QATAR | Page 20 SPORT | Page 12 Jaish snatch INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2, 20 COMMENT 18, 19 win over REGION 3 BUSINESS 1 – 5, 12 – 16 17,341.00 10,313.74 37.04 3 6 – 10 ALF empowering ARAB WORLD CLASSIFIED Sailiya -168.00 -115.62 +0.44 INTERNATIONAL 4 – 17 SPORTS 1 – 12 -0.96% -1.11% +1.20% youth with skills Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

MONDAY Vol. XXXVI No. 9957 January 4, 2016 Rabia I 24, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals All set for Qatar ExxonMobil Open Hukoomi to process In brief applications for telecoms QATAR | Weather Chilly conditions forecast for today equipment The country will continue experiencing strong winds he Communications Regulatory today along with dusty and Authority (CRA) yesterday an- cold conditions, the Qatar Met Tnounced that all applications department has said. The weather for import authorisation of telecom- report has also warned of high seas, munications and radio equipment to accompanied by strong winds, in businesses in Qatar will be processed off shore areas. Doha and other through the Qatar Government Portal parts of the country experienced – Hukoomi. strong winds and chilly conditions The initiative is part of the Digital yesterday, with the mercury level Government initiative. CRA authori- dropping significantly by late in sation is necessary for sale of cellular the evening. The minimum and phones and private mobile radio de- maximum temperatures in the vices. The required approvals and rel- country today are expected to be Tennis greats Rafael Nadal of Spain (left) and Novak Djokovic of Serbia launch this year’s edition of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open tennis tournament by playing a few points evant documents such as licences and 12C and 19C, respectively, with the at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) Park in Doha yesterday. World number one Djokovic has never won the Qatar tournament while Nadal is the 2014 champion. The certifi cates are granted after careful forecast for Doha being 14C and tournament begins today at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex and will run until January 9. PICTURE: Jayan Orma Sport Page 2 evaluation of the applications received 19C. Abu Samra is likely to be the through the Hukoomi portal. coldest at 12C. Page 2 CRA has encouraged all applicants to take the above decision into consid- eration while submitting future import ARAB WORLD | Confl ict authorisation applications. To ensure Israel indicts two a smooth transition, CRA will also ac- cept submissions manually until end of for arson attack February 2016. After the two-month Two Jewish extremists were grace period is over, the applications indicted yesterday for a deadly Saudi cuts Iran ties will be exclusively processed digitally. West Bank arson attack in July For clarifi cations and more informa- on the home of a Palestinian tion, applicants may call Communi- family that helped reignite a fresh cations Regulatory Authority Hotline cycle of violence in Israel and the 103, visit the Government Contact Palestinian areas. Amiram Ben Uliel, Centre at Al Nasr Tower B, or send an a 21-year-old Jerusalem native, e-mail to spectrumaff [email protected]. was formally charged with murder over embassy attack Through this decision, CRA intends committed with “racist motives.” to enhance the existing application A 17-year-old was charged with GCC states and OIC condemn thorities bear the full responsibility of Iranian intervention in the sovereign organisation’s charter which requires process, and make it more convenient aiding murder. Jewish extremists attacks on Saudi embassy and the attacks after they failed to prevent aff airs of Saudi Arabia and the attacks “strict adherence to the principle of and practical for Qatar residents. Huk- hurled a firebomb into the home of consulate in Iran them and protect diplomatic missions on Saudi diplomatic missions in Te- non-interference in the aff airs mainly oomi is the centralised digital platform the Dawabshe family as they were in line with Vienna’s 1961 Convention hran and Mashhad. falling within the scope of the domes- for residents to access public e-serv- sleeping in the northern West Bank Agencies on Consular Relations. “These acts represent a violation of tic legislation of any state; and the ices off ered by diff erent Government village of Duma, south of the city Riyadh The GCC also condemned Iran’s international charters and norms,” the principle of non-interference in the entities. of Nablus. An 18-month-old toddler, hostile statements regarding Saudi agency quoted the UAE Ministry of internal aff airs of member states”. The CRA is the communications Ali, died on the spot. His parents Arabia’s execution of terrorists, con- Foreign Aff airs as saying. Arab League Secretary-General Dr regulator in Qatar established by virtue and brother, 4, were severely audi Arabia said yesterday it had sidering it an intervention in Saudi The Secretariat General of the Or- Nabil al-Arabi has condemned the at- of Emiri Decree (42) in 2014. CRA reg- injured. The father and mother later severed ties with Iran over the internal aff airs. ganisation of the Islamic Co-opera- tacks on the Saudi embassy and con- ulates the communications & informa- died from the severe burns they Sstorming of the Saudi embassy in The Secretary-General concluded tion (OIC) also strongly condemned sulate. tion technology sector, postal services, suff ered in their attempt to save Tehran, in a worsening diplomatic cri- his remarks by saying that member the attack, calling for respect the Vi- He deemed this a fl agrant violation and access to digital media. their children. Page 3 sis between the two countries follow- countries support Saudi Arabia in all enna 1961 Convention on Diplomatic of international charters and norms, ing the kingdom’s execution of a Shia its measures to combat terrorism. Relations and the International Law. holding the Iranian government re- cleric. Meanwhile, the UAE Ministry of In a statement yesterday, the OIC sponsible for protecting these diplo- EUROPE | Politics Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told Foreign Aff airs yesterday summoned Secretariat General stressed its sup- matic missions according to the Vi- Polish rule of law a news conference that Iran’s diplo- Iran’s ambassador to the UAE Mo- port for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s enna Convention. matic mission and related entities in hamed Reza Fayyad. eff orts in combating terrorism and ex- In a statement, al-Arabi confi rmed Death for under microscope Saudi Arabia had been given 48 hours The offi cial WAM news agency said tremism. the importance of the fact that the Is- The European Union’s powerful to leave. He said Riyadh would not al- that the ministry handed the ambas- The statement expressed OIC’s lamic Republic of Iran should respect executive announced yesterday it low the Islamic Republic to undermine sador a written protest note over the commitment and adherence to the the principle of non-interference in fi ve Asian would discuss the state of the rule the Sunni kingdom’s security. the internal aff airs of Arab countries of law in Poland after the country’s The State of Qatar along with the which have the legitimate right to hard-right government pushed GCC, OIC and the Arab League yes- maintain the security of their citizens, expatriates through changes to the judiciary terday strongly condemned the the civil peace and social unity. He also and media. The unprecedented attacks on the Saudi embassy and its stressed that no other party has the move by the European Commission consulate in Iran. right to comment on judicial rulings of ive Asian expatriates have been is the first step in a potentially- Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Aff airs other countries. sentenced in absentia to death by punitive process aimed at said in a statement that the attacks rep- The Secretary-General also hailed Ffi ring squad by a Doha Court for buttressing democracy and rights resented a clear violation of the Vienna the eff orts being exerted by Saudi the premeditated killing of their em- in the 28 EU states. Commission 1961 Convention on Consular Relations. Arabia in fi ghting terrorism and es- ployer, local Arabic daily Arrayah re- President Jean-Claude Juncker “has It called on the Iranian government tablishing security and stability in the ported yesterday. placed a first debate on the rule of to provide the necessary protection kingdom and the region. The verdict is based on evidences law in Poland on the agenda of the to diplomatic missions and take the Earlier, Saudi Arabia accused Iran collected through the investigation Commission’s meeting on January suitable legal measures against those of sponsoring terror and undermin- and the testimony of the witnesses 13,” a statement in Brussels said. The responsible for the attack. ing regional stability, as a diplomatic of the incident. The case goes back to move comes on the heels of legal The statement also stressed the spat between both countries escalated when the wife of the victim, who used moves giving Poland’s conservative State of Qatar’s support to the King- over the kingdom’s execution of a Shia to work as a construction contractor, government the power to directly dom of Saudi Arabia in all the threats cleric. got up one morning and discovered appoint the heads of public facing security and stability. The Shia cleric was among 47 people that her husband had not come home broadcasters and a controversial Condemning the attacks, GCC that the Saudi government said it had the previous night. law reforming the country’s Secretary-General Dr Abdul Latif bin executed on Saturday after their con- So, she contacted his brother and constitutional court. Page 11 Rashid al-Zayani said that Iranian au- Iranian protesters set fire to the Saudi embassy in Tehran during a demonstration. victions on terrorism-related charges. told him that her husband had been missing. Then, they reported the mat- ter to the police. The brother subse- quently went to a construction loca- tion to look for his sibling and found him lying dead in a pool of his own blood. Immediately, he reported the is- Explosions at Indian consulate in Afghan city sue to the police. Police investigations revealed that the victim had gone to that construc- AFP sponsibility for the raid on the con- cordoned off the street follow- stan, the first by an Indian premier in attacks on Indian targets in Afghani- tion location at 6am the previous day, Mazar-i-Sharif sulate in the northern Afghan city, ing a series of explosions, officials 11 years. stan. accompanied by a number of workers, the latest assault on an Indian instal- said. The visit immediately followed a In 2008, a car bomb at the Indian where he assigned them some work. lation in the country. “The area is completely blocked by whirlwind tour of Kabul, where Modi embassy in Kabul killed 60 people The fi ve defendants came to the same xplosions and gunfire rang “We are being attacked,” an In- our forces,” said Shir Jan Durrani, a inaugurated an Indian-built parlia- and the embassy was again hit by a work location carrying heavy iron out yesterday as militants at- dian consulate official told AFP by police spokesman in Mazar-i-Sharif, ment complex and gifted three Rus- suicide strike in 2009. hammers. They threatened the workers Etempted to storm the Indian telephone from inside the heavily- the capital of the relatively tranquil sian-made helicopters to the Afghan Nine civilians, including seven and locked them inside a toilet. diplomatic mission in the Afghan guarded compound. province of Balkh. government. children, were killed in August 2013 Later, the workers told the investiga- city of Mazar-i-Sharif, a day after a “Fighting is still going on.” “We are cautiously conducting our India has been a key supporter of when suicide bombers targeted the tors that while they were locked in the deadly raid on an Indian air base near The official, who was hunkered clearance operation to avoid any ci- Kabul’s post-Taliban government. Indian consulate in the main eastern toilet they heard the victim scream in the Pakistan border. down in a secure area within the vilian casualties.” Afghanistan and Pakistan are set Afghan city of Jalalabad. agony but they were afraid to report the The attacks threaten to derail In- complex, said all consulate em- Vikas Swarup, an Indian foreign to hold a first round of dialogue be- And in May 2014, gunmen issue to the police. Investigations indi- dian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ployees were safe and accounted ministry spokesman, told AFP that tween Afghanistan, Pakistan, the US launched a pre-dawn attack on In- cated that the fi ve defendants stole the bold diplomatic outreach to Pakistan for. no Indian casualties had been re- and China on January 11 to lay out a dia’s consulate in the main western e-government card of the victim, used following his first official visit to Af- Assailants holed up in a build- ported so far. comprehensive roadmap for peace. Afghan city of Herat on Friday before it to issue exit permits for themselves ghanistan. ing close to the consulate traded The assaults come a week after The attack on the consulate in Ma- being repelled by security forces. and left the country immediately, the No group has so far claimed re- heavy fire with Afghan forces who Modi paid a surprise visit to Paki- zar-i-Sharif is the latest in a series of Page 14 daily added. Gulf Times 2 Monday, January 4, 2016 QATAR Direct test allowed Katara Hospitality achieves for residents with major milestones in 2015 atara Hospitality, the leading global hotel de- Kveloper, owner and op- GCC driving licence erator based in Qatar, achieved a multitude of successes in 2015, further illustrating con- By Joey Aguilar partment’s recent announce- He cited their case where tinued milestone achievements Staff Reporter ment that converting a driving newly hired driving instructors in contributing to Qatar and the licence issued in other GCC who came from diff erent coun- world’s hospitality landscape countries is prohibited under the tries had failed the test several through investment and devel- esidents who hold valid new rule. times. opment of iconic hotels in key GCC driving licence can He said that new recruits The new recruits are profes- global destinations. Rstill take the direct test, mostly from Saudi Arabia and sional drivers and worked as “Our goals bear strong align- sources from a number of driv- Dubai who arrived in Doha re- driving instructors for many ment with Katara Hospitality’s ing schools in Doha have said. cently had been required to years in their countries, the vision for strategic growth in Speaking to Gulf Times, a su- take the direct test, which takes source said. Qatar and expansion into new pervisor from a leading driving about a month to fi nish. A supervisor from another markets beyond our borders school noted that the rule ap- driving school echoed this state- such that as we enter 2016, plies to all nationalities, includ- “The only option is for ment saying newly-hired com- we are well positioned for yet ing drivers of heavy vehicle such them to enroll on a half or pany drivers continue to struggle another year of success in our as trailers. full driving course in any to get a driving licence. pursuits as an internationally However, she stressed that driving school just like “After fi nishing the course, recognised leader in the global residents whose GCC driving li- other categories of workers it takes more than two to three luxury hospitality sector,” said cence had expired will no longer who want to secure a months (it depends) before they chairman Sheikh Nawaf bin be accepted for direct test. licence” can get a schedule for the test,” Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani. “The only option is for them he said. During the year, Katara Hos- to enroll on a half or full driving One recruit recounted that he About the eligibility of secur- pitality witnessed the opening course in any driving school just took both the theory (computer) ing a licence, the source noted of Excelsior Gallia, a Luxury Saraya Corniche Hotel like other categories of workers and L-Parking tests on Decem- that ban on 162 categories of Collection Hotel, Milan, as well who want to secure a licence,” ber 16. Then, he was told to take workers remains in place. as the legendary Royal Savoy In Qatar, Sealine Beach Re- markets for the company as it Towers development expected said the supervisor. the fi nal and actual driving test Applicants usually give their Lausanne, a Murwab Hotel. sort and The Ritz-Carlton leverages 45 years’ experience to open in 2018 in Doha’s Lusail She admitted that the new on January 13. Qatar IDs to receptionists of Both properties had recently Doha, are undergoing massive in the luxury hospitality sector. City Marina District, at the 2015 rule has been favourable for “Failure to pass this test driving schools who check if undergone a meticulous reno- renovations which will reveal Murwab Hotel Group, rooted World Travel Awards in Dubai. them due to the huge increase in means they have to take the full they are eligible or ineligible to vation and redesign, restoring redefi ned luxurious off erings. in Qatari heritage and Arabic Katara Hospitality also the number of candidates. course,” the source noted. enroll for a certain course. their rich heritage and historic Owned by Katara Hospitality hospitality, is a rapidly growing clinched the prestigious Sev- Those who are eligible for the But going through the whole While driving schools con- landmark status before reopen- and managed by Murwab Ho- hotel-management company, en Star Special Award for direct test are advised to submit process of securing a driving li- tinue to receive a lot of eligi- ing. The acquisition of Westin tel Group, Sealine Beach Re- with six Qatar-based projects “Remarkable & Exceptional the needed documents to the cence in Qatar has become very ble applicants every day, the Excelsior Rome from Starwood sort’s extensive enhancements in its pipeline. Two of these Achievement in the Luxury Traffi c Department, she added. diffi cult nowadays especially for source said the passing rate of Hotels & Resorts marked Ka- which will be completed this projects include Sealine Beach Hospitality Industry” award at In another driving school, a those who took the half and full test-takers has remained very tara Hospitality’s third hotel in year, include an entirely new Resort currently under renova- the illustrious Seven Stars Lux- source reiterated the Traffi c De- courses, according to the source. low. the Italian market, bringing the wing with an additional 20 vil- tion, which will be rebranded to ury Hospitality and Lifestyle Qatari company’s worldwide las and room upgrades. The Sealine, a Murwab Resort while Awards ceremony in Bali. portfolio to 35 properties. Ritz-Carlton Doha’s property- the recently opened Saraya To cap the year off , Katara Independence “The opening of the Excelsior wide renovations will unveil Corniche Hotel is operated un- Hospitality scooped three es- Gallia in Milan, and the Royal fully transformed guestrooms, der Murwab Hotel Group. teemed awards at the Decem- Day greetings Savoy in Lausanne, coupled with a modernised spa and VIP club Katara Hospitality has re- ber edition of the World Travel Windy, cold weather the acquisition of The Westin lounge. The two-phase project ceived numerous prestigious Awards held in El Jadida, Mo- HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Excelsior Rome, further high- coined ‘the re-imagination accolades for its continued rocco, by being named “World’s Hamad al-Thani, HH the Deputy lights Katara Hospitality’s vision project’ is expected to be com- contribution to the Qatari Leading Hospitality Company” Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad hits fi shing activity to preserve the heritage of iconic plete in mid-2017. and global luxury hospitality for the third year running, al-Thani and HE the Prime properties across the world, as The launch of Murwab Ho- landscape. Some noteworthy “World’s Leading Hotel Suite” Minister and Interior Minister well as our commitment to con- tel Group, Katara Hospital- awards include being named for the Katara Suite at the re- Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin By Ramesh Mathew in December that the demand tinued strategic growth through ity’s standalone operating arm the “Middle East’s Lead- cently reopened Excelsior Ho- Khalifa al-Thani have sent cables Staff Reporter for fi sh had seen an “unusu- international expansion, invest- which manages a collection of ing Hospitality Development tel Gallia, Milan and the covet- of congratulations to Cuban ally sharp” drop in recent weeks, ment and acquisitions as we international upscale boutique Company” for the second con- ed “World’s Leading Landmark President Raul Castro on the based on information obtained work towards our target of 60 hotels and brands, signifi es the secutive year and “Middle East Hotel” for The Peninsula Paris, occasion of the anniversary of his indy and chilly condi- from retailers at the Doha Cen- properties by 2026,” said CEO start of a new era and contin- Leading Tourism Development a Katara Hospitality fl agship country’s Independence Day. tions along the Qatar tral Market. Hamad Abdulla al-Mulla. ued quest for growth into new Project” for the iconic Katara property in the French capital. Wcoast have aff ected This has left the retailers with fi shing activities and a further unsold stock, which industry Ministry recalls slowdown is expected over the insiders say can come in handy coming days, until the end of now. They are also hoping for an Chevrolet Captiva this week, say industry sources. improvement in the demand. Qatar has been experienc- “There will be adequate stocks The Ministry of Economy and ing strong winds of late, ac- because fi sh sales have been rath- GU-Q event tackles mock Commerce (MEC) has announced companied by a marked drop in er low for more than three weeks a recall of 2007-2009 Chevrolet temperature, and the sea level now, especially for sought-af- Captiva models over a potential has also remained high due to ter varieties such as King Fish, defect in the ignition key cylinder. the prevailing conditions. The Hamour and Safi , among others,” The recall is being carried out weather offi ce has forecast simi- said a leading supplier. crisis in the South Caucasus in collaboration with Jaidah lar windy and cold conditions for Even if fresh supplies do not Automotive. today as well. come to the market for the next The campaign falls within the As a result of such conditions, 3-4 days, there will be adequate eorgetown University in and multilateral negotiations both a personal and professional lations, the diplomacy work- framework of the MEC’s ongoing many fi shermen have reportedly stocks for some time, accord- Qatar (GU-Q) recently that reconstruct real-world capacity, not just for those pur- shops were benefi cial outside eff orts to protect consumers and stayed off duty for the past cou- ing to the supplier, noting that a Gconcluded the diplo- diplomatic processes. suing careers in foreign service.” the classroom as well. “They ensure that car dealers follow up ple of days, less than a week after price rise is highly unlikely. macy training event of the year, GU-Q’s prestigious fl ag- Dr Schiwietz made sure stu- really helped to further my un- on vehicle defects and repairs. they resumed work following a It is because of these factors the International Negotiation ship event, unparalleled by any dents were prepped for the derstanding of the US Foreign The ministry has said it will lean spell triggered by inclement that retailers are not too worried and Crisis Simulation exercise, other programme in Qatar or exercise with a workshop in- Service during my four-month co-ordinate with the dealer to weather late last month. despite being informed of the where students developed and the region, is organised in col- troducing them to the funda- internship at the US embassy in follow up on maintenance and A number of fi shing vessels are fi shermen’s plans to stay off duty practised negotiation and stra- laboration with Georgetown’s mental principles of interest- Qatar last year.” repair works and communicate berthed along the shores in Doha, due to the prevailing inclement tegic decision-making skills Institute for the Study of Di- based negotiation found in the In the exercise, Salman was with customers to ensure that Wakrah, Al Khor and Ruwais, weather. They have suffi cient in a simulation exercise about plomacy in Washington DC. famous book, Getting to Yes: part of the control room where the necessary repairs are carried and the slowdown will continue back-up, at least for a few days, a fi ctional crisis in the South “The crisis simulation is a How to Negotiate Agreement he co-ordinated student en- out. It has urged all customers to for some more days, some senior the retailers point out. Caucasus: ‘The Rising Tension tremendous learning opportu- without Giving In, presented gagement in the simulation by report violations to its Consumer fi shermen said yesterday. Yesterday, King Fish was being between Armenia and Azerbai- nity for our students regardless by former US diplomat and acting as the foreign offi ce for Protection and Anti-Commercial While this is likely to aff ect traded for QR22-24/kilo, which jan Over Nagorno-Karabakh.’ of which major they are pursu- director of studies at George- each country. Fraud Department through the fresh supplies over the next few sellers said was below the average This year, the annual train- ing,” said Dr Christine Schiwi- town University’s Institute for Special guests and mentors hotline (16001), email (info@mec. days, what may save the day for price. Similar drops could also be ing event engaged teams of etz, assistant dean for academic the Study of Diplomacy, Dr supported the students’ eff orts, gov.qa), Twitter (@MEC_Qatar), traders and retailers is the avail- seen for varieties such as Hamour students representing Arme- aff airs at GU-Q and programme Jim Seevers. The workshop was including Dr Seevers, Dr Schi- Instagram (MEC_Qatar) and the ability of adequate stocks in view and Safi . The sources, mean- nia, Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Ka- organiser. “The critical think- open to all GU-Q students. wietz, and the dean of GU-Q, MEC mobile app for Android and of the “less than expected” de- while, said some regular bulk rabakh, Iran, Russia, the United ing skills and negotiation tac- For Salman Ahad Khan, a Dr Gerd Nonneman, who as- iOS (MEC_Qatar). mand for fi sh in the market, the buyers have reduced the quanti- States, and Turkey, actual par- tics they learn in the process of senior majoring in Internation- sumed the role of the “UN Spe- sources point out. ties purchased and this was tak- ties to the real confl ict on which resolving the diplomatic crisis al Politics, who attended both cial Representative” in the con- Gulf Times had reported late ing a toll on the market. it is based, in intensive, bilateral will empower our students in this year’s and last year’s simu- cluding discussions of the day. Motorist fined QR10,000

A Doha Criminal Court has Malabar Gold & Diamonds campaign fined a Jordanian male motorist WISE holds residential session QR10,000 for causing minor injuries to a Qatari lady motorist through reckless driving. Local Arabic daily Arrayah for Learners’ Voice programme reported yesterday that the accused drove recklessly and while trying to overtake other he World Innovation ticipants as they research and The Orenda Project is based vehicles on the road got the Summit for Education develop a variety of innovative on the concept of co-creation as victim perplexed. T(WISE) Learners’ Voice projects throughout the year- a way to increase access to edu- Accordingly, she tried to avoid Programme will host a residen- long programme. cation and works directly with a collision and crashed into the tial session bringing together 33 The second residential ses- target populations to establish iron barrier, following which her young learners, including three sion of the Learners’ Voice Pro- schools in a sustainable, com- vehicle overturned crashing into Qataris, for an intensive 10-day gramme will be held in June in munity-driven way. four other parked cars, damaging workshop on education leader- Madrid. The Learners’ Voice Pro- them. The lady however did not ship at the Qatar National Con- The 2015-16 learners were gramme was established in 2010 submit in the court any claims for vention Centre from today. chosen from over 1,300 applica- as an initiative of WISE with damages. The 2015-16 group of learners tions submitted from around the the intention of engaging the will attend the fi rst of two core world. perspectives and creative ener- residential sessions until Janu- Learners’ Voice has had a last- gies of young people in debates NHRC chief meets ary 12, which will impart a foun- ing impact on its participants as around important education is- Eritrea’s envoy dational understanding of key it has evolved to include residen- sues and challenges. concepts and evolving trends in tial sessions, online activities This year’s learners, aged education, as well as knowledge and the development of group 18-25, collectively represent 29 The Chairman of National Human of pressing global education projects. countries, and will benefi t from Rights Committee (NHRC) Dr Ali challenges. A successful story is that of the expertise of the WISE team bin Samikh al-Marri met Eritrea’s Specialists from the Yale the Orenda Project developed and global education specialists ambassador to Qatar Ali Ibrahim World Fellows Programme will during the 2013-14 Learn- including faculty from Yale Uni- Ahmed in Doha yesterday. hold a series of dynamic work- ers’ Voice Programme by four versity and Babson College. During the meeting, they shops in leadership and commu- students from Georgetown The Learners’ Voice Pro- discussed means of co-operation nication skills. University School of Foreign gramme is supported by its One of the winners of Malabar Gold & Diamonds Festival campaign, Sathya Seelan, receives the on issues of common interest and The focus on education, lead- Service in Qatar and one stu- partners Banco Santander prize of 100 gold coins from Doha branch deputy head Raju T Johny in the presence of other the exchange of expertise in the ership, and communication is dent from the UK’s University through its Universities Global off icials of the company. human rights field. designed to support the par- of Warwick. Division. Gulf Times Monday, January 4, 2016 3 REGION/ARAB WORLD US seeks swap in reporter case, says Iranian offi cial

Reuters “Some Americans contact in mind for a swap with Rezaian. by Iranian offi cials concerning issue for Washington and Iran, Washington Post foreign edi- being held in Iran. Robert Levin- Tehran us sometimes, asking us to ex- But Iranian parliament Speak- our detained and missing citi- and Ejei’s statement yesterday tor Douglas Jehl has said the son, a private investigator, disap- change him with other detainees, er Ali Larijani has hinted at the zens. We continue to make all ef- did little to resolve it. vague nature of an earlier an- peared there in 2007. but the sentence has not been possibility that Rezaian could forts to bring our citizens home.” Iran has accused Rezaian, 39, of nouncement by Iran showed that Their cases have been raised nnamed Americans have announced yet,” said judici- be freed in exchange for Iranian Iranian offi cials have repeated- collecting confi dential informa- Rezaian’s case was not just about in subsequent talks, including contacted Iran for a deal ary spokesman Gholamhossein prisoners in the US. Other Irani- ly said that Rezaian, a California- tion and giving it to hostile gov- espionage but that the reporter those between Iranian Foreign Uto swap Washington Post Mohseni Ejei, quoted by Iran’s an offi cials have played down the born Iranian-American, has been ernments, writing a letter to US was a bargaining chip in a “larger Minister Javad Zarif and US reporter Jason Rezaian, con- Fars news agency. possibility of such a swap. convicted but they have declined President Barack Obama and act- game.” Secretary of State John Kerry victed and jailed in Iran on spy- Ejei did not specify which de- In Washington, a senior White to announce the sentence. Reza- ing against national security. The Two other US citizens - Chris- when they met during the UN ing charges, for other unspecifi ed tainees could be under consider- House offi cial, asked for com- ian was arrested in July 2014 and Post has dismissed the charges as tian pastor Saeed Abedini and General Assembly in New York detainees, according to a senior ation nor give any other details of ment, said: “We’re not going to accused of espionage. absurd. The fi nal hearing in his Amir Hekmati, a former US Ma- last month. No progress was Iranian offi cial quoted yesterday. what the Americans could have comment on every public remark The case has been a sensitive trial was on August 10. rine Corps sergeant - are also announced. IS threatens Snowstorm hits Lebanon Britain in new executions video

AFP “How strange it is that we Beirut find ourselves today hearing an insignificant leader like you challenge the might of the Is- he Islamic State group lamic State.” threatened Britain in an British warplanes, which were TInternet video yester- already attacking IS positions in day showing the killing of fi ve Iraq, at the beginning of Decem- “spies” it said worked with the ber began targeting the militants international coalition fi ghting in Syria also. IS in Iraq and Syria. “Only an imbecile would dare The SITE Intelligence Group to wage war against a land where said the video shows fi ve men the law of Allah reigns supreme from Raqa, capital of the self- and where the people live under declared militant “caliphate” the justice and security of Sha- straddling Syria and Iraq, con- riah” or Islamic law, the fi ghter fessing to carrying out acts of says. espionage. “We will continue to wage ji- The British foreign offi ce is- had... and one day invade your sued a terse statement saying land, where we will rule by the only: “We are aware of the video Shariah.” and are examining the content.” He said those who want to In the footage, an English- continue fi ghting “under the A Syrian child from Raqqa cleans snow from his tent in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon after the first heavy snowstorm hit Lebanon yesterday. speaking IS fi ghter mocks British banner of Cameron” should ask Prime Minister David Cameron themselves: “Do you really think for challenging IS, and calls him your government will care about an “imbecile”. you when you come into our The “confessions” of the fi ve hands, or will they abandon you do not clearly identify which as they have abandoned these countries they worked with, but spies and those who came before one mentions the international them?” coalition led by the US battling The fi ve men are then killed against IS in Iraq and Syria. with a bullet to the head. The video said they passed IS often releases propaganda Israel charges two over videos or photos of the living videos when it suff ers setbacks conditions in Raqa to people in on the battlefi eld, experts say. Turkey, or monitored the move- In Iraq last Sunday, federal ments of IS fi ghters. forces declared victory in the The following sequence shows battle for Ramadi, which IS the fi ve wearing orange jump- seized in May 2015. suits and kneeling before fi ve And on December 26, an alli- deadly arson attack masked fi ghters, all in military ance of Kurdish and Arab fi ght- fatigues and armed with pistols. ers in northern Syria seized the Attack killed Palestinian der torture in close-door inter- unauthorised West Bank settle- est bloodshed, a number that ments demonstrated the rule of “This is a message to David strategic Tishreen Dam from IS toddler, parents rogations, an allegation denied ment building. will rise if police deem a Tel Aviv law in Israel, telling his cabinet Cameron,” says one of the gun- which the militant group had by Prime Minister Benjamin Saad Dawabsheh’s brother shooting that killed two people in broadcast remarks: “We op- men. held since 2014. Agencies Netanyahu and the Shin Bet se- Naser said he hoped the defend- on Friday as a pro-Palestinian pose murder of all kinds. We op- Jerusalem curity agency. ants would receive the maxi- attack. The gunman, an Israeli pose violence of all kinds.” “I doubt such confessions will mum penalty, but was sceptical Arab, is at large. In the Duma attack on July Saudi Arabia bans eggs, chicks stand up in court,” lawyer Hai of Israel’s seriousness in pros- Israeli forces or armed ci- 31, masked assailants report- sraeli prosecutors fi led Haber told reporters. “We know ecuting the case. vilians have killed at least 132 edly hurled Molotov cocktails from two regions in France murder charges yesterday there’s no signifi cant external “We have no trust in the Is- Palestinians, 82 of whom au- through the windows of the Da- Iagainst a man and a minor evidence linking the suspects to raeli judiciary. They would not thorities described as assailants. wabsha home, which were left Saudi Arabia’s agriculture min- the state news agency SPA said for an arson attack in the occu- this incident.” have launched an investigation Most of the others were killed in open because of the summer istry has imposed a temporary yesterday. pied West Bank that killed three The attack in Duma village were it not for the international clashes with security forces. heat. ban on incubating eggs and Several cases of H5N1 bird flu have members of a Palestinian fam- and ensuing Israeli investigation pressure on them,” he said, ac- Israeli Agriculture Minister Graffi ti left at the site, witness chicks from the Landes and been detected in France since ily and helped fuel the fi ercest laid bare fi ssures in Netanyahu’s cusing the government of eff ec- Uri Ariel of the ultra-nationalist reports and the proximity of Is- Dordogne regions of France November, the first known ones in eruption of street violence in coalition government, where tively “support(ing) the terror- Jewish Home party had urged a raeli settlements led suspicions due to the presence of bird flu, the country in eight years. years. one ultra-nationalist partner ism conducted by (West Bank) high-level investigation of the to fall immediately on Jewish The attack on July 31 killed voiced misgivings about the settlers against our people”. allegations that the Duma de- extremists. 18-month-old Ali Dawabsheh handling of Jewish suspects. The time it has taken Israel fendants were tortured and for The arson attack followed Sudan seeks to normalise US ties and his parents Saad and Riham. Thirteen other Israeli Jews, to crack down on the Jewish a Shin Bet overhaul. His party’s days of tensions over West Bank Amiram Ben-Uliel, a 21-year- most of them minors, were also militants, compared to the leaders, Education Minister settlements, with rightwing Sudanese Foreign Minister from the list of state sponsors of old from a Jewish settlement indicted for hate crimes, includ- speedy and sometimes le- Naftali Bennett and Justice groups opposing the demoli- Ibrahim Ghandour said yester- terrorism. He said there was some in the West Bank, was charged ing assaulting a Palestinian, thal response by state secu- Minister Ayelet Shaked, disa- tion of two buildings under con- day that dialogue between the sort of understanding, but it is yet with three counts of racially vandalism of Arab property and rity forces to similar actions by greed. struction that the Israeli High Sudanese government and the to yield a result. He said that the motivated murder at Lod court setting fi re to a church. Arabs, has angered Palestin- Israeli offi cials said their in- Court said were illegal. US administration is ongoing with Sudanese government in 2016 near Tel Aviv. A second Jew- Referred to in Israel as “price- ians, contributing to a wave of vestigation into the attacks by The international community the aim of normalising relations will look to enhance relations with ish defendant, whose name was tag attacks”, such off ences have stabbings, car-rammings and far-right Jews were hampered regards all Jewish settlements and lifting sanctions. Speaking other Arab countries. The focus withheld due to his age, was usually been carried out in what shooting attacks against Israe- by the suspects operating in in the West Bank as illegal but to Sudanese press, the minister will be particularly on improving charged as an accessory. the attackers say are reprisals lis since October 1. small, tight-knit cells and elud- Israel makes a distinction be- said the government is looking trade and investment, as well as Defence lawyers said the pair for Palestinian violence against Twenty-one Israelis and a ing electronic surveillance. tween those it has authorised to remove the name of Sudan tackling security challenges. had given false confessions un- Israelis or government curbs on US citizen have died in the lat- Netanyau said the indict- and those it has not.

On guard Syrian group pulls out of Attack on Iraqi military alliance to refocus fi ght base kills at least 15 Reuters statement distributed by sup- Baghdad porters online. Agencies jor rebel-controlled highway. any tension with other groups It said it targeted “trainers Beirut Failaq al-Sham said in a state- within the Army of Conquest. from the rejectionist army”, a ment that it was withdrawing from While pro-government forc- ttacks by fi ve suicide term used by the Sunni insur- the Army of Conquest, which in- es have advanced in the south- bombers on an Iraqi mili- gents to describe Shias. Syrian insurgent group cludes the Al Qaeda-linked Nusra ern Aleppo countryside and in Atary base north of Bagh- Iraq is gripped by a sectarian said yesterday it was Front and powerful Islamist group the western coastal province of dad yesterday killed at least 15 confl ict mostly between Shias and Apulling out of a coalition Ahrar al Sham, and which cap- Latakia, rebels have managed members of the security forces Sunnis that has been exacerbated of Islamist factions operating tured most of neighbouring Idlib to advance in other areas in- and wounded 22 others, security by the rise of the ultra-hardline in the northwest of the coun- province in 2015. cluding Hama province, where sources said. insurgents of Islamic State. try, in order to redeploy around “As enemies from inside anti-tank missiles supplied Two of the bombers detonated Camp Speicher became a Aleppo where pro-government and abroad, the regime and its to insurgent groups have been their vehicle-borne explosives symbol of the group’s brutality forces have intensifi ed assaults Shabiha (militias), Shias and used eff ectively. at the western gate of Camp and hatred for Iraq’s Shia major- in recent months. Russians concentrate eff orts Pro-government forces have Speicher, a former US base out- ity after as many as 1,700 sol- Since Russia’s intervention in on bringing down the Aleppo in recent days also tried to push side the Sunni city of Tikrit. diers from the base were killed in the Syria confl ict in September region, we are giving priority forward against insurgents in Three others exploded them- mid-2014 during the militants’ with an air campaign to sup- to supporting revolutionaries Hama province, Britain-based selves after entering the section lightning advance across the port President Bashar al-Assad, in the Aleppo area,” the state- monitoring group the Syrian Ob- of the base where Iraqi police are Syrian border. pro-government forces have ment, posted online, said. servatory for Human Rights said. being trained, police and military Iraqi forces retook the centre stepped up off ensives in the “We therefore announce our The Observatory also said sources in the Salahuddin opera- of the western city of Ramadi last west and north of the country. exit from the Army of Conquest Arab and Kurdish forces have tions command said. week, a victory that could help Government forces backed by operations room, which has killed at least 16 fi ghters from Fighters of the pro-government Popular Resistance Islamic State, the militant boost Prime Minister Haider al- Iranian troops and Russian air fi nished its mission in the battle the Islamic State group during Committees take positions as they guard an entrance of group controlling swathes of Abadi, who has been rebuilding strikes have advanced in Aleppo to conquer Idlib.” fi erce clashes north of the mili- Yemen’s southwestern city of Taiz yesterday. Iraq’s north and west, claimed the military after stunning de- province, edging closer to a ma- The statement did not indicate tants stronghold of Raqa. responsibility for the blasts in a feats in the face of Islamic State. Gulf Times 4 Monday, January 4, 2016 AFRICA US slams Kagame move Breast milk banks tackle to run for third term high infant AFP constitutional transitions of and wisdom,” said Kagame, Washington power are essential for strong who described national unity as democracies and that eff orts by “unshakably strong.” incumbents to change rules to The referendum followed he United States has hit stay in power weaken democrat- more than 60% of voters signing mortality in out at Rwandan President ic institutions,” Kirby said in the a petition calling for the drafting TPaul Kagame’s intention strongly worded statement. of constitutional changes that to run for a third term, saying it “We are particularly con- would allow Kagame to stand was “deeply disappointed” and cerned by changes that favor one again. concerned by the move. individual over the principle of Both houses of parliament South Africa Washington and the Euro- democratic transitions.” are dominated by his Rwandan pean Union have consistently Kirby called on Rwanda to Patriotic Front (RPF). AFP need to get working again. expressed strong opposition to respect the right to freedom of His supporters maintain that Johannesburg “Many of these moms are Kagame, once a darling of the expression and to protest — “the Kagame, an English speaker not employed in the formal West, running again, and had hallmarks of true democracies.” from the Tutsi ethnic group tar- sector. They don’t get ma- called on him to step aside in 2017 Kagame was elected with geted in the genocide by Hutu atrick, a premature baby ternity benefi ts,” said Chan- to allow new faces to emerge and some 90% of ballots cast both in majority extremists, is not an weighing a minuscule tell Witten, researcher at the democracy to fl ourish. 2003 and 2010 and he had said autocratic fi gure but a beacon P1.2 kilos (2.65 pounds), North West University Center “With this decision, Presi- that the outcome of the referen- of stability who has overseen was “saved” by a breast milk of Excellence for Nutrition in dent Kagame ignores a historic dum would determine whether economic growth. bank in South Africa, where South Africa. opportunity to reinforce and Rwandan President Paul Kagame … once a darling of the West . he continued in offi ce. Several African states have child mortality is high despite “It means that moms are not solidify the democratic institu- “You have asked me to lead recently lifted or tried to lift being the continent’s most de- with their baby, so they start tions the Rwandan people have The December 18 referendum cementing his hold on a coun- the country after 2017. Given constitutional bars to multiple veloped economy. formula feed. for more than 20 years labored so saw voters massively approve try he has effectively control- the importance you ascribe to presidential mandates. “It was a question of life and “These babies don’t get the hard to establish,” State Depart- constitutional amendments al- led since his rebel force ended this matter, I can only accept,” Such was the case in neigh- death because of the fact he right formula because moms ment spokesman John Kirby said lowing Kagame, 58, to run for the 1994 genocide, which left he said in a televised New Year bouring Burundi, which de- could not go on formula,” said can’t aff ord to feed adequately in a statement. an exceptional third seven-year 800,000 dead. address. scended into bloodshed in April his 39-year-old mother An- and appropriately.” Kagame said on Friday he term in 2017. Opponents and some interna- “You clearly expressed your when President Pierre Nkurun- nerleigh Bartlett. There is also a pervasive be- would run again in line with a Thereafter, new rules will tional observers say Kagame has choices for the future of our ziza announced his intention to “There was no way. He was lief in South Africa that for- constitutional amendment that come into force enabling him eff ectively stifl ed democracy in country. The process allowed run for a controversial third term too little.” mula milk is better for the baby. won overwhelming backing in a to run for a further two five- the nation of 10mn. us the time to make certain that in a July election that he went Bartlett, from Cape Town, “A lot of poor people think referendum. year terms through to 2034, “The United States believes the proposed changes had merit on to win. wasn’t producing her own that rich people formula-feed. milk yet, and the formula can They aspire for the best for damage premature babies’ in- their children,” said Stasha testines. Jordan, SABR’s director, de- So, for the fi rst two weeks scribing some of the market- of his life, Patrick relied for his ing for formula as “aggressive”. survival on breast milk donat- Until 2011, formula was Housing boom ed by anonymous women. distributed for free to prevent The principle of milk banks transmission of HIV from is simple: mothers donate mother to child, another factor milk, which is tested, pasteur- leading towards a bias to using ised, then delivered to babies formula over milk. as Mogadishu in need. But experts say attitudes to- “Every drop counts,” said a wards breast milk are chang- poster at the headquarters of ing. the South African Breastmilk Baby formula advertisements Reserve (SABR), a network of have been banned in magazines emerges from milk banks which supply 87 and billboards since 2012 and hospitals and feed over 2,800 South Africa now encourages children this year. HIV-positive mothers to breast- “Human milk banks should feed as long as they are taking be promoted and supported antiretrovirals. ashes of war as an eff ective approach to Still, there is some way to go. A man walks through Daru Salaam city, a new housing estate built amid an ecomonic boom, north reduce... mortality for babies “First we were very un- Mogadishu, yesterday. who cannot be breastfed,” comfortable, knowing that it AFP the estimated $20mn project. said South Africa’s ministry of is a fl uid from someone else,” Mogadishu Construction began in early Car bombs and assassina- “I have been out of Somalia Those are hefty sums in one health in a recent report. said Pradesh Mewalala, whose 2015 and the project was touted tions are still common, and a for long time but I came back be- of the poorest countries in the “South Africa has a much twins Anya and Ariana were as off ering commercial returns 22,000-strong African Union cause everybody needs his coun- world, with a gross domestic higher nutrition problem than born prematurely. omalia’s elegant colonial and helping rebuild the nation. force fi ghts alongside the army to try — and the country is making product per capita of just $284, countries at comparable in- Mewalala eventually agreed villas were left in ruins “It is a new neighbourhood protect the internationally-backed much progress,” Roble added. according to the World Bank, come levels.” to use the milk, a decision that Sby two decades of street for all Somalis to buy aff ordable government from attacks by the “I had to take part in that against a sub-Saharan Africa South Africa’s infant mor- saved his daughters. fi ghting among warlords, and homes, by leaving the densely Islamist Shabaab insurgents. progress, and everybody should average of $1,300. tality rate was 32.8 deaths The milk undergoes strict the seaside capital Mogadishu populated neighbourhoods of The streets in the new estate have a house in his country.” Development indicators are per 1,000 births in 2013 - far microbiological screening and was dubbed the most dangerous Mogadishu, and to come and off er a very diff erent vision of For those returning with dollars “among the lowest in the world”, higher than countries such as donors must take Aids and city in the world. stay with families here,” Ali said. Mogadishu. earned abroad, the estate refl ects the World Bank says, noting the Egypt, Algeria or Indonesia. Hepatitis B tests. But now new housing estates “According to our plan, we are Those returning to Somalia the possible profi ts to be made Horn of Africa nation is “heav- Children who are exclusive- Patrick is now a vibrant six- are being built amid an economic going to build 500 homes that can — including investors wanting even in a still dangerous country. ily dependent” on aid and remit- ly breastfed are 14 times more month-old baby. Eventually, boom as diaspora Somalis return cover the residential needs for 500 to start new business in their Sadia Sheikh Ahmed, who also tances. likely to survive in the fi rst six his mother was able to breast- and newly wealthy businessmen families in the fi rst stage, and then homeland — say the Daru Sa- grew up in Sweden after fl eeing Over 308,000 children are months of life than formula- feed. capitalise on the relative peace in will construct more houses.” laam estate off ers them a more Somalia, said she had helped her acutely malnourished, according fed children, according to the It’s now her turn to be a do- the city. Tens of thousands forced to secure place to live. relatives abroad snap up property. to the UN Offi ce for the Coordi- United Nations Children’s nor at the Milk Matters bank in Some 7km (4 miles) outside fl ee their homes still live in plas- “I came back to this city to “Initially we wanted to buy nation of Humanitarian Aff airs Fund, Unicef. Cape Town. Mogadishu in a formerly largely tic and rag shelters in the capital, buy a new home in Daru Salaam two houses, but now we and (OCHA). But South Africa has very “I needed to pay back the rural area, new homes are spring- sometimes in the ruins of war- neighbourhood... the houses are our relatives have bought eight “After more than two decades low breastfeeding rates at institution that helped me and ing up, with almost 50 houses now shattered buildings, and more well built,” said Abdiqadar Ji- homes, scheduled to be complet- of violence and political instabil- just 7.4%, partly as a result of our child kind of survive,” said ready on an estate, builders say. than a million people are still in male Roble, 34, who grew up in ed soon,” she said. ity, Somalia is on a positive trajec- prevalent poverty and eff ec- Bartlett. Mohamed Abdullahi Ali, need of emergency aid in a coun- Sweden from the age of 12 after A two-storey house can cost tory,” OCHA said, while warning tive marketing by baby for- “I managed to provide three from Salaam Somali Bank, said try ravaged by famine in 2011, Somalia spiralled into civil war some $130,000, while a more the “promising trend” takes place mula companies. litres of milk... to assist with it was a “great honour” to back the United Nations says. in the early 1990s. simple bungalow comes in at amid a “precarious” humanitar- Soon after having their feeding 20 babies for a period around $70,000. ian and security situation. babies, many poor mothers of 24 hours.”

Mauritania hunts Annual pilgrimage for militant

Reuters Nouakchott

auritanian authorities have said they are hunting for an Islamist militant Mwho escaped from prison where he was awaiting execution for his part in a plot to assas- sinate President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz. A statement released on public television late on Saturday urged residents to provide in- formation on the militant, whom they named. It did not say when or how he escaped. He was arrested in 2011 over alleged links to three vehicles containing explosives heading for Mauritania’s coastal capital, Nouakchott. One of the vehicles was said to have been target- ing Abdel Aziz, who had ordered military strikes in Mali against jihadist bases in 2010 and 2011. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claimed responsibility for the plot in a statement re- leased on jihadist forums, according to the SITE Intelligence Group. Islamist groups hijacked a Tuareg rebellion in early 2012 to seize Mali’s desert north. A French- led intervention scattered them a year later, but Islamist fi ghters stepped up attacks in 2015. Jihadists believed to have links with each other and other groups beyond West Africa have claimed various acts of violence in the re- gion, including a November attack on a luxury hotel that killed about 20 people. Abdel Aziz, who was elected in 2009 after Close to 50,000 followers of the Nazareth Baptist Church, 45kms north of Durban, leave for seizing power in a coup that ended the tenure a three-day walk to reach the Canaan Holy Mountain in Ndwedwe yesterday. The devotees of the country’s fi rst democratically elected climb the mountain to attend the first sermon as part of their annual pilgrimage. They walk president, was hospitalised in 2012. He said up to 80kms barefoot on their four weeks stay at the mountain. soldiers had accidentally shot him. Gulf Times Monday, January 4, 2016 5 AMERICA Trump stays defi ant after Shebaab video AFP a video by Somalia’s extremist the SITE Intelligence Group re- pointed to the recent terrorist radical jihadists were “showing Washington Shebaab group. ported. attacks in Paris and said, specifi - videos of Donald Trump insult- Trump’s call for a total, if tem- After describing Trump’s call cally citing the case of Brussels, ing Islam and Muslims in order porary, ban had drawn criticism for a ban, the video goes on to that many nations were “shut- to recruit more radical jihadists”. fter Islamic militants used around the globe, including from say: “The West will eventually ting down cities that had never Trump accused her of lying, his tough remarks about Hillary Clinton, the frontrun- turn against its Muslim citizens.” had a problem before”. but Clinton’s spokeswoman in- AMuslims in a recruitment ning Democratic candidate, who Asked about it on CBS, the Re- “Maybe it’s not politically cor- sisted that his remarks were “be- video, real estate mogul Donald said that his remarks were used publican frontrunner seemed to rect,” Trump said, but “there’s a ing used in social media by ISIS Trump refused to back down, by radicals in recruitment videos shrug his shoulders. big problem out there”. as propaganda”. saying in remarks aired yester- – a suggestion Trump aides had “What am I going to do?” Trump’s infl ammatory re- US media outlets were unable day: “I have to say what I have to sharply denied. Trump asked. “I have to say what marks last month sparked global to fi nd any footage to back up say.” In the new video, the Al Qae- I have to say. And you know what outrage. Clinton’s initial claim. The Republican presidential da-affi liated Shebaab uses an ex- I have to say? There’s a problem. During a Democratic debate The Shebaab, who were driven hopeful made the comments on cerpt from Trump’s December 7 We have to fi nd out what is the last month, former secretary of out of Mogadishu in 2011, are CBS’s Face the Nation after a US speech – made after an attack by problem. And we have to solve state Clinton accused Trump of fi ghting to overthrow Somalia’s monitoring group said that his a radicalised couple in California that problem.” being “ISIS’s best recruiter”, re- internationally backed govern- call for a ban on Muslims en- killed 14 people – to encourage He said that his stance had ferring to the self-described Is- ment, which is protected by Trump: What am I going to do? I have to say what I have to say. tering the US had been used in Western Muslims to wage jihad, drawn wide support, and he lamic State (IS) group, and said 22,000 African Union troops. Former senator Dale Bumpers dead at 90

Reuters home. Surgery was deemed suc- the Senate, Bumpers was part of During an era of volcanic par- sync,” Bumpers told a rapt audi- ited with strongly buttressing Little Rock, Arkansas cessful but he remained bedrid- Clinton’s legal team fi ghting im- tisanship in Washington, the ence on the Senate fl oor. Clinton’s cause. den after returning home. peachment. Republican-controlled House of Bumpers off ered no apologies The Senate, despite being con- Bumpers, a folksy and elo- In his famous closing argu- Representatives had approved or excuses for Clinton’s behav- trolled by Republicans, ultimate- Then US president Bill Clinton ale Bumpers, the small- quent Southern Democrat who ment on January 21, 1999, he im- two articles of impeachment iour, saying that it was “indefen- ly voted to acquit Clinton of the ‘facepalms’ during a ceremony town lawyer who served was a close friend of Clinton, plored his former colleagues not against Clinton on charges of sible, outrageous, unforgivable, charges in February 1999. to dedicate a vaccine research DArkansas as governor and served in the Senate for 24 years to remove the Democratic presi- perjury and obstruction of jus- shameless”. Bumpers, born on August 12, centre to former senator Dale in the US Senate and delivered a after he toppled storied Senator dent from offi ce, as Republicans tice. He also described the suff ering 1925, in Charleston, Arkansas, Bumpers (right) and his wife, stirring speech during Bill Clin- J William Fulbright in a 1974 pri- were demanding, on charges That set up a trial in the Senate endured by then fi rst lady Hillary served in the Marine Corps dur- Betty, at the National Institute of ton’s impeachment trial that mary election. arising from a sexual aff air with a and a vote on whether to remove Clinton and the couple’s daugh- ing World War II before becom- Health in Bethesda, Maryland, helped save his presidency, died “Dale Bumpers was a gover- White House intern named Mon- the president from offi ce. ter Chelsea. ing a successful small-town law- in this file photo taken on June at home on Friday at the age of nor of profound historical im- ica Lewinsky. Bumpers argued that Clinton “We are here today because yer. 9, 1999. 90, his family said on Saturday. portance, the most eloquent de- “You can take some comfort, had committed moral lapses and the president suff ered a terrible He ran for governor in 1970, Bumpers died surrounded by fender of our constitution in the colleagues, in the fact that I’m deserved censure, but his cover- moral lapse, a marital infi delity, and during his four-year term childhood vaccines for diseases his family, said his wife Betty Senate, a man who put his con- not being paid. And when I’m up fell short of “high crimes and not a breach of the public trust, restructured the Southern state’s like measles, mumps, whooping and his children Brent, Bill and siderable gifts of wisdom, wit, fi nished, you’ll probably think misdemeanours” that would ne- not a crime against society,” said tax system and reorganised its cough and polio and developing Brooke Bumpers in a statement. and passion to work for the com- the White House got their mon- cessitate ousting him. the silver-haired Bumpers, casu- government. new vaccines for diseases like Bumpers had been in failing mon good,” Bill Clinton, who also ey’s worth,” Bumpers, a noted or- “There’s a total lack of propor- ally striding back and forth as he In 1974, Bumpers was elected bacterial meningitis. health for months. served as Arkansas governor, said ator who injected some humour tionality, a total lack of balance spoke. to the US Senate, where dur- A government vaccine re- In December he suff ered a bro- in a statement on Saturday. into the grave proceedings, said in this thing. The charge and the Bumpers’ closing speech for ing his four terms he worked to search centre is named after him ken hip in a fall at his Little Rock Just weeks after retiring from on the Senate fl oor. punishment are totally out of Clinton’s defence team was cred- increase funding for improving and his wife. Gulf Times 6 Monday, January 4, 2016 AMERICA Missouri counts costs as South braces for fl ood Reuters sive cleanup and recovery now ing on Saturday after thousands nities hard-hit by fl ooding. A student volunteer wheels donated goods at a flood relief donation drive at Fox High School in Arnold, Eureka, Missouri under way. of people had to be evacuated On Friday, he ordered Illi- Missouri. After the record crest of the Meremac River after days of rainfall, the community looks to start The governor described the from their homes earlier in the nois National Guard troops into the clean-up eff orts and relief for victims of area flooding. scale of the fl ood damage as oth- week when the fl oods destroyed fl ooded areas to mitigate damage issouri Governor Jay erworldly. hundreds of structures. and help with evacuation. In Thebes, Illinois, about 125 Little Rock along the river were fl ooding during the next 10 days. Nixon on Saturday “It’s almost as if you’re living Retired Eureka homeowner The fl oods claimed the lives of miles (201km) downriver from covered with fl oodwaters, and Offi cials in Louisiana are Mtoured communities on some other planet,” he said, Tracy Wolf, 58, spent the last at least 31 people in Illinois, Mis- St Louis, the fl oodwater was ex- some homes and farmland in the checking levees daily, and Exxon ravaged by fl ooding that killed at standing near a growing pile of three days trying to keep water souri, Oklahoma and Arkansas, pected to crest at 47.5’ (14m), Arkansas Delta were fl ooded on Mobil Corporation has decided least 31 people in several states debris in a park in Eureka, about away from the sides of his house most of whom drove their vehi- more than 1.5’ (0.5m) above the Saturday. to shut its 340,571 barrel-per- and forced large-scale evacu- an hour’s drive west of St Louis with sandbags and out of his cles into fl ooded areas after days 1995 record, the NWS said. Signs that fl oodwaters were day refi ned products terminal in ations, as the danger of rising on the banks of the Meramec basement with vacuums. of downpours. Major fl ooding continued in headed south began to emerge as Memphis, Tennessee, as fl ood- waters shifted to Arkansas and River, which fl ows into the Mis- “Wednesday night it came in Authorities continued search- the state of Arkansas along the the NWS issued a major fl ooding waters threatened to inundate beyond. sissippi. through the windows,” Wolf said. ing on Saturday for country sing- Arkansas River and its tributar- designation on Saturday for Os- the facility just south of the city’s Nixon visited Eureka and Cape “This is just a tiny fraction of “We slept three hours the fi rst er Craig Strickland of the band ies. ceola, Arkansas, where the Mis- downtown. Girardeau in eastern Missouri, the trail of destruction,” the gov- night ... I don’t even know what Backroad Anthem. Arkansas offi cials said they sissippi River reached above 35’ Workers in southwestern Ten- where fl oodwaters caused wide- ernor told reporters. day it is.” He had gone duck hunting on expected the river, which bisects (10.7m), well above the 28’ fl ood nessee prepared sandbags in spread damage, and announced The National Weather Serv- Twelve counties have been de- an Oklahoma lake during stormy the state from west to southeast stage. hopes of limiting damage from the federal government had ap- ice (NWS) reported Mississippi clared disaster areas in Illinois, conditions and his friend, Chase before joining the Mississippi, to The NWS also warned com- the Mississippi when it crests at proved his request to declare an fl oodwaters in Illinois and Mis- where Governor Bruce Rauner on Morland, was found dead last crest late on Saturday. munities in the Southern Mis- Memphis next week, state emer- emergency to help with the mas- souri began cresting and reced- Saturday toured several commu- Monday. Large swaths of parkland in sissippi Valley region of potential gency management offi cials said.

Militia occupy Police brutality cases spark trend wildlife park off ice A group of US militiamen reportedly angered by the jailing to equip offi cers with cameras of two ranchers occupied the headquarters of a federal wildlife reserve in Oregon on Saturday, By Gretel Johnston, DPA In Chicago a police dashboard aims to buy 50,000 body cam- local authorities said. Washington camera recorded the shooting of eras in the next three years. The militiamen took over the 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, In Baltimore the mayor has facility following a rally earlier in an African American, in October launched a body-camera pilot the day for Dwight Hammond, 73, hen a lawyer for a 2014. programme, and Chicago ex- and his 46-year-old son Steven, Baltimore man whose The video shows an offi cer panded its test of body cameras The Oregonian newspaper Wdeath in police cus- pumping an entire magazine to six additional patrol districts. reported. tody touched off riots in the into the suspect, who was hold- Demand for the cameras in- The ranchers, who already eastern US city issued a plea for ing a knife but appeared to be creased following not only the served minimal jail time on arson more police cameras, police de- walking away from offi cers. Baltimore and Chicago cases, charges after lighting what they partments across the country The release of the video more but others across the country, said was a controlled fire on and the US Justice Department than a year after the shooting including some deadly alterca- Demonstrators calling the resignation of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel stage a ‘die-in’ at City Hall on their property that spread to took notice. triggered protests, charges of a tions recorded by citizens on December 31, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. The shooting deaths by police of a 19-year-old college student government land, were ordered The US must “seize this mo- police cover-up and calls for the mobile phones and surveillance Quintonio LeGrier and his 55-year-old neighbour Bettie Jones and a recently released video showing to return to prison after a judge ment” and develop a “new cul- mayor to resign even after one cameras. the shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by Chicago police off icer Jason Van Dyke have sparked ruled their sentences had been ture of policing”, lawyer Wil- offi cer was charged with murder In Cleveland, Ohio, a 12-year- dozens of protests in the city. too lenient, according to local liam Murphy Jr said in making and the police superintendent old boy was fatally shot in a city media. the case for body cameras for all was fi red. park by police offi cers who mis- Supporters say the devices are partments are embracing the by invasions of privacy”. The pair, who were accused by cops. It was a case that might never took his toy gun for a real one. needed to provide transparency, technology, some remain divid- The Fraternal Order of Police, prosecutors of starting the blaze Murphy represents the fam- have come to light if not for the Law enforcement offi cials build public trust and provide ed over the use of the cameras. which represents rank-and-fi le to cover up hunting violations, ily of 25-year-old Freddie Gray, video. said one of the lessons learned evidence against false com- And questions have emerged police offi cers, also has raised were sentenced to around four who suff ered a severe neck in- And it only lent more justi- was that surveillance video of plaints. as to when they should be turned concerns about the cameras years each in jail on top of the jury after his arrest April 12 ap- fi cation to the case for police the incident was a useful tool in Christopher Protsman, police on and off and how much of any picking up private conversations time they had already served – parently while being driven un- cameras, both on offi cers’ bodies investigating the case. chief in Dayton, Ohio, said that video should be made available between offi cers. three months for the father and restrained in the back of a police and their cars. Cleveland has since acquired he expected to have cameras in- to the public. But the union has endorsed a year for his son, according to van. About 25% of the nation’s body cameras for all offi cers and stalled in all the city’s police ve- The American Civil Liberties them. local media. Gray’s death, which resulted 17,000 police agencies were us- started the process of providing hicles in early 2016. Union (ACLU) has voiced sup- The question of whether Following the demonstration by in charges against six police of- ing body cameras, according to dashboard cameras for police “I see a tremendous benefi t to port for police cameras, but at cameras can make a diff erence around 300 people on Saturday fi cers, was just one of several a 2014 government-sponsored cars belonging to the county in them,” Protsman told the Day- the same time expressed con- in reducing the number of fatal in the town of Burns, a group police brutality cases in the US study of body cameras. which Cleveland lies. ton Daily News. cern over privacy. police encounters is one that of protesters advanced on the in 2015. In May, just a month after Some departments that have They will make it easier for The potential for the release will be studied even more closely federal reserve 50 miles (80km) Most of the cases have in- Gray’s death, the US Justice De- tried using cameras have re- police to clarify evidence and of embarrassing video is signifi - in 2016. southeast of the town. volved white offi cers fatally partment announced it would ported a decrease in the use of complaints against offi cers. cantly increased by body cam- Representatives of the victims “After the peaceful rally was shooting young unarmed black provide $20mn in grants to local force and fewer complaints from If his offi cers act inappropri- eras, the ACLU said in a March of police violence are especially completed today, a group of men. police departments to help buy residents. ately, he said, “it gives us the report. hopeful to see a change. outside militants drove to the While there was no police re- body cameras for offi cers. In San Diego, California, a tool to call the person in, review The organisation urged police “We must seize this moment,” Malheur Wildlife Refuge, where cording made in the Gray case, The grants are just the fi rst 2015 report based on preliminary the video with them and explain departments that deploy cam- said Murphy, the lawyer for Bal- they seized and occupied the other cases have been recorded portion of a $75mn camera data showed that body cameras why the offi cers did what they eras to also enact privacy poli- timore suspect Freddie Gray. refuge headquarters,” Harney and many of them have sparked funding programme requested helped reduce “personal body” did”. cies “so that the benefi ts of the “The lasting changes we make County Sheriff Dave Ward said in controversy. by President Barack Obama that force by offi cers by 46.5%. Although many police de- technology are not outweighed will be Freddie’s legacy.” a statement e-mailed to AFP.

Game of Thrones author says latest instalment would be delayed Obama’s challenge in 2016: stay relevant Game of Thrones fans were let down on Saturday when author George RR Martin admitted he had By Jeff Mason, Reuters Current and former White White House adviser. Obama said he will meet with missed a December 31 deadline to Honolulu House advisers noted that Advisers have signalled that Attorney General Loretta Lynch complete the latest instalment in Obama avoided any slide into Obama’s fi nal State of the Union today to discuss options that the fantasy series. “lame duck” status in 2015 with address is unlikely to include a his advisers have put together “THE WINDS OF WINTER is not A scene from an episode from dvancing gun control, big policy moves including the laundry list of proposed legis- to address the issue, suggesting finished,” Martin announced in a the third season of the Game of closing the US military Iran nuclear deal and an inter- lative initiatives that has been that an announcement on new blog post. “You’re disappointed, Thrones shows actress Michelle Aprison in Cuba and re- national agreement to fi ght cli- typical of other years. initiatives is likely to be made and you’re not alone. My editors Fairley as Catelyn Stark during forming criminal justice laws mate change. The speech will emphasise soon. and publishers are disappointed, the ‘Red Wedding’. are likely to top President Barack With an especially chaotic policy priorities on climate The president may decide to HBO is disappointed, my agents Obama’s State of the Union ad- Republican presidential race, change and Cuba while high- take executive action on another and foreign publishers and translators are disappointed ... but no one dress agenda next month as he led by frontrunner Donald lighting policy pushes he wants key priority before he leaves of- could possibly be more disappointed than me.” starts his last year with a key Trump, they say Obama will to fi nish, such as trade. fi ce: closing the US prison at Martin had hoped to submit the manuscript to his publishers by late goal: remaining relevant. continue to drive public dis- It is also likely to include a Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 2015 so The Winds of Winter, the sixth volume of the series A Song of Obama, who returns from a course even as his time in offi ce new call for gun control. “Presidents are always rel- Ice and Fire, could be published early this year. two-week vacation in Hawaii draws to a close. “We know that we can’t stop evant and this president seems With the latest delay, Martin warned, The Winds of Winter will “most this weekend, will deliver his “I expect 2016 will look a lot every act of violence. But what determined to use every legal certainly” not be published before the sixth season of Games of last State of the Union speech to like 2015, the president and his if we tried to stop even one? authority he has to (have) im- Thrones airs on HBO in April. both houses of Congress on Jan- team continuing to put substan- What if Congress did something pact on the big challenges he Will the show, then, get ahead of the novel? uary 12, kicking of his fi nal year tive legacy-worth points on the – anything – to protect our kids sees,” said David Axelrod, a Obama: will deliver his last State “Maybe. Yes and no,” Martin wrote. “For years my readers have been in offi ce just as the campaign to board while the political circus from gun violence?” Obama former adviser and strategist for of the Union speech to both ahead of the viewers. This year, for some things, the reverse will be true. succeed him moves into a higher is focused on Trump and the said in his weekly radio address, Obama’s 2008 and 2012 election houses of Congress on January How you want to handle that ... hey, that’s up to you.” profi le phase. rest,” said Dan Pfeiff er, a former released on Friday. wins. 12. Gulf Times Monday, January 4, 2016 7 ASEAN

Colour Fun Run Myanmar museum to showcase life of war prisoners

Agencies Yangon

‘Death Railway Museum,’ located at the site of the AWorld War II “Death Rail- way” in Myanmar’s Kayin state, is opening to showcase the life of prisoners of war who died during Runners are covered in coloured powder as they celebrate during a “Colour Fun Run” in Manila yesterday. the construction of the railway, offi cial media reported yesterday. The museum, originally scheduled to be inaugurated in April, will instead open today, to coincide with the country’s Independence Day, Xinhua re- ported.

More than 16,000 prisoners of war died during the Protesters return from construction of the railway The museum will exhibit his- toric photos, paintings, sculp- tures and 3D images related to the death railway. It also highlights a coal-fi red C-0522 engine, which was used on the death railway, and a memorial place where the Philippine-held island railway line originated. During the war, the Impe- The group arrived at Pagasa Sea where they had staged a Pagasa island is part of the nese territory. The Philippine ment had previously praised words of the Philippine side.” rial Japanese Army forced more island on December 26 week-long protest against Bei- Spratlys chain in the South Department of Foreign Affairs the group’s “patriotism” but Despite having one of the than 120,000 Allied prisoners of as part of an eff ort to stir jing’s claims in the disputed China Sea. has said it will also file a pro- had urged them not to proceed weakest militaries in the re- war and labourers from South- up popular opposition to waterway. China claims most of the sea test over the incident. with the trip, while the youth gion, the Philippines has been east Asian countries to build the China’s claim to most of the The group arrived at Pagasa but the Philippines, Brunei, The youth group, organ- group had accused the Philip- vocal in challenging China’s railway linking Thanbyuzayat in contested sea, including island on December 26 as part Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan ised by a former navy officer, pine government of not doing claims to the South China Sea, Myanmar and Kanchanaburi in Pagasa, also known as Thitu of an effort to stir up popular have conflicting claims. is called Kalayaan Atin Ito, enough to stand up to China. a vital sealane and rich fishing Thailand. opposition to China’s claim to The end of the trip by the 47 which translates as “Kalayaan, Photographs of the group, ground which is also believed More than 16,000 prisoners AFP most of the contested sea, in- Filipino youths coincided with This Is Ours”. posted on their Facebook page, to hold vast mineral resources. of war died during the construc- Manila cluding Pag-asa, also known a fresh flare-up between Chi- “Kalayaan” is the name of showed the youths camping on The Philippines has an in- tion of the railway. Several thou- as Thitu. na and claimant Vietnam over a township established by the the island and posing with pa- ternational arbitration case sand who died were buried at the The 47 youths have now re- the contested sea, as Hanoi ac- Philippines in the Spratlys to triotic banners. now pending in the Hague Thanbyuzayat graveyard.With early 50 young Filipinos turned to Palawan island in cused the Asian giant of land- assert its territorial claim and Reacting to the trip, the Chi- where it is challenging China’s little or no medical care, the pris- returned yesterday from the Philippines, Joy Ban-eg, ing a plane on a disputed reef. is also the Filipino word for nese foreign ministry had pre- territorial claims, though Chi- oners succumbed to sickness, Na remote Philippine- a co-ordinator of the group, Beijing insisted the opera- freedom. viously said it was “strongly na has refused to recognise the malnutrition and exhaustion and held island in the South China confirmed. tion took place within Chi- The Philippine govern- dissatisfi ed with the actions and proceedings. died in a horrible condition. Confrontation risk as tensions escalate over South China Sea

DPA the Sydney-based Centre for Strategic navigation and overfl ight in the South Manila and International Studies, noted that a China Sea,” he added. Del Rosario said high level of mistrust and competition the result of the arbitration would also between the US and China makes for a be “instructive” for other nations in o one wants war to break out more volatile mix. disputes settlement and allow small in the South China Sea. At “A miscalculation or misunder- nations to stand up to great powers. Nthe same time, an increasing standing could then result in a deadly “International law is the great equal- tug of war between the US and China exchange of fi re, leading to further iser among states,” he noted. could plunge the world’s busiest sea military escalation and precipitating a “Those who think ‘might makes lane into turmoil. major political crisis,” Glaser said. right’ have it backwards. It is exact- That’s the $5tn problem facing the “Rising US-China mistrust and in- ly the opposite, in that right makes region. The fi gure refers to the amount tensifying bilateral strategic competi- might.” of cargo passing through the disputed tion would likely make managing such While the Philippines has stressed seas every year. The problem is that a crisis more diffi cult,” she added. that the arbitration case was meant the stakes are high for all countries in- The US is not the only country chal- to preserve its friendship with China, volved in the territorial row. lenging China’s claim to the South Beijing has been feeling the pressure Aside from being a key shipping China Sea, where Beijing has built ar- as other countries, including the US lane, the tongue-shaped region is also tifi cial islands on disputed territories and Japan, expressed support for the believed to be rich in mineral and ma- to boost its claims. peaceful settlement of the disputes. rine resources. A UN tribunal has been hearing an In response to America’s freedom of Analysts warn that the risk of con- arbitration case fi led by the Philip- navigation patrols, China has gradual- fl ict in the seas is signifi cant, especial- pines in 2013. It could hand down a ly escalated it response, fi rst conduct- ly as the US pushes the limits of Chi- decision in 2016. The tribunal has al- ing war games in the South China Sea na’s claim — which stretches to almost ready ruled that it has jurisdiction over in October, then issuing rare photos its entire area — by sending warships the case — in which the Philippines of missiles attached to nuclear sub- near Beijing-controlled territories. challenges China’s sweeping claims — marines. Zhang, the political science While Beijing did not take action brushing aside Beijing’s objection and professor from Lingnam University in when the US Navy launched the “free- refusal to participate in the process. Hong Kong, cautioned countries, es- dom of navigation patrols” in October, The Philippines stressed that, pecially the US, about their dealings Washington’s plan to hold more such whatever the outcome of the case was, with China amid the row. actions could trigger an unintentional the tribunal’s verdict would benefi t “What is vital for peace and stabil- crisis, analysts say. everyone in the international commu- ity in the South China Sea is that all “Such operations could gravely nity and help ease the tensions in the concerned parties should base their destabilise the South China Sea situ- region. strategies and policies on worst-case ation, even peace and stability of the “For China, it will defi ne and clarify scenarios,” he said. whole region,” said Zhang Baohui, a its maritime entitlements,” Philippine “Prudence is very much needed at political science professor and director Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario this stage of Sino-US relations, when of the Centre for Asian Pacifi c Studies told the tribunal. mutual mistrust has reached an all- at Lingnam University in Hong Kong. “For the Philippines, it will clarify time high.” “They could touch off an unin- what is ours, specially our fi shing “Imprudent actions by one or both tended escalation and push the two rights.” parties may well turn mistrust into countries towards military confl icts,” “For the rest of the international bloody military confl icts,” he added. he added. community, it will help ensure peace, “Nobody, especially countries in Bonnie Glaser, a senior adviser for security, stability and freedom of the region, wants this scenario.”

The stakes are high for all countries involved in the territorial row. Gulf Times 8 Monday, January 4, 2016 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

Two men HK bookseller’s disappearance charged over sparks protests at Beijing offi ce assault

Reuters Agencies Hong Kong Sydney

ong Kong opposition wo men have been lawmakers protested charged over an assault in Hyesterday outside Bei- TFortitude Valley yesterday jing’s representative offi ce in morning that left an 18-year-old the Chinese-ruled city over the man fi ghting for his life in hos- disappearance of a bookseller pital. who specialises in publications A Queensland Police spokes- critical of the Communist Party woman confi rmed the men, both government. aged 21, had been charged with Lee Bo, 65, a major share- one count each of causing griev- holder of Causeway Bay Books, ous bodily harm, Sydney Morn- “vanished” on Wednesday after ing Herald reported. he went to fetch books from his The men, one from warehouse in the city, Lee’s wife Coombabah and one from Tanah told Hong Kong media. Merah, are expected to face Bris- She said her husband had bane Magistrate’s Court today called her from a mainland morning. Chinese number to tell her he Earlier yesterday a team of was safe but would not reveal detectives was scouring CCTV his location, the South China footage in a bid to identify up to Morning Post (SCMP) reported four men they believed to be re- yesterday. sponsible for the attack. She said Lee spoke to her in Police believe the 18-year-old Mandarin even though the pair man, from Highgate Hill, was usually communicated in Can- walking towards Ann Street with tonese. a friend in the Chinatown Mall Lee is the fi fth person linked about 3.35am yesterday when to the bookstore to have gone Protesters hold up missing person notices of Mighty Current publisher of books critical of China company’s general manager Lui Bo and colleagues Cheung Jiping, Gui Minhai, Lee Bo they were approached by the missing in the past two months. and Lam Wing-kei as they walk towards China’s Liaison Off ice in Hong Kong yesterday. men. Others include Gui Minhai, At a press conference earlier owner of Mighty Current, the nese rule from Britain in 1997. a request for comment. About bert Ho. He did not elaborate on inquiry, broadcaster RTHK re- Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s sec- yesterday, Detective Acting In- publishing house that owns the The city’s constitution guar- 60 people marched to the Liai- the reason, but the group called ported on Sunday. The Cause- ond highest-ranking official, spector Tom Armitt said one of bookstore, the SCMP reported. antees wide-ranging personal son Offi ce in the fi nancial hub, on the Hong Kong government way Bay Bookstore sells pa- Chief Secretary Carrie Lam, the assailants punched the teen- Missing person reports were freedoms and independent law while pro-democracy lawmak- to say whether there was an of- perbacks highly critical of the expressed concern about the ager in what he described as a fi led for three others, it said. enforcement. ers held a media conference to fi cial immigration departure Chinese leadership in Beijing case on Saturday. “random act of violence”. The disappearances have Beijing’s Liaison Offi ce and express concern over the disap- record for Lee. and often containing details of “The Hong Kong govern- “A short exchange has oc- stoked fears of mainland Chi- the Hong Kong Immigration De- pearance. Secretary for Security, John the private lives of senior lead- ment is highly concerned curred and the victim was struck nese authorities using shadowy partment could not be reached “We have strong reason to be- Lee, said the police would be ex- ers and their families. about the wellbeing of Hong to the back of the head, has fallen tactics that erode the one coun- for comment. The Hong Kong lieve Mr Lee was kidnapped and panding the scope of its investi- While the books are banned Kong people in the city and forward and is currently in his try, two systems formula under and Macau Aff airs Offi ce, an smuggled back to the mainland gation into Lee’s disappearance, in mainland China, local abroad. I know the police are present condition,” he said. which Hong Kong has been gov- agency of China’s State Council, for political investigation,” said although it was not possible to media said they are popu- already working on the case,” The young man’s condition erned since its return to Chi- did not immediately respond to Democratic Party lawmaker Al- give details about every line of lar with Chinese tourists in Lam said. was listed as critical in the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Police were confi dent there were no links between the at- tack and another incident at the Frozen river ride nearby TBC club on Brunswick China rejects Vietnam concern Street, an hour earlier at 2.35am, in which a 24-year-old Been- leigh man was attacked as he sat over plane landing on reef in a chair. WEATHER AFP completely within China’s sovereignty”. Hanoi Cyclone bears Beijing earlier strongly protested at the fl ight, labelling it a violation of sovereignty which “infl uences down on Fiji peace and stability in the South China Sea”. eijing has rejected a protest from Viet- “Vietnam resolutely protests China’s above- Fiji warned residents to brace for de- nam after a Chinese plane landed on a mentioned action, asking China to immediately structive winds yesterday as severe Bcontested reef in the South China Sea, end while not repeating similar move,” said for- tropical cyclone Ula bears down on saying the operation took place within Chinese eign ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh in Hanoi. the Pacific nation. Meteorologists territory. Vietnamese offi cials also said they had asked reported the category three storm A Chinese “test fl ight” landed on Fiery Beijing to investigate the ramming and sink- had maintained its intensity after Cross reef, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua ing of a Vietnamese fi shing boat by a suspected forcing hundreds of people to flee Chunying said in an online statement late Sat- Chinese boat. The fi shermen were around 60 their homes on Saturday in neigh- urday. Vietnam also claims the reef. nautical miles from Con Co Island in central bouring Tonga. It was tracking south- China has asserted its claim to almost all of Quang Tri province on Friday when a foreign west towards Fiji’s eastern Lau island the South China Sea by rapidly building artifi - boat crashed into their craft. packing winds of 150 kilometres per cial islands including airstrips said to be capa- The 11 crew members were rescued but the boat hour at its centre, the Fiji Meteorologi- ble of hosting military jets. sank, the fi shermen told the VNExpress news cal Centre said. “Initially it showed that It began work in 2014 on a 3,000-metre run- site. The captain was quoted as saying that he saw it was going to weaken, however, it A family drive a sleigh on frozen Songhua river beside the Harbin international ice and snow festival way on Fiery Cross reef in the Spratlys island Chinese characters on the foreign boat. has slowed down and maintained its in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province yesterday. Over one million visitors are expected group, around 1,000 kilometres from China’s Ha Le, deputy head of the Vietnam Fisheries intensity over the last 12 to 24 hours,” to attend the spectacular Harbin Ice Festival, where buildings of ice are bathed in ethereal lights and island province of Hainan. Surveillance Department, told AFP Chinese of- Fiji director of meteorology Ravind international ice sculptors compete for honours. Hua said the test fl ight was civilian in na- fi cials had off ered to check on the report if more Kumar told the Australian ture, adding that the “relevant activity falls details became available. Broadcasting Corp. Large crowds hold agitation over university appointment

AFP Hong Kong

arge crowds protested in Hong Kong yesterday after a pro-Be- Lijing offi cial was appointed to a senior role at the main university, as fears grow over what critics see as po- litical interference in the city’s educa- tion system. The downtown rally staged by teach- ers, students and alumni comes in the wake of Arthur Li’s selection last month as chairman of HKU’s govern- ing council. The appointment taps in to wider concerns that academic freedoms in Demonstrators hold up signs to protest against the appointment of a pro-Beijing the city are under threat, particularly professor as the chairman of the governing council of the University of Hong Kong, in the wake of last year’s student-led in Hong Kong yesterday. The sign (left) reads ”Against the appointment of Arthur Li”. mass pro-democracy rallies. Demonstrators yesterday marched to He is widely known to be close to a disappointing appointment. I think the Government House, the residence Leung, who is also the chancellor of all this is an indication that the govern- of unpopular Hong Kong leader Leung the city’s universities. ment does not want to move forward in Chun-ying, who appointed Li. “The appointment is not just about helping.” The protesters held banners that read HKU, it’s not just about universities. Li’s appointment comes after the “defend the university’s autonomy” This is an issue of governance in all of university’s council, criticised as being and “uphold academic freedom”. Oth- Hong Kong,” Benny Tai, a key fi gure in pro-Beijing, rejected liberal law scholar ers shouted “Arthur Li, you will pay.” last year’s pro-democracy movement, Johannes Chan as pro-vice chancel- Organisers said 3,000 people took told the crowd. lor at the university, sparking protests part in the protest, while police esti- “The government just does not listen from staff and students. mated the crowd at around 800. to public opinion,” added Tai, who also At a non-binding vote in November Li, a member of Hong Kong’s Execu- teaches at the school. by HKU alumni on whether Li should tive Council, the top advisory body to Protester Timothy O’Leary, a hu- be appointed, 98% said no. the government, started his three-year manities professor at HKU, told local The Hong Kong government defend- term on January 1. broadcaster Cable TV: “I think this is ed the appointment yesterday. Gulf Times Monday, January 4, 2016 9 BRITAIN

Ex-ministers’ use of embassies for private missions banned

Guardian News and Media statement: “Our embassies no Tory MP for North West Leicester- Blair, the government only sup- the 20 countries for which infor- tet representative, and where ap- London longer provide any assistance for shire, found Blair had stayed twice plied information for 20 countries. mation was requested between propriate, FCO secondees to the visits of former prime ministers at the residence of the UK ambas- The Daily Telegraph previously 2008-15, the FCO records show OQR (offi ce of the Quartet repre- and former ministers, unless the sador to the US in 2010. reported how Blair had been put that Blair stayed at the embas- sentative) would be invited. ormer ministers including visits support government objec- The former prime minister also up in the British ambassador’s of- sies in the US and France, the last “Blair has been treated no dif- Tony Blair have been banned tives. allegedly stayed at the UK ambas- fi cial residence in Manila, Philip- occasions being in 2010 and 2011 ferently from any other former Ffrom using British embassy “Former prime ministers and sador’s residence in Paris between pines, on a trip during which he respectively. PM and the notion that he has resources for free to aid their pri- former ministers who want sup- 2008 and 2011 at taxpayers’ ex- was paid almost £400,000 for two “As with other former prime used these invitations for business vate commercial work. port as representatives of UK busi- pense. speeches. ministers, Blair has been invited reasons is absurd. He stays only at New Foreign Offi ce guidelines ness must now make their requests On each visit, Blair was accom- He had also stayed at the UK to stay at embassies, though for the express invitation of the am- crack down on ministers found through the same process that all panied by up to six people, exclud- embassy in Tripoli when meeting the majority of visits he would bassador. In the case of both Paris to be staying rent free at offi cial companies follow.” ing his security team, and his party Muammar Gaddafi , the then Lib- stay in a hotel. He was usually ac- and Washington DC he will have residences and using diplomats for The disclosure comes after a was not charged for their stays. Al- yan dictator, on private business. companied by one or two mem- had political meetings as it is use- their own business interests. freedom of information request though the FoI request had sought Meanwhile, Jack Straw, the foA bers of staff although when on ful both for him and the embassy to Blair: controversial stay The Foreign Offi ce said in a submitted by Andrew Bridgen, the answers for all countries visited by spokesman for Blair said : “Of visits related to his role as Quar- compare notes.”

Fatherhood Umbrella artwork Police feel changes Funds car crash life outlook: was foul William pledged play: Farage Agencies Agencies London London

rince William says father- igel Farage has said police hood has made him real- suspected sabotage after a Pise “how precious life is” for fl ood Nwheel on his Volvo fell off and feel more aff ected by global while he was driving on a motor- events. way. “I’m a lot more emotional than The Ukip leader claimed nuts I used to be, weirdly,” William on all of the wheels of his V70 told interviewers for a documen- were found to be loose after the tary to be broadcast by ITV tel- “frightening” crash on a French evision channel today. defences road near Dunkirk. “I never used to get too wound He described how he was forced up or worried about things,” he Reuters And that’s why this work to re- to stop after losing control on the said. London pair and improve fl ood defences motorway, fl eeing the car and “But now the smallest little is so vital,” Cameron said in the darting over a barrier to avoid on- things, you well up a little more, statement. He said £10mn would coming traffi c. you get aff ected by the sort of he government has prom- be used to improve the Foss bar- He told the Mail on Sunday: “It things that happen around the ised more than £40mn to rier protecting the northern city was in the middle of nowhere, and world or whatever a lot more, I Trebuild and improve the of York, which was overwhelmed I was caught in a very bad posi- think, as a father.” country’s fl ood defences that at the height of Storm Eva. The tion. There was a huge section of “Just because you realize how failed to protect thousands of other £30mn would be spent on roadworks with cars going back precious life is and it puts it all in homes over the Christmas holi- defences on other rivers in north- and forth on the same side of the perspective,” William said. “The days. ern England. carriageway. idea of not being around to see Homes and businesses across The government would also “I suddenly realised I was los- your children grow up and stuff northern England, Scotland support charities helping those ing steering but there was no hard like that.” and northern Ireland were hit caught up in the deluge by match- shoulder to pull on to. I slowed by storms and torrential rains in ing every pound of the fi rst £2mn down, put the hazards on and Hundreds evacuated December, leaving many without raised, he said. then one of the wheels came off . aft er huge gas leak electricity and some under metres The opposition Labour Party I jumped over the wall as quickly of water after river levels reached accused the government of com- as I could to get away from lorries Hundreds of people were evac- all-time highs. Prime Minister placency and said the funding and everything.” When police ar- uated overnight after a huge David Cameron has been criti- would not go far enough. rived, they reportedly told him the gas leak in south London, police cised by opposition lawmakers for “The government has been cause was a malicious act but he and local media said. Some not doing enough to protect the woefully complacent about the decided not to take action. 500 people were evacuated country from severe weather and fl ood risk, ignoring warnings from He said: “The French police to four reception centres from the Observer newspaper yester- its own experts,” Kerry McCarthy, looked at it and said that some- several streets in the Penge day said many of Britain’s fl ood Labour’s environment, food and times nuts on one wheel can come area late Saturday, returning to defences were being abandoned rural aff airs spokeswoman, said in a bit loose - but not on all four. their homes around 5am (0500 or maintained to minimal levels a statement. “The French police and me- GMT) yesterday, reports said. because of government cuts. “Yesterday’s announcement of chanics looked at it but I have “Delighted but cold residents In a statement, Cameron an- £40mn won’t go very far at all ... made no formal complaint. The start returning to their homes in nounced a package of more than a lump sum of £40mn is a short- mechanics were absolutely certain Penge,” the police said on Twit- £40mn to improve fl ood defences term, sticking-plaster approach.” of (foul play) but I have decided to ter. Ambulance and fire crews after Storm Eva brought gales and The Observer quoted a docu- take no further action.” had been put on standby while torrential downpours to Northern ment submitted to ministers late He told the paper he had re- engineers worked overnight to Ireland, Wales, England and parts last year that said investment in ceived death threats in the past fix the leak, London’s Evening A sculpture constructed of umbrellas is seen in the rain in a street in central London, of Scotland in late December. Britain’s fl ood defences had fallen but, when asked who he thought Standard newspaper reported. Britain, yesterday. “I have seen at fi rst-hand the despite the country seeing “the might be responsible, said: “I devastation caused by fl ooding. fi ve wettest years since 2000”. haven’t got a clue.”

Revellers’ picture puts photographer in the spotlight

DPA Mancunians know how to London do, it’s party,” the news- paper said in one of several stories on its viral picture. freelance news pho- Local police described tographer said he the scene of debauchery as A was “getting abuse” “a normal night for cops, as he shot a viral picture captured brilliantly.” of new year revellers in Hannah Kirby, the young Manchester that has been woman shown stumbling viewed millions of times on in the foreground, told the social media. newspaper the picture was “Photographers are of- “hilarious.” ten seen as overt targets for The prone man in blue abuse,” Joel Goodman said had fallen down during a on Twitter yesterday. “I scuffl e between police and was getting abuse as I took another man, Kirby was the picture that went viral quoted as saying. on new year’s day.” BBC journalist Roland The wide-angle pho- Hughes claims credit for tograph focuses on a man the online attention af- wearing blue clothes ter his initial tweet of the sprawled across a road, newspaper’s picture, de- reaching for a bottle, while scribing it as “like a beauti- several police offi cers in ful painting,” was retweet- the foreground appear to ed 26,000 times. be trying to arrest another “It’s already been billed man lying on the fl oor as as the image of 2016 in a woman in a red dress some quarters,” Hughes stumbles nearby. wrote on the BBC website. Many commentators said “And it’s my fault the Manchester Evening (Goodman) received all the News picture, sarcasti- world’s attention on Fri- cally dubbed The Creation day,” Hughes said, after the of Manchester, captured a image was featured promi- common scene in British nently by several leading towns and cities as drinkers British websites and dis- spilled out onto the streets cussed by news media in from new year parties. France, Australia and New “If there’s one thing Zealand. Gulf Times 10 Monday, January 4, 2016 EUROPE Catalan separatist drive halted as Mas fails bid to form government

AFP going president Artur Mas. central government in Madrid. meeting of the party’s leadership Instead, it sought to coax the Spain’s economic output. eral elections on December 20. Madrid The announcement is a major But Mas’s “Together for Yes” where the decision was taken. CUP into backing it by promising Although the separatists were Podemos wants Catalonia to blow for Mas, who has spear- secessionist alliance, which won The CUP, an anti-capitalist a series of social reforms such as divided over the formation of a remain a part of Spain but is in headed Catalonia’s drive to break 62 seats, needed the backing of party that opposes Nato and EU extra fi nancing for homeowners new government, in November favour of allowing an independ- atalan separatists ap- away from Spain. the smaller far-left separatist membership, has consistently facing eviction and school meals they pushed a resolution through ence referendum in the region peared incapable yes- Separatists won a majority of CUP faction, which won 10 seats, refused to back Mas because of for poor children. the Catalan parliament that calls like the ones held in Scotland Cterday of forming a gov- seats in the 135-seat Catalan par- to form a government ahead of a his austerity policies of recent Failing an agreement between for the creation of an independ- in 2014, and in Quebec in 1980 ernment following intractable liament for the fi rst time in a Sep- January 9 deadline. years and his faction’s links to Mas’ coalition and the CUP on a ent republic within 18 months, and 1995, which both resulted in divisions over the identity of the tember election in the wealthy Ideological diff erences proved corruption scandals. new candidate before midnight laying down a major challenge to votes for the “No” camp. region’s future president in a northeastern region of Spain that to be too wide. But Saladie said the party on Saturday, the Catalan parlia- the central government in Ma- All other national parties move likely to trigger fresh elec- is home to 7.5mn people. “The independence move- would not “close the door” if an- ment must call fresh elections, drid. refuse to allow a referendum, tions. Last month, they approved a ment has an absolute majority other candidate were proposed. which would be a setback for the The divisions among Catalo- judging it unconstitutional. The crisis came to a head after resolution calling for the crea- (within the region) but with this Since September’s election, secession drive. nia’s secessionist camp appear to Polls show that most Catalans a far-left Catalan separatist party tion of an independent Catalan candidate ... we cannot form a Mas’s alliance has repeatedly re- It would be the fourth round of have benefi ted new anti-auster- support a referendum on inde- said that it would not back a new republic within 18 months, lay- government,” CUP deputy Sergi fused to put forward an alterna- elections since 2010 in Catalonia, ity party Podemos, which came pendence but are divided over regional government led by out- ing down a major challenge to the Saladie told reporters following a tive president. which represents nearly a fi fth of fi rst in the region in Spain’s gen- breaking from Spain.

Poland says will Italy in shock over spate honour migrant of deaths at childbirth quotas AFP In the latest case, Giovanna not paying any attention to her. of which resulted in still births, plicable, a leading gynaecologist much. The procedures we have Reuters Rome Lazzari, 29, already a mother “She would have been 30 on the mothers, aged 35 and 39, said some of the victims may in place are obsolete,” Paesano Warsaw of two who was eight months January 1. She was young and suff ered cardiac arrest during have paid the price for inad- told La Repubblica. pregnant, died on New Year’s healthy.” labour, according to reports. equate screening for the risk of Antonio Starita, medical di- taly’s health minister has Eve in Brescia, northern Italy, a Health Minister Beatrice Anna Massignan, a 34-year- thrombosis or heart problems rector at Rome’s San Camillo oland’s new conservative ordered a series of inves- day after coming to the clinic’s Lorenzin has dispatched a team old doctor from Lonigo, near emerging during the latter stag- hospital, told La Stampa: “The government will stick to Itigations after fi ve women emergency unit with a high fe- of experts to try and establish Vicenza who died on Christmas es of pregnancy. one fi gure that stands out is that Pits predecessor’s commit- died in childbirth in seven days, ver and symptoms of gastroen- what happened in the Brescia Day, succumbed after an emer- 35% of pregnancies in Italy in- ment to take in about 7,000 mi- shocking a nation with one of teritis, according to her partner clinic and three of the other four gency Cesarean eight months The childbirth deaths volve women over 35 and, at this grants despite the objections it the lowest maternal mortality Roberto Coppini. fatal cases. into her pregnancy, reportedly occurred across Italy age, the maternal mortality risk raised when it was in opposition, rates in the world. As her condition deteriorated, “We have to understand if the following a fall at home. between December 25 doubles.” Foreign Minister Witold Waszc- The deaths occurred across doctors attempted an emer- recommended procedures were Her son was delivered alive and December 31, over the Starita said blocks on hires in zykowski said. the country between December gency Cesarean but were unable followed or if there were organi- but died several hours later. holiday period parts of the health system could But it will conduct thorough 25 and 31. to save either the mother or the sational defi ciencies,” Lorenzin The one case not being inves- be creating staff shortages, par- security checks on would-be While all appear to have ex- foetus. said. “The priority is identifying tigated concerned a 23-year-old “With preventative checks we ticularly amongst midwives as- migrants and take in refugees plicable causes, their concentra- “In a few hours, I lost a baby any errors and preventing other from Foggia in southern Italy could save so many women in signed to home visits. only once their identity has tion over the holiday period has and a unique mamma. Some- tragedies.” who was approaching her due the delivery room,” said Rosalba According to World Bank fi g- been established and confi rmed, raised questions over whether one has to tell me what hap- According to media reports, date and died suddenly at home. Paesano, Professor of Gynaeco- ures, Italy has had an average of Waszczykowski said in an inter- hospital staffi ng may have been pened,” Coppini told reporters. the tragedy in Brescia was trig- Doctors were able to perform logical Science at Rome’s La Sa- four childbirth related maternal view. a factor and also over whether “Giovanna sent me a text mes- gered by a detachment of the a post-mortem Cesarean and pienza university. deaths per 100,000 live births Warsaw’s previous centre- older mothers-to-be are being sage during the night in which placenta from the wall of the pa- save her daughter. “But the health ministry since 2004, making it one of right government came in for suffi ciently monitored for warn- she told me she had very strong tient’s uterus. Although the tragedies being does not say they are required, the top ten safest countries for sharp criticism from the Law ing signs of fatal conditions. pains but that the doctors were In two of the other cases, both investigated all appear to be ex- in reality because they cost too women having a baby. and Justice (PiS) party when it broke ranks with Hungary and other eastern European nations by agreeing to take in about 7,000 refugees following a Eu- ropean Union directive for up to Merkel’s allies reignite row 120,000 migrants to be relocated across the bloc. After the conservative and eu- over migrants, seek limits rosceptic PiS won election last year to form a majority govern- ment, the incoming European Reuters/AFP aff airs minister said the Novem- Berlin ber attacks in Paris, in which Is- lamic State (IS) militants killed 130 people, meant there were no erman Chancellor Angela Mer- “political possibilities” for car- kel’s allies in Bavaria stepped up rying out the plan. Gcriticism of her open-door refu- But Waszczykowski said the gee policy yesterday, with their leader new government would stick to demanding a cap of 200,000 migrants a the plan laid out by the previous year, about a fi fth of last year’s level. administration, which envisages Merkel faces splits in her conservative Seehofer: The central goal for 2016 must fi rst arrivals this year, though it bloc and coalition with the Social Demo- be to limit the number of migrants. regarded it as legally fl awed. crats (SPD) over her insistence that Ger- Asked whether the last gov- many can cope with the crisis as towns A magnet for migrants partly due to ernment’s road map for 7,000 struggle to house migrants, many having generous social benefi ts, Europe’s biggest refugees still stood, he replied: fl ed war in the Middle East and Africa. economy is taking in more than any other “Yes, we are already prepared for Horst Seehofer, the combative leader of EU state. it and we confi rm that we’ll start the conservative Christian Social Union It registered 1.09mn migrants last year, doing it ...” (CSU) in Bavaria, where most migrants a newspaper reported last week. “The vast majority of these arriving via the Balkans enter Germany, The CSU has long called for a cap and people are emigrants, but they told Bild am Sonntag that it was possible has repeatedly threatened to take action, were treated as refugees. In to integrate up to 200,000 asylum seek- such as sending refugees back to other our view, the legal premise of ers and refugees a year. countries. this decision is faulty,” Waszc- “Anything more than that, I think is So far it has not acted on those threats zykowski said. too much,” he told the paper. “The central and towards the end of last year, Seehof- He said Poland was not “for goal for 2016 must be to limit the number er’s tone had softened. now” planning to follow in Hun- of migrants. We are at the moment a long The CSU chief also warned that Ger- gary and Slovakia’s footsteps and way from this goal.” many’s budget goals were at risk if mi- challenge the relocation scheme Seehofer hosts Merkel and Brit- grants kept arriving at the same rate. in court, but it was watching de- ish Prime Minister David Cameron at Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble velopments and liaising with the a meeting of his CSU party this week in aims for a balanced budget this year. two countries. the remote resort of Wildbad Kreuth and “If the refugee numbers stay at 2015 It would conduct thorough refugees will be a big topic. levels, a budget with no new borrowing is security checks and only accept Merkel has so far categorically refused hardly do-able,” Seehofer said. refugees who wished to relocate to set a limit. In her New Year’s address Merkel, whose popularity has waned to Poland once their identity has she told Germans the infl ux was “an op- due to the refugee crisis before fi ve re- been established and confi rmed. portunity for tomorrow”. gional elections this year, has rejected “We have information from Seehofer took the chancellor to task on a cap but in a nod to her critics, she told Germany, that the Germans are her refugee policy at a CSU meeting in her Christian Democrat (CDU) party only able to confi rm the iden- November, where the two shared a stage. last month that the number of migrants tity of around 20 percent (of mi- Stung by his criticism, Merkel re- would fall. grants), and in most cases they bounded at a CDU gathering the fol- The SPD said Seehofer’s remark ex- don’t know who those people lowing month, winning a standing ova- posed conservative rifts. are,” Waszczykowski said. tion from party members with a speech “Angela Merkel and Horst Seehofer “We cannot repeat the mis- defending Germany’s “humanitarian must reach agreement within the con- takes of other countries. We responsibility” towards migrants while servative camp. Their row is unsettling cannot aff ord migration and ref- also calling for a “tangible” reduction in people,” said SPD general secretary Kat- ugees who will not guarantee the numbers. rina Barley. security of the country.” Drowned toddler becomes first 2016 migrant casualty in the Aegean

A drowned two-year-old boy became the first known migrant port of Pythagorio on Samos, the nearest island, which is casualty of the year on Saturday after the crowded dinghy he 50km (30 miles) away. There was no immediate information was travelling in slammed into rocks off Greece’s Agathonisi about their nationalities. island, the coastguard said. “Nothing can prepare you for the horrific reality of what The other 39 passengers, including a woman who had fallen is going on. Today we came face to face with one of the overboard, were rescued after local fishermen raised the youngest victims of this ongoing refugee crisis. It is a tragic alarm. reminder of the thousands of people who have died trying to Ten of the survivors were taken to hospital to be treated for reach safety in miserable conditions,” said MOAS founder and hypothermia. US entrepreneur Christopher Catrambone in a statement. The rubber vessel had set off from Turkey in the early Despite the recent cold and choppy waters, large numbers morning in windy weather. of migrants and refugees are still setting sail from Turkey to The charity Migrant Off shore Aid Station (MOAS), which helps make the hazardous journey across the Aegean in the hope save migrants and refugees at sea, deployed its fast-rescue of reaching Greece. Responder boat to help bring the stranded passengers to Overall, nearly 1mn migrants or asylum-seekers landed in safety in a joint operation with the Hellenic coastguard. Europe in 2015 in search of a better life after setting off in The toddler’s body was pulled out of the water by fishermen, boats from either Turkey or North Africa. according to the coastguard. More than 3,600 people have died attempting to make the The migrants, including the child’s mother, were taken to the crossing. Gulf Times Monday, January 4, 2016 11 EUROPE EU executive to ‘discuss’ the rule of law in Poland AFP of legal moves giving Poland’s other cherished European values. also has to be approved by a so- by the treasury minister, and no Brussels conservative government the The upcoming Commission called qualifi ed majority of states longer through contests by the power to directly appoint the debate constitutes the fi rst stage under the EU’s system of weight- National Broadcasting Council heads of public broadcasters and of a three-step procedure. ed voting. (KRRiT). Oettinger: many reasons exist he European Union’s pow- a controversial law reforming the During the initial phase, the The Commission said it was The law would also see the ... for us to place Warsaw under erful executive has an- country’s constitutional court. Commission will collect infor- “too early to speculate about the current managers and supervi- monitoring. Tnounced that it would The changes have triggered mation and assess whether there possible next stages” in the pro- sory board members of Poland’s discuss the state of the rule of an outcry from rights watchdogs are clear indications of a systemic cedure. public broadcasters fi red with Left: Waszczykowski says the law in Poland after the country’s and prompted escalating warn- threat to the rule of law. “We are engaged in intensive immediate eff ect. media law sought ‘simply to hard-right government pushed ings from the Commission that If the threat is confi rmed, it dialogue with our Polish part- In an interview to be published cure’ Poland after 25 years of through changes to the judiciary it could intervene, including two will initiate dialogue with the ners,” the statement said. today with the German tabloid ‘liberal indoctrination’. and media. letters from its vice-president, state which will be given a chance The media bill was approved Bild, Polish Foreign Minister Wi- The unprecedented move by Frans Timmermans, asking War- to respond. on Wednesday, just two days told Waszczykowski said the law But Reporters Without Borders in the content of ... broadcasts the European Commission is the saw for information. Ultimately, if there is no satis- after it was submitted to par- sought “simply to cure” Poland (ESF), the European Broadcast- in favour of the present govern- fi rst step in a potentially-puni- Earlier yesterday Germany’s factory response, the Commis- liament, which since October’s after 25 years of “liberal indoctri- ing Union (EBU) and the Asso- ment”, the AEJ said. tive process aimed at buttressing Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung sion can propose invoking Article elections has been dominated by nation”. ciation of European Journalists Rights groups have also cried democracy and rights in the 28 (FAZ) newspaper quoted Com- 7 of the Treaty of the European the Law and Justice (PiS) party of Marek Magierowski, head of (AEJ) are among those monitors foul over what they see as an at- EU states. missioner Gunther Oettinger as Union. Jaroslaw Kaczynski. the Polish presidency’s press of- who have voiced deep concern. tempt to neuter the country’s Commission President Jean- saying that “many reasons exist Under this, a member can be To take eff ect, the new law fi ce, told the commercial news The law would “eff ectively constitutional court. Claude Juncker “has placed a fi rst ... to activate the ‘Rule of Law stripped of its voting rights in EU must be passed by the PiS- channel TVN24 that during the bring public service television The court now needs a two- debate on the rule of law in Po- mechanism’ and for us to place institutions if it is guilty of seri- controlled Senate and signed by previous eight years of liberal and radio under the direct con- thirds majority to issue a ruling, land on the agenda of the Com- Warsaw under monitoring”. ous and persistent breaches of President Andrzej Duda. government, “we didn’t get a trol of the government, involve rather than by a simple majority mission’s meeting on January 13”, The mechanism was set up in the rule of law. It would mean that senior fi g- penny’s worth of pluralism in the the dismissal of respected jour- as before, and 13 of its 15 judges a statement in Brussels said. March 2014 to tackle “systemic However, the punishment has ures in public radio and television media, and not a single Euro-MP nalists for political reasons, and must be present for the most The move comes on the heels threats” to the rule of law and never been meted out – and it will be appointed – and sacked – uttered a word of regret about it”. lead to a systematic editorial bias contentious cases, up from nine.

Expelled French journalist warns of dark days for media in China

AFP of supporting terrorism after she “What happened with this After landing in France, spent six years in China, sug- plain the origin of the anger of Paris wrote an article questioning offi - small article about Xinjiang Gauthier vowed to continue gested that violence by Uighurs young Arabs who become radi- cial comparisons between global could happen with anything writing about China and con- against civilians in the region – calised, there are roots to it.” Islamist violence and unrest in else,” she said. “This could be re- demned Beijing over her eff ective where clashes have killed hun- Chinese media and offi cials French reporter forced the homeland of the mainly Mus- ally dangerous in the future.” expulsion. dreds in recent years – was in strongly criticised her article, to leave Beijing after she lim Uighur ethnic minority. France and Europe should be In her story for L’Obs, Gauth- part driven by resentment of with the Communist Party-af- Acriticised government It then refused to renew her “concerned about what is going ier questioned China’s motives government policies. fi liated Global Times saying that policy in violence-racked Xin- credentials, obliging her to leave on here, not because it is a jour- in expressing sympathy for the “I didn’t write that I supported it “severely distorted the reality jiang arrived home on Friday af- on December 31 when her visa nalist, not only because of the victims of the November 13 Paris terrorism, I never supported ter- in Xinjiang” and represented a ter warning of dark days ahead expired. freedom of press, but also be- attacks, writing that they were rorism in my article,” she told “double standard” on terrorism. Gauthier : I didn’t write that I for journalists working in China. Speaking from her Beijing cause it is about China and what calculated to tie Beijing’s harsh AFP. The journalist said her home supported terrorism, I never Beijing accused Ursula Gauth- home before departing, Gauthier China is doing to its minorities, policies in Xinjiang into the fi ght “I was simply explaining that address was posted online along- supported terrorism in my ier, the China correspondent for said the future looked bleak for and even its majority, the prob- against global terrorism. the Uighurs’ anger came from side death threats from angry article. France’s L’Obs news magazine, journalists in China. lem is the same”, she added. The veteran reporter, who has somewhere, just like we can ex- readers. Gulf Times 12 Monday, January 4, 2016 INDIA

Tamil Nadu Roundup By Umaima Shafiq Over 150,000 Gulf Times Correspondent

Govt refuses permission RSS activists to screen film on Veerappan

The Tamil Nadu government has refused permission to screen a biopic on slain forest gather for brigand Veerappan produced by filmmaker Ram Gopal Verma despite a go ahead from the Chennai High Court. Veerappan lived a Robin Hood like lifestyle in the Sathyamangalam forests and rally in Pune was involved in smuggling sandalwood, kidnapping The organisation enjoys never been greater following the a mosque in Ayodhya which led celebrities, extortion and other unprecedented political clout election in May 2014 of Modi, to deadly nationwide riots. unlawful activities. He was shot under the BJP government a former RSS foot-soldier. At- It favours a uniform civil code dead by a Tamil Nadu Special tendees, who ranged in age from for India rather than personal Task Force in 2004. AFP 15 to 102, were in bullish mood. laws for diff erent religions, the Verma’s film titled Killing Pune “People in the RSS look up to protection of cows and the con- Veerappan, made in Kannada, Modi as an example of what we struction of a temple on the dis- Tamil and Telugu portrays can become. He gives our organ- puted Ayodhya site. the brigand’s last moments. ore than 150,000 Hindu isation a great image,” Vinayak Modi helped the group out as a Ironically Kannada actor Shivraj hardliners, all dressed Deshpande, 32, said. boy and as a young adult became Kumar, whose late father, actor Min khaki shorts, white Another volunteer, who asked a full-time volunteer for more Rajkumar, was kidnapped by shirts and black hats, put on a not to be named, said the RSS than 15 years, taking the requi- Veerappan and held hostage for massive show of strength at an had witnessed a 20% increase site vow of celibacy, before join- 108 days in 2000 has a major elaborate rally here yesterday. in activists since Modi became ing the BJP. role in the film. It was the largest-ever gather- prime minister. “With Modi as Thousands of RSS followers ing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak prime minister the RSS is on the campaigned across India to help Sangh (RSS), a group seen as the right track,” he said. end 10 years of Congress rule and Roads to be ideological parent of Prime Min- The RSS, formed in 1925, is In- propel Modi to the premiership. rebuilt with ister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya dia’s biggest grassroots religious Almost two years into his term Janata Party, offi cials said. organisation and is believed experts say the organisation plastic waste Activists, all men, marched to have around 5mn activists, enjoys unprecedented political in unison with wooden staff s, known as “Swayamsevaks”. clout. The Chennai Corporation has chanted, sat in mass prayer and It is notoriously secretive - Writing in The Indian Ex- floated tenders for laying roads listened intently as RSS chief Mo- volunteers do not formally reg- press, Shyamlal Yadav, an expert damaged by the recent heavy han Bhagwat delivered a speech ister as members and communi- on the RSS, said the organisation rains with plastic waste mixed from a stage surrounded by walls cations are often done verbally. “wields considerable power... with bitumen on at least 45 bus designed to resemble a fort. Yesterday’s event was rare for its sometimes dictating policies”. routes of Tondiarpet, Royapuram, A marching band composed of size and for its open invitation to Kumar Ketkar, a political ana- Thiru Vika Nagar, Ambattur, 2,000 RSS volunteers also played the media. lyst in Mumbai, agreed. Anna Nagar, Teynampet and while a giant saff ron fl ag, the col- Shreerang Godbole, an RSS “Across the board RSS men are Kodambakkam. our most associated with Hindu- offi cial, said it was the larg- being appointed. For example they This technology conceived ism, was hoisted on a post over est RSS camp ever held. Some have signifi cant infl uence in the and patented by Professor 20m high at the 450-acre rally site. 160,000 volunteers had regis- human resources ministry, which R Vasudevan, the dean of The RSS styles itself as a cul- tered to attend and practically all includes education,” he said. Thiagaraja Engineering College tural organisation devoted to had turned up, organisers said. RSS advocates have welcomed in Madurai, found sponsorship protecting Hindu culture. But The organisation has been a toughened beef ban in Ma- during Chief Minister Jayaram critics accuse it of being an anti- banned three times in post-in- harashtra since Modi came to Jayalalithaa’s 2006 tenure but Muslim pseudo-fascist organi- dependence India, including af- power, but are likely to have been petered out due to laxity in sation with a history of fuelling ter a former member assassinat- disappointed by his focus on segregation and collection of religious tensions. ed Mahatma Gandhi in 1948 and economic growth and his failure virgin plastic waste. An RSS volunteer climbs atop a tree as he listens to Mohan Bhagwat speak at a rally in Pune yesterday. Analysts say its infl uence has following the 1992 demolition of to take a stance on Ayodhya. Film actor Krishna files for divorce Bardhan’s infl uence extended across political spectrum, says Pranab Up and coming Tamil film actor Krishna Kulasekaran and his wife IANS son Ashok Bardhan, Mukher- spectrum. As a veteran leader of “He was fully committed to of the nation was one of his other “His body is in the mortuary Hemalatha are fighting a divorce New Delhi jee said the nation had lost an the CPI, he made immense con- his ideology and principles. He commitments apart from raising of GB Pant Hospital and it will and dowry harassment case in “outstanding public fi gure and a tribution towards advancing the was a leading fi gure of the trade the issue of agrarian distress and be brought to the party head- the Mardas High Court. dedicated trade union leader.” cause of the working class.” union movement and a voice of growing hardships on labour. He quarters, Ajoy Bhavan, around Krishna and Hemalatha met resident Pranab Mukher- “I am deeply saddened to In his passing away, the na- the poor. He will always be re- had to brave several challenges 10am and will be placed there and married through an online jee yesterday expressed know about the demise of your tion has lost a dedicated trade membered for his excellent ora- and struggles to make a place till 1pm,” the party leader said. dating site at Mettupalayam in Pgrief over the death of father... he was a personal friend union leader who was always in tory,” Advani said. for himself in politics and social Bardhan, 92, suff ered a para- Coimbatore district in February veteran Communist Party of In- and colleague of long years. touch with the grassroots of so- He said Bardhan’s politics work,” the BJP veteran said. lytic stroke on December 7, fol- 2014. The couple lived in Chennai dia leader A B Bardhan, saying “Widely respected for his ciety, he added. involved more than the issue of The last rites of the veteran lowing which he was admitted and while Krishna worked in his “infl uence extended across wisdom and commitment to Senior Bharatiya Janata Party Kisan (farmer) and Mazdoor (la- leader will be performed today to hospital. He was on ventila- films, Hemalatha worked in a the political spectrum.” the poor, Bardhan’s infl uence leader L K Advani described Bard- bourer). at Nigambodh Ghat, a senior tor for the last two weeks. He software firm. In a condolence message to his extended across the political han as the “voice of the poor”. “Protecting the secular fabric party leader said. died on Saturday. Multi-level Kerala politicians begin fl yovers planned in campaigns ahead of polls

By Ashraf Padanna has since crashed to $34 from clarifi ed that the ongoing de- Hyderabad Gulf Times Correspondent $104.08. He is not passing on velopment projects would not Thiruvananthapuram its benefi ts to the people,” Sud- get aff ected if the LDF comes to heeran said in a statement is- power. IANS sued here yesterday. The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Hyderabad M Sudheeran, presi- “There should be a massive state president Kummanam dent of the Congress protest against the federal gov- Rajasekharan will begin his V Party in Kerala, will ernment.” journey on January 20 and aking the fi rst step towards redesigning embark on a month-long The journey will cover all the conclude on February 9 after the entire road network in Hyderabad, statewide journey starting 140 assembly constituencies covering all the 140 constitu- Tthe Telangana government yesterday today in the run-up to state before concluding here on Feb- encies. The BJP’s moves are laid the foundation stone for multi-level fl yo- elections this summer. ruary 9. closely watched by rivals as its vers at three places in the city. Chief Minister Oommen Communist Party of India rise could tilt the fortunes of State Information Technology Minister K Chandy will flag off the Jana (Marxist) leader Pinarayi Vi- many leaders. Tarakarama Rao laid the foundation stone for Raksha Yatra or the journey to jayan, widely seen as the chief The saff ron party had estab- the multi-level fl yovers under the Strategic save people from what Sud- ministerial candidate of the lished a lead in four assembly Road Development Plan (SRDP) at K B R Park heeran described as the “an- Left Democratic Front (LDF), segments in the 2014 parlia- in Banjara Hills and at Mindspace and Rajiv ti-people policies” of Prime will soon hit the road with the mentary elections when BJP’s Park in Hitec City. Minister Narendra Modi, in slogan of creating a “new Ker- vote share increased to 10% Federal Labour Minister Bandaru Dat- the northern town of Kum- ala”. from 6 while the Congress- tatreya, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister bala. He has already hinted at a led United Democratic Front Mahmood Ali and other state ministers at- He will also highlight the tectonic change in the party’s (UDF) had an edge in 80 of tended the foundation-stone laying ceremo- development initiatives of the approach to development, them. ny. Chandy government “while criticising the Chandy gov- The BJP’s support base Tarakarama Rao, the son of Chief Minister caring for the underprivileged ernment for its failure to ex- went up further to 13.5% K Chandrasekhar Rao, said multi-level fl yo- and the poor” beside his pet pedite widening of national in the recent civic polls in vers and skywalks like those in cities across theme of phased prohibition highways and laying pipelines which the LDF polled 0.13% the world would be built in Hyderabad in that has pitted the powerful to bring LNG from the Kochi more votes than a fratricidal three years at a cost of over Rs200bn. liquor lobby against the gov- terminal. UDF. “We will go ahead with the major plan for ernment. Vijayan, who had proven Indian Union Muslim League road improvement with or without anybody’s Home Minister Ramesh his mettle when he was the leader and Industries Minister help,” he said in an oblique reference to the Chennithala will preside over energy minister for two years P K Kunhalikutty will begin his central government. the inaugural rally in what is as and almost doubled the Kerala Yatra with the slogan of He said the SRDP was prepared to meet the widely perceived as an attempt state’s captive power capac- “friendship, equality and con- growing requirements of the city, which has a to put up a facade of unity ity, also focuses on corrup- sensus,” from Uppala on Janu- population of over 10mn. among the three leaders ahead tion allegations against the ary 24 and conclude here on Under the plan, multi-level fl yovers, sky- of the elections. government. February 11. walks and signal-less junctions will be devel- “He (Modi) has increased His journey will begin from Communist Party of India oped at 54 places in the city. fuel prices by jacking up taxes Manjeswaram on January 15 state secretary Kanam Rajen- Under the fi rst phase, 50 fl yovers will be eight times since he came to and conclude here in the state dran will set out on a month- built at 18 junctions. power while the crude oil price capital on February 14. He has long tour on January 27.

Gulf Times 14 Monday, January 4, 2016 INDIA Gunfi re continues at air base Seven military, four militants attack and said it wanted to con- confirmed killed tinue to build on the goodwill created by the impromptu meet- Reuters ing between Modi and Sharif last Pathankot month. Gunfi re continued into the evening as security forces hunt- ecurity forces continued to ed the remaining attackers in the battle yesterday to secure Indian Air Force base, a sprawl- San air base near the border ing compound that lies just 25km with Pakistan, a day after a mili- from the border with Pakistan. tant attack that has killed seven In a TV briefi ng from military personnel and wounded Pathankot, Air Commodore J S another 20. Dhamoon said the attackers had As night fell, it was unclear burst into a guards’ mess at the whether two or more militants air base, where they were pre- were still at large after Sat- paring breakfast on Saturday urday’s pre-dawn raid on the morning. Pathankot air base in Punjab. A guard chased after one of Four attackers have been con- the attackers and killed him in firmed killed. the struggle, only to be shot dead “The area cannot be declared by a gunman’s bullet. The other fully sanitised,” Air Marshal Anil three attackers were neutralised Khosla told a news briefi ng in in the late afternoon, said Dha- New Delhi. moon. Home Secretary Rajiv Mehri- Indian leaders had already shi told reporters he hoped the praised the armed forces for two believed still to be at large their heroism in Saturday’s would be “neutralised” over- shootout, with Modi saying night. Without recovering their they did not let the “enemies bodies they could not be con- of humanity” who attacked the fi rmed dead. base succeed. That contradicted earlier But that appeared premature statements by home ministry yesterday, as shooting broke out and army officials who, speak- after midday, sparking a renewed ing on condition of anonymity, manhunt on the base, from said the two holdouts had been which Indian Air Force MiG-21 killed. fi ghter jets and attack helicop- The attack by gunmen dis- ters fl y. guised as soldiers came a week Modi returned from a tour of after Prime Minister Narendra southern India to chair a high- Modi made an unscheduled visit level meeting with his national to Pakistani counterpart Nawaz security adviser and foreign pol- Sharif in an eff ort to revive talks icy team, the government press between the neighbours. offi ce said. Offi cials said the attack bore Military trucks were seen en- Soldiers stand guard near the Indian Air Force base at Pathankot yesterday. Troops worked to clear the base after a 15-hour gunbattle. the hallmarks of previous sus- tering and exiting the walled pected assaults by Pakistan- compound throughout the day, gold and silver medals in the is a known route for drug smug- “The casualties were un- fi cer’s car and driven it to the after offi cials received infor- based militant groups, under- including a demining vehicle. fi rst Commonwealth Shooting glers and is less closely guard- acceptably high,” said Nitin base. It took 12 hours for infor- mation about a possible bomb scoring the fragility of recent Dozens of security guards con- Championships held in 1995, the ed than the frontier running Gokhale, a defence analyst and mation on the hijacking to be threat on an intercity train, rail- eff orts to revive bilateral talks tinued their vigil, while protest- National Rifl e Association of In- through Kashmir. journalist who said that intel- circulated, according to news ways spokesman Neeraj Sharma between the often uneasy neigh- ers shouted slogans and burned a dia said. Five of the seven Indian mili- ligence on a possible attack had reports, allowing the attackers to said. bours. Pakistani fl ag nearby. The breaching of the base’s tary reported killed served in the not been passed on in time to keep the initiative. Trains were deemed safe There was no immediate claim One of the Indian security defences has raised questions Defence Security Corps, a unit alert sentries at the base. In New Delhi, two trains were and were running on sched- of responsibility. men killed in the attack was about lax security on the inter- staff ed by veterans no longer in Police have said the gunmen delayed early yesterday amid ule by mid-morning, Sharma Pakistan has condemned the Subedar Fateh Singh, who won national border in Punjab, which active service. had earlier hijacked a police of- heightened security concerns said. Sushma meets ex-diplomats, former envoys to Pakistan

IANS signalled a thaw in India-Pakistan re- more strength (of the BSF), especially New Delhi lations but Saturday’s Pathankot terror because this area is close to the border attack is seen as an attempt by forces with Jammu and Kashmir,” Badal said. across the border to derail the pro- “There have been two major inci- xternal Aff airs Minister Sushma posed foreign secretary-level talks in dents of infi ltration in Punjab through Swaraj yesterday met here with Islamabad in the middle of this month. the same sector,” he said. Etwo former foreign secretaries Badal, who is also the state home and four former envoys to Pakistan as >> The present strength of the Bor- minister, said Punjab police will also the government sought wider consul- der Security Force in the Punjab sector have a “second line of defence” in the tation over its policy towards Pakistan is inadequate, and the state govern- area to counter any terror threat in fu- following the militant attack on the In- ment wants the force strengthened in ture. dian Air Force base in Pathankot. view of the attack on air force base, “We will have a new police lines Swaraj met with Shiv Shankar Me- Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh and a commando battalion in non, former foreign secretary and na- Badal said yesterday. Pathankot for quick response. Also a tional security adviser; Shyam Saran, “The BSF strength is not adequate. SWAT (special weapons and tactics) former foreign secretary; Satinder Because this (Punjab) is a peaceful quick response team will be stationed Lambah, former envoy to Pakistan and state, the strength is less. We need here,” he said. former special envoy to the prime min- ister who conducted back channel talks Commando’s last rites to be held in Kerala with Pakistan; and three former envoys to Pakistan - T C A Raghavan, Sharad The body of a commando, killed in Palakkad, lived in Bengaluru. He is Sabharwal and Satyabrata Pal. the operation at the Indian Air Force survived by his wife and a two-year- Raghavan, who retired as India’s base in Pathankot, will be brought old child. His uncle said the martyred high commissioner to Pakistan on De- back to his hometown near Palakkad off icer’s last rites would be performed cember 31, was present when Prime today for the last rites, a relative said in Palakkad today. “The body will be Minister Narendra Modi made his sur- yesterday. Lt Col Niranjan Kumar brought by road from Bengaluru. prise stopover in Lahore to greet Paki- of the National Security Guard was It will be placed at a school for the stani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on killed in “mopping up operations” in public to pay their homage,” said the his birthday. Pathankot, Home Minister Rajnath uncle. The off icer’s father has left Ministry offi cials refused to give de- Singh announced earlier in the day. for Delhi to receive his son’s mortal tails of yesterday’s meeting. Kumar, whose parents hail from remains. Modi’s surprise visit to Lahore had

India must end reliance on imported arms: PM

IANS Coming up at 610 acres at Bidare- or indirectly get livelihood due to this Bengaluru hallikaval village, 125km from Ben- factory,” he said. galuru, the new facility, which will Governor Vajubhai Vala, Chief Min- entail investment of approximately ister Siddaramaiah, Defence Minister rime Minister Narendra Modi Rs40bn, will manufacture up to 10 Manohar Parrikar, federal ministers D said yesterday it India must classes of helicopters including Light V Sadananda Gowda, Ananth Kumar P end its dependence on im- Combat Helicopter (LCH), Light Util- and G M Siddeshwara (who hail from ported weaponry and become self- ity Helicopter (LUH) and Naval Multi- the state) were present at the ceremo- sufficient as it did in respect of food Role Helicopters (NMRH). ny. grains. Modi said the government was com- Earlier in the day, speaking in Mysu- “Indian armed forces are second to mitted to defence manufacturing, and ru, the prime minister said good gov- none, and now the time has come to added: “Helicopters manufactured in ernance is not limited to policy and ensure that the weapons and equip- Tumkur will serve soldiers stationed in decision-making, it is also “about ment they carried and used are also remote locations.” integrating science and technology the best in the world. For this, India “Manufacturing unit coming up in choices we make and strategies we needs to end dependence on imported in Tumkur would not be an ordinary pursue”. weaponry, which is expensive and is one, but one which would make the Inaugurating the 103rd Indian not of the latest technology,” Modi said whole world take notice,” he said, call- Science Congress, the prime minis- after laying the foundation stone for ing upon HAL to ensure that the fi rst ter appreciated the event’s theme — Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s new helicopter built in the new plant takes ‘Science and Technology for Indig- helicopter manufacturing unit in Kar- fl ight by 2018. enous Development in India’, saying nataka’s Tumkur district. Reiterating the vision of Indian con- it was a fitting tribute to former Recalling former Indian prime min- stitution’s architect B R Ambedkar for president A P J Abdul Kalam’s vi- ister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s famous slo- industrialisation in India as a vehicle sion. gan of “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”, Modi not- to empower to the poor and down- “It’s a great pleasure to begin this ed that India achieved self-suffi ciency trodden, Modi said the new helicopter year in the company of leaders of sci- in food grains in the last 50 years and manufacturing unit is a step in fulfi ll- ence from India and the world,” Modi called upon similar replication in in- ing that vision. said addressing a huge gathering of digenous weaponry. “Nearly 4,000 families will directly about 15,000 scientists. Gulf Times Monday, January 4, 2016 15 LATIN AMERICA

CRIME VIOLENCE LAW AND ORDER DECISION APPOINTMENT Mexico mayor slain Eight killed in Guatemala Head of Colombian Venezuela delays gas Cuba names student to after first day in off ice prison fight: off icial crime syndicate held exports to Colombia greying Council of State

Armed commandos assassinated the mayor A fight at an overcrowded Guatemalan prison Police in Peru have arrested the last leader of the Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA, has Cuba named a 23-year-old student to the Council of a southern Mexican city and two other killed at least eight prisoners and wounded 20, Colombian drug and crime syndicate known as delayed the export of natural gas to Colombia of State, one of the communist island’s most people in her home, one day after she took the country’s interior minister said. An altercation Oficina de Envigado (Off ice of Envigado). Carlos because of climate factors, the Colombian powerful bodies, off icial media said, the latest sign office, state authorities said. Gisela Mota between two inmates turned into a battle between Arturo Hernandez Ossa, also known as Duncan, Mines and Energy Ministry said. In a letter to the of a generational shift. Student union president Ocampo was mayor of Temixco, located rival gangs at the prison in Puerto Barrios, about was taken into custody in a restaurant in Lima, the Colombian government, PDVSA said the exports Jennifer Bello, who is studying to become a 12kms from state capital Cuernavaca, from 300km northeast of the capital, said Interior Colombian police said. He is accused of murder, would not begin because of “climate variability,” teacher, takes the post vacated by 76-year-old the leftist Democratic Revolucion Party. “This Minister Eunice Mendizabal, who arrived at the drug traff icking, terrorism and criminal conspiracy. the ministry said in a statement. The exports are General Abelardo Colome who stepped down in is a challenge of the criminal elements. We prison after the incident. Mendizabal said there He also faces extradition to the US. The Oficina de part of a deal between the two countries, which October because of poor health. “This is the first will never yield,” Morelos state governor were nearly 1,000 prisoners in the prison that was Envigado initially served the Medellin cartel run includes provisions for the neighbours to supply time a student leader has held a position on this Graco Ramirez said on Twitter. Two of the designed to hold 400. The incident was the latest by drug boss Pablo Escobar as its armed wing and their own markets if necessary before exporting. important leadership body, which confirms the attackers were killed by police as they fled the in a string of deadly prison fights in the Central was part of the right-wing paramilitary during the Colombian state oil company Ecopetrol has Revolution’s confidence in its youth,” said state scene and three suspects were apprehended American country in recent years. In November, 16 civil war. After the demobilisation of the militia, its asked PDVSA to give a new date by which the newspaper Granma. Bello was elected to the post later in the surrounding vicinity, state police prisoners were killed in a prison riot, with three of members dedicated themselves mainly to drug exports could begin. PDVSA did not immediately with 552 votes for and six against in the National commissioner Alberto Capella said. the victims decapitated. traff icking and extortion. respond to an e-mail seeking comment. Assembly of People’s Power, the Cuban legislature.

Flood misery Panama canal works Rolls-Royce to fi nish by May, says president faces fresh

AFP Panama City

anama’s expansion of its questions in century-old canal, which Phas suff ered costly over- runs and major delays, is now to be complete “around the month of May,” President Juan Carlos Varela said. The leader, speaking in an ad- graft probe dress to the nation, also urged the Spanish-led consortium Engineering giant declines to other major Brazilian and for- Royce’s activities in Brazil”. behind the project to leave le- answer claims against agent eign companies. The scandal, Faerman said he was unable to gal disputes to the “competent Julio Faerman who has been which continues to unfold, has comment on the SBM case due to authorities” and focus on com- charged with bribery, money- had a profound impact on Brazil’s a plea bargain he has signed with pleting its work on the water- laundering and tax evasion economy and political landscape. Brazilian authorities. He de- way. Prosecutors behind Operation clined to comment on a report in The appeal came after a dis- Guardian News and Media Black Blood have charged a group the Folha de Sao Paulo newspa- pute adjudication board hearing London of 12 individuals, including Faer- per before Christmas, which said a budget overrun row ordered man and his business partner, he has admitted to paying bribes the state’s Panama Canal Au- for their alleged participation in in the SBM case and ordered to thority to pay the consortium olls-Royce is facing fresh a long-running bribery scheme pay back $54mn. $17mn for extra labour costs and questions over its ties to an between Petrobras and one of This latest development comes for a strike called by workers. Rinfl uential Brazilian busi- its major contractors, SBM Off - as Rolls-Royce remains under “With respect, I am calling on nessman after he was charged in shore, which builds specialist criminal investigation in the UK the contractors for the expan- connection with a high-profi le ships for the oil and gas industry. over bribery allegations in Asia. sion project to hold a dialogue corruption investigation known Faerman, a former sales agent The Serious Fraud Offi ce (SFO) with the Panama Canal Author- as Operation Black Blood. for SBM in Brazil, was allegedly launched its investigation in De- ity, to allow work to be com- The businessman, who worked involved in arranging multi-mil- cember 2013 . Three months later, pleted, to leave legal disputes in as a representative for Rolls-Royce lion-dollar bribes for the Dutch Rolls-Royce disclosed it is also the hands of the competent au- in Brazil, was charged before company. At least $46mn of co-operating with investigators thorities and to avoid mediatised Christmas with alleged bribery, payments were made via Swiss at the US department of justice. diff erences that in no way help money-laundering and tax eva- bank accounts, according to a The Guardian understands the the image of the contractors, the sion as part of a scheme involv- statement from federal prosecu- SFO met with Brazilian prosecu- Canal Authority and the Repub- ing a Dutch company and Brazil’s tors in Rio de Janeiro. tors earlier this year in connec- lic of Panama,” Varela said. state-owned oil giant Petrobras. Senior executives at SBM, in- tion to the Petrobras aff air. The The consortium, Grupo Uni- Rolls-Royce has repeatedly cluding its current chief execu- SFO has previously indicated the dos por el Canal de Panama, declined to comment on its re- tive, are among those charged, as investigation concerns multiple started the expansion work on lationship with the business- well as former Petrobras execu- divisions of Rolls-Royce, but de- the canal in 2007. The project is man, Julio Faerman, who told the tives such as Pedro Barusco, who clined to comment on whether well behind schedule. Guardian his company acted as has alleged in testimony he re- the investigation is now consider- The extensions were originally an agent for Rolls-Royce when it ceived bribes from Rolls-Royce. ing the group’s activities in Brazil. meant to have been completed sold power turbines to Petrobras Rolls-Royce declined to an- Rolls-Royce is currently under- in October 2014 but were then for off shore oil platforms. Faer- swer the Guardian’s questions going company-wide upheaval pushed back to an April 2016 man denies any wrongdoing. about its relationship with Faer- after a series of profi t warnings deadline. The British engineering group man. Echoing previous state- over the past two years. Earlier Varela’s announcement indi- is currently co-operating with ments about allegations in this month, Warren East, who cated that that may have slipped Brazilian authorities investigat- Brazil, a spokesman said Rolls- became chief executive in July, again, to May this year. ing alleged corruption at Petro- Royce has “repeatedly made ordered a drastic restructuring of The work on the century-old bras and its contractors. Earlier clear it will not tolerate business the group in an eff ort to cut costs. canal aims to triple its capacity. this year, allegations emerged misconduct of any kind”. In Brazil, the sprawling inves- The cost of the work was pro- that Rolls-Royce paid bribes to He added: “We have con- tigation into the Petrobras aff air jected at $5.3bn, but that has a ring of Petrobras executives fi rmed that we are co-operating - known as Operation Car Wash been greatly exceeded. and politicians via its agent in with investigating authorities in - intensifi ed in December when Varela also said it was “imper- exchange for a $100mn contract Brazil, but are unable to com- federal police conducted 53 raids ative” to start a study on devel- The Concordia area in Entre Rios province, Argentina, is flooded due to heavy rains. with the oil company. ment further on the nature of across seven states, including oping a river basin to guarantee Flooding and mudslides unleashed by torrential rains have killed at least 10 people and The allegations against Rolls- that co-operation.” residences of senior politicians. water supplies for human use driven more than 150,000 from their homes in Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay in Royce form part of a widespread, In an e-mail, Faerman told the Around 30 foreign companies and for the functioning of the recent days. multi-billion-dollar scandal Guardian he has “not committed are believed to be under investi- canal. that has engulfed Petrobras and any irregularity related to Rolls- gation.

Cityscape Brazil defends treasures US seeks Honduran of its ‘Blue Amazon’ tycoon’s extradition AFP ed out that legal action is already Washington pending in Honduras against the AFP from beneath the sea bed in this dade on the path to devastation. infl uential businessman. Brasilia ocean region of 3.6mn square The animals bred uncontrol- According to the public min- kilometres. But the waters also lably, eating away the island’s he US has requested the istry, the tycoon is suspected of conceal other seabed resources: vegetation and the eggs of the extradition of former Hon- “tax fraud and falsifying public undreds of years ago, gold, phosphorous, manganese island’s green turtles and dis- Tduran vice president Jaime documents,” accusations which Brazil’s southern At- and lime deposits which have rupting its water courses. Rosenthal, one of the country’s reportedly have to do with meat Hlantic waters were numerous uses in construction Brazil won control of the is- biggest tycoons, whom it accuses imports from Brazil being falsely sailed by pirates in search of and agriculture. land in the late 19th century. of drug traffi cking and money documented as US meat to avoid plunder. Now these remote Among the organisms in the A strategic spot in the mid- laundering, Tegucigalpa said. duties. depths, dubbed the “Blue Am- ocean are “calcareous algae”, Atlantic, it was the scene of a The US treasury department Yankel Rosenthal was arrested azon”, hold richer treasures for useful to farmers, says Cesar de sea battle between British and announced in October that it was in Miami by US authorities on scientists. Melo, an agronomist at Lavras German ships at the outbreak targeting the 79-year-old, his October 6, one day before the Nowadays it is the Brazil- Federal University. of World War I. son Yani and his nephew Yankel Treasury made its announce- ian navy that patrols the seas He says that Brazil imports In the 1990s, Brazil fi nally “for their money laundering and ment, and has since been trans- off the country’s eastern coast 80% of its fertiliser, while one decided to cull hundreds of drug traffi cking activities.” ferred to New York, where he to protect its oil platforms of nature’s best fertilisers is rampant goats and sheep to “It’s not a day of joy for Hon- faces more charges on the same and mineral reserves in a re- teeming in the nearby ocean. save the island’s native species. duras, it’s not even close to a day off ences. Yani gave himself up to gion teeming with turtles and De Melo has spent 20 years The last goat was shot down of joy for the Rosenthal family, authorities in New York. whales. studying its benefi ts. in 2005. Now little by little, sci- we all regret and would prefer Both have been released on And hundreds of miles over On the way back from Trin- entists say, the rocky island is that it did not happen, but the bail for the duration of the trial. the water on the small island of dade the ship will patrol the regaining its natural diversity. extradition request is in,” For- US authorities have linked the Trindade, naturalists are work- oil-drilling areas, expelling any “On my fi rst mission here in eign Minister Arturo Corrales Rosenthals to the notorious Los ing to recover an area that was unauthorised vessels that stray 1994, I found the island devas- told local media. Cachiros cartel and have im- ruined by British settlers in into the security zone. tated,” said Ruy Valka Alves, a Corrales said Honduras re- posed an asset freeze on the men the 18th century. The Brazilian But fi rst it must take supplies botanist from Brazil’s National ceived the extradition request and barred US companies from navy patrol ship APA sets sail and personnel to Trindade, Museum, who has visited Trin- before December 24, but had dealing with them, leading to the from Rio de Janeiro for Trin- home to a few scientists and dade about 20 times. been waiting for the document closure of a Honduras bank and dade, which lies 1,167kms from about 30 navy personnel. “Today I believe the veg- to be translated into Spanish. a newspaper, both owned by the Vitoria in southeastern Brazil. When the British astronomer etation is clearly regenerating. He added that the elder family. The Honduran govern- Dozens of fi xed and fl oating Edmond Halley stepped off his We have tested it through fi eld Rosenthal, who was vice presi- ment has expropriated around oil platforms line the horizon. boat here in 1700 with a herd work and satellite images,” he Cubans play dominoes on a street in Havana. dent from 1986 to 1989, suff ers 50 of the family’s businesses and Brazil drills 90% of its oil of sheep and goats, he set Trin- added. from “serious illness” and point- properties. Gulf Times 16 Monday, January 4, 2016 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN India silent on Military operation top offi cial’s Pakistan visit

Internws had the similarity with at least Iran and India. Islamabad two attacks earlier taken place In the meanwhile China has in Pakistan on its air bases. It in- appointed its representative for dicates that the attackers are the Afghanistan and Pakistan Deng ew Delhi hasn’t yet given same who targeted fi rst Pakistan Xijun and United States has des- to Islamabad the sched- and now trying to penetrate in ignated its former ambassador Nule of its Secretary for India, the sources reminded. for Pakistan Richard Olson for External Aff airs Dr Shankar’s In the meanwhile quadrilat- representing their respective travelling to Pakistan’s capital for eral international steering com- countries in the steering com- talks; tied up for mid-January. mittee on Afghanistan will have mittee. Richard Olson is also US The understanding for the its fi rst meeting in Islamabad on representative for Afghanistan Foreign Secretary level talks was January 11 (Monday). It includes and Pakistan on behalf of the developed in the meeting of the four countries; Pakistan, China, United States. Prime Ministers of Pakistan and United States and Afghanistan. Pakistan has already appoint- India on 25th of last month. The committee was formed ed Lieutenant General (R) Nasser The agreement for resumption during last month’s Heart of Khan Janjua as National Security of talks was announced on 9th of Asia Conference which was also Adviser (NSA) for Prime Minis- An Afghan army soldier prepares to launch a missile during a military operation in Chahar Dara district of Kunduz province, December by Indian Minister for attended by Prime Minister Na- ter and Afghanistan has desig- Afghanistan, on January 2. Up to 21 Taliban militants have been killed during series of operations in the conflict-ridden Afghanistan External Aff airs Sushma Swaraj waz Sharif, Afghan President nated its President’s NSA Hanif over the past 48 hours, Ministry of Interior said. during her trip to Islamabad. Ashraf Ghani and Foreign Min- Athmar as its representative for The Foreign Offi ce is hope- isters of 12 countries including the committee. ful that the Pathankot inci- dent where a group of terrorists Islamabad condemns Pathankot terror attack stormed the airbase in the wee hours of Sunday and killed four Pakistan has condemned the people speedy recovery, Radio personnel of the Indian Air Force terror attack at the Indian Air Pakistan reported. Fate of Afghan refugees in (IAF) wouldn’t derail the dia- Force base in Pathankot town in Building on the goodwill logue process to be started in a Punjab yesterday. created during the recent high couple of weeks between Paki- In a statement issued level contacts between the two stan and India. in Islamabad, Pakistan’s countries, Pakistan remains The Foreign Secretaries will foreign off ice extended committed to partner with India Pakistan hangs in balance chalk out schedule for Compre- heartfelt condolences to the to completely eradicate the hensive Composite dialogue of government, people of India menace of terrorism aff licting the two countries. and the bereaved families. South Asian region, the Internews period or deport them from the limited to their houses and they national policy on manage- Interestingly the terror at- It also wished the injured statement added. Peshawar country. cannot go out for work. ment and repatriation of Af- tack carried out at Indian base In August 2015, the Afghan “Our proof of registration ghan refugees. The decision government had requested the (PoR) cards have expired and we will be communicated to all inistry of States and relevant authorities in Pakistan fear that police will arrest us,” stakeholders in due course of Frontier Regions and to allow nearly 1.5mn registered he said. time. Mthe United Nations Afghan refugees to stay in Paki- According to Jan, police har- However, Sajjad Khan, a High Commissioner for Refu- stan for another two years, but ass them and demand bribes in spokesperson for Peshawar IDB approves $90mn for gees (UNHCR) requested inte- the government has not yet an- case of an arrest. He urged the DC’s offi ce, said so far they have rior ministry, chief secretaries nounced an extension on their federal and provincial govern- not received any instructions and provincial governments stay. ments to extend the time limit related to Afghan refugees. He to ensure registered Afghan Meanwhile, Afghan refu- of their cards and direct the denied the arrest or harassment polio eradication in Pakistan refugees are not harassed or gees in Peshawar claim police police to refrain from harassing of Afghan refugees, saying all victimised till the National harass Afghan nationals in the them. decisions regarding them will Policy on Afghan Refugees is city. During the president’s visit A letter issued by the Min- be taken by the federal govern- Internews The Global Polio Eradication tries meet established deadlines fi nalised. to Peshawar on December 30, istry of States and Frontier ment. Islamabad Initiative says that both Paki- to identify facilities holding wild Insiders familiar with the 2015, a large number of refugees Regions to interior ministry UNHCR Spokesperson Qais- stan and Afghanistan will have or vaccine-derived type 2 polio- matter said the last date to send were arrested by city police and and all provincial govern- er Khan Afridi said they are to redouble their eff orts to stop virus, destroy all type 2 polio- 1.5mn Afghan refugees back to banned from travelling. ments, stated that PoR cards waiting for the cabinet meet- he Islamic Development transmission. virus materials and, only where their country was December 31, Sabir Jan, an Afghan refugee had expired on December 31, ing’s decision regarding exten- Bank (IDB) has approved In order to stop all types of necessary, appropriately contain 2015, but the government has who lives on University Road, 2015, and the government is sion in proof of registration Tfi nancing of $90 million poliovirus and boost children’s type 2 poliovirus in essential po- not yet decided to extend the said their movements have been in the process of fi nalising the cards. to assist the polio eradication immunity against the disease liovirus facilities. programme in Pakistan during this year, there will be a globally The Polio Oversight Board 2016-18. synchronised switch from the of the Global Polio Eradication DIPLOMACY During a meeting at its Jed- trivalent to bivalent oral polio Initiative reviewed the progress dah-based headquarters, the vaccine, it says. made and concluded that wild Saudi FM’s board of executive directors of Meanwhile, the director of the poliovirus transmission is more Government fi nalises civil visit to Pakistan IDB reviewed progress of the WHO offi ce for Eastern Medi- likely to be interrupted in 2016 programme and approved the terranean Region which cov- than in 2015. postponed funding. ers Pakistan, said in his annual The delay shifts the target The IDB had pledged to pro- report that polio eradication in date for certifi cation of global service reforms package Saudi Foreign Minister Adel vide a $227mn loan to allow the the region, and globally, is now polio eradication to 2019 and bin Ahmed al-Jubeir’s visit to country to run disease eradica- within reach. increases the cost of completing Islamabad yesterday has been tion programmes through 2015. Dr Ala Alwan urged all regional polio eradication by $1500mn. Internews month for approval, Planning Service and we have not given it postponed, the foreign off ice said. Last year, Pakistan accounted countries to ensure the highest In Pakistan, a national polio Karachi and Development Minister Ah- the fi nal shape,” said Secretary This was done at Saudi Arabia’s for 80% of all wild poliovirus possible levels of immunisation emergency action plan is being san Iqbal said on Thursday. Establishment Division, Na- request, Dawn online reported. cases worldwide, said a report of and surveillance until global erad- overseen directly by the offi ce of The main contours of the deem Hasan Asif. Jubeir was to arrive here on the World Health Organisation ication is achieved and certifi ed. the prime minister. he government of Paki- package suggest it is not in line The planning minister said Sunday to take the Pakistani (WHO) submitted to its execu- WHO has intensifi ed in the Emergency operation centres stan has fi nalised a civil with the blueprint that Ahsan that the concept of forming the leadership into confidence over tive board last month. region its support to aff ected at federal and provincial levels Tservice reforms package Iqbal unveiled at Bhurban in NES was still part of the pack- the Middle East situation and the The report says that vacci- countries in the fi nal push to ensure almost real-time moni- that lacks material changes in September last year. age but the government has not 34-nation military alliance recently nation gaps remain in Pesha- eradicate polio. toring of activities, implemen- the present obsolete structure One of the main proposals yet decided to constitute the formed by the kingdom. war, Khyber Agency and South Recently, the WHO’s Strategic tation of corrective action and and has also shelved the proposal that the government did not in- new service group, as it may According to off icials here, the Waziristan in the Federally Ad- Advisory Group of Experts on im- increased accountability and of establishing the new National clude was establishment of NES result into litigation by other purpose of the visit was to consult ministered Tribal Areas; Karachi munisation confi rmed its recom- ownership at all levels. Executive Service (NES) follow- at grade-20 to grade-22 aimed at service groups. Pakistan’s leadership over joining and northern Sindh; and areas of mendation that the withdrawal Most importantly, the national ing opposition by all-powerful inducting talented people against Incumbent Member Federal the anti-terrorism alliance. Balochistan. of oral polio vaccines containing plan focuses on identifying chron- bureaucracy group - the Paki- posts critical in decision-making. Public Service Commission, In December, the kingdom With only Afghanistan and the type 2 component should oc- ically missed children and reasons stan Administrative Service. The government also did not Abdul Wajid Rana, had pro- announced the formation of a Pakistan remaining endemic cur between April 17 and May 1 why they are missed, and imple- However, it has included the include the proposal of reduc- posed a three-tier NES in 2003 34-state Islamic military coalition for poliomyelitis, wild poliovi- this year in all countries that are menting area-specifi c approaches suggestion of at least 16 years ing hierarchical structure of the when he was serving with the to combat terrorism, naming rus transmission is at the low- using trivalent oral polio vaccine to overcome these challenges. of education for qualifying bureaucracy in the fi nal package. fi nance ministry. Pakistan as one of its members est levels in history, with the through a globally coordinated As a result, innovations are for the Civil Superior Services It dropped the proposal of abol- It was not for the fi rst time without apparently first getting its fewest reported cases from the replacement of the vaccine by the being developed, operational (CSS) in the package. ishing the grade-21 post of addi- that the federal government consent. fewest aff ected countries, WHO bivalent oral polio vaccine. defi cits in the programme are The fi rst generation reforms tional secretary and the grade-19 has shelved the idea of forming Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaud- says. Nigeria has already been The group also reaffi rmed being increasingly redressed, package has been fi nalised post of deputy secretary. the NES. Musharraf’s regime hry said he was surprised to removed from the list of polio that, in preparation for this glo- and access continues to improve and will be presented to Prime “There is no strong opinion also dropped it due to opposi- read the news that Saudi Arabia endemic countries. bal event, it is crucial that coun- in previously inaccessible areas. Minister Nawaz Sharif this to form the National Executive tion by various service groups. had named Pakistan as part of the group but the foreign off ice confirmed participation in the coalition.

ACCIDENT Helicopter crash Pakistan to hold population census in March kills three Afghan air force crew Internews ports, will have to be completed tional Assembly. will be shared by the provinces. ministry said that Finance Min- their responsibility in making Islamabad by Dec 2017. While taking up those bills, The population census will ister Ishaq Dar at the outset wel- the census successful and trans- An offi cial source privy to the committees of the two hous- be conducted in one go; the fi rst comed the newly appointed PBS parent. An Afghan Mi-17 military helicop- the meeting said that although es had already decided to defer three days for a house-listing members and mentioned that Dar said it was the prime re- ter crashed yesterday after a ith a gap of over 17 compilation of population re- consideration of the bill until the operation and the following 15 they had joined the organisation sponsibility of PBS to conduct technical failure during a training years, the govern- ports after census normally took fi nalisation of census data. days for the main count, which at a crucial time, just a couple of credible census. He said that exercise, killing three air crew and Wment of Pakistan around three years, the govern- The population census will include fi ling of census forms on months before the sixth Popula- utmost care should be taken to wounding another in Logar prov- yesterday gave fi nal touches to ment wanted it to be completed yield statistics about internal house-to-house level and a day tion and Housing Census. complete the task in a transparent ince, south of the capital Kabul, arrangements for carrying out before the next general elec- migration, urbanisation, as well for homeless people. They would have to shoulder manner for a credible data. Such the Defence Ministry said. population and housing census tions, due in 2018. as rural and urban population the responsibility of making the data, he said, could then form the The Mi-17, a transport and attack in March this year. Preliminary The compilation of all reports across the country. The popu- The population data will census successful, he said. basis for the future planning. helicopter, is the mainstay of the results will be compiled within by Dec 2017 will give enough lation data will be used for de- be used for delimitation of Chief Statistician Asif Bajwa During the meeting it was fledgling Afghan air force, which three months. time to political parties and the limitation of the constituencies the constituencies of the informed the meeting that, as agreed that qualifi ed and highly has around 50 of the Russian- The governing council of the Election Commission to use data of the national and provincial national and provincial per the decision of the govern- reputed statisticians would be made machines. Another 36 are Pakistan Bureau of Statistics for electioneering purposes. assemblies, a requirement under assemblies ing council, PBS has adjusted co-opted as members of the tech- used by Afghan special forces. (PBS), headed by Finance Minis- At the moment, there are a the constitution. the target dates for preparation nical committee to benefi t from However, a Pentagon report has ter Ishaq Dar, approved a revised number of bills pending before According to the source, the The PBS says that the census of census reports by December, their expertise. Dar directed that noted that the fleet was under timeline for the census. both houses of parliament seek- exact dates have not yet been fi - will be held with the full support 2017. frequent meetings of the techni- heavy strain because of the con- The preliminary results will ing increase in the number of nalised. However, it has been de- of armed forces, at a man-to- He said that the PBS had ini- cal committee be held until the stant operations it was required have to be completed by June seats for minorities as well as cided to hold census at the end of man level, as was done in 1998. tiated all preparations and held census was held and suggestions to conduct to support the army this year, while other aspects, representation of provinces, es- March. The budget approved for An offi cial statement issued meetings with provincial au- of experts be brought to the gov- while it battled the widening including district-wise data re- pecially Balochistan, in the Na- the census is Rs14.5bn, which after the meeting by the fi nance thorities to brief them about erning council for consideration. Taliban insurgency. Gulf Times Monday, January 4, 2016 17 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Lanka president pledges land for war victims Land would be given to up to displaced people are given land by the middle of this year. He said he would travel to 100,000 civilians displaced to build homes,” the president During a visit to Jaff na in the Jaff na this month to formally by war in the embattled said in an interview. “I am set- north last month, where much of hand over about 700 acres (283 northern and eastern ting up a mechanism to complete the fi ghting took place, Sirisena hectares) of land as part of the provinces, and also the this process within six months.” said he visited a refugee camp plan and in line with an election northwestern coastal region Sirisena, elected last January, which has been home to about promise he had made. of Puttalam, by the middle of has won praise for starting to 1,300 families for the past 25 Sirisena, 64, came to power this year hand back land after the end of years. with the backing of Sri Lanka’s one of South Asia’s longest and “This is an unacceptable situ- minority Tamils and Muslims AFP bloodiest ethnic wars, pitting ation. I want to end this problem in addition to the majority Sin- Colombo the government against Tamil once and for all,” he said. “For halese on the back of promises to separatists. many people the main issue was ensure ethnic reconciliation and But he is also under interna- lack of land and that is some- end the corruption and nepo- p to 100,000 people tional pressure to do more to en- thing we will resolve in the next tism of his predecessor. still living in camps six sure reconciliation in the ethni- six months.” Soon after his election, Sirise- Uyears after the end of Sri cally divided nation. As part of a parallel scheme, na ordered security forces to re- Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena speaks during an interview in Colombo yesterday. Lanka’s brutal ethnic war will be The president said he would he was also planning to release turn private land they occupied given land to build homes within give land to civilians displaced additional private land occupied in the Jaff na peninsula, which He said the government was The president said he would ability process,” Sirisena said. six months, President Maithri- by war in the embattled north- by the military, mainly in the had seen some of the bloodiest also working on a mechanism also call for proposals for a new “Some people want it to be like pala Sirisena said yesterday. ern and eastern provinces, former war zones in the north- fi ghting during the war which to investigate allegations of war constitution to ensure the coun- instant noodles. We can’t do “It is an ambitious target, but and also the northwestern ern and eastern provinces start- claimed over 100,000 lives be- crimes in the fi nal stages of the try did not slip back into war. that. We have to be responsible I will see that all the internally coastal region of Puttalam, ing in the next two weeks. tween 1972 and 2009. confl ict. “We can’t rush the account- and respect rule of law.” Bangladesh’s anti-graft panel moves top Bangladesh foreign court against acquittal of BNP leader reserves hit

By Mizan Rahman Tarique, who went to the While delivering the judge- taka from Singapore on July 11, $27.49bn Dhaka United Kingdom in Septem- ment, Judge Motahar Hossain 2007, the court ordered the au- ber 2008 for treatment, was said Mamun demanded over thorities to spend the money in declared fugitive in the case. 200mn taka from Khadiza Is- the development work of the Reuters he Bangladesh’s Anti- It was the fi rst judgment in lam, proprietor of Nirman country. Dhaka Corruption Commission the 16 cases Tarique, who was Constructions at Banani, in Tarique withdrew $50,000 T(ACC) yesterday fi led a arrested in 2007 during an 2003 assuring her to help in from the Citibank NA account plea with the Supreme Court, anti-graft crackdown by the getting the work order for an of Mamun using supplementary angladesh’s foreign ex- challenging the acquittal of op- military-backed caretaker gov- 80-megawatt power plant at credit card on diff erent dates, change reserves hit a position BNP leader Tarique ernment, was facing. He has se- Tongi. the court said. Brecord $27.49bn at the end Rahman by a lower court in a cured bail in other cases. Later, he forcefully took The BNP leader spent the of December, the central bank money laundering case. The Anti-Corruption Com- 200mn taka from Khadiza, money for his treatment and said yesterday, fuelled by steady A special judge’s court on mission fi led the case against according to the court. shopping in Singapore in be- exports and remittances. November 17, 2013, acquitted Tarique and Mamun on October After paying Mamun 500,000 tween 2003 and 2006 and men- The slower pace of import the BNP senior vice-chairman 26, 2009, on charge of siphon- taka, Khadiza opened an ac- tioned the amount in his wealth growth, on the back of a fall in glo- in the case, involving more than ing off 200mn taka to Singapore count in Citibank NA in Singa- statement which he submitted bal commodities prices, also helped 200mn taka. between 2003 and 2007. pore, as wished by the convict, to the ACC, the judge said. boost reserves about 23% over the ACC fi led the money laun- After investigation, the ACC and deposited $750,000 on dif- The money laundering charg- corresponding period of last year. dering case against Tarique and pressed charges against the duo ferent dates, the judge added. es brought against Tarique was The reserves are suffi cient to others on December 5, 2013 with on July 6, 2010. On August 8 Though Mamun had no con- not proved, the judge ruled. cover seven months of imports. the High Court. On January 19, the next year, the court issued sultancy fi rm, he claimed dur- Meanwhile, fearing reprisal Bangladesh’s exports in July- 2014, the High Court asked the an arrest warrant against Tar- ing the trial that he received the for acquitting Tarique, judge November, the fi rst fi ve months accused to surrender before the ique. money as consultancy fee, said Motahar Hossain who retired of the current fi nancial year, trial court. The trial of the case began on the court. later, fl ed Bangladesh and is rose 6.7% from a year earlier to Earlier a Dhaka court cleared September 11, 2011. Since Mamun has no such now living in Malaysia, ACC has $12.88bn, led by strong garment Tarique, the son of former On May 26, 2012, the same fi rm, he did not take the money learnt. sales even though the key indus- prime minister and opposi- court cleared the way for the with honest intent and the gov- The judge left country 53 days try has suff ered a string of fatal tion leader Khaleda Zia, and ACC to seek the help of Interpol ernment was even in dark about after delivering the judgement factory accidents. awarded his friend Giasud- in arresting Tarique. the amount, the court said, in the money laundering case. Garment exports and remit- din Al Mamun seven years in The court had recorded state- Tarique Rahman ... fresh trouble announcing Mamun guilty of The information came to light tances from Bangladeshis work- jail in a money laundering case ments of 13 prosecution wit- siphoning off the money. while an ACC team launched ing overseas - two mainstay rev- involving 200mn taka. nesses including the complain- cial agent of the FBI, testifi ed in She narrated before a Dhaka The court also fi ned Mamun preliminary investigation enue generators for the country Mamun, who remains behind ant and an offi cial of Federal the money-laundering case. court how she had tracked down 400mn taka for his involvement against the ‘discrepancies’ in of 160mn people - have helped bar since March 26, 2007, was Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The agent said Tarique laun- the money allegedly laundered with the crime. the wealth statement of the foreign exchange reserves grow present in the court during the On November 16, 2011 Debra dered money using Mamun’s by Tarique and Mamun to a Pointing out that the gov- judge who retired 43 days after steadily in recent years. verdict delivery. Laprevotte, a supervisory spe- account in a Singapore bank. bank account in Singapore. ernment brought back 200mn delivering the judgement. Six killed in Nepal road accident At least six people were killed and 16 injured when a passenger bus Madhesi leader denies skidded off a highway in Nepal’s Rupandehi district bordering India, police said. The bus bound for Nepalgunj from Narayangarh when the split in 4-party alliance accident took place along the East-West Highway on Saturday, Xinhua news agency quoted IANS are prepared to carry on our ag- rai have been simmering with police as saying. Kathmandu/New Delhi itation for as long as it takes to Morcha-led protests against the The injured were admitted in a secure our genuine demands....” country’s new constitution that hospital. Four of them were said Mahto reiterated the resolve was adopted by the constituent to be in critical condition. n ailing Sadbhawana that the planned agitation assembly on September 20. Party president Rajen- programme would be carried The Morcha has expressed Adra Mahto yesterday forward and denied that there dissatisfaction over the content 3 Bangladeshis stoutly denied that the Mad- was any change advised by him of the new constitution, includ- rescued hesi Morcha, an alliance of four therein as reported in the Nepali ing demarcation of the federal parties of Nepal’s Terai region media. units, and called for an inclusive Three Bangladeshis along with 10 demanding amendment to the According to media reports constitution and citizenship. Ecuadorians were rescued from country’s statute, has split. from Kathmandu, the Sadbha- Along with Mahto’s Sadbha- kidnappers in the Guatemalan Mahto’s assertion came in wana Party was reported to have wana Party, the other constitu- town of Huehuetenango, the wake of media reports from announced that it will focus on ents of the Madhesi Morcha are: authorities said. Kathmandu that the Samyukta non-violent activities like mass the Terai Madhes Loktantrik The kidnappers had demanded Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, prayers in memory of deceased Party with Mahanta Thakur as that the hostages’ families in spearheading the over four- protestors, fasting, signature president; the Federal Socialist the US pay a ransom of $24,000 month-old protest, had split campaign and campaigns to Forum-Nepal headed by Upen- to set them free, the Attorney with Mahto opting for continu- internationalise the Madhesi dra Yadav; and the Terai Madhes A Madheshi leader shouts slogans during a protest at the Miteri bridge on India-Nepal border. Nepal’s General’s Off ice said in a ing the agitation separately. issue through social media. Loktantrik Party-Nepal headed southern plain has turned into a battleground as the ongoing protests by the disgruntled ethnic statement. Speaking from his hospital Mahto said these activities by Mahendra Yadav. minority have crippled everyday life. After the rescue operation, police bed in Medanta, in Gurgaon, were proposed by him to Mad- Over 55 people, including arrested three men involved in near New Delhi, where he is hesi protesters from his hospital agitators and police person- ditionally suff ered immense Narayani river in mid-western in the interim constitution of the kidnapping. recovering from injuries re- bed in the B P Koirala Institute nel, have been killed during the discrimination from the Kath- Nepal and Tharuhat pradesh 2007 which the new charter has The arrests were made after a ceived in a clash with the po- of Health Sciences at Dharan four months of the Madhesi mandu-centric ruling elite that from the Narayani to the Ma- snatched away. family member of one of the lice at Biratnagar on December where he had been admitted for agitation. predominantly comprises the hakali river in the west. They also want representa- Bangladeshis reported to New 26, Mahto said: “The Madhesi treatment of his injuries follow- Nepal’s Terai region stretch- Brahmins (Bahuns) and Chhetris The Madhesi protesters are tion in parliament on the basis York authorities that his relative Morcha remains united and ing the December 26 incident. es from the Mechi river in the of the Nepal hills. demanding, among others, a of population - the Nepal Terai had been abducted. shall continue the struggle “This was meant as an activ- east to the Mahakali river in The major agitation demand redrawing of the boundaries of has almost 51% of the country’s That person provided the GPS which it has been waging for the ity aimed at lending a peaceful the west and comprises Mad- is for the formation of two prov- the provinces in the Himalayan population yet gets only one- coordinates of the building in past more than four months.” touch to our agitation...” hes in its eastern part and the inces in the Nepali Terai - the nation as proposed in the new third of seats in parliament - and Huehuetenango from which “Our struggle is historic and For more than four months, tribal-dominated Tharuhat in Madhes extending from the Constitution; and restoration proportional representation in the kidnappers were calling to we shall achieve our goal... We the plains of the Nepal Te- the western region. It has tra- Mechi river in the east to the of rights granted to Madhesis government jobs. demand the ransom money. Gulf Times 18 Monday, January 4, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief : Darwish S Ahmed Production Editor: C P Ravindran Responding to Europe’s

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] political polarisation Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Voters are deeply dissatisfi ed Fax 44350474 with mainstream parties and are willing to give a chance to those proposing radical GULF TIMES alternatives By Jean Pisani-Ferry Paris

n Europe, 2015 began with the High sugar intake far-left Syriza party’s election victory in Greece. It ended Iwith another three elections that attested to increasing political polarisation. In Portugal, the Socialist behind increased Party formed an alliance with its former archenemy, the Communists. In Poland, the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party won enough breast cancer risk support to govern on its own. And in Spain, the emergence of Podemos, another new left-wing party, has Excessive intake of sugar has always been blamed for ended the traditional hegemony of causing unhealthy consequences in human beings. Now, the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party a new study has shown that besides being responsible on the centre left and the Partido for cavities and a thicker waistline, sugar, especially Popular on the centre right. (In France, moreover, the far-right National The European Union flag and national flags in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France. fructose, could also lead to an increased risk of breast Front, led by Marine Le Pen, showed tumours and breast cancer. its strength in the fi rst round of Political realignments are to be because governments did not trust one so that principles are preserved, but A research paper published in the journal Cancer December’s regional elections, though expected in democracies; indeed, another, they insisted on including in policies can be responsive to politics. Research documents the link between high sugar intake it eventually failed to win any). democratic institutions are designed treaties what would normally belong Moreover, the EU should be able to and the growth of tumours and cancer. The paper also The message is impossible to to make them possible. Generally, in ordinary legislation. The many legislate on a wider array of policies, miss: Increasingly, voters are deeply the constitution does not change, or rules that govern economic life in the including, for example, taxation. This describes a possible mechanism that might explain dissatisfi ed with mainstream parties changes only slowly, whereas a new EU are therefore much more diffi cult would end its awkward impotence how consuming sugar triggers the growth of cancer, and are willing to give a chance to party or coalition redefi nes the policy to amend than are similar domestic on – and apparent indiff erence to – according to West Texas News. those proposing radical alternatives. agenda and reforms the legislation. provisions. In other words, the scope inequality. The study, using mice, found that refi ned sugar and They are lending support to parties This combination of rigidity and for redefi ning the rules is exceedingly At the same time, the European fructose, in particular, had an eff ect on a metabolic that, though very diff erent from one plasticity enables democratic narrow, even though they refl ect a Parliament should be given a higher another, all blame the European Union regimes to adapt to shifts in citizens’ policy consensus that is no longer profile, as in a truly federal system, process called 12-LOX, which enable cancer cells to for the sorry state of their countries’ preferences. widely shared. so that governments at the national spread. While humans need the type of sugar called economies and labour markets. The same does not apply to Europe, What options does this leave the EU and European level are perceived glucose to help their bodies generate energy, refi ned To be sure, radicalisation is not however. First, political change is not for responding to political polarisation as equally legitimate. With such sugars and fructose aff ect the body diff erently, in an limited to Europe nowadays. As I synchronised. At any given moment, and the concomitant demands for federalisation in the EU or, more adverse manner, according to the research paper. have argued elsewhere, American some countries may have voted for more policy leeway at the national likely, the smaller eurozone (within presidential candidate Donald radical parties, while others have not level? Of course, the EU could simply which the degree of integration is According to a cdanews.com report by John Samuels, Trump owes his rise to many of the (or simply have not held elections). ignore these changes, and hope that higher), policy conflicts would place the study bolsters previous research, which suggests that same factors that are driving Le This clash of legitimacy is what the radicalism will wane once its bearers elected national governments in at least two-thirds of all cancer cases are preventable, Pen’s growing popularity. What is Greek government initially failed to are confronted with the responsibility opposition not to an opaque system, in that they are caused by lifestyle choices like smoking particularly problematic in the EU is understand last spring when it sought of governing. But that would be but to a politically legitimate federal or otherwise using tobacco, lack of exercise, and an the clash between radical politics and to ease austerity measures: Syriza had foolish. Syriza was forced to accept institution. mainstream governance. received a mandate for change from tough choices because Greece depends This approach confronts formidable unhealthy diet. For 30 years, centre-right or centre- Greek voters, but other countries’ on external fi nancial assistance. No obstacles. An attempt to write an EU The results of the study, with the mice, according to left parties with a broadly shared representatives had not received such other country is in the same situation. constitution was made in the early one of the co-authors, Lorenzo Cohen of the University vision of Europe have governed most a mandate. Ignoring demands for change would 2000s. It failed. Germany and other of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre, indicates that EU countries. Despite their policy Second, unlike national ultimately deepen popular hostility countries where mainstream policies what people eat matters disagreements, they jointly embodied democracies, the EU does not derive toward the EU. still command wide support would Another possibility would be vehemently oppose any perceived to the outcome of their the ideological consensus – and its legitimacy from the process Eating too much formed the political coalition – that through which political choices are to exploit, on an ad hoc basis, the softening of the common rules and health. built the single market, the euro, and made, but mainly from the output existing fl exibility in EU treaty principles. It will be hard, to say refi ned sugar is In a press release, the enlarged EU. it can deliver. This is not to say that provisions. Pragmatism can indeed the least, to agree on additional Cohen said: “We But many voters now feel that there is no democratic process: be helpful, and the European competences and a stronger European detrimental to determined that it was mainstream policies have failed. the elected European Parliament Commission headed by Jean-Claude Parliament at a time when so many in Europe, starting with the radicals, specifi cally fructose, in Governments have proved unable to is a serious legislative body, and its Juncker is willing to embrace it. our health protect unskilled and semi-skilled vetting of European commissioners is But it would be dangerous to turn consider the EU the main culprit for table sugar and high- employees from the consequences of often more thorough than personnel the EU framework into a thicket of their current woes. Yet ultimately, fructose corn syrup, ubiquitous within our food system, globalisation and technological change. selection at the national level. But country-specifi c political bargains. the construction of a transnational which was responsible for facilitating lung metastasis Mass education, progressive taxation, it has no visibility, because major Those for whom the rule of law and democracy is the most viable response and 12-HETE production in breast tumours.” and social-welfare benefi ts have not decisions are negotiated between the enforcement of fundamental to political polarisation in Europe. – prevented increasing inequality. And the national governments. principles are serious matters – not Project Syndicate The mice in the study were divided up into four groups, euro has failed to engineer prosperity Third, the boundary between just Germany – would soon object. with each group being fed a diff erent diet. The mice and stability. Those (like me) who constitutional and legislative matters The last solution would be to make zJean Pisani-Ferry is a professor at the in the four groups were fed either diets rich in starch think that specifi c policy errors and is peculiar in the EU. All treaty the EU more amenable to political Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, or containing diff erent types of sugar. Mice used were institutional fl aws are more to blame provisions have constitutional status; change. This would require explicitly and currently serves as Commissioner- genetically predisposed to developing breast cancer, just than European integration itself are indeed, they can be changed only by changing the balance between General for Policy Planning for the like some people are. The researchers who conducted the being drowned out. unanimous agreement. Furthermore, constitutional and legislative matters, French government. study discovered that the more sugar that the mice ate, the bigger the tumours they had developed became. This was especially the case in the group of mice fed fructose. The more fructose the mice consumed, the larger their tumours grew, and they developed them faster. By the time they were just six months old, 50 to 58% Puerto Rico’s debt trap of the mice in the high-sucrose diet group developed mammary tumours. By contrast, 30% of the mice in the By Simon Johnson Puerto Rico are also US citizens itself will bring back growth; but island, start companies, and work starch-control diet had developed measurable mammary Washington, DC and they vote with their feet – the extending Chapter 9 of the bankruptcy hard. Higher education in Puerto Rico population has fallen from 3.9mn code to Puerto Rico would help. remains strong, but more than 80,000 tumours when they were six months old. The researchers to 3.5mn in recent years as talented Puerto Rico needs private-sector people leave every year (and only also mentioned that the mice fed diets high in sucrose he Caribbean island of and energetic people have moved to investment, which requires taking 20,000 move in). and fructose exhibited more lung metastases than did the Puerto Rico – the largest US Florida, Texas, and other parts of the three steps. For starters, bureaucratic In part, high levels of net migration mice fed the starch-control diet, UPI reported. “territory” – is broke, and a mainland. hurdles to job creation should be refl ect Puerto Rico’s badly frayed According to Cohen, the majority of cancer patients do Thuman calamity is unfolding The more creditors insist on lower eliminated, including by using health-care system. The federal not die from the primary tumour they develop, but from there. Unless a constructive course living standards and higher taxes, the state-of-the-art technology to make government provides signifi cantly of political action is found in 2016, more the tax base will simply leave the government more transparent. Pedro more support to every state health- “metastatic disease.” The incidence of metastatic disease Puerto Rican migration to the 50 island – causing bondholders’ losses Pierluisi, Puerto Rico’s representative care system through Medicare and how rapidly it spreads, according to the results of states will rival the scale of the 1930s to rise. Disorganised defaults by public in Congress, has long emphasised this (for pensioners) and Medicaid (for the study, is linked to the amount of refi ned sugar like Dust Bowl exodus from Oklahoma, corporations will make it hard for any point. low-income households), despite the sucrose and fructose that people consume. Arkansas, and other climate- part of the private credit system to Second, the cost of essential inputs fact that Puerto Ricans pay the same Another co-author of the study, Dr Peiying Yang, devastated states. function. for industry needs to fall. Electricity federal payroll taxes that fund much of With public debt service (principal Leading conservatives in the US – on the island is signifi cantly more the Medicare programme. assistant professor of palliative, rehabilitation, and plus interest) projected to reach including at the Hoover Institution expensive than in Florida, in part Likewise, to become eligible for integrative medicine, stated that she and her team of nearly 40% of government revenue in – have long argued in favor of using because of underinvestment. More more robust support, including researchers found “it was specifi cally fructose,” behind 2016, Puerto Rico needs a new set of established bankruptcy procedures broadly, there are pressing needs through the earned-income tax credit the increased risk of development of tumours and breast economic policies. But austerity will when large fi nancial fi rms fail. The for public investment to improve – a programme supported by leading cancer in the mice. not work; this must be an investment- same logic applies here: A judge infrastructure, which implies great conservatives, such as Speaker of the led recovery, with offi cial measures can remove any doubt that actual opportunities for private-sector House of Representatives Paul Ryan Though, further research is still needed, Yang and oriented toward boosting growth by insolvency exists, while also ensuring participation. But none of this will – hard-working low-income Puerto Cohen’s study with mice indicates that eating too much reducing the cost of doing business. that credit remains available during a happen until the debt overhang is Ricans must move to one of the 50 refi ned sugar is detrimental to our health. So, one more The question is whether Puerto restructuring. During that process, a removed. states. reason to cut down on sugar. Rico will have that option. Much of judge can rely on precedent and ensure Finally, Puerto Rico needs better Puerto Rico doesn’t need a bailout. its $73bn debt has been issued by fairness across creditor classes based fiscal management. The island’s It needs to reduce the cost of doing government corporations. But, though on the precise terms under which idiosyncratic tax and expenditure business – cut the red tape, encourage To Advertise federal law allows such municipal loans were obtained. system – and the lack of effective investment, and attract people to work debt to be restructured under Chapter Although congressional local control over fiscal policy – has (and pay tax in) a beautiful place. [email protected] 9 of the bankruptcy code in all 50 Republicans have so far refused become part of the longer-term It also needs what has been a Display states, this does not apply to US to allow for a judge-supervised problem. Puerto Rico should, over constructive part of the American Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 territories like Puerto Rico. As a result, bankruptcy process, bipartisan time, become more like one of the 50 economic model over 200 years – a protracted series of confusing legal agreement remains possible. states in its fiscal relationship with the ability to restructure municipal Classified battles and selective defaults looms. Democratic Senators Richard the federal government. If Congress debt through bankruptcy. – Project Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 The cost of essential infrastructure Blumenthal, Elizabeth Warren, and is willing to commit to that path, a Syndicate services – electricity, water, sewers, Charles E. Schumer have proposed reasonable quid pro quo would be Subscription and transportation – will go up while legislation that would introduce a stay strong fiscal rules – and a powerful zSimon Johnson is a professor at [email protected] quality declines. on creditor lawsuits until March 31, monitoring body. MIT’s Sloan School of Management One response has been to demand 2016. No one, including Republican With congressional support and and the co-author of White House further belt-tightening, for example, Senator Chuck Grassley, Chair of the pro-growth policies, Puerto Rico Burning: The Founding Fathers, Our 2014 Gulf Times. All rights reserved in the form of wage reductions and powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, can attract talented Americans (and National Debt, and Why It Matters healthcare cuts. But residents of believes that debt restructuring by legal immigrants) to move to the to You. Gulf Times Monday, January 4, 2016 19 COMMENT Executing foreign policy

As with business, education, measures to ensure that Iran does not and much else in life, most develop nuclear weapons once the agreement’s time limits on specifi ed of what makes foreign policy programmes expire. work – or not – is a matter of There are a few lessons to be learned from all of this. For starters, implementation and while international accords are execution rarely reached easily, no one should get carried away at the signing By Richard N Haass ceremony. The negotiators still must New York be able to deliver their governments’ full backing, and this is never automatic, especially when it comes he fi lmmaker Woody Allen to democracies such as the US, where is often quoted as saying diff erent branches of government are that “Showing up is 80% of often controlled by diff erent political Tlife.” One can quibble with parties. the percentage, but Allen’s insight is A second reality is that there is important: You have to get in the game an unavoidable trade-off between – be a player – to have any chance of negotiations and implementation. In obtaining your objectives. many cases, agreement is possible only The same is true of world aff airs. if critical details are left unresolved. If showing up is 80% of life, at least But such “creative ambiguity” also 80% of foreign policy is following up. ensures that the implementation Smart plans, good intentions, and phase will be more diffi cult, as tough strong negotiating skills are essential, choices that were postponed suddenly but they are never enough – not even must be addressed. close. As with business, education, Third, there will inevitably be and much else in life, most of what moments when one or another makes foreign policy work – or not party does not implement the pact – is a matter of implementation and in a manner judged to be adequate. execution. Dealing with episodes of alleged This observation will be tested more Iran nuclear deal: There are sure to be numerous disagreements over whether the parties in general, and Tehran in particular, are meeting their obligations. non-compliance can prove to be than once in 2016 and subsequent every bit as demanding as the years. One prominent example is the everyone is waiting to see what December, the UN Security Council divisions both within Syria and among and shame” countries that fail to original negotiation. Trans-Pacifi c Partnership (TPP), the happens in the US. unanimously adopted Resolution its neighbours, getting from the deliver. Which brings us back to where trade pact signed in October by 12 But approval by the US Congress 2254, which establishes a political resolution to a ceasefi re and political A fourth test stems from the we began. All four of the major Pacifi c Rim countries in Asia and the is far from certain, especially as framework for a civil war that has settlement is likely to take years – and agreement signed over the summer by international accords reached in Americas. If the accord enters into the presidential candidates –all raged for nearly five years, claiming even that assessment may prove to be the Security Council’s fi ve permanent 2015 – the TPP, the Security Council’s force, it will expand world trade, boost of the Democrats and the leading as many as 300,000 lives and overly optimistic. members, Germany, and Iran limiting Syria resolution, the Paris climate economic growth, and strengthen the Republicans – have come out against creating millions of refugees. Yet a third test for diplomats also Iran’s nuclear programme. There are agreement, and the Iran nuclear deal US’ ties with regional allies who would it. The vote, if it takes place, will A framework, however, is nothing stems from the climate agreement sure to be numerous disagreements – required great eff ort to negotiate. otherwise be tempted to move closer be close, and the stakes are high, more than an outline. In this case, reached in Paris in December. The over whether the parties in general, Making them work in 2016 and to China. as failure to ratify the TPP would it was less than that, because the agreement comprises voluntary and Iran in particular, are meeting beyond will prove even harder. As The agreement’s entry into force, raise fundamental questions about resolution was silent about Syrian pledges by governments that amount their obligations. Perhaps most Woody Allen could tell you, it is akin though, is subject to ratifi cation by America’s political eff ectiveness and President Bashar al-Assad’s political to no more than promises to do their important, steps will need to be taken to the diff erence between writing a most of the 12 signatories’ legislatures. ability to be a reliable partner to its fate and the timing of his departure. best. In many cases, there is a lack of to reassure Iran’s neighbours so that screenplay and making a movie. – The outcome in the US and Japan, allies. It also raised more questions than specifi city about what is to be done. they are not tempted to proceed with Project Syndicate the world’s largest and third largest A second test will come in Syria, it answered about which Syrian And, because the agreement is not their own nuclear programmes. At economies, respectively, will be arguably the biggest international opposition groups would participate legally binding on its signatories, the some point, the implementation zRichard N Haass is president of the particularly consequential. Indeed, failure of recent years. In in negotiations. Given the many only sanction it permits is to “name challenge will include additional Council on Foreign Relations. Letters Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY Need to follow Education today, what is appropriate. This discipline is In a region where factions exist it is High: 19 C not a case where the student’s right not easy to reach a conclusive end to Low : 14 C school discipline hair tomorrow of self-expression is curtailed, but a the confl ict. So Russia’s joining could Strong wind during the day step in shaping the child’s intellect embarrass the rest of the world. Dear Sir, and attitude to that of a wholesome, Ramachandran Nair Dear Sir, socially-sensitive human being. Oman TUESDAY This is in response to a letter in Gulf Let us all be more concerned about [email protected] High: 21 C This is in response to the letter Times of January 3. A ‘concerned’ children expanding the vistas of their Low : 14 C about ‘Haircut worries for students’ parent was lamenting about how the minds than the limits of their follicle P Cloudy (Gulf Times, January 3). I feel students schools insist on his/her child having adventures. should come to school well dressed a decent haircut. I had to read it twice with a proper haircut instead of to fully absorb the thought process Govind Haridas WEDNESDAY looking like a cartoon character. that would have gone behind such a PO Box 35275 Please send us High: 23 C School is not a place for showing off letter. Doha Low : 15 C hairstyles. We must respect our places In this competitive world, your your letters Sunny of education and maintain discipline child needs to have bigger worries as well. than the length of his/her locks. A Russian game By e-mail I have noticed that most of the possible avenue where they can focus in Syria conflict [email protected] Fishermen’s forecast students of Indian schools in their eff orts could be studies. I am Fax 44350474 OFFSHORE DOHA Doha have stylish haircuts. This is not saying something as cliched as Wind: NW 20-30/35 KT not acceptable. the school is not a place for a fashion Dear Sir, Or Post Waves: 7-11/13 Feet Parents must strictly advise show. However, it appears that the INSHORE DOHA Letters to the Editor Wind: NW 12-22/25 KT their children not to imitate school-goers, if not the parents, need The Russian involvement in the Syrian Waves: 2-4/5 Feet pop stars. We should follow to be reminded of this fact from time confl ict drew worldwide attention in Gulf Times school rules and regulation to time. the last quarter of 2015. Even though P O Box 2888 Around the region strictly. While the letter writer’s concern the Russian interception in Syrian Doha, Qatar Weather Weather As a student, I believe a student regarding the rising cost of a haircut confl ict was uncertain, its intention today Max/min tomorrow Max/min should always try to lead a disciplined in Qatar is moving, let me assure was nothing but to compete indirectly Abu Dhabi Sunny 21/14 M Sunny 23/16 life. Student life is a period of study him, compared to some of the other with the European allies and US. It All letters, which are Baghdad P Cloudy 15/06 P Cloudy 17/07 Dubai and moulding character. monthly expenses of going to school was quite clear from the start of the Sunny 22/17 Sunny 23/19 subject to editing, should Kuwait City M Sunny 16/08 P Cloudy 15/09 Finally, haircut charges are (such as buying a hair gel, mobile/ Syrian confl ict that Russia was not in have the name of the Manama Cloudy 18/15 P Cloudy 19/14 affordable to everyone. I request tab recharges, junk food expenses, the opposition camp, but sat idle for Muscat P Cloudy 24/18 M Sunny 25/19 all parents not to interfere in such etc) the cost of two haircuts is years and waited for a moment to be writer, address and phone Riyadh M Sunny 14/08 Sunny 19/09 a trivial matter and spoil their miniscule. part of it. number. The writer’s Tehran M Sunny 06/00 P Cloudy 08/02 children’s educational discipline. On a more serious note, a school To a certain extent one must agree that name and address may be is a place of education. Discipline is Russia wants to control the directions Gaith Abdul Gafoor an integral part of it. In a collective of the civil war in Syria for a peaceful withheld by request. A student of Ideal Indian School atmosphere the school has to maintain end to it, but too many complicated Doha a certain decorum and standard as to thoughts have delayed its action.

Live issues New year, new you? Forget it

By Oliver Burkeman good-for-nothing called Old You. “New Year, New You” lies another or assuage feelings of loneliness, Around the world New York And Old You is the last person kind of mistake, too: the idea that or distract you from inner confl icts Weather Weather you ought to trust when it comes to what we require, in order fi nally to you’d rather not address. Technically, today Max/min tomorrow Max/min designing a New You. Consider the change, is one last push of willpower. physics fans will note, something Athens M Sunny 11/-4 Sunny 07/-4 o here we are again: that facts. For a start, Old You doesn’t (Presumably, the hope is that the similar is true of the rock. There are Beirut Rain 16/14 Rain 17/15 Sunny M Sunny 34/24 time known to publishers currently do any of the things he or “January feeling” of fresh starts countervailing forces that keep it Bangkok 35/24 Berlin M Cloudy -2/-3 S Showers -1/-3 as “New Year, New You”, she claims will make New You happy and clean slates will provide it.) The stuck, beyond the mere absence of an Cairo Sunny 21/09 Sunny 21/11 partly because they want to and fulfi lled. (Would you trust a assumption is that you’re a bit like a impetus to move. Cape Town Cloudy 33/22 M Sunny 33/21 S Colombo M Sunny 33/24 I T Storms 33/24 sell life-makeover books and partly personal trainer who chain-smoked heavy rock, poised on a hill above the One useful way to shift perspective because, well… alliteration! I trust through your sessions and never Valley of Achievement, Productivity is to hand both Old You and New Dhaka Sunny 27/14 Sunny 27/15 Hong Kong S Showers 21/18 T Storms 22/18 we’re all in agreement that “New worked out? Exactly.) Moreover, Old and Clean Eating. All you need is a You their marching orders, and Istanbul Showers 06/04 Rain 10/06 Year, New You” is preposterous and You doesn’t even seem to like himself concerted push to get you rolling. But narrow your focus to Present You. Jakarta S T Storms 31/25 T Storms 31/24 bad. But it’s preposterous and bad, I’d or herself that much, otherwise a the real reason that transformation Don’t resolve to become “the kind Karachi M Sunny 28/17 Sunny 29/15 argue, for some interesting reasons makeover wouldn’t be on the agenda. is hard – as Robert Kegan and Lisa of person” who runs, meditates, or London P Cloudy 11/07 P Cloudy 10/05 Sunny Sunny 32/21 – reasons it’s worth grasping if you’d Clearly, Old You has some issues. Laskow Lahey make clear in their book listens to your spouse. Instead, just Manila 33/21 Moscow Snow -14/-18 Cloudy -11/-19 actually like to make a few lasting Lastly, Old You probably has a long Immunity To Change – is that people do that thing, once, today. Preferably New Delhi M Sunny 24/11 Sunny 25/10 changes this year. These all result track record of trying and failing to (and organisations) have powerful now. It’s tempting to add “and then New York P Cloudy 00/-8 Sunny 00/-3 from one rarely mentioned truth: implement change – and yet you’re “competing commitments”, or reasons do the same tomorrow, and every Paris P Cloudy 11/06 S Showers 10/07 that by defi nition, the only person going to trust this shifty character not to change. To use weakness of day, for ever” – except that would Sao Paulo M Cloudy 26/16 P Cloudy 28/17 Seoul M Sunny 05/-4 P Cloudy 02/-4 who could successfully bring this with your future? That’s like taking will to explain why you take on too be to fall back into the New You Singapore T Storms 31/26 T Storms 30/26 New You into being is that feckless, your car to a mechanic who botches much, or overeat, or date disastrous trap. Lower your sights. Today is the Sydney Showers 21/18 Rain 21/17 lazy, overcommitted, weak-willed, the repair job almost every time. people, is to neglect the fact that those first day of the rest of your week. - Tokyo Clear 1 6 / 0 4 Cloudy 15/07 Twitter-addicted, crisps-munching Behind the seductive lure of habits make you feel indispensable, Guardian News and Media Gulf Times 20 Monday, January 4, 2016 QATAR

A group of boys during one of the workshops. Girls attend a workshop. Empowering youth with skills ith a focus on provid- were hosted by Stenden Univer- for 240 students. From Decem- senters of the workshops were providing a quality platform that cepts. It also gives students the ticipants and teams, they will ing innovative devel- sity and by the Qatar National ber 13-15, a total of 38 workshops Ammar Khorshed, Derick Osay- encourages inquisitive think- chance to know and experience be assessed on how eff ective Wopmental opportuni- Convention Centre (QNCC) in were conducted at QNCC in Ar- ormwanbor, Fahed al-Baker, ing and creative problem solving the creative process, which is such newly acquired skills have ties for young students in Qatar, collaboration with Carnegie abic for 660 students. Hossein Heyder, Mohamed al- skills,” said Ali Talal al-Mar’e, about thinking and doing in no been incorporated into their DI the AlFaisal Without Borders Mellon University in Qatar. “Education and skills devel- Jarrah, Abdelrahman Romaihi, ALF Foundation’s executive di- prescribed order. solution. Appraisers establish a (ALF) Foundation has taken the “The ALF Foundation is opment are key components in Saber Harkati, Don Rikley, Trish rector. “Accordingly, we have With their newly acquired welcoming atmosphere as teams initiative of conducting skills steadfast in actively pro- the realisation of a knowledge- Slade, Nickil Ravi, Dr Fuad Ab- conducted these workshops in skills from the workshops, stu- fi rst present their eight-minute development workshops in elec- moting education and youth based and sustainable economy delaziz, Meriem Boudoukha, order to promote independent dents who are participating in solution and then discuss the trical engineering, technology, enablement,”said Sheikh Faisal in Qatar as contained in the Noorul Firdhouse, Sinchai Zon- learning and skills development the Destination Imagination creative process they went theatre, project management, bin Qassim al-Thani, ALF Foun- country’s National Vision 2030 puth, Mohana Rajakumar, Nir- among students, particularly to Challenge will then be able to through during their 10-week photo editing, costume creation dation’s founder and chairman. Plan,” said Abdullatif al-Yafei, mala Shanmugapandian, Lina those who need them most. apply, share and teach these long DI season. and scenery creation. “Our goal is to provide ad- general manager of the ALF Lotfi , Maryam Nasser, Leila Destination Imagination Qa- skills to their respective teams. DI Qatar also welcomes anyone Assisted by 33 volunteer pre- ditional learning opportunities Foundation. “Within our mis- al-Haj, Ahmed Ali, Mahmoud tar focuses on the development Their eff ectiveness of incorpo- interested and willing to be among senters, a total of 57 workshops that will empower the youth to sion of developing, employing Elkhishy, Aisha Ghaleb, Rawan of skills and talent among stu- rating such skills will then be as- the appraisers for the tournament. were conducted among 900 stu- positively contribute towards and managing programmes in- Ismail, Noor Qussini, Waleed dents of all ages and economic sessed during the DI Qatar 2016 This includes those who wish to dents from various independ- the betterment of humanity and cluding the area of education, Hassan and Ahmad Hassan. status. It aims to inspire stu- Invitational Tournament, which support the skills and talent de- ent and international schools, society.” we aim to off er programmes that “The ALF Foundation brought dents to be actively interested in will take place from February 25- velopment activities within the including those participating in On December 12, a total of 19 can help remedy any skill gaps or the DI programme to Qatar in science, technology, engineering 28, 2016 at the QNCC. Qatar community. They may con- the ‘Destination Imagination’ workshops were conducted in defi ciencies.” November 2013 because it shares and math (STEM) and for them As trained appraisers meticu- tact the DI Volunteer Co-ordina- programme. The workshops English at Stenden University Among the volunteer pre- the programme’s philosophy of to learn more about their con- lously observe tournament par- tor (Ph: 66625826). Ooredoo contest winners interact with PSG players

he winners of Ooredoo’s proud to work hand-in-hand to global advertising cam- achieve this shared ambition.” Tpaign with Paris Saint- Alongside its YouTube suc- Germain (PSG), “Fans Do Won- cess, Ooredoo received more than ders”, recently met the team’s a million visits to the dedicated players in Qatar and enjoyed the website, 126,000 new fans on the friendly match between Inter group Facebook page and 24,000 Milan and PSG. mentions on Twitter, according to The winners, who are from the statement. Ooredoo began its Qatar, Algeria, Tunisia, Pales- partnership with PSG in Septem- tine, Oman, Kuwait, the Mal- ber 2013, working together to de- dives and Indonesia, got the velop youth and community sup- chance to watch the match and port across Ooredoo’s footprint in attend a training session with the Middle East, North Africa and the players in Doha’s Aspire The winners got a chance to watch the PSG versus Inter Milan match and attend a training session with the players Southeast Asia. Zone. at the Aspire Zone in Doha. Ooredoo Qatar, which was a “The ‘Fans Do Wonders’ cam- sponsor of the PSG versus Inter paign was a major success for Silva and David Luiz, and mid- sent during the campaign and 15 winners had a great time in Qatar Milan friendly, also enabled a host Ooredoo Group with more than fi elders Blaise Matuidi and Lucas winners, who composed the best and congratulate Paris Saint-Ger- of children from across Qatar to 13mn YouTube views– a record- Moura – and invited young people messages during the competi- main on their victory against Inter attend a training session with the breaking interaction for the com- to get involved by sending mes- tion, had their messages displayed Milan.” team’s top coaches and players. pany,” Ooredoo said in a press sages directly to the players via a at the PSG stadium on the team’s Nasser al-Khelaïfi , PSG presi- The event allowed children statement yesterday. dedicated site www.fansdowon- LED banners during matches. dent, noted: “We have set the goal aged 10-12 years to take part in a The campaign featured fi ve of ders.com, or via Twitter, with the Sheikh Saud bin Nasser al-Tha- for Paris Saint-Germain to be- training session and enjoy other Paris Saint-Germain’s most rec- hashtag #fansdowonders from ni, Group CEO of Ooredoo, said: come one of the top global sports activities such as face painting, ognisable players – forward Zlatan April to June. “To see the success of this cam- brands. Our partners are aligned table football, photographs with Ibrahimovic, defenders Thiago Over 8,000 messages were paign is truly inspiring. I hope the with us on this aim and we are players and more. Ahlibank honours 46 long-serving employees

total of 46 long-serving employees at Ahlibank Ahave been recognised at a special celebratory dinner in Doha. The annual event was host- ed by Salah Murad, CEO of Ahlibank, to recognise em- ployees who have completed between fi ve and 20 years of service at the bank. “Much of Ahlibank’s suc- cess over the last three decades is down to our people, whose loyalty and commitment bring our brand to life, help our cus- tomers achieve their fi nancial goal and refl ect our vision to be at the heart of the Qatar com- munity by providing the most personal banking experience,” Murad said. “I am delighted to have hosted this event, which al- lows us to say thank you to 46 long-serving employees, who have been with us for fi ve years or more.” Participants in the annual event organised by Ahlibank.