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Thursday 15 December 2016 | 16 Rabia I 1438 Volume 21 | Number 7011 | 2 Riyals
National Day events PM meets Cuban envoy cancelled as Qatar grieves for Aleppo
The Peninsula & Agencies Solidarity with Aleppo n a show of solidarity with the peo- ple of the besieged Syrian city of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Aleppo, Qatar has cancelled all Hamad Al Thani yesterday National Day celebrations slated for directed that all National Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani with Ambassador of December 18. Day celebrations on the Republic of Cuba, Emilio Caballero Rodriguez, in Doha yesterday. They discussed bilateral cooperation IEmir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad and means to enhance them in all fields. Al Thani yesterday directed that all December 18 be cancelled National Day celebrations on December in solidarity with the people 18 be cancelled “in solidarity with the of Aleppo. people of Aleppo who are being subjected to the worst kind of repression, torture, fighting resumed, crowds of civilians displacement and genocide,” the Qatar could be seen gathered in the streets of News Agency reported yesterday. rebel areas from the early hours, some Neighbourhood stores can renew licence The National Day will be an official clutching bags of belongings, to await holiday, but all the celebrations and fes- evacuation. Some had slept in the open, tivities lined up by the government and despite the cold and a fierce storm that The Peninsula those mentioned in its Article 1. Exten- Declaration issued at the summit and its different companies, institutions and brought heavy rain and high winds. Many sion of licences will be on a yearly closing statement that included deci- organisations have been cancelled. were hungry, after weeks without regu- he State Cabinet yesterday basis with a maximum period that sions and recommendations towards Shelling and air strikes sent terrified lar meals because of dwindling food approved a draft decision by the ends on December 31, 2019. the joint Gulf work and the ambitions residents running through the streets of supplies caused by the army's siege. TMinister of Economy and Com- Prime Minister and Interior Min- of its peoples, and stresses the common Aleppo yesterday as a deal to evacuate The UN has expressed concern over merce that amends some provisions ister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser diligence for maintaining security, sta- rebel districts of the city was in danger allegations that men have gone missing of Decision No. 239 of 2011 on regu- bin Khalifa Al Thani chaired the cab- bility and prosperity of the region. of falling apart. The Syrian Observatory after crossing to government areas, and lations for granting temporary licences inet's regular weekly session, held at The Cabinet also welcomed the for Human Rights reported "very intense on Tuesday said it had credible reports to open commercial and public shops its premises at the Emiri Diwan. joined communique issued by the clashes on every front line. of at least 82 civilians, including 11 in residential areas. The Cabinet welcomed the results summit held between GCC leaders and Turkish President Recep Tayyip women and 13 children, being executed Under the amendment, licences of the 37th GCC Supreme Council sum- UK Prime Minister Theresa May, which Erdogan said he would speak with Rus- in recent days. for commercial and public shops mit held in Bahrain on December 6 and took place on the sidelines of the GCC sian counterpart Vladimir Putin later in Hundreds of Kuwaitis protested out- located in residential areas can be 7 with participation of the Emir H H Supreme Council summit, during bid to rescue the deal. French President side the Russian embassy yesterday to renewed provided that they are oper- Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. which they agreed to the launch of a Francois Hollande joined Washington's condemn Moscow's support for the Syr- ational during implementation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister GCC-UK strategic partnership to pro- call for international observers to be sent ian regime besieging rebel-held Aleppo. decision (No. 239 of 2011) and carry of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin mote closer ties in all fields. in to oversee the evacuation. Before the → See also pages 8 & 10 out any of the activities other than Abdullah Al Mahmoud said that the Sakhir → Continued on page 4 Friendly match draws over 5,000 tourists; generates QR9.6m
The Peninsula takes individuals temporarily out of their home communities he first-ever Match of to participate in sport and rec- Champions has attracted reational activities, whether by Tover 5,000 international competing, watching, or visit- visitors to Qatar particularly ing sports associated attractions from the neighbouring Kingdom and facilities. Sports tourists also of Saudi Arabia and generated travel for sport education and an estimated QR9.6m for the The Match of Champions sport-related business events, local economy. is testament to the as well as to improve their The large number of foot- health and well-being. ball fans that visited Qatar to growing strength of Al Qurese added, “We rec- attend the friendly between FC Qatar's position as a ognise the unique power that Barcelona and Al Ahli SC, which destination for global sport has in bringing people took place at Doha’s Al Gharrafa sporting events and its from around the world together Stadium on Tuesday night, illus- potential to significantly in celebration of athletic excel- trates the value that sporting contribute to the growth lence. With Qatar hosting a great events can have for the tourism number of world-class compe- sector in Qatar, according to a of the tourism sector and titions across a multitude of senior Qatar Tourism Authority overall economy. sporting disciplines, we are (QTA) official. working closely with our part- Rashed Al Qurese, Chief Mar- ners to attract international keting and Promotion Officer at sporting events and its potential sports tourists to visit Qatar.” Qatar Tourism Authority said: to significantly contribute to the Later this month, Qatar will “The hosting of this Match of growth of the tourism sector and host the Italian Super Cup Champions is testament to the overall economy.” (Supercoppa Italiana) final growing strength of Qatar's posi- Supporters of Saudi Arabia’s between Juventus and AC Milan. tion as a destination for global Professional League champions, The match, which is scheduled Al Ahli SC and Spanish giants, to take place on December 23 at FC Barcelona, were able to ben- the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium efit from enticing travel (Al-Sadd Stadium), is expected packages including air travel, to bring an additional boost to SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT Corporate Social Responsibility THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER 2016 accommodation and match tick- visitor arrivals this month, with The weekly supplement issued by The Peninsula to enhance the role of companies and institutions in society development.
SPONSOR ets created by the match host, over 3,000 tickets sold to inter- ‘MBHH playing its part in Qatar’s development’ Qatar Airways, and QTA. national fans thus far. The match Included with today’s Identified as one of the four will mark the second time that priority tourism sub-sectors in the Italian Super Cup will be edition is a 4-page the Qatar National Tourism Sec- played in the Qatari capital after supplement on CSR tor Strategy (QNTSS), sports Juventus took on Napoli in 2014 tourism is defined as that which at the same stadium. 02 HOME THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER 2016
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Emir holds Emir issues law on unifying insurance for military phone talks with Kuwait Emir QNA from its date of publication in 26, 2016, and shall enter the in Doha on September 14, 2015, EMIR H H Sheikh Tamim bin Several decisions the official gazette. force of law in accordance with and shall enter the force of law Hamad Al Thani held a tele- mir H H Sheikh Emir issues decree Emir issued the decree No Article 68 of the Constitution. in accordance with Article 68 of phone conversation with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al No 54 of 2016 54 of 2016 approving rules gov- Emir issued the decree No the Constitution. of Kuwait H H Sheikh Sabah Thani issued yester- approving rules erning the logo of the Gulf 56 of 2016 ratifying a memo- The decrees are effective Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah. day law No 19 of 2016 Cooperation Council (GCC) randum of understanding for starting from their date of pub- Over the phone call, HH governing the logo on a unified system adopted by the GCC Supreme cooperation in the sports field lication in the official gazette. the Emir inquired about the of the Gulf Efor extending insurance protec- Council at its 33rd session that between the Ministry of Culture Emir issued an instrument health of the Emir of Kuwait tion to military personnel who Cooperation Council. was held in the Kingdom of Bah- and Sports of the State of Qatar of ratification approving an after he caught a cold, wish- are citizens of the GCC working rain on December 24-25, 2012, and the General Authority of agreement to encourage and ing him good health and in any of the member states Emir also issues and shall enter the force of law Youth and Sports Welfare of the protect investments made by wellness. other than their home decrees ratifying in accordance with Article 68 of United Arab Emirates signed in and in Qatar and the Republic Emir greets countries. bilateral agreements the Constitution. Doha on May 2, 2016, and shall of Serbia, signed between the The law is effective starting The decree is effective start- enter the force of law in accord- governments of the two coun- with several from its date of publication in ing from the day following its ance with Article 68 of the tries on November 7 2016. Malaysia King countries. the official gazette. date of publication in the offi- Constitution. Emir issued another instru- Emir also issued Emiri deci- cial gazette. Emir issued the decree No. ment of ratification in the field EMIR H H Sheikh Tamim bin sion No 60 of 2016 appointing Emir also issued yesterday 57 of 2016 ratifying an agree- of combating organised crime Hamad Al Thani sent yester- Sheikh Mishaal bin Hamad bin No 61 of 2016 appointing the decree No 55 of 2016 ratify- ment on abolishing visa signed between the government day a cable of congratulations Mohammed Al Thani as Ambas- Mohammed Jaham Abdulaziz Al ing a cooperation agreement in requirements for holders of dip- of the State of Qatar and the to H M Sultan Mohammed V on sador Extraordinary and Kuwari as Ambassador Extraor- the security field between the lomatic, service and special Government of the People's the occasion of his inaugura- Plenipotentiary to the United dinary and Plenipotentiary to Governments of the State of passports between the Govern- Democratic Republic of Algeria, tion as the King of Malaysia. States of America. Kingdom of Spain. Qatar and the Sultanate of ments of the State of Qatar and signed in Doha on October 31, Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Emir issued Emiri decision The law is effective starting Oman signed in Doha on April the Republic of Indonesia signed 2016. Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani also has sent a cable of con- gratulations to H M Sultan Mohammed V on the occasion. Met forecasts strong Emir condoles winds in northern areas with Nigeria President The Peninsula In addition, sea warnings will be in effect for high waves EMIR H H Sheikh Tamim bin he Qatar Meteorology (8-10/13ft) and strong winds Hamad Al Thani sent yester- Department has warned reaching 35kt. In general, the day a cable of condolences Tof strong winds at places weather will be mild during to President of the Federal and high seas in the northern daytime with some clouds Republic of Nigeria Muham- areas by night. becoming cold at night with madu Buhari on the victims The country is expected to temperatures dropping slightly of the church collapse in the be affected by an extension of below their average where south of the country. a high pressure system accom- maximum is expected to range Deputy Emir H H Sheikh panied with fresh to strong between 20 to 23°C in Doha and Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani northwesterly winds ranging minimum between 14 to 17°C and Prime Minister and Min- inshore between 12 to 22kt and cooler than that in exterior ister of Interior H E Sheikh reaching 25kt at times in north- areas with a greater feeling of Abdullah bin Nasser bin Kha- ern areas with a chance of coldness due to fresh winds. lifa Al Thani also sent a cable daytime blowing dust and low Abu Samrah, Mesaieed and of condolences to the Presi- visibility in open areas. Visibil- Wakrah are forecast to be cold- dent of the Federal Republic Indoor electric heaters displayed for sale at a retail store as the mercury dips. ity will be between four to eight est with minimum temperature of Nigeria Muhammadu Pic: Qassim Rahmatullah / The Peninsula km or less at places at first. of 14 degrees Celsius. Buhari.
A Joint Statement on the Humanitarian Situation in Syria LOI Q,Q@L @NK&I8K7I`3U<Q@L @E?LPN
Today and every day for the past five years, the Syrian people have been suffering from HL]TZP`!QL@L%=8KHMK%8K+LAA:4G\KIONI 8KP%8KHSKIA =&A< horrific violations of the right to live with security and dignity. More than half of the M`]8KHM9U18K$ HL]TH!?L5 8K$.@BOLa=8KHBP` LA8KHBPI\I8K$ Syrian population are refugees or displaced and nearly a million have died or been # AQPTIN#L-TI8;IP8KRa<ROI 8KR< LKLOLaK$A?EA?IP9< injured, thus far. These numbers are rising at an alarming rate as we witness a serious : Q,H!Ra9 =8KSLP9=%8KOK U8R]PU@QA
The Peninsula Masakin Hananu areas. More than Preparations 80,000 people are trapped in the heikh Thani bin Abdul- The programme districts of Al Zibdiay, Al Mash- lah Foundation for is being organised had, Al Ansari, Salahuddin and Humanitarian Services in collaboration parts of Al Sukari district in an (RAF) has dedicated area of about 2km and they lack with Radio for today’s radio pro- basic services. Health facilities the Holy Quran. Sgramme “Abwab Al Rahama” for became scarce and there is a collecting donations to provide severe shortage of basic food stuff. urgent humanitarian aid for The civil defence of Syria people fighting for survival in RAF has begun announced on November 13 that Aleppo city of war-torn Syria. preparations to send they are unable to estimate the The programme, which in aid to the displaced number of victims because the people in Aleppo. English means 'Doors of Mercy', streets are full of dead bodies and An advertisement displayed on a street to create awareness about the importance of child is being organised by RAF in col- it was difficult to take out the car seat usage. laboration with the Radio for the corpses from underneath the Holy Quran. debris due to intense shelling. Ambassadors of mercy will than 20 days causing huge Residents of Aleppo are participate in the programme to destruction and casualties. Some expected to leave their homes give the audience first-hand of the victims are heading within few days. And the dis- UCQ and ELAN Decaux to create information about the situation towards west part of Aleppo. placed families from besieged on the ground in Aleppo to con- According to reports, the areas, numbering about 16,000, vince philanthropists to make number of displaced people will head towards areas under the donation. The emergency reached 60,000 during the first control of Bashar regime. The two awareness about child car seats response unit at RAF has begun ten days of December. The shell- main destinations will be rural the preparations to provide ing has intensified in the past areas in the east and north of The Peninsula ELAN Decaux operates the Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, Chair- basic needs to the displaced three days. The citizens are under Aleppo, Azaz, Jarablus or the rural entire outdoor advertising net- man of ELAN Decaux, said, “We people in Aleppo. siege in several parts of Aleppo areas of Idlib governorate. There niversity of Calgary in work (Street Furniture and are very proud to partner with As per the plan, the benefi- after Bashar Al Assad's forces took are hundreds of families left in the Qatar (UCQ) has part- Large Format) in Doha. the University of Calgary in ciaries will be provided tents, control of Al Firdus, Al Salihin and west part of Aleppo city. Unered with ELAN Decaux Dr Deborah White, Dean and Qatar in its efforts to raise blankets, heaters, fuel and to raise awareness about the CEO of University of Calgary in awareness about road safety in clothes. They will also be given importance of child car seat Qatar, said, “The University of Qatar and display this campaign canned foods, food baskets, usage in the country. Calgary in Qatar is always look- on our street furniture advertis- baby milk, medical supplies and UCQ nursing students have ing for ways to promote and ing panels around Doha to reach health kits. worked on an awareness cam- improve the health and wellbe- the largest audience. This initi- RAF has intensified efforts paign on the importance of child ing of the community around us. ative also echoes the strong in the last couple of days in col- car seats. A major cause of death Initiatives like this one show the commitment of ELAN Decaux laboration with humanitarian of children below the age of four important role nurses play as towards the 2030 National organizations working in Syria is road car accidents. community health leaders and Vision for the country, and more to dispatch aid materials to help Students prepared visuals, demonstrate how nurses contrib- specifically towards Health & the displaced people who man- one of which was selected ute at an important strategic level Safety in general and road aged to flee east Aleppo and together with ELAN Decaux to to achieving Qatar’s health and safety. We strongly believe this those who are planning to leave be displayed on their advertis- wellness goals as set out in the outdoor advertising campaign their homes within a few days. ing panels spread throughout Qatar National Vision 2030 and will raise public awareness for According to media reports, Doha and around key shopping the National Health Strategy. this sensitive issue and encour- Aleppo is facing a severe centres such as Villaggio Mall to We’re grateful to community age the population of Qatar to humanitarian crisis. The east of reach out to the community and partners like ELAN Decaux for take immediate action that Aleppo has been besieged and spread this message among peo- supporting us in making a differ- would save lives and prevent An RAF volunteer distributing aid in Aleppo. is being bombarded for more ple in Qatar. ence in our community.” serious injuries.”
Cabinet nod for proposal on Expo 2017 budget → Continued from page 1 number of jurisdictions on budget to participate in EXPO The Cabinet approved a biosafety policies, identifying 2017, due to be held in Astana, draft cabinet decision that procedures that control bio- Kazakhstan from September 6 amends some provisions of technology in order to create to 9, 2017. Decision No. 2 of 2012 on the a safe policy for research on The Cabinet reviewed the organisation of the National genetic recombination, draft decision of the Minister of Committee on Biosafety. approving the national frame- Economy and Commerce to The Ministry of Municipal- work of biosafety, and identify certain land areas in the ity and Environment prepared conducting a risk assessment country as tourist areas. the draft decision as part of of organisms and genetically It also reviewed a memo integrating a number of min- modified products. from the Minister of Public istries and delegating some Additionally, the session Health on the results of the 80th departments, which required approved a proposal by the session of GCC Council of health the restructuring of the com- Ministry of Economy and Com- ministers, held in Riyadh in mittee that specialises in a merce to ratify the requested October 2016.
FM meets foreign delegates on Syria
QNA
oreign Minister H E Mohammed bin FAbdulrahman Al Thani has met with the permanent delegates of the countries of the Group of Friends of Accountability for the crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Syria. The Foreign Minister stressed during the meeting on the principle of justice and accountability for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed on a daily basis in Syria. He also emphasised the necessity of activating the role of the United Nations General Assembly in keeping international peace and security by holding an emergency spe- cial session on the situation in Syria. THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER 2016 HOME 05 New rehab facility receives first patient
HMC facility Outpatient Clinic getting patients precedes official opening that will take place once a comprehensive range of services and therapies have been established within the Hamad Medical City.
The Peninsula
amad Medical Cor- poration’s (HMC) Physical therapist Basem Owais conducts a session in the Qatar Rehabilita- QRI gymnasium with patient Jassim Mohammed Ali Abdulla. tion Institute (QRI) yesterday wel- said, “I am extremely proud to music therapy, driving assess- Hcomed the first patient to its be here on the day we start to ment and prosthetics and outpatient clinics. welcome our first patient to this orthotics. This precedes the official impressive facility. An increas- Services are selected and opening of the new dedicated ing number of services will be adapted according to each rehabilitation facility which will phased in over the coming patient’s needs by multidiscipli- take place once a comprehen- months in preparation for the nary teams of clinicians and sive range of services and official opening of all our three therapists who work together to therapies have been established new hospitals in Medical City coordinate and deliver a person- within the Hamad Medical City. next year so there is a sense of alised package of advanced Currently, the QRI will excitement of what is to come. rehabilitation services which are house a few outpatient clinics As the largest rehabilitation hos- tailored to each patient’s indi- which are being relocated from pital in the region and as more vidual needs. Rumailah Hospital. These and more clinical services and Prof Gisli Einarsson, CEO of include physical medicine and therapy services are launched Qatar Rehabilitation Institute, rehabilitation, speech therapy, over the next year, the range said, “The care offered by the adult neuro occupational ther- offered by the QRI will be QRI and the rest of our new hos- apy and adult neuro unprecedented in Qatar.” pitals will revolutionise health physiotherapy clinics. Additional Once fully operational, QRI care delivery in Qatar. By not clinics and services will also be will offer five main rehabilita- only increasing capacity and gradually phased in ahead of the tion programmes — Stroke, improving services but also pro- official opening of QRI, Wom- Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal viding each of our patients with en’s Wellness and Research Cord Injury, Pain Management a personalised rehabilitation Center and the Ambulatory Care and Paediatric Rehabilitation. treatment plan, we can ensure Center next year. These programmes are they receive the very best care Mahmoud Al Raisi, Chief of made up of clinical and therapy and the best possible recovery HMC’s Continuing Care Group, services such as hydrotherapy, outcome.” 06 HOME THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER 2016
WORAL to mark World Arabic Language Day on December 21
The Peninsula
THE World Organization for Renaissance of Arabic Lan- guage (WORAL) is set to celebrate World Arabic Lan- guage Day 2016 with a series of talks and performances on December 21 at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC). The theme of this year’s celebrations is ‘Strengthen- ing the Scope of Arabic’, and will feature a seminar on the preservation of the Arabic language, as well as a school Dr Hassan Al Derham (first row, ninth left), President of Qatar University, with other officials and various company representatives during the Employer show, a choir performance, Recognition Ceremony held at Al Ghassar Ballroom yesterday. Pic: Kammutty VP/ The Peninsula and a poetry session by Mohamed Ibrahim Al Sada and Mohamed Abdel Bari. Dr Ali Al Kubaisi, Direc- Qatar University honours 97 employers tor General of WORAL, said: "Arabic language is one of the six official languages of the The Peninsula Higher education students during 2016. They were shaping national competencies 2015-2016. The organisation has United Nations; it is also the presented with trophies by Dr Al by equipping them with high- also been ranked 393 in the QS language of the Holy Qur'an. inety-seven employers The event aimed to Derham to recognise their quality education. We are always World University Rankings Arabic has enriched the world were yesterday honoured honour employers contribution. pleased to receive a feedback 2016-2017 among the top 400 in the fields of literature, arts Nby Qatar University (QU) who collaborated with Dr Al Derham expressed his about our qualified graduates.” universities in the world. These and science, and is an inspi- in the annual “Employer Recog- various colleges to appreciation and gratitude to the Dr Al Derham highlighted successes could not be achieved ration to civilisation. We are nition Ceremony” held at Doha train or sponsor QU employers for their pivotal role QU achievements in interna- without your support.” proud to celebrate this day, St Regis Hotel in the presence of students during 2016. in supporting QU’s objectives, tional and regional rankings, CSC Director Maha Al Marri and will continue to promote QU President Dr Hassan Al Der- strategic plan and Qatar National saying, “Qatar University has said: “The continuous collabora- and preserve the Arabic lan- ham, QU leaders, representatives Vision 2030 towards a knowl- been ranked No 1 in the Arab tion between QU and the various guage on all platforms, of honoured companies, faculty Center (CSC), aimed to honour edge-based economy. world in the Round University sectors in Qatar helps us to pre- especially digital.” and staff. employers in various sectors He said: “Qatar University is Rankings (RUR) and No 1 in pare a generation which is capable The annual celebration by The event, which was organ- who collaborated with various committed to promoting national international collaboration in of participating in the process of WORAL is open to the ised by QU Career Services colleges to train or sponsor QU identity among students and to The World University Rankings national development." public. Joyalukkas to open second US outlet in New Jersey's Edison
The Peninsula The opening of the new showroom Jersey, showroom will showcase the jewellery. The showroom also has to their homeland to buy their dream in Edison, New Jersey, is an example of exclusive brands of Joyalukkas, such ample car parking. Joyalukkas has jewellery. As is the norm, customers oyalukkas is all set to open its second a well planned expansion drive that has as Veda Temple Jewellery, Pride Dia- planned an exclusive inaugural offer can expect a world-class ambience and showroom in the USA in Edison, New now become the hallmark of the Joy- monds, Eleganza Polki Diamonds, in line with the opening. the widest variety of high-quality jew- JJersey, on December 17, 2016 at 11am. alukkas Group. Masaaki Pearls, Zenina Turkish Jewel- “The opening of Joyalukkas in the ellery at the best value. All This will be the 11th country to have the The expansion drive also includes lery, Li’l Joy Kids Jewellery, the Apurva United States is very close to my heart. complemented by the very high stand- presence of the world’s favourite jew- the opening of another US showroom Antique collection & Ratna Precious The large Indian diaspora can now ards of customer service Joyalukkas eller, thereby giving Joyalukkas a truly in West Devon Avenue, Chicago. Stone Jewellery along with ethnic, spe- look forward to their favourite jewel- is known for,” said Joy Alukkas, Chair- global presence. The Joyalukkas Edison, New cial occasion and contemporary ler close to them and not wait to travel man & MD, Joyalukkas Group.
Bentley-Flying Spur car recalled
The Peninsula year 2007 over a potential defect in the sunroof glass panel as it is he Ministry of Economy and not fixed properly. The ministry Commerce, in collaboration said the recall campaign comes Twith AlWajba Motors, within the framework of its ongo- dealer of Bentley vehicles in ing efforts to protect consumers Qatar, has announced the recall and ensure that car dealers fol- of Bentley-Flying Spur model low up on defects and repairs.
Year-long diversion on Al Luqta Street
The Peninsula
he Public Works Authority, Ashghal, will divert a small section of westbound lanes on Al Luqta Street Topposite Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) to an adjacent 540 metre road. The minor road change, which has been designed in coordination with the General Directorate of Traffic, will be implemented from tomorrow and be in operation until December, 2017. During this perios, road users travelling from Doha to Dukhan on Al Luqta Street will be shifted from the existing carriageway onto an almost parallel route for a short distance of 540 metres before rejoining the exist- ing road, as shown on the attached map. Ashghal said that there will be no change in the number of road lanes and the speed limit will remain at 50kph. Diversion on Al Markhiya Street
The Peninsula
n order to install cladding dynamic message signs (DMS) on Al Markhiya Street between Dahl Al Hamam Junc- Ition and Lajbailat junction, the Public Works Authority will implement a temporary closure on Al Markhiya Street in front of Al Hazm Mall. The closure will last for three days from today — for six hours on each day, starting from midnight until 6am. Traffic will be diverted to the alternative road adja- cent to the closed section of Al Markhiya Street. THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER 2016 HOME 07
Ooredoo starts New dental checks at schools from Feb new Hala
PHCC initiative treated for 50,000 teeth at Mesaimeer, billing service Abu Baker Al Siddiq and Al Daayen Mobile screening units to health centres,” said Dr AlKhti. The Peninsula visit Independent and She also made a presentation on private schools to screen ‘Implementing a School-based Oral OOREDOO yesterday students between six and Health Program in Qatar: Lessons and announced the launch of a 12 years of age for dental Opportunities for health Improvement,’ new payment system for Hala caries. at PHCC’s second Scientific Research Con- customers, enabling them to ference being held at the Qatar National buy Hala credit or recharge Convention Centre. data and pay for it at the end Fazeena Saleem Dr Mariam Abdulmalik, Managing of the month. The Peninsula Director of PHCC, and many other inter- The new service, called nationally-renowned and local health Hala Go, will cost QR25 per n an initiative to combat dental car- care research scientists were present at month, and will give custom- ies among children, the Primary the conference. ers the chance to purchase Health Care Corporation (PHCC) will The two-day conference aims at high- Hala credit and data add-ons begin a new screening programme lighting the role of primary care research immediately, while paying for at schools in February 2017, said a in strengthening the health system, pro- the services at the end of the Isenior official yesterday. moting family care and preventing chronic billing period. In a pilot project, mobile screening Dr Mariam Abdulmalik, Managing Director of PHCC (third right), with other disease. The service, which will units will visit Independent and private officials at the opening of PHCC's Second Scientific Research Conference 2016, Dr Hanan Al Mujalli, Executive Direc- give QR25 back in credit every schools to screen and create awareness at QNCC yesterday. Pic: Abdul Basit/ The Peninsula tor, Clinical Affairs, PHCC, said, “Primary month, has been heavily on dental caries — tooth decay or cavity Health Corporation continues in its mis- requested by Hala customers — among students between the ages of awareness and screening activities will evaluate the outcomes and hopefully sion to lead in providing the highest and will now offer users the six and 12 years, said Dr Asmaa Alkhti, be held at schools from February, and implement it for all school students up to standard of health care to Qatar’s pop- convenience and cost effec- Manager, Oral Health Division, PHCC. treatment will be provided at health 18 years of age,” she added. ulation, and to do this, we recognise that tiveness that comes with a The new project will be a new project centres,” said Dr Alkhti, speaking on the In Qatar, an average of 80 percent PHCC also has to be research-led and Hala account, while now being of the School-based Oral Health Program sidelines of PHCC’s second Scientific school students have some form of tooth research-informed. Having successfully able to top-up wherever and established in 1988. “The present School- Research Conference. decay and it’s the highest prevalent dis- launched this conference in December whenever needed. based Oral Health Program is not “Now the programme is for children ease among children here as well as 2015, we decided to build on this foun- Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, sufficient to meet the growing needs. So between grade one and four, and they are around the world. dation and create this forum providing Director, Community and we are restructuring the programme and six and ten years old. The pilot phase of “Under the School-based Oral a platform for us to share best practice Public Relations, Ooredoo expanding it. At present, the programme the new program will target the entire Health Program, in the past three years and identify potential collaborators to Qatar, said: “Ooredoo is striv- is health-centre based, now we are tak- primary school from kindergarten to nearly 33,000 students were screened work together for better health ing to make our services ing one part of it to schools. So, grade six. Once its completed, we will for tooth decay, 28,000 children got outcomes.” available for everyone 24/7, and thanks to this new billing method, Hala customers can now top-up and stay in con- tact without the need to visit HBKU Press translator wins award for translating Spanish book an Ooredoo Shop or Self- Service Machine. This new service has been designed to The Peninsula from Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press other languages.” Almani has been trans- Water for Chocolate), and Thiqa (Konfi- offer more flexibility and play an integral role in the cultural lating Spanish literature into Arabic since denz/ Confidence). options for our prepaid cus- amad Bin Khalifa University Press' exchange of information and in cultural 1975 and has translated more than 38 ‘Diez mujeres’ was originally pub- tomers than ever before.” (HBKU Press) translator, Saleh rapprochement,” said Fakhri Saleh, Head insightful works. Titles translated in Ara- lished in 2011 by the award-winning Latin The service can be HAlmani, has won the award for of Arabic Publishing at Hamad Bin Kha- bic for HBKU Press include: ‘Ashar Nissa’ American author, Marcela Serrano. The accessed via Ooredoo Shops. translation into Arabic from Spanish, for lifa University Press. 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It was published by Hamad Bin Kha- multiple credit or data ther validates that translated publications knowledge between Arabic, Spanish and lata (Como Agua Para Chocolate/ Like lifa University Press in 2014. recharges during the month. 08 MIDDLE EAST THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER 2016 Aleppo hit by shelling as evacuation stalls
Aleppo End of resistance packed their bags and burned Reuters personal belongings, fearing Rebel resistance will looting by the Syrian army and lans to evacuate rebel end in the next two or its Iranian-backed militia allies. districts of Aleppo three days, says In what appeared to be a stalled yesterday as Russian Foreign separate development from the more fighting rocked Minister Sergei planned evacuation, the Russian the city and insurgents Lavrov. defence ministry said 6,000 Pappeared to have rejected new civilians and 366 fighters had left conditions imposed on the deal rebel-held districts over the past by Iran. than five years of war. 24 hours. A total of 15,000 peo- Iran, one of Syrian President But air strikes, shelling and ple, including 4,000 rebel Bashar Al Assad’s main backers gunfire erupted yesterday and fighters, wanted to leave Aleppo, in the battle that has all but Turkey accused government according to a media unit run by ended four years of rebel resist- forces of breaking the truce. Syr- the Syrian government’s ally ance in the city, wanted the ian state television said rebel Hezbollah. simultaneous evacuation of shelling had killed six people. The evacuation plan was the wounded from two villages, Foua Russian Foreign Minister culmination of two weeks of and Kefraya, that are besieged Sergei Lavrov said, however, that rapid advances by the Syrian by rebel fighters, according to rebel resistance was likely to end army and its allies that drove rebel and UN sources. in the next two or three days. insurgents back into an ever- There was no sign of that Russian President Vladimir smaller pocket of the city under Syrian residents, fleeing violence in the restive Bustan Al Qasr neighbourhood, arrive in Aleppo's happening. Insurgents fired Putin and his Turkish counter- intense air strikes and artillery Fardos, after regime troops retook the area from rebel fighters, yesterday. shells at the two majority Shia part Recep Tayyip Erdogan will fire. By taking full control of villages in Idlib province west of discuss Aleppo today, the Krem- Aleppo, Assad has proved the advances across western Syria. terrorists, as it and Assad char- rise of Islamic State. As the bat- Aleppo, causing some casualties, lin was quoted as saying. power of his military coalition, In addition to Aleppo, he has won acterise all the rebel groups, both tle for Aleppo unfolded, global the British-based Syrian Observ- Officials in the military alli- aided by Russia’s air force and back insurgent strongholds near Islamist and nationalist, fighting concern has risen over the plight atory for Human Rights said. ance backing Assad could not be an array of Shia militias from Damascus this year. to oust him. But at the United of the 250,000 civilians who There was no immediate reached immediately for com- across the region. The government and its allies Nations, the United States said were thought to remain in its indication when the evacuation ment on why the evacuation, Rebels groups have been have focused the bulk of their the violence in the city, besieged rebel-held eastern sector before might take place but a pro-oppo- expected to start in the early supported by the United States, firepower on fighting rebels in and bombarded for months, rep- the sudden army advance began sition TV station said it could hours of yesterday, had stalled. Turkey and Gulf countries, but western Syria rather than Islamic resented “modern evil”. at the end of November. now be delayed until today. Nobody had left by dawn the support they have enjoyed State, which this week managed The once-flourishing eco- Tens of thousands of them fled A ceasefire brokered on under the plan, according to a has fallen far short of the direct to take back the ancient city of nomic centre with its renowned to parts of the city held by the gov- Tuesday by Russia, Assad’s most witness waiting at the departure military backing given to Assad Palmyra, once again illustrating ancient sites has been pulverised ernment or by a Kurdish militia, powerful ally, and Turkey was point, where 20 buses stood with by Russia and Iran. Russia’s deci- the challenge Assad faces rees- during the war, which has killed and tens of thousands more intended to end years of fighting engines running but showed no sion to deploy its air force to tablishing control over all Syria. hundreds of thousands of peo- retreated further into the rebel in the city, giving the Syrian sign of moving into rebel dis- Syria 18 months ago turned the Russia regards the fall of ple, created the world’s worst enclave as it rapidly shrank under leader his biggest victory in more tricts. People in eastern Aleppo war in Assad’s favour after rebel Aleppo as a major victory against refugee crisis and allowed the the army’s lightning advance. Kuwaitis protest against Russia
Kuwait City "We call on Turkey and the Gulf said. Kuwait has also called on the AFP states to expel Russian envoys and Arab League to hold an emergency sever diplomatic ties with Moscow," meeting on Monday to discuss Aleppo. undreds of Kuwaitis protested he said. Speakers also condemned Iran Opposition MPs urged Gulf Coop- outside the Russian embassy and Shia militias, accusing them of eration Council nations on Tuesday to Hyesterday to condemn Mos- indiscriminate killings of civilians in expel Russian ambassadors over what cow's support for the Syrian regime Aleppo. MP Thamer Al Suwait called they called Moscow's role in "geno- besieging rebel-held Aleppo. the war in Syria a "genocide". cide" in Aleppo. Carrying banners saying "Stop Former lawmaker Ahmad Al Kuwaiti charities and the Kuwait crimes" and "Save Aleppo," around Shuhumi condemned what he labelled Red Crescent Society have launched 2,000 demonstrators marched on the "a dirty sectarian war led by Iran fund-raising campaigns for victims of diplomatic compound housing the against the Sunni Muslims." the fighting in Aleppo. embassy in Kuwait City. Protesters then marched towards During a weeks-long regime Speakers called Russian President the fence of the compound, shouting: assault to retake rebel-held parts of Vladimir Putin a "criminal" and urged "The people want the expulsion of the Aleppo, the city has seen some of the the government to expel Russia's ambassador". worst fighting in Syria's five-year war. ambassador. "Today, the Syrian peo- Police watched the demonstration More than 310,000 people have ple are at war with Russia... dead closely but it ended peacefully. been killed since the Syrian conflict Kuwaitis hold placards during a demonstration outside the Russian embassy to bodies are in the streets of Aleppo," Kuwait's parliament is set to hold began, and over half the population condemn Moscow's support for the Syrian regime besieging rebel-held Aleppo, Islamist lawmaker Jamaan Al Harbash a special debate on Aleppo on Decem- has been displaced, with millions in Kuwait City, yesterday. told the crowd. ber 28, speaker Marzouk Al Ghanem becoming refugees.
Israeli police shoot King Salman: Economic measures Exiled Abbas rival Dahlan dead Palestinian gets three years for graft Jerusalem must to avoid long-term damage Reuters Ramallah Riyadh country from worse problems,” Arabia racked up a record AFP A PALESTINIAN stabbed an Reuters he told the consultative Shura budget deficit of nearly $100bn Israeli policeman with a Council. “Similar circumstances last year, forcing it to find new n exiled rival to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was screwdriver, slightly wound- he Custodian of the Two have happened before over the savings and ways to raise sentenced in absentia to three years in prison yesterday on ing him, in East Jerusalem Holy Mosques King Sal- past three decades, forcing the money. King Salman also said Acorruption charges, his lawyer said. yestersday, and the assailant Tman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud state to cut its expenses, but it that Saudi Arabia sees the secu- A lawyer for Mohammed Dahlan condemned the sentencing was shot and killed by police, of Saudi Arabia told citizens yes- emerged from them, thanks be rity of neighbouring Yemen as as part of Abbas's attempts to sideline political rivals. Israeli and Palestinian offi- terday he recognised that to God, with a strong economy part of the kingdom’s own secu- Dahlan, 55, "was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered cials said. economic restructuring meas- and continuous and increasing rity, and issued a thinly veiled to pay back $16m", lawyer Salameh Halaseh said. Halaseh said the At least 230 Palestinians ures adopted in response to a growth,” Salman said. warning to regional rival Iran defence had only been informed of the hearing, held in an anti- have been killed in violence in sharp drop in oil prices were In a drastic step to save not to meddle there. corruption court in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, on Israel, the occupied West Bank painful, but said they were nec- money, the King in September “We will not accept any Tuesday. Dahlan was expelled from Abbas's Fatah party in 2011 and the Gaza Strip since Octo- essary to avoid long-term ordered salaries of ministers and interference in its internal and now lives in exile in the United Arab Emirates. ber 2015. The street assaults damage to the country. Shura Council members to be affairs or anything that affects Sevag Torossian, another lawyer for Dahlan, called the con- killed at least 33 Israelis and “The state has sought to deal cut by 20 and 15 percent, and its legitimacy (government), or viction a "cleansing exercise" for Abbas, who has sought to sideline two visiting Americans over the with these changes ... through a scaled back financial perks for will make it a hub or a passage perceived rivals in Fatah. Dahlan, who has urged 81-year-old Abbas same period. variety of measures to restruc- public sector employees. for any state or party to target to step down, is believed to have the support of a number of Arab The latest attack occurred ture the economy, some of The plunge in oil prices since the security of the kingdom and countries. The conviction came two days after Abbas lifted the inside the walled Old City in which may be painful in the mid-2014 has pushed energy- the region as a whole,” he said, immunity of five members of the Palestinian parliament, includ- East Jerusalem, areas cap- short run but ultimately aim to rich Gulf Arab states to rein in without mentioning Iran by ing Dahlan, opening them up to prosecution. tured by Israel along with the protect the economy of your lavish public spending. Saudi name. The other four are alleged to be allied to Dahlan. West Bank in a 1967 war. Police released a photo of a screwdriver they said the Pal- estinian assailant used to stab the policeman in the head. UN furious after Israel's terrorism remark on school Palestinians have accused Israeli police and soldiers of using excessive force against Jerusalem Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, message is clear: the kids glorify yesterday: "Appalled at these the Gaza Strip have weapons assailants, saying many could AFP last week tweeted three photos terrorism," he tweeted. The UN fabrications against the UN. training programs for kids & cel- have been stopped or of children carrying what says there was no connection "Such misinformation from ebrate terrorism." detained without being killed. appeared to be fake guns as part between the photos with the a Government about @UNICEF Israel and Palestinian mili- In several cases, Israel has N officials reacted furi- of an exercise in an apparent apparent fake guns and the new & @UNDP cannot stand." tants in Gaza have fought three opened investigations. ously yesterday after a school playground. school. One UN official, Roberto Construction on the new wars since 2008. The Palestin- Palestinian leaders say Uspokesman for Israel's He also tweeted another Valent, said the photos were school in question in Gaza has ian enclave is run by Islamist assailants have acted out of prime minister implied a new photo of a sign launching the taken in 2013 at a school not just begun, Piper added. movement Hamas and has been desperation, frustrated by the United Nations-financed school new UN-financed Jamal Abdel funded by the United Nations. Gendelman had no immedi- under an Israeli blockade for a Israeli occupation of land Pal- in the Gaza Strip was being used Nasser School in Gaza. Robert Piper, UN humanitar- ate comment. He responded to decade. Gaza's border with Egypt estinians want for their own to "glorify terrorism." Ofir Gen- "This school was built by @ ian coordinator for the Valent on Twitter by saying: has also remained largely closed state. delman, a spokesman for Prime UNDP and @UNICEF. The Palestinian territories, tweeted "problem is that schools all over in recent years. THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER 2016 ASIA / AFRICA 09 UN envoy seeks to halt South Sudan genocide
Geneva Protection force Washington and other pow- Reuters ers called the one-day meeting We urge the after Sooka's commission orld powers can immediate reported this month that ethnic stop a deployment of the cleansing was already taking "Rwanda-like" 4,000-strong regional place in South Sudan, which only genocide in protection force for seceded from Sudan in 2011. South Sudan if South Sudan... People Kiir has denied there is any Wthey immediately deploy a ethnic cleansing and South all across the country 4,000-strong protection force asked that it not be Sudan's ambassador at the coun- across the country and set up a cil, Kuol Alor Kuol Arop, said his restricted to the court to prosecute atrocities, the country saw no need for the spe- capital if it is to head of a UN human rights com- cial session. mission said yesterday. protect civilians across International pressure Africa's newest nation South Sudan: UN including the threat of sanctions plunged into civil war in Decem- has so far failed to halt the fight- ber 2013 after a long-running President Kiir denied ing in an oil-producing country feud between President Salva that there is any at the heart of a fragile region, Kiir and his former deputy, Riek ethnic cleansing and including Sudan, Ethiopia and Machar, exploded into violence, South Sudan's the Democratic Republic of Peacekeeper troops from Ethiopia and deployed in the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei often along ethnic lines. ambassador at the Congo. (UNISFA) patrol outside Abyei town, in Abyei state, yesterday. "South Sudan stands on the council, Kuol Alor Kuol The warring sides agreed to brink of an all-out ethnic civil Arop, said his country a set up a court backed by the war, which could destabilise the African Union in 2015, but one South Sudan's government it would not operate beyond the protect civilians across South saw no need for the entire region," commission chief has not appeared. has also said it will allow a capital. Sudan," she said. special session. Yasmin Sooka said. There was an urgent need for 4,000-strong regional protec- "We urge the immediate The forum is due to vote on Fighting was expected to a tribunal "with a strong focus tion force to bolster the UN's deployment of the 4,000-strong a resolution later in the day that escalate again now that the dry on command responsibility for existing peacekeeping mission regional protection force for would extend the mandate of the season had started, she said. cases of women being abused at atrocities," the UN High Commis- there. South Sudan... People all across United Nations human rights Abuses was happening on an a UN site in Juba within sight of sioner for Human Rights, Zeid But it has also not arrived the country asked that it not be commission in South Sudan for "epic" scale, she added, citing UN peacekeepers. Ra'ad al Hussein, said. and Sooka said there were fears restricted to the capital if it is to a year. China military US urges Taiwan to boost defence spending over China threat asks Myanmar Washington Arms upgrade This followed an earlier Chi- and mount an effective defence Relations Act to ensuring it had to ensure Reuters nese protest over Trump's if deterrence fails," he said. the capability to defend Taiwan. Defence resourcing is telephone conversation with Tai- "Defence resourcing is crit- But he stressed that any decision border stability efence spending in Tai- critical. Taiwan's wanese President Tsai Ing-wen ical," he said. "Taiwan's defence to do so was up to the resident wan has not kept pace defence budget has on December 2, the first involv- budget has not kept pace with and the primary responsibility Beijing Dwith the threat posed by not kept pace with the ing a US President-elect or the threat developments and remained with Taiwan itself. Reuters China and should be increased, threat developments president since 1979. should be increased." Taiwan has been working to a senior US defence official said and should be Some US analysts warn that The United States is the main develop its own defence equip- CHINA hopes Myanmar will on Tuesday, days after US Pres- increased: Denmark Trump could provoke a military political ally and sole arms sup- ment and last year allocated an ensure peace and stability ident-elect Donald Trump confrontation if he presses the plier to diplomatically isolated initial budget for a submarine along their border and keep touched off a storm by question- Taiwan issue too far. Taiwan. programme, but technology stray bullets out of its neigh- ing American policy over the Trump set off a diplomatic Denmark told the Project Denmark said the adminis- transfer is critical to the success bour's territory, the defence island. firestorm over the weekend 2049 Forum in Washington that tration had notified Congress of of such projects and it has yet to ministry said yesterday, after a Deputy Assistant Secretary when he questioned why the the main focus of China's mili- more than $14bn of arms sales to receive key foreign technologi- senior Chinese military com- of Defence Abraham Denmark United States should be bound tary modernisation programme Taiwan since 2010 but declined cal support. mander visited the former said the Obama administration's by the long-standing policy was to achieve reunification with to say whether any further sales The Obama administration Burma this week. "One China" policy remained under which Washington recog- Taiwan, by force if necessary. were possible before President notified Congress a year ago of A series of attacks by eth- unchanged, but he could not pre- nizes Beijing rather than Taiwan, "This makes it incumbent on Barack Obama leaves office. a $1.83bn arms sale package for nic armed groups on dict Trump's intentions when he which China considers a rene- Taiwan to prepare and invest in He said the United States was Taiwan, drawing an angry Myanmar security forces last takes office on January 20. gade province. capabilities to deter aggression committed under the Taiwan response from China. month sent thousands of peo- ple crossing into China to escape the violence, with minor damage reported from stray shells and bullets. Green protest During the four-day visit, Ping's lawyer safe in Zhao Zongqi, commander of China's western military dis- trict, met senior Myanmar 'friendly' embassy military officials, China's Defence Ministry said. "China is concerned at the Libreville armed clashes in northern AFP Myanmar injuring Chinese border residents, and hopes lawyer for opposition Myanmar can strengthen bor- leader Jean Ping (pic- der management, prevent Atured) thought to have stray bullets entering into gone missing is hiding in a China and maintain the peace "friendly" country's embassy, and tranquility of border". the Gabonese politician said "In response, Myanmar on Tuesday. said it would "appropriately Ping's party had said on handle" the border issue and Sunday that Eric Iga Iga, one ensure stability to prevent inju- of two lawyers who repre- ries for Chinese residents". sented Ping in a The attacks have dealt a Constitutional Court chal- major blow to Myanmar leader lenge to President Ali Bongo's embassy, but declined to Aung San Suu Kyi's key goal of controversial election victory reveal which country was reaching peace with ethnic in August, had been missing hosting the lawyer. minorities, while China wor- Environmental activists protest against the use of nuclear power in Durban, South for three days. "Mr Iga Iga has deliber- ries about the risk of violence Africa, yesterday. But Ping said Iga Iga, who ately chosen to break the spilling over as it did last year. fled after feeling "in danger", silence to allow this embassy is safe and well. to let his family know where "Late during the night of he is," added Ping's state- Thursday, one of my lawyers, ment, which thanked the Mr Eric Iga Iga, received a embassy for offering his law- Massive destruction of health facilities in NE Nigeria visit from elements present- yer protection. ing themselves as belonging "I ask all those around me Lagos to create a "caliphate" in the pushed back to its stronghold in and 34 percent remained intact. to the defence and security in this battle to remain vigi- Reuters northeast of Nigeria, Africa's the Sambisa forest, but still car- Wondi Alemu, WHO's services -- more specifically lant," warned Ping. most populous nation and big- ries out shootings and bombings Nigeria representative, said the military police -- in the Ping has been calling third of 743 health facili- gest energy producer. in the region. "high insecurity, difficult terrain most completely illegal way," himself the president-elect of ties have been destroyed Nigerian military forces On Friday, 56 people were and lack of health workers, med- Ping said in a statement. Gabon since contesting the Ain northeast Nigeria's backed by troops from neigh- killed in a suicide bomb attack icines, equipment and basic "Feeling in danger, Mr Iga official results of the August Borno state, the area worst hit bouring states have, in the last by two girls. amenities such as safe water" Iga chose to hide by going to 27 election that gave Bongo in a seven-year insurgency by few months, ousted Boko Haram The WHO said it had worked made it hard for people to access look for protection from the victory. Islamist Boko Haram militants, from most of an area the size of with Borno's health ministry to health care. embassy of a big, friendly On Monday, EU observ- the World Health Organization Belgium that they controlled gather information about med- On Tuesday, the US-based country which was happy to ers questioned the "integrity" said yesterday. until early 2015, revealing thou- ical services available there. Famine Early Warning Systems host him until now." of the election results noting The jihadist group has killed sands living in famine-like It said that of 743 health Network said that at least 2,000 Ping's spokesman, Jean- the barely credible official 15,000 people and displaced conditions. facilities, 35 percent had been people may have died of famine Gaspard Ntoutoume Ayi said figures from Bongo's Haut- more than two million from their Boko Haram no longer holds completely destroyed, another this year in parts of northeast- that Iga Iga remains in the Ogooue heartland. homes during its attempt much territory, having been 29 percent partially damaged ern Nigeria. 10 VIEWS THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER 2016
ESTABLISHED IN 1996
CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]
ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]
DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]
EDITORIAL Save Aleppo atar has called for an emergency meeting of Syria’s civil war to the Arab League Council to discuss the tragic situation in Syria, especially the massacre of Qcivilians by Bashar Al Assad’s forces in Aleppo. The United Nations calls the situation the “complete meltdown of humanity.” The statement reflects both the rage of the global body and the mar Obama legacy intensity of the crisis in Aleppo. In the past few days, the world has been watching in horror and helplessness as an entire population trapped in a city is The Democratic president has standing, including by some of his being wiped out by bullets and bombs. Thousands of Matt Spetalnick & defended his policy as “judi- staunchest regional allies. desperate residents are pleading for help and Jonathan Landay cious.” His spokesman, Josh Obama also rejected recommenda- evacuation. A ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Reuters Earnest, said it was Obama’s tions, as recently as October, by Russia, which was purported to help the evacuation of “overriding responsibility” to members of his national security team the trapped people, and which went into effect on protect the interests and safety of for tougher action against Assad. Instead, Tuesday evening, broke down within less than a day the American people first. A he gave priority to striking Islamic State after the Russian-Syrian forces resumed bombardment Republican, Trump has vowed a with a US-led bombing campaign and of the city blaming rebels for the violation of the he fall of the last rebel-held areas in dramatic shift from Obama’s cautious local allies assisted by relatively small ceasefire. the Syrian city of Aleppo could seal strategy toward a more aggressive numbers of US special forces. There is panic as there are indications that the the fate of the “Obama Doctrine,” approach - although exactly how he will The strategy hewed to a prescription battle for eastern Aleppo will be over soon. A victory for deepening the world’s worst proceed remains unclear. Obama laid out in a 2014 West Point Bashar Al Assad would be the most tragic thing to humanitarian crisis in decades and He will inherit an increasingly com- speech in which he made clear he would happen to Syria after the Tstaining US President Barack Obama’s legacy. plicated conflict in Syria, and many intervene in foreign conflicts only when civil war started five years With the US-aligned rebels facing defeat analysts fear his lack of foreign policy he believed US interests were ago. Such a victory would by government forces backed by Russia and experience could lead to dangerous threatened. mark the opening of Iran, Obama’s light-footprint approach to the miscalculations. That led to the return of thousands of The UN and the another violent chapter in Syrian conflict will suffer a serious blow If Trump follows through after Alep- US military personnel to Iraq to support international the history of Syria. The weeks before he hands power to President- po’s fall on his pledge to cooperate with Iraqi forces fighting Islamic State. community must country will not achieve elect Donald Trump on Jan. 20. Russia, Assad’s military patron, there is a But in Syria, despite providing bil- peace and stability; Assad The rebel loss would underscore the fail- risk that frustrated moderate rebels lions of dollars in relief aid for refugees, do more to help will continue his purge and ure of US efforts to stem the carnage from could gravitate toward militant factions Obama’s approach has failed to quell civilians trapped punish the opposition for Syria’s nearly six-year-old civil war, leading that pose a potential threat to Western what some have called the worst in Aleppo. their rebellion, and the some critics to predict that Obama’s record interests. humanitarian crisis since World War opposition, crushed by the will be tarnished just as President Bill Clin- As Assad himself turns from the Two. combine military power of ton’s was by his refusal to intervene to halt wreckage of Aleppo to assert his author- Obama recently told an interviewer Syria, Russia and other the 1994 Rwandan genocide. ity over a fractured Syria, he will have to that the grim situation in Syria “haunts allies, will never accept the “There is no doubt he will be hammered contend with the loss of swaths of his me constantly” - although he insisted defeat, thus continuing their fight for liberation in in historical terms,” said Aaron David Miller, a country for the time being and tough there was not much he would have done whatever way possible. former Middle East adviser to Republican and pockets of resistance still to crush. differently. In this tragic scenario, Qatar’s request for an Democratic administrations. “The question The war has taken some 400,000 James Jeffrey, a former US ambassa- emergency Arab League meeting assumes significance. will be why he didn’t do more.” lives and made more than 11 million dor to Iraq and Turkey, said Obama’s Syria is an Arab country, and any decision of Arab While the war is expected to grind on, people homeless, driving many into risk-averse approach had not only League on the Syrian situation will have huge Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s victory in neighboring countries or on a long peril- allowed Assad to attack the opposition consequences for Assad. Qatar and Saudi Arabia are in Aleppo would provide fresh fodder for ous trek to Europe. with impunity but also opened the door the forefront of formulating a strategy that would seek Trump, who has argued the insurgency has The imminent fall of rebel-held east- to greater Russian and Iranian influence to do justice to the people of Syria. Assad needs to be collapsed, and the United States should ern Aleppo - and the sense of US in the Middle East. told that his ‘victory’ would not lead to a restoration of revamp its fight against Islamic State by join- powerlessness as it unfolds - suggests But Paul Pillar, a former top US intel- his position in the Arab world. A ruler who has presided ing up with Russia, and by extension, Assad. that Obama likely will be judged by his- ligence analyst on the Middle East, said over the massacre of his own people and the Syria has been one of the main testing tory as much for what he did not do as Obama was right to hold back in Syria destruction of an entire country has no moral authority grounds for Obama’s doctrine of relying on for what he did. because it was “no place to commit US and legitimacy to continue. And millions who have fled local proxy fighters instead of large-scale US He first called on Assad to leave prestige and resources for regime this war would be reluctant to come back if Assad military deployments, reflecting his reluc- power in 2011. But Obama never sup- change.” continues in power. Syria needs peace and stability and tance to be drawn back into unpopular plied moderate rebels with enough Earnest said on Thursday that histo- there is only one way to achieve this: removal of Assad ground conflicts like the Iraq war. firepower to topple him or force him to rians may “end up quibbling” about from power. The approach has faltered in Syria, where the negotiating table. Obama’s Syria policy, when he was The UN and the international community must do on Tuesday the Syrian army said it could His failure to carry out threatened air asked about a Syrian opposition leader more to help Aleppo. The tragedy in Syria is the result declare full control over eastern Aleppo by strikes to enforce his who told the Wall Street Journal that of their collective failure. Wednesday. 2012 “red line” over “history will never forgive Obama for A deal was struck to allow the remaining Assad’s use of banned what he has done to the Syrian people.” rebel fighters to evacuate their last enclave chemical weapons dealt White House aides privately there, Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin a heavy blow to US acknowledge that Syria - and other Arab said. countries in turmoil, such as Libya and “Leading from behind leaves a vacuum Yemen - could leave a black mark on his that is filled by the Bashar Assads and legacy. QUOTE OF THE DAY Vladimir Putins of the world,” said Senate The rebel loss would But they hope his record will be Armed Services Committee Chairman John underscore the failure buoyed in other areas, including the McCain, referring to how an Obama aide landmark Iran nuclear deal, diplomatic described his strategy. “I think history will of US efforts to stem openings to Cuba and Myanmar, the kill- South Sudan stands judge that these are unintended results that the carnage from Syria’s ing of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden are going to cause great challenges to the and the prevention of a 9/11-style attack on the brink of an all- United States for years to come.” nearly six-year-old civil on US soil on his watch. out ethnic civil Obama has been criticized for refusing to war, leading some critics Still, reflecting deep unease in war, which could provide sufficient arms and other support to to predict that Obama’s Washington over the bloodshed in destabilise the entire moderate rebel groups to compel Assad and Aleppo, Robert Ford, who resigned in his Russian and Iranian backers to negotiate record will be tarnished 2014 as US ambassador to Syria over region. an end to his authoritarian rule. just as president Bill policy disagreements, and is now at the “Obama has pursued a policy of calcu- Middle East Institute, said: “I’m person- Yasmin Sooka lated dithering in Syria, just agonizing over Clinton’s was by his refusal ally sad that after we thought we had UN Human Rights the choices until they no longer existed,” said to intervene to halt the learned lessons in places like Sarajevo, Commission Chief Emile Hokayem, a senior fellow at the Inter- Srebrenica and Rwanda, it’s in fact very national Institute for Strategic Studies think 1994 Rwandan genocide. clear that this administration doesn’t tank. really care.” THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER 2016 OPINION 11 After Aleppo’s fall: ‘Nobody can claim victory’
case when there was a more consoli- signal moral and political ineptitude Samer Abboud dated military stalemate and it will and bankruptcy, but it also ignores Al Jazeera certainly be the case moving forward, that the conditions for continued as the regime claims control over for- violence and insecurity - which are merly rebel-held territories. multiple - will persist throughout “Multilateralism and international the country. “There is thus no seri- involvement in Syria’s future is ous way in which we can declare leppo is now under full control extremely unlikely, now more so than victory for one side or another after of the Syrian army and its allied ever. “Instead, the regime and its allies Aleppo unless we define victory as forces. Syrians will live and have relied on local truces and agree- wins and losses on the battlefield. fight the conflict in different ments as mechanisms of reconciliation “Surely, nobody can claim victory in ways for many generations to and dialogue, even though they are any- a context of such intense human come.A However, the battle over Aleppo thing but and serve merely as a façade. suffering and proliferation of hor- will certainly be considered a major turn- “These agreements focus more on rific violence that has undermined ing point in the trajectory of the crisis that the movement of fighters and civil- and exposed the rottenness of the began almost six years ago. ians outside besieged areas and carry Syrian regime as well as the rebels Although the only certainty in this with them no consideration of politics they were fighting against. “Yet, moment is uncertainty, Samer Abboud, an or reconciliation. We are in a situa- those celebrating the outcome of associate professor of international studies tion in which the politics of peace will Aleppo as such are mired in a at the University of Arcadia and author of be imposed and not negotiated. “The binary understanding of the conflict Syria, gives a quick take on what recent events in Aleppo have emboldened as one between regime supporters events and the re-establishment of Syrian the regime and its allies and proven and oppositionists. government control over Aleppo will mean the utility of the military solution “The reality is much more complex for Syrians moving forward. adopted so many years ago. “This is a than that. “While the military situation Is this the end of the war? short-sighted and destructive view, Syrians walk over rubble of damaged buildings, while carrying their suggests that the regime-aligned forces “Many regime apologists have taken to no doubt, and is one in which a seri- belongings, as they flee clashes between government forces and rebels have the upper hand, this has come at declaring the recapture of Aleppo as the ous commitment to a political in Tariq Al Bab and Al Sakhour neighbourhoods of eastern Aleppo. tremendous cost not only to human life end of the Syrian war. Others have sug- solution cannot possibly emerge.” and physical infrastructure, but to even gested that this may not be the end, but Will violence decrease? Aleppo ensures that the international such as economic ones, that drive their the possibility and feasibility of a via- that it is indeed the beginning of the end. “The large-scale violence inflicted community will maintain its indiffer- violence. “They are far outside any ble political entity that has members of “We should avoid such absolutisms on Aleppo is unlikely to subside in the ence and tacit support - declarations central control and have often oper- this regime at the top. today, which are driven more by political immediate future and will, instead, sim- of humanitarianism notwithstanding ated independently of any command. “We are thus faced with the pro- will than they are by any serious consider- ply shift to other areas. “First, pockets of - of the Russian-led intervention. “As the regime-aligned forces verbial victory of the battle at the ation of what destruction and suffering the armed rebels still exist in the city’s envi- “The persistence of armed groups exert their control over larger swaths expense of the larger war. The Syrian conflict has engendered. rons and they are unlikely to cease and sustained aerial bombardment sim- of territory and these militias are regime may indeed rid large parts of “Assuming this is the end of the war attacks against civilian and military tar- ply means that the violence will be responsible for this control, warlords the country of rebels, as they did in suggests not only that fighting will stop, but gets, despite their depleted capacities. repackaged in Syria and continue in dif- will continue to emerge and inter- Aleppo, but at what expense? “This that the regime has the ability to control all “This is certainly the case in Hama ferent forms. “Syrians will neither be militia fighting is likely to increase. was achieved through excessive reli- of Syria, assert itself throughout its cities and Homs, where violence persists in spared the large-scale horrors of Aleppo “Meanwhile, the Syrian regime ance on regional supporters, the and countryside, control all of the aligned the countryside. Second, larger pock- or the sieges of their villages and towns.” and its supporters will be embold- destruction of the country, the tearing militias, and engage in a process of ets of rebel-held territory in Idlib, Who has power in Syria? ened by the events in Aleppo and try of its social fabric, and a long-term reconstruction. Raqqa, Eastern Ghouta, and the Hama “The regime has not only had to to use this as a moment to assert their generational crisis of unparalleled “This is simply not the case. Fighting countryside, still exist and are likely rely on Russian aerial support but the political and military will throughout trauma. Nobody can claim victory continues to persist throughout the country to be targeted soon by regime-aligned on-the-ground support of thousands of Syria. “The presence of so many mili- after all of this.” and even in areas ostensibly under regime military forces. militias drawn from all walks of Syrian tias and varied regional interests may control, violence and insecurity remain “With the ‘success’ of Aleppo and life and from throughout the region. be the breeding grounds for conflict, parts of the daily lives of Syrians.” the intoxication of victory among the “These militias are not cohesive or rather than cooperation.” What are the prospects for a political regime and its allies still fresh, it is under any central command, let alone “Despite its significance in the tra- solution? unlikely that any scenario other than decidedly loyal to what is left of the jectory of the conflict, the control of “The regime and its allies, principally sustained violence awaits these areas regime. Popular representations of the Aleppo by regime-aligned forces will Russia and Iran, have shown no interest and their civilian populations. regime-aligned militias suggest that neither bring about an end to the D-RING ROAD whatsoever in a multilateral peace process “Third, the recapture of Palmyra their fight is ideological and political, violence.“Not only does the celebra- POST BOX: 3488 to end the conflict. This was certainly the by ISIL forces during the attacks in but this betrays the other motivations, tion of the recapture as a “victory” DOHA - QATAR [email protected]
Are Roma to blame for Europe’s rejection of refugees? EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 FAX: +974 4455 7758
condition of being the most MANAGING EDITOR Andrzej Mirga hated minorities in the region. A TEL: 4462 7505 Al Jazeera recent study by the Pew Research Center showed that 64 DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR percent of Hungarians hold TEL: 4455 7743 unfavourable views of Roma, and 72 percent of them have a negative opinion of Muslims. LOCAL NEWS SECTION In Poland, my home country, TEL: 4455 7769 hen the Bulgarian Min- these figures are 47 percent and istry of Education 66 percent respectively, even BUSINESS NEWS SECTION Wannounced the launch though both groups together TEL: 4462 7535 of a scholarship programme for total just 40,000 in a country of 700 Romani high school students close to 40 million, mostly white SPORT NEWS SECTION (individual awards totalling $32, Catholics. According to a report TEL: 4455 7745 monthly) in October, ethnic Bul- by the Polish National Prosecu- garian parents protested across tor’s Office, hate crimes ONLINE SECTION the country. National television increased by 13 percent in the TEL: 4462 7501 programmes reported the schol- first half of 2016 in Poland, [email protected] arships as an “unjust measure that affecting primarily Muslims, but discriminates against non-Roma”, also Roma, Jews, and blacks. PUBLIC RELATIONS and a Bulgarian MP from a pro- Intolerance by majority soci- gressive centrist party questioned eties is the only objective TEL: 4455 7613 [email protected] whether this “ethnic-based priv- Roma children stand behind a fence near the so called “Sheffield parallel we can draw between ilege” should be considered Square” in the town of Bystrany, Slovakia. Roma and Muslims in Eastern unconstitutional. Europe. As long as countries are ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Considering that only nine presents the issue differently. political will by national govern- not willing to open their public TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 percent of Roma complete sec- “Eastern European national gov- ments to implement successful schools to Roma children, to FAX: 4455 7870 ondary education and that ernments … have no idea how to integration programmes, despite prosecute hate crimes against [email protected] one-third of the Bulgarian Rom- integrate the Roma,” he writes, the substantial European Union Roma, or to offer them an equal ani population live in absolute going on to quote the Bulgarian funds allocated to European chance to participate in public CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT poverty, it is hard to see how political scientist Ivan Krastev, countries for the integration of life and in the employment mar- TEL: 4455 7857 Roma in Bulgaria could be who says this failure contributes marginalised communities. ket, no integration of any [email protected] labelled as privileged, in any to “Eastern Europe’s compassion When Hungary, Slovakia and minority group will be possible. context. Yet, the argument per- deficit” towards Muslims and the Czech Republic continue to Racism is like cancer; if it is SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION suaded many people to protest refugees. “In many east Euro- place Romani children in segre- not stopped radically, it spreads TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 against the proposed scholar- pean countries the Roma are not gated schools, one can have through the entirety of the social FAX: 44557819 ship programme. simply unemployed but unem- doubts about the sincerity of body. Attacks on minorities are a Sadly, this case illustrates ployable because they drop out Eastern European countries’ clear symptom of failed inclu- [email protected] the situation of Roma through- of school very early and fail to willingness to provide better sive democracies. out Eastern Europe and does not acquire the skills needed for the opportunities for their Romani Eastern Europeans do not bode well for efforts to integrate twenty-first-century job mar- citizens. We Roma have been reject refugees because of the All thoughts and views the countless refugees now bot- ket,” claims Krastev. present in Europe for more than failure of Roma integration; they expressed in these columns tlenecked in Greece and Turkey, This argument is dangerous, 600 years and we have been do so because they are intoler- many of whom are Muslims, a as it makes Roma the scapegoats scapegoated, humiliated, and ant, and they are generally are those of the writers, not religious minority in Europe. for the failures of their govern- persecuted for just as long. It is allowed to codify that intoler- of the newspaper. Integration policies are ments and fellow citizens. unfair that we should now be ance, or at least act on it. doomed to fail, if generalised Bershidsky and Krastev pointed to as the reason for East- The prejudice Roma have All correspondence and unchallenged racism from present the plight of Roma as an ern Europe’s intolerance towards suffered for centuries is a mirror regarding Views and Opinion majority populations continues issue impossible to solve. They Muslims, or for the lack of empa- held up to European societies; if pages should be mailed to unchecked. seem to ignore that the first rea- thy Eastern Europeans show for we want the reflection to look A recent article by Leonid son for the failure of Roma refugees fleeing war-torn zones. any different, we will have to the [email protected]. Bershidsky in Bloomberg inclusion policies is the lack of Muslims and Roma share the change ourselves. qa 12 ASIA / PHILIPPINES THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER 2016 China opposes unilateral curbs on N Korea Unilateral sanctions Beijing Council resolution imposed on ministry, China's special envoy peninsula," Wu said yesterday. China has long feared that Reuters the reclusive country. for the Korean peninsula Wu China also hopes all parties cutting off North Korea com- China is willing to fully North Korea has rejected the Dawei said China always pushed can create conditions for the pletely could lead to its collapse, and completely hina is willing to work UN resolution, aimed at cutting for denuclearisation via talks. early resumption of a six-party pushing waves of refugees into enforce Security with the international its annual export revenue by a "China is willing, along with talks process, he said, referring China's poor northeast. Council resolutions, community to fully quarter after its fifth and largest the international community, to to a stalled dialogue mechanism On Tuesday, Senior US, Jap- and opposes unilateral implement UN reso- nuclear test in September. fully and completely enforce involving the two Koreas, China, anese and South Korean officials sanctions imposed lutions on North It says the resolution is a Security Council resolutions, and Japan, the US and Russia. with special responsibility for the CKorea, but opposes any unilat- conspiracy hatched by the US to opposes unilateral sanctions China is North Korea's sole North Korean nuclear issue held outside the framework of resolutions: Official eral sanctions outside that deny its sovereignty. imposed outside the framework major ally though their relations talks, at a time of political flux framework, a senior Chinese Both South Korea and Japan of Security Council resolutions," have been seriously strained by and policy uncertainty in Wash- diplomat told Japan yesterday. already have comprehensive China's Foreign Ministry cited North Korea's repeated missile ington and Seoul. Both South Korea and Japan and South Korea said unilateral sanctions in place Wu as saying. and nuclear tests. "We shared the view that it Japan already have this month they would impose against North Korea. "The situation on the Korean While China has signed up is more important than ever to comprehensive new unilateral sanctions on Speaking by telephone to peninsula is complex and sensi- for several rounds of UN sanc- keep close cooperation among unilateral sanctions in North Korea over its nuclear and Kenji Kanasugi, director-general tive. All sides should work hard tions it has repeatedly said the three countries," South place against North. ballistic missile programmes, of Asian and Oceanian affairs together to maintain the peace civilians and normal trade con- Korea's nuclear envoy Kim following a new UN Security bureau at Japan's foreign and stability of the Korean tacts should not be affected. Hong-Kyun said.
Beijing pledges aid to NEWS BYTES Manila detention cells Thieves in disguise steal over $5m Manila Bureau of Jail Management and worth of gold AFP Penology said that during Duterte's trip to Beijing in Octo- THIEVES posing as police offic- hina has pledged funds ber, China also offered to ers walked off with more than for a new detention facil- donate $14m for detention $5m of gold after telling a group City in the Philippines as facilities. of men simply to hand it over, part of its support for President "It's meant to help the anti- Japanese media reported. Rodrigo Duterte's drug war, the crime campaign of our The fake cops stopped the Philippine jail chief said president. It's really for jails," group and demanded brief- yesterday. prison director Serafin Barretto cases that contained the yellow Duterte's unprecedented said. metal, telling them: "We know crackdown has worsened "We feel happy because this it's smuggled," the Asahi Shim- severe congestion in Philippine will be a big help to address the bun reported. jails, with photographs of Que- lack of resources." Apparently taken in by the zon City Jail in July exposing Barretto added that his Inmates watch television as they relax inside the jail complex in Quezon City, suburban disguise, the victims gave the how inmates in one of the agency decided to use the Manila, yesterday. pretend police what they asked nation's most overcrowded money to fund the construction for and watched as they drove off. detention facilities took turns of a new Quezon City Jail, becoming a narco-state. to temporarily admit new remained a challenge. The heist, in Fukuoka, hap- to sleep on an open-air basket- which was built six decades ago The spike in arrests has inmates to other jails in Manila Latoza said the Chinese aid pened as the men were on their ball court and a staircase. for 800 inmates but now packed an underfunded and with more space, warden Ran- would contribute to funding the way to sell the more-than 100 kil- Beijing has provided fund- houses almost 3,000. overwhelmed penal system, del Latoza said yesterday. new jail estimated to cost ogrammes of gold, said reports, ing for rehabilitation and Duterte, 71, took office in with the population in Quezon City and jail officials said $40m. which valued the haul $5.2m. offered weapons for the cam- June and quickly made good on City Jail soaring to 4,100 in the report fast-tracked the Officials collaborated with paign that has left more than his campaign promise to launch August. transfer of land for a new facil- the International Committee of 5,000 people dead. a brutal drug war that would The number had since gone ity that could house 6,000 the Red Cross to present a new Vietnam jails four Yesterday, the head of the prevent the Philippines from down after a local court agreed inmates by 2019 but finances jail design by January. human smugglers
A VIETNAM court has convicted US man pleads four men of people-smuggling after they tried to sail to Australia guilty in Bali Drug war: Philippines cancels UN official visit with a boat load of migrants but were turned back under Canber- death case Manila the Philippines to validate their claims, invitation to examine situations of extra- ra's hardline immigration policy. Reuters then the trip will not push through. They judicial, summary and arbitrary Australia does not accept Chicago cannot come here." executions due to the war on drugs. She so-called boat people from any AFP he Philippines has cancelled a trip Yasay said there were no indications had intended to visit during the first quar- nation and the country has come next year by the UN special rappor- Callamard would comply with Duterte's ter of next year. under fire for holding migrants in A CHICAGO man pleaded Tteur on extrajudicial killings to look guidelines. He did not say what the gov- Yasay said the government must be isolated outposts in Papua New guilty on Tuesday to helping into the rising death toll in its war on ernment's guidelines were, although given the opportunity to question the rap- Guinea and the island of Nauru. plot the murder of a woman drugs, the country's foreign minister said. Duterte has said he wanted to challenge porteurs because the Philippines had The four Vietnamese sen- vacationing at a Bali resort, in Perfecto Yasay said the United the UN rapporteur to a public debate. already been maligned by allegations of tenced on Tuesday were deported a case that has already sent the Nations could not pursue its investiga- Since Duterte took office on July 1, extrajudicial killings. from Australia in June this year woman's daughter to prison. tion because special rapporteur Agnes police say more than 2,000 people have In its letter inviting the UN rapporteur, after their boat carrying 21 peo- Robert Ryan Justin Bibbs Callamard had declined to accept the died in anti-narcotics police operations, the government said it was "entitled to ple was spotted in Australian said in a plea agreement that conditions set by the government of Pres- with another 3,000 deaths, caused by know the motive for the investigation, and waters. he advised his cousin Tommy ident Rodrigo Duterte. motorcycle-riding masked men and by why the focus is on the Philippines, when Two were given three and Schaefer and Schaefer's girl- "They cannot come," Yasay said. "If vigilante groups, under investigation. there are other nations responsible for the three and a half years in prison, friend Heather Mack on how they will not comply with the conditions Last month, Callamard wrote to the death of innocent and defenceless indi- while another pair were handed to kill Mack's mother. of our president regarding their visit to government, welcoming the Philippines' viduals elsewhere in the world". 18-month suspended sentences. Sheila von Weise was beaten to death with a fruit bowl during a vacation in 2014 at a luxury resort hotel on Indonesia's Bali island. Prosecutors say Schaefer and US grounds Osprey fleet in Japan Jakarta governor stands Mack stuffed the 62-year- old's body in a suitcase, left it inside a taxi, and then fled. Tokyo trial for blasphemy Bibbs, 26, said he was AFP aware of the couple's plans Jakarta several times to compose him- and believed he would receive he US Marines suspended AFP self as he maintained his a share of the inheritance that flights of their Osprey air- innocence. Mack expected to receive Tcraft in Japan yesterday as akarta's Christian governor "I know I have to respect after her mother's death, anger mounts over an accident choked back tears as he gave the holy verses of the Quran. I prosecutors said in a court that saw one of the hybrid Jan impassioned defence do not understand how I can be filing. planes crash off the southern against blasphemy charges, in said to have offended Islam," Authorities discovered island of Okinawa. a court case that has stoked he said, occasionally dabbing evidence that Bibbs and The incident came at a del- fears of growing intolerance in his eyes with a handkerchief. Schaefer engaged in several icate time, with Tokyo and the Muslim-majority nation. Purnama, better known by text message conversations in Washington pushing to build a Basuki Tjahaja Purnama -- his nickname Ahok, ignited a which Bibbs offered methods new airbase on Okinawa despite the first Christian to govern the firestorm of criticism in Sep- in which to carry out the local opposition against the capital over 50 years -- is tember when he quoted the murder. heavy US military presence standing trial accused of insult- Islamic holy text while cam- "Go sit on her face wit (sic) there and concerns by residents US military personnel investigate the wreckage of a US Marine ing the Holy Quran, an offence paigning ahead of elections for a pillow," he allegedly wrote about the Osprey. that carries a five-year jail term. the Jakarta governorship. Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft that crash-landed in the sea off in one text message, accord- The MV-22 Osprey, a so- The governor has apolo- The governor accused his Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, yesterday. ing to the FBI. called tiltrotor plane that can gised for his controversial opponents of using a Quranic In 2015 an Indonesian carry 24 troops, is half helicop- remarks, which angered Mus- verse, which suggests Muslims court convicted Schaefer, who ter half turboprop and boasts the The crash happened over- The Osprey pilot guided the lims across Indonesia and drew should not choose non-Muslims was 21 at the time, of premed- manoeuvrability of a chopper night after the aircraft damaged violently shaking aircraft to hundreds of thousands to the as leaders, in order to trick peo- itated murder and jailed him and the speed and range of a one of its propellers during an shallow waters near US Marine streets of Jakarta in protests ple into voting against him. for 18 years. fixed-wing aircraft. aerial refuelling drill with base Camp Schwab, and con- larger than any seen in nearly Prosecutor Ali Mukartono Mack -- who was 19 and But a series of accidents another plane around 10pm on ducted "a controlled landing" in two decades. said the governor had "spoken pregnant when the crime mostly in the United States Tuesday (1300 GMT), accord- the water to reduce injuries to Facing court for the first a lie" and insulted Muslims, occurred -- was found guilty involving the plane have ing to Marine Lieutenant crew and avoid flying over time, the governor gave an adding Indonesia's top clerical of assisting in the murder and prompted protests by Okinawa General Lawrence Nicholson Okinawan residential areas, he emotionally charged defence council had declared his given a 10-year prison term. residents. recently. added. against the charges, pausing remarks blasphemous. THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER 2016 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN 13
368 terrorists Pakistan test-fires eliminated in cruise missile
a year in Sindh PAKISTAN'S military says it has successfully test-fired a revised ver- Karachi sion of a locally developed Internews Law enforcement medium-range cruise A report says the law missile, which can strike laiming elimination enforcement targets both on land and of 368 terrorists over agencies killed 220 sea. the past one year, a ‘religious terrorists’ In a statement, it said report compiled by the Babur Cruise Missile, from Al-Qaeda, TTP, the Sindh province which has a range of IS, and 77 ‘sectarian Chome ministry shows that a sig- 700km, was launched nificant number of those killed terrorists’ from LeJ, from an undisclosed Men pray over the casket containing remains of one of a victims of last week's plane crash in encounters with law enforce- SSP, SMP, etc, in location. It said the low- ment agencies were ‘religious’ Karachi alone. In the near Abbotabad, after their funeral in Islamabad, yesterday. flying, terrain-hugging or ‘sectarian’ militants. same period, it adds, missile is capable of car- The portion of the report is 534 suspected rying various types of dedicated to the action against dacoits or suspected Mourners attend mass funeral warheads. armed militias, including the robbers have also The statement banned Tehreek-i-Taliban been killed. quoted Chairman of the Pakistan and its affiliates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Com- sleeper cells, Al-Qaeda, Baloch mandated to work across the of Pakistan plane crash victims mittee, Gen. Zubair Liberation Army, Lashkar-i- province, killed 62 ‘religious Mahmood Hayat, as con- Jhangvi, Sipah-i-Mohammad extremists’, eight ‘sectarian mil- Islamabad their relatives yesterday. Junaid Jamshed, a popular pop gratulating the project's Pakistan, Lyari gangs, Jeay itants’ and 74 ‘robbers’. It Agencies The Pakistan Institute of singer-turned-Islamic preacher scientists and engineers Sindh Muttahida Mahaz, Sipah- arrested 82 ‘militants’ of al- Medical Sciences (PIMS) spokes- who was among those killed in on "achieving yet i-Sahaba Pakistan, Jundullah Qaeda, the TTP, etc, 30 fficials say hundreds of man Dr Waseem Khawaja said the crash, to the port city of another milestone of (Haji Khalil group), the Punjabi belonging to the LeJ, SSP, SMP, mourners are attending that 24 bodies were still to be Karachi. Jamshed sang a moti- great value and Taliban and IS. etc, and 279 ‘robbers’. Oa mass funeral for more identified from among the 48 vational song dedicated to the significance." More than 21,000 alleged No affiliate belonging to the than a dozen victims of last victims who were killed when air force last year. He was Pakistan became a members of such organisations religious extremist organisa- week's plane crash at a hospital a Pakistan International Airlines among 47 people who were nuclear power 1998, have been arrested in a series tions was killed in the rest of in Islamabad after DNA tests plane crashed near Islamabad killed when the PIA plane went developing the capabil- of combing operations and five regions of Sindh. However, confirmed their identities. last week. down while traveling from Chi- ity to match that of encounters, says the report. 12 of them have been arrested Cabinet minister Tariq Fazal Earlier, TV footage showed tral to Islamabad. The remains neighbour and arch-rival It says the law enforcement in Hyderabad and eight in Chaudhry said doctors handed a Pakistani Air Force plane of nearly half of the passengers India. agencies killed 220 ‘religious Sukkur. A single ‘sectarian mil- over the bodies of 13 victims to transporting the remains of are yet to be identified. terrorists’ (Al-Qaeda, TTP, IS, itant’ was killed in encounter etc,), and 77 ‘sectarian terror- in Larkana, the political head- ists’ (LeJ, SSP, SMP, etc,) in quarters of the ruling PPP’s Karachi alone. In the same Bhuttos while 20 others have period, it adds, 534 suspected been arrested from there. Climate change bill gets lower house nod dacoits or suspected robbers Agencies in Hyderabad killed have also been killed. A total of 46 ‘robbers’ and arrested 4,589; 12,450 suspects have been nine ‘robbers’ were killed and Islamabad for approval before it becomes commitment to combating the Change Authority. The members arrested in the city, of which 171 1,308 were arrested in Mirpur- Internews an act of parliament. adverse effects of the shifting cli- were informed about the urgent are ‘militants’ allegedly belong- khas division; Benazirabad law “Pakistan is 134th in the list mate by enacting laws need to prepare a portfolio of ing to Al-Qaeda, the TTP and enforcers killed 20 ‘robbers’ and he National Assembly of countries that contribute to specifically for the purpose,” said projects on a priority basis to other religious extremist organ- arrested 338 others; in Sukkur Standing Committee on global warming. But it is the 7th Minister for Climate Change seek funding from the poten- isations, 216 affiliated with division, 44 ‘robbers’ were killed TClimate Change cleared a most vulnerable country to the Zahid Hamid during a meeting tially huge amounts of global sectarian outfits and 12,063 are and 653 have been arrested; bill aimed at tackling challenges impacts of climate change. By of the committee, requesting the climate change finance that ‘robbers or dacoits’. while 39 ‘robbers or dacoits’ of global warming. The Pakistan passing the Bill, Pakistan will members for support. would be available to nations The counter-terrorism were killed and 1,264 have been Climate Change Bill 2016 will join five countries in the world The bill focuses on the estab- vulnerable to the impacts of department (CTD), which is arrested in Larkana. now be presented in the Senate that have demonstrated their lishment of the Pakistan Climate altering weather patterns.
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum protests Afghan First V-P denies abusing rival
Kabul abuse had taken place. Reuters Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's office promised a thor- fghanistan's First Vice- ough investigation of Ishchi's President Abdul Rashid accusations. ADostum denied accusa- While imprisoned by Dos- tions that he had beaten and tum's men, Ishchi said he was abducted a political rival and repeatedly beaten, including by threatened him with sexual vio- rifles, and threatened with sex- lence, in a case that sparked ual violence. After being held by Western calls for a full and fair men loyal to Dostum for five investigation. days, Ishchi said he remained Dostum, a former warring for another 10 days with secu- faction commander with a fear- rity forces who provided some reputation and a lingering of the same political faction as medical aid. power base in northern Afghan- Dostum but later fell out with Pledging an investigation istan, was witnessed by him. into Ishchi's claims, Afghan hundreds of people, according "He (Ishchi) was detained by presidential spokesman Haroon to The New York Times, beat- Afghan security forces for alle- Chakhansori said: "For the ing and then ordering his men gations of funding the opposition Afghan government nobody is to detain Ahmad Ishchi (pic- and having a hand in repeated above the law. Rule of law and Women hold pictures of fishermen relatives, who were detained by India, as they demand tured) at a public sporting event security issues," a spokesperson accountability begins in the gov- for their release during a rally organised by Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum in Karachi, yesterday. in late November. for Dostum said in a statement, ernment itself and we are Ishchi was once a member denying any physical or sexual committed to it." Afghan kids out of school risk early marriage & child labour
Kabul So far this year, more than 650,000 "We are really concerned about the extension, Afghanistan's refugees and Pakistani authorities have also said AP Afghans have returned from Pakistan, risks that are threatening the children repatriation minister, Sayed Hossain that a number of militants are hiding in with the majority planning to stay in and the future of the children if the sit- Alemi Balki, said he wanted it extended refugee camps, creating a security risk hildren of Afghan families return- Nangarhar, at least until the end of win- uation continues," said Bahirullah until December 2017. He also said Paki- for the country. ing from Pakistan who don't go to ter. Hundreds of thousands more Wyaar, an adviser at Save the Children stani police were harassing refugees, In the Save the Children survey, Ana Cschool and have no access to edu- Afghans are expected to be repatriated in Kabul. "If the children, especially the and said Islamabad should not forcibly Locsin, the group's director in Afghan- cation are increasingly at risk of early in the coming months. girls, do not have access to education, repatriate Afghan refugees when the istan, is quoted as saying that "part of marriage and child labour, according to The survey is based on 379 inter- it puts them at the risk of early new deadline expires. the problem is that many repatriated a survey released yesterday. viewees conducted by Save the Children marriages." Millions of Afghans fled their coun- families left stable jobs and lives in Paki- The survey by Save the Children between October 28 and November 8 Also, many of the poorest of the poor try to neighbouring Pakistan and Iran stan and are now watching the few reveals an alarming crisis in Afghani- in five districts in Nangarhar. The poll have no resources, which may "force during the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation savings they have dwindle away know- stan's eastern Nangarhar province gave a 5 percent margin of error. the children to work on the streets," of Afghanistan, the brutal civil war of ing they have little prospect of income." where the polling took place among Among the returnees, many have no Wyaar added. 1992-1996 between US-backed rebel "Many are living out in the open, or returnees from Pakistan. It warns the money and lack any sort of documents In June, Pakistan's government groups that fought the Soviets and again in tents, so they have no real semblance situation could deteriorate further as or ID papers. Parents facing poverty extended a deadline for Afghan refu- after the Taliban came to power in 1996 of shelter, let alone security," she added. more than 3,500 Afghans return from often feel the only stable choice they can gees deemed to be staying in Pakistan — creating one of the world's largest ref- "They often feel they have little Pakistan on a daily basis after Islama- make is to arrange a marriage for their illegally to return home by the end of ugee populations. Both Pakistan and choice but to send their child to find bad tightened regulations on those living child or to bring the children into the the year or face deportation. Iran have been pressing for them to work or to marry off their daughters," illegally in the country. workforce, the survey found. But although Kabul welcomed the leave. the group's director said. 14 INDIA THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER 2016 Rahul threatens to expose Modi
New Delhi Demonetisation government is scared of the exchange old currency notes for IANS information I have. Thus, they new at the party headquarters. Read my lips. The (the government) are not allow- Kumar was referring to a Prime Minister is ing me to speak in Parliament. sting operation by a news chan- fter threatening an personally terrified Let us speak in the Lok Sabha. nel showing some politicians, earth-shattering dis- with the We will reveal everything." including those from the Con- closure on information that I The Gandhi scion also gress, being involved in money demonetisation ear- have. I have dubbed demonetisation as laundering. lier, Congress Vice information on the Modi's "personal decision ... "Gandhi is making baseless PresidentA Rahul Gandhi yester- taken against the poor of the allegations. He should instead personal corruption day said he wanted to expose of the PM: Rahul country (that) has destroyed mil- apologise to the nation," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's lions of lives". Kumar, accusing the opposition Gandhi personal complicity in corrup- The Congress leader was of "sabotaging" the entire winter tion but "a terrified government" The BJP fielded an joined by other opposition lead- session of Parliament. He said didn't let him speak in array of its leaders to ers, including Trinamool that if the Congress had informa- Parliament. Congress's Sudip Bandyopad- tion to share with Parliament, counter the Though the Prime Minister hyay, Marxist P Karunakaran Gandhi "could have done it" allegations. and his office didn't react to the and Nationalist Congress Party's when the House was in session. remarks, the government dis- Tariq Anwar, in cornering the Human Resource Develop- missed the "baseless allegations" government. ment Minister Prakash as a "sign of desperation" by the Minister is personally terrified Gandhi last week said an Javadekar said: "Rahulji, we Congress. Gandhi didn't make with the information that I have. "earthquake will come" if he was want you to speak. When you do, the proof public. He insisted he I have information on the per- allowed to speak in the Lok you expose the Congress, so we wanted to explode the bomb- sonal corruption of the Prime Sabha "about the biggest scam want you to speak. shell in the Lok Sabha during the Minister," Gandhi told reporters committed by Narendra Modi "They have been unmasked, ongoing winter session that has after the Lok Sabha was single handedly". so they are making these alle- been almost completely washed adjourned for the day without The BJP fielded an array of gations." Urban Development away in opposition protests conducting any business — the its leaders to counter the allega- Minister M Venkaiah Naidu against the government's way it has been since the session tions. Parliamentary Affairs questioned why the Congress November 8 move to ban Rs500 began on November 16. The ses- Minister and senior BJP leader was "not allowing the House to and Rs1,000 notes to combat sion ends on this Friday. H N Ananth Kumar alleged that function and have a proper corruption and black money. "If I speak, his (Modi's) bal- some Congress leaders were act- debate on the demonetisation "Read my lips. The Prime loon will burst. He is scared. The ing as "commission agent" to issue".
Rs28.9m Braving cold weather Karnataka NEWS BYTES seized from minister resigns over sleaze tape Old Rs500 notes' Bengaluru flat use ends today Bengaluru midnight Bengaluru IANS IANS EXEMPTIONS provided n an embarrassment to the for the use of old Rs500 n a tipoff, the investi- ruling Congress, Karnata- notes will come to an end gation wing of the Ika's 70-year-old Excise at the midnight of today, OIncome Tax (IT) depart- Minister H Y Meti resigned not yesterday as a sec- ment found and seized here yesterday after a sleaze tion of media claimed, Rs28.9m unaccounted cash, tape showing him having sex the Finance Ministry said mostly in the new Rs2,000 with a woman surfaced and yesterday. notes, from a flat here, said an news channels began airing "Exemptions for use of official yesterday. it, said an official. old Rs500 notes will end "An unexplained cash of "Meti called on Chief Min- on 15 Dec midnight. Sec- Rs.28.9m, including Rs22.5m ister Siddaramaiah at his tions of media reporting in Rs 2,000 notes was found official residence here and wrongly as if it's yesterday during a search in a flat at Yes- Passengers waiting at the railway station in Amritsar yesterday. Seasonal heavy fog and submitted his resignation let- (December 14)," Economic hwantpur (in the city's cold weather disturbed the train, bus and air schedules in the north. ter. It will be sent to the Affairs Secretary Shak- northwest suburb) on Tues- Governor soon for accept- tikanta Das said in a tweet day," said IT Department ance," an official from the yesterday. spokesman Alex Mathew in a Chief Minister's Office said. The usage of old statement here. Siddaramaiah later in a Rs500 notes at railway Though the IT sleuths got tweet said that he had rec- ticketing counters, to buy the information on Monday SC orders action on child drug abuse ommended to the Governor tickets of government or that huge amount of cash was (Vajubhai Vala) to accept the public sector undertaking lying in an apartment, occu- minister's resignation at the buses and to pay catering pied by an old woman and New Delhi should conduct a national sur- Andolan (Save Childhood Move- earliest. services on board during guarded by two fierce dogs, AFP vey to determine how ment) filed the petition before "I have also ordered a travel by rail was discon- they could not enter the widespread the problem is, and the Supreme Court in 2014. probe into the incident." tinued from December 10 premise to search, she was not upreme Court yesterday include education about drugs The child rights group asked Walking out of the Chief midnight. cooperative and refused to tie ordered the government to in the school curriculum. the court to order the govern- Minister's residence, a defi- the dogs. Scome up with a plan to "Trafficking and drug abuse, ment to create rehabilitation ant Meti however denied "We had to take the help tackle child drug abuse, acting inherently linked to each other, centres in each district of India, indulging in any obscene of local police and other on a petition from Nobel Peace are the most prevalent forms of with a special wing for activity. Kerala ration inmates in the building to enter laureate Kailash Satyarthi's child organised crime in the world," children. He alleged that there was the premises where one room rights group. said Satyarthi in response to the It also urged a national a conspiracy to tarnish his supply to go was found locked. On open- With government figures judgement. action plan on substance abuse, image through a fake sleaze ing the room, the cash was showing almost 20 percent of "This petition was filed to to include counselling and tape from a CD (compact hi-tech found stashed in boxes," said addicts in India are under 21, the ensure that children are pro- rehabilitation. disc). Mathew. Supreme Court said more vided with a better, more Bachpan Bachao Andolan "I have resigned but I am FROM the next fiscal When a survey operation needed to be done to educate healthy childhood," he said in a activist Bhuvan Ribhu said mil- innocent. An official investi- (2017-18), the statutory revealed that a person was vis- young people about the dangers statement. lions of children are hooked on gation will prove my ration supplies in Ker- iting the flat in the early hours, of substance abuse in India. India's Supreme Court reg- drugs, many of whom later turn innocence," Meti told the ala would turn hi-tech, the sleuths summoned him The court ordered New ularly intervenes on public to dealing to fund their habit. media here. said a state government and asked him about the cash Delhi to "evolve a national policy issues. Last month it Experts say peer pressure Meti is seen in a compro- official yesterday. source. As his claims were action plan within six months to ordered the government to curb and academic stress are driving mising position with a young Addressing reporters found to be incorrect, he combat drug abuse amongst air pollution, which it said was children to drugs, but there is woman in the tape, of which here, Food and Supplies admitted it was unaccounted school children". a "public health emergency". scant data on the scale of the around four minutes of foot- Secretary Minnie Antony income. It said the government Satyarthi's Bachpan Bachao problem. age has been aired so far. said that automation is going forward in a big way and by April 1 next year, ration supplies will be hi-tech. CBI custody of S P Tyagi extended Tribunal bans glass-coated kite string "Right from the arrival of stocks to the godowns, A COURT here yesterday during investigation. The trio New Delhi until the next hearing on Febru- which there are many bird and till the ration reaches the extended till December 17 the was arrested on Friday. On IANS ary 1, 2017. The bench said the human deaths due to dangerous hand of the customer, it CBI custody of former Indian Saturday, they were remanded glass poweder-coated kite string kite string. can be tracked. Even offi- Air Force (IAF) chief S P Tyagi in CBI custody till December not only posed a threat to birds, "Manja is a menace -- it is a cials sitting in Delhi can at and two others in the Rs3,767- 14. Earlier yesterday, the CBI he National Green Tribu- animals and humans but also threat to the lives of humans and the click of a mouse find crore AgustaWestland chopper had sought seven-day exten- nal (NGT) yesterday caused harm to the birds and hinders essential serv- out the stock positions," deal case. sion in custody of Tyagi and Timposed a nationwide environment. ices such as electricity," PETA he said. Central Bureau of Inves- others, saying their custodial interim ban on the procurement, The order came in response government affairs liaison offi- The Kerala gov- tigation (CBI) Special Judge interrogation is necessary sale and use of glass powder- to a petition by People for the cial Nikunj Sharma said in a ernment is supported Arvind Kumar allowed the in the interest of justice as it coated 'manja' and other Ethical Treatment of Animals - statement. PETA filed the peti- by the United Nations probe agency to quiz Tyagi, has yet to unearth the entire dangerous kite strings. India, which called for a tion in the NGT in August, after World Food Programme his cousin Sanjeev Tyagi conspiracy. An NGT bench headed by nationwide ban on all kinds of which notices were issued to all (WFP) for the Rs250 crore and Delhi lawyer Gautam The central agency said a Chairman Justice Swatanter sharp kite strings. state governments, the Ministry project, which began dur- Khaitan for three more days confidential document of the Kumar passed the order for an Reacting to the NGT order, of Environment, Forests and Cli- ing the previous Oommen after the central agency said Indian government was seized interim ban on nylon thread -- PETA said the interim ban is mate Change (MoEFCC), the Chandy government, to the accused are required to be from the residence of alleged also called 'Chinese manja' -- as expected to save many lives as Ministry of Home Affairs, the make the 14,000 ration confronted with incriminat- middleman and Italian national well as synthetic/cotton thread it comes just a month before Ministry of Commerce and shops in the state turn ing evidence that has emerged Guido Haschke's mother. coated with glass powder or 'Makar Sankranti', a festival Industry, and the Ministry of paperless. other hazardous compounds marked with flying kites during Power to seek their responses. THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER 2016 EUROPE 15 Italian PM wins Senate confidence vote Rome national vote, the referendum Reuters To push reforms would be automatically delayed Prime Minister Paolo by up to 12 months. talian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni after “It seems to me that the pre- Gentiloni won the backing winning the vote, vailing attitude is to go to of the fragmented Senate elections soon, before any refer- promised to push yesterday, allowing his endum on the Jobs Act,” said ahead with Renzi’s government to formally Labour Minister Giuliano Poletti. Itake office as a new threat reform agenda. A new electoral law must be emerged to the legacy of prede- drawn up before the national cessor Matteo Renzi. elections can be held. After winning an initial vote demanding a plebiscite on the law. In a speech to the Senate, of confidence in the lower cham- Italy’s Constitutional Court Gentiloni said his government, ber of parliament on Tuesday, said yesterday it would review the which is a virtual carbon copy of Gentiloni secured victory in the request on January 11. If it gives the the previous administration, upper house Senate and prom- green light to the CGIL union, a would seek cross-party consen- ised to push ahead with Renzi’s referendum on the Jobs Act could sus on the law. reform agenda. be held before next summer. Many senators representing But the reform drive, once Business leaders denounced opposition parties left the cham- heralded by investors as a sign the move to overturn the reform, ber before Gentiloni spoke to that Italy was finally facing up to which made it easier to hire and protest over the make-up of the myriad problems such as chronic fire workers, and the labour min- new cabinet, saying the recent economic underperformance ister told reporters the initiative referendum showed Italians did and rampant graft, looks increas- on unions made it more likely not want continuity but rather a ingly ragged. that national elections would be new beginning. Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni shakes hands with ministers before a confidence vote With constitutional reform brought forward. The largest opposition party, at the Senate in Rome, yesterday. already shot down by a referen- Following the referendum the anti-establishment, anti-euro dum, another of Renzi’s flagship defeat, Renzi supporters fear the 5-Star Movement, is feeding off weeks to push for elections. and many opposition senators government since 1946. projects, a shake-up of the labour anti-establishment drive will the popular discontent and The understated Gentiloni not taking part. Gentiloni is Ita- One of the first problems market, risks suffering the same push Italians to reject the Jobs has promised to stage major won 169 votes in the 320-seat ly’s fifth prime minister in as awaiting the new government is fate with Italy’s main union Act. By bringing forward the street protests in the coming Senate, with 99 voting against many years and heads its 64th a mushrooming banking crisis.
French House Seasonal bonanza Unused water cannons extends state of emergency for sale in London
Paris London Reuters Reuters
THE French lower house of ondon Mayor Sadiq Khan parliament voted early on (pictured) has put up for Wednesday to extend the Lsale three water cannon country’s state of emergency that were bought in 2014 by his until July 15, 2017, as France predecessor Boris Johnson but remains on high alert against never used, because the gov- the threat of terror attacks. ernment refused permission for Political parties are keen police to use them. to show they are getting a grip The decision to sell the can- on threat of attacks as France non, which cost in total over prepares for presidential £322,800 ($410,000) to buy, elections in 2017. refit and maintain, prolongs a France’s upper house humiliation originally inflicted the fitting of CD players for Senate will also review the on Johnson, now foreign sec- £970. measures today. The social- retary, by fellow Conservative “It beggars belief that such ist government imposed state Theresa May, now prime a huge amount of taxpayers’ of emergency - which gives minister. money has been wasted on police extended powers to Johnson bought the second- paying to store these redundant search and arrest - in Novem- People enjoy skating at a temporary open air ice rink in the centre of the Red Square in hand cannon from Germany machines,” Khan said in a state- ber last year after attacks by front of the Historical museum in Moscow, yesterday. arguing they could help prevent ment yesterday, blaming Islamist militants in Paris. a repeat of riots that broke out Johnson for acting “rashly” in in London in 2011, but May, purchasing them. then interior minister, refused Johnson’s office did not to allow their use anywhere in immediately return a call England or Wales. requesting comment. Court suspends Catalonia independence vote Water cannon have been May’s decision to block the used in Northern Ireland but use of Johnson’s cannon was not elsewhere in the United an early skirmish in a rela- Madrid independence from Britain Carme Forcadell and Puigdemont, But Mas is now due to stand Kingdom. tionship that has remained AFP which resulted in a “no” vote. they had a duty to “stop or para- trial for staging vote on charges May told parliament last volatile. Catalan President Carles lyse” any move to ignore or dodge of serious disobedience and mal- year her concerns included the Launching her campaign to pain’s Constitutional Court Puigdemont pledged in the suspension, or face “potential lia- feasance, and risks a 10-year ban risk of injuries, the cannons’ be prime minister on June 30 yesterday suspended a res- autumn to hold such a referen- bilities, including at a penal level”. on holding public office. limitations in dealing with riots, this year, May referred back to Solution by Catalonia’s dum in September 2017, whether Catalonia’s former president In this latest attempt, the and the potential damage to the episode to make fun of regional parliament that called or not the central government Artur Mas had already tried to Constitutional Court has five police legitimacy in the eyes of Johnson, then considered a a referendum next year on inde- in Madrid agreed, and the major- hold such a referendum, but it months to decide whether to the public. potential rival for the job. pendence from rest of the ity-separatist, regional was banned by Constitutional implement the suspension for Khan, who is from the “Last time he did a deal country. parliament subsequently Court so he held a symbolic, good, or lift it. opposition Labour Party, said with the Germans he came Separatists in wealthy, approved his plan. non-binding independence vote But it is highly unlikely to proceeds from the sale would back with three nearly-new northeastern region have for The court said it “suspends... instead in November 2014. allow the vote to go ahead, given go towards tackling gang crime. water cannon,” she said to years tried—in vain—to win the resolution of Catalonia’s par- More than 80 percent cast that it ruled in 2014 that, under He issued a detailed break- laughter. approval from Spain’s central liament that plans a referendum their ballot in favour of inde- the constitution, no region can down of the money spent on the She later surprised every- government to hold an inde- in 2017”. It also warned Catalan pendence then—although just 2.3 unilaterally call an independ- cannon, ranging from the pur- one by appointing Johnson her pendence vote like Scotland’s politicians involved in the proc- million people out of a total of 6.3 ence referendum that will affect chase price of £85,000 to foreign secretary, but it has not 2014 referendum on ess, such as parliament speaker million eligible voters took part. the entire country. repainting costs of £19,000 and all been plain sailing.
Crimean gold treasures must be Towering into the flurry sky returned to Kiev: Dutch court
Amsterdam annexed Crimea from Ukraine. Turkish cultures have met since Reuters A spokesman for Ukraine’s ancient times. Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin The court ruled that only priceless collection of gold tweeted: “This is an important sovereign countries could claim artifacts from Crimea that victory for Ukraine.” objects as cultural heritage. Awas on loan to a Dutch Some Crimeans greeted the Since only Ukraine, not Crimea, museum when Russia seized the decision with dismay. was sovereign, it was for a peninsula must be returned to “I don’t think it was a good Ukrainian court to adjudicate Ukraine and not Crimea, a Dutch idea to bring this before court,” competing ownership claims. court ruled yesterday in a judge- said Valentina Mordvinsteva, a “Ownership questions have ment likely to anger Moscow. historian and exhibition’s Cri- to be settled when they have Kiev and the four museums mea-based original curator. been returned to the state and have been wrangling over the The exhibition, its centrepiece in accordance with the law of fate of the archeological treas- a 4th century BC Scythian helmet, the state in question,” said ures, including gems, helmets highlighted rich history of the judge Mieke Dudok van Heel. and scabbards, which were on peninsula, a staging post on silk “The Allard Pierson Museum loan to Amsterdam’s Allard Pier- road between from China to must return the treasures to The Houses of Parliament are silhouetted against the morning sky in London, yesterday. son Museum when Russia Europe, where Russian, Greek, Kiev.” 16 EUROPE THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER 2016
Germany risks 'Appalling' UK rail strike strands thousands missing 2020
London climate targets: Reuters Call to solve crisis Speaking in the Ministry report ritish Prime Minister parliament, Prime Theresa May con- Minister Theresa May Berlin demned as “appalling” urged the two sides Reuters a rail strike that left to find a solution to hundreds of thou- avoid prolonging GERMANY is at risk of miss- Bsands of London commuters ing its 2020 target for cutting Britain’s worst rail facing a second day of travel greenhouse gas emissions by chaos yesterday. disruption for two 40 percent from 1990, an Speaking in parliament, she decades. environment ministry report urged the two sides to find a showed yesterday. solution to avoid prolonging Brit- Emissions were down by ain’s worst rail disruption for two Commuters faced a just 27 percent in 2015, the decades. second day of travel report said. London commuters faced a chaos as the latest The report will embarrass second day of travel chaos as the round of train strikes Chancellor Angela Merkel, latest round of train strikes stopped services who was dubbed the “climate stopped services between Lon- between London and chancellor” after champion- don and the south coast in the south coast. ing the issue with foreign Britain’s worst rail disruption for leaders in her first term in two decades. office. Hundreds of thousands of the conciliation service Acas People walk across Westminster Bridge on the second day of a train strike in London, yesterday. She has also pushed commuters struggled to get to before more stoppages planned through a switch to renewa- work yesterday as drivers work- for tomorrow and in January. ble energy. ing for Southern Rail began the “This is an appalling strike,” strike, that is Aslef,” she added. Southern told passengers not which have caused misery for Since 2014, Germany has second day of a 48-hour stop- she said. “We’ve seen driver-only Yesterday’s talks have not to try to travel during the strike. commuters. Some of them say stepped up efforts to cut page over a long-running dispute operated trains on rail networks yet involved the other main rail Commentators said this they have even lost their jobs emissions with adopting about whose job it should be to in the UK for decades. I hope that union, the RMT, which repre- week’s strikes would have big- because they could not get to measures such as improv- open and close the train doors. the talks at Acas are going to lead sents conductors, and is also gest impact since action by signal work on time. ing energy efficiency, trying May called for an end to the to an end to this strike.” involved in the dispute. It is plan- workers in the mid-1990s. Southern said in a statement to boost demand for electric action as Southern and the driv- “There is only one body ning strikes on the Southern They follow a series of stop- it hoped the talks with Aslef cars and agreeing to moth- ers’ union Aslef met for talks at responsible for the current network next week. pages on Southern this year would be productive. ball some brown coal power plants. The action plan was expected to save between 62 Row over PM million and 78 million tonnes US to accelerate troop deployment to Baltics of carbon dioxide but now the government expects savings coverage: Two Warsaw Hodges, in Zagan, western from port to field,” he said. Russian military operations in the of just 58 million tonnes, the AP Poland, where some of the “I’m confident in the very region, especially after its 2014 report said. Finnish troops will be deployed. It will powerful signal, the message it annexation of Crimea from Although Germany is he United States has be an Armored Brigade Combat will send (that) the US, along Ukraine, and have requested US switching to renewable journalists quit decided to accelerate the Team from Fort Carson, Colo- with the rest of Nato, is commit- and Nato troops’ presence on their energy and away from the Tdeployment of troops to rado. Another US force, a ted to deterrence,” Hodges said. territory as a deterrent. The alli- nuclear power and fossil fuel, Helsinki Poland, the Baltic states and battalion, will be deployed April He said armoured brigade has ance and the US insist troop industry has lobbied hard to Reuters Romania as part of raising the 1 to Orzysz, in the northeast. already moved out of its Colorado presence is not aimed against any- keep coal mines running to security of the region, Polish and Hodges said the troops will base and is loading on ships. one, but Russia has threatened avoid power supply TWO Finnish journalists quit US defence officials said arrive in German port of “I’m excited about what my measures in response. bottlenecks. public broadcaster Yleisradio yesterday. Bremerhaven on January 6 and country is doing and I’m excited The US troops had previously Domestic hard coal min- (YLE) yesterday, saying the Polish Defence Minister will be immediately deployed to about continuing to work with been expected in mid- or late ing will end in 2018 but no company had suppressed Antoni Macierewicz made the Poland, the Baltic states and our ally, Poland,” Hodges said. January.“I am very happy that a date has been set to phase out critical reporting on politi- announcement following talks Romania. Their transfer will be Poland and the Baltic nations decision has been taken by the US brown coal mines, which are cians including Prime with commander of US land timed and treated as a test of of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia side for an earlier deployment,” more damaging to the Minister Juha Sipila. troops in Europe, Lt. Gen. Ben “how fast the force can move have been uneasy about increased Macierewicz said. environment. The case is unusual for the Nordic country, ranked by non-profit group Reporters Without Borders as global leader in press freedom. It White landscape Ukraine faces cyber follows a row over emailed complaints from the prime minister about the broadcast- er’s coverage. security threat: Expert The two journalists, Jussi Eronen and Salla Vuorikoski, Kiev attack on its power grid that left cited differences of opinion Reuters part of western Ukraine tempo- over freedom of speech and rarily without electricity. journalistic independence as Ukrainian security chief Cyber security experts con- their reason for leaving. said yesterday Ukraine sider Russia one of the world’s “Me and my team have Aneeded to beef up its most advanced cyber powers. been asked to cut back on any cyber defences, citing a recent Bratislava-based computer reporting that exposes abuses spate of attacks on government security company ESET said it and misdemeanors. I cannot websites that he said originated believed recent attacks on the agree to this,” Eronen, a sen- in Russia. ministries were attempted ior editor, wrote on his Over the last week, Ukraine’s “cybersabotage” and likely car- Facebook page. Finance and Defence ministries ried out by the same group that “The editorial line is most and State Treasury said their targeted Ukraine’s power grid cautious on politicians, espe- websites had been temporarily last year. cially the prime minister.” downed by attacks aimed at dis- As a result of the recent cyber Last month, YLE reported rupting their operations. attacks, Ukraine's security coun- that an engineering company “These attacks were cil will discuss how best to owned by the prime minis- planned in advance and coor- strengthen cyber security, par- ter’s relatives had received an dinated from a centre based in ticularly in relation to potential order from a state-owned the Russian Federation,” the actions from Russia, Turchynov nickel miner Terrafame secretary of Ukraine’s National said. shortly after loss-making Ter- Security and Defence Council, Relations between Kiev and rafame had been granted a Strollers walk in a snowy landscape near the lake Spitzingsee in the small Bavarian village Oleksander Turchynov, said. the Kremlin collapsed in 2014 cash injection from the Spitzingsee, southern Germany, yesterday. At the end of 2015, the coun- following Moscow’s annexation government. cil blamed Russia for a cyber of Crimea. Paris exhibition reveals secret agents’ tricks
Paris British, American and German to a pistol looking like lipstick. discreetly injecting poison in the prisoners and face trial —and it’s a failure,” Lagrange said. AP collections, most of which have A dead rat stuffed with body of a victim, causing death potentially a death sentence. Yet the greatest successes of never been shown before. explosives could be placed by a within days. Some agents wore rings hiding the services long remain secret. ipstick pistols, poison pens, Visitors can discover the saboteur in a coal pile in the Among spectacular pieces cyanide pills they could swallow Some agents write their memo- explosive rats — a new spies’ disguise kits, including boiler of a locomotive — so when are the famous Enigma machine, in case of arrest and torture — in ries around 40 or 50 years later. LParis exhibit reveals real- wigs and fake mustaches, and the rat goes into the fire, the which was used to code commu- order not to speak. “And that’s only at that life spy gadgets and tells the story their equipment, like miniature engine explodes. nications of the Germans through “In peacetime, it’s even more moment we can start making bal- of how secret agents around the cameras and discreet audio Since the creation of perma- a complex encryption process simple. They have no status at ance between what went wrong world were recruited, trained recorders. nent intelligence services at the during World War II, and a real all,” Francois Lagrange, one of and what went well. And even and equipped during clandestine They can also see rare doc- end of the 19th century, scien- submarine used by the French the exhibit’s curators, told later, you’ll get the archives —clas- missions from World War I to the uments, such as the first tific and technological progress secret agents in the 1970. reporters. sification of top secret documents end of the Cold War. mention of Adolf Hitler in enabled experts to make spy Various excerpts of spy films The exhibit ends with secrets can last from 50 to 100 years,” “Secret Wars,” which opened French files in 1923: “not an devices and weapons ever illustrate the fantasy and myth revealed and errors exposed in Lagrange said. “We must wait for last month at Les Invalides, offers idiot but a very skilled dema- smaller, more silent and less about the job. scandals making newspapers’ a long time to get confirmation of a chance to relive the days before gogue,” the agent wrote. visible. But the exhibition also shows headlines. what really happened.” espionage went online, display- Spies also used various tech- The “Bulgarian umbrella,” the risks of a life in the shadow. “At first, when some elements The exhibit is open until Jan- ing about 400 objects, devices niques of camouflage for objects, actually invented by the Soviet During times of war, agents concerning that kind of (secret) uary 29 with commentary and archives from French, from a letterbox in a tree branch secret services, was aiming at could be considered as war operations are revealed, it means available in French and English. THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER 2016 AMERICAS 17
Man with knife & Trump defends garrote arrested at Trump Tower
Tillerson’s New York AFP
A 19-YEAR-OLD man has been nomination charged after trying to enter the heavily protected New York sky- scraper that is home to Donald West Allis, United States Trump with a knife, garrote and AFP Shower of praise fireworks, police said The President-elect yesterday. S President-elect hailed Rex Tillerson Alexander Wang, who comes Donald Trump as a “great diplomat” from the small community of yesterday and “one of the Poughquag 112km north of Man- defended his nom- greatest and most hattan, was charged with criminal ination of possession of a weapon and skilled global UExxonMobil chief Rex Tillerson unlawful possession of fireworks, business leaders. as America’s next secretary of a police spokesman said. state, dismissing concerns The Republican US President- President-elect Donald Trump (second left) holds Green Bay Packers’ jersey as he addresses about the oilman’s ties to Rus- elect has spent majority of his sia and saying US foreign policy remains a global security threat. his supporters at 'USA Thank You Tour 2016' at the Wisconsin State Fair Exposition Center in time at Trump Tower on Fifth needed a new direction. That sentiment—coupled West Allis, yesterday. Avenue since his victory last The nomination, which with the fact that Trump is at log- month over Democrat Hillary capped weeks of debate about gerheads with some Republican Democratic-leaning state of Wis- Vladimir Putin in 2013 and has people don’t like that,” Trump Clinton after a bitterly divisive the right candidate, was the senators over a CIA assessment consin that helped elect him. publicly opposed sanctions on told the crowd in West Allis, with- election campaign. most keenly awaited in Trump’s that Russian hackers helped him The 64-year-old Texan, who Moscow that thwarted his attempt out mentioning Russia or Putin. It is there that Trump has cabinet as the world waits to win the election—may compli- has no experience in government to pursue huge oil deals in the Rus- “They don’t want him to be been holding back-to-back meet- see how the incoming Repub- cate Tillerson’s confirmation and spent his entire career at sian Arctic. friendly. That’s why I’m doing the ings as he builds his incoming lican president intends to alter hearings. Exxon, “has insights and talents The Kremlin welcomed his deal with Rex, because I like what cabinet, and where aides and US foreign policy. Trump, who announced the necessary to help reverse years nomination with an aide prais- this is all about,” he added. prospective nominees parade in Trump has stoked alarm nomination on Tuesday, hailed of foreign policy blunders and ing him as a “very solid figure” “We need a new direction,” and out. among Democrats and fellow Tillerson as a “great diplomat” disasters,” Trump told the crowd. with whom Putin and Russians said Trump. “Instead of jumping It was not immediately clear Republicans ahead of his Jan- and “one of the greatest and But politicians on both sides of have “good, business-like recklessly from one intervention if or where in the building Trump uary 20 inauguration by calling most skilled global business the aisle have expressed concerns relations.” to another, my administration was at the time of the arrest. He for closer ties with Moscow, in leaders of our time” at a cam- over Tillerson’s ties to Russia. The “Rex is friendly with many of will build a long term strategy for made a brief appearance in the contrast to received wisdom in paign-style rally yesterday in businessman was awarded Rus- the leaders in the world that we stability, prosperity, peace, and lobby with rap superstar Kanye Washington that Russia the traditionally sia’s Order of Friendship by don’t get along with and some rebuilding our own country.” West who came to visit.
Mexican Unesco heritage in Brazil townsfolk Police slain kidnap drug unarmed man
boss’ mom Los Angeles about 16 months, fired seven AP shots at Serna as he walked Mexico City towards them in a neighbour’s AP n unarmed 73-year-old driveway, said Martin, an man refused to take his assistant chief whose tenure as IN one of the stranger chap- Ahand out of his pocket and chief began yesterday. ters of Mexico’s drug war, stop walking towards officers The shooting came about angry people in a town kid- who believed he had a gun when 20 to 30 seconds after a woman napped the mother of a gang they fatally shot him, the incom- who encountered Serna pointed leader to demand the release ing police chief of Bakersfield, him out to police as he walked of their loved ones. California, said yesterday. out of his house across the The government of Guer- Two different people who street and walked towards them, rero state said yesterday it was encountered Francisco Serna in Martin said. Serna refused to sending about 220 soldiers and the hours leading up to the shoot- remove his hand from his jacket police to try to defuse the situ- ing had believed he had a gun, pocket and to stop walking ation in Totolapan. and police were answering a 911 toward the officers despite many The town has been con- call of a man with a revolver, commands, Martin said. trolled for years by a drug Unesco's world heritage sign was inaugurated after the ceremony of official presentation of incoming Chief Lyle Martin said Serna’s family said he has gang boss whose proper registration document of Rio de Janeiro city as "Carioca Landscapes between Mountain and at a news conference. dementia. No gun was found on name is Raybel Jacobo de Sea" on Unesco world heritage list, at Corcovado Hill in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, yesterday. Officer Reagan Selman, Serna, only an officer that Mar- Almonte, but who is better who had been on the force tin called difficult to describe. known as “El Tequilero.” In his only known public appearance, he was captured on video with town’s mayor- elect. De Alamonte mumbles FARC rebels expel five commanders opposed to peace deal inaudibly and has to be held up in a sitting position by one Bogota jungle, include one former par- themselves from this mistaken Law enforcement and mili- vote in October, has been signed of his henchmen. Reuters ticipant in four-year-long peace decision taken by their com- tary officials have expressed by FARC leader Rodrigo Lon- In recent months, his talks in Cuba. manders,” the statement said. fears some rebels will not demo- dono and President Juan Manuel gang - also known as the olombia’s FARC rebels “This decision is motivated The expelled commanders bilize and will instead keep Santos, who won the Nobel Tequileros -has been fighting have expelled five com- by their recent conduct, which are the second group of rebels control of lucrative coca-grow- Peace Prize for his efforts to turf battles with other gangs Cmanders for refusing to contradicts our political-military to declare their opposition to the ing and cocaine-smuggling reach an accord. in the area. Last week, the demobilise and join a peace line,” leaders of Revolutionary peace deal under which the operations, joining the ranks of The deal has been approved Tequileros allegedly kid- process with government aimed Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) FARC convert into an unarmed the country’s feared criminal by Colombia’s Congress and napped several inhabitants of at ending more than five decades said in statement yesterday. political party. In July a First gangs. some 7,000 rebels now have six Totolapan who they wanted of war, guerrilla leadership said. “We call on all combatants Front unit leader and some of his A modified peace deal, cob- months to move to demobiliza- to extort or whom they sus- The five commanders, all who have been tricked into this fighters left the group in protest bled together after the first tion zones and hand in all pected of supporting a rival. from units in country’s southeast futureless path to distance of the deal. version was rejected in a public weapons.
Notorious 86-year-old Saving marine life jewel thief strikes again
Atlanta spokesman Mark Stevens said When asked about her AP in Payne was arrested after she exploits earlier this year, she put the necklace in her back said simply: “I was a thief.” n 86-year-old jewel thief pocket and tried to leave the Court papers in Atlanta ref- who has kept jewllery store. erence six cases prior to the Asellers on their toes since Authorities have said Payne alleged theft last year, mostly in 1970s has struck again, police has lifted pricey baubles from southern California, dating to say — this time by slipping a countless jewellery stores 1999. Payne was raised in West $2,000 diamond necklace into around the world in an illicit Virginia and moved with her her pocket. career that has spanned six dec- family to Ohio when she was a Doris Payne, who has been ades. The legend of Payne’s teenager. the subject of a documentary alleged thefts have long fasci- Authorities said she has used and casually admitted earlier nated the public and media, with at least 22 aliases over the years this year that “I was a thief,” was countless news stories and a and probably got away more Concrete reef-balls were dunk offshore in Puerto Quetzal, 65km south of Guatemala City, arrested yesterday at a Von 2013 documentary film, “The often than she was caught, yesterday. Scores of holed concrete balls were thrown into the Pacific to build an artificial Maur department store outside Life and Crimes of Doris Payne,” though she has done several reef to restore the marine life ravaged by overfishing and pollution. Atlanta. Dunwoody police detailing her feats. stints in prison. 18 AMERICAS THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER 2016 Obama signs bill to boost cancer research spending Washington Health care Administration, which some AP patient advocacy groups Overall, the measure opposed. n a “bittersweet plans $6.3bn in new Public Citizen said the bill day” that brought spending over the pressures the FDA to approve back memories of coming decade. new medical products and new loved ones lost, uses for drugs based on weaker President Barack evidence of safety and OObama signed into law legisla- efficacy. The bill also tion that makes new authorises giving “This bill remains a bad deal investments in cancer research for patient safety, offering a states $1bn over two and battling drug abuse. small, temporary and non-guar- years to prevent and Obama signed the bill yes- anteed increase in public terday at a ceremony on the treat the abuse of research funding at the expense White House campus flanked by heroin and other of permanently weakening Vice-President Joe Biden and opioids and addictive oversight by the Food and Drug key lawmakers from both par- drugs. Administration,” Public Citizen US President Barack Obama signs the 21st Century Cures Act in the South Court Auditorium, ties. The 55-year-old president said. next to the White House in Washington, DC, yesterday. recounted that his own mother The signing ceremony rep- did not even reach his age, dying strongly supported by Biden. resented a rare day in Obama’s of cancer in her early 50s. The vice president’s son, Beau, presidency, where lawmakers that they will be able to have their the next administration. daughter’s struggle with addic- “It’s not always easy to died of brain cancer in 2015. from both parties gathered to lives extended through research “I’m hopeful in the years tion when Obama visited the state remember, but being able to The bill also authorises giv- celebrate bipartisan joy over the that will bring about new cures ahead that Congress keeps work- in October 2015. He said Jessica honour those we’ve lost in this ing states $1bn over two years passage of consequential and treatments. ing together in a bipartisan wanted treatment, but the clos- way and to know that we may to prevent and treat the abuse legislation. “Every day, millions of peo- fashion to move us forward, est place they could find for be able to prevent other fami- of heroin and other opioids and “I hope this bodes well for ple are praying, praying for hope, rather than backward in support treatment was in Ann Arbor, lies from feeling that same loss, addictive drugs. what will come next year — that praying for time,” Biden said. of the health of our people,” Michigan. Grubb said the fund- that makes it a good day,” Overall, the measure plans we’re back working together” The US President also used Obama said. ing would make it possible for Obama said. “It’s a good day to $6.3bn in new spending over the Biden said. the ceremony to make a pitch for Obama was introduced by communities “to have the see us doing our jobs.” coming decade. The bill also Biden said he believed the his signature health insurance David and Kate Grubb of West resources, to build the facilities, The 21st Century Cures Act streamlines the approval proc- bill would inject new urgency law that expanded coverage for Virginia who lost their daughter to do the kind of education that’s invests $1.8bn for a cancer ess for drugs and medical into fighting cancer and would 20 million Americans, but also Jessica in March to a drug over- absolutely needed so we can research “moonshot” that is devices at the Food and Drug give millions of Americans hope faces the prospect of repeal in dose. David Grubb shared his address this problem.” Brazalians oppose Senate’s spending freeze bill Graft probe into Peru’s Brasília through the vote “before we AFP could demonstrate. president reopened “That makes us very angry.” fter Brazil’s Senate Protests also erupted in Sao approved a 20-year Paulo, where leftwing demon- Lima Under scanner Afreeze on government strators attacked the Reuters spending billed as a centerpiece headquarters of FIESP, the coun- The anti-corruption unit in of austerity reforms, angry try’s main industrial association, he office of Peru’s attor- the attorney general’s clashes sparked in the capital before being driven back. ney general has reopened office ordered Brasilia where protesters The vote means that the Ta corruption inquiry into prosecutors to broaden a torched a bus. spending cap is now mandated whether President Pedro Pablo preliminary investigation Hundreds of people, many by the constitution, serving as Kuczynski helped a Brazilian into Pedro Pablo with their faces covered, clashed the central plank in Temer’s bid company win public work con- Kuczynski, ex-president with police who fired tear gas to to “transform” the broken econ- tracts while he was prime Alejandro Toledo, and break up the crowd following omy, which is in deep minister a decade ago, legal doc- the upper house vote, which saw recession. uments showed yesterday. engineering conglomerate the measures quickly pushed However, Temer is rapidly The anti-corruption unit in Odebrecht. through by 53 votes to 16. losing political clout as he and the attorney general’s office Center-right President Demonstrators clash with riot-policemen during a protest many of his senior allies fight to ordered prosecutors to broaden Michel Temer says the spending against the bill in front of Brazil’s National Congress in Brasilia, survive a slew of corruption a preliminary investigation into and unavailable for comment. freeze is needed to get Brazil’s allegations. Kuczynski, ex-president Ale- Odebrecht, at the centre of yesterday. finances back under control, but With unemployment at jandro Toledo, and engineering the biggest-ever corruption his austerity policies have out in force to protect govern- Police said they arrested 100 nearly 12 percent and stubbornly conglomerate Odebrecht after scandal in neighbouring Brazil, prompted violent protests and ment buildings as around 2,000 people. high inflation, Brazilians are concluding it had been prema- did not immediately respond to were criticised last week by a UN people turned out for a demon- Union leader Luis Jorge increasingly angry over the turely closed in September, requests for comment. expert as “a historic mistake.” stration in which a bus was expressed anger that the Sen- scandals and hostile to the aus- according to a decision signed The prosecutors who closed During the vote, police were burned. ate had managed to rush terity measures. by a leading prosecutor. the investigation in September Kuczynski is currently fac- said the accusation of wrong- ing worst political crisis in his doing was based on speculation, five-month old government as according to the documents the opposition-controlled Con- dated November 30. Pentagon Pearl Harbor survivor dies at 99 gress prepares to oust his But the anti-corruption unit education minister. said the prosecutors did not dig updates war Honolulu and educated visitors. with dignity and grace.” The graft inquiry was first deep enough and ordered them AP Weatherwax had volun- A Native Hawaiian, Weath- opened early this year at the to obtain the testimonies of manual teered within the past month, erwax was raised on Hawaii’s request of an attorney who Toledo, representatives of Ode- n Army veteran who sur- said Edean Saito, programme Big Island and his first job was accuses Kuczynski and Toledo brecht, and others. Washington vived the attack on Pearl services manager for Pacific building roads around Mauna of collusion for passing a law in Kuczynski, who has worked AFP AHarbor that brought the Historic Parks. Three other Pearl Kea, the Navy said. 2006 that the attorney said on Wall Street and founded a US into World War II and later Harbor survivors greet people He was drafted in June 1941 changed bidding rules so that a non-profit to deliver clean water THE US Defence Department volunteered at the historic site at the visitors centre. and was stationed at Schofield consortium led by Brazil’s Ode- to poor Peruvians, provided his yesterday released an has died at age 99. “Uncle Herb” Weatherwax Barracks on Oahu. He was on a brecht SA could compete for testimony to prosecutors earlier updated version of its mili- Herb Weatherwax greeted attended last week’s ceremony weekend pass in Honolulu on infrastructure contracts worth this year and denied wrongdo- tary war rules that now people several times a week at commemorating 75th anniver- morning of December 7, 1941, more than $500m. ing, according to local media. includes extra language the visitors centre of the memo- sary of 1941 attack, the Navy said. when he heard loud explosions. Graft inquiries involving Kuczynski has vowed to aimed at reducing civilian rial for the USS Arizona, a “Papa was ready, and it was He was recalled to his duty sta- high-profile politicians are double down on his efforts to casualties. battleship that sank in Japanese a strong yet peaceful death,” his tion. He saw the USS Arizona common in Peru and usually uproot widespread graft in Peru The revised Law of War attack. He cruised around in a daughter Carrie Weatherwax enveloped in flames and the USS end with no charges pressed. after firing his health advisor in Manual gives examples of motorised scooter and wore a cap said in a statement. Oklahoma turned on its side. Kuczynski’s office declined September for appearing to plot precautions the US military embroidered with “Pearl Harbor “As with this ‘Greatest Gen- More than 2,300 servicemen to comment. Toledo’s spokes- corrupt acts in leaked audio should take to avoid civilian Survivor” as he posed for photos eration,’ Papa left this earth died in the attack. man said Toledo was travelling tapes. deaths, such as providing warnings and conducting detailed assessments of potential casualties. “Protecting civilians in Venezuela power clash resumes armed conflict is critical, and it’s important that our legal guidance is clear and practi- Caracas dysfunctional economy, and government. But the opposition cal,” Pentagon General Counsel Reuters wants to remove him through a walked out last week saying offi- Jennifer O’Connor said. referendum or by bringing for- cials were reneging on accords “This version of the man- olitical conflict between ward the presidential vote due including an agreement to nego- ual provides greater clarity Venezuela’s opposition- for late 2018. tiate new members of the and also reflects important Prun legislature and socialist Maduro, 54, says he will stay five-person election board. developments such as the government flared again yester- the course, and accuses oppo- That issue is central to Ven- president’s recent executive day after breakdown of nents of sabotaging the economy ezuela’s long-running political order on civilian casualties.” Vatican-led talks, as each side to undermine him while also conflict because the election President Barack Obama moved to appoint its own mem- seeking a coup with the US board has quashed the opposi- in July released an executive bers to the national election board. connivance. tion’s main request this year, for order that provides additional The opposition Democratic The feuding sides came a recall referendum, and is information on “best prac- Unity coalition blames President together at the end of October in viewed by many in Venezuela Supporters of President Nicolas Maduro chant slogans at tices and procedures” that Nicolas Maduro for the OPEC a dialogue convened by the Vati- as being compliant towards the can be applied to air strikes. nation’s shrinking and can and three former heads of government. Bolivar Square, near National Assembly in Caracas, yesterday. THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER 2016 HOME 19
PRAYER TIMINGS
FAJR 04.50 am SUQ holds Industry Advisory Board meet SHOROOK 06.11 am The Peninsula ZUHR 11.29 am MAGHRIB 04.48 pm ASR 02.26 pm ISHA 06.18 pm tenden University Qatar (SUQ) held its first Industry Advisory Board meeting under the WEATHER TODAY chairmanship of Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, Chair- Sman of Al Faisal Holding. o o The event took place at the City 16 C 24 C Centre Rotana Hotel – Doha, and was Minimum Maximum attended by Hamad Al Mulla, Chief Executive Officer of Katara Hospitla- ity, Abdulla Al Mehshadi, Chief Executive Officer of Msheireb Proper- ties, Rashid Al Mansoori, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Stock Exchange, Amruda Nair, Chief Execu- tive Officer of Aiana Hotels and Resorts, and Dr Craig Thompson, Head of Stenden Hotel Management School in the Netherlands. Sheikh Faisal officially inaugurated the new Industry Advisory Board and highlighted the role of the Board in assisting Stenden University Qatar in Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani (centre), Chairman of Al Faisal Holding, with other members at the first achieving its goals, which are aligned meeting of Industry Advisory Board of Stenden University Qatar. with Qatar’s National Vision 2030. The Board members were acquainted with the history of the uni- Qatar. Former university alumni and and will provide its members with an activities and in the further develop- versity, its main academic and current students were also invited to opportunity to share and discuss ideas ment of its academic curriculum. non-academic activities, and the plans the meeting to share their overall expe- about the future development of the The Board will also assist Stenden for its future development through a rience at Stenden University Qatar. university. The Board will serve as one University Qatar with internship, presentation given by Dr Ivan Ninov, Stenden University Qatar Industry of the main pillars of the university by employment, and sponsorship oppor- Executive Dean of Stenden University Advisory Board will meet twice a year supporting it in its strategic planning tunities for its students and alumni. Hazy at places at first becomes moderate temperature during the day with slight dust, cold by night. HIGH TIDE 04:30 - 15:30 LOW TIDE 11:15 - 21:45 Katara to host Shehrazed Symphony concert Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department The Peninsula Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, said: exception and it is a continuation of “Holding the Algerian symphony of the series of Algerian cultural events he Cultural Village Foundation- Shehrazed is aligned to the Cultural that initiated with the Andalusian Katara yesterday announced Village Foundation-Katara’s concert of Laila Bursali at the same Tit is hosting the Shehrazed approach to introduce and highlight venue.” Symphony concert featuring Alge- the Algerian culture that is recog- Algerian Ambassador Abdelaziz ria’s most renowned orchestra. The nised for its richness." Seba expressed his gratitude to concert organised in cooperation Al Sulaiti added: “Music has Katara for its active cooperation and with the Embassy of Algeria, Qatar always been a genuine means for support given to host the musical Philharmonic Orchestra, and the cultural rapprochement amongst event which will see the perform- Algerian National Orchestra will take people. It is an international language ance of Qatar Philharmonic Katara General Manager Dr Khalid bin place at Katara Opera House that eliminates borders and fosters Orchestra and the Algerian National Ibrahim Al Sulaiti (right) and the Ambassador tomorrow. cross cultural human and cultural Orchestra, hoping that the cooper- Speaking at yesterday’s press bond. It should be noted that host- ation will continue to witness more of the Republic of Algeria Abdelaziz Seba at conference Katara General Manager ing Shehrazed Symphony is not an similar initiatives in the near future. a press conference at Katara yesterday. Hertz Qatar recognises its best performers
Lulu Photography Contest begins
The Peninsula
ulu Hypermarket Group has organised Lulu Photography Con- test for the amateur photographers for the first time in Qatar. LThe contest is being held on the theme ‘Nature of Qatar’. Qatar has a vast flora and fauna and bounty of stunning dunes and seas, marine life, natural reserves, rock formations, caves, mangroves Hertz Qatar officials with employees who won the best performers company birds, mammals, insects and reptiles, etc. Any pictures that explore awards during annual celebrations in Doha. the soul of Qatar’s rich nature would be qualifying for the contest. Hoy en la Historia Lulu Group had invited entries and nominations in this regard two weeks back through newspapers and the management indi- The Peninsula “We pledge to continue our drive in December 15, 2015 cated that, to their surprise, they have received a lot of entries from achieving our mission of providing the best Tim Peake became Britain’s first the amateur photographers including students from various schools. ertz Qatar, part of Al Mana Group, car rental services in Qatar with a promise official astronaut when he blasted The contest will be held in two categories, the first one for the age has recognised its best employees to exceed our clientele’s expectations and off aboard a Soyuz rocket to the group of up to 18 years and the second one for the age group of 18 Hduring its annual celebration party attracting new customers.” International Space Station for a years and above. According to the management, a panel of judges held this year at the Fraser suites Hotel. During the ceremony, Hertz has six-month mission chaired by Arif Hussain, Professional Photographer and President During the evening’s festivities, Hertz awarded its “Best Customer Service Agent”, of QPC, will shortlist the entries and the exhibition and contest will Qatar’s management paid tribute to the “Best Sales Performance Agent” and the 1992: El Salvador’s government and be held on Friday at 5pm at Lulu Hypermarket, Barwa City. All company’s achievements during the past 12 “Ideal Employee” of the year. leftist guerrilla leaders formally declared an end to the country’s 12-year civil war selected pictures will be exhibited. All contestants are required to months and congratulated those employ- Hertz is one of the most recognised car be present at the exhibition hall. Lulu management had requested ees who, by excelling on their service to rental brands in the world, signifying lead- 2001: The Leaning Tower of Pisa reopened to visitors after 11 years the participation of General public and students from various to customers, made an outstanding contribu- ership in quality services and products. following delicate engineering work make it a memorable one. tion to the company. Operated by Al Mana Group, Hertz Qatar to prevent it toppling over Winners under category below 18 years are entitled to get Nikon “The success of Hertz Qatar is testament has been serving residents and visitors in 2006: Saudi Arabia announced plans to DSLR D3300, Nikon D/Cam Coolpix S8200 and Lulu Gift voucher to the dedicated and loyal employees who the country for more than 21 years, offer- build a separation barrier between it worth QR500 as the first, second and third prizes, respectively. Win- strive to deliver the Hertz promise of excel- ing a large and diverse range of automotive and Iraq to keep out extremists ners of category above 18 years will receive Nikon DSLR D3400, lence every day, and it is with great honour brands, including Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, 2009: Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner made Nikon D/Cam Coolpix B500 and Lulu Gift voucher worth QR500 that we are able to congratulate those who Ford and Peugeot. its long-delayed first test flight as the first, second and third prizes, respectively. The exhibition will go over and beyond in their roles,” said Hertz Qatar offers a fully comprehen- continue until December 18 and public will have the opportunity Hertz Qatar General Manager M S Sanaa sive, top-quality service and outstanding Picture: Associated Press © GRAPHIC NEWS to visit the exhibition hall at Lulu Hypermarket, Barwa City. Ouahmane. value on popular vehicles. 20 HOME THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER 2016