hospital in Munirka in south Delhi was operating IANS worth Rs7.48bn had been ap- debt waiver process would be without a licence and the pa- Chandigarh proved across Punjab. completed in four phases. he family of 42-year- tients were being treated by its The symbolic launch event at In the fi rst phase, veri- old man from Assam, staff impersonating as doc- Mansa town will witness dis- fi ed marginal farmers would Twho died at a New Delhi tors. unjab Chief Minister Am- bursement of debt relief cer- be handed over the debt relief hospital due to alleged wrong According to the man’s sis- arinder Singh will for- tifi cates to the tune of Rs1.67bn certifi cates and the rest in sub- treatment by a man imperson- ter, also a doctor in Assam’s Pmally launch today a farm to nearly 47,000 marginal and sequent phases, after proper ating as a doctor, has urged the Lakhimpur district, within debt waiver scheme, which will small farmers, who had taken verifi cation. For eligible farm- Prime Minister’s Offi ce (PMO) hours of admission, he became benefi t over 500,000 farmers in loans from 701 Primary Agri- ers who did not have Aadhar to look into the matter and unconscious after he was giv- the initial phase. culture Co-operative Societies cards or, in the case of mis- take action against the hospi- en some medication. Additional Chief Secretar- of the fi ve districts of Mansa, match of Aadhar card seeding tal. R K Yadav, who treated ies D P Reddy and Viswajeet Bathinda, Faridkot, Muktsar either with banks or revenue The family has also urged Saikia at SHL Hospital, said Khanna told reporters here and Moga. records, verifi cation would be Prime Minister Narendra he was brought to with com- that the government had Reddy said an extensive plan done manually for their inclu- Modi to strengthen the regu- plaints of severe stomach pain identified 563,000 farmers, had been prepared, in associa- sion in the scheme in the sec- lations of hospitals so that and vomiting. who had taken loans of nearly tion with the Departments of ond phase. those without government li- “We just gave Pantocid in- Rs27bn from co-operative in- Agriculture and Revenue, for After the completion of the cence are not able to operate. jection to the patient. His stitutions as on March 31 last fi nalisation of the list of eligible second phase, the record of “It is our humble request to condition deteriorated there- year, as beneficiaries for dis- farmers. small farmers would be verifi ed set an inquiry into the mat- after,” Yadav said. bursement of the debt waiver This was being regularly to enable them for debt relief. ter relating to the death of my Suspecting foul play, his certificates in the first of the monitored, with emphasis on Thereafter, if any eligible brother, Utpal Saikia,” the fam- sister Mochumi and her hus- four phases for completion of proper verifi cation and social farmer is left out during any ily said in a letter to the PMO. band, also a doctor, inquired the entire process. audit. A web portal had also of the earlier three phases for Saikia died in a south Delhi about the doctors and the Of these, the process of veri- been launched by the state gov- some reason, he would be con- hospital hours after he was hospital and discovered that fi cation had been completed ernment to facilitate this exer- sidered for re-verifi cation to A child checks out a book at the World Book Fair at Pragati admitted, after allegedly being the hospital was operating for 320,000 farmers. As many cise. bring him within the ambit of Maidan in New Delhi yesterday. given the wrong medication, without a government licence as 160,000 cases with loans to As per the plan, the entire scheme. said the family members. and that the doctors were fake. Gulf Times Sunday, January 7, 2018 15 PAKISTAN

Govt depts and bodies told to fi ll US a ‘friend who always 25,000 vacancies betrays’, says minister Internews Reuters er to mend future ties. Trump’s tweet and other US on Twitter – we are not used to Peshawar Islamabad/Lahore “The US behaviour is neither comments were part of “delib- it,” said one Pakistani govern- that of an ally nor of a friend,” erate attempts to humiliate and ment minister. “We were seri- Asif told local Capital TV late on insult the Pakistani nation” and ously shocked.” he Performance Manage- oreign Minister Khawaja Thursday. “It is a friend who al- called for retaliation. Politicians such as Asif and ment and Reforms Unit Asif said the United States ways betrays.” “It is time for Pakistan to de- Khan have been delivering anti- T(PMRU), a public sector Fis behaving towards Pa- Small groups of students link from the US,” Khan said in American statements partly to entity, has asked the government kistan as “a friend who always chanting “Death to America” a statement, which called for an placate domestic audiences, an- departments and attached bod- betrays” after Washington sus- and “Death to Trump” burnt immediate removal of “excessive alysts say, with one eye on gen- ies in Pakistan’s northwest Khy- pended aid and President Don- American fl ags and torched US diplomatic, non-diplomatic eral elections due in mid-2018. ber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province ald Trump accused Islamabad of photos of Trump after Friday and intelligence personnel from “This is the election period to fi ll the respective over 25,000 lies and deceit over many years. prayers in capital Islamabad and Pakistan”. and for the fi rst time in Paki- vacant positions within 90 days. Opposition leader Imran the eastern city of Lahore. He also called for a suspen- stan’s history, anti-American- PMRU co-ordinator Adil Khan, a former cricket star The organised protests ended sion of land and air transport ism will become an issue in an Saeed Safi told reporters that tipped as the next prime min- swiftly. routes through Pakistan that the election campaign,” said Paki- there are currently 25,279 va- ister, has said that it is time for Worsening ties may push Pa- US uses to resupply Nato (North stani writer and analyst Zahid cancies within government de- Pakistan to “delink” from the kistan further into the arms of Atlantic Treaty Organisation) Hussain. partments, directorates and at- United states and run down long-time ally China, which troops in Afghanistan, a move There is a long history of anti- tached bodies in the province. US diplomatic and intelligence backed Islamabad after the fall- that Pakistani offi cials privately Americanism in Pakistan and Khan: It is time for Pakistan to He said that 4,683 vacan- presence in what is a sensitive out from Trump’s tweet. say is unlikely unless relations after the Osama bin Laden raid, delink from the US. cies would be fi lled through the strategic area. Beijing’s diplomatic and drastically deteriorate. which many Pakistanis saw as KP Public Service Commission Washington accuses Pakistan fi nancial support has also US aid suspension was an- violation of the country’s sover- Jalal Noor Khan, 48, a food mer- within 30 days. of playing a “double game” by strengthened Pakistan’s hand, nounced days after Trump eignty, relations neared breaking chant. Safi said his unit, which works assisting Afghan Taliban and analysts say. tweeted that United States had point in 2011. The fl ag burnings in Lahore under the chief secretary’s of- Haqqani network militants On Friday, Pakistan’s foreign “foolishly” given Pakistan $33bn That year, Nato forces bombed and Islamabad were organised by fi ce, has extended the fi le track- causing chaos in Afghanistan. offi ce criticised what it called in aid over 15 years and were re- a Pakistani army checkpoint, student organisations with links ing system to over 1,300 sections Islamabad denies this and ac- “shifting goalposts” after the US warded with “nothing but lies & killing 24 soldiers, and US Cen- to hardline religious groups. of the government departments cuses the United States of dis- confi rmed that it would suspend deceit, thinking of our leaders as tral Intelligence Agency (CIA) About 60 students were pro- in the province. respecting its vast sacrifi ces – all security assistance, believed fools”. contractor Raymond Davis shot testing in Islamabad and anoth- He said most of the tasks casualties have numbered in the to total at least $900mn, until The aid suspension was large- dead two Pakistanis in Lahore. er 100 in Lahore. handed over to the provincial tens of thousands – in fi ghting Pakistan stopped assisting mili- ly expected by Islamabad but Pa- In the northwestern city of “The US fl ag and Trump’s departments were about im- terrorism. tants. kistani offi cials were taken aback Peshawar, many Pakistanis cited photos are under our feet. It’s a proved service delivery, civic Anti-American sentiment Other offi cial government by Trump’s withering tweet and the aid suspensions as another message to them that they will functions, regulations and reso- and tense US-Pakistan ties are statements in response to the tone of US announcements. reason for Pakistan to sever ties face the same if they did any- lution of government employees some way off their recent nadir Trump’s tweet have been meas- “The Federal Bureau of In- with Washington. thing wrong against Pakistan,” problems. in 2011, when Osama bin Laden ured but minister Asif and sev- vestigation (FBI), his political “We are ready to eat grass, said Rana Zeeshan, one of the The PMRU co-ordinator said was killed in a secret US raid eral other prominent politicians opponents, African-American but only if our leaders become student organisers of the Lahore Asif: The US behaviour is neither the unit had expanded the fi le inside Pakistan, but the harsh have lashed out repeatedly. football players are used to honest and make bold decisions protest. “We will erase the US that of an ally nor of a friend ... it tracking system, initially work- rhetoric is likely to make it hard- Opposition leader Khan said Trump criticising them like this against the Americans,” said from the world’s map.” is a friend who always betrays. ing in four departments to 1,330 sections of government depart- ments, directorate and attached departments. He said the fi le tracking sys- tem has enabled the head of every department to check fi les Political crises emerge in Baluchistan stuck in his department as every fi le had to be processed within a stipulated time and failure to do Internews This lends credence to the He cannot aff ord to anger the worsen in the coming weeks. so would alert the head of the Islamabad reasons put forth by the analysts establishment, nor does he want Whether the move against department. pointing at the establishment’s to face the ire of Sharif. Zehri is successful or not, it is Safi said the system helped hand behind the recent manoeu- Commenting on the motion expected to leave a lasting im- the unit determine the work- istorically, Baluchistan’s vrings. of no confi dence, PkMAP chief pact on the province’s politics ings of various departments and governments have been On the other hand, sources Mahmood Khan Achakzai said: strengthening the bureaucracy showed how many fi les were Hweak, put together as close to the PML-N acknowl- “Sanaullah Zehri is being pun- in the province, while political pending or completed, providing a result of hasty alliances and edge that after becoming chief ished for being loyal to Nawaz forces and their vision fade way. the real-time check on the de- coalitions. minister, Zehri has been giving a Sharif.” According to media reports, partment’s performance. In 2013, when the Pakistan cold shoulder to ministers from “If the assembly is gone, there 27 MPAs have expressed support He said the unit had also Muslim League – Nawaz (PML- his own party. won’t be Senate elections,” for the move against Zehri so far, handed over 1,750 tasks to the N) won the majority of the seats “The Pakhtunkhwa Milli warns journalist Siddiq Baloch. six MPAs short of the 33 required government departments, of in the country and the province, Awami Party (PkMAP) was “The ministers, who recently re- to make the move successful. which around 1,300 were com- they cobbled together a coalition dominating the aff airs of Balu- ceived portfolios from Sanaullah “It is too early to say whether pleted in past three months. and appointed Dr Abdul Malik chistan,” a source close to the Zehri, are resigning and desert- Zehri will have to go or not,” says The PMRU co-ordinator said Baloch, a middle-class Balo- PML-N shared. “Which is why ing him.” a Quetta based journalist. “If the 11 government departments chi nationalist as chief minister some ministers from the PML- A senior minister of the Balo- JUI-F (Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam) including education, fi nance, even though his party was in mi- N also supported the move chistan Assembly said: “Sanaul- supports the move against him, excise, health and energy were nority. against their own party chief in lah Zehri was tough on his min- he will have to go.” tasked with simplifying their After two-and-a-half years Baluchistan, along with other isters; he would interfere in their While addressing a press con- procedures on business and 36 in offi ce, Baloch vacated his seat ministers from various political aff airs, including [the aff airs of] ference in Khuzdar, Maulana such procedures had been sim- and Sanaullah Zehri, a powerful parties.” ministers from his own party.” Faiz Mohammad, the provincial plifi ed. chieftain and provincial presi- Baluchistan National Party – When asked about the recent emir of the JUI-F, expressed He said a person registering a dent of the PML-N, became Bal- Sharif: at the heart of this political development is his ongoing Mengal (BNP-M) chief Sardar political crisis, he said he was dissatisfaction with the govern- vehicle in KP used to undergo 31 uchistan’s new chief minister as estrangement with the military establishment. Akhtar Mengal and his party’s unsure if Zehri would have to go ment’s performance. steps and the unit’s representa- part of the famous “Marri deal”. Minister Mir Hammal Kalmati or not. If the move against Zehri tives held several meetings with According to a Quetta-based members, and 33 members are with the military establishment, are also signatories to the mo- “He does not have a team that became successful, the JUI-F the offi cials of the department analyst, the then-chief of required for a successful push with the vote of no confi dence tion. can negotiate with the estab- would fi nd themselves on the concerned and thus, persuading southern command Lieuten- against the incumbent chief against the Baluchistan chief As of late, Akhtar Mengal has lishment,” he said adding: “He opposition benches, he said. them to reduce the number of ant General Mohammad Nasser minister. minister being viewed as a tit- been softening his tone towards is left alone along with a team of Sources within the PML-N those steps to nine. Khan Janjua, who is currently Quetta’s analysts cite three for-tat move aimed at penalising the establishment, so much so bureaucrats, who cannot be of said that Sharif was doing his “Now, one can get his car reg- the country’s National Secu- possible reasons for the motion the former prime minister. that Haji Lashkari Raisani, for- help.” best to save Zehri’s. istration the same day one ap- rity Adviser (NSA), had wanted of no confi dence against Zehri: Whatever the case might be, merly a member of federal po- Baluchistan’s governments Nevertheless, some argue that plies for it,” he said. Baloch to stay on but Zehri op- the fi rst is related to the upcom- one thing is clear. litical parties, joined the BNP. have been sacked several times the incumbent Baluchistan chief Safi said the unit had persuad- posed it because his party had ing Senate elections, the second The move has come from It is being speculated that the in the past. minister may choose to resign ed 19 government departments obtained a majority of the seats to Zehri’s alleged loyalty to oust- someone considered to be close BNP has softened its stance be- Sharif, too, has acknowl- if he fi nds other MPAs jumping to issue procedures on service in the province. ed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, to the establishment: Quddus cause it wants to emerge a win- edged that it was a mistake when ship. delivery, as they lacked those This week, 14 MPAs on the and the third to the overall prism Bizenjo, former deputy speaker ner in the next general elections Akhtar Mengal’s government However, Jan Achakzai, advis- guidelines. opposition benches fi led a mo- of federal politics. of the Baluchistan Assembly and in the province. was sacked in 1998. er to the chief minister, termed “We managed to put the gov- tion of no confi dence against It appears that at the heart of leader of the Pakistan Muslim Chief Minister Zehri, how- Key players and observers these reports baseless, stressing ernment college admission on- Zehri. this political development lies League – Quaid-e-Azam (PML- ever, is caught between the devil now fi nd it likely that the po- that Zehri enjoyed the confi - line and during the current year, The house comprises 65 Sharif’s ongoing estrangement Q). and the deep blue sea. litical crisis of Baluchistan will dence of majority of the MPAs. 184,610 students submitted col- lege admission applications on- line. Of them, 52,000 were en- Census data finally given to poll body rolled,” he said. The PMRU co-ordinator said The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has shared with the Election the unit had issued SOPs (stand- Commission of Pakistan (ECP) the hard copy of the provisional ‘Signifi cant drop in terror attacks in Pakistan’ ard operating procedures) to be census data. followed in the revenue depart- Sources in the commission revealed yesterday that the provisional ment, which laid down that each data had been provided as per the 24th constitutional amendment, Internews cases were sent to 11 military loudspeakers and 7,479 pieces curity personnel were trained case would be disposed of within which would be the basis of carrying out delimitation of Islamabad courts during this period, the of equipment seized. for the new counter-terrorism six-month time. constituencies of the provincial assemblies as well as the National report stated. The report also said that there force. He said simplifi ed pension Assembly. The report off ers a foundation has been very little progress in According to the report, geo- procedures were also issued by While population data is available on the PBS website, the Election akistan has witnessed a to international counter-terror- the context of the NAP in Balu- mapping of around 22,000 reli- the fi nance department, under Commission had asked for the hard copy of the same and it had signifi cant drop (by 58%) ism offi cers and operators in the chistan. gious seminaries revealed little which a government employee been duly shared with the electoral body yesterday evening. Pin terrorist attacks, ac- form of an inimitable study of Around Rs1.5bn were recov- about any productive achieve- could fi ll his retirement and For provision of notified documented data, the Election cording to an offi cial report policy and implementation to ered under anti-money laun- ment to regulate the seminaries’ pension documents online in 10 Commission had especially written to the bureau. prepared by the country’s top deal specifi cally with the root dering and anti-terror fi nancing system in Pakistan. minutes. The data consists of 130 books, one for each district, and each book counter-terrorism body Nacta causes of terrorism, militancy, campaign. In order to fi lter social me- “We have developed a data- consists of 100-150 pages. (National Counter Terrorism extremism and intolerance. Around 1,209 persons were dia sites and enable vigilance base of 175,000 government em- Authority) yesterday. It says that more than arrested, 919 cases were reg- against cyber crime, the Paki- ployees and are adding the rest A 40-page report, a com- 200,000 combing operations istered under “hawala hundi” stan Telecommunication Au- to it,” he said. Academy of sciences council sworn in pendium of the context of the were conducted, around 4mn (a system of informal remit- thority blocked 1,447 URLs He said the unit had set the National Action Plan (NAP) and persons stopped and ques- tances), and 426 cases were which were being hosted by ex- March 30 deadline for the dis- The new council of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences took off ice on actions implemented under its tioned, 6,998 terrorists arrest- registered against 574 persons tremists. trict administrations to provide January 1, 2018 for a three-year term (2018-2020). auspices over the past three ed, and around 2,500 terrorists under the anti-money launder- Under the NAP, Punjab took domicile certifi cates to 10th The Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS) is a non-governmental and years, provides a detailed analy- killed across the country during ing laws. the lead as its counter-terrorism graders in their respective gov- non-political supreme scientific body of distinguished scientists in sis of the way forward for Paki- this period. Pakistan issued a list of 65 force entered 68,957 terrorists ernment schools. the country. stani policymakers. In a serious crackdown on proscribed organisations, keep- into digital databank of police, The offi cial said the PMRU The federal government has given consultative and advisory status From a high of 2,060 terrorist hate material and speeches, ing four of them under obser- arrested leaders of various pro- gave 21 days to the departments to the academy “on all problems relating to the development of attacks in 2010, there were 681 security forces arrested 19,530 vation, while 8,374 individuals scribed organisations, arrested to resolve the service matters scientific exports in the country”, and “generally on such matters of attacks last year, revealed the persons across the country, ac- were placed under schedule IV, 897 terrorists and executed 400 of government employees, 23 national and international importance in the field of Science as may report which covers all the 20 cording to the report which told and 5,089 bank accounts were condemned prisoners. departments examined 1,907 be referred to the academy”. salient points of the NAP. a little about future security frozen through the State Bank of On Baluchistan, the report cases and 134 cases were recom- The Pakistan Academy of Sciences is governed by a council that Since March 2015, Pakistan policy of Pakistan. Pakistan. stated that more than 2,000 mended for departmental level includes its president, two vice-presidents, secretary general, executed 483 persons under the The report revealed that more More than 2,052 individuals suspected separatist militants settlement, with 90 referred to associate secretary general and treasurer. Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 and than 18,790 cases were regis- face restrictions on movement. have surrendered to the security additional chief secretary. The previous council completed the 2015-2017 term successfully. Pakistan Penal Code, and 382 tered regarding the misuse of More than 6,027 special se- forces. Gulf Times 16 Sunday, January 7, 2018 PHILIPPINES Suspect in Feeding programme murder of activist freed

AFP appellate court upheld a peti- Manila tion to void the arrest warrant against Reyes, challenging the testimony of a key witness in former Philippine of- the case. The court said the fi cial charged with the testimony linking Reyes to the Amurder of a prominent killing was “riddled with in- environmentalist has been consistencies,” according to freed after a court voided the Custodio. case against him, his lawyer “On that basis, the fi nding said yesterday. of probable cause and the issu- Joel Reyes, the ex-governor ance of a warrant of arrest was of the western island of Pala- wrong,” the lawyer cited the wan, was arrested in 2015 for court ruling as saying. the killing of Gerry Ortega, a A spokesmen of the appel- prominent campaigner and late court could not be reached radio host who frequently ac- for comment. cused Reyes of massive cor- Mario Reyes was freed on ruption. bail in 2016. Demetrio Custodio said his Custodio said the latest rul- client was released late Friday ing — which eff ectively dis- after the court decision. misses the case —would also Ortega was shot dead while apply to him. shopping in the capital of Pala- Reviving the case would be wan, one of the Philippines’ diffi cult unless the matter is biggest islands and a popular taken to the Supreme Court or tourist destination, famed for if the prosecutor fi nds new evi- its lush forests and pristine dence, he added. landscapes. “Our family is still recover- But it has also suff ered from ing from the shock of (Friday’s) illegal logging, mining and news,” Ortega’s family said in a fi shing.Ortega had accused statement, asking supporters Reyes of corruption linked to to “remain vigilant”. The Phil- alleged environmental crimes ippines has long been criticised on the island. for a “culture of impunity” in While there have been many which powerful fi gures like cases of environmental activ- politicians and government People queue at a free meals station along a main street in Metro Manila, yesterday. ists and journalists being mur- offi cials can commit crimes — dered, the brazen killing of Or- including murder — without tega shocked the Philippines. fear of punishment. Reyes and his brother Mario, Philippine President Rod- who was also implicated, went rigo Duterte, who took offi ce missing in 2012 after an arrest in mid-2016, has further rein- warrant was issued for them. forced this impression, openly They were caught in Thai- urging policemen to kill sus- land in 2015. pected criminals and vowing to Custodio said yesterday an protect them from prosecution. Palace says no dictatorship

Firefi ghters struggle to extinguish mall fi re

Firefighters yesterday struggled to put out a huge fire razing a shop- under federal government ping mall in the central Philippines as thick, hazardous fumes engulfed the four-storey building, off icials said. The fire began Friday evening on By Catherine S Valente the presidency should Congress step down. He repeatedly said the path that the late dictator one-man ruler. Magdalo Rep. the third floor of the Metro Ayala Center in Cebu City, 571 kilometres Manila Times approve the proposed federal that. And I believe he will do Ferdinand Marcos treaded when Gary Alejano, for his part, cau- south of Manila, and was still raging more than 12 hours later. “We were form of government. that,” he added. he legitimised his dictatorship in tioned the public to watch out told that everyone was able to get out, but this still has to be verified,” “The president said that once Andanar made the assurance 1972 through a new constitution. for the transitory provision of said Superintendent Vonrad Fernando Dobluis, assistant regional direc- alacanang yesterday federalism is passed, he would amid fears of a looming dictator- She said the president seemed to the proposed federal constitu- tor of the Bureau of Fire Protection. Dobluis said firefighters were hav- assured the public resign. So what do we want? ship under the proposed federal be bent on keeping his allies and tion that would grant Duterte ing diff iculty putting out the fire because of the thick smoke. “We are Mthere would be no re- What other assurances do we state. himself in power indefi nitely and “absolute power.” flooding the ground floor and basement to help cool the building,” he turn of dictatorial rule under want?” Andanar told govern- Some opposition lawmak- beyond the present constitu- But the Palace offi cial down- told Manila radio station DZMM. “We have also broken into the mall’s President Rodrigo Duterte once ment-run dzRB radio. ers have claimed that Duterte tional limits. played the concerns of Duterte’s roof to help clear the fumes inside.” Residents near Cebu Business the country adopts a federal “It can be seen through his might opt to stay in power after Sen. Francis Pangilinan, an- critics, reiterating that the presi- Park, where the mall is located, were urged to take precautions against form of government. body language, through the his term in 2022 if his advocacy other opposition lawmaker, had dent would live up to his promise the smoke. “Everyone living or staying near Cebu Business Park who In a radio interview, Presiden- messaging of the president that for a federal form of government warned that under federalism, not to extend rule. have cardio-vascular problem is advised to temporarily evacuate due tial Communications Secretary number one, he does not want to succeeds. Duterte would be vested a power “Those who are saying (that) to heavy hazardous or toxic fumes from the ongoing fire,” said Naciel Martin Andanar stressed that become the country’s president. Detained Sen. Leila De Lima to write laws similar to Mar- are, of course, his critics, in Banacia, chief of the city’s disaster risk management off ice. Duterte had already said numer- Number two, once the federal- on Tuesday said Duterte and cos’ Amendment No 6, which terms of politics in our country,” ous times that he would give up ism is pushed through, he will Congress seemed to be taking allowed the latter to become a Andanar said.

Ban on Anti-mining group’s guns for petition junked Education authority chief annual By Patrick Roxas on February 8, 2017 the can- cellation of Mineral Produc- defends foreign trips Manila Times/Santa Cruz tion Sharing Agreements procession (MPSAs) of the respondent By Aric John Sy Cua November 2017 were approved nti-mining group mining companies. Manila Times by Deputy Executive Secretary residents of this town Menardo Guevarra. Her trip to By Raadee S Sausa Aopposing what they “With the present Taiwan in September, howev- Manila Times claim as destructive mining DENR leadership, ommission on Higher er, was cancelled. operations suffered another our environment Education (CHEd) CHEd International Af- setback recently when the is again bleeding...” Cchairwoman Patricia fairs Director Frieda Milla de- he Philippine National Po- Court of Appeals (CA) reject- Licuanan has defended her fended Licuanan, saying that lice (PNP) will impose a 48- ed their petition to reverse Molino posted on his Face- foreign trips, after a congress- the chairwoman’s trips were Thour gun and liquor ban in the lower court’s ruling. book account that the DENR man accused her of failing to covered by appropriate travel the city of Manila from tomorrow Concerned Citizens of issued the closure order like secure permission from the authorities. to January 10, 2018 for the annual Santa Cruz (CCOS) chairman the ban on open pit mining president. “All official travels of the Feast of the Black Nazarene. Benito Molino told Manila when Lopez was at the helm In a statement yesterday, chairperson are covered by The gun ban will mean the Times he received a letter re- and they were confident that Licuanan said she in fact ob- appropriate travel authorities temporary suspension of per- cently advising him that the her decision was based on the tained travel authority from from the Executive Secretary mits to carry fi rearms from mid- appellate court had denied mandate of the DENR, which the Office of the President for (Salvador Medialdea) and night of tomorrow to midnight their petition. is to protect and utilise natu- her trips. signed by Deputy Executive of January 10, Manila Police Dis- In a decision dated Decem- ral resources for the com- “I get a travel authority Secretary Menardo Guevarra,” trict (MPD) head Chief Supt. Joel ber 14, 2017 that Associate mon good.He said current from the Office of the Presi- Milla said. Coronel said. Justice Renato Francisco of DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu dent for all my travel includ- “The chairperson is allowed “People who may have com- the CA’s 14th Special Divi- is doing the opposite when ing personal trips,” Licuanan to travel business class for pelling reasons to seek exemp- sion wrote, the court denied he lifted the ban on open-pit said. “I issue travel authorities long-haul flights as warranted tion from the gun ban are advised for lack of merit CCOS’ mo- mining and welcomed for- for all CHEd officials, but not under OP Memorandum Cir- to simply avoid Manila on the tion for reconsideration on eign investors to explore the for myself.” cular No 7, series of 2010 and ban’s period of eff ectivity,” Cor- its petition for a Writ of Ka- country’s natural resources. On Friday, Puwersa ng Bay- because of her vertigo.” onel said in a press briefi ng. likasan, Application for a “With the present DENR aning Atleta (PBA) Rep. Jeri- The Office of the Presi- The city government of Ma- Temporary Environmental leadership, our environment cho Nograles accused Licua- dent’s Memorandum Circular nila cancelled classes in all levels Protection Order (TEPO), is again bleeding, thus the nan on Facebook of usurping 7, series of 2010, states that in public and private schools on and Urgent Motion for Ocu- CCOS will continue to use her authority by approving all government department January 9, 2018. City hall person- lar Inspection and affirmed all means to protect our en- her own trips, without the ap- heads on flights of less than nel were also told not to report to the lower court’s resolution vironment and our human proval of Malacañang. four hours are limited to econ- work. Coronel said he has sub- of May 22, 2017. “(Petitioner rights,” Molino said. “Did CHEd chairperson CHEd chairwoman Patricia Licuanan omy class airfares. mitted to the Offi ce of the City made) no new meritorious “We will file a motion for Licuanan usurp the power of Long-haul flights are ex- Mayor a recommendation for a arguments (and) merely re- reconsideration at the Su- President Rody Duterte by of 2005, says that members his Facebook account as ba- empted from this rule. liquor ban. If the mayor issues an hashed arguments which preme Court and continue to approving her own travel au- of the Cabinet, government- sis for his accusations in the Licuanan was appointed order, the liquor ban will prohibit had already been exhaus- expose the violation of envi- thority contrary to EO 459 owned corporations, and internal authority to travel CHEd chairwoman by Presi- the “sale, distribution, consump- tively discussed and squarely ronmental laws and destruc- (series of 2005)?” Nograles heads of agencies under the abroad, which is routinely dent Benigno Aquino. She tion of liquor and other alcoholic passed upon by this court,” tion of our environment and asked on Facebook, while Office of the President need used to process the funds and was formerly the president beverages within a 500-metre the decision stated. livelihood,” he added. showing documents claiming to seek approval of the Office is an attachment for securing of Miriam College of Quezon radius from the vicinity of the The court cited in its ruling Molino said his group will that Licuanan approved her of the President before going Malacanang approval,” she City. procession route” including Lu- that the Department of En- continue to maintain the an- own trips to the United States, abroad. said. She and Vice President neta and Quiapo Church, and will vironment and Natural Re- ti-mining camp-out in front Canada, Thailand, France, Licuanan rebuffed Nog- In documents sent to Ma- Maria Leonor Robredo were cover the time between 6pm of sources (DENR) under former of the DENR’s main office in Taiwan and Singapore. rales, saying: “It appears that nila Times, Licuanan’s eight barred from attending Cabinet January 8 to 6am of January 10. secretary Gina Lopez ordered Quezon City. Executive Order 459, series what Rep. Nograles shared on official trips from March to meetings in December 2016. Gulf Times Sunday, January 7, 2018 17 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Viral fever claims Nepal to hold national nine lives in Nepal IANS the health offi cer told the Kathmandu local media. In the past one week, at least 60 people suff ered by the iral fever claimed at viral fever and seasonal cold least nine lives, in- came to his health offi ce on a assembly poll on Feb 8 Vcluding six children, daily basis to undergo treat- in Jajarkot district of mid- ment, the health offi cer said. IANS The decision has come The decision to hold the na- It also won a majority in six western Nepal since its out- “The toll is expected to rise Kathmandu nearly a week after President tional assembly elections comes out of the seven newly created break a week ago, local health since the epidemic fever have Bidya Devi Bhandari approved after Nepal concluded elections state assemblies at the provin- authorities said yesterday. not been controlled yet as the the National Assembly Act to to the house of representatives, cial elections held at the same Hari Bahadur Singh, health wave of cold weather con- lections for Nepal’s na- pave the way for holding the the lower house, and provincial time. in-charge at the Badkule Ma- tinued to shiver people,” he tional assembly, also elections, reports Xinhua news assembly simultaneously in two Nearly 70% of some 15mn eli- jkot-based health post, said added. Eknown as the upper agency. phases on November 26 and gible voters turned out to vote in fi ve children and four adults Local resident Kashiram house of the federal parliament, The national assembly will December 7, 2017. the two-phase vote, some walk- lost their lives to viral fever Neupane said at least four will take place on February 8, have a total of 59 members. The alliance of the two leftist ing for hours in the snow in re- spread in Junichande rural persons in a family have fallen authorities announced yesterday. Of them, 56 will be elected by parties – the communist UML mote Himalayan villages to cast municipality of the district, sick due to the viral fever and An emergency meeting of the an electoral college comprising and former Maoist rebels, led their ballots. some 400km west of the seasonal cold in Majkot area. council of ministers presided assembly members of the seven respectively by former prime The new government is ex- capital Kathmandu. Ram Bahadur, chief at over by Prime Minister Sher Ba- provinces and chiefs and depu- ministers, K P Sharma Oli and pected to be formed under the “I am now running an emer- the district health offi ce in hadur Deuba made the decision ty chiefs of municipalities and Pushpa Kamal Dahal – won a leadership of Sharma Oli, for gency health camp in the mu- Jajarkot, said a team of health as per the recommendation of rural municipalities. vast majority of seats in the at least two-and-a-half years. The decision has come nearly nicipality where more than 150 personnel has been deployed the election commission, Com- Three will be nominated by lower house of parliament in After that, the remaining two- a week after President Bidya people aff ected by the viral fe- to the viral fever-aff ected are- merce Minister Min Bishwakar- the president as per the recom- the November and December and-a-half years would be Devi Bhandari approved the ver and common cold received as to bring the situation under ma told the media. mendation of the government. vote. completed by Dahal. National Assembly Act. treatment only on Saturday,” control. France seeks support of Lanka for Expo 2025 bid

AFP Expo a year after staging the He said France faces strong the tenure of president Francois Colombo 2024 Summer Olympics, and competition from Japan, Rus- Hollande, has been “enthusi- Lamy said he was confi dent of sia and Azerbaijan for the 2025 astically embraced” by his suc- securing international support event. cessor Emmanuel Macron, Lamy he head of France’s bid to for France’s environmentally- France is off ering countries said. host the 2025 World Expo sustainable proposal. the chance to use the Paris Expo Around 40mn people are ex- Theld talks with Sri Lankan Lamy, a former director gen- facilities beyond the exhibition. pected to visit the 2025 Expo leaders in a bid to secure their eral of the World Trade Organi- “Countries may convert over a six-month period. support. sation, is visiting countries in their pavilions and remain at France is ready to host an Pascal Lamy told reporters in the Asia-Pacifi c region to win Paris-Saclay to receive stu- event of that scale, Lamy said, as the capital Colombo that France support for the Paris bid. dents or innovative businesses the country is expected to wel- expects to spend 3.5bn euro If the bid is successful, France from their country in order to come 100mn tourists annually ($4.22bn) on hosting the Expo will host the event for the fi rst contribute to the area’s intel- by 2020. in Paris, and the money will be time in 125 years. It last hosted lectual and entrepreneurial vi- Delegates from 170 member generated by the project itself the exhibition in Paris in 1900. brancy,” the French delegation states of the Paris-based Bureau Sri Lankan World Expo ambassadors Ganga Harshini Mahawatta, left, and Kavishka Thathsarani Dias, without public funding. There was no immediate com- said in a statement. of International Exhibitions will right, and Pascal Lamy pose for a photograph during a press conference in Colombo. Paris is bidding to host the ment from Sri Lankan authorities. The Paris bid, initiated during vote on the bids in November. 13 accused of Cold wave sweeps much of Bangladesh

By Mizan Rahman The minister said among the imum and maximum tempera- degrees Celsius during the past hicles on for averting accidents. Dhaka 2.7mn blankets, 1.8mn were al- tures reduced to the minimum couple of days.” Meanwhile, diff erent NGOs, funding LTTE lotted from the prime minister’s of 4-5 degrees Celsius Saturday The minimum temperatures re- business bodies, fi nancial institu- relief and welfare fund. causing immense suff erings to corded at 6am yesterday were 8.5 tions, charitable and other organi- or a second straight day, a mild He requested the lawmakers the people,” Rangpur Met offi cial degrees Celsius at Syedpur and 10.2 sations have also started distribu- to moderate cold wave swept to distribute all blankets among Mohammad Ali said. degrees at Dimla in Nilphamari, 7.4 tion of blankets, sweaters, muffl ers Fover much of Bangladesh yes- the cold-hit poor people quickly. “We recorded the minimum degrees at Dinajpur, 9.4 degrees at and rappers among the cold-hit to stand trial terday, disrupting daily activities The elderly people, women gap of only 1 degree Celsius be- Tentulia in Panchagarh and 10 de- people in the northern districts. and causing suff erings to many. and babies are the worst suff er- tween the minimum tempera- grees Celsius at Rajarhat in Kuri- Offi cials at diff erent hospitals Relief and Disaster Manage- ers, especially in the rural areas ture of 10 degrees Celsius at 6 gram in the region. and health complexes said the ment Minister Chowdhury Maya on the river basins, due to the am and current temperature of Local people said the sun re- number of pneumonia, fever, said yesterday the government biting cold in the sub-Himalay- 11 degrees Celsius at 12 noon at mained covered with thick layers diarrhoea, asthma and respira- in Swiss court has distributed as many as 2.7mn an northern region. Rangpur,” Ali said, adding, “The of fogs till noon aff ecting vehic- tory problem-related patients pieces of blankets to cold-hit “The situation deteriorated average maximum temperature ular traffi c and forcing the driv- marked rise forcing the doctors people across the country. sharply as the gap between min- remained between 20 and 23 ers to put headlights of their ve- to remain very busy. Agencies 2009 after the LTTE’s military Colombo defeat at the hands of the Sri Lankan armed forces. “I don’t think (the 13 sus- hirteen fi nanciers ac- pects) should face trial as the cused of funnelling LTTE struggled for the free- Tmore than $15.3mn to dom and self-determination ‘Boats pass over where our land was’ the Sri Lankan Tamil separa- of Tamils, which is not a tist group Liberation Tigers of crime. It takes two parties to Tamil Elam (LTTE) will stand make a war and Switzerland By John Vidal, The Guardian ever before, that fi nally forced will entail a 17-20% loss of ter- trial before the Swiss Federal should investigate the war Dhaka the family to move. With water ritory to the sea, meaning that Criminal Court tomorrow. crimes of the Sri Lankan army ankle deep in the family home Bangladesh will lose up to 20% The accused are from Swit- as well,” Anna Annor, presi- – their well contaminated, their of its current landmass.” zerland, Germany and Sri Lan- dent of Swiss Council of Eelam hen monsoon rains rice crop failing and no other He warns that the country will ka. Some are former members Tamils, told swissinfo.ch. swept Bangladesh land to go to – they bowed to the be unable to cope. “The inter- of the World Tamil Co-ordinat- The whole process was set in Wlast autumn, fl ooding inevitable and left their village, nal capacity of the state, given ing Committee (WTCC), which motion in 2009 when the offi ce forced people from their homes possibly for ever. its size and resources, to absorb represented the LTTE in Swit- of the attorney general launched in droves. With some scientists “God knows what will hap- such a large displacement of zerland until 2009, and include an investigation against “un- estimating that shifting weather pen. We know the end is com- the human population and large its founder, his deputy and the known persons” for extortion, patterns could cost the country ing,” says Saladas, in a makeshift number of climate refugees, person in charge of fi nances, coercion, money laundering almost a quarter of its exist- shelter on the side of a road near certainly does not exist in the Swiss Info reported. and organised crime. ing landmass, climate migra- Cox’s Bazar. country. Therefore, we are not Between 1999 and 2009, In 2011, a vast sting operation tion is fast becoming alarmingly Three hundred and fi fty miles only going to see internal desta- they allegedly created a com- in several Swiss cantons resulted commonplace. away, on the other side of the bilisation due to large-scale dis- plex fundraising structure in the arrest of several suspects Last September, the Bangla- Bay of Bengal at the edge of the A house sinks into the water in Lalmonirhat, Bangladesh, where placement of people, but there which involved coaxing mem- who were later released within a deshi government responded to Sunderbans mangrove forests, flooding triggered by torrential rains has displaced hundreds of will be transboundary migra- bers of the Tamil diaspora span of two months. A year later, weeks of torrential rain with a Gopal Munda (left), from Kara thousands of people. tion of climate refugees into the to obtain loans from banks. a delegation from the offi ce of slew of statistics. They said 8mn Mura district, is preparing to neighbouring countries,” says To raise higher amounts, the the attorney general and the people in 32 districts had been move as his crops fail. Dhaka and other large cit- to climate change,” it adds. Muniruzzaman. WTCC was accused of creat- federal offi ce of police travelled aff ected by fl oods, with 307,000 “Once, this village was green ies are already home to a grow- No one knows exactly how But environmental migrants ing fi ctitious companies in the to Sri Lanka to interview around people staying in emergency with paddy fi elds. But now the ing number of environmental many Bangladeshis are forced are not recognised as refu- name of borrowers that issued 15 witnesses. shelters and 1,945 medical teams water is salty and the trees have refugees. “We lost everything to to move each year by tempo- gees and have none of the legal fake salary certifi cates. “Around 80% of Tamils liv- deployed. In addition, 103,855 died. We can only farm shrimp. I river erosion. We escaped with rary fl ooding caused by extreme protections guaranteed by the The 13 on trial face charges ing in Switzerland had made houses had been destroyed, with am devastated when I think that just our lives,” says Renu Bibi, an storms, or by permanent fl ood- UN’s 1951 Refugee Convention. of fraud, false documentation, payments to support LTTE at a further 633,792 partially dam- I will have to move,” he says to 80-year-old woman now living ing caused by a rise in sea level. This, says the EJF, needs to be money laundering and extortion. the time to support the strug- aged, and 4,636 schools – and researchers from the Environ- in a slum in the Mirpur district of But it could be up to 250,000 addressed urgently. As the LTTE was never declared gle against genocide. That several hundred thousand acres mental Justice Foundation (EJF). Dhaka. “Today, boats pass over people a year, says the EJF. According to the World Health a terror organisation in Switzer- does not make Tamils sup- of farm land – had been fl ooded. Both families are now climate the place where our land was. Linking migration directly to Organisation, global climate land, they will not face charges of porters of terrorism,” says Saber Saladas and his family migrants. Saladas expects to go to Sometimes three or four entire climate change is diffi cult, say change could contribute to an funding a terror group. Kuruparan Kurusamy, former were the human face of the gov- Chittagong, where many people villages will be destroyed.” academics, because people move extra 250,000 deaths worldwide “The attorney general president of the Swiss Council ernment’s dry statistics. They from his village have gone, and Ruma Begum, from Mehendi- for many reasons. But Bangla- a year between 2030 and 2050, strongly suspects the LTTE of Eelam Tamils. had lived as fi shers and farmers Munda is likely to move to Dhaka. ganj, was forced to move to desh, offi cially, expects 25-30mn as warmer temperatures lead to fraction under investigation of The trial of the accused was for generations on the southwest An Environmental Justice Dhaka with her family and now people to move within the next more malaria, dengue fever and having collected the money in originally scheduled for June coast of Bangladesh, near Cox’s Foundation (EJF) report says lives in Mirpur. “There were be- 50 years, or nearly one in six of its diarrhoea. question by means of threats 2016. However, proceedings were Bazar, but in recent years had that tens of thousands of Bang- tween 100 and 150 families along present population. The EJF and others are now and by creating a regime of delayed when the lawyer of one struggled to adapt to increas- ladeshi families face becoming the riverbank. All their homes “We are a state that is greatly pressing for a new UN agree- fear to induce them to make of the accused demanded that ingly strong storms and coastal refugees in their own land. were washed away. We lost threatened by the impacts of cli- ment that would force countries the payments,” says a court a bank involved in the fi nancial erosion. Other families had “Ever more frequent storms, everything,” she says. mate change,” says Munir Mu- to recognise people displaced document external link. transactions also be cited by the moved to the city as saltwater river erosion and salinity intru- The EJF report says the niruzzaman, chair of the Global by deteriorating environmental The Swiss funds were trans- judge as one of the defendants. encroached on their rice fi elds, sion are forcing people from number of people living in slums Military Advisory Council on conditions linked with climate ported in cash by couriers to According to Kurusamy, but they had clung on. their homes and destroying their has increased by more than 60% Climate Change and a former change. Only legally distinct Singapore and Dubai, eventu- the bank in question was The monsoon fl oods were se- lands. And as with so many of in the past 17 years in Bangla- military adviser to the president protection like that conferred ally reaching the LTTE in Sri Credit Suisse and he claims it vere in 2017, but it was steady, the eff ects of climate change we desh. “Many of the new arrivals of Bangladesh. “It has been esti- on refugees fl eeing persecution Lanka who allegedly used the had accepted 135 loans under incremental sea-level rise, are seeing today, this is just the are ‘climate refugees’ – people mated by the UN IPCC’s reports can eff ectively address the scale money to purchase arms. This the name of one Sri Lankan which sent brackish water fur- start of something far larger,” forced to leave their homes due to and analysis that 1m sea-level of the problem now growing in funding system collapsed in national based in Germany. ther into Saladas’s village than says the report. extreme weather events related rise in the south of the country places like Bangladesh, it says. Gulf Times 18 Sunday, January 7, 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 Qatar remains bullish on natural gas prospects 07-01-2018 Qatar’s decision to develop an export-oriented gas project in the North Field and continue investing in gas shows the country’s confi dence in the prospects of the cleanest fossil fuel. Within one month of the unjustifi ed blockade on the country in June, Qatar announced plans to raise LNG production from 77mn to 100mn tonnes per year, an increase of 30%, by doubling the size of the new gas project in the southern sector of the North Field. British misconceptions New production from the North Field, which is the largest non-associated natural gas fi eld in the world, is expected within fi ve to seven years. The North Field development will add a capacity of about 2bn cu ft a day. A project of this size will increase about the empire the current production of the North Field by about 10% and add about 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil equivalent (bpdoe) to Qatar’s total production. By Ian Jack was one long, unbroken litany of The project will run over fi ve years happened in the absence of colonial London oppression, exploitation and self- and is held under the auspices of rule. Recently, Qatar Petroleum’s president and CEO Saad deception”. Oxford’s McDonald Centre, endowed Such arithmetic seems like Sherida al-Kaabi said the North Field expansion was As it happens, many such people, by an American foundation, the madness: every historical fact, moving full steam ahead to achieve the targeted 100mn hat did we learn about or at least people who could be so McDonald Agape, whose rubric is supposing it can be agreed on, has a tonnes natural gas production. the British empire at caricatured, live next door to the “Encouraging distinguished scholars thousand human ramifi cations. As school? In my case, professor in academia. Ever since for Christ”. It makes sense, then, well as that, there are the chasms “The engineering part of the expansion is moving full which is the case for his article, headlined “Don’t feel that a main objective is to develop “a that separate human experience. A steam ahead. We are in the initial engineering phase (of W a generation born just before the guilty about our colonial history”, nuanced and historically intelligent topical example is Winston Churchill. designing) for expansion. That’s going full steam ahead. empire’s long collapse, nothing very was published in the Times in late Christian ethic of empire” – though Defending Rhodes in a speech at the It has nothing to do with the partnerships and the much. My parents and elder brother November, the hostility towards when I spoke to him this week, Oxford Union two years ago, Biggar structure of how we are going to form the joint venture knew from their schooling about Biggar has been growing. Biggar said he wondered if the word said: “If Rhodes must fall, so must the battles of Arcot and Plassey and His fi rst critics were Oxford’s anti- “Christian” was helpful. There are Churchill, whose views on empire and or who the partner the lives of Robert Clive and General colonial student group, Common other concerns: the Oxford historian race were much the same.” Or, you is. That’s also being Gordon of Khartoum; but though I was Ground; then 58 Oxford scholars who John Darwin resigned last month as might say, even worse. Churchill had New production worked in parallel,” al- aware of these people and events, from work on imperial and colonial history the project’s co-leader, diminishing a visceral loathing of Indians. Hindus, Kaabi said at a major family conversations and old books wrote to express their opposition; its historical authority; and looming he said to his private secretary in 1945, from the North media event in Doha. that lay around the house, I was never fi nally the protest spread across the above these local diffi culties is the were a foul race “protected by their formally taught about them. world – it seemed to almost every question of how empires are to be mere pullulation [rapid breeding] from Field is expected Although the At school in Scotland, we got institution where imperial history is measured in terms of their behaviour the doom that is their due”. new North Field the Tudors and the Stuarts, Turnip studied – when another open letter, and consequences, by what system How much his attitudes contributed within fi ve to development will Townshend and the spinning jenny, organised by an academic association and in whose eyes. to the Bengal famine of 1943 is be export-oriented, and endless weeks of the Franco- called Scholars of Empire, attracted Biggar insists there will be arguable, but a persuasive case has seven years Prussian war. Though the empire lived about 100 signatures. A few academics nothing as crude as a balance sheet been made (by the writer Madhusree Qatar Petroleum does among us in the form of tea chests, do support Biggar, but the most – “most cost-benefi t analysis is Mukerjee, among others) that not seem to have “IND. IMP.” (Indiae Imperator, or encouraging noises have come from merely prejudice masquerading Churchill’s refusal to heed the advice decided if exports will be in the form of LNG, GTL or emperor of India) on coins bearing the letters and opinion pieces in the as mathematics,” he has said. He of his Indian administration was pipeline gas. late king’s head, and steam locomotive Times, the Telegraph and the Mail. wants “a far more intelligent and instrumental in the death of between 2 Since 2005, QP has been conducting extensive studies names (Union of South Africa, What alarmed Biggar’s detractors sophisticated way of evaluating and 3mn people. Trinidad and Tobago), these never wasn’t so much the Times piece itself, empire morally”. The argument sits at the heart of a and exerting exceptional eff orts to assess the North found their linking narrative in the which was written to support the But wanting and getting are two new documentary, Bengal Shadows. Field, including drilling a number of appraisal wells to classroom. views of an American political science diff erent things. To illustrate the For every million Britons who know better estimate the fi eld’s production potential. But then what could our professor, Bruce Gilley, whose piece complexities of empire, Biggar about the latest Churchill feature But some sceptics have questioned Qatar’s huge teachers have said? Empire was an titled “The case for colonialism” had himself is always weighing one thing fi lm, Darkest Hour, I suspect no more uncomfortable subject. By the 1950s, been recently published by Third against another: the abolition of than half a dozen will know about the investments in the LNG industry on the ground that the an approach that stressed glorious World Quarterly, leading 15 out of 34 the slave trade versus the Amritsar documentary (and the proportion market now faces a glut. conquest and the benefi ts of British members of that journal’s editorial massacre; the empire as the only in India may not be much larger). The fact of the matter is that Qatar’s gas projects are in rule was no longer tenable, and not board to resign. Rather, their concern armed resistance to the Nazis in But what Churchill might mean to a the fi ve to seven years horizon, where a huge demand for only for moral reasons. What had arose out of what the Times piece 1940-41 (good) versus the extinction resident of Midnapore, West Bengal, energy has been projected globally. been bloodily won was now being alerted them to – that Biggar had of indigenous Tasmanian people (bad). and another in Bognor Regis, West lost, usually peacefully but sometimes initiated a project called Ethics and Gilley, the like-minded scholar Biggar Sussex, could not be more diff erent. Also, Qatar, which started some of the largest plants at not, no matter that we would all be Empire, which according to its website admires, certainly believes in balance Before we try to refi ne ethical the end of the last decade, has one of the lowest break- friends in the equitable-sounding would scrutinise the proposition, sheets when he describes how the approaches to the empire, we should even prices globally. Commonwealth. National decline common to “most reaches of academic colonial record might be assessed by perhaps try to discover more of what it Many argue that the push towards developing electric would have been an unhappy theme discourse”, that “imperialism is measuring “development, security, was. - Guardian News & Media vehicles worldwide will lessen the dependence on fossil in the classroom. Rather than this wicked; and empire is therefore governance, rights, etc” against the awkward mixture of past and present unethical”. counterfactual: what would likely have zIan Jack is a Guardian columnist fuels for public transport. But gas-fi red plants remain – one that might intimately involve the most preferred and commonly used source for us – it was safer to concentrate on the electricity generation. suff erings of the Paris commune. And that’s why al-Kaabi said, “I see a very rosy picture How much this avoidance has to do with Britain’s present feelings in the energy market going forward.” towards its old empire is hard to know. Qatar’s location makes it “well positioned geographically No doubt the history curriculum has to be competitive and earn attractive returns” supplying changed since my day and, in any both Asia and Europe, seen as the global sink for the fuel, case, feelings about the past come according to Claudio Steuer, director of SyEnergy, a UK- from many other sources than the classroom. But according to a YouGov based energy consultant said earlier. poll conducted around the time of the Since its inception, Qatar Petroleum has led the Rhodes Must Fall protests two years continuous growth of the country’s oil and gas industry ago, 43% of British people believed and has expanded its operations to many countries the British empire was a good thing and only 19% a bad thing, with 25% around the world. believing it was neither. Furthermore, 44% felt that Britain’s history of colonialism was something to be To Advertise proud of and only 19% felt it should be regretted. As to the statue of Cecil [email protected] Rhodes at Oriel College, Oxford, only Display 11% thought it should be removed. These fi gures mock the plea made 44466621 44418811 by Nigel Biggar, Oxford’s regius professor of moral and pastoral Classified theology and canon of Christ Church, 44466609 44418811 that we “moderate our post-imperial guilt”. According to YouGov, not even Subscription a fi fth of us know such a feeling. It seems likely that Biggar’s real targets [email protected] are not so much the guilty as the people he sees as the advocates of © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved guilt, “the strident anti-colonialists ‘If Rhodes must fall, so must Churchill, whose views on empire and race were much the same …’ Winston Churchill pictured [who] tell us … that our imperial past during the Boer war in 1900. Photograph: Bettmann/Bettmann Archive Gulf Times Sunday, January 7, 2018 19 COMMENT Bannon may be in violation of his contract

By Stephen L Carter We can put aside non- disparagement clause be removed.” Bloomberg View disparagement clauses buried in the She chose not to do so, wrote the boilerplate of consumer contracts, court, so the clause was enforceable. which companies sometimes If a victim of police brutality can’t he increasingly bizarre try to use to prevent those who escape her arms-length promises, it’s dispute between President buy their products from posting hard to see why a presidential adviser Donald Trump and his former negative reviews. Most courts should. Tcampaign aide and White have understandably held such Don’t get me wrong. That Trump’s House staff er Steve Bannon continues clauses unenforceable. But when legal threat against Bannon might have to boggle the mind. non-disparagement clauses are some degree of merit doesn’t mean Yet for me as a contracts professor, included in employment contracts the threat should have been made. one corner of the contretemps raises or separation agreements, they are It should be beneath presidential a simple and clear question. I refer enforced more or less routinely. dignity to go after a former staff er for to the letter from Trump’s lawyer, The reason isn’t that judges don’t co-operating on an uncomplimentary Charles Harder, insisting that Bannon understand that the clauses might book, although given the thin skin of is in violation of a non-disparagement be abused. The reason is that the the current incumbent, I suppose we clause in the contract that he signed employee who agreed to the deal is should expect little else. when he joined the campaign. If the bound by his own free choice. I should add that the president’s facts are as claimed, I think the clause For example, in Cooper Tire & legal threat against the book’s is enforceable. Rubber Co. v. Farese, the US Court of publisher is utterly groundless; the Earlier this week, my Bloomberg Appeals for the 5th Circuit faced an publisher is not a party to Bannon’s View colleague Noah Feldman wrote argument that a non-disparagement campaign-employment contract. that a court would probably find that clause might be used to prevent a And of course the fact that Bannon First Amendment considerations former employee from disclosing is distasteful to so many Americans rendered the clause void, because instances in which the employer broke should have no effect on his right enforcement in this instance the law. to speak freely; on the contrary, would suppress robust public- The judges were unimpressed. In those who are most despised are policy debate. There is force to this 2005, they refused to strike down the most in need of constitutional argument, but the precedents point clause based on “the mere possibility protection. the other way. As regular readers that an employer could use a non- But if, as Harder’s letter claims, know, I am a great believer in strong disparagement clause to hide illegal Bannon is in violation of a signed First Amendment protections, activity.” The court conceded that agreement not to disparage Trump but in this case I don’t think the the clause might possibly be set or the campaign – and if, as I have Constitution is a bar. aside should the employee seek to suggested, Bannon entered into the Let’s begin with a basic proposition: disclose actual crimes. But the opinion deal with his eyes wide open – then non-disparagement clauses are implies that the proper venue for what we are left with is not a test of increasingly a part of employment such allegations is the relevant public the First Amendment but a simple contracts, and the courts routinely authorities. Free-speech claims are action for breach of contract. I hope enforce them. It’s easy to see why. routinely raised by parties who are the action is never fi led. If an employer and an employee sued for violating non-disparagement Given the precedents, however, the are bargaining at arm’s length, the clauses. Judges are generally Steve Bannon and President Donald Trump. outcome would be clear. - Tribune employer’s insistence on such a clause unpersuaded. For example, here’s News Service will result in higher compensation the response of a California appellate protected, he could be found in breach disclosure agreement in 2013 when included in the settlement of a police for the employee. In other words, court in a 2010 case called Sahlolbei v. of the settlement agreement. one of the parties emailed a journalist brutality suit. zStephen L Carter is a Bloomberg employers will pay employees a Montgomery: Even when the party in violation with disparaging claims about the “The agreement itself was only View columnist. He is a professor premium to give up the right to Simply put, if Montgomery agreed makes a disparaging statement with other. eight pages long,” the judge wrote in of law at Yale University and was a disparage. As long as the employee not to disparage Sahlolbei, then a an eye toward publication, the courts Nor have courts been impressed by Overbey v. City of Baltimore, “and the clerk to US Supreme Court Justice understands the trade he’s making reasonable person could conclude that reject claims that the public’s right claims of a public right to know. Just non-disparagement clause was not Thurgood Marshall. His books when he signs the contract, why Montgomery waived his right to speak to know should prevail. In Fisher v. last fall, a federal court in Maryland hidden in fi ne print.” The plaintiff , had include Civility and Integrity. should the courts interfere? As a freely about Sahlolbei, and therefore, Biozone Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a rejected a First Amendment challenge she chosen to, “could have leveraged Readers may e-mail him at general rule, they don’t. even if Montgomery’s statements are federal district judge enforced a non- to a non-disparagement clause her position to demand that the non- [email protected] Takeaways from the NFL’s kneeling era Three-day forecast

TODAY By Robert L Ehrlich Jr Department of Defence are now all rhetoric has centred on a more social Roger Goodell? The hostility that the rage. It’s called back-fi ll from a justice oriented platform – a serious greets him each and every time he Maximum Temperature : 260c The Baltimore Sun Minimum Temperature : 150c league that has seen how even a deeply and legitimate point – albeit messily approaches the NFL draft podium to divided America will not countenance presented. To wit: African American announce early round picks says it MONDAY he NFL’s recent attempt to (real or perceived) disrespect shown kids who face daunting life obstacles all. The explanation proceeds that his Maximum Temperature : 220c assuage its players through to those who serve. A memorable case – not least of which are often business acumen (most particularly Minimum Temperature : 150c an $89mn contribution over in point: A few weeks ago, during a dysfunctional public schools located in negotiating big TV contracts) is top TUESDAY seven years to social justice Sunday night game I barely recall, I in our most depressed communities. shelf. Of course, such skill translates Maximum Temperature : 230c T Minimum Temperature : 160c causes is succeeding. Fewer players listened to commentator and former Lack of economic opportunity follows, into mega dollars for the owners. This (down to 20 in Week 16) are choosing Cincinnati Bengal Cris Collinsworth as does a laundry list of associated is the only explanation for the league’s Fisherman's forecast to kneel, sit or stay in the locker room remind his viewers the kneeling was cultural ills – fatherlessness, apparent willingness to pay the man during the National Anthem. The never about fl ag and country. But such homelessness, domestic violence and such an exorbitant salary (up to $40 WARNING powers that be are no doubt breathing an emphatic point raises the question addiction. As a result, far too many million per year with incentives). Inshore : Nil a sigh of relief after a tumultuous early of what it really is/was about? “savable” kids get swallowed up in our It is unclear whether his previous Offshore : Expected strong season. Answer No 1: Colin Kaepernick was brutal criminal justice system. Any demand for lifetime health care was wind and high sea by But before the image of kneeling (originally) quite emphatic regarding attention (and, more importantly, time met. In any case, there will be no afternoon. players, booing fans and the worst PR his condemnation of the men and and resources) that is productively Obamacare for this guy, social justice WEATHER season in league history fades from women in blue. The associated directed to these persistent problems notwithstanding. Do you think he ever Inshore : Hazy at first becomes is welcome. Herein is also a test of bothers to consider why he is held in slight dust to blowing memory, a few takeaways are in order. indictment of an alleged campaign dust at times at places There remains a percentage of fans of police brutality against African good intentions: players who give back such contempt by the fans? and cold by night. for whom the kneeling continues to American communities was raised as and participate in these communities As I have opined on previous WIND mark an emotional turning point. Not part of a narrative – notwithstanding are part of the solution – and should occasions, the shield (and sport) will Inshore : Northwesterly 06-16/20 KT that these fans have gone off into the the absence of hard evidence to back be appropriately recognised. likely survive despite television- night or lost all interest in America’s up the charge. (Here, exceptions do Besides the aforementioned cash induced over-saturation, injuries Offshrore : Northwesterly 18-28 KT most popular game. It is more about not prove the rule.) This is a part of payment, the NFL is also considering to star players, concussions, bad by afternoon. emotional attachment or, in this case, the story Mr Collinsworth failed to going back to its pre-2009 practice offi ciating, indecipherable rules, VISIBILITY : 04-08 KM/03 KM detachment. For this group, distaste add. But it was an element of the (in prime time games) of playing the exorbitant ticket prices, league parity, for protesting players continues to original messaging – a theme that is anthem prior to player introductions. arrogant owners, tone deaf players, SEA STATE translate into fewer games attended, as off ensive to many fans as an anti- But fans are now accustomed to turned off fans, and a private jet loving Offshore : 5-8/10 FT by afternoon. fewer jerseys purchased, fewer hours military message. Yet, this storyline seeing the players stand on the commissioner. Around the region spent in front of the big screen in the has lost some vigour over the past sidelines while the song that refl ects Such is the pull of our favourite Weather Weather man cave. two months. Perhaps a rash of highly our national pride is performed. The sport. - Tribune News Service today Max/min tomorrow Max/min One result of all the controversy is publicised, horrifi c murders of police proposed move is too cute by half. A Baghdad Sunny 19/07 Sunny 21/06 an uber-patriotic NFL. Pro-military offi cers has made this charge a bit too sideline sans players would only serve zRobert L Ehrlich Jr is a former Kuwait City M Sunny 21/10 Sunny 22/09 themes that had in previous seasons inconvenient for the moment. to remind us of why they were absent. Maryland governor and member of Manama Sunny 23/15 Cloudy 21/15 (2011-2015) been paid for by the Answer No 2: More recently, the What to think about Commissioner Congress. Muscat Sunny 25/18 Sunny 23/17 Tehran P Cloudy 11/02 Sunny 08/-2 Live issues Can living near a gym make you slimmer?

By Lisa Rapaport incentivizing operators of physical cycling and walking paths. the type of food and workout options Reuters Health activity facilities to open in residential On average, people had just one close to where people worked. areas with few facilities, or funding local exercise facility within 1km of home. The study was not a controlled authorities to provide such facilities,” And almost one-third of participants experiment designed to prove whether Around the world eople who live close to Cummins said by e-mail. had no options this close to where they or how neighbourhood characteristics Weather Weather gyms, pools and playing Globally, more than 1.9bn adults lived, the study found. like the availability of gyms or greasy today Max/min tomorrow Max/min fi elds weigh less and have are overweight or obese, according to People typically had to travel just spoons might impact obesity rates. Athens P Cloudy 17/11 P Cloudy 17/11 smaller waistlines than their the World Health Organisation. The 1.1km to reach a fast food outlet. It’s hard to rule out the possibility Beirut Sunny 18/12 Sunny 18/13 P Bangkok 31/26 P Cloudy 32/26 counterparts residing farther away condition contributes to a variety of Nearly one in fi ve people had a that healthier people may choose to P Cloudy from exercise facilities, a UK study common medical problems including fast food restaurant within a half- live near the amenities they need to Berlin Cloudy 03/-4 Sunny 02/-1 suggests. heart disease, diabetes and certain kilometre of home. stay healthy, said Pablo Monsivais, Cairo Sunny 22/11 Sunny 22/11 Living far away from fast food cancers. Better access to exercise options author of an accompanying editorial Cape Town Showers 20/15 Cloudy 19/14 outlets also appeared to help people For the study, researchers examined translated into a healthier weight. and a nutrition and exercise researcher Colombo Sunny 31/21 M Sunny 31/23 maintain a lower weight and trimmer data on weight, waist measurements Compared to people who had no at Washington State University in Dhaka Sunny 23/11 Sunny 23/11 waist, although this connection and body fat for more than 400,000 facilities near home, people who had Spokane. Hong Kong Rain 21/19 Showers 21/10 wasn’t as strong as the proximity of men and women ranging in age from at least six places to work out weighed But the study still suggests that Istanbul Sunny 13/09 M Sunny 14/08 gyms, researchers report in the Lancet 40 to 70. less, had a 1.22cm slimmer waistline, where we live matters, Monsivais said Jakarta M Cloudy 32/24 S T Storms 31/24 Public Health. The study used data collected and had a body fat percentage that was by e-mail. Karachi Sunny 25/11 Sunny 25/12 “It is likely that communities between 2006 and 2010 that included 0.81% lower on average. “Individually, each of us makes London Sunny 06/03 Cloudy 06/04 without the neighborhood resources demographic characteristics like At the same time, people who lived choices that aff ect whether we Manila P Cloudy 31/24 P Cloudy 32/24 needed to encourage a healthy household income, as well as what at least 2km from a fast food outlet maintain a healthy weight or put on Moscow S Showers 02/-4 Cloudy -1/-6 lifestyle put their residents at a types of eating and exercising options had a waistline 0.26cm smaller than pounds, but these choices are shaped New Delhi Sunny 20/07 Sunny 21/06 higher risk of obesity,” said senior were available near people’s home individuals who lived less than a half- by the environments we inhabit,” New York Sunny -6/-8 Cloudy 02/00 study author Steven Cummins of the addresses. kilometre away, the study also found. Monsivais added. “This study Paris Showers 07/03 P Cloudy 09/02 London School of Hygiene & Tropical To determine exercise One limitation of the study is that looked at just a few features of the Sao Paulo Rain 22/18 T Storms 23/18 Medicine. opportunities, researchers looked for not all fast food restaurants may have environment, but research shows that Seoul Cloudy 03/-4 M Cloudy 04/-6 “This could be improved by indoor and outdoor facilities for sports been included in the database, the things like green space, walkability, Singapore S T Storms 30/25 T Storms 30/24 restricting the number of new fast food and leisure activities such as gyms, authors note. The study also didn’t noise, air quality and the availability of Sydney M Sunny 36/21 M Cloudy 32/22 outlets in a neighborhood and how swimming pools and playing fi elds. account for the proximity of healthy healthy food choices all seem to matter Tokyo Clear 10/02 Cloudy 13/02 close they can be to people’s homes, They didn’t consider public parks or dining establishments near home, or for our health and body weight.” Gulf Times 20 Sunday, January 7, 2018 QATAR Doha Festival City launches SC utilises geospatial tech to map out rapid infrastructure growth ‘Fashion and Beauty Park’ he work being carried out by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC)’s TGeographic Information Systems (GIS) team oha Festival City has an- has been honoured at a special gathering in Doha. nounced the launch of its The department, responsible for mapping the Dfi rst-ever ‘Fashion and rapid infrastructure progress across the country, Beauty Park’ event as part of the received a special award for the ‘Application of Shop Qatar 2018 celebrations. Geospatial Technology at National Level’ from The newest pop-up event with- the Ministry of Municipality and Environment in the mall “creatively transforms (MME), sc.qa reported. shipping containers into venues Nasser al-Kuwari, GIS & BIM senior manager at that will host workshops and ac- the SC, said: “We are delighted that our work has tivities to guide visitors through been recognised by the MME, and look forward their fashion and beauty woes”, ac- to working closely with our stakeholders over the cording to a press statement. next fi ve years and beyond – as we continue to de- Open from Wednesday to Sat- liver amazing for Qatar. urday every week, between Janu- “We are living in a momentous period in Qatar’s ary 10 and 27, shoppers will have history – with progress and development hap- access to free workshops on fash- pening on an almost daily basis, and it is a great ion and beauty styling sessions as privilege to be part of the team charged with doc- well as a meet-and-greet with umenting this journey. The off icials with the award. fashion and beauty experts. “When visitors come to Qatar, they often com- At the Fashion Closet, image, A number of attractions have been lined up for the Doha Festival City ‘Fashion and Beauty Park’ event. ment that Google Maps cannot keep up with the develops active maps to refl ect Qatar’s numerous etiquette and protocol consultant rapid changes, but – building on our enhanced infrastructure projects, including stadium devel- Elisabete Reis, founder of Glam arranged by their colour category can enjoy workshops that bring To mark the beginning of Shop access to updated information — we are proud to opments, roads, the Doha Metro and others. Your Image, will off er daily con- “for you to easily choose what is beauty and fashion together Qatar today, Doha festival City say we can.” It is designed to capture, store, manipulate, sultation on colours, body type best for you”, the statement notes. within three diff erent themes. visitors can enjoy many addi- The event, which was organised to mark World analyse, manage and present all types of spatial or and general fashion advice as well Make-up artist and designer It will discuss concepts such as tional activities throughout the GIS Day, was attended by more than 130 GIS, IT geographical data. as conduct several workshops. Joyce Bonelli, who has worked ‘Casual Chic’ from January 10 to mall, including the “opportunity and engineering professionals. In the SC’s case, the system allows users to Joining her will be style blogger with some of the biggest names 13, ‘Work Closet’ from January 17 to step into the front cover of a As well as the SC, the Public Works Authority view and analyse information, add comments and and columnist Elmira Kahrobaie. in Hollywood, will also be visit- to 20, and ‘Bridal/Evening Wear/ magazine – a moment to capture (Ashghal), Qatar Rail, Qatar Petroleum, Ministry present the results. The Beauty Box will provide ing the mall on January 26 for a Cocktail’ from January 24 to 27. and take home”. of Interior, Primary Health Care Corp, Ministry of It’s especially useful in giving an overview of tips to use your newly acquired meet-and-greet session from Each week, both men and Shoppers spending QR200 Development Planning and Statistics, Ministry of how all the venues, along with the accommoda- colour type to get more advice 6pm to 8pm. women can learn something new at participating retailers will be Transport and Communications, Hamad Medical tion and travel options for the 2022 FIFA World from the beauty box, where ex- People can relax in the meet- based on the three themes. able to enter a raffl e draw — with Corp, Qatar General Electricity and Water Corp Cup, will be linked, the report explains. perts will provide guidance on and-greet area and learn more at Elisabete and Elmira will also “hundreds of thousands of riyals (Kahramaa), Civil Aviation Authority and the In- The SC’s GIS system will continue to evolve skincare, make-up, beauty prod- the weekly workshops hosted by be available to show visitors how up for grabs”, the statement adds. ternal Security Force were also represented, the over the coming months and years to refl ect the ucts, nail art and hairstyles. experts every Friday at 6pm. to enhance their best attributes The closing ceremony will take report said. passage from construction to delivery, and then Inside the Beauty Box, one will ‘Fashion and Beauty Park’ is with the right clothes, accesso- place on February 8 with the raf- The SC’s GIS system receives data from minis- from the test events to the actual tournament, and fi nd an array of beauty products an interactive area where visitors ries, hairstyle and make-up. fl e draw. tries and key stakeholders across the country, and fi nally, the legacy phase.

Spring Festival 2018

The Souq Waqif Spring Festival 2018 continues to draw large crowds, with people of various ages and nationalities, and from different walks of life, turning up to enjoy the attractions on offer. In particular, children are seen enjoying the different rides and games that the organisers have lined up. The festival runs until April 25. PICTURES: Shemeer Rasheed