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Wednesday 28 December 2016 | 29 Rabia I 1438 Volume 21 | Number 7024 | 2 Riyals
Protest against Gaza blockade 20,493 new Katara offers driving licences in November fresh produce THE number of new driving licenses issued in November this year has hugely increased, according to the 34th edition of Qatar Monthly from farms Statistics. Some 20,493 new driving licences were issued last Raynald C Rivera committee chairman Salman month, increasing by more The Peninsula Mohammad Al Naimi, Commit- than 100% from October tee told The Peninsula on the 2016, despite of the fact that sidelines of the press various professions have resh produce from conference. been barred from getting the local farms available A total of 22 outlets and 12 license. at cheap price will vending vehicles will be partic- The monthly report feature the inaugural ipating at the festival at the issued by the Ministry of Mahaseel Festival, the southern area of Katara sched- Development Planning and Flatest initiative of Cultural Vil- uled from January 3 to 7 from Statistics highlights detailed lage Foundation – Katara to 8am to 9pm, after which it will statistics on Qatar recorded support and promote the coun- open every Friday and Satur- Palestinian workers hold banners and shout slogans as they march towards the United during the period October try’s agricultural and livestock day from 8am to 6pm until Nations Coordination Office during a protest against the Israeli blockade of Gaza, in Gaza 2016 in addition to glance industry. April. City, yesterday. from 2015 census. “The launch of “Mahaseel → Continued on page 3 → Full report on page 3 Festival”, is considered to be a new initiative that stems from Katara’s role that focuses on A total of serving the community. More- over, this initiative is a renewal Public Health SPONSORS Vendors can apply for licence from Jan 1 PHCC hosts Al-Ahli Hospital’s Second Scientific Orthopaedic of Katara’s commitment Research Dept: A model Conference of excellence
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towards supporting Qatari agri- 22 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER 2016 outlets and 12 vending cultural sector and national The Peninsula business activities are related to cars and they are used for sell- Healthy resolutions for a healthy New Year Fazeena Saleem drinks may cause obesity and The Peninsula Prof Abdul Badi Abou Samra, Chairman, diabetes little bit more than the Department of Medicine, and Senior Consultant, regular drinks. Because these t's time for New Year's res- drinks somehow stimulate and vehicles will be olutions, and many are Endocrinology and Diabetes at the Hamad induce more hunger and we will planning on cutting back on Medical Corporation, shares some habits that eat more. So replacing all types livestock and food products, as repair and maintenance - ing goods or for providing the unhealthy things in life. can help you build foundation for a long, healthy of drinks with water is the best But that doesn't always and happy life. way,” said Prof Abou Samra. Imean just to lose a few pounds Remember, water is the or just cutting junk food but cheapest and best drink out adopting a healthy lifestyle. there! Prof Abdul Badi Abou Samra, Samra. life for a longer time. It doesn’t Chairman, Department of Med- Walking more, whether it's need to be intended exercise like Meet the doctor participating at the icine, Senior Consultant, for work or leisure, is an easy going to a gym, although it’s not How often do you see your well as offering new business he Ministry of Economy and repairing tyres and those related services on streets, roadsides or Endocrinology and Diabetes at way of being more active with- wrong. doctor? Once a year? Every six opportunities to the owners of inaugural Mahaseel Commerce is offering 12 to home maintenance like elec- other public places. Included with today’s Qatari farms,” Katara General Festival at the southern Tvacancies for vehicle ven- trician, carpenter and The move to licence vendor edition are two 8-page Manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim area of Katara scheduled dors to apply for a licence in blacksmith. vehicles is part of the ministry's Al Sulaiti, said at a press con- from January 3 to 7 from businesses including eatery, ice- And three activities are project to support the private supplements on ference yesterday. 8am to 9pm, after which it cream parlor, tyre repair and related to services like men and sector creating business oppor- Public Health & Wheels “This is the first time we are beauty salon. women salon, and tailoring shop tunities for them in line with the will open every Friday and hosting this kind of festival in The opportunities include for men and women. Ministerial Decision No. 243 of which many different Qatari Saturday from 8am to five food related activities Vendor vehicles are those 2016 on licensing vendors, said 6pm until April. WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER 2016 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT organisations and local farms including cold and hot food and moving on the road, either a statement yesterday. Cars would be required to talk to each other under US plan
Alan Levin & Todd Shields far as we can to realize the group represents US divisions of designed to “spark” innovation systems for at least a decade. agencies. Bloomberg potential of transportation tech- 12 companies including Honda without limiting developers’ abil- National Highway Traffic NHTSA and the DOT are still nology to save lives,” Motor Co. and Ferrari NV. ity to design new functions for it, Safety Administration chief Mark exploring whether to require S automobile regula- Transportation Secretary It will help stem the more according to the proposal. Rosekind, whose agency is over- such technology on larger trucks. tors want passenger Anthony Foxx said. than 35,000 deaths a year on US The devices are projected to seeing the proposal, predicted At least half of all newly built are taking part,” festival beverages and ice-cream. Four driven by people or trawled by \ → Continued on page 5 Ucars and light trucks to Foxx who will leave office roads the Self-Driving Coalition cost as much as $351 per vehicle there would be growing interest light vehicles would have to be 02 HOME WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER 2016 Massive clean-up Bangladesh supports Dr Al Kawari's candidacy
The Peninsula
drive at North rime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh PSheikh Hasina Wajed has affirmed her country's support for West beach H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari, Cultural Adviser at the Emiri Diwan and Qatar's candi- The Peninsula Massive campaign date for the post of director-general at the United he public cleaning The campaign, since Nations Educational, Scientific department at the it was launched in and Cultural Organisation Ministry of Munici- November 20, has (Unesco). pality and removed 2,192 This came when Sheikh Environment contin- tonnes of waste. Hasina Wajed met yesterday with Tued its massive clean-up drive Qatar's candidate at the head- to save the North West beaches quarters of the prime ministry in from pollutants. Dhaka, where she stressed that The cleanliness plan Safar Mubarak Al Shafi, this support is an expression of the General Cleanliness Depart- was divided into depth of bilateral relations and ment Director, said that “the three phases to clean confidence in the competency of campaign, since it was launched up about 65km of the Qatari candidate. in November 20, removed 2,192 beaches. She expressed the wish to H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed tonnes of waste, including 1,440 further strengthen the relations tonnes of residual oil and 752 between the two countries and in Dhaka. tonnes of other waste." the ecosystem. wished success to Dr Al Kawari, The first phase of the cam- Many other departments looking forward to cooperating country's support for his candi- vision. Then, the Foreign Minister Bangladesh, and hoped for more paign, which started from Abu are participating in the cam- with him in the future. dacy. The meeting was attended of Bangladesh presented a writ- cooperation for the sake of the Daluf to Al Arish, has been com- paign, like the Environmental The Qatari candidate appre- by Qatar's Ambassador to Bang- ten document on the support of international organization. pleted, and the second clean Protection Reserves & Wildlife ciated the trust and support by ladesh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al his country for Qatar's Unesco The Qatar's Unesco candi- –up drive has started and will Department, Fisheries Depart- the Republic of Bangladesh, and Dehaimi and a number of advis- candidate, saying it is a confirma- date met also Minister of Culture continue for two weeks, he said. ment and Qatar Petroleum. presented a detailed explanation ers to prime minister. tion of the distinguished relations of Bangladesh Asaduzzaman The cleanliness plan was about his plan and vision for the In a related development, Dr between the two countries, and Noor, where their talks touched divided into three phases to development of Unesco, Al Kawari met with Foreign Min- shows confidence in his experi- on the cultural and heritage clean up about 65km of beaches expressing his thanks to the ister of Bangladesh Abul Hassan ence in performing duties. aspect of the Qatari candidate's and the Department has pro- Prime Minister of Bangladesh Mahmood Ali, who listened to a Dr Al Kawari expressed his vision, while wishing Dr Al vided a permanent place for and looking forward to her detailed explanation about his thanks to the Republic of Kawari success in his mission. workers until the end of the campaign. All requirements needed to accomplish the task have been offered by the Ministry of Ooredoo App users offered 10MB free data Municipality and Environment, because it gives priority to cleaning all beaches as impor- The Peninsula the latest Ooredoo App. The ini- web portal, Ooredoo.qa/app or the latest news. We wanted to tant places for visitors tiative is to ensure that the customers can sent an SMS ‘App’ reward the many Ooredoo App especially on weekends. oredoo App users can get customers stay connected even to 114 . The free 10MB’s of data users in Qatar and encourage as Al Shafi urged the people to 10MB data free each day, when running out of credit. will be valid until midnight on many people as possible to take support the Ministry’s efforts to Owhen they download the Users need to select their the day of activation. advantage of the digital self- maintain cleanliness on latest version of the award-win- service number and then the “This daily boost of data will service options we offer and beaches and islands and refrain ning app. ‘Deal’ tile in the latest app ver- ensure that our customers who hopefully this deal will do that,” from throwing waste in desig- Ooredoo is offering 10MB sion to get the free data daily. are low on credit can connect said Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, The cleanliness drive at the nated places and avoid careless free data daily until March 20, The app can be downloaded with their friends, send a mes- Director, Community and Pub- behaviour which might harm North West beach. 2017 for all customers who use through the telecom provider’s sage over social media, or check lic Relations, Ooredoo Qatar. WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER 2016 HOME 03 More than 20,400 new driving licences issued last month
Huda N V in the number of driving licences November 2016, compared to October. and about QR 963,453,000 dur- The Peninsula Fall in power use issued in November 2016. A total 3,529,926 (MW/H) in October Some 161,353 traffic viola- ing November. Some 20,493 new of 20,493 driving licences were 2016. There has also been a sig- tions were registered in October, Total broad money supply he number of new driving licences were issued during November 2016, nificant decrease in water with a positive monthly change (M2) recorded was about QR driving licences issued more than double from the consumption during November amounting to 11.2% compared to 489bn during the month of Octo- issued last month, in November this year 10,075 new ones issued in Octo- 2016 which amounted to approx- September 2016. ber 2016, showing a monthly increasing by more has witnessed a huge ber 2016. imately 6.3% compared with In October, 8,629 vehicles decrease of 0.9% compared to increase, according to than 100% from A majority of 82% of the consumption during October were registered compared to September 2016. Tthe 34th edition of Qatar Monthly October 2016. new licences issued in Novem- 2016. 5,352 during September, with a On the other hand, cash Statistics. Some 20,493 new driv- ber was for non-Qatari males. The total water consumption monthly increase amounting to equivalents, including deposits ing licences were issued last Ministry report Approximately 4% of the new was 45,563,368 (m3) during 61.2%. decreased by 0.3 % during Octo- month, increasing by more than shows major licences were issued to Qatari November 2016, compared to Meanwhile, Al Daayen ber 2016 compared to September 100% from October 2016, despite decrease in males, while 1% was for Qatari 48,688,488 (m3) in October. municipality topped among the 2016, as it recorded about QR 677 the fact that people from various electricity use during females and 13% for non-Qatari The demographic statistics municipalities with the highest bn during October 2016. professions have been barred November 2016. females. in the bulletin show that Qatar’s number of sold properties. A total In contrast, total broad from getting the licence. The monthly report high- population reached 2.6 million of 210 properties were sold dur- money supply (M2) recorded a The monthly report issued by lighted a significant decrease in in October 2016, an annual ing October, and 92 properties negative year-on-year change the Ministry of Development October 2016 in addition to a electricity utilisation during increase of 8.3% as the popula- were sold during November. The of 4.1%, while cash equivalents; Planning and Statistics highlights glance at 2015 census. November 2016. The total elec- tion was 2.4 million in October total value of properties sold in includes deposits, recorded a detailed statistics on Qatar The most highlighted statis- tricity utilisation amounted to 2015. A total of 2,311 births and Al Daayen Municipality was QR positive year-on-year change of recorded during the period of tical data was the high increase 2,858,106 (MW/H) during 188 deaths were reported in 537,076,000 in October 2016 7.4%.
Mahaseel festival to include Farewell for Qatari envoy in Bahrain competitions and exhibitions
→ Continued from page 1 “The festival will see an out- standing market where only the best quality Qatari agricultural products will be available including vegetables, fresh fruits, honey, poultry, dairy, fresh juices and flowers,” explained Al Naimi, who is also Director of Coordination and Follow-Up Unit at Katara. Compared to those in the market, he said the products which will be sold at the festi- val will be cheaper. Asked on how they will ensure price control, Al Naimi Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, General Manager, Katara said they are cooperating with (right), with Salman Mohammad Al Naimi, President of the relevant entities such as the Under-secretary of Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Abdullatif Abdullah, committee of Mahaseel festival, at a press conference at Ministry of Economy and Com- held a farewell ceremony for departing Qatari Ambassador in Bahrain, Sheikh Jassim bin merce in this regard. Katara yesterday. Pic: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula Mohammed bin Saoud Al Thani, yesterday. “Katara is very keen on show- ing interest in all the cultural sides competition in which students foods, industries and traditional relevant to the various festivals from 10 Qatari schools will vie crafts as well as the status of the and events we launch and spon- for the prize. In addition, there palm tree in the holy Quran, sor, and based on this perception, will be a weekly contest to be explained Al Naimi. “Mahaseel festival” will also announced by Katara every Fri- In collaboration with local include competitions, exhibitions, day and Saturday, where each charity organizations, Katara and remarkable cultural activi- winner gets a QR2,000 worth will distribute food products to ties, in a bid to promote purchasing coupons, according needy families at the end of each awareness among both consum- to Al Naimi. day of the festival, said Al Sulaiti. ers and farmers about the Qatari The festival will also include "Furthermore, as a gesture food products,” said Al Sulaiti. the “Nakheel (Palms) Exhibi- of support to the farm owners Several events and student- tion,” aimed at raising taking part in this festival, based activities have been line awareness on the method of Katara restaurants will buy food up for the festival such as fruits planting process the tree, the product requirements from the and vegetable arrangement fruits’ health benefits, important festival,” he said. Doha Port to receive two cruise ships today
The Peninsula Hassan Al Ibrahim, Chief experience. Today marks yet Tourism Development Officer another step taken along the or the first time, Doha Port at QTA, said, “This is one of road to ensuring that Qatar is set to receive two cruise many firsts that the cruise becomes a key port of call on Fships simultaneously as the industry in Qatar is witnessing all cruise itineraries that cover MSC Fantasia and Crystal Esprit this season, thanks to it being this region.” arrive together today, Qatar the largest one to date and the The MSC Fantasia first Tourism Authority (QTA) first in which Qatar will receive docked in Qatar on December announced yesterday. as many as 50,000 cruise vis- 7, bringing over 3,000 passen- With over 3,000 passengers itors. The rapid growth of this gers and over 1,300 crew to disembark and transport out sub-sector is testament to the members, and is scheduled to of the Port, the berthing of these fruitful partnerships that exist make a further four calls to two cruise vessels is set to show- between QTA, our government Doha throughout the remain- case Qatar’s preparedness to partners and the local private der of the 2016/2017 cruise manage the smooth movement sector, alongside the cruise season. The 100m long Crys- of large groups of cruise tour- lines. These partnerships have tal Esprit, a 62-passenger ists, shortly after Qatar paved the way for cruise visi- luxury yacht, also made its welcomed its first ever mega tors to enjoy a warm welcome maiden call to Qatar earlier cruise ship. and a smooth visitor this month.
MSC Fantasia which docked at Doha Port earlier this month. 04 HOME WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER 2016 Hi-tech operating theatres transform patient care
The Peninsula Qatar Society for Neurological Latest devices and Spine Surgery said, amad General A hybrid operating “Combining imaging technology Hospital’s operating room is a surgical with the operating room is theatres have theatre that is transforming surgical care. started treating equipped with Surgeons are now collaborating patients at hybrid advanced medical with neuroanesthesiologists, Hoperating rooms, which allow neuroradiologists and imaging devices. surgeons and radiologists to neurosurgery staff to make work on five to seven specialties assessments using real-time at the same time. The facility has three imaging. Our first case using the Recently, Hamad General highly advanced hybrid MRI operating room is an Hospital inaugurated a new hybrid operating important milestone for HMC as 10,000 square metre operating rooms to complete it means that patients can now theatre expansion that features surgical procedures. have MRI imaging during 20 newly equipped surgical surgery.” theatres. This month, another “This is significant because milestone was achieved with the real-time imaging technology it means, for example, that a first patient undergoing surgery and this will change the way surgeon operating on a patient using the hybrid MRI operating surgeons perform a variety of with a brain tumor is now able room. specialist surgeries, especially to maximize tumor resectioning. The facility has three highly neurosurgery. The new Brainlab This means there is less chance advanced hybrid operating technology allows for a more of causing damage to the brain rooms to complete surgical precise surgical procedure, structure around the tumor,” he procedures as well as CT and MRI enabling minimally-invasive added. The Hybrid MRI operating room at Hamad General Hospital. imaging. surgeries which are less The introduction of the new “A hybrid operating room is traumatic for the patient,” said imaging technology meant that The opening of the newly Trauma Intensive Care Unit and possible. With more accurate a surgical theatre that is Dr Ghanem Al-Sulaiti, Senior more surgical procedures would equipped surgical theaters and 15-bed Surgical Intensive Care procedures, patient recovery equipped with advanced medical Consultant Neurosurgeon and now be possible for HMC, their hybrid operating rooms Unit were also opened in June may also be faster and some imaging devices such as an MRI Head of Neurosurgery at Hamad especially for functional are part of a wider expansion of this year. patients with conditions that scanner, CT scanner, or an Medical Corporation. neurosurgery, which addresses plan that is revitalizing Hamad “Hybrid operating rooms were formerly deemed angiogram. At Hamad General Dr Al Sulaiti, who is also the treatment of patients with General Hospital. In addition to provide a number of benefits inoperable may be able to Hospital, there are three hybrid President of the Gulf neurological disorders such as the operating theater to patients, including combined undergo procedures,” said Dr operating rooms that have this Neurosurgical Society and the epilepsy and Parkinson's disease. expansion, a new 19-bed procedures previously not Al Sulaiti. QU and QOA in deal for cooperation in sports
The Peninsula presence of officials from QU and delegations and trainers and disabilities, sports medicine, and QOA. experts in physical training, and anti-doping. atar University (QU) The terms of the agreement on developing applied sport Commenting on the agree- Department of Student include collaboration on the sciences. ment, Abdulla Al-Yafei said: QServices and Activities and development of administrative In the terms of the agree- “Qatar University is keen to Qatar Olympic Academy (QOA) and technical qualified cadres ment, QU will provide QOA with create a balanced environment yesterday signed an agreement who are capable to advance access to its sport and adminis- that integrates academic and to establish collaboration in Qatar Sports sector, as well as the trative venues to organize sports activities and help stu- sports-related areas. exchange of athletes to partici- training courses. QOA will also dents to enhance their The agreement was signed by pate in international sports provide QU with a platform to academic performance and to QU Student Services & Activities activities and to share their ideas conduct future academic and enrich their experience. QU Director Abdulla Al-Yafei and and experiences in sports-related specialized courses and research launched this year the Depart- QOA Executive Director Saif areas. Both parties will also coop- on sport administration and laws, ment of Sport Activities and is Mohammed Al Naemi in the erate on hosting sports sports for people with currently working to establish more sport venues in both male and female campuses. Being the national higher education institution, QU is increasing its international visibility by encouraging students to par- ticipate in international and local sporting events and Qatar University and Qatar Olympic Academy officials after tournaments.” Saif Mohammed Al Naemi signing the agreement. said: “We are delighted to sign this collaborative agreement with international sport stakehold- establishing collaboration with QU, my alma mater that gradu- ers and partners such as the QU as an academic institution ated many leaders in Qatar. International Olympic Commit- that gathers hundreds of Having strong relationships with tee does not hinder us from national youth." Arabic music sensations to perform in Doha next month
The Peninsula complete authentic tourism experience.” rabic music sensations, As part of efforts to provide Majid Al Muhandes (pic- visitors with the complete pack- Atured) and Hussain Al age, QTA has partnered with Jassmi will perform live at the Qatar Airways to ensure flights Qatar National Convention Cen- to Qatar from within the GCC tre (QNCC) theatre next month region booked on the airline for as part of the entertainment the period between 7 January schedule of the first edition of and 7 February will be availa- Shop Qatar, organisers con- ble with a 25% discount. In firmed yesterday. addition, members of Qatar Air- Iraqi singer Majid AlMu- ways’ Privilege Club will receive handes, winner of the double Q-miles on their book- prestigious Murex D’or award ing during Shop Qatar. for Best Arab Singer, will per- Visitors to Shop Qatar can form at the ‘Arabic Night’ on form part of Shop Qatar’s excit- also take advantage of a range January 20 while Emirati super- ing live entertainment schedule, of accommodation offers when star Hussain Al Jassmi will offering a rich array of cultural booking through Expedia.com headline the ‘Khaleeji Night’ ser- shows, performances and and Booking.com. enading fans with a selection of unlimited family-friendly Under the slogan ‘A Brand his best-known hits on January entertainment. New Tradition’, the first edition 27. Saif Al Kuwari, Director of of Shop Qatar will kick-off next Tickets for both music con- PR and Communication at month with discounts on popu- certs are now on sale at all Qatar Tourism Authority said, lar brands, cash prizes worth up branches of Virgin Megastores “We are pleased to present to QR4 million, and colourful in Qatar and can be purchased Arabic music fans with the entertainment featuring Cats the online through the store’s web- opportunity to enjoy a special Broadway musical and 15 stand- site as well as at platinumlist.net. entertainment experience with up comedy acts. Tickets start at QR120 in the these two distinguished musi- Retail outlets around the bronze category and are avail- cians. Great care was taken to country will be providing dis- able at QR250, 500, 1,000 and select artists who would com- counts of up to 50% on a range 1,250 in the silver, gold, plati- plement the festive atmosphere of consumer goods including num and royal categories of Shop Qatar, while celebrat- clothes, electronics, cosmetics respectively. ing our Arab culture, ultimately and accessories for men, women These live music concerts presenting our visitors with the and children. WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER 2016 HOME 05 Interchange Very few out to be closed of school in for 45 days The Peninsula
THE Public Works Authority, Qatar: Report ‘Ashghal’, will temporarily close Umm Leshkhoot Inter- change on the North Road to speaking at the opening session traffic on Thursday, Decem- Education beat of the symposium. ber 29, 2016 until February 6, About 61 million The committee organises 2017. this meeting every year to high- The 45-day road change, children between the light major issues addressed by designed in coordination with ages of six and 11 are the report at global level and the General Directorate of still out of schools educational indicators. Traffic, will enable the recon- worldwide, says The report mentioned that struction of Umm Leshkhoot Video Home training session in progress. Global report. around 61 million child between Interchange, as part of North the ages of six and 11 years are Road Corridor Enhancement Mohammed Osman still out of schools and the project. The Peninsula number in Qatar is not more Video Home trains sales staff During the traffic detour, than 1 percent which is very Umm Leshkhoot Interchange bout 61 million chil- good, said Ferial Khan, Educa- users are to be diverted to the dren between the tional Programs Specialist at The Peninsula Indesit Company of Italy, and answer session to clarify doubts. two major nearby Rasheeda ages of six and 11 Unesco regional office in Doha. was attended by sales staff of all Video Home Chief Operat- and Al Ghesen Interchanges are still out of Ferial also highlighted that ideo Home recently Jumbo Electronics showrooms ing Officer Rohit Pandit, briefed instead via the newly-con- schools worldwide there are 60 million girls in the conducted Indesit/Aris- along with merchandisers and the trainees on the brand value structed service roads andA the number in Qatar is not 12 -14 years age group out of Vton Product Training to sales staff of hypermarkets, that Indesit as a company has between the two intersec- more than one percent, says the the education system, in addi- enhance product knowledge major home appliances dealers around the world, being a mul- tions, while keeping the main recently- released Global Edu- tion to 143 million between the of sales staff and impart the in Qatar. tinational now associated with North Road open to normal cation Monitoring Report 2016. ages of 15 and 17 years in vari- product benefits and A group of 30 employees Whirlpool Corporation — the traffic. For road safety, Ash- This was disclosed at a ous parts of the world. features to customers through attended the training which global appliances giant. Manoj ghal has installed the symposium organised by the Speaking about the content them. consisted of theoretical and Kumar, Assistant General Man- necessary traffic signs, Qatar National Commission for of the report, Ferial pointed out The programme was spe- practical demonstrations for ager for the Multibrand Division requesting road users to abide Education, Culture and Science that, there is long way to go for cially conducted by Massimo each product category and con- of Video Home also addressed by the traffic instructions and to discuss the report. achieving gender equality in Maggioni, Training Manager, cluded with a question and the team. restrictions. The meeting held at the Min- education at global level. How- istry of Education and Higher ever, in Qatar the number of Education was attended by rep- females completing their edu- resentatives from the Ministry of cation is higher than males, she Development Planning and Sta- emphasised. Ferial who lauded Vehicle eatery should have fire detection system tistics, Qatar University, Qatari and GCC state’s efforts Education Above All Foundation, in various area of education, Continued from page 1 Qatar Foundation For Education, emphasised the readiness of need approval from the Minis- [email protected]. business and should comply with Science and Community Devel- Unesco regional office to coop- To obtain a licence for ven- try of Municipality and After initial approval, the traffic rules. They have to keep opment and National Committee erate and provide the necessary dor vehicle the applicant needs Environment for related to applicant will be notified to visit away from entrance and exit of for Education for All. support to competent authori- a commercial registration (CR), hygiene. the department concerned. schools, hospitals, mosques and The report and its outcome ties to improve the quality of road permit from the Traffic The application form is Eligible applicants will be other places specified by the is very important because it education in the region. Department and health certifi- available at the the website of selected through a raffle. And the authorities concerned. The includes national indicators for The report is an annual cates for the workers from the the ministry www.mec.gov.qa. applications should meet the mobile vendor should keep a evaluation of education levels, document assessing global Ministry of Public Health. An illustrated design of the ven- terms and condition completely distance of at least 50 meters quality of education, outputs, progress and achievements in As for a vehicle eatery, it dor vehicle should be attached to get an entry into raffle. from shops doing the same type accessibility of education start- the Dakar Educational Goals should be equipped with a with the application. The candi- Applications will be received of business. ing from pre-school and many which include six internation- proper fire detection system date is also required to give some from January 1, 2017 to Febru- The final approval will be relevant issues, said Hamda Has- ally agreed education goals powered with battery, fire blan- details in the application like ary 1, 2017. The winners will be issued by the Traffic Department san Al Sulaiti, Secretary-General aiming to meet the learning ket, fire extinguisher as the how many workers he would announced on February 8, 2017. after ensuring the vehicle has of the National Committee for needs of all children, youth and requirements to obtain approval employ. The duly-filled appli- The licensed vendors are mert the requirements of traffic Education, Culture and Science adults. from Civil Defense. Eateries also cation form may be emailed to allowed to do only one type of and general safety. QA offers luxury Nappa Dori amenity kits to its premium class passengers
The Peninsula handcrafted travel and fashion Nappa Dori, the New Delhi- that currently feature one of features lip balm from Italy’s bags to their collection. Qatar accessories, has created bespoke based brand, and is one of the three iconic cityscapes, Doha, Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio, Airways Group Chief Executive, atar Airways has intro- amenity kits that celebrate the only international airlines to Paris, and London. The new the environmentally friendly Akbar Al Baker, said: “Nappa duced signature Nappa airline’s global network by fea- offer amenity kits to its premium amenity kits are available on olive oil company, as well as Dori, like Qatar Airways, is a QDori amenity kits on board turing images from the more passengers flying short distances board all Business and First Class socks and eyeshades. business that prides itself in pro- for all its premium passengers than 150 destinations Qatar Air- from Doha. flights flying to destinations The travel accessory designs viding its customers with superb travelling on short and medium ways serves. Together the two innovative within five hours of the airline's are available in four different and unique products and invests haul flights. The artisan brand, Qatar Airways is the first air- brands have combined vintage awards-winning hub and home, styles and will be refreshed every in quality and service to create Nappa Dori, which has gained line to launch an exclusive and contemporary styles to cre- Hamad International Airport. few months to ensure frequent an exceptional experience for the global recognition for its luxury worldwide partnership with ate unique canvas amenity kits The amenity kit exclusively travellers can add new keepsake customer. Meeting calls to promote use of Arabic
The Peninsula places were achieved respectively by Eng- lish, Chinese and Indian. Since 1974, the he Arabic Language Department at Arabic language became an official lan- Qatar University College of Arts and guage in the UN along with English, Spanish, TSciences (QU-CAS) recently organ- Russian, French and Chinese. ised an event themed “The Arabic language "However, its usage is still limited, espe- between proliferation and receding” to cel- cially when compared with other languages ebrate the World Arabic Language Day. that emerged with the technology boom. The event was attended by QU Presi- We need to ensure the preservation of our dent Dr Hassan Al Derham (pictured), CAS native language at a time when other for- Dean Dr Rashid Al Kuwari, CAS Arabic Lan- eign languages are being extended in the guage Department Head Dr Maryam Al era of globalisation.” Naemi, and Al Jazeera Media Network Act- Dr Rashid Al Kuwari said: “Today is a ing Director Dr Mostefa Souag, as well as good opportunity to promote the spirit of faculty and students from CAS and the Ara- the cultural competition in poem and prose collaboration between students and fac- bic for Non Native Speakers Center (ANNS). — students Aisha Al Sidiqi (CAS), Isalm Al ulty to drive forward innovation, The event’s programme featured a play Mishhidany (College of Law), Eman Al constructive criticism and teamwork. This themed “What does yellow do in your win- Abaahi (College of Business and Econom- event demonstrates QU commitment to dow” performed by students from CAS ics), Doha Fouad (College of Sharia and providing students with out-of-classroom Arabic Language Department, a talk show Islamic Studies) and Kholoud Ibrahim (Col- activities and practical learning that ensure with Al Jazeera Media Network Acting lege of Medicine). their personal development.” Director Dr Mostefa Souag, and a mario- In his remarks, Dr Hassan Al Derham Dr Maryam Al Naemi said that the Ara- nette show presented by children from QU said: “We celebrate today the Arabic lan- bic Language Department has established College of Education (CED) Early Childhood guage for its great influence on our many projects such as Ansaq Magazine which Center (ECC). ANNS students also contrib- education and for broadening our minds is the first international academic journal, uted to the event by sharing their towards science and knowledge. We owe the first informant Qatari narratives, and a experiences on studying Arabic language Qatar for providing us with opportunities language training centre which will serve QU for the first time. of high-quality education and for helping community and the Qatari society. The event also included the distribu- us to achieve our aspirations. According to She added: “We are working now on tion of awards to the results provided by surveys on the use of preparing a proposal for three new pro- academically-distinguished students named languages in the world, the Arabic language grammes in Arabic which are: a programme on the Dean’s list for obtaining 3.5 GPA or has been ranked in the fourth place among of children’s literature, a programme of dra- higher, as well as to the winners of the most popular languages. The top 3 matic arts, and a writing programme.” 06 MIDDLE EAST WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER 2016 Syrian govt and opposition in talks: Russia
Moscow/Beirut Peace move Committee, a body grouping Reuters armed and political opponents A Saudi-backed of President Bashar al-Assad, ussian Foreign Minis- opposition group said said it had no knowledge of the ter Sergei Lavrov was it knew nothing of the consultations. quoted yesterday as negotiations. “We in the High Negotiations saying that the Syrian Committee certainly have no government was con- connection to this matter,” Rsulting with the opposition ahead UN-brokered negotiations, George Sabra, a member of the of possible peace talks, but a remain hazy, but Moscow has HNC, said. The HNC includes Saudi-backed opposition group said they would take place in armed groups fighting Assad said it knew nothing of the Kazakhstan, a close ally. under the banner of the Free Syr- negotiations. “During the recent meeting ian Army. It took part in a failed Lavrov did not say where the in Moscow with my colleagues bid to launch peace talks earlier consultations were taking place from Iran and Turkey we this year. The HNC was estab- or which opposition groups were approved a joint declaration in lished in Saudi Arabia with taking part. which we confirmed our readi- Riyadh’s backing in December Russia, Iran and Turkey said ness to guarantee a future 2015. President Vladimir Putin last week they were ready to agreement between the Syrian has said that Russia, Iran and help broker a peace deal after government and the opposition,” Turkey and Assad have agreed holding talks in Moscow where Lavrov told the Interfax news that Astana, the Kazakh capital, A tractor removes rubble as the Syrian government starts to clean up areas formerly held by they adopted a declaration set- agency in an interview. should be the venue for new ting out the principles any “Negotiations about that are talks. opposition forces in the northern city of Aleppo, yesterday. agreement should adhere to. going on,” he said. Interfax said Russian officials say prepa- Arrangements for the talks, he was referring to talks between rations for the talks are under be decided. The officials, who HNC. Lavrov spoke to Mevlut a nationwide ceasefire in Syria which would not include the the opposition and the Syrian way, but that invitations to par- have spoken of mid-January as Cavusoglu, his Turkish counter- and to prepare for the Astana United States and be distinct government. ticipants have not been sent out a possible date, say it is too early part, by telephone on Tuesday. talks, the Russian Foreign Min- from separate intermittent The High Negotiations and the exact timing has yet to to talk about contacts with the The two men agreed to push for istry said. 3 months needed to Daesh video was fabricated: Turkey eliminate IS: Iraqi PM deputy premier
Baghdad State),” state TV quoted Abadi Ankara Reuters as saying. More than two Anatolia months into the operation, elite raqi Prime Minister Iraqi soldiers have retaken a Haider Al Abadi said yes- quarter of Mosul, but entered a TURKEY'S deputy prime I terday it would take three planned “operational refit” this minister yesterday described months to eliminate Islamic month. a Daesh video purporting to State, as US-backed forces A US battlefield commander show Turkish soldiers in Syria battle to dislodge the mili- said on Monday Iraqi forces being murdered as “fabri- tants from their city would resume their offensive cated,” and criticized those stronghold of Mosul. in the coming days, in a new who shared the footage on Abadi previously said the phase of the operation that will social media. city would be retaken by the see American troops deployed "Some of our friends in end of this year but command- closer to the front line inside the the media sector need to ers blame the slower pace on city. watch their steps,” Numan the need to protect civilians Mosul, the largest city held Displaced women, who fled the Islamic State (IS) stronghold of Mosul, stand behind the fence Kurtulmus told reporters in who have mostly stayed in their by Islamic State anywhere to receive aid at Hassan Sham camp, east of Mosul, Iraq, yesterday. Ankara, adding: “Social homes rather than fleeing as across the once-vast territory media is not a platform to was expected. it controlled in Iraq and neigh- make irresponsible broad- “Conditions indicate that bouring Syria, has been held by in June 2014. over millions of people in a self- traditional insurgency in Iraq, casts. Turkey is at war with Iraq needs three months to the group since its fighters Its fall would probably end styled caliphate, but the fighters and plot or inspire attacks on the Daesh." eliminate Daesh (Islamic drove the US-trained army out Islamic State’s ambition to rule could still mount a more West. He added: "Trying to demoralize Turks by spread- ing propaganda through sharing fabricated footage is not patriotic." 40 dead in Yemen anti-rebel offensive: Army Kurtulmus said there was no verified information from the Turkish General Staff or Aden pushed to capture a rebel part of Shabwa province still of the legitimate forces were killed some 7,000 people since the Defense Ministry about the AFP enclave, military officials said. controlled by the Iran-backed killed," a military official said. Saudi-led intervention in March images. "If we had verified The fighting flared when rebels after government forces Military officials said govern- 2015, according to the United information, we would share t least 28 Houthi insur- forces loyal to President Abdrab supported by the Saudi-led Arab ment forces backed by coalition Nations. The coalition began the it with the public. These ter- gents and 12 Yemeni uh Mansur Hadi attacked rebels coalition last year expelled them warplanes drove the rebels out of military campaign against the rorist groups are the lowest Asoldiers were killed yes- in Bayhan district, on the border from five southern provinces. several positions in the area, add- rebels after they closed in on Hadi gutter operators in the world. terday in the southern province between Shabwa and Marib "The death toll of the Huthis ing that 14 insurgents were also in his refuge in Aden, forcing him They try to oppress people's of Shabwa as government forces provinces. Bayhan is the only has reached 28 while 12 soldiers captured. The Yemen conflict has to flee to Riyadh. minds with fear," he added. Gunmen abduct South Sudan pins hope on Iraqi scribe from her Baghdad home national dialogue for peace
Baghdad Juba, South Sudan extremism,” he explained. “Dialogue has AP Anatolia been effectively used to bring peace and stability in many countries when it is well GUNMEN kidnapped an Iraqi journal- he announcement earlier this month managed.” ist after breaking into her Baghdad by South Sudan’s president of the Despite the uncertainty, some observ- home, the Interior Ministry said yes- Tstart of a national dialogue in the ers have expressed hope that South Sudan terday, a reminder of the dangers war-torn country was a rare bit of good may yet emerge from the current crisis. reporters face in a war-torn country news amid the chaos that has so long pre- Others, including peace partners, have where authorities have struggled to vailed there. However, it is still unclear vowed to provide financial support for maintain security. how exactly this dialogue will work, say the new government’s campaign against The Interior Ministry said Afrah political analysts. ethnic feuds that could lead to Sawqi Al Qaisi was abducted from her “Whether it will be the next hope to put genocide. house in the southwestern Saydiyah the country on track again from its com- Addressing parliament, President Salva neighborhood on Monday night. It plex series of overlapping sectarian, Kiir announced a need for a national dia- called on residents to come forward political, and ethnic conflicts that are logue on December 14, confessing publicly with any information that might help beyond the capacity of any one actor or for the first time that he too, was worried the investigation. The ministry state- policy to resolve, it remains to be seen,” about the direction the country is heading ment did not give details of the Abraham Awolich of the Sudd Institute, a in. Kiir also asked the public for kidnapping. think-tank based in the capital Juba, told forgiveness. Citing her family's account, the Anadolu Agency. South Sudan, the world’s youngest head of the Baghdad-based Journalis- “A genuine national dialogue could be country, was plunged in civil war when a tic Freedoms Observatory, Ziyad Al the best hope for South Sudan’s stability; long-running political feud between Kiir Ajeeli, said eight gunmen arrived in at its expectations are high. Could this exer- and his sacked deputy Riek Machar least two pickup trucks, claimed to be cise close the chapter of hatred and killings exploded into violence, much of its along members of the security forces, and and open a new page? The resulting period ethnic lines. asked to search the house. remains to be seen and rewritten in the next The rival leaders signed a shaky peace Once inside, they handcuffed al- three months,” Awolich said. deal in August 2015. But fresh conflict broke Qaisi's 16-year-old son, kept him in the “The country needs something that will up out this July, quickly spreading from the kitchen and took gold, money, phones, bring back peace and stability or else a Presidential Palace to the rest of the city laptops and a car, Al Ajeeli said. longstanding conflict could result in and forcing Machar out of the capital, Juba. WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER 2016 ASIA / AFRICA 07 Abe seeks reconciliation at Pearl Harbor
Honolulu Diplomacy should not be repeated. Reuters In China, where the govern- Abe has called ment has repeatedly urged Japan apanese Prime Minister US-Japan relations an to show greater repentance for Shinzo Abe on Monday 'alliance of hope' and World War Two and Japan's stopped at several memori- said the devastation invasion of China, Foreign Min- als in Hawaii, one day before of war should not be istry spokeswoman Hua Jhe visits the site of the 1941 repeated. Chunying said it was "wishful bombing of Pearl Harbor during thinking" for Abe if he hoped to a trip intended to show a strong The China Foreign use the visit to "settle the alliance between his country and accounts" for the war. Ministry spokeswoman the United States. "No matter the posture, no said that, No matter Abe made no public remarks matter what show is put on, only and stood in silence before a the posture, no matter sincere reflection can realise the wreath of flowers at the National what show is put on, key to reconciliation," Hua told Memorial Cemetery of the only sincere reflection reporters. Pacific, a memorial to those who can realise the key to Japanese leaders hope to died while serving in the US reconciliation. send a message of unity as well Armed Forces. to President-elect Donald Abe, joined by two of his Trump, who triggered concerns Cabinet members, bowed his Japan hopes to present a before his November 8 election head before wreaths of white strong alliance with the United by opposing the US-led flowers and greenery laid at the States amid concerns about Chi- Trans-Pacific feet of stone monuments at na's expanding military Partnership trade pact and Makiki Cemetery in Honolulu capability. threatening to force allied coun- dedicated to Japanese who set- Japan was monitoring a tries to pay more to host U.S. tled in Hawaii in the 1800s. group of Chinese warships that forces. The crowning event of trip entered the top half of the South Abe has tightened ties with comes yesterday, when Abe and China Sea earlier on Monday. Washington during his four years US President Barack Obama will "I am very much looking for- in office, stretching the limits of visit Pearl Harbor, the site of the ward to sending out a strong Japan's pacifist constitution and Japanese attack 75 years ago that message on the value of recon- boosting defense spending. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (centre) places a wreath a during his visit to a Japanese drew the US into World War II. ciliation, as well as our sincere Amid wind and rain on Mon- cemetery in Honolulu, yesterday. Obama, who was born in prayer for the souls of the war day, Abe presented a wreath at Hawaii, is spending his winter dead," Abe, speaking through an the armed forces memorial vacation there. interpreter, said at the Hawaii located at Honolulu's Punchbowl fought in World War II in Europe the Japanese city of Hiroshima, but the Japanese government "Abe does not plan to apol- Convention Center in Crater. and whose parents were Japa- where the United States dropped says Abe will be the first to pray ogize for the 1941 attack but to Honolulu. After a moment of silence, he nese. He died in 2012. an atomic bomb in the closing for the dead with a US president console the souls of those who Abe has called US-Japan signed a guestbook and then Abe's visit will come seven days of the war in 1945. at the memorial built over the died in the war," his aides said relations an "alliance of hope" stopped at the grave of former months after Obama became the At least three Japanese pre- remains of the sunken battleship this month. and said the devastation of war US Senator Daniel Inouye, who first serving US president to visit miers have visited Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona.
3,000 return to hometown reclaimed from Boko Haram NEWS BYTES Maiduguri when it controlled an area the Army spokesman Sani officials and community vent the insurgents returning. Police raid Ugandan Reuters size of Belgium in northeast Usman said more than 3,000 leaders. Security analysts say Boko Nigeria. people used one of the roads to More than two million peo- Haram split this year with one mosque; arrest 18 ore than 3,000 people The insurgents were return to Damasak on ple have been displaced during faction led by Abubakar Shekau in northeast Nigeria pushed out of the town by the Monday. the insurgency as Boko Haram operating from the Sambisa Mwho were forced to flee army in July. "They were residents of tries to establish an Islamic forest and the other, allied to IS UGANDA Police has confirmed the seven-year insurgency President Muhammadu Damasak displaced by the state, run using a strict inter- and led by Abu Musab al- the arrest of 18 people found at waged by Islamist militants Buhari said on Saturday that the insurgency staying as refugees pretation of sharia, in the Barnawi, based in the Lake Nakasero mosque during an have returned to their home- army had taken back Boko in the neighbouring Niger northeast. About 15,000 peo- Chad region. early morning raid in central town following the reopening Haram's main camp in the Republic and internally dis- ple have been killed. Despite having been Kampala yesterday. of major roads in the area, the Sambisa forest. placed people in Maiduguri," he After the announcement pushed back by a military A police spokesperson for army said yesterday. On Sunday, the government said. that Sambisa camp had been offensive in the last few the Kampala Metropolitan area, Damasak - in the northwest said it was reopening two roads Usman said returnees went taken, the Chief of Army Staff, months, Boko Haram still Emiliano Kayiima confirmed the of Borno, the state worst hit by between Borno's capital, Mai- through military security Tukur Buratai, said former stages suicide bombings in search operation carried out by the militants - was taken over duguri, and the northern towns checks when they arrived and game reserve would be used as northeast Nigeria and in neigh- police and other security agencies. by Boko Haram in late 2014, of Damasak and Baga. were met by local government a military training base to pre- bouring Niger and Cameroon. According to Kayiima, the successful 6:00am operation netted 18 suspects and the Police recovered, “Three machine guns, 138 rounds of ammunitions, 20 Conde visits Turkey video tapes, one bow and seven Thailand police call off arrows and two knives." raid on Buddhist temple Cambodia convicts Bangkok to launder money and receive exiled oppn leader Reuters stolen goods. Police have tried in vain evotees of a Buddhist over the past few months to CAMBODIAN opposition leader abbot suspected of question the abbot and enter Sam Rainsy was sentenced to five Dmoney laundering the temple complex. years in prison yesterday over barricaded entrances to their With police poised to a post on his Facebook page, a temple yesterday as more make another attempt yes- conviction that makes his return than 700 police assembled terday, reporters saw from self-imposed exile unlikely. outside, preparing to raid the hundreds of monks and dev- Rainsy, who currently sprawling complex north of otees inside the temple. Some lives in France, was con- Bangkok. were barricading entrances, victed in absentia by Phnom The Wat Phra Dham- while others wore face masks Penh's Municipal Court yes- makaya Temple commands and chanted Buddhist sutras. terday for a post placed on his a huge following and is sup- "The objective of the Facebook page by a third party ported by influential Thai operation today is to remove about Cambodia's border with politicians and business folk, anything that is in the way, Vietnam. but critics say it exploits peo- including fences," Khempak Anti-Vietnamese sentiment Guinean President Alpha Conde visits Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's mausoleum with ple and religion for money. Photipak, the officer in charge runs high in Cambodia and parts Thailand's attorney gen- of the police operation, said. Turkish Minister of Education, Ismet Yilmaz, in Ankara, yesterday. of the border are still disputed. eral said in November it "We're waiting for orders would charge Abbot Phra about when to raid the tem- Dhammachayo and four oth- ple," adding that about 750 ers on charges of conspiracy police had been deployed. North Korea plans nuclear push in 2017: Defector Seoul said Kim had issued a directive are tied up with domestic poli- enormous strides in that direc- AFP at a rare ruling party congress tics," he added. tion since Kim took over as in May to "complete" nuclear North Korea carried out two leader from his father, Kim Jong- orth Korean leader Kim development by the end of next nuclear tests in 2016 and numer- Il who died in December 2011. Jong-Un is planning a year. ous missile launches in pursuit According to a transcript of N"prime time" nuclear "With South Korea holding of its ultimate goal of a deterrent his press conference, Thae said weapons push in 2017 to take presidential elections and the US capable of delivering a nuclear Kim would never trade away the advantage of leadership transi- undergoing an administration warhead to the US mainland. North's nuclear arsenal -- no tions in South Korea and the transition, the North sees 2017 Analysts are divided as to matter how large a financial United States, a high-ranking as the prime time for nuclear how close Pyongyang is to real- incentive might be offered. defector said yesterday. development," Thae said. ising that ambition, especially as "The North Korean leader's Police officers stand guard outside the Wat Phra In his first press conference "That's based on a calcula- it has never successfully tested main aim is to open a new dia- Dhammakaya temple in Pathum Thani province, north since fleeing his post as North tion that the US and South Korea an inter-continental ballistic logue with the US from the of Bangkok, yesterday. Korea's deputy ambassador to will not be able to take physical, missile. position of a confirmed nuclear Britain in August, Thae Yong-Ho military measures because they But all agree it has made power," he said. 08 VIEWS WEDNESDAY 28 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 Syria talks Idlib overwhelmed by influx here is uncertainty and confusion about the planned peace talks between the Syrian government and the opposition to be held in TAstana. Russia, Iran and Turkey said last week of Aleppo’s wounded they were ready to help broker a peace deal and President Vladimir Putin said that all three countries and President Bashar Al Assad had agreed that the Kazakh capital should be the venue for new talks. The five or more civilians at once. civil defence force because even peace talks make sense after the takeover of Aleppo by Lizzie Porter I am very tired and I feel like my though we left Aleppo, that does not the Syrian forces, though fighting continues to rage in Al Jazeera mind is dead. My feelings were terrible mean I should stop my humanitarian the country. But the question is how far Assad and his when we left the city: We left my work, such that everyone is killed,” allies would go to bring peace to the country: whether house, my brother’s grave, and so Fadoua told Al Jazeera. “I am very tired he would follow a dictatorial stance and force the hen surgeon Mounir Hakimi many happy memories. But my family and I feel like my mind is dead. My opposition into a complete, humiliating submission, operated on five-month-old wants me to carry on. feelings were terrible when we left the and later punish or exterminate them for the Maram in the Syrian prov- Mohamed Fadoua, Syrian Civil city: We left my house, my brother’s revolution, or whether, having tasted victory in this ince of Idlib last week, the Defence volunteer “Already the medi- grave, and so many happy memories. war, he would show the victor’s mercy and follow a horrific extent of her injuries cal facilities that we are sponsoring But my family wants me to carry on.” more conciliatory approach that leads to some Wquickly became clear. and running are under huge pressure - Rady Saad, the White Helmets’ concessions to win over the confidence of the rebels. “She lost both her parents in an air even before the evacuation started,” Idlib liaison officer, said that the 840 But these questions arise only if meaningful talks strike, has multiple fractures, a wound in Hakimi said. “Now we have to cope volunteers in 90 teams across the happen between the two sides. her abdomen, and has lost lots of skin,” with a bigger population and funds are province were ready to welcome new Unfortunately, the talks are set to become one- Hakimi told Al Jazeera in a telephone inter- waning. The machines are not going to volunteers. sided as the real opposition view. “We feared she might end up with an deal with the scale of the casualties.” “Of course, the teams from Aleppo is keeping away. The High amputation because [her wounds] are so Around 630 people with life- will carry on in Idlib, like people from Negotiations Committee, a infected.” threatening injuries have been rural Damascus,” he told Al Jazeera, Arab countries body grouping armed and Maram was one of the 35,000 people fast-tracked out of Syria. Meanwhile, citing men who had arrived after pre- should have a political opponents of who left Aleppo last week as Syrian regime some aid workers who themselves had vious displacements. “We have teams Assad, said it had no forces retook the city’s formerly rebel-held to leave east Aleppo have vowed to ready to respond 24 hours a day. This prominent role knowledge of the eastern districts. continue working from their new area has been bombed for more than in the proposed negotiations. “We in the As the evacuation ended on Thursday homes. five years and I do not think it will stop Syria peace High Negotiations and snow blanketed the burned ground, The Syrian American Medical Soci- now.” Committee certainly have opposition fighters and civilians were ety, which supported hospitals in Indeed, the humanitarian situation process. no connection to this forced to the rebel-held countryside to the Aleppo city, is planning to move into in Idlib is likely to worsen in the long matter,” George Sabra, a west, and to Idlib province on the Turkish three new underground facilities in the term. Analysts believe that the regime member of the HNC, said. border. rebel-held countryside and Idlib. All of will ultimately annihilate any opposi- The Syrian regime must Medical staff are now overwhelmed by its medical staff who left Aleppo city tion in the province, under the pretext invite opposition leaders and groups which were in the the influx of wounded Aleppans, who were will continue working with the of fighting internationally proscribed forefront of the revolution and must give them proper under siege and aerial bombardment for organisation. “terrorist” groups. representation and importance in the negotiations. more than 100 days. Thousands are suffer- In his new home in Idlib, Mohamed As Syrian President Bashar Al Inviting splinter groups and individuals who were ing from infected shrapnel wounds, Fadoua, a 24-year-old Syrian Civil Assad prioritises retaking ground in operating in the shadows will not help the so-called hypothermia and malnutrition. Surgeons Defence volunteer from Aleppo, southern Syria, notably the Eastern peace process and will only fan the flames of anger are operating for up to 12 hours a day, and intends to don his white helmet - the Ghouta near Damascus, civilians from which could prolong the fighting. medical facilities are running at double headgear by which the such rebel-held areas are likely to be At the same time, a Russian news agency reported capacity. search-and-rescue forced into Idlib, increasing its injured that representatives from the Russian and Turkish Maram’s case is typical, according to team has become and traumatised population. militaries were holding consultations with the Syrian Hakimi, who heads the charity Syria Relief, recognised. Kyle Orton, a research fellow with opposition in Ankara about the possibilities of a which is among a dozen aid organisations “I decided to carry the British-based think-tank the Henry possible nationwide ceasefire. It’s not clear which supporting the displaced from Aleppo. “She on my work with the Jackson Society, told Al Jazeera that parties are participating in these talks, but the role of had no parents and was left in the hospital; Assad forces are expected to ulti- Turkey is a positive development. she was taken by the ambulance and we mately turn Idlib into a “free-fire Russian Foreign Minster said that Moscow would found the names of her grandfather and her Thousands of displaced zone”. work more closely with Turkey and Iran on the stepmother.” Syrians are suffering “Idlib is fated for a lot more mass situation in Syria. “We will further build our Doctors in Idlib are seeing dozens of from infected shrapnel killing,” Orton said. “The pause these cooperation with Ankara, Tehran and other countries “infected and gangrenous” wounds, Hakimi wounds, hypothermia and populations deported to Idlib get after in the region on the Syrian question,” Lavrov was said, noting that some patients may need the leave-or-die tactics of the regime quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. He has amputations, or could be left with other malnutrition. to force them from their homes is only mentioned ‘other countries in the region’. Yes, it’s very long-term disabilities. temporary.” important to involve these countries. Syria is an Arab “Due to the continuous air strikes [on country and Arab countries should have a significant Aleppo], there are children who have role in the peace process. shrapnel in their spines,” he explained. “That has caused them to be paralysed. We are seeing children who have lost vision in one eye because of the shrapnel.” Civilians are also presenting symptoms QUOTE OF THE DAY of psychological trauma. “The father of a three-year-old boy — who was not injured — was wondering why his son is not speaking yet,” Hakimi added. I hope the image of “He was born in the middle of the war and can still not say a single word, because of President Obama and shock from the air strikes.” I together visiting Idlib’s medical infrastructure was Pearl Harbor will already damaged before the Aleppo evacu- serve to make the ation. Five years of barrel bomb attacks and a year of Russian air power have maimed term Remember Pearl its hospitals, civil defence force headquar- Harbor symbolise the ters and schools. power of reconciliation. The province suffered 11 massacres in November, second only to Aleppo across Syria, according to analysis from the Syrian Shinzo Abe Network for Human Rights monitoring Participants of the solidarity march to Aleppo hold a banner reading “Save Japanese Prime Minister group. It defines a massacre as the killing of Aleppo” in Berlin, Germany, yesterday. WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER 2016 OPINION 09 The hidden force of current international uneasiness
of laboratory, a kind characterisation for a guinea inequality after decades of decline. financial crisis in 2008 — which is animal, for the “Chicago Boys” — the graduates from Even economic growth — a cherished indicator another fundamental pillar of the Ramon Blanco the University of Chicago, an important intellectual of the neoliberal mantra — was much slower during current international uneasiness, Al Jazeera powerhouse of this economic framework — and their the neoliberal dominance in comparison with the and a direct consequence of the social engineering. preceding decades. neoliberal dominance In the late 1970s, neoliberalism reached the very These consequences were devastating for the internationally. core of the international system with the election of vast majority of the people across the world and Moreover, the failures of t is indisputable that the current international Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom (1979) and overwhelmingly severe on the middle and working neoliberalism are the same zeitgeist is definitely characterised by a pro- Ronald Reagan in the United States (1980). classes. In the periphery, the results were destructive. underneath force, due to its found uneasiness. The sense for many is that From that time onwards, neoliberalism started to Not by coincidence, the 1980s is known as the “Lost severe impact on the middle and the international order as it is currently take the global stage as a dominant ideology. At this Decade” in Latin America. working classes in several Euro- known is, at least, in check. point, the tenets of neoliberal policies such as dereg- However, it is myopic to believe that the failures pean countries, producing the IThe signs are plenty: the environmental crisis, ulation of different spheres, massive tax reduction of neoliberalism just affected the periphery. Not sur- rise of the far-right and nation- the financial crisis of 2008, the rise of the far-right for the rich, privatisation of state-owned companies, prisingly, the middle and working classes in the core alist populism across the whole in Europe, Brexit and Donald Trump in the White outsourcing of businesses, free trade, austerity meas- of the international system were also not immune. continent. House, to mention just a few. ures, dismantling of public services and so on were The fact that the failures of neoliberalism nega- This is observed, for instance, Surprisingly, these events are normally reasoned decidedly stimulated. tively affected both classes worldwide generated in the European Parliament but individually, which is undoubtedly misleading. Inversely, elements such as regulations, taxes, several shockwaves across the globe. These are also with the rise of the Freedom Remarkably, the veiled force underneath all these state programmes, union activities and so on were engendering the current uneasiness perceived Party in Austria, the Swiss Peo- events is not even mentioned. severely blocked. globally. ple’s Party in Switzerland, the However, an attentive observer of the interna- Thatcher was bluntly clear when she said Finns in Finland, the Jobbik in tional reality perceives, quite clearly in fact, that that there was no alternative to such an agenda. Continuity in the failures Hungary, the Golden Dawn in these events are all evidence of the failures of neolib- This agenda was disseminated internationally It is with this background in mind that one should Greece, the UK Independence eralism as the dominant ideology in the international with a varying degree of violence: through a reason a wide range of current international devel- Party, the National Front in political and economic order. veiled violence, by the International Monetary opments that, on the surface, are not related at all. France and also, more recently, Fund and World Bank, when countries had to The failures of neoliberalism produced a deep Britain’s withdrawal from the Neoliberalism as the dominant ideology structurally reform their economic, political anger worldwide and opened the space for national- European Union. Even though it is often overlooked by many peo- and social spheres in order to borrow money ist and xenophobic groups to galvanise supporters, Consequently, to properly ple, neoliberalism shapes every aspect of from these international financial institutions, channelling a wide range of frustrations and benefit- apprehend the current interna- contemporary political, economic and social spheres. or through a brutal force, by the violence ing from this anger in different elections around the tional zeitgeist one has to dig In such an environment, it is quite hard to against unions or protesters and the regime world. beneath the surface. Most remember that neoliberalism was not always the changes around the world. The election of Trump is the most manifest importantly, to overcome the structuring force in international politics. It was only shockwave of the failures of the neoliberalism as the current international uneasi- in the 1970s when neoliberalism started to position Failures and current shockwaves dominant ideology in the international order. ness properly, we need to itself as a dominant ideology in many countries The widespread neoliberal offensive across the It is enough to remember that a significant part frontally address its underneath across the globe. globe certainly had consequences. Contrary to what of his support came from the workers of the man- force - neoliberalism as a global This path started in the periphery of the interna- is commonly advertised, it is clear that the world ufacturing industry, a segment that suffered over dominant ideology. tional system. One of the first countries to implement experienced a noticeable deterioration in many the past decades of neoliberal dominance. Not by neoliberalism as a structuring framework was Chile. spheres. coincidence, Trump won in key states of the so- Unsurprisingly, this was operated through a coup David Harvey, for instance, in his A Brief History called “rust belt”. Ramon Blanco is a researcher and against a democratically elected government. of Neoliberalism, evinces neoliberalism’s link with Therefore, it is incomplete if one tries to under- professor of international relations at After deposing President Salvador Allende, Gen- the increase of poverty and unemployment, the con- stand Trump’s election without considering the the Federal University of Latin-Amer- eral Augusto Pinochet made Chile function as a sort centration of income and wealth, and the rise in long-term failures that led to the international ican Integration (Brazil). White House is scrambling for a way to punish Russian hackers
Ellen Nakashima D-RING ROAD The Washington Post POST BOX: 3488 DOHA - QATAR [email protected]
he Obama administration last year rolled out to great fanfare a EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE new economic sanctions power TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 to punish and deter foreign FAX: +974 4455 7758 hackers who harm the United TStates’ economic or national security. MANAGING EDITOR The threat to use it last year helped TEL: 4462 7505 wring a pledge out of China’s president that his country would cease hacking US com- DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR panies’ secrets to benefit Chinese firms. But TEL: 4455 7769 officials this fall concluded that it could not, as written, be used to punish the most significant cyber-provocation in recent LOCAL NEWS SECTION memory against the United States - Rus- TEL: 4455 7743 sia’s hacking of Democratic organisations, targeting of state election systems and BUSINESS NEWS SECTION US President Barack Obama delivers a statement after meeting with the National Security Council, accompanied meddling in the presidential election. With TEL: 4462 7535 the clock ticking, White House officials are by US Secretary of State John Kerry (left) at the State Department in Washington, DC. trying to figure out how they can adapt the SPORT NEWS SECTION authority to punish the Russians they have emails that were released a few months later on tion database, they did not tamper with the data, officials said. TEL: 4455 7745 identified as being involved. President WikiLeaks, US officials said. Other releases followed, Some analysts believe that state election systems would Barack Obama last week pledged there including the hacked emails of Hillary Clinton’s cam- fit under “government facilities,” which is one of the 16 criti- ONLINE SECTION would be a response to Moscow’s interfer- paign chairman, John Podesta. cal infrastructure sectors designated by the Department of TEL: 4462 7501 ence in the US elections. “Fundamentally, it was a low-tech, high-impact Homeland Security. [email protected] One clear way to use the order against event,” said Zachary Goldman, a sanctions and Another option is to use the executive order against other the Russian suspects would be to declare national security expert at New York University Russian targets — say, hackers who stole commercial secrets PUBLIC RELATIONS the electoral systems part of the “critical School of Law. And the 2015 executive order was — and then, in either a public message or a private one, make infrastructure” of the United States. Or it not crafted to target hackers who steal emails and clear that the United States considers its electoral systems to TEL: 4455 7613 could be amended to clearly apply to the dump them on WikiLeaks or seek to disrupt an be critical infrastructure. [email protected] new threat — interfering in elections. election. “It was an authority published at a particu- The idea is to not only punish but also deter. Administration officials would also like lar time to address a particular set of problems,” he “As much as I am concerned about what happened to us ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT to make it difficult for President-elect Don- said. So officials “need to engage in some legal acro- in the election, I am also concerned about what will happen TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 ald Trump to roll back any action they take. batics to fit the DNC hack into an existing authority, to us in the future,” a second official said. “I am firmly con- FAX: 4455 7870 “Part of the goal here is to make sure that or they need to write a new authority,” Goldman vinced that the Russians and others will say, ‘That worked [email protected] we have as much of the record public or said. Administration officials would like Obama to pretty well in 2016, so let’s keep going.’ We have elections communicated to Congress in a form that use the power before leaving office to demonstrate every two years in this country.” CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT would be difficult to simply walk back,” its utility. “When the president came into office, he Even the threat of scantions can have deterrent value. TEL: 4455 7857 said one senior administration official, who didn’t have that many tools out there to use as a Officials and experts point to the agreement China’s Presi- [email protected] like others spoke on the condition of ano- response” to malicious cyber acts, said Ari Schwartz, dent Xi Jinping reached with Obama last year that his country nymity to discuss internal deliberations. a former senior director for cybersecurity on the would stop commercial cyberspying. Xi came to the table fol- SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION Obama issued the executive order in National Security Council. “Having the sanctions lowing news reports last summer that the administration was TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 April 2015, creating the sanctions tool as a tool is really a big one. It can make a very strong preparing to sanction Chinese companies. FAX: 44557819 way to hold accountable people who harm statement in a way that is less drastic than bombing Complicating matters, the Trump transition team has not computer systems related to critical functions a country and more impactful than sending out a yet had extensive briefings with the White House on cyber [email protected] such as electricity generation or transporta- cable from the State Department.” issues, including the potential use of the cyber-sanctions tion or who gain a competitive advantage The National Security Council concluded that it order. The slow pace has caused consternation among offi- through cybertheft of commercial secrets. would not be able to use the authority against Russian cials, who fear that the administration’s accomplishments in All thoughts and views The order allows the government to hackers because their malicious activity did not cybersecurity could languish if the next administration fails expressed in these columns freeze the assets in the United States of clearly fit under its terms, which require harm to crit- to understand their value. people overseas who have engaged in ical infrastructure or the theft of commercial secrets. Sanctions are not a silver bullet. Obama noted that “we are those of the writers, not cyber acts that have threatened US “You would a) have to be able to say that the actual already have enormous numbers of sanctions against the of the newspaper. national security or financial stability. The electoral infrastructure, such as state databases, was Russians” for their activities in Ukraine. So it is questionable, sanctions would also block commercial critical infrastructure, and b) that what the Russians some experts say, whether adding new ones would have a All correspondence transactions with the designated individu- did actually harmed it,” the administration official meaningful effect in changing the Kremlin’s behaviour. But in regarding Views and als and bar their entry into the country. who spoke on the condition of anonymity said. combination with other measures, they could be effective. Opinion pages should be But just a year later, a Russian military “Those are two high bars.” Criminal indictments of Russians might become an spy agency would hack into the Democratic Though Russian government hackers are believed option, officials said, but the FBI has so far not gathered mailed to the National Committee and steal a trove of to have penetrated at least one state voter-registra- enough evidence that could be introduced in a criminal case. [email protected] 10 ASIA / PHILIPPINES WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER 2016 Taiwan warns of rising threats from China
Taipei Military drill The Pentagon did not Reuters directly comment on the latest The threat of our drill but said that the United aiwan warned yester- enemies is growing States recognises lawful use of day that "the threat of day by day. We sea and airspace in accordance our enemies is grow- should always be to international law. ing day by day", as maintaining our "We continue to closely Chinese warships led combat alertness: monitor developments in the Tby the country's sole aircraft Taiwan Defence region. We do not have specific carrier sailed towards the island minister comments on China's recent province of Hainan through the naval activities, but we continue South China Sea on a routine The Pentagon did not to observe a range of ongoing drill. directly comment on Chinese military activity in the China has given few details region," Pentagon spokesman the latest drill but said Lawmakers defecting from the ruling Saenuri Party during a news conference at the National of what the Soviet-built Liaon- Gary Ross said. that the US recognises ing aircraft carrier is up to, save The Liaoning has taken part Assembly in Seoul, yesterday. that it is on a routine exercise. lawful use of sea and in previous exercises, including Taiwan has said the aircraft airspace in in the South China Sea, but carrier skirted waters outside of accordance to China is years away from per- international law. Ruling party splits over Park its eastern air defence identifi- fecting carrier operations cation zone. similar to those the United States "The carrier is expected to has practised for decades. Seoul National Assembly, relegating it The case is now being con- arrive at a Chinese military base soldiers) so that they can not Last December, the defence AFP to second place behind the lib- sidered by the constitutional on the southern Chinese island only survive in battle but also ministry confirmed China was eral Democratic Party. court, which has up to 180 days of Hainan late yesterday," Tai- destroy the enemy and accom- building a second aircraft car- outh Korea's ruling con- In a statement, they accused to rule on the validity of the wan's defence ministry said. plish the mission." rier but its launch date is servative party officially the ruling party of defending impeachment that charged Park The drill comes amid Feng's remarks were given unclear. The aircraft carrier pro- Ssplit yesterday over the Park, branding her as the with multiple criminal and con- renewed tension over Taiwan, in a speech yesterday at a min- gramme is a state secret. impeachment of scandal-hit "worst-ever" offender against stitutional violations -- ranging which China claims as its own istry event marking the Beijing could build multiple President Park Geun-Hye, constitutional order. from bribery to abuse of power. and says is ineligible for state- promotion of senior military aircraft carriers over the next 15 threatening to complicate pres- "Our departure will provide The next presidential elec- to-state relations, following US officers. years, the Pentagon said in a idential elections that could be momentum to turn the country's tion is slated for December 2017, President-elect Donald Trump's China's air force conducted report last year. held as soon as March. tragic incident -- the impeach- but if justices confirm impeach- telephone call with the island's long-range drills this month China has claimed sover- A group of 29 lawmakers left ment of its president -- into ment, Park will be permanently president that upset Beijing. above the East and South China eignty over Taiwan since 1949, the ruling Saenuri Party, argu- chances for the development of removed and elections must be "The threat of our enemies Seas that rattled Japan and Tai- when Mao Zedong's Commu- ing that its leadership refuses to democracy", the dissident group held within 60 days -- meaning is growing day by day. We wan. China said those exercises nist forces won the Chinese civil embrace reforms despite the said. a ballot could be held as early should always be maintaining were also routine. war and Chiang Kai-shek's political crisis fuelled by the cor- More than 60 Saenuri law- as late March. our combat alertness," Taiwan China claims most of the Nationalists fled to the island. ruption scandal that has makers crossed party lines to The Saenuri Party split could Defence Minister Feng Shih- South China Sea, through which Beijing has vowed to bring engulfed Park. join opposition parties in pass- be problematic for one frontrun- kuan said. "We need to about $5 trillion in ship-borne Taiwan under its rule, by force Their departure left the ing a motion to impeach Park ner -- outgoing UN Secretary strengthen the training (of our trade passes every year. if necessary. party with 99 seats in 300-seat this month. General Ban Ki-Moon.
Six found dead Philippines seizes huge drug haul; arrests six after robbery
Manila Investigation (NBI) conducted found, worth an estimated $67m. users and pushers, with few apartment rented by a Chinese in Indonesia Reuters the operations, including one on "It is not only the biggest haul known arrests of major drug national, who was not there Monday in San Juan City in the this year, but the biggest so far lords. when the raid took place. Jakarta hilippine authorities have capital Manila where drums of in history," Justice Secretary Duterte has expressed his More than 6,000 people Reuters seized about $120m worth chemicals used to produce meth- Vitaliano Aguirre said in a news frustration at the failure of anti- have been killed in the crack- Pof methamphetamines in amphetamines, or "shabu" as it conference. money laundering authorities to down since Duterte took office POLICE in the Indonesian cap- a series of anti-narcotics oper- is known, were seized. The seizures will be a boost chase the trail of drug money, in July, roughly a third in police ital found yesterday six people, ations this month that have That followed a raid on Fri- for President Rodrigo Duterte, accusing them of helping to fuel operations. including a nine-year-old yielded the biggest haul in the day in a quiet neighbourhood in who is facing allegations of corruption and threatening to The other deaths are classi- child, dead from suffocation in country's history, the justice the same city, when six people widespread human rights viola- charge them with crimes. fied as under investigation, many a tiny bathroom where armed minister said yesterday. were arrested and 560 kg of sus- tions in a bloody war on drugs Agents of the NBI said their believed to be the work of robbers had locked them the The National Bureau of pected methamphetamines was dominated by killings of drug latest operation involved an vigilantes. previous day. Petty crime is common in Jakarta, a teeming city of 10 million people, but violent crime including armed rob- Australian bitten by bery is rare. Up to four intruders broke into the house in an upmar- taipan snake dies ket neighbourhood on Monday, Jakarta police Sydney treatment before taking him to spokesman Argo Yuwono AFP Cairns Base Hospital in a criti- said. cal condition. The robbers locked 11 A MAN has died a week after "There's quite a lot of blood people - including family being bitten by taipan, one of on the scene so potentially the members, maids and drivers the world's deadliest snakes snake had actually hit a vein - in the two metre by one in his living room in Austral- instead of just entering the tis- metre bathroom and they ia's tropical northeast, officials sue itself. It was quite a rapid were not found until early said yesterday. injection of the venom," criti- yesterday, Yuwono said The 77-year-old, named in cal care flight paramedic yesterday. local media as David Pitt, was Valerie Noble said. "They were carrying fire- at his home in Cairns when he Pitt remained in intensive arms and machetes," Yuwono was bitten between his toes as care but died on Monday, a hos- said of the robbers, citing a he tried to kill the snake with a pital spokeswoman said. witness account." spade last Tuesday, Queensland The snake was reportedly The five survivors were Ambulance said. a 1.5-metre long coastal taipan, in critical condition and Paramedics performed CPR the world's third-most venom- taken to the hospital, he A worker fixes an electric post after it was damaged during Typhoon Nock-ten, in Iriga City, and gave Pitt anti-venom ous snake. added. Camarines Sur, yesterday. Typhoon Nock-Ten leaves 6 dead Japan culls 90,000 more birds for avian flu Manila In the worst incident, a ferry restored, spokeswoman for the AFP known as the MV Starlight Philippines disaster-monitor- Tokyo farms across the country. avian flu this winter hit in Atlantic sank off the coastal ing agency Mina Marasigan said. AFP Kumamoto prefecture in November, which led to kill- t least six people are dead province of Batangas, killing one More than 429,000 people southwestern Japan started ing of some 18,000 ducks in and 18 others missing and leaving 18 crewmen miss- were preemptively evacuated apan began killing some slaughtering some 93,000 northern Aomori prefecture. Aafter Typhoon Nock-Ten ing, the coast guard reported from their homes in vulnerable 90,000 chickens yesterday farm birds yesterday after con- Several more outbreaks lashed the Philippines over the after confirming the number of areas and over 330 flights were Jto contain another outbreak firming the H5 strain was have since hit throughout Christmas holidays, the govern- people on board. cancelled due the typhoon, offi- of a highly contagious strain of found in the town of Nankan, Japan, from the northern main ment said yesterday as it tried Five others were killed by cial figures showed, while avian flu, officials said. officials said. island of Hokkaido to Kyushu to assess the damage. floods and falling objects houses and infrastructure also The new drive means more "The cull is expected to be in the southwest. The unusually late storm knocked down when the storm took a beating. than a million farm birds will completed within 24 hours," a When Tuesday's cull is first hit the eastern provinces on hit, bearing gusts of 235km an Nock-Ten had been have been killed in seven mass prefectural official said, add- complete, the total number of Christmas Day, flooding roads hour, local officials said. expected to bring heavy rains culls this season as officials ing nearly 400 officials had birds slaughtered due to the and farms, destroying homes Nock-Ten took out power and winds to capital city Manila, work to prevent the spread of been dispatched to handle the disease this winter will stand and damaging ships as it crossed in many eastern provinces, with home to 13 million residents, but the virulent H5 strain, which operation. at some 1.07 million, the farm the archipelago, though the Phil- energy officials unsure when the typhoon lost force as it has been detected at several Japan's first outbreak of ministry said. ippine capital was spared. electrical services would be crossed the eastern islands. WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER 2016 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN 11 Afghan pilot's asylum bid touches raw nerve
Debate in the air women?" photojournalist Mar- yam Khamosh wrote on Afghanistan's first Facebook. fixed-wing woman "I sometimes wish I were pilot subject of Niloofar and could soar in the sky intense debate after and bomb the enemies of my applying for US people. But you, Niloofar, who asylum citing touched the skies from the ashes of our land have shamed our security reasons. flag." Nato forces also took Kabul umbrage at her media comment AFP that the security situation in Afghanistan is "getting worse and he shock announce- worse". ment of Afghanistan's "Afghan security forces have first woman fixed- seen definitive progress... and wing pilot to seek their performance in 2016 was asylum in the US has better than 2015, and we expect Ttouched off a spirited national 2017 to be better than 2016," the debate on the country's most military coalition said. vexing issues: insecurity, wom- But that sentiment hardly en's rights and mass exodus of resonates with the Afghan youth, young people. who have continued to flee the Niloofar Rahmani, a 25-year- country's escalating conflict in old pilot lionised widely as the record numbers. "Afghan Top Gun" after the 1986 This 2015 file photograph shows Afghanistan's first female pilot Niloofar Rahmani sitting in a fixed-wing Afghan Air Force On Monday many Afghans Tom Cruise film on flying aces, aviator aircraft at an airfield in Kabul. RIGHT: Rahmani at an airfield in the Afghan capital. decried another symbol of vio- was scheduled to return to lence and impunity — social Afghanistan last week after a role model for other young The once-unimaginable feat her protection and though she significant risk if she were to media images of dreaded war- 15-month training course with Afghans," Defence Ministry last year won her the US State has grown accustomed to the come back to Afghanistan," lord Faryadi Sarwar Zardad the US Air Force. spokesman Mohammad Rad- Department's "Women of Cour- ogling eyes of men, she never left Motley told AFP. "The real relaxing in a public bathhouse. But on the eve of her depar- manesh told AFP Monday. "She age Award". her airbase in uniform, lest it betrayal to Afghanistan is Infamous for once keeping a ture, she declared she will not be has betrayed her country. It is But with fame came death make her a target. against those who threaten her "human dog" that savaged vic- returning citing fears for her a shame." threats from insurgents and she Rahmani's lawyer Kimberly life, her family's life, and also tims on his command, Zardad safety, triggering a storm of crit- Rahmani became a symbol routinely faced contempt from Motley said her decision to seek to those who continue to was unexpectedly deported from icism in Afghanistan for of hope for millions of Afghan her male colleagues in a conserv- asylum in the US had been a oppress women." Britain this month following his "betraying" her nation but also women when she surfaced in the ative nation where many still "heartbreakingly difficult But some of the most viru- early release from jail. garnering support from press in 2013 after becoming believe that a woman does not decision". lent criticism over her decision "When someone like Zardad activists. Afghanistan's first woman pilot belong outside the home. "Niloofar and her family has come from women. can roam freely in Kabul then "What she said in the US since the Taliban era, dressed in In an interview with AFP in have received vicious threats "Dear Niloofar, do you think Niloofar has the right to not come was irresponsible and unex- tan combat boots, khaki overalls Kabul last year, Rahmani said which have unfortunately con- your problems are bigger than back," said an Afghan man on pected. She was meant to be a and aviator glasses. she always carried a pistol for firmed that her safety is at that of millions of other Afghan Facebook.
Benazir Bhutto remembered Toxic liquor Pakistan rejects kills 21 in call to scrap Pakistan Islamabad Rs5,000 note AFP TWENTY-ONE people, mostly Christians, were killed and Islamabad in business,” the ministry said dozens more affected after Reuters in a statement, seen by Reuters consuming toxic liquor on yesterday. Christmas Eve in central Paki- The Rs5,000 note is Paki- stan, police said yesterday. The akistan’s government has stan’s biggest. incident happened in a Chris- dismissed a recommen- During the last financial tian colony in Toba Tek Singh Pdation from the Upper year, 17 percent of currency city, 338km south of Islama- House of Parliament to scrap notes printed were of the 5,000 bad. Though legal breweries the Rs5,000 ($48) bank note to denomination, the finance min- exist in Pakistan, alcohol sales cut the flow of illicit money and istry said. and consumption are prohib- reduce the size of the informal Pakistan has a huge infor- ited for Muslims and tightly economy. mal economy and transactions regulated for minorities and India scrapped its two big- are often handled in cash, partly Supporters of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, foreigners. gest currency bills — the because much of the popula- read the Holy Quran during a prayer ceremony held to mark her 9th death anniversary at Police said most deaths Rs1,000 ($15) and Rs500 notes tion is not in the formal Liaquat Bagh Park in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, yesterday. had occurred by late — in November in a bid to flush sector. Monday. out money hidden from the tax The government frequently man, leading to acute currency offers tax amnesties to encour- shortages and raising concern age people with hidden wealth about growth there. to declare assets and enter the Pakistan’s Senate passed a banking system, hoping to Islamabad police told to use Facebook non-binding resolution this expand an extremely narrow month calling for the govern- tax base. ment to follow suit to “reduce But governments have Islamabad To increase interaction with the public, various other Islamabad Police updates with illicit money flow, encourage struggled for decades to boost Internews the IGP asked all SHOs, SDPOs, and zonal the public through his personal as well as the use of bank accounts and a meagre tax-to-gross domes- SPs to start using social media, particularly official social media platforms. reduce the size of the undocu- tic product ratio of only about slamabad Police Inspector General (IGP) Facebook. Some officials have dubbed him the mented economy”. 10 percent. Tariq Masood Yasin has directed all police He directed them to create Facebook “Whatsapp IG” for his emphasis on the use But the finance ministry The ministry said the gov- Istations to create own Facebook pages in pages for all police stations and share infor- of social media and technology. ruled out such a demonetisa- ernment hoped to encourage order to enhance interaction between police mation with the public by giving precise and “The IGP was also briefed by operations tion, saying it world hurt digital banking to “reduce the and the community, and possibly earn a few clear details of contact numbers and photos SSP and zonal SPs about the number of cases business. dependence on currency”. likes. of SHOs and police officers posted there, registered during 2016 and their “Given the continuing use “This is the way to move The IGP chaired a meeting of all police besides other information and public aware- investigation. of cash in transactions, the gov- forward for promoting docu- officers from SHOs to DIGs to review the ness messages. The figures show that the crime rate fell ernment believes that mentation in the economy overall crime situation and police perform- Yasin, a grade-21 officer in the Police 25 per cent when compared with 2015,” a discontinuation of the 5,000 rather than by cancelling any ance yesterday. He emphasised greater Service of Pakistan, is an active social media police spokesperson said. He said campaigns rupee note would adversely existing denomination,” interaction with the public and swift regis- user. He has been sharing his initiatives for against narcotics and illicit weapons wit- affect the efficiency of exchange it said. tration of FIRs. police reforms, community policing, and nessed significant successes this year. Where students attend classes in graveyard and play among graves
Islamabad Most of the senior classes are held According to the official records of the place does scare him at times. Ahmed added that the education Internews in the open, with the students having to the education department, the school A first grade student, Saeed Ahmed department has approved the construc- sit between graves since they do not that was upgraded to middle school in said he was scared to come to school in tion of three classrooms on which work tudents at the government high have furniture. Classes are not held if it 1987 and to a high school in 2007, is no foggy weather or when there is thunder has begun, but three more classrooms school in the Thatta Khalil union rains and most of the teachers’ posts are more than just a structure in an ancient and lightning. are needed to accommodate all the stu- Scouncil in Taxila city attend classes vacant. graveyard and presents the image of a The headmaster of the school, Bash- dents studying in the open. sitting in a graveyard, which also serves The school is located in what the “ghost house”. eer Ahmed, says officials of the district Students attend practical classes in as a playground for them during recess. Punjab government has declared a “hard “We do not have classrooms or and provincial education department a nearby girls’ school, he said as the The school was set up in 1905 as a area” — 10 kilometres from the Taxila washrooms. We go to the fields to know of the lack of staff and facilities at school has never had facilities for con- primary school and caters to the chil- GT Road and three kilometres from the answer the call of nature,” says Moham- the institute. ducting practical classes. dren of 14 nearby villages, but only has Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway, just mad Nawaz, a third grade student. “We have asked them to visit and “Female teachers are reluctant to 12 classrooms to house its 650 behind the stone crushers in the Mar- He says he does play in the grave- see for themselves the conditions under work here as the school is located in a students. galla Hills. yard with his friends but admitted that which we work,” he said. hard and remote area,” he said. 12 INDIA WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER 2016 Jet Airways plane skids off Goa runway; 15 hurt
Mumbai Plane accident injured lying on stretchers in Reuters darkness on the service road, 15 people suffered with fire engines parked near Jet Airways Boeing injuries as the 154 the stricken plane, which 737 aircraft with 161 passengers and appeared to have lost its front people on board seven crew on the undercarriage, and damaged a veered off an airport Mumbai bound flight wing as it rested on its belly and runway in Goa were evacuated, Jet engine casings. Some passen- shortlyA before take off just gers said they saw smoke in the said in a statement. before daybreak yesterday, cabin as the aircraft began tax- crossing a field before spinning iing on the runway. One of the into a ditch on the side of a serv- injured described how the acci- ice road. The flight 9W 2374 dent unfolded. 15 people suffered injuries from Goa-Mumbai “I fractured my leg,” said as the 154 passengers and seven skidded off the Dinesh Kumar, a passenger on crew on the Mumbai bound Times Now TV channel. “The runway at Dabolim Rescue and Navy personnel moving an injured passenger away from a damaged Jet Airways flight were evacuated, Jet said moment the plane started run- airport this morning Boeing 737 after it skidded off the runway at the Goa Airport in Dabolim, yesterday. in a statement. ning on the runway, it slipped “The flight 9W 2374 from due to a technical into the nearby field and there Goa-Mumbai skidded off the glitch while aligning was smoke inside the flight.” Aviation),” she said. headed to the runway’s taxiway, Air travel is surging in India, runway at Dabolim airport this for takeoff. A Jet Airways spokeswoman The airline is India’s second but the pilots avoided a collision one of the world’s fastest grow- morning due to a technical said the carrier was looking into largest passenger carrier. and no-one was injured, the two ing economies. Passenger glitch while aligning for take- holidaymakers flock to Goa’s how the incident occured. In a separate incident in New companies said in separate numbers on domestic flights off,” the statement said. palm fringed beaches and exotic “It needs time for proper Delhi airport, a Spicejet airplane statements. jumped 21 percent in 2015 to December is the busiest tourist markets during the win- investigation to go on and we was preparing to take off at the Indigo and Spicejet said they more than 80 million. The gov- month for Dabolim airport, out- ter season. are cooperating with the DGCA same time as a flight run by were working with authorities ernment foresees that number side state capital Panjim, as Television images showed (Directorate General of Civil Indigo had landed and was investigating the incident. growing to 300 million by 2022.
Winter cuisine FM wants Norway child NEWS BYTES united with parents Four held for assaulting New Delhi said, calling the allegation AFP "baseless". The 2011 case drew US woman widespread media attention in oreign minister yesterday India, much of it critical of the NEW DELHI court yes- urged Norway to return a Norwegian authorities, and terday sent four persons Ffive-year-old boy to his sparked a diplomatic row. including a tourist guide, Indian-origin parents after The family blamed it on cul- who were arrested on the authorities took the child into tural bias and different attitudes charge of sexually assault- their custody over suspected toward childcare. ing a US tourist here earlier abuse. Sushma Swaraj said The children eventually this year, to two-day judi- India's ambassador would meet returned to India after the par- cial custody. the Norwegian authorities later ents agreed they should be "Four accused were yesterday to discuss the case, transferred to the custody of a presented before a duty A Kashmiri woman collecting smoked fish from slow-burning grass on the outskirts of promising to take a "firm relative. magistrate, who remanded Srinagar, yesterday. The smoked fish, which is known locally as 'Fahre', is one of the stand". Aryan was taken from his them to judicial custody traditional foods in the Himalayan state. The two countries had a kindergarten school on Decem- till December 29," defence major falling out in 2011, when ber 13 without the parents being counsel Sandeep Kapur Norwegian welfare authorities informed and is being kept at a said. Advocate Kapur is removed two young Indian children's welfare home some appearing for Vivek, an children from their parents. 150 km away from Oslo. accused in the case. Centre to get transgenders ready for jobs "I refuse to accept that fos- His mother Gurvinderjit Aniruddha Singh, a ter parents can take better care Kaur was also taken into cus- Nepal-based tourist guide, of the child than the natural tody and was subjected to Omprakash, Maqsood and Mumbai founder of the centre. weddings to make ends meet. parents," tweeted Swaraj, who interrogation. The child's father, Vivek were arrested from Reuters “We want to try and main- Recently, there have been said she was intervening on Anil Kumar, who runs an Indian different cities during raids stream them, and integrate them moves to extend more benefits behalf of the boy's mother, an restaurant, has denied all the conducted by Delhi Police. into society with a complete to the community, with Odisha Indian national. The father and allegations and said that his son Among the accused, centre for transgender education and some skills with state becoming the first to give the child are believed to be Nor- was asthmatic. Omprakash was a driver, school dropouts is set to which they can find a job and be transgender people welfare wegian nationals. While the father and son Maqsood a helper and A open this week in India independent,” she said. benefits such as pension. "The foster parents are are Norwegian nationals, the Vivek a bell-boy at the to help address the challenge of India is estimated to have Bollywood is also lending a totally ignorant of Indian cul- mother is an Indian passport hotel where the crime a lack of formal education that about 2 million transgender peo- hand, with 6 Pack Band, a pop ture and our food habits. We holder. occurred. forces them into low-paid jobs. ple. In 2014, the country’s Supreme band of transgender women fea- want restoration of Aryan to his With India saying that it will The Sahaj Alternate Learn- Court ruled that they had equal tured on the soundtrack of a natural parents," Swaraj said in help if approached, Gurvinder- ing Centre in the southern state rights under the law, and granted Bollywood movie this year. It was the tweet. jit Kaur contacted the External Major accident of Kerala will initially house 10 legal status to the third gender. hard to find a property for the Indian media quoted the Affairs Ministry for support in transgender students taught by Alongside the right to marry and centre in Kerala, Mallika said. child's father as saying Aryan the case. This is the third such averted at volunteer teachers and social inherit property, they are also eli- “This centre is very impor- had been removed from his case in Norway involving workers. gible for quotas in jobs and tant because despite the laws, school without warning on Indian children. Delhi Airport “This is a centre for those educational institutions. social acceptance is still low and December 13 and was now liv- In 2011, a three-year-old transgender students who had But abuse and exploitation we are discriminated against by ing in a children's home outside and and a one-year-old were A MAJOR mishap was to drop out of school because are common. Often thrown out employers and our own fami- Oslo. separated from their parents averted at the Indira Gan- they were abused or because of home by their families, many lies,” said activist Kalki Police later went to the but were later reunited when dhi International Airport they were kicked out by their lack a formal education and are Subramaniam, who is inaugu- family home and interrogated the UPA government took up here yesterday morn- families or school authorities,” denied jobs, forced into sex rating the school on December his wife, accusing the couple of the issue with Norwegian ing after an Indigo and said activist Vijayraja Mallika, a work, begging, or dancing at 30. beating their son, the father authorities. a SpiceJet aircraft came face to face on the taxiway. "An Indigo flight 6C-729 which was came from Lucknow to Delhi Rao asserts he is Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary & raps state govt with 176 passengers on board, post landing, saw on the taxiway a Spice- Chennai guts to serve the copy of the "This is an attempt to deflect the next day. to escort the IT officials. Jet aircraft in front of it," IANS transfer order," Rao thundered the IT probe which cannot be The state government Charging the Income Tax Indigo spokesperson told at his Anna Nagar residence here. allowed. He can also tamper with appointed Girija Vaidyanathan officials of entering his residence IANS. ormer Tamil Nadu Chief Expressing his anger at the the witness. Hence he should be as the new Chief Secretary in and his office in the state secre- "Following the Secretary P Rama Mohana Panneerselvam government, Rao arrested," Ramadoss added. Rao's place. tariat without any authorisation, Standard Operating FRao, who was removed said had the late J. Jayalalithaa The PMK leader also said it According to Rao, the cen- Rao said: "The search warrant Procedures (SOPs), the after he came under the Income been alive, the Central Reserve is the duty of the Tamil Nadu tral government could have was in the name of my son, Vivek Captain-in-Command Tax Department's scanner and Police Force (CRPF) would never Chief Minister to clarify on the asked the state government to Papisetty." took the decision of had his office and house raided, have entered the state questions raised by Rao. transfer him before the IT offi- Rao questioned as to how IT switching off the engine on Monday asserted that he con- secretariat. A similar demand was also cials began their search officials could search the office and reported the inci- tinued to hold the post, claiming Reacting to Rao's outburst, made by DMK leader M.K.Stalin. operations. of the Chief Secretary without dent to Air Traffic Control the state government did not PMK founder S. Ramadoss said: Speaking to the media here, He said he had always fol- due authorisation. (ATC)," he said. serve him any transfer orders. "He has challenged the central Rao also denied that the state lowed Jayalalithaa's orders and "Did they get the permission The spokesperson While the government did and the state governments and government served him any it was she who trained him since of Chief Minister, Home Secre- also said that the mat- not react to the top bureaucrat's it is condemnable." transfer orders. 1994. tary for searching the Chief ter has been reported to claims, opposition parties con- He also said that the former Rao is under Income Tax "At gun point they entered Secretary's office?" he asked. the Air Traffic Control demned his remarks and asked Chief Secretary is trying to give scanner and his residence and my house. I was under house Tax officials also raided the (ATC) and the Directorate the O. Panneerselvam govern- a political colour to the IT raid office were searched by Income arrest," Rao said, referring to the premises of Rao's son Papisetty General of Civil Aviation ment to respond. issue by bringing in the name of Tax officials on December 21, gun-totting CRPF personnel who and those connected with the (DGCA). "This government has no Jayalalithaa. and the search only concluded were deployed at his residence duo. WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER 2016 INDIA 13 Oppn unites to slam Modi on demonetisation
New Delhi uous by their absence. IANS Cash crunch Calling the November 8 note Mamata Banerjee ban the "biggest scam after Inde- everal opposition par- said the pendence", Banerjee asked if ties yesterday attacked demonetisation Modi will resign at the end of 50 Prime Minister Naren- decision was "illegal days if the cash situation did not dra Modi over the and unconstitutional" improve. demonetisation woes of "Modi ji, you asked for 50 and that the Indian Sthe common man, asking him to days; people were losing their economy had been own responsibility for the chaos livlihood, dying due to starvation and demanding his resignation set 20 years back in but yet they gave you that time. if the cash crunch persisted even these nearly 50 days. Now 47 days are over and only after the 50-day deadline. three days are left," the Chief While Congress Vice-Presi- Rahul Gandhi held Minister said. dent Rahul Gandhi held Modi Modi responsible for "We will wait for the next responsible for the continuing the continuing three days. But Modi ji, if things hardships of the common peo- hardships of the remain unsolved, will you take ple, Trinamool Congress common people. responsibility and resign as the supremo and West Bengal Chief Prime Minister?" she asked. Minister Mamata Banerjee said Rahul Gandhi said Modi he will have to resign if the cash here, along with leaders of the should accept responsibility crunch woes continued even Rashtriya Janata Dal, Dravida since the latter's assurance of after the December 30 deadline Munnetra Kazhagam, Jharkhand normalcy after 50 days seems to Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee he himself set. Mukti Morcha, Janata Dal-Sec- be failing and people are still fac- addressing a news conference, in New Delhi, yesterday. Banerjee said the demoneti- ular, Indian Union Muslim ing hardships due to cash crunch. sation decision was "illegal and League and All India United "December 30 is near, but unconstitutional" and that the Democratic Front. the situation is still the same. The black money laundering, and stance that demonetisation will The West Bengal Chief Min- Indian economy had been set 20 Several important partners Prime Minister needs to answer was instead an attack on the curb terror funding, Gandhi said ister mocked the cashless years back in these nearly 50 in the anti-demonetisation cam- who is responsible for the peo- country's poor. 2,000-rupee notes were found economy argument of the days. paign -- Janata Dal-United, the ple's hardships... It is the Prime "Demonetisation has had no in possession of terrorists killed Centre. Modi will have to resign if the Left parties, Nationalist Congress Minister who is responsible," impact on corruption and black days after the November 8 scrap- While an advanced economy chaos continues beyond Decem- Party, All India Anna Dravida Gandhi said. money. A new black market has ping of old Rs500 and Rs1,000 like the United States has around ber 30, she said. Both leaders Munnetra Kazhagam, Bahujan The Congress leader said emerged -- to convert black notes. He asked Modi to tell the 40 per cent cash transactions, he addressed a joint press confer- Samaj Party and Samajwadi demonitasation had failed to money into white," Gandhi said. nation what he dubbed was the (Modi) talks about cashless ence at the Constitution Club Party -- were, however, conspic- reduce corruption and arrest Countering the government's "real motive" behind the move. economy. Efforts on to PM calls for innovative approaches to budget free priest in Dehradun Till date, Modi observed, Economic policy and the economists was an need to improve the quality, Yemen: Govt IANS such exercises earmarked experiment where the latter gave there was need felt to increase expenditure only at the onset of The prime minister said presentations on three impor- investments in the tourism monsoon, which was not desir- the budget has a tant focus points - agriculture, sector. New Delhi n his first such interaction able as it results in government significant effect on jobs and budget related issues. "The tourism sector was AFP with a set of noted economists programmes being relatively India's real economy For the agriculture sector, highlighted. Suggestions were and experts organised by Niti inactive in the productive pre- the economists focussed on ways made that we need to invest I and wanted this yearly overnment said yester- Aayog, Prime Minister Narendra monsoon months. to double the farmers' income more in tourism. Also need to day it will "spare no Modi yesterday called for inno- That is the reason why the exercise to be given by 2022 and expanding the dig- have a learning revolution to Geffort" to secure the vative approaches to presentation date of Budget prime importance. ital payment revolution to improve quality of education was release of a priest kidnapped budget-making, and a special 2017-18 is being advanced so include them, he said. emphasised," he added. in Yemen, after video footage focus on skill development and that a roadmap is ready before "Economists suggested dou- A range of other issues cov- showing him pleading for tourism. the beginning of the financial converging into it the railway bling farmer's income by 2022. ering subjects such as skill help was circulated on social Attending the session on year, he added. budget and doing away with the They discussed digital payments development, taxation and tar- media. "Economic Policy — The Road The government has said Plan and Non-Plan for farmers. There were sugges- iff related matters, digital Priest Thomas Uzhunnalil Ahead", the prime minister said February 1 will be the date for Expenditure. tions on moving to high-value technology, housing, tourism, was abducted during a deadly the budget has a significant effect presentation of future Union Niti Aayog Vice Chairman agriculture products," Panagar- banking, governance reform, attack by Islamist militants on on India's real economy and Budgets. Arvind Panagariya, at a press iya added. data driven policy and future a care home operated by the wanted this yearly exercise to be The other two major changes briefing later, said that the meet- While in the education sec- steps for growth were Missionaries of Charity group given prime importance. to the upcoming budget are ing between the Prime Minister tor, the economists suggested the discussed. in the southern Yemeni port city of Aden in March. The five-minute video, the provenance of which is unknown, shows him appeal- Air purifiers War of words erupts ing to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pope Francis to secure his in Kerala's Congress freedom. "My captors have made Thiruvananthapuram went personal in countering many contacts with the gov- IANS Muraleedharan. He told the ernment of India to get me media that the Congress work- released. I am very sad that he faction-ridden Con- ers were shocked to see nothing has been done seri- gress party in Kerala, Muraleedharan attending a non- ously in my regard," Twhich is passing through party meeting, along with Uzhunnalil said. tough times since the severe Vijayan in the UAE, when the In response, India's for- drubbing it got during the May death anniversary of Karunaka- eign minister Sushma Swaraj assembly polls, yesterday saw ran was being observed across tweeted that New Deli would two senior leaders sparring in the state. "spare no effort to secure Fr public. A bitter exchange of "I have been a party mem- (father) Tom's release from words took place between leg- ber for the past 48 years and captivity", but gave no details. islator K. Muraleedharan —son throughout my career, I worked "I have seen the video of K. Karunakaran — and party for the party from my heart. from Fr Tom. He is an Indian spokesperson Rajmohan Muraleedharan first ditched his citizen and the life of every Unnithan, both known for their father, then abused even Sonia Indian is most precious for razor-sharp tongues. Gandhi and other top leaders us," she said. Muraleedharan opened up and then floated a new party. Joseph Chinnayyan, the by stating that the Congress-led "After that, he caught the deputy secretary general of United Democratic Front (UDF) feet of these leaders and Catholic Bishops' Conference opposition is a weak one and returned," said Unnithan. Soon of India, said it was not pos- has not been able to cash in on after this, Muraleedharan hit sible to verify the authenticity the dismal performance of the back by saying that the death of the video. CPI(M)-led Pinarayi Vijayan anniversary ceremonies are "Even if it is authentic, government. He also said that observed based on the Malay- Commuters waiting for their ride at a bus stop where air purifiers have been installed whatever he is saying is under nothing has been done to fire alam month and stars, and he duress. We are certain that he in New Delhi, yesterday. up the party cadres. himself did all the temple func- is still in captivity and efforts This irked Unnithan, who tions on December 16. are on to free him," Chin- nayyan said. The video was posted on social media sites Youtube and Facebook on Monday but BJP targeting me because I am Dalit: Mayawati it is not clear when it was shot. In it the 56-year-old priest said his nationality Lucknow/New Delhi daughter" was being barred from Pradesh capital Lucknow, Maya- the official machinery to malign was collected by party workers remained the main reason IANS political power in Uttar Pradesh wati said: "The anti-Dalit BJP and the BSP ahead of the 2017 Uttar as donations and then converted that world leaders remained through the "misuse" of official all those having a casteist men- Pradesh assembly elections. into big denomination notes as unsympathetic. machinery. tality do not want that a 'Dalit ki Mayawati, a former Uttar it is "convenient" to carry such "If I were a European day after the Enforcement The Bharatiya Janata Party beti' (Dalit's daughter) should get Pradesh Chief Minister, said the currency. priest, I would have been Directorate (ED) sniffed (BJP) hit back, saying champion- the master key of power in Uttar money deposited in her party's "The money belongs to the taken more seriously by A out more than Rs104 crore ing the cause of the Dalits does Pradesh." account was not black money party, which has been deposited authorities and people would deposited in her party's account not entitle anyone to indulge in The Bahujan Samaj Party and was collected by her party following due procedures. Every have got me released," he after demonetisation, BSP corruption. Addressing a press (BSP) supremo accused the workers over the last few penny of this money is accounted said. supremo Mayawati said a "Dalit's conference yesterday in Uttar Bharatiya Janata Party of using months. She said the said money for," she said. 14 EUROPE WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER 2016 Main black box of Russian plane found
Sochi AFP
he main black box of the Syria-bound Rus- sian military plane that crashed into the Black Sea with 92 people Tonboard has been found in a massive ongoing search opera- tion, authorities said yesterday. "The main black box was found at 5:42 am Moscow time (0242 GMT) 1,600 metres from the shore at a depth of 17 metres," the defence ministry said in a statement, later adding that the LEFT: Russian police officers look at the rescue vessels searching the Black Sea outside Sochi, yesterday. RIGHT: Russia's coast guard officers lay a wreath at device had arrived in the Mos- a makeshift memorial in Sochi, yesterday. cow region to be deciphered by experts. scrambling to recover bodies and gear and a portion of the engine. statement by a coast guard mem- aerodrome in the Moscow in support of Moscow's ally Pres- The Tu-154 jet, whose pas- remaining debris from the air- Russia's federal security ber who saw the plane in its final region. The FSB said all passen- ident Bashar Al Assad. sengers included more than 60 craft in an operation involving service has said it is looking into moments descending towards gers remained on the plane when Defence Minister Sergei members of the internationally 192 divers, 45 vessels, 12 planes, four suspected causes of the the sea with its nose tilted it stopped in Sochi, with one cus- Shoigu has pledged to restore the renowned Red Army Choir, was five helicopters and 15 deepwa- crash, namely pilot error, tech- sharply upward. toms officer and one border choir "in the nearest future." heading to Russia's military air- ter machines. nical failure, faulty fuel and an Authorities have not said guard coming on board as it was Other passengers included base in Syria when it went down The defence ministry said object in the engine. how long it would take to deci- being fuelled. Onboard were 64 military officers, journalists and off the coast of Sochi shortly after that five plane fragments, includ- The defence ministry said a pher the black box, which could members of the Alexandrov popular charity worker Yeliza- take-off on Sunday. ing part of the fuselage and total of 12 bodies and 156 body provide information on the rea- Ensemble —the army's official veta Glinka, affectionately Investigators have yet to engine, were found overnight 30 fragments had been recovered sons for the crash. musical group, also known as the known as "Doctor Liza", who was confirm the cause of the crash, metres (98 feet) under water at from the sea since the crash, all The Tu-154 jet went down on Red Army Choir — and their con- bringing medical supplies to a but officials have said that an act around 1,700 metres from the of which are being sent to Mos- Sunday morning minutes after ductor Valery Khalilov. hospital in the coastal Syrian city of terror was not being consid- shore. It told Russian news agen- cow for DNA identification. taking off at 5:25 am (0225 GMT) The choir was set to perform of Latakia. Russia had observed ered as a possible explanation. cies that searchers had later The Kommersant daily from Sochi's airport, where it had for Russian troops at the Hme- a day of mourning Monday, can- The finding of the black box found an additional three frag- newspaper reported that inves- stopped to refuel after flying out imim airbase in Syria, which has celling entertainment comes as searchers are ments which included landing tigators are relying on a witness from the Chkalovsky military been used to launch air strikes programmes. Six attacks foiled Romania's first female, Muslim PM rejected
Bucharest the arguments for and against and marrying Shhaideh the same in Belgium since AFP and I have decided not to accept year, according to the PSD. this proposal," the president told Non-profit investigative omania's president reporters, calling on the PSD to journalism group the Rise sparked fresh political tur- "make another proposal". Project said that he has several November 2014 Rmoil yesterday after Shhaideh, 52, who has only times expressed his support for blocking a proposal by the left- five months ministerial experi- Syrian President Bashar Al Assad ist party that won elections this ence, is from Romania's small and for Lebanese Shia move- Brussels rough beginnings of the jihad- month to appoint the EU coun- and long-established Turkish ment Hezbollah. Website AFP ist group that attacked Paris in try's first female and first Muslim minority, but her Muslim faith is HotNews cited unnamed sources November that year. prime minister. Klaus Iohannis not thought to have been the as saying that the security serv- elgium has prevented six And on March 22, IS-linked (pictured)gave no reasons for problem. Instead the focus was ices had "strongly cautioned" attacks over the past two attackers struck Brussels air- his rejection of Sevil Shhaideh, likely on her husband, 54, who against Shhaideh's nomination Byears, a senior police offi- port and the metro killing 32 put forward by the Social Dem- worked in the Syrian agriculture because of the closeness of her cial said, with the country still people, despite the arrest in the ocrats (PSD), but there was Syrian husband's background. ministry for 20 years before husband and his two brothers to a prominent target for jihadist Belgian capital only four days speculation that it was due to her "I have properly analysed emigrating to Romania in 2011 the Assad regime. assaults. earlier of the last surviving "I can announce... that over jihadist from the Paris attacks, two years, since November Salah Abdeslam. 2014 precisely, we have been Since that attack, Belgian Russia wants to able to foil at least six attacks," police and intelligence services Stormy weather in Germany Eric Jacobs, head of judicial have seen a major increase in police in Brussels, said in an information, "up to 600 tips boost air force interview with the daily La daily", Jacobs said. Derniere Heure, without offer- "A lot of the tips are not rel- presence ing further details. evant but when we're told that Jacobs said Belgium has some grey car is suspect, if we in Tajikistan been fighting terrorism for 20 don't verify it and there is an years but with population attack the next day, they are RUSSIA wants to expand its air growing in the Belgian capital, going to say that we knew and force deployment to Tajikistan the number of groups has didn't do anything," he said. and is in talks with Dushanbe multiplied. The threat level in Belgium for joint use of an air base in "There are more than 200 remains high at three on a scale the former Soviet republic, the nationalities in the capital. of four levels and is expected to Russian ambassador to Dush- There is not only Daesh (an be unchanged through the New anbe said yesterday. acronym for Islamic State). Year holiday. Russia already has an There are other radical move- "Forty-five percent of the infantry base near Dushanbe ments," he said. federal judicial police in Brus- with up to 7,000 troops sta- In January 2015, Belgian sels are assigned to combat tioned there and last year police dismantled a cell in terrorism," Jacobs said, urging People enjoy the stormy weather with a walk along the river Weser in Bremerhaven, deployed four attack and Verviers in the east of the coun- continued reinforcement of the nothern Germany, yesterday. transport helicopters to a try which was later seen as the police services. nearby Ayni air base. Ambassador Igor Lyakin- Frolov told reporters the Russian and Tajik govern- ments were in talks over an German lawmakers urge tough security measures agreement that would allow Russia joint use of the Ayni base and to expand its pres- Berlin laws if needed. It says intelligence agen- the Berlin attack that more ence there. Reuters The suspected perpetra- cies should be able to video surveillance of public Tajikistan, which borders tor, 24-year old Tunisian monitor individuals as places is not be the answer Afghanistan, is seen by Rus- oliticians on both sides Anis Amri, was an asylum young as 14 to avoid radical- to Germany's security prob- sia and the West as a possible of Germany's govern- seeker who had escaped isation, and calls for greater lems, a YouGov poll showed conduit for Islamist militants. Ping coalition, reacting deportation after his appli- powers of detention for peo- 60 percent of Germans were The Ferghana Valley, a fertile to last week's Christmas cation was rejected. He was ple due to be deported. in favour. A deputy leader of and densely populated strip market attack, called for shot dead by Italian police Some 550 people are the Social Democrats (SPD), of land that straddles more state powers to deport on Friday. Merkel's conserv- registered with German the junior partner in Mer- Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and potentially dangerous failed ative allies in the state of security services as poten- kel's governing coalition and Kyrgyzstan, is considered to asylum seekers, with some Bavaria, the CSU, called for tially violent. Polls indicate which is traditionally more be the heart of Islamist mili- also pushing for enhanced greater powers for the police that Germans' deeply reticent on security issues, tancy in Central Asia, whose surveillance. and intelligence agencies entrenched opposition to also demanded detention main target is Russia. Chancellor Angela Mer- and improved data exchange state monitoring, a legacy of before deportation for some Moscow last year A handout photo released yesterday by the kel, whose open-door between them. "We need widespread surveillance in failed asylum seekers. launched a campaign of air Italian Police allegedly shows Anis Amri, the migrant policy critics say has new grounds to arrest dan- Communist East Germany "We must make sure strikes in Syria to help Pres- suspected Berlin truck attacker, on a CCTV put Germany's security at gerous people," they said in and in the Nazi era, may be dangerous people have no ident Bashar al-Assad take on frame grab taken at 00.58am (local time), as risk, promised after the Ber- a paper, which they will dis- waning. opportunity to disappear," various rebel groups as well he arrives on December 23 in Milan's Central lin attack — which killed 12 cuss at a party gathering While several Greens Ralf Stegner told Die Welt as the Islamic State militant Station. people — to introduce new early next month. politicians have argued since daily. group. WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER 2016 AMERICAS 15 Fights, disturbances shut down malls across US
Year-end chaos Washington noise in the mall's food court, A large fight between teen- At least one fight shut down mall, the Aurora Police Depart- Reuters Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage agers broke out in the food court the Fox Valley Mall in Aurora, ment said on Twitter. tweeted. at the Cross Creek Mall in Fay- Illinois, late on Monday, and In Monroeville, Pennsylva- Eight to 10 people ights, disturbances and Photos and video clips posted etteville, North Carolina. Police police were called to quell the nia, police arrested four youths suffered minor false reports of gunfire on social media showed heavily fielded several unconfirmed disturbance, the Chicago Daily after fights broke out at the Mon- injuries during a caused chaotic scenes armed police officers respond- reports of shots fired, said a Herald reported, citing manag- roeville Mall, the Pittsburgh melee in the food and shut down several ing to the incident as shoppers Facebook post by the Fayette- ers of businesses in the Post-Gazette reported. court at The Mills at malls across the United raced to exits and alarms rang ville Police Department, which building. Police put the Arizona Mills Jersey Gardens in FStates on Monday during the typ- out inside the mall. also said the mall was Online videos showed uni- mall in Tempe, Arizona, on lock- Elizabeth, New Jersey. ically busy post-Christmas Similar disturbances evacuated. formed personnel directing mall down after reports of shots fired shopping day. unfolded across the United States The Hulen Mall in Fort patrons out of the building and inside the shopping centre. Two Similar disturbances Eight to 10 people suffered at malls that were packed with Worth, Texas, was on lockdown, customers fleeing down an people, including a juvenile, unfolded across the minor injuries during a melee in shoppers returning gifts, using Fort Worth police said on Twit- escalator. were arrested after two fights United States at malls the food court at The Mills at Jer- gift cards they received over the ter. The CBS website there Police and mall management broke out at the mall, an ABC that were packed with sey Gardens in Elizabeth, New holiday weekend and searching reported that police said officers could not be reached for affiliate reported. shoppers returning Jersey, the mayor there said on for clearance deals. responded to reports of gunshots comment. Police arrested one juvenile Twitter. Many involved calls of shots but arrived to find that several The Town Center Aurora in at the Beachwood Place mall in gifts and searching for Panic followed when some- being fired and youths fighting. fights had broken out involving Aurora, Colorado, was also Beachwood, Ohio, where a large clearance deals. one shouted "gun," after a chair It was unclear if the incidents 100-150 people. There were no closed early after multiple skir- disturbance occurred, an ABC hit the ground, causing a loud were connected. injuries, police said. mishes were reported inside the affiliate in Cleveland reported.
Colombia probe No talks without concessions: Venezuela opposition finds human Caracas Reuters error, lack of
enezuela's opposition fuel in air crash ruled out returning to VVatican-led talks with A SERIES of human errors President Nicolas Maduro's gov- caused an airliner to run out ernment unless it makes major of fuel and crash in Colombia concessions amid a crushing last month, killing 71 people economic crisis and bitter polit- including most of a Brazil- ical standoff. ian soccer team, aviation The opposition Democratic authorities said. Colombia's Unity coalition blames Maduro Civil Aeronautics agency con- for the Opec nation's shrinking cluded in its investigation that and dysfunctional economy and the plan for the flight operated wants to bring forward the next by Bolivia-based company presidential vote, due in late LaMia did not meet interna- 2018. However Maduro, 54, the tional standards. self-declared "son" of late social- Among the errors it cited ist leader Hugo Chavez, accuses LEFT: Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro (centre) speaks during his radio programme at Miraflores Palace in Caracas. were the decisions to let the the opposition of seeking a coup RIGHT: The secretary general of the Venezuelan opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), Jesus Torrealba, shows a plane take off without enough and sabotaging the economy to letter from the Vatican's Secretary of State, Italian cardinal Pietro Parolin, during a press conference in Caracas. fuel to make the flight safely undermine him. and then to not stop midway A Papal envoy, South Amer- "If these demands ... have not Datanalisis, said his team would street protests and a symbolic Maduro to depict them as irre- to refuel. It ruled out sabotage ican bloc Unasur and former been satisfied by January 13, be ready for the talks come what trial of Maduro in the Assembly. sponsible troublemakers. or mechanical problems. heads of government from Spain, obviously there will be no con- may. "I want to affirm to Pope The president has threatened Opposition protests in 2014 Neither the charter com- Panama and the Dominican ditions to re-establish dialogue," Francis ... my commitment to that the opposition-led legisla- led to 43 deaths and marches this pany nor Bolivian authorities Republic brought the feuding said coalition head Jesus Torre- dialogue, peace and the word of ture may not exist much longer. year have resulted in clashes should have allowed the sides together at the end of Octo- alba, referring to the next God," he told a radio show. "If The government-leaning with security forces. plane to take off with the ber. But the opposition walked potential date for talks mooted not talking means Torrealba is Supreme Court has ruled it is in Venezuela's 30 million peo- flight plan submitted, said out earlier this month, saying by mediators. "They are mock- going to take up arms and call "contempt" of the law. ple have had an austere Freddy Bonilla, safety secre- officials were reneging on ing the Venezuelan people and for an intervention in Venezuela, Hardline opposition leaders Christmas, with many unable to tary for Colombia's aviation accords to allow humanitarian the international community," he will never achieve it." are pushing for a civil disobedi- afford traditional meals, presents authority. He said the agen- aid, reform the national election he told reporters. Opposition leaders say the ence campaign, but moderates and holidays at the beach. cy's conclusions were based board, free jailed activists and Maduro, whose popularity coalition needs a re-launch in believe that could lead to more Inflation in Venezuela is the on the plane's black boxes restore the National Assembly's has hit its lowest level of under the New Year after the dialogue violence and play into the gov- world's highest and many prod- and other evidence. powers. 20 percent, according to pollster stalled momentum from large ernment's hands by allowing ucts are scarce. Experts had earlier sug- gested that fuel exhaustion was a likely cause of the November 28 crash that wiped out all but a few mem- Washington expands paid leave law bers of the Chapocoense Trump taps Bossert for soccer team, as well as team Washington The D.C. Council approved San Francisco, whose law took officials and journalists AP the law lastweek. It's likely to effect in 2007. accompanying them to a counterterrorism post take effect early in 2017, after a The move toward paid sick championship playoff match ashington D.C., has sig- 30-day period during which it leave has gained momentum the in Medellin, Colombia. The US President-elect Donald Trump yesterday announced that nificantly expanded its can be reviewed by Congress. past few years. In the absence of BAE 146 Avro RJ85 has a max- Thomas Bossert, former deputy homeland security adviser to Wpaid leave law, giving Since its paid sick leave law a federal law requiring compa- imum range was 2,965km President George W Bush, would be his White House adviser on non-government workers in the took effect in 2008, Washing- nies to pay workers when they — just under the distance security and counterterrorism issues, according to a statement. city up to eight weeks paid time ton has required employers to call out sick, states have been between Medellin and Santa As assistant to the president for homeland security and off for the birth or adoption of a give staffers up to six to eight creating laws. Forty jurisdictions Cruz, Bolivia, where the plane counterterrorism, Bossert would be Trump's top counterter- child. They also will get up to six paid days off a year. The time have paid sick leave laws, had taken off at almost full rorism chief. weeks paid leave to care for a can be used if workers or a close according to Family Values @ capacity. The plane was in the Bossert currently runs a risk management consulting firm sick relative and two weeks of relative is sick. The city was the Work, a group that advocates for air for about 4 hours and 20 and has a cyber risk fellowship with the Atlantic Council think paid time off when workers second in the nation to enact a workers to be given time off for minutes when it had reported tank. themselves are ill. paid sick leave law, following illness and family needs. a suspected fuel leak. Rush at Mexican teen's party after invite goes viral
San Luis Potosí Villa de Guadalupe, in San Luis AFP Potosi state. "With all the cover- age on her, Rubi felt like part of huge crowd turned out to the family," added her husband, celebrate the 15th birth- Gonzalo Torres. Aday of Rubi Ibarra, a About 10,000 partygoers of small-town Mexican girl — all ages came to see Rubi, who though fewer than the 1.3 million danced the night away in a people who said they were com- flouncy, floral princess gown ing after the invitation went viral with a dramatic red skirt. online. Girls' 15th birthday par- The teen was the centre of ties are often a huge affair in attention on a large rock con- Latin America, when families cert-style stage set up in the field. pull out all the stops to welcome The evening featured fireworks, them to womanhood. a huge banquet and a concert LEFT: Rubi Ibarra is pictured between her parents Cresencio But Rubi's "quinceanera" broadcast on a giant screen. (right) and Anaelda during a mass for her 15th birthday party took the phenomenon to a Rubi danced with friends, as celebrations in La Joya, San Luis Potosi State. RIGHT: People whole new level, after the invite well as the men of her family, attend the celebrations in Villa Guadalupe. became an offbeat Internet sen- receiving a rose from each, in sation. "We found out through keeping with tradition. would like to invite you this Dressed in a cowboy hat typ- as his wife and the now-famous attend the party originally set to social media and we said 'Let's "We are patient, we are December 26 to our daughter ical of northern Mexico, he ticked Rubi stood at his side. "Everyone" be in La Joya, a village of 200 go. Everyone is invited? Let's go," patient. And we are going to Rubi Ibarra Garcia's 15th birth- off the names of the bands that is invited, he said. people near the city of San Luis said Tania Rodriguez, who trav- camp here until we see her close day party in La Joya," her dad, would play at the party and About 1.3 million Facebook Potosi. "This all got out of con- elled five hours by car to attend up," guest Rosalina Conpian said. Crescencio, said in the video announced a horse race with a users took the invitation to heart trol," Crescencio said in one the party held in a large field in "Hi, how's it going? We invitation. 10,000-peso prize (about $500), and replied that they would interview. 16 MORNING BREAK WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER 2016
PRAYER TIMINGS
FAJR 04.56 am George Michael's partner heartbroken SHOROOK 06.18 am
ZUHR 11.35 am MAGHRIB 04.54 pm London will never stop missing you ASR 02.33 pm ISHA 06.24 pm Reuters xxx.” Michael’s fans continued eorge Michael’s to pay tribute at his homes in WEATHER TODAY partner has spo- north London and at the riv- ken of his sadness erside mansion where he died, o o at discovering the leaving flowers, cards and 18 C 26 C 53-year-old musi- candles. Gcian, a multi-million selling Musicians such as Minimum Maximum idol of 1980s and 1990s pop, Madonna, Paul McCartney and dead at his Oxfordshire home Elton John praised his talent on Christmas morning. and warm sense of humour. British police said the With pin-up good looks death of Michael, who had a and soulful voice Michael turbulent private life and burst onto the pop scene in the problems with drugs, was 1980s as one half of Wham!, “unexplained but not suspi- one of the most successful pop cious”. His manager, Michael duos ever. Lippman, said the singer had Singles like “Wake Me Up died of heart failure, accord- Before You Go-Go” and ing to the BBC. “”Careless Whisper” were hits “It’s a Xmas I will never with Wham! before he rein- forget finding your partner vented himself as a solo artist dead peacefully in bed first with daring and heartfelt lyr- People gather and pause outside the home of British singer George Michael where thing in the morning,” Fadi ics in multimillion-selling Fawas, 43, said in a Tweet albums like “Faith” and “Lis- tributes of flowers, messages and candles have been piled in the village of Goring, posted late on Monday. “I ten Without Prejudice”. southern England, yesterday. German comedy is the international sensation of 2016 Poor horizontal visibility over most areas at first. Foggy over most areas at first becomes mild daytime with New York fake teeth, Whitney Houston's "Great- swept the European Film Awards, win- Simonischek) who surprises his highly some clouds, misty at places. AP est Love of All" and a furry Bulgarian ning five honours, including best driven consultant daughter (Sandra kukeri costume . picture. In her speech, Ade noted it was Huller) by visiting her in Bucharest. HIGH TIDE 05:00 - 15:30 LOW TIDE 12:00 - 22:00 Make sure they know to play it "I knew I had something that I the first film made by a woman to win Sensing she's drowning in a sexist, Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department loud," the filmmaker Maren Ade liked," said Ade (whose name is pro- the top prize. As Germany's Oscar sub- soulless corporate culture, he begins "advises ahead of a screening of her nounced MAR-in AH-day) in an mission, "Toni Erdmann" is also among posing as a "life coach" named Toni film, "Toni Erdmann." interview earlier this fall while in town the nine shortlisted films for best for- Erdmann, and popping up unexpect- Since its rollicking debut at the for the New York Film Festival. "I knew eign language film, and it's the edly, with long hair and fake teeth. Cannes Film Festival in May, "Toni that it was long. I was afraid people favourite to win. The setup is almost sitcom-ish. Ade Erdmann" has been the unlikely rock might think it was too long. But I knew Ade's third movie and the follow- was partly inspired by her own father star of the international film festival it wasn't better shorter." up to her breakthrough sophomore (that's where the teeth come from), as scene. It's a German comedy that runs "Toni Erdmann," which opened in film, "Everyone Else," ''Toni Erdmann" well as Andy Kaufman's Las Vegas 162 minutes and prominently features limited release Sunday, has already is about a practical joker father (Peter standup character, Tony Clifton.
Winning director
Tunisian film director Mohamed Ben Attia during a photo session at a hotel in Paris recently. His film "Hedi" received the Best First Film Award at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale).
French experts blast Seoul over fake painting Seoul AFP
rench art experts yesterday lambasted South Korean state prosecutors for declaring a "fake" Fpainting to be genuine despite its own scientific findings that supported the artist's disavowal of the work. The painting "Beautiful Woman" by one of South Korea's most renowned artists, Chun Kyung-Ja, has been the focus of a bizarre and decades-long dispute over its authenticity. Before her death last year at the age of 91, Chun had repeatedly insisted that the 1971 portrait owned by the country's National Museum of Modern and Con- temporary Art (MMCA) was not one of hers. "Parents can recognise their children. That is not my painting," she insisted. The museum is adamant that it is genuine, and in April a prosecutorial investigation was launched after one of Chun's daughters filed a complaint. She accused former and current MMCA officials of hurting the art- ist's reputation by promoting the painting as authentic. State prosecutors last week found in favour of the museum, citing forensic evidence and the opinion of local art experts. They also clarified the provenance of the painting, saying it was once owned by the former head of the South Korean spy agency.